Category: Football

England centre-back Eric Dier is set to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season, when his contract is up, the club’s sporting director said on Friday.

“We’ve had talks with Eric about a potential contract extension,” said Christoph Freund. “He told us that he won’t extend his time with Bayern and that he’ll leave the club at the end of the season.”

Dier’s contract expires on June 30, but Bayern Munich are still in talks in a bid to extend that temporarily to cover the Club World Cup, which runs from June 14 to July 13 in the United States.

Eric Dier touched down in Munich on loan in January 2024, establishing himself as a starter in defence alongside Matthijs de Ligt under then-coach Thomas Tuchel.

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The 31-year-old sealed a full transfer in the summer of 2024 on a one-year deal.

Although less used by current coach Vincent Kompany, Dier has been a key player in stepping in to cover injuries to central defenders Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano.

“We’ve had a great time with Eric, and I hope he’ll crown his time with Bayern with a title,” Freund said of the 49-time capped England player.

According to press reports in France and Germany, Dier is set to join Monaco on a deal that will run through to the summer of 2027.

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Bayern Munich veteran Thomas Mueller can win his 13th league title with a victory at RB Leipzig on Saturday, as his summer departure after 25 seasons at the club draws near.

Eight points clear of defending champions Bayer Leverkusen with three games remaining, Bayern will clinch the title if they beat Leipzig this weekend.

Bayern’s last league win at Leipzig came in 2021. If the Bavarians falter, they will still wrap up the Bundesliga crown if Leverkusen fail to beat Freiburg on Sunday.

Another league title would be a fitting farewell for Mueller, who joined Bayern at the age of 10 and played his 500th Bundesliga game last week.

A one-club player, Thomas Mueller has amassed a remarkable 32 trophies with Bayern, including two Champions Leagues, but will leave at the end of the season after he was not offered a contract extension.

No player has ever won 13 Bundesliga titles and only Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs has hit that mark in any of Europe’s top five leagues.

“It sounds good, doesn’t it?” Mueller said of the record in an interview with the Bundesliga website on Wednesday.

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“I won my first title in 2010. You’re holding something heavy in your hands, and it gives you the feeling that it’s not really easy to win the thing.

“There’s always a lot of work, and you have to perform over a long period. That’s why the satisfaction when you win the league trophy is greater than the Champions League or the German Cup.”

With his departure edging closer, Thomas Mueller has been celebrated by fans at home and away, but has been quick to remind everyone he is not on a farewell tour — and that there is a title at stake.

“On the topic of pride, I’m someone who lives life looking forward rather than looking back too much,” said Mueller. “Looking back is nice, and then you can toast to it and ask: ‘What are you doing tomorrow?'”

At the other end of the table, Bochum will be the first side relegated if they lose at Heidenheim on Friday.

Bochum’s struggles this season have come not against the top teams, but against mid-table sides and fellow relegation battlers.

Bochum have only won two of their past 14 games, but those wins came against Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

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Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has agreed to take over the Brazil national team, several Spanish media outlets reported Monday.

The veteran Italian has one more year on his contract with the Spanish giants; however, after quarter-final Champions League elimination by Arsenal and Copa del Rey defeat by rivals Barcelona, he is poised to depart the Santiago Bernabeu.

Ancelotti has not hidden that a potential exit was on the cards and said his future was “a topic for the next weeks” after defeat by Barcelona on Saturday.

Spanish media reports that Ancelotti would take over ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June, leaving Madrid before the Club World Cup starts in the United States this summer.

Brazil sacked Dorival Junior after a 4-1 thrashing by Argentina in March and are fourth in the South American qualifying table for the tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada.

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Carlo Ancelotti led Real Madrid to a Champions League and La Liga double last season, with Brazil stars Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes vital parts of the team, and is one of the most successful coaches in the club’s history.

In his first spell at Real Madrid, he led them to La Decima — their 10th Champions League triumph.

He has won the competition three times with Los Blancos over two stints, was sacked in 2015, but returned in 2021 after Zinedine Zidane resigned.

This season, Madrid have been defensively fragile and trail La Liga leaders Barcelona by four points, with a title defence their only remaining hope of major silverware.

Ancelotti has also coached AC Milan, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) among other teams.

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Inter Miami threw away a 3-1 lead as they suffered their first loss of the Major League Soccer (MLS) season with a stunning 4-3 defeat to FC Dallas on Sunday.

