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..::Football III::..
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Cristiano Ronaldo retains Salon d'Or award
Cristiano Ronaldo has won the 2015 Salon d'Or for the best hairstyle in football after claiming 25 per cent of the vote, with over 7,000 Goal readers selecting the Real Madrid forward.
The Portugal star was picked by around a quarter of participating Goal readers from around the world for his fashionable shaved sides and quiff look. Ronaldo is seen as one of the more conventionally stylish men in football and takes great pride in his appearance on and off the pitch.
Neymar’s short-back-and-sides and mop combination finished second with 13% of the vote. The Barcelona and Brazil forward has since cut it all off but we asked readers to vote on his ‘classic’ hairstyle from earlier in the year.
Graziano Pelle’s immaculately constructed, rockabilly quiff came third with 11%. The Southampton striker is widely regarded as having the finest haircut in English football but was perhaps hindered by a lack of name recognition among fans outside the United Kingdom, Italy and Netherlands. Still, a place on the podium is no mean feat for the Azzurri attacker.
Wenger confident Arsenal can win the Premier League
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is optimistic his side can lift the league title this season, but has warned his players and the club's supporters that they have won nothing yet.
The Gunners are top of the Premier League with 39 points from 19 games, level with Leicester City, but three points clear of Manchester City and four ahead of Tottenham.
Wenger is not getting carried away by the first half of their season, but knows Arsenal are in a good position to win their first Premier League title since 2003-04.
"I'm confident [about our title chances]. There is still a long way to go, though. We're only half-way. Everyone wants to predict who can win it, but it's only half-way," the Frenchman told a news conference.
"We have to rise above that and show we can deal with all that [pressure]. But you cannot rule us out. We are first after 19 games. We are fighting hard to stay there. We have a chance and want to fight for it.
"We have matured and the most important thing is that we know we gave everything at the end of the season. If a team is better than us, fair enough. But we must give everything.
"We have to focus on ourselves rather than looking at who will be our biggest rivals in the title race."
Arsenal host Newcastle on Saturday as they aim to hold on to top spot, but Wenger claimed Steve McClaren's men will not be pushovers, irrespective of their disappointing first half of the season.
"Newcastle have had a difficult start, but they have had some good performances in away games," Wenger said. "Newcastle are a very exciting project. It's a huge club with a lot of potential.
"McClaren deserves time. It's a long-term job. You cannot transform a club of that stature within six months. Patience is not a quality we have much of in society, but you need it in football."
Wenger will have to make do without the services of forward Alexis Sanchez on Saturday, who is instead targeting a return against Sunderland, but midfielder Mathieu Flamini is expected to be fit.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is optimistic his side can lift the league title this season, but has warned his players and the club's supporters that they have won nothing yet.
The Gunners are top of the Premier League with 39 points from 19 games, level with Leicester City, but three points clear of Manchester City and four ahead of Tottenham.
Wenger is not getting carried away by the first half of their season, but knows Arsenal are in a good position to win their first Premier League title since 2003-04.
"I'm confident [about our title chances]. There is still a long way to go, though. We're only half-way. Everyone wants to predict who can win it, but it's only half-way," the Frenchman told a news conference.
"We have to rise above that and show we can deal with all that [pressure]. But you cannot rule us out. We are first after 19 games. We are fighting hard to stay there. We have a chance and want to fight for it.
"We have matured and the most important thing is that we know we gave everything at the end of the season. If a team is better than us, fair enough. But we must give everything.
"We have to focus on ourselves rather than looking at who will be our biggest rivals in the title race."
Arsenal host Newcastle on Saturday as they aim to hold on to top spot, but Wenger claimed Steve McClaren's men will not be pushovers, irrespective of their disappointing first half of the season.
"Newcastle have had a difficult start, but they have had some good performances in away games," Wenger said. "Newcastle are a very exciting project. It's a huge club with a lot of potential.
"McClaren deserves time. It's a long-term job. You cannot transform a club of that stature within six months. Patience is not a quality we have much of in society, but you need it in football."
Wenger will have to make do without the services of forward Alexis Sanchez on Saturday, who is instead targeting a return against Sunderland, but midfielder Mathieu Flamini is expected to be fit.
Hiddink keen to keep Fabregas and Remy
Guus Hiddink has played down speculation linking Cesc Fabregas and Loic Remy with moves away from Chelsea in January, but remains open to the possibility of new arrivals.Fabregas did not feature in the 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Monday, with reports suggesting the Spain midfielder had asked for a transfer.
Aston Villa boss Remi Garde, meanwhile, has expressed an interest in signing Remy on loan.
But interim Blues boss Hiddink told a media conference on Wednesday: "I think we need all our players here until the end of the season. Chelsea is still in a position where it needs to improve."We need all players for the moment so we don't talk about rumours wherever they come from.
"[Fabregas is] coming in with a smile on his face and I like that, when players do not come in with a worn-out face."
Hiddink has injury doubts over Remy (calf), Radamel Falcao (muscle) and Gary Cahill (ankle) ahead of Sunday's visit to Crystal Palace.
Asked about the prospect of January arrivals, Hiddink added: "We of course know that the window is wide open so we'll see."I'm not going to talk too much in advance as it's a little bit when or if. I'll talk inside our house.
"If you see our previous match when Diego [Costa] was out, plus we have some other injured players - I hope they recover fast to be available."We need double occupation for all positions but that's not to say anything about the near or short-term future."
Guus Hiddink has played down speculation linking Cesc Fabregas and Loic Remy with moves away from Chelsea in January, but remains open to the possibility of new arrivals.Fabregas did not feature in the 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Monday, with reports suggesting the Spain midfielder had asked for a transfer.
Aston Villa boss Remi Garde, meanwhile, has expressed an interest in signing Remy on loan.
But interim Blues boss Hiddink told a media conference on Wednesday: "I think we need all our players here until the end of the season. Chelsea is still in a position where it needs to improve."We need all players for the moment so we don't talk about rumours wherever they come from.
"[Fabregas is] coming in with a smile on his face and I like that, when players do not come in with a worn-out face."
Hiddink has injury doubts over Remy (calf), Radamel Falcao (muscle) and Gary Cahill (ankle) ahead of Sunday's visit to Crystal Palace.
