Real madrid barca

MADRID: Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos kept his nerve to score a late penalty and secure a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Getafe on Thursday (Jul 2) for a sixth consecutive La Liga victory to take his side one step closer to winning the title. Ramos coolly passed the ball into the net to break the deadlock in the 79th minute after Dani Carvajal was felled by the trailing leg of Getafe's Mathias Olivera, who was earlier denied a penalty after being knocked over by Carvajal. The late strike felt harsh on Getafe, who had squandered a couple of chances to take the lead, but Zinedine Zidane's side once again saw out a difficult game to capitalise on Barcelona's 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. Real, who have not won the title since 2017, lead the table on 74 points, four ahead of Barca with five games left and have a superior head-to-head record over the Catalans which would give them the trophy if both teams finished the season level on points. "Today was like a final … [Read more...] about Football: Real Madrid close in on title after edging Getafe

BARCELONA: Real Madrid's Karim Benzema produced an audacious back-heeled assist for Casemiro to score as they beat Espanyol 1-0 away on Sunday to capitalise on Barcelona's slip-up a day earlier and move two points clear at the top of La Liga. Brazilian midfielder Casemiro slid to the ground to guide the ball home on the stroke of halftime after being played in by a stroke of genius from Benzema, who dragged the ball through the legs of his marker Bernardo Espinosa to find his team mate. Casemiro ran straight to Frenchman Benzema to thank him for the pass and dedicated the goal to him. "The goal belongs to Karim. We're used to the quality he brings to his play and I had to celebrate it with him because it was all down to him," Casemiro said. "We know how good he is and that's why I called for the ball as I knew he would lay the ball off to me." Coach Zinedine Zidane added: "I'm not surprised by what Karim did at all, he is a player who keeps inventing things on the pitch and … [Read more...] about Clever Benzema assist helps Real Madrid go clear at the top

MADRID: Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said his side will not rest until they are declared champions after title rivals Barcelona handed them the opportunity to go four points clear at the top of La Liga if they beat Getafe on Thursday. Real will be targeting a sixth consecutive victory since the COVID-19 hiatus when they host Getafe, looking to capitalise on Barca's 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, which was the Catalans' third draw in six matches. "The reality is we have 18 points left to fight for and you cannot say anything until you are champions mathematically," Zidane told a virtual news conference on Wednesday. "I have been in this situation as a player before and I know we still haven't won anything. The players and I are not about to forget that." Real have a full squad for the Getafe game although there is concern about the recent performances of Eden Hazard, who has received rough treatment from opponents since returning from a serious ankle injury he … [Read more...] about Real not about to get complacent after Barca slip-ups – Zidane

BARCELONA: Barcelona gave up more ground to Real Madrid in La Liga's title race on Tuesday after being held to a 2-2 draw at home to Atletico Madrid as a late penalty from Saul Niguez cancelled out Lionel Messi's 700th career goal. The draw meant the Catalans stayed second in the standings on 70 points and leaders Real Madrid, who have 71, will go four points clear at the top with five games left if they beat Getafe at home on Thursday. Barca went ahead at an empty Camp Nou in the 11th minute when Atletico striker Diego Costa knocked Messi's delivery from a corner into his own net. Saul levelled soon after from the spot after the referee order a re-take when Costa's initial penalty was saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen but the referee ruled the German had strayed from his line. Barcelona then earned a penalty soon after the interval which Argentine Messi coolly converted for a remarkable 700th strike for club and country, only for Saul to strike again from the spot in the 62nd … [Read more...] about Barca title bid on rocks as Atletico upstage Messi’s 700th goal

VIGO, Spain: Spain striker Iago Aspas dealt a fresh blow to Barcelona's La Liga title hopes by striking a late free kick to snatch a 2-2 draw at home to the Catalans on Saturday (Jun 27) as Quique Setien's side twice threw away the lead in a thrilling match. The draw put Barca back on top of the table on 69 points after 32 games but Real Madrid, on 68, can go two points clear at the summit if they beat Espanyol away from home on Sunday. Luis Suarez headed Barca in front in the 20th minute thanks to a piece of ingenuity from Lionel Messi, who looked certain to fire at goal from a free kick but instead lofted the ball towards his Uruguayan strike partner. Russia striker Fedor Smolov equalised for Celta early in the second half, knocking in a pass from Okay Yokuslu to complete a quick counterattack after Barca's Ivan Rakitic had given the ball away. But Suarez restored Barca's lead in the 67th minute after combining again with Messi, swivelling to fire into the bottom corner. … [Read more...] about Football: Aspas strikes late to blunt Barca’s title bid