Real Madrid
Chioma Ubogagu scores first goal of the season for Real Madrid
Chioma Ubogagu scored her first goal in the 2020-21 Spanish Primera Iberdrola campaign as Real Madrid thrashed Espanyol 8-1 at Ciutat Esportiva Dani Jarque on Sunday. The 28-year-old had starred for the USA at youth level before playing for England at senior level thrice, albeit in friendlies, and still eligible to represent Nigeria due to the new Fifa eligibility rules. Having been handed her second start of the season, the England international put up an impressive display in front of goal as her side extend their winning streak in the Spanish top-flight. Las Blancas made a fantastic start to the encounter as Sofia Jakobsson’s perfect pass allowed Olga Carmona to score the opening goal for the visitors after just nine minutes. In the 33rd minute, Teresa Abelleira set up Ubogagu to double...
Appeal court upholds Brazil striker Robinho’s rape conviction
Veteran Brazil international striker Robinho on Thursday had a nine-year sentence for the rape of a young woman upheld by a court in Italy. Judges of the Milan Court of Appeal confirmed the sentence for both Robinho and one of his friends for group sexual violence dating back to January 2013. Robinho was playing for AC Milan at the time of the attack and was tried in absentia in November 2017. The pair were among a group of six men accused of taking part in the gang rape of a 22-year-old Albanian woman in a Milan nightclub. They were both ordered to jointly pay the woman damages of 60,000 euros ($ 73,000). The case against the four other accused has been suspended. Robinho, 36, who has denied the charges, has the right to again appeal the sentence within 90 days. Robinho was forced to pull...
FIFPro Announce 2020 World XI Nominees
The shortlist for the 2020 FIFPro World XI has been announced. Every professional footballer around the world was invited to vote for the best player in each position. The ones with the most votes made it into the 55-man shortlist. The goalkeeper with the most votes, as well as the top three defenders, midfielders, and forwards, will be inducted into the FIFPro World XI. The remaining spot will go to the outfield player with the most votes. Bayern Munich are the most represented team in the shortlist, boasting 11 players. Title winners Real Madrid and Liverpool come in joint-second with eight players each. Bayern completed the treble with a win over PSG in August Despite going trophyless last year, Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur both make it into the top five, with six and five candidates...
SL VIEW: UEFA 2020 Fans’ Team of the Year
Earlier this month, UEFA revealed their 51 nominees for the Team of the Year and it was unsurprising that Bayern Munich had the most players on the list. The Bavarian giants won the Bundesliga, DFL Pokal Cup and Champions League treble for only the second time in their history last term and they did so in stunning fashion with a 30-match unbeaten streak which included 29 wins. Since 2001, UEFA have allowed fans to vote for their Team of the Year on their official website. As always, the final result will be announced in January and here are my picks for the 2020 Team of the Year. Formation: 4-3-3 Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer – Bayern Munich: The 34-year-old was almost ever-present for Bayern between the sticks as they went on to win another treble. The club-captain kept 23 clean sheets in his ...
Luka Modric Enters Contract Talks With Real Madrid
Croatian midfielder Luka Modric is set to begin discussions with Real Madrid over signing a new contract at the club. Modric joined the Spanish giants in 2012 from Tottenham Hotspur. After a tough opening year, the Croatian has become a superstar at the Bernabeu, peaking in 2018 when he won the Ballon d’Or. Modric was key to one of Europe’s most dominant sides At 35 years of age, it was thought that the World Cup finalist was nearing the end of his time at Los Blancos, especially with the much younger options of Martin Odegaard and Federico Valverde breaking through. However, the midfielder is still very much in favour at Real Madrid, starting 12 out of a possible 16 this term in all competitions. Despite his side’s mixed start to the season, Modric is still performing to an exceptionally ...
Manchester United tracking La Liga duo for Aaron Wan-Bissaka backup
Manchester United have been linked with moves for Atletico Madrid right-back Kieran Trippier, as well as Real Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly looking for another option in the right-back spot. Aaron Wan-Bissaka currently holds that position, with the alternatives being Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Brandon Williams – both of whom aren’t specialists in that position – and Ethan Laird, a young talent who needs time to develop. Wan-Bissaka has started all but two of Man Utd’s games this season in all competitions. The packed schedule and likely deep runs into domestic and European competitions make rotation a necessity. Wan-Bissaka is Man Utd’s number one right-back Reports are now saying that the Red Devils will look to La Liga for a second option on the right side of th...
