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Left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen’s maiden five-wicket haul, followed by Meg Lanning’s seventh ODI century helped Australia Women draw level in the three-match ODI series with comfortable eight-wicket win over New Zealand Women

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Feb-2016
ScorecardMeg Lanning’s brisk century included 12 fours and three sixes•Annette Johnston from Heddfan PhotographyLeft-arm spinner Jess Jonassen’s maiden five-wicket haul, followed by Meg Lanning’s seventh ODI century helped Australia Women draw level in the three-match ODI series with a comfortable eight-wicket win over New Zealand Women.Megan Schutt gave Australia a strong start with wickets off consecutive balls in the fourth over of New Zealand’s innings. The hosts were soon reduced to 33 for 3 by the 13th over. Captain Suzie Bates (61) then combined with Sophie Devine (67) to lift New Zealand with a 73-run fourth-wicket partnership. The stand ended when Bates was removed by Jonassen in the 32nd over, but Devine proceeded to add 66 runs with Katey Martin. Jonassen did the damage at the death as well, which meant New Zealand were kept to 206 for 9.Australia chased down the total without much trouble thanks to Lanning’s unbeaten 113-ball 114, during which she drilled 12 fours and three sixes. She found good support from Ellyse Perry who stroked her third successive half-century, as their 147-run stand took Australia home in 41 overs.With the win, Australia strengthened their position at the top of the Women’s Championship table with 22 points, while New Zealand stayed at the the No.3 position with 16 points.

Former Test paceman Trent Copeland destroyed Tasmania with a seven-wicket haul before opener Daniel Hughes scored an unbeaten century to deliver victory to New South Wales inside three days at Bellerive Oval

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Mar-2016
ScorecardFile photo – Trent Copeland finished with 7 for 58 in the second innings•Getty ImagesFormer Test paceman Trent Copeland destroyed Tasmania with a seven-wicket haul before opener Daniel Hughes scored an unbeaten century to deliver victory to New South Wales inside three days at Bellerive Oval. Chasing 149, the Blues raced to their win with only three wickets down, Hughes having dominated the scorecard with 100 not out from 89 deliveries.It was the second first-class century of Hughes’ career – both have come in the past month – and Ben Rohrer finished on 37 not out in the successful chase. Jackson Bird picked up 3 for 47 to add to his seven wickets from the first innings, giving him the third ten-wicket match of his first-class career, but it was not enough for Tasmania.They had started the morning on 3 for 59 but managed only to reach 177 due to the work of Copeland, who picked up five wickets on day three to finish with innings figures of 7 for 58. Not since he secured an eight-wicket bag on debut six years ago had Copeland achieved better figures in a first-class innings. Evan Gulbis top scored for Tasmania with 62.

West Indies Women converted their maiden appearance in a World Twenty20 final into a historic victory at Eden Gardens, beating three-time defending champions Australia Women for the first time in a T20 international

