LALIGA

26Aug By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Carlo Ancelotti confirms Andriy Lunin transfer decision

Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Andriy Lunin is set to stay at Real Madrid this season despite his contract running out next year. The Ukrainian goalkeeper stepped into the void left by the injured Thibaut Courtois last year, taking the gloves from previous back-up option Kepa Arrizabalaga and making some vital saves on the club's way to a La Liga and Champions League double. Andriy Lunin goalkeeper of Real Madrid and Ukraine during the warm-up before the La Liga match between RCD Mallorca and Real Madrid CF at Estadi de Son Moix on August 18, 2024 in Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Lunin made no secret of his desire to play regular first-team football over the summer but recently made a decision on his future, reportedly being ready t...

Read More

26Aug By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Hansi Flick opens up on €30m player’s departure from Barcelona

Today, FC Barcelona announced the departure of two of their players on loan, Vitor Roque and Clement Lenglet. The Brazilian youngster has left the Catalan side to join the La Liga club Real Betis, while Lenglet is also going to stay in Spain as he has joined Atletico Madrid on a year-long loan. SANT JOAN DESPI, SPAIN - AUGUST 26: Hansi Flick, head coach of FC Barcelona, attends his press conference ahead the Spanish League, La Liga EA Sports, football match against Rayo Vallecano at Ciudad Esportiva Joan Gamper on August 26, 2024 in Sant Joan Despi, Barcelona, Spain. (Photo By Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images) Real Betis have the option to buy Vitor Roque at the end of this loan, but among these two players, it is clearly Roque who has a better chance of returning and mak...

Read More

26Aug By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Diego Simeone confident over Julian Alvarez impact at Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is ready to bring his summer signings together in the coming weeks. Simeone has opted to bolster his squad this summer with new signings in his attack and Los Rojiblancos secured a first La Liga win of the season at home to Girona. Simeone will be looking to use that as a platform to build on in the coming weeks and he reserved special praise for fellow Argentinian Julian Alvarez. Alvarez made his first start for his new team against Girona, and despite not scoring, he impressed as part of a rotated line up for Simeone. “Julian worked a lot for the team, took up positions so we could recover the ball and counter attack”, as per reports from Diario AS. “He played a role in the second goal, and of course he wants to score like Sorloth, he’ll get there....

Read More

26Aug By Silver Emmanuel5 Comments

LALIGA

Kylian Mbappe wants more after Real Madrid home debut

Kylian Mbappe is ready for more following his Real Madrid home debut. The France captain has secured an unbeaten start to life as a Los Blancos player following his summer move to the Spanish capital. Mbappe is yet to score as a Real Madrid star as Los Blancos secured their first league win of the campaign against Real Valladolid. In front of the home fans for the first time, Mbappe showed flashes of his talent, but he is yet to find the net in the famous white shirt. Carlo Ancelotti has backed his new No.9 to change that in the coming weeks and Mbappe’s record suggests it will not take long to do so.. However, the occasion was not missed by Mbappe, as he prepares to start a new chapter in Madrid, in the coming months. “Thank you for this moment, for the team, and for me. It’s a grea...

Read More

25Aug By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Lewandowski secures Barca win over Athletic

Robert Lewandowski shrugged off a string of missed opportunities to earn Barcelona a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday in La Liga. The 36-year-old striker twice hit the woodwork, among other wasted chances, but kept his cool to slot home a 75th-minute winner for the Catalan giants. Teenage starlet Lamine Yamal put Barcelona ahead with a deflected effort but Oihan Sancet pulled Athletic level from the penalty spot before half-time. Lewandowski’s strike earned Barcelona their second win from two league matches under new coach Hansi Flick. “Especially in the first half he could have scored one or two goals... but in the end this is a goal getter, a striker, who scores goals,” Flick told reporters. “The second goal was the winner, three points, perfect.” The former Germany and Bayern...

Read More

25Aug By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Vitor Roque lands in Sevilla to complete Real Betis move

Barcelona striker Vitor Roque was all smiles after landing in Seville to complete a loan move to Real Betis. A deal has finally been agreed between the two sides, with reports claiming it’s a two-year loan that will include a buyback clause set at €27.5m. Fabrizio Romano reports the deal is done, however, and we can expect an official announcement within the next day or so. Vitor Roque will be hoping he can make an impact at Real Betis after a tough time at Barcelona since his move at the start of the year. Rivaldo has already tipped the youngster to succeed at Betis this season and prove Barcelona they were wrong to let him go. Vitor Roque’s move won’t do too much to help Barca register Dani Olmo. The Brazilian isn’t registered yet by Barcelona for the current season as the club had ...

Read More

24Aug By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham injured, expected to miss several weeks

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham sustained a muscle injury during training, the Spanish club said on Friday, and will miss key games for club and country. The 21-year-old England international, who was a key player last season when Real won the Champions League and La Liga titles, will be sidelined for several weeks, according to club sources. “Following tests carried out today (Saturday) on our player Jude Bellingham by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the plantaris muscle in his right leg. Pending evolution,” Real said in a statement. He will miss Sunday’s La Liga clash against Real Valladolid and England’s Nations League matches next month against Ireland and Finland. Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, who usually talks to the media one day be...

