Unstoppable Barca extends perfect start in La Liga

Manila Times - Oct 18, 2026

SEVILLE, Spain — Hansi Flick’s dominant Barcelona routed 10-man Real Betis 5-2 on Saturday to return five points clear at the top of La Liga. Teenage winger Lamine Yamal scored a brilliant goal for the Spanish champions, with Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo also finding the net at La Cartuja stadium in Seville. Betis, third, had Facundo Bernal sent off for a headbutt on Yamal early in the second half of a pulsating clash. Barca set a new club record for victories at the start of a league campaign and equalled the all-time record of nine, set by Real Madrid in the 1968/69 season. Flick’s side boast 11 wins from 11 games across all competitions. “Once again the team has shown its attacking potential, but it’s also true we’re giving quite a bit away, and that’s probably where the improvement has to come from too,” Rodri told DAZN. Earlier Atletico, second, snatched a late 1-0 win at Espanyol and are five points behind Barca, while Betis are eight points adrift of the leaders and Real Madrid, fourth, host Sevilla on Sunday. Betis rested several players, including key midfielder Isco, ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Feyenoord. Manuel Pellegrini’s side still gave Barca a stern...

Read full article

More News

LOOK: Capital1 def. Zus Coffee (3-2)

Oct 20, 2026

LOOK: Capital1 def. Zus Coffee (3-2)

PVL All Filipino-Siklab Series Capital1 def. Zus Coffee, 3-2 Bella Belen Player of the Game #PVL2026

Bucks waive Kevin Porter Jr. as they finalize their season-opening roster

Oct 20, 2026

Bucks waive Kevin Porter Jr. as they finalize their season-opening roster

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks waived guard Kevin Porter Jr. on Monday after a 2025-26 season in which he led the team in assists per game and ranked second in scoring. The move came ahead of Monday's NBA roster deadline. The Bucks open their season Wednesday at Washington. Although injuries limited Porter to 38 games last season, the 6-foot-5 guard productive when available. He averaged 17.4 points, 7.4 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals. The Bucks had a surplus of guards as they retool in their first season without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was traded to Miami in the offseason. Waiving Porter should open up more playing time for younger backcourt performers such as rookie Brayden Burries and 20-year-old Kasparas Jakučionis, who will complement returning guard Ryan Rollins and 2025 All-Star Tyler Herro. Jakučionis and Herro came to Milwaukee in the Antetokounmpo trade. The Bucks selected Burries out of Arizona with the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft.

UAAP: UE's John Dexter Santos, Ateneo's Jay-M Leal handed one-game suspensions

Oct 20, 2026

UAAP: UE's John Dexter Santos, Ateneo's Jay-M Leal handed one-game suspensions

University of the East"s John Dexter Santos and Ateneo de Manila University"s Jay-M Leal have each been handed a one-game suspension by the UAAP Basketball Commissioner"s Office.

Filipino figure skater Michael Martinez announces return to competition

Oct 20, 2026

Filipino figure skater Michael Martinez announces return to competition

Filipino figure skating star Michael Christian Martinez is making a return to the competitive scene after nearly five years away, during which he focused on coaching the next generation of figure skaters.

Fifa president hopes to woo Asian football federations ahead of re-election bid

Oct 20, 2026

Fifa president hopes to woo Asian football federations ahead of re-election bid

Gianni Infantino’s campaign for re-election as Fifa president is set to move this week to Japan and a meeting scheduled for Wednesday with the Asian Football Confederation. This comes after Infantino apologised last week in Zurich, Switzerland, to Fifa’s 37-member ruling council – which he chairs – for “mistakes” he made in assembling a now-scrapped US$4.2 billion sell-off plan for the World Cup. The council is the main decision-making body at Fifa with a global spread of officials. The planned...

Elina Svitolina announces end of marriage to Gael Monfils

Oct 20, 2026

Elina Svitolina announces end of marriage to Gael Monfils

World No. 6 Elina Svitolina announced Monday that she and fellow tennis player Gael Monfils are ending their marriage.

