Former Real Madrid forward and honorary club president, Amancio Amaro, passed away at the age of 83.
Amancio, a right-sided attacker, joined Madrid from Deportivo de La Coruna in 1962 and played 471 times for Los Blancos, tallying 155 goals.
Amancio, who finished third in the 1964 Ballon d’Or voting, played a significant role in Spain’s victory as European champions in addition to winning nine league championships and one European Cup with Madrid.
Amancio helped Emilio Butragueno and other players grow after he retired by coaching Madrid’s Castilla team to the second-tier championship in 1984. After Paco Gento passed away last year, Amancio was named honorary club president.
A club statement read: “Real Madrid CF, its president and its board of directors deeply regret the death of Amancio Amaro, honorary president of Real Madrid and one of the great legends of our club and of world football.
“Together with Paco Gento, Amancio led Real Madrid after five consecutive European Cups, and represents the values that have forged the history of our club.
“Amancio Amaro has passed away at the age of 83. He will be remembered by all Madridistas and by all football fans as one of the great legends of this sport.
The first four league games of 2023 saw Liverpool go winless, earning Klopp the harshest criticism of his time as manager at Anfield thus far. However, back-to-back victories have lifted the spirits in Merseyside.
Last week, Gakpo scored his first goal for Liverpool in a 2-0 victory over Everton, and on Saturday, he added another goal in a 2-0 triumph over Newcastle, another team competing for a spot in the top four.
Before Real Madrid and Liverpool’s first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday, Gakpo made the case that Liverpool’s mini-revival may have occurred at the ideal time.
“I think it’s difficult to put your finger on something that has really changed, but everyone knows when you’re not winning the games, it’s difficult,” Gakpo said.
“I think the games we won, we played better than in the games before, and the result is maybe the outcome of the greater intensity we had in those games.”
“As a newcomer, I sense that the group is really good, we come together and stay together in difficult moments. It was difficult to try to stay positive and keep helping each other, it has helped us go on to better things.
“When it’s difficult, a real team shows up. This is one of those times. We really stuck together and stayed positive and tried to help each other in the difficult moments.
“Just in time, we started winning games again, and now we have a big opportunity to show we are back on track.”
Despite spending the majority of his time with former club PSV stationed on the left flank,Gakpo has largely been used as a central striker since his arrival at Liverpool.
However, the Netherlands international feels comfortable playing either role, adding: “I played the last three years on the left side, but at the World Cup under Louis van Gaal I already played in the centre.
“I already tried to adapt to that, and when I came here the coach said it was possible for me to play on the left or in the centre, so I’ll try to adapt quickly to that position and improve.”
Tuesday’s Champions League round of 16 match between Liverpool and Real Madrid will be the latest encounter between Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti.
Their individual histories could have been very dissimilar.
In October 2015, after Everton and Liverpool drew 1-1 at Goodison Park, Thierry Henry reached across and put his hand on a perplexed Jamie Carragher’s knee in the Sky Sports studio as it was announced that Brendan Rodgers had been fired as the manager of the Reds.
In a matter of minutes, the front-runner Klopp was being discussed as the candidate most likely to take the club back to the pinnacle of European and English football.
The second favourite had been Ancelotti, out of work at the time following his exit from his first spell at Madrid, and Carragher argued that while the Italian had the more impressive CV, Klopp was the more suitable choice for the Anfield hotseat after his success at Borussia Dortmund.
“I think with either of those coming to Liverpool, the supporters would be ecstatic,” he said at the time. “If it were me, I would go for Klopp ahead of Ancelotti.” I think he’s got more to prove. Ancelotti is a great manager, of course, but he’s gone to clubs where you would expect to win trophies.
“Getting Liverpool back into the top four is now a difficult task.” Forget talking about the title. And I think it needs someone with that energy and drive to get Liverpool back to where it wants to be, and I think Jurgen Klopp’s that man.”
Of course, Carragher proved to be right about Klopp.
It will never be known what would have happened had Ancelotti been hired instead, but he has gone on to enjoy success at other clubs since, with spells at Bayern Munich, Napoli and Everton before heading back to the Santiago Bernabeu in December 2021.
The two have faced off numerous times in opposing dugouts, with the upcoming two-legged Champions League tie set to be their 12th and 13th meetings.
It is interesting how frequently Klopp and Ancelotti have come up against one another, especially considering the Italian’s 18-month spell at Everton was the only time they have managed in the same league.
They clashed on four occasions in Merseyside derbies – coincidentally after that had been the fixture that led to their names being linked with the Liverpool job back in 2015 – with two draws at Goodison Park in the Premier League and a 1-0 Liverpool win in an FA Cup third round game at Anfield.
The most notable encounter also came at Anfield in February 2021, with no fans in due to COVID-19 restrictions, where Ancelotti masterminded Everton’s first win at the home of their neighbours since the turn of the century.
Their other seven meetings have come in the Champions League, Klopp coming up against Ancelotti for the first time during his penultimate season at Borussia Dortmund as they took on Madrid in the last eight, losing 3-0 in the Spanish capital before a spirited but unsuccessful 2-0 reverse back in Dortmund.
Two goals from Marco Reus in the first half had given the German side hope of a comeback, but Ancelotti’s men put up the defences and managed to see the game out, a tactic that the Los Blancos head coach has used to good effect against Klopp on numerous occasions since.
He also frustrated Klopp in their first meeting as Liverpool and Napoli bosses respectively, with the Serie A side winning 1-0 at home in the 2018-19 group stage, restricting the Reds to just four shots – none on which were on target – as Lorenzo Insigne struck a late winner.
A Mohamed Salah goal in the reverse fixture was enough to send Liverpool through to the knockout stage with a 1-0 win at Anfield at Napoli’s expense, with the Reds going on to lift the trophy in Madrid that season.
The two teams were drawn together again in the group stage the following year, with Napoli again defeating Liverpool in Naples, 2-0 this time, while they played out a 1-1 draw back on Merseyside.
Klopp and Ancelotti would not meet again in the Champions League until after their brief Merseyside derby rivalry, somewhat appropriately in the final as Liverpool faced Madrid in Paris last season.
While the game was heavily distracted by the chaos outside prior to kick-off that an independent investigation has since claimed was the fault of UEFA and the French authorities, on the pitch it had a feel of Klopp’s previous struggles with Ancelotti.
Liverpool dominated large parts of the contest, but Madrid were largely able to contain them, though goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois still had to put in an outstanding performance to keep a clean sheet.
Ancelotti suggested after the 1-0 win thanks to a Vinicius Junior goal that Klopp’s team were “more decipherable” than others he had faced, but ahead of their next clash, the German coach lavished praise on his opposite number.
“Carlo is the most relaxed manager I ever met in my life,” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference. “One of the best people you can meet, fantastic person, a humble person, super smart and nice, and obviously his man management is at a completely different level to all of us, and I respect that a lot and admire it a lot.”
Ancelotti reciprocated at his press conference, saying: “I have a good relationship with Klopp. We stayed for a year and a half in Liverpool during the pandemic, and we used to text each other and exchange gifts. He’s a really lovely person.”
There is clear mutual respect there, strengthened by the duo’s personal achievements as well as how difficult they both find games against one another.
Klopp’s teams have only managed to find the net seven times against Ancelotti’s in 11 games, despite having 153 shots, suggesting the former Milan, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss knows how to restrict them to low-quality chances.
Ancelotti has relied on his team’s defensive solidity more often than not, and boasts the superior record with five wins to three defeats and three draws, but he has never been able to beat a Klopp team in an away game when fans have been in attendance, with a noisy Anfield on Tuesday a near certainty.
He surely takes slightly more pleasure in besting Liverpool than he does most other foes following one of his most painful defeats as a coach when his Milan side was beaten on penalties in the iconic 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul, despite leading 3-0 at half-time.
This season’s final will also be in the Turkish capital, but at least one of Liverpool or Ancelotti will not be there this time.
Klopp v Ancelotti. Germany v Italy. Beard v eyebrow. It is one of the great modern coaching rivalries, and round 12 should be another fascinating contest.
The German has previously led top European clubs Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and the Blues, whom he took to the 2020-21 Champions League title.
The 49-year-old has reportedly turned down two Premier League offers despite being linked to numerous open positions in recent months.
TOP STORY – PSG WILLING TO ADMIT TUCHEL ERROR
According to the Evening Standard, PSG are fed up with head coach Christophe Galtier and are ready to re-appoint Thomas Tuchel.
The club sacked Tuchel in December 2020 after two and a half years in charge with the best win percentage in Ligue 1 history.
But PSG are reportedly willing to admit their mistake in letting him go as they try to convince Tuchel to return following their recent run of three straight defeats, which was ended by Sunday’s 4-3 win over Lille.
The report claims Tuchel would need assurances from the club, but it is the type of role he has been waiting for, joining a top side competing for major trophies.
ROUND-UP
– According to Football Insider, Tottenham is keeping an eye on Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio. Spurs will need to compete with Arsenal and Manchester Unitedfor the 27-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of this season.
Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United are all circling for Borussia Monchengladbach’sMarcus Thuram, according to Talksport. The Athletic claims Thuram will leave Gladbach in the off-season as a free agent, with Bayern Munichalso interested.
Relevo reports Bayern are weighing up a move for Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos, with head coach Julian Nagelsmann an admirer, although no contact has been made yet.
ESPN claims Manchester United and teenage sensation Alejandro Garnachohave agreed in principle to a new five-year contract, warding off interest.
Manchester United will need to fork out €80 million (£71 million) to land Tammy Abraham from Roma, according to Calciomercatoweb.
According to Calciomercatoweb, Juventus will make a move for Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz after this season. Diaz is currently on loan at Milan, but the Rossoneri will not trigger their option to buy him.
Real Madrid will go to Anfield on Tuesday to rematch the 2022Champions League championship with the goal of inflicting more damage on Liverpool in the round of 16.
Madrid won the coveted trophy in Paris last May, but despite Liverpool’s struggles in the Premier League this year, their recent European performance would indicate that they should present a stiff challenge for a team that has had Madrid’s number in recent years.
