LaLiga

Carlo Ancelotti is finally trying to fix one of Real Madrid’s most embarrassing tactical issues
4Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Carlo Ancelotti is finally trying to fix one of Real Madrid’s most embarrassing tactical issues

As Real Madrid prepare to face 2021/22 Serie A champions AC Milan, they know they have to take serious stock of their squad and the major tactical deficiencies that Barcelona tore apart in their last game, Real Madrid have lost to Barcelona 4-0 before under the management of Carlo Ancelotti, who, in 2022, promptly responded to the humiliating defeat at the hands of Xavi by winning the Champions League with three straight Remontadas. Something feels different, though, about this season, because even though Real Madrid are the defending Champions League winners and added Kylian Mbappe and Endrick this summer, Barcelona are the ones in the lead in La Liga right now with a very fearsome playing style under new coach Hansi Flick. Ancelotti has his work cut out for him, but it sounds li...
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Real Madrid get sobering Rodrygo injury news before AC Milan battle
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Real Madrid get sobering Rodrygo injury news before AC Milan battle

Real Madrid superstar forward Rodrygo Goes was forgotten by the Madrid media coming into the 2024/25 season after the signing of Kylian Mbappe, but the Brazilian attacker was the best of the front line to start the campaign. However, Rodrygo has been out of commission for the last couple of weeks after suffering a hamstring injury on Oct. 22 in Real's comeback win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. Rodrygo was badly missed in Real's embarrassing 4-0 Clasico defeat to Barcelona, and now Real Madrid are waiting to see when the well-rounded 23-year-old winger will be able to return. Real Madrid will face Carlo Ancelotti's old club AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday night with nothing less than a win expected against a rather uneven Rossoneri side that has seriou...
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One of Real Madrid’s dream RB transfer targets is about to be off the table
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

One of Real Madrid’s dream RB transfer targets is about to be off the table

Real Madrid have been thinking hard about finally making a push for a top right back on the transfer market next summer, as Dani Carvajal's season-ending injury has truly exposed a problem that has been lingering for a few years now. Backup Lucas Vazquez, despite being a right winger by trade, was largely good enough as Carvajal's backup, but now he's being entrusted as the starter for an extended period. Barcelona tore Vazquez to shreds in El Clasico last week, and it isn't the first time the Galician wide man has been left badly exposed defensively on the right flank. Real Madrid dream of signing Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold, a generational talent and the only right back who can rival Carvajal as the world's best right now. Alexander-Arnold is on an expiring contract...
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Barcelona Player Ratings from 3-1 win over Espanyol as Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal shine
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Barcelona Player Ratings from 3-1 win over Espanyol as Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal shine

Barcelona took care of business on Sunday afternoon at the Camp Nou, disposing of derby rivals Espanyol 3-1 in a match that was far more exciting in the first half than in the second. Here are the player ratings as the best team in La Liga extended their lead over Real Madrid at the top with another hard-fought win over their local rivals. GK Inaki Pena, 6.5: An assured performance in goal. Didn't have much to do in this one but was good when sweeping to protect the high line and made a couple of nifty saves. He could do nothing about Espanyol's goal. LB Alejandro Balde, 5.0: Credit for the "assist" with an easy, tapped pass to Dani Olmo in the middle of the pitch. Otherwise a nondescript game for the starting left back, who hasn't looked like the player he was in the 2022/23 seas...
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The obvious reason why Real Madrid are the favorites to sign Florian Wirtz
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

The obvious reason why Real Madrid are the favorites to sign Florian Wirtz

Real Madrid already have three fine players capable of starring in the No. 10 role in Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler, and Brahim Diaz. All showed their qualities last season, with Jude posting the best season of any player in La Liga with 19 goals from the midfield. Yet that hasn't stopped Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz from being linked frequently to Real Madrid, as the Merengue club continue to show a commitment for going after the world's very best players under the leadership of Florentino Perez. There is quietly concern that with so many mouths to feed in the attack and an unbalanced squad defensively, Perez's vision for the Galacticos 2.0 is doomed to fail just as badly as it did the first time around. Nevertheless, Real Madrid are players in the Wirtz sweepstakes, jo...
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Transfer Rumors: Vinicius Jr. open to Saudi’s outrageous plan to sign him from Real Madrid
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Transfer Rumors: Vinicius Jr. open to Saudi’s outrageous plan to sign him from Real Madrid

