ESPN FC - Real Madrid Blogs
Zidane, Madrid look beyond tedium of another final as title hunger takes over
The FC crew debate Cristiano Ronaldo's remarks that Madrid shouldn't show humility, and believe they're the UCL favourites.
The FC panel debate the high-risk/high-reward scenario of playing Gareth Bale in the UCL final or benching him entirely.
The Exploding Heads chat with Gianluigi Buffon and Gareth Bale and sing the Champions League anthem in Welsh ahead of Saturday's final.
Zinedine Zidane insists Real Madrid will play their own game and not worry about countering Juventus.
Gareth Bale speaks to ESPN about his recovery and his hopes of being involved in the UCL final in at least some capacity.
During the knockout stages of this season's Champions League, Real Madrid supporters have experienced a rare feeling: that of being the underdogs. That statement may sound a bit rich coming from the richest club in the world, but most media and neutral fans have favoured Madrid's opponents over Zinedine Zidane's team.
For different reasons, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid seemed bound to defeat Madrid in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the competition respectively, according to most pundits....CL final tale of the tape: Juventus hold the narrowest edge vs. Real Madrid?
The Exploding Heads chat with Gianluigi Buffon and Gareth Bale and sing the Champions League anthem in Welsh ahead of Saturday's final.
Saturday's UEFA Champions League final in Cardiff, Wales, pits the best two teams in Europe against each other for the continent's top prize, as Juventus and Real Madrid do battle. So which team holds the edge for this winner-take-all clash? Nick Ames break down the two sides and picks a winner.
GOALKEEPER
There are few words left to describe Gianluigi Buffon, who is now in his 40th year and (surprisingly) still awaiting his first Champions League winner's medal. Putting that right on Saturday...
The ESPN FC crew hail Zinedine Zidane for his part in bringing Real Madrid back to the summit in La Liga.
This story appears in ESPN The Magazine's June 12 World Fame 100 Issue. Subscribe today!
ZINEDINE ZIDANE NEEDS to have a quiet word, which is the way he has most words. It is late summer 2016 at Valdebebas, Real Madrid's state-of-the-art HQ northeast of Spain's capital, and it is hot outside. In the foreground, dominating the skyline, stand the four skyscrapers constructed a decade ago on the site of Madrid's old training ground. Easily the tallest buildings in the country, they are nicknamed...
Not so very long ago, Emanuel Santos -- or rather his artistic masterpiece -- hit headlines the world over when it was unveiled outside the airport on the Portuguese island of Madeira.
We are of course talking about the bronze bust of Cristiano Ronaldo, which immediately went viral due to the fact that it looks almost nothing like the Real Madrid superstar.
Not to be perturbed, Santos has now returned with a second offering and this time it's in honour of Ronaldo's teammate and strike partner, one...
Zinedine Zidane insists Real Madrid will play their own game and not worry about countering Juventus.
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has a few squad selection issues ahead of Saturday's Champions League final against Juventus in Cardiff, Wales -- not least whether to risk recent injury returnees Gareth Bale and Dani Carvajal, or retain his faith in the backups who played out of their skin in the La Liga run-in.
That would appear to be an easier decision for Zidane to make in the case of Isco, who has been pivotal to the team's successful late-season surge in form. Bale himself said ahead...
We asked Ben Alamar, ESPN's director of sports analytics, to figure out the most famous athletes in the world. Using a formula that combines endorsements with social media fan base and Google search popularity, he ranked the globe's most famous athletes in our second annual World Fame 100.
Real Madrid landed six players on our list:
No. 1: Cristiano Ronaldo
Why he's got fame: Numero uno? That's where soccer's peacock would still expect to be, his glory as one of the all-time great players still...
The FC crew assess whether Isco or a healthy Gareth Bale should start for Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
The football world's gossip mill is in full swing, and Transfer Talk is monitoring the whispers ahead of all the summer moves. Check out the latest deals and potential deals here.
Man United ready to bid for benched Bale
Manchester United's potentially huge summer spending could get even bigger if Gareth Bale fails to start the Champions League final for Real Madrid, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The Barcelona-based outlet reports that United could be encouraged to bid for Bale if he starts...
Sid Lowe explains why it would not be worth the risk for Zinedine Zidane to start Gareth Bale over Isco in Cardiff.
Regardless his offensive credentials and his track record of scoring in top-level matches, Gareth Bale is not Real Madrid's biggest fitness concern for Saturday's Champions League final versus Juventus. The Welshman could well be a key element to keep Dani Alves in check, but if he can't recover for the duel, Zinedine Zidane's team have other satisfactory options to cover for Bale.
However, that is not necessarily the case if Dani Carvajal does not make the final in Cardiff. The energetic full-back...
Jose Mourinho is reportedly stepping in to help ensure Manchester United land Ivan Perisic from Inter.
