LaLiga News, Transfers, Injuries, Player Ratings, Analysis

19Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

When will Real Madrid start Endrick?

Real Madrid phenom Endrick stole all the headlines on Tuesday night when the Merengue club took down Bundesliga side Stuttgart in the Champions League, as the Brazilian international scored the goal of the week. Endrick led a three-on-two counterattack from his own half, but instead of passing to either of the two best players in the world, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, the 18-year-old took a rocket shot with that left foot of his from beyond range, beating the keeper for pace. It was a moment of magic and boldness from a player who has the potential to become the best in the world in his own right, and it was another very quick debut goal for Endrick, who needed just 15 minutes to score his first Champions League goal and 10 for his debut goal in LaLiga against Real Valladolid....

Former Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso off to a dream start for Real Betis

19Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Former Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso off to a dream start for Real Betis

Real Betis spent just four million euros to reunite with former attacking midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, with Tottenham receiving the right of first refusal to sign young USMNT midfielder Johnny Cardoso. While Lo Celso was a decent rotational player for Tottenham, he never came close to reaching the heights he did at Betis in the 2018/19 season, when he scored 9 goals with 4 assists in LaLiga while adding 5 more goals in the Europa League. Even when he left for Villarreal for a couple of seasons on loan, he never scored more than two goals or registered more than three assists in LaLiga. It seems like Real Betis has always been his home. Lo Celso is back in the city of Seville and in his first start with the Verdiblancos, the Copa America Final hero for Argentina showed that he does...

Santi Canizares: ‘Thibaut Courtois is the Maradona, Messi, Cristiano of goalkeeping’

19Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Santi Canizares: ‘Thibaut Courtois is the Maradona, Messi, Cristiano of goalkeeping’

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced another masterclass of the highest order in the Champions League on Tuesday night, as Los Blancos defeated a very game Stuttgart 3-1 to get off to the right start in the 2024/25 Champions League campaign. Courtois returned from an ACL tear late in the 2023/24 season to produce another fine display in a Champions League Final, and, if anything, he's somehow been even better after the severe injury - and he was already the best goalkeeper on the planet. Everyone around Real Madrid can't stop signing Courtois' praises, and that goes for another legendary LaLiga goalkeeper who used to play for Real Madrid in the past, Santi Canizares. He heaped the highest praise on Courtois, invoking the names of the GOATS, “Thibaut Courtois is the Mar...

Kylian Mbappe is already one of the top 10 Champions League goal scorers of all time

19Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Champions League, Features, LaLiga

Kylian Mbappe is already one of the top 10 Champions League goal scorers of all time

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe scored his first Champions League goal for the Royal Whites in their Champions League season opener against Stuttgart, stroking home an easy chance created by Aurelien Tchouameni and Rodrygo Goes to give Real a 1-0 lead over Die Schwaben in a game they'd win 3-1. Mbappe was already scoring goals in the Champions League at a rapid pace for PSG despite never winning a final. With that goal against Stuttgart, Mbappe now has a whopping 49 goals in club football's biggest competition. Those 49 goals actually tie Alfredo Di Stefano for the 10th-most all-time goals in the competition once called the European Cup in Di Stefano's era, so Mbappe has already cracked the top 10 at the age of 25. He will only need two more goals to surpass fellow Frenchman T...

The ridiculous pass Aurelien Tchoumaneni hit against Stuttgart to help create Kylian Mbappe’s goal

18Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

The ridiculous pass Aurelien Tchoumaneni hit against Stuttgart to help create Kylian Mbappe’s goal

Defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is one of the most important players on Real Madrid, even as the superstar attackers, Jude Bellingham, and Fede Valverde soak up most of the praise and Ballon d'Or love for the 2024/25 season. Nobody on Real Madrid can do what Tchouameni does as one of the best No. 6's in the world, screening the defense expertly - he can even star at center back on his own - while pinging beautiful passes with his high football IQ and technical ability. Tchouameni went overlooked in Real's 3-1 win over Stuttgart to open the 2024/25 Champions League season, but there's one ridiculous pass everyone should take a second look at. From his own half, Tchouameni quickly looked over his shoulder and then, with one touch, smashed the ball across his body, skipping ...

