News about Ivan Rakitic

Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly under scrutiny after appearing to make an offensive gesture following a Saudi Pro League match. Al-Nassr's 39-year-old defeated Al-Shabab, who had a squad that included former Atletico Madrid midfielder Yannick Carrasco and ex Barcelona player Ivan Rakitic on Sunday. Ronaldo led the scoring from the penalty spot on 21 minutes, but his side was tether to a spot kick from Carrasco on the brink of halftime.

PETE JENSON: Underappreciated and then slashed, Spain and Barça's legendary Xavi had no intention of visiting Barcelona. The club has form for chewing up and spitting out its stars, but the 44-year-old, who won every aspect of the game for club and country, is now in danger of being remembered more for his comical last season at the club he adores than for his numerous trophies. It's long been established that he is not Pep Guardiola's second coming. He isn't a visionary nor does he have the same lightning quick mental skills to switch games from the touchline. But he still won La Liga last season, Barcelona's first without Lionel Messi, and who's to say it won't be their last game for a long time. He made the biggest mistake not to use that triumph to build a power base within the club. He should have laid down markers having won the trophy, but instead, he allowed others at the club to make all the changes.

David de Gea, a former Manchester United goalkeeper, is in talks to join Saudi Pro League team Al-Shabab. After more than a decade at Old Trafford, winning the Premier League Golden Glove in his final season with the club, De Gea left United in the summer. According to reports, the 33-year-old had negotiated a deal extension in June that would have dramatically reduced his £375,000-a-week wages before the club decided not to sign it out.

After a photograph of their post-match meal picks in 2014 resurfaced on social media, football fans have had a field day blasting Barcelona players both past and present. The LaLiga giants, who were then managed by Luis Enrique, were coming off a humiliating 0-0 away from Malaga, which saw them fall to second place in the standings after five games. The food is usually prepared by the hotel where the players are based before and after the match. It is usually served in the dressing room or on the team bus that brings the players to the airport or directly back to Barcelona after a game.

Ivan Rakitic was brought on to the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan team in the 40th minute of the game, with Sevilla trailing by two goals. Fernando, the game's captain, was not thrilled by the call, handing Rakitic the armband before wagging his finger in the direction of his boss. Since he had allowed his feelings to be revealed, the 36-year-old finally made his way down the tunnel to the dressing rooms.

Sevilla FC of La Liga was able to get off to a winning start in the first match of their preseason tour in America, defeating English Premier League side Crystal Palace at Comerica Park in Detroit. Fans of the game obviously got their money's worth as the closely fought game came to a 1-1 draw before heading for a sudden death penalty shootout. In the 44th minute, Ivan Rakitic scored the first goal to put Sevilla in the lead after a ball fell to him, causing him to blast across the goal face to beat the keeper.

PETE JENSON: Sevilla has won more Europa Leagues than any other club - they take the competition more seriously than any other club. Or, as the huge banner unfurled in the semi-final second leg against Juventus read: "No one likes it more." Real Madrid is elicit in the Champions League on a similar basis. And if rivals Barcelona are miles ahead in the league table, the 10th, 11th, 13th, and 14th Champions League will be remembered. Real Madrid had won the Champions League seven times before the century's, but they have now doubled that number. Barcelona had only once won the tournament, now it is four. And Sevilla had never been crowned European champion. They now have seven people in the cabinet.

Someone's 0 has to leave Budapest this evening. Jose Mourinho first won a European trophy, leading Porto to UEFA Cup glory in 2003. Two decades have passed. The Portuguese can land a sixth piece of European silverware when Roma meets Sevilla 20 years ago. Mourinho's record in the previous finals is: played five times and won five.

PETE JENSON: Sevilla defeated Juventus 3-2 extra time for their seventh time in history after winning the Europa League final for the seventh time in their history. The Spaniards have won six times and have maintained their record of never losing a semi-final on an extraordinary night.

Ivan Rakitic, a Sevilla midfielder, sent a note to Manchester United ahead of their Europa League quarter-finals in Spain, stressing that his team was prepared to leave everything on the field in order to see triumph in their favorite tournament. The Spanish side has won the Europa League a record six times, but Sevilla's recent run of defeats in LaLiga is disappointing, so the club will continue to concentrate on progress in the hopes of securing European competition next season.