While Napoli, the lopsided Serie A leaders, roll into town, reigning Europa League champions Eintracht Frankfurt will try to keep up their impressive European form.
This season, Napoli has faced off against everyone, establishing itself as a major force in Europe and dominating Serie A.
Courtesy of Stats Perform: here are some of the key statistics and facts to be aware of ahead of the ties.
The Spanish giants lifted the top prize in European club football for a 14th time after defeating Liverpool 1-0, leaving the English side winless in their past six meetings between the clubs.
That is the longest winless streak Liverpool have suffered against any team in their Champions League history, with five losses and one draw dating back to 2009.
However, England has not been a happy hunting ground for Madrid in recent years, with only one victory – against Chelsea in 2022 – from their past seven away fixtures in the country (D2 L4).
Also in the hosts’ favour is their terrific European form this season, having rattled off five consecutive wins in the competition since losing their opener against Napoli.
A key for the Reds will be figuring out how to stop Vinicius Junior, who has directly contributed to seven goals – scoring five and producing two assists – in his past eight Champions League fixtures.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah could join Chelsea legend Didier Drogba as Africa’s all-time leading scorer in the competition with one more goal, which would be his 44th.
Napoli will be dreaming of their first Champions League and Serie A double as they hit the road for their first leg against Frankfurt.
They will face a German side who have excelled in European competition under head coach Oliver Glasner, with only two losses from 19 matches (W10 D7), including a triumph in last season’s Europa League final against Rangers.
Frankfurt have won their past four meetings with Italian sides since a loss to Palermo back in 2006, while Napoli have just two wins from their 12 away dates in Germany (D5 L5).
But Napoli have been a different beast this campaign, leading all teams with 20 group stage goals. They are averaging 3.3 goals per game in the competition under Luciano Spalletti.
Breakout star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is at the centre of Napoli’s success, joining Dries Mertens (2017-18 season) as the only players in the history of the club to record multiple games with a goal and an assist in the same Champions League campaign. He has the potential to write his own history, as no Napoli player has done it three times.
Meanwhile, Frankfurt have a pair of in-form goalscorers. Daichi Kamada has scored in each of his side’s past three Champions League matches this season, while Randal Kolo Muani has found the back of the net in their past two.
Toni Kroos and Aurlien Tchouameni, two crucial midfielders for Real Madrid, won’t be travelling to Liverpool with the team, but Karim Benzema has been called up.
The Ballon d’Or winner from the previous year, Karim Benzema, missed Saturday’s victory over Osasuna due to an injury hit campaign.
The 35-year-old, who has 14 goals this season, returned to training before Tuesday’s Champions League match at Anfield, and as a result, he has been added to Carlo Ancelotti’s travelling party.
Madrid won’t be able to use Kroos or Tchouameni, though.
The two injured players did not participate in the game against Osasuna and were not on Madrid’s roster, which was announced on Monday.
Ancelotti will be hoping Kroos and Tchouameni return to fitness in time to face city rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday in LaLiga, with a Copa del Rey Classico against Barcelona following on March 2.
Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 in last season’s Champions League final, a match that was overshadowed by policing issues outside of the Stade de France.
Vinicius Junior scored the only goal as Thibaut Courtois turned in a fine display to help Madrid claim a 14th European crown.
Following Vinicius Junior’s performance in place of Karim Benzema, Carlo Ancelotti praised him as an “extraordinary player.”
During the trip to Osasuna on Saturday, Madrid’s LaLiga leading scorer Karim Benzema was rested in preparation for Tuesday’s Champions League match at Liverpool.
Vinicius assisted Federico Valverde as Madrid defeated El Sadar 2-0 to decrease Barcelona’s lead at the top of the Premier League to five points. Vinicius twice had goals disallowed for offside at El Sadar.
To the satisfaction of coach Ancelotti, the Brazil winger gave Los Blancos a team-high three chances.
“It is clear that Vinicius is a player who makes a difference,” the Italian said at his post-match press conference.
“He played an outstanding game. He is an extraordinary footballer.”
Ancelotti was less impressed with the manner of Madrid’s victory, though, after waiting until the 78th minute for Valverde’s opener before Marco Asensio sealed the points 14 minutes later.
“What I liked least is that we have done in the second half what we could have done in the first,” he added.
“What I liked most is that the team has not lost its mind and has been patient [in the final stages].
“The team has played well. They have had to suffer when they had to suffer and we are very satisfied with that.”
Toni Kroos also missed the visit to Osasuna, as well as Aurelien Tcouhameni, but Ancelotti assured Madrid will be prepared for the first leg at Anfield in Europe.
“We had a last-minute problem with Tchoaumeni, but we’re fine,” he continued.
“We will go into Tuesday’s game with good dynamics. The players are recovering and we will arrive with all the confidence in the world.”
France’s record goalscorer Olivier Giroud has decided against retiring from international football and hopes that is music to the ears of Didier Deschamps.
The 36-year-old AC Milan striker was toying with halting his career with Les Bleus following their defeat on penalties to Argentina in the December 18 World Cup final.
However, Giroud feels he has still plenty to give his country in an active role, and the man who has netted 53 goals in 120 games will aim to be a part of the group heading into the upcoming European Championship campaign.
It may help Giroud’s cause that Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema has retired from France duty, having missed the Qatar 2022 finals due to injury.
Speaking to French broadcaster France 2, Giroud said: “No, no, it’s not over. Emotions, I hope there will still be some to come.
“I’m not ready to hang up [my boots], to take off this blue jersey which is close to my heart.
“I have the motivation to continue and the physique too, I feel good. For the moment I am still selectable and a player of the France team “
Head coach Deschamps, who was retained after deciding he too was not ready to step away from Les Bleus, saw Giroud score four goals during France’s World Cup run.
They came up just short of a successful title defence, with Giroud grabbing a vital quarter-final winner against England among his contribution.
Giroud overtook Thierry Henry to become France’s top scorer during the World Cup campaign, surpassing the former Arsenal and Barcelona striker’s haul of 51 national team goals.
Captain Hugo Lloris, along with fellow goalkeeper Steve Mandanda and defender Raphael Varane, retired from France duty after the World Cup.
France begin their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with Group B games against the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland in March.
Italian football manager Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful Karim Benzema will be fit to feature for Real Madrid in the Club World Cup final.
Last year’s Ballon d’Or winner Benzema did not travel to Morocco earlier this week for the tournament, having sustained a hamstring injury.
However, Ancelotti confirmed after Madrid beat Al Ahly 4-1 in Wednesday’s semi-final that the 35-year-old will travel out to train with his team-mates on Friday.
Benzema will be joined by Eder Militao, though Ancelotti – who confirmed Marco Asensio and Dani Carvajal were kept on the bench against Al Ahly due to issues with their fitness – harbours more doubts over the defender’s possible contention for Saturday’s clash with Al-Hilal.
“They are not fully recovered,” Ancelotti told reporters of Benzema and Militao.
“Karim is doing pretty well and there are more doubts about Militao.
“They will train on Friday and then we will see.
“Carvajal had a fever and Asensio a little overload. I think he will be ready for Saturday.”
When it comes to transfers, the Premier League will always be ahead in Europe, but Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti promises his team won’t give up lightly.
The January transfer window saw clubs in the English top division spend over a record-breaking £800 million, with a number of high-profile deals coming from Chelsea, who broke the competition’s transfer record by bringing in Enzo Fernandez.
The Premier League spent more money on player acquisition than the combined budgets of LaLiga, Ligue 1, Serie A, and the Bundesliga.
Ancelotti stated that European clubs will always lag behind those across the English Channel when it comes to spending sprees in his remarks prior to his team’s match against Valencia on Thursday. However, he added that Premier League teams will not necessarily dominate in UEFA events.
“We know what happens there,” he said. “With the television rights, they can spend higher amounts. It will continue like this.
“Europe will follow the Premier League, it gives them an advantage.
“Even so, the competition against them, in Europe, it will not end.”
Ancelotti’s side are preparing for a busy four-week period that will see them juggle matches across four competitions, including the Club World Cup.
Though Madrid are ready to rise to the challenge, Ancelotti said the congested schedule laid out by UEFA and FIFA is a pressing concern for big clubs.
“We’re in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, the last 16 of the Champions League and the Club World Cup,” he added. “We don’t throw away competitions.
“It is a [tough] calendar. LaLiga wants to do its thing, FIFA wants to do its thing, UEFA wants to do its thing. It doesn’t let us have days off.
“The calendar is a very serious issue. We are excited to fight in all these competitions, but the calendar limit is being exceeded. We have to do something to avoid this.”
Real Madrid will face bitter rivals FC Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-finals after the draw was made at the Spanish FA’s headquarters on Monday.
Osasuna will clash with Athletic Bilbao in the other semi-final fixture.
The matches take place on four different dates in February, March and April with the Spanish FA having a scheduling headache.
Real Madrid are playing in the FIFA Club World Cup which begins on Wednesday and ends on February 11, and then two legs of the Champions League last 16.
Real Madrid and Barca meet in the first leg at Camp Nou on March 1 and will play the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu on April 4 or April 5.
Osasuna will play Athletic Bilbao on Feb. 8 and March 1.
The semi-final represents a chance for La Liga and European champions Real Madrid to get revenge for their 3-1 loss two weeks ago in the Spanish Super Cup against FC Barcelona.
Barca are currently the league leaders after they moved on to 47 points with their 1-0 win at Girona on Saturday.
Liverpool wanted a fresh start in 2023 but Andrew Robertson says the Reds have been “nowhere near good enough” this season and played “worse” since the World Cup.
The Scotland international captained Jurgen Klopp’s side at Brighton and Hove Albion as Kauro Mitoma’s last-minute strike dumped the FA Cup holders out in the fourth round.
Liverpool had taken the lead through Harvey Elliot before Lewis Dunk’s fortuitous first-half equaliser paved the way for Mitoma’s deserved late winner in Sunday’s 2-1 triumph.
Klopp’s men are out of both domestic cups and sit only ninth in the Premier League, having won just eight of their opening 19 top-flight games.
