Raissa's Blog - Best of Sports, Culture, and Entertainment

It was another remontada for Barcelona - converting a first leg Copa del Rey semi-final loss (0-2) to Sevilla. The game was drawing to its end and a defeat seemed most likely, despite Ousmane Dembele scoring Barcelona's first in the 12th minute. Barcelona seemed unable to add to their lead after the first goal. Thankfully, Marc Andre Ter Stergen kept hope alive for Barcelona by stopping Ocampos' penalty in the 73rd minute - a penalty conceded after a clash between Oscar Mingueza and the former. Pique who has been in better form following his recovery from a knee injury netted for the Catalans in the last minute of the game, to give them a lifeline with prolongation. Credit also goes to Antoine Griezmann who carved out the chance for Pique's header with a fine cross. Martin Braithwaite sealed victory for Barcelona early on in the additional 30 minutes. On aggregate, Barcelona won 3-2 and will will either face Athletic Club or Levante at the finals.

An exposé on Brazilian football prodigy Neymar Junior by Antoine Bourlon, via Ballon d'Or awarding France Football has revealed Messi's confessions to Neymar after Barcelona suffered a shock 0-4 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals. Messi allegedly told Neymar on phone: " Only together can we win the Champions League, I want you to come back. In two years I will leave and you will take over’. Messi and majority of the Barcelona squad were looking forward to a Neymar return this season. According to Gerard Pique, several Barcelona players including Messi were willing to take a pay cut to facilitate Neymar's transfer to Camp Nou. Messi, Suarez and Neymar formed a fearsome frontline back in the day, with the trio firing the Catalans to Champions League victory in their last spell together (in 2015).  Could Messi have just been speaking in the heat and hurt of the moment? Will he end his career at Barcelona? Time w...

If you're a tennis lover, then you're probably aware that Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique revamped and organized the just ended Davis Cup - a tennis tournament designed by Rakuten World Champions that took place in Spain from Monday, November 18th 2019 to today, Sunday, November 24th.  Colombian pop-star and humanitarian Shakira - who happens to be Pique's partner and mother of their two kids - opened up the Davis Cup finale today with an electric performance of a few of her top hits, including a remix of her countryman Camilo's hit, Tutu which she performed with him and Pedro.  Shakira dazzled and thrilled the audience at Madrid performing in a navy sequinned bodysuit. The Waka Waka hitmaker was joined by four female dancers on stage. Shakira's performance was followed by the singles final match between Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada and Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain, at La Caja Magica, Madrid. In attendance were personalities such as Spain...

Ramon Besa of  El Pais  recently reported that there is a clause in Lionel Messi's contract with Barcelona - which runs until 2021 - that says he is free to walk away from Barcelona at the end of any given season. This information has been confirmed by Goal.com. Carles Puyol, Xavi and Andres Iniesta all had similar clauses in their contracts during their final years at the club. World Cup-winning defender Gerard Pique revealed he was aware of the clause but doesn't think Messi would be leaving Barcelona anytime soon. He told  Cadena Ser , "I already knew Messi is able to leave for free at the end of each season.  “But we all know the commitment Leo has to Barca and it doesn't worry me at all. He's earned the right to be able to choose what he does with his future after everything he's given the club.” 32-year-old Messi made his senior Barcelona debut at the age of 17, in 2004. Since then, he has won 10 La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions Leagu...

Philippe Coutinho hailed Lionel Messi for letting him take a confidence-boosting penalty as the Catalans demolished Sevilla 6-1 in a praiseworthy Copa del Rey quarter-final comeback on Wednesday. Coutinho struggled in the first leg of the quarter finals in which Sevilla beat Barcelona 2-0, failing to replicate his wonderful performance at Liverpool. Coutinho played a much better game today, grabbing his first opportunity after Messi was brought down by Quincy Promes in the 13th minute. Messi gave Coutinho the ball and told him to take the shot. This was the beginning of Barcelona's comeback, as Coutinho scored Barcelona's first goal of the game. He went on to score another goal, as did former Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitic, Luis Suarez, Sergi Roberto and Messi. Barcelona qualified for the Copa del Rey semi-finals with their 6-1 victory overturning the 2-0 deficit from the first leg when Barcelona captain Lionel Messi was rested by Ernesto Valverde.  Talking to Bar...

41-year-old Colombian superstar and hitmaker Shakira and her 31-year-old soccer star Gerard Pique, were  seen arriving at Barcelona airport on Sunday, December 23, for a lavish trip to Finland. The couple brought along their two children, and the children's grandparents. The pop star looked happy, relaxed and stylish, sporting black fitted trousers, a blue denim jacket, a pair of dark sunglasses and a burgundy bobble hat atop her golden locks. Pique, casually dressed wore a grey hoodie, dark jeans and a pair of black Nike trainers. See the photos below.