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Showing posts with the label Real Madrid

The career of icon Raphaël Varane

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"Champions League Varane..." Raphaël Varane is a former French professional footballer who played as a centre-back for Real Madrid, Manchester United and the France national side. Author | Peter Grainger   The start of his career Varane began his career at French club Lens, starting with their youth team. Ahead of the 2010–11 season, he began training with the senior squad and appeared on the bench in several league games. He made his professional debut in 2010 at just 17 years old.  Becoming an iconic defender at Real Madrid After one season as a professional, he joined Real Madrid, where he spent ten years, from 2011 to 2021, winning eighteen trophies. These included three La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey, four UEFA Champions League titles , and four FIFA Club World Cups.  Known for his pace, composure, and partnership with Sergio Ramos , many fans believe that he was instrumental in Madrid’s successes. It would be very hard to argue with them.  One of...

Vinicius Junior scores twice in Real Madrid win

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Real Madrid 3 - 1 Villareal Vinicius Junior scored twice as Real Madrid continued their recovery from last weekend’s heavy defeat to Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid v Villarreal highlights youtu.be/jsz6qAwlCEg?... [image or embed] — Super News Affiliate ( @eurosuperfootball.bsky.social ) 5 October 2025 at 17:54 Author | Jack L Stadium | Santiago Bernabéu After a frustrating first half, which saw the Real players booed off at the break, Vinicius opened the scoring just 90 seconds into the second period. The Brazilian collected a flick-on from Kylian Mbappe , cut inside from the left and struck a shot that took a significant deflection off Santi Comesana , deceiving Villarreal goalkeeper Arnau Tenas at the near post. Vinicius remained Real’s main threat, adding a penalty in the 69th minute after being bundled over in the box by Rafa Marin. He calmly slotted the ball under Tenas to extend the lead. READ MORE | Real Madrid's midweek Champions League win Villarreal continued to offer...

Mbappé was the star again for Real Madrid

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Kairat Almaty 0 - 5 Real Madrid Kylian Mbappé struck a hat-trick to take his tally to 60 Champions League goals as Real Madrid dismantled Kairat Almaty. Author | Jack L Stadium | Ortalyq stadıon Against all the odds, the home side nearly scored in the opening seconds. A long ball just a short moment after kick-off nearly resulted in a memorable moment. This would be a chance wasted as Real Madrid had well and truly woken up. The France captain eventually opened the scoring on the from the penalty spot after home goalkeeper Sherkhan Kalmurza clattered into Franco Mastantuono. He added a second midway through the second half, latching on to Thibaut Courtois ’ long pass and lifting the ball over Kalmurza, before sealing his treble from close range after earlier missing a gilt-edged chance. Kairat briefly thought they had a way back when Valeri Gromyko won a penalty, but VAR overturned the decision. Madrid then pulled further clear with late goals from Eduardo Camavinga, who headed ...

Atletico hit five to stun Real in historic derby win

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Atletico Madrid 5 - 2 Real Madrid Simeone’s side end Real’s perfect start with biggest derby haul since 1950 Author | Jack L Stadium | Metropolitano Stadium Fantastic atmosphere in Madrid Atletico Madrid scored five goals against city rivals Real for the first time in almost 75 years as they came from behind to claim a pulsating derby victory. It was only the fourth time Atletico had scored at least five in a Madrid derby, the last occasion being a 6-3 triumph in November 1950. Real, who had begun the season with six straight La Liga wins and opened their Champions League campaign by beating Marseille, fell to their first defeat of the campaign. The five conceded equalled their heaviest league loss since a 5-1 reverse to Barcelona in October 2018. Different pictures from the stands Diego Simeone ’s side struck first when Robin le Normand headed them in front, but goals from Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler turned the game in Real’s favour. Alexander Sorloth equalised in first-half stopp...

Kylian Mbappé on form for Real Madrid

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Levante 1 - 4 Real Madrid Kylian Mbappé struck twice as Real Madrid maintained their perfect start to the La Liga season with a comfortable win at Levante. Author |  Jack L Stadium | Estadio Ciudad de Valencia Full-time scenes The French forward’s brace, coming within the space of two minutes, secured a sixth consecutive victory and stretched Madrid’s lead at the top to five points over Barcelona. A closer analysis of what happened Mbappé’s first came from the penalty spot just after the hour mark, a delicately executed Panenka past Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan . Moments later, he doubled his tally with a composed finish after being slipped through by Arda Güler, taking his total to seven league goals this campaign. Vinícius Júnior had earlier opened the scoring with a moment of brilliance, bending the ball into the far corner with the outside of his boot from a tight angle.  READ MORE |  Real Madrid 2 - 0 Espanyol READ MORE |  Mbappe penalties rescue Real Madrid...