Having lost nine times already in 31 outings across all competitions this campaign, Robertson bemoaned Liverpool’s abject performances that have continued after the World Cup break.
“This season has been nowhere near good enough,” Robertson told ITV Sport.
“At the start of the year, we wanted a fresh start, but that hasn’t happened – we’ve been worse. In the league, we haven’t been good enough and now we’re out of both cups.”
The Reds’ downfall may have appeared somewhat of a surprise after falling narrowly short of an unprecedented quadruple last term.
Liverpool missed out in the Champions League final to Real Madrid and saw Manchester City secure the Premier League title on the last day of the season, though they lifted the FA Cup and EFL Cup.
Sadio Mane’s sale to Bayern Munich and Roberto Firmino’s diminishing role should be factored in, while Mohamed Salah has failed to hit his usual lofty heights after scoring just nine goals in 19 league games.
Luis Diaz has been out injured after a promising first campaign at Anfield and signings Darwin Nunez and Cody Gapko are still settling in, yet Robertson struggled to explain why Liverpool continue to falter.
The left-back added: “It’s really disappointing. You can’t put your finger on one thing that’s gone wrong. It’s more than that. It’s about trying to put a performance together where all these things click and that’s proving difficult right now.
“You can tell we’re not as confident in front of goal, and defensively we’re still a wee bit open in certain areas.
“We were on the back of two clean sheets, which was positive, but today, two disappointing goals and they had a couple of big chances as well.
“We need to try and get the confidence back. It’s easier said than done but that’s the only way we can pick up results. You have to be able to score goals and you have to be able to keep clean sheets.
“We’re not managing that just now and we need to do it. We keep saying that and it doesn’t help the fans. I feel sorry for them, the way we’re putting on a show for them just now.
“We let them down again and we’re obviously disappointed to be falling out of the cup.”
In a few weeks, Marco Asensio will decide what to do from June, when his contract at Real Madrid is up. ‘Marca’ claim that the player has been offered an extension at the Madrid side and that he also has offers from other sides. He will have to consider everything, but everything points towards him staying, as his priority is to stay at the ‘Meregues’.
Marco Asensio, together with Dani Ceballos, is one of theMadrid players who will be out of contract at the end of the season. The club are working on keeping him longer.
From January, the man from the Balearic Islands is free to speak with whichever club he wants to, and those after him are not in short supply. According to ‘Marca’, he has got several offers on the table. In fact, his agent Jorge Mendes is thought to have recently held conversations with FC Barcelona over his future.
In two or three weeks, the newspaper explains that he could give his final answer. As well as offers from several clubs, the player also has the offer to stay at Real Madrid.
In the coming days, he will sit down with his agent and they will decide what is the best, even though it appears quite clear for him. Out of all the options, the one which he is most favourable to is staying at the Bernabeu, the club which swooped in for him when he was at Mallorca.
Money does not matter to Asensio, he just wants to know that he will play a main role if he decides to stay at Real. All he wants to know is that he will play a key role for Ancelotti and, of course, that he will get game time. He is not bothered by how long the contract lasts for, either.
Asensio, like Ceballos, has turned his situation around. Both players looked like they were heading out of Concha Espina, to now earning themselves a new deal if they so desire. All that is left, having said that, is for them to actually put pen to paper.
Real Madrid needed extra-time to seal a dramatic Copa del Rey comeback as they downed rivals Atletico Madrid with a 3-1 quarter-final victory on Thursday.
Los Blancos were heading out at the Santiago Bernabeu after their former striker Alvaro Morata had struck in the first half for Atletico.
But Rodrygo’s fantastic solo effort forced an extra half-hour in the Spanish capital, before Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior completed the turnaround for the hosts.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side join Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna in the semi-finals, but Diego Simeone’s visitors will rue missing out on the last four.
Despite an early command of the game, it was the hosts who went behind in the 19th minute when Morata tapped in Nahuel Molina’s square ball from close-range.
Madrid blew a big chance to level matters on the half-hour mark when Eder Militao was caught off-guard by a free-kick delivery and botched a simple header.
Matters went from bad to worse for Ancelotti’s side too after they were forced into a substitution before the break thanks to an injury to Ferland Mendy.
Los Blancos were forced to wait for much of the game to find their response, but their patience paid off in the 79th minute when Rodrygo skipped past four Atletico players before prodding past Jan Oblak at his near post.
Tempers started to fray between both rivals in extra-time, with Stefan Savic dismissed in the 99th minute after two yellow cards in quick succession.
Gifted a man advantage, Madrid seized the chance with Benzema able to guide Vinicius’ rushed effort in past Oblak, before the Brazilian signed off the game with a finish of his own, tucked away after a fine run in off the left wing.
What does it mean? Madrid rally with response
Edged for composure and nous in the first half, Los Blancos looked more energetic than assured after the interval, before Rodrygo managed to bring them back in.
But following Supercopa de Espana heartbreak against Barcelona earlier this month, Ancelotti will be delighted to see his side prove they can still thrive in the pressure situations.
Vinicius offers defiant response
Much of the build-up to Thursday’s match was dominated by the Brazilian after clubs strongly condemned the actions of individuals who hung an effigy of the winger from a bridge.
Though a little nervous throughout the game, he earned his reward right at the end, and drew the biggest roar of the night.
Passive performance pushes Atletico out
Having taken a lead into the half-time break, it was always likely Simeone’s side would sit back and attempt to frustrate their rivals following the interval.
With only 30 per cent of possession in the second 45 however, they allowed themselves to be pushed off the park in the end, and paid the price in extra-time.
Key Opta facts
– Diego Simeone has faced Real Madrid for the sixth time as Atletico boss in a cup game, all of which have gone to extra-time (also Copa del Rey 2013, Champions League 2014 and 2016, UEFA Super Cup 2018 and Supercopa de Espana 2020).
– Molina’s assist for Morata meant he has provided one in his last three games, having not registered one in any of his first 21 games for Atletico in all competitions.
– Savic has been sent off in two of his last three games, as many as in his previous 137 games in all competitions for his club.
– 12 out of 27 goals Rodrygo has scored for Madrid have been in the last 20 minutes of games (44.4 per cent). The Brazilian has scored nine goals this season, equalling his highest tally in a single campaign for Los Blancos (2021-22).
– 17 out of the 37 assists from Vinicius for Madrid have been for Karim Benzema (46 per cent). Only Cristiano Ronaldo (27), Gareth Bale and Luka Modric (18 each) have provided more assists to Benzema than the Brazilian.
What’s next?
Both teams are in LaLiga action on Sunday, with Real Madrid hosting Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid visiting Osasuna.
Real Madrid defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-0 in a thrilling LaLiga match on Sunday thanks to goals from Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos.
In the 24th minute at San Mames Stadium, seasoned France international Benzema beat Unai Simon with a spectacular volley to hook back a loose ball.
The 90th minute breakaway goal by Kroos sealed the victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s team and kept pressure on league-leading Barcelona.
However, Ernesto Valverde’s team will have to reflect on whether they should have earned a point after making a valiant effort to force a draw before Kroos’ goal dashed any ambitions.
Following Barca’s victory over Getafe, it was imperative for Madrid to ensure they kept pace with a win of their own.
In a first half not short of opportunities, they had the edge over their hosts and demonstrated a shrewd ability to capitalise on their mistakes.
That proved invaluable when Benzema rescued Marco Asensio’s wayward header and volleyed home.
Madrid were initially frustrated in their attempts to double the advantage, with Asensio narrowly shooting past the left post in the 66th minute.
Inaki Williams briefly thought he had found the equaliser for the hosts with 13 minutes left, only for the linesman’s flag to rule his finish out with an offside call against Gorka Guruzeta.
Athletic’s hopes of salvaging a late draw were dashed at the death when Kroos picked off a Rodrygo ball and coolly slotted home from outside the box.
Ancelotti’s side headed to Bilbao knowing dropped points may prove seriously damaging to their title credentials.
Though they looked at risk of wavering with a one-goal lead, they were ultimately good value for their victory and will take confidence from the result going forward.
Benzema makes more LaLiga history
The Frenchman’s first-half finish was yet another top-flight goal to savour, but more importantly, it was his 228th for Madrid in the competition.
That draws him level with Raul for joint-second on the club’s all-time LaLiga scorer chart, trailing only former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, who leads with 311.
Hosts rue wayward finishing
It was not to be for Valverde and his men, who came out of the blocks in the second half seeking a result against one of the division’s heavyweight outfits.
With 18 shots to Madrid’s 10, they outgunned their visitors throughout, but with just three of those on target, they ultimately failed to earn a share of the spoils.
Key Opta Facts
– Athletic Bilbao have not won any of their last 15 games against Real Madrid in LaLiga (D4 L11), losing each of the last six.
– Real Madrid have won points in each of their last eight visits to Athletic in LaLiga (W6 D2) since a 1-0 loss in March 2015, with Carlo Ancelotti and Ernesto Valverde also on both benches.
– Real Madrid have not lost in their last 12 visits to teams from the Basque Country in LaLiga (W11 D1), since losing 3-1 v Real Sociedad in May 2019, winning each of the last seven.
Before Real Madrid came back from two goals down to defeat Villarreal 3-2 in the Copa del Rey, Carlo Ancelotti told his players to “wake up.”
After losing to rival Barcelona 3-1 in the Supercopa de Espana final on Sunday, Madrid appeared to be eliminated from the Copa del Rey on Thursday when they trailed 2-0 at the half.
Villarreal took the lead thanks to Etienne Capoue and Samuel Chukwueze, but Vinicius Junior cut the deficit in half, and Madrid tied the score when Eder Militao pushed the ball home after Filip Jorgensen could only deflect Karim Benzema’s header into the center-path. back’s
Dani Ceballos, who had only played three LaLiga games all season, seized the chance to lead Madrid into the quarterfinals with a spectacular turnaround.
“In the second period, it was an incredible reaction, as it always is. This club never gives up but we can’t wait until near the end of the game to react.
“The team showed great personality to turn things around. The second half is fantastic for our confidence. We didn’t give up.”
