Latest news with #DiStéfano
The Guardian
7 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
La Liga, where every team plays each other home and away. Unless they're in Miami
Spanish football is famed for nothing if not its integrity. Whether it's Franco using his influence to elevate Real Madrid, in general, but with particular regard to the Di Stéfano affair; the way the government facilitated the sale of Madrid's training ground for a gazillion euros; Barcelona conjuring then pulling their beloved levers; the way it treats the women's game, in general but with particular regard to the Luis Rubiales affair; racism more suited to a dissertation or police report than a tea-timely email; to say nothing of the Fuentes blood bags. But even La Liga has always stayed true to one essential necessity: every team plays every other team twice, once at home and once away … until now, with this season's Villarreal v Barcelona match, the Yellow Submissives v Mes Que Un Cash Cow, scheduled for Miami. The various suits tried this one a few years ago only for US Soccer to block the move citing a Fifa statute forbidding games from being scheduled outside their home territory. But since then, Relevent Sports – a company that clearly loves the game and, by amazing but unrelated coincidence, recently signed a six-year deal to be Uefa's global marketing and sales partner for men's club competitions – and whose owner, by amazing but unrelated coincidence, also owns the Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium – sued both official bodies to make more money for themselves. If you're still reading, the case eventually settled with the understanding that Fifa would revisit the legislation and, shonuff y'all, as of yesterday they've been invited to do so. This is because Spanish football has had, for many years, el humpo with the Premier League, deeming its financial dominance unfair. This is, of course, hilarious – Real Madrid and Barcelona, its two richest institutions, have won 18 of the last 20 titles with its third-richest, Atlético, claiming the other two; Madrid have won five of the last 10 Bigger Cups; and Spanish clubs have paid eight of the 20 largest transfer fees of all time – but it is also a fact, mid-to-lower ranking Premier League clubs are able to outbid far more successful ones from across Europe. The problem, then, is not one of diagnosis but of treatment. To improve competitiveness and overall product, Spanish football might try to share TV revenue more evenly between clubs, helping make the chase for the title actually interesting; authorities could announce kick-off times more than 10 minutes before games, allowing more people to attend; take serious action against racism and sexism; stop clubs, the richest ones included, from living beyond their means; shrink the country so that away fans can travel and create atmosphere. Instead, though, Villarreal and Barcelona are being sent to the USA USA USA where, presumably, fans will show just how much they love and care for the game by putting its needs above their own and boycotting such an egregious and competitive disgrace. Football is capable of many wondrous things, but what it cannot do is change the history and geography of the planet and, though it is possible for people from elsewhere to understand the vibe, history and tradition of eastern Spain's Castellón region – all power to them – clubs have names, names which represent a place. To take an example entirely at random, Villarreal are called Villarreal because they come from Villarreal, play in Villarreal and represent Villarreal; to significant extent, they are Villarreal. That's how it effin' well works. So, though it's brilliant to see this thing of ours traverse the world, mankind's only creation able to cross every border, without that locus, no quantity of pounds, euros or dollars can make it worth anything, or mean anything. It is not just about what is integrity, but what is integral. To Manchester United I decided and said yes. I wanted to join Manchester United, to see Alex Ferguson … [but Dortmund] could not sell me, because they knew if I stayed they could earn more money, and that I could wait maybe one or two more years' – Robert Lewandowski on how he almost became a Red Devil in 2012, two years after a volcanic ash cloud scuppered a planned move to Blackburn Rovers. Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink now being reduced to doing Strictly Come Dancing is quite depressing but seeing a big picture of him smiling is even more unsettling (he should always be stood by the corner flag grimacing after smacking a goal into the top corner against Arsenal). However, the pièce de résistance, is the quote attributed to him: 'I'm looking forward to tackling a fun challenge! Bring on a new type of footwork, with hopefully no own goals', which was clearly written by a PR intern who has no idea who Jimmy is and appears to have never even seen an actual game of football' – Noble Francis. Perhaps it's just as well that you didn't make a pun comparing the Iliad to an intelligence challenging insult (yesterday's Football Daily) as you've saved 1,057 readers pointing out that Greek poet Homer wrote the Iliad not the Roman poet Virgil' – Rob McPheely. If you have any, please send letters to Today's winner of our prizeless letter o' the day is … Noble Francis. