LALIGA

19Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Martin Zubimendi makes Real Sociedad ‘large salary’ decision and sends this message to Liverpool

Martin Zubimendi was a target for Liverpool in the summer transfer window. Martin Zubimendi has reportedly asked Liverpool to revive interest in him when the January transfer window opens. The midfielder was the Reds’ chief target in the summer as Arne Slot wanted to bolster his midfielder options. Liverpool were prepared to meet Zubimendi’s release clause of £52 million in his Real Sociedad contract - but he decided to stay at his boyhood club. Zubimendi was expected to sign a new deal in San Sebastian. Yet Estadio Deportivo reports that the Spain international - who helped his country to Euro 2024 glory - has ‘opted to reject a large salary’ It is reported that Liverpool will have to decide whether to again make a move for Zubimendi, although he ‘intends to land in ...

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19Sep By Silver Emmanuel3 Comments

LALIGA

‘I am impressed’… Barcelona coach praises La Masia and the club’s youngsters

FC Barcelona has been quite reliant on the qualities of their youngsters to pull them through in recent years. While it is also true that the same can be said for the club’s golden period, it is now more about survival than thriving at times. Yet, with Hansi Flick’s arrival, Barcelona can dare to dream about reclaiming their place again. Players like Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi, Alejandro Balde, Fermin Lopez, and many others have already given the club enough evidence to feel hopeful about. As the days and matches go by, that hope only continues to grow and the club aims higher and higher. Even now, ahead of the clash between Barcelona and Monaco in the UEFA Champions League, German coach Hansi Flick has decided to include two young 16-year-old cousins in his squad list for the upc...

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17Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Ansu Fati continues to impress Hansi Flick

As Barcelona prepare to face Monaco on Thursday in the Champions League, the Blaugrana are taking stock of their current performances in LaLiga and have to love what they are seeing. Although Xavi did indeed do a strong job of setting the foundation for Barcelona, Hansi Flick has, as anticipated, taken the club to new heights from a tactical perspective and has done a significantly better job of working with the attacking players, especially young standouts. This past summer, there was concern that Ansu Fati could leave the club permanently after failing to get on the pitch long enough at Brighton, failing to answer the concerns that led to him temporarily leaving Barcelona in the first place. But instead of giving up on Fati, Flick is backing the 21-year-old, who was once, like Lamine Yam...

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16Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Brahim out for three months after suffering an injury vs Real Sociedad

Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz is set to miss three months of football following an injury to the ‘long abductor of his right leg’, Real Madrid announced in an official statement: “Following tests carried out today on our player Brahim Díaz by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the long abductor of his right leg. Pending evolution.” Brahim started for Real Madrid in their most recent fixture against Real Sociedad, but had to be subbed off early in the first half for Rodrygo following the injury. According to Arancha Rodriguez, and a lot of other reports from all over Spain, Brahim is going to be out for three months. He could miss a total of 18 to 20 games for Real Madrid, which is a massive blow for him and the team. Brahim was enjoying a great start to...

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16Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Ferran Torres sends message to Barca fans after being sent off

Ferran Torres has sent out a message to Barcelona fans after being sent off in Sunday’s 4-1 La Liga win over Girona. The Shark came on in the second half but lasted just 17 minutes after being hit with a red card after an ugly challenge on Yaser Asprilla. Torres took to social media after the win to apologise for his sending off. He wrote on Instagram: “We won, which is the most important thing, but I want to take this opportunity to apologize to the team, the fans and the rival player. The desire has played a hard game on me. Thursday starts a new challenge.” The referee’s report noted that Torres was handed his marching orders “for making a tackle using excessive force on an opponent in the dispute for the ball.” Torres will now miss Barcelona’s next La Liga game against Villarreal on S...

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15Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

“I am very happy to play with him” – Kylian Mbappe in awe of his Real Madrid teammate

Kylian Mbappe has been in excellent form, scoring for the second game in a row for Real Madrid, this time sealing the 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad with a well-taken penalty. The French star is growing in confidence with every match and is keen on developing a strong partnership with Brazilian teammate Vinicius Jr., believing their connection can greatly benefit the team. Reflecting on the match, Mbappe acknowledged the challenge they faced against a tough opponent, saying, “We knew before the game that it was going to be difficult and in the end, we won,” Mbappe said on Real Madrid TV (h/t Mundo Deportivo). “We suffered a bit playing against a great team but we go home with what we want, which is a victory. We have to continue like this because we have to win many games to get where w...

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15Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Carlo Ancelotti provides injury updates on Real Madrid pair after Real Sociedad

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has on Saturday night provided early updates on the wellbeing of two leading members of his squad. This comes after both set alarm bells ringing in Los Blancos’ La Liga meeting with Real Sociedad. The Spanish champions are fresh off kicking their campaign back into gear, by way of a trip to San Sebastian to face Imanol’s Sociedad. When all was said and done, Real emerged on the right side of a 2-0 result, owing to a pair of penalties, on the part of Vinícius Jr, and Kylian Mbappé. On an otherwise positive evening’s work for the capital giants, however, a pair of concerns were also forthcoming, on the personnel front. After Brahim Díaz, first, was forced into a first-half departure from the action, Éder Militão then appeared to pick up a fitness proble...

