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Real Madrid playmaker Isco scored a double and Cristiano Ronaldo netted his first goal of the season to seal a 100 per cent start to La Liga by beating Athletic Bilbao 3-1.

An inspired Luka Modric lead Los Blancos in a comfortable victory over the Basques, who never had any chances.

After a promising start from the visitors, who were also pursuing a perfect start to their league season, Carlo Ancelotti’s side began to take control.

A brilliant scooped pass by Karim Benzema was picked by Isco, who lifted a shot past Iago Herrerin to score the first goal of the match in the 25th minute.

Ernesto Valverde’s side had their chances in the first half, but Ronaldo made his 202nd goal in 202 games for Real with a perfect header before halftime.

The Basques threatened a comeback at the start of the second half, but Isco made it 3-0 with a deflected strike in the 71th minute after picking up another assist from Benzema.

Ibai Gomez scored the consolation for Athletic Bilbao clipping the ball past Diego Lopez in the 77th minute.

The victory gave Real Madrid a joint share of the lead in the standings with a perfect nine points from three games.

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Moving to Real Madrid would have been a big gamble, Geoffrey Kondogbia has said.

The 20-year-old Frenchman left Sevilla for Monaco recently, but had been strongly linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

But speaking to French sports paper L’Equipe, Kondogbia revealed he had reservations about joining the nine-times European Cup winners because of concerns over a lack of playing time.

A future move to Los Blancos has not been ruled out though, as reportedly he has a release clause in his contract that only Real Madrid can activate.

Kondogbia said: “When a move to Madrid was mentioned, the conditions of the transfer were not met. Afterwards I spoke with some people who know football very well, and they told me it would be a risk to move.

“There was a risk I wouldn’t play much there, that’s obvious, but it’s not only that. I’m super happy to come back to France.”

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Real Madrid winger Denis Cheryshev looks set to join Sevilla on a season long loan, it has been reported.

According to Goal.com, the 22-year-old Russian is keen to get more first team football under his belt, and Unai Emery’s side are the favourites to secure his signature before the transfer window closes.

The winger will compete with the likes of Jose Antonio Reyes, Diego Perotti and Marko Marin, for a place in the starting 11 at the Sanchez Pijuan.

Cheryshev’s father, who also acts as his agent, is believed to have encouraged his soon to seek a temporary move away from the Santiago Bernabeu in order to continue his footballing education.

But once the loan deal comes to an end in 2014, it is not thought to contain an option to buy, meaning the player will return to the Spanish capital where he can compete for a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s team again.

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Real Madrid host Athletic Bilbao at midday and the press is dominated this morning by Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to stick with Diego Lopez in goal ahead of Iker Casillas.

Marca and AS both cover this issue throughly after Ancelotti revealed in his press conference on Saturday that Lopez would keep his place.

Looking back at the various keepers Ancelotti has been in charge of in his time as a manager, he tends to choose stoppers who measure over 1 metre 90 centimetres tall. According to Marca, Casillas will find it tough to get his place back in the starting 11 as he is only 1m 85cm compared to Lopez’s 1m 96cm.

AS also looks at the competition for places further up the field and in midfield in particular. The sensationalist paper claims that Isco is grabbing his opportunity with both hands and showing why the club shelled out 27 million euros on him in the summer. Meanwhile, Kaka and Mesut Ozil have to sit on the sidelines and watch unhappily as their playing time is limited.

In terms of transfer news, we await confirmation that Gareth Bale will be the next in the door, although the press are confident the deal will be announced today with the Welshman ungoing a medical tomorrow morning.

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Real Madrid Athletic Bilbao preview

Carlo Ancelotti could beat Jose Mourinho’s season starts record if Real Madrid defeats Athletic Bilbao at Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

In his three seasons at Madrid, the Portuguese manager never won the first three games of La Liga. After, winning against Betis and Granada, Ancelotti could seal a perfect start against the Basques.

Los Blancos will miss Xabi Alonso and Raphael Varane, who have not recovered yet from their injuries. Sami Khedira is also a doubt for Ancelotti after suffering a sore knee. Meanwhile, Asier Illarramendi returns from injury and has been picked for the game.

Kaka will also be out of the squad after admitting he wants to leave the club before next Monday. The Brazilian is on negotiations to return to Milan.

Ancelotti will line-up again Diego Lopez instead of Iker Casillas, although he has admitted Real’s captain “will have his chance” at some point.

Los Merengues want to reward Bernabeu fans with a good game after showing certain difficulties in their two slender wins against Betis and Granada.

