Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has confirmed that Lamine Yamal will miss the team's pre-tournament friendlies. While remaining optimistic about the forward's recovery, the coaching staff has stopped short of guaranteeing his availability for the 2026 World Cup opener. Spain are scheduled to play the first of their two pre-World Cup warm-up matches on Thursday, June 4, against Iraq. Manager Luis de la Fuente will be forced to navigate the fixture without star forward Lamine Yamal due to an ongoing injury. While the manager remains positive regarding the playerâs status for Spainâs opening match in North America, there is still a tangible chance he could be sidelined. The Barcelona star suffered a torn biceps femoris in his left hamstring in late April, bringing an early end to his club season. Yamal recently admitted that he initially feared the injury would cost him his spot at the tournament before de la Fuente officially included him in the final 26-man roster. While Yamalâs rehabilitation process remains ongoing and entering in the final stages, his status for Spainâs Group H opener against Cape Verde on June 15 canât be confirmed. âIt is certain that he is not going to play,â de la Fuente stated during a press conference when asked about the upcoming friendly against Iraq. âThe plan is to follow our scheduled timeline, which gives us confidence that he will be ready for June 15. There is still time left, and we will see how he progresses. We might have to pause his workload at some pointâI donât know, Iâm just speculatingâ. El Ășltimo entrenamiento en nuestra casa.Te echaremos de menos, Ciudad del FĂștbol.#VamosEspaña | #CopaMundialFIFA pic.twitter.com/qDr7mpuCTIâ SelecciĂłn Española Masculina de FĂștbol (@SEFutbol) June 3, 2026 The Spanish manager noted that if Yamalâs rehabilitation continues at a normal rate, he should be fit enough to be part of the matchday squad for the World Cup opener, though he refused to confirm his presence. âIt doesnât guarantee he will play,â de la Fuente concluded. âWe will see. He might play a few minutes, or he might just complete a training session to build up his physical load so he can be ready for the second match against Saudi Arabia. We will evaluate it moment by momentâ. Nico Williams and Mikel Merino ruled out too Compounding Spainâs short-term selection issues, Nico Williams and Mikel Merino have also been ruled out for the friendly against Iraq. The Athletic Club forward is managing a muscle injury that forced him to miss the final three matches of the domestic season, while the Arsenal midfielder only recently returned to action following foot surgery, playing limited minutes in the Premier League finale. While the long-term outlook remains highly positive for both players, de la Fuente is unwilling to take unnecessary risks. He confirmed they will sit out alongside Yamal to prioritize their full recoveries, though he remains confident all three will be medically cleared before facing Cape Verde. âI believe Lamine, Nico Williams, and Mikel Merino will all be available for the first match,â de la Fuente assured. âI am certain they will be fine. That doesnât mean we think they have to play right awayâwe might wait a little longer. But in terms of physical condition, they will be readyâ.
The World Cup list of Spain had many players from Barcelona, which Iker Casillas linked with their financial issues. The World Cup squad that Luis de la Fuente announced for Spain brought contrasting reactions between the two giants: Barcelona have eight players, while Real Madrid did not get a single call-up. For Iker Casillas, there is a clear explanation. He made the comments during a Kings League conversation with Gerard PiquĂ©. Casillas said: âEverything has a process. For there to be that many Barcelona players, the club had to go through a major financial crisis that forced them to rely on the academy. Then itâs a matter of whether the young players are good enough or not, but for that you first have to trust them and give them continuity.â The two legends were champions in 2010 in South Africa, with the goalkeeper being the teamâs standout player as they analyzed the squad list, a list they mostly agreed with following the managerâs decision on Monday. Casillas on the goalkeepers One of the main doubts before the list was announced was in goal. Unai SimĂłn is the clear starter for de la Fuente, not only because of his performances with Athletic Club, but also because of his strong record with the national team. GarcĂa was chosen to be the third goalkeeper of Spain (Alex Caparros/Getty Images) The other logical choice was backup David Raya, who has had an excellent season with Arsenal that could even end with a Champions League title. However, the difficult decision was to leave Joan GarcĂa ahead of Alex Remiro. Casillas said: âThe goalkeeper position was the most well covered. GarcĂa had a good season. The ones de la Fuente has called up are fine, I would still agree even if he had included others.â Casillas on the absence of Real Madrid players Another major talking point around the list was the absence of Real Madrid players for the first time ever, which sparked controversy because of the teamâs level. That was also something the legend addressed. Casillas said: âI, having played in Real Madridâs academy and being Spanish, am frustrated that none have been called up, itâs tough.â
Real Madridâs last game of the season, in which the club secured a 4-2 win over Athletic Club, was all about the farewell of Dani Carvajal.The veteran defender had an emotional message for Real Madr...
Real Madrid are on course to end their disappointing season on a positive note, although their two-goal advantage has been cut in half by Athletic Club in the final match of the 2025-26 campaign.The h...