Real Madrid's perfect start to their La Liga campaign continues

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Real Madrid 2 - 0 Espanyol Real Madrid maintained their flawless start to the La Liga season with a hard-earned victory over Espanyol, making it five wins from five. Author | Jack L Stadium | Santiago Bernabéu Espanyol adopted a compact defensive shape that for long periods frustrated Carlo Ancelotti’s side, restricting their ability to produce the free-flowing football so often associated with them. The breakthrough came courtesy of a spectacular strike from Éder Militão, the Brazilian centre-back unleashing a thunderous 30-yard effort into the top corner after 22 minutes. Espanyol’s resistance was further undone shortly after half-time when a lapse in concentration left Kylian Mbappé unmarked on the edge of the box. The forward, teed up by Vinícius Júnior, made no mistake in drilling home his seventh goal in six games this season. There was also a welcome return for Jude Bellingham. The England midfielder, sidelined since undergoing surgery on a long-standing shoulder problem in ...

Mbappe penalties rescue Real Madrid

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Real Madrid 2 - 1 Marseille Kylian Mbappé scored twice from the penalty spot as 10-man Real Madrid fought back to beat Marseille in their opening Champions League fixture. Author | Jack L Stadium | Santiago Bernabéu Madrid were dealt an early setback when Trent Alexander-Arnold hobbled off with a suspected hamstring injury inside three minutes. Matters worsened when his replacement, Dani Carvajal , was dismissed 18 minutes from time for a head-to-head confrontation with Marseille goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the 15-time European champions prevailed thanks to Mbappé, who dispatched both spot-kicks with power and precision to take his tally to six goals in five appearances this season. A closer analysis of what happened Marseille had drawn first blood in the 22nd minute through Timothy Weah , whose thunderous effort beat Thibaut Courtois after Mason Greenwood had seized on an error from Arda Güler in midfield. Their advantage was short-lived, ho...

Trent Alexander-Arnold shines for Real Madrid

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Real Madrid 2 - 1 Mallorca Real Madrid overturned an early deficit to secure their third successive victory at the start of the La Liga season. Author | Jack L Stadium | Santiago Bernabéu The visitors struck first when Vedat Muriqi forced the ball over the line from Pablo Torre ’s corner. Madrid responded quickly as Arda Güler headed in from Dean Huijsen ’s knockdown, before Vinícius Júnior sealed the points with a superb individual finish. Xabi Alonso ’s side saw three further efforts ruled out. Kylian Mbappé twice had goals chalked off for offside, while Güler was denied by a handball decision. Trent back to his best? Trent Alexander-Arnold , deployed on the right of a back four, once again operated in an inverted role at the Bernabéu, drifting centrally and frequently joining attacks rather than playing as a conventional full-back. At 0-0 he produced a superb 50-yard pass from deep inside his own half to pick out Kylian Mbappé, who finished clinically only to see the flag rai...

Kylian Mbappe shines for Real Madrid

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Real Oviedo 0 - 3 Real Madrid Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid extended their flawless start to the La Liga season with a win at Oviedo. Author | Jack L Stadium | Estadio Municipal Carlos Tartiere Mbappe , who had netted the only goal against Osasuna , made it three goals in two games, opening the scoring eight minutes before half-time with a composed finish from the edge of the box and later side footing home a second late in the match. Trent Alexander-Arnold was named among the substitutes after starting the previous fixture, with manager Xabi Alonso opting for Dani Carvajal at right-back. The England international came on for the final three minutes with Real already 2-0 ahead. READ MORE |  The latest La Liga news and stories Vinicius Jr, another player who began on the bench, added a third in stoppage time with a clinical strike. Alonso also handed a start to 18-year-old Franco Mastantuono in attack, and the teenager impressed with a lively display. Oviedo ’s ...

Sergio Ramos football icon

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It's time to explore another legendary footballer.  Sergio Ramos is a Spanish professional footballer renowned as one of the greatest defenders ever.  Author | Peter Grainger Known for his tackling prowess, aerial strength, leadership, and an impressive goalscoring record for a defender, he netted over 100 goals for Real Madrid. During his sixteen seasons at Real Madrid, he won multiple UEFA Champions League titles, as well as two UEFA European Championships and the 2010 FIFA World Cup with the Spanish national team. An overview of his club career Ramos was born in Seville and developed his skills in Sevilla ’s youth academy. After two seasons with Sevilla's senior team, he made a high-profile move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2005. He became an integral part of the squad, winning 22 major honours, including five La Liga titles and four Champions League titles. Ramos was pivotal to each of those Champions League triumphs, earning a spot in the Team of the Season each ti...

