Real Madrid stay alive in title race with last-minute win in La Liga
Real Madrid
's title hopes in
La Liga
were hanging on by a thread ever since the 4-3 loss to rivals and likely winners
Barcelona
earlier last week. However, the Los Blancos' title hopes, no matter how small, almost came to a halt after narrowly escaping a draw in La Liga on Thursday.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
With Carlo Ancelotti's departure confirmed, the Spanish giant's only hope of securing a title is in the rare outcome that Barca fails to win all three of their remaining games in the competition.
The defending league champions were up against 9th placed
Mallorca
at the Santiago Bernabeu, needing a win to sustain any hope of not letting Barcelona win the title. However, things did not start off well for the hosts as they went a goal behind in the first ten minutes.
A composed finish from inside the penalty area, placing the ball out of reach for a diving Thibaut Courtois put Real in a precarious spot.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
Needing at least two goals to get back in the game, the men in white started sending in a flurry of shots from outside the penalty box. However,
Mallorca keeper
Leo Roman's 10 saves throughout the game gave Real a difficult time in finding the net.
Bombay Sport Exchange Ep 5: Shane Watson on IPL, India-Australia rivalry | Part 1
The goals finally came for Real in the second half, when
found the net in the 68th minute. The Frenchman wriggled through the Mallorca defence and adeptly found the bottom right corner. With the shift in momentum, Real finally found themselves on the front foot.
Poll
Who do you think has been the best player for Real Madrid in La Liga this season?
Vinicius Jr Thibaut Courtois Kylian Mbappe
An impressive second half between the sticks for Roman came undone in what proved to be one of the last kicks of the game, as Real centre-back Jacobo Ramon forced the ball over the Mallorca keeper, winning it at the death.
The win means that Real now have 78 points from 36 games, but will see their bitter rivals Barcelona crowned champions if they manage to win their game in hand against Espanyol on Friday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
10 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Where to watch RCB vs PBKS IPL final live in Bengaluru: Top 5 screening spots
Bengaluru is all set for an electrifying IPL final as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) gear up to face Punjab Kings (PBKS) on June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Cricket fans in the city can head to some of the liveliest venues offering live screenings of the big clash. RCB stormed into the final after a dominant win over PBKS in Qualifier 1. PBKS, however, had shown their mettle in the eliminator, pulling off a thrilling chase against Mumbai Indians. With the final showdown scheduled for 7:30 PM on June 3, here are five hotspots in Bengaluru where fans can catch all the action live: (Also Read: Shreyas Iyer faces BCCI's wrath, entire Punjab Kings team punished but Hardik Pandya cops the maximum blow; fines galore) Time: 5 pm onwards Head to one of Bengaluru's largest and most loved breweries to experience the final in a massive open-air setting. Expect food, drinks, cheers — and RCB chants! Time: 7 pm A cozy yet vibrant venue to enjoy the match with friends and family. Great food and a high-energy crowd await. Time: 7 pm Always buzzing with cricket fans, Gilly's is a staple for match screenings in the heart of Koramangala. Loud, exciting, and RCB-crazy! Time: 7.30 pm BWW is turning up the heat for the final with its B-Dubs Cricket League screening. If wings and wickets are your vibe, this is your spot. Time: 7 pm South Bengaluru's popular hangout spot offers a grand screening experience with curated snacks and drinks to go with the big match. (Also Read: Shreyas Iyer brutally wipes his cheek after being kissed by co-owner Ness Wadia during Punjab Kings' hotel celebration)
Hans India
18 minutes ago
- Hans India
IPL 2025: Shreyas Iyer deserves full credit, he delivered when it mattered, says De Villiers
