Football

Kylian Mbappe's dream debut for Real Madrid was everything he could have hoped for and more. The French superstar scored a stunning goal, helping his new team secure a comfortable 2-0 victory over Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup.Mbappe's arrival at Real Madrid has been highly anticipated, and he wasted no time in making his mark. After a quiet first half, he exploded into life in the second, receiving a clever pass from Jude Bellingham and unleashing a powerful strike into the top corner.The goal was a testament to Mbappe's exceptional talent and the chemistry he is already developing with his new teammates. It also marked a significant milestone in his career, as he became the latest player to score on his debut for Real Madrid.Mbappe's performance was not the only highlight for Real Madrid. Fede Valverde, who has emerged as a key player under Carlo Ancelotti, opened the scoring with a well-taken goal. The victory extended Real Madrid's record as the most successful team in Super Cup history, with six titles to their name.Ancelotti himself made history by becoming the most successful coach in the tournament's history. The Italian has now won three Super Cups with Real Madrid, adding to the two he won with AC Milan.Luka Modric also reached a significant milestone, playing in his record sixth Super Cup. The Croatian midfielder is now the most decorated player in Real Madrid's history, with 27 trophies to his name.Mbappe's debut goal and Real Madrid's Super Cup triumph set the tone for what promises to be an exciting season for the Spanish giants. With Mbappe leading the line, they will be a force to be reckoned with in both domestic and European competitions.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has cautioned his players that the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund is the most "dangerous" match in football. The Italian, who has won the competition a record four times as a coach, emphasized that Los Blancos must approach the game with both excitement and trepidation.Despite being the record 14-time winners, Madrid are wary of the threat posed by the Bundesliga side. "A Champions League final is the most important game but also the most dangerous," Ancelotti said. "We have to enjoy being here, but knowing it can go wrong because we are close to the most important thing in football -- winning a Champions League -- but having the fear this can escape us."Madrid captain Nacho echoed Ancelotti's sentiments, admitting to feeling both confident and nervous. "We've got more nerves than in any other moment of the season," he said. "We're humans, it's a calm week for (some people) but for the players it's not. It's special, and that makes it not calm."Veteran midfielder Luka Modric, however, is approaching the match with a sense of parity. "Everyone thinks we are big favorites, but we don't think about it like that," he said. "It's 50-50, we're playing a big team that has had a magnificent season in the Champions League."Nacho, Modric, Toni Kroos, and Dani Carvajal could all reach six career Champions League wins with a victory over Dortmund, equaling the all-time record held by former Madrid great Paco Gento. "It was hard to imagine we'd get to this moment but we are here, very happy and enjoying this moment," said Modric. "I hope tomorrow we can take this step further, as a team and have six European Cups would be something big."Madrid's remarkable ability to turn games around in Europe was evident in their semi-final victory over Bayern Munich. "We prefer to take the lead if it's possible," said Modric. "But we've shown many times this year and before, that when things don't go well we fight until the end. We always find a way, we're capable of turning the game around. We keep having this mentality, this commitment and fight, but like I said, we'd prefer to take the lead."Ancelotti attributed Madrid's resilience to a combination of factors. "It's something special... it could be the history, the quality, the tradition, the character," he mused.The coach confirmed that goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois would start the final ahead of Andriy Lunin, resolving the main selection query ahead of the game. "Lunin had the flu and hasn't traveled with the team, tomorrow he will travel and will be on the bench -- Courtois will play tomorrow," said Ancelotti.

