Tag: Real Madrid

Real Madrid suffer brutal defensive injury blow for Atletico Madrid, Manchester City fixtures
13Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Real Madrid suffer brutal defensive injury blow for Atletico Madrid, Manchester City fixtures

Just as soon as he came into the team again and shone brightly against Manchester City in the Champions League knockouts, Ferland Mendy had suffered a right hamstring injury. Mendy was always going to miss the upcoming fixture against Elche in La Liga this weekend, but now, according to a report from Diario AS, he is going to miss more significant games after that. He is now expected to be out until after the March international break, meaning the earliest he would return is on April 5 against Mallorca. His injury will cost him the massive fixtures against rivals Atletico Madrid and then Manchester City in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16. With Alvaro Carreras injured with a calf issue, Real Madrid will have to turn to Fran Garcia for the Atleti game, and he is a...
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Real Madrid hoping for two huge injury returns vs. Manchester City
13Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Real Madrid hoping for two huge injury returns vs. Manchester City

Real Madrid dominated Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 even without Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, as a hat trick from Fede Valverde and elite defensive work ensured they would emerge victorious. But things could get even better for Real in the second leg at the Etihad, as El Chiringuito report that the Merengues are hoping to have left back Alvaro Carreras and the club's best player, Mbappe, back in time for the second leg. Mbappe has been recovering well after being shut down wisely for continued and worsening left knee pain. Rather than risk aggravation, Real rested him up. Now, he is expected to be back either during the March international break or after it (hopefully after it for the Man City game). Carreras's return would be an ev...
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2026 Champions League Power Rankings after the first leg of the Round of 16
12Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Rankings

2026 Champions League Power Rankings after the first leg of the Round of 16

After blowout losses for Chelsea and Manchester City, the Champions League field is starting to narrow even before the second leg of the 2025/26 Round of 16 begins. Here are the top five contenders now, ranked in order, after an eventful first leg of the real beginning of the knockout stages. 5. Barcelona Barcelona are the leaders of La Liga and a juggernaut with their midfield talent and Lamine Yamal, but they were quite powerless against Newcastle and lucky to have drawn the game, much like Arsenal were. Newcastle outplayed Barca, and with how shaky the Blaugrana look at times defensively, it is hard to give them the nod over other teams that are either more solid defensively or, in Real Madrid's case, simply better at elevating their games in the Champions League spotlight. 4. Ars...
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Real Madrid fans learn when Jude Bellingham is expected to return from injury
12Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Real Madrid fans learn when Jude Bellingham is expected to return from injury

Real Madrid superstar center midfielder Jude Bellingham has been out since early February with a hamstring injury, as the England international has not played a game in the league since only lasting 10 minutes on Feb. 1 vs. local rivals Rayo Vallecano before going down. Alongside Kylian Mbappe, Bellingham missed this past Champions League Round of 16 clash with rivals Manchester City, though Federico Valverde stepped up so Real won 3-0 in a breeze. Still, Real are better when Bellingham is in the midfield as another world class workhorse. According to a report from The Athletic's Guillermo Rai, the most realistic return date for the young star is the upcoming Derbi against Atletico Madrid. He is said to be working hard to speed up his return process. Real Madrid will face their bi...
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Real Madrid expected to rest 5 key players vs. Elche
12Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Real Madrid expected to rest 5 key players vs. Elche

Real Madrid totally dominated Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and center midfielder Federico Valverde led the way with incredible games, while center back Antonio Rudiger was also amazing in shutting down Erling Haaland again. All three players look set to get rewarded with some rest. MARCA report that Real Madrid are expected to leave Fede, Courtois, Rudiger, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Aurelien Tchouameni to get some much needed time off this weekend against La Liga underdogs Elche on Saturday night. But Real Madrid will not be underestimating their stingy opponents. Those five stars will likely be rested by manager Alvaro Arbeloa, which means opportunities for top backup keeper Andriy Lunin, veteran right back Da...
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Real Madrid get brilliant Kylian Mbappe injury news (but with one concerning catch)
12Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Real Madrid get brilliant Kylian Mbappe injury news (but with one concerning catch)