Asked about the prospect of January arrivals, Hiddink added: "We of course know that the window is wide open so we'll see."I'm not going to talk too much in advance as it's a little bit when or if. I'll talk inside our house.
"If you see our previous match when Diego [Costa] was out, plus we have some other injured players - I hope they recover fast to be available."We need double occupation for all positions but that's not to say anything about the near or short-term future."
Moyes: I'd take the Manchester United job again
David Moyes says he would take the Manchester United job again if it was offered to him.
The Scot left Everton for United in 2013 to replace Sir Alex Ferguson, but was sacked the following year with the club languishing a long way from the Champions League places.
He’s since managed Real Sociedad - who also sacked him in November of this year - but says he has no regrets about taking the top job at Old Trafford and that he would take it on again.
“Would I take the job again? Of course I would,” he told The Clare Balding Show on BT Sport. “There are very few managers in the world who wouldn’t want to manage Manchester United.
"I would have only done it different [first time] if I’d known it was 10 months instead of 6 years, though.
“My understanding was that I was going to a club which always looked after their managers, even when they were in trouble and it wasn’t going well, you got your time to sort things out.”
However, Moyes doesn’t expect to be offered the role again and suggested United give Louis van Gaal the time which was not afforded to him. The Dutchman is under immense pressure following an eight-game winless run in all competitions.
“I hope they stick with Louis Van Gaal, he deserves more time, it’s still a work in progress for him,” Moyes added.“He’s made some signings, from my experience in Spain it will take time for players from abroad to settle in.
“So, I think they should stick with it. They don’t want to become a club which continuously changes their manager.”
Real Madrid 3-1 Real Sociedad: Ronaldo brace secures win for under-fire Benitez
Cristiano Ronaldo recovered from a missed penalty to score twice as Real Madrid beat luckless Real Sociedad 3-1 on Wednesday, easing the pressure on coach Rafael Benitez.
Despite signing off for the mid-winter break with a 10-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano, Benitez remained under scrutiny and spoke of a "campaign" against the club in midweek before Ronaldo lifted the mood at a largely downbeat Santiago Bernabeu.
The visitors - who lost Imanol Agirretxe and Sergio Canales to injuries in the first half - had conceded 22 goals on their previous five La Liga visits to the Bernabeu and were given a let-off when Ronaldo faltered from the spot 24 minutes in.
But when Madrid - without injured captain Sergio Ramos - earned another generous spot-kick before half-time, the Portugal star converted to quell the jeers.
Ronaldo was whistled after his initial miss and the atmosphere again turned sour when Bruma swept home his first La Liga goal four minutes into the second half.
However, Ronaldo came to the rescue again with a well-taken volley after the hour before substitute Lucas Vazquez registered his first Madrid goal late on to give Benitez breathing space despite rounding off 2015 with a somewhat lacklustre display.Former Madrid man Canales shot high and wide a minute in before Pepe's header was smartly tipped over by Geronimo Rulli in Madrid's first sight on goal.
Rulli remained busy early on, denying Ronaldo one-on-one following a quick break before saving Benzema's strike down to his right.Keylor Navas was then off his line quickly to thwart Agirretxe at the other end as he evaded Nacho 13 minutes in - the Sociedad man forced off as a result of a heavy collision with the goalkeeper.
Ronaldo then spurned a golden opportunity to open the scoring and improve the atmosphere at the Bernabeu when he put his first penalty over the crossbar following a very soft award.
Benzema went down under minimal contact to earn the spot-kick prior to Ronaldo's miss and, after Jonathas and Luka Modric went close at either end, Ronaldo was given another chance from the spot.Gareth Bale's cross bounced off Yuri's leg and onto his hand, with Ronaldo making amends to finish down to Rulli's left.
Canales' withdrawal before the interval, having torn an anterior cruciate ligament, added to Sociedad frustrations but they levelled four minutes into the second half courtesy of Bruma's stunning strike.The winger curled an effort past Danilo and Navas after Jonathas had outmuscled Pepe in the build-up, leading to renewed jeers prior to Bruma going close again soon after - only to be let down by a bad touch when bearing down on Navas.
Mateo Kovacic's arrival in place of James Rodriguez did little to appease the Bernabeu but Ronaldo's quality came to the fore when he connected with Marcelo's corner to angle a volley through a crowd of players and past Rulli.
Sociedad struggled to recover from Ronaldo's 57th goal of the year for club and country and when Vazquez collected Bale's cross to tuck home a third, Madrid were guaranteed the points with a result that keeps the heat on fellow title-chasers Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, who play later on Wednesday.
Cristiano Ronaldo recovered from a missed penalty to score twice as Real Madrid beat luckless Real Sociedad 3-1 on Wednesday, easing the pressure on coach Rafael Benitez.
Despite signing off for the mid-winter break with a 10-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano, Benitez remained under scrutiny and spoke of a "campaign" against the club in midweek before Ronaldo lifted the mood at a largely downbeat Santiago Bernabeu.
The visitors - who lost Imanol Agirretxe and Sergio Canales to injuries in the first half - had conceded 22 goals on their previous five La Liga visits to the Bernabeu and were given a let-off when Ronaldo faltered from the spot 24 minutes in.
But when Madrid - without injured captain Sergio Ramos - earned another generous spot-kick before half-time, the Portugal star converted to quell the jeers.
Ronaldo was whistled after his initial miss and the atmosphere again turned sour when Bruma swept home his first La Liga goal four minutes into the second half.
However, Ronaldo came to the rescue again with a well-taken volley after the hour before substitute Lucas Vazquez registered his first Madrid goal late on to give Benitez breathing space despite rounding off 2015 with a somewhat lacklustre display.Former Madrid man Canales shot high and wide a minute in before Pepe's header was smartly tipped over by Geronimo Rulli in Madrid's first sight on goal.
Rulli remained busy early on, denying Ronaldo one-on-one following a quick break before saving Benzema's strike down to his right.Keylor Navas was then off his line quickly to thwart Agirretxe at the other end as he evaded Nacho 13 minutes in - the Sociedad man forced off as a result of a heavy collision with the goalkeeper.
Ronaldo then spurned a golden opportunity to open the scoring and improve the atmosphere at the Bernabeu when he put his first penalty over the crossbar following a very soft award.