The Report by Shashank Kishore03-Apr-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsWest Indies celebrate a tremendous victory, after ending Australia’s three-tournament reign as WT20 champions•AFPWest Indies converted their maiden appearance in a World Twenty20 final into a historic victory in Kolkata, beating three-time defending champions Australia for the first time in a T20 international by pulling off the second highest chase in the tournament’s history. The heroes of the daunting pursuit were 18-year old Hayley Matthews and the captain Stafanie Taylor, whose half-centuries and 120-partnership came at more than a run a ball.Their effort left West Indies with two runs to get off four balls, and when Britney Cooper pushed to Megan Schutt at midwicket and sprinted, what should have been a run-out at the bowler’s end resulted in the overthrow that sealed the title. Their team-mates blazed a trail on to the field and the women were soon joined by the West Indies men in joyful celebrations in the middle of Eden Gardens.Those scenes scarcely seemed likely when West Indies were run ragged in the first half of the game, as half-centuries from Elyse Villani and Meg Lanning helped Australia post an imposing 148 for 5.However, Matthews and Taylor clinically brought the chase into the realms of possibility. From the 10-over mark, there was an air of inevitability to the chase as Matthews, who combined her big-hitting prowess with delicate dabs, attacked the bowling. She laid into Jess Jonassen, who had conceded only 12 off her first three overs, to turn the tide going into the last seven overs of the chase. Just like that, Australia, who had a fourth title well in their grasp for the first 25 overs of the clash, saw the trophy slipping away as their bowlers, who clinically applied the choke in a similar situation against England, fell apart under pressure.The West Indies bowlers had also come under severe pressure under the wheel of Villani and Lanning, who made 52 apiece in a dominating batting display. Lanning had enjoyed the best seat in the house as Villani peppered the leg-side field with regularity. Full tosses were swept fiercely, while short balls were pulled with disdain, with as many as six boundaries in the Powerplay overs coming between fine leg and deep square leg. Villani’s aggression helped Australia tide over the dismissal of Alyssa Healy in the second over.Hayley Matthews plays powerfully to the on side•AFPLanning had slapped her second ball into the point boundary to trigger a blaze of strokes that left West Indies playing catch-up before they could soak in the occasion. Having blasted 54 in the first six overs, Australia were on their way to an imposing total.Once the head start was achieved, both batsmen negated Anisa Mohammed’s spin threat by milking the bowling. That Taylor employed as many as six bowlers in the first eight overs showed the extent to which Australia had derailed West Indies’ plans.Dottin had been central to West Indies’ march to the final, not just with the bat but ball too. Her variations in pace and pin-point accuracy at the death had been tough to get away, but her predictability against some serious hitting by Lanning and Villani, who brought up her fifty off just 34 deliveries, failed to put the brakes on the scoring.West Indies had a wicket against the run of play, when Villani was caught at cover off a leading edge to break a 77-run partnership off just 60 deliveries. But Ellyse Perry provided a surge, and Lanning’s wrists and extraordinary strokes, aided by supreme fitness, threatened to achieve a target beyond West Indies.Australia brought up 100 in the 14th over as Lanning laid into Dottin by hitting her for three successive fours, two of which pierced a packed off-side field. Once Lanning fell for 52, it was Perry who gave the finishing touches, hitting two sixes in her 28. West Indies, though, fought back to concede just 36 off the last five overs.Something about the last over of Australia’s innings – they scored only one – fired West Indies up. For the first three overs of the chase, however, Australia put a lid on the scoring, conceding just nine runs. The defending champions began to relax, but Matthews was just getting started, unfurling boundary after boundary to build pressure on Australia.Halfway through the chase, Lanning called her team into a huddle in a bid to regroup, but to no avail. The wicket of Matthews, who miscued a pull off Kristen Beams to midwicket with West Indies needing 29 off 26 balls, came as relief rather than joy. That allowed Dottin, who had an off day with the ball, a shot at redemption, which she gleefully accepted as West Indies celebrated a historic triumph in style.

Alex Hales’ disciplined innings might look modest in the scorebook but it has kept Nottinghamshire in the game against Yorkshire as Trent Bridge saw the best of both sides.