Real Madrid recently were forced to shut Kylian Mbappe down due to a left knee injury that he had been playing through, but with recurring pain and worries about serious aggravation, the club and the player made the wise and necessary decision to stop pushing it. Mbappe thus had to miss a huge match in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against Manchester City, bu thanks to a hat trick from midfielder Fede Valverde, he did not end up being missed. Still, Mbappe is crucial to Real and has been one of the best players in the world again this season, scoring goals and providing great all around play, so having him back as soon as it is healthy for him to do so would be huge. And now, French outlet RMC Sport is reporting that the light at the end of the tunnel is near f...
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Real Madrid change their mind about keeping star midfielder and set a surprisingly low price
12Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Real Madrid change their mind about keeping star midfielder and set a surprisingly low price

Real Madrid star center midfielder Eduardo Camavinga joined the team in 2021 and immediately helped them win the Champions League with some generational performances off the bench in the late minutes of the knockout stages, backing up the generational hype he received as a teenager in Ligue 1. But Camavinga is still a backup for Real Madrid and has failed to progress his game. Despite his prodigious talent and assurances that Real would not sell, MARCA reporter Matteo Moretto now reports that Madrid are open to selling Camavinga this summer. Per Moretto, Real Madrid are willing to entertain offers of a minimum of 50 million euros, which is considerably less than what most people would expect would be the going rate for a young, uber talented midfielder. Camavinga is not a crucial ...
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Fede Valverde, 3 Real Madrid stars who embarrassed Man City the most in the Champions League
11Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Analysis

Fede Valverde, 3 Real Madrid stars who embarrassed Man City the most in the Champions League

Real Madrid dominated their new European Clasico rivals 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, and these three stars were shining the brightest on the big stage. CM Fede Valverde Fede Valverde scored one of the greatest hat tricks you will see in the Champions League knockouts, especially from a midfielder. He had a beautiful first touch and blew by the keeper on the break with a great finish off balance to match. His second goal featured a brilliant first touch and finish to the far post with his left that Erling Haaland would be proud of. And to top it off, he juggled and stayed composed with a technical finish that had Jamie Carragher comparing the man to Dennis freaking Bergkamp. Take a bow. GK Thibaut Courtois Thibaut Courtois channel...
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Eden Hazard names the best baller he ever played with, and his choice was obvious
11Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Eden Hazard names the best baller he ever played with, and his choice was obvious

Eden Hazard was one of the best players and biggest icons of the 2010s, dominating the Premier League with Chelsea after first being a phenom in Ligue 1 with Lille. A two time Premier League and Europa League champion as well as a two time La Liga winner and Champions League winner with Real Madrid, Hazard played with some incredible footballers over the years like Luka Modric, Thibaut Courtois, Toni Kroos, Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos, and John Terry. But if you ask Hazard who the best player he ever played with is, he can't help but wax poetic about the man who was, briefly, to his right at Real Madrid, Karim Benzema. Hazard said, via Madrid Xtra, "Best player I played with? Karim Benzema. In matches and training he delivered a very high level. I'd be on...
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2025/26 Champions League Team of the Season before Round of 16 begins
9Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Analysis

2025/26 Champions League Team of the Season before Round of 16 begins

Before the first Champions League Round of 16 matches take place on Thursday night, let's hand out Team of the Season honors for the 2025/26 campaign so far to help preview the big stars that will be in action this week. GK David Raya, Arsenal David Raya is unquestionably the Goalkeeper of the Tournament thus far with an outrageous save percentage of 90 and a clean sheet in nearly three out of every four of his games. Arsenal have a tremendous back line, obviously, but Raya deserves a lot more praise internationally for his goalkeeping. LB Alejandro Grimaldo, Bayer Leverkusen Alex Grimaldo is 30 years old and still going strong, and you wonder if Real Madrid maybe regret not signing him along with Alvaro Carreras. What he offers offensively as a left back is so unique, as he has scored...
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