Tag: Real Madrid

23Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Ancelotti: “Vinícius will win the Ballon d’Or”

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the media following Tuesday night’s memorable win over Borussia Dortmund, praising the hero of the hour, Vinícius Júnior, by saying, “I can say that it is rare to see a player who makes a second half as he does. MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 22: Vinicius Junior and Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid CF celebrate after scoring his team's fourth goal with during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between Real Madrid C.F. and Borussia Dortmund at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 22, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Mateo Villalba/Getty Images) Apart from the goals, with an energy and intensity, with an extraordinary character. He will win the Ballon d’Or, not for tonight, but for last season. These are three goals that will...

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22Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League

Mentality not enough to beat Real, says Dortmund coach

Borussia Dortmund head coach Nuri Sahin speaks during a press conference on October 16, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany. Borussia Dortmund will need more than just a strong mindset when they visit champions Real Madrid in the Champions League today, coach Nuri Sahin said as last year’s two finalists meet again in the competition’s new league phase. Real won their 15th European Cup in June at Wembley with Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Jr. scoring late to claim a 2-0 victory over a Dortmund team who had threatened an upset win after dominating the first hour. “Mentality only is not enough to survive against Real Madrid, especially in this stadium, against the champions of this competition,” Sahin told a press conference on Monday. “We need everything tomorrow. We need a lot of quality, a lot of sel...

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20Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Mbappe strikes in Real Madrid win over Celta Vigo as rape investigation reports swirl

Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Vinicius Junior during the LaLiga match between RC Celta de Vigo and Real Madrid CF at Estadio de Balaidos on October 19, 2024 in Vigo, Spain. Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior’s goals earned Real Madrid an entertaining 2-1 win at Celta Vigo yesterday to pull them level with La Liga leaders Barcelona. France striker Mbappe started and sent the Spanish champions ahead amid reports he is being investigated for an alleged rape during a visit to Sweden. The 25-year-old was criticised in his homeland for not appearing in his country’s recent Nations League matches before the Swedish media reports emerged following his trip during the international break, which Mbappe labelled “fake news”. Williot Swedberg level...

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18Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Real Madrid fans dismiss ‘fake’ Mbappe rape

Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid CF waves the audience during the LaLiga match between Real Madrid CF and Villarreal CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 05, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. Swedish prosecutors on Tuesday confirmed an investigation had been launched - without naming Mbappe - following an alleged rape at a plush Stockholm hotel on Oct. 10. Media in Sweden had reported the French superstar was the target of the probe following his two-day visit to the capital last week, which Mbappe and his lawyer have denied. For Juan Castro, a 72-year-old Real Madrid supporter, the press reports are merely "fake news" that "make no sense". "He's a pretty intelligent person who has lots of ability, he isn't going to make a mistake as stupid as this," the pensioner told AFP outside the club's Berna...

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17Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Man United eye Real Madrid top Left back target

Alphonso Davies left-back of Bayern Munich and Canada during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between Aston Villa FC and FC Bayern München at Villa Park on October 2, 2024 in Birmingham, England. Manchester United have reportedly entered the chase to sign Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies, joining Real Madrid in the race for one of the most coveted left-backs in world football. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, Davies could be snapped up for free in the summer, a situation that has piqued the interest of top European clubs. Why Alphonso Davies is a Target for Elite Clubs Despite a few fitness setbacks in recent seasons, Alphonso Davies remains one of the premier left-backs globally. Known for his blistering pace and defensive prowess, the Canadian ...

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15Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Mbappe ‘investigated for rape’ in Sweden: report

Kylian Mbappe is being investigated for rape by Swedish police, according to a newspaper report in Sweden following a visit by the Real Madrid star to Stockholm, which Mbappe denounced as 'fake news'. After Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported that an alleged rape had been reported to police but did not say who was accused, Expressen newspaper said 25-year-old Mbappe was the suspect. "According to information obtained by Expressen, police are investigating the star who is reasonably suspected of rape and sexual assault," the newspaper wrote. Swedish law enforcement differentiate the level of suspicion as either reasonable or probable, with reasonable being the lower degree of suspicion. Mbappe's entourage, when contacted by AFP, said it had no knowledge of a legal complaint made against ...

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14Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Report: Real Madrid want to sign £125m Arsenal target as long-term Luka Modric replacement

Arsenal and Real Madrid could end up on a collision course on more than one deal when the January and summer windows roll around. The Gunners are pushing to win the Premier League title while Madrid are looking to retain La Liga and make a big fist of things in the Champions League again. However, Arsenal and Madrid have already crossed paths in terms of transfer rumours, with Madrid said to be keen on star defender, William Saliba. Arsenal are thought to be relaxed on Madrid’s interest in Saliba. But according to reports from Spain, the Spanish champions could also end up scuppering Arsenal’s hopes of signing one of their top targets. Real Madrid looking to sign Florian Wirtz ahead of Arsenal According to a report from AS, Madrid are keeping an eye on German star Florian Wirtz as they lo...

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13Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Real Madrid targetting former player as a strategic signing

Recent reports from Fichajes have suggested that Rafa Marin could be on the verge of making a surprising return to Real Madrid sooner than anticipated. The young defender transferred to Napoli for approximately €12 million during the summer transfer window. However, his time in Italy has not unfolded as expected, and the circumstances at Napoli have proven to be less than favourable for him. So far this season, Marin has struggled to establish himself within the Napoli squad. He has not yet made his debut in the Italian Serie A and has only managed to play a mere 90 minutes in the Coppa Italia. This lack of game time is far from what both the player and the Napoli management envisioned when they decided to bring him on board. The limited opportunities have raised concerns among Marin’s s...

