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Kane-KeylorNavas-GI

Speaking after Harry Kane broke his record for most Premier League goals scored in a calendar year, Alan Shearer said that it is ‘inevitable’ that Real Madrid and Barcelona would launch bids for the Tottenham Hotspur striker. Kane bagged a hat-trick on Tuesday as Spurs thrashed Southampton 5-2. His first goal took him past Shearer’s tally of 36 set in 1995 and the new Premier League record set by the 24-year-old now stands at 39.

Shearer told BBC Sport that he was unsure whether Kane would leave his beloved Spurs but does anticipate interest from the big two in Spain.

“It’s inevitable they will come calling or come asking, because he’s that good a player and wouldn’t look out of place in either of those teams.”

The stats are there to back that theory up. This year Kane has notched 56 goals in all competitions, including for England. That makes him the leading scorer in Europe for 2017. That accolade has gone to either Barcelona’s Lionel Messi or Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo in each of the previous seven years.

Real Madrid Need A Proven Goalscorer

Real Madrid’s poor La Liga form comes down to one thing; the taking of chances. They’ve so often dominated games in the manner that we have come to expect but have continually struggled to put the ball in the back of the net. Harry Kane would be the ideal player to solve that problem and ease the goalscoring burden on an ageing Cristiano Ronaldo.

Karim Benzema gives a lot to the team but has not been a prolific scorer in recent times. Real Madrid could do with a player in the mould of Ruud van Nistelrooy or Michael Owen, whose primary function is to convert chances into goals. Shearer spoke of Kane’s passion for finding the back of the net and that desire to score goals is just what Real need right now.

“He has an obsession to score goals and that’s what all goalscorers have to have. He has that, and you can tell because once he gets one goal he wants another goal. Once he gets two, he wants another one.”

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Antonio Conte Linked With Real Madrid

Current Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has been linked with a future role at Real Madrid, and the reports suggest the Italian would be very interested in the job. Conte is facing an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge due to the fact that the London club’s Premier League title defence has not gone their way this season, with Manchester City running away with the league.

Depending on how the rest of the season goes, Conte could be leaving Stamford Bridge in the summer and would be looking for a new challenge. Logic would suggest that his next move would be to one of the biggest clubs in Europe, and there are none bigger than Real Madrid.

Pressure Piled On Zidane

After a rather poor start to the season by the club’s high standards, current Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is starting to come under a bit of pressure. Of course, this was not helped by the 3-0 home defeat to rivals Barcelona at the weekend. There is still plenty of time for Zidane to turn things around again this season though.

It goes without saying that Zizou’s past achievements both as a fantastic player and as the club’s manager will earn him more time and he has certainly shown that he is good enough to turn a slump around. Ian McGarry of Transfer Window podcast has speculated that because of Zidane’s stature within the club that if a change was to be made, it wouldn’t be a sacking.

“I think he (Conte) wants the Real Madrid job.

“The last thing Florentino Perez wants to do is sack an icon of his famous club.

“And I think sacking won’t take place, it’ll be a word in his ear saying it’s time to go Zinedine because the players are not responding to you, or the training isn’t good enough, or whatever the reasons are behind that misfiring squad.”

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Real Madrid’s La Liga title dream is over, after they were comfortably beaten 0-3 by Barcelona in El Clasico on Saturday 23rd December. The result leaves Los Blancos trailing in the wake of their bitter rivals. The points deficit now stands at fourteen points, giving them an almost impossible task, despite having a game in hand.

It could have been very different, as Real Madrid started the match with real attacking intent. On 2 minutes Cristiano Ronaldo had a goal disallowed for offside. The 2017 Ballon d’Or winner then failed to connect to a Toni Kroos cross that looked a good opportunity. Karim Benzema also hit the post in the first half but having failed to take their chances, there was always a risk that Barcelona would make Real Madrid pay.

That’s exactly what transpired. Less than ten minutes after the restart, Ivan Rakitic was in acres of space and free to find Sergi Roberto who set up Luis Suarez for an easy finish to open the scoring. Things then went from bad to worse when Suarez had a shot saved, then hit the post, before Paulinho headed the rebound goalwards.

It would have been a goal but Dani Carvajal pulled off a save that Keylor Navas would have been proud of. It was deliberate handball and the referee had no option but to send him off and award Barca a penalty. Lionel Messi dispatched the spot-kick confidently and at that point the match and Real’s title hopes were pretty much over.

Gareth Bale came off the bench but could do little to help Real Madrid back into the game. With a numerical advantage, Barcelona comfortably saw the game out without ever really being threatened. Aleix Vidal was introduced late on by the visitors and he completed the scoring in injury time following a clever cutback by Messi.

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Marco Asensio Has Not Considered Leaving Los Blancos

Marco Asensio is coming through the ranks at Real Madrid and looks like he may be a crucial player for Real in the next few years. Earlier this season he signed a new long-term contract with Los Blancos until 2023 and says he has no intention of leaving.

