MADRID (AFP) – Austrian defender David Alaba will join Real Madrid on a five-year contract after leaving Bayern Munich, the Spanish giants confirmed on Friday (May 28). The announcement of the signing of the 28-year-old, who had also been linked with several English Premier League clubs, comes a day after Zinedine Zidane quit as Real... » read more
MADRID (AFP) – Luis Suarez was in tears on Saturday (May 22) after his goal helped Atletico Madrid clinch the Spanish Liga title, thanking the club for rescuing him. The Uruguayan, who moved to Madrid from Barcelona in August, thanked Atletico “for opening their doors to me.” “I am filled with emotions,” the 34-year-old Uruguayan... » read more
MADRID (AFP) – Atletico Madrid won La Liga for the second time in eight years on Saturday (May 22) as a 2-1 victory over Real Valladolid crowned them Spanish champions. Here, AFP looks at five matches that secured Atletico the title. Atletico Madrid 1-0 Barcelona, Nov 21 Yannick Carrasco scored the winner as Atletico registered... » read more
MADRID (REUTERS) – Title-chasing Real Madrid will be without midfielder Toni Kroos for their must-win match against Villarreal on the final day of the Liga season after the German tested positive for Covid-19. The club announced that Kroos returned a positive test on Monday (May 17), having missed Sunday’s win at Athletic Club after coming... » read more
BILBAO (REUTERS) – Real Madrid ensured the La Liga title race will go down to the final weekend as they beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 at San Mames on Sunday (May 16) thanks to a second-half goal from defender Nacho Fernandez. In a first half shorn of clear-cut chances, Real were adamant they should have had... » read more
MADRID (REUTERS) – Atletico Madrid took a giant step towards the La Liga title in dramatic circumstances by fighting their way back to beat Osasuna 2-1 at home on Sunday(May 16) thanks to a late strike from Luis Suarez. Atletico dominated the game and hit the woodwork twice in the first half before having two... » read more
MADRID (AFP) – Alexander Zverev recovered from a set down to defeat Matteo Berrettini 6-7 (8/10), 6-4, 6-3 and win the Madrid Open for a second time Sunday (May 9) as he clinched a fourth Masters 1000 title. The German fifth seed recorded his third consecutive top-10 victory this week, having eliminated five-time Madrid champion... » read more
ROME (AFP) – Canadian tennis star Bianca Andreescu on Sunday (May 9) pulled out of the WTA Rome tournament over Covid-19 rules in Italy. Andreescu, the world number six, missed last week’s Madrid Open after testing positive for Covid-19 after arriving in Spain. “Although I have tested negative following my isolation period in Madrid and... » read more
MADRID (AFP) – Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka stunned world number one Ashleigh Barty to win the Madrid Open for the first time on Saturday (May 8). Sabalenka was beaten by Barty in the final in Stuttgart last month but exacted revenge at the Caja Magica, a storming 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 victory clinching the biggest title of... » read more
MADRID (REUTERS) – Rafa Nadal was knocked out of the Madrid Open quarter-finals stage 6-4 6-4 by German Alex Zverev on Friday (May 7). Nadal, a five-time winner in the Spanish capital, was the favourite and top seed having lifted the Barcelona Open trophy last month but played below par on a sweltering spring day.... » read more
MADRID (AFP) – Canadian tennis star Bianca Andreescu will miss the Madrid Open after testing positive for Covid-19 after arriving in Spain, the world number six said on Twitter on Sunday (April 25). “After testing negative twice before my flight to Madrid, I was sadly informed that I had tested positive upon arrival for Covid-19... » read more
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND (REUTERS) – Liverpool apologised to Champions League opponents Real Madrid after the bus carrying the Spanish side was damaged as it arrived at Anfield for Wednesday’s quarter-final second leg. “”We condemn unequivocally the actions that led to Real Madrid’s team bus being damaged during its arrival to Anfield this evening. It is totally... » read more
LIVERPOOL (AFP) – Liverpool must produce a “perfect performance” to overcome a 3-1 first leg deficit against Real Madrid on Wednesday (April 14) and reach the Champions League semi-finals, manager Jurgen Klopp said. A difficult season for the English champions will end without a trophy should they fail to pull off a fightback against the... » read more
MADRID (AFP) – Vinicius Junior scored twice as Real Madrid made Liverpool pay for more defensive errors on Tuesday (April 6), a 3-1 victory putting them in sight of the Champions League semi-finals. Vinicius and Marco Asensio both profited in the first half after darting behind Liverpool’s makeshift back-line before a simple move from a... » read more
LIVERPOOL (REUTERS) – Liverpool are not on a revenge mission when they visit Real Madrid’s for Tuesday’s (April 6) Champions League quarter-final first leg and will only focus on getting another step closer to a seventh European crown, manager Jurgen Klopp said. Real Madrid ran out 3-1 winners against Liverpool in their last meeting in... » read more
MADRID (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane opened the door to Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Real Madrid on Monday (March 15), admitting a comeback is “possible” for the striker. Asked by Sky Italia if there is any truth to rumours that Ronaldo could rejoin Madrid, Zidane said: “It’s possible, it’s possible.” “We know Cristiano,” Zidane added. “We... » read more
MADRID (REUTERS) – Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema struck an 88th-minute equaliser to snatch a 1-1 draw at La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid on Sunday (March 7) and keep his side in the title race. Luis Suarez had put the hosts in charge in the 15th minute, producing an ice-cool finish to beat Thibaut Courtois... » read more
MADRID • “Sign him up Florentino,” Real Madrid fans wrote on Twitter before coach Zinedine Zidane was asked if he sent a message to the club’s president Florentino Perez last week. Kylian Mbappe had just destroyed La Liga rivals Barcelona at the Nou Camp and 24 hours later, Erling Haaland did the same against Sevilla.... » read more
Suarez helps Atletico maintain hefty lead MADRID • Luis Suarez scored as Atletico Madrid came from behind to beat Valencia 3-1 on Sunday and move seven points clear at the top of La Liga. After Real Madrid thrashed Alaves 4-1 on Saturday, Barcelona – without Lionel Messi – had followed suit with a scrappy 2-0... » read more
MADRID • Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane hailed Karim Benzema as the best striker in French history after his match-winning double against Athletic Bilbao provisionally put the Spanish champions top of La Liga on Tuesday. Bilbao’s Ander Capa had cancelled out Toni Kroos’ thumping opener before Benzema struck twice late on, heading home a cross... » read more