All posts tagged: Barcelona vs Real Madrid

Vinicius leaves out Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso’s name from apology after outburst at being subbed in El Clasico | Football News

Vinicius leaves out Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso’s name from apology after outburst at being subbed in El Clasico | Football News

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Brazilian star Vinicius Junior blamed his “passion” and “competitive nature” for his outburst directed at Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso after being replaced in the El Clasico against Barcelona over the weekend. Vinicius also apologised for the incident. But what was interesting is that while he named the fans, the club president and teammates in his apology, he left out coach Alonso. “I want to apologize to all Madrid fans for my reaction after being substituted. Just as I already apologized in person during today’s training session, I also want to apologize again to my teammates, the club and the president,” the footballer posted on his X handle on Wednesday. The incident had happened in the 72nd minute of Madrid’s 2-1 league win over Barcelona on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium when Alonso opted to take Vinicius off the pitch and send Rodrygo out instead. Story continues below this ad Cameras caught Vinicius storming off the pitch, while opening his arms in exasperation and muttering to himself. Vinicius went straight to the changing room, …

Kylian Mbappe breaks record for most goals scored in a debut season for Real Madrid | Football News

Kylian Mbappe breaks record for most goals scored in a debut season for Real Madrid | Football News

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Kylian Mbappe on Sunday broke the record for most goals scored in a debut season for Real Madrid with his twin strikes against Barcelona which took his tally to 38 goals. This takes him clear of Chile’s Ivan Zamorano’s record of 37 scored in the 1992/93 season. In the match, fans were treated to a mouth watering first half where Mbappe scored back to back goals in the 5th and 14th minute, first from a penalty and then from open play after being set up by Vinicius Jr. Barcelona, however, struck back with four back to back strikes with Eric García, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha (2) finding the net in the 19th, 32nd, 34th and 45th minute as the teams went to half time. Kylian Mbappé has now scored more goals in 2024/25 than any other Real Madrid player has in their debut season with the club. Ivan Zamorano’s record of 37 from 1992/93 has finally been broken. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/JXjMRZmdS2 — Squawka (@Squawka) May 11, 2025 Barcelona lead Madrid by four points and a victory …

‘We’re doing well’: Hansi Flick says Barcelona are focussed on El Clasico against Real Madrid after UCL defeat to Inter Milan | Football News

‘We’re doing well’: Hansi Flick says Barcelona are focussed on El Clasico against Real Madrid after UCL defeat to Inter Milan | Football News

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Manager Hansi Flick on Saturday said that Barcelona are ready to move on from their Champions League semifinal defeat against Inter Milan and concentrate on their upcoming clash against La liga title rivals Real Madrid. Barcelona will be keen for a win here as a victory against Real and then another win next week will ensure that they win the La Liga title for the 28th time. “We’re doing well. After the defeat in Milan, everyone knows it’s not easy… but we’re doing things right. We’ve talked about what we want to do in these two weeks. There are four more games to go. El Clasico is important, we have to show how well we can play. We have to show confidence. The players are doing very well… We’ve been talking about what they are thinking, what they are feeling” Flick said. “We had to talk about it as a group. Everyone knows that in a Clasico you have to give 100%. You have to be active, intense, dominant. Real Madrid is a very good …

Before El Clasico, referee breaks down following Real Madrid row

Before El Clasico, referee breaks down following Real Madrid row

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Hours before Saturday’s Copa del Rey final, the referee who is in the eye of the storm broke down, saying his family has been ‘targeted and abused’. Real Madrid are set to lock horns with Barcelona in the final but the clash has been overshadowed by allegations of poor officiating by Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, who will officiate in the match. Ahead of the match, Real Madrid TV highlighted what they felt were ‘mistakes’ involving de Burgos when he officiated in matches involving the club. The Spanish giants’ in-house channel claimed the club’s win rate was 64 under his refereeing while Barcelona had 81 percent success rate. The debate reached a stage where it was speculated that Real Madrid would boycott the final before the club confirmed they would take the field for the crucial clash. Story continues below this ad However, the referee spoke out, getting emotional and claiming that his family has been subject to abuse after Real Madrid’s allegations and his son faced bullying at school. “When your son comes back from …

When Figo passed to Morientes

When Figo passed to Morientes

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The player taking the corner looks familiar. Never mind the face; the swing of the right foot is a dead giveaway. It’s the kind of fluid and kinetic motion that, seen even once, is not easily forgotten. The swing of the foot is low and slow, stopping in mid-air for a fraction of second, as it wraps itself over the ball. The movement is so smooth it seems effortless, yet the power behind it is unmistakable. The ball soars, drops and curves, precisely into the head of Fernando Morientes. But the striker’s header balloons over the crossbar. Morientes flashes an apology; Figo grudgingly accepts. The moment could have been composed in Nou Camp or Santiago Bernabéu, sometime at the stroke of the century, but here it was at the DY Patil Stadium, in the blistering Mumbai heat and humidity, in 2025. They swayed and swung as they celebrated a night etched in the past, watched countless times on the television. The footballers, agile and athletic in their peak years, their tissues and muscles ravaged by …

When Figo tore up the flanks, Xavi played delicate back flick from edge of box at Navi Mumbai

When Figo tore up the flanks, Xavi played delicate back flick from edge of box at Navi Mumbai

