Barcelona still far from its best despite perfect start

Despite another win and a perfect record to start the Spanish league, there is reason for concern ahead of Barcelona's Champions League debut this week.

The defending league champions had another lackluster performance in its 2-1 come-from-behind win at Real Sociedad on Saturday, creating a bit of worry ahead of its match against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.

Succeeding in the Champions League is one of Barcelona's main goals this season after struggling in the European competition in recent years, failing to make it past the quarterfinals in three straight seasons.

FC Barcelona Lionel Messi looks down after Real Sociedad scored a goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at the Anoeta stadium, in San Sebastian, northern Spain, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. (AP PhotoJose Ignacio Unanue)

"I'm a little bit worried, just a little bit," Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said after Saturday's victory, which kept the team at the top of the Spanish league standings with 12 points from four matches. "It's obvious that there are things that can be improved."

Barcelona had a difficult time controlling the game and gave away numerous chances throughout the match at Anoeta Stadium. Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele scored goals three minutes apart in the second half to save the team after it conceded early. An outstanding game by goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen also helped the team secure the victory. He made two great saves in one-on-one situations while Barcelona still trailed early in the second half.

It wasn't the first time Barcelona struggled this season. The team has been inconsistent despite its good results, and even Lionel Messi has played below expectations in some matches.

FC Barcelona's head coach Ernesto Valverde looks on prior to the start of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at the Anoeta stadium, in San Sebastian, northern Spain, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. (AP PhotoJose Ignacio Unanue)

Barcelona also faced difficulties in a 1-0 win at Valladolid, the small promoted club which has yet to win or score a goal in four matches. Barcelona's home wins were more comfortable — 3-0 against Alaves and 8-2 against Huesca, a newcomer to the first division this season.

Barcelona is in Group B in the Champions League, along with PSV, Inter Milan and Tottenham.

SCORING HELP

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi, second left, controls the ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at the Anoeta stadium, in San Sebastian, northern Spain, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. (AP PhotoJose Ignacio Unanue)

Atletico Madrid endured another disappointing result on Saturday, drawing with Eibar 1-1 at home to remain far from the leaders at the top of the standings.

But fans celebrated the successful debut of teenager Borja Garces, who scored the stoppage-time equalizer and could become a solution to the team's scoring struggles early in the season.

Atletico has scored only three goals in four league matches, with Diego Costa yet to find the net.

"We have to take it slowly with him," Simeone said of Borja. "But he is that type of player who has goals in him."

Atletico, which was coming off a loss at Celta Vigo, has only five points in what has been its worst league start since 2009.

VINICIUS PLEA

Vinicius Junior continues to make his case for a chance with Real Madrid's main squad.

A day after Madrid struggled in a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish league, the Brazilian teenager played well again with the "B'' team, scoring his third goal of the season in the lower tier.

He also nearly scored what would have been a beautiful goal after a remarkable run in which he cleared three defenders before having his shot hit the crossbar. It was a play that reminded some of Robinho, the former Brazil forward to whom Vinicius is often compared.

Madrid spent about 45 million euros ($52 million) for the promising teenager last year even though he had played mostly with the youth squads of Brazilian club Flamengo. Madrid is taking it slowly with Vinicius, but fans have already been calling for his presence in the main team.

Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui was reportedly watching Vinicius' match on Sunday, so the player's chances of moving up to the main team have certainly increased.

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AL HENAKIYAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Ricky Brabec deliberately gave up his motorbike lead over Luciano Benavides in the Dakar Rally while Nasser Al-Attiyah was happy to cruise through another day closer to his sixth car title on Thursday.

Al-Attiyah started 346-kilometer stage 11 between Bisha north to Al Henakiyah with a 12-minute overall lead and let it drop to less than nine minutes over new second-placed driver Nani Roma in a Ford.

Al-Attiyah was content to let Dacia teammate Sébastien Loeb catch up and pass him to have a teammate nearby for any help and to minimize errors on the mazy, dirt track. Al-Attiyah was 17th, nearly 13 minutes behind stage winner Mattias Ekström, and said he needed to execute the same plan on Friday's last effective racing stage before the end on Saturday.

“If we lose two, three, four minutes no problem,” Al-Attiyah said. “We just need to finish this Dakar in first place.”

Honda cooked up a strategy in the Saudi desert for Adrien van Beveren to open the way and let Brabec catch up after the 190-kilometer pit stop and pick up time bonuses.

Brabec boosted his overall lead from 56 seconds to nearly four minutes just 25 kilometers from the finish. He was also within a minute of the stage lead but he slowed down so KTM rival Benavides was the new overall leader, but only by 23 seconds.

Brabec got his his wish to start Friday's stage 12 six minutes behind Benavides, so he can eye him. They head west to the rally starting point of Yanbu on the Red Sea coast on 311 kilometers of gravel, some river beds with a finish in the dunes.

“A little bit of strategy today and hopefully it pays off tomorrow,” Brabec said. "I feel like its going to be a good day. We’re going back into the rocks so it will be a little bit better for us.”

Brabec is counting on his experience of winning the Dakar in 2020 and 2024 to trump Benavides, who has a best placing of fourth last year.

“I've been in this situation before,” Brabec said. “For the whole two weeks I've been just trying to stay relax, stay comfortable and just be confident, so two days more. I'm gonna do the same thing tomorrow that I've been doing every day; ride dirt bikes and have fun.”

Van Beveren helped Brabec with navigation while fighting with another teammate, Skyler Howes, the entire day for the stage win.

Howes prevailed by 21 seconds for his first career major stage in his eighth Dakar. He was third in 2023 and sixth last year. He's running fifth, 34 minutes off the pace.

Benavides was fourth in the stage and believed the race will be decided on the final 105-kilometer sprint on Saturday.

“I played no strategy like Ricky. I don't care,” Benavides said. “I'm doing what I can to control what I can control.”

Ekström won his third car stage of this Dakar, a special so fast that 12 other drivers were within 10 minutes.

Ford achieved another 1-2-3 stage. Romain Dumas, a three-time winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours, was a career-best second just over a minute back and Carlos Sainz was third.

Only Toyota's Henk Lategan beat Ekström to a checkpoint but Lategan's podium hopes were wrecked after 140 kilometers when a bearing broke on his rear left wheel. Lategan took four hours to get home. He was second last year and second overall overnight but plunged to 23rd.

Loeb moved up to third overall, 10 minutes behind Roma and three minutes ahead of Ekström.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Rider Daniel Sanders competes during the eleventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Jan.15, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Driver Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Fabian Lurquin compete during the eleventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Jan.15, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Rider Skyler Howes competes during the eleventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Jan.15, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Driver Henk Lategan, left, and co-driver Brett Cummings repair their car during the eleventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Jan.15, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Driver Nani Roma and co-driver Alex Haro compete during the eleventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Jan.15, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)