Benzema went down under minimal contact to earn the spot-kick prior to Ronaldo's miss and, after Jonathas and Luka Modric went close at either end, Ronaldo was given another chance from the spot.Gareth Bale's cross bounced off Yuri's leg and onto his hand, with Ronaldo making amends to finish down to Rulli's left.
Canales' withdrawal before the interval, having torn an anterior cruciate ligament, added to Sociedad frustrations but they levelled four minutes into the second half courtesy of Bruma's stunning strike.The winger curled an effort past Danilo and Navas after Jonathas had outmuscled Pepe in the build-up, leading to renewed jeers prior to Bruma going close again soon after - only to be let down by a bad touch when bearing down on Navas.
Mateo Kovacic's arrival in place of James Rodriguez did little to appease the Bernabeu but Ronaldo's quality came to the fore when he connected with Marcelo's corner to angle a volley through a crowd of players and past Rulli.
Sociedad struggled to recover from Ronaldo's 57th goal of the year for club and country and when Vazquez collected Bale's cross to tuck home a third, Madrid were guaranteed the points with a result that keeps the heat on fellow title-chasers Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, who play later on Wednesday.
Inter 0-1 PSG: Augustin strike seals friendly win
Teenager Jean-Kevin Augustin scored the winner as Paris Saint-Germain beat Inter 1-0 in a friendly in Qatar on Wednesday.
The leaders of Ligue 1 and Serie A went head-to-head in Doha as they bid to maintain their fitness levels during their respective winter breaks.
Both managers opted for strong line-ups but it was one of PSG's youngsters who struck the only goal of the game, with Augustin latching onto Marco Verratti's improvised throughball to finish smartly.The 18-year-old had gone close in the opening minute, as he quickly established an understanding with Verratti, but the young forward blazed over the crossbar.
Former Inter man Zlatan Ibrahimovic quickly got in on the action as well. He backheeled the ball into the path of Blaise Matuidi, who drove a low effort at Samir Handanovic.
The Sweden striker then brought the best out of Inter's goalkeeper with a left-foot piledriver that appeared bound for the top corner.
Verratti hit the crossbar after jinking his way to the penalty spot on the half-hour mark but the Italian's tenacity would pay off just before the interval.His persistence to win the ball afforded Augustin a chance one-on-one with Handanovic and the 18-year-old clipped a neat shot beyond the keeper.
Inter had enjoyed few chances before the break, but Stevan Jovetic should have scored five minutes into the second half, as PSG keeper Kevin Trapp denied the striker at the back post.
Adrien Rabiot then curled a neat effort over the crossbar just before the hour mark, before a string of substitutions sapped the game of momentum, with PSG holding on for the win.
Teenager Jean-Kevin Augustin scored the winner as Paris Saint-Germain beat Inter 1-0 in a friendly in Qatar on Wednesday.
The leaders of Ligue 1 and Serie A went head-to-head in Doha as they bid to maintain their fitness levels during their respective winter breaks.
Both managers opted for strong line-ups but it was one of PSG's youngsters who struck the only goal of the game, with Augustin latching onto Marco Verratti's improvised throughball to finish smartly.The 18-year-old had gone close in the opening minute, as he quickly established an understanding with Verratti, but the young forward blazed over the crossbar.
Former Inter man Zlatan Ibrahimovic quickly got in on the action as well. He backheeled the ball into the path of Blaise Matuidi, who drove a low effort at Samir Handanovic.
The Sweden striker then brought the best out of Inter's goalkeeper with a left-foot piledriver that appeared bound for the top corner.
Verratti hit the crossbar after jinking his way to the penalty spot on the half-hour mark but the Italian's tenacity would pay off just before the interval.His persistence to win the ball afforded Augustin a chance one-on-one with Handanovic and the 18-year-old clipped a neat shot beyond the keeper.
Inter had enjoyed few chances before the break, but Stevan Jovetic should have scored five minutes into the second half, as PSG keeper Kevin Trapp denied the striker at the back post.
Adrien Rabiot then curled a neat effort over the crossbar just before the hour mark, before a string of substitutions sapped the game of momentum, with PSG holding on for the win.
Rayo Vallecano 0-2 Atletico Madrid: Rojiblancos strikers rise to occasion
Atletico Madrid were made to wait against Rayo Vallecano as a two-minute double salvo from Angel Correa and Antoine Griezmann right before full time sealed a 2-0 win.
Diego Simeone's men were unable to break down the resistance of a side that capitulated 10-2 at city rivals Real Madrid before the Christmas break in fixtures.
Despite conceding double figures in his last match for Rayo, goalkeeper Yoel Rodriguez at times appeared a one-man wall at times on Wednesday, keeping out wave after wave of Atletico attacks.
The 27-year-old made excellent stops to deny Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco and Fernando Torres, and it proved much the same story in the second half as Diego Godin was denied.
Simeone turned to Correa just after the hour and the move ultimately paid dividends as he broke the deadlock after converting Thomas Partey's pass in the 88th minute.Griezmann added extra gloss to the victory two minutes later with his ninth of the campaign, sealing all three points to climb above Madrid in the table.
After soaking up early Rayo pressure, Atletico soon found their stride and began to pepper the hosts' goal with Saul Niguez and Jose-Maria Gimenez going close in the opening 10 minutes.
Ferreira Carrasco then took centre stage as he was presented with two chances in quick succession, the Belgian's first effort superbly saved by Yoel before he dragged his second wide.
Atletico's quest for the game's opening goal quickly brought another opportunity in the 21st minute as the ball broke to Griezmann in the penalty area, but his snapshot was kept out by the busy Yoel.
With the half-hour approaching Torres was given his first sight of goal, the striker bustling his way into the penalty area only to see Yoel get another strong hand to his looping effort.
The visitors did not have it all their own way, though, and were grateful to Oblak in the 35th minute as he got down well to save Javi Guerra's low effort.
Rayo continued to threaten after the restart as Bangoura met a cross-field pass on the edge of the penalty area, his first-time volley was well hit but easily held by Oblak.Slowly the game began to open up and Saul went close to breaking the deadlock just after the hour, the midfielder unable to stretch enough to convert Ferreira Carrasco's low shot.
Guerra quickly turned the focus on Atleti's goal with a surging run in the 69th minute, the striker twisting away from his marker to cross low for Bangoura, only to see Oblak make a timely interception.Diego Godin saw a header well saved by Yoel, but the goalkeeper could do nothing to deny Atletico's two late strikes.
