Latest news with #OSCARDELPOZO
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alonso's new-look Real Madrid aiming for Club World Cup glory
Real Madrid's French forward Kylian Mbappe is looking to add another trophy to his collection this summer (OSCAR DEL POZO) After Real Madrid's hopes of major silverware this season faded the Club World Cup took on far greater importance for them and it will provide an insight into new coach Xabi Alonso's strategy. The 43-year-old Spaniard, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, along with new arrivals Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen add a fresh look to a team that emerged battered and bruised from a domestic season dominated by bitter rivals Barcelona. Advertisement Former Bayer Leverkusen coach Alonso may deploy his favoured 3-4-3 formation which would give England international Alexander-Arnold an important role on the right flank. Recent Spain debutant Huijsen also bolsters a back-line which has been badly hit by injuries this season. Madrid still have several players sidelined, including Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and Eduardo Camavinga, but some may be able to make their return during the tournament. Midfielder Jude Bellingham is expected to have shoulder surgery after Real's participation ends which they hope is after they have been crowned champions. Advertisement Their title ambitions is why they paid a reported £10 million ($13.5 million) to sign Alexander-Arnold early, his Liverpool contract was due to end on June 30. In Group H Real Madrid's campaign begins against Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal on June 18 in Miami, before facing Mexican outfit Pachuca in Charlotte on June 22. Alonso's team then face Austria's RB Salzburg in Philadelphia on June 26 in their final group game. Al-Hilal may be a tougher proposition than many expect, having recently appointed Simone Inzaghi as coach after he guided Inter Milan to the Champions League final. With a squad full of well-known names, including Aleksandar Mitrovic, Joao Cancelo and Kalidou Koulibaly, Al-Hilal will believe in their chances of causing an upset. Advertisement Pachuca have former Newcastle striker Salomon Rondon leading the line but are seen as the weakest team in the group. Madrid beat them 3-0 in the Intercontinental Cup last December, with Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior all on target. Real also thrashed Salzburg 5-1 in January in the Champions League group phase, although the record 15-time winners were dumped out by Arsenal in the quarter-finals. - 'Ambitious' play - Ancelotti suggested a year ago that top clubs including Madrid would skip the Club World Cup, but was forced to backtrack, and with the winners bagging as much as $135 million, victory is important to the Spanish giants. Advertisement After Barcelona reclaimed La Liga on the way to wrapping up a domestic treble, beating Madrid four times in the process, Madrid would also welcome some sporting success to raise morale and increase belief before the new campaign. Some of the same problems that Ancelotti could not solve are in Alonso's in-tray and the Club World Cup is the first chance for him to answer them. The Italian complained about a lack of balance because of the top-heavy attack, and Alonso has already suggested Bellingham will be used in a deeper role than previously. A classy midfielder at Madrid and Liverpool in his playing days, Alonso must find a way of playing both Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe without causing Madrid too many problems at the back. Advertisement "We have to get everything we can out of them -- I have ideas," said Alonso earlier this month. "I am thinking about how to make a balanced team... (and create) a stability that will allow individual qualities to flourish." Madrid's football was often criticised under Ancelotti, to the Italian's chagrin, and Alonso said he wants his team to excite the fans. "We want an ambitious and active game, knowing how to take the initiative, and we have the players for it," he added. "I want a team that transmits emotion, energy, ambitious play and connects with the fans." Advertisement Alexander-Arnold's supreme passing range may help Madrid overcome the absence of Toni Kroos, who left last summer, while Croatian veteran Luka Modric is playing his final matches for the club before departing. Leaving with a trophy would be an appropriate farewell for one of the game's modern greats, while record 15-time European Cup winners Madrid would also take pride in being the first team to win the expanded Club World Cup. rbs/pi
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Real Madrid duo Vinicius, Vazquez injured
Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior and Spanish defender will miss the club's final La Liga matches of the season (OSCAR DEL POZO) Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior and defender Lucas Vazquez are set to miss the club's final La Liga matches of the season with injuries. Los Blancos said Monday Vinicius has been diagnosed with an ankle sprain, while Vazquez has a thigh injury, with Spanish media reporting they may not return until the Club World Cup. Advertisement Reigning champions Madrid lost against La Liga leaders Barcelona on Sunday to fall seven points behind the Catalans with three matches remaining, virtually ensuring they will finish the season without a major trophy. Madrid host Mallorca on Wednesday before visiting Sevilla on May 18 and welcoming Real Sociedad on May 25, in what will be coach Carlo Ancelotti's final match at the helm. The Brazilian football federation announced Monday that the Italian will take the reins of the Brazil national team at the end of the season. rbs/ea
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🚨 Real Madrid name starting XI to take on Celta Vigo
Real Madrid have named their starting XI for Sunday's LaLiga clash with Celta how Carlo Ancelotti's side will be lining up. 📋✅ Our starting XI 🆚 @RCCeltaEN! — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) May 4, 2025 Los Blancos are aiming to restore their four-point margin to Barcelona at the summit. 📸 OSCAR DEL POZO - AFP or licensors
Local Spain
28-04-2025
- Climate
- Local Spain
IN PICTURES: Nationwide blackout causes chaos in Spain
Towns and cities across mainland Spain were affected by the massive outage which hit at around 12.30pm on Monday. The cause of the blackout is still under investigation and authorities say it is likely to take up to 10 hours to restore the power to all regions. Find the latest on the blackouts HERE. A Police officer gestures to organise traffic during a massive power cut, which also knocked out traffic lights leading to widespread traffic jams. Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP The power outages brought transport services to a halt with trains stopped and city public transport blocked - police in cities were deployed to rescue Metro passengers stuck in tunnels. There were widespread traffic jams as traffic lights went out. People leave the Atocha train station in Madrid after its closure as a massive power outage hits Spain on April 28, 2025. Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP Staff stand in a closed pharmacy with no lights. Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP Businesses were forced to close with card payments affected and there were reports of shops in Madrid closing up for fear of looting. Vehicles queue on the M30 ring road in Madrid as a massive power outage hits Spain on April 28, 2025. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP) Hospitals, which usually have their own generators, were mostly able to continue as normal but non-emergency medical services were suspended. Local residents attempt to manually open the gate of an underground parking lot during a massive power cut in Vigo, northwestern Spain. Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP Police asked people to remain at home and avoid calling the emergency services unless completely necessary, as networks became overwhelmed. Customers buy gas bottles in a petrol station. Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP The power outages also affected Portugal and some homes in France's Pays Basque, although the French electricity network operator said that power to the French homes was quickly restored. Vehicles and pedestrians circulate as traffic lights are off during a massive power cut affecting the entire Iberian peninsula and the south of France, in Madrid on April 28, 2025. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP) 🇪🇸🇵🇹🇫🇷 — De vastes zones d'Espagne, du Portugal et de France subissent des pannes de courant. ➡️Les stations de radio espagnoles ont ordonné l'évacuation du métro de Madrid, et le métro de Lisbonne au Portugal est en cours d'évacuation. ➡️Des embouteillages sont signalés dans… — OSINTYB (@OsintYB) April 28, 2025 The French network operator RTE said it was working with Spain to help restore power to the grid.
