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Robert Lewandowski, after all, will be able to play the last game of the year for Barcelona this Saturday, the Catalonia derby against Espanyol. The Central Contentious Court of Madrid has granted a precautionary measure to the sanction imposed by the TAD.

Lewandowski was penalized with three games due to a gesture he made after receiving a sending-off order against Osasuna: he touched his nose. The attacker seemed to hint that the referee was under the influence of drugs.

The appeal presented by Barcelona to the Administrative Tribunal for Sport (TAD) had previously been rejected.

The Pole is the current top scorer in the Spanish league with 13 goals and would have missed the derby against Espanyol and matches with Atlético Madrid and Getafe.

Another good news for Xavi is the inclusion of Ronald Araújo in the squad. The Uruguayan defender had been injured since November and has already been discharged.

Roger Schmidt was the protagonist of an interview with UEFA, in which he underlined that “it didn’t take long to have an excellent understanding” with the players.

“The quality of life in Portugal, and particularly in Lisbon, is very high. I already knew. What I didn’t know is that people make you feel at home very quickly. It didn’t take long for there to be a very good chemistry between me and my players and we also made some very good signings. Success breeds confidence and with that, we end up getting into the right rhythm,” she said.

The German coach indicated the language as a barrier, but also a way to overcome it: «I couldn’t learn Portuguese in such a short time. Sure, now I’m working on it step by step, but I think English works very well in Portugal: almost all Portuguese people speak English and, in my experience of training abroad over the last few years, translation has never been a problem .”

Roger Schmidt confessed that one of the secrets of the Eagles’ success was the way they combine youth and experience:

«The Otamendi/António Silva duo is the mirror of our team: a young player and one who has played for City and Argentina and won a lot. The big challenge is to successfully combine all these different experiences. Of course, a young player needs more information and tactical advice, while an experienced player only needs specific instructions. It’s exciting and fun for me.”

Schmidt reviewed the group stage of the Champions League and gave a glimpse into the knockout stage: “We clearly had a complicated draw, as we took on Juventus, PSG and Maccabi. In the beginning it wasn’t important for us to finish first or second, but it’s obvious that, in the final stretch, we felt, especially after the two games against PSG, that first place was attainable. That was unlikely on the last trip. Obviously we were a bit lucky to score goals at the right time. It makes a big difference to be first or second in the draw and also play at home in the second leg. We have shown that we are able to focus on one match at a time and of course we will do that in the knockout stage as well. We have been thinking match by match throughout the season, we try to do our best in all competitions and play in the best possible way.”

Philippe Coutinho, in his second season at Aston Villa, the club with which he was signed last summer for 20 million euros, has publicly denied having asked to be transferred.

The 30-year-old player has been strongly associated with the Corinthians interest, but through social media he has decided to make a stand.

“In the last few days I’ve seen a lot of news with my name on them, but so far so good. The problem is that some lies have started and I want to clarify. Never and at no time has there been talk of me asking to leave the club, also because I’m happy here and so are my family. My only goal now that I’ve recovered from my injury is to work hard every day to play at the highest level and help the club and my team-mates achieve our goals.”

Nuno Gomes, who played with Rui Costa at Benfica, Fiorentina and the national team, sees “with great satisfaction the work done by Rui up to now as president”.

“He is demonstrating that the experience gained as a player and coach, as well as the love he has for the club, are strengths that help Benfica move in the right direction,” he underlines.

On a more personal note, the former striker says: “I am also delighted to see a former professional colleague succeed in such a prestigious role. I’m sure if you follow your heart and intuition, Benfica fans will be able to rest easy for many years to come. As a friend and a Benfica fan, I wish him all the best and much success in front of the biggest Portuguese club, Benfica.”

Return to the Spanish championship after the World Cup, a theme that could not be missing from Carlo Ancelotti’s press conference, before the match against Valladolid. The Italian was asked if, now that he is world champion, Lionel Messi can be called the best player in history.

“It’s hard to say. Messi has done very well, he’s a great player and his career continues with a World Cup win. I honestly don’t know the best of the story. It’s not fair, every season he has and will have very important players. I don’t think so. it will come out of the mouth that he is the best in history. I have seen many excellent players, I have seen Maradona, Cruyff, every day I train for the Ballon d’Or [Benzema]… I don’t know who is the best.”

Speaking of Benzema, the coach once again underlined that the Frenchman is ready to play, after being sacked before the start of the World Cup due to an alleged injury: “He returned from vacation on the 10th and was fine. He worked with the team and played two games, played half an hour and 45 minutes. I think he will show the he quality of him ”.

Ancelotti went back to talking about the free position for the Brazil coach: “If they’re interested they haven’t called me, but thank you. My situation is clear: I will stay here, I will never tell Real that the adventure is over.”

Jorge Costa, under-20 world champion with Rui Costa as his partner, rival with a dragon on his chest on many occasions, had words that reveal friendship and affection for the Benfica president.

Speaking about the A BOLA award, Jorge Costa said: “The truth is that it doesn’t surprise me and this must be the future. No doubt Rui this year, when he started to prove himself as president, showed his ability to him. What he is doing is proof that football should be given to footballers and that they have been in football, from the very beginning, to serve it and not to use it. Clubism aside, as a lifelong friend, Rui deserves all the success in the world.”