Lionel Messi sat out the game at Chase Stadium along with teammates Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets for Miami, who face a CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final second-leg clash on Wednesday.

With Miami trailing 2-0 from the first leg of that tie with the Vancouver Whitecaps, coach Javier Mascherano made a host of changes to his starting line-up, and the plan looked to have worked with his team 3-1 up with 25 minutes left.

But a determined Dallas struck three times to take all three points and end Miami’s status as the only unbeaten team in MLS.

Dallas had taken an eighth-minute lead with a fierce drive from fullback Shaq Moore, but Inter Miami were quickly on level terms with a close-range finish from Fafa Picault.

Ecuadorian 18-year-old Allen Obando then put Miami ahead in the 29th minute with a perfectly timed run to meet a low cross from Ian Fray with a clinical finish.

Miami looked to be cruising after David Martinez added the third, pouncing on a loose ball to drive into the far corner after good work from Benjamin Cremaschi.

But Dallas regrouped, and the introduction of Brazilian attacker Pedrinho changed the momentum of the game.

The Texas side pulled a goal back when Argentine Luciano Acosta floated a free kick into the box and Osaze Urhoghide fought off the attentions of Maxi Falcon to fire home on the turn.

“Route One” proved fruitful for Dallas, who drew level when a long ball from Pedro Martins found Anderson Julio, who broke clear of the flat-footed Inter Miami defence and confidently fired home.

Then, with nine minutes left, a smart passing move from Dallas ended with Logan Farrington pulling back to Pedrinho, who buried the ball in the bottom corner to stun the home crowd.

Mascherano blamed himself for his second half substitutions and formation shifts.

“I told the players they had nothing to feel bad about, there were a lot of players in the lineup who had not played many minutes this season; it’s not easy to come in like that, a bunch of players who had not played together,” the Argentine said.

“They gave their maximum and for 65 minutes the team was doing well. Unfortunately, at 3-2, when everything was in our favor, I made mistakes and I take the blame,” he added.

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Former Saint-Etienne winger Denis Bouanga had an eventful game for Los Angeles FC in their 2-2 draw with St. Louis City.

The Le Mans-born Gabon international scored twice — including a stoppage-time winner after he had failed to convert a penalty earlier.

After a tepid first half, German Cedric Teuchert put St. Louis ahead in the 52nd minute, turning in a low cross from Jannes Horn.

Bouanga equalised, tapping in a Cengiz Under ball at the back post in the 70th minute and then three minutes later was brought down in the box by Josh Yaro but saw his penalty saved by Ben Lundt.

The visitors went down to 10 men when Alfredo Morales received a second yellow card, but despite being down a man, St. Louis looked to have grabbed a win with a scramble in the box ending with the ball flying in off the back of Joakim Nilsson, eventually designated an own goal from LAFC’s Nathan Ordaz.

But deep in stoppage time, Bouanga showed his pace to lose his markers before cutting inside and firing a superb winner into the top corner.

Defending champions, the Los Angeles Galaxy, remain winless and rooted to the bottom of the Western Conference after a 4-2 home defeat to the Portland Timbers.

The Galaxy have just three points from their opening 10 games and trailed 3-0 when Kevin Kelsy scored with a beautiful first-time strike in the 63rd minute.

The home side threatened a comeback with goals from Christian Ramirez and Marco Reus, but Portland responded with a Jonathan Rodriguez penalty to kill off the Galaxy’s momentum.

The Timbers, managed by Englishman Phil Neville, are second in the West on 18 points from the opening 10 games — a club record start to a season.

Western Conference leaders Vancouver warmed up for their trip to Florida with a 3-1 win at Minnesota, with Sebastian Berhalter opening the scoring with a fine effort from outside the box and Ecuadorian Pedro Vite scoring twice.

READ: Arne Slot plots more Liverpool glory after Premier League triumph

Arne Slot says sky-high expectations at Liverpool will not allow for any let-up next season after they won the Premier League title in style.

A crushing 5-1 victory against Tottenham at a raucous Anfield on Sunday put the Reds out of reach of nearest challengers Arsenal with four games to go.

Liverpool are now level with bitter rivals Manchester United on 20 English top-flight titles after winning just their second league crown in the Premier League era.

It is a remarkable achievement for Slot, who took over the managerial reins from Jurgen Klopp last June, with few pundits expecting him to win the league in his first season.

But Liverpool started at a sprint and have lost just two league matches all season as Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal all failed to mount a consistent challenge.

