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☆ Benzema scores on farewell but Real held at home by Bilbao
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID, June 4 (Reuters) - Real Madrid's Karim Benzema netted a penalty in his final LaLiga game at the Bernabeu but was unable to inspire them to victory as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Real held onto second place despite the draw, as 10-man Atletico Madrid were held 2-2 at Villarreal following Jorge Pascual's 92nd-minute equaliser. Diego Simeone's side finished the season with 77 points, one behind local rivals Real. Osasuna secured a spot in the Europa Conference League, beating Girona 2-1 to finish seventh, two points above Bilbao. Reporting by Aadi Nair in Nashik, India; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Karim Benzema, Real, Ballon, Benzema, Thibaut Courtois, Mikel Vesga, Sancet, Eder Militao, Yuri Berchiche, Jorge Pascual's, Diego Simeone's, Aadi Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: Bernabeu, Athletic Bilbao, Bilbao, Real, Atletico Madrid, Villarreal, Osasuna, Europa Conference League, Girona, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Saudi Arabian, Al Ittihad, Bilbao's, Bilbao, Nashik, India

☆ Vinícius Jr.: Spanish soccer's inaction over racist abuse of Real Madrid star could prove costly for LaLiga
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Except, this week, nobody is talking about the ‘beautiful game’ after the shameful racist abuse of Real Madrid star Vinícius Jr. sent LaLiga into crisis management mode. Instead, it must pass investigations into incidents of racist abuse onto local prosecutors, who deal with them as legal cases. 10 when nine previous incidents of racist abuse seemingly were not enough to spark meaningful action? Vinícius Jr. points to a fan in the stand who allegedly racially abused him during Real Madrid's match at Valencia. Fort says CEOs called Sepp Blatter to ask him to step down as FIFA president.

☆ Champions League semi-final: Manchester City vs Real Madrid set for 'thrilling game' with final spot on the line
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —In perhaps the most eagerly anticipated club game of the season, Manchester City and Real Madrid go head-to-head for a place in the Champions League final on Wednesday. While Man City is the form team in Europe at the moment, Madrid has serious pedigree when it comes to the Champions League with five titles in the past nine years – and a record 14 overall. Erling Haaland (center) trains ahead of the Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid. The Champions League is the one trophy that has so far eluded Pep Guardiola’s side, which fell short against Madrid in the semifinals last year and against Chelsea in the final the year before that. “We are not stupid to [not] know how important tomorrow’s game is, maybe one of the most important games since we have been here, we cannot deny that.

☆ Man City outclass Real Madrid to reach Champions League final
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MANCHESTER, England, May 17 (Reuters) - Manchester City marched into the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons after outclassing holders Real Madrid 4-0 for a 5-1 aggregate victory at a raucous Etihad Stadium on Wednesday. With Inter Milan awaiting in the final, City will now be huge favourites to finally deliver the trophy Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour has craved since buying the club in 2008, having lost to Chelsea two years ago. Just as in the Spanish capital, City took an early stranglehold with Real barely stringing two passes together and finding it almost impossible to escape their own half. City toyed with the 14-times champions for the rest of the half and could have been further ahead. With their place in the Istanbul showpiece secured, City can win their fifth Premier League title in six seasons this weekend and they also have an FA Cup final to look forward to.

☆ Xavi relies on flawless defence mechanism to lead Barcelona back to glory
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The change in mentality may not have sat entirely comfortably with Xavi who said Barca's style was "non-negotiable" when he was appointed coach in November, 2021. A former Barca player himself, Xavi was a symbol of their attacking style as a flamboyant midfielder who won every major title with the club and with Spain. They have conceded 13 goals in the league, by far the best defensive record in Europe’s top five leagues. The trio hold the key to stifling their rival's attacking threats, particularly Araujo who has arguably been Europe's top defender this season. Barcelona were last champions of Spain in 2018-19 when they still had club greats Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez leading their attack up-front.

☆ Guardiola backs Haaland to fire when Man City host Real
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 14 (Reuters) - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has backed striker Erling Haaland to rediscover his best form when they host Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final after the Norwegian failed to find the net at the Santiago Bernabeu. But Erling, we cannot forget, is 22 years old and it was the first time he played in the semi-finals of the Champions League," Guardiola told reporters. He was speaking ahead of Sunday's Premier League game against Everton. "The Premier League title is so important even though I know the Champions League is so special. It's many, many months and many, many tough games, incredible effort; this is the most important thing," Guardiola added.