PSG ease to win over Real Madrid

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PSG 4 - 0 Real Madrid Paris St-Germain cruised into the Fifa Club World Cup final with a commanding win over Real Madrid, setting up a showdown with Chelsea on Sunday. Author | Peter Grainger Stadium | MetLife Stadium The semi-final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was effectively settled within the opening 25 minutes, as the European champions tore through a surprisingly fragile Madrid side. Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring in the sixth minute after Raul Asencio failed to clear under pressure, with the referee allowing play to continue despite Thibaut Courtois bringing down Ousmane Dembele moments earlier. Dembele, a constant menace, doubled the lead soon after when he pounced on a miscued clearance from Antonio Rudiger and calmly slotted past Courtois. READ MORE |  Club World Cup news and stories The third arrived before the half-hour mark, Ruiz finishing neatly after an intricate exchange between Achraf Hakimi and Dembele carved open the defence. Real, without the injured...

Real Madrid reach Club World Cup semi-finals

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Real Madrid 3 - 2 Borussia Dortmund  Real Madrid held their nerve through a frantic period of stoppage time to see off Borussia Dortmund and book their place in the Club World Cup semi-finals. Author | Josh D Stadium | MetLife Stadium The Spanish giants looked to be cruising towards victory with a 2-0 lead as the match entered added time. Gonzalo Garcia opened the scoring with a crisp volley inside 10 minutes, his fourth goal in five games, before Fran Garcia doubled the advantage by turning in a cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold. But the contest burst into life in injury time. Substitute Maximilian Beier pulled one back for Dortmund to set up a tense finale. READ MORE | Club World Cup news and stories from across the network READ MORE |  Fluminense 2 - 0 Inter Milan Kylian Mbappe responded almost immediately with an acrobatic volley to restore Real’s two-goal cushion. However, there was still time for more drama as Dean Huijsen was shown a red card for pulling down S...

Trent Alexander-Arnold to join Real Madrid early

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A sign that Real Madrid are taking the Club World Cup seriously? Trent Alexander-Arnold will officially become a Real Madrid player on Sunday 1 June after Liverpool agreed to an early termination of his contract in exchange for a fee. Author | William G Liverpool sources suggest the Spanish club has paid €10m (£8.4m) in a single up-front payment, although figures close to Madrid claim the fee is lower. The payment allows Alexander-Arnold to complete his move in time to feature in the expanded Club World Cup next month. The 26-year-old England international had been due to leave Anfield on a free transfer when his contract expired on 30 June, but had already made clear his intention to depart this summer. He has now signed a six-year deal with Madrid that includes a €1bn (£840m) buy-out clause. Fifa has approved a special transfer window from 1 to 10 June for clubs competing in the month-long Club World Cup, which begins on 14 June in the United States. READ MORE | News from across ...

Luka Modric to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season

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Where does Modric rank among Real Madrid greats? The former Spurs midfielder has announced he will leave Real Madrid this summer following the conclusion of their Fifa Club World Cup campaign.  Author | Jack L Modric playing for Real Madrid back in 2013 Source | Paul Stephens Flickr The 39-year-old Croatia international, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2018, will make his final appearance at the Santiago Bernabéu when Real host Real Sociedad in their last La Liga fixture of the season on Saturday. Modric joined Real from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012 and has enjoyed a glittering 13-year spell in Spain, collecting 28 trophies including six Champions League titles and four La Liga crowns. Real Madrid begin their Club World Cup campaign on 18 June against Saudi side Al-Hilal, with group stage matches also lined up against Pachuca of Mexico and Austria’s RB Salzburg. READ MORE | News from across Spain This season, Modric has made 34 league appearances, contributing two goals and six assist...

Real Madrid announced signing of defender Dean Huijsen

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Real Madrid have announced the signing of defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. The deal has been completed in time for Huijsen to play in the Club World Cup after the Spanish giants activated his £50m release clause. Author - Ed The 20-year-old has signed a five-year deal that allows him to debut at the newly expanded tournament in the United States. Both clubs confirmed the move with Madrid saying that one-time Spain international Huijsen will officially join on 1 June. Their first match of the Club World Cup is against Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal on 18 June. The fee will be paid in three instalments, with Huijsen's two former clubs set to receive a slice of the fee. Juventus are due 10% and Malaga 5%. Huijsen had as many as seven offers on the table, and had attracted interest from Premier League clubs Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle. Huijsen has chosen Real and will return to Spain where he grew up, playing for Costa Unida CF academy in Marbella and Malaga's yo...