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11Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Real Madrid eye William Saliba transfer as Mikel Arteta mistake identified

Arsenal are in the midst of another international break and the Gunners will be hoping they can pick up where they left off when they return to action. Since their dramatic 2-2 draw with Manchester City last month, Arsenal have won their last four games across all competitions and scored 14 goals in the process. They will travel to Bournemouth on October 19 when the break is over, before hosting Shakhtar Donetsk and Liverpool the following week. And while many of Arsenal's stars are now focused on their international fixtures, there is still plenty of news coming out of the Emirates. Here, Football Flame takes a look over the latest headlines. Real Madrid eye Saliba Real Madrid have made William Saliba their "top priority" ahead of the summer transfer window, according to French outlet Le...

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6Oct By Silver Emmanuel3 Comments

LALIGA

Real flirts with winning ways again with victory over Villareal

An early Federico Valverde strike helped Real Madrid to a 2-0 home win against Villarreal in LaLiga on Saturday as Carlo Ancelotti’s men returned to winning ways after two games without a victory. Real took the lead in the 14th minute with a stunning long-range shot by Valverde following a Luka Modric corner, before Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr sealed the win in the 73rd with an unstoppable strike into the top corner from outside the box. The defending champions were in need of a positive performance after losing 1-0 at Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday and being held to a 1-1 stalemate at Atletico Madrid in their previous LaLiga game. Real, second in the standings, provisionally moved level with Barcelona on 21 points before the LaLiga leaders visit 11th-placed Alaves on Sunday....

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5Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Real Madrid vs Villarreal line up: Ancelotti drops a big name

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will drop a big name from his starting line up as Kylian Mbappe is reintroduced against Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday. LILLE, FRANCE - OCTOBER 02: Carlo Ancelotti, Head Coach of Real Madrid, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between LOSC Lille and Real Madrid C.F. at Stade Pierre Mauroy on October 02, 2024 in Lille, France. (Photo by Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) At a prematch press conference in the Spanish capital on Friday afternoon, Ancelotti noted that the visitors who were the last team to top his men at the Bernabeu have been "doing very well" thus far this season, with tonight's fixture providing Los Blancos with "an opportunity for us to reconnect, to play good football again....

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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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3Oct By Silver Emmanuel3 Comments

Champions League

Lille’s Bruno Genesio celebrates perfect night after upset win over Read Madrid

Lille coach Bruno Genesio hailed his team's perfect night after the Ligue 1 side beat Real Madrid 1-0 to end the 15-time European Cup winner's 14-game unbeaten streak in the Champions League on Wednesday. Lille played without fear, pressed relentlessly and prevailed courtesy of a Jonathan David penalty in first-half stoppage time to wrap up a memorable win and hand Carlo Ancelotti's team its first defeat in all competitions since January. "What this team did is incredible," Genesio said. "We try to put things in place, but you need the players to believe in the plan for this kind of upset to happen. "You have to do everything perfectly, you need a 'keeper who makes the decisive saves, a striker who scores and a bit of luck." Goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier certainly did his job, making a handfu...

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27Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

NEWS

Official: Four Real Madrid stars called up to Brazil squad for World Cup qualifiers

Just a couple of weeks after the first international break of the 2024/25 season window came to an end, the second one is just around the corner. ASUNCION, PARAGUAY - SEPTEMBER 10: Vinicius Junior of Brazil reacts during the South American FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Paraguay and Brazil at Estadio Defensores del Chaco on September 10, 2024 in Asuncion, Paraguay. (Photo by Christian Alvarenga/Getty Images) And national teams are already announcing the squad list for the upcoming matches, with a plethora of Real Madrid stars expected to fly away to play international football. Kicking things off, Brazil manager Dorival Junior announced the squad list of players for their upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers in October.And, as many as four Real Madrid players hav...

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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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25Sep By Silver Emmanuel3 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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25Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Raphael Varane, former Real Madrid and Manchester United defender, retires from football at 31

Former Real Madrid and Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has retired from professional football at the age of 31 after suffering a knee injury. Varane had joined Serie A club Como earlier this season after his contract at Man United ended. However, after suffering a knee injury recently the former World Cup winner decided to retire from football. He played just one match for Como in the Coppa Itali but was substituted after just 20 minutes. Varane’s most successful tenure at the club level came at Real Madrid where he played for 10 seasons and won 18 trophies including three La Liga titles and four Champions League top prizes. He won the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup with Man United and the World Cup in 2018 with his national team France. He made the retirement announcement through I...

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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 EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Real Madrid quoted club record transfer fee for Bundesliga star

Real Madrid may need to break their club transfer record to complete a future move for Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz. Los Blancos have been tentatively linked with an offer for the Germany international as a future option, alongside other Bundesliga targets, as part of their long term transfer plans. Despite rumours of Wirtz being open to a move to Madrid in 2024, he remained in Germany, as Leverkusen aim to defend their Bundesliga title. The 21-year-old netted 18 goals last season, as Leverkusen sealed a first ever Bundesliga crown, and he is under contract until 2027. His father previously rejected rumours of his son considering an offer from Madrid but the links remain strong. As per the latest from German football transfer expert Christian Falk’s Caught Offside Fact Files, Leverk...

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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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