Hansi Flick is keeping his plan for Ansu Fati’s best position a secret

18Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Hansi Flick is keeping his plan for Ansu Fati’s best position a secret

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick appears to be quite high on Ansu Fati, who was the most talented young player in the world just a few years ago before a devastating injury sapped his acceleration and speed. Fati is still a useful player, but he hasn't been able to reach those same levels post-injury and recently failed to make an impression at Brighton despite also earning praise from another great manager, Roberto De Zerbi. Back fit and medically cleared for Barca's Champions League opener on Thursday night against Monaco, Fati is now the biggest headline because of the intrigue around his role. Speaking to reporters before the game, Flick was tight-lipped on his exact plan or even position for Fati, but based on his cryptic answer, he seems to be expecting big things for the 21-ye...

Kylian Mbappe: ‘5 goals in 7 games? I can do better’

18Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Kylian Mbappe: ‘5 goals in 7 games? I can do better’

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe added another goal to his tally on Tuesday night, opening the scoring in Real's 3-1 win over Bundesliga side Stuttgart to mark the Frenchman's first Champions League goal as a Madridista. There will surely be many more to come, and although Mbappe was criticized for a slow start to life at the Santiago Bernabeu, the ketchup does indeed seem to be flowing out of the bottle after his brace against Real Betis before the international "break". In total, Mbappe has scored five goals in seven games, but at the press conference after the game, the new Real Madrid striker made it clear that he wants an even better ratio than that, simply stating, “5 goals in 7 games? I can do better.” Mbappe is averaging more than three dribbles per game in LaLiga, and ...

Jude Bellingham defends Rodrygo Goes: ‘Only the fools forget the R’

18Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Jude Bellingham defends Rodrygo Goes: ‘Only the fools forget the R’

Real Madrid right winger Rodrygo Goes produced yet another sensational Champions League performance in the Merengue club's 3-1 opening win against VfB Stuttgart. Not only did Rodrygo assist the opener for Kylian Mbappe, putting the ball on a plate for the Frenchman to stroke home into an open net, but he was also at his vintage best as a dribbler and creator, consistently causing problems to the Stuttgart defense. On top of his assist, Rodrygo created three chances in total and completed four dribbles, once again shining as brightly as any Real Madrid attacking star in a match against quality opposition. Before the season, the Spanish media coined the nickname "BMV" for Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Junior, leaving Rodrygo Goes entirely out of the equation despite h...

Jude Bellingham: ‘They are trying to create something negative between me, Mbappe, Rodrygo and Vinicius’

18Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Jude Bellingham: ‘They are trying to create something negative between me, Mbappe, Rodrygo and Vinicius’

Real Madrid have the most dynamic quartet of superstars in world football in Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, and Rodrygo Goes. All four are Ballon d'Or caliber players, and all four are showing signs of clicking together after a handful of starts at Real Madrid. Vinicius Jr., Bellingham, and Rodrygo already won the Champions League and LaLiga together before Mbappe's arrival, and now with Mbappe becoming the primary scorer after multiple seasons as the top goal-scorer in Ligue 1, the ceiling is even higher for Real Madrid. Before Mbappe stepped foot at the Santiago Bernabeu, there were many in the media raising concerns about too many cooks in the kitchen and a possible clash of egos in the Real Madrid locker room. Jude Bellingham, who has been the subject of plen...

Barcelona scouting two Monaco standouts for a future transfer

18Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Champions League, Features, LaLiga

Barcelona scouting two Monaco standouts for a future transfer

Barcelona will face Monaco on Thursday night in their opening clash of the 2024/25 Champions League season, and under treble-winning coach Hansi Flick, the Blaugrana will like their chances of going further in this year's competition. They have already seen a huge boost in results to start the season under Flick, who has turned the Barcelona attack into a vaunted machine, integrating young prospects and more experienced starters alike. Monaco have not lost any of their four Ligue 1 matchups so far this season and are thus a good first test for Barcelona in the Champions League. They also happen to have a couple of players Barcelona could be interested in purchasing. According to a report from Diario Sport, Barcelona sporting director Deco will be watching right back Vanderson and ...