LALIGA

Zinedine Zidane said Gareth Bale is a key player for the Spanish champions. Bale, who continues to be linked with a return to the Premier League, started on the bench as two-time reigning Champions League winners Madrid advanced to the quarter-finals following Tuesday's 2-1 victory over a 10-man Paris Saint-Germain. The Wales international forward was introduced with 14 minutes remaining in Paris, where Madrid sealed a 5-2 aggregate triumph. Bale was named among the substitutes as Zidane turned to Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio.Vazquez was the provider for five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who opened the scoring six minutes into the second half at the Parc des Princes. Casemiro was also on target with 10 minutes remaining after Edinson Cavani pulled a goal back for the Ligue...

The former Liverpool player and Brazil international scored his first La Liga goal for his new club in the resounding win over Pablo Machin's side.It was a finish typical of his time at Liverpool a delightful curling effort from outside the box going in off the post. Suarez stole the show by grabbing his first hat-trick of the season while Messi got in on the act with a brace. Coutinho's strength that he learned in the Premier League and at Liverpool is beginning to show that, for his size, he holds off players pretty easily in Spain.

Nelson Semedo will not feature in the key games against Atletico Madrid and Chelsea after Barcelona confirming that he has a damaged muscle.Barcelona full-back Nelson Semedo has been ruled out for up to five weeks with a hamstring injury. Semedo pulled up when chasing back during the second half of his side's 6-1 LaLiga thrashing of Girona at Camp Nou.Tests have shown thatbSemedo sustained muscle damage and Barca want him to be out of action until April.

Real Madrid are observing Raheem Sterling's situation at Manchester City, according to a report. Sterling's future at City has been put in doubt, and Real Madrid are reportedly contemplating a summer move. Sterling has yet to begin formal contract talks at the club and it is suggested a reluctance to offer him an improved deal could spell the end at the Etihad. The England international has been enjoying his best season in senior football, having scored 20 goals for Pep Guardiola's side. However the 23-year-old is yet to be offered new terms at the club, and with just over two years left on his current deal, uncertainty over his future has reportedly put Zinedane Zidane on red alert. The La Liga giants are looking to bolster their attacking options in the summer transfer window, and a move...

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric is ready for another week on the sidelines but should be fit to face Paris Saint-Germain, according to Zinedine Zidane . The Croatian midfielder missed Sunday’s win at Real Betis with a muscular injury and it is stated that he could be out of action for another ten days. Real Madrid manager confirmed on Tuesday: “Modric's hamstring has played up a bit, but we are focused on getting him back quickly and we believe it’s nothing major.”Modric joins Toni Kroos, Jesus Vallejo and Marcelo on the sidelines, with the quartet missing Wednesday’s La Liga trip to Leganes.

Real Madrid shocked Real betis with second-half comeback assisted by Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos to win 5-3 at Real Betis in a thrilling La Liga game on Sunday, showing their awesome power in attack as well as their vulnerabilities.Marco Asensio headed Real, who are fourth, in front after 11 minutes but Aissa Mandi nodded an equaliser in the 33rd before the visitors' Nacho Fernandez diverted a fumbled Keylor Navas save into his own net to give Betis the lead four minutes later. The atmosphere gripped the Benito Villamarin stadium but locally-born Real captain Ramos punctured the mood, as he has done so often in recent years, making it 2-2 with a towering header from a corner five minutes into the second half. Gareth Bale then spurned two good chances and it was left to hot-shot wing...

Barcelona have drawn twice in a row in La Liga, and the defender believes that defeat against the Blues could derail their excellent season.Gerard Pique has told Barcelona to be careful of the threats posed by Chelsea ahead of next week's last-16 Champions League tie. Barcelona will be travelling to Premier League champions for the first leg of their clash on Tuesday, the Catalan giants having seen their comfortable cushion atop La Liga cut to seven points after back-to-back draws. Chelsea and Barca have a rich shared history in the Champions League, having faced each other 12 times in the tournament since 2000, most recently in the 2011-12 semi-finals. There have been four Chelsea wins to three for Barca during that time and although the Blues have made a poor attempt at defending their l...

Cristano Ronaldo is  desperate to progress in the European competition to try and save Real Madrid’s nightmare season.The La Liga champions sit fourth in the table and trail league leaders Barcelona by 17 points. Zinedine Zidane’s side are already knocked out of the Copa del Rey so their only chance of silverware is in the Champions League. Ronaldo had only scored four league goals all season until he bagged a hat-trick against Real Sociedad at the weekend.The Portugal international will be hoping to take his new-found form into the clash with PSG, but he thinks his side stand the best chance of winning if one player does not start. According to Spanish outlet Diario Gol, midfielder Isco is the player in question. Ronaldo apparently thinks that he slows the tempo of the ga...

Real Madrid want to sign Kane from Tottenham with the La Liga giants likely to miss out on the league title to Barcelona. Los Blancos currently sit a huge 19 points behind their fierce rivals, who are the top of the table, And a summer overhaul at the Bernabeu is expected. Kane is wanted as a replacement for Karim Benzema, with the France forward managing just six goals across all competitions this season. And Spanish website Don Balon say Barcelona’s Messi fears Kane moving to the Bernabeu.The England star has been in stunning form this season. His last-minute penalty against Liverpool at the weekend was his 100th Premier League goal and his 31st of the season so far. And Don Balon say Messi fears Kane’s arrival could scupper Barcelona’s chances of winning future silverware. Real are expe...

Real Madrid had a draw 2-2 with Levante today in  La Liga clash. Los Blancos entered the match looking to build on their impressive victory at Valencia last weekend, but veteran Italian forward Giampaolo Pazzini came off the bench to net a late equaliser on his Levante debut.The result means that Zinedine Zidane's side missed the chance to move above Valencia into third position in the table, while Levante have moved three points clear of the relegation zone. Sergio Ramos returned for a Real Madrid team that once again had Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema in the final third of the field. Marcelo had the away side's first half-chance of the match in the sixth minute, but the left-back missed the target from a narrow angle. Marcelo had another super chance in the 11th mi...

Barcelona released their squad for Copa del Rey semi-final and they’ll face Valencia at Camp Nou in the first leg of the semi-final, and Ernesto Valverde has called up 18 players to be in uniform on Thursday night.GOAL KEEPERS: 1. Marc-André ter Stegen, 13. Jasper CillessenDEFENDERS: 3. Gerard Piqué, 18. Jordi Alba, 19. Lucas Digne, 20. Sergi Roberto, 23. Samuel Umtiti, 24. Yerry MinaMIDFIELDER S: 4. Ivan Rakitic, 5. Sergio Busquets, 6. Denis Suarez, 8. Andrés Iniesta, 14. Philippe Coutinho, 15. Paulinho Bezerra, 22. Aleix VidalFORWARD: 9. Luis Suárez, 10. Lionel Messi, 17. Paco Alcácer

Real Madrid surprised Valencia by having 4-1 away win at the Mestalla, Valencia were no pushovers and battled Madrid all evening. It was Marcelo and Toni Kroos ’s late goals that sentenced Valencia to defeat. It was an encouraging game for Madridistas with great individual performances from the likes of Keylor Navas, Marcelo, Modric, and Ronaldo. What did transpire at the Mestalla was a comprehensive scoreline but a far less convincing performance as a pair of Ronaldo penalties in the first half put the game out of Valencia's reach before the break despite their second half push for parity. Martín Montoya lunged at Cristiano Ronaldo in the penalty area after a slick counter that saw Marcelo and Karim Benzema combine to tee up the Portuguese. The referee pointed for the penalty spot and Ron...