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Tag: Real Madrid

  • Real Madrid, FC Barcelona knocked out of Copa del Rey

    Real Madrid and FC Barcelona were on Thursday knocked out of the Spanish Copa del Rey, meaning for the first time since 2010 the competition’s final will feature neither of the two.

    Real Madrid were dumped out of the quarter-final after losing 3-4 at home to Real Sociedad in a hugely entertaining game.

    It saw two goals ruled out by video technology though and a late red card for the visitors.

    Real Sociedad’s Sweden forward Alexander Isak inspired an incredible attacking display, scoring twice in the second period.

    He set up the fourth goal for Mikel Merino and also had a strike ruled out for offside.

    Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard, who is on loan from Real Madrid, had given the visitors the lead midway through the first half.

    He had followed up on the rebound after home goalkeeper Alphonse Areola could only parry a long-range effort from Isak.

    Defender Marcelo quickly pulled a goal back for the hosts after Isak’s quick-fire brace to make it 3-1.

    He beat goalkeeper Alex Remiro at the near post moments after receiving a volley of boos from the home fans for his haphazard display.

    But rampant Real Sociedad soon restored a three-goal cushion when Isak teed up Merino for a simple tap-in after 69 minutes.

    Real Madrid substitute Rodrygo pulled a goal back in the 81st minute to make it 4-2.

    This was after Brazilian team mate Vinicius Jr had a strike ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

    Nacho struck in added time for the hosts to set up a tense finish.

    Real Sociedad defender Andoni Gorosabel was sent off in stoppage time but Real Madrid, who are top of La Liga, could not find an equaliser.

    They thus suffered their first defeat in any competition since losing 1-0 at Real Mallorca on Oct. 19.

    Also, FC Barcelona’s hopes of reaching a seventh successive Copa del Rey final ended at the same quarter-final stage with a 0-1 defeat by Athletic Bilbao.

    The tight contest was decided in the third minute of stoppage time when Spanish forward Inaki Williams headed past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

    FC Barcelona captain Lionel Messi wasted a good late chance when he fired at the legs of Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon.

    The two surprise results have come a day after second-tier side Mirandes defeated Villarreal 4-2.

    Granada, who overcame Valencia 2-1, make up the semi-final line-up.(Reuters/NAN)

  • Quick-thinking Kroos helps Real to Super Cup final

    Quick-thinking Kroos helps Real to Super Cup final

    Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos scored directly from a corner kick as his side booked their place in the final of the revamped Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

    They won 3-1 by outclassing Valencia in the competition’s semi-final match.

    Isco and Luka Modric scored either side of half-time to put Zinedine Zidane’s side further at ease.

    Then, Dani Parejo converted a consolation penalty kick for last year’s Copa del Rey winners in added time.

    Real Madrid will meet the winners of Thursday’s semi-final match between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in Sunday’s showpiece at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Jeddah.

    Germany international Kroos caught Valencia’s Jaume Domenech out to open the scoring in the 15th minute.

    He curled a cross towards goal while the goalkeeper was still organising his defence and the ball flew over the line before Domenech could recover.

    The soft manner of the goal appeared to hit Valencia hard after an even start to the game and Isco put Real Madrid further ahead by volleying home in the 39th minute.

    His goal came after a sweeping move involving Federico Valverde and Dani Carvajal.

    Modric buried Valencia’s faint hopes of a second half revival, providing a classy finish with the outside of his boot in the 65th minute to completing another incisive Real Madrid counter-attack.

    “We were in complete control throughout the game. We came out with the intention of getting hold of the ball. That’s what we did and our plan worked perfectly,” Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro told reporters.

    The 62,000-capacity arena was around two-thirds full for the first game of the competition.

    It used to be a two-legged season curtain raiser between the Spanish league champions and the Cup winners but has been given a radical facelift.

    Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales spearheaded the changes to the format.

    Rubiale increased the number of teams to four and signed a three-year deal to move it to Saudi Arabia which media reports say is worth 40 million euros annually.(Reuters/NAN)

  • Vidal bonus dispute clouds Barca’s preparations for Saturday’s derby

    Vidal bonus dispute clouds Barca’s preparations for Saturday’s derby

    Spanish La Liga leaders FC Barcelona will be looking to preserve their two-point lead over fellow giants Real Madrid when they visit local rivals Espanyol on Saturday.

    But their preparations have been hit by a legal battle with their own midfielder Arturo Vidal.

    The Chilean’s lawyers filed a complaint to Spain’s players union (AFE) last month citing an unpaid bonus of 2.4 million euros (2.04 million pounds).

    News of this development emerged while the player was back in his homeland during the league’s winter break.

    Barca have declined to comment on the complaint, while Vidal has said its an issue for his representatives.

    But he has also declared it is “unfair” he has not received all of the 4.1 million euros his people believe he is owed in total in appearance bonuses.

    Vidal has only started four of Barca’s 18 league games this season, making 10 substitute’s appearances.

    He was left out of the line-up for the club’s biggest matches against Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

    The Chilean has not accepted his drop in influence in the team quietly.

    He told Catalan network TV3 in November he would “look for a solution and look to other horizons’’ if he did not regain a regular place in the side.

    But his dispute with the club comes at a time when the team is light in midfield.

    Brazilian Arthur Melo ruled out for three weeks with a groin problem while Carles Alena has joined Real Betis on loan.

    The Catalans are also without first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, meaning Brazilian Neto will make his league debut in the derby against Espanyol.

    Espanyol are bottom of La Liga and have appointed their third coach of the season in Abelardo Fernandez.

    Real Madrid slipped two points behind the champions by drawing their final game of 2019 at home to Athletic Bilbao.

    They begin the new year with a gruelling match at neighbours Getafe, who are sixth in the standings.

    Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, will be looking to continue their strong end to the year which took them back into the top-four.

    They host Levante in search of a third win in a row.

    Once the weekend’s league action is over, Atletico Madrid, Barca, Real Madrid and Valencia will head to Saudi Arabia to contest the revamped Spanish Super Cup.

    The top flight will resume again two weeks later on Jan. 17.(Reuters/NAN)