Kylian Mbappe continued his fine start for Real Madrid by netting his third goal in two matches, helping his team to a 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena.
In what was a fiercely contested La Liga encounter, Mbappe’s late penalty proved decisive, as the French star calmly sent goalkeeper Alex Remiro the wrong way after Jon Aramburu’s foul on Vinicius Jr.
The match saw its first breakthrough in the 58th minute when Vinicius Jr converted from the spot following a handball by Sociedad’s Sergio Gomez, the former Manchester City defender, after Arda Guler’s powerful shot. This marked Vinicius’ second La Liga goal of the season, maintaining Madrid’s attacking threat throughout the game.
Real Sociedad, however, were left ruing their missed opportunities, having struck the woodwork three times. In the 25th minute, Luka Susic’s blistering shot from the edge of the box crashed off the crossbar, with Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois helplessly watching on. Just 10 minutes later, Dani Carvajal’s loss of possession nearly cost Madrid again, but Sheraldo Becker’s left-footed effort also ricocheted off the bar.
Susic continued to be a menace for Sociedad and came agonizingly close just 20 seconds into the second half. The Croatian midfielder slid a perfectly-placed shot past Courtois, only to see his effort strike the base of the post.
Despite Sociedad’s dominance in creating chances, it was Mbappe’s composed penalty that ultimately secured the three points for Madrid, who remain unbeaten after five league matches. The victory, however, wasn’t enough to overtake Barcelona, as Madrid remain a point behind their rivals despite having played one more game.
England international Jude Bellingham, sidelined with a calf injury, was absent from the squad, though he has returned to training and may feature in upcoming matches for the Spanish giants.
Madrid will be relieved to have secured victory in a match where Sociedad’s near-misses could have easily altered the result. The win solidifies their strong start to the season, with Mbappe continuing to be a pivotal figure in their La Liga campaign.
Manchester City and Real Madrid ended their Champions League quarter-final first leg in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
The match was a rollercoaster of lead changes, setting the stage for an exciting second leg in eight days.
Bernardo Silva opened the scoring for City within two minutes, but Real Madrid quickly responded with an own goal from Ruben Dias and a deflected goal from Rodrygo.
City then regained the lead in the second half with goals from Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol, only for Federico Valverde’s brilliant volley to equalize for Madrid.
The atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu was intense, with the home fans expecting a tough match against City. However, City surprised everyone with an early goal from Bernardo Silva, taking advantage of a free-kick opportunity.
Real Madrid fought back with two quick goals, thanks to unfortunate deflections off Dias and Akanji. Despite Real’s pressure, City remained composed and dominated possession in the second half. Foden and Gvardiol scored two brilliant goals to put City ahead, but Valverde’s strike ensured a draw for Madrid.
The match ended 3-3, setting up a thrilling second leg at the Etihad Stadium. City will look to continue their unbeaten run in the Champions League, while Madrid will aim to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
All square heading into the second leg, after a thriller in Madrid 🤝
Liverpool and Real Madrid have expressed their interest in acquiring the services of Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala, as per reports from Bild.
Musiala, a 20-year-old talent, has reportedly grown increasingly discontent with being relegated to the bench, particularly in the wake of his impressive performance last season, where he notched 16 goals and provided 16 assists across all competitions.This dissatisfaction might create an opportunity for him to consider a departure from Bayern.
Despite the fact that Musiala’s existing contract with Bayern doesn’t expire until 2026, it has been noted that he has halted contract negotiations with the club.
In the event that Musiala decides to seek a new club,Liverpool is said to be poised to make a move, while Real Madrid is also eager to have him alongside his former England youth international teammate, Jude Bellingham.
Due to the anticipation of heavy rain and storms, Madrid residents, residing in the capital of Spain, have received advice to remain indoors.
Spain’s official weather agency, AEMET, gave a very serious warning, called a red alert, which means there could be extreme danger. This warning is for the Madrid region, Toledo province, and the city of Cadiz.
The agency said that in Madrid, there could be as much as 120 liters of rain per square meter in a 12-hour period.
Additionally, the emergency services sent texts to people in the capital city to warn them about the dangers and tell them it is not safe to drive cars.
The mayor of Madrid, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, posted a message on social media asking the people of Madrid to stay at home today because there will be very heavy rain which is unusual and could break records.
Officials said they were “hoping for a good result” after a father and son disappeared during the flooding.