George Dobell03-May-2016
ScorecardAlex Hales suffered an unfortunate end against one that kept low•Getty ImagesThis was the day the match promised when it appeared in the schedule. A high-class, uncompromising battle between two good quality sides. As a learning ground for Test cricket is was very good; as entertainment in its own right it was excellent.By the end of it, Yorkshire had earned themselves – oh, how they earned it – a decent chance of forcing a win on the fourth day. Courtesy of their strong lower-order and an admirably relentless performance from their four seamers, they gradually dismantled Nottinghamshire’s strong top-order through persistence and sustained skill. By the time their fifth-wicket fell, the lead was only 69.But Nottinghamshire are not out of it. Through an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 53 between Chris Read and Samit Patel, they had stretched that lead to 122 by stumps. Their seam bowling, in this match at least, has been every bit the equal of Yorkshire’s and, on a pitch showing signs of uneven bounce, a fourth-innings target of even 160 might prove plenty. It has become, in short, a beautifully poised game of high-class cricket.From the perspective of England selection, it was also helpful. Forget what the scorecard says: Alex Hales provided a good demonstration of the skills required by a Test opener in this innings and may have taken a stride towards ensuring his retention in the Test squad.It was, in some ways, a most unlike Hales innings. It took him 52 balls to reach double-figures – the same number of deliveries it had taken Liam Plunkett to thrash a half-century earlier in the game – and, instead of languid drives, it was characterised by solid defence and judicious leaves. It was, ironically, the style of innings that Nick Compton tends to play.But it was precisely what his team required and entirely appropriate to the conditions and the quality of bowling. While in South Africa he showed a tendency to push at the ball outside off stump and a lack of patience at times, here he looked as if he had the temperament and technique to cope with the opening role. There were still some elegant strokes – an on drive that took him to eight from 36 balls was the highlight – and he was close to blameless for his dismissal, bowled by one that kept horribly low. He looked as if he had matured into a Test batsman.It was, at the time, easily the most productive contribution of the Notts second innings. While Steven Mullaney was punished for playing across a trademark inswinger from David Willey – his maiden Championship wicket for Yorkshire – Greg Smith’s fairly reasonable leave was beaten by one that nipped back sharply off the pitch from the immaculate Steve Patterson. Yes, that’s a defence of a leave that resulted in a batsman being clean bowled. Michael Lumb edged a good one pushed across him before Riki Wessels was bowled through a gate so wide you could place stone lions either side of it and park your car in the middle.Patterson and Jack Brooks were infinitely more impressive than in the first innings. Both gained substantial lateral movement and both maintained such control than in their 30 overs combined, they conceded only six boundaries and a total of 51 runs.Had it not been for Patel’s intervention, Yorkshire might have wrapped up the Notts innings already. But he counterattacked with calculated aggression – Willey was punished for dropping short with three boundaries in an over, before Adil Rashid was hit over the top and out of the attack – in making a 66-ball half-century. He had to withstand a brief but impressive spell of short balls from Plunkett – never Patel’s forte – but the kick of satisfaction he gave at the close of play spoke volumes for the satisfaction he took from this innings.He had already taken a key wicket earlier in the day. His first delivery – a filthy, waist-high full toss – saw Rashid thrash the ball to the fielder on the mid-wicket fence and end a potentially vital partnership.By then, Alex Lees had already gone – adding only one to his overnight score before edging a fine delivery from the much-improved Harry Gurney – before Andrew Gale was drawn into an edge off the impressive Jake Ball.Ball was awarded his county cap during the day and has, in front of the selector James Whitaker and the TV cameras, produced a performance that may well win him inclusion in the England squad for the first Test. Perhaps, on typical Test wickets, his pace may appear a little modest but he has the height, the skill and the persistence to trouble batsmen on any surface. He is certainly a man with whom the England selectors can do business.Plunkett’s days in the Test squad may be gone. The view seems to be that, despite his pace and heart, he does not do quite enough with the ball to unlock Test line-ups. He still looks a tremendous cricketer, though, and here thrashed an important half-century that included 16 runs off one Stuart Broad over. The highlight was probably a six lofted over mid-on, but a clip off the legs for four was almost as pleasing. Later his control and pace with the ball provided the support the other seamers required.His wholehearted contribution was typical of a day in which two fine sides battled without let up and on which fortunes ebbed and flowed intriguingly. It was domestic cricket at close to its finest. An enticing final day looms.

Who are the highest earners in Major League Soccer and how much do they make? Goal runs through the 10 best-paid players in the league

Who are the top earners in Major League Soccer?

The MLS players' association released the salary numbers for the spring last week, and Goal has been diving into the numbers. 