New Delhi: Former South Africa batter AB de Villiers praised Punjab Kings' captain Shreyas Iyer's heroic knock against Mumbai Indians to guide the side to their second IPL final. Iyer's swashbuckling 41-ball 87 not out was studded with eight sixes and five fours in the vital chase of 204 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday. With the win, Punjab Kings have set up a summit clash with Royal Challengers Bengaluru on June 3 as the tournament will get its new winner after 2022, when debutant Gujarat Titans lifted the title under the leadership of Hardik Pandya. Iyer's knock was full of maturity and calmness as he built a crucial 84-run stand with Nehal Wadhera and kept the momentum going for PBKS despite losing wickets of Josh Inglis and Wadhera during the chase. "I'm obviously a huge fan. What happened in the game was out of this world, and Shreyas deserves full credit. Under extreme pressure, he delivered when it mattered,' De Villiers said on JioStar. "That four off Bumrah past the slip cordon — for me, that was the shot of the night. His sixes were clean, no mishits. He stays calm, doesn't get arrogant or overly emotional — just very level-headed. There are many more runs in him," he added. Former India head coach Sanjay Bangar also heaped praise on Iyer's match-winning knock saying it was a fabulous effort from the right-handed batter. "There's so much to appreciate about Shreyas Iyer's overall approach. The way he allows the batter at the other end to play their natural game is crucial — and that ability to build partnerships made the real difference. Some of the shots he played, especially against quality yorkers — guiding them past short third and point and even threading one through fine third man — were outstanding, especially with the game in the balance. It was a fabulous effort from Shreyas. "His experience and temperament were key to navigating a strong Mumbai Indians attack, which he dismantled by picking his moments and targeting the right bowlers," Bangar said.
Mint
20 minutes ago
- Mint
Punjab stand in way of Kohlis IPL dream as new winners await
Punjab Kings stand in the way of Virat Kohli's dream of finally winning the Indian Premier League in Tuesday's final at the world's biggest cricket stadium. No matter which team prevails at the 132,000-capacity venue in Ahmedabad it will be a first -- neither Punjab nor Kohli's Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won the IPL since it launched in 2008. Punjab booked their place in the decider with a five-wicket victory over five-time champions Mumbai Indians on Sunday. Shreyas Iyer played a captain's knock with an unbeaten 87. Kohli and Bengaluru will have a psychological edge after thrashing Punjab by eight wickets at the start of the playoffs last week. It is the fourth time that Kohli and his team have reached the final of cricket's richest tournament, but they have never been able to take that last step. The vast majority in attendance will be cheering on Kohli, the 36-year-old superstar batsman and icon to Indian cricket fans. Kohli, who last month retired from Test cricket alongside Rohit Sharma, has again been Bengaluru's go-to batsman with 614 runs, including eight half-centuries, in 14 innings this season. He has made no attempt to hide his desperation to win the IPL at the 18th attempt and add it to a long list of accolades that includes two World Cup crowns. He has talked about his "heartbreak" of failing to win the IPL, and celebrated last week's win against Punjab saying: "One more to go." Punjab's fast bowling coach James Hopes said Monday his team will be "recovering and getting mentally prepared" for what he anticipates will be a "pretty big crowd, and a pretty big pro-Kohli crowd as well". As well as Kohli, Bengaluru boast the significant threat of Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood. The 34-year-old returned following a shoulder injury and a stint back home to put in a man-of-the-match performance in the win over Punjab in the qualifier. He returned figures of 3-21 to help bundle Punjab out for 101. Hazlewood spearheads a seam-bowling attack alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar and left-armer Yash Dayal. Punjab, coached by Australia great Ricky Ponting, recovered from defeat to win the rain-delayed second qualifier in Ahmedabad. Skipper Iyer, who cost $3.17 million in November's auction, is narrowly behind Kohli in the batting charts with 603 runs from 16 innings. His latest chase masterclass off 41 balls, laced with five fours and eight sixes, is a reminder that he is lethal on his day. "I love such big occasions," Iyer said after the win over Mumbai. "I always say to myself and my colleagues that the bigger the occasion, the calmer you are, and you'll get the best results." Former Australia medium-pace bowler Hopes said that Iyer "doesn't get flustered very easily". "He knows what he has to do and he's prepared to take that risk," said Hopes. "He is a sensational captain and a sensational player," he added. Punjab openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh are in good form, and they have another potential match-winner in Australia's Josh Inglis. All-rounders Marcus Stoinis from Australia and Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai can also threaten Kohli's long-awaited dream.
