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Winning the Champions League in his first season with Real Madrid has been the highlight of Gareth Bale’s career, the Welsh forward has said.

The 25-year-old signed for Los Blancos in a 91-million-euro deal last year from Tottenham Hotspur, and after a slow start to life in the Spanish capital, he became a fans’ favourite by scoring in the final of the Copa del Rey and Champions League.

At the start of his second season in the Spanish capital, Bale said he wants to keep winning trophies with Madrid and that the Champions League is always the most important trophy for the club.

In an interview with BTSport, the Welshman stated: “I think the club had been chasing it for I think 12 years and it was a reason they brought me in – to try and make the team stronger to win that Champions League.”

He continued: “I think the Champions’ League is always special to any player and a club like Madrid, as I said, is known for its big European nights and winning the Champions League so I would probably say that it’s our biggest target.

“We want to win every trophy as well. That’s something that we’re obviously looking forward to, that we’re excited about, and it’s what we’ll be working hard all season to try and do.”

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Real Madrid defender Pepe has said the players need the support of the fans more than ever after they suffered another defeat to Atletico de Madrid – this time in La Liga.

The 2-1 reverse at the Santiago Bernabeau means Los Blancos have only won one of their three league games, and Madridistas are becoming impatient with the team’s sluggish start to the campaign. Small sections of the crowd even whistled and jeered at the players after the loss to their city rivals.

But Pepe said in the tough times, the players need the support of the fans more than ever. And he urged them to be patient as the team look to turn things around.

“We work on everything. Maybe we don’t have enough concentration in the set pieces, but we have to keep working and ask the fans for their support, because we need them now more than ever. We have to be strong and we have to be a bit more together to fight for everything,” he said after the match.

He also lamented the team’s bad luck, missing chances to score themselves while conceding from few opportunities when the opposition attack.

“We tried everything. In the first half we deserved to be ahead, but that’s football for you. We had a lot of ball but we didn’t take many risks from outside the area. They got a goal from a set piece and once again it was a move in which we should have been better positioned. We have to keep fighting and prepare for the next game,” he said to reporters.

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Iker Casillas

Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas says the team’s supporters have the right to criticise him and that it encourages him to work harder to win back their respect.

The 33-year-old has had a tough few months, coming off the back of a poor World Cup for Spain and starting the season slowly with Los Blancos. He conceded four goals in the defeat at Real Sociedad two weeks ago and was blamed for his part in the goals conceded to Atletico de Madrid last night.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Casillas said criticism is part and parcel of the game. He added that when fans whistle and jeer him, it spurs him on to train harder and perform better in the next game.

“The crowd have the final say and if they think they should whistle you have to accept it and respect their opinions. The way to respond is to train and play football,” he said.

He urged his team mates to keep their heads up and promised fans they would get it right soon.

“We are a team of champions, winners. Our commitment to the rest of the team is infinite. We have won many titles up to the last few months and this is a situation that Madrid, and the players it has, are able to change. We’re going after every title,” Casillas stated.

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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said he is concerned by the poor start to the season but has vow to get Los Blancos back on track.

The Champions League winners suffered a second consecutive loss in the league, this time to city rivals Atletico de Madrid, to leave the, with just three points from a possible nine.

And speaking to journalists after the match, the Italian admitted his side have not played well enough this season to pick up more point. But he promised they would double their efforts in a bid to improved their game.

“I’m worried because it hasn’t been a good start to the season, like last year. Fortunately it’s just the beginning. I’m certain that we will fix it together, with the necessary calm and self-criticism,” he stated.

And when questioned about the overall tendency to drop off in the second half of games, Ancelotti stated that is something he will be looking at. “I think this is the problem we have. We have to analyse it and fix it fast. The first half was good, like at the Anoeta, and the second wasn’t,” he told reporters.

Much has been made of whether Ancelotti is using his players in the best system possible, and when quizzed on this again, the Italian said it’s not a question of systems. Simply put, Real just aren’t playing well enough.

