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Tag: Real Madrid

  • Mbappe priority now Real Madrid and not France – Valbuena

    Mbappe priority now Real Madrid and not France – Valbuena

    Former France midfielder Mathieu Valbuena has taken aim at Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe.

    Valbuena has questioned Mbappe’s commitment to France, with the striker out of Les Bleus’ squad this week.

    Now with Athens Kallithea, Valbuena told RMC Sport: “Being captain is not just a piece of cloth around your arm, it also means having responsibilities on and off the pitch.

    “And I think it would have been important for him to be there for those games, even though he knew he was tired. He could have been there for the group, that’s also the captain. He’s also part of the French national team, he could have been there and his decision is quite strange.

    “What surprises the French national team fans is the fact that he is not in the selection and that he would play this weekend against Villarreal. Mbappé’s priority, I think, is not the French national team but Real Madrid. He arrives at a new club, he knows he has everything to prove and that it is not easy to do it there. I think he is giving everything he can to do it… We saw his last outings with France, he was not a great Mbappé, even in the way he played, we had the impression that he was not there”.”

  • Mbappe under fire for skipping national duty while fit to play for Madrid

    Mbappe under fire for skipping national duty while fit to play for Madrid

    France captain Kylian Mbappe is facing criticism in his home country for skipping Les Bleus’ Nations League games against Israel and Belgium while being available to play for Real Madrid.

    The forward picked up a muscle injury last month but made his return to the pitch in the Champions League last Wednesday.

    France coach Didier Deschamps left Mbappe out of the squad he announced on Thursday, saying the 25-year-old lacked preparation, having played too few matches.

    Mbappe started Real’s La Liga game against Villarreal on Saturday.

    “Either you’re injured, and you don’t play with your club and you’re not called up in the national team,” former France international Maxime Bossis told French sports daily L’Equipe on Monday.

    “But when you come off the bench in the Champions League and you start a league game, it makes things fuzzy. He’s a special player. We’ve known that with Michel Platini, when we still wanted him with us when he was injured.”

    Mbappe’s situation is more complicated because the former Paris St Germain player is the national team captain after being handed the armband ahead of Antoine Griezmann, who last week announced his retirement from international football.

    Griezmann’s commitment to Les Bleus was never in doubt as the Atletico Madrid forward played a record 84 consecutive matches for his country between 2017 and 2024.

    “As a captain (Mbappe) must be an example for the fans, and he has not been,” Fabien Bonnet, spokesperson for the Irresistibles Francais, the main France supporters’ group, told L’Equipe.

    “What emerges is that the real captain, Antoine Griezmann, is gone.”

    France, second in Group A, face Israel in Budapest on Thursday and travel to Belgium next Monday.

  • La Liga: Atletico Madrid reacts over derby suspension

    La Liga: Atletico Madrid reacts over derby suspension

    La Liga side Atletico Madrid have released a statement after last night’s derby with Real Madrid.

    The 1-1 draw was suspended for 20 minutes as fans threw objects onto the pitch and targeted visiting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

    Atletico stated afterwards: “Atlético de Madrid wishes to express its rejection of the throwing of objects from part of the south end of the stands in the 68th minute of the match against Real Madrid. From the moment the objects were thrown, the club’s security department has been working with the police to locate those involved, one of whom has already been identified.

    “The club will apply the internal regime provided for very serious cases to those involved in this incident.

    “These attitudes have no place in football and tarnish the image of a stadium that has experienced a spectacular atmosphere with more than 70,000 spectators in its stands and the vast majority of whom have shown exemplary behaviour.”

  • Kylian Mbappe opens goals account at Real Madrid

    Kylian Mbappe opens goals account at Real Madrid

    Real Madrid beat Real Betis on Sunday with Kylian Mbappe scoring for the first time for Los Blancos. The former PSG attacker scored twice in the 2-0 win over Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

    Mbappe had failed to see back of the net in Real Madrid’s first three opening league matches of the season, which resulted in the La Liga champions dropping points at Mallorca and Las Palmas.

    Federico Valverde flicked a pack to Mbappe for the French striker to score his first score in the 67th minute of play. Mbappe made it 2-0 eight minutes later after Vinicius Junior sacrificed a penalty he won.

    The two goals scored by the former PSG attacker ensured that Real Madrid claimed all three points at Santiago Bernabeu against Real Betis.

    “We deserved to win today and we played better and with more cohesion between everyone. We got the three points and we’re going into the break feeling good,” Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti said.

    On Mbappe’s performance, Ancelotti said: “He’s never been put under pressure to score goals. He had a good game, like everyone else, and was very good in the box. Everyone worked well and Vini Jr. got the penalty for him. He was very unselfish and both of them, along with Rodrygo, have a good relationship”.