Read More

24Aug By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Barcelona can save big with double Lenglet operation

As has been the case for the last few years, FC Barcelona once again have to look for a new club for Clement Lenglet in this summer transfer window. The Frenchman has returned to the Catalan club after spending the last season on loan at Aston Villa, but it is highly unlikely that he will remain in Flick’s team for this season. A breakthrough in this operation for Barcelona was reported yesterday as Fabrizio Romano claimed that the French defender is going to join Atletico Madrid on loan, while also extending his contract with the Blaugrana club by one year.While this move has not officially been announced yet, Mundo Deportivo has provided an outline of how this will impact the Catalan club’s finances and fair play margin. Without this contract extension, Lenglet would have been rece...

Read More

24Aug By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Flick backs Kounde to ‘take care’ of Nico Williams

Hansi Flick is backing Jules Kounde to “take care” of Nico Williams when Barcelona come up against Athletic Club on Saturday in La Liga. Barca spent the summer trying to sign Nico but appear to have given up on their efforts to land the Spain star. The Catalans will now have to find a way to stop the forward on Saturday night, with Flick confident Kounde can do the business at Montjuic. “On this side we have an experienced player, so I can say that Jules will take care of him,” he told reporters. “To speak about him is not my job because he’s not our player. The focus is more how we play him because he’s a good player, so I think Jules will make a good job.” Athletic Club started the season with a 1-1 draw at home to Getafe. Williams came off the bench in that game but is expected to ...

Read More

23Aug By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Kylian Mbappe set for home debut as Carlo Ancelotti seeks to get Madrid on track

Kylian Mbappe will make his home debut for Real Madrid against Real Valladolid on Sunday. Kylian Mbappe's La Liga debut for Real Madrid did not go as planned, as Los Blancos drew at Mallorca last weekend, with coach Carlo Ancelotti believing the Spanish champions lacked "balance." The French superstar striker will make his first home appearance for Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Sunday against promoted side Real Valladolid, owned by former Madrid forward and Brazil great Ronaldo. Mbappe is on course to enjoy a similarly sizable legacy in soccer, but is hoping to make a far greater impact at Madrid than Ronaldo was able to during the club's "galactico" era. Ronaldo won just one La Liga title and failed to lift the Champions League trophy during five seasons in the Spanish capital...

Read More

22Aug By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Andreas Christensen ‘could follow Ilkay Gundogan out of Barcelona’

Former Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen could leave Barcelona before the summer transfer window ends, according to reports. The Catalan giants are already on the verge of losing Ilkay Gundogan, with the midfielder set for a sensational return to Manchester City. He landed in Manchester on Wednesday night and met Pep Guardiola for dinner ahead of his proposed free transfer back to the club he left last summer. Now, Christensen could follow him out the exit door as the centre back is open to leaving Barcelona this month, as reported by Mundo Deportivo. Christensen was only on the bench for Barcelona's opening LaLiga match at Valencia last weekend, and is unlikely to have a prominent role under Hansi Flick if he stays at the club. With this in mind, he could be tempted by a move aw...

Read More

21Aug By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Gundogan’s exit still not enough for Barca to register Olmo

Ilkay Gundogan is leaving Barcelona after just one year to sign for Manchester City but his departure is reportedly still not enough to register Dani Olmo. It’s been widely reported that one of the key reasons for Gundogan’s exit is for Barcelona to free up some space on the wage bill for their new signing. However, COPE are reporting that Gundogan’s departure is not enough and another exit is needed by the Catalan giants. A new Nike kit deal might also be enought but there’s no word on that, even though Joan Laporta claimed he’d have news shortly just about a month ago.Barcelona are finalising Vitor Roque’s exit to Real Betis at the moment, but the Brazilian isn’t registered for the new season yet either. Mikayil Faye is another player expected to move on, while Clement Lengle...

Read More

20Aug By Silver Emmanuel3 Comments

LALIGA

Atletico held, Valladolid make La Liga winning return

Villarreal and Atletico Madrid have combined for four goals in an action-packed first half but neither side could find a winner in the second as they settled for a 2-2 draw in their La Liga opener. A new-look Atletico team were without Stefan Savic, Mario Hermoso, Memphis Depay and Alvaro Morata and went behind on the road after 18 minutes when Arnaut Danjuma scored a solo goal from a tight angle. Marcos Llorente levelled for Atletico two minutes later with a fierce strike only for hosts Villarreal to get back in front nine minutes before halftime thanks to a goalkeeping mistake by keeper Jan Oblak. Oblak flapped at a cross and the ball hit the unsuspecting Koke and bounced into the net for an own goal. Alexander Sorloth, who joined from Villlareal this month, equalised in first-half ...