Javier Chivite, the person who speaks for the emergency services in the area, said: ‘Two people are gone, a dad and his son. They were in a car that got trapped in a rush of water from the Alberche river, which caused an avalanche. ‘
‘We expect that this will result in something good. ‘
The LaLiga canceled a night game between Atletico Madrid and Sevilla at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid because of an emergency. In just the city of Madrid, firefighters have been asked to handle flooding 190 times.
The floods in Madrid also caused problems for the Metro system. Train lines between Madrid and Valencia were stopped.
In Alcanar, a place in Tarragona, located on Spain’s east coast, the authorities have asked people to stay inside their houses because of heavy rain. 215 liters of rain per square meter fell in the past day, causing flooding in the area. In the eastern province of Castelló, there was a lot of water from heavy rains. Firefighters had to save a man who was stuck in his car because the water was up to his waist. The BBC told the story.
Some roads in Madrid were blocked and a few bridges were destroyed by rivers that were overflowing and moving quickly, according to the Independent.
Mr Martinez-Almeida said he believes there will be a lot of rain in Madrid, which is very unusual. It may even break the previous record from 1972.
After a period of very hot weather in August, Spain is now experiencing heavy rain. The highest temperature ever recorded in the Andalusia region during the heatwave was 47. 2°C
Spain’s weather agency said that in the past 10 years, they have seen 24 heatwaves. This is twice as many as what they had in each of the previous three decades.
Spanish outlet Marca reports that the much-anticipated transfer of Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid will be officially announced next week.
The 19-year-old English talent has reportedly reached an agreement on personal terms for a six-year contract with Los Blancos.
While Bellingham is currently working to regain fitness for Borussia Dortmund’s crucial final-day match against Mainz, which could secure the club their first Bundesliga title in 11 years, his future has remained undisclosed.
However, it is believed that a deal starting at £87 million has been pre-arranged between Dortmund and Madrid for some time.
Carlo Ancelotti has been kept informed about the ongoing negotiations, and all preparations have been made for the Spanish giants to unveil their newest signing in the upcoming days.
Marca further suggests that the talented midfielder, who impressed with the England national team during the Qatar World Cup last winter, had received more lucrative financial offers from other clubs.
However, Bellingham is said to have made his desire to join the 14-time European champions clear from an early stage.
Premier League giants Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City had all been previously linked with moves for the teenage sensation.
Toni Kroos and Luka Modric were described by Carlo Ancelotti as “untouchable” at Real Madrid, but he did not guarantee that either midfielder would start against Barcelona.
Madrid travels to Camp Nou on Wednesday for the second leg of a Copa del Rey semifinal matchup in which they are down 1-0 thanks to an own goal by Eder Militao in the first meeting from a month ago.
Both Kroos, 33, and Modric, 37, started that game; however, they were both replaced late in the second half.
While Kroos played the duration of Madrid’s 6-0 win over Real Valladolid on Sunday, Modric was an unused substitute.
That would suggest Ancelotti was protecting the latter ahead of the third Clasico the space of a month, but Madrid’s coach declared neither of his veteran campaigners in midfield are guaranteed starters.
“Kroos and Modric are untouchable but that doesn’t mean they’re going to play tomorrow,” Ancelotti told reporters.
“There are many untouchables but then you have to choose an eleven. I have to think about the resources I have on the bench.
“Starting isn’t the most important thing, the important thing is to be effective [the game].”
While Kroos and Modric approach the twilight of their careers,Madrid are looking to build for the future with Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, who has been a consistent starter since the season resumed following the World Cup.
Asked about the importance of the physicality and athleticism that the France duo can provide, Ancelotti said: “If we talk about energy, it’s clear that in these games it’s important.
“An effective start from above can also give you an advantage.”
However, he acknowledged “there’s a lot of pressure in these games”, adding that “the experience of veterans can be important”.
With Madrid one of the clubs reportedly pushing to sign Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham, Kroos and Modric could face uncertain futures.
They are both entering the final few months of their contracts, albeit renewals are said to be on the table.
“I see the players every day and they are very focused. It can be thought that when a contract ends it can affect them,” Ancelotti said.
“It doesn’t affect them and I don’t have to tell them anything because they are very professional.
“Each one has to evaluate the role they have. It is the discussion that a player has to make and if they want to renew it is because they like the role they have.”
Asked if he will discuss his team selection with any players left out of his starting XI, Ancelotti added: “Nothing special. I cannot talk to every single player who is not going to start.
“If they need to talk, my door is always open, but this group of players do not ask about explanations, they understand the situation, the moment.
“There are a lot of players who are very important, and the door will always be open to them.”
