Tag: Madrid

  • Three star Arsenal stun Madrid in UCL rout

    Three star Arsenal stun Madrid in UCL rout

    Declan Rice’s two fantastic free-kicks and a striker’s finish from Mikel Merino gave Arsenal an emphatic 3-0 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium.

    The hosts had the better of the first half as Real began slowly, with Eduardo Camavinga almost conceding a calamitous own goal when he blocked Antonio Rudiger’s clearance before Thomas Partey shot straight at Thibault Courtois.

    Real grew into the contest and threatened on the break, but Courtois was by far the busier goalkeeper and produced a stunning double save on the stroke of halftime to keep the game level.

    There was no stopping Rice’s opener, though, a fierce shot around the wall and beyond Courtois in the 58th minute for the midfielder’s first senior goal from a direct free kick.

    Read Also:UCL QF: Things to know as Inter Milan hosts Bayern Munich

    Arsenal could have been two-up shortly after, but for more heroics from Courtois, who produced a diving stop from Gabriel Martinelli followed by another from Merino in between David Alaba’s goalline block.

    Rice’s second free kick was even better than the first, curled straight into the top corner in the 70th minute, to leave the 15-time European champions looking stunned.

    Merino then coolly fired substitute Leandro Trossard’s pull-back into the bottom corner 15 minutes from time to give Arsenal a sizeable lead to take to Madrid next week.

    Real will have to try and overhaul that lead without Camavinga, who was shown a second yellow card in the closing seconds for kicking the ball away.

    The winner of the tie will face either Aston Villa or Paris St Germain in the semi-finals

  • Madrid secure dramatic comeback against struggling City

    Madrid secure dramatic comeback against struggling City

    Real Madrid are set to reach the last 16 of the Champions League after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Manchester City in the first leg of their play-off round tie at the Etihad Stadium.

    The defending champions took the bull by the horn in the early minutes of the game having had two big chances to break the deadlock. Kylian Mbappe was denied by Ederson after a wonderful pass from Vinicius Junior, and a few minutes later, Ferland Mendy saw his effort cleared off the line after good work from Rodrygo Goes. However, Real Madrid were made to pay as Man City struck the first blow from Erling Haaland.

    It stayed 1-0 until half time, but Real Madrid would get themselves level on the hour mark as Kylian Mbappe scored. Dani Ceballos played a fantastic ball over the top for the French forward, and despite not making clean contact, it was enough for the back of the net to be found.

    Read Also: UCL: Things to know as Real Madrid, Man City clash tonight

    Ceballos would go from hero to villain for Real Madrid as he gave away a penalty soon after for Haaland scored his second of the evening, but fortunately for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, they were able to get back level on the 85th minute – a poor clearance allowed Vinicius Junior to strike towards goal, and although his effort was saved, the rebound was turned home by former Man City player Brahim Diaz.

    Remarkably, Real Madrid would complete a late comeback in stoppage time. A combination of poor play from Mateo Kovacic and Rico Lewis allowed Vinicius to break clear, and after knocking the ball away from the onrushing Ederson, Jude Bellingham raced in to score the winning goal in the 92nd minute.

    With the result, Real Madrid are now clear favourites to knock Man City out of the Champions League for the third time in the last four seasons, although the reigning Premier League champions will certainly be going for it at the Santiago Bernabeu next week as they bid to overturn to the one-goal advantage that Los Blancos have.

  • Endrick’s golazo secures Madrid’s UCL victory on opening day

    Endrick’s golazo secures Madrid’s UCL victory on opening day

    Carlo Ancelotti praised 18-year-old forward Endrick for his “courage” after the young Brazilian scored his first Champions League goal in dramatic fashion. 

    Despite having clear passing options in Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé, Endrick opted for a long-range strike in the 95th minute, securing Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabéu.

    Mbappé had opened the scoring early in the second half, with Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav quickly equalizing. Antonio Rüdiger then restored Madrid’s lead before Endrick’s sensational goal sealed the win. 

    During a counter-attack, Endrick found himself with both Vinícius and Mbappé unmarked but he chose to go for goal, wrong footing Stuttgart’s goalkeeper Alexander Nübel and making history as Madrid’s youngest-ever Champions League scorer.

    “He has guts!” Ancelotti told Movistar. In his post-match press conference, the Madrid coach expanded on his praise: “Endrick had the courage to take on the hardest option. It was the last moment of the game, and he was convinced he’d score. He went for it, and it paid off.”

    It’s been an eventful week for Endrick, who also celebrated his marriage to Gabriely Miranda. Ancelotti remarked, “In the past two days, he’s shown bravery both on and off the pitch.”

    Mbappé’s goal, coming just 22 seconds into the second half, was his first Champions League strike for Madrid, bringing his tally to five goals in seven games since joining the club.