Thousands of fans lingered outside Anfield hours after the final whistle on Sunday, chanting and letting off fireworks as they revelled in the club’s success.

The emotion was heightened by the memory of their 2020 title, with that trophy lifted behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Arne Slot, who has eased seamlessly into life at Anfield, said plans were already in place for next season and there would be no problems in motivating his men as he targets more silverware.

“I don’t have to manage expectations because the expectations of this club are always the same,” said the former Feyenoord boss — the first Dutch coach to win the Premier League.

“We have to compete for every trophy, and that didn’t change when I came in, and that doesn’t change next season.

“We have a group of players that are able to win things, but we’re not the only one. There are so many great teams in this league and in the Champions League, so it’s never going to be easy, but we have to compete.”

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Liverpool’s season is finishing on a high note, just weeks after a low point following defeat to Newcastle in the League Cup final and a Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain.

The club have realistically been Premier League winners-elect for months but there was a sense of anti-climax following the high-profile losses.

At the time the futures of top-scorer Mohamed Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk and England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold were all still unresolved, lending an air of uncertainty about the future.

Now Salah and Van Dijk have signed new deals to give a sense of stability at the club, though Alexander-Arnold continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid.

Arne Slot said the Premier League had always been the priority.

“Although we were all very disappointed when we were knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain, we always felt there was a bigger goal to achieve,” he said.

“To do that in the most difficult league in the world in a period of time where it gets harder and harder to win it is very special.”

The Dutchman acknowledges that Manchester City’s drop-off this season helped his men, while Arsenal, likely to finish as runners-up for a third straight year, have not been consistent enough.

But Liverpool fans celebrating their title in the shadow of the towering Anfield stands believe their triumph can be a springboard for more success.

“Speechless,” said Alex Irlam, 23. “It’s incredible. You don’t find this anywhere else. Any Premier League club can win the league but you don’t get this anywhere else.”

“This is (Bill) Shankly and (Bob) Paisley version two — Jurgen Klopp and Slot,” he added, referring to two of the greatest managers in Liverpool history, who managed one after the other.

READ: Liverpool smash Tottenham to clinch record-equalling 20th English title

Liverpool demolished Tottenham 5-1 to clinch the Premier League title at an impassioned Anfield on Sunday, sealing a record-equalling 20th English top-flight crown.

Arne Slot’s men stormed back after conceding a surprise early goal to dominate the match, feeding off the crackling energy from the 60,000-plus crowd.

Liverpool, who can no longer be caught by second-placed Arsenal, are now level with bitter rivals Manchester United as the joint-most successful club in English top-flight history.

It is just their second title of the Premier League era and the first they have celebrated in front of fans since 1990 — their 2020 triumph came at a near-empty stadium due to Covid restrictions.

Slot, who is in his first season in English football, said he had built on solid foundations left by Jurgen Klopp, who departed last year after a successful nine-year reign.

“Almost the whole season we were on top of the league and had a team that could win it,” he told Sky Sports. “We know how tough the Premier League is, but we always had the belief we could win it.”

“The work Jurgen (Klopp) and (assistant) Pep (Lijnders) left, the culture, work-rate, quality, was outstanding. We started (the season) really well and maybe it helped that (Manchester) City had a difficult spell that they have not had in five years.

“When the season started, we would have been happy with top four. But I don’t think that is fair to the players as they are much better than that, and they have shown it this season.”

Slot’s men started on the front foot at an expectant Anfield after a stirring rendition of club anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” in the warm spring sunshine, but they were rocked by an early goal from Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke.

However, Liverpool barely blinked and roared back with a Luis Diaz tap-in and a screamer from Alexis Mac Allister.

Now the party was well and truly started, and Cody Gakpo made it 3-1, slamming a shot into the bottom corner after a much-changed Spurs team failed to clear.

The Liverpool fans ran through their full repertoire of songs as their team pushed for a fourth goal in the second half.

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Top-scorer Mohamed Salah scored the goal the crowd craved, collecting Dominik Szoboszlai’s pass before cutting in and blasting his shot into the bottom corner.

Liverpool had a fifth when Spurs defender Destiny Udogie poked the ball past his own goalkeeper from close range with 21 minutes to go.

As the game went into added time the club’s anthem rang out again as scarves were held aloft and the final whistle elicited a thunderous roar.

The win leaves Liverpool on 82 points, 15 clear of nearest challengers Arsenal with just four games remaining.

Tottenham are a miserable 16th in the Premier League table after their 19th defeat of the season, putting manager Ange Postecoglou under enormous pressure.

