UEFA fear UK ban on Messi and Neymar playing in Champions League final

UEFA fear UK ban on Messi and Neymar playing in Champions League final

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has admitted there is a possibility of Lionel Messi and Neymar being denied entry to the United Kingdom due to their ongoing legal concerns, which could be a problem since the Champions League final is being hosted in Cardiff.

Barcelona must produce a remarkable comeback against Paris Saint-Germain to have any chance of reaching the showpiece event, but Ceferin is still concerned about the Westminster government's policies and revealed that the country could miss out on future finals.

"Neymar and Lionel Messi both have [tax evasion] procedures going on," he told the New York Times.

"This year, the Champions League final is in Cardiff.

"Imagine if they did not let them in.

"That is a big thing for us, if players from England can travel anywhere, but players from other teams cannot travel to [the UK].

"With free movement in Europe, it is much better.

"If we see that players cannot enter because they have any sort of procedure ongoing then we will simply think if we should play our European matches there."

He referenced the incident which took place during the group stages, when Serge Aurier was denied entry for a match against Arsenal.

"I was very disappointed when Aurier, from PSG, was not allowed to enter England," the Slovenian said in the interview.

"That will worsen when Brexit happens, especially if the reasons were as formal.

"We could have a serious problem."

He also discussed the recent travel restrictions introduced at the United States border, warning that they could harm a future World Cup bid.

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Vs Real Madrid 3-2 Villarreal La Liga

Vs Real Madrid 3-2 Villarreal La Liga

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Goals match Zamalek and border guards (1-0) a global target of Ayman Hefny [Egypt Cup 2017]

Goals match Zamalek and border guards (1-0) a global target of Ayman Hefny [Egypt Cup 2017]

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Morata making great strides at Real Madrid

Morata making great strides at Real Madrid

Alvaro Morata seeks to be Real Madrid's permanent No. 9, and until that is confirmed his future will be somewhat in doubt, but that hasn't stopped the striker developing very quickly at Los Blancos.

Still not the true first-choice striker in Zinedine Zidane's mind, the Spaniard has endured the same sort of impatient wait that he experienced for parts of his Juventus stay.

However, at no point in Turin did Morata bag seven goals in eight games, and his tally of 12 strikes for the current campaign match his Bianconeri figures for 2015/16 in almost half the minutes and almost half the matches.

Going back another season, his first in Serie A, the striker notched 15 times across 46 games, with eight in the league the same amount as his current campaign, where he's played just 30 times.

Morata's goalscoring prowess has largely been off the bench, backing up his claims for a regular starting spot, and with six goals as a substitute he's level with LaLiga's best, Vicente Iborra and Pablo Sarabia, in this regard.

So far; Villarreal, Athletic Club, and Sporting CP have all been on the end of winning goals by the Real forward, who is proving himself on many levels at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in his first year back.

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Zidane: What Real Madrid are doing is being achieved only on the pitch

Zidane: What Real Madrid are doing is being achieved only on the pitch

There is no conspiracy behind Real Madrid's position at the top of the LaLiga table in Zinedine Zidane's mind, as the French coach insisted that Los Blancos are in the position they are in because of their on-pitch performances.

While the tactician did not want to get involved in the latest officiating controversy, he did dismiss the idea that his team have benefitted from a helping hand.

"What we're doing is being achieved only on the pitch," Zidane said at his pre-match press conference, when asked if the claims of refereeing bias have undermined Real Madrid's achievements.

"I don't get involved in what the referees do and I don't think my players do either.

"My players respect the refereeing body a lot.

"I'm not going to get involved in [the controversy surrounding Roig and Real Madrid bags]. I respect everybody.

"I don't agree with these claims and it hurts, but so be it."

Discussing the midweek challenge posed by Las Palmas, Zidane was not going to let the fact his team have played so many matches in quick succession become an excuse.

"[Fatigue] will always exist," he told reporters at Valdebebas.

"We know how important each match we play is and we're prepared."

As for a reunion with Jese Rodriguez, Zidane hoped his former player could thrive on the Canary Islands, after this fixture of course.

"I hope he does well as I really love Jese as a person and as a player," the coach said. "I hope that, from Wednesday onwards, he does really well with Las Palmas."

Finally, he was asked about the images of Isco and Alvaro Morata referring to themselves as Real Madrid's 'second course' and 'dessert' and he stressed that there was no controversy.

