Match coverage

Istanbul bound: City composed in 4-0 Real rout, as a pivotal three weeks now beckon

Bernardo Silva of Manchester City celebrates scoring the first goal during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg match between Manchester...

Premier League champions Manchester City banished their demons from twelve months ago, avenging a painful collapse against Real Madrid with a 4-0 (5-1 aggregate) win over the Champions League holders on Wednesday, earning a date with Serie A giants Inter Milan for the Istanbul final on June 10. Five games in 20 days across three competitions between now and then, what’s next?
Continue reading “Istanbul bound: City composed in 4-0 Real rout, as a pivotal three weeks now beckon”

Match coverage

Real Madrid 1-1 Manchester City: de Bruyne keeps semi-final tie finely poised

Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg match between...

In a tense Champions League semi-final first leg encounter headlined by two excellent strikes from distance, Kevin de Bruyne’s emphatic equaliser midway through the second-half saw Manchester City restore parity vs. defending champions Real Madrid during their nailbiting affair at the Bernabeu tonight. Continue reading “Real Madrid 1-1 Manchester City: de Bruyne keeps semi-final tie finely poised”

Analysis, feature pieces, Match coverage

World Cup 2022: Croatia draw sees Belgium crash out and Martinez depart, they must now rebuild

Croatia's players and teammembers celebrate at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group F football match between Croatia and Belgium at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on December 1, 2022. (Photo by Chandan KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

As good as Croatia were for sustained periods, Belgium had ample opportunity to punish Zlatko Dalic’s side. Instead, they again rued missed goalscoring chances and a startling lack of urgency at times, with their goalless draw on MD3 meaning the golden generation have failed to qualify from the World Cup group stages. Roberto Martinez’s contract expired at the tournament’s end and well, the inquest into their latest underachievement must be thorough. Continue reading “World Cup 2022: Croatia draw sees Belgium crash out and Martinez depart, they must now rebuild”

Match coverage

World Cup 2022: Belgium boss Martinez rubbishes negative news before crunch clash vs. Croatia

DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Roberto Martinez, Head Coach of Belgium, speaks during the Belgium Press Conference at the Main Media Center on November 30, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)

Having laboured to a lacklustre 1-0 win over Canada, then being stunned 2-0 by Morocco on MD2, Roberto Martinez’s Belgium enter today’s group stage encounter with Croatia – the World Cup runners-up four years ago – aware tournament progression remains in their hands. As speculation about dwindling team dynamics and squad division persists, the 49-year-old Spaniard insists critics should enjoy what’s left of this golden generation, not inventing stories. Continue reading “World Cup 2022: Belgium boss Martinez rubbishes negative news before crunch clash vs. Croatia”

Match coverage

Real Madrid 2-0 Eintracht Frankfurt: Alaba, Benzema ensure Los Blancos seize UEFA Super Cup title

David Alaba of Real Madrid celebrates 1-0 with Karim Benzema of Real Madrid, Carlos Henrique Casemiro of Real Madrid, Toni Kroos of Real Madrid...

Goals from David Alaba and Karim Benzema in either half helped Champions League winners Real Madrid claim their first piece of silverware before their La Liga curtain-raiser on Sunday, beating Europa League champions Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 in Helsinki to clinch this year’s UEFA Super Cup – now tied with Milan and rivals Barcelona for the most in competition history. Continue reading “Real Madrid 2-0 Eintracht Frankfurt: Alaba, Benzema ensure Los Blancos seize UEFA Super Cup title”

Analysis, feature pieces

Courtois’ inspired display – once again – proves a fitting end as Real clinch 14th CL title

Courtois Thibaut of Real Madrid elected man of the match kissing the cup during the UEFA champions league final match between Real Madrid and...

It felt fitting that, eight years after suffering stoppage-time heartbreak against Real with Atletico Madrid in Lisbon, Thibaut Courtois was Los Blancos’ impenetrable wall here, defiantly stifling Liverpool throughout – breaking the record for most saves in a Champions League Final with nine, producing greatness with the lights shining brightest on a career-defining night. Continue reading “Courtois’ inspired display – once again – proves a fitting end as Real clinch 14th CL title”

Archives

Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid: Benzema hat-trick leaves UCL holders with mountain to climb

Karim Benzema,, player of Real Madrid, is celebrating the goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and...

After conjuring up magic to save Real Madrid from the brink of elimination against PSG in the previous round, it was again Karim Benzema’s night – this time in west London – as two first-half headers and pouncing on Edouard Mendy’s early second-half mistake has now confined Champions League holders Chelsea to an unenviable second leg recovery mission on April 13. Continue reading “Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid: Benzema hat-trick leaves UCL holders with mountain to climb”

Archives

Real Madrid (3) 3-1 (2) PSG: Benzema’s second-half hat-trick secures unlikely comeback

Karim BENZEMA of Real Madrid celebrates his third goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and Paris at Estadio Santiago...

Karim Benzema’s 17-minute hat-trick sent the Bernabeu into raptures, as Real Madrid produced the seemingly improbable: recovering from 1-0 down on the night, and 2-0 on aggregate, stunning PSG to progress into the Champions League quarter-finals. The visitors, ahead after Kylian Mbappe’s near-post finish six minutes before half-time, capitulated again. Continue reading “Real Madrid (3) 3-1 (2) PSG: Benzema’s second-half hat-trick secures unlikely comeback”

Archives

PSG 1-0 Real Madrid: Mbappe’s stoppage-time magic sinks Los Blancos in tense first leg

Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League Round Of Sixteen Leg One match between...

Kylian Mbappe scored his second stoppage-time winner in four days, ensuring PSG hold a slender first leg lead in their Champions League last-16 clash with La Liga leaders Real Madrid. The visitors defended stoutly with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois producing saves galore – including a Lionel Messi penalty – but had no chance stopping a magical moment at the death.
Continue reading “PSG 1-0 Real Madrid: Mbappe’s stoppage-time magic sinks Los Blancos in tense first leg”

Archives

Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Real Madrid: Benzema’s quick-fire brace sees Los Blancos prevail

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid CF celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the LaLiga Santander match between Athletic Club and Real...

Karim Benzema’s 14th and 15th goals of the La Liga season, bullish but devastating, ensured Carlo Ancelotti’s men returned to winning ways – leaving San Mames with a hard-fought three points vs. Athletic Bilbao, who created more chances but crucially lacked incisive execution against the league leaders. Heading into 2022, Real are eight points clear of Sevilla in second. Continue reading “Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Real Madrid: Benzema’s quick-fire brace sees Los Blancos prevail”

Archives

Belgium 2-3 France: Benzema, Mbappe key as Les Bleus earn second-half comeback win

Karim Benzema of France gives words of encouragement to team mate Kylian Mbappe before taking a penalty to level the scoreline at 2-2 during the UEFA...

In a week where he addressed the Real Madrid rumours and mother Fayza provided an update on her son’s future, Kylian Mbappe produced his best display since May to help propel France into the UEFA Nations League Final, where they play Euro 2020 semi-finalists Spain on Sunday.
Continue reading “Belgium 2-3 France: Benzema, Mbappe key as Les Bleus earn second-half comeback win”

Archives

Real Madrid 3-0 Valencia: 5 Hits and Flops as Benzema, sub Asensio turn on the style

Benzema and Eden Hazard combined for Real Madrid's opening goal on the hour mark

Real Madrid were made to work hard, but ultimately came through unscathed with an important 3-0 home victory over Valencia on Thursday evening. Who excelled, while others wilted under pressure at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium? Continue reading “Real Madrid 3-0 Valencia: 5 Hits and Flops as Benzema, sub Asensio turn on the style”