Tens of thousands of fans swarmed around Anfield in the build-up to kick-off in anticipation of Liverpool’s coronation, setting off flares as the home team bus arrived.

Flags and scarves saying “Liverpool 20-time Champions” were on sale from stalls outside the ground.

At the start of the campaign, Pep Guardiola’s City were favourites to extend their dynastic Premier League reign and make it five titles in a row but their form collapsed.

Arsenal emerged as Liverpool’s closest challengers, but they drew too many games, failing to take advantage of the rare slip-ups from Slot’s team.

It was feared the club’s players would need time to adapt to the methods of Slot but the former Feyenoord boss has sailed serenely through the season despite relentless speculation over the futures of three of his biggest stars — Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Both Salah and Van Dijk have now signed two-year extensions, though England defender Alexander-Arnold is believed likely to be on the verge of a move to Real Madrid.

“A lot of emotions before the game, during the whole week, but we got the job done and we are truly deserved champions of England,” said Van Dijk. “The most beautiful club in the world and I think we deserve all of this.”

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Barcelona defender Jules Kounde struck deep in extra-time to decide a gripping Copa del Rey Clasico final on Saturday in Seville, earning his side a 3-2 win over rivals Real Madrid.

The Catalans, aiming for a quadruple this season, won the first major trophy of Hansi Flick’s reign as coach and a record-extending 32nd Spanish cup in dramatic fashion.

Three Real Madrid players were sent off during and after a fiery conclusion to the game, including England international Jude Bellingham.

Pedri sent Barcelona ahead at La Cartuja but two Real Madrid goals in seven second-half minutes, from Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni, pulled the Spanish and European champions level.

However, Ferran Torres struck in the 84th minute to take the game to extra-time and Kounde drilled home to win it for the La Liga leaders.

“Madrid pushed us to our limits but we showed great character and pride,” said Kounde.

Barcelona host Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday.

“They can make a party — for today, it’s OK,” a delighted Flick, who has won all seven finals he has coached in his career, told Movistar.

Substituted Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was sent off in the final seconds for “throwing an object” onto the pitch towards referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, according to the official’s report, and Lucas Vazquez, also replaced, was dismissed for further protest as Madrid unravelled.

Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle for showing an “aggressive attitude” towards the referee, who wrote that the midfielder “had to be restrained by his team-mates”.

“I don’t want to talk about the referee,” said stone-faced Madrid coach Ancelotti.

“I don’t know what happened at the end.”

Madrid had issued furious statements about the refereeing team on Friday after they criticised the club’s television channel for attacking Spanish officials this season, casting a shadow over the game.

Controversy aside, the football was enthralling.

Madrid started with top scorer Mbappe on the bench after an ankle injury and lost Ferland Mendy early on with a thigh issue.

Barcelona dazzling winger Lamine Yamal, 17, dyed his hair blond for the game and led the assault on Thibaut Courtois’ goal.

The Catalans, who also won the first two Clasicos this season in La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup, scoring nine goals in the process, controlled the ball.

They took the lead after 28 minutes, Pedri placing the ball into the top corner with precision and power from the edge of the box, a sensational goal set up by Yamal.

Barcelona’s opener brought Madrid out of their shell — and also Mbappe off the bench to warm up.

Bellingham netted but was offside. Vinicius Junior would have won a penalty when hacked down but had also strayed off in the build-up.

Barcelona could have doubled their lead, with Dani Olmo’s corner hitting the post and Cubarsi unable to turn home as Dani Ceballos held him back.

The referee was lenient with some heated Madrid tackles, perhaps cowed by Friday’s drama as the Spanish champions seethed at his pre-match comments.

Madrid sent Mbappe on for Rodrygo Goes at half-time and soon he and Vinicius began to work Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

Mbappe pulled Madrid level almost on his own in the 70th minute, brought down after surging forward and firing home the free-kick off the post.

Seven minutes later Madrid took the lead, Tchouameni heading in Arda Guler’s corner.

Barcelona responded when Yamal played a delicious pass over the top for Torres, which drew both Rudiger and Courtois, but the Spaniard beat both and rolled home.

Controversy unsurprisingly reared its head before the match headed to extra-time.

Barcelona clamoured for a penalty when Rudiger tripped Torres, and then were awarded one deep in stoppage time as Raphinha tumbled under pressure — but the decision was overturned after a VAR review.

In extra-time Barcelona were ascendent.

