MESSI IS IN THE PAST, WE HAVE TO MOVE ON: BARCA COACH

BARCELONA: Lionel Messi is now in Barcelona’s past and the club must live in the present, coach Ronald Koeman said on Saturday, as his side prepare for a new La Liga season without their greatest ever player and battling through a financial crisis.

“It’s painful for all Barcelona fans given what Messi has done for the club, but we cannot live in the past,” Koeman said ahead of Sunday’s game to Real Sociedad. “I’m excited for the new season, and I hope the fans are enthusiastic too. We have to live in the present and not the past.

“People have spoken a lot about Messi and that’s normal because of how effective he was and his quality. We won’t have him around any more, but we still have a very strong squad”

Lewandowski strikes as Bayern draw opener

MONCHENGLADBACH: Robert Lewandowski equalised as defending champions Bayern Munich were held to a 1-1 draw at Borussia Moenchengladbach in a hard-fought opening game of the new Bundesliga season.

Gladbach took the lead when French striker Alassane Plea fired past Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with just ten minutes gone. Lewandowski levelled just before the break from a corner, but both sides wasted second-half chances to grab the allimportant winner.

10-man Valencia overcome Getafe 1-0

MADRID: Valencia overcame a third-minute red card to beat Getafe 1-0 in a bruising opening game in Spain’s La Liga on Friday. Defender Hugo Guillamon was given a straight red but eight minutes after, Valencia were ahead.