Match story
- Athletic Club fired more attempts (15 vs 7 shots).
- Real Madrid was more accurate in front of goal (29% on target vs 20%).
- Real Madrid held more of the ball (58% possession).
Athletic Club defeated Real Madrid 1-0 in Copa del Rey. The fixture is part of the Quarter-finals stage in the 2021 season. The match was played at San Mamés Barria in Bilbao. Jesús Gil officiated the match. The full-time result capped a Athletic Club vs Real Madrid meeting in Copa del Rey with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Athletic Club and Real Madrid. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Copa del ReyRecorded meetings: 7 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
No prediction, odds, or comparable team statistics are available for this fixture yet. When Sportra has model probabilities and market prices, they will appear here as interactive charts.
From his childhood in France to becoming one of the world's biggest stars, Mbappe has carried lessons from the players he admired into his own career. Kylian Mbappe has never hidden the influence Cristiano Ronaldo had on his development, but the Real Madrid star has always viewed his inspiration as something broader than simply following one player. From his childhood in France to becoming one of the world’s biggest stars, Mbappe has carried lessons from the players he admired into his own career. The connection between the two forwards has evolved dramatically over the years. What began with a young Mbappe watching Ronaldo from afar eventually became a relationship built around mutual respect, conversations and advice, with the Frenchman now following in his idol’s footsteps at Real Madrid. Mbappe’s admiration for Ronaldo dates back to his earliest years as a player. Famous images of the teenager in his Bondy bedroom show Ronaldo posters covering the walls, while his family has spoken about how intensely he followed the Portuguese superstar. The relationship became even more memorable when Mbappe visited Real Madrid’s training ground as a youngster and met Ronaldo. He reportedly studied the forward’s movements closely, taking inspiration from his explosive pace, stepovers, changes of direction, and ability to combine wide attacking play with relentless goalscoring. Kylian Mbappé haciendo una celebración de Cristiano Ronaldo hoy. 🥹🥹🥹 pic.twitter.com/pu93GZ1rYT— MT2 (@madrid_total2) August 26, 2026 Ronaldo’s influence was particularly significant because he showed Mbappe what a modern forward could become. His transformation from explosive winger into one of soccer’s most prolific goalscorers offered a blueprint for a young player who wanted to develop every part of his attacking game. Mbappe finally explains what he learned from Ronaldo The clearest explanation of Ronaldo’s influence came when L’Equipe asked Mbappe whether the Portuguese had been his inspiration as a player. Rather than naming Ronaldo alone, Mbappe explained that his childhood idol had taught him something fundamental about what an elite striker could achieve. “Not just him, not just him. Cristiano was my childhood idol, and I think for a long time he embodied the idea that a striker can do many things; he can do so much.” Mbappe then explained why he believes the best players learn from several sources rather than attempting to replicate one individual. “But I think that as a striker, you always try to take a little bit of the best that others have and what they excel at, because your goal in the end is to improve yourself, so that there are fewer people doing things better than you”, he added. That distinction is important. Ronaldo was Mbappe’s childhood idol and a major influence, but Mbappe’s ambition has always been to take the strongest qualities from different players and turn them into his own game. Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal shakes hands with Kylian Mbappe of France From posters on his wall to Real Madrid Mbappe’s career path has also created an obvious link with his childhood hero. After emerging at Monaco and becoming a global superstar at Paris Saint-Germain, he eventually completed his long-awaited move to Real Madrid, the club where Ronaldo established himself as a legend. Mbappe has previously acknowledged that Ronaldo influenced his view of what a career at the highest level could look like. His decision to pursue a move to Madrid carried an obvious sense of continuity, particularly given how much the Portuguese forward achieved there. The Frenchman has also incorporated elements of the Portuguese veteran’s style into his own game. Explosive acceleration, stepovers, sharp body movements and an instinct for attacking space have all been characteristics associated with both players, although Mbappe has developed his own identity.
Real Madrid are reportedly considering a move for Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi, and the Spanish giants now know the price they would need to pay to bring him back to Spain. The 27-year-old joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad last summer and quickly established himself as an important member of Mikel Arteta’s squad. However, his position […] The post Real Madrid learn the asking price to sign Arsenal star in January appeared first on CaughtOffside.
The 2026–27 LaLiga season returns to action with a duel between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano, and here is all the information you need to watch this game live in the United States. Here are all of the details of where you can watch Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano on US television and via legal streaming: WHO: Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano WHAT: La Liga WHEN: 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT • Saturday, September 12, 2026 WHERE: Fubo STREAM: WATCH NOW Match Overview Real Madrid enters this Madrid derby with a sense of urgency after suffering their first league defeat of the season against Real Betis. Currently sitting third, Los Blancos cannot afford to lose more ground on early leaders Barcelona and will view this home fixture as a must-win to maintain their title challenge momentum. Fresh off a demanding Champions League victory over Inter Milan, the pressure is on to deliver a commanding performance at the Santiago Bernabéu. For Rayo Vallecano, the stakes are entirely different but just as high. Occupying 14th place, they finally secured their first win last week and desperately need to build on it to create a buffer from the relegation zone. A trip to face their city rivals is one of the toughest fixtures on the calendar, and snatching any points would be a massive boost for a club navigating internal turmoil and a difficult start to the campaign. Tactical Analysis & Match Context The two clubs enter this derby on contrasting trajectories. Real Madrid, under Jose Mourinho, have shown signs of returning to form after last season’s struggles, with the recent loss to Betis being a notable blip in an otherwise strong start. Their attack has created numerous chances, even if the finishing has been slightly off. In contrast, Rayo Vallecano has been hampered by off-field issues and a winless start to the season until their recent victory, suggesting a fragile confidence. The tactical battle will likely be a classic clash of possession versus defense. Expect Rayo Vallecano to set up in a compact, deep-lying block, aiming to frustrate Real Madrid’s central progression and deny space to creative players like Jude Bellingham. This will force Real to utilize the full width of the pitch, relying on the individual brilliance of wingers like Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior to break down a stubborn defensive line through one-on-one situations. Motivation for both sides is crystal clear. Real Madrid is driven by the necessity of keeping pace in the La Liga title race, where every point is critical, especially at home. For Rayo, survival and stability are the primary goals. A positive result against a giant like Real Madrid would provide a significant psychological lift and valuable points in their fight to stay clear of the bottom three. Head-to-Head Record & Historic Trends Historically, this fixture has been overwhelmingly dominated by Real Madrid. Across 48 top-flight meetings, Los Blancos have secured 34 victories, while Rayo Vallecano has managed just seven wins, with seven matches ending in a draw. This long-standing dominance is particularly pronounced at the Santiago Bernabéu, where Rayo has won only once, back in 1996. However, recent encounters have been more competitive. While Real Madrid is unbeaten in the last seven meetings, four of those have been draws, indicating Rayo’s ability to frustrate their more powerful neighbors. Last season, Rayo held Real to a 0-0 draw at home before losing a tight 2-1 contest at the Bernabéu, where a late Kylian Mbappé penalty was required to secure the three points for the hosts. From a statistical perspective, goals are often a feature. The last five matchups have produced an average of 2.8 goals per game. Notably, four of the last five clashes at the Santiago Bernabéu have seen Real Madrid win with both teams finding the net. This trend suggests that while Real typically controls the outcome, Rayo often manages to breach their defense. Squad News & Projected Lineups Both managers face selection head
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