Cristiano Ronaldo and his girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, were spotted leaving a restaurant in Madrid in their brand-new Bugatti Centodiecci on Tuesday night.
The Al-Nassr superstar had a fruitful international break with Portugal, notching four goals across two Euro 2024 qualification matches coupled with a unique celebration style.
Aside from his goal-scoring heroics for the Selecao, the veteran forward also became the most-capped men’s player in international football, surpassing Bader Al-Mutawa’s previous world record of 196 outings for Kuwait.
He will be expected to resume training with Al-Nassr as they prepare to face Al-Adalah in the Saudi Pro League on April 4.
Before he touched down in the gulf region, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner enjoyed some downtime with Georgina at a restaurant in Madrid, Spain.
In a video making the rounds on the internet, Cristiano was seen trying to make his way from a crowd of enthusiastic fans into his supercar, which he carefully drove away from the teeming group before stepping on the accelerator to steer clear of sight.
What is Bugatti Centodieci?
To celebrate its 110th anniversary, the French carmaker, Bugatti, unveiled Centodiecci, a limited edition vehicle.
According to reports, the company only produced ten units, each costing over $8.5 million, per Firstsportz.
What does Ronaldo’s Centodieci look like?
According to TSB, Ronaldo chose a supercar with standard specifications, a white exterior, and Centodieci-specific wheels.
Instead of the blue theme found on the launch standard, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward chose red leather for the interior.
Ronaldo debuts new celebration
As earlier reported, Cristiano Ronaldo debuted a new goal celebration after scoring for Portugal against Luxembourg on Sunday night.
The 38-year-old was in a good mood after scoring the game’s first goal for Robert Martinez’s team within nine minutes of action against the European minnows.
The first goal scored by the Al-Nassr superstar drew the attention of spectators at Stade de Luxembourg.
After more than ten years away, the seasoned left-back, who began his career with the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A team, has returned to Brazil.
He progressed through the Rio de Janeiro team’s youth ranks before making his senior debut for them in 2005. He stayed with them until 2007.
After that, he joined Madrid, where he played an important role for the next 15 years and eventually became the most decorated player in Los Blancos’ history.
After leaving the Santiago Bernabeu, the 34-year-old signed for the Greek team Olympiacos in September, but he ended his contract last week.
That has paved the way for his return to Fluminense, who are looking to build on last year’s third-placed finish in Serie A as they head into the 2023 campaign.
The club previously expressed an interest in signing the defender last month, with Thiago Silva also mooted as a target.
Marcelo celebrated the announcement with a post to social media, simply writing: “Back to the place where it all started.”
During his time at Madrid, the defender won an unmatched 25 honours, including six LaLiga titles and fiveChampions League crowns, winning the double during his last campaign.
At international level, he won 58 caps for Brazil between 2006 and 2018, and was a member of the squad that claimed victory at the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013.
In addition, he was a two-time Olympic medallist with their under-23 squad, taking bronze at Beijing 2008 and silver at London 2012.
Liverpool’s chances of reaching the quarterfinals of the Champions League are over after a shocking 5-2 home loss to Real Madrid.
The Reds watched a two-goal lead vanish in front of a boisterous home crowd as the defending champions went on the rampage.
Here, we examine the Merseysiders’ six worst losses at Anfield.
2010 Liverpool-Northampton draw (2-2 overall, 2-4 on penalties) This was one of Liverpool’s darkest days, even taking into account how awful Roy Hodgson’s miserable brief tenure at the club was.
Visitors Northampton, who are currently 17th in League Two, outplayed the hosts, who fielded a depleted team, and prevailed in this Carling Cup third-round match.
David Ngog thought he had saved the Merseysiders’ blushes when he notched a 116th-minute equaliser, before the Frenchman and teenage substitute Nathan Eccleston missed their penalties in the shootout.
Liverpool were knocked out of the Carling Cup by Northampton in 2010 Liverpool were knocked out of the Carling Cup by Northampton in 2010 Liverpool 0-6 Sunderland, 1930 Division One strugglers Sunderland arrived at Anfield but never looked back from Bobby Gurney opening the scoring in the first minute.
The former miner went on to score four and was disappointed he did not make it five after putting a close-range finish over the crossbar.
George Lawley and Albert Wood scored the others in a result that remains Liverpool’s heaviest home defeat.
Liverpool 3-6 Arsenal, 2007 Julio Baptista scored four goals to silence Anfield in 2007 Julio Baptista scored four goals to silence Anfield in 2007 Seventy-seven years later, Arsenal striker Julio Baptista repeated Gurney’s feat with two goals in each half of this Carling Cup quarterfinal.
