Football

Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham has been handed a two-match suspension by La Liga for his actions following the 2-2 draw with Valencia on Saturday. The England international was shown a red card after the final whistle for showing contempt towards the referee, Jesus Gil Manzano.According to the referee's report, Bellingham displayed an "aggressive attitude" as he disputed Manzano's decision to blow the whistle when he headed Brahim Diaz's cross into the net in the ninth minute of added time. The goal would have given Real Madrid a dramatic victory.Bellingham's suspension means he will miss Sunday's home game against Celta Vigo and the trip to Osasuna on March 16. The 20-year-old is the leading scorer in La Liga with 16 goals in his first season at the club.Despite the suspension, Bellingham will be available for Real Madrid's Champions League last-16 second leg against RB Leipzig on Wednesday. The Spanish giants hold a 5-2 advantage from the first leg.Real Madrid are seven points clear of Girona at the top of La Liga. They will be looking to extend their lead when they face Celta Vigo on Sunday.

In a weekend of missed opportunities, both Girona and Barcelona failed to capitalize on Real Madrid's draw against Valencia, surrendering points in their respective matches.Girona, who had a chance to regain ground on the league leaders, succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at Mallorca. The hosts took the lead in the 33rd minute through Jose-Manuel Copete, and Girona's struggles continued as they failed to score for the third time in five games.Barcelona, aiming to move into second place, were held to a goalless draw by Bilbao. The match lacked intensity, and Barcelona suffered potential injuries to Frenkie de Jong and Pedri.Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, tightened their grip on fourth place with a 2-1 victory over Betis. Memphis Depay's cross deflected into the Betis net for an early lead, and Alvaro Morata added a second before halftime. Betis pulled one back through William Carvalho, but Atletico held on for the win.In other matches, Villarreal crushed Granada 5-1, with Alexander Sorloth scoring a hat-trick.

Vinicius Junior's brace rescued Real Madrid from a potential defeat, salvaging a 2-2 draw against Valencia at the Mestalla on Sunday. The hosts stunned the visitors with two goals in quick succession during the first half. Hugo Duro headed in Fran Perez's shot, while Roman Yarermchuk capitalized on Dani Carvajal's loose pass to score into an empty net.Vinicius ignited Madrid's comeback just before halftime, reducing the deficit with a close-range finish. He completed his brace in the 76th minute, heading home from close range to level the score. The match remained a thrilling affair until the final whistle, with both teams pushing for a winner.In a dramatic climax, Jude Bellingham thought he had secured victory for Valencia with a header in the dying moments. However, the referee blew the whistle for full-time before the cross entered the box, nullifying the goal. Madrid players protested vehemently, but the decision stood. Amid the chaos, Bellingham was shown a red card for his protests.Vinicius' return to the Mestalla was marked by a hostile reception from the home fans. He was racially abused last season at the same stadium, and on Sunday, he faced chants of "Vinicius is stupid" and constant booing.In response, Vinicius celebrated his first goal by raising his fist towards the Valencia fans. After his equalizer, he cupped his ears, seemingly asking for more from the jeering crowd.Despite the adversity, Vinicius remained unfazed and played a pivotal role in Madrid's comeback. His performance underlined his resilience and determination, proving that he is not easily deterred by hostile environments.Madrid's draw maintains their seven-point lead at the top of the La Liga standings. They are now nine points clear of Barcelona, who have a game in hand.

Kylian Mbappé's impending departure from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) marks a significant turning point for the French club. After a star-studded era featuring Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Neymar, and David Beckham, Mbappé's exit as a free agent to Real Madrid will leave a void in the team.Mbappé's decision to leave PSG has been the subject of intense speculation, with French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly intervening to persuade him to stay. However, it appears that Mbappé's mind is set on a new challenge in Spain.PSG manager Luis Enrique has hinted at a possible rebuild, stating that the team will be "better from all perspectives" next season. The club has already made several signings, including Badley Barcola, Lee Kang-in, and Manuel Ugarte, and is reportedly targeting Rafael Leao and Marcus Rashford.Mbappé's departure is a blow to PSG's ambitions, but the club has been preparing for this eventuality. The signing of Mbappé on loan in 2017 with a mandatory purchase option was a shrewd move, and the club has since invested heavily in young talent.Mbappé's mother and entourage have reportedly been spotted house hunting in Madrid, further fueling speculation about his move to Real Madrid. PSG initially signed Mbappé on loan, with a mandatory purchase option of 180 million Euros in 2017. Two years ago, a phone call from Macron helped persuade Mbappé to remain in France amid interest from Madrid. He signed a new two-year deal, but then didn't take up the option to extend for an extra year.Mbappé's departure will undoubtedly leave a void in PSG's attack, but the club is confident that it can rebuild and remain competitive. The signings of Barcola, Kang-in, and Ugarte, along with the potential additions of Leao and Rashford, suggest that PSG is determined to maintain its status as a European powerhouse.

Toni Kroos, the Real Madrid midfielder, has announced his return to the German national team after a three-year absence. The 34-year-old, who last played for Germany at the 2018 World Cup, made the announcement on Instagram, stating that he was motivated by a request from coach Julian Nagelsmann and his belief in the team's potential at the upcoming European Championship.Kroos's decision to return to the national team is a significant boost for Germany, who are looking to bounce back from their disappointing performance at the 2018 World Cup, where they were eliminated in the group stage. The midfielder's experience and quality will be invaluable to Nagelsmann's side, who will be aiming to make a deep run in the tournament, which will be held in Germany from June 14 to July 14.Kroos has been one of the most consistent and successful midfielders in world football over the past decade. He has won numerous trophies with Real Madrid, including four Champions League titles and two La Liga titles. He has also been a key player for Germany, helping them win the 2014 World Cup and the 2017 Confederations Cup.The midfielder's return to the national team has been welcomed by Nagelsmann, who said that Kroos is "a world-class player who will bring a lot of quality and experience to the team." Kroos is expected to make his return to the Germany squad for the upcoming friendlies against France and the Netherlands in March.