Predictably, the top 10 earners in the league are all well-known players with global names, and the top club in the league from 2017 is well represented in the top 10 earners for 2018. 

Equally predictable is the makeup of the top 10, with only two players on the list – both Americans – not either a playmaker or an out-and-out forward for their club.

Check below to see who all made the 2018 list of the top 10 earners in MLS. 

John E. Sokolowski10Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FCAt $7.1 million (£5.3m/€6m) per year, the former Juventus star is at the top of the heap in terms of total compensation. AdvertisementOrlando Ramirez9Michael Bradley, Toronto FC

Toronto hold the top two spots, with the former Roma man coming in at $6.5m (£4.8m/€5.5m) in 2018. 

USA Today8Carlos Vela, LAFCThe top earner outside of Toronto, the Mexican star will make a whopping $6.3 million (£4.7/€5.3m) in his first year in the league. ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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USA Today7Bastian Schweinsteiger, Chicago FireThe World Cup winner is the highest-earning German player in the league and will earn $6.1 million (£4.5m/€5.2m) in 2018.

The Blues have made some fantastic purchases down the years, and here GOAL ranks the very best of them…

Chelsea became kings of the transfer market under Roman Abramovich's ownership, as they revolutionised the sport with their big spending.

However, even before the real riches arrived at Stamford Bridge, the Blues were able to make some spectacular signings on a more modest budget.

As such, GOAL picks the best 10 transfers in the club's history…

Getty ImagesEden Hazard

"I'm signing for the Champions League winner."

This dramatic tweet on 28 May 2012 kickstarted a new era of entertainment at Stamford Bridge with Eden Hazard at the helm.

After their historic Champions League final win over Bayern Munich, Chelsea secured the £32 million signing of the Belgian superstar from French champions Lille.

His performances in France attracted interest from both sides of the Manchester divide, so Chelsea's signing of Hazard was a real coup, despite not being cheap in monetary terms.

From there, Hazard lived up to his potential and went on to be the club's talisman for the next seven years.

With 110 goals 352 matches, Chelsea got the best of Hazard before selling him to Real Madrid for £88 million ($112m) plus substantial add-ons in 2019.

AdvertisementGettyGianfranco Zola

In 2003, ahead of Roman Abramovich's takeover of Chelsea, Gianfranco Zola was voted the club's greatest ever player.

Signed from Parma for £4.5m, the Italian attacker was part of an exciting Chelsea side who were able to qualify for Europe and secure a host of major cup wins.

Zola was loved by all in English football, bringing entertainment to the pitch and a positive open personality off it.

He became Chelsea's first player to win the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award in 1996–97.

His time at Stamford Bridge finished having won five major honours with Chelsea, including the Cup Winners' Cup.

It was players such as Zola that attracted Abramovich to Chelsea in the first place and, reluctantly, the legendary Blues star rejected a contract offer from the Russian oligarch in 2003 so he could play for his boyhood club Cagliari before retiring.

GettyDidier Drogba

Didier Drogba is known as 'The King' in and around Stamford Bridge.

The Ivorian arguably scored Chelsea's most important goal ever, rising highest in the 88th minute of the 2012 Champions League final to power an equalising header past Manuel Neuer.

The Blues would go on to win lift the European Cup for the first time in their history, and shortly after that, the £24m signing from Marseille was voted the club's greatest ever player in a newly commissioned poll.

Drogba was truly a big-game player and scored many of the key goals that helped him secure 12 trophies across two spells in west London.

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Getty ImagesCharlie Cooke

Chelsea signed Charlie Cooke from Dundee United for a club-record £72,000 in 1966. 

He played in a legendary side managed by Tommy Doherty that featured the likes of Peter Bonetti, Peter Osgood and Alan Hudson. 

They would go on to win the famous 1970 FA Cup final against Leeds United, which is regarded as one of the dirtiest matches in English football history. 

