LALIGA

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 ...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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 ...

Read More

19Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo 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 ...

Read More

19Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo 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...

Read More

17Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

16Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

15Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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. ...

Read More

14Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

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...

Read More

13Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo 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...

Read More

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,...

Read More

12Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

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 ...

Read More

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 ...

Read More