Ceballos was Madrid’s unlikely hero as he popped up to fire in from Marco Asensio’s perfectly weighted pass.
Ancelotti felt that combination was one of the keys to victory, saying: “Ceballos and Asensio have changed the dynamics of the match because they put in more quality and energy, they were decisive in turning the result around.”
Vinicius and Pepe Reina, the replacement goalkeeper for Villarreal, got into a fight during the second half. Ancelotti and Los Blancos winger Rodrygo also got into a fight.
After being replaced by Asensio in the 56th minute, Rodrygo looked to reject Ancelotti’s offer of a handshake, but the Madrid head coach was unconcerned by the incident.
“He [Rodrygo] had a slight muscle strain and I decided not to risk him,” Ancelotti explained. “He didn’t acknowledge me because I think he forgot, I don’t think it’s a big deal.
“[The Reina and Vinicius altercation] was nothing. He was a bit wound up with Vinicius, that’s all. I have a good relationship with him. What I saw, was that Vinicius got kicked a lot, like he does every game.”
Cristiano Ronaldo paid old friends a visit on Friday, dropping in on Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid ahead of the Supercopa de Espana final in Riyadh.
It may have been rude of Madrid’s record goalscorer not to show his face, given Los Blancos were training at the facilities of his new team, Al Nassr.
The 37-year-old was nevertheless warmly received as his former team were put through their paces, training in the build-up to Sunday’s trophy game against Barcelona.
Ronaldo watched the session and met with Madrid’s players, the club said, with the Portuguese perhaps hankering for a slice of the action.
He also chatted with fellow former Madrid star Roberto Carlos, with the Brazilian making an appearance at the session as well.
Ronaldo last featured in a Supercopa for Madrid in August 2017, scoring in a 3-1 first-leg win against Barcelona at Camp Nou before Madrid won the second game 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu to seal a 5-1 aggregate rout over their fiercest rivals.
Ronaldo has yet to make his competitive debut for Al Nassr, who face Al Shabab in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday.
He is expected to miss that game, having also sat out a fixture against Al Tai last week, due to a two-match ban handed down by the English Football Association after Ronaldo slapped a mobile phone out of a young Everton fan’s hand at the end of Manchester United’s defeat at Goodison Park last April.
Ronaldo has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Al Nassr, the deal seemingly ending his long and successful career in European club football.
He scored 451 goals in 438 games for Madrid in a staggering nine-year stint with Los Blancos, before moving on to Juventus in July 2018.
Real Madrid’s performance against Valencia was far from their best, but Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged that Los Blancos nevertheless advanced to the Supercopa de Espaa final.
After a commanding first 45 minutes, Karim Benzema’s first-half penalty appeared to put Los Blancos on the winning track, but a resurgent Valencia quickly equalized through Samuel Lino.
Giorgi Mamardashvili made several saves in extra time to keep Gennaro Gattuso’s team in the game, but Madrid won on penalties after Eray Comert and Jose Gaya missed their opportunities.
Ancelotti admitted Madrid’s flaws after the lackluster 1-1 draw and the 4-3 shootout triumph, speculating that the World Cup break may have contributed to a lack of focus.
The Madrid head coach told reporters: “It hasn’t been a physical problem because in extra time we’ve done better than them. We’re not at the top but it’s normal.
“There are players who started a little while after the World Cup. We’ve put players who were on the limit like [Ferland] Mendy and [Dani] Carvajal.
“We wanted to reach the final and that’s what we’ve done. It’s a different moment from last year but I think we’re going to fight hard to win the Super Cup.”
Benzema, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos all converted their spot-kicks, with Ancelotti preferring to go with experience for his first three takers before Marco Asensio found the net with Madrid’s fourth penalty.
“I put the three players with the most experience, the best,” he added. “The last one was Vinicius [Junior] and it is better that he did not shoot.”
The victory did seemingly come at a cost, though, as Eduardo Camavinga, Eder Militao and Lucas Vazquez all sustained injuries.
“Camavinga has had a blow to the knee, Militao is dizzy and is fine,” Ancelotti continued. “Lucas has a sprain, that is the most serious. I don’t know if he will be in Sunday’s game.”
LaLiga leaders Barcelona, who Madrid trail by three points, or Real Betis await in Sunday’s final after the second semi-final in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
Gareth Bale, a former world-class player for Wales, announced the end of his playing career on Monday, and Real Madrid has paid respect to the former superstar.
Bale spent nine years in Spain after leaving Tottenham to join Real Madrid in 2013, though he returned to Spurs on loan in 2020–21.
During his tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu, the 33-year-old won three LaLiga championships, a Copa dey Rey, five Champions League championships, and three Club World Cups.
He was not always universally popular with the fans despite scoring 106 goals in 258 games for the club, particularly after being pictured with a flag while on international duty that read: “Wales, golf, Madrid. In that order.”
“Following Gareth Bale’s announcement that he will retire from professional football, Real Madrid C. F. would like to express its gratitude, admiration and affection for a true legend of our club and the world game,” it read.
“Gareth Bale was part of our team during one of the most successful periods in our history. He will long be remembered for his involvement in some of the most remarkable moments of the past decade, including his unforgettable run in the 2014 Copa del Rey final in Valencia [v Barcelona], his crucial goal in the 2014 Champions League final in Lisbon [v Atletico Madrid], and his brace in the 2018 Champions League final in Kyiv [v Liverpool], most notably the bicycle kick which will live forever in the minds of football lovers around the globe.
“His name will be forever bound to our club’s history and its legend.
“Good luck, Gareth, and all the best to you and your family.”
Gareth Bale, a legend for Wales, has declared his retirement from both club and international football.
The 33-year-old winger, a former player for Real Madrid and Tottenham, amassed 111 caps for the Dragons and competed for his nation in three important competitions, including the World Cup in Qatar.
Bale made the following announcement about his choice on social media: “After serious and thoughtful contemplation, I announce my immediate retirement from club and international football.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have realised my dream of playing the sport I love.
“It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life.
“The highest of highs over 17 seasons that will be impossible to replicate no matter what the next chapter has in store for me.”
Bale, the captain of Wales, began his professional career at Southampton before making his debut in 2007 with Spurs, where he went on to establish himself as one of the best players in the Premier League over the course of 237 games for the North Londoners.
His performance won him a transfer to LaLiga powerhouse Real Madrid for a then-record £85 million fee.
The Cardiff-born star played in the Spanish capital for nine years, earning five Champions League championships.
His strike against rival Atletico Madrid in 2014 and a spectacular brace to defeat Liverpool four years later rank among the best moments in the championship game of European football.
A Welsh great, Bale played a talismanic role in helping his country reach the European Championship semi-finals in 2016 and also led them to their first World Cup since 1958.
Bale moved to Los Angeles FC last year, scoring three goals in 14 appearances — including in the MLS Cup final, which his side won on penalties.
He added: “From my very first touch at Southampton to my last with LAFC and everything in between, shaped a club career that I have an immense pride and gratitude for. Playing for and captaining my country 111 times has truly been a dream come true.
“To show my gratitude to all of those that have played their part along this journey feels like an impossibility.
“I feel indebted to many people for helping to change my life and shape my career in a way I couldn’t have ever dreamed of when I first started out at nine years old.
“To my previous clubs Southampton, Tottenham, Real Madrid and finally LAFC, all of my previous managers and coaches, backroom staff, team-mates, all the dedicated fans, my agents, my amazing friends and family, the impact you have had is immeasurable.”
Real Madrid will step up their pursuit of Jude Bellingham in January but are refusing to overpay for the England sensation.
Los Blancos are set to battle long-term admirers Liverpool for the Borussia Dortmund playmaker, 19, after his superb World Cup performances.
ESPN claim Real are ready to make their move and value Bellingham at £88million — a figure they will reportedly not go above.
Carlo Ancelotti is looking to freshen up his midfield with Luka Modric, 37, and Toni Kroos, who turns 33 next week, heading towards the end of their careers.
He secured the services of France starlet Aurelien Tchouameni last summer and also boasts young talents Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde.
Real have been talking up their project to Bellingham but Liverpool are set to provide stiff competition as they have their own midfield issues to address.
Jurgen Klopp is aware of the need for younger legs in the engine room and Bellingham’s displays in Qatar proved he is ready to handle the pressure of playing at the highest level.
Chelsea have also been linked in recent weeks but appear to have turned their attention elsewhere with The Metro reporting that Enzo Fernandez has agreed to join them.
Enzo Fernandez was one of Argentina’s stars of the World Cup
The 16-year-old forward has agreed to join LaLiga and European champions Madrid from Palmeiras in July 2024.
Endrick had been linked with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea before opting to make the move to the Spanish capital in a deal that could reportedly be worth €70million.
Fellow Brazilian Vinicius and Madrid’s all-time leading goalscorer Ronaldo influenced the teenager’s decision to make the switch to Los Blancos.
He told Marca: “Real Madrid is a very big team, and Vini had sent me messages and gave me more hope.
“Cristiano, who is my idol, also played for Real Madrid. That’s why I chose Real Madrid and I think it’s the right choice. God has always been with me and he has told me that it is the best way.”
Carlo Ancelotti also convinced Endrick that joining Madrid was his best option.
“Yes, I spoke with Ancelotti, with Rodrygo, with Eder [Militao], with the Brazilians,” he said.
“I thank God very much for everything that happens in my life and I hope that many good things still come, but you have to keep your feet on the ground, have humility and persevere.”
After a contentious interview in which the five-time Ballon d’Or winner criticized the team and declared that he had “no regard” for manager Erik ten Hag, Ronaldo’s second stint at Manchester United came to an abrupt end.
Ronaldo started the first three games of Portugal’s World Cup campaign after that, and he reacted violently when he was replaced in the final group game against South Korea.
The Portuguese Football Federation refuted claims that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to quit the team after learning he wouldn’t start the last-16 match against Switzerland; in his stead, Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 victory.
Ronaldo was thought to be at his final World Cup, in Qatar, and he came off the bench against Switzerland and Morocco, but he couldn’t stop the African team from eliminating Portugal.