In the replay at Old Trafford, Cooke would set up Osgood's extra-time winning goal, and Chelsea would also win the Cup Winners' Cup against Real Madrid the following year with Cooke in their side.

He made 410 appearances for the club and he then returned as manager just two years after he left. He is credited with helping to save the club from financial ruin as he got the side promoted from the Second Division back to the top flight. 

Kylian Mbappe beat both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the number one spot of Forbes top-earning football players of 2022.

After signing a lucrative contract that keeps him in Paris till 2025, it was little surprise to see Mbappe knock Messi off the top.

However, there were a few shocks when the rankings were revealed. Several Premier League players made the list, and there was a debut appearance from a certain, all-conquering Norwegian striker.

GOAL takes a look at the complete top 10 below.

Getty ImagesKevin De Bruyne – $29m (£26.5m)

De Bruyne has cemented himself as one of the best midfielders to play in the Premier League and that comes with a significant price tag.

His two incredibly gifted feet ensure he earned $25m (£22.5m) in on the pitch revenue last year, while 11 brand deals, including one with Nike, meant he received $4m (£4m) from other endorsements.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesAndres Iniesta – $30m (£27m)

Since leaving Barcelona, Iniesta has plied his trade in Japan. His latest business ventures, such as the launch of his own signature boot aimed at the Japanese market, meant he made $5m (£4.5m) off the pitch last year.

The Spanish magician is still playing regularly and earned $25m (£22.5) on the pitch in the last 12 months.

Getty ImagesEden Hazard – $31m (£28m)

Despite limited game time since his move from Chelsea to Real Madrid, Hazard still finds himself in the top 10 for earners in world football.

The Belgium international pocketed $27m (£24m) from on the pitch deals, and $4m (£4m) from off the pitch ventures.

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Getty ImagesRobert Lewandowski – $35m (£31m)

Lewandowski made one of the highest profile moves of the summer when he ditched Munich for Catalonia. The Polish striker earned himself a hefty $8m (£7m) from off the pitch endorsements with Nike and his own clothing brand 'RL9.'

He is certainly paid his worth for the goals he scores, collecting $27m (£24m) for his efforts on the pitch last year.

The Gunners didn't waste any time getting off the mark when they travelled to Eindhoven in 2002, and will be hoping for a similar result on Thursday

It was a moment that saw Gilberto Silva write his name into the Champions League history books.

When Arsenal took on PSV on September 25, 2002, Arsene Wenger’s side were expecting a tough night against the Dutch outfit. But from the moment Gilberto struck after just 20.7 seconds, the Gunners were in cruise control.

They went on to win 4-0 at the PSV Stadion, with Gilberto’s volley from Thierry Henry’s cross breaking the previous record for the fastest-ever Champions League goal, which had been set by Alessandro Del Piero for Juventus against Manchester United.

The Brazilian’s record has gone on to be beaten since, but it’s still a moment he cherishes when he looks back on his long and illustrious career.

“It was a very happy moment,” he said. “When I knew it was the fastest goal in the competition’s history, I was amazed by the news. After, it was broken and it broke my heart a little bit!”

So now, 20 years on, where are the Arsenal starting XI that featured in that historic match? GOAL takes a look..

Getty ImagesDavid Seaman

A true Arsenal legend, Seaman won eight major trophies with the Gunners and made 564 appearances before leaving for Manchester City in 2003.

He called time on his playing days soon after and there haven’t been many TV shows that Seaman hasn’t popped up on since.

From Dancing on Ice to ‘Carp fishing with Seaman and Gazza’, the 59-year-old has done them all.

Still one of the nation’s favourite sporting personalities, Seaman often does football pundit work and also spends time working with goalkeepers at the Arsenal academy.

AdvertisementGettyLauren

What a player! An absolute warrior on the football field, Lauren is still revered at Arsenal to this day.

He won two Premier League titles during his time in north London and was a key figure in the legendary 2003-04 Invincibles side.

