Tag: Real Madrid

Carlo Ancelotti has no choice but to use Arda Guler more
Features, LaLiga

Carlo Ancelotti has no choice but to use Arda Guler more

There will be an innumerable amount of rumors and reports circulating in the media following Real Madrid's abhorrent 4-0 loss to Barcelona in El Clasico, an unacceptable result at the Valdebebas and one that should have consequences for how the Merengues approach the remainder of the season. Already, the tide was seemingly turning as far as Real's pursuit of center backs, which had been non-existent prior to this point despite a multitude of injuries, and, now, it is abundantly obvious that defensive help is needed across the back line to keep up with Hansi Flick's emerging attacking juggernaut in Barcelona. In the more immediate term, questions will be asked about Carlo Ancelotti. And these will be serious ones, perhaps even graver than the ones he so deftly answered in March 2022 w...
Carlo Ancelotti sunk to a new low with Jude Bellingham treatment in El Clasico
Features, LaLiga

Carlo Ancelotti sunk to a new low with Jude Bellingham treatment in El Clasico

Vinicius Junior will very likely win the Ballon d'Or for his stellar performances in the Champions League knockout stages and the second half of the 2024/25 LaLiga season for Real Madrid, but from start to finish, Jude Bellingham was his club's most consistent player and THE standout of Spanish football. Playing in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu, Jude starred in the No. 10 role in Carlo Ancelotti's system, emphatically answering the question of how Real Madrid would replace Karim Benzema's lost goals at striker by finding the back of the net 19 times from midfield. Bellingham captured the zeitgeist of football, bringing his best performances in two Clasico triumphs as Real Madrid ran away with the league, with Jude bringing the same all-around midfield quality from his day...
Real Madrid finally pursuing an experienced CB transfer
LaLiga

Real Madrid finally pursuing an experienced CB transfer

Truthfully, Real Madrid should have been in the market for a center back transfer since the January 2024 market when, just prior, veteran David Alaba went down with a torn ACL. Real Madrid managed to make do without Eder Militao or Alaba last season, as the likes of Dani Carvajal, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Ferland Mendy stepped up as emergency options. This season, Carvajal has torn his ACL, too, and Alaba is yet to return from injury. With Militao, Antonio Rudiger, and even Tchouameni and Mendy all struggling with various injuries at points in the 2024/25 campaign, it's becoming clear that Real Madrid need more depth in defense. They have a bevy of talented youngsters coming up the ranks, but they, too, have suffered significant injuries of their own, with Joan Martinez notably su...
Manchester United going for another top Real Madrid transfer target
LaLiga

Manchester United going for another top Real Madrid transfer target

Manchester United already played spoiler to Real Madrid on the transfer market this past summer, as they were willing to spend 60 million euros in order to sign Leny Yoro, whose Lille were not at all interested in the threat of losing the teenage center back for free in summer 2025. So Juni Calafat's dream transfer target at center back - and the best young player at the position - went to Man United, where he has yet to play due to a preseason injury. But hopes are high for Yoro at Manchester United, especially with fellow summer center back signing Matthijs de Ligt not quite impressing. And it looks like the Red Devils aren't done with trying to compete against Real Madrid for top players on the market. Already, Manchester United are pushing increasingly hard for impending free ...
Transfer Rumors: Manchester United could sign another top target ahead of Real Madrid
LaLiga

Transfer Rumors: Manchester United could sign another top target ahead of Real Madrid

Manchester United surprised a lot of people this summer when they successfully signed Leny Yoro, the most coveted central defender on the transfer market, ahead of serious interest from Real Madrid. In fact, many saw Real Madrid as a guaranteed landing spot for Yoro with how heavily Juni Calafat was pushing for the Lille star, as Real viewed him as a generational talent and began to prioritize him over another player with one year left on his contract, Alphonso Davies. Instead, Manchester United were willing to spend 60 million euros on Yoro right up front in the summer market, whereas Real Madrid wanted Yoro at a steeply discounted price, hoping the player would hold out for another year in order to join them for free in 2025. Lille weren't about to let that happen, reportedly ev...
LaLiga: Real Madrid’s hidden advantage vs. Barca, Atletico’s second-best player, fairytale Mallorca’s test
Features, LaLiga

