spain

Barcelona leap into Champions League automatic qualifying positions with win in Copenhagen, but PSG face playoffs.

Barcelona stormed ‌back in the second half to claim a 4-1 victory over Copenhagen at the Camp ‍Nou, sealing ‍a top-eight finish and direct qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League.

Goals from Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Marcus Rashford on Wednesday ensured the Catalans finished fifth in the standings on 16 points, level with Manchester City, Chelsea and Sporting but ahead on goal difference.

Copenhagen shocked ⁠the hosts early when 17-year-old Viktor Dadason slotted the opener past Joan Garcia in the fourth minute, but ​the second half began with a Barcelona fightback.

Yamal set up Lewandowski to equalise in ‍the 48th minute, before scoring himself in the 60th with a deflected effort that left Copenhagen keeper Dominik Kotarski helpless. Raphinha made it 3-1 from the penalty spot after Lewandowski was fouled, and Rashford added a fourth with a free kick ‍in the 85th minute.

“We ⁠all came here tonight thinking about getting into the top eight. We’re very happy with the win,” 18-year-old Yamal told Movistar Plus.

“When you concede a goal in the Champions League, it’s very difficult to come back, but the team was very resilient and managed to turn it around. With the number of matches we play in a season, having two fewer matches leaves you feeling much better.”

Despite the comfortable final result, Barcelona endured a frustrating first half, during which Copenhagen took ​a shock lead.

Dadason stunned the home crowd after Mohamed Elyounoussi delivered a ‌defence-splitting pass, allowing Dadason to outrun Barca’s high defensive line before rifling a low shot past keeper Garcia.

Clearly unsettled, Barcelona were wasteful in attack during the opening 45 minutes. Raphinha and Lewandowski spurned opportunities to equalise, while Eric Garcia came closest to levelling ‌when his driven effort struck the crossbar in the 33rd minute.

The second half, however, saw a completely transformed Barcelona.

Barely three minutes after the restart, Yamal burst forward ‌on a counterattack, darting past Copenhagen defenders before unselfishly squaring the ⁠ball for Lewandowski to slot into an empty net.

The hosts seized control and upped the tempo, pinning Copenhagen deep inside their own half, and Barca took the lead on the hour mark through Yamal, whose deflected shot from inside the box looped over a ‌stranded Kotarski and nestled into the far corner.

Raphinha made it 3-1 from the penalty spot in the 69th minute after Lewandowski was brought down inside the area while attempting to shoot, and substitute Rashford wrapped up ‍the scoring.

Although Barcelona delivered a clinical attacking display, questions remain about their defensive organisation. They completed the league phase without a clean sheet and finished with the worst defence among the top 13 teams.

Dembele’s penalty miss costs PSG in 1-1 draw with Newcastle

Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele had a night to forget, missing an early penalty and a golden chance from close range as defending champion Paris Saint-Germain drew 1-1 with Newcastle in the Champions League.

The draw meant both sides finished out of the top eight places in the league table and failed to qualify automatically for the last 16. They will enter the playoffs instead.

PSG was awarded an early penalty when Bradley Barcola got behind the defence down the left wing with less than one minute played. The ball hit Barcola’s arm following a tackle from a defender coming across, and then flew onto the arm of Lewis Miley right behind him.

Miley seemed unsighted, and the handball appeared accidental, but referee Slavko Vincic awarded the spot kick following a short video review.

Dembele aimed for the bottom right corner, but goalkeeper Nick Pope made a brilliant save. Pope was beaten in the eighth minute when Vitinha curled a shot into the same corner after being set up by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the edge of the penalty area.

Dembele, who scored 35 goals overall last season, scooped the ball well over the crossbar from 10 metres out in the 40th minute when meeting a cross from the left.

Joe Willock equalised for the visitors in first-half stoppage time, and substitute Harvey Barnes missed a chance to win it for the visitors with moments left.

A British woman who relocated to Barcelona almost 10 years ago has witnessed locals becoming increasingly frustrated with the transformation of their neighbourhoods due to the influx of expats and tourists

A British woman who moved to Barcelona has told how residents are growing more and more fed up with how their communities are changing due to the influx of nomads. Gemma Askham made the move to the sought-after Spanish destination in 2017 when her half-Spanish husband’s career took them there, and she’s remained ever since.

