England will face Spain on the 15th of November at Wembley Stadium in a friendly match between two of the most powerful national teams in Europe. You will have the chance to watch it live thanks to our competition. We’re giving away two VIP tickets for the game. You can be part of Wembley Club and enjoy the game from one of the best spots of this iconic stadium.
If you want to claim your tickets, you just have to click the link below and enter your data. It’s completely free. You only have to enter your name and your email address for the chance to win a pair of tickets for the game.
The entire Level Two tier of the stadium is exclusively for Club Wembley members, with seats on the halfway line and panoramic views. Club Wembley ticket holders also have access to a dedicated 1km concourse of bars, cafes, restaurants and catering outlets, so there is truly something for everyone’s tastes – including free drinks at half time on the concourse!
Three Lions face Spain to close the year. Both English and Spanish have a new manager -Southgate and Lopetegui-, so both want to end the year in the best way possible. England and Spain have met recently in friendly games, giving somes unforgettable shows. Last time they met, Spain beat England 2-0 with Mario Gaspar and Arsenal player Santi Cazorla scoring the goals. They played in Wembley for the last time in 2011 and the Three Lions won 1-0 thanks to Frank Lampard goal.
There will be some Real Madrid player in the pitch. It’s going to be difficult for Sergio Ramos to play after his injury in the knee but Daniel Carvajal, Nacho, Isco or Morata will be called by Lopetegui.
Real Madrid will face Real Betis on Saturday in a very important game for Los Blancos, especially after the four straight draws. Zidane’s side is not top of the table at the moment and they need to bounce back as soon as possible to continue fighting for La Liga.
Zidane is concerned about the last results: “The key thing is to improve and change the things we’ve done wrongly. I’ve never considered myself as a good coach and I’ll never think it. I can win the Champions League and I’m never going to think I’m the best. But I do want to learn. I always want to train this huge team called Real Madrid”, Zidane said in the press conference before facing Real Betis.
In Seville, Real Madrid will play without Sergio Ramos, injured with Spain: “I’m very annoyed with Sergio Ramos’ injury […]. Ramos critics are normal because top players always receive critics. For me, these are not fair, but it’s normal. He’s always passionate and he likes a lot what he does”, Zidane expressed.
Luckily for the team, Marcelo is back: “These are very good news for us. He gives us everything and we are going to take advantage for having him tomorrow”. However, the French coach has confirmed that James Rodríguez won’t be available: “James left with some injury and he’s better now. We are good, we had few days to prepare the game, but it’s normal when there are national teams fixtures”.
After the unexpected draw against Eibar, Zidane doesn’t trust Betis: “When you face a very complicated game, because nowadays there are no small teams, we can’t think we are going to win easily: the players don’t think in that way”. Finally, the coach expects a diifcult game: “When you don’t win, perhaps you haven’t done everything to win. We need to go back and do what we know, so the rival doesn’t have the opportunity to play well. Tomorrow we’re going to a difficult ground. I’m not a magician, I only believe in work”.
Copa del Rey Last 32 Round was drawn on the Friday morning in Madrid organised by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). Real Madrid will play against Cultural Leonesa in the Last 32 round. The games will be played on the 26th of October in León -the first leg- and the second leg on the 30th of November at Santiago Bernabéu.
Real Madrid game will be played before all the other games because of the FIFA World Cup. Los Blancos have to travel to Japan at the end of the year, so they need to play in advance their fixture. The other fixtures will be played on the 30th of November and 21st of December.
Cultural Leonesa is a small team from León, in the north of Spain, currently playing in the Spanish Third División (Segunda B). They are in the First Group in this category, currently second in the table with 20 points in eight games, having won the last five games.
Real Madrid and Cultural Leonesa played once in the Copa del Rey in 1960 in the Last 16 round. Then, Real Madrid went through the next stage, scoring 9 goals and conceding none. This was not a free draw, like the FA Cup. The teams playing in Europe had to face small teams, from Third or Fourth Division. Therefore, big Spanish clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid or Sevilla will face week teams.
Last season, Real Madrid were knocked out in the first round of the competition. Los Blancos played against Cádiz and Rafa Benítez put in the pitch Cheryshev, who was suspended when he was playing for Villarreal. Real Madrid were eliminated of the competition in a shaming performance for a big club.
