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European football: Roma close to Champions League return after beating Lazio
Sevilla safe despite defeat against Real MadridTiny Elversberg seal first promotion to BundesligaRoma took a huge step towards returning to the Champions League by beating Lazio 2-0 in a feisty derby which finished with both teams down to 10 men, while Napoli won 3-0 at Pisa to secure a top-four spot.Gianluca Mancini smashed home two headers from corners, one in each half, at the Stadio Olimpico to move Roma up to fourth thanks also to Juventus’s shock 2-0 home defeat by Fiorentina. Continue reading...
Mbappé explains his laugh after the Valverde-Tchouameni incident: ‘I was not there when it happened’
Kylian Mbappé described his reaction after the Real Madrid scandal between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni. More issues seem to arise every day for Real Madrid fans. On a day that should have been about the win over Real Oviedo, the focus shifted to Kylian Mbappé’s press conference. Among the topics was his laugh when leaving the training ground after the Federico Valverde incident with Aurelien Tchouameni. Mbappé said: “I was not there. I was not there when it happened. I cannot confirm whether anything happened or not because I was not there. I left the Ciudad Deportiva without knowing what happened because I was injured. I was not training with the team.” This was a topic that drew attention last week, as El Chiringuito published a video of Mbappé leaving in a car, laughing in the middle of a scandal. While his injury was real, it may also suggest that he is somewhat disconnected from the team. 🚨 IMAGEN @elchiringuitotv 🚨🤣 MBAPPÉ ABANDONA VALDEBEBAS 'PARTIÉNDOSE de RISA'.🇫🇷 El francés ha completado hoy parte del entrenamiento con el grupo. pic.twitter.com/nVcMLKiX1d— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) May 7, 2026 Mbappé on his injury The forward is not known for recurring injuries throughout his career. If anything, he has played too many matches for his age. However, this season was different, as he had to deal with a few. Most notably during the most important stretch, when his team was in the Champions League, he was not able to be at 100 percent. The report at the time about his knee injury was that the club had examined the wrong knee, something the forward denied. Mbappé said: “Real Madrid never make mistakes. It is the best club in the world. It is hard when you have an injury. What hurts the most is people who think I did not want to play. At first, people said I was playing too much, that I wanted to play every match. That is the only thing that does not make sense.” Mbappé on his trip to Italy Before the many scandals that put Real Madrid in the news for reasons unrelated to matches, the forward was the first to be involved in one. As he was recovering from an injury, Mbappé traveled to Italy. The issue for fans was his commitment, because even though he was not going to play against Espanyol, he arrived in the country almost at kickoff time. Mbappé said when asked about his trip: “You do not know what I did in Italy. You do not know whether I was on vacation. That is your opinion. People do not know the context or whether it was authorized by the club, which it was. That sells newspapers and affects people. But the only thing that matters to me is winning titles, and we did not do that.”
La Liga’s relegation race ignites as Espanyol end 143-day winless streak | Sid Lowe
A stoppage-time eruption and a crying Manolo González means the Catalan club’s long-awaited victory changes everythingAfter 143 days and many more sleepless nights Manolo González was liberated, if only for a little while. In the 92nd minute of the 19th game of 2026, something amazing happened: Espanyol won and Espanyol went wild. A goal up against Athletic Club, a late Gorka Guruzeta header had shaken them more than the post it hit, a familiar fatalism refusing to leave, and they were desperately hanging on to what they had now and had lost too many times before, whistling for this suffering to finally end, when at last they could let go. “You have to be strong in life but, bloody hell, we all have limits,” González said, and they had reached theirs but now, on a Wednesday evening in May, they were released.Ramon Terrats, a boyhood Espanyol, nodded the ball on. Kike García, the only member of the squad born in the 80s and a man with a bit of the 80s about him, a 36-year-old, 6ft 1in, 12-stone striker they call the “labourer of goals”, a sub who had only been out there six minutes, ran on to it. Keeping his head, he guided a shot past Unai Simón so everyone else could lose theirs. The clock said 91.06. The scoreboard said 2-0. The table said: 14th, 42 points, 11 wins. And 29,943 people said: argrhjrfujhkngsafkjhfskljdzrogjdgixjkgjhlkbxcfh. As for González, he broke down and cried. Continue reading...