They found their winner when Kounde intercepted an uncharacteristically loose Luka Modric pass and beat Courtois from range, sparking wild celebrations.

The trio of dismissals and Madrid’s pre-match histrionics regarding the officials will ensure the repercussions run on.

The teams meet again in La Liga in May in a potential title decider.

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After a career marked by a multitude of personal accolades but devoid of any team triumphs, Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane stands on the brink of glory.

This weekend, as the final whistle blows in Saturday’s thrilling home match against Mainz, he could finally experience the exhilarating breakthrough of clinching a title.

If Bayern Munich beat sixth-placed Mainz and second-placed Bayer Leverkusen fail to beat Augsburg at home, Bayern and Kane will be crowned Bundesliga winners.

Bayern are eight points clear with four games remaining, so a first title for Kane is a mere formality.

But after losing six finals — three with Tottenham, two with England and one with Bayern — a debut title win would be a long-awaited reward for the 31-year-old forward.

After two decades at boyhood club Tottenham, Harry Kane moved to Bayern Munich in 2023, motivated by a desire for team honours.

While Bayern’s dreams of winning the Champions League in their own stadium this season flamed out with a quarter-final loss to Inter Milan, lifting the Bundesliga shield would soothe frustrations after a trophyless 2023-24.

Kane has rarely spoken about the title, preferring to focus on the task at hand, but in February, he revealed how much the pursuit of a team honour drove him.

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“There are many people who, throughout my career, only talk about the fact I haven’t won a title yet. It would be nice to silence a few of them,” Kane said.

Harry Kane would also join Kevin Keegan and Owen Hargreaves as Englishmen who won the Bundesliga.

Speaking with Sky Germany on Wednesday, Bayern powerbroker Uli Hoeness — a key player behind the 100 million euro ($105 million) decision to bring Kane to Bavaria — said “nobody deserves the title more” than the England captain.

Calling Kane “a real Bayern player”, Hoeness lavished praise on the striker, saying, “he fights, he works, he scores an incredible number of goals, but he also works hard for the team.

“You can feel that he absolutely wants to win this title.”

On Saturday, Eintracht Frankfurt can take a step in qualifying for the Champions League through a top-four finish for the first time, when they host RB Leipzig.

Frankfurt, whose only other participation in the modern Champions League came through winning the Europa League, sit three points clear of fourth-placed Leipzig.

Leipzig could fall as low as sixth with a loss, while seventh-placed Borussia Dortmund — who have taken 10 of a possible 12 points in their past four matches — are also within striking distance.

READ: Liverpool have ‘big responsibility’ to win title at Anfield: Arne Slot

Arne Slot believes Liverpool have a “big responsibility” to clinch the Premier League title in front of their own fans when Tottenham visit Anfield on Sunday.

Slot’s side will be crowned English champions for a record-equalling 20th time if they avoid defeat against struggling Tottenham.

Liverpool have five games left to seal the title and need just one point to do so, making it only a matter of time before they get their hands on the trophy.

The Reds’ last title five years ago was slightly anti-climactic as it came during the Covid-19 pandemic, meaning Anfield was empty when the trophy was presented due to lockdown restrictions.

And, with Liverpool travelling to Chelsea for their next league game after the Tottenham clash, Arne Slot acknowledged there is extra pressure to seal the title on home turf.

“It’s a big responsibility. We are aware that the last time this club won the league was during the Covid time. So everybody is looking forward to Sunday,” Slot told reporters on Friday.

“We know there’s still a job to do. We need at least one point. Our fans know as well. When they come to the stadium, they have to support us in the best possible way, as they have done all season.

“It’s a nice game to look forward to, but also a responsibility we have for Sunday.”

Liverpool nearly secured the title on Wednesday when Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal Palace, who would have wrapped up the trophy for Slot’s men with a victory at the Emirates Stadium.

Slot and his players gathered to watch the Arsenal game in the hope of celebrating together.

Instead, Liverpool sit 12 points clear of Arsenal, who have just four games left, meaning Slot and company are primed to revel in an even more raucous party against Tottenham.

“It was different. Normally, when you watch a game of football, you are either alone or with family or friends. But we watched it all together,” Slot said.

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“Before the game, I would have been surprised if the game ended in a draw. But during the game, I wasn’t because Crystal Palace again showed what this league is all about.”

Equalling the record of 20 English titles set by bitter rivals Manchester United will add extra verve to Liverpool fans’ celebrations.