  • Madrid look to replicate last season’s champions league campaign

    Madrid look to replicate last season’s champions league campaign

    Stuttgart make their long-awaited return to Europe’s elite competition after 14 years, kicking off their campaign with a daunting clash against 15-time champions Real Madrid. 

    Los Blancos, fresh from securing their record-breaking 15th Champions League title three months ago, are once again set to face German opposition. 

    Carlo Ancelotti’s side triumphed 2-0 over Borussia Dortmund in the final of the last edition, having overcome four different German clubs en route to lifting the trophy. Now, they aim to begin the new campaign on a high against another Bundesliga side.

    Stuttgart, who finished a surprising second in the Bundesliga last season, have had a mixed start to the new campaign. 

    In their first three matches, they’ve managed a win, a draw, and a loss. Head coach Sebastian Hoeness faces a daunting challenge as his side prepares for a trip to the Spanish capital. 

    Can Stuttgart, despite their shaky start, pull off a shock result against one of the most formidable clubs in European football?

    Read Also: Madrid furious with Brazil over Militao injury

    Real Madrid come into the match as heavy favorites, boasting far more European experience and a solid run of form. At the weekend, they extended their unbeaten streak to six competitive matches with a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad, thanks to penalties converted by Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé. Though still four points behind Barcelona in La Liga, Ancelotti will be pleased with his team’s defensive resilience, having conceded just one goal in their last four league outings.

    Stuttgart, meanwhile, picked up their first Bundesliga win in the third round with a 3-1 away victory over Borussia Monchengladbach. However, defensive frailties remain a concern for Die Schwaben, as they’ve conceded seven goals in their first three domestic matches. This leaky backline will face a tough test against the firepower of Vinicius Junior and Mbappé, who are likely to exploit any defensive weaknesses.

    Real Madrid’s European heritage  and Stuttgart’s early-season struggles make this a tough test for the Bundesliga side as they return to the Champions League stage.

  • Hala Madrid: System over players

    Hala Madrid: System over players

    SIR: The Spanish club, Real Madrid CF, has proved to the world that system is bigger than players. Wikipedia defines a system as a group of interacting or interrelated elements that act according to a set of rules to form a unified whole. The first lesson, therefore, is that notwithstanding your competence, whatever rests solely on you is not a system and is prone to a crash. Even in several religions where the supremacy of God is sacrosanct, they still talk about the host of Heaven. By implication, even God has a system where structures and functions are clearly defined.

    System ensures perpetuity. With a clear system in place, plans run somewhat seamlessly. Within 1998 and 2024, Madrid has had over 15 coaches yet the club has sealed its place as an all-time champion. As of 2024, Real is one of only three clubs never to have been relegated from the top level of Spanish football. Since becoming the first Spanish club to enter the European Cup in 1955, Real has competed in every UEFA-organised competition, except the Intertoto Cup and Conference League. They have missed out on European football only twice in their history, in the 1977–78 and 1996–97 seasons.

    Read Also: Real Madrid beat Dortmund to win record 15th Champions League

    In decades, Madrid only failed to get a silverware in 2020/2021 yet they did manage to guide themselves through a raft of injuries to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League and fight for the LaLiga Santander title until the final day. Real Madrid, with 30 continental and worldwide trophies, is the most successful team in international club football.

    Such consistent success in over 70 years cannot be attributed to players or even coaches. It is the benefit of building a system. A system makes it easy to hand over a structure from one generation to another.

    As a nation, Nigeria has to build a formidable system that will not depend on any individual(s) but clearly mapped out plans and procedures that must run notwithstanding who is in leadership position. An institution that can help facilitate a working national system is the family. Families must put in place value systems that are built on virtues such as hard work, honesty, transparency, empathy, selflessness and whatnot.

    Be like Madrid! Build a system! It lasts long, even if not forever.

    • Ganiu Bamgbose, Lagos.
  • UCL:  Man City hold Real in six-goal thriller in Madrid

    UCL:  Man City hold Real in six-goal thriller in Madrid

    Real Madrid and Manchester City slugged out a thrilling 3-3 draw in a rip-roaring Champions League quarter-final clash in the Spanish capital, leaving the tie between the last two holders of the trophy wide open for the second leg next week.

    The Madrid crowd were left stunned two minutes into the match when City’s Bernardo Silva took advantage of a one-man wall to drill a free kick from 40 metres just inside Andriy Lunin’s right-hand post to give the visitors the lead.

    But Eduardo Camavinga helped level the scores after 12 minutes when his long-range strike deflected off defender Ruben Dias for an own goal after wrong-footing keeper Stefan Ortega.

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    Two minutes later Vinicius Jr delivered a brilliant through ball that Rodrygo took in his stride before his weak goal-bound shot was deflected by Manuel Akanji to give the hosts the lead.