European football: Kvaratskhelia powers PSG to Ligue 1 title at Lens
Georgian opens the scoring as PSG beat rivals 2-0Inter victorious over Lazio in Coppa Italia finalParis Saint-Germain secured a fifth successive Ligue 1 title by beating their nearest challengers, Lens, 2-0 in their penultimate match of the league season on Wednesday.Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored after 29 minutes and the substitute Ibrahim Mbaye grabbed a stoppage-time goal to put PSG on 76 points, out of the reach of Lens, who are assured of second place on 67 points. Continue reading...
Rashford seals title for Barcelona and completes week to forget for Real Madrid
This time it was Marcus Rashford who delivered the knockout blow. Three days after the fight between Fede Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni that ended with Real Madrid’s vice-captain taken to hospital and the crisis at the club laid bare for all to see, they went to the Camp Nou and finally, definitively relinquished a league they had lost long ago. For the first time in 94 years a clásico decided the title, 62,000 fans starting the party as goals from the Englishman and Ferran Torres took Hansi Flick’s team over the line with three games to spare.If, that is, decided is the word. For Madrid, at least it is over now. They had avoided it ending last week by beating Espanyol, just across the city limits, sparing themselves from having to give their rivals a guard of honour before this game but they knew they could not avoid it for ever: their aspiration was limited to stopping Barcelona celebrating in their presence. But, like so much else this campaign, that was beyond them, and so a second successive season closes without a trophy, and on the worst possible stage. Continue reading...
Why isn’t Kylian Mbappé playing today for Real Madrid vs Barcelona in 2025-26 LaLiga clash?
Barcelona and Real Madrid face off in El Clásico, a crucial match that will determine the 2025-26 LaLiga champion. After a disappointing season, los Blancos are looking for a key victory to quell the criticism. However, Kylian Mbappé will not be playing, leaving a significant gap in the offense. Barcelona have managed to become as one of the best teams in the world, shining throughout the 2025–26 LaLiga season. With this in mind, they face Real Madrid in the highly anticipated El Clásico, in a clash that will determine the league champion. Nevertheless, Los Blancos will not make things easy, as are going through a disappointing season. Despite this, Kylian Mbappé will not be available, leaving serious doubts from a scoring standpoint. Kylian Mbappé has been left out of Real Madrid’s squad list. Even though he had supposedly passed the medical tests a few days ago, he has not managed to fully recover from his torn muscle fiber, causing him to miss El Clásico. In addition to this, the French forward left the team’s latest training session in the final five minutes after feeling discomfort, leaving everyone surprised, reveals Diario Marca. Given the Frenchman’s absence, Real Madrid‘s Álvaro Arbeloa could stick with the same approach he used against Espanyol, betting on Brahim Díaz and Jude Bellingham in the attack. Complementing the offense, Vinicius Jr. would occupy the left side of midfield, controlling the entire flank and looking to create space in Barcelona’s defense. While this approach has already worked in previous matches, the absence of Kylian Mbappé’s scoring power could prove quite decisive. Without Mbappé’s presence, Vinicius Jr. could once again have complete freedom of movement, recalling his best periods with Los Blancos before the Frenchman arrived at the club. In addition, he has proven to be key to the team’s collective play, meaning he could not only make an impact from a scoring standpoint again, but also elevate Brahim, Bellingham, or even Gonzalo García if he comes on as a substitute during the LaLiga match. Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid. Real Madrid face seven additional absentees vs Barcelona Real Madrid have not had their best season, being eliminated from the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League and sitting in second place, 11 points behind Barcelona. Along with the limited impact of head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, Los Blancos have suffered a significant wave of injuries that has prevented them from performing at their best. Far from improving toward the end of the season, they still maintain eight major absences for El Clásico. Arbeloa will not be able to count on Arda Güler, Federico Valverde, Rodrygo Goes, Éder Militão, Dani Ceballos, Dani Carvajal, and Ferland Mendy. Because of this, they will be forced to make major changes to their squad, losing most of their key figures across every area of the pitch. Nevertheless, Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham’s presence could prove decisive to chase a victory today, as they have already shown to be crucial from an offensive standpoint.