    Meanwhile, after opening his goal scoring account for Real Madrid, Mbappe said he had been looking forward to scoring at the Bernabeu, but that the most important thing was the win.

    “Following the game in Las Palmas we knew we had to win and we did just that. It was a tough game, like every game, but we are Real Madrid and we got the win in the end.

    “Three games without scoring for a lot of people isn’t much, but for me, it’s a lot. The people at the club, the players and the fans have always been behind me. They trust me to score goals for this badge.

    “We need to win against big teams to gain confidence. We need to play with confidence and stick together. Other teams are winning too and it’s very important that we do too,” Mbappe said.

  • Liverpool host Real Madrid in new Champions League format

    Liverpool host Real Madrid in new Champions League format

    Liverpool will face Champions League holders Real Madrid on their return to the competition following the draw for the new-look format.

    Manchester City and Arsenal both play Paris St-Germain in their fixtures, while Aston Villa take on Scottish champions Celtic.

    Each team plays eight fixtures in the ‘league phase’, with this year’s men’s tournament seeing a radical change, including the end of a group stage.

    The high-tech draw took place in Monaco on Thursday, with Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo pressing the all-important button to make a computer algorithm determine the fixtures.

    A Uefa video shown before the draw used stars from across the game showing their confusion at the new format, before former Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic praised it for “more football” in a comical interaction with Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin.

    Who will British teams play?

    The order of matches will be confirmed on Saturday, after the Europa League and Conference League draws have been made.

    Aston Villa

    Bayern Munich (H)

    Leipzig (A)

    Juventus (H)

    Club Bruges (A)

    Celtic (H)

    Young Boys (A)

    Bologna (H)

    Monaco (A)

    Arsenal

    Paris St-Germain (H)

    Inter Milan (A)

    Shakhtar Donetsk (H)

    Atalanta (A)

    Dinamo Zagreb (H)

    Sporting Lisbon (A)

    Monaco (H)

    Girona (A)

    Celtic

    Aston Villa (A)

    Leipzig (H)

    Borussia Dortmund (A)

    Club Bruges (H)

    Atalanta (A)

    Young Boys (H)

    Dinamo Zagreb (A)

    Slovan Bratislava (H)

    Liverpool

    Real Madrid (H)

    Leipzig (A)

    Leverkusen (H)

    AC Milan (A)

    Lille (H)

    PSV Eindhoven (A)

    Bologna (H)

    Girona (A)

    Manchester City

    Inter Milan (H)

    Paris St-Germain (A)

    Club Brugge (H)

    Juventus (A)

    Feyenoord (H)

    Sporting Lisbon (A)

    Sparta Prague (H)

    Slovan Bratislava (A)

    How does the new format work?

    The expanded 36-team tournament sees each team play eight games – four at home and four away – in the league system, against two opponents from each of the four seeding pots.

    Teams who finish in the top eight will qualify automatically for the last 16, while those who place ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout play-off for the chance to join them.

    Whoever finishes 25th or lower will be eliminated and will not be entered into the Europa League.

    The number of matches in the new format will increase from 125 to 189.

    Each team will play a minimum of eight games – instead of six – and a maximum of 17.

    Champions League action begins on 17-19 September, and with the increased number of fixtures, the league phase runs until 29 January rather than finishing before Christmas.

    BBC

  • Madrid forward, Vini Jnr takes decision on moving to Saudi Arabian league

    Madrid forward, Vini Jnr takes decision on moving to Saudi Arabian league

    Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior has decided to delay any decision about a potential move to Saudi Arabia until the end of the current season, according to ESPN.

     

    The 23-year-old has attracted significant interest from clubs in the Middle East this summer. However, Vinícius remains under contract with the LaLiga champions until June 2027, with a hefty €1 billion release clause included in the deal.

     

    Despite the lucrative offers, including a reported €1 billion over five years from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Vinícius has chosen to postpone any decision on his future until the summer of 2025.

    It is believed that the possibility of winning the Ballon d’Or later this year played a major role in his decision to stay at Real Madrid for now.

     

    By 2025, Vinícius Jr will have just two years remaining on his contract, potentially opening the door for a future move if he decides to explore his options at that time.

  • Mbappe fires blank as Madrid struggle to breakdown Mallorca

    Mbappe fires blank as Madrid struggle to breakdown Mallorca

    Madrid’s star-studded side struggled to break down Mallorca, who came closer to winning the game in the final stages at Son Moix Stadium. French superstar Kylian Mbappe was thwarted by Mallorca goalkeeper Dominik Greif, and after Rodrygo Goes put Madrid ahead early on, the hosts equalized in the second half through Vedat Muriqi’s towering header.

