Barcelona secured a last-gasp 4-2 win at Real Betis on Sunday, as stoppage-time goals from substitute Joao Felix and striker Ferran Torres, who completed his hat trick, helped to ease the pressure on manager Xavi Hernandez in a stuttering season. Barcelona are third in the La Liga standings on 44 points, seven behind leaders Real Madrid.
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Ivan Toney marked his return from an eight-month ban for breaking gambling rules by scoring with his first shot as Brentford registered a controversial victory in a five-goal thriller with Nottingham Forest. The visitors had taken an early lead but the Bees fought back through Toney, Ben Mee and Neal Maupay.
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Ivan Toney will captain Brentford against Nottingham Forest on Saturday when he makes his comeback after an eight-month ban from the Football Association for breaching gambling regulations. Brentford boss Thomas Frank began his press conference by confirming that 27-year-old Toney will not only start the match but lead the side out in the absence of the injured Christian Norgaard.
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Joe Schmidt is set to replace Eddie Jones as head coach of Australia with an official announcement expected in the coming days. Schmidt’s appointment will raise the tantalising prospect of a blockbuster summer 2025 when the British and Irish Lions, coached by his former Ireland mentee Andy Farrell, tour the country.
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Peter O’Mahony has been named as Ireland captain for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations. The announcement came as head coach Andy Farrell named a 34-man squad for the tournament, which begins on 2 February against France in Marseille. The 34-year-old Munster back row, who has 101 Ireland caps, is currently contracted with the IRFU until the end of the summer.
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