Tag: La Liga

Mbappe Real Madrid jersey: Where to buy France star’s new kit

The France superstar’s kit is going to be one of the hottest items of the summer

It is finally official: Real Madrid has confirmed the signing of Kylian Mbappé.

The France superstar joins as a free agent after spending seven seasons at PSG, ending one of the longest-running transfer sagas in recent memory.

Mbappé will join a team already filled with stars, which just completed a season that ended in glory both in La Liga and the Champions League.

SHOP: Pre-order Kylian Mbappé Real Madrid jersey

Naturally, the 25-year-old’s kit is going to be one of the most in-demand items of the summer. After Madrid revealed its jersey for the 2024-25 season, Mbappé’s kit in the Blancos‘ iconic white is now available for pre-order.

The new jersey sells for $184.99 and can be found at Fanatics.

What number will Mbappe wear at Madrid?

The kit currently features #00 as a placeholder, but the forward will not actually wear that number when he steps onto the pitch at the Bernabéu.

Mbappé’s number is set to be confirmed in the coming weeks, so the kit will feature his actual number when it ships.

Mbappé wore the No. 7 for PSG, but that number is occupied by Vinícius Jr. at Madrid. He wears the No. 10 for France, but Luka Modrić wears that number in Madrid.

There is speculation he could wear the No. 9 in Madrid, which was unoccupied last season after Karim Benzema wore that number for several years.

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La Liga 2023-24 top scorers: Dovbyk wins Pichichi race

An updated list of the top scorers in La Liga for the 2023-24 season

The race for the Pichichi has ended, and an unlikely winner finished on top.

Girona striker Artem Dovbyk finished atop the La Liga goalscoring table, scoring 24 times in his first season in Spain.

The Ukraine international narrowly beat Alexander Sørloth of Villarreal, who finished with 23 goals.

Here are the final standings of the top scorers in La Liga for the 2023-24 season.

Real Betis midfielder Cardoso addresses transfer rumors amid links to European giants

The midfielder has been linked with the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid

Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso has denied that he is looking for a transfer this summer following a report of interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Last week, Diario de Sevilla said that La Liga giants Barcelona and ​​Atlético Madrid were eyeing the U.S. men’s national team midfielder, as well as Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, and unnamed clubs from the Premier League and Serie A.

The 22-year-old only joined Betis from Brazilian side Internacional in December, moving to La Liga in a transfer worth a reported €6 million.

But Cardoso’s performances with the Andalusian side have apparently already convinced some of Europe’s top clubs that he may be worth a large investment.

Cardoso spoke to Spanish radio station Onda Cero on Wednesday, and insisted that his “head is in Betis” as rumors of an impeding exit swirl.

“I arrived here a short time ago. I am very happy,” the midfielder said. “My head and my goals are here at Betis. I try to continue working hard and develop well at the club.”

Asked directly if he would leave Betis ahead of next season, Cardoso replied: “No. My head is in Betis and I leave the conversations for my agent.”

Cardoso added that he was very happy with how quickly he’s adjusted to one of the world’s top leagues, where he’s started 12 of his club’s last 14 games.

“I did not expect such a quick adaptation,” the New Jersey-born midfielder said. “I am very happy with everything. All my teammates, technical staff, the club have helped me a lot with the adaptation. We have a lot to develop.”

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Mexico defender Montes won’t leave Almeria after relegation from La Liga

Montes just suffered his second straight relegation from La Liga

Mexico national team defender César Montes said he’ll play in the Spanish second division with Almería next season after the club’s relegation.

Almería is currently dead last in La Liga, having won just two games out of 34 in a season that has already seen it clinch relegation.

For Montes, it is a second straight relegation from La Liga. The 27-year-old was relegated with Espanyol last season before moving to Almería ahead of the current campaign.

This time around, though, Montes has said he won’t be looking to depart the club in the offseason.

“My goal is to stay in Europe,” Montes told Claro Sports.

“I am in the Almería project and we had to go down unfortunately, but now I will compete in the second devision to return the team to where it deserves.”

Montes said he had offers to return to Liga MX, where he starred for several seasons at Monterrey, but is determined to continue in Europe.