"They were joking," he said of the images.

"You've seen how they then entered the game and that was perfect."

Los Blancos' match against Las Palmas takes place at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, with a kick-off time of 21:30 CET.

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Morata again

Morata again

Aspectacular header from Alvaro Morata allowed Real Madrid to remain LaLiga leader after being against the ropes in the Estadio de la Ceramica.

Barcelona's earlier victory at the Estadio Vicente Calderon and Villarreal's deserved 2-0 lead after almost an hour of play, left Los Blancos reeling from a potential K.O.

However, once Gareth Bale had begun the comeback, Morata then appeared at precisely at the right time.

Marcelo's measured cross in the 83rd minute was manna from heaven for a player who has suffered under Zinedine Zidane's rotation this season.

It's not the first time that the academy graduate has saved his side either, it's happened on a few occasions during this campaign.

The Champions League against Sporting of Portugal; without Morata's late intervention, the history of the Real in Europe in 2016/17 could've been quite different.

And already, their privileged situation at the top of LaLiga is safe at this stage thanks to the four points that the striker has rescued in LaLiga in the last few minutes of games.

He did it for the first time against Athletic at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, when his goal seven minutes from the end of the game allowed Zidane's side to take the three points.

Big night

In Villarreal he returned to give Madrid the points that allow them to keep Barcelona at bay.

Morata did not play in Valencia of course, when Real needed goals.

This time, Zidane changed his mind and saw the youngster put out Villarreal's fire, respondeing to the confidence of his coach.

The debate with Karim Benzema has reopened too, taking into account that Morata has scored only one goal less despite rarey having played.

In all competitions, the Spaniard has scored six goals as a substitute and six as a starter.

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The Oscar goes to... Isco

The Oscar goes to... Isco

Although he spent two thirds of the match sitting on the visitors' bench, Isco Alarcon was key for Real Madrid to escape from the Estadio de la Ceramica with three more points in the bag.

Once Zinedine Zidane decided to put him onto the pitch after 58 minutes, the ex-Malaga playmaker orchestrated Los Blancos attacking game, which resulted in an improbable 3-2 victory.

The 24-year-old played a leading role in two out of the three goals scored by the reigning Champions League winners.

In the first one, he filtered a perfect pass to Dani Carvajal, whose cross was headed in by Gareth Bale.

Then, in the lead up to the match-winning goal, Isco snatched the ball from Samu Castillejo and initiated a blistering counter-attack that ended with a powerful Alvaro Morata header finding the net.

It was unclear how Madrid would respond without their midfield anchor Casemiro, but Toni Kroos and Luka Modric were effective in sharing the Brazilian's duties.

Meanwhile, the Spanish international played in his preferred spot behind the striker, delivering a football clinic that could eventually decide the LaLiga title.

On a side note, Marcelo's improvement with Isco on the field was very noticeable.

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Iniesta: Barcelona must keep putting pressure on Real Madrid

Iniesta: Barcelona must keep putting pressure on Real Madrid

On the back of a hard-fought 2-1 win against Atletico Madrid, Andres Iniesta insisted that Barcelona cannot afford to drop more points if they want to successfully defend their LaLiga title.

The captain assured the triumph is a big boost to the team morale.

"Winning every match is mandatory whenever you are trailing in the standings," Iniesta said.

"We must keep putting pressure on the leader."

The 32-year-old admitted the Catalans were unable to play their best football, but gladly accepted the three points.

"This was a big win for us considering the opponent and the situation we were embroiled in," he continued.

"No matter how well we played, what is important is the fact we won and our title hopes remain alive."

Lastly, the Fuentealbilla native conceded that the midweek match against Bayer Leverkusen might have taken a toll on the hosts.

"It's always tough to win [at Estadio Vicente Calderon]. and I think Atletico paid the price for their tremendous effort in the Champions League."

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Watch Real Madrid vs Villarreal live broadcast on 26/02/2017 La Liga

Watch Real Madrid vs Villarreal live broadcast on 26/02/2017 La Liga

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Barcelona bidding farewell to the Calderon with incredible unbeaten run

Barcelona bidding farewell to the Calderon with incredible unbeaten run

With just one last trip to the historic arena left, Barcelona have continued to wave goodbye to the Estadio Vicente Calderon with a glowing smile on their faces.

