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Brazil Judge orders Adele’s song to be pulled globally over plagiarism claim

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NANA KWESI COOMSON
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Adele

A Brazilian judge has ordered a song by British pop superstar Adele, “Million Years Ago,” be pulled worldwide — including on streaming services — over an ongoing plagiarism claim by a Brazilian composer.

The injunction threatens the Brazilian subsidiaries of Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music, Adele’s labels, with a fine of $8,000 “per act of non-compliance.”

The music companies, however, can still appeal the decision.

The injunction was made by judge Victor Torres on Friday, in Rio de Janeiro’s 6th Commercial Court, pending further activity in the continuing plagiarism case.

His preliminary injunction, obtained Monday by AFP, orders Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music to stop “immediately and globally, from using, reproducing, editing, distributing or commercializing the song ‘Million Years Ago’, by any modality, means, physical or digital support, streaming or sharing platform.”

“It is a landmark for Brazilian music, which… has often been copied to compose successful international hits,” Fredimio Trotta, the lawyer for Brazilian composer Toninho Geraes who brought the plagiarism complaint, told AFP.

Trotta said his firm this week will work to ensure that radio and television broadcasters, and streaming services around the world, are alerted to the Brazilian ruling.

His client Geraes claims Adele’s 2015 song plagiarized the music of his samba classic “Mulheres” (“Women”), recorded by famous Brazilian singer Martinho da Vila on a 1995 hit album.

Geraes is suing for lost royalties, $160,000 in moral damages, plus songwriting credit on Adele’s track.

Sony Music Entertainment Brazil said it did “not have a statement at this time,” while Universal Music Brazil did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Credit: channelstv.com

Lawmaker shot dead in parliament in breakaway Georgian region

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Georgian parliament

A politician has been shot dead and another wounded in a shooting inside the parliament of the Russia-backed breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia.

Abkhazia’s state news agency Apsnypress cited the health ministry as saying Vakhtang Golandzia had died of wounds sustained in a shooting at the parliament building on Thursday.

A statement from the press office of the acting president, Badra Gunba, also said: “After receiving fatal wounds, the deputy Vakhtang Golandzia has died.”

It added that another lawmaker, Kan Kvarchia, was hurt.

Apsnypress said the interior ministry had identified another lawmaker, Adgur Kharazia, as the suspect in the shooting, and that he had fled the scene. Its report did not give any indication as to a motive.

Russian news agencies quoted local sources also saying that another deputy had shot the two men.

A lush subtropical territory on the Black Sea coast, Abkhazia broke from Georgia’s control in a war after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, during which hundreds of thousands of ethnic Georgians fled.

Credit: aljazeera.com

Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of acts of genocide in Gaza

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HRW accused Israel of deliberately damaging water infrastructure

Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of committing “acts of genocide” in Gaza by deliberately depriving Palestinian civilians there of adequate access to water.

It says Israel’s actions include intentionally damaging water and sanitation infrastructure.

The campaign group says this has probably caused thousands of deaths, which it says is also tantamount to “committing the crime against humanity of extermination”.

Israel rejected HRW’s report as “propaganda”.

In a post on X, the Israeli foreign ministry’s spokesman said the group was “once more spreading its blood libels… The truth is the complete opposite of HRW’s lies”.

The 179-page report says that “since October 2023, Israeli authorities have deliberately obstructed Palestinians’ access to the adequate amount of water required for survival in the Gaza Strip”.

It says Israel intentionally damaged infrastructure, including solar panels powering treatment plants, a reservoir, and a spare parts warehouse, while also blocking fuel for generators.

It says Israel also cut electricity supplies, attacked repair workers and blocked the entry into Gaza of repair materials.

The report is based on interviews with dozens of Palestinians from Gaza, including water authority officials, sanitation experts and healthcare workers, as well as satellite imagery and data from October 2023 to September 2024.

Israel launched a major military offensive in Gaza after Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage.

But, rejecting HRW’s allegations on X, Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said Israel had facilitated “the continuous flow of water and humanitarian aid into Gaza, despite operating under constant attacks of Hamas terror organisation”.

Credit: bbc.com

Putin plans to meet Bashar al-Assad, says Russia not defeated in Syria

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Vladimir Putin, Russia president

President Vladimir Putin says Russia has not been defeated in Syria after rebel groups ousted his ally and longtime leader, Bashar al-Assad, earlier this month.

In his first public comments on the subject on Thursday, Putin said he had not yet met the former Syrian ruler who fled to the Russian capital, but that he “will definitely talk to him” and planned to meet him in Moscow.