Full fixtures are:
Toledo-Villarreal
Formentera-Sevilla
Cultural Leonesa-Real Madrid
Hércules-Barcelona
Guijuelo-Atlético de Madrid
Racing-Athletic
UCAM Murcia-Celta
Córdoba-Málaga
Valladolid-Real Sociedad
Huesca-Las Palmas
Nàstic-Alavés
Alcorcón-Espanyol
Sporting-Eibar
Granada-Osasuna
Leganés-Valencia
Betis-Deportivo La Coruña
After Toni Kroos renewal, Real Madrid have started with the operation of closing the deals with the most important players of the squad. FIFA banned Los Blancos, who cannot sign any player in the next two transfer windows. Although Real Madrid have appealed the sanction, it’s very likely that the Spanish giants cannot bring any new player to Santiago Bernabéu.
For this reason, the club is undertaking negotiations with the key players, so Real Madrid don’t lose any important footballer in the next months. Toni Kroos made official his renewal until 2022, but the German midfielder is only the first one to get a deal. Pepe, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale should be the next ones.
Pepe is already 33 years old and his contract expires in 2017, at the end of the present season. Despite his age, the Portuguese is at the best in his career, even leading Portugal in the Euro. The club thinks that he can stay one year longer and they are willing to extend his contract one year more.
Gareth Bale, 27 years old, is also negotiating with Real Madrid a contract extension until 2022. The Welshman arrived three years ago from Tottenham Hotspur and, since then, he’s been linked with several British teams, including Manchester United, whose dream is to get back the winger to the island.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 31 years old, has a deal with Real Madrid until 2018. The Portuguese has said several times that he’s willing to end his career in Madrid. However, the club and the star need to talk and sign the new deal. PSG or Manchester United were tempting the Portuguese to change club.
Finally, Luka Modric is the other important player for the club. The Croatian midfielder is now injured and everybody agrees on his crucial role at the team. His contract expires in 2017 and he’s earning 5.643.155 per year, according to Football Leaks.
Real Betis vs Real Madrid will be held next Saturday (20.45 local time) at Benito Villamarín Stadium in the eighth week for La Liga. Los Blancos travel to Seville with the need of coming back after four consecutive draws. People are already talking about crisis at the club, so they should get the three points to forget the recent bad results.
Real Betis v Real Madrid Preview
Real Madrid are suffering too many injuries recently. After the international games, Zinedine Zidane lost a new player, Sergio Ramos. The defender will be out six weeks with a sprain in his knee. The Spanish full back joined Luka Modric, Casemiro or James Rodríguez in the nursery room. Marcelo should be available for the coach.
With so many injuries, especially in the midfield, Toni Kroos, who has recently extended his contract with Real Madrid, will play as a stopper. Mateo Kovacic and Isco could join him in the midfield. The Spanish playmaker had some minutes with Spain against Albania and also played in the last game with Eibar. Real Madrid are force to win after four consecutive draws to add some pressure to Atlético de Madrid, current leaders of the table.
Real Betis are not at their best either. The Andalusian team lost the last game against Real Sociedad and they are close to the relegation area with only eight points. Betis have only won two games -Valencia and Málaga- and the coach, Gustavo Poyet, is already under some pressure.
Team Predictions Real Betis vs Real Madrid
Real Betis (4-3-3): Adán; Durmisi, Pezzella, Mandi, Piccini; Petros, Brasanac, Gutiérrez; Joaquín, Rubén Castro and Alegría.
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Kroos, Kovacic, Isco; Cristiano, Bale and Benzema.
Real Betis have won 3, drawn 3 and lost 4 games out of the last 10.
Real Madrid have won 6, drawn 4 and lost 0 of the last 10 games.
In the last 10 games, Real Betis have scored an average of 1,2 goals and have received and average of 1,8 goals.
In the last 10 games, Real Madrid have scored an average of 2,5 goals per game and have conceded 1,3 goals per game.
There have been over 2,5 goals in 5 of the last 10 Real Betis games.
There have been 2,5 goals in 7 of the last 10 Real Madrid games.
