IOC President Thomas Bach to visit Jamaica today

rolled into the net. His fellow centre-back Nacho attempted to clear the ball off the line but was unable to save his team-mate's embarrassment.

It was initially ruled out for offside but VAR indicated that while Raphinha had moved early he was not interfering with play while Kessie was level and as a result the goal stood.

Barca's defence has conceded just eight goals in 23 league matches this season and although there were extensive changes in personnel, the backline stood strong again on Thursday.

The visitors' attack was largely toothless without injured pair of Robert Lewandowski and Ousmane Dembele - although they could easily have had a second goal if Ansu Fati had not blocked his team-mate Kessie's goal-bound shot.

Former Manchester City forward Ferran Torres, who joined the Catalan club last January, was quiet again while another former Premier League player, ex-Leeds winger Raphinha, was anonymous for the most part.

It was a performance with few hallmarks of the great Barca side Xavi orchestrated, but the team he is managing know how to get the job done - in domestic football, at least.

Madrid unable to make possession count

Real appeared highly motivated from the start, perhaps with memories of a poor performance in January's Super Cup loss to their rivals still in their minds.

As Liverpool experienced last week, when Carlo Ancelotti's team hit their stride they can overwhelm any opponent - and that appeared as if it could be the case in the early stages.

Luka Modric struck the side-netting in the first minute after beating the offside trap before Karim Benzema brilliantly controlled and finished a volley from a chipped Vinicius Jr cross - but he was half a yard offside.

In the second half, Federico Valverde's lofted effort being palmed away by Marc-Andre ter Stegen was the closest the home side came to equalising.

Madrid continued to dominate possession right to the end and will know they are likely to need to overturn the deficit at the home of their great rivals if they are to prevent Barca doing the domestic Treble. (BBC Sport).

President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, will, for the first time, set foot on the soil of Jamaica as he pays an official and historic visit to the island.

Mr Bach is set to arrive in Jamaica late today. During his brief visit, the world governing Olympic body’s head will undertake a hectic schedule and President of the Jamaica Olympic Association, (JOA), Christopher Samuda, expects a very successful visit.

“President Bach’s engagement will serve to deepen and embolden our continuing commitment to the values of Olympism as a way of life in sport while providing a welcomed opportunity for an interface with members of the local Olympic family,” said Samuda.

In July 2018, a petal from the flame of the cauldron of the 2012 London Olympic Games was established at the Sir Donald Sangster International Airport, in Montego Bay by the current JOA administration “as a landmark embodying the ideals of a global sport movement, giving earnest hope to the burning aspirations of Jamaica’s sportsmen and women in their pursuit of excellence and kindling the ambitious light of our youth to emulate” JOA Secretary General and CEO, Ryan Foster, said.

At the heart of the President Bach’s visit will undoubtedly be fraternal unity as the top brass of the JOA and IOC executives meet on common ground in advancing the Olympic agenda.

“A meeting of the minds in sport, a mutuality of purpose and will and commonality of values will characterize discussions and anchor outcomes” President Samuda stated.

President Bach, a Montreal 1976 Olympic Games gold medalist in the discipline of foil in fencing and a lawyer by profession, will depart the island with his delegation on March 5 on the way to the Dominican Republic after “what we have every confidence will be a milestone in Jamaica’s Olympic experience” Secretary General Foster concluded. (Sportsmax).