Valencia

By Richard MartinBARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona have signed defender Jeison Murillo on a six-month loan from fellow La Liga side Valencia, the Spanish champions said on Thursday.gi "FC Barcelona and Valencia CF have reached an agreement for the transfer of Jeison Murillo for the remainder of the 2018/19 season. The agreement includes a purchase option worth 25 million euros (£22.6 million)," Barca said in a statement.Barca's defence has been left short due to France centre back Samuel Umtiti needing treatment on his knee and Thomas Vermaelen, whose Nou Camp career has been blighted by injury, being ruled out for at least a month with a calf problem.Murillo, 26, moved from Colombia to Italy aged 18 to play for Udinese, later joining Spain's Granada before moving to Inter Milan in 2015. He joined Valencia on loan in 2017, making a permanent move in August for a reported 12 million euros, but has made only three appearances in all competitions this season.The defender has been … [Read more...] about Barca sign defender Murillo on loan from Valencia

VALENCIA (Reuters) - Manchester United endured an undignified end to their topsy-turvy Champions League group stage campaign by losing 2-1 at already-eliminated Valencia on Wednesday and missing their chance of topping Group H.United were already guaranteed a last-16 berth but needed to win and to see Juventus lose to group minnows Young Boys if they were to take the top spot.gi One-half of the unlikely scenario materialised as the Swiss side beat the Italian giants 2-1 but United blew their chance with a defeat that consigned them to second place in Group H.Carlos Soler put the La Liga side ahead in the 17th minute with a powerful finish before United defender Phil Jones scored an embarrassing own goal at the start of the second half to double Valencia's lead.Substitute Marcus Rashford gave them brief hope of a comeback by heading home in the 87th minute after a rare bright passage of play from the visitors, but Valencia comfortably saw out the victory.Juventus finished top of the … [Read more...] about United lose 2-1 at Valencia and blow chance of top spot

VALENCIA (Reuters) - Valencia's record signing Goncalo Guedes is expected to be out for up to two months after deciding to undergo surgery to treat a hernia problem, the La Liga club said in a statement on Wednesday. The Portugal winger made a permanent move to Valencia from Paris St Germain last August for 40 million euros ($45 million)after an impressive season on loan but has so far failed to live up to his price tag, failing to score in 10 league games. Guedes, 22, has started Valencia's last four league outings but has lacked the speed and explosiveness which helped the club finish fourth in La Liga last season to qualify for the Champions League. His decline has mirrored that of his side, who have only won three league games and are 15th in the standings. They were eliminated from the Champions League but have qualified for the last 32 of the Europa League. (Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Toby Davis) … [Read more...] about Valencia’s record-signing Guedes to undergo surgery

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid produced another unconvincing display on Saturday but rode their luck to earn a 2-0 win at home to Valencia which allowed them to climb to fifth in the La Liga standings and soothe their recent troubles.The European champions, who were humbled 3-0 by tiny Eibar last week, took a fortuitous lead when Valencia midfielder Daniel Wass nodded a Dani Carvajal cross into his own net in the eighth minute after former Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista had failed to clear the danger.gi The visitors, knocked out of the Champions League in mid-week, let Madrid off the hook on three occasions in the second half when Santi Mina and Paulista failed to hit the target with glorious chances from inside the area. Valencia's Michy Batshuayi was then denied by his fellow Belgian and former Chelsea team mate Thibaut Courtois in the Real goal and moments later, down the other end, Lucas Vazquez sealed a barely deserved yet vital win in the 83rd minute, completing a quick-fire … [Read more...] about Real Madrid fumble their way to victory over Valencia

(Reuters) - Italian Andrea Dovizioso mastered wet conditions in a dramatic two-part race to win the MotoGP season finale at the Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday.The Ducati rider twice passed Suzuki's Alex Rins, the long-time leader, before and after a 40-minute red-flag stoppage to record his fourth victory of the season.gi A crash for seven-times champion Valentino Rossi with five laps to go handed Pol Espargaro and KTM their first podium in the premier class.Rossi still secured third place in the championship ahead of Yamaha team mate and pole-sitter Maverick Vinales, who was one of several riders to crash out as conditions took a turn for the worse.Marc Marquez, who wrapped up his fifth world title with three races to spare in Japan last month, went down with 21 laps to go after starting fifth. The red flags were out on lap 15, and the race order was rolled back to lap 13.Spaniard Rins held the lead off the line but Dovizioso passed him on the main straight on the next lap, before … [Read more...] about Dovizioso wins thrilling MotoGP season finale in Valencia