After the 2-1 win on Sunday afternoon, the Blaugrana clocked a seventh straight game without defeat at the ground when they visited the Rojiblancos for one last LaLiga match at the Calderon.

This current streak has tied their previous best, set between the 1965/66 and the 1970/71 campaigns.

Ever since Pep Guardiola's squad floundered in his first two duels with Atletico, the Catalans have collected six wins - two under Guardiola, one under Tito Vilanova, and three under Luis Enrique - and one draw, under Tata Martino.

The reigning LaLiga champions have generally obtained narrow victories at the Calderon, as they have managed this feat while only scoring 11 goals and conceding five.

As such, five out of these seven matches ended 2-1, by far the most popular score.

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Real Madrid return to the scene of the crime

Real Madrid return to the scene of the crime

Wednesday night saw Real Madrid endure a fruitless journey to the east coast, and not for the first time with Los Blancos now drawn back to Valencia for a crack at the region's other footballing powerhouse, Villarreal.

A repeat of the 2-1 loss at Estadio Mestalla will need to be avoided at Estadio de la Ceramica on Sunday as Real see out the second half of a week previously deemed crucial to their title ambitions.

The Yellow Submarine are, however, arguably the last team Zinedine Zidanewould like to come up against.

Beating Madrid 1-0 in their most recent Castellon meeting, Villarreal are a team readily equipped to play above their usual level and have the precedent of a draw back in the Spanish capital earlier in the season already in the bank.

But it's Real's record in Valencia generally that may worry their fans the most, with last week's defeat adding to two disparate performances at the Mestalla that contributed to the downfall of Zidane's two predecessors.

A 2-2 draw on January 3, 2016, between Los Che and Los Merengues sent Rafa Benitez packing and Carlo Ancelotti's failure to win the 2014/15 title was largely down to a slump in form after the Club World Cup which included a loss to Valencia.

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10 steps towards a Barcelona comeback

10 steps towards a Barcelona comeback

Real Madrid's defeat at Estadio Mestalla has reinvigorated Barcelona's title hopes, and the Blaugrana are beginning to believe a comeback is possible, although they'll have to play at both the Estadio Vicente Calderon and Estadio Santiago Bernabeu if they are to achieve the feat. Here are 10 steps towards reaching their goal:

1. Best Barcelona of the season

A win on Sunday against Atletico Madrid would equal the Catalan's longest league winning streak this season with four consecutive matches. Last season en route to the title, Barcelona won 12 straight, putting this season's struggles in greater perspective. Luis Enrique's side will have to be perfect from here on out if they are to truly challenge Los Blancos for the domestic title.

2. A recognisable midfield trio

The Barcelona midfield this season has been a merry-go-round, with constant rotations meaning the team can hardly control matches anymore. Even when everyone has been healthy, rotation has been to blame for a lack of cohesion in the middle of the pitch. If MSN are to decide matches, they need the ball in favourable positions, something which hasn't happened enough this season for the Azulgrana.

3. Neymar's continued leadership

While the Brazilian winger is adding assists to his game, the truth is his lack of goals are still costing the Catalans this season. In terms of converting goalscoring opportunities, he hasn't been as clinical, and this has hurt a more forgiving than usual attack.

4. Right back conundrum

The biggest weakness this season hasn't been a secret, and opposing teams have started to take notice. Aleix Vidal's injury has reignited the debate about what should be done. Luis Enrique, strangely enough prefers Nili to Palencia, even though it is the latter that starts with the B team. The Catalans are on the lookout and may turn to the transfer market to resolve this issue.

5. Busquets and Iniesta

Injuries have kept the key midfield duo far from their best, and Busquets especially has had a inconsistent campaign thus far. Those two must be back to their best if they are to have any shot at the title.

6. Get PSG debacle out of mind

The focus right now has to be on the league, with the return leg against Paris Saint-Germain still several weeks away. Gaining confidence in LaLiga is the best way to instill belief for the Champions League.

7. A more supportive Camp Nou

A divided Camp Nou makes Barcelona a much weaker team, and the players can tell when the supporters aren't fully behind them. Some culers have already begun thinking about the future, and whether Luis Enrique will be a part of it, rather than focusing on the present. Gerard Pique has called on the fans to play their part.

8. Uncertainty surrounding Lucho's intentions

It still is unclear what will happen with Luis Enrique, and this state of limbo is set to continue until the summer. Institutionally, the club is waiting for the Asturian boss to make up his mind, although he too is waiting until the very last moment to tilt his hand.

