Thibaut Courtois claimed that Real Madrid are "expecting a victory" in El Clasico as Barcelona prepare for their biggest test in a bid to retain the La Liga crown. Los Blancos have had a smooth sailing so far this campaign, but there remains a blot, a significant one. Their scars from their 5-2 thrashing at the hands of Atletico Madrid last month still sting like an open wound.
Juventus manager Igor Tudor admitted that it was “a shame” his team could not score and secure at least a point from their 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday. The coach urged all players to take responsibility and leadership, noting that the team is behind where he would like them to be. Tudor also lamented the absence of the influence of champions that the club once had but stressed that the current players must be given confidence.
Xabi Alonso has publicly addressed the growing frustration surrounding Endrick's lack of game time at Real Madrid, urging the 19-year-old to wait for his chance at the Spanish club. The young Brazilian, who is yet to feature under the new coach, is the subject of January transfer rumours as Los Blancos' established stars continue to perform.
Harry Kane has been urged to become a ‘Galactico’ alongside Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid, with the England captain being told that “Real Madrid would be interested” in doing a deal with Bayern Munich. It has been revealed that there are clauses in the striker’s contract at the Allianz Arena which can be activated in the summer of 2026 - with a return to the Premier League also being mooted for the former Tottenham striker.
Xabi Alonso has lauded Arda Guler’s impact, stating the 20-year-old gives Real Madrid "a better team dynamic" following the 1-0 Champions League win over Juventus on Wednesday. The manager also praised Jude Bellingham, who scored the winner, as "one of the most complete" players in the world after recovering from injury. Alonso also discussed defensive resilience and the upcoming Clasico.
Barcelona are preparing meticulously for El Clasico against Real Madrid, with defender Pau Cubarsi revealing they are changing four key defensive elements to counter the threat of Kylian Mbappe. The 18-year-old prodigy is gearing up for a tough test against the French forward and Vinicius Junior when the injury-ravaged teams go head-to-head in Sunday's headline clash.
After the derby humiliation against Atletico Madrid, Xabi Alonso faces his biggest test as Real Madrid manager, which is rebuilding a fractured dressing room, restoring discipline and redefining what leadership means at the Santiago Bernabeu. With matches against Barcelona and Liverpool coming up, Madrid’s new era hangs on whether Alonso can end bad habits and ignite a winning culture once again.
La Liga will take the Spanish players' union (AFE) to court, claiming player protests against the recently-cancelled Miami match were an 'illegal strike'. Union president David Aganzo denies this, citing a "lack of transparency." The fallout continues as a furious Villarreal CEO blames Florentino Perez and Real Madrid for the project's collapse, calling their opposition hypocritical.
Jude Bellingham scored the only goal and Vinicius Jr was a menace all night long as Real Madrid saw off Juventus, 1-0, in a dramatic Champions League contest. Los Blancos really should have scored two or three, but did enough on the night to seal a comfortable win.
Chelsea have begun talks with Moises Caicedo over a new, more lucrative contract to ward off interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid. The move comes as Caicedo, described as "world-class" by head coach Enzo Maresca, has become a key figure since his £115 million ($154m) arrival from Brighton in 2023. His emergence as one of the Blues' best players has been driven by his improved defensive output, increased on-ball influence, and consistency under Maresca.
Chelsea have been dealt a major blow after they decided not to include a buy-back clause in the deal for Diego Moreira, who has been dubbed the "new Marcelo" amid a strong run of form. Moreira’s latest masterclass came in Strasbourg’s electrifying 3-3 draw with Paris Saint-Germain, where he notched both a goal and an assist against the reigning European champions.
Barcelona have been dealt a major setback ahead of El Clasico after the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) dismissed their appeal against Hansi Flick’s red card. The German coach will serve a one-match ban following his dismissal against Girona, leaving assistant Marcus Sorg to take charge at the Santiago Bernabeu in a much-awaited game of the Spanish league.