Correa then showed composure to volley home from 15 yards to open the scoring, before Griezmann raced onto Jackson Martinez's excellent pass to chip the ball superbly over Yoel and complete Atletico's last-gasp win.
Atletico Madrid were made to wait against Rayo Vallecano as a two-minute double salvo from Angel Correa and Antoine Griezmann right before full time sealed a 2-0 win.
Diego Simeone's men were unable to break down the resistance of a side that capitulated 10-2 at city rivals Real Madrid before the Christmas break in fixtures.
Despite conceding double figures in his last match for Rayo, goalkeeper Yoel Rodriguez at times appeared a one-man wall at times on Wednesday, keeping out wave after wave of Atletico attacks.
The 27-year-old made excellent stops to deny Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco and Fernando Torres, and it proved much the same story in the second half as Diego Godin was denied.
Simeone turned to Correa just after the hour and the move ultimately paid dividends as he broke the deadlock after converting Thomas Partey's pass in the 88th minute.Griezmann added extra gloss to the victory two minutes later with his ninth of the campaign, sealing all three points to climb above Madrid in the table.
After soaking up early Rayo pressure, Atletico soon found their stride and began to pepper the hosts' goal with Saul Niguez and Jose-Maria Gimenez going close in the opening 10 minutes.
Ferreira Carrasco then took centre stage as he was presented with two chances in quick succession, the Belgian's first effort superbly saved by Yoel before he dragged his second wide.
Atletico's quest for the game's opening goal quickly brought another opportunity in the 21st minute as the ball broke to Griezmann in the penalty area, but his snapshot was kept out by the busy Yoel.
With the half-hour approaching Torres was given his first sight of goal, the striker bustling his way into the penalty area only to see Yoel get another strong hand to his looping effort.
The visitors did not have it all their own way, though, and were grateful to Oblak in the 35th minute as he got down well to save Javi Guerra's low effort.
Rayo continued to threaten after the restart as Bangoura met a cross-field pass on the edge of the penalty area, his first-time volley was well hit but easily held by Oblak.Slowly the game began to open up and Saul went close to breaking the deadlock just after the hour, the midfielder unable to stretch enough to convert Ferreira Carrasco's low shot.
Guerra quickly turned the focus on Atleti's goal with a surging run in the 69th minute, the striker twisting away from his marker to cross low for Bangoura, only to see Oblak make a timely interception.Diego Godin saw a header well saved by Yoel, but the goalkeeper could do nothing to deny Atletico's two late strikes.
Correa then showed composure to volley home from 15 yards to open the scoring, before Griezmann raced onto Jackson Martinez's excellent pass to chip the ball superbly over Yoel and complete Atletico's last-gasp win.
Ronaldo carried Madrid on his back - Benitez
Rafael Benitez paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo following Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Real Sociedad on Wednesday, stating the star carried his side to a much-needed win.The club's all-time top scorer recovered from a missed penalty to open the scoring from the spot at a second attempt, before putting Madrid back on top following Bruma's equaliser early in the second half.
And Benitez was pleased with his side's display in a match that saw saw los Blancos temporarily rise top of the table, praising the side and singling out Ronaldo for special attention."We controlled the game, apart from 10 minutes. We created many chances and if we had taken more of them we would have been more comfortable," he told reporters after the match.
"Despite missing the penalty, Ronaldo took another one and [carried] the team on his back. The whole team showed character and responsibility."If we had taken more of our chances we would have had a much more comfortable game."
Lucas Vazquez rounded off the scoring but the win was still unable to appease the crowd however, with sections of the home support in Madrid again voicing their discontent during the match that saw Madrid overtake Barcelona in the table.
Benitez has been under considerable pressure and protested against the campaign he perceived against himself, the club and president Florentino Perez, adding: "I have my opinion, some of you [the press] have yours.
"I do not doubt the objectivity of the majority of you."Nevertheless, the coach reiterated his belief that Madrid fans will get behind the team if they continue to strive for positive results.
"When the team work to their maximum, then they can show their quality," he said.
"If they maintain the motivation they showed today they will win many more games.
"Whenever we win we are happy and content, the judgement will come at the end. We are still, for me, on a good path, and we can get better."Having so many attacking players means we score more goals, but also it's a bit harder for us in defence."
Rafael Benitez paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo following Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Real Sociedad on Wednesday, stating the star carried his side to a much-needed win.The club's all-time top scorer recovered from a missed penalty to open the scoring from the spot at a second attempt, before putting Madrid back on top following Bruma's equaliser early in the second half.
And Benitez was pleased with his side's display in a match that saw saw los Blancos temporarily rise top of the table, praising the side and singling out Ronaldo for special attention."We controlled the game, apart from 10 minutes. We created many chances and if we had taken more of them we would have been more comfortable," he told reporters after the match.
"Despite missing the penalty, Ronaldo took another one and [carried] the team on his back. The whole team showed character and responsibility."If we had taken more of our chances we would have had a much more comfortable game."
Lucas Vazquez rounded off the scoring but the win was still unable to appease the crowd however, with sections of the home support in Madrid again voicing their discontent during the match that saw Madrid overtake Barcelona in the table.
Benitez has been under considerable pressure and protested against the campaign he perceived against himself, the club and president Florentino Perez, adding: "I have my opinion, some of you [the press] have yours.
"I do not doubt the objectivity of the majority of you."Nevertheless, the coach reiterated his belief that Madrid fans will get behind the team if they continue to strive for positive results.
"When the team work to their maximum, then they can show their quality," he said.
"If they maintain the motivation they showed today they will win many more games.
"Whenever we win we are happy and content, the judgement will come at the end. We are still, for me, on a good path, and we can get better."Having so many attacking players means we score more goals, but also it's a bit harder for us in defence."
Barcelona 4-0 Real Betis: Suarez steals show on Messi's 500th appearance
Lionel Messi was on target for Barcelona in his 500th appearance for the Catalan giants as they cruised to a 4-0 victory over Real Betis at Camp Nou with Luis Suarez grabbing a double.
Messi found the back of the net for the sixth time in the league this season just after the half-hour with a simple tap-in from Neymar's assist, his 292nd Liga strike.
