LALIGA

4Oct By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

LALIGA

Rudiger: “Karim Benzema is the best player I have ever played with”

Real Madrid star Antonio Rudiger spoke about Karim Benzema as “the best player he has ever played with” in an interview with The Inside Scoop. He said: “Karim Benzema, I could say Modric, Kroos, Chelsea Hazard... but I have to go with Benzema [as the best player I have played with].” MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 04: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring the team's first goal from a penalty kick during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and Athletic Club at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on June 04, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) Rudiger on Jude Bellingham “I believe if God marks your time, nobody can do anything about it and he was there always at the right time. And luckily, he has great parents. I spoke to his mum a coupl...

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2Oct By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

De Jong blown away by Barca fans after return from injury

Frenkie de Jong admitted he was blown away by Barcelona fans after receiving a standing ovation on his return to action after injury. The Dutchman made his first appearance since April in the win over Young Boys, with supporters at Montjuic delighted to see him back in action. “I’m very happy with the victory and personally to be back on the pitch, to play football, and also for the applause from the fans. I appreciate it. A happy night,” he told Movistar. “I didn’t expect such a standing ovation. I’m very happy with the way people treat me.” De Jong also spoke about the game itself and how he feels the team are shaping up under their new manager. “I see the team in good shape, in good form. Lots of energy, lots of dynamism, we are playing well. We have to continue like this and improve, l...

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29Sep By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

LALIGA

Atalanta Suffer Massive Injury Scare in Bologna Draw

Problems keep piling up for Atalanta at the start of the new campaign as Marco Brescianini faces a potentially lengthy spell on the sidelines. The former Frosinone midfielder picked up an injury during Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Bologna at Renato Dall’Ara. Brescianini tried to break the deadlock on the stroke of halftime when he latched on to Sead Kolasinac’s cut-back on the edge of the six-yard box. Despite a delightful first touch, the Atalanta star caught the turf as he was trying to pull the trigger, injuring himself in the process. The 24-year-old immediately asked for medical attention. However, he refused to leave the pitch despite being treated near the end-line. Moments later, he collapsed to the ground again and had to hobble off the field in pain, with Lazar Samardzic taking...

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29Sep By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

LALIGA

Flick’s first misstep sees Barcelona’s unbeaten run end

A first loss of the season had to come at some point but the manner of the humbling at Osasuna could easily have been avoided. Notwithstanding that one can sympathise with why Hansi Flick rotated his starting XI, multiple changes virtually handed the win to the team from Pamplona. On another night, if Barca’s second half chances had gone in, the Blaugranes could even have walked away with all three points, but frankly they wouldn’t have deserved it. Flick’s tactical nous was on show throughout the game, and his switches certainly affected things. Over the course of the season under this manager, Barca will undoubtedly win more than they lose. But he cannot escape criticism for leaving the likes of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Marc Casado and Inigo Martinez on the bench. One, or maybe two at a p...

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28Sep By Silver Emmanuel3 Comments

LALIGA

Raphinha explains why he’s thriving under Flick at Barca

PARIS, FRANCE - APRIL 10: Raphinha of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona at Parc des Princes on April 10, 2024 in Paris, France.(Photo by Lionel Hahn/Getty Images) Raphinha has been talking about life at Barcelona under Hansi Flick and his fine form so far this season for the Catalan giants. The Brazilian has been key to Barcelona’s early-season form and was named La Liga’s Player of the Month for August.After picking up the award, Raphinha has been asked about his performances and why he’s thriving this season under Flick.“ During last season, Xavi had me defending several times and the truth is that I really like being closer to the goal,” he told...

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27Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Madrid return to scene of last defeat for Atletico derby clash

Spanish and European champions Real Madrid were unstoppable last season, unless they were facing city rivals Atletico Madrid. The only two defeats Los Blancos suffered were inflicted by Diego Simeone’s side, who host Real Madrid on Sunday in a spicy La Liga derby clash. Atletico were the last team to beat Madrid in the top flight, just over a year ago, with Carlo Ancelotti’s men unbeaten in 39 games since. The Rojiblancos also turfed Madrid out of the Copa del Rey in January 2024 in the last 16, which is the only loss Madrid have fallen to in the calendar year. Madrid are without star summer signing Kylian Mbappe after he suffered a thigh injury in the midweek win over Alaves, but still have a galaxy of attacking stars to call on. Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior, often the target of abus...