Real Madrid need to win after four consecutive draws. Especially painful was the last one against Eibar, theoretically a week team that should have been easy to beat. However, Los Blancos played the worst game of the season and Zizou had reasons to be angry. Good news is that Cristiano Ronaldo seems in good shape after scoring four goals in two games with Portugal.
Betis are having several problems to win the games and the team has not understood yet what Poyet wants. They are struggling in La Liga and have not shown a good level yet. Against Barcelona or Sevilla the team didn’t have the possession and had little opportunities to score a goal.
Real Madrid failed to win last season at Benito Villamarín Stadium. Los Blancos drew (1-1) with Benzema scoring the only goal. It was Zinedine Zidane first game without victory on the bench. Although the French manager has good memories of this stadium because he scored one of the best goals in his career. Real Madrid thrashed (0-5) Betis two seasons ago.
Toni Kroos has signed a new deal with Real Madrid until the year 2022, so the German midfielder extends his contract another two years because the current one expried in 2020. Real Madrid have made the agreement official in their website. This is an strategic agreement because the club secures one of the most important players in the squad. Besides, Kroos is still very young, he is only 26 years old, so a player to keep in the squad for very long time.
There were some important European clubs having a look at Toni Kroos. Especially, Manchester City had shown their interest in the midfielder because Pep Guardiola wanted in the citizens. Besides, there was also the risk of Toni Kroos going back to Múnich to join his former club Bayern.
Toni Kroos signed for Real Madrid in 2014 for only €24M after winning the World Cup with Germany. In these years, he has won one Champions League, two European Supercup and one FIFA World Cup. However, he had failed to win any title in Spain, either La Liga or Copa del Rey.
Since his arrival, Toni Kroos has become one of the most important players for the managers. Carlo Ancelotti, Rafa Benítez and Zinedine Zidane thought that the German was the best option for the midfield. He is able to play as a stopper, especially now that Casemiro is injured, or in a more offensive role. Either way, he always accomplishes his job.
This year, he has scored already one important goal against Celta Vigo, the goal of the victory. With Real Madrid, Kroos has scored few goals, only four in La Liga and none in Europe. In Germany, the midfielder played closer to the rival area and he was able to score more goals, the same happens with his national team.
Marcos Llorente is in everybody’s eye. The midfielder is doing an amazing start of the season and the most important clubs in Europe are already scouting him. Real Madrid have a close eye on him and some members of the staff are already regretting letting him go on loan to Alavés this summer.
Deportivo Alavés got promoted to the first division last summer. They changed the coach -former Valencia manager Mauricio Pellegrino arrived- and they signed a lot of new players. The result was good because they have 9 points now after beating Barcelona at Nou Camp and getting a draw against Atlético de Madrid at Vicente Calderón. The star is not the forward but the defensive midfielder.
Marcos Llorente has astonished everybody in the start of the season and he is the most important player for Pellegrino. Actually he has already played with the Spanish national team under 21. He has only played 6 games in the top flight level, so he should improve even more this year.
Real Madrid have already thought to bring him back as soon as in January. Casemiro’s injury left Zidane without a stopper and Llorente could have been the solution. However, Alavés have already confirmed that the loan will last until June, at least, so there is no way Llorente could go back to Madrid.
But Los Blancos have to be careful. There are powerful teams following the youngster, among them Arsenal. According to the Daily Star the gunners have shown some interest in the midfielder and Arsène Wenger is famous for spotting young talents. Arsenal are used to sign good and young players from Spain -Cesc, Bellerín…- but this time it will be difficult. Real Madrid know they have a potential great player and Los Blancos will take care of him. Zidane has already said in public that he likes Llorente but the midfielder needs some more experience to play in Santiago Bernabéu.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is only 17 years old and he has already participated in 37 games in Serie A. His debut in the Italian league was in the 25th of October in 2015 against Sassuolo. Since then, he hasn’t moved from the goal and he’s one of the best young players in Europe.
Actually, former Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego López had to leave Milan because he didn’t have the opportunities he deserved at San Siro. He was the Milan goalkeeper but, when the youngster arrived, he shocked everybody and stayed in the goal. Diego López signed in summer with Espanyol to enjoy some more minutes in La Liga.