Former Tottenham manager touted by Marca as potential Zidane replacement
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is the leading candidate for the Real Madrid manager’s seat, should the club get rid of current boss Zinedine Zidane (Marca). Zidane has had an immensely successful return to the Bernabeu, winning two league titles and three Champions Leagues over two managerial spells. However, a below-par start to the season has left Los Blancos in fourth place in La Liga, and on the verge of an embarrassing group-stage exit in the Champions League. This has cranked up the pressure on Zidane, who reportedly has just four games to save his job. Zidane Looking on as Shakhtar defeat Madrid Spanish publication Marca are now saying that Real Madrid have two replacements lined up should Zidane get the sack, with Mauricio Pochettino currently ahead of club le...
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 10 Most Memorable Goals
Cristiano Ronaldo. Five Ballons d’Or, Five Champions Leagues, seven league titles, and God knows how many records. And on 2nd December 2020, the Portuguese hit another milestone, netting his 750th professional career goal – a figure bettered only by Pele and Josef Bican. Having hit this extraordinary number, it’s difficult to narrow it down, but here are Cristiano Ronaldo’s ten most memorable goals. 1) vs Portsmouth (Premier League, 07/08) An unstoppable free kick from 30 yards out One thing that Ronaldo has become known for over the years is his iconic free kick technique. And, in January 2008, we got a glimpse of it at its very best. Early into a home fixture against Portsmouth, the Portuguese unleashed an unstoppable free kick into the top corner from 30 yards, leaving goalkeeper David ...
Gareth Bale scores 200th career goal
Tottenham and Wales forward Gareth Bale scored his 200th career goal as he equalised for Spurs against LASK in the Europa League. Gareth Bale scored his 200th career goal on Thursday after he netted for Tottenham in their Europa League clash with LASK. Wales international Bale had been stuck on 199 goals for club and country since he scored for Spurs in their 2-1 Premier League win over Brighton at the start of November. He went close to reaching the milestone during Tottenham’s 4-0 win over Ludogorets in the Europa League on November 26, but hit his 200th goal in Spurs’ next European outing. Bale’s landmark strike – his first away goal for Spurs in Europe since he scored a hat-trick at the San Siro against Inter in 2010 – came from the penalty spot, Bale restoring parity after Peter Micho...
Real Madrid join chase for Darwin Núñez
Real Madrid have become the latest club to express interest in Benfica striker Darwin Núñez, according to FourFourTwo. The 21-year-old started his career at Peñarol, before moving to Spanish second tier side Almeria. After impressing there, he made the switch to Benfica, where he has registered five goals and a further five assists in his first ten outings The striker has four caps for Uruguay, scoring twice. He has often been compared to fellow Uruguayan Edinson Cavani. Núñez celebrates a goal for Uruguay FourFourTwo reports that Los Blancos are looking at bringing in Núñez in January in case Serbian striker Luka Jovic departs. Jovic has had a tough time at the Bernabeu since signing from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019, scoring just twice in all competitions in a Real Madrid shirt. It is now...
Liverpool and Real Madrid linked with Alfonso Pastor
Liverpool and Real Madrid are both interested in Sevilla goalkeeper Alfonso Pastor, according to Spanish outlet AS. The young Spaniard made his debut for Sevilla on Wednesday, conceding four goals as Chelsea convincingly beat Los Nervionenses in the Champions League thanks to an inspired performance by Olivier Giroud. However, it would be unfair to blame the goalkeeper for any of the four goals. We’re still not over Olivier Giroud’s display last night! 🙌 He scored FOUR goals as Chelsea hammered Sevilla in Spain! 💙 pic.twitter.com/SlNpb3hHSj — Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 3, 2020 The 20-year-old is out of contract in the summer, leaving him free to talk to potential suitors in January. And, according to AS, Liverpool and Real Madrid are t...
AC Milan Eyeing Up Swoop For Real Madrid Pair
AC Milan are looking to bring in Real Madrid duo Alvaro Odriozola and Luka Jovic this January, according to reports in Spain (Don Balon). Milan have made a brilliant start to the 2020/21 campaign, sitting at the top of the table – five points clear of bitter rivals Inter in second place. They remain unbeaten in the league and have only lost once in all competitions. Ibrahimovic has rolled back the years this season However, manager Stefano Pioli is still looking to strengthen his squad in January to provide cover and rotation options. This season’s crammed schedule and possible deep ventures into domestic and European competitions make squad depth a necessity. It appears as if the Rossoneri have turned to the Bernabeu to bolster their roster in the upcoming January transfer window, with fu...