“We don’t have a problem with our system of play, we know it well. Some players have to get used to it. It was a problem with our attitude and intensity in the second half, like at the Anoeta. That’s the main cause, not the system,” he admitted.

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Real Madrid’s poor start to the La Liga season continued with a home loss against city rivals Atletico de Madrid, who gained some revenge for the Champions League defeat in May.

The return of Cristiano Ronaldo to the starting line-up boosted Los Blancos, but even a penalty won and scored by the Portuguese front man wasn’t enough to prevent Los Colchoneros taking home the three points and leaving Carlo Ancelotti with plenty to ponder after just one win in three league matches.

Much was made of the physical nature of Diego Simeone’s men in the build up to the game, and once again they showed they were up for the challenge throughout this encounter. In the 10th minute, Tiago rose highest to head home a Koke corner and give the champions the lead. Questions will once again be asked of the Real defending however and won’t quieten the critics who have claimed this season’s side is weaker than last year’s.

The home side responded, and Ronaldo once again showed he was the man for the big occasion, leading from the front and being the hub through which every Real attack went. The 29-year-old won a penalty in the 25th minute after Siquiera had come in with a late challenge in the box. He picked himself up and dispatched it past Moya in the Atletico goal.

Real had plenty of chances to go ahead, with Karim Benzema particularly wasteful infront of goal. Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez were quiet throughout and Toni Kroos was played in an unfamiliar holding midfield role.

The second half was more of an even affair but as it wore on, both teams went for the three points. And Atletico proved to be the more clinical side. Seventeen minutes from time, Turan swept home past Casillas to sent Colchoneros fans into delirium.

The hosts puffed and panted in the closing stages looking for an equaliser, but this Atletico team proved why it has earned a reputation as being one of the best sides in Europe when it comes to holding onto a lead.

Ancleotti and his men have plenty of work to do now in La Liga and at this early stage some doubts will be there as to whether they can keep pace with Atletico and Barcelona.

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Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid match preview
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid match preview

Real Madrid take on Atletico de Madrid for the third time in less than a month and tonight’s match at the Santiago Bernabeu could be key in Los Blancos’ title hopes.

Title rivals Barcelona and La Liga champions Atletico won’t lose too many games over the course of the campaign, and Carlo Ancelotti’s side have already lose one – the shock 4-2 defeat at Real Sociedad two weeks ago when they shipped four goals having held a two goal lead.

Los Rojiblancos have already beaten Los Blancos this season, seeing them off in the Spanish Supercopa, but they still carry painful memories of their Champions League final defeat in May so this will be another close-fought encounter.

Diego Simeone’s men started the campaign with a win over Elche and a draw away at Rayo Vallecano and will want to kick on too after the international break.

In terms of team news, Ancelotti has a decision to make in the absence of Daniel Carvajal. Alvaro Arbeloa would be the natural choice, but Sergio Ramos could be shifted to full back to deal with Atletico’s physical style and Varane come in to the centre. Cristiano Ronaldo is fit following a three week break from the game. New signing Chicharito could make his debut.

Possible Line-ups:
Real Madrid: Casillas; Ramos, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Kroos, Modric, Isco; Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema

Atletico de Madrid: Moya; Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Siquiera; Gabi, Suarez; Garcia, Griezmann, Koke; Mandzukic

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Carlo Ancelotti has vowed to stick with the same style and philosophy the Real Madrid always follow as he looks to set his team back on track in La Liga.

Los Blancos take on Atletico de Madrid in the city derby this evening – their first match since the shock 4-2 defeat at Real Sociedad. With the team looking sluggish at the start of the campaign and the summer arrivals still taking their time to settle in, there have been calls for Ancelotti to make changes to the way the side plays.

But speaking at a press conference, he said: “The side won’t change style nor philosophy. We want to play a good game and get back to playing well, with intensity, like we normally do. Each side has their style given the quality of their players and the best for us is to play to our best on the pitch.

“Our fans will be key because we will play an intense game and in playing at home we have this as an advantage.”