LaLiga: Real Madrid’s hidden advantage vs. Barca, Atletico’s second-best player, fairytale Mallorca’s test

The Mallorca fairytale faces a big test Mallorca aren't usually in the hunt for European places in La Liga, as they are traditionally a smaller club that spends its time trying to play spoiler to the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, bouncing in between the first and second divisions. Already, Mallorca made an impression on an international scale this season by nicking a point off Real Madrid on Matchday 1, spoiling Kylian Mbappe's long-awaited debut in the process. In addition to the draw with the reigning champions of Spain and Europe, Mallorca own quality wins over usual European hopefuls Real Betis and Real Sociedad. So after 10 Matchdays in La Liga, Mallorca sit sixth in the table with 17 points, tied on points with Athletic Club in fifth. This coming Monday, Mallorca will...
Champions League, Features

UCL’s 3 best players of the day: Minamino joins Vini Jr. and Juve’s unsung hero

AS Monaco FW Takumi Minamino Takumi Minamino didn't score a goal as spellbinding as Wilfried Singo (seriously, if your team needs a center back, you should look this guy up), nor was he as active as 22-year-old standout Maghnes Akliouche. But when it comes to pure efficiency, Minamino stood above everyone else, finishing two "gimme" chances with ease while recording an assist of his own. Minaminio was in the right place at the right time, putting on a clinic in positioning while making smart interplay and creating multiple chances for his teammates. With Monaco dominating the ball and so many of his teammates itching to take defenders on, Minamino was smart about taking up central positions away from his teammates in positions where a goal would be possible. Without those keen in...
UCL Takes: Arsenal’s Gyokeres regret, Vini Jr. is the world’s best, Juve remain far off
Champions League, Features, LaLiga

UCL Takes: Arsenal’s Gyokeres regret, Vini Jr. is the world’s best, Juve remain far off

Why didn't Arsenal sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres? Is there any argument against Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior being the best player in world football? And are Juventus even ready to compete in the Champions League again? Juventus aren't Champions League ready Juventus have made very real strides under the management of Thiago Motta, who came to the Bianconeri as the most coveted manager in Italian football for taking Bologna to the Champions League. But even as Juve have performed better this season with more promising results individually in an attacking sense, they've still only scored 11 goals and rank as one of Serie A's worst offensive teams in the top half of the table. Furthermore, the Bianconeri are third in the league, which is the same place they were in ...
LaLiga Takes: Jude Bellingham’s best role, Barca’s best player, what ails Girona
Features, LaLiga

LaLiga Takes: Jude Bellingham’s best role, Barca’s best player, what ails Girona

What is Jude Bellingham's best role in the 2024/25 Real Madrid lineup after Kylian Mbappe's transfer created positive stress for Carlo Ancelotti? Who is Barcelona's best player of the 2024/25 La Liga season thus far? And who can be Girona's new star after they lost Savinho and Artem Dovbyk? Here are key takeaways from around the world of La Liga after a goal-fest of a weekend in the Spanish top flight. Girona have no more star power Girona had already agreed to sell their best player, Savinho, to more powerful partner club Manchester City, and then later in the summer transfer window, they waved goodbye to the top goal-scorer in La Liga, Artem Dovbyk. Although Girona brought in La Liga veterans Arnaut Danjuma and Bryan Gil on the wings as loan acquisitions, their only striker signi...
UCL Score Predictions: Real Madrid and Liverpool on upset watch, Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich
Champions League, Features

UCL Score Predictions: Real Madrid and Liverpool on upset watch, Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich

Here are score predictions for the three biggest Champions League matchups of Matchday 3 of the 2024/25 season. Real Madrid vs. Dortmund Real Madrid will host Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night in a rematch of the 2024 Champions League Final, which Los Merengues unsurprisingly won 2-0 behind an inspired performance from 2024 Ballon d'Or favorite Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian winger scored the decisive goal this past weekend in a 2-1 win over underdogs Celta Vigo, while Dortmund also won 2-1 on Friday night against the scrappy St. Pauli, courtesy of a winner from their star man in new striker Serhou Guirassy. Dortmund are actually a little more dangerous this season thanks to Guirassy's presence at striker and a breakout season from younger winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, but as their ...