Mbappé defended by Arbeloa after leaving training ground laughing amid Real Madrid scandal
Alvaro Arbeloa defended Kylian Mbappé after a video of him laughing amid Real Madrid scandal. Real Madrid did not have a normal training week before Sunday’s El Clásico against Barcelona. The Federico Valverde incident with Aurélien Tchouaméni drew most of the attention, but that same day Kylian Mbappé was seen leaving the training ground laughing, and Álvaro Arbeloa defended him. Arbeloa said: “For a player to leave the training ground laughing is taking things out of context and putting them out of place. We all know the effort he made to come to Real Madrid and what he gave up. We all saw him wearing the shirt as a kid.” The issue came up after a video posted by El Chiringuito last Thursday, the same day Valverde went to the hospital for stitches after the scandal. While it may not be a major mistake, it is not helpful for a player like Mbappé, who is already under scrutiny, to do something like that, especially after the kind of year the club had last season. 🚨 IMAGEN @elchiringuitotv 🚨🤣 MBAPPÉ ABANDONA VALDEBEBAS 'PARTIÉNDOSE de RISA'.🇫🇷 El francés ha completado hoy parte del entrenamiento con el grupo. pic.twitter.com/nVcMLKiX1d— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) May 7, 2026 Arbeloa’s authority under scrutiny The main takeaway from the incident was not only whether the dressing room is united after a bad year. The clash between the midfielders was not the only issue, since they had already argued the day before. If a manager wants to be at a club this big, he has to be able to deal with players who have major egos because of their status, which is something Arbeloa could not do after a repeated incident, and also when Mbappé took a short trip while injured. Arbeloa said about Mbappé’s arrival in Spain when his teammates were about to play against Espanyol: “I feel with the complete authority of a Real Madrid manager. In the end, they are respecting their current manager and as a player that is the most important thing.” Arbeloa dismisses players having too much power Dressing room conflicts are the players’ responsibility, but the manager has to be a leader so they do not affect the team. Real Madrid have not played since the incident, but it brought back the topic of how much power players may have, which was also a talking point after Xabi Alonso’s dismissal. Arbeloa said: “I don’t know what that means. When a Real Madrid player does not play, it is because of a sporting decision. I choose the one I think deserves it most. Fans can be calm with this dressing room and these players. These are difficult situations, but there is nobody more ready to improve this than the president of our club.”
