TheNewsGuru

Tag: Real Madrid

  • Madrid forward Asensio to miss Club World Cup final

    Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio has been ruled out of Saturday’s FIFA Club World Cup final against Al Ain after the European champions confirmed he had sustained a thigh injury.

    The Spain international, who has under-performed this season and has not scored in La Liga since September, picked up the injury in Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Kashima Antlers in the semi-finals.

    He came on as a substitute and then had to be replaced 14 minutes later.

    “After tests carried out on our player Marco Asensio by the medical staff, he has been diagnosed with a grade two injury in the quadriceps in his right leg,” said a medical report from Real on Friday.

    The report did not state for how long Asensio would be on the sidelines, although local media reported he would be out for around a month.

  • Bale hat-trick sends Madrid into FIFA Club World Cup final

    Gareth Bale scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Japan’s Kashima Antlers 3-1 on Wednesday to book a spot in Saturday’s FIFA Club World Cup final match.

    European champions Real Madrid will now face host side Al Ain FC in the final match in Abu Dhabi as they bid to win the title for the third year in a row.

    Kashima almost made a dream start inside two minutes with a close-range shot from Serginho that was saved by Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

    Bale opened the scoring in the 44th minute with a left-foot strike into the bottom corner of the net after playing a one-two with Marcelo.

    He struck his second in the 53rd minute, taking advantage of a defensive mix-up that left the Kashima goal wide open.

    The Wales forward made it 3-0 to the Spanish side two minutes later with a left-foot shot into the top corner.

    Bale has now scored six goals in the tournament, trailing only his former team mate Cristiano Ronaldo who has netted seven.

    “He (Bale) played a superb match,” Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari told reporters. “He has shown what he is, and what he can do.”

    Bale was substituted in the 60th minute for Asensio, only for his replacement to be forced off 14 minutes later due to injury.

    “I hope it is not a serious problem with him because it is very that important all the players are fit,” Solari said. “It is a pity that he had to leave the pitch today.”

    Asian champions Kashima grabbed a consolation goal in the 78th minute through Shoma Doi.

    Kashima, third in the J-League, will meet South American champions River Plate in the third-place playoff earlier on Saturday.

  • UCL: CSKA inflict heaviest-ever home European defeat on Madrid

    UCL: CSKA inflict heaviest-ever home European defeat on Madrid

    Real Madrid suffered their heaviest ever home defeat in Europe on Wednesday when the already-qualified Spaniards were thumped 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu by CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Champions League.

    The Russian side’s remarkable victory, however, was still not enough to secure them a spot in the Europa League as they were pipped to third place in Group G by Viktoria Plzen.

    Feder Chalov put CSKA in front against the group winners and triple UEFA Champions League winners with a curling shot in the 37th minute.

    Georgi Shchennikov doubled the visitors’ advantage two minutes before halftime with a scrappy volley on the rebound.

    Iceland international Arnor Sigurdsson struck a remarkable third goal for the Russians in the 73rd minute.

    It helped complete an unlikely second victory for CSKA over Real Madrid in this UEFA Champions League campaign and provoking loud boos and whistles from the unhappy home supporters.

    CSKA’s only two wins in the competition this season have come against the 13-times winners.

    They finished bottom of the group on seven points due to their inferior head-to-head record against Plzen, who beat AS Roma 2-1.

    Real Madrid, who were already guaranteed top spot, remained on 12 points while Roma, who had clinched second place in the group, ended on nine.

    Coach Santiago Solari made seven changes from the side who had scraped a 1-0 victory over La Liga basement club Huesca on Sunday.

    This included handing winger Vinicius Jr. and defender Javi Sanchez their first starts in the UEFA Champions League.

    “It was important to give the young players and those coming back from injury a chance to play, but we did not expect this result,” Solari told reporters.

    “I took risks with the starting line-up we played and I take responsibility for that.

    “We weren’t convincing in our box or the opposing area, but they were and that’s why the game turned out how it did.”

    CSKA also won 1-0 in the Russian capital in October when Julen Lopetegui was in charge of the Spaniards.

    That result sparked the beginning of the end for the Spanish coach’s brief spell in charge of Real Madrid.

    Spain international Marco Asensio came close to giving Real Madrid the lead when he struck the post midway through the first half.

    But CSKA grew in confidence as the game progressed, particularly after taking the lead.

    Hoping to spark a second-half revival, Solari threw on Gareth Bale but had a scare when the injury-prone Wales forward appeared to hurt his ankle.

    He required treatment on the pitch, but was eventually able to continue.

    Solari, who has won eight and lost two games since succeeding Lopetegui, said he had no complaints with the fans booing his side’s display.

    “It’s normal for the fans to express themselves if they do not like what they see, but we did not like it either,” he added.

