La Liga action begins under shadow of terror

Madrid, August 18 

Spain’s La Liga returns today under the shadow of terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils that left 14 killed and more than a hundred injured.

The league’s authorities still plan for all 10 La Liga fixtures to take place, including Barcelona’s match at home to Real Betis on Sunday. All games across the top two divisions will be preceded by a minute’s silence.

Barca players held a minute’s silence before training on Friday, whilst the club published a picture of the players and coaching staff with the hashtag “TotsSomBarcelona” (“We are all Barcelona”) on its social media channels.

“As a mark of respect, the flags will fly at half-mast at the club’s facilities and the players from both teams will wear black armbands in all the club’s matches this weekend,” Barca added in a statement. Barcelona’s other top flight side Espanyol are away to Sevilla on Saturday.  Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were among those to lead tributes to the victims as the shocking events of Friday unfolded. “I want to send my condolences and all my support to the families and friends of the victims of the terrible attack in our beloved Barcelona,   in addition to totally rejecting any act of violence,” Barca forward Messi said. Ronaldo and his Real Madrid teammates also showed their solidarity with Barcelona as the two clubs’ fierce rivalry was forgotten at a tragic time.

Suarez out for a month

Luis Suarez will miss Uruguay’s World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Paraguay due to an injured right knee. 

Sigurdsson hopes for Everton debut 

Everton’s new record signing Gylfi Sigurdsson has conceded he may not be ready to play a full 90 minutes yet but hopes to be involved in Monday’s match away to Manchester City. Meanwhile, Liverpool have rejected a third bid from Barcelona for playmaker Philippe Coutinho. Reports in British media put the latest bid at $146.85 million. — Agencies