The Italian boss also gave journalists an update on team news, and as well as revealing he has full confidence in Iker Casillas and would be sticking with him, Cristiano Ronaldo is also fully fit and expected to play from the start.

He stated: “He’s firing on all cyclinders. He’s trained very well this week and is in optimum condition. There are no issues. He plays when he is right and not tired, without risk of an injury. He has had a couple of small issues, but his performances over the past year have been good because he scored a lot of goals.”

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Atletico de Madrid defender Cristian Ansaldi has vowed he and his teammates will continue their high tempo and aggressive game even if it upsets opponents.

Los Colchoneros have adopted a high-energy game under coach Diego Simeone and it has brought them much success in recent years. In August, they saw off Los Blancos in the Spanish Supercopa, drawing 1-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu and winning 1-0 at the Calderon.

Critics of Atletico’s style say they are not pleasant on the eye, and once they have the lead in a game, they shut up shop and defend for their lives, meaning matches become less of a spectacle.

But summer signing Ansaldi said the players don’t care what the critics think, and if anything, it makes them more determined to maintain their style.

Speaking about the derby on Saturday in La Liga, he said: “We will keep playing the same way. Many people are bothered by the way Atletico Madrid play, but that just make us happy. If they are annoyed by something, well we are just going to keep playing this way. We like it.”

He also said he expects the game at the Santiago Bernabeu to be very different from the Supercopa match as not all the players were at 100% match fitness in August following the World Cup.

“We must be aware that the Super Cup is the first game after the preseason and not all the players were at 100 percent. They came from a hard preseason, now it is the third game week and we know we have a lot on the line. These are three points in one game, and we know it will be different than the Super Cup,” he stated.

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It’s derby day again as Real Madrid take on Atletico de Madrid in La Liga in a crucial match in which both sides are looking to kick start their league campaigns.

Los Blancos lost 4-2 to Real Sociedad while Atletico have also dropped points, drawing 0-0 with neighbours Rayo Vallecano.

AS and Marca both go with headlines asking who will win the battle. Los Blancos are boosted by the return of Cristiano Ronaldo who has spent the last three weeks focusing on recovering from various injury niggles. For the visitors, Arda Turan should be back from injury, having appeared for Turkey midweek.

Marca has quotes from Carlo Ancelotti dismissing suggestions Real are rattled by Atletico’s high-energy and sometimes aggressive style. “Atletico being too aggressive? It’s a man’s game,’ he told reporters.

AS also reports that there are 700 tickets still available for tonight’s showdown, so any Madridistas in the area and keen to get to the game should be quick if they want to snap them up and experience the atmosphere of a Madrid derby.

Finally, Marca looks at the pressure on Karim Benzema, who has struggled in front of goal so far this season. It says the Frenchman is likely to start, but Ancelotti is prepared to hand Chicharito his debut should Benzema not perform well.

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Atletico de Madrid defender Juanfran has said no one associated with Real Madrid can have any complaints about the squad and added it remains one of the best in the world.

Los Blancos brought in the World Cup’s top scorer James Rodriguez this summer, along with Toni Kroos, Keylor Navas and Chicharito to build on the Champions League winning team from last season.

Xabi Alonso and Angel di Maria were the two high profile departures from the club, while Diego Lopez and Alvaro Morata also moved to pastures news. Following the defeat to Real Sociedad last time out, pundits have suggested the squad is weaker now than it was 12 months ago.

But speaking at a press conference ahead of the derby this weekend, Juanfran said Real are still a top team.

“I would describe their squad as incredible. Players come and players go. The president said that every year they want to sign the best players in the world so they can’t have any complaints with the squad,” he stated.

Turning his attention to the game itself, the defender said derby matches are always hard-fought and the players just want to make the fans proud.

“Matches against Real Madrid are intense and always a spectacle. There are always plenty of opportunities, and each team gives their all. We’ll always continue with our style of play – it’s up to each team how they set up. The most important thing is that the fans are proud of us,” he stated.

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