Real Madrid and Athletic Club will face against each other in Matchday 38 of the 2025/2026 La Liga. Hereâs how fans in the United States can watch the matchup live. Here are all of the details of where you can watch Real Madrid vs Athletic Club on US television and via legal streaming: WHO Real Madrid vs Athletic Club WHAT Spanish LaLiga WHEN 3:00pm ET / 12:00pm PT âą Saturday, May 23, 2025 WHERE ESPN+ STREAM WATCH NOW Match Overview Real Madrid enters the final matchday of the La Liga season with their fate already sealed. Locked into second place behind champions Barcelona, this game is about pride and ending a second consecutive trophyless season on a positive note for the demanding Santiago BernabĂ©u crowd. For interim manager Alvaro Arbeloa, it marks his final game at the helm before JosĂ© Mourinhoâs summer arrival, adding another layer of significance to the closing fixture. Athletic Club arrives in the capital amidst a turbulent campaign, their worst since the 2018/19 season. Sitting in 12th place, their hopes for European qualification are virtually nonexistent. This match represents a chance to salvage some pride and send off their own departing manager, Ernesto Valverde, with a statement performance. Despite a poor run of form, the Basque club will be determined to snap a long winless streak at the BernabĂ©u that dates back to 2005. Tactical Analysis & Match Context This fixture pits a team that underperformed against massive expectations against a side that simply failed to meet its season objectives. Real Madrid, despite securing a runner-up finish, considers the season a failure after exiting the Champions League and failing to challenge for the domestic title. In contrast, Athletic Clubâs campaign fizzled out, with a poor run of form in the final stretch dropping them into mid-table obscurity and out of the European race entirely. The tactical battle will likely be one-sided on paper. Real Madrid possesses world-class firepower and individual brilliance capable of dismantling any defense, and they will be expected to dominate possession at home. Athletic Club, weakened by injuries and low on confidence, will likely set up a defensive block and look to frustrate the hosts. The key to the match will be whether Madridâs attacking stars can maintain their focus and break down a potentially stubborn, but unmotivated, opposition. While the match has no bearing on the league standings for Real Madrid, the motivation is clear: deliver a commanding victory for the home supporters after a disappointing season. For Athletic Club, the stakes are about professionalism and pride. Ending a dismal season with a shock result in Madrid would provide a much-needed morale boost heading into the summer and a new managerial era under Edin Terzic. Head-to-Head Record & Historic Trends Historically, this has been a fixture dominated by Real Madrid, especially at the Santiago BernabĂ©u, where Athletic Club has not secured a victory since 2005. The overall trend points heavily in favor of the home side, who have consistently had the upper hand against their Basque opponents for nearly two decades in Madrid. Recent encounters reinforce this pattern of dominance. Real Madrid has won four of the last five meetings between the two clubs, including a convincing 3-0 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season. Athletic Clubâs sole win in that span came on their home turf, but they have struggled to even find the net against Los Blancos, scoring just twice in the last five matchups. One of the most telling statistics is Real Madridâs defensive record in this fixture, having kept four clean sheets in the last five head-to-head games. Furthermore, goals have been surprisingly scarce, with none of the last 13 clashes between these teams producing four or more total goals. This suggests that while Madrid is heavily favored, a high-scoring blowout is not a historical certainty. Squad News & Projected Lineups Both squads are grappling with significa
As the La Liga season enters its final stretch with Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe could miss out on a major individual award. The past few weeks have been turbulent for Real Madrid, with disappointing results on the field and controversy surrounding the club off it. Kylian Mbappe has not been immune to that situation, and now he could lose one of La Ligaâs most prestigious individual honors. With two matches remaining in the 2025-26 Spanish league season, Mbappe currently leads the La Liga scoring race. He has scored 24 goals in 36 matchdays, although he has appeared in only 29 of those games. His seven absences were caused by physical issues, first involving his knee and more recently muscular problems. In that context, the French forwardâs lead in the scoring standings is being threatened by an unexpected challenger. Vedat Muriqi has enjoyed an outstanding campaign with Mallorca, scoring 22 goals this season. He also holds the advantage of having played in 35 of the clubâs 36 matches, missing only one game through suspension. Muriqiâs goals have been crucial in keeping Mallorca alive in La Liga. The club currently occupies one of the relegation spots, sitting 18th in the standings. However, they are level on points with Levante and Elche, and only one point behind Alaves and Girona, meaning their survival hopes remain very much alive. Vedat Muriqi of RCD Mallorca. That motivation could prove decisive for Vedat Muriqi in the final matches of the season, knowing his goals may help the team avoid relegation. Mbappeâs situation appears less encouraging, as he continues to deal with physical issues amid tensions with Alvaro Arbeloa while seemingly focusing more on the 2026 FIFA World Cup with France than on Real Madridâs final two league games. Whatâs next for Mbappe and Muriqi in La Liga? The race for La Ligaâs Pichichi Trophy appears to be down to Kylian Mbappe (24 goals) and Vedat Muriqi (22), with only two goals separating them. Far behind are Osasunaâs Ante Budimir (17) and Barcelonaâs Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal (16). Each forwardâs remaining two matches could prove decisive. Real Madrid will first travel to face Sevilla on Sunday before closing the campaign against Athletic Club in Matchday 38. Muriqi, meanwhile, will battle for survival with Mallorca against Levante and Real Oviedo. Mbappe used to finishing as league top scorer The season after joining Paris Saint-Germain, Kylian Mbappe won the Ligue 1 Golden Boot for the first time at just 20 years old. From that point on, he claimed the award in every season he played in France. In fact, the striker finished as Ligue 1âs top scorer for six consecutive years, outperforming even teammates Neymar and Lionel Messi. After joining Real Madrid in 2024, that scoring dominance carried over to Spain, where he finished as La Ligaâs top scorer in his debut season. Now, he is trying to retain that honor for a second straight year.
