Real Madrid

Real Madrid

Real Madrid dramatically stayed within a point of Barcelona at the top of LaLiga after Kylian Mbappe scored in the 10th minute of stoppage time to secure a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano. Vinicius Junior's stunning opener was cancelled out by Jorge de Frutos early in the second half and looked likely to drop points at home even after the visitors were reduced to 10 men.

Karim Benzema is reportedly at war with current club Al-Ittihad, amid talks of a move back to Real Madrid. Benzema, 38, left Los Blancos for Saudi Arabia in 2023 and has since scored 54 goals in 83 games for the Middle-Eastern outfit. With just six months left on his current deal, the French striker is said to now be engulfed in a dispute with the club's owners over a failed contract extension.

The problem is we aren't consistent in our play, we have to fix that, you can't have one day [playing well] and another not, a champion team does not do that, Mbappe told reporters. We deserve to be in this situation today. Benfica were better. Now we have to play two more playoff games. It hurts to have to play those. We wanted to have the time in February to work on our game.

They were dubbed "The Billion Generation." A group of attacking talent, and three youngsters in particular, who came up through the ranks at Palmeiras in Brazil and were destined for great things. But where? The terminology is important. This group of players -- Endrick, Luis Guilherme and Estêvão -- was not named after the senior titles they were going to win for the São Paulo-based club. It was assumed that they would not linger long enough to bring in much silverware.

Real Madrid could face trial for alleged environmental offences after a Spanish judge ruled there was sufficient evidence that loud concerts held at the club's Bernabeu stadium, which has been dubbed the torture-drome by local residents, could have broken the law. The Residents' Association for those Affected by the Bernabeu (AVPB) began legal action against the football club and the city council in 2024, saying a series of punishingly loud concerts held that spring and summer had made their lives a misery.

Real Madrid will attempt to put the misery of their Copa del Rey exit at the hands of Segunda Division side Albacete to one side and remain in touch with La Liga leaders Barcelona. It was a nightmare start for new Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa as he watched his team go out of the Copa in midweek in his first game since replacing Xabi Alonso.

Real Madrid are willing to sell David Alaba in the January transfer window, according to . Alaba is out of contract at Los Blancos at the end of the season, and the Spanish powerhouse are ready to cash in on him now. The report in the Spanish news outlet has reported that Besiktas have 'initiated formal contacts' for Alaba, who has had injury problems throughout his time at Estadio Bernabeu.

The Spanish giants, currently 2nd in La Liga and struggling through a disappointing Champions League group stage where they sit 7th, are already preparing for significant changes this summer following the departure of head coach Xabi Alonso. With a period of transition looming, Madrid are exploring multiple high-profile attacking options and Martinelli's name has made its way onto their shortlist.