Betis' day began to unravel with 27 minutes on the clock as goalkeeper Adan was harshly punished as he collided with Messi while making a clearance. Neymar missed the subsequent penalty but Heiko Westermann conceded an own goal as he tried to get the rebound away.
Messi then doubled the lead, and Luis Enrique's side further extended their advantage 55 seconds after the restart as Suarez converted Sergio Busquets' pass, the Uruguayan firing home Barca's 179th goal of the calendar year – eclipsing the Spanish record set in 2014 by Real Madrid.
Messi twice went close to doubling his tally with late free-kicks, only for the impressive Adan and his crossbar to repel his advances, before Suarez rounded off the scoring with his second seven minutes from time.
Victory ensures Barcelona finish 2015 top of the Liga table; while Betis - who saw coach Pepe Mel sent off for protesting against the penalty decision - reflect on a fourth league game without a win as they remain in the bottom half.
After Barca had been given a guard of honour to commemorate their five trophies won in 2015, the game took its time to spark into life with Messi uncharacteristically wasteful on his milestone appearance.
With 23 minutes on the clock the hosts were nearly punished for their profligacy as Dani Ceballos wriggled away from Dani Alves, but the Brazilian was able to recover before the teenager could pull the trigger.
Any progress Betis felt they were making was quickly halted as Barca were awarded a controversial penalty just before the half-hour.
Goalkeeper Adan raced from his line and punched clear, but his momentum saw him clatter heavily into Messi and a foul was given, much to the disgust of the visiting players and coaching staff.
While Messi received treatment off the pitch, Neymar assumed responsibilities from the spot, and his effort from 12 yards thumped against the crossbar before Westermann turned the rebound into his own net under pressure from Ivan Rakitic and Suarez.
As Betis fumed – with Mel sent to the stands – Barca took full advantage and quickly doubled their lead as Neymar and Messi combined brilliantly on the edge of the penalty area, the Brazilian's low cross finding his team-mate who duly slotted home.
Suarez quickly added a third in the opening minute of the second half as Betis were punished for giving the ball away, Busquets finding the striker who made no mistake from close range.
A Messi-Suarez-Neymar treble nearly arrived on the hour as Betis' defence began to struggle under the pressure, however the latter's effort struck the post while Messi was denied by Adan from the rebound.
With victory secured, Barca turned on the style and Messi, Suarez and Alves all went close to adding a fourth, but Adan and his crossbar kept them at bay.
The fourth did come in the closing minutes, though, as an intricate Barca move finished with a Neymar backheel to Suarez, who wrapped up the win with his second.
Lionel Messi was on target for Barcelona in his 500th appearance for the Catalan giants as they cruised to a 4-0 victory over Real Betis at Camp Nou with Luis Suarez grabbing a double.
Messi found the back of the net for the sixth time in the league this season just after the half-hour with a simple tap-in from Neymar's assist, his 292nd Liga strike.
Betis' day began to unravel with 27 minutes on the clock as goalkeeper Adan was harshly punished as he collided with Messi while making a clearance. Neymar missed the subsequent penalty but Heiko Westermann conceded an own goal as he tried to get the rebound away.
Messi then doubled the lead, and Luis Enrique's side further extended their advantage 55 seconds after the restart as Suarez converted Sergio Busquets' pass, the Uruguayan firing home Barca's 179th goal of the calendar year – eclipsing the Spanish record set in 2014 by Real Madrid.
Messi twice went close to doubling his tally with late free-kicks, only for the impressive Adan and his crossbar to repel his advances, before Suarez rounded off the scoring with his second seven minutes from time.
Victory ensures Barcelona finish 2015 top of the Liga table; while Betis - who saw coach Pepe Mel sent off for protesting against the penalty decision - reflect on a fourth league game without a win as they remain in the bottom half.
After Barca had been given a guard of honour to commemorate their five trophies won in 2015, the game took its time to spark into life with Messi uncharacteristically wasteful on his milestone appearance.
With 23 minutes on the clock the hosts were nearly punished for their profligacy as Dani Ceballos wriggled away from Dani Alves, but the Brazilian was able to recover before the teenager could pull the trigger.
Any progress Betis felt they were making was quickly halted as Barca were awarded a controversial penalty just before the half-hour.
Goalkeeper Adan raced from his line and punched clear, but his momentum saw him clatter heavily into Messi and a foul was given, much to the disgust of the visiting players and coaching staff.
While Messi received treatment off the pitch, Neymar assumed responsibilities from the spot, and his effort from 12 yards thumped against the crossbar before Westermann turned the rebound into his own net under pressure from Ivan Rakitic and Suarez.
As Betis fumed – with Mel sent to the stands – Barca took full advantage and quickly doubled their lead as Neymar and Messi combined brilliantly on the edge of the penalty area, the Brazilian's low cross finding his team-mate who duly slotted home.
Suarez quickly added a third in the opening minute of the second half as Betis were punished for giving the ball away, Busquets finding the striker who made no mistake from close range.
A Messi-Suarez-Neymar treble nearly arrived on the hour as Betis' defence began to struggle under the pressure, however the latter's effort struck the post while Messi was denied by Adan from the rebound.
With victory secured, Barca turned on the style and Messi, Suarez and Alves all went close to adding a fourth, but Adan and his crossbar kept them at bay.
The fourth did come in the closing minutes, though, as an intricate Barca move finished with a Neymar backheel to Suarez, who wrapped up the win with his second.
Lingard keen to follow in Giggs' footsteps at Man United
Breakout Manchester United star Jesse Lingard aims to follow in the footsteps of Ryan Giggs and become an Old Trafford great.
Giggs, now assistant manager to Louis van Gaal, enjoyed a hugely successful career at United, winning 13 Premier League titles and the Champions League twice before retiring in May 2014.
And Lingard - on his way to establishing himself as a first-team regular this season - confessed he sees a fitting role model in Giggs, even as he admitted he still has much to improve on.
"Giggs pretty much won everything there is to win in the game," the 23-year-old told United's website. "He made over 900 appearances for the club and always stayed loyal to Manchester United, which is really impressive."He made his debut at 17 and paved the way for youngsters here, showing what can be achieved. He came through the ranks and I know I always looked up to him.