Real Madrid left winger Vinicius Junior is the news after a bizarre Ballon d'Or snub in which a player who didn't even win the Player of the Season in his league (his teammate did) and lost the Champions League in direct competition to Vini Jr. won the once-prestigious award despite having numbers similar to Declan Rice. Rodri's Ballon d'Or victory has been met with scorn but also defenses of the decision that largely focus on debasing Vini Jr.'s character - even though he literally won the Socrates Award in 2023 for his humanitarian efforts to help those in need financially and combat racism - rather than praising Rodri in any material way. Regardless of the lunacy perpetuated by the likes of Rebecca Lowe and others, Vinicius Jr. has also been embroiled in another story that is even...
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The four center backs Real Madrid want to sign in January 2025 window
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

The four center backs Real Madrid want to sign in January 2025 window

Real Madrid have been hurting at the center back position since last season when both David Alaba and Eder Militao went down with ACL tears, and even though Alaba will be joining Militao back on the pitch soon, there's no guarantee the Austrian veteran will be as good as he was before the injury at the age of 32. Furthermore, Real Madrid were only able to weather the center back injury storm in 2023/24 because of the play of emergency replacements at other positions like Ferland Mendy, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Dani Carvajal. Tchouameni and Mendy have documented injury histories, and Carvajal himself is out with an ACL tear, leaving the right back position just as thin as the center back position behind nailed-on starters Antonio Rudiger and Militao. With the center back position d...
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Rafael Leao is a step closer to a Barcelona transfer next summer
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Rafael Leao is a step closer to a Barcelona transfer next summer

AC Milan superstar Rafael Leao has looked anything like a superstar this season, as his uneven performances have caused him to ride the pine on the Rossoneri bench, with controversial manager Paulo Fonseca seemingly singling out the Portuguese international as the scapegoat to shroud his own failings as coach. Fonseca's days in Milan are surely numbered, but the damage may already be done. Although Leao's stock has fallen as a result of Milan's play this season, elite clubs like Barcelona and even Chelsea could circle back to the left winger in the summer 2025 transfer window. Leao was the MVP of Serie A in the 2021/22 season when Milan last won the Scudetto, and he led the team to a Champions League semifinal berth in the following season. Although Barcelona have one of the best ...
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Real Madrid learn the absurd transfer fee for Trent Alexander-Arnold
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga, Premier League

Real Madrid learn the absurd transfer fee for Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool star right back Trent Alexander-Arnold will be arguably the most coveted name on the free agent waters next summer if the Reds aren't able to tie him down to a new contract before then, and while it is difficult to envision TAA playing anywhere else, Real Madrid are hot on the fullback's heels. If anything, Madrid's interest in the England international has only risen since the torn ACL suffered by club legend Dani Carvajal, who was, once again, the best player in that position last season as a La Liga, European Championship, and Champions League winner. Alexander-Arnold has been one of Florentino Perez's obsessions on the transfer market, and after securing his No. 1 dream target for free last summer in Kylian Mbappe, he's love nothing more than to repeat the trick with Li...
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Fabrizio Romano reveals who clubs expect will become the next Real Madrid manager
2Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Fabrizio Romano reveals who clubs expect will become the next Real Madrid manager

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has landed himself in some hot water again after shoddy decisions and an overall lack of defensive structure led to another 4-0 implosion to arch rivals Barcelona in El Clasico. Unlike the 2021/22 season, Carletto doesn't have a commanding lead in the Spanish top flight and is now a clear second best to Barcelona in La Liga, leading to some urgency from Florentino Perez and the club to get things right. Young stars like Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler, and Endrick are the future of world football, but these standouts have not been used optimally in a 2024/25 Real Madrid side that seems a little too catered to the star power of forwards Vinicius Junior and the struggling Kylian Mbappe. Everyone knew that when Carlo Ancelotti was hired as Real Madrid ...
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