  • La Liga: Eibar humiliate Solari’s Real Madrid

    Rampant Eibar humiliated European champions Real Madrid with an emphatic 3-0 win in La Liga on Saturday thanks to strikes from Gonzalo Escalante, Sergi Enrich and Kike Garcia.

    Santiago Solari’s first game as permanent coach of Madrid ended in his first defeat, after four consecutive victories during his time as interim manager.

    On-loan Barcelona defender Marc Cucurella played a part in each of Eibar’s goals as they tore apart Madrid’s fragile defence and the Basques would have added to their tally but for some fine saves by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

    Eibar’s first ever win over Real Madrid takes them provisionally seventh on 18 points, two behind struggling Real in sixth.

    “Eibar played their game, direct, taking advantage of the loose balls; we lost our battles,” said Madrid defender Raphael Varane.

    “Collectively we weren’t well positioned, we were not comfortable and we did not find solutions.”

    A lively start at Ipurua saw Belgian Courtois tip Kike’s vicious effort on to the post, while Karim Benzema had a shot cleared off the line by Cote.

    Eibar took the lead after 16 minutes at the end of a brilliant break, with Cucurella finding Kike, who was denied by Courtois but Escalante bundled home the rebound from close range.

    Cucurella, deployed on the left wing by Eibar coach Jose Luis Mendilibar, is shining during his loan spell and was impossible for Madrid to handle.

    The Catalan won back the ball from Alvaro Odriozola for the second goal, crossing to find Sergi Enrich who slotted home in the 52nd minute.

    With Madrid on the ropes Eibar added a third goal five minutes later, Cucurella again crossing for Enrich who nudged the ball into Kike’s path and the striker gleefully slammed it home.

    Eibar had chances to extend their lead and pile further misery on Madrid, with Fabian Orellana forcing a smart save from Courtois and Kike volleying narrowly wide.

    Madrid have lost five games in La Liga this season and leaders Barcelona have the chance to move seven clear of their rivals when they face third-place Atletico Madrid later on Saturday.

  • Real Madrid appoints Solari as permanent coach

    Real Madrid have appointed Santiago Solari as the club’s permanent coach until June 2021.

    Solari, 42, took over on 29 October on an interim basis after the sacking of former Spain manager Julen Lopetgui.

    He has since led Real to four wins in four games – the best start of any manager in the club’s history.

    Real had to give Solari – or someone else – the job as Spanish rules prevent an interim coach from staying in charge for longer than two weeks.

    Solari’s wins in his spell in charge have been against Melilla in the Copa del Rey, Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League, and Real Valladolid and Celta Vigo in La Liga.

    In those games, Real have scored 15 goals and conceded two goals.

    The club, who confirmed Solari’s appointment in a brief statement on their website, were ninth when he assumed control and they are now sixth, four points adrift of leaders Barcelona.

  • Madrid to appoint Santiago Solari as permanent manager

    Santiago Solari will become Real Madrid’s permanent head coach after agreeing a deal until the end of the season, the Spanish Football Federation has confirmed.

    Spanish league rules state a caretaker manager can only be in charge for 15 days and, with Solari’s interim spell due to end on Tuesday, Real have been forced into a decision.

    On October 30 the former Real player replaced Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked after just 14 matches in charge, on an interim basis initially.

    It is understood the Real hierarchy have been impressed with the job Solari has done at the Bernabeu since stepping up from coaching the club’s B team, ‘Castilla’.
    The 42-year-old has won all four of his matches in charge at an aggregate score of 15-4.

  • Real Madrid grab much-needed win with late goals against Real Valladolid

    Real Madrid grab much-needed win with late goals against Real Valladolid

    Real Madrid ended their long wait for a Spanish La Liga victory by beating Real Valladolid 2-0 on Saturday with two late goals.

    It was interim coach Santiago Solari’s first home game in charge of the struggling European champions, and it was fitting that they won.

    Brazilian teenager Vinicius Jr. gave the new coach and an impatient Bernabeu crowd a lift in the 83rd minute by cutting in from the left and firing a shot.

    The shot was heavily deflected into the net off Real Valladolid’s Kike Olivas and awarded as an own goal to the defender.

    Real Madrid had been fortunate not to go behind on two occasions in the second half when Ruben Alcaraz and Toni Villa hammered the crossbar.

    But the home side sealed a first win in six league games when captain Sergio Ramos netted an 88th-minute penalty kick.

    The win lifted Real Madrid provisionally from ninth place up to sixth in the standings on 17 points.

    They are now seven behind leaders FC Barcelona who beat hosts Rayo Vallecano 3-2 later on Saturday.

    Still reeling from their humiliating 5-1 defeat at Barca last week, Real made an impressive start against a Real Valladolid side unbeaten in their last six outings.