Rice shines for Arsenal against Champions League holders

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Arsenal 3 - 0 Real Madrid Declan Rice lit up the Emirates with two superb free-kicks as Arsenal cruised to a 3–0 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. Author - DJ Stadium - Emirates Stadium Rice had never scored from a free-kick in his career before this match, delivered two moments of brilliance in the second half to put Mikel Arteta’s side in firm control of the tie. Ahead of kick-off, Arteta had called on the home support to arrive early and generate a big-game atmosphere. The fans responded, and so did the players, as Arsenal made an energetic start and put Madrid under early pressure with a series of threatening crosses. It wasn’t until the 20th minute that the visitors created anything of note, with Vinícius Júnior curling a shot narrowly wide. After the break, Arsenal turned their dominance into goals. The breakthrough came in the 58th minute, when Rice bent a free-kick around the wall and beyond Thibaut Courtois to open the scori...

Champions League holders Real Madrid looking ominous

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Real Madrid 3 - 1 Manchester City (Real Madrid won 6-3 on aggregate) This is Real Madrid’s competition. This is their time of year. Author - Beth Lee Stadium - Estadio Santiago Bernabéu The murmurs of admiration that rippled around the stadium as Carlo Ancelotti’s side took control carried a familiar sense of inevitability—one that should serve as a warning to any team hoping to deny them a record-extending 16th European crown. When Real slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool in November, they looked sluggish and short of ideas—Vinícius Júnior was absent, and Kylian Mbappé was still settling in after his high-profile move to Madrid. Now, Mbappé looks every bit the world-class star they signed him to be. His first goal, a delicate lob over Ederson, oozed composure. His second was pure brilliance, leaving Joško Gvardiol bewildered with a dazzling piece of footwork. Click here for more Manchester City news and stories The hat-trick goal was the finishing touch on a masterful display...

Are the Champions League masters at it again?

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Manchester City 2 - 3 Real Madrid The best team in Europe displayed their qualities once again Author - Jamie P Real Madrid may not yet be at their imperious best, but they still possess the craft and know-how to navigate most Champions League challenges. This is the stage of the season where they truly come to life. Carlo Ancelotti, usually the picture of calm, was visibly animated at times as his side spurned a series of chances. Madrid carried a constant threat, pressing and probing throughout. When Kylian Mbappé levelled with a scruffy finish, the serial winners sensed weakness and went for City’s throat. But just as the momentum seemed to be shifting decisively, Erling Haaland’s late penalty looked to have derailed them. Manchester Super News report | Click here for more City analysis Latest Champions League stories from European Super Football No matter. Madrid, more experienced than anyone in these moments, sensed City’s fatigue and pounced. Jude Bellingham’s last-gasp winne...

Does a Champions League classic await?

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Manchester City v Real Madrid Preview We explore what has the potential to be the match of the season. Author - Macca A clash between two of the biggest forces in English and Spanish football is nothing new. When Manchester City and Real Madrid meet in the UEFA Champions League, it will mark the fourth consecutive season they’ve faced off in the knockout stages of Europe’s elite club competition. However, this time, it’s in unfamiliar territory—the playoffs. Under the tournament’s new format, only the top eight teams in the expanded league phase secured direct passage to the last 16, and both City and Real fell short. City scraped through in 22nd place after a comeback win at home to Club Brugge in their final group match, while Real had a rocky start, losing three of their first five games before recovering to finish 11th. For the fourth season in a row, one of these European giants will see their Champions League run cut short by the other. City’s performance in this playoff...

A dramatic night in Valencia for Jude Bellingham

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Valencia 1 - 2 Real Madrid Jude Bellingham experienced a rollercoaster evening, missing a penalty but scoring a dramatic 95th-minute winner as 10-man Real Madrid snatched a thrilling victory over Valencia to reclaim the top spot in La Liga. Author - Josh T Stadium - Estadio de Mestalla It was Carlos Corberán’s first game in charge of Valencia since his appointment last week , and the former West Bromwich Albion manager looked set to enjoy a dream start as his new side edged towards a memorable win—until the late drama unfolded. At a lively Mestalla Stadium, Valencia took the lead in the first half when Hugo Duro tapped in from close range after Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois could only parry Javi Guerra’s powerful effort. Real Madrid had a golden opportunity to level the score in the 55th minute when Kylian Mbappé was fouled inside the box. However, Bellingham’s penalty struck the inside of the post and stayed out. The visitors’ night looked like it was getting worse when...