9. Can Alcacer fit in?

Samuel Umtiti is the only signing that has truly impressed so far, and Paco Alcacer has been the least reliable of the lot. With a lot of games coming up, his adaptation could be key if the Blaugrana aren't to drop points. Even the MSN need to rest at times, and Alcacer must be up to the test.

10. Improved performances in goal

It was a slow start to the season for both Blaugrana keepers, but Jasper Cillessen put in an excellent performance vs. Atletico in the Copa del Rey and Marc Andre Ter Stegen too has been improving rapidly in recent weeks. In the business end of the season, titles can sway on the finest of margins, and a key save or blunder may prove to be the difference.

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo: The partnership that keeps on giving

Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo: The partnership that keeps on giving

Since Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival in Madrid back in 2009, he has formed a strong bond with Marcelo on the pitch, and that was shown yet again with the Portuguese's header in the 2-1 defeat at Valencia.

The relationship originally started with Ronaldo playing left-wing and Marcelo making constant overlapping runs from left-back, but even now that Ronaldo has moved to a more central position, there appears to be a telepathic relationship between the two.

The 32-year-old attacker is approaching 400 goals for Los Blancos since his move from Manchester United, and 21 of those goals have come via an assist from Marcelo.

The Brazilian has been vital in Real Madrid's success in recent years, with 61 assists having been provided since the 2009/10 campaign; Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain and Kaka have also benefitted from the 28-year-old's willingness to attack, but it is Ronaldo who his go-to target with a third of Marcelo's total assists.

Zinedine Zidane will be hoping that both Marcelo and Ronaldo can add to the two Champions League titles that they have won in Madrid with another victory this year, as Los Merengues look to become the first team to retain the trophy since the AC Milan team of the late 1980s, while also looking to win their first LaLiga championship since 2012.

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Zidane and Real Madrid squad admit to mistakes

Zidane and Real Madrid squad admit to mistakes

Earlier in the season, Zinedine Zidane spoke of a lack of intensity as a reason for a blip in results but not this time around, as the coach and players are taking a much more self-critical tone and willing to admit what has gone wrong.

To the press and the fans, a lack of intensity and focus is still the official line on why Los Blancos dropped points to Valencia at Estadio Mestalla, but internally the approach is very different indeed.

The squad and coach himself have admitted they have made mistakes, and as such, adjustments and corrections are already being tried and tested.

"There are no excuses - we are to blame," said Marcelo of his side's slow start.

"It wasn't a lack of attitude that led to our defeat," added club captain Sergio Ramos.

The players, therefore, are aware that perforamnces such as what was on display at Mestalla is insufficient if they are to hold on for LaLiga silverware.

Away form is a large concern and Zidane, his staff and the players themselves are all ready to change course to make sure the domestic title remains in Madrid.

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Mestalla loss epitomises Real Madrid league struggles

Mestalla loss epitomises Real Madrid league struggles

Real Madrid's latest set-back at the Estadio Mestalla has once again served to prove how difficult it has become in recent years for this star-studded outfit to win the domestic league title.

The Merengues effectively lost the replay of their previously postponed match within the first 10 minutes when Simone Zaza and Fabian Orellana scored in the fourth and ninth minute respectively to seal the three points.

The defeat, which sees their lead cut to just one point over Barcelona but with a match in hand, is a big blow for a side which has not claimed the LaLiga title since 2012 when Jose Mourinho led the side to victory with 100 points to their name.

All up, Real Madrid have won just one title in their last eight seasons compared to Barcelona's six.

And for a side with high hopes of breaking their recent hoodoo, it's a crucial loss which has breathed life into a previously lifeless Barcelona campaign.

More importantly, it's a loss which proves how far Madrid have fallen in recent months, their current form a stark contrast to their memorable unbeaten run.

The start of the match itself was plagued by a series of errors and lapses in concentration which often eventuated in Los Blancos casually giving the ball away and affording their opponents space and time to settle into the match.

The performance of Raphael Varane - arguably one of his worst in the Madrid shirt - lays testament to the side's fragile state where, instead of focusing on the clash at hand, the player's minds were cast off elsewhere.

While Zinedine Zidane's men continued to battle and fight for the remaining 80 minutes, their efforts ultimately proved to be unsuccessful.

