By: Casey Rhine
Ohhhh El Clásico, where to begin. One of soccer's most heated, yet most deeply cherished rivalries.Few of you readers get to experience El Clasico, in Barcelona, while it's happening. This was my mission on December 23rd and should be your mission on May 6th if you are not lucky enough to go to the game in the Camp Nou.
A video of the Antonio Rüidger run after scoring the game-winning penalty kick vs. Atlético Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16 has gone viral.
Certain players have trademark moves or skills named after them. The “Rüdiger run” isn’t a term people use, however if you say that phrase everyone will know what you’re talking about.
When sprinting at full speed the German defender loves to get his knees as high up as possible. After scoring the winning penalty he did his iconic run and nearly all of his Real Madrid teammates followed suit.
UEFA said the correct decision was made to disallow Julian Alvarez's penalty in Atletico Madrid's Champions League loss to city rivals Real Madrid on Wednesday but European soccer's governing body would enter discussions to review the rule.
A livid Atletico enquired with UEFA after Alvarez had his shootout penalty ruled out by the referee in their last-16 tie that saw Real reach the quarter-finals of Europe's elite club competition.
The second leg of the Madrid Derby in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday had high drama with the main focus being a Julián Alvarez penalty being disallowed during the shootout which Real Madrid won 4-2 after drawing 2-2 on aggregate.
Alvarez appeared to convert Atlético Madrid’s second penalty when he powered his penalty kick into the roof of the net despite slipping.
MADRID — Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz scored a second-half winner as the hosts edged out neighbors Atletico Madrid 2-1 in a scrappy first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie on Tuesday after Julian Alvarez had cancelled out Rodrygo's opener.
Real started on fire when Rodrygo scored a fine opener four minutes after kick-off but Atletico slowly got into the game and Alvarez equalized with a stunning strike in the 32nd minute.
Julian Alvarez goal vs Real Madrid
United States men’s national team midfielder Johnny Cardoso played a key role in Real Betis’ 2-1 upset victory against Real Madrid on Saturday. The American headed in an equalizer from close range in the first half.
With Madrid leading 1-0 early in the first half, Johnny chose perhaps the best time to score his first LaLiga goal of the season. In the 34th minute a Betis corner was swung into the box and a wide-open Johnny was there to smash in the equalizer.
Johnny Cardoso goal vs Real Madrid
The Champions League last-16 draw threw up some mouth-watering matches with holders Real Madrid playing local rivals Atletico Madrid while Bayern Munich were drawn against Bundesliga title challengers Bayer Leverkusen on Friday.
Champions League draw bracket
Real Madrid dispatched Manchester City 3-1 with a Kylian Mbappé hat-trick on Wednesday in their Champions League playoff second leg at a raucous Santiago Bernabeu stadium, earning them a 6-3 aggregate victory and a place in the last 16.
Last year's champions will face either Bayer Leverkusen or city rivals Atletico Madrid, depending on Friday's draw, as they seek a record-extending 16th title.
Mbappé scored his second goal in the 33rd minute with a close-range strike after a humiliating cutback that left defender Josko Gvardiol on the floor.
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham struck a last-gasp goal to give the holders a 3-2 first-leg victory over Manchester City in an edge-of-your-seat Champions League knockout phase playoff on Tuesday.
Kylian Mbappé and Brahim Diaz also struck for Real, to cancel out a double from City's Erling Haaland.
England international Bellingham scored the winner in the 92nd minute when Vinicius looped the ball over from the left and the Englishman got in front of John Stones to tap home.
Bellingham goal vs Man City
In a surprising move, FIFA has significantly slashed ticket prices for this summer’s inaugural 2025 Club World Cup in the United States.
2025 Club World Cup ticket price drop: FIFA 'panicking' amid low fan interest
Reports from Mail Sport indicate that the cost of the cheapest seats for matches at the last-16 stage and beyond has been reduced by as much as $385, with some tickets for the semi-finals plummeting from an eye-watering $526 to just $140.