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26Sep By Silver Emmanuel3 Comments

LALIGA

Hansi Flick discuss goalkeepers, Ansu Fati, Robert Lewandowski and Getafe after Barcelona win

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick was a happy man after seeing his team beat Getafe 1-0 on Wednesday to maintain their perfect start to the Liga season. BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 25: Robert Lewandowski salutes Hansi Flick, head coach of FC Barcelona during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Getafe CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on September 25, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images) The Catalans had to work hard against a typically tough Getafe side, with Robert Lewandowski the match-winner for the hosts.Here are the best bits from Flick’s post-match presser:Flick on potentially signing a goalkeeperI’m only talking about the players I have, and Inaki is our goalkeeper. I’m happy today. We have three more points. Inaki is 25 years old an...

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25Sep By Silver Emmanuel5 Comments

LALIGA

Real Madrid confirm Kylian Mbappe injury blow ahead of Atletico derby

Kylian Mbappe is expected to ruled out for three weeks after suffering a thigh injury during Real Madrid's LaLiga victory over Alaves on Tuesday night. Mbappe, who scored in a fifth straight match to put his side 2-0 up five minutes before half-time at the Bernabeu, was replaced by Arda Guler in the 79th minute after seemingly feeling some discomfort. A Real statement on Wednesday read: 'After the tests carried out today on our player Kylian Mbappe by the Real Madrid medical team, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the (left thigh).' No further information was disclosed as to the expected timescale of Mbappe's recovery. Mbappe, who signed a five-year deal with the Madrid club in July after his contract at Paris St Germain expired, has made an impressive start to life in Spain. The 25-...

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24Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

La Liga rivals joins Barca stars in sending support to Ter Stegen

Barcelona players have been quick to send support to Marc-Andre ter Stegen after he suffered an awful knee injury against Villarreal that has seen him undergo surgery. Raphinha dedicated Barcelona’s win to Ter Stegen after the match when he spoke to the media, and team-mates have been quick to post messages on social media to their goalkeeper. Lamine Yamal posted on social media: “A lot of strength Marc, you are strong,” while Marc Bernal said “We are with you, captain” and Fermin Lopez added “With you captain.” Inigo Martinez posted on X: “You’ll come back stronger, captain. We’ll be waiting for you! Good luck Marc!” Sergi Roberto was also thinking about his good friend and former team-mate, writing: “Be strong Capi. I’m with you. Once again you will show your mentality and I have no doub...

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23Sep By Silver Emmanuel3 Comments

LALIGA

Barcelona beat Villarreal 5-1 with the help of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha

Forwards Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha both scored twice to help Barcelona thrash hosts Villarreal 5-1 on Sunday as the visitors maintained their perfect start in La Liga with a sixth consecutive victory. Lewandowski found the net twice inside 35 minutes before Villarreal pulled a quick one back through Ayoze Perez but Pablo Torre made it 3-1 after the break and Raphinha completed the rout for Barca with two goals late in the second half. On Saturday, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said he was delighted with his side’s play and resiliency in their clash against Espanyol, fighting back to win 4-1 after falling behind due to a rare blunder by their goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Ancelotti praised his players’ poise under pressure as they dominated proceedings, earning a win thanks to go...

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22Sep By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

LALIGA

Villarreal vs Barcelona: Preview, predictions and lineups

Barcelona are looking to bounce back from a disappointing Champions League defeat this Sunday when they travel to Villarreal in La Liga. After a perfect start to the Hansi Flick era, the Catalan giants were handed their first setback on Thursday evening as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Monaco in their first European outing of the season. An early red card for Eric Garcia proved costly, with Lamine Yamal's first Champions League goal not enough to save Barca. However, Flick's side have won all five of their La Liga matches to date and are guaranteed to finish the weekend at the top of the table, regardless of results elsewhere or their own at Villarreal. The Yellow Submarine have been in good form themselves at the start of the 2024/25 campaign and sit just four points off Barca. They ...

