Tag: Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s Croatian midfielder Luka Modric said Thursday he would leave the Spanish giants after the Club World Cup this summer.

“Everything in life has a start and an end… on Saturday I will play my last match at the Santiago Bernabeu,” said Modric, 39, in a post on Instagram, as he reaches the end of his contract with Los Blancos.

“I’m leaving with a full heart, filled with pride, gratitude and unforgettable memories.

“And even though, after the Club World Cup, I’m no longer going to wear this shirt on the pitch, I will always be a Madrid fan.”

Luka Modric has played nearly 600 games for Real Madrid since joining from Tottenham in 2012, winning six Champions League and four La Liga titles among other trophies.

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Modric struggled at the start of his Madrid career after a move worth around 35 million euros ($40 million) but quickly found his footing and developed into one of the world’s best midfielders.

Luka Modric won the Ballon d’Or in 2018 for his performances with Madrid and also his country, as Croatia finished as runners-up at the World Cup in Russia.

“Throughout these years I’ve experienced incredible moments, comebacks that seemed impossible, finals, celebrations and magical nights at the Bernabeu,” continued Modric.

“We won it all and I was very happy. Very, very happy.”

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Real Madrid signed Spain defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth on Saturday after agreeing to pay his £50 million ($59 million) release fee.

The 20-year-old centre-back has impressed in his one season in the Premier League after joining the Cherries from Juventus in 2024 for £12.8 million.

“Real Madrid and Bournemouth have reached a deal for the transfer of player Dean Huijsen, who will be at our club for the next five seasons, from June 1 2025, until June 30, 2030,” said Los Blancos in a statement.

Bournemouth confirmed Madrid had “activated a £50 million release clause”, with reports suggesting Huijsen’s former sides, Juventus and Malaga, will also profit from the deal.

Madrid moved quickly to sign the defender amid interest from several Premier League clubs for the Spain international.

Huijsen will be available for Real Madrid at the Club World Cup in the United States this summer, with their first game against Al-Hilal on June 18 in Miami.

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The defender, born in the Netherlands, moved with his family to Spain aged five and played in Malaga’s youth academy.

Huijsen made his Spain debut against the country of his birth, helping La Roja defeat the Dutch in March to reach the Nations League final four.

Real Madrid have struggled defensively this season, losing 14 games across all competitions and finishing without a major trophy.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is departing to take over the Brazil national team, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso is expected to replace him in a summer of change in the Spanish capital.

Huijsen is set to be joined at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer by England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold at the end of his Liverpool deal.

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Real Madrid snatched a last-gasp 2-1 win over Real Mallorca on Wednesday in La Liga to delay the title celebrations of Barcelona.

Los Blancos cut the gap on the Catalan giants to four points ahead of Barcelona’s visit to neighbours Espanyol on Thursday, where they can wrap up the title with a victory.

Trailing for much of the game after Martin Valjent’s 11th-minute opener, two second-half goals for Real Madrid ensured their arch-rivals did not claim their 28th La Liga title just yet.

Madrid needed to win to deny Barca, and Kylian Mbappe’s equaliser and Jacobo Ramon’s 95th-minute strike allowed them to do just that.

Los Blancos’ defeat by Barcelona on Sunday in the Clasico left the Catalans on the brink of the title, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side showed fighting spirit in the final stages against Mallorca.

“The team played very well, it fought a lot, played with a lot of intensity and it was a totally deserved victory,” said Ancelotti.

“We are happy because we want to finish the season well and this game didn’t start well but afterwards we did very well in all senses.”

Madrid coach Ancelotti is departing to take charge of the Brazilian national team at the end of a disappointing season in the Spanish capital, and has two games left in his post.

The Italian’s Madrid side, riddled with injury problems, were without Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes among other star names as Mallorca visited the Santiago Bernabeu.

“Having 12 players injured is very strange. We were able to overcome the absences with a good attitude, individually and as a group,” added Ancelotti.

The islanders, ninth, are hoping for European football for the first time since 2004 and put up a strong performance.

Madrid’s 18-year-old striker Endrick, whom Ancelotti may call up for Brazil in the future, came close early on but Leo Roman tipped his effort away.

Real Mallorca took an early lead when Valjent received the ball on the right of the box in an ocean of space.