After leaving Arsenal, he had spells with Portsmouth and Cordoba before retiring in 2010.

He now represents Arsenal as a club ambassador and works as a football pundit on Spanish TV. Lauren also has a role working as a FIFA technical expert for talent development within African football.

Getty ImagesSol Campbell

Former Spurs star Campbell was a colossus for Arsenal after he crossed the north London divide in 2002.

The ideal replacement for Tony Adams, who was coming to the end of his career, Campbell slotted seamlessly into the back four and helped Arsene Wenger’s side win both the Premier League and the FA Cup in his first season.

Campbell was then the bedrock of the defence for the Invincibles campaign and formed an exceptional partnership with Kolo Toure.

In all, he made 146 appearances in the Premier League for Arsenal before leaving for Portsmouth in 2006.

He has had spells in management since hanging up his boots, with Macclesfield Town and most recently Southend United.

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GettyMartin Keown

Keown is now known as a football pundit and makes regular appearances on the likes of talkSPORT and BT Sport.

He did briefly move into coaching after retiring as a player, working with Arsenal for a time. He was also briefly part of the scouting team under Arsene Wenger.

As a player, Keown won three league titles during his two spells with Arsenal.

His final game for the club was against Leicester City in 2004 when Arsene Wenger’s side completed their legendary Invincibles season.

Chelsea eked out a vital 1-0 Premier League win against Crystal Palace, on a day when the club paid tribute to Gianluca Vialli

It wasn't pretty, it wasn't particularly convincing, but my word was it important.

On an emotional day at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea fans paid tribute to club legend Gianluca Vialli, the Blues ground out a precious victory against Crystal Palace which went some way to lifting the cloud of negativity that has festered in west London since before the World Cup break.

Kai Havertz, who in truth could have had a hat trick, was their saviour, leaping gracefully to divert Hakim Ziyech's perfect cross past Vicente Guaita in the Palace goal.

Potter had a hero to thank at the other end too, though. Although the addition of Benoit Badiashile added some solidity to their recently porous backline, the tricky Eagles still carved out their fair share of chances and the under-fire Kepa Arrizabalaga came to his side's rescue with several smart saves.

If Chelsea had been a bit slicker in the final third, Kepa would not have had such an anxiety-inducing afternoon. And Potter will be hoping that his new signing, Mykhailo Mudryk – who was the subject of a subdued unveiling at half time – can help in that regard.

It would be too much to say that this felt like the 'Chelsea are back!' moment. But it's something. It's a start. And with the way things have been going recently, that is all the Blues can really hope for at this stage.

Here are GOAL's winners and losers from the game…

GettyThe Winners

Mykhailo Mudryk:

Chelsea are a confused mess on and off the field right now, and nothing quite sums this up like the bewildering – if short-lived – Mudryk transfer saga. After gazumping Arsenal's bid and contract offer during a whirlwind few hours in Turkey, the Blues squeezed every microgram of value out of the announcement, revealing their capture of the Ukrainian through a barrage of not-so-subtle social media posts. Although Mudryk made his preference for the Gunners abundantly clear, he is a far richer man after choosing west over north London. Chelsea made a real fuss over him at half time too, and he's bound to see plenty of minutes with the Blues failing to fire up front.

Chelsea fans:

The game was prefaced by a perfectly-executed tribute to Chelsea legend Gianluca Vialli, who sadly passed away at the age of 58 on January 6. Two stunning tifos were unveiled in The Shed and Matthew Harding Stand, while the two sets of players were joined in the centre circle by a host of Vialli's former team-mates. After an emotional video that retold the story of Vialli's transformative effect on the Blues, those in the middle – including John Terry, Graeme Le Saux and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink – came together with the fans in honouring the Italian with a minute's applause. A heartfelt tribute, impeccably observed.