Athletic have also enjoyed a 100 per cent start to their league season. However, they could miss a crucial piece of their squad if Ander Herrera completes his move to Manchester United.

Borja Ekiza will presumibly be sidelined due to an injury, Gorka Iraizoz and Mikel San Jose could return to the starting eleven.

Real Madrid have beaten Athletic Bilbao with at least a three goal difference in their last five league games.

Possible line-ups:

Real Madrid: Diego Lopez; Arbeloa, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Isco; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Benzema.
Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz; Iraola, Gurpegui, San Jose, Balenziaga; Benat, Iturraspe; Susaeta, Ander Herrera, Muniain; Aduriz.

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Real Madrid playmaker Isco has been named in Spain’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Finland.

The youngster, signed from Malaga in June, played a starring role for the Under-21 side as they won the European Championship this summer.

The 21-year-old has also been in impressive form for his new club too, scoring and providing an assist on his debtut against Real Betism as well as putting in other eye-catching displays.

Vicente del Bosque has also called up Isco’s team mates Sergio Ramos and Alvaro Arbeloa. National team captain Iker Casillas has also been included in the squad, despite not having been picked by Carlo Ancelotti in Real’s opening two league games.

Spain lead their group by one point ahead of France, and former Los Blancos manager del Bosque said it was vital to pick up the win against Finland.

He stated:”The biggest concern that I have is Finland and the three points. We must not lose the enthusiasm for all that we have won and we can win.”

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Premier League side Arsenal are trying to line up a deal to take Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso to the Emirates Stadium, according to reports.

The 31-year-old only has a year left on his current deal and has been subject of interest from former club Liverpool as well as Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea this summer.

With Los Blancos having signed Asier Illarramendi, Alosno, who is currently out of the side through injury, may look to move elsewhere to secure the first team football he would need to ensure he is in with a chance of making Spain’s World Cup squad next summer.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is on the lookout of more players in the midfield area having missed out on the likes of Luis Gustavo from Bayern Munich.

The Frenchman has also been linked with last minute moves for Karim Benzema, Mesut Ozil and Angel di Maria as he attempts to build his squad.

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Gareth Bale will be joining Real Madrid, according to AS. The paper, which goes with a picture of the Welshman on its front page, claimed Tottenham Hotspur and Los Blancos reached agreement on the deal yesterday afternoon.

The transfer will cost Madrid 91 million euros, meaning it falls short of the 96 million paid for Cristiano Ronaldo four years ago.

AS says Bale will earn 7 million euros a year, and own 60% of his image rights – becoming the first player at the club to own more then 50% in that aspect.

It is expected he will arrive in Madrid on Sunday evening and undergo a medical on Monday morning.

Elsewhere, Marca opts with coverage of the European Super Cup on its front cover. Former boss Jose Mourinho was defeated by his nemesis Pep Guardiola as Bayern Munich beat Chelsea 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

There are more stories in the press linking Kaka with an imminent return to AC Milan, although Arsenal and Manchester United remain interested in the Brazilian playmaker.

 

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Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta has admitted that the Italian club has rejected this summer a Real Madrid offer for midfielder Paul Pogba.

“Florentino Perez enquired about him but there were no negotiations”, Marotta told Sky Sport Italia.

“We have no intention of selling him. He’s no yet expressed his full potential”, he added.

The French international moved to Turin on a free transfer from Manchester United a year ago. The 20-year-old had a brilliant performance this season, making 38 appearances to help Juve retain their Serie A crown.

Pogba has become a crucial piece of Antonio Conte’s squad, earning a permanent spot in the central midfield position.

He played the 90 minutes last weekend as Juventus began their bid for a third successive Scudetto with a 1-0 victory at Sampdoria.

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Real Madrid midfielder Kaka would be welcome back at AC Milan, according to the Italian club’s vice-president Adriano Galliani.

Kaka scored twice on Thursday night as Real Madrid defeated Deportivo La Coruña 4-0 in the Teresa Herrera trophy, but then promptly told reporters after the game that he wanted to leave the club.

With the World Cup taking place in his native Brazil in less than a year’s time, Kaka said he wanted to leave the Santiago Bernabeu in search of first team football. He added that he sees his future within Europe still, rather than making a move back to Brazil.

As a result, rumours have suggested the 2007 Ballon D’or winner could return to the San Siro, something Galliani said he would be happy to see.

“Kaka’s return? He has always remained in our hearts,” Galliani told Lancenet. “It is possible we will wait and see,” he added.

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