Skip to main content

Madrid win sets up season-long fight with Barca

By WTOP Staff

JOSEPH WILSON
Associated Press

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid’s commanding 3-1 win over Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday leaves the two Spanish giants poised to dispute the title that escaped them last season.

Barcelona arrived in the capital unbeaten and aiming for a win that would have increased its lead over Madrid to seven points.

Instead, Madrid’s comeback dealt Barcelona its first league loss of the season and closed the gap to just one point through nine rounds.

The title race could barely be tighter at this early stage. The mood, however, in the rivals’ home cities was entirely different on Sunday morning.

Madrid-based sport daily Marca splashed the headline “They Ate Them Alive!” and fellow Madrid-friendly AS declared “That’s The Way Madrid Wins,” playing on a common anti-Madrid chant at rival stadiums.

Meanwhile, SPORT summed up the sentiment in Barcelona with “A Disappointing Leader” after Barcelona faded fast following Neymar’s fourth-minute opener from a pass by newcomer Luis Suarez.

Lionel Messi could only manage one good scoring chance that Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas did well to turn away, and Barcelona’s defense went from shaky to shambles in the second half.

But Barcelona can take heart from Suarez’s surprisingly strong return after a four-month ban from competitive matches for biting an Italian opponent at the World Cup.

Although still not fit for a full match, in his 69 minutes the Uruguay forward offered the most constant threat Barcelona could muster, setting up Neymar’s opener and almost getting a second assist for Messi that would have made it 2-0.

His sturdier frame- compared to Messi and Neymar- was clear by the way he held his own against Madrid’s physical defenders, and he showed no signs of rust from his long layoff.

“The result doesn’t sink us,” said Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez. “We believe in what we are doing.”

Coach Luis Enrique, however, faced questions over why his team failed to compete in the second half, and the first-year manager will surely be scrutinized for his decision to take Xavi off with his team down 2-1 and not to start speedy back Jordi Alba.

Madrid lost its two league “clasicos” last season, but overall it has turned the tide against Barcelona since the departure of former coach Pep Guardiola in 2012.

Under Guardiola, Barcelona dominated Madrid with a record of nine wins, four draws and 2 losses. Since then, Madrid has won five, drawn two and lost three.

Madrid roared back from Neymar’s early goal and shredded Barcelona’s record of eight clean sheets to start the season.

The hosts offered an unbeatable mix of their traditional counterattacking style with a new willingness to dispute the hallmark possession of their fierce rivals.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored for an 11th straight game when he leveled with a penalty in the 35th after Gerard Pique had clumsily handled in the area.

Pepe then headed in a corner in the 50th before Karim Benzema capped his excellent performance with a goal after a collective defensive gaffe to put an early end to the contest in the 61st.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti got it right by replacing the injured Gareth Bale with another midfielder, Francisco “Isco” Alarcon, to equal forces with Barcelona in the middle.

“We saw a Real Madrid that also knew how to keep possession of the ball,” Madrid defender Sergio Ramos said. “They are not the only ones who can pass. It was a day to enjoy. We knew who to handle the phases of the match, when we needed to launch counterattacks and when to keep possession, something which they are used to dominating. And that hurt them a lot.”

The result also benefited the other top teams in the league, leaving five sides within two points.

Sevilla pulled into second place level with Barcelona on points with a 2-1 win over Villarreal on Sunday, while Valencia and Atletico Madrid also won this round to sit two points behind the pacesetters in fourth and fifth.

Yet given the even greater collection of talent Madrid and Barcelona have amassed this season, the league title will likely come down to the two powerhouses who shared nine straight trophies before Atletico’s triumph last season.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote