LaLiga News, Transfers, Injuries, Player Ratings, Analysis

Ferland Mendy is ready to return against Sevilla

21Dec

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, Injury News, LaLiga

Ferland Mendy is ready to return against Sevilla

Real Madrid will face Sevilla on Matchday 18 in LaLiga with a keen eye on tonight's fixture between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in what is shaping up to be a heated three-team title race in the Spanish top flight. Left back Ferland Mendy has been out the last few weeks with a right quadriceps injury he suffered against Girona in what ended up being a 3-0 win. Fran Garcia has started in his stead to mixed results, but Mendy has returned to training over the past couple of days. Now, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti confirms that Mendy is healthy and ready to be in the squad, and Mendy was indeed named to the official 18-man squad for Sunday's match at the Santiago Bernabeu vs. Sevilla. Mendy probably won't feature at all, because even though Fran struggled last weekend in a 3-...

The three biggest keys to victory for Real Madrid vs. Sevilla

21Dec

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

The three biggest keys to victory for Real Madrid vs. Sevilla

Real Madrid now have a three-team title race to worry about with Atletico Madrid currently above them in the table with the same number of games played, so Sunday's battle against Sevilla is that much bigger for the Merengues after they dropped points to local rivals Rayo Vallecano last week. Although Sevilla are in the bottom half of the table and won't be playing at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, the 2022/23 Europa League champions still have enough pedigree and defensive grit to potentially upset the defending LaLiga champions. Before Sunday's big game at the Santiago Bernabeu, let's take a look at the three most important keys to victory for Real Madrid. Turn possession into chances Real Madrid are going to have the lion's share of the possession against Sevilla with Antonio Rudige...

Five Real Madrid players who must step up the most in order to beat Sevilla

20Dec

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Five Real Madrid players who must step up the most in order to beat Sevilla

After dominating Pachuca 3-0 in Qatar to capture the Intercontinental Cup, Real Madrid are back in the Spanish capital to take on Sevilla in LaLiga this weekend after dropping more points in the league last Saturday to Rayo Vallecano. Real Madrid are the clear favorites on Matchday 18, and nothing less than a win will suffice against a Sevilla side that continues to linger in the bottom half of the table, though they are improving during the course of the current campaign. In order for the Merengues to avoid yet another disappointing result in the league, here are five players on the team who must step up the most this weekend. LW Kylian Mbappe Left winger Kylian Mbappe has usually been utilized as a center forward since Real Madrid have quite literally the best pure, out-and-out w...

3 matchups that will decide Real Madrid vs. Sevilla on Matchday 18

19Dec

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

3 matchups that will decide Real Madrid vs. Sevilla on Matchday 18

Real Madrid got their confidence boost on Wednesday with a 3-0 win over Pachuca to take home the Intercontinental Cup, as Kylian Mbappe shined in his tune-up game after returning from a hamstring injury he suffered last week against Atalanta. So far in December, Real Madrid have lost just one game, to Athletic Club, but after dropping more points against Rayo Vallecano, Los Blancos now have to worry just as much about Atletico Madrid ripping the title from them as they do a suddenly struggling Barcelona. This coming Sunday, Real Madrid will face one of LaLiga's historic clubs in Sevilla, who have steadily improved since a rough start to the season and are very capable of costing the Merengue club points as well. Here are three key matchups that could decide Matchday 18 at the Sant...

Real Madrid predicted XI vs. Sevilla with Vinicius Junior suspended

19Dec

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Real Madrid predicted XI vs. Sevilla with Vinicius Junior suspended

Real Madrid took a step back in LaLiga last weekend, dropping points with a 3-3 draw to Rayo Vallecano in a rogue road game that the Merengues could have easily lost. After the Intercontinental Cup match against Pachuca in Qatar, Real Madrid travel back to the Spanish capital for a home game against one of their historic rivals, Sevilla, in LaLiga. Sevilla have had another difficult domestic campaign, but they have improved recently on the strength of solid performances from Dodi Lukebakio and others, and they could give Real Madrid real problems on Sunday night. Here is a predicted starting lineup for Real Madrid this weekend, as they look to prove they can win convincingly without Vinicius Junior in the starting lineup. Vini received a fifth yellow card for yelling at an officia...

