And the winner of La Liga's last laugh of the season goes to ... Luis Suarez! When Barcelona unceremoniously parted ways with the Uruguayan striker last September, new manager Ronaldo Koeman deeming the scorer of 198 Barca goals peripheral to his plans, it felt a decision that could backfire.
More so, initially, at whether Barcelona could ably replace a player of proven class, a lethal striker, and crucially a favoured teammate of Lionel Messi. That was when Suarez was expected to join then Italian champions Juventus.
Once he hot-footed over to the Spanish capital after his move to Turin fell through, for a maximum transfer fee of €6 million, it ushered with it a sense of foreboding. Barca had significantly strengthened a direct rival while ridding themselves of a game-changing No 9.
Now with a full Liga season to reflect upon, the Suarez factor has indeed made all the difference. While the Uruguayan was deep in title celebrations with this Atletico Madrid teammates on Saturday, Barcelona's campaign petered out in the modest surroundings of Eibar, where their final game, which they won 1-0, was deemed so unimportant that captain Messi was granted permission to end his season early. Barca secured third place, seven points behind Atletico.
Over in Valladolid, the stakes were somewhat higher for both teams with the hosts still clinging on to faint survival hopes and Atletico determined not to let their two-point lead over Real Madrid slip on the final day.
It was Valladolid who took the lead, in the 18th minute, when Oscar Plano finished a slick team move. As fortune would have it for Atletico, Real Madrid also found themselves trailing to Villarreal in the first half to ensure the red and white half of the city retained their advantage.
Atletico improved significantly after the halftime break and got their deserved equaliser when Angel Correa showed quick feet before toe-poking home a low finish.
Then, 10 minutes later, who else but Suarez to give his team a massive boost by scoring what proved to be the winning goal after racing onto a sloppy back pass and calmly finishing past the goalkeeper. It was his 21st La Liga goal of the season.
Atletico's five-point lead over Real Madrid lasted up until the final two minutes when their rivals scored twice in quick succession, through Karim Benzema and Luka Modric, to beat Villarreal 2-1. Suarez's winning goal ultimately sealed the title.
It felt a microcosm of Atletico's season and indeed Suarez's contribution to their title-winning campaign. Barcelona have been able, in some ways, to replace Suarez's goals - the Catalans outscored Atletico 85 to 67 - but they have undoubtedly missed the Uruguayan's ruthless, win-at-all-cost approach to the game and his experience in pressure moments.
I am just delighted the way Atletico have appreciated me. Thank you for trusting in me.
Barcelona cast him aside, feeling that at 34-years-old, Suarez no longer possessed the qualities that would help them regain the title. How he has proved them wrong and it may end up costing Koeman his job.
"I am just delighted the way Atletico have appreciated me," an emotional Suarez said. "They have given me the chance to show I can still perform on this stage. Thank you for trusting in me."
Ultimately, though, Atletico's title triumph has been a true team effort. As Real Madrid relied heavily on Benzema this season and Barcelona continued to place most of the burden on Messi, Atletico have shared the responsibility.
Marcos Llorente scored 12 and assisted 12 and Correra contributed to 17 goals - nine scored, eight assisted - while Joao Felix and Yannick Carrasco also reached double figures across goals and assists.
For all of his individual brilliance for Barca, Suarez was always the ultimate team player and he has found a team, and coach, that have appreciated and utilised his skills.
"My work is to help the team and pay them back by scoring goals," Suarez said. "Atletico is a huge club and we have shown it this season. We have been the most regular performers and that is why we are champions."
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Empty Words
By Mario Levrero
(Coffee House Press)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
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Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Types of fraud
Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
* Nada El Sawy
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