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It wasn’t just a football match. It was a love letter to the past. On Sunday, under the glowing floodlights of the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, El Clasico returned. Not in its blistering, modern-day form though, but through the lens of memory. Indian football fans got a taste of the storied rivalry as legends, who once lit up the Santiago Bernabeu and the Camp Nou, battled it out on Indian soil. The energy was unmistakable. Tens of thousands gathered outside the stadium, draped in the crisp whites of Madrid or the blaugrana (red and blue) stripes of Barcelona. These were fans who once stayed up through the night to catch glimpses of Carles Puyol diving into tackles, Luis Figo ghosting past defenders, or Fernando Morientes slotting it past goalkeepers with ease. Story continues below this ad Long before the players stepped onto the field, the air was already electric. Children zipped through the crowd in their favorite jerseys, dragging their parents along, or maybe it was the other way around. While the kids …

Pepe reflects on epic rivalry ahead of Legends match in Navi Mumbai

Pepe reflects on epic rivalry ahead of Legends match in Navi Mumbai

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As soon as the footballing calendar is announced, fans across the globe – regardless of their favorite league or teams –  typically circle one date above all others: The El Clasico. The showdown between Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona isn’t just a match. It is a spectacle. And few players experienced its most intense, emotionally-charged era quite like Pepe, the Portuguese warrior who was the mainstay of Real Madrid’s defense. Now, as he eases into retirement, far from the deafening roars of the Santiago Bernabeu or Camp Nou, Pepe finds himself in a new rhythm — playing in Legends matches. The 42-year-old will lace up his boots this Sunday, this time at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, where icons from Real Madrid and Barcelona will rekindle football’s fiercest rivalry. Leading Real Madrid will be the iconic Luis Figo, joined by Fernando Morientes, Michael Owen, and, of course, Pepe. On the other side, Barcelona will be captained by Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning skipper Carles Puyol, who’ll reunite with Xavi, Rivaldo, Jose Edmílson, Javier …

Title race in Europe’s top football leagues: Barcelona, Inter hold slender leads in Spain and Italy; foregone conclusions elsewhere | Football News

Title race in Europe’s top football leagues: Barcelona, Inter hold slender leads in Spain and Italy; foregone conclusions elsewhere | Football News

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Most of the leagues in Europe’s top football leagues have yielded one-horse races, apart from the El Clasico rivals locked in another epic finish in Spain and Napoli snapping at Inter Milan’s heels in Italy. La Liga: Barcelona are three points clear of Real Madrid at the top and the equation is delicately poised. The El Clasico on May 11, the third last round of the season, could well be decisive. Barcelona, unbeaten this year and in devastating form, have a stiff April, facing three teams in the top 10, before the fixtures ease in May but for the Real Madrid encounter. The latter’s immediate fixtures are relatively easier, with three teams in the bottom half, though fourth-placed Atletico Bilbao offer a stern test for Carlo Ancelotti’s men. Both have to manage workloads, as they are alive in Champions League and Copa Del Rey. Serie A: Like in Spain, only three points separate leaders Inter Milan and defending champions Napoli. But the latter have the favour of fixture. Apart from visiting resilient Bologna, placed fourth, …

Xavi Hernandez, Rivaldo, Luis Figo, Carles Puyol to play in Navi Mumbai next month in Legends Faceoff clash

Xavi Hernandez, Rivaldo, Luis Figo, Carles Puyol to play in Navi Mumbai next month in Legends Faceoff clash

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Xavi Hernandez, Rivaldo, Luis Figo, Carles Puyol, Michael Owen and Fernando Morientes will be seen in action at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai next month in a showdown between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid legends. The clash between former stars from the two iconic La Liga teams will also feature players like Javier Saviola, Pepe, Phillip Cocu and Christian Karembeu. The clash between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid legends will happen on April 6. Story continues below this ad Here’s how the teams will shape up: Real Madrid Legends: Figo, Owen, Pepe, McManaman, Morientes, Karembeu Barça Legends: Xavi, Rivaldo, Puyol, Quaresma, Cocu, Saviola How to buy tickets for Barcelona vs Real Madrid legends game You can book tickets for the game on District via Zomato. Xavi Hernández, earned a reputation for himself during his Barcelona days as a midfield maestro and one of the greatest passers in football history. He won eight La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies with FC Barcelona. He was also one of the vital cogs in …

How Hansi Flick’s Barcelona laid the perfect trap to turn Kylian Mbappe’s Clasico debut into a nightmare | Football News

How Hansi Flick’s Barcelona laid the perfect trap to turn Kylian Mbappe’s Clasico debut into a nightmare | Football News

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At the stroke of 30 minutes, Kylian Mbappe skated to the corner flag, roared, spread his arms and struck the pose for cameras and fans to soak. He had just authored his first El Clasico goal—a sumptuous strike at that. He lured the goalkeeper, Inaki Pena, towards him and swept his shot over and across him into the bottom left corner. But his celebrations turned to anguish when semi-automatic offside technology judged he was marginally offside. He had bisected the gap between the centre-backs Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi but mistimed his run by millimetres. In disbelief, he held his hands over his mouth. This was not an exception; rather the theme of the night at the Bernabeu. The regimented and devastating high line of Barcelona caught Real Madrid’s attackers offside 12 times. Mbappe, the jewel in the Madrid crown, fluffed his lines eight times alone. His first five touches raised the assistant referee’s flag. Twice, it came as a relief as he had flayed his shot wide. But this one hurt, he had scored, …