He mentioned he would ask al-Assad about the fate of missing United States reporter Austin Tice, whose release was described by the White House as a “top priority”.

Speaking at his annual end-of-the-year news conference, Putin also dismissed claims that Russia, which intervened in Syria in 2015 and turned the tide of the civil war there in al-Assad’s favour, had suffered a loss with the fall of the former regime.

“You want to present what is happening in Syria as a defeat for Russia,” Putin said. “I assure you it is not … we have achieved our goals.”

He said Russia intervened in Syria to “prevent a terrorist enclave from being created there” and that “it is not for nothing that today many European countries and the United States want to establish relations with them [Syria’s new rulers]”.

Russia offered to maintain bases there “for humanitarian purposes”, he said. He also admitted to having evacuated 4,000 Iranian fighters in the aftermath of the fall of the al-Assad government.

On the topic of the ongoing war in Ukraine, Putin said he was ready to discuss the possibility of reaching a compromise in talks with US President-elect Donald Trump.

He expressed his readiness to meet Trump at “any time”.

Credit: aljazeera.com

Syria not a threat to the world -rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa

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Leader of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa

The de facto leader of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has said the country is exhausted by war and is not a threat to its neighbours or to the West.

In an interview with the BBC in Damascus, he called for sanctions on Syria to be lifted.

“Now, after all that has happened, sanctions must be lifted because they were targeted at the old regime. The victim and the oppressor should not be treated in the same way,” he said.

Sharaa led the lightning offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime less than two weeks ago. He is the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the dominant group in the rebel alliance, and was previously known by his nom de guerre of Abu Mohammed al-Jolani.

He said HTS should be de-listed as a terrorist organisation. It is designated as one by the UN, US, EU and UK, among many others, as it started as a splinter group of al-Qaeda, which it broke away from in 2016.

Sharaa said HTS was not a terrorist group. They did not target civilians or civilian areas, he said. In fact, they considered themselves to be victim of the crimes of the Assad regime.

He denied that he wanted to turn Syria into a version of Afghanistan.

Sharaa said the countries were very different, with different traditions. Afghanistan was a tribal society. In Syria, he said, there was a different mindset.

He said he believed in education for women.

“We’ve had universities in Idlib for more than eight years,” Sharaa said, referring to Syria’s north-western province that has been held by rebels since 2011.

“I think the percentage of women in universities is more than 60%.”

And when asked whether the consumption of alcohol would be allowed, Sharaa said: “There are many things I just don’t have the right to talk about because they are legal issues.”

He added that there would be a “Syrian committee of legal experts to write a constitution. They will decide. And any ruler or president will have to follow the law”.

Credit: bbc.com

Amount of wine that’s good for you, and could even ward off heart attacks

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It’s news that’s worth raising a glass to.

Drinking a glass of wine a day could be more effective than statins at lowering the chances of a heart attack, research suggests.

In the most compelling evidence to date, scientists found that those who drank moderate amounts as part of a Mediterranean diet could slash their risk of heart attacks by half.

While other studies have suggested vino could have a protective effect on the heart, researchers said many rely on self-reporting.

Instead of simply asking people how much they consumed, this was the first to use measurements of a key biomarker from urine samples.

As well as completing questionnaires on their food and drink consumption, the 1,232 people involved provided samples at the start of the study and again one year later which measured for tartaric acid.

After four or five years of follow up, there were 685 cases of heart disease, including heart attack, stroke or death from cardiovascular disease.

They found those who drank between 12 and 35 glasses of wine each month had a 50 per cent lower risk compared to those who consumed one or less.

Drinking between three and 12 glasses of wine each month had a 38 per cent lower risk of heart disease, according to the study, which has been published in the European Heart Journal.

This compares to a risk reduction of around 30 per cent for people taking statins.

But drinking more than this saw the heart health benefits diminish, they found.

Professor Ramon Estruch, from the University of Barcelona who led the study, said: ‘By measuring tartaric acid in the urine, alongside food and drink questionnaires, we have been able to make a more accurate measurement of wine consumption.

‘We have found a much greater protective effect of wine than that observed in other studies.

‘A reduction in risk of 50 per cent is much higher than can be achieved with some drugs, such as statins.

‘This study examines the importance of moderate wine consumption within a healthy dietary pattern, such as the Mediterranean diet.