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15Sep By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

LALIGA

Villarreal go third as Sevilla seal first win of 2024/25

Saturday’s La Liga action featured three early wins on the return from the September international break. Prior to the day’s final clash, as Real Madrid rallied late on to win 2-0 at Real Sociedad, their were victories for Villarreal, Espanyol and Sevilla. Mallorca 1-2 Villarreal Villarreal have been one of the form teams in the opening weeks of the 2024/25 season and they stretched an unbeaten run to five games in Palma. Logan Costa netted his first goal for the club, to ensure an early breakthrough, before Mallorca were given a route back into the contest, via Raul Albiol’s second half own goal. However, Villarreal have found themselves a man for the clutch moments in the opening weeks of the campaign, as Ayoze Perez clipped home the winner in added time. The former Premier League star n...

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14Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Betis fire late goals to sink Legane in Spanish league

Vitor Roque scored on his home debut as Real Betis left it late to overcome newly promoted Leganes 2-0 in the Spanish league. SEVILLE, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 13: Vitor Roque of Real Betis celebrates after scoring the teams second goal during the LaLiga match between Real Betis Balompie and CD Leganes at Estadio Benito Villamarin on September 13, 2024 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images) Betis had never lost in four previous home encounters with Leganes and although on top for most of the match they had to wait until the last quarter to secure all three points. Moroccan winger Abde Ezzalzouli finally broke the deadlock with 16 minutes remaining when he turned home a cutback from Héctor Bellerin. Substitute Roque made sure of the win four minutes from time. ...

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14Sep By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

LALIGA

Barcelona lineup vs. Girona: Predicted XI for La Liga clash

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick could select an unchanged lineup for Sunday's Catalan derby against Girona at Estadi Montilivi. BARCELONA CATALONIA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 11: FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick arrives at the wreath laying at the monument of Rafael Casanova, on the occasion of the Diada, at Ronda de Sant Pere-Ali Bei, on 11 September, 2024 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The Diada day in Catalonia begins with the floral offering to Rafael Casanova, to which a retinue of all institutions and parties, except PP and Vox, is expected. In addition, today is the first September 11 without a pro-independence president at the head of the Generalitat for 12 years and therefore, there will be no representatives of the Executiu in the pro-independence demonstration. (Photo By Lorena Sopena/Eur...

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13Sep By Silver Emmanuel3 Comments

LALIGA

Injuries a factor for Real Madrid as La Liga returns

La Liga returns after the international break with a game where injuries are likely to play a key role as Real Sociedad entertain Real Madrid on Saturday night. Real Madrid are without Eder Militao, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, Aurelian Tchouameni and David Alaba with various injuries, while Jude Bellingham is a doubt due to a muscle problem he picked up before the break. The absences leave Carlo Ancelotti with a jigsaw puzzle to complete in defence and midfield and Dani Carvajal or Jesus Vallejo could start alongside Antonio Rudiger in the heart of their defence. Real Sociedad have lost their two home matches this campaign and are also struggling with a long list of absentees that includes Mikel Oyarzabal, with a badly twisted ankle, Hamari Traore, who is out for the season and creat...

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13Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Yamal: I want to stay at Barca forever & become a legend

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has appeared on Spanish television and chatted about a range of topics following his rapid rise to superstardom. The teenager spoke about comparisons with Lionel Messi and how he hopes he can stay at the club for his whole career. “I want to stay at Barça forever, I want to be a legend,” he told El Hormiguero. “I like to be compared to the best player in the history of football, but I want to be myself. Reaching Messi’s level is impossible.” Rather inevitably, Lamine was also asked about his good friend Nico Williams after a summer where Barcelona were regularly linked with the forward. Yet Yamal had a pretty diplomatic answer when asked about the prospect of playing alongside his good mate at Barcelona. “I would like to play with him every week, hopefully,...

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12Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

PSG ordered to pay Kylian Mbappé’s unpaid wages

Kylian Mbappé (25) looks to have won his long-running dispute with former club Paris Saint-Germain concerning unpaid wages, as reported by Le Parisien and L’Équipe. Mbappé went unpaid for the final three months of his PSG contract, from April to June, prior to his move to Real Madrid. The refusal to pay the wages came amid a dispute and a messy divorce between the two parties. Les Parisiens believed that they had an oral, gentleman’s agreement with the France captain that they wouldn’t lose out financially, in the event that he left on a free transfer, which of course he did. That agreement, the club has argued, was stated publically in January, when Mbappé said the following: “With the agreement that I made with the president this summer, regardless of my decision, (at the end of ...