Kai Havertz:

For a long time, it didn't look like it was going to be Havertz's afternoon. A few trampoline touches early on set the tone for a testing first half, where he was outmuscled by Palace's centre-backs and also guided a free header wide. However, the German has a knack for comebacks and when he rose high to power home Hakim Ziyech's cross, Stamford Bridge breathed a collective sigh of relief. With Joao Felix out for the next two games, Mount out of form and new-boy Mudryk needing time to adjust to life in the Premier League, Chelsea need Havertz to rediscover his killer instinct, go on a scoring run and propel the Blues up the table. His miss at the end isn't a great sign, but hey, at least he got one right?

AdvertisementGettyThe Losers

Anyone who wanted the Chelsea job:

Publically, Graham Potter has been putting on a brave face recently, insisting the both the board and his players' have full faith in him after another damaging defeat to Fulham on Thursday. However, failure to beat Palace – as the Blues have done in the last 10 Premier League meetings between the pair – would have plunged his position into even more doubt. Unfortunately for any managerial free agents hoping for a Stamford Bridge payday, Potter rolled his socks up on Sunday and watched his patched-together side grind out an ugly three points against their London rivals. It's bought him some time, and with Mudryk poised to make his debut against Liverpool next time out, perhaps things are finally looking up for the beleaguered Blues boss.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang:

Again, Aubameyang was left out of the starting lineup on Sunday, though he was afforded a generous half-hour with which to impress his manager. Although he was busy, and got his fair share of chances at Stamford Bridge, he could not secure a confidence-boosting goal. Unsurprisingly, he was a million miles away from his sharpest and it is difficult to envisage how he'll get up to speed, with competition for places so fierce.

Kalidou Koulibaly:

Fans have been crying out for January signing Benoit Badiashile to make his Chelsea debut in recent weeks – and this weekend they finally got their wish. The out-of-form Koulibaly was the man who made way, and the former's immediate gelling with Thiago Silva might suggest that the summer signing from Napoli will find it challenging to force his way back into the side.

GettyChelsea Ratings: Defence

Kepa Arrizabalaga (8/10):

Recovered well early on to smother Tyrick Mitchell's effort and made two other smart saves before the intervals. Continued to impress throughout.

Trevoh Chalobah (7/10):

Much, much better than his performance against Fulham in midweek. Didn't offer all that much going forward, but kept Zaha quiet.

Thiago Silva (8/10):

Typically faultless defensively and strode out from the back to drive his often-stagnant side forward.

Benoit Badiashile (7/10):

Looked a little nervous on his Chelsea debut but grew into the game very nicely. Sprayed some good passes.

Lewis Hall (6/10):

Bombed forward with purpose early on. Execution was lacking on several occasions, and he endured a few sticky defensive moments, but you cannot fault his endeavour.

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GettyMidfield

Conor Gallagher (6/10):

Took up some intelligent positions and carved out a few good opportunities against his former club. Rattled his ex team-mates at the end too.

Jorginho (6/10):

Restored to the side and wore the armband. Broke up play with some sliding tackles and was always barking instructions to his less-experienced team-mates.

Carney Chukwuemeka (5/10):

Just didn't influence the game often enough. Competed well but eventually replaced by Aubameyang just after the hour mark.

The Blaugrana are nine points clear going into Sunday's Clasico at Camp Nou, meaning victory would all but secure top spot

It wasn't supposed to look like this. Barcelona were supposed to just about keep pace with Real Madrid this year. But they weren't supposed to win La Liga.

That they would be nine points clear in March – and show few signs of slowing down – was unthinkable.

Yet here they are. Barca are far and away the best team in La Liga this year, clearing every hurdle as they sprint towards a first La Liga title in four years.

And matched up against a Madrid side coming off a domestic-European double, with perhaps another Champions League to come, such a successful season is undeniably impressive.

But this hasn't exactly come out of nowhere. Barcelona are not good by chance.

Indeed, they have all the pieces of a league-winning team, with just enough edge to presumably fight off any late charge from Los Blancos.