☆ Real Madrid lose $440 million sponsorship battle with Abu Dhabi fund
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID, May 13 (Reuters) - Spanish soccer's Real Madrid have lost a $440 million court battle with Abu Dhabi sovereign investor Mubadala (MUDEV.UL) over the proposed sponsorship of its stadium in Madrid, sources with knowledge of the case told Reuters. Real Madrid had claimed 400 million euros ($440 million) from Mubadala because it said the Abu Dhabi sovereign investor failed to honour a sponsorship deal under which it would acquire rights to name the Santiago Bernabeu stadium for 20 years. In 2014, Real agreed a strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi fund International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC), now Mubadala, to help finance a planned stadium overhaul. However, in 2015, a Madrid court halted the original modification of the stadium. The court ruled the sponsorship contract had expired by the time the second expansion was agreed in 2017.

☆ The Premier League Crucible Produces Something New: Ideas
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Rory Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Manchester City had been in possession of the ball for a minute, no more, but to the denizens of the Santiago Bernabéu, it felt like an hour or more. Pep Guardiola’s team moved it backward and forward and then backward again. They would have known as they prepared for their Champions League semifinal that there would be phases when there was little they could do beyond watch City move the ball around. The idea that a visitor, no matter how talented, should come to the Bernabéu and look as comfortable as Manchester City did, in that spell on Tuesday night, was clearly one of them. Guardiola’s team looked so thoroughly at home that it might as well have had its feet on the coffee table and a wash in the machine.

☆ Erling Haaland is on track to become 'the best striker ever' after record-breaking season
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Would he adapt to life in the Premier League? Only Dixie Dean, who scored 63 in the 1927/28 season, has more goals in English football during a single top-flight campaign. Haaland’s Premier League tally, which includes four hat-tricks, is a league record for a single season, breaking the previous mark held jointly by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole. Haaland, Addo observes, has modified his game to devastating effect since arriving in the Premier League, taking his pace, power, and deadly finishing to another level. Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images/Getty ImagesAddo, a former Dortmund player and Ghanaian international, oversees the development of the Bundesliga club’s talented crop of young players.

☆ Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti aggrieved by 'small details' in Manchester City's Champions League goal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was left to rue the “small details” after the ball appeared to leave the field of play in the buildup to Manchester City’s equalizer in the teams’ Champions League semifinal. The ball was subsequently recovered by Madrid defender Eduardo Camavinga, who then lost possession with a stray pass in the lead up to De Bruyne’s goal. Angel Martinez/Getty ImagesDe Bruyne’s goal canceled out Vinícius Jr’s stunning opener for Real Madrid – a right-footed rocket from outside the Man City box. Writing on Twitter, Haaland, a former Man City player, said Madrid fans were “not happy” with him for celebrating De Bruyne’s goal. All happy.”Madrid next faces Getafe in La Liga on Saturday, while Man City plays Everton on Sunday.

☆ City will be 'unstoppable' at home against Real, says Grealish
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 10 (Reuters) - Manchester City will be "unstoppable" at home when they host Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, winger Jack Grealish said. City earned a 1-1 draw in the first leg in the Spanish capital on Tuesday after Kevin De Bruyne's stunning low strike cancelled out Vinicius Jr's opener for Real. The reigning Premier League champions are unbeaten at home since November and will hope to stretch that record in the second leg on May 17. Grealish said the team "learned so much" since they were knocked out by Real in the Champions League semi-finals last season. Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said the second leg will be like a "final" for the Spanish side, who are record 14-times Champions League winners.

☆ Haaland's father removed from Bernabeu seat after City equaliser
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, May 10 (Reuters) - Manchester City striker Erling Haaland's father Alfie says he was escorted from his seat inside the Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday after apparently taunting Real Madrid fans following City's equaliser in the Champions League semi-final. Videos on social media show Alfie, who used to play for Manchester City, cupping his ear to Real fans after Kevin de Bruyne's stunning equaliser in the 1-1 draw. "OK. RM was not happy we were celebrating KDB goal," Haaland, whose son has scored 51 goals for city in his first season in England, said on Twitter. "Other than that we had to move because RM fans not happy with 1-1." loadingVinicius Junior had given the hosts the lead in a pulsating first leg but De Bruyne's equally stunning strike means City are slight favourites to progress to the final in Istanbul.