"While you appreciate the need to be patient for your chance, you also realise he managed to get a chance at a young age. He obviously had that ability and did very well. "As soon as he was on the ball, it was very exciting because he was always going to create something. I would like to take some of that into my game."
According to Lingard, Giggs has served as an important link between the squad and Van Gaal, who succeeded David Moyes last year."It's good that he's [Giggs] stayed on at the club, obviously," he continued.
"For young players he knows their background more than the manager coming in. So it's good for him to still be around to look after us lads who want to follow in his footsteps."He is always giving advice to all the youngsters and helping us out in any way he can. Whether it's in training or on matchdays, he always gives you little tips and pointers.
"He has one-on-one chats to see how you're doing and how you're coping, stuff like that, and he will always help you out in any way he can."Lingard forced his way enjoyed a run of games ealier this campaign and has made 12 appearances in all competitions under Van Gaal, scoring once.
Breakout Manchester United star Jesse Lingard aims to follow in the footsteps of Ryan Giggs and become an Old Trafford great.
Giggs, now assistant manager to Louis van Gaal, enjoyed a hugely successful career at United, winning 13 Premier League titles and the Champions League twice before retiring in May 2014.
And Lingard - on his way to establishing himself as a first-team regular this season - confessed he sees a fitting role model in Giggs, even as he admitted he still has much to improve on.
"Giggs pretty much won everything there is to win in the game," the 23-year-old told United's website. "He made over 900 appearances for the club and always stayed loyal to Manchester United, which is really impressive."He made his debut at 17 and paved the way for youngsters here, showing what can be achieved. He came through the ranks and I know I always looked up to him.
"While you appreciate the need to be patient for your chance, you also realise he managed to get a chance at a young age. He obviously had that ability and did very well. "As soon as he was on the ball, it was very exciting because he was always going to create something. I would like to take some of that into my game."
According to Lingard, Giggs has served as an important link between the squad and Van Gaal, who succeeded David Moyes last year."It's good that he's [Giggs] stayed on at the club, obviously," he continued.
"For young players he knows their background more than the manager coming in. So it's good for him to still be around to look after us lads who want to follow in his footsteps."He is always giving advice to all the youngsters and helping us out in any way he can. Whether it's in training or on matchdays, he always gives you little tips and pointers.
"He has one-on-one chats to see how you're doing and how you're coping, stuff like that, and he will always help you out in any way he can."Lingard forced his way enjoyed a run of games ealier this campaign and has made 12 appearances in all competitions under Van Gaal, scoring once.
Ibrahimovic insists he 'needs' Lavezzi to stay
Zlatan Ibrahimovic insists he needs Ezequiel Lavezzi to stay at Paris Saint-Germain despite reports linking him with a move to Inter.
The 30-year-old has scored three goals in 20 appearances for PSG this season, but several reports suggest that the French champions are looking to cash in on the Argentine, whose contract expires in the summer.
And when asked about Lavezzi’s potential exit to Serie A, Ibrahimovic replied: “No, at PSG. I need him!”
The Sweden international also insists he is happy at PSG despite speculation in the summer surrounding his own future.
I'm happy here, but I do not know what will happen,” said the striker.
“I have a great relationship with PSG.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic insists he needs Ezequiel Lavezzi to stay at Paris Saint-Germain despite reports linking him with a move to Inter.
The 30-year-old has scored three goals in 20 appearances for PSG this season, but several reports suggest that the French champions are looking to cash in on the Argentine, whose contract expires in the summer.
And when asked about Lavezzi’s potential exit to Serie A, Ibrahimovic replied: “No, at PSG. I need him!”
The Sweden international also insists he is happy at PSG despite speculation in the summer surrounding his own future.
I'm happy here, but I do not know what will happen,” said the striker.
“I have a great relationship with PSG.”
Mourinho 'offered' manager's job in Brazil
Manchester United may not have moved for Jose Mourinho yet, but one club in Brazil have made their offer public.
Ibis Sport Club, a Brazilian team based in Recife, have published a letter to the former Chelsea manager outlining their proposal, which includes a food hamper as his monthly salary and bonuses for every game he loses.
And if that doesn’t sway Mourinho, there’s also the clause that he will be sacked if he manager to guide the team to a title win.
If you hadn’t already guessed, Ibis’ offer is a joke which was made on December 28 - other wise known as 'Dia de los inocentes’, the equivalent to April Fool's Day.
Ibis are also known as the worst team in the world after going three years and 11 months without a win between 1980 and 1984.
Manchester United may not have moved for Jose Mourinho yet, but one club in Brazil have made their offer public.
Ibis Sport Club, a Brazilian team based in Recife, have published a letter to the former Chelsea manager outlining their proposal, which includes a food hamper as his monthly salary and bonuses for every game he loses.
And if that doesn’t sway Mourinho, there’s also the clause that he will be sacked if he manager to guide the team to a title win.
If you hadn’t already guessed, Ibis’ offer is a joke which was made on December 28 - other wise known as 'Dia de los inocentes’, the equivalent to April Fool's Day.
Ibis are also known as the worst team in the world after going three years and 11 months without a win between 1980 and 1984.
Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool: Benteke repays Klopp faith with winner
Christian Benteke vindicated Jurgen Klopp's decision to start him in Liverpool's visit to Sunderland as he netted the game's only goal in Wednesday's 1-0 win.
Doubts have persisted over whether the Belgian marksman suited the German's style of football, but the former proved his worth as he bagged the Reds' winner against Leicester City on Boxing Day.
Klopp rewarded the striker by naming Benteke in his starting XI at the Stadium of Light, and it was a decision that proved vital as the striker bagged his second crucial goal in as many games.
It fell to the former Aston Villa man to break the deadlock after a goalless first half when Adam Lallana threaded the ball through to him, with the 25-year-old doing the rest of the work to find the back of the net.
He then had the chance to double his and the Reds' tally right before the full-time whistle went, but fired straight at Vito Mannone when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Benteke's sixth goal in seven games against the Black Cats was borne out of sloppy Sunderland play, which Sam Allardyce has failed to eradicate fully since replacing Dick Advocaat.
After highlight wins over Chelsea and Manchester City were followed by worrying defeats to Newcastle United and Watford, Klopp may well have been pleased with the grit Liverpool have shown after drawing level with sixth-placed Manchester United on the back of consecutive clean sheets.