While the initial six years passed without much drama, a wave of expats arriving, combined with anti-tourism feelings stirred up by the Southern Europe Network Against Touristification (SET) campaign, has transformed the neighbourhood.

With foreigners and holidaymakers flooding into Barcelona, the local economy has adapted to serve their tastes and needs, instead of the other way round. Gemma observed that this tension between expats and their new home escalated after the Covid-19 outbreak.

OPINION

Writing in Grazia back in August 2025, at a time when brewing tensions were escalating between residents and tourists, Gemma explained: “In 2023, a street pedestrianisation project aimed at improving community life was completed. But there are now eight English-named brunch cafes within two blocks.”

Hiding the confusion this has caused among locals, Gemma shared how her 69-year-old neighbour, Toni Fontclara, can’t understand why people queue at 11 am for avocado on toast, “a dish not from the region, served at an unheard-of eating hour for the Spanish, with a menu in a language he doesn’t speak”.

Gemma’s not the only one spotting Barcelona’s transformation, with visitor numbers dropping after years of anti-tourism demonstrations. Another British resident, also living in Barcelona, previously disclosed that certain areas of the city have become noticeably quieter, with holidaymakers being put off from visiting.

Laura, who has been based in the city for around three years, took to social media last summer to post videos of empty streets, showing just how unusually quiet they had become during daylight hours. She said: “Day one of recording how quiet Barcelona is now, the tourists don’t feel welcome. The businesses must be feeling it. The streets are so quiet now. These businesses last year used to wake me up in the morning. One has just recently been renovated.”

Laura’s clips demonstrate just how effective some of the demonstrations have proved, although views remain divided on what they’re really trying to achieve. Whilst some protesters have been calling for tourists to stay away, others insist the demonstrations are rooted in a desire to protect local residents, rather than drive away visitors.

Professor Marina Novelli explained: “Places like Lisbon, Venice and Barcelona are increasingly reduced to lifestyle backdrops where locals feel like strangers. The SET movement is about cross-border solidarity. Ultimately, it’s not anti-tourist, it’s pro-resident.”

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com

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Benfica beat Real 4-2 which sends both teams into Champions League playoffs, as Madrid miss out on top eight.

Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored an astonishing 98th-minute header as Benfica beat Real Madrid 4-2 to keep themselves in the Champions League and deny their illustrious opponents an automatic spot in the last 16.

In an extraordinary finale on Wednesday, the Portuguese side were ⁠heading out despite leading 3-2 with seconds of stoppage time remaining before Trubin came forward for a free ​kick to score the goal needed to sneak into the playoff round on goal ‍difference.

That sparked wild celebrations from Benfica players, fans and their charismatic coach Jose Mourinho – a former manager of Real Madrid – at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon.

The Spaniards had hoped to finish in the top eight and go straight into the ‍last 16, but ⁠their 15 points from eight games were not enough, and they finished the match with nine men as Raul Asencio and Rodrygo were sent off.

Andreas Schjelderup scored two goals for Benfica and Vangelis Pavlidis netted from the penalty spot, while Kylian Mbappe netted twice for Real in a hugely entertaining, end-to-end contest.

Benfica advance at the expense of Marseille, who lost 3-0 at Club Brugge. The giant screen in the stadium in Belgium congratulated both teams for advancing to the ​next stage, but that proved premature as Trubin turned the tables.

Both Benfica ‌and Real needed a goal for different reasons going into the final minutes, and it is a vindication of the competition’s format that a single goal could have such a dramatic effect on the table.

Benfica were denied two strong early penalty shots, ‌and Real took the lead on 30 minutes against the run of play when Asencio’s cross to the back post was headed in by Mbappe.

The home ‌side drew level six minutes later when Asencio’s slip in the ⁠wet conditions allowed Pavlidis to provide a perfect cross for Schjelderup to head into the net.

Benfica were awarded a penalty in first-half added time when Aurelien Tchouameni was adjudged to have hauled Nicolas Otamendi to the floor, and Pavlidis buried his spot-kick.

Schjelderup ‌scored his second of the game from Pavlidis’s perfect pass to make it 3-1, before Mbappe swept home his second, too – his 36th goal of the season in all competitions.

Benfica were still outside the top 24 ‍when they were awarded a free kick with virtually the final play, and Fredrik Aursnes’s delivery was headed in by Trubin to complete a night of high drama in Lisbon.