☆ Champions League semifinal: Can Real Madrid stop Manchester City, the 'best team in Europe?'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Real Madrid and Manchester City face each other in a highly-anticipated Champions League semifinal on Tuesday, pitting the defending champion against a team on a sensational run of form. Erling Haaland has broken record after record since arriving at the club last year and has scored 12 Champions League goals this season – four more than anyone else in the competition. It will be a difficult game against City because City is, at the moment, the best team in Europe,” former Madrid manager Fabio Capello told CNN Sport on Monday. Ancelotti admitted on Monday that City is a “more complete team” compared to last year, particularly with Haaland on the pitch. “We’re not setting out just to stop Haaland, but to stop a team that seems unstoppable,” Ancelotti told reporters.

☆ Real Boss Ancelotti hopes to get mental edge over Man City at Bernabeu
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"We need to play a complete game tomorrow and be aware that the decisive match will be the second leg. So our aim is to travel to Manchester with a small advantage," Ancelotti told a press conference on Monday. "As for an advantage I mean it’s not only about the result, it’s attitude, the mental part of the game too. "If you play well, give trouble to your rival, put them in an uncomfortable position, it’s a mental advantage. "Manchester City didn't change their style to accommodate Haaland, they have more options vertically with him using long balls and a more direct approach," he said.

☆ LaLiga loss shrinks as ticket revenues recover after pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LaLiga expects the current season to produce a net profit of just below 30 million euros, "still far from levels reached in the pre-COVID years", with revenues adding a little over 1%. COVID restrictions hit ticket sales and player transactions in 2020-21, leading to the Spanish league's first loss since 2012. Revenues reached almost 4.84 billion euros in 2021-22, landing just short of the record of nearly 5.07 billion in 2019-20. However, the amount of money spent on infrastructure jumped to 430 million euros, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Last month, the club secured a financing deal worth 1.45 billion euros with 20 investors, including Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, after having renegotiated the initial terms.

☆ A corruption scandal, accusations of favoritism and Franco’s regime: Real Madrid and Barcelona in war of words over Spain’s fascist past
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

More than eight weeks after the scandal emerged, FCB President Joan Laporta went out to bat for the Catalan club on Monday. General view of Estadio Santiago Bernabeu prior to the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Getafe CF on April 09, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. But Laporta finished by saying that Real Madrid is “a club considered the team of the regime,” a reference to the club’s reported historic ties with Franco during his fascist dictatorship. “We are talking about a club [Real] that has historically close ties to political, financial and sporting power,” Laporta said. In total, Real won 14 league titles to Barcelona’s eight under Franco, while the Blaugrana won nine Copas del Generalísimo to Real Madrid’s six.

☆ Rodrygo double eases Real Madrid into semi-finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Real looked capable of killing the tie whenever they moved forward and Rodrygo, who scored a vital goal against Chelsea at the same stage last year, smashed a shot against the post. Home keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga then beat away a Vinicius Junior effort before Real's master craftsman Luka Modric forced another save from Arrizabalaga. "It was a second yellow card, which means a red, which means 30 minutes with us a man up," Lampard said. Real then switched gears and Rodrygo skipped past Chalobah's wild slide on the right and his cross was eventually played back to him by fellow Brazilian Vinicius Jr to calmly slot home. ($1 = 0.8048 pounds)Writing by Martyn Herman in London Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Real Madrid beat 10-man Chelsea 2-0 as Benzema strikes again
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - Champions League - Quarter Finals - First Leg - Real Madrid v Chelsea - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - April 12, 2023 Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates REUTERS/Albert GeaMADRID, April 12 (Reuters) - European champions Real Madrid beat 10-man Chelsea 2-0 in their Champions League quarter-final, first leg courtesy of a tap-in by Karim Benzema and a powerful strike by substitute Marco Asensio in the Spanish capital on Wednesday. Benzema, the scourge of Chelsea at the same stage of the competition last season, converted from point blank range in the 21st minute when Kepa Arrizabalaga saved from Vinicius Junior but could only touch the ball in the direction of the Frenchman. Chelsea went close to scoring in the first half through Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling but they were thwarted by Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois playing against his former club. The win at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium puts the 14-time European champions in the driver's seat ahead of the second leg at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge on April 18. Writing by William Schomberg in London Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Real Madrid crash to Villarreal defeat as title chances fall further away
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 8 (Reuters) - Samu Chukwueze scored twice to inflict a further blow on Real Madrid's title hopes as they were beaten 3-2 by Villarreal at home in LaLiga on Saturday despite twice taking the lead. Real host Chelsea on Wednesday in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie. Vinicius Jr restored Real's lead two minutes into the second half with a simple finish in front of the Villarreal goal for his ninth league strike of the season. "It's a crazy goal," Chukwueze said. Villarreal, who climbed to fifth place in the battle for a Champions League spot, host relegation-threatened Valladolid next Saturday.