There is still a long way to go until the season's end, and Real Madrid can feel it, so they'll desperately need to overturn their lacklustre form if they are to capture the title this time around.

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Real Madrid overdose on crosses

Real Madrid overdose on crosses

Zinedine Zidane put his team's defeat at Estadio Mestalla down to their defensive horror show in the opening 10 minutes, but the Frenchman didn't do his team any favours going forward, as he deployed a crossing-first approach that hamstrung his team's talented attack.

Real Madrid's inexplicable lack of defensive focus out of the blocks certainly cannot be blamed on Zidane, with Raphael Varane putting in a wretched performance and Dani Carvajal doing his best Danilo impression, but hard questions must be asked of Los Blancos' approach going forward.

Despite boasting the playmaking talents of James Rodriguez, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema, the league leaders spent much of the game lumping crosses into the box.

Their attacking intentions were telegraphed in the first half when Cristiano Ronaldo and Rodriguez switched flanks, the left-footed Colombian taking up position on the left wing - a sure sign of an imminent crossing bonanza.

The approach worked initially, as Marcelo's beautifully flighted ball in was headed into goal with aplomb by Ronaldo.

But aside from that successful 44th minute delivery, the left-back put in 13 other crosses, with only one of those meeting a teammate.

The full-back crossing malaise was repeated on the right flank, with Carvajal putting in 13 crosses - 12 of which didn't meet their target.

All in all, the Merengues launched 49 crosses, with only five reaching a purple shirt.

In what was a barrel-bomb approach, Real looked at Valencia's deep defensive block and launched cross after cross, hoping something would stick.

Why snub Isco?

Zidane's substitutions did little to help matters.

This was a game that was crying out for Isco, as the pint-sized playmaker is perfectly suited towards creating chances against teams that park the bus.

What's more, the Andalusian has been in good form lately, having bagged two assists against Espanyol on Saturday.

But Zidane left Isco on the bench and instead sent on two direct and less creative players in Gareth Bale and Lucas Vazquez.

Adding to Madridistas' bafflement was the fact that the tactician pulled Modric for Vazquez and left Casemiro on the pitch, with Real chasing the game.

In his post-match press conference, Zidane said his team lacked clarity and precision with the final ball.

He's right about that -- but much of the blame for that attacking impotence lies at the 44-year-old's own feet.

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Real Madrid fail to capitalise on game in hand

Real Madrid fail to capitalise on game in hand

Real Madrid's grip on first place in La Liga was weakened on Wednesday evening after a 2-1 defeat to Valencia at the Estadio Mestalla in Valencia.

Goals in the first 10 minutes from Simone Zaza and Fabian Orellana proved to be too much for Los Blancos to overcome, as the only scoring Real could muster was a Cristiano Ronaldo header at the end of the first-half.

While Real still sit atop the La Liga table, they now have just one match in hand and a narrow one-point lead over rivals Barcelona.

There will certainly be talk of Real's performance and defensive errors, but the night truly belonged to Valencia. Zaza ran himself into the ground until he was substituted off in the 73rd minute. The former Juventus man scored a sensational goal to open the scoring and had a hand in Valencia's second. Meanwhile, Dani Parejo was superb in midfield and brought stability to Los Che when they needed it most early on in the second half.

It was still too soon for Gareth Bale to return to the starting XI, so in the Welshman's place manager Zinedine Zidane opted for Colombian James Rodriguez. Otherwise, it was a full-strength line-up for Los Blancos.

Neutrals could not have asked for a more entertaining first-half. There was hardly a pause during the entire 45 minutes thanks to Valencia's quick start, which forced Real to pour numbers forward in attack, while leaving themselves vulnerable in the back.

Valencia hit Real over the head with a sledgehammer early; inside of five minutes Los Che were already on the scoreboard. Munir crossed in for Simone Zaza, who received the ball of his foot, turned and struck a half-volley that went searing past Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas to hand Valencia a 1-0 lead.

The Mestalla exploded after the Italy international's goal, and the noise level inside the stadium could have registered on the Richter scale four minutes later when the home side doubled the margin. Zaza spearheaded a break that ultimately saw Nani play in for Fabian Orellana and the Chilean fired a strong finish in for a 2-0 lead.