The football world's gossip mill is in full swing, and Transfer Talk is monitoring the whispers ahead of all the summer moves. Check out the latest deals and potential deals here.
Mourinho steps in to bring Perisic to United
Jose Mourinho has personally intervened in order to ensure Manchester United beat Paris Saint-Germain to the signing of Ivan Perisic, but Inter Milan are holding out for €55 million, according to CalcioMercato.
The Italian outlet claims the 28-year-old Croatia international...
Sid Lowe explains why it would not be worth the risk for Zinedine Zidane to start Gareth Bale over Isco in Cardiff.
Real Madrid fans were asked this week to select their player of the season and the result was further confirmation of one of the greatest personal success stories at the Bernabeu in 2016-17 as Isco garnered the most votes.
It was a richly deserved accolade. In an era when every aspect of the game is scrutinised, recorded, analysed and then turned into statistical evidence that one player is more effective or more efficient than another there is little room for pure entertainment, but Isco, he of...
For many avid fans, football is a matter of life and death. So it's only natural that, as and when they shuffle off this mortal coil, their wish would be to spend eternity as close to their beloved team as possible.
Real Madrid supporters are being offered just that luxury with the unveiling of custom coffins designed in the form of the Bernabeu stadium, complete with the club crest on the lid.
Real Madrid to the death...https://t.co/ou3KikkG0g pic.twitter.com/bWYPxMCp9R
- AS English (@English_AS)...
It turns out Lionel Messi isn't the only global footballing superstar with an Iranian lookalike.
Sure enough, it would appear that Cristiano Ronaldo has a doppelganger living and working in Tehran, too.
Indeed, Iranian voters flocked to take selfies with Reza Alireza Lou while voting in their presidential elections after mistaking the local chap for the Real Madrid icon.
Iranians take selfies with Reza Alireza Lou at presidential elections in Tehran.
Guess which football player he resembles? @AFPphoto...
The FC crew assess whether Isco or a healthy Gareth Bale should start for Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
"I think that Kroos is the engine of Real Madrid. He has a way of playing that reminds me a lot of myself. He is like my successor on the field."
None other than former Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez stated those sentences to Sportbild about Real Madrid's Toni Kroos.
Some might think that the comparison sounds bizarre, as the legendary Spanish maestro chose a tall, blond and athletic German in Kroos as his successor on the field -- especially since that player plies his trade for rivals...
Watch some of the best moments from Juve's raising of their 33rd Serie A trophy, as well as some locker room celebrations.
Real Madrid celebrated winning their first La Liga title since 2012 with fans on an open top bus parade in the Spanish capital.
The conversation gets heated between the FC guys when talking about whether or not this season can be considered a success by Man United standards.
The top two each wrapped a league title last weekend, Next stop Cardiff, via Shaka Hislop's latest Power Rankings!
1. Juventus (no change)
A 3-0 win against Crotone confirmed what, in truth, most of us have expected all season: Juventus are champions of Italy for the sixth straight game. With two parts of a treble complete, only Real Madrid stand between Max Allegri's men and footballing immortality.
2. Real Madrid (no change)
With Barcelona poised to take advantage of any slip, Madrid...
The latest transfer rumours from around the world.
Things change in the blink of an eye in football. The Football Whispers Index takes the latest transfer rumours and gives them a score out of five; the higher the score, the more realistic and reliable the whisper.
Here are today's top five emerging whispers for the summer. And keep an eye on Transfer Talk for all the latest gossip.
Fabinho to Manchester City
Manchester City have turned their attentions to Monaco defender Fabinho as a cheaper alternative to Tottenham's Kyle Walker, according...
Zinedine Zidane says Real Madrid winning their 33rd La Liga title was the best day of his professional career.
When Danilo arrived at Real Madrid in the summer of 2015 for a fee of €31.5 million, Dani Carvajal's position as first-choice right back was cast into doubt. The price tag, the Brazilian's performances at Porto over the previous two seasons and the sensation that Carvajal didn't quite fit the Real Madrid profile of big-money players in every position having come through the ranks at La Fabrica all pointed to a swift and painful demotion.
Danilo started the first two Liga games of 2015-16 under...
Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid celebrate their long-awaited Decima with fans at home in the Bernabeu.
Wednesday, May 24 marks the third anniversary of Real Madrid's La Decima -- a 10th European Cup victory -- in Lisbon, when they beat neighbors Atletico Madrid 4-1 in extra-time in one of the competition's most memorable finals ever.
Here's a look back at the events that led to Madrid finally ending their 12-year wait for the trophy, and Atletico coming so close to winning their first ever Champions League, in the words of those who were there at the time.
May 17:
Diego Godin's equalising header...