The club has become an Ibiza icon in recent years, and many celeb social media feeds have included pictures of the resort’s huge pool parties. This includes Katie Price who was seen posing on a sunbed last summer

Summer may seem like a long way off, but many of us are already making plans to visit warmer, more exciting destinations in the coming months.

One spot that Brits seem to return to year after year is Ibiza. While the party island has many iconic venues, one resort often hits the headlines during the summer season thanks to its decadent parties beloved by celebs. And you can already book a spot at its annual opening party.

O Beach Ibiza is owned by Wayne Lineker, who often posts poolside photos on his Instagram, and the resort can often be seen on social media feeds during the summer. From celebs to famous sports stars and influencers, it’s safe to say that you’re bound to see someone you recognise when you visit.

Last year, Katie Price enjoyed a well-documented trip to Ibiza, which included partying at O Beach in a tiny pink bikini. She reportedly danced with UFC-fighter Conor McGregor and posed for selfies with other celebrity pals.

The most famous part of O Beach is its day club, which opens at 1PM and generally closes by 11PM: perfect timing for those heading out to enjoy Ibiza’s nightlife. The official opening party for 2026 is on May 1, and the club opens nearly every day until mid-October, meaning visitors can make the most of the sunny Ibiza weather.

Guests can book a range of sofas, tables, or day beds to stake out their spot, and can either lie back and enjoy the sunshine while ordering cocktails and champagne, or join in the party. One option is to hire a daybed in the Sunset Garden area, which overlooks the pool and enjoys great views. This area also has its own bar for quicker service. Depending on when you visit, you can enjoy DJ sets, live music, or other poolside entertainment throughout the resort.

O Beach also has a restaurant where you can enjoy al fresco Mediterranean dining in the shade, or you can order poolside food to enjoy at your daybed.

While O Beach used to be just a day venue, last year it launched Bonito Ibiza by O Beach, taking over a hotel just across the road. This means guests are just steps from the party and can easily get back to their rooms in the evenings. The Bonito Ibiza has its own pool with more chilled vibes, and a stylish, neutral décor that’s Insta-perfect.

Staying in the area means you’re just steps from Playa de Sant Antoni, a sandy beach in a shallow bay with clear waters. It’s also just a short walk from San Antonio’s popular clubs, including Eden and Es Paradís, where the party can continue until the sun comes up.

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The port town of San Antonio is also famous for its Sunset Strip, where you can watch the sun go down while enjoying its al fresco bars, which play chill music to create the perfect atmosphere. From the port, you can also hop onto a boat trip, whether it’s one exploring the coast or a party boat combining sightseeing with cocktails and unforgettable views.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

Fiery-tempered and fierce-tongued Jose Mourinho softens his tone as former club Real Madrid face crunch game in Benfica.

Benfica coach Jose Mourinho said his Real Madrid counterpart, Alvaro Arbeloa, was like a child to him, in the run-up to their Champions League meeting in the final round of league phase matches.

The veteran Portuguese manager, known for his fiery temper and fierce tongue, coached Arbeloa at Madrid during his time at the helm of Los Blancos between 2010-2013, and had a strong relationship with the former defender in a dressing room that was splintering.

After a comment from Mourinho last week about being “surprised” when inexperienced managers lead big European clubs was viewed as a dig at new Madrid coach Arbeloa, he said he would never try to make life hard for his former charge.

Former Inter Milan coach Mourinho said in Italy that his words were also being taken as criticism of the appointment of Cristian Chivu at the Serie A side last year.

“There is one problem – both Chivu and Arbeloa are my children, they are not just ex-players of mine, but they are special,” Mourinho told a news conference on Tuesday.

“Speaking about Alvaro, I would say that he is one of the players – from a human point of view, from a personal point of view, and personal empathy – he is one of my favourites of them all.

“Obviously, he is not the best player who has played for Real Madrid, but he is certainly one of the best men who has played for me at Real Madrid.”

Mourinho said he was surprised when he himself was offered the chance to lead Benfica at the beginning of his coaching career in 2000, so his words could not be taken as an insult.

“The last thing I would do would be to put pressure on him,” explained the 63-year-old. “I want everything to go well for him, and for him to have a fantastic career as a coach.”

Mourinho said he had not spoken to Arbeloa since the 43-year-old replaced Xabi Alonso at the helm, but that there was no need to.