Real Madrid capped off their triumphant La Liga campaign with a resounding 4-0 victory over relegated Granada, setting the stage for their title celebrations in the Spanish capital.Carlo Ancelotti's side, fresh from their midweek triumph over Bayern Munich in the Champions League, fielded a reserve-heavy lineup that proved too strong for the downtrodden Andalusians. Brahim Diaz led the charge with a brace, while Fran Garcia and Arda Guler also found the net for Los Blancos.Despite securing their 36th Spanish title last weekend, Madrid opted to postpone their celebrations to focus on the Bayern clash. However, with the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund looming, Ancelotti emphasized the importance of maintaining squad fitness."The objective is to arrive with the squad all at their best for the day of the final, and we will do it," said Ancelotti.While speculation swirls about the potential arrival of Kylian Mbappe, Ancelotti remained focused on the task at hand. "It's not a topic I'm thinking about at the moment," he added. "We have to celebrate tomorrow with our fans and until June 1 we know exactly what we have to think about."Granada, already relegated before kick-off, gave Real Madrid a guard of honor as the champions demonstrated their unwavering focus. The victory extended Madrid's lead over second-placed Girona to 15 points.Diaz opened the scoring in the 38th minute, followed by Garcia's strike in stoppage time before the break. Guler added to the tally in the second half, and Diaz completed the rout with a neat finish after a team move.Despite the absence of key players like Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior, Madrid maintained their dominance throughout the match. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois kept a clean sheet in his second game back from injury.The remaining league fixtures will provide Ancelotti with an opportunity to rest and rotate his squad ahead of the Champions League final. They may also offer fans a last glimpse of Luka Modric, whose contract expires in the summer.As Madrid prepares for their title parade on Sunday, Ancelotti hinted at repeating his iconic celebration from their last parade in 2022, complete with a cigar and sunglasses.In contrast to Madrid's joy, Granada players expressed their disappointment. "Thanks to the fans for being with us in this year in which we've done so badly, and sorry," said Granada captain Carlos Neva.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti faces a crucial task as he seeks to guide his team past Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday. Despite earning a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Bavaria, Ancelotti acknowledged that Real Madrid failed to reach their full potential."Bayern are very dangerous, they were at their best and we weren't -- we have time to improve for Wednesday," Ancelotti said after the first leg.Real Madrid secured the La Liga title with a 3-0 win over Cadiz on Saturday, but celebrations were muted as the team's focus remained on the Champions League. The players reported for training on Sunday morning and refrained from joining fans at Plaza Cibeles, where they typically celebrate major titles."We would like to celebrate with all the fans, but they understand because on Wednesday we have a very important challenge," Ancelotti said. "It's contained joy -- we have the most important game of the season coming up."Madrid captain Nacho Fernandez echoed his coach's sentiments. "We're on the verge of reaching another final, we're going to give our all to get there -- that's why we can't celebrate too much," he said.Ancelotti's goal is to secure a fifth La Liga and Champions League double for Real Madrid. The Italian coach has won 12 trophies at the club and is close to matching Miguel Munoz's record of 14 titles, achieved between 1960 and 1972.To reach the final at Wembley, Ancelotti must find a way to neutralize Bayern's dangerous wingers, Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala, who posed a constant threat in the first leg. Dani Carvajal will return from suspension at right-back to try and contain Musiala, while Jude Bellingham and others may be tasked with tracking back to help Ferland Mendy stop Sane."It was important when we began to defend with collective commitment," Ancelotti said, emphasizing the team's improved defensive performance this season. "The big effort was made by the forwards, rather than the defenders -- injuries helped us understand that it wasn't about individuals but a team effort."Ancelotti could also introduce Eduardo Camavinga to add energy and disrupt Bayern's build-up play. If his tactical adjustments fail, Madrid can always rely on the "magic" of the Santiago Bernabeu. The stadium has witnessed remarkable comebacks in the past, including Real Madrid's run to the 2022 Champions League final."It's time to have a magical night at the Bernabeu," Vinicius said after the Bayern draw, invoking the stadium's legendary atmosphere.

Real Madrid's relentless pursuit of the La Liga title took a significant step forward with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad on Friday. The triumph at the Reale Arena extended their lead at the summit to 14 points, leaving their arch-rivals Barcelona with a mountain to climb.Despite resting virtually their entire first-choice team ahead of Tuesday's Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, Madrid showcased their depth and determination. Arda Guler, a 19-year-old playmaker, seized the opportunity to shine, scoring the solitary goal that sealed the victory.Guler's strike came in the 29th minute, as he capitalized on a perfectly placed cross from Dani Carvajal. The goal proved to be the difference in a match where Real Sociedad dominated possession and created several chances. However, Madrid's defense, led by Eder Militao, held firm to preserve the clean sheet.Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid's coach, praised his team's commitment despite the rotations. "It was quite clear that everyone thought we were coming here for a stroll, the only ones who didn't think so were the players," he said. "I am proud of the players because they had the desire and will to keep winning."Real Sociedad, who remain sixth in the standings, were left to rue missed opportunities. Takefusa Kubo thought he had equalized before the break, but his goal was ruled out for a foul in the build-up. Benat Turrientes also came close, but his shot sailed narrowly over the crossbar.In the second half, Madrid brought on reinforcements in the form of Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde. The substitutions helped stabilize the game and ensure the victory. Antonio Rudiger made a crucial block to deny Mikel Oyarzabal, while Alex Remiro made a fine save to keep out Eduardo Camavinga's late effort.The match was brought forward to Friday from Saturday to accommodate Madrid's Champions League schedule. Despite the short notice, Real Sociedad put up a spirited performance, but ultimately it was Madrid's experience and quality that prevailed.

