Tag: Real Madrid

Real Madrid Player Ratings vs. Celta Vigo in the 2025 Copa del Rey Round of 16
16Jan By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Player Ratings

Real Madrid Player Ratings vs. Celta Vigo in the 2025 Copa del Rey Round of 16

Here are the player ratings as Real Madrid defeat Celta Vigo 5-2 in the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey in 2025 at the Santiago Bernabeu. GK Andriy Lunin, 5.5 Lucky not to have conceded a penalty in the first half with a foolhardy lunge that usually gets called. As a goalkeeper, you can't dive in without making contact with the ball, and most referees around the world will call that a penalty against the keeper. Lunin can't make that mistake again, otherwise he won't be so fortunate. And again, he nearly conceded another goal, bobbling the ball directly into Jonathan Bamba's path. Luckily for him, Bamba was offsides. He had a really nice save of a swerving shot from distance, but it wasn't enough to keep a clean sheet, thanks to an inexcusably errant pass from Eduardo Camavinga (an...
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Real Madrid Predicted XI vs. Valencia: Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. combine once again
31Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Analysis

Real Madrid Predicted XI vs. Valencia: Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. combine once again

Here is the Real Madrid predicted XI vs. Valencia on Sunday, Jan. 3, when LaLiga resumes, with the Merengues sitting just behind crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid in the table. On Friday, Jan. 3, Real Madrid will return to action after the holiday break to take on one of the worst teams in LaLiga, 19th-placed Valencia, who are opposite in the table to second-placed Real Madrid. After dropping four goals on Sevilla in their last matchup, Real are riding high and like their chances of finishing the second half of the season strong, even as they remain second despite previous title favorites Barcelona faltering. That's because Atletico Madrid are just as formidable of a title foe to the Royal Whites, having taken down Barcelona at the last second in a thrilling 2-1 victory before the ...
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5 cheap Real Madrid Center Back Transfer Targets for January 2025
30Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Transfers

5 cheap Real Madrid Center Back Transfer Targets for January 2025

With Eder Militao out for the season and David Alaba still slow to return, here are five Real Madrid center back transfer targets for the January 2025 window that won't break the bank. Real Madrid should have signed more center back help in the summer 2024 transfer window, because even though they were able to weather the storm after losing Eder Militao and David Alaba to ACL tears before the first half of the 2023/24 campaign ended, the warning signs were there for the Champions League and LaLiga winners. This season, Real Madrid are already without Militao again due to a new ACL tear, while Alaba is still at least a few more weeks away from returning from last December's injury. In fact, they came into the campaign already shorthanded from the last season - and not just because ...
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The best possible Real Madrid defensive lineup with a healthy David Alaba starting
29Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Analysis

The best possible Real Madrid defensive lineup with a healthy David Alaba starting

What is the best Real Madrid defensive lineup in the second half of the season if David Alaba is ready to start for the Royal Whites after more than a year on the sidelines with a serious knee injury? Real Madrid star center back David Alaba is expected to return from injury in January, based on information revealed by manager Carlo Ancelotti at the team's press conference following a 4-2 win over Sevilla. Meanwhile, other reports are a little less optimistic, believing Alaba may need until March to return to his best level, implying that it may take an extended period of training in January in order for the Austrian star to be able to start for the team again. Currently, Real Madrid are down to just one senior center back in the side after Eder Militao's second ACL tear in two se...
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What could the length and wages of Vinicius Junior’s next Real Madrid contract look like?
28Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Analysis

What could the length and wages of Vinicius Junior’s next Real Madrid contract look like?

Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior didn't win the Ballon d'Or last season, but he did pick up the best player year of the year award from the FIFA The Best ceremony, entrenching himself as the most valuable star in world football. Even with Kylian Mbappe in the squad, Vinicius Jr. remains the focal point of the Real Madrid attack and the team's most impressive player with 8 goals and 5 assists in LaLiga this season despite missing several weeks with injury. Although the transfer rumors to Saudi Arabia promising record-breaking wages are highly unlikely to materialize, the gargantuan offers from abroad are a reminder that as contract negotiations between Vinicius Jr. and Real Madrid continue to be a topic at the Valdebebas, the Brazilian icon is set to command serious money on his ...
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Ranking every player in the Real Madrid squad heading into 2025
27Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Analysis

Ranking every player in the Real Madrid squad heading into 2025

Real Madrid were the team of 2024, winning the Champions League and LaLiga. Then, they went ahead and signed Kylian Mbappe for free in the summer, strengthening the world's best team even further. However, Real Madrid sit second in LaLiga as 2025 begins. They have pulled ahead of Barcelona in the weeks following their latest humiliating 4-0 Clasico defeat to the Blaugrana, but they have fallen behind a far more consistent and much stronger defensive side in crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid. After sustaining brutal defeats to Barcelona and Liverpool, Real Madrid are no longer seen as THE dominant force in European football, but with a squad deep in attacking and midfield quality, Los Blancos are still expected to be in the mix for every major trophy when 2025 begins. So let's take ...
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Carlo Ancelotti is making a mistake with Raul Asencio
26Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Analysis

Carlo Ancelotti is making a mistake with Raul Asencio

Real Madrid are suffering through a defensive calamity for a second straight season after Florentino Perez failed to provide legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti with any defensive cover for a third straight transfer window. Already, coming into the 2023/24 season, Real Madrid needed defensive help across the back four, and within the first months of the season, they lost starting-caliber center backs David Alaba and Eder Militao to ACL tears. Despite not signing anyone in the winter, Real Madrid were able to secure both the Champions League and LaLiga crowns, with players like Aurelien Tchouameni, Dani Carvajal, and Ferland Mendy playing key roles as makeshift center backs. Real Madrid came into the season with issues at CB And still, Real did not sign a central defender this past su...
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Five Real Madrid players with the most to prove in 2025
26Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Analysis

Five Real Madrid players with the most to prove in 2025

Real Madrid are within striking distance of the top spot in LaLiga, except, now, they are one point behind crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid and ahead of Barcelona, following Atleti's last-gasp 2-1 win over the Blaugrana last weekend. Although it hasn't been the strongest start to the season for Real Madrid in either LaLiga or the Champions League, you have to consider the reigning champions the favorites to repeat if they can bolster their defense in the January transfer window and continue to get better performances from marquee summer signing Kylian Mbappe. But Real Madrid can't just bank on winter additions to save their defense. In addition to Mbappe, here are five Madrid players who have something to prove as we head into the new year and the business end of the 2024/25 season. ...
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The best Real Madrid starting lineup heading into 2025
25Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Analysis

The best Real Madrid starting lineup heading into 2025

Real Madrid were the champion of Spain and Europe in the 2023/24 season, and although they have struggled compared to their lofty expectations, they are still second in the league by only one point, just behind crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid. They are actually ahead of rivals Barcelona - with a game in hand - despite losing to them 4-0 in El Clasico, and there is hope that with Kylian Mbappe at his best, Real Madrid can dominate LaLiga in the second half of the season just as they did throughout the 2023/24 campaign. As we head into January and a new year, let's take a look at the best possible Real Madrid starting lineup for Carlo Ancelotti to use going forward. GK Thibaut Courtois Thibaut Courtois is the unquestioned starter in goal and the best goalkeeper in the world. There i...
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Real Madrid Mid-Season Awards for the 2024/25 campaign
25Dec By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Analysis

Real Madrid Mid-Season Awards for the 2024/25 campaign

It's the holiday break and every team in LaLiga has played at least 17 games, with a few clubs already at the literal mid-way point on 19 matches played. So now is as good of a time as any to start handing out mid-season awards to Real Madrid. Currently, the Merengues sit second in the table, but it is a new rival, Atletico Madrid, who are a point ahead after shocking Barcelona 2-1 with a last-gasp victory last weekend. Both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have a game in hand on Barcelona, too. So while Real are still in a heated title race against formidable opponents, the fact that they are ahead of Barca now despite losing 4-0 to the Blaugrana and having a myriad of injury concerns bodes well for the second half of the season if stars like Kylian Mbappe can continue to step up. ...
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