That 1-0 upset in the quarter-finals could be Ronaldo’s last World Cup game and he said on social media: “The dream was nice while it lasted”.
In asking Real to use their training facility rather than take a break following Portugal’s early exit, Ronaldo has given a clear indication he is ready to join a new club at the earliest opportunity.
However, that will not be Real, whose all-time leading scorer is Ronaldo with 450 goals in 438 games, during time which he won the Champions League four times and La Liga twice.
Ronaldo made a then-world-record move to Real from Manchester United in 2009 and left for Juventus in 2018.
Real Madrid, a La Liga team in Spain, is interested in signing Yassine Bono, a goalkeeper from Morocco, next summer.
At the ongoing 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Bono has been a lightning rod for the Atlas Lions.
Morocco has become the first African country to reach the semifinals of the tournament after crashing out Portugal.
According to the Spanish Defensa Central, the 13-time European champions are eyeing a move for the goalkeeper.
Bono will become the first alternative to Thibaut Courtois in the “Santiago Bernabeu”.
Courtois was absent for quite some time from Real Madrid’s matches this season, due to injury.
However, Sevilla have named 30 million euros for the shotstopper.
Bono is expected to keep the post for Morocco when they come up against France in their semifinal game on Wednesday with kick-off scheduled at 19:00GMT.
Prior to the World Cup, the 18-year-old made an impressive transition into the Red Devils’ starting lineup by scoring his first club goal in a 2-1 overtime victory over Fulham.
Spanish outlet Revelo suggest the Argentine has caught Real Madrid’s eye, with the European champions keen to add him to their ranks.
With wonderkids such as Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Federico Valverde already thriving at the Bernabeu, Los Blancos chiefs believe Garnacho could be their next star in the making.
The winger’s current contract expires next summer and United are already in talks to tie down their academy prospect to an extension.
Garnacho was born in the Spanish capital and spent five years at Atletico Madrid before switching to Old Trafford in 2020.
Real have been busy in the hunt for exciting future prospects, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that a deal to sign Brazilian wonderkid Endrick is verbally agreed.
Marca say the club have decided against moving for AC Milan forward Rafael Leao or PSV Eindhoven star Cody Gakpo.
That will hand United a boost in landing Netherlands star Gakpo, 23, who is their top target after an impressive World Cup campaign.
Real Madrid held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw, denying them the chance to advance to the Women’s Champions League quarterfinals.
Emma Hayes’ team, last year’s runners-up to Lyon, would have advanced out of Group A with two games remaining had they won four straight matches this season.
At Estadio Alfredo di Stefano, Guro Reiten‘s penalty, which blasted in off goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez, negated an earlier attempt from Caroline Weir, thus they were left with a draw.
After convincingly defeating Vllaznia 4-0, Paris Saint-Germain overtook Madrid to take second position in Group A, with Vllaznia’s elimination later confirmed.
When PSG and Madrid square off at Parc des Princes the following week, PSG will advance with a victory thanks to goals from Kadidiatou Diani, Ramona Bachmann, and Magnaba Folquet.
Wolfsburg, a two-time winner, is the first team to go to the quarterfinals of this season following a thrilling 4-2 victory over Roma.
Lena Lattwein and SveindIs Jonsdottir also scored, sandwiching Ewa Pajor’s brace that brought her group stage tally to six goals, making Roma’s goals from Andressa Alves Da Silva and Sophie Roman Haug mere consolation.
After St Polten lost to Slavia Praha in the other Group B match, the German team’s 11th appearance in the round of eight in as many continental campaigns was confirmed.
Kristyna Ruzickova gave the Czech team their first goal of the year, but Mateja Zver’s free kick prevents them from moving on to the knockout stage.
Spanish giants, Real Madrid has joined the list of clubs interested in signing Ghana star, Mohammed Kudus.
After struggling for game time at the start of the season, Kudus has been on fire for the Dutch giants since being played as a false nine, scoring 10 goals in 21 games in all competitions.
After Everton and Liverpool were previously linked to the Ajax midfielder, Real Madrid now also seems to be able to be added to that list.
Journalist Ekrem Konur comes up with the name of the Spanish superpower on this Tuesday morning.
Uruguay head coach Diego Alonsobelieves his Real Madrid star Federico Valverde is best suited as a defensive midfielder, but that the team will need to perform better as a whole to allow him to “shine more”.
Alonso’s comments came after Monday’s disappointing 2-0 loss to Portugal, leaving Uruguay alongside Mexico and Tunisia as the only teams without a goal through two matches.
Following their failure to score in their 0-0 opener against South Korea, Uruguay were well-handled by the Portuguese, controlling only 40 per cent of the possession, although they only narrowly trailed in expected goals 1.33 to 1.27.
Not short on talent, Uruguay fielded a starting XI that included Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez and 135-cap veteran Edinson Cavani up front, while Tottenham’s Rodrigo Betancur partnered Valverde in midfield.
Having played both in central midfield and on the wing for Madrid, Valverde was deployed in the engine room against Portugal, and despite their desperation for goals, Alonso made it clear that is where he feels the 24-year-old is most valuable.
“I think Federico has played full matches with us in the qualifying round,” he said. “He’s played in the same position, even playing higher up.
“I think he played as a defensive midfielder with a second pivot together with Bentancur. It’s the same position that you saw today. He was even playing higher up, or as a wide midfielder.
“I think his main skill is playing through the central lanes. With us, he’s showed a great performance in that position.
“When you talk about shooting, I think he shot once [against Korea], it just missed the top corner. He was unlucky he couldn’t score.
“For us, he’s an important player with many skills. When the team plays better, I’m sure he will shine more.”
Despite their lack of potency going forward, Uruguay still have a chance to advance to the knockout stage if they can defeat Ghana in their final Group H fixture – a rematch from 2010’s quarter-final where Uruguay advanced on penalties.
“We are looking for victory against Ghana, there is no doubt about it,” Alonso said. “If we have to make slight modifications, that is what we’ll do.
“We will provide a team all the weapons we have at hand, so I have full trust in my players. I’m sure the next game will be hard, but we will go all out so that we have a victory and we qualify.
“We are talking about qualifying or not qualifying. It was very important back in [2010], but this is a different situation. It will be a crucial game, but has nothing to do with what happened 12 years ago.
“We need to feel free and move freely as we played during the second half against Korea. We need to gamble more and push forward, playing in between the lines and going for one-on-ones on the sides.
“Sometimes, opponents also play, they stop you, they know which are your main skills and they try to counter your play. But we need to continue trusting our team, our skills, the players we have, and to also give them trust to develop their game.”
Marco Asensio wants to stay at Real Madrid for “10 more years” as the Spain international continues to negotiate a new contract with the club.
Asensio, who is on duty with La Roja at the World Cup, is set to become a free agent when his existing deal with Los Blancos expires at the end of June.
Repeatedly linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu, with Barcelona reported to be among his possible destinations, the forward has started just once in LaLiga for Madrid this season.
Nevertheless, the 26-year-old hopes he can prolong his stay with the reigning Champions League winners, for whom he has made 250 appearances since arriving from Mallorca in December 2014.
“There is talk that I am changing Real Madrid’s mind. But I have always tried to give the maximum that I have inside, and then it will be known,” he told Radio Marca.
“The one that decides, too, is the club, it not only depends on me. After the World Cup, we will both make a decision.
“What if I want to renew? Hopefully, it can happen, and I will be very happy at Real Madrid for many years. Hopefully, everything will be given to stay 10 more years.”
Asensio also offered his commiserations to team-mate Karim Benzema, who was ruled out of the World Cup after failing to recover from a quadriceps problem in his left thigh.
The France international became the first reigning Ballon d’Or winner to miss the finals since Allan Simonsen’s Denmark failed to qualify for the 1978 tournament.
“I send him all my encouragement and support from here,” Asensio added. “These are things that happen in football, and it has weighed on him not being able to reach 100 per cent. He was very excited about this World Cup.”
France will not call up a replacement for Karim Benzemaafter the Ballon d’Or winner was ruled out of the World Cup with a thigh injury, head coach Didier Deschamps has confirmed.
Deschamps’ side are looking to become the first team to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962, but they have suffered several injury blows ahead of the tournament in Qatar.
Having already seen midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante ruled out, France lost Presnel Kimpembe and Christopher Nkunku after naming their 26-man squad for the competition, but the most severe blow was still to come as Benzema was forced to leave their camp after failing to complete Saturday’s training session.
With Benzema facing three weeks on the sidelines, reports suggested France would decide whether to call up another attacker on Sunday, but Deschamps is content with his existing options.
“It’s obviously a big blow. Karim had done everything, so had we. He was in the session and with an almost innocuous gesture, he felt muscle pain on the other leg,” Deschamps told Telefoot.
“The exams unfortunately confirmed too much damage compared to the deadlines that await us.
“Will he be replaced? No. We have seven to eight attacking players.”
De ma vie je n’ai jamais abandonné mais ce soir il faut que je pense à l’équipe comme je l’ai toujours fait alors la raison me dit de laisser ma place à quelqu’un qui pourra aider notre groupe à faire une belle Coupe du Monde. Merci pour tous vos messages de soutien 🙌🏼❤️ pic.twitter.com/SBalX0juAH
Alongside 2018 World Cup winners Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembele, France can call upon Kingsley Coman, Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram as attacking options.
Benzema has endured a frustrating season, missing several of Real Madrid’s games after sustaining a knee injury in September before being plagued by muscle fatigue in the build-up to the World Cup.
Deschamps insists France’s medical staff should not shoulder the blame for his latest injury, adding: “I know that you are looking for controversy, but everything has been done [for Benzema to be fit].
“It happened in the game, not even on an acceleration or a strike. It can happen, it’s never the right time, it’s not a relapse.
“He has a concern on the other side, which prevents him from staying with us. It’s never fun, it doesn’t make you smile.
“We had already lost Christopher, but we have a goal, the group knows very well what awaits us. We have a quality group. I am convinced of it, I have confidence in them.”
Deschamps offered a more positive update on the fitness of Raphael Varane, saying the Manchester United defender “will be available” for Tuesday’s Group D opener against Australia.
