Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski said he was proud of his team's performance in a 2-1 comeback win at Valencia in their LaLiga season opener on Saturday, and he praised his side's youngsters who started in place of several injured players.
With Ilkay Gundogan, Pedri, Gavi, Ronald Araujo and Frenkie De Jong all out, new manager Hansi Flick gave 20-year-old academy midfielder Marc Casado his senior debut, playing alongside three 17-year-olds in Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi and Marc Bernal.
Nevertheless, Barca showed enough strength to fight back and win thanks to a Lewandowski brace.
"It was very important to start with a win in such a difficult stadium and with the problems we faced," Lewandowski told Movistar Plus.
"We didn't play well for the first 20 to 25 minutes. In the first half we had problems to get close to their box but then we started playing much better and we did it with three or four very young players.
"If you can win like this with such young players it is something special and they have shown a big potential. No signs of the lack of experience, they played very well with possession and without the ball. We could have won by a larger margin, but it's great to start the season with a win."
Arsenal delivered a statement of intent in the Premier League title race with a 5-1 hammering of champions Manchester City to close the gap at the top to six points on Sunday.
David Warner's explosive batting propelled the Dubai Capitals into the playoffs of the DP World ILT20 Season 3 after they clinched a stunning 26-run win over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Wakana Sonobe, the 17-year-old Japanese talent, showcased her unquestionable abilities by defeating Cristina Bucsa in straight sets to move into the Round of 32.
L’Étape Dubai by Tour de France made its debut in the UAE this weekend, bringing together over 1,000 cycling enthusiasts, from hobby riders and amateurs to elite athletes, and recording the highest number of participants for the first edition of any amateur cycling event in the history of the UAE.
The UAE National Olympic Committee has announced the country’s participation in the ninth Asian Winter Games, set to take place in Harbin, China, from February 7-14, with 1,500 athletes from 34 Asian Olympic committees competing.