Barcelona went eight points straight at the top with an impressive demolition of Sevilla, seven hours after Real Madrid attempted to salvage with Mallorca and discovered that Mallorca is better at scrapping than they are. Atletico was disappointed at home again in the competition for the remaining two Champions League spots, but their draw looked promising after all their opponents lost. And the pungent pong of relegation is starting to waft in the Valencian dressing room. For the eighth time, seasoned caretaker coach Voro has returned to the rescue, but there are no points and no goals from his first two games back in charge. Here are ten things we learned from the round of matches that began in La Liga's second half.

PETE JENSON: Barcelona lost an ugly but stayed at the top, three points clear of Real Madrid, who put on a good showing in Bilbao. Both eyes are still on Real Sociedad, who can't avoid winning. They remain third in the rankings and are receiving more suitors for their players than was expected midseason. Sevilla's leader stands tall, despite the fact that the drop zone showed signs of life. Here's the 10 things we learned from La Liga this week:

After his second-half horror show on Thursday that allowed Croatia to advance to the final 16 of the World Cup at the expense of Belgium, Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitic joked that fans should be able to pay for Romelu Lukaku to travel to Split. Belgium had to beat Croatia in order to advance to the knockout rounds, and they had multiple opportunities to win all three points in the second half, with the bulk of their big chances falling to Lukaku. However, the Inter Milan forward was unable to locate the target and Belgium was disqualified, thanks to the goalless draw. At the final whistle, Lukaku had to be consoled by Belgium's assistant coach Thierry Henry, but Rakitic had seized the opportunity to smear the 29-year-old's misfortune.

Penalties will almost certainly be involved in the World Cup in Qatar, which is set to begin on Sunday, and Sportsmail is here to get you up for them. Penalties were first introduced in Argentina for the 1978 World Cup, but they weren't needed until Spain's 1982 tounrament. After extra time went to a replay, knockout matches tied before that. Since then, Germany and Argentina have been the best in shootouts with four wins, while England has the joint-worst record with Spain and Italy with three losses.

CHRIS SUTTON: To know how slew of Chelsea's Premier League form has been this season, you only need to check out their results: win, draw, loss, win, lose, win, win, forfeit, win, loss, victory, victory. You can't be competitive that way. Todd Boehly may be new to football, but even he knows that winning trophies isn't how you win trophies. Thomas Tuchel is desperate to see some consistency in his first group game, Chelsea could face Champions League qualifiers Dinamo Zagreb. They are perennial Croatian champions, but they only spent £5 million in the summer. Chelsea spent £271 million, the most expensive in any Premier League club, so they must win on Tuesday night. If Tuchel's suspension continues, the heat on him will rise.

As Xavi's side comfortably beat Sevilla 3-0, Raphinha scored his first goal for Barcelona and Lewandowski received his FIFTH for the club. Barcelona's embarrassment of attacking riches was just too much for Sevilla, who face Manchester City in a Champions League match next week despite losing just one point from their first four games. Julen Logui is under pressure, but the club's bad summer's transfer business has a lot to do with the club's offbeat start.

CHRIS SUTTON: On Thursday night, the Champions League group stage draw threw up a slew of intriguing match-ups, historic clashes, and tantalizing plotlines. Liverpool faces Rangers and former Red Ryan Kent (top left), fellow English sides Chelsea, Tottenham, and Manchester City all have a chance of leading the team, while Barcelona and Bayern clash in the 'Group of Death'. Chris Sutton, a columnist for Sportsmail, leads you on a tour of all the runners and riders, provides you with some eye-opening reports, and picks his favorites for the competition. Many celebrities are expected to appear on European stages, including Bayern's Robert Lewandowsi, AC Milan's Olivier Giroud, and City's Erling Haaland (second left-right, top row). Joao Felix, Marseille's Matteo Guendouzi, Celtic's Callum McGregor, and PSG's Kylian Mbappe (left-right, bottom row) will all be on display.