After the disagreement between Alvaro Arbeloa and Kylian MbappĂ©, an old tweet from the Real Madrid manager about the player resurfaced. Fans do not have much time to read good news about their club as Real Madrid goes from one scandal to another. Kylian MbappĂ© was the one who unexpectedly started this latest issue with Ălvaro Arbeloa over his benching. However, an old tweet from the manager has resurfaced. Arbeloa wrote: âMbappĂ© is like young Luke Skywalker. You know that sooner or later heâll dominate the world. Heâs a beast!â Fans dug it up because it was posted on June 20, 2018, when the Frenchman was dazzling as a teenager at the World Cup his country won with him as the main attacking player. It was a curious reminder of what Arbeloa thinks of MbappĂ© as a player. However, it is very possible that the manager is now tired of the playerâs antics, especially after the two gave different versions of the conversation they had before the match against Real Oviedo. MbappĂ© es como el joven Luke Skywalker. Sabes que tarde o temprano dominarĂĄ el mundo.ÂĄEs una bestia!â Ălvaro Arbeloa (@aarbeloa17) June 30, 2018 Arbeloa-MbappĂ© incident This was not a dispute like the one last week between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, which left the Uruguayan out for 10 to 14 days. It was a difference in what they told the media after the win. The player said Arbeloa left him out of the lineup because he was the fourth forward behind Franco Mastantuono, Vinicius and Gonzalo GarcĂa, which was a question for the manager. When Arbeloa was asked about what MbappĂ© had said minutes earlier, he reacted with surprise and said he did not say that phrase to MbappĂ©, turning it into another scandal. The final matches Real Madrid must finish the season in a more respectable way after failing to win a title despite the clubâs history. While they will not move from second place behind Barcelona, they need to get wins to calm their fans a bit. Their final matches are against Sevilla away and Athletic Club at home.
A round-up of some of La Ligaâs most intriguing storylines across the week, traversing through the good, the bad and something beautiful.The Good: Luis Castro and what an army!That Levante are eve...
Real Madrid will be hosting Real Oviedo for La Liga, but Kylian Mbappe's absence in the starting XI raised eyebrows among fans. Real Madrid return to the Santiago Bernabeu this Thursday, May 14, to host Real Oviedo for Matchday 36 of the 2025-26 La Liga season. While several of Los Blancosâ heavy hitters made the cut, the glaring omission of Kylian Mbappe from the starting XI has sent shockwaves through the Madridista fanbase. Mbappe will begin todayâs match on the bench due to a tactical decision by manager Alvaro Arbeloa. While the Frenchman has officially recovered from the last-minute injury that kept him out of El Clasico against Barcelona, Arbeloa has opted to ease the superstar back into action rather than handed him a starting role. After battling back from a torn muscle fiber, Mbappe reportedly felt minor discomfort in the final training session before the duel with Barcelona, according to Marca. He has since resumed full training with the squad at Valdebebas and is said to be eager to see the field as the season reaches its final days. Per reports out of Spain, Mbappe is determined to play a part in Real Madridâs final three fixtures against Oviedo, Sevilla, and Athletic Club. With the 2026 World Cup just weeks away, the forward is focused on regaining his match fitness and sharpness before joining the French national team in June. đâ ÂĄNuestro XI inicial!đ @RealOviedođ @UnicajaBanco pic.twitter.com/1KNmE4GlJLâ Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) May 14, 2026 The move to include him in the squad comes as a surprise following reports from The Athletic suggesting Mbappe wanted to skip the remaining home games to avoid the hostile atmosphere and jeers from the Bernabeu crowd. However, it appears his priority has shifted toward being physically ready for Franceâs World Cup defense. Real Madrid deal with two more significant absences Arbeloa is still fielding a competitive side, with regulars like Thibaut Courtois, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Vinicius Junior all named to the starting lineup. However, with Real Madrid mathematically out of the La Liga title race, the manager is taking some notable risks with his team selection. The most shocking exclusion alongside Mbappe is Jude Bellingham, who will also start the match on the bench. Furthermore, Federico Valverde, a pillar of the squad this season and frequent captain, is missing from the squad list entirely following the training ground clash with Tchouameni.