Read More

19Aug By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Chelsea reach agreement with Atletico Madrid for Joao Felix

After over a week of negotiations, Chelsea look to have reached an agreement with Atletico Madrid for Portuguese forward Joao Felix. The 24-year-old is in Atletico’s matchday squad for their season debut against Villarreal, but may have played his final minutes for the club. As per The Athletic, Chelsea and Atletico have agreed on a deal for Felix, with personal terms long-since settled. Felix has given the green light for a move, and will sign a six-year deal with an option for a further season, meaning he will be at least 30 years of age when his contract expires. Meanwhile Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher has been given permission to travel to Madrid for a second time to complete a €42m move to Atletico. The England midfielder had to return to London after the initial move sta...

Read More

18Aug By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Balde offers positive update after Barca beat Valencia

Alejandro Balde has offered a positive fitness update after being taken off during Barcelona’s win over Valencia on Saturday at Mestalla. The left-back was back in the starting XI after a long spell out through injury but had to go off in the second half after seemingly picking up a problem. However, Balde has moved to ease injury fears after the game by posting a message on social media. He wrote on Instagram Stories: “It was only a knock, I’m alright.” The news will be a boost to Hansi Flick who doesn’t have too many options at left-back for the new 2024-25 season. Gerard Martin replaced Balde at Mestalla and made his La Liga debut for Barcelona. The 22-year-old looks like he may get plenty more opportunities this season too. Barcelona how have a week to recover before they return t...

Read More

17Aug By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

LALIGA

Iago Aspas steers late winner for Celta Vigo in La Liga

Iago Aspas avoided an early red card thanks to a video review, had a goal chalked off just before half-time and then capped an eventful game by scoring Celta Vigo's winner against Deportivo Alaves in the Spanish league. The 37-year-old Aspas was the focal point for Celta for much of last season and picked up where he left off in their opening game, netting in the 84th minute to seal a 2-1 victory for the hosts. He had been shown a red card after seven minutes when his arm made contact with Antonio Blanco, but it was downgraded to a yellow after a VAR review. Blanco's cross to Kike Garcia then set up the opening goal for Alaves 10 minutes later. Aspas had a goal disallowed for offside before half-time but Celta equalised midway through the second half thanks to Williot Swedberg's superb...

Read More

16Aug By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Young midfielder Uche scores in league debut for Getafe

Nigerian midfielder Christantus Uche was playing in the fifth division of Spanish soccer two years ago, now he has scored on debut for Getafe in La Liga. Young midfielder Christantus Uche has scored in his La Liga debut to help Getafe earn a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao. The 21-year-old Nigerian, who was playing in the fifth division of Spanish soccer only two years ago, scored on Thursday - the opening day of the Spanish league - from a firm header in the 64th minute. "I'm feeling so good," said Uche. "To score a goal in my debut is amazing. I'm really happy." Uche was with fifth-division Moralo before joining third-division side Ceuta for a reported transfer fee of 800 euros ($A1300) last year. Athletic, the defending Copa del Rey champions and one of the teams considered to have an...

Read More

15Aug By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

LALIGA

Mbappe Scores as Lookman’s Atalanta Fall to Madrid in Super Cup

Super Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman failed to reenact his Europa Cup final win last May yesterday as UEFA Champions League Champions, Real Madrid posted a 2-0 win against the Italian side in the Super Cup final match in Warsaw, Poland. The result leaves only Nwankwo Kanu, Finidi George and Celestine Babayaro as the only Nigerian players to have won the Super Cup for their respective clubs in Europe. The win gives Real Madrid its sixth time winning cup which itself is a record. Kylian Mbappe made his first appearance for last season’s Champions League winners and scored on his debut after Federico Valverde had put Real Madrid ahead with half an hour to play. Carlo Ancelotti’s side could have filled their boots even more in the second half if it wasn’t for a fine display from Atalanta g...

Read More

14Aug By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Kylian Mbappe ready to make Real Madrid debut in UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta

Kylian Mbappe appears ready to make his debut for Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta on Wednesday. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said the France striker arrived in good shape following the European Championship and was adapting well to the team after a week of practice. Mbappe “could play tomorrow,” Ancelotti said Tuesday at a news conference at the National Stadium in Warsaw where the match will be played.The 25-year-old Mbappe is the biggest draw in the Polish capital after finally joining Madrid following a drawn-out saga with his former club, Paris Saint-Germain. He was introduced to the club’s fans at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium last month but wasn’t part of the squad on its U.S. tour while he rested after Euro 2024.He joins a slew of world-class forwards at Mad...

Read More

13Aug By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Flick and Baby Barca get a dose of reality at just the right time

No one said wins would come easy for Hansi Flick and his young Barcelona players. What made them special throughout the preseason was completely absent on Monday night. No intensity. No fight. That being said, Monaco had a very different tactical approach than Manchester City, Real Madrid, and AC Milan. In this game, this Barcelona team, for the first time, were the favorites. They were playing at home, and although they fielded some young and inexperienced players, namely Marc Casadó, Marc Bernal, Pablo Torre, and Pau Víctor, they were expected to come out on top. After all, it’s been over a decade since Barcelona last lost their inaugural Joan Gamper match. In the end, it was naivete that lost them the game. One bad touch from Marc Bernal in front of goal was all it took to sink the ...

Read More