Real looked to respond and Ronaldo and James nearly got one back, but the Portuguese's shot rolled just wide of the far post, while James' follow up was blocked off the line by Orellana. Later it was Karim Benzema with a look at goal, but Valencia

goalkeeper Diego Alves made an off-balance save to maintain the hosts' two-goal advantage.

The back and forth continued and Dani Parejo looked set to make it three for Valencia via a free kick after a Dani Carvajal tackle on Zaza just outside the area, but Navas soared to his right to deny Parejo's fine effort.

Zidane threw numbers forward in hopes of pulling one back before half-time it would reap rewards as the classic connection of Marcelo and Ronaldo gave Real a boost before the break. The Brazilian full-back curled in a cross and Ronaldo rose above everyone to smack in a header back Alves to make it 2-1.

Ronaldo then almost cancelled out Valencia's first-half lead with a shot from distance that glanced off the leg of Eliaquim Mangala and flew just wide of the post.

Real had Valencia pegged back in their own half to start the second half but Los Che withstood the onslaught and regained a foothold in the match, with the superb Parejo leading the way. The Valencia midfielder was unlucky not to make it three on the hour mark when he danced past two Real defenders but had his shot snuffed out by Navas.

An error from Raphael Varane gifted Zaza a golden opportunity to score his second, but the Italian never got a shot off due to a collision with Carvajal. Zaza screamed for a penalty, but referee De Burgos Bengoetxea shook his head and waved for play to continue.

As the match entered the final 15 minutes, the bulk of play shifted back down toward the Valencia half with Real still on the quest for an equaliser. Zidane's last change was a tactical one, replacing midfielder Luka Modric with attacker Lucas Vazquez. Real began to bombard the Valencia goal and Ronaldo and Bale each had good looks at goal. But the Valencia defence, playing to the point of exhaustion, held firm and secured a hard-earned three points.

Real will return to La Liga action on Saturday when they visit Villarreal.

Match Sheet:

2.- Valencia: Alves; Cancelo, Garay, Mangala, Gaya; Parejo, Enzo Perez, Orellana (Soler, min. 56); Munir, Nani (Siqueira, min. 40), Zaza (Mario Suarez, min. 73).

1.- Real Madrid: Keylor; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane (Nacho, min. 72), Marcelo; Casemiro, Modric (Lucas Vazquez, min. 76), Kroos; James (Bale, min. 62), Benzema, Cristiano.

Goals: 1-0, min. 5: Zaza; 2-0, min. 9: Orellana; 2-1, min. 44: Ronaldo

Referee: De Burgos Bengoetxea (Basque). Yellow Cards: Zaza (Min. 19) for Valencia, Carvajal (Min. 29) for Real Madrid, Munir (Min. 43) for Valencia, Enzo Perez (Min. 54) for Valencia, Varane (Min. 59) for Real Madrid, Mangala (Min. 66) for Valencia

Red cards: None

Stadium: Mestalla

Attendance: 55,000

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Seven differences between the current situations of Real Madrid and Barcelona

Seven differences between the current situations of Real Madrid and Barcelona


nly one point separates them in the title race and it's Real Madrid who aren't in the Copa del Rey final, so how is the mood at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu far brighter than at Barcelona?
The fringe impact

Where Luis Enrique is struggling, Zinedine Zidane is flying. Time and time again the French coach has been able to rotate and manoeuvre his starting XI to spread the load across several players, and with great success. As for the Blaugrana boss, he cannot buy a satisfactory line-up. Andre Gomes and Sergi Roberto are the chief suspects in terms of the side's lack of flair and yet neither are taken out the side by Luis Enrique.
The coach's attitude

Luis Enrique has never been chirpy with the media but recent weeks has seen his relationship with reporters fall off a cliff edge, stating how he never listens to them and working up a fuss on live television. Compare that to Zidane, where the ex-midfielder is bright and breezy with the press, making clear what he disagrees on but always in his natural, charismatic style.
European fallout

There's no doubt that Real got the easier draw in the Champions League and that was despite coming second in their group, and the consequences have been huge. Sweeping past Napoli in their first leg, the 3-1 win gave Zidane the impetus to reintroduce Gareth Bale for the win over Espanyol on the weekend. In great contrast, Barcelona were hammered by Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital and responded with a dour scrape past Leganes.
The contrasting fortunes of Messi and Ronaldo