The FC crew assess whether Isco or a healthy Gareth Bale should start for Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
Full of joy after their 33rd La Liga title, the Real Madrid squad must now focus on the last challenge of their season: the Champions League final in Cardiff. A victory over Serie A winners Juventus in Wales would take what already is a fantastic year to phenomenal heights. The club have not won the Liga-European Cup double since 1958, and a 12th title in the latter competition would open a huge gap between Real Madrid and their followers, AC Milan, who own seven trophies.
Most supporters understandably...
Real Madrid players interrupted Zinedine Zidane's post-match press conference to soak him in champagne after they won La Liga.
Graham Hunter looks back on the best of the 2016-17 La Liga campaign in Spain and offers up a glimpse of what could happen in 2017-18.
That the Spanish title was won by a buccaneering, attacking and thrilling team is a beautiful thing to announce. Real Madrid aren't simply La Liga champions, they are identifiable proof that if there is any response to the possession-based football which, via Barcelona, has dominated Spain's top flight for almost a decade, then it's this.
Not to park the bus, stifle...
Talk about rain on your parade. Real Madrid stars Gareth Bale and Luka Modric had their La Liga title celebrations dampened on Sunday when they discovered that the champions are not presented with their trophy until months have passed.
Their teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, however, was not surprised at the lack of organisation among Spain's footballing officialdom.
Zinedine Zidane's Madrid held off challengers Barcelona and sealed a first title in five years with a 2-0 final day win at Malaga on Sunday...
The ESPN FC crew hail Zinedine Zidane for his part in bringing Real Madrid back to the summit in La Liga.
Watch the match highlights for LaLiga Santander 2016-17 match played between Malaga vs Real Madrid
Catch all the goals scored in LaLiga Santander 2016-17 match played between Malaga vs Real Madrid
Monday's latest stories from the world of football in ESPN FC's What's Trending...
REAL MADRID: Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema swept Real Madrid to their first La Liga title in five years as they cruised to a 2-0 win at Malaga on Sunday night.
- Zinedine Zidane said clinching the Liga title was the "best day of my professional life."
- Cristiano Ronaldo hit back at his critics in the media, saying he's not the "delinquent" that he believes he's often made out to be.
BARCELONA:...
The ESPN FC crew hail Zinedine Zidane for his part in bringing Real Madrid back to the summit in La Liga.
There was no last day miracle, no "Tenerifazo" like a quarter-century ago when Real Madrid contrived to blow the title 90 minutes from the finish line. What you got instead was an early lead to settle the nerves, some great goalkeeping from Keylor Navas, and Karim Benzema putting the title out of reach by giving Real Madrid their 2-0 lead in the second half.
The victory away to Malaga sealed the club's 33rd league title, although only the club's second since 2008. Whether this reflects shifting...
The ESPN FC crew hail Zinedine Zidane for his part in bringing Real Madrid back to the summit in La Liga.
Five thoughts from the final weekend of the La Liga season as Real Madrid were confirmed as champions, Atletico Madrid said goodbye to the Calderon, and odds and ends were tied up elsewhere.
1. Madrid suffering makes the title joy even sweeter
So often during the 2016-17 season Real Madrid have left it late in games to win points, but on Sunday at Malaga Zinedine Zidane's side got things under control early to clinch a deserved title win.
Needing a draw, even if Barcelona won their game, Cristiano...
Real Madrid celebrated winning their first La Liga title since 2012 with fans on an open top bus parade in the Spanish capital.
Watch the match highlights for LaLiga Santander 2016-17 match played between Malaga vs Real Madrid
The ESPN FC crew hail Zinedine Zidane for his part in bringing Real Madrid back to the summit in La Liga.
Catch all the goals scored in LaLiga Santander 2016-17 match played between Malaga vs Real Madrid
Janusz Michallik and Alexis Nunes evaluate Real Madrid's triumph in La Liga and why Barcelona were second-best.
MADRID -- Cristiano Ronaldo led the celebrations at the Plaza de Cibeles as Real Madrid partied deep into the night following their 2016-17 La Liga title triumph.
Ronaldo and Karim Benzema got the goals as Madrid won 2-0 at Malaga on Sunday evening to clinch a first Spanish championship in five years, with Zinedine Zidane and his players flying straight back home to join an estimated 50,000 fans in a street party in the centre of the Spanish capital.
It was after 2:30 a.m. on Monday morning when...
Real Madrid is expected to announce a deal Monday or Tuesday for Vinicius Junior.
La Liga champions Real Madrid will unveil a deal to bring Flamengo 16-year-old Vinicius Junior to the club when he turns 18 in July 2018, the Daily Mail reports. The agreement is worth a reported €45 million.
For more on this deal, as well as other rumours, check out Transfer Talk by clicking here.
After winning Ligue 1 and reaching the Champions League semifinals, Leonardo Jardim wants his Monaco squad to stay intact.
