Tag: Real Madrid

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti heads into El Clasico riding the momentum of a thrilling second-half comeback against Borussia Dortmund, but the victory will cost them. Rodrygo Goes suffered a hamstring tear during latter stages of the match, and now goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has also been ruled out for their highly anticipated clash with Barcelona.

Courtois picked up a muscle injury in his left adductor, and according to Marca, he won’t be available to face the La Liga leaders. This injury follows an earlier muscle issue that caused him to miss games against Lille and Villarreal. Ancelotti will once again rely on Andriy Lunin to step in between the posts. Courtois is expected to be sidelined for two weeks, missing matches against Valencia and AC Milan in the Champions League, with a scan scheduled to confirm the extent of the damage.

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Adding to Real Madrid’s growing injury list are Dani Carvajal and David Alaba, while Rodrygo’s injury further depletes their squad. Brahim Diaz, although he returned to training this week, is still unlikely to feature in the upcoming match.

Much like last season’s Spanish Supercup, both teams will likely field backup goalkeepers for El Clasico. Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen is out for an extended period, with Wojciech Szczesny having been signed as his replacement, though Inaki Pena has been starting in recent matches. 

On the bright side for Ancelotti, Lunin has proven himself capable, playing a crucial role during Madrid’s domestic and European success last season. Nonetheless, Courtois’ absence will be felt.

Reigning Spanish and European champions Real Madrid have started the season below their brilliant best and this week finally tumbled to a first defeat since January.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side were beaten at Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday and trail Hansi Flick’s Barcelona by three points in La Liga.

Madrid host Villarreal today  aiming to pull level on points with their Catalan rivals at the top of the table for the first time this season.

Los Blancos began the campaign with a draw at Mallorca on the first day of the season and have been playing catch-up since then.

Barca won their first seven matches in a row but finally stumbled last weekend at Osasuna.

Madrid could not take full advantage as they were held to a 1-1 draw by neighbours Atletico Madrid, but can put pressure on Barca, who visit Alaves tomorrow, with a victory at the Santiago Bernabeu.

To achieve that against an enterprising Villarreal side just a point behind Madrid in third, they will have to raise their game significantly.

Madrid came undone in the north of France, suffering their first loss in 37 matches across all competitions.

 “When we lost the derby (against Atletico) last year it was a fantastic wake-up call and hopefully this defeat can also be a fantastic wake-up call,” said Ancelotti.

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 “We did everything wrong – with the ball, transitions, the intensity, we lost the duels… we have to look at things with a cool head and not throw everything away, but we have to improve.”

Madrid were able to bring on Kylian Mbappe against Lille after a thigh injury and the French striker could start against Villarreal.

As strong as the Yellow Submarine have been, spearheaded by Spain international Ayoze Perez, they have conceded in every match so far this season.

Madrid still seem to be struggling without midfield maestro Toni Kroos, who retired after helping the team to a La Liga and Champions League double.

Los Blancos will also line up with Ukrainian goalkeeper Andre Lunin between the sticks with Thibaut Courtois out injured.

 “We have to analyse and improve in the next game because there is no time – there are many games and we have to win,” said Lunin after the Lille defeat.

Villarreal may be without Perez, who missed Monday’s win over Las Palmas with muscular discomfort and Gerard Moreno is also sidelined, but striker Thierno Barry is finding form for Marcelino Garcia Toral’s side.

The French striker scored and got an assist as Villarreal moved up to third with the 3-1 win.

Girona and Atletico Madrid also suffered Champions League defeats on Wednesday and both are in action tomorrow , against tricky Basque sides Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad respectively.

Meanwhile,   all eyes would be on Jesus Navas as the Spanish veteran wide man will play in the Seville derby for what is due to be the final time of his career, and become the player with the most appearances in the clash’s history – he has played in it 27 times, level with Real Betis legend Joaquin Sanchez. Sevilla’s Navas, who turns 39 in November, is playing through a long-term hip problem, and is due to retire in December.

