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Real Madrid will play Segunda B outfit Olimpic de Xativa in the last 32 of the Copa del Rey.

The draw was made on Friday at the Vicente Calderon, home of Atletico de Madrid, and the winners of the trophy last year.

Los Blancos, who lost the final in May at the Santiago Bernabeu to their city rivals, will play at the La Murta stadium on the 6th,7th or 8th of December. The return leg in Chamartin will take place on December 18th.

Should Carlo Ancelotti’s men overcome the minnows from Valencia, they will face the winners of the tie between Malaga and Osasuna in the next round. The nine-time European Cup winners would avoid playing Atletico until the semi-final stage should they make it that far, and can only meet fierce rivals Barcelona in the final.

Speaking after the draw was made, Real Madrid director Miguel Pardeza said the draw would be an exciting one for Olimpic de Xativa, and allows fans of smaller teams across Spain to see their players come up against the big names.

But having been embarrassed by Alcorcon in the Copa del Rey a few years ago, and with Los Blancos looking to add some silverware to the cabinet this season after a poor campaign last year, Pardeza said the team would take the tie very seriously.

He stated:”It is an opportunity for people from small towns that are not used to seeing these sorts of matches. It is a new season and we will be aiming to win it, there is no other possible objective.”

Los Blancos last won the competition in 2011 when they beat Barcelona 1-0 thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo header.

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Real Sociedad will prove to be a tough match for Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu tomorrow afternoon, according to boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Speaking at his press conference ahead of the match, the Italian gave an update on the injury situation in the team, and called on his players to be at their best to beat La Real. The San Sebastian-based outfit had a superb season last year, finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League. And although they’ve had a slower start to the campaign than they would have liked, they still have players that can hurt Los Blancos.

Ancelotti said: “Real Sociedad is a good team with a good attitude. They’re very dynamic and have fast players. It won’t be an easy match. They already proved against Manchester United that they can play major games and it’s a really good test for us because we need to play well and with intensity.”

In the latest injury update, the manager said Marcelo had a slight knee problem in training this morning, and Sami Khedira was nursing a sore leg. Cristiano Ronaldo should be fit to play despite having an injured toe, while Xabi Alonso will start the match having worked his way back to full fitness after his injury.

Ancelotti also had words of encouragement for midfielder Isco, who is reported to be unhappy at his lack of playing time. Some reports have linked the the 30 million euro summer signing with a switch away from the club.

“He played against Sevilla last week and his problem is the competition. Sometimes he plays and other times he’s on the bench. He’s rested and recovered from the physical issues he had at the start,” Ancelotti stated.

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Real Madrid playmaker Luka Modric has revealed Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester United tried to sign him before he eventually ended up at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Croatian international signed for Los Blancos in a 35 million euro deal in the summer of 2012 from Tottenham Hotspur but revealed he had been subject of interest from the Premier League giants in the previous couple of years.

Speaking to Italian paper Gazzetta dello Sport, Modrid claimed Carlo Ancelotti made an offer for him when he was manager of Chelsea. He also tried to sign Modric when he was with French side PSG last summer. Manchester United also made enquiries about signing the midfielder when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge of the Old Trafford club, but Spurs refused to do business with the Red Devils.

Modric is quoted as saying: “Ancelotti wanted me. A year ago in PSG and 2011 in Chelsea. But then Andre Villas-Boas came and Tottenham did not want to give me up.”

He added:  “I also knew of the interest of United and even if the transfer did not materialise, the public appreciation of a great like Sir Alex is a big pride for me.”

After moving to the Spanish capital, Modric took a while to settle, and was kept out of the team by the likes of Xabi Alonso and Mesut Ozil. Ironically, the turning point came in the Champions League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford, where he scored a sensational goal to send Los Merengues through to the next round.

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Real Madrid press report 8-11-13

Spain’s most sold newspaper, Marca, reports today that Real Madrid have reached a formal agreement to sign Borussia Dortmund’s midfielder Ilkay Gundogan. “Gundogan, one step closer,” they title.

“Los Blancos secure their priority for Gundogan’s signing as part of Nuri Sahin’s transfer to Dortmund,” Marca claims. “His contract will expire in 2015 and Dortmund will let him go next summer,” they point out.

The other main Madrid sports daily, As, puts its focus on recently released Carlo Ancelotti’s autobiography, in which he states that “sometimes commercial interests prevail over the game.”

As also reports that Cristiano Ronaldo suffers from a contusion in a toe and will have to undergo medical tests in order to determine whether he will play against Real Sociedad on Saturday or not.

Both Madrid papers bring to their front pages the fact that Xabi Alonso has been picked for the Spain national team squad that will face Equatorial Guinea and South Africa next week. Alvaro Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas have also been called by Vicente del Bosque.

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Real Madrid playmaker Isco could be set for a shock exit from the club, according to UK sports radio talkSPORT.

The station said the 21-year-old summer signing from Malaga is unhappy with his lack of first team football at the club, and added that Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester City may renew their interest in the player as a result.

Isco started the season in fine form, scoring five goals in his first six matches for Los Blancos. But he has been an unused substitute in recent matches having fallen down the pecking order behind the likes of Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Angel di Maria and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The playmaker, who starred for Spain Under-21’s in their success at the European Championships this summer, signed for the Santiago Bernabeu club in a 30 million deal. If he were to leave at the end of the season, the club would look to recoup what they paid Malaga for him.