    City piled on the pressure and levelled in the 66th  minute through a stunning Phil Foden strike into the top corner and went ahead when Josko Gvardiol fired home five minutes later.But Federico Valverde’s glorious volley in the 79th  rescued a draw for Real on another epic Champions League night that left the fans eager for more in the return leg in Manchester.

  • LA LIGA: Carvajal seals Madrid’s wild comeback win over Almeria

    LA LIGA: Carvajal seals Madrid’s wild comeback win over Almeria

     Real Madrid produced a controversial comeback to beat winless Almeria 3-2 yesterday as Dani Carvajal rammed home the winner in the 99th  minute to settle a wild and hugely entertaining clash at the Santiago Bernabeu where Mafrid had trailed 2-0.

    Almeria took a two-goal lead in the first half through Largie Ramazani’s 38th  minute strike and a screamer from Edgar Gonzalez.

    However Madrid battled back to triumph as Jude Bellingham converted a penalty and Vinicius Junior used his upper arm to divert home an equaliser, before Carvajal’s last-gasp winner.

    Ramazani stunned Los Blancos inside the first minute and pulled off a spectacular backflip celebration in delight.

    Nacho gave the ball away with a slack pass and Almeria sprang forward, with the Belgian forward beating Kepa Arrizabalaga.

    Madrid struggled to find their rhythm and Almeria scored a brilliant second before half-time when Gonzalez lashed a half-volley into the top corner from long range.

    Madrid could not conjure a shot on target in the first half and Ancelotti took action at the break.

    The Italian coach made a triple change, hooking Nacho, Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo for Brahim Diaz, Fran Garcia and target man Joselu.

    Read Also: Super Clasico: Barca, Real Madrid face off in Riyadh

    The latter was quickly involved, winning Madrid a penalty when his header was handled by Kaiky Fernandes, awarded after a VAR review.

    La Liga’s top scorer Bellingham fired the spot kick down the middle for his 14th  strike of the campaign.

    Former Madrid forward Sergio Arribas thought he had restored Almeria’s lead but the goal was ruled out for a foul in the build up again by VAR, before Vinicius levelled.

    The Brazilian turned home Aurelien Tchouameni’s cross with his upper arm and although the goal was ruled out for handball at first, after yet another VAR review it was controversially allowed to stand.

    Bellingham had a goal ruled out for offside against Garcia in the buildup as Madrid ramped up the pressure in search of the winner.

    The England international again came close with a superb bicycle kick which flew narrowly off-target and also had an effort deflected wide as Almeria desperately clung on.

    Almeria coach Gaizka Garitano was sent off during 11 minutes of stoppage time for complaints but worse was yet to come.

    Bellingham knocked on a cross to the back post where Carvajal arrived to smash home and spark jubilant celebrations from a club accustomed to producing these kind of epic comebacks.

  • Madrid lose Super Cup to Atletico as Lopetegui era begins

    Atletico Madrid finally got their own back on Real Madrid in European competition by snatching a 4-2 win over their city rivals after extra time to lift the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.

    Diego Costa gave Europa League holders Atletico a dream start against Champions League winners Real by firing them ahead after 49 seconds.

    He knocked down a long pass and smashed the ball into the net from a tight angle.

    Real, playing their first competitive game since all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo left and Julen Lopetegui succeeded Zinedine Zidane as coach, soon pulled level.

    Karim Benzema nodded in a cross from Gareth Bale in the 27th minute.

    Real, who beat Atletico in the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals and dumped them out of the competition in 2015 and 2017, were unrelenting.

    They poured more pain on their neighbours when Juanfran handled and Sergio Ramos tucked the penalty kick away.

    Diego Simeone’s side, however, are renowned for their fighting spirit and in spite of being outplayed for sections of the second half, got back into the game with 12 minutes left.

    A thumping close-range finish from Costa drew them level.

    Brazilian left back Marcelo had the chance to grab Real victory in stoppage-time but he slipped as he tried to meet a Bale cross.

    Extra-time was then needed to settle an enthralling contest between the fierce rivals.

    Atletico were on the back foot for the start of the extra period but they were still able to press their opponents high up the pitch.

    That led to Raphael Varane giving the ball away outside his area.

    Saul Niguez thumped home a stunning volley from Thomas Partey’s cross in the 98th minute to restore their lead.

    Fellow academy graduate Koke struck six minutes later, finishing off a smooth team move to secure Atletico’s third Super Cup title.(Reuters/NAN)

  • Champion Zidane bids Madrid shocking farewell

    Football enthusiasts were shocked yesterday by Zinedine Zidane’s resignation less than a week after leading Real Madrid to clinch the UEFA Champions League for the third consecutive year. ADEYINKA ADEDIPE peeps into the legend’s career as a player and coach.