‘Until now, we believed that 20 per cent of the effects of the Mediterranean diet could be attributed to moderate wine consumption, however, in light of these results, the effect may be even greater.’

Those in the study were older people at high risk of cardiovascular disease living in a Mediterranean country, so the results may not apply to other populations, they warned.

Another key question is at what age moderate wine consumption could be considered ‘acceptable’, hey said, with recent studies indicate that the protective effects of wine start around the age of 35 to 40.

Professor Estruch added: ‘It is also important to note that moderate consumption for women should always be half that of men, and it should be consumed with meals.’

Commenting on the findings, Professor Paul Leeson, consultant cardiologist and professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Oxford, said the ‘major strength’ of the study was using a chemical measure to quantify how much wine was being consumed.

But he cautioned other things could be at play – such as the known benefits of a Mediterranean diet which is rich in oily fish, fruits and vegetables – suggesting wine may only have benefits when drank alongside this.

He said: ‘The study shows that drinking somewhere between three and, at most, 35 glasses of wine a month was associated with a reduction in risk. Anything over this amount and the benefit disappeared.

‘So, no more than a bottle of wine a week, or, at most, 10 units of alcohol.’

He added: ‘Maybe the health advantages of a glass of wine are only seen when being drunk alongside a plate of Mediterranean food?’

Credit: dailymail.co.uk

Festival Of Nine Lessons And Carols Part 2

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Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee, Executive Director, Salt and Light Ministries

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.” –Luke 2:10-11

Introduction

Our reflection last week on the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols took us on a journey through scripture and song, exploring God’s redemptive plan from the Fall of Humanity to the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth. Each lesson and carol brought us closer to understanding the depth of God’s love and the fulfillment of His promises.

In this second part, we now celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ—the Saviour of the world. Through the scriptures, we witness the humble circumstances of His coming, the proclamation of His birth to shepherds, and the worship offered to Him by wise men. The carols that accompany these sacred moments echo the wonder and majesty of the Incarnation, reminding us that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS

  1. The Birth of Jesus Proclaimed
    Luke 2:1-7 – The narrative of Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem and Jesus being born in a manger.

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

  • Carol: “Away in a Manger”
  1. The Shepherds Hear the Good News
    Luke 2:8-16 –An angel announces the birth of the Savior to shepherds, who visit the manger and glorify God.

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

    • Carol: “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks”
  1. The Wise Men Seek the King
    Matthew 2:1-12– The magi follow the star to find Jesus, offering gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

    • Carol: “We Three Kings”
  1. The Word Became Flesh
    John 1:1-14 – The glorious prologue to John’s Gospel, declaring Jesus as the Word who became flesh to dwell among us.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  He came to His own and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

    • Carol: “O Come, All Ye Faithful”

Why It Matters Today

In a world often distracted by the commercialism of Christmas, the Festival Of Nine Lessons and Carols serves as a powerful reminder of the season’s true meaning. It invites us to pause and focus on the greatest gift ever given: Jesus Christ.

As we sing the carols and listen to the lessons, we are drawn into the story of God’s love—a story that began in the Garden of Eden and culminates in the manger at Bethlehem. It’s a story that continues to transform lives today.

Conclusion

The Nine Lessons of Carols offers a profound way to experience the joy, hope, and peace of Christmas. It reminds us of God’s plan for salvation and invites us to respond with worship and gratitude. This Christmas, may we allow the lessons to deepen our understanding of God’s love and let the carols fill our hearts with the true joy of the season.

Let us sing with the angels: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14).

Remain Blessed!

Please continue to join us on Asempa 94.7 FM – Sundays 5.30 am., Sunny 88.7 FM – Tuesdays 5:30 am; and YFM 107.9 – Sundays 6.30am; for our Radio Bible Study as well as Sunny FM 88.7 FM every Sunday at 3:30 pm. for Hymn and their Stories.

Feature: Great Expectations

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Africanus Owusu Ansah (Hot Issues)

Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them. – William Shakespeare ‘Twelfth Night’ (What You Will).

At a Speech and Prize-Giving Day at Akrokerri Training College sometime in July, 1972, we were given a book prize for the best student in English with the title “Great Expectations” authored by Charles Dickens. Among the many prizes we obtained that year was an Encyclopedia from the British Council for being the best essayist in a nation-wide competition on ‘The Diary of a Nigerian Deportee” (or a topic like that), Let us give a hint about winning Mike Eghan Club show prize in 1974. The Great Expectations became a constant read, and we likened ourselves to Pip in his ambition to elevate his social status and thus make himself worthy of his lover, Estella.