Varane had been a doubt for the tournament after suffering a leg injury in the Red Devils’ Premier League draw with Chelsea last month, but he completed his first collective training session since meeting up with Les Bleus on Saturday.
The first time I gave a thought to the term socialite was back in the late 2000, when the British tabloid The Sun, splashed on its cover, photos of Paris Hilton and a smiling Cristiano Ronaldo.
The headline was: Madrid via Paris. Ronaldo had secured a move to Real Madrid worth £80m from Manchester United. He headed off to Los Angeles where the tabloid captured him and Ms. Hilton firmly tucked in his arm.
The two were rumored to be in a relationship, so the image of them storming out of a night club was always going to be a paparazzi’s dream. Though I knew about Paris Hilton because she was often the center of attention by most tabloids in the United States and even Britain.
Her alleged involvement with the Portuguese footballer excited me. I therefore did some reading about her background and what her story was. My initial thought was she may be an actress with lots of film credits to her name. But I discovered she was more than that; she was the great granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, the man who established the Hilton Hotels.
She was coming from a background that is very much roiled in wealth. As at the time of my research, she was also connected to modeling, entrepreneurship and products associated with her name could be identified in high earned shops in Europe and the Americas i.e., from handbags to perfumes and branded items, Ms. Hilton was adding on to the family fortune. She was one of the most photographed women in showbiz and her business interests were very much known to almost everyone who operated within the showbusiness industry.
Then a writer with strong interest in the showbiz industry, I contemplated writing an article about some of the high-profile women in the Ghanaian entertainment and fashion space, who could be our own Paris Hilton, or may fit the socialite profile.
The two names that came to mind were Confidence Haugen and Sally Kanbonaba. Confidence was the founder of Aphrodisiac Nightclub and Sally owned Monte Carlo Grand Café. The two places were in Dzorwulu and Labone and played hosts to most of the major events in the industry. I did not write the article but in a conversation with some colleague writers at the time, they felt the two fitted into the socialite labeling, especially in the Ghanaian context.
Stories about their private lives in newspapers were never boring, no matter how many times they appeared; from which men they were hanging out to the cars they drove, as well as other business interests.
Social media had not come onto the scene, so the newspapers were always the space to get either Sally or Confidence related gossips.
Miss Haugen is now a Queenmother in the Anlo area in the Volta region and doing great work in humanitarian services. I am not too sure about the whereabouts of Sally, though several conspiracy theories continue to hang in the air about her whereabouts.
Th emergence of social media tools like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and then TikTok, have very much changed the showbiz industry.
These platforms have also led to the increasing numbers of bloggers who continue to cultivate new breed of celebrities and socialites.
I have even lost count of the number of persons labeled as ‘celebrities’’ in this country. The term appears sexy in the minds of bloggers, and they cannot resist the temptation of using them to reference characters, even if the said character does not have enough showbiz credits to the name.
I can however count on my fingertips the number of persons I have heard being described as socialites.
The famous among them is Hajia4Real, the musician who is locked up in the United Kingdom over fraud allegations. She is the only person I have read being described as a ‘socialite’ in writeups, or interviews posted on YouTube.
Her fleets of cars, designer clothing showoffs, open display of money at shops in Europe and opulence, have often generated gossips within the public. In most of the news articles written about her, she was often quoted as having attributed her wealth to endorsement deals, business partnerships with friends, business interests in the Northern region and other places.
However, in gossip chatrooms or WhatsApp platforms, not many believed her claim of rags to riches story; almost everyone knew what kind of business she was involved in, though they were often whispered in small groups.
The truth is, in Ghana, it is often seen as evil, trying to question where one gets his or her wealth. What is whispered in secrets is only spoken when the person has fallen foul of the law. It was therefore not surprising when rumors of Hajia4reall’s arrest dominated the headlines.
On Twitter, lots of people said they felt vindicated by what they had always suspected about her source of wealth.
She had not been convicted by any court yet. There is no public document detailing the exact crime she might have committed, but, in the eyes of the public, our most famous socialite turned musician, isn’t a Paris Hilton after all.
Real Madrid team-mate Eduardo Camavinga says KarimBenzema is “doing so much better” as he battles to be 100 per cent fit for France’s World Cup campaign, according to his
Benzema won his first Ballon d’Or last month after leading Real Madrid to glory in LaLiga and the Champions League in the 2021-22 season, but has endured an injury-hit campaign to date.
The striker has started 11 games in all competitions this season, scoring six goals, but he spent time on the sidelines with a knee injury before missing further fixtures after suffering from muscular fatigue in his left quadriceps.
However, with less than a week remaining until France begin their Group D campaign against Australia, Camavinga is enthused by his team-mate’s recovery.
“He’s getting better. He’s doing so much better,” Camavinga told RMC Sport. “I have a very good relationship with him, he helps me a lot at Real Madrid.
“He is a very great player who deserves what is happening to him. I hope he will be ready for the World Cup.
“Sometimes in a match he comes to see me and tells me, ‘If I have the ball you are going to do this run or this run’, so he gives me advice at the right moment.
“He also tells me when to stay in position. He is very good at communicating, he is a leader.”
France are looking to become the first nation to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962, but Didier Deschamps’ team have been beset by bad luck on the injury front, with N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba missing the tournament.
With those two veterans of the 2018 World Cup win absent, Camavinga could partner Madrid team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni in a new-look France midfield, but he has no reservations over their lack of experience.
“Critics are part of life. We don’t have the same experience, but we are keen to show what we are worth,” Camavinga added.
“With our enthusiasm and the experience of the elders, it can make a good mix.”
Meanwhile, Deschamps has called up Eintracht Frankfurt forward Randal Kolo Muani after Christopher Nkunku suffered an injury on Tuesday.
Nkunku was ruled out of the World Cup after limping out of training with a leg injury, but his absence has given Muani – the scorer of eight goals for Eintracht this term – the opportunity to feature at his first major tournament.
Eden Hazard wants to salvage his Real Madrid career but would have no complaints if the club asked him to leave at the end of the season.
The former Chelsea winger has endured a dismal time in Spain, with a string of injuries ruining his hopes of transferring his Premier League form to LaLiga.
Now Hazard has a big chance to show what he can do on a different stage, as he prepares to play a part for Belgium at the World Cup in Qatar.
Set to turn 32 in January, Hazard has managed only two goals and one assist in 15 games for Madrid in 2022, starting a mere four times and playing just 532 minutes in the first team. He has a little over 18 months left on his contract.
Considering Hazard won the Silver Ball at the 2018 World Cup, as the second-best player in the tournament, it has been a staggering descent from main man to bit-part player.
Hazard was Chelsea’s player of the year in his final campaign at Stamford Bridge, the 2018-19 season, and he has backed himself to hit similar heights again, given an injury-free run.
Speaking to Marca, Hazard said: “I have to prove to everyone that I can play football. People have doubts about what I can do, but I don’t.”
He described himself as “a good player who just has to play more football”, and can see why there are those who doubt him.
“It is normal. I am a player who has not played many games in three years. I can understand it,” he said.
“I don’t play, but being a Real Madrid player was my dream as a child and after this year I have another season on my contract. I want to play for this club, with this shirt.”
All the same, Hazard is a realist and would not want to overstay his welcome.
He says a January move away from Madrid would be “impossible, because I have family and I like the city”.
“But in the summer it is possible that I go,” he said.
“If the club tells me: ‘Eden, thanks for four years, but you have to go’, I have to accept it because it’s normal. But I would like to play more, show more that I can play, that I am a good player.”
Real Madrid stars have made the switch to electric after being given free BMW cars as part of a sponsorship deal between the club and the German company.
Players including Karim Benzema and Luka Modric, and manager Carlo Ancelotti, are among the recipients of the fully-electric BMW iXs or i4s.
Prices for the BMW iX start at around £71,000 and can cost up to £109,000, while the i4s cost between £53,000 and £66,000.
They were able to choose their own model and colour after being provided with the cars by BMW.
Players had previously driven Audi cars during the club’s long-standing partnership with the company, which ended after nearly two decades earlier this year.
Real are thought to have ditched their deal with Audi, which began in 2003, after failing to agree on a new contract following negotiations.
The Spanish giants then entered into a partnership with BMW. Exact details have not been disclosed but local media reports claim the German car manufacturer is paying Real around £6.5million a year.
A host of Real Madrid’s household names will have to wait to drive their new cars, however, as the majority of the first-team squad are heading to Qatar for the World Cup.
Nine of their first XI that featured in their final match before the World Cup shutdown, the 2-1 win over Cadiz last Thursday, have been picked for their national side.
The tournament begins with the opening game between Qatar and Ecuador on Sunday.
New Wolves head coach Julen Lopetegui is “worried” after Raul Jimenez was named in Mexico’s World Cup squad despite not playing since August.
Former Sevilla and Real Madrid coach Lopetegui officially took charge at Wolves on Monday but will have to wait until after the World Cup break for his first game.
Jimenez has only made three Premier League appearances this season, totalling 211 minutes, after battling with a groin injury but was still included in Mexico’s 26-man list to travel to Qatar.
With Wolves four points adrift of safety at the bottom of the top-flight table, Lopetegui says his primary concern is having his key forward to call upon after the break.
Waited 𝟰 years for this moment (screams in Spanish)! 😱🇲🇽🔥
“The most important thing is not the World Cup, it’s Wolves,” Lopetegui said during his first press conference in England.
“I have spoken with Raul, I am worried about him because he doesn’t play a minute with his team, Wolves.
“We need all of them but we need Raul fit and the best version. I hope he will come back here in this way. I respect the decision of the player and the coach but above all for me it’s Wolves.”
Mexico and Wolves have already endured a fractured relationship, with Gerardo Martino’s team apologising after naming an unfit Jimenez on their bench for Wednesday’s 4-0 friendly victory over Iraq.
The 31-year-old was in attendance at Molineux for the 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal on Saturday before being announced in a Mexico squad that includes Napoli’s Hirving Lozano and Ajax defender Edson Alvarez.
But there was no room for former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, who scored 18 goals in 34 MLS appearances for Los Angeles Galaxy in 2022.