The NBA is preparing to launch a European basketball league featuring elite football clubs like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Talks are underway with major investors as part of an ambitious plan to expand basketball’s global reach, with the first season of ‘NBA Europe’ expected to tip off in 2027.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been crowned as the most marketable footballer in the world, ahead of the likes of Lionel Messi and Jude Bellingham, in SportsPro's 16th annual ranking. The study, which includes sportspeople from multiple disciplines, named Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton as the most marketable athlete, with Ronaldo finishing fifth overall, ahead of sixth-placed Neymar.
Javier Tebas has slammed the decision to cancel plans to host the match between Villarreal and Barcelona in Miami, branding it “narrow-minded” while accusing governing bodies and Real Madrid of sabotaging La Liga’s global ambitions. The league president insists Spanish football has “lost a historic opportunity” as backlash over the proposed fixture continues to divide opinion.
Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal has condemned La Liga’s plan to stage a league match in Miami, calling it “a clear distortion of the competition.” The controversial Villarreal vs Barcelona fixture, initially set for December 20 in the United States, was scrapped amid widespread backlash from players, fans, and clubs across Spain.
Thibaut Courtois has launched a scathing attack on La Liga president Javier Tebas for censoring player protests and called the league's actions “manipulation”. The Real Madrid goalkeeper also fired back at Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s insinuations about refereeing bias ahead of a crucial run of fixtures, including Juventus and El Clasico.
After joining Pumas UNAM to be closer to his family and move on from a tough stint in Argentina, Keylor Navas opened up about his early football dreams - revealing he once wanted to lead the attack instead of guard the net. The 38-year-old Costa Rican legend, who starred for Real Madrid and PSG, has quickly become one of Pumas’ key figures in Liga MX.
Thibaut Courtois has come to the defence of his Real Madrid team-mate Vinicius Junior, stating that "it's not always easy when an entire stadium is after" the Brazilian. The Belgian goalkeeper believes that the opponents keep trying to take the Brazilian out of the game, but he has been "improving" by taking a leaf out of the books of Diego Costa and Eden Hazard.
Xabi Alonso has lavished praise on Real Madrid midfielder Arda Guler, describing him as a 'mix between Mesut Ozil and Guti' ahead of their Champions League clash with Juventus. The Turkey international has impressed with his creativity and game intelligence, becoming a key figure in Alonso’s system as Madrid prepare for a crucial week which will include El Clasico against Barcelona.
Real Madrid have been dealt another injury setback ahead of El Clasico, with defender David Alaba ruled out after suffering a severe calf strain. The Austrian’s absence deepens Xabi Alonso’s defensive crisis, leaving Los Blancos with limited options at centre-back before a pivotal week that includes matches against Juventus and Barcelona.
Former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has sent a message to Kylian Mbappe ahead of Sunday's Clasico clash against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid head into the match against the defending Spanish champions on top of the table and with Mbappe in red-hot goalscoring form. Mbappe has 10 goals in just nine league outings this season and will be out for more against Hansi Flick's side.
Former Juventus defender Danilo believes the club’s clash with Real Madrid on Wednesday could serve as the catalyst for the Bianconeri to turn their season around. Currently sitting seventh in the Serie A table and still winless in the Champions League, Juventus find themselves in a difficult spell. However, Danilo noted that there is a growing chemistry within the squad that hadn’t been seen before, and urged patience as the team continues to develop.
Real Madrid have escalated their opposition to La Liga’s Miami plan by filing a second complaint to the Higher Sports Council (CSD), aiming to stop the Villarreal vs Barcelona match from taking place in the United States. The club claims the overseas fixture breaches competition fairness, while the government and Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) navigate complex regulations before a final decision.
Real Madrid are believed to be open to the possibility of letting young starlet Endrick leave on loan in the January transfer window amid the striker's lack of playing time under new head coach Xabi Alonso. Having spent the past few months on the sidelines due to an injury, the Brazilian wonderkid has been named in Madrid's matchday squads in recent times but is yet to make his first appearance this season.
Real Madrid starlet Endrick reportedly remains "very reluctant" to leave the club despite continuing to struggle for game time under new manager Xabi Alonso. However, club insiders are worried about the youngster and feel a move away in January is the best option as his situation is unlikely to change anytime soon as he risks missing out on a place in Brazil's World Cup squad if he remains on the bench.
Real Madrid
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