The hosts were 4-1 down at the break thanks to other goals from Jeremie Aliadiere and Alex Song and only late consolations from Steven Gerrard and Sami Hyypia prevented a heavier loss.
A stunned boss Rafael Benitez said after the game: “It is a bad night for us and all we can say is sorry to the supporters.
“Now is not the time to point the finger or look to blame people. We win together and we lose together.”
Liverpool 0-0 Grimsby (1-2 aet), 2001 Grimsby recorded an extra-time victory over Liverpool in 2001 Grimsby recorded an extra-time victory over Liverpool in 2001 League Cup holders Liverpool were knocked out by Championship strugglers Grimsby thanks to former Evertonian Phil Jevons’ 30-yard strike seconds from the end of extra-time.
Gary McAllister’s 101st-minute penalty broke the deadlock but Marlon Broomes’ equaliser set up the visitors’ first win at the ground in 24 visits.
The shock result brought to an end Liverpool’s unbeaten run in cup competitions since January 2000, having secured a League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup treble in the 2000-01 season.
Liverpool 0-1 Bristol City, 1994 With their first meeting at Ashton Gate ending in a 1-1 draw after an abandonment and rearrangement due to floodlight failure, Liverpool welcomed Bristol City to Anfield for a FA Cup third-round replay in 1994.
Brian Tinnion’s 66th-minute strike for the second-tier opposition not only knocked out a Reds team featuring the likes of John Barnes, Ian Rush, Steve McManaman and Jamie Redknapp but also prompted the resignation of manager Graeme Souness days later.
The game epitomised a difficult season for the Anfield faithful, with their team finishing eighth in the Premier League, their lowest league position since the 1962-63 campaign.
Brian Tinnion was Bristol City’s hero at Anfield in 1994 Brian Tinnion was Bristol City’s hero at Anfield in 1994 Liverpool 2-5 Real Madrid (2023) Fresh from 2-0 victories over Everton and Newcastle, Liverpool came into this Champions League last-16 tie buoyed by renewed optimism.
But braces from Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema either side of Eder Militao’s goal resulted in a 5-2 scoreline and a humbling loss for the 2019 champions.
Only 14 minutes into Tuesday’s thrilling first leg of the round of 16 match, Darwin Nunez’s exquisite flick and Mohamed Salah’s goal after a mistake by Thibaut Courtois gave the Reds a two-goal lead.
That turned out to be a false dawn as the champions came roaring back in a repeat of last year’s final. Vinicius pulled one back with a beautiful finish before Alisson made a costly error that allowed him to score twice in an exciting first half.
Eder Militao headed Madrid in front early in the second half before Benzema’s double gave Carlo Ancelotti’s ruthless side a commanding advantage to take back to the Spanish capital for the second leg on March 15.
Nunez produced a moment of magic in the fourth minute to put the hosts in front, meeting Salah’s whipped ball with an audacious right-foot flick that flashed past Courtois.
Chelsea fans saying I’m the problem are wrong. – Potter
Courtois endured a nightmare 10 minutes later, controlling a back pass onto his chest before the ball bounced off his knee to present Salah with a simple chance to double Liverpool’s lead.
Madrid looked like they did not know what had hit them, but Vinicius halved the deficit in the 21st minute by showing excellent close control in the box before bending a sumptuous right-foot finish into the bottom corner.
The winger was celebrating in front of The Kop again nine minutes before the break after Alisson’s terrible attempted pass struck his Brazil team-mate and looped into the net.
Madrid lost David Alaba to injury during a pulsating first half which they would have ended with a lead had Andy Robertson not shown great awareness to deny Rodrygo a tap-in.
Los Blancos were in front two minutes into the second half, though, when an unmarked Militao capitalised on terrible defending to head in the influential Luka Modric’s free-kick.
An evening that had started well then took another turn for the worse for Liverpool, with Benzema’s shot striking Joe Gomez and giving a wrong-footed Alisson no chance.
Liverpool were opened up again after 67 minutes, Modric and Vinicius combining before Benzema sat Alisson down and demonstrated great composure to finish with his left foot.
What does it mean? Masterful Madrid stun fragile Reds
Liverpool could hardly have had a better start, but they were taught at harsh lesson by the newly crowned Club World Cup winners and paid the price for being so vulnerable at the back.
Los Blancos beat Jurgen Klopp’s side 1-0 in the 2022 Champions League final at Parc des Princes and blew them away as Liverpool became the first team in the history of the competition to lose by a three-goal margin after being 2-0 up.