As of the time of writing this piece, the results showed a clear lead of NDC Votes against that of NPP – showing that the NDC can do business in Parliament, according to Article 104 of the 1992 Constitution with the provision: “…matters in Parliament shall be determined by the votes of the majority of members present and voting with at least half of all the Members of Parliament present”.

Thus, The election was obviously “a referendum on Nana Akufo-Addo’s presidency:” Andy Appiah Kubi is upbeat about the “deals” in the allocation of land and calls for the setting up of a committee to probe this. The NPP presidential candidate, Dr.Mahamudu Bawumia reminded his humble self, except that during the latter half of the election campaign, he resorted to “physical antics” uncharacteristic of his persona. In sum, the following factors conclude the agony of NPP: Arrogance, disrespect, greed, selfishness, mismanagement (bad governance), over confidence.

We had previously highlighted the negative roles of Akufo-Addo’s kinsmen namely, Gabby Otchere Darko, Asante Bediatuo and Dr. Ken Ofori Atta (the last of whom 98 NPP MPs had requested Nana Akufo-Addo to sack as a non-performing Finance Minister. The religious men thought they could use psychology to twist the minds of voters.

Reverend Kusi Boateng, Agradaa Mama Pat (Heaven Ways) and others should be questioned thoroughly. “The Lord told me Bawumia would win” and Parliamentary Candidates would pound people’s fufu, wash their clothes… o-h-o-o.

Professor Gyampo has over 100 points (factors) to explain the NPP loss: corruption, nepotistic appointments, family and friends (including concubines) , Akufo-Addo’s daughters… and the response for the goodies of life – because their Grandfather sent them to notable schools.

Unlike the historical NDC we used to know, this time round, it was serious business; face-to- face; personal contact, use of electronic devices, physical vigilance – to the extent that even boisterous Sammy Gyamfi was calculated in his address in the late evening of December 7th. Humility in NDC? Unbelievable you could hear Kwame Awuah Esq sing: “He that is down need fear no fall; He that is low no pride; He that is humble ever shall: Have God to be his guide” John Bunyan Pilgrim’s Progress (Hymn 405).

And the NPP group would mock the NDC and not listen to any advice from insiders to stop that and be serious with their research. We were afraid of honest public servants suffering our fate in 2009 when we got the sack under the Mills/Mahama administration. Witch-hunting?

The President-elect must know: “Those to whom much is given much is expected” (quibusmultum datum estmultumexpectatur).

“The meat has been eaten, leaving only the bones” to borrow Mahama’s own words. This time round, have the bones been “chewed” by people who have “strong” teeth? But Ghanaians have great expectations. They want an improvement in their living conditions. The economy should be improved: lower cost of living, lower prices of goods.

As for the “free SHS”, Mahama has said “it has come to stay” so a President cannot or need not touch it – otherwise he would be asked why his father took him from Achimota School to Tamale to take advantage of the Northern Scholarship.

We welcome reforms that include “allowing” those who can afford it to pay, and getting the schools to do purchasing themselves instead of relying on the National Food Buffer Stock Company – to avert the spoilage of rice as experienced recently with collaboration of Lamens Investments Africa Limited so, we are pleased to hear John Mahama say: “…The money for the food will be given to the schools directly to make such purchase ….” Involve GNAT, NAGRAT.

The road tolls should be brought back. “Little drops of water make a mighty ocean”. The toll booths would serve as critical points for petty traders (especially food vendors) and the physically challenged.

Thinking of a lean Cabinet? Why not! The U.S. with a population of 300 million has a Cabinet of 25, and note: tall Abraham Lincoln (6ft 4ins) the 16th President had some cabinet ministers who were originally his opponents in the presidential race. Attorney General Edward Bates; Secretary of War Simon Cameron; Secretary of the Treasury Salman Chase; Secretary of State William H. Seward.

Short – heighted President James Madison (5ft 4ins) kept a large horde of slaves given his attitude to slavery. He would not have wished slavery to end.

The pensioners including ex-Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo. We trust that Mahama will scrap the E-levy, COVID-19 taxes and the betting taxes: We cannot pretend to know it all – to advise the NDC on how to run the administration. and with the President-elect’s pedigree – Assemblyman, MP, Deputy Minister, Minister, Vice-President, President and now re-elect President, he must have seen it all – we expect him to hit the road running after January 7th – no honeymoon. Constitutional Review? Yes, Ex-gratia? Why?