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here. It's David Squires on … the Premier League soap opera's grand return. On Thursday 11 September, join Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning and Football Weekly favourites Jonathan Wilson, Nicky Bandini and Jonathan Liew for an evening of unfiltered football punditry at Troxy in London. The pod will also be livestreamed globally. Book now. The Big Website sports crew are now on Bluesky, whatever that is. Jack Grealish has successfully coughed for the Everton doctor and completed his season-long loan move from Manchester City. It's exciting news for everybody, really, because for the past few years the one-time maverick midfielder has looked like he's been playing on a lead, threatening to let rip with some flashy ball skills only to be reeled in by the instructions of his overbearing owner, Pep Guardiola. That, of course, was when he was actually playing. But under the tutelage of the less complicated David Moyes, might we now get to see the free-wheeling Jack of old. You know, the one who used to glide through opposition players as though Villa Park was just another playground? Moyes is likely to let Grealish express himself, and the player himself has never shied away from grabbing the spotlight when he's been allowed to. He'll also have a World Cup squad on his mind. Bring it on! Former referee David Coote, who was last seen delivering parcels for a living, has been given an eight-week ban by the FA for comments made about Jürgen Klopp. The FA's written reasons for the verdict said Coote showed 'deep remorse' and accepted his comments were 'crass and inappropriate'. Jess Carter says she was relieved when three of her white England teammates joined Lauren James in missing penalties in the Euro 2025 quarter-final shootout against Sweden. Carter, who was the target of online racism during the tournament, feared James would be on the receiving end of similar abuse if she had been the only one to miss. Crystal Palace have claimed 'sporting merit is rendered meaningless' following Uefa's decision to relegate them from Bigger Vase to Tin Pot after the Court of Arbitration for Sport's rejection of their appeal. 'This growing and unhealthy influence has shattered the hopes and dreams of Crystal Palace supporters, and does not bode well for aspirational teams all over Europe,' growled a salty club statement. Sunderland are preparing a formal objection over council plans to build 600 houses and flats within 23 metres of the Stadium of Light. The club fear the scheme would leave the 49,000 all-seater stadium landlocked, preventing any future capacity increase. Tottenham have opened talks over a move for Eberechi Eze, whose £68m release clause expires on Friday, and are pushing to score an early victory over their north London rivals by pipping Arsenal to the nifty Crystal Palace attacker. PSG have left Gianluigi Donnarumma out of their squad for Wednesday's Super Cup clash with Spurs, amid media reports linking the Italy goalkeeper with a move away from the Bigger Cup champions. Meanwhile, Bournemouth may have to field four traffic cones at the back for the Premier League opener at Liverpool on Friday after Illia Zabarnyi became the latest defender to leave the club, joining the French champions for an initial £54.5m. And the latest reports out of Newcastle claim that Alexander Isak has moved out of his north-east home in a further attempt to force through a move to Liverpool. If he ends up staying at Newcastle, he could always look into buying one of those new-builds in Sunderland. In the latest edition of our sister email, the Swiss winger with millions of followers, Alisha Lehmann, speaks exclusively to Tom Garry about her surprise switch from Juventus to FC Como. Our alphabet continues: we're up to M in the Premier League team-by-team guides, so here are Manchester City and Manchester United. Will Unwin looks at how Hugo Ekitiké's spells in Denmark and Germany helped him evolve into the 'perfect modern player'. Turquoise touches. Gothic flair. Cartoon collars. It can only be this season's Premier League kits. Hannah Jane Parkinson has a stylistic deep dive. And could Rodrygo be jumping ship at Real Madrid to join Manchester City? The Rumour Mill sifts through today's transfer gossip. 9 February 2013: Bradford's two mascots get ready for work at Valley Parade before the last League Two home match of the season against Gillingham. That's Bantam Chicken (left) and the City Gent who, we presume, is checking how his stocks and shares are faring.
Ammon
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Ammon
Mbappe breaks 71-year record in Real Madrid's 2-1 win over Mallorca
Ammon News - Real Madrid superstar, Kylian Mbappe, on Wednesday, broke Alfredo Di Stéfano's record for the club. The Frenchman broke the record for most LaLiga goals in the debut season for Los Blancos. It was Mbappe's 32nd league game and the former PSG star netted his 28th league goal in the 2-1 win against Mallorca. With two matches left, the France international can add to his tally Di Stéfano held the record for 71 years, as he scored 27 goals in the 1953-54 season. Meanwhile, it was a difficult game for Real Madrid who needed an injury-time winner to keep the title race alive at least for another 24 hours. Jacobo Ramon found the back of the net (90+5′) after Martin Valjent gave the visitors the lead (11′) and Mbappe scored in the 68th minute. Carlo Ancelotti's side's defeat to Barcelona last weekend was a big blow to their title defence as they are now four points behind the Catalans who will play their local derby against Espanyol on Thursday. Barca can be confirmed league winners today with a win, but a draw or loss would see the race go down to the wire in the final two games. Di Stéfano scored 306 goals in 392 appearances for Los Blancos.