Isco used to play under Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini when the pair were at Malaga together. The Chilean manager was believed to be keen on taking Isco to the Etihad Stadium in the last transfer window but missed out to Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

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After having played only two matches as a starter since he recovered from a five-month injury, Xabi Alonso will make his return to Spanish national team. Vicente del Bosque has picked the Basque midfielder for the squad that will play two friendlies against Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.

Alonso is one of four Real Madrid players who have made it into the squad. Iker Casillas, Alvaro Arbeloa and Sergio Ramos will also travel to Africa.

The most relevant absence will be that of Isco, who hasn’t enjoyed minutes of play lately with Los Blancos and will not return to the national team for the moment. The Andalusian will surely fight to recover a spot in Madrid’s starting eleven in order to earn a ticket for Brazil’s World Cup next summer.

Former Real Madrid players Juanfran Torres, Raul Albiol, Juan Mata and Alvaro Negredo will also be part of the team.

Spain will first visit Equatorial Guinea on November 16th to face the home national team in Malabo. They will then travel to Johannesburg, where they will play South Africa national team at Soccer City Stadium.

La Roja is already qualified for the 2014 World Cup, where they will defend the world champions crown they won in South Africa in 2010.

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Real Madrid legend Luis Figo has claimed club owner Florentino Perez has interfered with team matters and did so to force the Portuguese international to leave in 2005.

Figo was the first of the Galactico signings made under Perez when he joined from rivals Barcelona, and instantly got involved helping them win the 2002 Champions League.

But three years on Figo’s position at Los Blancos had become untenable as he was benched systematically until his departure for Inter Milan.

“I have no doubts I was on the bench many times, but it is one thing when you are 18 and another when you are 33 or 34,” he told ESPN. “You cannot treat a kid of 18 like a 33-year-old.

“But sometimes these are technical decisions and sometimes they are not, and it is a question of… in the world of football everything happens.”

The former Ballon d’Or winner is convinced Perez instigated the team selection, saying: “For me, yes. I have no doubts. But that is the past and I have turned the page.”

Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156

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Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

Technology giant Microsoft has confirmed it is in talks with Real Madrid about striking a deal with the club for the naming rights over the Santiago Bernabeu.

Los Blancos president Florentino Perez confirmed last month that the club was looking at the option of selling the rights to the stadium name in a bid to raise 400 million euros needed to revamp the iconic stadium. Microsoft had been mentioned as a possibility although the company had not confirmed or denied any of the reports until now.

But speaking to Antena 3, Maria Garana, head of Microsoft’s Spanish division, said there were discussions going on between the two parties.

“We are talking. We have an excellent relationship with Real Madrid and in fact recently we signed an agreement with its [charity, Real Madrid] foundation. They have proposed to us, and to other companies, renaming the stadium, but we are only talking about this possibility,” she stated.

Many have speculated that Dubai-based airline Emirates may also be keen on agreeing a deal to call the stadium the Emirates Santiago Bernabeu. The airline paid Arsenal around 200 million euros to be their shirt sponsor until 2015 and sponsor the stadium until 2028. Any deal with Real Madrid would be likely to dwarf any of its kind in world football however.

 

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Tottenham Hotspur are looking to pursue their interest in Real Madrid left back Fabio Coentrao by making a loan offer in January according to the Daily Express.

Spurs manager André Villas Boas is currently without first-choice left back Danny Rose due to injury and is hoping he will be able to persuade Coentrão to join the club on a short term deal.

Portuguese Coentrao had been close to a deadline day move to Manchester United in the summer before the deal fell through, and later admitted he was brought to tears when he found out he would not be joining the Old Trafford club.

If the move is to happen it is likely that Coentrao would have to take a pay-cut as Tottenham have a strict wage budget, and he earns a reported 118,000 euros per week.

But he may be willing to accept that for a short period if Portugal are successful in their World Cup play-off against Sweden, as Coentrao will want to be playing first-team football to have the best preparation for the finals this summer.

25-year old Coentrao is in his third season at Los Blancos since joining from Benfica for a fee towards 30 million euros in 2011 and has made 40 appearances in that time – but only four so far this season.

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Real Madrid press report 7-11-13

Madrid sports daily As brings today to its front page a poll conducted among their readers -most of them Real Madrid fans- that shows 84% of As.com visitors want Iker Casillas to be the starting goalkeeper in a permanent basis.

At the moment, Los Blancos captain is only playing in the Champions League, while Diego Lopez starts in La Liga. Against Juventus, Casillas had a great performance, savaging a draw for Los Merengues.

“Casillas, the great mystery,” titles As. “After his big night in Turin, all Europe wonders why he’s sitting on the bench,” they add.

The other main Spanish sports newspaper, Marca, puts its focus on Karim Benzema good state of shape. “The Frenchman is the striker who provides more assists in European football and he has left his goal draught behind,” they publish.

Marca also emphasizes the victories of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona in the Champions League titling “Wait for us, Bayern.” The Madrid daily claims the good form of Spanish teams, including Real Madrid, should make the reigning European champions fear them.

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