The only reason rumours have started to surface are due to the fact that Asensio has struggled to hold down a regular starting place in the Real Madrid side. Even  so, the player believes that manager Zinedine Zidane retains complete faith in his ability and thinks that he’ll be a big part of the club’s future.

The 21-year-old made a great start to the season grabbing quite a few goals early on, but since then things have started to tail off for the Spanish youngster. He has only started five matches in all competitions since and  has struggled slightly. This can be expected from a young and inexperienced player so there is nothing to worry about there.

No Plans To Leave

Even though English Premier League side Manchester United have been linked with a move for Asensio in either January or the end of the season, the player himself has said that he has no plans to leave the Santiago Bernabeu at all.

He told Club del Deportista:

“It is difficult to manage a squad as good as our one. He knows that he can count on me.”He has a lot of confidence in me and he speaks to me a lot.

“I work hard every day to earn more minutes, but I am aware of where I am.”I am at the best club in the world and I am happy at Real Madrid, so leaving has never crossed my mind.”

Real are likely to strengthen their squad in January, with the arrival of Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa expected to be confirmed early next year. Further additions may follow, too.

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We are finally here. After weeks of buildup, it’s D-Day for Los Blancos in a must win encounter against bitter rivals Barca. On the morning of a pivotal El Clasico encounter, here are three great Real Madrid triumphs over Barcelona to get you in the mood for the big game.

Barcelona 0-1 Real Madrid:  April 20, 2011 – Copa del Rey Final

Jose Mourinho struggled as a manager in El Clasico but did oversee an important win against the club where he was once an interpreter. The manager that deals in trophy wins got the job done to land the 2011 Copa del Rey.

It was an unusually tepid affair which only served to increase the nerves inside Valencia’s Mestalla stadium. Normally these matches are end to end and full of goals but this was more like a high-speed game of chess, with Mourinho constantly stifling Pep Guardiola’s attack-minded tactics.

The match was 0-0 after 90 minutes so went to extra time. Then as is so often the case, Cristiano Ronaldo came up with the goods. The Portuguese hitman powered home an unstoppable header to settle the contest. Angel Di Maria was also sent off in the dying moments.

Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona: April 10, 2005 – Real Triumph In Thriller

Current head coach Zinedine Zidane was playing for Los Blancos in this one and he opened  the scoring, before powerful Brazilian forward Ronaldo added a second. Samuel Eto’o pulled one back for Barca but the two-goal cushion was restored by Real madrid icon Raul in first-half injury time.

The second half was just as entertaining, with the match being played at frenetic pace. Michael Owen notched a fourth goal for the home side and a late Ronaldinho strike proved to be nothing more than a consolation for Barcelona who had been played off the park.

Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona: May 7, 2008 – The Last Guard Of Honour

There will be no ‘pasillo’ on Saturday, despite Real Madrid having recently lifted the Club World Cup. A Guard of Honour is a Spanish custom where two rows of players applaud the new champions onto the field of play. This was last done in El Clasico in 2008.

Having been confirmed as La Liga champions, Real Madrid hammered the point home in emphatic fashion. Goals from Raul, Arjen Robben, Gonzalo Higuain and Ruud van Nistelrooy helped Real to humiliate Barca while Xavi was given his marching orders to complete a miserable night for the Blaugrana.

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Zidane: Ronaldo 100% Fit For El Clasico

Real Madrid have been handed a massive boost before the biggest game of the season, as star man Cristiano Ronaldo returned to full training on Friday for the first time in a week. The pictures from the club’s official media channel showed Ronaldo training as normal with the group, indicating he would start Saturday’s massive game against Barcelona.

Ronaldo hadn’t been in training for a number of days after picking up a slight calf injury in the Club World Cup final win against Gremio last Saturday, a game in which he scored the winning goal. Though he has only scored four league goals this season, Real Madrid are desperate to get their main player on the pitch for El Clasico. His recent form is good too, having scored five in his last four matches in all competitions.

Back To 100%

Cristiano looked happy to be back in training, and looks ready for the huge game against bitter rivals Barca. In Friday’s training session, Ronaldo was being put through fitness drills with his teammates and seemed to come through them with no issues. Los Blancos know they must win the match inorder to keep pace at the top of La Liga, as Barcelona currently have an 11 point lead.

It remains to be seen who will start alongside Ronaldo in the Clasico, with Gareth Bale also training with the first team players all week. Zidane may be tempted to go with the BBC front line of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano in order to try and blow Barca out of the water. Bare in mind that Barcelona are missing some key defenders and this looks like a decent option.

Having Ronaldo in the side may inspire the Real Madrid players to claim a result, which would definitely be their biggest win of the La Liga season so far.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has been declared 100% fit and able to play against Barcelona on  Saturday, allaying fears that he would miss El Clasico. The Real Madrid superstar picked up a knock during last weekend’s Club World Cup final against Gremio. Ronaldo sustained a calf injury early in the game but decided to carry on and his decision paid off, as he fired home a free-kick to win the match and help Real to lift the trophy.