3 burning questions for Real Madrid in LaLiga after Intercontinental Cup triumph

18Dec

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

3 burning questions for Real Madrid in LaLiga after Intercontinental Cup triumph

Real Madrid put on another attacking show in Qatar, taking care of business with a 3-0 win over Mexican side Pachuca to take home the Intercontinental Cup and affirm their status as the best club in the world in 2024, having won LaLiga and the Champions League in 2023/24. But coming into the game, Real Madrid were only second best in LaLiga to rivals Barcelona and had just dropped more points in the league, drawing 3-3 with Rayo Vallecano last weekend. This result was a far more professional one, akin to their 3-0 win the previous weekend over last season's title challengers Girona. In this one, Real Madrid received spellbinding performance from Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe in their returns to the starting lineup after Vini was "rested" against Rayo and Mbappe was out with an in...

2024/25 LaLiga Player of the Season Rankings after Jude Bellingham scores again

17Dec

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

2024/25 LaLiga Player of the Season Rankings after Jude Bellingham scores again

Just as the LaLiga title race is enthralling and extremely difficult to predict at this juncture with three teams equally vying for the top spot, the Spanish league's Player of the Season race is entirely wide open with a handful of candidates all deserving of honors. So let's rank the top five candidates to win the LaLiga Player of the Season award after roughly 17 Matchdays played. Special shoutouts go to the Villarreal duo of Alex Baena and Ayoze Perez, as well as returning Real Betis playmaker Giovani Lo Celso as the best players not on Real Madrid or Barcelona to fail to make this very selective top five. 5. Real Madrid CM Jude Bellingham Fellow Real Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde has also had an exceptional season and scored an even better goal in Real's 3-3 draw with Rayo Vall...

2024/25 LaLiga Table Predictions after Real Madrid and Barcelona drop points

16Dec

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

2024/25 LaLiga Table Predictions after Real Madrid and Barcelona drop points

Quietly, LaLiga is back to being the most entertaining league in world football, with the possible exception of Serie A, as there is another heated three-way title race with an entirely wide open battle for European places and an intriguing relegation battle. It is difficult to separate any of the teams in competition with each other, and there is plenty of superstar power in this league with the likes of Lamine Yamal, Vinicius Junior, Antoine Griezmann, Robert Lewandowski, and Luka Modric bridging generations and providing highlight-reel plays on a weekly basis. After 17 Matchdays and more dropped points for both Real Madrid and Barcelona, let's take a look at the latest predicted LaLiga table with a surprise twist at the top. 20. Valencia 19. Real Valladolid 18. Espanyol 17. De...

3 burning questions for Real Madrid after a 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano

16Dec

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

3 burning questions for Real Madrid after a 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano

Real Madrid were unable to get the full three points on the road on Saturday at the Vallecas, suffering yet another defensive collapse in a 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano that could have easily been a loss if it weren't for some opportunistic moments from their star players. Going forward, serious questions need to be asked of Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid, because even though they are actually closer in the title race after Barcelona's own bleeding continued with a ghastly 1-0 loss to Leganes, Real, in comparison to the main Champions League title contenders, still look a step below their usual standard. Here are three burning questions for Real Madrid following a subpar showing against one of their local rivals. Why isn't Raul Asencio playing? For the life of my, I cannot compreh...

Real Madrid Player Ratings from a 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano

14Dec

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Real Madrid Player Ratings from a 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano

Any match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano at the Vallecas has the opportunity to be a classic, and this pre-Christmas battle between the local rivals proved to be no exception. It looked like Real Madrid would be on the embarrassing side of a blowout after falling behind 2-0 early due to some grievous defensive errors, but two goals from out of nowhere changed the game, specifically another trademark bomb from the blue from midfielder Fede Valverde. Real Madrid then would take a 3-2 lead after Rodrygo Goes scored a deflected goal from range, as the ersatz for an injured Kylian Mbappe and a resting Vinicius Junior proved to be vital in Real avoiding a loss. That lead was short-lived, though, and as Vini Jr. and reinforcements came in late in the game with the score at 3-3, R...