    The news of Zinedine Zidane resignation as the coach of Real Madrid six days after winning the coveted UEFA Champions League for the third time in a row (beating Liverpool 3-1), no doubt, came to many as a big shock. While the coaching job is all about hiring and firing, it is unthinkable that a man, who just won his ever-demanding club its 13th European title, will just walk away from one of the most juicy but uncertain job in world football.

    The fact is that, no one, not even the top hierarchy at Madrid, saw this coming. They must have been planning a meeting with Zidane on how to move the club to the next level. The Madrid bigwigs must have been waiting patiently for the former French international to return from holiday and discuss transfer issues that will bother on players that will dump the club and those that will be signed to bolster the team’s arsenal.

    As recently as March 30, the former Los Blancos coach was repeatedly asked about his future at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, but he maintained he wasn’t going anywhere despite working under pressure occasioned by not-too-pleasant results.

    “I would like to continue as coach of Real Madrid,” he explained in his pre-match press conference ahead of the clash with Las Palmas.

    He went further: “I like football, and I like the job I’m doing. I know the club I’m at very well, but you know how football can be, if it was entirely up to me, then I’ll still be with Real Madrid and I’ll be here as long as possible.”

    Despite Zidane alluding that he had to leave for the club to move in a different direction, speculations were rife that his inability to have control over players’ transfer could have been a major factor that contributed to his exit.

    There are also insinuations that he could have been sacked despite winning his third consecutive Champions League due to his team’s struggle throughout the season. Madrid finished third in La Liga, 17 points behind Barcelona, winners of the Spanish League, while his team was nearly knocked out by Juventus in the quarter final with Bayern Munich stretching his expensively-assembled side to the limit in the semis.

    Announcing his resignation, Zidane stated: “The time is right. It’s not a decision I’ve taken lightly. I thought about it carefully and it’s the right decision, even though I imagine many may not agree.

    “After three years, Real Madrid needs a change, another way of working, another idea, if we are to continue winning. I feel it’s going to be difficult to continue winning. And because I’m a winner, I’m going.”

    Worthy of mention is the fact that the mercurial midfielder left the team as a player a year before contract elapsed. He is also quitting as manager two years before the expiration of his contract.

     

    The Man Zidane

     

    Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, the 45-year-old Zidane was a leading playmaker, renowned for his elegance, vision, ball control and technique, and played as an attacking midfielder for Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus and Real Madrid.

    At club level, Zidane won two Serie A league championships with Juventus, which garnered him a move to Real Madrid for a world record fee of 77.5 million Euros in 2001.

    In Spain, Zidane, as a player, won the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League, with his left-foot volleyed winner in the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final, considered as one of the greatest goals in the competition’s history. He also won an Intercontinental Cup and a UEFA Super Cup with both teams.

    Capped 108 times by France, Zidane won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, scoring twice in the final and being named to the All-Star Team, while also winning UEFA Euro 2000, being named Player of the Tournament.

    The World Cup triumph made him a national hero in France, and he received the Légion d’honneur in 1998. He also received the Golden Ball for Player of the Tournament at the 2006 World Cup, despite his infamous sending off in the final against Italy for head-butting Marco Materazzi in the chest. He retired as the fourth-most capped player in France history.

    Zidane acclaimed many individual accolades as a player, being named the FIFA World Player of the Year three times, in 1998, 2000 and 2003, while also winning the 1998 Ballon d’Or.

    He was Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 1996, Serie A Footballer of the Year in 2001 and La Liga Best Foreign Player in 2002.

    In 2004, he was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the World’s Greatest Living Players compiled by Pelé. Zidane ranks as one of eight players to have won the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the Ballon d’Or. He was named the Best European Footballer of the Past 50 Years in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll in 2004, and he was the ambassador for Qatar’s successful bid to stage the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the first MENA country to host the tournament.

    After retiring as a player, Zidane graduated into coaching, becoming assistant coach at Real Madrid under Carlo Ancelotti for the 2013–14 Season. After a successful year in which the club won the UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey, Zidane became the coach of Real Madrid’s B team, Real Madrid Castilla.

    He remained in the position for two years before taking the helm of the first team in January 2016. In his first two seasons as manager, Zidane won the UEFA Champions League twice, a La Liga title, a Supercopa de España, and both the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup twice. His success saw him named Best FIFA Men’s Coach in 2017.

    In 2018, Zidane led Real Madrid to another UEFA Champions League, his third in a row, becoming the only coach in the history of football to win three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles.

    But, a few days after the victory, he resigned as Real Madrid coach.

     

  • Real Madrid 3-1 Barcelona (Full Time)

    Real Madrid 3-1 Barcelona (Full Time)

    Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in action with Real Madrid’s Mateo Kovacic.
     Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in action with Real Madrid’s Mateo Kovacic. Photograph: Juan Medina/Reuters