Great rivals on and off the pitch, it seems that the respective clubs reliance on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is at opposite ends. The more the Azulgrana suffer, the more important their Argentine talisman is, leading the Pichichi race as he does. However, Madrid have managed to reduce Ronaldo's individual importance without dropping points.
Strength across the midfield

The strength of Zidane's midfield is perhaps his biggest asset; Casemiro, Toni Kroos, and Luka Modric are backed up by Isco, Mateo Kovacic et al. This has provided balance, flair, and a seamless team ethic. While Luis Enrique can call upon the exquisite Andres Iniesta, providing he's fit, there has been a marked drop in form from Ivan Rakitic whilst Gomes, Denis Suarez, and Rafinha all lack the consistency or raw ability to fit the bill.
The rise of ter Stegen

One are the Blaugrana can be happy with is the goalkeeper. Even in the defeat to PSG, Marc-Andre ter Stegen stood head and shoulders above the rest, making clear that he is the undisputed custodian at the Camp Nou. Meanwhile, Keylor Navas has been unable to do the same, sparking rumours that Real are in the market for a big name signing to replace him this summer.

MSN vs. BBC

For all the talk of Madrid's BBC vs. Barcelona's MSN, Los Blancos haven't been able to field their preferred front-three in three months. This is typical of the more fluid approach to selection that Zidane has revelled in whereas Luis Enrique has persisted with his attack line and with imperfect results.

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Cristiano Ronaldo trains with view to Valencia starting

Cristiano Ronaldo trains with view to Valencia starting 


Having spent the previous day's training session in the gym, Cristiano Ronaldo re-joined his teammates for the full workout on Tuesday.

Zinedine Zidane should, therefore, be able to call upon the winger for the imminent trip to Estadio Mestalla with Valencia the opponent in the first of Real Madrid's LaLiga games in hand.
Danilo may not be ready for Wednesday's game as he once again worked alone, although Fabio Coentrao completed the session after the left-back sat out the weekend win over

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Dani Alves: Barcelona were false and ungrateful over my exit

Dani Alves: Barcelona were false and ungrateful over my exit

the shady atmosphere that surrounded Dani Alves' departure from Barcelona left the defender upset, leading to him hitting out at the way the club's staff and hierarchy treat their players.

Joining Juventus on a free transfer last summer, Alves took the decision to insert a release clause in his contract after years of unanswered questions surrounding his future at the Camp Nou.

"I like to be loved, and if they do not want me, I'm leaving," the defender told ABC. "Leaving Barcelona on a free was a big lesson.

"During my last three seasons I always heard that 'Alves was leaving', but the managers never said anything to me. They were very false and ungrateful. They did not respect me.

"I was only offered to renew when the FIFA transfer ban came in. That was when I went and signed a deal with a termination clause.

"Those who run Barcelona today have no idea how to treat their players."

One big theme of Alves' stay in LaLiga was the rivalry he encountered with Cristiano Ronaldo, an issue that the Brazilian feels was blown out of proportion.

"All my fights with Cristiano were because of the press," he stated.

"If people only knew how much I respect Cristiano Ronaldo. I will repeat it to make myself clear: I respect Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Everyone who talks to me about Cristiano tell me that he's a great pro, but he is different, he was my rival and I had to compete with him.

"When I spoke about him being too selfish, when you win you are going to be the star but when you lose they will go for you, so I said it in a very respectful way.

"And I think the same of [Lionel] Messi or Neymar. But my thoughts were not negative. What happens is that the press portrayed them differently, saying that I had spoken ill of him.

"And Ronaldo believed it. That's why he did not greet me at the Ballon d'Or gala in 2015. I do not need to talk about anyone to go out in the newspapers. I have no ego."

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Two weeks until Bale returns to full fitness

Two weeks until Bale returns to full fitness

Tt was a triumphant return to first-team action as Gareth Bale netted a goal against Espanyol on Saturday after being on the sidelines since before Christmas, however it is believed to be two weeks until he is once again fully fit.

Real Madrid are in no mood to rush the Welshman however his progress thus far has been astounding with the initial prognosis being early March before he could even return to action.

His ankle injury suffered on November 22 was the first truly serious issue the winger has had since arriving in the Spanish capital and it caused Zinedine Zidane sizable selection headaches over the winter period.

The decision was taken to play Bale against Espanyol in order to give him a taste of football once again in the hope his match fitness will improve before the LaLiga title run in.

