LaLiga News, Transfers, Injuries, Player Ratings, Analysis

Two Real Madrid defenders ready to return against Real Sociedad

11Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

LaLiga

Two Real Madrid defenders ready to return against Real Sociedad

After defeating Real Betis 2-0 in a statement-making win in LaLiga, Real Madrid are preparing to face another top team in Spanish football when league play returns from the UEFA Nations League. This coming Saturday, Real Madrid will travel to the Anoeta to take on perennial Champions League contenders Real Sociedad, and after fears they would have to dig deep within their bench in defense, it looks like the Merengues are getting a key boost against La Real's high-flying attack. According to a report from MARCA, star center back Eder Militao and defense-minded left back Ferland Mendy (one of the emergency options at center back, too) are both recovered and will be able to play against Real Sociedad. That means Real Madrid are expected to be at full strength on Saturday night. Ferla...

The 3 best Real Sociedad players who could get into the 2024/25 Real Madrid squad

9Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

The 3 best Real Sociedad players who could get into the 2024/25 Real Madrid squad

After a statement-making 2-0 victory over Real Betis prior to the September international "break", Real Madrid will face another top side in LaLiga next weekend, Real Sociedad. La Real have begun the season with just one win in four games, ranking 12th in the league with four points. However, Real Sociedad are traditionally a tough opponent for Real Madrid and Champions League contenders. Plus, they will be at home this Saturday night. Real Sociedad have a number of great players in their starting lineup, but the benchmark for any player is being good enough to make the Real Madrid squad, as they are the clear defending champions of Spanish football. There may only be one player on Real Sociedad who has a legitimate chance of actually starting games for Real Madrid - even then tha...

Why Real Madrid aren’t going to sign Jamal Musiala or Florian Wirtz

8Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Why Real Madrid aren’t going to sign Jamal Musiala or Florian Wirtz

Real Madrid have traditionally approached the summer transfer window with the idea that they want to sign the biggest superstar in world football, unless if there is nobody who qualifies as a big superstar, they are currently working to sign that superstar in a later window, or they have no space in their squad to even feasibly accommodate another top player. In 2019, Real Madrid signed Eden Hazard from Chelsea. In 2020, they didn't sign anyone because of the pandemic. In 2021, they thought they had Kylian Mbappe signed. In 2022, they also thought they had Kylian Mbappe signed. In 2023, they signed Jude Bellingham knowing they wouldn't be able to sign Kylian Mbappe that summer. And in 2024, they finally signed Kylian Mbappe. Even though Florentino Perez just snagged his "white whale"...

Rodrygo Goes in his new role is the unselfish X-Factor for Real Madrid

7Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Rodrygo Goes in his new role is the unselfish X-Factor for Real Madrid

As much as the discussion around the Real Madrid attack has focused on Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe changing their respective games to make the club even stronger after Mbappe's move from PSG, perhaps the dialogue should begin to center around right winger Rodrygo Goes. Rodrygo isn't in the forefront of the Ballon d'Or conversation like Vinicius Jr., nor is he a former World Cup winner who is now the highest-paid player at Real Madrid after ending a transfer saga years in the making - that would be Mbappe. But Rodrygo, to this early point in the 2024/25 LaLiga season, has been arguably more impressive than either of his two teammates in the Real Madrid starting attacking trident. Rodrygo carved Real Betis up from the right wing in a 2-0 win, setting up the opening goal with a...

Vinicius Junior has already adjusted for Kylian Mbappe

6Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Vinicius Junior has already adjusted for Kylian Mbappe

Real Madrid left winger Vinicius Junior is the favorite to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or above his highly-rated teammates, and that is precisely because of his ability to rise to the occasion on the grandest stage of them all, the Champions League. In both of his Champions League triumphs, Vinicius Jr. has been THE standout attacking player on the pitch, creating havoc and bamboozling defenses with his electrifying dribbling. Although he was once derided for his finishing as a young Real Madrid player, Vinicius Jr. has scored double-digit goals in three different LaLiga seasons, including 15 in under 2,000 minutes last season as apart of a two-man attack after Karim Benzema's departure to Saudi Arabia. Vinicius Jr. proved he could lead Real Madrid to a Champions League crown without Be...