Real Madrid's unwavering "mentality" proved decisive as they overcame Manchester City in a thrilling Champions League quarter-final second leg, securing a 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory after a 1-1 draw.Jude Bellingham, who scored one of Real's penalties, hailed the team's ability to handle pressure under the guidance of manager Carlo Ancelotti. "Our biggest strength is he finds a way to let a lot of boys play with freedom," Bellingham said. "As a man, he fills you with calmness and confidence."Real took an early lead through Rodrygo, but Kevin De Bruyne's late equalizer forced the match into extra time. Despite City's dominance, Real held firm, with Bellingham crediting their belief and character. "You have to see it as a responsibility, not a pressure, if you want to play for a team like Real Madrid," he said. "Today it came down to mentality."Bellingham acknowledged City's formidable opposition, but expressed satisfaction with Real's revenge for last season's semi-final defeat. "It's belief," he said. "We stood up really well."Ruben Dias, City's defender, expressed disappointment at the result. "We dominated the game," he said. "It's obviously difficult to take."The victory was particularly special for Bellingham, who played in front of his brother Jobe for the first time since joining Real. "It's beautiful," he said. "My brother is here today, the first time he's seen me play for Madrid."Real's triumph sets up a semi-final clash with either Chelsea or Arsenal, while City will face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday.

Real Madrid face a crucial test of their title credentials when they visit Real Mallorca on Saturday, as they seek to maintain their focus on La Liga amidst their captivating Champions League battle with Manchester City.Carlo Ancelotti's side, holding an eight-point lead at the summit, must navigate a delicate balancing act ahead of the second leg at the Etihad next Wednesday, following a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg. However, taking their eye off the domestic prize could prove costly, with the Clasico against Barcelona looming on April 21.Resurgent Barcelona, currently second, will be desperate to close the gap when they visit the Santiago Bernabeu, eager to defend their crown. Copa del Rey runners-up Mallorca have enjoyed a strong season, and despite falling short in their bid for their first cup triumph since 2003, they will receive a rousing reception at their Son Moix stadium.Javier Aguirre's team, sitting 15th, must swiftly shift their attention back to La Liga, as they remain only six points clear of the relegation zone with eight matches remaining. If Ancelotti opts to rotate his squad to preserve players for the Champions League, Mallorca could capitalize, although the Italian has ample quality in reserve.Brahim Diaz, Joselu, and veteran Luka Modric could all feature, while defender Eder Militao may make his first start since recovering from a long-term knee injury. Ancelotti has praised his forwards, including leading scorer Jude Bellingham and Brazilian duo Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, for their tireless efforts against City.However, there is a history of animosity between Mallorca defenders and Vinicius. Last season, full-back Pablo Maffeo mocked the Brazilian, prompting a social media backlash from Real Madrid fans. Maffeo has since deleted his Twitter account due to the abuse he received.If Ancelotti decides to field Vinicius, their individual duel will be a captivating subplot. Aguirre believes Mallorca's Copa del Rey defeat will motivate his players in La Liga.

Spanish prosecutors have requested a four-year and nine-month prison sentence for Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, alleging that he failed to declare earnings to the tax office. The charges stem from undeclared image rights earnings in 2014 and 2015, amounting to over one million euros.Prosecutors accuse Ancelotti of establishing a complex system of shell companies to conceal his earnings from image rights and other sources. They allege that he "simulated" the transfer of his image rights to entities outside Spain to avoid paying taxes.In 2014, Ancelotti earned 1.24 million euros from image rights sales, and 2.96 million euros in 2015. A Spanish court ordered him to stand trial in July, but a date has not yet been set.Ancelotti has acknowledged the actions that deprived the treasury of money, according to court documents. This could lead to an agreement with prosecutors to settle the case without trial and avoid prison.Spain has recently cracked down on tax evasion among high-profile football players. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Jose Mourinho have all faced charges and received sentences.Ancelotti took over as Real Madrid coach in 2013 and left in 2015. He has since managed Bayern Munich, Napoli, and Everton before returning to Real Madrid in 2021. He has won the Champions League four times and domestic league titles in multiple countries.