PREVIEW: Real Madrid eye away win over Olympiacos as qualification push heats up
The heavyweights of the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid, travel to Greece looking to beat Olympiacos away from home for the first time, with automatic qualification still firmly in sight.Los Blanco...
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Barcelona prodigy raises eyebrows with his performance vs Chelsea in UEFA Youth League
While Tuesday night at Stamford Bridge ended in a dismal 3-0 defeat for Hansi Flick’s senior side, the afternoon provided a necessary silver lining for the Blaugrana.Pol Planas’ Juvenil A side man...
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Thunder rookie Brooks Barnhizer registers triple-double in G League
Thunder rookie Brooks Barnhizer recorded a triple-double in the G League on Tuesday, helping the OKC Blue to a win over the Memphis Hustle.
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![](/<figure><img alt="PREVIEW: Real Madrid eye away win over Olympiacos as qualification push heats up" src="https://blackamericans.com/images/joomgrabber/2025-11/61bd9259de.jpeg" data-uuid="07512304-d6cf-3a59-9e20-916a1f9d6c06"><figcaption>PREVIEW: Real Madrid eye away win over Olympiacos as qualification push heats up</figcaption></figure><p>The heavyweights of the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid, travel to Greece looking to beat Olympiacos away from home for the first time, with automatic qualification still firmly in sight.</p><p><em>Los Blancos</em> sit seventh in the league phase but could climb as high as second with a win and favourable results elsewhere.</p><p>Olympiacos have endured a difficult start to the campaign, collecting just two draws and two defeats from their opening four fixtures. That run leaves them 31st in the table with no realistic route into the knockout play-offs.</p><p>Under José Luis Mendilibar, they have drawn with FC Pafos and PSV Eindhoven, while their losses have come against European giants Arsenal and Barcelona – a tough run in which they showed spirit, particularly against Barça.</p><p>Despite their struggles in Europe, Olympiacos have won four of their last five matches in all competitions and remain unbeaten at home this season. History is also on their side – they have never lost at home to the 15-time Champions League winners.</p><p>Real Madrid, meanwhile, sit ninth in the Champions League standings but could surge up the table with victory. Xabi Alonso’s side made a blistering start to the season but have not won since a 4-0 triumph over Valencia in early November. Two league draws and a defeat to Liverpool in Europe have increased the pressure to deliver a response.</p><p>Domestically, Madrid remain top of La Liga, though their lead over Barcelona has been cut to just one point following draws with Elche and Rayo Vallecano.</p><p>Olympiacos will again be without Alexandros Paschalakis and Konstantinos Angelakis through injury. Real Madrid are missing Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão and Franco Mastantuoni, all sidelined long-term, while Antonio Rüdiger, Aurélien Tchouaméni and David Alaba will be assessed ahead of the match. Vinícius Júnior, Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga could return after being left out of the draw at Elche.</p><h2>Predicted Line-Ups</h2><p><strong>OLY: </strong>Tzolakis; Rodinei, Pirola, Ortega; Garcia, Mouzakitis; Martins, Chiquinho, Podence; El Kaabi</p>)
![](/<figure><img alt="Barcelona prodigy raises eyebrows with his performance vs Chelsea in UEFA Youth League" src="https://blackamericans.com/images/joomgrabber/2025-11/5de3812c97.jpeg" data-uuid="35a5b5bd-b221-3eb2-b5bb-9bea0afdb10b"><figcaption>Barcelona prodigy raises eyebrows with his performance vs Chelsea in UEFA Youth League</figcaption></figure><p>While Tuesday night at Stamford Bridge ended in a dismal 3-0 defeat for Hansi Flick’s senior side, the afternoon provided a necessary silver lining for the <em>Blaugrana</em>.</p><p>Pol Planas’ <em>Juvenil A</em> side managed to secure a valuable point against Chelsea in the UEFA Youth League, recovering from a shaky first half to dominate the second. </p><p>While the <em>Blaugrana </em>were unlucky to concede a late equaliser, it was Hafiz Gariba who stole the show with an exemplary performance in defence.</p><h2>Who is Hafiz Gariba?</h2><p>Arriving in Catalonia from Ghana, he was playing for Codolar in the <em>Quarta Catalana</em> – the lowest tier of Catalan football – until February of this year. </p><p>Once he turned 18, Barcelona swooped in. In just a few months, he has jumped from amateur fields to the <em>Ciutat Esportiva</em> and now, to European competition.</p><img height="0" src="https://blackamericans.com/images/joomgrabber/2025-11/3265345373.jpeg" width="2048" data-uuid="27ad11e4-fc1f-3dbd-85cb-a4b108901e47"><p>Barcelona must keep a close eye on Hafiz Gariba’s progress at La Masia. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)</p><p>Affectionately nicknamed ‘The Mantis’ by his teammates due to his frame, Gariba was a colossus against Chelsea, reports <a href="https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20251126/1002576460/mantis-hafiz-gariba-comienza-volar.html" target="_blank"><em>Mundo Deportivo</em></a>.</p><p>The 18-year-old offers a profile rarely seen in traditional <em>La Masia</em> defenders. Tall and dominant in the air, he combines physical strength with a surprisingly soft touch.</p><p>What sets him apart, however, is his fearlessness. Gariba plays with an almost complete lack of awareness of danger. </p><p>The youngster takes risks on the ball that most defenders avoid, constantly looking to thread vertical passes and create advantages rather than choosing the safe option.</p><p>At Barcelona, they rate Gariba quite highly, and a report earlier this month suggested that the club see the <em>La Masia</em> starlet as the <a href="https://barcauniversal.com/barcelona-believe-la-masia-talent-has-a-real-chance-of-breaking-into-the-first-team/" target="_blank">next potential breakthrough</a> material, which is not surprising given his immense potential.</p><p>If the youngster keeps performing as he did against Chelsea, it will not be long before he catches Hansi Flick’s eye.</p>)