     

    Madrid defender Ferland Mendy was sent off in stoppage time for a high challenge on Muriqi.

     

    Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti fielded the same starting line-up that defeated Atalanta to win the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday, featuring Jude Bellingham in midfield behind the attacking trio of Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo.

     

    Mallorca coach Jagoba Arrasate faced his first match in charge of the Copa del Rey runners-up against the reigning champions bolstered by Mbappe’s arrival. However, his team rose to the challenge and earned a commendable point.

     

    Madrid, who lost just once last season on their way to the title, started quickly and took the lead after a slick combination between their Brazilian forwards. Vinicius rolled the ball back for Rodrygo, who bent a shot into the far corner beyond Greif’s reach.

     

    Greif tipped away another Rodrygo effort, and Mbappe sent a shot wide as Madrid maintained their dominance but couldn’t expand their advantage. Arrasate urged his players to stay in the game until half-time, and they did, shutting down Los Blancos’ stars.

     

    Muriqi came close before the break for the hosts, and tough-tackling defender Pablo Maffeo was booked for a rough challenge on Vinicius.

     

    Mallorca leveled early in the second half with Muriqi powering a header home from Dani Rodriguez’s corner. Greif saved low from Mbappe at his near post, and Vinicius lashed over as Ancelotti’s side sought to regain the lead.

     

    Ancelotti brought on veteran Luka Modric, turning 39 in September, for defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, hoping for more fluidity in attack against Mallorca’s solid defense. Mbappe came close again, but Greif denied him, and Johan Mojica cleared the rebound before Rodrygo could reach it.

     

    Mallorca stabilized and held their ground in the final stages, leaving Mbappe disappointed on his league debut.

  • La Liga: Mbappe to make debut appearance as Madrid begins title defense today

    La Liga: Mbappe to make debut appearance as Madrid begins title defense today

    Kylian Mbappe’s much-anticipated La Liga debut is set to light up the new season as Real Madrid and Barcelona reignite their fierce rivalry.

     

    Following a spectacular performance in the UEFA Super Cup, where he scored and lifted the trophy, the French superstar is ready to make a significant impact on Spanish football.

     

    The 2024/2025 La Liga season kicked off on Thursday with Athletic Bilbao facing Getafe, but the real excitement is yet to come.

     

    Barcelona’s visit to Valencia on Saturday and Real Madrid’s encounter with Mallorca on Sunday will be the highlights of the weekend.

     

    Jude Bellingham’s sensational debut season at Real Madrid, contributing 19 goals to their La Liga title and Champions League triumph, has set high expectations.

     

    However, the arrival of Mbappe could transform the team’s dynamics. Coach Carlo Ancelotti now faces the challenge of integrating the French forward into his already formidable lineup.

  • Debut goal for Mbappe as Real Madrid defeat Atalanta to win Super Cup

    Debut goal for Mbappe as Real Madrid defeat Atalanta to win Super Cup

    In a thrilling UEFA Super Cup final held in Poland, Real Madrid once again demonstrated their dominance in European football. Despite a goalless first half, the Galacticos broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when Federico Valverde latched onto a precise pass from Vinícius Júnior, sending the ball into the net and igniting celebrations among the Madrid faithful.

     

    The excitement continued as Kylian Mbappé, making his debut for the Spanish champions, scored a stunning second goal in the 67th minute. His goal not only solidified Madrid’s lead but also marked a memorable start to his career at the club.

     

    Throughout the match, the Italian side struggled to break down Madrid’s solid defense, with all their efforts to score proving abortive. The final whistle confirmed Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory, securing their sixth UEFA Super Cup title.

     

    This triumph further cemented Real Madrid’s status as the most successful club in UEFA Champions League and Super Cup history. Having featured in the Super Cup nine times and winning it six times, the club’s legacy continues to grow, showcasing their relentless pursuit of excellence on the European stage.

  • Injury blow: Real Madrid reveals outcome of test on Camavinga

    Injury blow: Real Madrid reveals outcome of test on Camavinga

    Real Madrid’s French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga will miss the start of the season after suffering a knee injury during training for the Super Cup, the LaLiga club said on Wednesday.

    “After the tests carried out today, our player Eduardo Camavinga has been diagnosed with a sprain of the internal collateral ligament in his left knee,” a club statement reads.

    The 21-year-old’s injury happened during a training session on Tuesday at Warsaw’s National Stadium where the Super Cup game against Italian side Atalanta takes place later on Wednesday.

    Camavinga, who featured in four games for France at Euro 2024, is expected to miss up to seven weeks and Real’s LaLiga title defence begins on Sunday at Mallorca.