Liverpool had never conceded four goals at home in Europe, let alone five, and are in great danger of missing out on Champions League football next season given they are eighth in the Premier League.
He and Benzema both took their goal tallies for the season to 18 and must be rubbing their hands together at the prospect of facing the Reds again after tearing them apart on Merseyside with Modric pulling the strings behind them.
Salah’s record strike in vain
Salah became Liverpool’s record goalscorer in Europe with 42 when he was on target early on.
He will be in no mood to celebrate breaking Steven Gerrard’s record after 14-time European champions Madrid rocked the Reds in devastating fashion.
Key Opta Facts
– Liverpool conceded five goals in a European game at Anfield for the first time, while it was just third time this century they shipped five or more goals in a home game in all competitions, also doing so in January 2007 (6-3 defeat to Arsenal) and October 2019 (5-5 draw with Arsenal).
– Real Madrid are the first team in Champions League history to come from two goals down and win by a three-goal margin.
– This was only the fourth time a Jurgen Klopp side conceded five or goals in a home game in all competitions, after Mainz in 2006 (6-1 v Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga), Borussia Dortmund in 2009 (5-1 v Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga) and Liverpool in 2019 (5-5 v Arsenal).
– Darwin Nunez’s opener (three minutes 10 seconds) was Liverpool’s earliest ever Champions League goal at Anfield.
What’s next?
Klopp’s side travel to Crystal Palace for aPremier League encounter on Saturday, when Los Blancos face Atletico Madrid at home in a LaLiga derby.
The Georgian star cost around £9 million to join the Serie A frontrunners last summer, but he has been a revelation, dismantling defences both domestically and internationally.
Kvaratskhelia claims he loves living in Naples, but with teams like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, and Manchester City all rumoured to be interested, a summer transfer is very likely.
We examine “Kvaradona” as Napoli gets ready to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 matchup this evening.
Humble beginnings
Kvaratskhelia’s native Georgia does not exactly have a rich football history.
Manchester City fans of a bygone era will fondly remember Georgi Kinkladze, while the nation’s all-time top scorer Shota Arveladze was a regular at Rangers and recently had an ill-fated spell in charge of Championship side Hull.
At an elite level, defender Kakha Kaladze won Champions League titles with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007 — yet there is good reason to think Kvaratskhelia will surpass even his achievements in due course.
Wind the clock back 12 months from now and even the most committed football purist could be forgiven for not having the Rubin Kazan starlet on their radar.
He netted only twice in 19 Russian Premier League matches in 2021-22, before Russia’s conflict with Ukraine led to his contract being suspended.
He headed home to Dinamo Batumi, where eight goals in 11 games prompted Napoli to cough up a modest sum to bring him to Italy.
Securing that agreement ahead of the likes of Juventus and Roma has proved to be a masterstroke.
Few could have anticipated how quickly Napoli’s No77 would make his mark on top-level football, with his unpredictable and direct playing style proving a nightmare for opposition defences to contain.
Already, he has racked up 12 goals and 12 assists across 24 Serie A and Champions League matches this term, meaning the 19-cap international is operating at an average of one direct goal involvement per game.
That puts him in elite company indeed.
His club team-mate Victor Osimhen, Manchester City sensation Erling Haaland, Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski and the Paris Saint-Germain trio of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar are the only others to do so in 2022-23 from Europe’s top leagues.
It is little wonder there is so much speculation around a possible transfer.
Attracting interest
Kvaratskhelia’s agent went public last week regarding speculation over his client’s future — though he stopped short of saying a move was on the cards.
Mamuka Jugeli told press in Italy: “There is a lot of interest from other clubs. Kvara, however, is only thinking about winning the Scudetto and Napoli’s matches in the Champions League.
“He told me that in terms of football in Italy, he sees himself only in Naples. He will never play for any other Italian club, apart from Napoli. He feels at home in Naples.”
That statement should at least reassure Partenopei supporters that their talisman will not be jumping ship to Juve, just as former star Gonzalo Higuain did back in 2016.
Whether or not that rules out a transfer to one of Europe’s other giants, however, remains to be seen.
Finding a fit
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is prone to shooting on sight for Napoli
Kvaratskhelia’s style certainly appears suited to some sides better than others.
While no club would turn their nose up at his league-leading assists tally or penchant for a jaw-dropping strike, the 22-year-old does not always make the correct decision.