Martino’s men start their World Cup campaign against Poland on November 22 before facing Argentina and Saudi Arabia in Group C.
Carlo Ancelotti has lamented Real Madrid’s late showing for inviting “unnecessary suffering” in what should have been a more comfortable victory over Cadiz.
Madrid will head into November’s World Cup break trailing LaLiga leaders Barcelona by two points after overcoming Cadiz 2-1 on Thursday.
Eder Militao’s second goal in as many games and a thunderous Toni Kroos volley seemingly had Madrid cruising to victory, before Lucas Perez’s 81st-minute strike ensured a nervy ending at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Ancelotti acknowledged there were a lot of positives to take from Madrid’s first victory in three league games, though the Blancos coach was frustrated to see his side concede late on.
“Yes, we played very well until 2-1. We were able to score 3-0 with [Luka] Modric, who had an easy chance,” the Italian told DAZN.
“Then it’s normal. It was unnecessary suffering. Three deserved points and we finished well [before the World Cup].”
Modric, who will aim for World Cup glory with Croatia in Qatar, missed a gilt-edged chance at 2-0 up as he fired wide of an open goal following Vinicius Junior’s offload.
The failure in front of goal did not come back to haunt Madrid, allowing Ancelotti to joke about the miss, saying: “I’ve told him Croatia have already given him the call-up, so he won’t have a problem.”
Cadiz attempted to ruffle Madrid feathers by imposing their physical presence, leading to six yellow cards being shown in an ill-tempered clash.
Vinicius voiced his displeasure in the first half after team-mate Rodrygo and centre-back Fali clashed off the ball, with Ancelotti stunned by the lack of retrospective VAR action.
“Yes, they told me that [Fali] punched [Rodrygo]. I saw a video and it seemed like an attack to me,” Ancelotti said of the altercation where Fali appeared to elbow the Madrid attacker.
The Cadiz defender suggested he may have let the heat of the moment get to him, too.
“In the end it’s true that I did hit him. He says it’s an elbow and I say no,” Fali said. “I try to stop him and try to grab him. The VAR sees it and gives me a yellow card.
“In this action maybe, I went a little too far. It is not to hurt him. The still image seems to be more than it is. I try to grab his head. He says that I elbowed him, and tell him I did not.”
Madrid will not be in action until a trip to Real Valladolid on December 31 after the break for the World Cup.
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has rebutted suggestions that Karim Benzema is unavailable for club action in order to keep him fit for the 2022 World Cup.
The France international is set to represent the defending champions in Qatar but enters the tournament with a lack of minutes, having last appeared domestically against Elche on October 19.
Those fitness issues will once again keep Benzema absent from Thursday’s trip to Cadiz, the final game before Qatar 2022, where Madrid are looking to bounce back after a surprise defeat to Rayo Vallecano on Monday.
Benzema’s recent absence has not resulted in any concerns that he could be missing for France, leading to suggestions that he may just be being rested to ensure he does not get injured ahead of the tournament.
“It has bothered me that he has not been able to help us with his quality – he has tried but he has not been able to come back from this small thing, so he is not available,” Ancelotti said in Wednesday’s press conference.
“I don’t have to say anything to anyone. The first disappointed person is Karim, who arrives at the World Cup without the necessary minutes to be in good condition.
“To think that he has been rested, I do not believe it, it is silly. He has not stopped; he has trained alone, but the feelings he had were not good.
“It means he arrives at the World Cup with few minutes in his legs.”
Asked whether Benzema ever felt his World Cup involvement was in doubt, Ancelotti added: “No, apart from that big injury against Celtic, it’s been two small things.”
Madrid’s defeat last time out leaves the defending LaLiga champions five points adrift of leaders Barcelona, albeit with a game in hand, and Ancelotti highlighted a drop in intensity as the reason for his side’s decline.
He added: “If you lower intensity against teams that do not play in Europe, such as Rayo, they can be at a higher level than the rest.
“It’s less noticeable when you’re playing against teams that do play in Europe.”
Real Madrid missed the chance to return to the LaLiga summit after falling to a 3-2 defeat at Rayo Vallecano.
Oscar Trejo scored the winner with a contentious second-half penalty.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side trail leaders Barcelona by two points after losing at Vallecas, where referee Juan Martinez Munuera and the VAR played a significant part on Monday.
Luka Modric’s penalty and an Eder Militao header had put Madrid into the lead after Santiago Comesana’s opener, before Alvaro Garcia equalised during a breathless first half.
Yet there was to be more drama when Dani Carvajal was deemed to have encroached as Thibaut Courtois saved a 67th-minute penalty from Trejo, who converted the retake to secure victory.
2 – #RealMadrid ⚪️⚪️ have kept only two clean sheets in their 13 games in @LaLigaEN 2022/23, their lowest tally at this stage of the season since 2013/14, also under Carlo Ancelotti (W10 D1 L2). Hole. pic.twitter.com/9V6AhS5rEQ
Comesana fired Rayo into a fifth-minute lead after angling a first-time left-footed shot past Courtois following Fran Garcia’s whipped left-wing cross.
Martínez Munuera gave a 37th-minute penalty to Madrid after consulting the touchline monitor following a tangle of legs that saw Marco Asensio felled by Fran Garcia, with Modric coolly converting down the middle from the spot.
Militao directed a header into the bottom-left corner from Asensio’s inswinging corner to give Madrid the lead, only for Alvaro Garcia to power a left-footed strike past Courtois to equalise three minutes later.
Courtois saved Trejo’s penalty after Carvajal was adjudged to have handled in the second half – again following a review of the touchline monitor – but the Madrid right-back was penalised for encroachment, allowing the Rayo midfielder to find the bottom-right corner at the second attempt.
That was to prove the winner, although Madrid almost salvaged a draw when Rodrygo spurned a glorious 89th-minute chance, turning over Asensio’s centre.
What does it mean? Madrid slip up again
With Liverpool confirmed as their next Champions League opponents in the last 16, reigning European and Spanish champions Madrid will have to improve both domestically and on the continent after faltering in back-to-back LaLiga games.
A 1-1 draw against Girona coupled with only Rayo’s second win against Madrid in 21 LaLiga attempts will leave Ancelotti much to ponder with a game to go before November’s World Cup break.
Andoni Iraola will have much to celebrate, though, despite his second-half dismissal for dissent, after Rayo won three league games in a row for just a second time under his stewardship.
Classy Comesana
Comesana appeared to be everywhere for Rayo against Madrid, scoring the opening goal with a coolly taken finish that belied his defensive-midfield position.
The Rayo man was a dominant force in the middle of the park as well, though, creating three chances and regaining possession eight times – both game-leading figures in just 79 minutes.
Defensive issues for Madrid
Madrid often relied on late fightbacks on their way to Champions League and LaLiga glory last season, perhaps masking their defensive issues.
But Los Blancos have come unstuck this term after keeping just two clean sheets in their first 13 LaLiga games, their lowest tally at this stage of a season since 2013-14 – also under Ancelotti.
Key Opta Facts
– Rayo Vallecano have scored three goals against Real Madrid for the second time in their history in LaLiga after October 1977 (3-2 win at home).
– After drawing at Camp Nou (0-0) and Civitas Metropolitano (1-1), Rayo Vallecano collected points against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the same season in the top flight for the sixth time and first since 1999-2000 (W1 D1 vs Atletico and Barca and D1 L1 vs Real Madrid).
– Militao has scored six goals for Real Madrid in all competitions, all of them were headers and with a different assistant. Five of those goals were from corners. Since his debut for Los Blancos, no other LaLiga defender has scored more headers than the Brazilian (also with six Gabriel Paulista and German Sanchez).
What’s next?
Madrid host Cadiz on Thursday in their last game before the World Cup break, while Rayo are at home to Celta Vigo on the same day.
Karim Benzema returned to individual training ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Celtic, having missed Los Blancos’ past three games.
The Ballon d’Or winner sat out league meetings with Sevilla and Girona, as well as a Champions League defeat at RB Leipzig, after suffering from muscular fatigue in his left leg.
Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti recently revealed Benzema had undergone tests that came back clear, but the Champions League holders have been unwilling to take any risks with his fitness.
Benzema limped out of Madrid’s 3-0 win at Celticin September with a knee injury, and defending World Cup champions France will be watching on with interest as he prepares to return from his latest setback.
On Monday, a club statement revealed Benzema and Aurelien Tchouameni – who missed Sunday’s draw with Girona due to a muscle injury – had trained individually ahead of Wednesday’s match.
Benzema has missed five of Madrid’s 12 games in LaLiga this season but has found the net five times in his seven appearances in the competition.
The biggest soccer mundial has been scheduled between November and December, with 32 countries set to battle it out for the covetous trophy in the Asian country.
The two-time World Cup winners has been housed in Group H against Ghana, Portugal and Uruguay.
Uruguay will open their account against South Korea on November 24 before taking on Portugal and Ghana on November 28 and December 2 respectively.
According to the 24-year-old, Uruguay intends to leave a mark in Qatar despite being paired in a difficult group at the mundial.
“(Uruguay coach) Diego Alonso tells us that we can be world champions and the dream is there,” he added.
“We believe that we can achieve beautiful things. We may not be able to, but our goal is to leave a mark. Anything can happen on the pitch and you have to think big”
Valverde has been in a rich vein of form for Real Madrid this season, scoring 6 La Liga goals as a midfielder.
Former Asante Kotoko midfielder Salifu Mudasiru put up an impressive display for FC Sheriff Tiraspol in their 3-0 loss to Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League.
The 25-year-old lasted the entire duration of the game at Old Trafford on Thursday evening.
Portugal defender Diogo Dalot put the hosts on their way to victory with a near-post header from Christian Eriksen’s corner a minute before the break.
Substitute Marcus Rashford then headed home Luke Shaw’s left wing cross midway through the second period.
Ronaldo, who was dropped for last weekend’s trip to Chelsea as punishment for refusing to come on as a substitute against Tottenham eight days ago, put the icing on the cake with nine minutes left to play.