Sevilla strike late to boost survival hopes, Celta edge Atletico
Akor Adams snatched Sevilla a late 2-1 victory over Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday to increase their chances of avoiding relegation.On Sunday, La Liga leaders Barcelona can wrap up back-to-back Spanish titles if they avoid defeat against arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Clasico at Camp Nou. rbs/ea
Hansi Flick dismisses claims that Kylian Mbappe is a burden for Real Madrid: ‘Come on’
Despite Real Madrid’s recent negative numbers with Kylian Mbappe, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised the French forward. Real Madrid are heading into Sunday’s El Clasico amid a crisis fueled not only by poor results, but also by internal conflicts. In that context, even Kylian Mbappe’s role has come under scrutiny, something Barcelona coach Hansi Flick dismissed. “He’s one of the best players in the world, come on,” Flick responded during Saturday’s press conference when asked by a reporter whether Real Madrid currently play better without Mbappe. “On the pitch, he has unbelievable quality.” The Barcelona coach then highlighted the French forward’s strengths: “In every situation, he’s very dangerous. In the box, he’s unbelievable. In front of the goal, he’s for me, for his quality, at the moment the best one.” The narrative surrounding the supposed “burden” Mbappe represents for Real Madrid has gained traction in recent weeks, as the team started posting better results in matches in which he was unable to be part of the starting lineup due to physical issues. Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring against Bayern Munich. In the last six matches in which Real Madrid had Mbappe in the starting lineup, they managed to win only once, while with him absent or coming off the bench, Los Blancos won seven of their last eight matches. Will Mbappe start in El Clasico against Barcelona? Kylian Mbappe missed Real Madrid’s last La Liga match — a 2-0 victory against Espanyol last Sunday — due to a muscle injury. That naturally cast doubt over his availability for El Clasico against Barcelona, with only seven days to recover his best physical condition. However, the forward’s progress throughout the week was positive. Little by little, he rejoined training alongside the rest of his teammates, and on Saturday he took part in the session normally. That gives him a strong chance of being in the starting lineup at Camp Nou. Mbappe’s record in El Clasico Since arriving at Real Madrid in the summer of 2024, Kylian Mbappe has faced Barcelona six times, with an overwhelmingly negative record: five defeats and one victory. That statistic becomes even more striking considering that three of those five losses came in finals. On an individual level, however, Mbappe has lived up to expectations. In those six matches against Barcelona, the French forward scored six goals, including a hat trick in the 4-3 defeat during the 2024-25 La Liga season.
Kylian Mbappe’s personal life should not be a concern for Real Madrid, claims club icon Guti
Real Madrid icon Guti defended Kylian Mbappé amid private life discussions. It was an unusual week for Real Madrid as they prepare for Sunday’s El Clasico against Barcelona. The scandal involving Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni drew most of the attention, but Kylian Mbappe was already on the fans’ radar before that. For club icon Guti, his personal life is not an issue, as he said on Radio Marca. Guti said when asked about the French forward: “What I care about is that Mbappe, Vinicius, Bellingham, Carreras, Lunin do things well on the field. Outside of that, I don’t care what they do. It’s their personal life and each person does what they want with their time off. When they are on the field and they are not doing things correctly, let’s criticize them. But when they are out of it, let’s leave them alone.” These comments came after the controversy surrounding Mbappe’s arrival in Spain at almost the same time his teammates were about to kick off the match against Espanyol, a game that could have decided La Liga. His recent trips with his reported girlfriend angered some supporters, especially as he has been dealing with an injury. Guti would like Vitinha at Real Madrid While he was not as famous as some of his teammates during the Galácticos era, Guti was always a respected figure in the dressing room. Coming through the club’s youth system gave him a connection to Real Madrid that others did not have. Guti was a talented midfielder (Denis Doyle/Getty Images) His style of play also fit what the club likes to see in its players, as the midfielder had a flair with his left foot that few could match. That makes him a natural person to weigh in on who the best midfielder for Real Madrid might be right now. Guti said: “In Spain, Pedri is above everybody. If it’s around the world, I think there are other players at his level like Vitinha. He’s a great player. He’s one of the most complete players in the world. Arda Guler is going to grow too. Vitinha at Real Madrid wouldn’t be bad. Great players should be there, he’s the best at his position.” Guti’s record with Real Madrid Guti played almost his entire career at Real Madrid. Injuries kept him from reaching his full potential, but he still managed to contribute to the club from 1995 to 2010. He played 542 matches and scored 77 goals while winning 15 titles. His final year as a player was with Besiktas before he retired in 2011.
Valverde and Tchouameni fined by Real Madrid after fight: How much will they pay?