With Divock Origi adding to Klopp's lengthy injury list, Benteke again proved the hero, acting in tandem with Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino to shoulder the visitors' attacking burden.
Firmino could only scuff the ball out of play early on after former Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates' jittery clearance gave Coutinho the chance to drive forward.
Jermain Defoe's strike forced Simon Mignolet into his first stop and at the other end, after a Coutinho free-kick hit the roof of the net, Firmino drew a stunning save out of Mannone, who got fingertips to divert the Brazilian's swerving 25-yarder onto the left-hand post.
Allardyce was forced into a change on the half-hour as the injury-plagued Jack Rodwell, one of four changes to the side that had lost to Manchester City, was forced off and replaced by Duncan Watmore.
The striker's energetic introduction - chasing down and tackling Nathaniel Clyne to appreciative home cheers - seemed to energise Sunderland, Fabio Borini and Adam Johnson shooting off target as the hosts gained momentum before the break.
But they totally failed to carry that into the second half and Benteke put Liverpool ahead with a calm finish after Lallana prodded Clyne's diagonal pass beyond the Sunderland defence.Allardyce's frustrations deepened as Coates limped off and Kone's imminent arrival will help soothe a backline wrecked by injuries.
Sunderland's inability to penetrate a Liverpool defence that has shown signs of weakness all season left many in the stands to quietly ponder what 2016 will bring, though Benteke ponderously wasting a chance one-on-one in stoppage time - as he did on Boxing Day - raised a mirthful cheer from the otherwise frustrated home fans.
Christian Benteke vindicated Jurgen Klopp's decision to start him in Liverpool's visit to Sunderland as he netted the game's only goal in Wednesday's 1-0 win.
Doubts have persisted over whether the Belgian marksman suited the German's style of football, but the former proved his worth as he bagged the Reds' winner against Leicester City on Boxing Day.
Klopp rewarded the striker by naming Benteke in his starting XI at the Stadium of Light, and it was a decision that proved vital as the striker bagged his second crucial goal in as many games.
It fell to the former Aston Villa man to break the deadlock after a goalless first half when Adam Lallana threaded the ball through to him, with the 25-year-old doing the rest of the work to find the back of the net.
He then had the chance to double his and the Reds' tally right before the full-time whistle went, but fired straight at Vito Mannone when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Benteke's sixth goal in seven games against the Black Cats was borne out of sloppy Sunderland play, which Sam Allardyce has failed to eradicate fully since replacing Dick Advocaat.
After highlight wins over Chelsea and Manchester City were followed by worrying defeats to Newcastle United and Watford, Klopp may well have been pleased with the grit Liverpool have shown after drawing level with sixth-placed Manchester United on the back of consecutive clean sheets.
With Divock Origi adding to Klopp's lengthy injury list, Benteke again proved the hero, acting in tandem with Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino to shoulder the visitors' attacking burden.
Firmino could only scuff the ball out of play early on after former Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates' jittery clearance gave Coutinho the chance to drive forward.
Jermain Defoe's strike forced Simon Mignolet into his first stop and at the other end, after a Coutinho free-kick hit the roof of the net, Firmino drew a stunning save out of Mannone, who got fingertips to divert the Brazilian's swerving 25-yarder onto the left-hand post.
Allardyce was forced into a change on the half-hour as the injury-plagued Jack Rodwell, one of four changes to the side that had lost to Manchester City, was forced off and replaced by Duncan Watmore.
The striker's energetic introduction - chasing down and tackling Nathaniel Clyne to appreciative home cheers - seemed to energise Sunderland, Fabio Borini and Adam Johnson shooting off target as the hosts gained momentum before the break.
But they totally failed to carry that into the second half and Benteke put Liverpool ahead with a calm finish after Lallana prodded Clyne's diagonal pass beyond the Sunderland defence.Allardyce's frustrations deepened as Coates limped off and Kone's imminent arrival will help soothe a backline wrecked by injuries.
Sunderland's inability to penetrate a Liverpool defence that has shown signs of weakness all season left many in the stands to quietly ponder what 2016 will bring, though Benteke ponderously wasting a chance one-on-one in stoppage time - as he did on Boxing Day - raised a mirthful cheer from the otherwise frustrated home fans.
Klopp short of options as January transfer window looms for Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp detests talking about transfers and admits he is not “the biggest friend of the January window" but the Liverpool boss is now warming to the idea of a recruitment drive next month.
He may have no choice. On Boxing Day, Liverpool lost Divock Origi to a hamstring injury, while in the laboured, 1-0 victory over Sunderland on Wednesday evening, Christian Benteke was the only striker in the matchday squad.
Klopp’s options to enliven the encounter from the bench was limited: Jordon Ibe was the only name that could be counted as a potential game-changer and the 20-year-old has only just recovered from an illness. Joe Allen, who travelled with the side to the Stadium of Light, was sent home as he picked up a virus.
James Milner needs a few more days to recover from a calf complaint, while Martin Skrtel will be sidelined for another month.
And possibly most alarmingly, captain Jordan Henderson had to be replaced in the second half against his former side after he looked to be struggling with a foot injury. Liverpool’s squad is thin while the fixtures come thick and fast. Klopp understandably does not want to stock pile players, but the side are not in need of quantity, they are desperate for quality - especially in the final third.
Origi and Danny Ings suffered setbacks just as they started to demonstrate how influential they could be for Liverpool. Daniel Sturridge’s injury riddle is so complex that despite being fit, he cannot be risked as the club puts him through an intense mini pre-season to strengthen his resistance to knocks.
That leaves Benteke as the only available frontman, and while the Belgian has netted twice in two games, there is much work to be done on his overall contributions.
Klopp does not have the luxury of resting players at the moment, and given Liverpool’s packed schedule and intensive style, that could spell further injury problems.Perhaps the 48-year-old has to act on his own words now. “If we have to react, we will react,” he has alredy said.
"I'm not long enough here... maybe a player will leave, I don't know. If he comes to me and says, 'it's not a situation I want', then maybe we have to react.
"Or another injury. We have a lot of games in the transfer window so that's what I always try to say."We are not planning only to get more players and more players and more players. That's not how I think we should work. But if we have to react, we will react."
Liverpool don’t need to get more and more players. But they need to strengthen with the right ones - the type that can make the difference when the side is struggling to close out a win against a Sunderland side, who had suffered defeat in their four previous matches.