☆ Real will attack Barcelona with title on the line - Ancelotti
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BARCELONA, March 18 (Reuters) - Real Madrid will not hold back in El Clasico against Barcelona at Camp Nou on Sunday as they bid to close a nine-point gap their arch-rivals at the top of LaLiga. Without taking risks, we will go out on attack," Real manager Carlo Ancelotti told a news conference on Saturday. They suffered a little more than usual but won that game," Ancelotti said. Coach Xavi Hernandez expects his back line will be tested by Real but is confident of causing them problems. "I think Real Madrid will be more aggressive and attack more than usual because of the situation that they are facing, nine points behind us," Xavi told a news conference.

☆ Vinícius Jr. is being racially abused during LaLiga matches. Why is nobody being punished?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

It has been updated to reflect the persistent racist abuse that Vinicius Jr. was subjected to during Real Madrid’s 1-0 defeat by Valencia on May 21, 2023. ‘Racist campaign against Vinícius’Incidents of players being racially abused by fans have tarred numerous LaLiga matches this season. On May 21, Vinícius was again subjected to racist abuse from the stands, this time during Real’s match against Valencia at the Mestalla stadium. Most cases of racist abuse which LaLiga has referred to local prosecutors have involved Vinícius. The local prosecutor in Mallorca said it is investigating a number of cases of racist abuse at matches.

☆ Where to watch Real Madrid vs. Liverpool live stream: a global guide
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Brendan Griffiths | Senior Commerce Director | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

It's time for the second leg of the Round of 16 games in the Champions League and we're here to tell you where to watch Real Madrid vs. Liverpool today. Paramount Plus Essential Monthly Plan (ad-supported) Paramount Plus offers tons of on-demand content from Paramount, CBS, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, and MTV. Where to watch Real Madrid vs. Liverpool in CanadaSoccer fans in Canada will need to stump up some extra cash to enjoy a Champions League live stream of Real Madrid vs Liverpool tonight, as DAZN Canada holds the local viewing rights. Where to watch Real Madrid vs. Liverpool in the UKAs has been standard for the last few years, BT sport is your only option for catching the Champions League in the UK. Are you still looking for an option to watch Real Madrid vs. Liverpool online tonight in your country?

☆ Comeback kings Real at it again as Champions League love affair rumbles on
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Peter Hall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LIVERPOOL, England, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Real Madrid always seem to save their best for Europe, with Liverpool the latest victims of the Champions League's comeback kings in a remarkable 5-2 defeat at Anfield on Tuesday. Real's failure to lie down and accept their fate was key to them securing a 14th Champions League crown last season and it seems they have not lost their touch. While Liverpool were in many respects architects of their own downfall, Real have a history of saving their best for when they are up against it and the Champions League brings out the best in them. Two last-gasp goals from Rodrygo took the tie to extra time, with Karim Benzema finishing an astonishing comeback with a decisive penalty. "I told the boys directly after the game a defeat is a defeat if you don't learn from it," Klopp said.

☆ Real Madrid frustrated in goalless draw against Real Sociedad
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Battling Real Sociedad survived a pounding at Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday when they held Real Madrid to a goalless draw in a frantic LaLiga match. Real Madrid recorded 20 goal attempts compared to only seven created by the visitors who held their turf heroically to go home to San Sebastian with a point thanks to a string of saves by goalkeeper Alex Remiro. Vinicius Jr wasted two chances from close range, one in each half, with Remiro denying both. Leaders Barcelona moved to 47 points in the standings after their 1-0 win at Girona on Saturday and are now five points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid. Real Sociedad are third on 39 points, having played one more game than the top two.

☆ Messi and Ronaldo Stage a Zany Finale in Riyadh
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Lionel Messi, left, and Cristiano Ronaldo took the pitch together for what appears to be the last time on Thursday. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—The rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo played out for over a decade in the cathedrals of European soccer. They clashed at the Bernabeu in Madrid, Camp Nou in Barcelona, the Olimpico in Rome, and Old Trafford in Manchester. The stakes were Champions League trophies and Spanish league titles. When Messi and Ronaldo took the pitch together for what appears to be the last time, it was inside King Fahd Stadium, a tired relic on the edge of Riyadh.

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