After a two-month break the UEFA Champions League returned this week as the knockout stages kicked off. We at The18 are trying something new and we’re picking our favorites for the best Champions League goals of the week.
Of the four games played this week eight goals were scored. Let’s get into the list.
5. Kylian Mbappé attacks at the back post
Bay FC have signed Zambia forward Racheal Kundananji from Spain's Madrid CFF, the clubs announced on Tuesday, with the American team paying up to a reported $860,000 to set a new world record in women's football.
The 23-year-old, who joined Madrid in 2022 from fellow Spanish top-tier side Eibar, signed a contract through the 2027 season with an extension option for the 2028 campaign, the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club said.
Bay FC break Women's transfer record
Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu will host a National Football League (NFL) game in 2025, the league said on Friday, marking the first-ever regular season game played in Spain.
A total of 50 regular season NFL games have been played internationally so far, with Madrid becoming the fourth European city to host one after London, Munich and Frankfurt.
Real Madrid NFL game
A viral video during Real Madrid’s 2-0 win vs. Getafe on Thursday appears to show superstar Jude Bellingham calling Mason Greenwood “rapist” during the game.
LaLiga said on Friday that the league is looking into the incident after Getafe filed a complaint.
The two English players were battling for possession near the sideline. When the ball went out of play the cameras zoomed in on Bellingham’s face where he clearly says something. The lip readers of the internet believe he said “rapist” while looking in Greenwood’s direction.
MADRID — A Dani Carvajal strike in the ninth-minute of stoppage time rescued Real Madrid, earning them a 3-2 comeback win at home against bottom side Almeria on Sunday in a frantic LaLiga tussle that was marked by VAR controversy.
Real climbed to the top of the LaLiga standings on 51 points, two ahead Girona who host Sevilla later on Sunday.
Real Madrid and Átletico Madrid faced off in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final this Wednesday in what would turn out to be one of the most entertaining matches of the season held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Real Madrid center back Antonio Rüdiger isn’t just one of the best defenders in the world, he’s also one of the most entertaining.
Rüdiger engaged in some hilarious nonsense during Real Madrid’s thrilling 5-3 victory vs. Atlético Madrid in the Supercopa de España on Wednesday.
Perhaps to get into Atlético striker Álvaro Morata’s head, Rüdiger was caught on camera grabbing the Spaniard’s nipple and giving it a twist.
An own goal by defender Stefan Savic and a strike by Brahim Diaz late in extra time gave Real Madrid a 5-3 comeback win over city rivals Atletico in a rip-roaring Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Riyadh on Wednesday.
Atletico opened the scoring from a Mario Hermoso header in the sixth minute, but Real fought back through Antonio Rudiger and Ferland Mendy, before Antoine Griezmann equalized in the 37th minute with a brilliant long-range strike.
An Atlético Madrid Christmas video has pulled at the heartstrings of soccer fans everywhere. The LaLiga club wished fans “a Happy and Red and White Christmas” this year and shared a video that checks all the boxes for an emotional Christmas classic.
The two minute and 45 seconds long clip shares that humanity and kindness triumph over rivalry and division.
We’ll provide an explainer for the video just in case it’s needed.
Atlético Madrid Christmas video
If you think back to some of your angriest moments in life, what did you do? Throw something? Kick a wall? Take your anger out on someone else? Luis García, the manager of LaLiga club Alavés, did all three of those on Thursday during a furious temper tantrum.
Alavés sit just three points clear of the relegation zone and were minutes away from securing a big 0-0 draw vs. Real Madrid at home. García’s side had performed admirably and had a man-advantage after Nacho was given a red card in the 54th minute.