Little was made of the potential injury until Ronaldo missed Tuesday’s training session. Then when he was absent again on Wednesday morning, there were fears that he would be unable to feature at the Bernabeu on Saturday. It was all smiles on Friday, as CR7 took part in the team training session. Zinedine Zidane confirmed that all is well and explained that his earlier absences were merely precautionary.

“He is fine, he’s 100%. He has trained today.”

The French tactician also used his press conference to ask for focus from his players. Asking them specifically to forget about the lead that Barcelona currently hold in the La Liga title race and concentrate on winning the match.

“We have to think about playing a good match, not if we are 11, or eight, or 25 points behind. We are going to have to play a good match against a very good rival.”

As things stand, Barcelona hold an eleven point advantage over Real Madrid. Los Blancos do have a game in hand, so could effectively cut the deficit to a theoretical five points, if things go their way in El Clasico. The alternative isn’t even worth thinking about for Madridistas. The match kicks off at 12pm UK time and will be watched by a global audience.

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How To Watch Real Madrid v Barcelona In Live Streaming

Real Madrid welcome Barcelona to the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday with a 12:00 kick off UK Time, in the 16th week of the La Liga season. Read here how to watch Real Madrid v Barcelona in live streaming from your computer and make sure you do not miss a single kick.

If you want to watch Real Madrid v Barcelona in live streaming, you will be able to. Firstly you will need to click on the link below and go to the bet365 website. You will then need to register or log in with your existing bet365 account. Then, deposit some money and you can then watch the game on your laptop or your mobile device following these easy instructions.

CLICK HERE AND WATCH THE GAME IN LIVE STREAMING

If you are a resident of Spain, unfortunately you won’t be able to watch the game with the link above due to copyright restrictions. However, if you live in another country you can watch Real Madrid v Barcelona in live streaming from the comfort of you own home and cheer Zinedine Zidane’s men to victory.

You can find a full preview for the match here, and this is undoubtedly the biggest match of the season so far. El Clasico is the match that both sides want to win the most, not just for the points available but for the bragging rights over their old enemy too.

Barcelona are currently top of La Liga with 42 points after 16 matches, while Real are 4th with 31 points from 15 games. It goes without saying that Los Blancos really need a win in this fixture in order to keep pace with their rivals at the top. Fresh off the Club World Cup win, Real Madrid should go into this contest full of confidence, which may be the difference in the end.

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Real Madrid Eye Valencia Youngster

Since Alvaro Morata was sold to Chelsea in the summer, Real Madrid have been without a striker that they can bring off the bench to grab a goal. Real manager Zinedine Zidane has now identified Valencia youngster Rafa Mir as a replacement for the departed Morata.

It is also said that he wants the deal done in January rather than waiting until the summer. Zidane has been under a little bit of pressure recently and needs additions to his squad if the club are to challenge at the top of La Liga.

As it stands, Los Blancos are 11 points behind Barca going into El Clasico on Saturday and whatever the result happens to be, Zidane will look to bring in players in the new year. Reports from Spanish news outlet Don Balon state that Rafa Mir is a top target for Real.

Who is Rafa Mir?

Rafa Mir is still only 20 years of age and has recorded 22 goals in 49 matches for Valencia’s B team. He has appeared for Valencia’s first team twice but is regarded as one of La Liga’s hottest young prospects.

It is also being reported that Real Madrid will offer Marcos Llorente as part of the deal in order to speed the process along. Much like Alvaro Morata, Mir is a traditional target man that can hold the ball up and score goals with his head.

The club have been criticised for selling Morata, even though the £60million fee was good money for a bit part player. The main issue was that he was not replaced at all, and any deal for Rafa Mir will go a long way in putting this right. If he does sign, it is hoped that the youngster would develop into a top striker in the next couple of years.

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Gareth Bale

A fit again gareth Bale with a point to prove could be just what Real Madrid need to get an edge over rival Barcelona in this Saturday’s El Clasico clash. The Welshman has had well documented injury problems this term and hasn’t started a match for Los Blancos since September. However, he has completed his rehabilitation and has shown signs of returning to match fitness in recent weeks.

Bale began his comeback by helping to spare Real’s blushes in the Copa del Rey. He came off the bench to set up Borja Mayoral’s equaliser against Fuenlabrada and then provided an assist for the winner. He didn’t feature again until scoring the winning goal against Al Jazira with his first touch, after coming on as a substitute in the Club World Cup semi-final. He also had a cameo in the final and came close to scoring but for a brilliant save by Gremio stopper Marcelo Grohe.

Head coach Zinedine Zidane must surely have been impressed by Bale’s performances and attitude in those brief run outs. As things stand, it seems to be a straight shoot-out between Bale and Isco for a starting berth against Barcelona, giving Zidane plenty to think about. Even if Bale does not make the starting eleven, it appears that he is eager to prove his worth and he could be the ultimate impact sub, if El Clasico remains in the balance heading into the final half-hour or so.

Gareth Bale has only scored one goal against Barcelona but it is one which will live long in the memory. The 2014 Copa del Rey was tied at 1-1 with only minutes remaining when Bale broke free and showed devastating pace and strength to power around Bartra and into the box to slot home the winner. You can relive that iconic moment with the video below.

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