A trip to Valencia is up next for Los Blancos and with it one of their two matches in hand on Barcelona it presents a priceless opportunity to cement their advantage in the title race.

It is as yet unclear whether the former Tottenham Hotspur star will play any part in the match on Wednesday with Zidane's aim being to gradually ease him back into regular action.

This has been his policy throughout his tenure with rotating players crucial in keeping them relatively fresh and healthy as the season heads into its final stretch.

Bale himself is perfectly at ease with this plan and even supported the decision of his coach in an interview on Saturday following the clash with Espanyol.

"We'll see [about playing against Valencia] I have to see how I feel in the next couple of days," he explained.

Only in training with the first-team properly for a week, it is important for Bale not to get carried away by his goal on Saturday.

It has been three months of hard graft and it would be senseless to put all that progress at risk to just try and force him back into regular action right away.

The fact is that Los Blancos don't need to do that, they are comfortable in LaLiga, and have a clear advantage in their Champions League tie against Napoli.

So whilst Bale may have set a personal target of the trip to the Stadio San Paolo being his first starting appearance, Real Madrid will assess his progress slowly over the next two weeks before making an informed decision.

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Zidane reinstates his strict Real Madrid rotation policy

Zidane reinstates his strict Real Madrid rotation policy

The guessing game that takes place an hour before each Real Madrid game has escalated under Zinedine Zidane with the coach once again adding several fringe players to his line-up for the weekend game with Espanyol.

While the news that Luka Modric, Keylor Navas, and Karim Benzema would be rested for the clash was communicated on Friday, the full extent to the changes surprised many.

Kiko Casilla came in between the sticks as Zidane rewarded the ex-Pericos keeper for hard work behind the scenes, also acknowledging that their Copa del Rey exit made first-team appearances difficult for the second choice.

In defence, Nacho Fernandez's versatility came to the fore to allow Marcelo some time off whereas Pepe was able to make his first start since December and replace Sergio Ramos.

Isco was deployed in midfield to continue his own mini rotation policy with James Rodriguez, the Colombian being favoured in the Champions League to allow the former Malaga star a spot in the league.

Mateo Kovacic, Lucas Vazquez, and Alvaro Morata all started as well in the 2-0 win as Zidane showed his power in dropping the likes of Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo without causing morale issues and while maintaining Los Blancos' dominant push to the title.

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Otamendi agent refuses to dismiss interest in Real Madrid switch

Otamendi agent refuses to dismiss interest in Real Madrid switch

Although Manchester City are yet to see the consistent best of Nicolas Otamendi, the player's agent, Martin Sendoa, has admitted that a transfer toReal Madrid would be worth considering.

Jorge Mendes represents the Argentine in Europe, and with the super-agent having strong ties to big clubs throughout the continent, Otamendi has previously been a target for the likes of Barcelona, according to Sendoa.

"Nico is happy at Manchester City. But who wouldn't like to play at Real Madrid? It's the biggest club in the world," he said in conversation with Radio Continental.

"Jorge Mendes is managing Otamendi in Europe.

"Barcelona have also followed him since he was at Valencia."

City forked out 35 million euros to bring in the centre-back from Los Che and he's been a key part of Pep Guardiola's side this season, playing 20 times in the Premier League with a further five starts in the Champions League.

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Luis Enrique reveals details about his contract renewal with Barça

Luis Enrique reveals details about his contract renewal with Barça




Barcelona coach Luis Enrique didn’t dodge the question about renewing his contract with Barcelona during his pregame press conference for Sunday’s game with Leganes, the 23rd game if the La Liga season. 


If on other occasions he’d tried to ignore the subject, arguing it didn’t interest him or it wasn’t the right time, this time he made it clear he’s still not taken a decision and that results will not affect what he decides. 


“What happens in these months will have nothing to do with my decision, not one game, not two or the 38 games in the league. I still haven’t taken it,” Luis Enrique made clear. 


“I have nothing [else] to say about it, I feel for anyone who thinks I’d be affected by it. Criticism has zero effect on me, if it was any other way I couldn’t be in this job for almost three years.


“We are our own fiercest critics, the ones who most want to improve. The rest is just a circus, but fortunately there’s a considerable distance between us and you [the media].”


Remember that the Barcelona boss had planned to sit down with the board to discuss his renewal after the second leg against PSG on Mar. 8 at Camp Nou. A meeting that, for now, we don’t know will have been affected by the result in the first leg.

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