The President-elect, like his counterpart, Donald Trump of the U.S., has to make history and some of us like Prof Albert Adu Boahen are recording events while the political parties play their propaganda game of telling the nation “We (NPP) are leaving (NDC) a stable economy”.

It will be pleasant to see an officer from the Ghana Customs heading one of the organs of the Ghana Armed Forces, just as an army officer goes to head the Ghana Customs, takes at least two years to study the intricacies and nuances of the institution and touts his success in exceeding the target because the exchange rate favours the dollar. Anybody in doubt should read, “Restructuring the Ghana Customs 1986-1996” at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana and ask Prof. Boafo-Arthur.

How dare any one say the people of Ghana “made a mistake” in the December 7th election? Let the NPP tickle itself and laugh, instead of doing an objective analysis and research on what went wrong. Kwesi Pratt thinks: the people of Ghana withdrew their mandate. Hopeson Adorye must be sweating for all the mud he has thrown at the Ofori Panin fie.

He has to answer charges over the suit by D.K. Ofori Atta on the “Agyapadie Book” especially on the authorship which the President, Nana Akufo-Addo claims was by “opposition’s assigns” writing; “…In doing this we need to be strategic.

We would have to work with other people from some of the diverse ethnic groups, including some carefully selected people in Asante and other diverse ethnicities or lands. This would make them believe that they also have a hand in the pie. It would obscure any suspicion that the project is essentially an Ofori Panin Project.

 

Barcelona, Atletico Madrid lock horns in a huge game

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Raphinha, Barcelona

Level on points (38) at the top of the La Liga table, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will lock horns in a huge game on Saturday evening, with any potential winner guaranteeing themselves first position in the division heading into 2025.

Barcelona are at the summit due to their superior goal difference, but Atletico, who have a game in hand on the division leaders, are the form team entering this contest, with Diego Simeone‘s side on an incredible 11-game winning run in all competitions.

Barcelona boast a record of 12 wins, two draws and four defeats from their 18 La Liga matches this season, with 38 points enough to top the table on goal difference, but they have played a game more than both second-placed Atletico and third-placed Real Madrid, with the latter only one point behind ahead of the next set of fixtures in Spain’s top flight. The Catalan outfit’s form earlier this season suggested that they could run away with the title this term, but they have only won one of their last six matches in the league, suffering three defeats in the process.

Not since February 2006 have Atletico managed to win an away league game against Barcelona, who are on a five-game winning run over the White and Reds, including a 1-0 success in the corresponding match last term.

Simeone’s side will enter the match in excellent form, though, having won each of their last 11 matches in all competitions, including their last six in the league against Las Palmas, Mallorca, Alaves, Real Valladolid, Sevilla and Getafe.

Barcelona will be without the services of Lamine Yamal due to an ankle problem, with the 17-year-old, who has again been in excellent form this season, set to be sidelined until the early stages of 2025.

This is such a difficult match to call; it would not be a surprise to see a home or indeed an away win on Saturday, but both managers would view a point as a solid result, and a very tight match could end with the points being shared here, opening the door for Real Madrid to finish the year at the top of the division.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

City to revive their ailing title defence when they visit Aston Villa

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Emiliano Martinez, Aston Villa

Seeking a way out of their mid-season malaise, Premier League champions Manchester City will try to revive their ailing title defence on Saturday, when they visit Aston Villa.

Following last week’s dramatic derby defeat, City have lost five of their last seven league games; meanwhile, Villa’s recent revival was halted by a late collapse last time out.

Unai Emery‘s men had previously rallied by winning three consecutive matches – against Brentford and Southampton, then RB Leipzig in the Champions League – but that setback means they have now lost four of their last seven league fixtures.

Nonetheless, they are unbeaten in each of their last seven Premier League games at Villa Park and currently occupy seventh spot, so they can even overtake Manchester City with a home win this weekend.

Like their hosts, Man City were undone during the final throes of their most recent outing, and perhaps in even more jaw-dropping fashion, having thrown away a one-goal lead in the dying embers of last week’s local derby.

More costly errors allowed Manchester United to steal away from the Etihad with maximum points – they have now lost eight of their last 11 matches.

Further betraying their weaknesses, City have now lost two of the last three Premier League games in which they had a half-time lead.

While City have wobbled, Villa are still vulnerable, so both sides would probably settle for a draw – even if neither manager would admit it.

The hosts are harder to beat on home turf and rarely fail to score, so they can extend the champions’ long wait for an away win.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

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