LaLiga news

Barcelona full back Jules Kounde has revealed that he chose to sign for Barcelona over Chelsea because he preferred then Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez’s approach compared with then-Blues boss Thomas Tuchel. The French defender, who was at Sevilla at the time, had been the subject of a transfer battle between the two clubs. Kounde explained that he enjoyed his discussions with Xavi and that time flew by, noting that he liked the legendary former midfielder's natural style of speaking.

Real Madrid were handed a bitter blow ahead of their Champions League encounter against Olympiacos on Wednesday, with the club announcing that Thibaut Courtois and Dean Huijsen have been ruled out of the game. The 33-year-old goalkeeper, who remains one of the first names on the Madrid team sheet, has been diagnosed with gastroenteritis.

Losing Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona in the summer of 2022 was a bitter blow for Bayern Munich. The Pole had scored 344 goals in just 375 appearances for the club, after all. Replacing him was never going to be easy, but it ended up taking Bayern more than a year to find a worthy successor, as Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting rather unsurprisingly didn't exactly prove himself up to the task.

Harry Kane has directly responded to reports linking him with a transfer to Barcelona. The England captain has also revealed that talks over a new Bayern Munich contract are yet to begin, at least raising the possibility that his career could take another step, but he insists there is no reason for fans in Bavaria to be worried about an imminent departure.

Antony has publicly apologised to Real Betis fans after being sent off towards the end of the weekend's La Liga draw against Girona. The former Manchester United winger accidentally struck an opponent in the face with his boot while trying to keep the ball alive with an overhead kick in the Girona penalty area. It’s one of the rare blots on his record since moving to the Andalucian club, initially on loan, last January.

UEFA is facing separate legal battles worth a total of €4.5 billion as Real Madrid and A22, the company behind the European Super League, are suing the governing body in the wake of a court ruling. A22 have also sent a letter to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, demanding the controversial project be given full approval.

Retired tennis great and Real Madrid supporter Rafael Nadal has advised Vinicius Junior to "respect the authority" of Xabi Alonso amid speculation that the Brazilian's relationship with the head coach has reached a breaking point. Nadal emphasised on the need to hold conversations in order to preserve both the image of the club and the unity within the Real Madrid dressing room.

Gary Neville thought taking the Valencia job in December 2015 would begin his route to eventually becoming England manager; instead, his four-month stint in Spain drained his confidence, made him ill and put him off coaching for life. Neville's was a shock appointment as the former Manchester United defender took over one of the biggest clubs in La Liga despite having no club coaching experience, little knowledge of Spanish football and no grasp of the language.

Saturday's 4-0 rout of Athletic Club was a very meaningful match for Barcelona - and not just because it marked the Blaugrana's belated return to Camp Nou. Indeed, the Catalans winning without conceding a goal was arguably of far greater significance than the long-awaited reopening of their beloved home ground, as it was their first clean sheet for nine games in all competitions. Not since the facile 3-0 win over Getafe on September 21 had Barca shut out an opponent.

Enzo Maresca has urged Chelsea wonderkid Estevao Willian to ignore comparisons with Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, insisting the Brazilian should focus solely on improving himself. Ahead of a huge Champions League clash between two of Europe’s brightest teenagers, the Blues boss backed Estevao to become a “top player” if he keeps developing at his own pace.

With just under 20 minutes to go in the first Clasico of the current campaign at Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso made a double substitution with his side 2-1 up on Barcelona. Federico Valverde accepted his withdrawal with good grace; Vinicius Jr did not. Five times he incredulously asked "Me?!", to the understandable bewilderment of his manager. "Come on, Vini, damn it!," Alonso pleaded. But there was no calming the winger down.

Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr has reportedly told the club he currently has no plans to renew his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu due to a difficult relationship with manager Xabi Alonso. The Brazilian is said to be one of five players at Real Madrid who are not happy with the new manager's methods after he replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the helm in the summer.

Vinicius Junior's relationship with Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso is described as "strictly professional" amid growing discontent from the Brazilian winger over his role this season. The forward reportedly misses the close bond he shared with former manager Carlo Ancelotti after finding himself on the bench once again for the La Liga draw against Elche.

Barcelona defender Eric Garcia is making a huge leap in his career as he is close to finalising a long-term contract extension, reportedly snubbing an offer from the current Champions league holders Paris Saint-Germain. The 24-year-old has become a key player under coach manager Hansi Flick this season, accumulating the most minutes in the squad.

GOAL brings you the lowdown on how British players are doing away from home, with many footballers now taking their talents abroad in search of prosperity. Despite the riches and the glamour of the Premier League, it's far from the be all and end all. You can still carve out a fantastic career even while out of the intense spotlight of the English media.

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has adamantly denied that his team have "fallen apart" despite a recent string of disappointing results, culminating in a 2-2 draw against Elche. While admitting that they "can't be happy" with their latest setback, Alonso insisted that the connection between his coaching staff and the players is "improving" and that the team spirit remains good.

While the November international break was one for the ages as teams around the globe kept their World Cup dreams alive in dramatic circumstances, the return of club football marks a magic time in the calendars of many fans, as it means we are now at the beginning of four uninterrupted months of club action. This is when narratives truly take form, with teams able to build momentum and set off on potentially season-defining runs.