Fede Valverde is Zinedine Zidane’s lasting gift to Real Madrid

5Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Fede Valverde is Zinedine Zidane’s lasting gift to Real Madrid

Real Madrid center midfielder Fede Valverde is having a phenomenal start to the 2024/25 season, continuing his trend of steadily getting even better with each passing campaign. Now 26 years old, Valverde is no longer an ascending young player. He is a leader in the prime of his career, entrusted with being a beacon of consistency and a steadying presence in the middle of the park. Even as Real's results to start the 2024/25 LaLiga campaign haven't been optimal, Valverde himself has never wavered, helping keep Real Madrid at least undefeated. Valverde has been the club's best player to start the season, rising above the hype of Kylian Mbappe, the scrutiny of the attack, and the shadow of Toni Kroos' retirement to make that prestigious No. 8 jersey proud. As we appreciate how Val...

Is Kylian Mbappe going to be Karim Benzema or Cristiano Ronaldo?

4Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Is Kylian Mbappe going to be Karim Benzema or Cristiano Ronaldo?

New Real Madrid superstar forward Kylian Mbappe got on the scoresheet for the first time as a Madridista on Sunday, putting both goals in the back of the net in a 2-0 win over Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu. You could almost feel the collective sigh of relief from the home fans through the screen when Mbappe scored the first, latching onto a world-class backheel from midfielder Fede Valverde to dispatch a straightforward finish - one he had seen his idol Cristiano Ronaldo replicate hundreds of times at the Bernabeu before him. We all know Mbappe emulates Cristiano. From his celebration to his chop to his style of cutting inside from the left wing, Mbappe plays like Cristiano and even tries to act like him, performing many of the same gestures as CR7 did on his Bernabeu presentat...

LaLiga manager takes brutal shot at Real Madrid’s tactics in comparison to Barcelona’s

31Aug

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

LaLiga manager takes brutal shot at Real Madrid’s tactics in comparison to Barcelona’s

Although Real Madrid tore Real Valladolid apart in the second half of a 3-0 win, it took them some time to get going. Furthermore, it has been Real's only win to this point in the LaLiga season after three games. The new-look attack with blockbuster signing Kylian Mbappe has looked worse than last year's iteration, with Mbappe cutting a frustrated - and often selfish - figure up top, failing to connect with his more successful teammates, Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior. Real Madrid drew 1-1 to both Mallorca and Las Palmas, and with Barcelona putting together a commanding 7-0 display against Real Valladolid reminiscent of LaLiga of 10 years ago, the Blaugrana suddenly look like the stronger side. After Barcelona decimated Valladolid in a vintage Hansi Flick coaching display, Real ...

Kylian Mbappe is only Real Madrid’s second-biggest problem right now

29Aug

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Kylian Mbappe is only Real Madrid’s second-biggest problem right now

Real Madrid are having a very rough start to the 2024/25 LaLiga season. Although a ferocious first half helped the Merengue club secure all three points over Real Valladolid, they were unable to defeat Las Palmas or Mallorca. Out of three easy matches, Real Madrid have procured just around half (five) the points, drawing 1-1 to both Mallorca and Las Palmas in matches they honestly deserved to lose. The most recent match was particularly humbling, with Real Madrid performing woefully in the first half, with slow starts almost becoming an early hallmark of this year's Carlo Ancelotti-coached side. After another lethargic, goalless game from Kylian Mbappe, all the headlines are focused on the highly-paid free agent signing, and it is fair to begin to wonder if Real Madrid aren't any ...

Barcelona submit transfer bid for top Bayern Munich defensive target

28Aug

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Bundesliga, Features, LaLiga

Barcelona submit transfer bid for top Bayern Munich defensive target

Barcelona are open to selling top center back Andreas Christensen, even though he has been one of the club's best players at any position since joining as a brilliant free agent signing in summer 2022. Christensen proved instrumental in helping Barcelona win LaLiga in the 2022/23 season, and he was one of the few true bright spots on an otherwise disappointing Blaugrana in 2023/24. An example of Barcelona getting things right with a free agent, Christensen hopefully won't be leaving the club, but, if he does in order to raise funds, Barca could replace him with another notable center back. According to a report from Diario Sport, Barcelona have made a 20 million euro transfer offer to Bayer Leverkusen in order to acquire starting center back Jonathan Tah. Of course, Tah has bee...