Shkupi Overview

The Spotify Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid, and the Hassan II stadium in Casablanca: three stadiums, three cities and two countries competing to host the most important and most spotlight-grabbing football matches in the world.

At a time when Carlos Espí has stolen the spotlight at Real Madrid, after becoming one of the surprises of the season under José Mourinho, another name carrying the same surname has begun to attract attention inside the Spanish club.

Mehdi Benatia, the Moroccan former sporting director of Olympique de Marseille, launched a scathing attack on the growing influence and power of players in modern football, citing the incident of Spanish coach Xabi Alonso's dismissal from managing Real Madrid last season before he took charge of Chelsea.

Brazil suffered a resounding shock after falling 3-2 to Japan in the friendly encounter that brought the two sides together today, Saturday, at the National Stadium in Singapore, as part of the Seleção's Asian tour during the current November international break. It was a match that held the fans' breath until its final moments, witnessing thrilling swings and a heated disciplinary incident whose protagonists were the Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti and Barcelona star Raphinha.