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12Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Gavi returns to Barcelona training after ACL tear

Barcelona midfielder Gavi returned to training on Thursday as he edges closer to a return to action after almost 10 months out with a serious knee injury. Gavi, 20, has not played since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while playing for Spain against Georgia in a qualifying match for the European Championship at the end of last year. BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 12: Pablo Martin 'Gavi' of FC Barcelona looks on prior to the Joan Gamper Trophy match between FC Barcelona and AS Monaco at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on August 12, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images) A source has told Football Flame that no date has been fixed for a possible comeback at this stage, with the next steps dependent on how he responds to a gradual increase ...

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12Sep By Silver Emmanuel3 Comments

LALIGA

Barcelona have the two most experienced teenagers in world football

La Masia is back on top, as Barcelona are easily producing the finest prospects in world football, assembling a star-studded lineup where the majority of the key players are homegrown talents. Gavi and Pedri have been anchoring the midfield for the past couple of seasons, Alejandro Balde was a massive breakout star at left back in 2022/23 when Barcelona last won LaLiga, and both Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi emerged as legitimately two of the best players in LaLiga in their respective positions. Yamal, in particular, was a revelation, dominating the competition at Euro 2024 as a key player for champions Spain. Both Yamal and Cubarsi are just 17 years old, so, in theory, Barcelona have two world-class players on their hands for the next 15 years. Cubarsi and Yamal are so good, i...

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11Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Bayern confident of keeping Arsenal and Man City target

Bayern Munich are confident Jamal Musiala will soon sign a new contract with the club. The German international has entered the final two years of his deal with the German giants and has recently been linked with a host of top European sides, including Manchester City and Arsenal. Born in Stuttgart, Musiala joined Bayern’s academy from Chelsea in 2020 after a year with Southampton, having moved to England at the age of seven. He has since established himself as one of Europe’s leading players, finishing second to Jude Bellingham for last year’s Kopa Trophy, which is presented to the best player in the world under the age of 21. Musiala also proved one of the stars of the Germany side at this summer’s Euro 2024 and shared the Golden Boot award alongside club teammate Harry Kane, Dani Ol...

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11Sep By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

LALIGA

Ferland Mendy, Jesus Vallejo available to play vs Real Sociedad

Real Madrid defenders Ferland Mendy and Jesus Vallejo are set to be available to feature in the game against Real Sociedad on Saturday, according to reports from all over Spain. There have been a lot of players in the last couple of weeks who’ve got injured, especially in defense where, for a while, Antonio Rudiger was the only central defender who was fit — even Castilla’s Jacobo Ramon is currently injured. Vallejo is back, though, and it will be good to have another centre-back in the squad list. However, it is a different conversation about whether Vallejo will actually get the nod, because we have seen Carlo Ancelotti go for Dani Carvajal as makeshift centre-backs in the past. In other news, Jude Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eder Militao are back in training, but they trained...

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11Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Deco explains why Barca signed Dani Olmo and not Nico

Barcelona sporting director Deco has revealed why the club decided to buy Dani Olmo rather than Nico Williams in the summer transfer window. The Catalans were linked with Williams all summer. Joan Laporta said the club could afford to sign the Athletic star, but Barca opted to splash out on Olmo instead. Here’s what Deco’s said in an interview with Barca One when asked about the transfers. “A high-level winger was needed. We have Raphinha, Ferran, the return of Ansu who was very good in pre-season but had a foot injury, we have Lamine ... We have players who can play as wingers like Fermín or Dani Olmo . “We were clear that to bring in a player he had to be of a very high level. But in the end, signing Dani Olmo gave you more options. It’s not that we haven’t spoken with clubs and play...

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10Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Real Madrid star in push for start vs Sociedad with injury-time winner on international stage

A member of the attacking ranks at La Liga giants Real Madrid on Monday night staked his latest claim for a starting berth in Carlo Ancelotti’s XI. As much came by way of his exploits on the international front. The player in question? Brahim Díaz. Versatile attacker Brahim was back in action with Morocco a short time ago. After being afforded a rest from the off in the country’s AFCON qualifying meeting with Lesotho, the 24-year-old was introduced to the fray during the 2nd-half, with the game on a knife-edge. And, when all was said and done, Brahim went on to prove himself match-winner once more. Picking up the ball on the edge of the Lesotho penalty area, the former AC Milan man left a pair of defenders for dead, before picking out the bottom corner with a pinpoint finish. This p...

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10Sep By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

LALIGA

Memphis Depay set to join Corinthians in Brazil on a 2-year deal

Corinthians published a picture Monday of Depay holding a club shirt and meeting with a club executive. The 30-year-old Depay, who played for the Netherlands at the European Championship in July, will be the first ever Dutch player to join the popular Brazilian club, which has more than 35 million supporters. Brazilian media reported that Depay has undertaken his medical tests and will arrive in Sao Paulo later this week. Depay started his career at PSV Eindhoven in 2011 and later had spells at Manchester United, Olympique Lyon and Barcelona before joining Atletico Madrid. The Dutch striker played 39 times for Atletico Madrid and scored only nine goals last season. Corinthians is fighting to avoid relegation in the Brazilian league, with 13 rounds remaining. It is also in the quarterf...

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