    But their early chances soon dried up and they were loudly booed off at halftime.

    “When things don’t go your way you have to keep calm and keep sacrificing and we kept believing, even though we were up against a team who have been playing very well.

    “It was a difficult occasion because of the run we’ve been in and changing coach,” Ramos said.

    “We have to lift ourselves up, we understand the fans’ frustrations and why they are booing. We have to change that, and after we scored the fans were lifted again. With a few good results we’ll get the fans believing in us again.”

    Gareth Bale was given particularly rough treatment from the home fans when he was substituted.

    Not even usual favourite Marco Asensio escaped the howls of unhappy supporters when he made way for Vinicius, who had barely played under Solari’s predecessor Julen Lopetegui.

    Vinicius had excited fans in the Copa del Rey against Melilla in midweek and his flair and bursts of pace injected some verve into Solari’s side.

    It led to them finally breaking the deadlock, even though the goal owed a lot to Olivas’ unfortunate attempt to block the shot.

    The goal was harsh on Valladolid and sucked the life out of the visitors, whose defender Nacho gave away a clumsy penalty kick by falling into Benzema.

    Ramos coolly converted from the spot, transforming the earlier boos into relieved celebrations.

    “We needed to win, and you don’t get out of tough moments like the one we are in by winning easily,” Solari said of the scrappy nature of the victory.

    “I would like to win every game 7-0 with three bicycle kick goals but football is more complicated than that.

    “You have moments of beauty when everything goes well and delicate times when you have to be organised, serious and show competitive spirit.”

     

  • Madrid stars kick against Solari as Lopetegui’s replacement

    Real Madrid stars have told the club’s board that they do not want their junior team coach, Santiago Solari to be Julen Lopetegui’s replacement on a permanent basis.
    According to OK Diario, Los Blancos players are in favour of appointing Real Madrid legend Guti or former player Michael Laudrup.
    This claim was made by a respected Spanish journalist Eduardo Inda.
    Lopetegui was sacked on Monday evening as a result of the club’s worst start to a season since 2001/02.
    He was “provisionally replaced” by Solari, the current manager of B team Castilla.
    However, Real Madrid’s players are not hoping he stays around long-term with some of the heavyweights of the dressing room already demanding one of the two managers.
    Inda revealed that some players believe Solari hasn’t got the experience required to manage the European champions..
    “The players very sympathetic to Solari do not have him [in mind to manage full-time],” Inda told OK Diario.
    “The best reports do not come from the kids of Castilla and a few months ago they were about to dismiss him from Castilla.”

  • Real Madrid sack Lopetegui following El Clasico humiliation

    European champions Real Madrid have decided to part ways with manager Julen Lopetegui, a day after the club were thrashed 5-1 by arch-rivals Barcelona in El Clasico.
    Lopetegui has been in charge since the start of the season but has overseen a terrible start to the league which sees them languish at the ninth spot.
    Real Madrid Castilla coach and former player Santiago Solari will take charge of the team for the time being.
    Real Madrid’s statement says the decision has been taken “in a bid to change the run of results that the team was in, with all the team’s season objectives still possible.”
    A club statement read: “Real Madrid’s board met today on 29 Oct 2018 and has agreed to end the contract linking coach Julen Lopetegui with the club. This decision has been taken to change the dynamic in which the first team finds itself, when all the objectives for the season are still achievable.
    “The board understands that there is a big difference between the quality of Real Madrid’s squad, which has eight players nominated for the next Ballon D’Or, something without precedent in the history of the club, and the results obtained to date. The club thanks Julen Lopetegui and all his staff for their effort and the work done, and wishes them all the best in their professional careers.”

  • La Liga: Suarez scores hat-trick as Barca thrash Madrid in El Clasico

    Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick as Barcelona outclassed Real Madrid to seal a stylish El Clasico victory that further damages their bitter rivals and Madrid’s stricken manager Julen Lopetegui.

    The former Spain boss now seems certain to lose his job in the wake of a humiliating defeat in a match crucial to his chances of survival.
    His side conjured something of a revival in the second half but ultimately they were sunk by an irresistible Barca performance, and it now appears only a question of when he will be fired.
    Philippe Coutinho slotted in and Suarez converted a penalty, awarded by a video assistant referee decision for Raphael Varane’s foul on the Uruguayan, for Barca’s half-time advantage.
    Marcelo chested down and finished to give Real hope, but Suarez’s header and chipped finish, followed by Arturo Vidal’s header, completed the rout.
    The visitors had begun the day within four points of Barca, but now trail them by seven and find themselves ninth in the table after 10 matches.
    Ernesto Valverde’s side, winners of seven league titles from the past 10, are top of the league, leading Atletico Madrid by two points.
    BBC