La Liga: Barcelona bank on rejuvenated Philippe Coutinho for Valencia test

Agencies
February 1, 2019

Jan 1: Since joining La Liga leaders Barcelona just over a year ago, Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho has endured a mixed time in Catalonia.

He joined Barcelona to much fanfare for a club record 142 million pounds from Liverpool and was hailed as the long-term replacement for former Spain international Andres Iniesta.

But Coutinho has often failed to replicate his Premier League performance levels at the Nou Camp, playing second fiddle to fellow big-money arrival Ousmane Dembele.

With the Frenchman injured, however, pressure has grown on Coutinho to up his game and he is finally showing glimpses of his true potential.

A starring role with two goals in the 6-1 Copa del Rey second-leg win over Sevilla in midweek was his best performance in a Barca shirt and fans will be hoping for more of the same when fellow Cup semi-finalists Valencia visit on Saturday.

“He’s a brave player who always tries things and takes risks,” coach Ernesto Valverde said of his number seven.

“Hopefully, this performance is something that can give him more confidence.

“We’ve now got a game against a side who also had a really intense Copa match and there’s little time to recover. I’ll have to pick a side to get the three points and we know that next week we’ll have another game, too.”

Valencia endured a disappointing first half of the season but four wins from five matches in all competitions, including a stoppage-time Copa victory over Getafe, has lifted them to seventh in the La Liga standings.

Third-placed Real Madrid, who sit 10 points behind leaders Barca, host fifth-placed Alaves on Sunday. Gareth Bale returned from his latest injury setback last weekend and is set to reclaim his place in the frontline alongside Karim Benzema.

Doubts remain, however, over the futures of midfielder Isco and full back Marcelo, with both struggling for game time at the Bernabeu since the Argentine took over.

Elsewhere, former Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata looks set to make his Atletico Madrid debut when they visit Betis on Sunday, while Real Sociedad host Athletic Bilbao in the Basque derby on Saturday.

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News Network
March 27,2020

New Delhi, Mar 27: India skipper Virat Kohli on Friday made a heartfelt appeal to the citizens of the country, asking them to follow social distancing as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus pandemic.
He also went on to say that over the past few days, he has seen some people still taking to the streets, and added that if people still continue to venture out, then they are not being honest with the country.
Kohli released a small video clip on Twitter, making the public appeal and captioned the post as: "Please wake up to the reality and seriousness of the situation and take responsibility. The nation needs our support and honesty"
"Today, I am talking to you as a citizen of the country. Whatever I have seen over the past few days, I have seen people not following the lockdown, it has made me feel that some people are taking the battle against COVID-19 very lightly. I request you all to please follow social distancing, whatever the government is asking you to do, please follow it," Kohli said in the video released on Twitter.
"Think about what can happen to your family members because of your negligence. Our medical experts are fighting this battle day in and day out. If you are still going out to the streets, then I don't think you are being honest to your country," he added.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to impose a 21-day lockdown in the country as a precautionary measure against coronavirus.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases have risen to 724 in India (including 640 active cases, 66 cured or discharged people) and 17 deaths.
The World Health Organisation had termed the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic on March 11. 

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News Network
March 13,2020

Mar 13: The start of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the world's most lucrative cricket competition, has been postponed from March 29 until April 15 over the coronavirus, the Indian cricket board said Friday.

"The Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to suspend IPL 2020 till 15th April 2020, as a precautionary measure against the ongoing Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation," the BCCI said in a statement.

The two-month Twenty20 competition is estimated to generate more than $11 billion for the Indian economy and involves cricket's top international stars.

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News Network
March 5,2020

Mumbai, Mar 5: Former India spinner Sunil Joshi was on Wednesday named chairman of the national selection panel by the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), which also picked ex-pacer Harvinder Singh to the five-member group.

The CAC, comprising Madan Lal, R P Singh and Sulakshana Naik, picked the two selectors with Joshi replacing South Zone representative MSK Prasad.

In an unprecedented decision, the BCCI said the CAC will review the panel's performance after one year and make recommendations accordingly.

"The committee recommended Sunil Joshi for the role of chairman of the senior men's selection committee. The CAC will review the candidates after a one-year period and make the recommendations to the BCCI," read a statement from BCCI Secretary Jay Shah.

Harvinder was chosen from central zone and replaces Gagan Khoda in the panel.

The existing members of the selection panel are Jatain Paranjpe, Devang Gandhi and Sarandeep Singh.

"We have picked the best guys for the job," Lal told news agency.

The CAC had shortlisted five candidates for interviews -- Joshi, Harvinder, Venkatesh Prasad, Rajesh Chauhan and L S Sivaramakrishnan -- from a list of 40 applicants.

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