Jurgen Klopp detests talking about transfers and admits he is not “the biggest friend of the January window" but the Liverpool boss is now warming to the idea of a recruitment drive next month.
He may have no choice. On Boxing Day, Liverpool lost Divock Origi to a hamstring injury, while in the laboured, 1-0 victory over Sunderland on Wednesday evening, Christian Benteke was the only striker in the matchday squad.
Klopp’s options to enliven the encounter from the bench was limited: Jordon Ibe was the only name that could be counted as a potential game-changer and the 20-year-old has only just recovered from an illness. Joe Allen, who travelled with the side to the Stadium of Light, was sent home as he picked up a virus.
James Milner needs a few more days to recover from a calf complaint, while Martin Skrtel will be sidelined for another month.
And possibly most alarmingly, captain Jordan Henderson had to be replaced in the second half against his former side after he looked to be struggling with a foot injury. Liverpool’s squad is thin while the fixtures come thick and fast. Klopp understandably does not want to stock pile players, but the side are not in need of quantity, they are desperate for quality - especially in the final third.
Origi and Danny Ings suffered setbacks just as they started to demonstrate how influential they could be for Liverpool. Daniel Sturridge’s injury riddle is so complex that despite being fit, he cannot be risked as the club puts him through an intense mini pre-season to strengthen his resistance to knocks.
That leaves Benteke as the only available frontman, and while the Belgian has netted twice in two games, there is much work to be done on his overall contributions.
Klopp does not have the luxury of resting players at the moment, and given Liverpool’s packed schedule and intensive style, that could spell further injury problems.Perhaps the 48-year-old has to act on his own words now. “If we have to react, we will react,” he has alredy said.
"I'm not long enough here... maybe a player will leave, I don't know. If he comes to me and says, 'it's not a situation I want', then maybe we have to react.
"Or another injury. We have a lot of games in the transfer window so that's what I always try to say."We are not planning only to get more players and more players and more players. That's not how I think we should work. But if we have to react, we will react."
Liverpool don’t need to get more and more players. But they need to strengthen with the right ones - the type that can make the difference when the side is struggling to close out a win against a Sunderland side, who had suffered defeat in their four previous matches.
Manchester United Felipe Anderson wa January wala ganna try karanawa kiyala rumor 1kak yanawa.Kohomahari ganna puluwan unoth nam patta
Summer 1ke try kalath harigiye nahane
Summer 1ke try kalath harigiye nahane
Messi: Barca hungry for more silverware in 2016
Barcelona have their sights set on making the next year as trophy-laden year as 2015 was, says Lionel Messi.
The Catalan giants finished 2015 top of La Liga thanks to a 4-0 win over Real Betis on Wednesday, a game that saw Luis Enrique's side parade the five trophies they won in 2015 before kick off.
Emulating that accomplishment will not be easy for Barca, but Messi – making his 500th appearance for the club – says the squad are all focused on bringing more success to the club in the remainder of the 2015-16 campaign.
"It is difficult to improve what we did, but we'll try," said the Argentine, who netted Barca's second goal of the evening after Heiko Westermann turned into his own net, with Luis Suarez scoring a brace after half-time."We have a squad who still want to keep winning.
"It was a great year and we wanted to finish it the same way. It was a strange game [against Betis], with many things, but we got the three points."
Barcelona have their sights set on making the next year as trophy-laden year as 2015 was, says Lionel Messi.
The Catalan giants finished 2015 top of La Liga thanks to a 4-0 win over Real Betis on Wednesday, a game that saw Luis Enrique's side parade the five trophies they won in 2015 before kick off.
Emulating that accomplishment will not be easy for Barca, but Messi – making his 500th appearance for the club – says the squad are all focused on bringing more success to the club in the remainder of the 2015-16 campaign.
"It is difficult to improve what we did, but we'll try," said the Argentine, who netted Barca's second goal of the evening after Heiko Westermann turned into his own net, with Luis Suarez scoring a brace after half-time."We have a squad who still want to keep winning.
"It was a great year and we wanted to finish it the same way. It was a strange game [against Betis], with many things, but we got the three points."
Klopp fears Henderson injury blow
Jurgen Klopp has admitted he faces an agonising wait to see if he will lose captain Jordan Henderson to injury again.
The midfielder had to be replaced after 61 minutes of Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Sunderland after appearing to be troubled by discomfort in his foot.
Henderson has already missed 15 games this season following a heel problem and a metatarsal fracture, with Klopp hoping the England international isn't set for another lengthy absence.
“I can’t say anything about the problem he has now, but I hope it’s not too serious,” the Reds boss said after Wednesday's game.“I don’t really know the situation yet. It’s not perfect, otherwise we wouldn’t have taken him off, but we had to. Now we have to wait.”
Klopp also saluted the midfield partnership between Henderson and Emre Can, while praising the performance of Lucas after his second half introduction.
“All the players are important but with Emre and Hendo together, it’s a good pair usually,” he added.“Both are good technicians, fast, disciplined, mentality players and all these things. You really need players like this.
“But when Lucas came in today after two not so easy weeks for him – because he’s a player who loves football and if he doesn’t play life changes immediately – he was really prepared for this situation.”
Jurgen Klopp has admitted he faces an agonising wait to see if he will lose captain Jordan Henderson to injury again.
The midfielder had to be replaced after 61 minutes of Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Sunderland after appearing to be troubled by discomfort in his foot.
Henderson has already missed 15 games this season following a heel problem and a metatarsal fracture, with Klopp hoping the England international isn't set for another lengthy absence.
“I can’t say anything about the problem he has now, but I hope it’s not too serious,” the Reds boss said after Wednesday's game.“I don’t really know the situation yet. It’s not perfect, otherwise we wouldn’t have taken him off, but we had to. Now we have to wait.”
Klopp also saluted the midfield partnership between Henderson and Emre Can, while praising the performance of Lucas after his second half introduction.
“All the players are important but with Emre and Hendo together, it’s a good pair usually,” he added.“Both are good technicians, fast, disciplined, mentality players and all these things. You really need players like this.
“But when Lucas came in today after two not so easy weeks for him – because he’s a player who loves football and if he doesn’t play life changes immediately – he was really prepared for this situation.”
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