Real Madrid announced the punishment for Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni. In the middle of a turbulent week, the conflict between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni took another turn on Friday. Real Madrid announced the financial sanctions that will be imposed on both players: fines of €500,000 (approximately $590,000) each. “Real Madrid C. F. announces that, following the events that led to the disciplinary proceedings initiated yesterday against our players Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, both appeared today before the investigator assigned to the case,” begins the statement published on the club’s official website. “During their appearance, the players expressed their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to each other. Furthermore, they extended their apologies to the club, their teammates, the coaching staff, and the fans, and both have made themselves available to Real Madrid to accept whatever sanction the club deems appropriate,” Los Blancos added. “Under these circumstances, Real Madrid has decided to impose a financial penalty of five hundred thousand euros on each player, thereby concluding the corresponding internal procedures,” the club announced, officially bringing the matter to a close. Official Announcement.— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) May 8, 2026 The sporting situation for Valverde and Tchouameni As made clear in the statement published by Real Madrid, the club consider the matter closed following the financial penalties imposed on both players. That means neither Federico Valverde nor Aurelien Tchouameni will face any sporting consequences. However, the situation leaves both players in very different circumstances. As a result of the altercation, Valverde suffered a blow to the head that required hospitalization, and the injury will prevent him from being part of the squad for Sunday’s El Clasico against Barcelona. Tchouameni, meanwhile, is in perfect physical condition and, with the possibility of a club-imposed suspension now ruled out, has a strong chance of being included in the squad traveling to Catalunya. Whether or not he features in the starting lineup will depend on the decision of head coach Alvaro Arbeloa. Real Madrid injuries for clash against Barcelona Federico Valverde is not the only player who will be unavailable for Sunday’s match against Barcelona. Due to physical issues, Daniel Carvajal, Eder Militao, Rodrygo Goes, Arda Guler, and Ferland Mendy will also miss the game. In addition, Kylian Mbappe is expected to arrive less than fully fit after dealing with muscular problems over the past week that kept him out of the squad for the win over Espanyol.
History-chasing Barca eye title party in Liga Clasico
With the sting of Champions League disappointment fading but not forgotten, Barcelona are aiming to clinch back-to-back La Liga titles on Sunday when they host bitter rivals Real Madrid.His match-winning brace at Espanyol last week prevented Barcelona clinching the title and saved Madrid having to give the champions a guard of honour on Sunday.
Real Madrid lose another defender long term as Ferland Mendy needs surgery
Real Madrid may need another left back as Ferland Mendy could miss a long time after muscle injury. Bad news keeps piling up for Real Madrid in the middle of an internal scandal. This issue has nothing to do with that, but it is still another setback for the club, as it has now been confirmed that Ferland Mendy will undergo surgery. Mendy was injured in the opening minutes of Real Madrid’s win over Espanyol last Sunday. The injury is to the tendon of his right rectus femoris, and it is not just a simple muscle issue with a short recovery time. It has now been confirmed that the left-back needs surgery. Monday was the date set for the procedure in France, according to Marca. The expected recovery time is around five to six months, so Real Madrid may need to look for a replacement in the next transfer windows. Éder Militão also needed surgery Mendy is not the only player dealing with a muscle-related surgery. The French left-back joins Éder Militão in that unfortunate group, as the Brazilian is also expected to miss about the same amount of time. Militão may not return this year (Denis Doyle/Getty Images) His injury happened in a match against Alavés, but it was more serious because he re-injured an area that had already been hurt before. In early April, he was close to returning before this setback forced him out for six months. Militão underwent surgery with well-known doctor Lasse Lempainen in Finland to repair a rupture of the proximal tendon of the biceps femoris in his left leg. Along with missing the rest of Real Madrid’s matches, he will also miss the World Cup with Brazil. The player decided on surgery because he could not continue at less than full strength. The retirement rumors Mendy had started to regain ground later on, but he played in only nine matches all season after suffering several injuries. While the initially reported recovery time was around six months, there are rumors that he could retire. This was reported by Cadena Cope, which posted that “the French left-back suffers a tear of the tendon of the femoral rectum with bone separation. He’ll go through the operating room and could be on leave for a year and with the option of retirement if it does not go well.”