“My telephone number is very complicated, because there’s only the club’s number, and after that, only my family has it, and then my other phone is always changing, changing, changing,” explained Mourinho.

“People lose my contact, and I lose theirs too, and with Alvaro, it’s not necessary to have a call to say ‘good luck’, he knows it.

“In the same way that I [want Real Madrid to win games], Alvaro wants to beat Benfica, but then after that, he hopes Benfica always win, that’s for sure — no call is necessary.”

Mourinho admitted he could not speak for Arbeloa’s quality as a coach yet because he had not watched Madrid’s reserves or youth teams play.

“I cannot analyse him as a coach because I do not know him,” said Mourinho.

“I’ve only seen results, not followed with my own eyes the trajectory of the youngsters at Madrid.

“I have no advice to give him. The only thing that is important for me is that he is happy, that he likes it, because coaching these days is a very difficult mission.”

Madrid will seal their spot in the last 16 with a victory, while Benfica need to win and hope other results go their way to reach the playoff round.

After uprooting himself from the UK, expat Mark Danby has revealed that there has been one surprising upside of moving from Britain to the Costa del Sol in Spain

As Storm Chandra batters the UK with fierce winds and heavy downpours, many Brits will find themselves fantasising about relocating to warmer climes. One Briton who made the move is Mark Danby, who left his home in the UK and moved to Spain’s Costa del Sol.

However, it wasn’t the holiday destination’s blistering summers that drew Mark in, but rather its gentle, temperate winters. On his Tapas Guy channel on YouTube, he reveals that winter on the Costa del Sol is when he feels most content as an expat.

He explains: “You may be surprised to know that I moved to the Costa Del Sol because of the winter, not because of the summer.

“Winter here is when a place actually reveals whether it’s the right place to live or not, or whether it’s just a place to come for your summer holidays. Before I came here, winter meant something very, very different to me. It meant short, dark days, and cold, wet mornings.”

The milder climate in southern Spain allows Mark to genuinely savour a complete day, wandering in the winter sunshine instead of sheltering indoors from the rain. “My first winter here felt somewhat unfamiliar,” he recalled. “The beaches were quiet. Evenings were calm. For the first time in a long time, my winter days weren’t dictated by weather extremes. I didn’t realise how much I needed that until I had it.”

Mark reveals that his relocation from the UK to Spain has had an unexpectedly positive impact on his mental health. He shares: “Here in the winter, mornings can start with a walk or a drink outside, even in January.”

He elaborates: “Physically and mentally, winter has changed things for me. I get out more. I walk more. I spend more time outside. And as a result of that, I do feel generally less stressed.”

He also notes that his improved mood has boosted his productivity. However, he points out that life isn’t just easier during the Spanish winter, it’s also more affordable.

“The winter in the Costa del Sol is when it becomes financially honest,” he says. “There’s no tourists. Rents drop, sometimes significantly. Leases become available and eating out feels sustainable not just like a luxury.”

Mark admits that some eateries and pubs do shut down during the winter, resulting in slightly fewer dining options.

On the other hand, he observes, the Spanish summer also brings everything to a halt. He adds: “It becomes too hot, everything shuts down and it takes even longer to get things done.”

The rhythm of life, Mark explains, is generally more laid-back throughout the year.

Yet it’s the winter season that holds a special charm. He concludes: “The mild climate removes friction from your daily life. You don’t have to fight the weather like you do in the summer. You can actually live with it.

“When you stay through winter, something changes. You stop being a visitor. You become part of the rhythm.”

SPAIN has always been a top holiday destination for Brits – but is quickly being taken over by a number of other destinations.

According to Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy, Spain has lost its appeal to holidaymakers with other destinations coming for its crown thanks to rising costs.

In an interview with Hosteltur, Mr Heapy predicted that Brits are ditching Spain for other destinations, all in North Africa.

The reason being? Money.

Mr Heapy explained: “Price is critical; inflation has affected Spain more than other emerging markets, making the destination more expensive.

“Tourist taxes don’t help either; paying an additional five euros per person per night on top of the trip cost represents a significant expense.”

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In places like Barcelona, the surcharge for overnight stays is rising to €5 £4.34) per night.

In the Balearic Islands like Majorca and Ibiza, there’s an eco-tax added to accommodation which ranges between €1 (87p) to €4 (£3.47)pppn.