The former Real Madrid forward got his head to a Bruno Fernandes cross. Sheriff keeper Maxym Koval made a low save but as the ball spilled loose, Ronaldo pounced to complete United’s biggest win of the season and extend their unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions.
Mudasiru has made 19 appearances for FC Sheriff Tiraspol across all competitions this season.
Karim Benzema faces time on the Real Madrid sidelines after the Ballon d’Or winner was revealed to be suffering with muscular fatigue in his left leg.
With one month to go until France begin their World Cup campaign against Australia, the news of Benzema’s exertions taking their toll may be of some concern to Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps.
For now, there is no suggestion Benzema will not be fit to play a full role in the Qatar 2022 tournament, but the injury announcement is a reminder all players are susceptible amid a packed fixture schedule for Europe’s top clubs.
A Madrid club statement read: “Following tests carried out today on Karim Benzema by the Real Madrid medical services, he has been diagnosed with muscular fatigue in the quadricep muscle of his left leg. His recovery will be monitored.”
Reports in Spain said that, as well as missing Saturday’s game against Sevilla, Benzema was also expected to be absent for the Champions League fixture at RB Leipzig on Tuesday.
However, Benzema could be back for the LaLiga clash with Girona on Sunday, October 30, sports daily Marca reported.
Benzema won the Ballon d’Or for his feats last season, when his 44 goals in 46 games helped Madrid triumph in LaLiga and the Champions League.
He scored in last Sunday’s 3-1 win over Barcelona as Madrid went clear at the top of the Spanish top flight, before netting again on Wednesday in the 3-0 victory at Elche, where he played the full 90 minutes.
Barcelona centre-back, Ronald Araujo, who was said to be a major doubt for the tournament due to an adductor longus avulsion injury in his right thigh, made the 55-man list, which was released on Friday.
Some key names like Luis Suarez, Edison Cavani, Darwin Nunez, and Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde were all named in the big squad.
Uruguay has now become the first team in Group H to release their provisional list.
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti believes Toni Kroos will extend his stay at the club beyond his current contract.
Kroos has been a core part of Los Blancos’ success in the past eight years, lifting the LaLiga title on three occasions and clinching victory in the Champions League four times – including last season.
Now 32, and with fellow midfielder Luka Modric also in his twilight years, Madrid have looked to the future with the signings of Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, but Kroos remains crucial for Ancelotti’s side.
The Germany international has started seven of Madrid’s 10 LaLigamatches this season and, while his current deal is set to expire at the end of the campaign, Ancelotti expects him to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“I’ve talked to him, he’s very calm. He’s going to think about it after the World Cup, in January or February. I think he’s going to continue,” he said in Friday’s press conference ahead of the clash against Sevilla.
“His level is better than last year, he had physical problems at the beginning and then he did very well. He’s at a very high level.”
Kroos is set to represent Germany at the World Cup in Qatar, which begins next month, where Ancelotti expects to see matches played with a higher level of intensity compared to the usual post-season tournament.
“I think this part of the season helps, you can see a World Cup with much more intensity, they will reach the top,” he added.
“In the previous ones they arrive exhausted to play the World Cup. Now they will arrive with a lot of energy.”
A new proposal for a European Super League is being worked on, with the breakaway competition’s management company promising “even fans will have a lot of sympathy for the idea”.
The Super League’s launch last year failed spectacularly, with nine of the 12 founder clubs promptly withdrawing due to fan, media and player pressure.
However, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus have stood by the plans.
Eighteen months on, A22 Sports Management – a company representing the Super League clubs – are now planning to revive the proposals.
Bernd Reichart, a media executive, has been appointed to head up the plans.
He told the Financial Times: “We want to reach out to stakeholders in the European football community and broaden this vision.
“Even fans will have a lot of sympathy for the idea. It is a blank slate. Format will never be an obstacle.”
Reichart promised there will be changes made to the initial proposal, which was for 12 teams to be permanent members of the Super League, with other clubs invited on merit.
“There is a reassessment – there is a clearly stated move towards an open format and that permanent membership is off the table,” Reichart said, echoing the sentiment of Barcelona president Joan Laporta, who called for the Super League not to be a closed shop.
“We want to see whether or not there is broader consensus about the problems facing European football.”
Reichart is targeting a launch in the 2024-25 season, as he added: “If fundamental change is to come, we want to be prepared.”
Karim Benzema will need to perform well for France at the upcoming World Cup to “justify his status” as Ballon d’Or winner, claims Michel Platini.
Benzema finished a career-best 2021-22 season with 44 goals, while adding 15 assists as he helped fire Real Madrid to a LaLiga and Champions League double.
The 34-year-old’s stunning campaign was enough to see off the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Sadio Mane to win his first Ballon d’Or, having previously been nominated 10 times without taking home the trophy.
But Platini, who won Ballon d’Or awards in three consecutive years between 1983 and 1985, believes there is now more pressure on Benzema to perform at the World Cup in Qatar, starting next month.
“He reached the grail with the Ballon d’Or,” Platini told RMC Sport. “He has a big responsibility being the best player in the world and the World Cup is coming up.
“He will have to be on top to justify his status.”
Benzema returned from a six-year exodus with the national team for Euro 2020, scoring four goals in four appearances as France crashed out at the round of 16 stage.
He will hope to help Les Blues defend their World Cup crown, beginning with their opening group match against Australia on November 22, though Platini believes Benzema is already well on his way to becoming a France footballing icon.
“Benzema is becoming a legend of French football,” Platini added. “Winning a Ballon d’Or brings you into the ranks of great footballers.”
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone felt his side paid the price for “not being forceful” enough as a 92nd-minute Radamel Falcao penalty earned Rayo Vallecano a late 1-1 draw on Tuesday.
Alvaro Morata’s first-half strike looked to be enough to give Atletico their fourth straight LaLiga win, despite missing a number of chances to add a second goal.
They were left to rue not taking those opportunities, as the referee awarded a penalty after Jose Gimenez handled in the box from Randy Nteka’s header, before Falcao fired home the penalty to deny his former side the win.
Simeone was frustrated over his side’s inability to kill the game off, telling reporters: “We had good goal situations to score the second and close out the match.
“The second was not scored and we remain in a situation in which they can equalise.
“In the second half we had a lot of counter-attacks to finish the game, we didn’t convert the much-needed second goal and we lost two important points.”
The two dropped points Simeone referenced would have put Atletico just three points behind leaders Real Madrid, and the 52-year-old feels his players must be more ruthless in future.
When asked what his team did wrong against Rayo, Simeone replied: “Not being forceful.
“If you come up against the goalkeeper several times, it has to be a goal.
“You have to improve the forcefulness and train it and when that situation appears, there is the mettle to finish.”
Real Madrid overcame rivals Barcelona with a 3-1 win at the Bernabeu to go three points clear at the top of LaLiga on Sunday.
The LaLiga champions went into an early 2-0 lead through Karim Benzema and Federico Valverde before a Ferran Torres goal started a Barca fightback late on.
However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side sealed the victory in stoppage-time with a Rodrygo penalty.
The result compounded a miserable week for Xavi Hernandez who saw his side lose ground in the league title race after slipping to a disappointing Champions League draw in midweek.
Madrid remain unbeaten in LaLiga this season and go top with 25 points with Barca in second place on 22 points.
The hosts took the lead after 12 minutes through a swift counter attack which saw Benzema tap home after Marc-Andre ter Stegen blocked Vinícius Junior’s effort.
The France international snapped a streak of 5 games without a goal, which was his longest scoring drought at the club level since 2020.
Madrid doubled their lead 10 minutes before the break when Valverde found himself in space outside of the box and steered a fine finish past Ter Stegen.
Benzema thought he grabbed a second goal early in the second half but his goal was ruled out for offside.
The visitors grabbed a goal back with 10 minutes remaining through substitute Torres after great work from Ansu Fati and Robert Lewandowski.
Madrid stepped up a gear and were awarded a penalty in the 90th minute when Sergio Busquets brought down Rodrygo.
The Brazilian scored the spot kick as Madrid avenged their 4-0 Clasico home defeat last season.
Joan Laporta has told Barcelona fans to “keep believing” as they head into El Clasico on Sunday looking to hit back from a midweek Champions League disappointment.
A 3-3 draw with Inter on Wednesday was a blow to Barca’s hopes of reaching the round of 16, but a win against Real Madrid in one of the most anticipated fixtures in world football would be a perfect response.
The fierce rivals head into the match level on points, with the Catalan giants top of LaLiga by virtue of their superior goal difference.
Barca president Laporta urged supporters to maintain their faith in Xavi and his players, telling BarcaTV: “Keep believing. We have a very competitive team, with very good players who are going to bring you a lot of joy.
“Stick behind Xavi, he needs your warmth and confidence. That’s what we will give him and we hope the fans do too.
“I have my full faith in Xavi and his staff, and also with the players. We have a great squad and I’m sure they’ll bring us a lot of joy. We have a team to compete against anyone in Europe.
“We’ll get through this. We won’t ever stop working for what we want. This club has had all kinds of ups and downs over the years, but we have always bounced back. And we can still do that, from every part of the club.”
Laporta acknowledged just how important Sunday’s fixture could be in the title race, adding: “We’re top of the league and there’s a big game on the way at the Bernabeu.
“El Clasico is very important, whoever wins get a huge injection of morale and the loser takes a mighty blow. It’s the kind of game you want to see. We’ll go there with our heads held high. We have a team to do things there.
“I hope the players will defend the Barca shirt with the right spirit, because whenever you get knocked down, you have to pick yourself up again. We want to show how good we are and that we can win the league.”
Laporta spoke of his frustration at not securing a win over Inter that would have put their chances of progressing in their own hands.
“It was a big game for us and I am sad and angry that we didn’t win despite scoring three goals,” Laporta said.
“It was always going to be a difficult group. We should have got a better result in Munich because we were the better team.
“And the refereeing in Milan was scandalous. We shouldn’t play the victims card, but we were very unhappy with the match officials, and I spoke to UEFA about it afterwards.
“Financially, missing out on the latter stages of the Champions League is a big blow.”
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