The football world's gossip mill is in full swing, and Transfer Talk is monitoring the whispers ahead of all the summer moves. Check out the latest deals and potential deals here.
Monaco reject Real's record bid for Mbappe
Monaco have stunned Real Madrid by knocking back their world-record offer for French sensation Kylian Mbappe, reports the Telegraph.
The €120m (£103m) offer comes after the 18-year-old inspired the principality club to the Ligue 1 title with 15 goals and 11 assists.
The...
Sid Lowe explains why Real Madrid look likely to win La Liga when they visit Malaga on the final day of the season.
ESPN FC's La Liga correspondent Sid Lowe gives his take on who will stay and who will go at Real Madrid this summer.
Zinedine Zidane urges his Real Madrid team to maintain their focus after moving to within a point of the La Liga title.
Real Madrid's final La Liga match of the season at Malaga has monopolised covers and airtime in the Spanish media the past couple of days. In addition to a shot at the title for manager Zinedine Zidane's team, the encounter offers plenty of angles for analysis and mere speculation.
Take, for instance, the past of Malaga coach Michel Gonzalez as an extraordinary Madrid player in the 1980s and '90s. Then there's the fact that Malaga stand to make a €1 million profit if Madrid win the league....
Sid Lowe explains why Real Madrid look likely to win La Liga when they visit Malaga on the final day of the season.
Zinedine Zidane urges his Real Madrid team to maintain their focus after moving to within a point of the La Liga title.
Malaga have incentive to beat Real Madrid, but the FC crew think Zinedine Zidane's side will win La Liga on the final day.
On a stiflingly hot day in June 1993, Real Madrid's players squeezed into two tiny, cramped planes and flew southwest across the sea to their island of the damned. The league was in their own hands, but they were terrified. They had been here before, a year earlier, and the unthinkable had happened then, so somehow they knew it would happen again; fatalism's grip was firm.
For the second successive season, they went to Tenerife and lost the title, giving it to Barcelona. Tenerife manager Jorge...
Julien Laurens discusses teenage phenom Kylian Mbappe's potential transfer destinations, or if he'll remain in Ligue 1.
The football world's gossip mill is in full swing, and Transfer Talk is monitoring the whispers ahead of all the summer moves. Check out the latest deals and potential deals here.
Chelsea locking up Hazard
Speaking of Galacticos, Chelsea are lining up a £300,000-a-week contract to convince Eden Hazard to stay at Stamford Bridge, amid interest from Real, who want to make the Belgium international the first £100 million footballer.
The London Evening Standard reports that Chelsea's desire...
Sid Lowe explains why Real Madrid look likely to win La Liga when they visit Malaga on the final day of the season.
The usual plaudits for Cristiano Ronaldo, Isco and Zinedine Zidane filled the front pages in the Spanish capital after Real Madrid moved to within a point of securing a first La Liga title in five years with a 4-1 victory in Vigo on Wednesday night.
The Portuguese struck twice in Balaidos to beat Jimmy Greaves' long-standing record for goals scored in Europe's five highest-ranked leagues, and Zidane was lauded once again for his careful handling of his star player, who has bagged 13 times in...
The FC panel debate the form of the two UCL finalists, citing Juventus as the team more solidified from back to front.
It's that time of the season when trophies are handed out and the biggest teams celebrate. And not just because they feature in Shaka Hislop's Power Rankings!
1. Juventus (no change)
In terms of Juve's treble mission, Part 1 is complete -- a 2-0 Coppa Italia final win vs. Lazio saw to that -- and Part 2 should be finalised on Sunday, when a draw vs. Crotone will be enough to clinch Serie A. After that, the focus will turn to the Champions League final.
2. Real Madrid (no change)
Talking...
Zinedine Zidane urges his Real Madrid team to maintain their focus after moving to within a point of the La Liga title.
Cristiano Ronaldo is currently having the best end to a season in his entire career. Manager Zinedine Zidane's rotation policy has kept Real Madrid's main man fit and fresh at exactly the right time.
In recent years, Ronaldo has often reached the final stages of the campaign hampered by fitness issues. His limited influence in open play during the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals was ultimately not so important given he ended up celebrating a vital late contribution, but his inability to hit...
The ESPN FC crew discuss whether Real Madrid will blow their La Liga title hopes on the final day.
Real Madrid's 4-1 win against Celta Vigo on Wednesday means they need just one point from their final game of the season at Malaga this weekend to claim their first league title since 2012.
If they lose, though, a win at home to Eibar would be enough to earn Barcelona a third straight title under Luis Enrique. And history shows the pressure of a final-day showdown can do funny things.
ESPN FC take a look at five times Madrid and Barca have scrapped it out on the final day of the season to be crowned...