13 h. ago Real Madrid’s PSG thrashing shows Xabi Alonso true size of rebuilding job

New manager faces tough questions before next season, with the biggest just how to find the right fit for superstar striker Kylian MbappéThis is the end. For Real Madrid, the best thing that could be said about their last game of the 2024-2025 season was that it was their last game of the 2024-2025 season. So in the makeshift marquee set up by the MetLife Stadium, Xabi Alonso said exactly that, and repeatedly. He had watched his team, who aren’t entirely his team yet, be taken apart by Paris Saint-Germain; now he wanted to get home and “reset”, forget about it. Well, not forget exactly: the hurt might help, lessons learned. “I want this to have an impact but not drag us down,” he said. “In August we start 2025-26, which will be different.”The way they fell was familiar, back to their recent past, their reality. “We suffered the way others have suffered against them,” Alonso said, and that was true, but it is not only PSG; it is Madrid too. This was their 68th game of the season and ...

Politics

37 h. ago The lessons Xabi Alonso will have to learn as Real Madrid humbled by imperious PSG

PSG 4-0 Real Madrid: Alonso will have an eye at emulating Luis Enrique’s transformation at PSG after a humiliating defeat

Politics

37 h. ago PSG cruise to Club World Cup final after Ruiz and Dembélé stun Real Madrid

PSG 4-0 Real Madrid: Ruiz 6 24, Dembélé 9, Ramos 87Chelsea to play European champions in Sunday’s finalThere was a moment towards the end of Kylian Mbappé’s final season in France when Luis Enrique called him into his office and explained that if they did things his way, then Paris Saint-Germain could become an “absolute machine”.A little over a year later, on the day his first season at Real Madrid came to an end against his former club, the striker saw for himself, up close and painful, just how right his coach had been. The team that went to Munich and put five past Inter, the biggest winning margin a European Cup final has ever seen, came to New York and scored four against the game’s greatest aristocrats to take them to the final of the Club World Cup. Continue reading...

Politics

58 h. ago Luis Enrique dodges Kylian Mbappe talk as PSG prepare for hostile reunion in Real Madrid showdown

Mbappe will face off against his former employers with a place in the Club World Cup final on the line

Politics

3 d. ago Revenge in the air as Kylian Mbappé and PSG clash in Club World Cup semi

Real Madrid forward faces former club amid legal war and bitterness, after watching PSG grab the glory he left to pursueThis is a tale of blackmail and revenge, or so it goes. Of power and money, lots of money. It is also a story of sport. The buildup to the semi-final of the Club World Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, those two empires and enemies, didn’t begin with a fitness update from Atlanta or Palm Beach; it began on Monday morning New York time with news from Paris that Kylian Mbappé had withdrawn a legal claim accusing his former club of extortion and harassment. Two days before kick-off, it was time for the football.Well, sort of. “The Real Madrid striker and his entourage want to calm the situation and concentrate exclusively on sporting issues,” L’Équipe reported. Definitely nothing to do with their prospects of winning the case, then. Besides, there is still the demand for €55m in allegedly unpaid wages and bonuses, which led to PSG’s accounts being momen...

Society

5 d. ago Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe shows true colours with Diogo Jota gesture at Club World Cup

Kylian Mbappe came off the substitutes' bench to provide the winning goal for Real Madrid in some style against Borussia Dortmund before dedicating his bicycle kick to Diogo Jota

Politics

5 d. ago Kylian Mbappe scores as Real Madrid knock Borussia Dortmund out of Club World Cup

Real Madrid 3-2 Borussia Dortmund: Xabi Alonso’s side booked a date with PSG in the semi-finals

Politics

5 d. ago Real Madrid survive late Dortmund scare to set up Club World Cup semi

Quarter-final: Real Madrid 3-2 Borussia DortmundG García 10, F García 20, Mbappé 90+4; Beier 90+2, Guirassy 90+8Real Madrid have set up a date with Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-final, despite a chaotic last 10 minutes, giving Kylian Mbappé a chance to face his former side on a big stage after he scored a fantastic acrobatic goal in a 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund.Xabi Alonso’s Madrid looked entirely in control for the vast majority of the match, until a remarkable stoppage time made things nervy and Thibaut Courtois’s last-gasp save preserved the victory. That incredible conclusion to an otherwise pedestrian match also included a late red card given to Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen, the impressive new arrival in central defence, who will miss the semi-final as a result of bringing down Serhou Guirassy right after Mbappé’s stupendous volley for Real Madrid’s third. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Club World Cup: Real Madrid survive late scare against Borussia Dortmund to reach semi

Los Blancos will face familiar opposition in the semi-finals

Events

9 d. ago Mbappe makes Club World Cup debut as Frenchman’s return provides boost for Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid

The 26-year-old was energetic on his return, linking well with Vini Jr in Xabi Alonso’s new-look side

Politics

1 week ago Emma Raducanu speaks out as BBC miss moment Wimbledon match interrupted

Emma Raducanu was in high spirits as she beat Mimi Xu in the first round of Wimbledon - and was even pictured laughing after a fan's champagne cork interrupted her match

Politics

1 week ago Emma Raducanu speaks out as BBC miss moment Wimbledon match interrupted by fan act

Emma Raducanu was in high spirits as she beat Mimi Xu in the first round of Wimbledon - and was even pictured laughing after a fan's champagne cork interrupted her match

Politics

2 w. ago Darren McGregor involved in car accident as Hibs legend to miss testimonial match

The ex-Rangers defender is recovering in hospital and will be unable to play in the game against Bolton on Saturday, July 19

Politics

2 w. ago Flagship Welsh law too 'vague' and lacks any real teeth, MSs told

The Future Generations Act is often talked about one of Wales' leading laws

Politics

2 w. ago Revealed: The real reason flags are painted backwards on planes

A travel expert has revealed the curious reason why flags on planes are often painted on backwards.

Events

2 w. ago Real Madrid vs Pachuca live: Club World Cup updates as Bellingham and Guler give Real lead

Xabi Alonso is without Kylian Mbappe as Los Blancos target first group win

Society

2 w. ago Real Madrid vs Pachuca live: Club World Cup score and updates as Raul Asencio sent off early

Xabi Alonso is without Kylian Mbappe as Los Blancos target first group win

Society

2 w. ago Real Madrid XI vs Pachuca: Kylian Mbappe latest, lineup and confirmed news for Club World Cup

Mbappe was hospitalised with an acute case of gastroenteritis

Politics

2 w. ago Real Madrid XI vs Pachuca: Kylian Mbappe latest, predicted lineup and confirmed news for Club World Cup

Mbappe was hospitalised with an acute case of gastroenteritis

Politics

2 w. ago Real Madrid XI vs Pachuca: Kylian Mbappe latest, confirmed news and predicted lineup for Club World Cup

Mbappe was hospitalised with an acute case of gastroenteritis

Politics