Gawilan secures spot in LA Paralympics with Asiad Para triumph

Oct 20, 2026

Gawilan secures spot in LA Paralympics with Asiad Para triumph

NAGOYA—Filipino swim ace Ernie Gawilan struck gold here, delivering the Philippines’ first gold medal at the 5th Asian Para Games at the Rainbow Pool of the Nagoya City General Gymnasium. The 35-year-old Davao City native, who has underdeveloped extremities, swam like there was no tomorrow, winning the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 gold in four minutes

Lumbo opens defense of South Pacific crown

Oct 20, 2026

Lumbo opens defense of South Pacific crown

Jeff Lumbo comes back to the place of his first professional win and hopes to rekindle the same magic to snap what is now a year-long drought for a championship when the ICTSI South Pacific Championship gets off the ground in Davao. The Sarangani native has come agonizingly close to scoring that follow-up triumph, and

WNBA: Angel Reese's 30 points, 16 boards lead Dream to Finals-tying win

Oct 20, 2026

WNBA: Angel Reese's 30 points, 16 boards lead Dream to Finals-tying win

Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream swept Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and the New York Liberty in the WNBA semifinals earlier this month.

Foundation builds on Barotac Nuevo football heritage

Oct 20, 2026

Foundation builds on Barotac Nuevo football heritage

In Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, football is practically a way of life. But even in the quiet municipality, it takes more than just heritage to develop a steady stream of elite players. Former national player Perfecto “Pike” Braga understands that, and has taken steps to ensure that Barotac Nuevo will continue its status as a breeding

Ronaldo handed 30-day suspension after walking out on Portugal

Oct 20, 2026

Ronaldo handed 30-day suspension after walking out on Portugal

LISBON, Portugal — Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a 30-day suspension for leaving the Portuguese national team camp, the country's football federation (FPF) announced on Monday. The 41-year-old abruptly left the Portugal camp on September 30 during the UEFA Nations League, before accusing coach Jorge Jesus of breaking his word about giving him game time. Ronaldo apologised to supporters earlier in October, adding he would accept any punishment that was imposed. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, who will also have to pay a fine of 255 euros ($286), has received the minimum penalty provided for in the federation's regulations, which stipulate suspensions of between one and six months for leaving the national team. Ronaldo left Portugal's squad after first being made to warm up as a substitute against Norway on September 27 and not being brought on, and then finding out he would not start against Denmark in the match on October 1. Ronaldo's suspension takes effect from the day of the Denmark match, meaning he has already served 19 days of his ban and will complete it by the end of October. The FPF disciplinary committee said it took into account "the remorse shown in the statement" issued by Ronaldo on October 6, in which he admitted his mistake and expressed his willingness to accept a punishment. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is Portugal's all-time top goalscorer and record appearance-maker in men's international football. But in his absence, Portugal won all four of their Nations League matches and qualified for the quarter-finals with two games to spare. Portugal host Denmark on November 14 and then travel to face Wales on November 17 in their final two Nations League Group A4 matches -- by which time Ronaldo will have served his suspension. 'Putting in the work' In a social media post shortly after his walk-out, Ronaldo accused Portugal boss Jesus of breaking his word about giving him game time in Nations League matches but insisted he was not retiring from international duty. "I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team," Ronaldo posted. He said Jesus had gone back on his word about bringing him on against Norway, and then in a press conference before the Denmark match had not said a series of points they had agreed upon during a conversation beforehand. One of Ronaldo's pre-approved talking points was that Jesus had "made a mistake in asking someone of the stature of Pele or Maradona to warm up and then not sending him on in the match". Jesus, speaking several days later, said he would select Ronaldo for international duty if the forward was playing for his club Al Nassr, and was interested in being called up. Following the FPF's announcement, Ronaldo did not directly react to the news on Instagram but did post a picture of himself preparing to train with his Saudi club, accompanied with the caption, "Putting in the work".

Ben Anh Nguyễn becomes first Vietnamese driver at FIA F4 World Cup

Oct 20, 2026

Ben Anh Nguyễn becomes first Vietnamese driver at FIA F4 World Cup

The 17-year-old will make history as the first Vietnamese driver to compete in the prestigious Formula 4 event, which will take place from November 19-22 in Macau, featuring 24 promising young drivers from around the world.

Recommended