Frequent moments of magic are also accompanied by errors. For example, to reach his impressive tally of 47 completed take-ons in Serie A this term, he has had to fail on 81 occasions.
His passing accuracy currently sits under 80%, while only 29 of his 75 shots this season have hit the target.
Teams such as Manchester City and Bayern Munich, who prefer to carefully craft their attacks through high possession and patient build-up, would potentially find the Georgian’s unpredictability problematic.
Made for Madrid
Perhaps somewhere like Real Madrid, where the game’s biggest mavericks have been given a platform to strut their stuff for many decades, could be ideal for Kvaratskhelia.
What is more, the man himself declared his love for Los Blancos in an interview during his time with Rubin Kazan that only surfaced recently.
“With my brothers, we were always watching their games and cheering them on.”
While Premier League giants will be hoping the youngster has had a change of heart, those comments suggest the LaLiga giants will be in pole position when a bidding war commences.
Right now, the dynamic attacker is trying to achieve his Champions League dream in Naples — and he may just do exactly that.
Numerous thousands of people thronged Madrid’s streets to express their opposition to what they perceive as a conservative regional government effort to dismantle public healthcare.
The right-wing regional government is allegedly attempting to destroy the public health system in the Spanish capital, according to health workers and their supporters who gathered in central Madrid on Sunday.
The government reported that more than 250,000 people participated in the demonstration, but organisers estimated a turnout of close to a million.
Demonstrators crowded the Plaza Cibeles area of the city centre while yelling and waving flags. Many of them carried homemade signs that read things like “A human right is the right to good health. Protect the medical system.”
One demonstrator sported a huge model of Isabel Diaz Ayuso, the right-wing leader of the Madrid regional government, witha Pinocchio-like nose attached.
One protester held up a giant caricature of Madrid regional head Isabel Diaz AyusoImage: Alejandro Martínez Vélez/EUROPA PRESS/dpa/picture alliance
“In Spain, the public health system used to be very good,” Madrid resident Ana Santamaria told the AFP news agency. “But in recent years, it has really deteriorated, particularly since the pandemic.”
Waiting lists, overworked doctors
Unions and left-wing parties complain about long patient waiting lists and a shortage of staff in health centers, forcing patients to overwhelm hospital emergency departments. Many government critics believe the conservatives are dismantling the system.
“The situation is dramatic… We can’t take proper care of the patients,” nurse Maite Lopez told AFP.
Diaz Ayuso’s opponents say her administration spends the least amount per capita on primary health care of any Spanish region even though it has the highest per capita income.
For every €2 spent on health care in Madrid, one ends up in the private sector, according to protest organisers.
Madrid leader blames upcoming election for protests
Ayuso denies the accusation and wrote on Twitter on Sunday: “We all believe in public health.”
She alleges the protests are motivated by the political interests of left-wing rivals ahead of May regional elections across most of Spain.
Spain has a hybrid healthcare system but the public sector is larger than the private one and is considered a basic pillar of the state.
The governments of the regional autonomous communities are responsible for a large part of the health budget as part of the country’s devolved political system.
The protest movement against health-care cuts has gathered strength through regular protests in recent months.
Some doctors and pediatricians have been striking on and off since November, with the Amyts doctors’ union in Madrid seeking better working conditions and pay.
Officials have revealed that an explosion occurred on Wednesday at Ukraine’s embassy in Madrid, injuring one Ukrainian employee who was handling a letter addressed to the country’s ambassador to Spain.
According to Spain’s foreign ministry, the individual was slightly injured and is being treated at a hospital, while police are investigating.
It was later revealed that the envelope was intended for Kyiv’s ambassador to Spain, Serhil Pohoreltsev.
In response, Ukraine has increased security at all of its embassies.
Oleg Nikolenko, a spokesperson for Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, said the life of the injured employee “is not at risk,” and descsribed the staffer’s position as “commandant.”
Police say it is too early to know whether the explosion took place when the embassy worker tried to open an envelope, or simply move it. Nikolenko said no one else had been injured, and that Kuleba “has issued an urgent instruction to step up security at all Ukrainian embassies abroad” following the incident.
“Whoever is behind this explosion they will not succeed in intimidating Ukrainian diplomats or stopping their daily work to strengthen Ukraine and to counter Russian aggression,” Nikolenko quoted Kuleba as saying.
Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister Jose Manuel Albares spoke to Ambassador Pohoreltsev after the incident, Madrid said. The person injured was a Ukrainian worker, according to the statement.
Spain, a NATO country, has sent military equipment to Ukraine to help its armed forces fight Russia’s invasion.
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