REAL MADRID: DISCOVER ARDA GULER’S SENSATIONAL 50-YARD LOB THAT SHOOK THE ENTIRE SANTIAGO BERNABEU
Real Madrid move within one point of Barcelona as Arda Guler scores a legendary lob in a 4-1 victory over Elche.
Real Madrid narrowed the gap to just one point behind Barcelona at the top of La Liga ahead of the Catalans’ upcoming match against Sevilla on Sunday. Atletico Madrid held onto third place with a narrow 1-0 victory over Getafe, despite being down to ten men after Abdel Abqar was sent off for an unfortunate incident involving Alexander Sorloth.
Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde, fresh off a remarkable Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City earlier in the week, continued his fine form by curling a precise shot into the top corner just before halftime. This came after Antonio Rudiger had already put Madrid ahead with a powerful strike. Later, young defender Dean Huijsen added a header to complete the scoring for Alvaro Arbeloa’s squad, who will travel to Manchester City on Tuesday with hopes of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals.
But the standout moment of the evening belonged to Turkish midfielder Guler, who spotted Elche’s goalkeeper Matias Dituro off his line late in the game and lobbed the ball from near the centre circle with remarkable accuracy. “He had hit the bar from there in a previous match, but today he pulled it off. What a goal,” Madrid’s Brahim Díaz commented to the club’s TV channel. Arbeloa also praised the strike, noting that it was the kind of moment worth watching in person.
With a comfortable lead, Arbeloa was able to rest key players such as Vinicius Junior and Valverde, giving valuable minutes to younger talents like 18-year-old winger Daniel Yanez. Yanez delivered a precise cross that set up Huijsen’s header for Madrid’s third goal. Arbeloa reflected on bringing these players on at the Bernabeu, recalling that he had coached them since they were early teens and describing the moment as a dream come true.
Despite the scoreline, Elche remain in a difficult position, suffering their 11th consecutive league game without a win and facing the threat of dropping into the relegation zone. Madrid, energised after their Champions League success, gradually dismantled Elche’s early resistance. When Dituro saved Valverde’s free-kick but failed to clear the rebound, Rudiger pounced to score in the 39th minute. Valverde then added another just before the break, showcasing his ability to find space and precision shooting.
A late slip from Madrid substitute Manuel Angel resulted in an own goal as he attempted to intercept a cross, briefly narrowing the gap. Still, Guler’s stunning lob re-established Madrid’s lead from a long distance, sealing the match with a remarkable finish. Meanwhile, Madrid continues to manage absences, including Jude Bellingham’s injury, while hoping that Kylian Mbappé could return soon after a knee sprain. Arbeloa described the players’ commitment as exceptional but acknowledged there is still room to improve as the season progresses.
HOW HECTOR BELLERIN’S 94TH-MINUTE STUNNER PUSHED REAL MADRID TO THE TITLE BRINK
Real Madrid's title hopes faded after a 1-1 draw with Real Betis. Discover the impact of Bellerin’s goal and Mbappe’s injury.
Real Madrid’s La Liga dreams took a big hit Friday night when Héctor Bellerín scored a 94th-minute equaliser, earning Real Betis a 1-1 draw. With that late goal, Madrid now sit eight points behind Barcelona, and if Barça win their next match, they could pull even further away with just a handful of games left.
Madrid actually started strong in Seville. Vinícius Jr took advantage of a goalkeeping mistake and put them ahead early in the 17th minute. After that, Madrid had control for large stretches, but it just didn’t translate into goals. Kylian Mbappé had one ruled out for offside, and Jude Bellingham, along with the rest of Madrid’s attack, missed some big chances. It all came back to haunt them when, in the dying seconds, Bellerín capitalised on the chaos at the back and smashed in the equaliser.
People are talking about Madrid’s defence and not in a good way. They’ve failed to keep a clean sheet for ten straight league games. The last time the backline struggled this much in a single season was way back in 2003-04, when Carlos Queiroz was in charge. This run has cost Madrid dearly, with dropped points piling up right when the title race is heating up.
This result marks Madrid’s fifth league draw this season, another missed chance that opens the door for Hansi Flick’s relentless Barcelona to run away with the title. With their Champions League hopes already gone, Madrid are now staring at what could be just their fifth season without a trophy this century. About the only bright spot? Mbappé made his 100th appearance for the club, becoming just the tenth Frenchman to reach that milestone for Madrid. Still, even that was undercut; he limped off with a suspected hamstring injury about ten minutes from the end.
Honestly, the title now looks like a lost cause. If Barcelona beat Getafe, they will go 11 points clear. Madrid has two tough away fixtures next: Espanyol, then Barcelona in a do-or-die El Clásico that could finish off their title hopes for good. With their form stalling and Barça flying, Madrid now need a minor miracle and a huge Barcelona slip-up to avoid ending this season empty-handed.
JUDE BELLINGHAM’S SURPRISE £1M MINORITY STAKE IN CRICKET’S BIRMINGHAM PHOENIX TEAM REVEALED
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham has bought a £1M stake in the Birmingham Phoenix cricket team. Discover his ties to his hometown roots.
Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid midfielder, just took a surprising step into cricket. He bought a minority stake, 1.2 per cent, worth about £1 million in Birmingham Phoenix, the team in The Hundred. That franchise is split between Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Knighthead Capital, an American investment firm. Knighthead added Bellingham by selling off part of their ownership, which dropped from 49 per cent to 48.4 per cent once he joined.
Bellingham picked up equal shares from Warwickshire and Knighthead, both of whom also co-own Birmingham City Football Club. That’s the team where Bellingham got his start; he came up through the youth squads and made his debut for the first team at just 16. Then he went off to Borussia Dortmund in Germany for a hefty £22.75 million transfer before Real Madrid snapped him up last year for about £88 million.
He grew up in Stourbridge, played junior cricket for Hagley Cricket Club as a teenager, and honestly, he’s loved cricket forever.
“I love Birmingham. I’m so grateful for everything the city’s given me. And I love cricket too, so once this opportunity came up, I didn’t even have to think about it; I just went for it,” Bellingham said, via ESPNcricinfo.
He’s pretty clear about his roots: “I owe so much to Birmingham, Stourbridge, and the West Midlands. I got the best start in football and in life through Birmingham City. I feel like I owe the city. Right now, football keeps me busy, but if I can help in any way, this seems like a great way to do it.”
Warwickshire says Bellingham’s investment means he’ll get involved in community activities and corporate social responsibility projects around Birmingham.
And Bellingham’s big push? He wants kids to get out and play sports. “It’s so important for kids in the city to have that chance,” he said. “Whether it’s football or cricket, I want people to see there are different paths. When I was growing up, I got to choose between cricket and football, but not all kids get that kind of opportunity. If I can help shine a light on something for them, that’s even better.”
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