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22Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Ancelotti: Madrid slowly getting ‘back to our best’

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said his team are improving "little by little" after their 4-1 comeback win against Espanyol in LaLiga on Saturday. Madrid failed to score in the first half at the Santiago Bernabeu -- they've only scored one first-half goal all season -- and went behind to a Thibaut Courtois own goal not long after the interval. The introduction of Vinícius Júnior -- who was rested at the start -- changed the game, as goals from Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo, Vinícius and Kylian Mbappé gave Madrid all three points. "I thought it was a good game, we reacted well after Espanyol's goal," Ancelotti said in his post-match news conference. "We played better, with more rhythm, we had more chances. "We played faster, moving the ball with more speed, with better movement ... our mobility...

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21Sep By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

LALIGA

Alaves post win over Sevilla amid fan protest

Alaves fans ramped up their protest against inconvenient night-time games in Spain when they boycotted the first few minutes of Friday's La Liga match against Sevilla. One of the club's biggest organised fan groups are angry at what they say are excessive Friday and Monday night games that make it hard for supporters to attend. VITORIA GASTEIZ, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Carlos Martin of Deportivo Alaves, Kelechi Iheanacho of Sevilla, Facundo Tenaglia of Deportivo Alaves during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Deportivo Alaves v Sevilla at the Estadio de Mendizorroza on September 20, 2024 in Vitoria Gasteiz Spain (Photo by Cesar Ortiz Gonzalez/Soccrates/Getty Images) They called for fans to take their seats five minutes after kickoff so TV pictures would show empty stands a...

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21Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

‘It’s a big game for us’ – Marcelino relishing taking on Barca & Yamal

Villarreal boss Marcelino has been talking about Barcelona ahead of Sunday’s La Liga clash between the two sides at La Ceramica. Head coach of Villarreal CF, Marcelino Garcia Toral, during the La Liga match between Valencia CF and Villarreal CF at Mestalla Stadium in Valencia, Spain, on August 31, 2024. (Photo by Jose Miguel Fernandez/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Barca head into the match top of the league and face a Villarreal side who have also enjoyed a start season and are looking forward to the game. “It’s a big game for us. We are playing against a great team, the best in the league at the moment. That’s what the results and the numbers say. We’re going to play a very nice game with great expectation,” he told reporters. “These are the kind of matches that we professi...

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20Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois names his greatest all-time save

Thibaut Courtois is no stranger to success. Being a Real Madrid player since 2018, he has won all there is to win in the Spanish capital, including three league titles and two Champions League victories. Despite this glittering career, there have still been some career-defining moments which have stood out from the rest, and when promoting his new documentary, the legendary stopper was asked which of his saves stands out above all others. As per ElDesmarque, the Frenchman shared that ‘for the moment, for the match, it will be Mané’s against Liverpool, in the Champions League final.’ ‘I think it was a super-complicated stop. I was caught off guard, I thought I wasn’t going to make it.‘ the 32-year-old said as he recounted one of his career highlights. Real Madrid went on to win that particu...

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19Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Barcelona among Europe’s biggest clubs in pursuit of latest Salzburg revelation

The aim for FC Barcelona moving forward remains to improve their squad in a cost-efficient way. Years of misspending and mismanagement have put them in enough trouble as it is, but the club can only work on avoiding any future mishaps. To do that, however, Barcelona has a plan to mainly pursue certain types of players. One of those types is young players who are seen as market opportunities but are also great sporting prospects. That is the way that the club managed to secure the signings of the likes of Pedri, Ronald Araujo, and other talents in the first place over the last few years. Now, moreover, they continue that trend by following promising youngsters across Europe and even across other continents. From the attack all the way to the back-line, there are no restrictions on what ...

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19Sep By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

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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