In a spectacular Super Cup final, Barcelona triumphed over Real Madrid with a dominant 5-2 scoreline, cementing their status as one of the best teams in the world and their recent dominance over Los Blancos.
jEDDAH — Goals from Gavi and Lamine Yamal earned Barcelona a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Jeddah on Wednesday to reach their third successive final.
Gavi opened the scoring in the 17th minute and Yamal doubled Barca's lead seven minutes after the break.
Gavi turned provider with a delightful pass played forward which Lamal controlled beautifully on the turn before taking the ball into the area and coolly driving his shot past Simon.
Lamine Yamal goal vs Athletic Bilbao
Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory vs. Valencia on Friday was so chaotic that a video of Jude Bellingham emptying and tossing a water bottle at the opposing goalkeeper went unnoticed until Saturday.
Friday’s madness saw a late comeback from Real Madrid and a Vinícius Jr. red card in the 79th minute following a VAR review. The sending off came after the Brazilian forward got into a skirmish with Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
Jan 4 (Reuters) - Barcelona's Dani Olmo and Pau Victor will be unable to play for the LaLiga side in the second half of the season, Spanish football authorities said on Saturday, rejecting the club's latest attempt to extend their registration.
Midfielder Olmo, 26, who helped Spain to European Championship glory last year, has been an integral part of Barcelona's team this season, while forward Victor, 23, has been largely restricted to substitute appearances.
Late strikes from Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham earned 10-man Real Madrid a 2-1 comeback win at relegation-threatened Valencia on Friday as the visitors moved top of the LaLiga standings.
Carlo Ancelotti's side were then reduced to 10 men in the 79th minute when Vinicius Jr was shown a straight red card for slapping Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
Vinicius red card vs Valencia
The NCAA has just provided another talent to a top European league.
Álvaro García Pascual, a 22-year-old Spanish attacker currently playing for Sevilla in LaLiga, is the most recent case of the American collegiate soccer system sending one of their talents to a league outside of Major League Soccer. Most specifically, Europe.
It was only a matter of time, folks.
Kylian Mbappé had yet another standout for performance for Real Madrid in their 4-2 LaLiga home win over Sevilla on Sunday, scoring the game-opener with an absolute screamer from outside the box.
Watch: Mbappé goal vs. Sevilla
The recently-turned 26-year-old received the ball from outside the box, looked up towards goal and hit a bullet at Álvaro Fernández’s goal to make it 1-0 just 10 minutes into the match.
Simeone always finds a way.
FC Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid had an exciting LaLiga title-race match at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Saturday, with Diego Simeone’s men getting an enormous win to officially take the lead as league-leaders.
Watch: Pedri goal vs. Atletico Madrid
DOHA — Brazil and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr was named FIFA men's player of the year in Doha on Tuesday, with Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati winning the women's award for the second year in a row.
Vinicius scored 24 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions to help Real Madrid clinch the LaLiga and Champions League double, and he also netted in their Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund.
The Brazilian won the award ahead of Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri and his teammate at Real, England's Jude Bellingham.
Real Madrid's French forward Kylian Mbappé has been diagnosed with an injury to his left thigh, the LaLiga club said on Thursday, making him a doubt for next week's FIFA Intercontinental Cup final.
Mbappé was replaced during the first half of Real's 3-2 win at Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday, having given his side the lead with a 10th minute goal.
Kylian Mbappé injury update