Donnarumma has been nominated for the Golden Boy, along with Marco Asensio, the award given by the Italian newspaper Tuttosport to the best youngster in Europe. The young goalkeeper also made his debut with the Italian national team, becoming the youngest goalkeeper to ever played for ‘Azzurra’. Gianluigi Buffon has a heir apparent.
Taking this in consideration, the biggest clubs in Europe have put an eye, Real Madrid included. But not only Los Blancos want Donnarumma but British giants Chelsea and Italian champion Juventus are already following the goalkeeper, according to Corriere dello Sport.
AC Milan are struggling economically and Chinese investors have offered money to Silvio Berlusconi to save the club. If the team doesn’t achieve to become again one of the most powerful clubs in Europe, Chelsea, Juventus or Real Madrid might be able to steal Donnarumma.
Currently, the goalkeeper is quite happy in Milan but he’s far from winning any big title with his club. Last year they played Coppa Italia final, but Milan lost against Juventus. If Donnarumma wants to be a legend, as Gigi Buffon is, he might think in changing team eventually. And big clubs, Real Madrid included, need to be alert to sign him before any other big club does it.
La Liga president, Javier Tebas, has announced the date and time of the next El Clásico: “El Clásico will be held on the Saturday 3rd of December at 16:15 [Spanish time]”, said in an interview with the radio show ‘El Larguero’.
Javier Tebas had already expressed his interest in El Clásico to be played in the early afternoon, either at 13:00 or at 16:15, Spanish time. This is not the usual time for a big clash in La Liga, because Spanish people are used to watch the games in the late evening, kick off from 20:00 to 22:00.
The game cannot be watched in the UK live. Kick off will be at 3pm London time, so the Premier League games will be taking place and the TV won’t be able to show El Clásico. Unfortunately, British people will have to watch the game in the Internet or when El Clásico is finished.
However, this is changing in the recent times. Now, every single game in La Liga is played at a different time, so everybody can watch all the games in live. Besides, they’ve added new schedules, including in the morning and early afternoon, where people are used to take a nap during the weekends instead of watching football. According to the president of La Liga “income has been doubled” with these new schedules.
Last time El Clásico was played at Nou Camp on the 2nd of April at 20:30 local time. It was the first El Clásico with Zinedine Zidane as a coach and Real Madrid beat big rivals Barcelona 1-2 after coming back with goal scored by Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo. Piqué opened the score. They got revenge after the humiliating game at Santiago Bernabéu in November, when Barcelona thrashed Los Blancos 0-4.
Real Madrid will have a very difficult calendar at the end of the year. They will face Atlético de Madrid, Sporting Portugal, FC Barcelona and Valencia in away games in a row. Besides, they will have to travel to Japan to play the FIFA World Cup. Los Blancos need to arrive at the end of the year in a good physical shape to win these very important games.
Mariano Díaz will leave on loan Real Madrid in the next transfer window. At least, this is what the club wants after only two months of competition. The Dominican striker hasn’t enjoyed a lot of minutes in the 10 official games played so far, so the best option to continue growing up as a footballer is leaving the club.
This summer, everyone thought that the forward was leaving Real Madrid, however, Zinedine Zidane decided to keep the Dominican after the good pre-season tour. Mariano scored a great goal against Chelsea in the US Tour and then also participated in the Santiago Bernabéu Trophy against Stade Reims. However, he has only played 13 minutes in the season so far in La Liga against Celta de Vigo. Actually, most of the times, Mariano has not even been included in the list.
Mariano has little options no participate in the games this season. With Karim Benzema and Álvaro Morata in the front, Mariano has to wait his opportunities. Besides, it’s very likely that Zidane decides to choose Lucas Vázquez, Asensio or Isco instead of the striker and change the formation if any of the strikers are not available. That’s why, according to Diario As, Real Madrid have decided to give Mariano on loan.
A lot of La Liga clubs were interested on getting Mariano on their clubs. The most likely option was Leganés because the team is based in Madrid, so the footballer wouldn’t have to relocate. Now, both the coach and the player need to talk and reach an agreement so Mariano can enjoy more minutes in the First Division and after come back to Real Madrid, like Casemiro, Carvajal or Asensio. Some other Real Madrid players like Vallejo or Marcos Llorente are playing in top-flight clubs on loan, so they can enjoy minutes and after go back to Los Blancos.