In his first season since replacing the beloved Jurgen Klopp, former Feyenoord boss Slot will become the 12th manager to win the Premier League and the first Dutchman.

Asked if he has considered the historic connotations of Liverpool’s imminent triumph, Slot insisted he was focused only on Tottenham.

“No, I get these questions, so it comes to your mind, but it is the last thing you think of as a manager at this time. We saw last week how hard it was to get a win against a team that was nearly relegated at Leicester,” he said.

“I am not getting carried away. We have faced Tottenham three times and I know how hard it is to beat them.”

It is a mark of Slot’s impressive impact on a team that fell away in Klopp’s final season that Liverpool have been beaten just twice in the league this term.

“This club has to win trophies,” Arne Slot said of the pressure of managing Liverpool. “The good thing is that most managers work here a long time so you have a few chances to win trophies.

“You are aware of that, but that is not the first thing that you think about when you walk through this door.”

Some critics claim Liverpool have benefited from Manchester City’s steep decline and the injuries that damaged Arsenal’s challenge.

But Slot said: “Everybody can have their own opinion. You might have a different opinion. That is the nice thing about the world we are living in. I am only here for a year so I can only tell you what I experienced.

“It has never been as hard to end up in the top four or five. In my opinion, it is a really difficult league.”

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Hansi Flick’s Barcelona are closing in on a potential quadruple this season, but blocking their path are eternal rivals Real Madrid.

Although the Catalan giants, also in the Champions League semi-finals, are widely considered the best team in Spain at the moment, Carlo Ancelotti’s faltering Los Blancos could claim both domestic titles still on the line.

Madrid trail leaders Barcelona by four points in La Liga, with another Clasico to come in May, but first the Spanish giants butt heads in Seville on Saturday in the Copa del Rey final.

Flick’s Barcelona have emphatically bested Madrid on the two prior occasions they have met this season, first winning 4-0 in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu in October.

Then Barca dismantled Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia in January, roaring to a 5-2 victory to claim the first trophy of the Flick era.

Barcelona outplayed Madrid in both games, but their German coach had nothing but praise for his Italian counterpart.

“Real Madrid has an incredible team and one of the best coaches in the world… He (Ancelotti) has won everything,” said Flick on Tuesday.

“He’s a gentleman… I have the highest respect. On Saturday, we play the final against Real Madrid and, of course, against Carlo.”

Ancelotti will need to find ways to shut down Pedri in midfield as well as dynamic wingers Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.

Real Madrid have lost 12 matches this season, compared to just two across all competitions in the previous campaign.

Barcelona breezed past Real Betis and edged Atletico Madrid on the way to the final at La Cartuja stadium, their first since 2021, when they beat Athletic Bilbao.

Real Madrid, who last won the trophy in 2023, needed an extra-time goal from Antonio Rudiger to beat Real Sociedad 5-4 on aggregate in the semi-finals.

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After Madrid’s Champions League elimination by Arsenal earlier this month, they are desperate to beat Barcelona and claim some silverware as well as restore their pride.

Both sides have lost important players in the run-up to the game.

Barcelona are without top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski and left-back Alejandro Balde, while Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga was ruled out for the rest of the season on Thursday with a groin injury.

French superstar Kylian Mbappe missed Madrid’s nervy 1-0 win at Getafe on Wednesday as he recovers from an ankle problem, but Ancelotti said he is expected to be fit to face Barca.

Mbappe was whistled by Madrid fans during their win over Athletic Bilbao last weekend when his face appeared on the screens at the Bernabeu, and he will be hoping to lift his first major trophy with the club, following European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup wins.

When Madrid have lined up with Mbappe alongside Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo, sometimes the team suffers at the back.

“Maybe they are the favourites, but a final is a final and anything can happen,” said Ancelotti.

“We have to defend well, and I am convinced that we will defend well and have opportunities in attack.”

Barcelona will likely line up with Gerard Martin at left-back, replacing Balde, which is an area Madrid can exploit, perhaps through Rodrygo, although the Brazilian has not scored in his last 11 matches.

“On a statistical level, he has to play because if he’s not scored in all that time, well, he has to sooner or later,” joked Ancelotti. “In these type of matches he always scores and I believe in him completely.”

Rodrygo netted both goals as Madrid beat Osasuna to win the Copa del Rey two years ago, the club’s 20th.

Barcelona are the all-time record winners with 31 triumphs, ahead of current holders Athletic Bilbao with 24, with Madrid third.

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