Real Madrid are set to host Villarreal tomorrow  in their bid to get back to winning ways after drawing 1-1 in the Madrid Derby against Atlético Madrid last Sunday.

 Los Blancos conceded an equaliser late in second half stoppage time and missed out on the opportunity to trim Laliga EA  Sports leaders Barcelona’s lead to one point, following Barca’s 4-2 loss away at CA Osasuna on Matchday 8. Instead, Carlo Ancelotti’s side are currently three points off top spot.

 Meanwhile, Villarreal  have gotten off to a solid start to the 2024/25 campaign, with El Submarino Amarillo pushing for European qualification after missing out on the European spots last season.

Marcelino’s side are set to visit the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in what promises to be an entertaining fixture between two teams who offer fans historically high-scoring fixtures when they face each other. As many as 26 goals have been scored in the last five duels between Real Madrid and Villarreal CF across all competitions, working out at 5.2 per game.

This includes last season’s wild 4-4 draw at the Estadio de la Ceramica. Arda Güler netted twice, with Joselu and Lucas Vazquez scoring a goal each before the break to give Los Blancos a 4-1 lead heading into the second half. However, Alexander Sørloth, who has now joined Atlético de Madrid, struck four times to help the hosts secure a 4-4 draw on Matchday 37 back in May.

Another memorable clash between the two sides took place on April 8th 2023, in the Spanish capital. There, Samuel Chukwueze bagged a brace to lead Villarreal CF to a 3-2 victory away from home. That was the last time Real Madrid suffered a defeat on home soil, with Los Blancos since going 28 league games and 38 matches across all competitions unbeaten at the Bernabéu.

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Could that run be broken again? Well, Real Madrid have kicked off the season without dropping a single point in four games at home, but Villarreal CF have been equally impressive on the road. In fact, only FC Barcelona have managed to pick up more points than El Submarino Amarillo away from home this term.

Marcelino’s side remain undefeated on the road, having celebrated three 2-1 victories, at Sevilla FC, RCD Mallorca and RCD Espanyol, as well as one 1-1 draw despite going down to 10 players with 20 minutes to go away at Valencia CF. As for Real Madrid, they beat Real Valladolid (3-0), Real Betis (2-0), RCD Espanyol (4-1) and Deportivo Alavés (3-2) at the Bernabéu to record a perfect 12 points at home so far.

Los Blancos haven’t lost a single Laliga EA Sports game for over a year, with their last defeat having taken place on September 24th 2023, at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano against Atlético de Madrid, a 3-1 loss. 

From that point on, Real Madrid have gone unbeaten for as many as 40 matches, having registered 29 victories and 11 draws in the league. In fact, this streak of 40 games without defeat is currently the second-longest in LALIGA history. It now remains to be seen if the last team that celebrated a win against Los Blancos at the Bernabéu can deal a similar blow to Ancelotti’s side tomorrow.

A dramatic late double by Joselu sent Real Madrid through to the Champions League final at Wembley after a 4-3 aggregate win over Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The tie had been evenly-poised after four goals were shared in the first leg of the semi-final in Germany last week.

Madrid had an impressive 13-month unbeaten home record and a wealth of European history behind them, but they were on the verge of a second consecutive last-four exit in this competition when Bayern substitute Alphonso Davies produced a 68th-minute rocket.

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It stunned a previously buoyant home crowd, but Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti worked his magic and turned to his bench to save the day.

Former Stoke forward Joselu answered the SOS as he made the most of a Manuel Neuer mistake to tap in the leveller after 88 minutes.

Three minutes later he steered in a second, which was originally disallowed before it was given after VAR intervened.

Ancelotti’s team withstood an extended period of stoppage time and Matthijs de Lift had a late effort ruled out for the visitors to ensure Madrid booked an 18th appearance in a European Cup final days after they clinched the La Liga title.

It also meant England captain Harry Kane, who was subbed off with his team in the lead, will be consigned to a trophy less first season with the German giants.

Real, 14-time European champions, will face Dortmund on Saturday, 1 June at Wembley.