Victory this weekend, in fact, would effectively signal the end of the title race.

Below, GOAL takes a look at why Barcelona are so far ahead of Madrid with just 13 games to go…

(C)Getty ImagesLewandowski!

It makes sense: if your team is not scoring enough goals, you should probably find someone who can score goals.

It's even more helpful when your goalscorer is one of the most prolific strikers in recent memory.

Lewandowski has been everything Barcelona could have hoped for.

Last season, they relied on a mixture of Memphis Depay, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ferran Torres for attacking production. The result was a team that couldn't find the back of the net consistently enough.

And now, with Lewandowski in the middle, they have a prolific goalscorer for the first time since Luis Suarez left three years ago.

The Poland striker has 15 Liga goals and five assists, and is on track to win the golden boot despite missing a handful of games due to suspension and injuries.

There is perhaps also something to be said for having a perennial winner in your ranks. Lewandowski has won a league title every year since 2015. If anyone knows what it takes to stay in the mix for 38 games, it's him.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesGoals from all over

Lewandowski isn't the only one finding the net.

It's not just the fact that Barcelona are scoring more: it's where the goals are coming from. Thirteen different players have found the net for the Blaugrana this year, the fifth-highest number of goalscorers in the league. Six squad members have also scored more than five goals, while 12 players have multiple assists.

For so long, Barcelona relied on the genius of individuals, turning to Messi, Suarez or Neymar to find the net. And when those three left, albeit at different stages, it didn't look like the club knew where to turn.

This year, though, everyone is getting involved. When Lewandowski was out, Ousmane Dembele stepped up. When Dembele picked up an injury, Raphinha took over. Meanwhile, Gavi and Pedri have supplied a steady trickle of goals themselves.

Those additional goalscorers, that seemingly random production, is what pushes a team to the top. Barcelona, quite simply, have always been able to find the net – regardless of who's on the pitch.

Getty ImagesA nifty midfield

At the start of the season, Frenkie de Jong wasn't supposed to be a Barca player. Sergio Busquets, meanwhile, was too old. Gavi was too hot-headed. And Pedri, although class, was injured too often.

So, Barcelona dipped into the transfer market for some midfield help but while Franck Kessie looked like a shrewd signing, it didn't exactly inspire confidence.

However, Xavi, who knows a thing or two about a balanced midfield, has managed to piece together his unit perfectly.

It all started working in January, when the manager broke out a 4-2-3-1 formation, placing four central-midfielders in a seemingly unbalanced system. But he got his tactics spot on, and seemed to get the most out of his four best options.

And when any of that unit have gone down with injuries, either Kessie or Sergi Roberto have stepped in with relative ease.

It's not yet a flawless formation, but Barcelona have crucial solidity in the centre of the park. It's given them valuable control over their contests, setting up win after win.

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Getty ImagesAn imperious defence

A cursory glance at Barcelona's back four before the season didn't exactly suggest that Xavi's side would have the best defensive record in Europe.

There were question marks all over, from Ronald Araujo's fitness to Jordi Alba's aging legs. A poor 2021-22 campaign from usual stalwart Marc-Andre ter Stegen also suggested that it could be a rough year.

Instead, Barcelona have pieced together the best domestic defensive season on the continent. The Blaugrana have only let in eight goals in La Liga, almost half of which came in one game against Real Madrid.

Ter Stegen has kept 19 clean sheets in 25 matches, while free-signing Andreas Christensen has been a revelation. It must also be noted that allowing Gerard Pique to walk has buoyed the Blaugrana by subtraction.

But it's not just individual quality that has carried Barca this far.

The Blaugrana have the highest possession stats in the league, and Busquets playing in a deeper role has made them less susceptible to counter-attacks than they were last year.

The more energetic, and younger, Alejandro Balde has also given Barca a defensive lift on the left flank.

Put it all together, and it makes sense that Barca are so solid.