It will soon also be more expensive to fly to Spain, as previously reported, Aena, which operates the majority of airports in Spain, is increasing its airport charges by 6.44 per cent in 2026.

With the increase in cost, Mr Heapy said that Brits are heading to other locations instead – which are still just a few hours away from the UK.

He said: “North Africa is performing well, with Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt standing out.”

Morocco is a great option for Brits, especially those seeking winter sun – and some destinations are less than an hour from the UK.

A flight from the UK to the vibrant city of Marrakesh takes just three hours and 40 minutes.

In February there are highs of 21C – much warmer than being in the UK at that time of year.

It’s cheap too, according to Skyscanner you can fly with Ryanair from London Stansted from just £15 on February 23, 2026.

On that same day, it’s more expensive to fly to Madrid which is £17 – and the journey is one hour less.

Head of Sun Travel Lisa Minot recently visited the Moroccan city where she discovered desert landscapes, colourful streets and new bars, restaurants and hotels.

Other popular destinations in Morocco include Agadir which has beautiful golden beaches, the country’s capital Rabat, Essaouira on the southern coast, Fez and Tangier.

Tunisia is also back in the game according to Jet2’s Mr Heapy.

The number of Brits heading on holiday there has risen significantly with around 350,000 British visiting in 2024 – 65 per cent more than the previous year.

And numbers are rising thanks to its great weather, short flights and beautiful beaches.

And according to TravelSupermarket, Tunisia offers some of the very cheapest 5-star holidays on the market, averaging at £614pp.

Egypt has plenty of beautiful beachside resorts that will appeal to Brits seeking a fly and flop holiday.

You’ve got beach resorts like Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada, or if you want more of the city life, head to Cairo of Luxor & Aswan.

With loveholidays, breaks to Sharm El Sheikh including breakfast and flights start from as little as £219pp.

There were other Mediterranean destinations that Mr Heapy said are keeping a good level of tourism – like Greece.

There you get the best of both worlds from ancient cities to beautiful islands.

It’s also home to the world’s best island for 2025 – Paros, where travellers will find secret beach clubs and incredible restaurants where holidaymakers dance on tables.

Spain’s neighbour, Portugal, is also continuing to be popular especially in places like Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve region.

One writer who relocated from London to Lisbon still can’t believe how cheap it is.

You can pick up booze for less than £5 – from local beer to wine, she said “you can still purchase a top-quality house white or red for just a few euros.”

Coffee can be bought up for around 80p if you like an espresso – or coffee with milk – called a ‘galão’ – will usually come in at under two euros.

For more on Portugal, here’s the secret side of the country crowned one of the best places in Europe to visit.

And hear from one Greece expert who names four better value islands where locals go on holiday with Santorini-like houses and secluded beaches.

BRUSSELS — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte insisted on Monday that Europe is incapable of defending itself without U.S. military support and would have to more than double current military spending targets to be able to do so.

“If anyone thinks here … that the European Union or Europe as a whole can defend itself without the U.S., keep on dreaming. You can’t,” Rutte told EU lawmakers in Brussels. Europe and the United States “need each other,” he said.

Tensions are festering within NATO over President Trump’s renewed threats in recent weeks to annex Greenland, which is a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark.

Trump also said that he was slapping new tariffs on Greenland’s European backers, but later dropped his threats after a “framework” for a deal over the mineral-rich island was reached, with Rutte’s help. Few details of the agreement have emerged.

The 32-nation military organization is bound together by a mutual defense clause, Article 5 of NATO’s founding Washington treaty, which commits every country to come to the defense of an ally whose territory is under threat.

At NATO’s summit in The Hague in July, European allies — with the exception of Spain — plus Canada agreed to Trump’s demand that they invest the same percentage of their economic output on defense as the United States within a decade.

They pledged to spend 3.5% of gross domestic product on core defense, and a further 1.5% on security-related infrastructure – a total of 5% of GDP – by 2035.

“If you really want to go it alone,” Rutte said, “forget that you can ever get there with 5%. It will be 10%. You have to build up your own nuclear capability. That costs billions and billions of euros.”

France has led calls for Europe to build its “strategic autonomy,” and support for its stance has grown since the Trump administration warned last year that its security priorities lie elsewhere and that the Europeans would have to fend for themselves.

Rutte told the lawmakers that without the United States, Europe “would lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the U.S. nuclear umbrella. So, hey, good luck!”