Jude Bellingham stars again for Real while Getafe coach offers Greenwood a fresh start
England star Jude Bellingham’s late goal kept Real Madrid’s perfect start to the La Liga season going as they beat Getafe 2-1 at the Bernabeu on Saturday night.
La Liga Sport News
Bellingham strikes again to earn Madrid derby win under stadium roof
MADRID: Jude Bellingham rescued Real Madrid with a 95th minute strike to secure a 2-1 win over Getafe on Saturday and maintain Los Blancos’ perfect start to La Liga, as they played with a closed roof at the Santiago Bernabeu for the first time. The England international netted his fifth goal in four games to snatch three points from the derby clash, Madrid’s first game without injured forward Vinicius Junior. Joselu, the Brazilian’s replacement, had pulled Carlo Ancelotti’s side level after former Madrid striker Borja Mayoral sent the visitors ahead in the first match under a roof at Madrid’s remodelled stadium. La Liga leaders Madrid started the season with their opening three games all away from home, while construction work continued. It allowed for the retractable roof to be finished and it was closed on Saturday, with rain hitting the Spanish capital — but not the players. “I think we were just winners, we did well in attack and made a lot of chances,” said Joselu. “Getafe make it difficult for you but the Bernabeu pushed us on — these fans are incredible and Madrid never give up.” Getafe did not include on loan Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood in their squad, after his arrival on Friday. The forward had been suspended by the Red Devils since January 2022 after facing allegations of abuse although prosecutors subsequently dropped the charges. Mayoral started up front for the visitors and, looking to keep his place in the side, he quickly pounced to put the visitors ahead. The striker capitalized on a heavy Fran Garcia backwards pass, nipping in to pick up the ball, round Kepa Arrizabalaga and slot home after 11 minutes. Madrid thought Bellingham had won a penalty when he tumbled under pressure from Carles
Lamine Yamal mania sweeps Barcelona as teen sensation faces big international call
In the summer Lamine Yamal was born, a few miles from Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast, Robert Lewandowski already had 30-odd professional goals to his name.
Hermoso becomes leader of sexism stand after World Cup triumph
BARCELONA, Spain: Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso shone at the Women’s World Cup, steering her country to the trophy for the first time, but in the aftermath she has unexpectedly become the leader of a stand against sexism in Spanish football. Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales forcibly kissed her during the medal ceremony in Sydney, provoking a wave of criticism and drawing worldwide focus, overshadowing the team’s triumph. Rubiales refused to resign and insisted the kiss was consensual, which Hermoso, 33, denied. The world initially took the fight to Rubiales on Hermoso’s behalf while she was away on holiday with her team-mates, celebrating “the best feeling” she has ever had in football. Eventually, after Rubiales produced a defiant speech in which he refused to resign from his post, the situation exploded and Hermoso issued a strongly worded statement in which she clarified she felt the “victim of an assault, a macho act.” Hermoso and 81 other Spain players announced a strike from the national team, saying they will not return until the leadership has changed, while world football’s governing body FIFA suspended Rubiales. Spain’s top criminal court opened a preliminary “sexual assault” probe into his kiss and invited Hermoso to file suit. Regardless of all that followed it, the World Cup victory is the crowning glory of Hermoso’s sporting career. The grand-daughter of former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Antonio Hernandez, Madrid-born Hermoso started at youth level with Atletico. Hermoso played often in parks as a child and thinks it helped shape her style. She enjoyed watching Fernando Redondo and Zinedine Zidane who were then at Real Madrid, but had no real idol of her own until she joined Atletico. T
Atletico crush dismal Rayo in seven-goal rout
BARCELONA: Atletico Madrid dismantled city rivals Rayo Vallecano 7-0 in Monday night with a ruthless display and their largest ever away win in La Liga. Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring early on, before his strike partner Memphis Depay netted the second from close range from Saul Niguez’s cross. Atletico lost the Dutch forward to injury in the first half, but Nahuel Molina slid home the third to kill the game before half-time. Substitute Alvaro Morata netted in the 73rd minute and then again after Angel Correa grabbed the fifth, with Marcos Llorente finishing the rout late on. “We had a great game from the start, with a lot of intensity,” Antoine Griezmann told Movistar. “They’re three important points and I’m very happy with the team’s work today.” Atletico’s emphatic victory took them second in the table, two points behind leaders Real Madrid. Rayo had started the season well, with two wins in their first two matches, but were brought crashing back down to earth by Diego Simeone’s side. “They were better in every way,” said Rayo midfielder Oscar Valentin. “We are not this bad — we just have to continue and forget about what happened today.” Earlier Getafe snatched a 1-0 home win over Alaves, their first triumph of the season.
Abu Dhabi to host fifth FIFCO World Corporate Champions Cup
ABU DHABI: The fifth edition of the FIFCO World Corporate Champions Cup will be hosted in Abu Dhabi from Nov. 3 to 5, the International Federation of Corporate Football (FIFCO) announced Tuesday.
Spanish soccer federation leaders ask president Rubiales to resign over his kiss of player
GENEVA: Leading officials within the Spanish Football Federation asked suspended president Luis Rubiales to resign on Monday because of his behavior at the Women’s World Cup, including kissing a player on the lips after Spain won the championship match. The heads of the regional bodies that make up the federation (RFEF) made the request in a collective statement. “After the latest developments and the unacceptable behavior that has caused great damage to the image of Spanish soccer, the presidents request that Luis Rubiales resign immediately as president of the RFEF,” the statement said. Earlier Monday, the federation asked UEFA to suspend it from international competitions because of government interference related to Rubiales. However, in their statement, the heads of the regional bodies urged interim federation president Pedro Rocha to withdraw that request immediately. The federation’s request for a suspension was widely seen as an attempt to silence some of Rubiales’ critics, including government ministers who have asked for his removal.
European wrap: Atletico run riot against Rayo Vallecano, Inter Milan stay unbeaten
Atletico Madrid scored four times in 13 second-half minutes to win 7-0 at Rayo Vallecano to move second in the LaLiga table.