The defender said he’d like to see more Mexicans join him in Europe, but he believes the high asking price from some Liga MX sides is preventing many of his compatriots from making the jump.

“I would like more Mexican soccer players to come, but we are very expensive,” he said.

“Mexican players are very expensive for the European market. It’s hard for us to leave. It was hard for me, I had to play in the Olympics, a World Cup, have great seasons with Monterrey, and even so the teams here have doubts.”

Montes has earned 45 caps with Mexico, starting all of El Tri’s matches at the 2022 World Cup, as well as three of four games at the Nations League finals in 2023 and 2024.

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Real Madrid vs. Cadiz: How to watch La Liga, live stream

Real Madrid is looking to win La Liga, while Cádiz just wants to stay in it

Real Madrid could claim its 36th La Liga crown on Saturday, but only if it gets the job done against relegation-threatened Cádiz.

Los Blancos will win the league if its result is better than Barcelona’s. Real Madrid’s eternal rivals face Girona in a match that kicks off later on Saturday.

Real Madrid has an 11-point lead with five league matches remaining, and holds the first tiebreaker (head-to-head results) over Barça.

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Thibaut Courtois is expected to start, with manager Carlo Ancelotti stating that the Belgium goalkeeper will play for the first time in nine months after a long-term knee injury.

For Cádiz, meanwhile, the situation couldn’t be more dire. El Submarino Amarillo sits in the relegation zone, five points adrift of Celta Vigo in 17th place.

Beating Real Madrid is an extremely tall task, but Cádiz doesn’t really have an alternative other than to get wins. With only two remaining home games, time is running out.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Real Madrid vs. Cádiz

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Real Madrid title clinching scenarios: How Los Blancos could win La Liga this weekend

Madrid is on the verge of a 36th Spanish title

For Real Madrid, winning its 36th La Liga title is now a matter of when, not if.

Los Blancos enter the weekend holding an 11-point lead over second-place Barcelona with just five league matches remaining.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side hosts Cádiz on Saturday, and the coach will have to be mindful of squad rotation with a Champions League semifinal second leg coming up on Wednesday against Bayern Munich.

With the right set of results on Saturday, Madrid could enter the Bayern tie with La Liga already wrapped up.

How could Real Madrid clinch La Liga?

Real Madrid will win La Liga if it defeats Cádiz and Barcelona loses or draws against Girona. Madrid will also win the league if it draws Cádiz and Barcelona loses against Girona.

Victory against Cádiz appears to be a likely proposition for Madrid, as the visitors enter Saturday’s game in 18th place out of 20 teams in La Liga.

Madrid faces Cádiz at 10:15 a.m. ET on Saturday, with Barcelona traveling to Girona in a game that kicks off at 12:30 p.m. ET. That means if Madrid is to clinch the title on Saturday, it will do so while watching its biggest rival on TV.

Should Madrid win La Liga this season, it would reclaim the title that Barça won last season. It would be the second title in three seasons for Los Blancos and the third out of five.

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Girona vs. Barcelona: How to watch La Liga, live stream

The two sides are locked in a fierce battle for second place in La Liga

The La Liga title may be wrapped up, but there is still a heated battle for second that will see a vital match on Saturday.

Girona will host Barcelona at the Estadi Montilivi, with the home side sitting in third place, trailing the second-place visitors by just two points.

Real Madrid has an 11-point lead with five league matches remaining, and could wrap up the title this weekend with the right set of results.

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Barcelona will be out for some revenge on Saturday, after Girona earned a stunning 4-2 win at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in the reverse fixture in December.

With a win, Girona will seal a Champions League berth to cap off what has been a remarkable season for the Catalan club.

“They have had an exceptional season. It will be a tough game because they are a Champions League-level side,” Barcelona coach Xavi said at his pre-game press conference. “I say that not because of the standings, but what they have demonstrated on the pitch.”

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Girona vs. Barcelona

  • When: Saturday, May 4
  • Where: Estadi Montilivi (Girona)
  • Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: ESPN+ (WATCH NOW), ESPN Deportes

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Report: Barcelona and Atletico Madrid eyeing USMNT midfielder Cardoso

The 22-year-old only just arrived at Real Betis, but he could be quickly sold in the summer

Johnny Cardoso has only been at Real Betis for a few months, but his performances are already attracting interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

According to a report from Diario de Sevilla, La Liga giants Barcelona and ​​Atlético Madrid have expressed their interest to the representatives of the U.S. men’s national team midfielder.

