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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On May 16

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Live Event

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Billy Haisley

Kylian Mbappé of PSG react during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match between FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 16, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain: Quarter-final Second Leg – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Soccer

PSG And Barcelona Turned A Champions League Feast Into A Soggy Appetizer

Caroline Graham Hansen of FC Barcelona run with the ball during the UEFA Women's Champions League 2023/24 Quarter Final Leg Two match between FC Barcelona and SK Brann at Estadi Johan Cruyff on March 28, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v SK Brann – UEFA Women’s Champions League 2023/24 Quarter Final Leg Two

Caroline Graham Hansen Is The Best In The World

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Albert Burneko

NAPLES, ITALY - FEBRUARY 21: Robert Lewandowski (2nd L) of FC Barcelona, celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Napoli and FC Barcelona at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, on February 21, 2024.

Napoli v FC Barcelona – UEFA Champions League

More Like Barcelimbo

Head Coach Xavi Hernandez of FC Barcelona looks on during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on January 27, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v Villarreal CF – LaLiga EA Sports

Xavi Writes Himself An Ending

Real Madrid players celebrates after Daniel Carvajal goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and UD Almeria at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 21, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid CF v UD Almeria – LaLiga EA Sports

Real Madrid Is The Good Guy

FC Barcelona manager Xavi gesticulates during the UEFA Champions League match against Royal Antwerp.

Royal Antwerp FC v FC Barcelona: Group H – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Barcelona Loses Match, Wins UCL Group, Possibly Dooms Xavi

Xavi Hernandez is speaking during the press conference prior to the UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid in Barcelona, Spain, on November 27, 2023.

Xavi press conference before the Champions League match against FC Porto

Xavi Is Not The Manager He Was Supposed To Be

Caroline Graham Hansen FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the Liga F match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid Femenino at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on November 19, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid – Liga F

Barcelona Rules Spain With A Golden, Five-Fingered Fist

Jude Bellingham player of Real Madrid celebrates his goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on October 28, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid CF – LaLiga EA Sports

Jude Bellingham Has Already Made Madrid His Own

ansu-fati

Ansu Fati In Brighton Should Be Lots Of Fun

Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona reacts during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio de la Ceramica, August 27, 2023, Vila-real, Spain.

Villarreal CF v FC Barcelona – LaLiga EA Sports

Barcelona Has Found Another One In Lamine Yamal

Atlético Madrid forward João Félix, looking perplexed or perhaps disgusted from the bench.

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What The Hell Is Going On With João Félix?

Aitana Bonmati of Spain celebrates her team’s 2-1 victory and advance to the final following the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Semi Final match between Spain and Sweden at Eden Park on August 15, 2023 in Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau, New Zealand.

Spain v Sweden: Semi Final – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

Aitana Bonmatí Can’t Win

Ousmane Dembélé in a Barcelona hoodie, smiling.

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What The Hell Is Going On With Ousmane Dembélé?

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Lionel Messi Chooses Inter Miami

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La Liga

Barcelona’s Pursuit Of Lionel Messi Is A Degrading Farce

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Leo Messi of Paris Saint-Germain looks on during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Lorient at Parc des Princes on April 30, 2023 in Paris, France.

Paris Saint-Germain v FC Lorient – Ligue 1 Uber Eats

Lionel Messi’s PSG Vacation Has Fallen Apart

Mapi Leon of FC Barcelona celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's second goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final 2nd leg match between FC Barcelona and AS Roma at Spotify Camp Nou on March 29, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v AS Roma: Quarter-Final 2nd Leg – UEFA Women’s Champions League

Barcelona Femeni Opened The Floodgates

Emile is a freelance writer, originally from the U.S., now living in Barcelona. He writes about Spanish soccer, namely FC Barcelona and Barça Femeni, on Substack, at <a href="https://barcafemeni.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://barcafemeni.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753084000&amp;usg=AOvVaw14bYDiXeApFrdtb0hLPnFE">La Barça Soc Supporter</a> and appears regularly on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheBarcelonaPod" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/TheBarcelonaPod&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753084000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3pyv2PojdPBZ1Gkv3_aN-S">The Barcelona Podcast</a>. His work has previously featured at outlets including The Blizzard, <a href="https://urbanpitch.com/author/eavanessian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urbanpitch.com/author/eavanessian/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753084000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0I4zygG7AmIDTzwXlPE2u_">Urban Pitch</a>, The Squall, Barça Blaugranes, and <a href="https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/author/emile-avanessian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/author/emile-avanessian/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753084000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3g0kv0jxafpvL520xVCsVU">Sports Collectors Daily</a>.
Emile also writes about the NBA, at his new outpost League Pass in L’Eixample. His previous work can be found at Forum Blue and Gold and his own site, a living relic of the basketblog era, <a href="https://hardwoodhype.com/the-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://hardwoodhype.com/the-work&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753085000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2U949Uf-KXcPwkDPCbW129">Hardwood Hype</a>.

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Emile Avanessian

STADIO OLIMPICO , ROME, ITALY - 2023/03/21: Salma Paralluelo of FCB Barcelona celebrates with teammates after scoring the goal of 0-1 during the Women Uefa Champions League quarter finals football match between AS Roma and FCB Barcelona. Barcelona won 1-0 over AS Roma.

Salma Paralluelo of FCB Barcelona celebrates with teammates

Barcelona Femeni Is Ready To Make The Climb

Barcelona players celebrate Franck Kessié's stoppage-time winner against Real Madrid, Mar. 19 2023

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Things Are Looking Up For Barcelona, So Long As You Don’t Look Up

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Ray Ratto

Fans are seen waving flags inside the stadium as they await the unveiling of new FC Barcelona Head Coach Xavi Hernandez during a press conference at Camp Nou on November 08, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Xavi Hernandez Unveiled As New FC Barcelona FC Head Coach

Barcelona Insists There’s Nothing Weird About Paying A Referee $1.3 Million

Investigations Editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

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Diana Moskovitz

Player of Brazil Dani Alves signs the national anthem before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 group G match between Brazil and Cameroon at Lusail Stadium on December 2, 2022 in Lusail, Qatar.

Dani Alves

Dani Alves Jailed In Sexual Assault Case

Shakira arrives for the screening of the film "Elvis" during the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 25, 2022.

Shakira

Where Were You When Shakira Ruined Gerard Piqué?

FC Barcelona v Olympique Lyon – UEFA Women’s Champions League Final 2021/22

Alexia Putellas’s Documentary Finds Truth In Disaster

Asisat Oshoala of FC Barcelona celebrates her team's third goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League Group D match between FC Barcelona and SL Benfica at Estadi Johan Cruyff on October 19, 2022 in Sant Joan Despi, Spain.

FC Barcelona v SL Benfica: Group D – UEFA Women’s Champions League

Asisat Oshoala Put An Exclamation Point On Barcelona’s Rout

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