In addition to that pair, there is also interest from German powers Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, as well as unnamed clubs from the Premier League and Serie A.

The 22-year-old only joined Betis from Brazilian side Internacional in December, moving to La Liga in a transfer worth a reported €6 million.

Cardoso has impressed since making his Betis debut against Barcelona in January, drawing rave reviews for his displays while starting almost all of the club’s league matches since then.

The holding midfielder has a release clause of €80m in his current contract, but the report from Diario de Sevilla states that Betis could be open to a sale for €30m.

That figure could rise if a bidding war emerges for Cardoso, who is understood to be happy with his new club. Betis, for its part, doesn’t want to lose Cardoso, but would also be willing to sell if it could make a huge profit on a player who only just joined the club.

Cardoso has earned 11 caps for the USMNT, and is expected to be a big part of Gregg Berhalter’s plans in the upcoming Copa América.

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Barcelona goalkeeper Ter Stegen gifts Valencia goal with huge error

The Germany international is going to want this one back

Marc-André ter Stegen is going to want this one back.

The Barcelona goalkeeper gifted Valencia an equalizer in the first half of Monday’s La Liga match with a huge mistake in possession.

With Barça leading 1-0, Valencia played a through ball that went far beyond Hugo Duro. Ter Stegen came off his line with plenty of time to clear the ball, but instead the Germany international went for the elaborate.

It didn’t work well.

Ter Stegen tried to chip the ball over Duro, but only succeeded in playing the ball straight into the attacker’s chest. From there, Duro gladly accepted the gift and passed the ball into an empty net to make it 1-1.

Following last week’s controversial defeat to Real Madrid in El Clásico, Barcelona’s title hopes are all but gone, but the Blaugrana are still locked in a battle with Girona for second place.

Ter Stegen’s error didn’t help matters, but Barcelona would emerge from the match victorious anyway.

Valencia went into halftime 2-1 up, but a red card for goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili just before the break turned the game on its head.

Robert Lewandowski ruthlessly took advantage in the second half, with the Barcelona striker netting a hat trick to secure a 4-2 win for his side.

Watch Ter Stegen’s howler vs. Valencia

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Premier League CEO says league fixtures in U.S. ‘not part of our current plans’

The Premier League isn’t ready to settle on a plan for fixtures in the U.S., unlike La Liga

The Premier League may yet end up playing competitive games in the United States, but its leadership dismissed the idea that such a move is already in the works.

Speaking at a press conference in London after a meeting of the Association of European Professional Football Leagues, Premier League CEO Richard Masters said that the English top flight hasn’t formulated a plan to play an official fixture anywhere other than in the United Kingdom.

“It’s not part of our current plans, it really isn’t,” Masters said on Friday.

The topic is an active one, especially after event promoter Relevent Sports brought a lawsuit pushing to hold official league matches from abroad in the United States.

FIFA’s recent agreement with Relevent to remove the world governing body from the suit has brought a new degree of uncertainty to the situation.

“No one quite knows exactly what is happening,” acknowledged Masters. “But, the door looks ajar potentially in America, at any rate, for matches abroad.”

Association of European Professional Football Leagues director Jacco Swart refused to rule the idea out, but like Masters insisted that the concept wasn’t one where the leagues have a firm plan in place.

“I’m not saying never but currently it’s not a point on our agenda,” said Swart.

La Liga ready to bring league matches to U.S.

While the Premier League may not quite be ready to make the leap, La Liga — whose attempt to hold a match between Barcelona and Girona in Miami back in 2019 is where the Relevent suit began — intends to make it happen as soon as the 2025-26 season.

“I think it could be in the 2025-26 season, but La Liga will play official matches abroad,” Tebas told Spanish newspaper Expansion on Wednesday.

“An official match in the U.S. will strengthen our position in the North American market, which is the second market for La Liga after Spain.”

While La Liga was stymied in its first attempt to bring fixtures to the U.S., the Spanish Super Cup has been held in Saudi Arabia in four of the last five years.

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