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The defender took his shot early and beat Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, making his 200th La Liga appearance.

Roman made a fine save to thwart England international Jude Bellingham as Madrid pushed for an equaliser.

The stopper, who also excelled for Mallorca in a recent narrow defeat at Barcelona, denied Mbappe and then Fede Valverde before the break.

Eventually, Mbappe found a breakthrough for Madrid after 68 minutes, with some superb footwork to escape three Mallorca players trying to shut him down, and he drilled past Roman.

It was Mbappe’s 40th goal of a productive season on a personal level, although his team are set to end it without a major trophy and having been beaten four times by Barcelona across all competitions.

Mateu Morey should have put Mallorca back ahead almost instantly after a Jacobo error, but Courtois denied him one-on-one.

Roman produced yet another fine save from Arda Guler’s drive before Valjent headed Mbappe’s effort off the line and to safety with the goalkeeper out of position.

It looked like, despite Madrid’s efforts, they were not going to find a winner, but 20-year-old defender Jacobo lifted a dropping ball over Roman’s head as the Mallorca defence hesitated.

Barcelona took 40 shots in their 1-0 win over Mallorca in April, and Madrid produced 39.

“Leo Roman had a great game,” said his opposite number, Courtois.

“(Jacobo) was confident and in the end he scored that goal… It’s very good for the youth academy, there are a lot of kids trying to get through.

“When they have to be there, they are. We Madrid fans have to be proud of the academy.”

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Barcelona mounted a spectacular comeback to beat Real Madrid 4-3 in La Liga on Sunday and move to the brink of the title after overcoming a hat-trick from Kylian Mbappe.

The France striker threatened to haul Madrid back into the title race, but Raphinha’s double and goals from Lamine Yamal and Eric Garcia gave Barcelona a seven-point lead on the reigning champions with three matches remaining.

Hansi Flick’s side were knocked out of the Champions League in the semi-finals by Inter Milan on Tuesday and risked their season collapsing if they were beaten by Madrid, but they resisted after Mbappe’s early brace.

Barcelona battled back to claim a fourth Clasico victory from four meetings this season, showing their dominance over Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

“We’ve opened up an important gap, it was key to win this game after the Champions League (defeat), the fans have forgotten it and so have we, let’s enjoy this,” Yamal told Movistar.

“It was important to win today to bring the league title closer and it went very well, we’re very happy.”

Real Madrid are set to finish the season without a major trophy.

“We have to defend better, that is quite evident from today’s game, we defended badly and that’s that,” said Ancelotti.

“Mbappe did well… in an attacking sense, the team had clear ideas, but we could have defended better.”

Madrid had made the perfect start to what is expected to be the Italian coach’s final Clasico at the helm.

Mbappe earned a penalty when he was scythed down by Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, although the Catalans complained in vain that the forward was offside in the build-up.

The striker beat Szczesny, who dived the right way and got his fingers to it, but could not keep it out.

In the 14th minute, Mbappe doubled the advantage of Real Madrid with a lethal finish after Vinicius Junior played him through, with Barcelona complaining again about a perceived foul on Yamal earlier in the move.

It was his 26th La Liga strike, taking him past Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski on 25 at the top of the scoring charts, and his 38th of the season across all competitions, beating Ivan Zamorano’s club record of 37 in a first season with Los Blancos.

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Just as they have done on so many occasions this season, Flick’s spirited young Barcelona fought their way back in front with a stirring comeback.

Garcia headed home Ferran Torres’ flick-on from a corner to spark it.

Then Madrid could not stop 17-year-old star Yamal from levelling with a cultured bending effort beyond Courtois after Torres laid the ball off to him.

Two minutes later, Raphinha drilled Barca ahead, with Pedri threading him through.

Mbappe thought he had won another penalty when he fell under pressure from Frenkie de Jong, but VAR revealed an offside in the build-up.

Moments later, Raphinha netted his second, picking Lucas Vazquez’s pocket on the edge of the area, exchanging passes with Torres and beating Courtois.

Mbappe netted from an offside position before the break, bringing a rollercoaster first half to a close.

Yamal had a goal ruled out for offside early in the second half as Barcelona looked to put their arch-rivals to the sword.

However, Vinicius got behind Barca’s high line, and he fed Mbappe for his hat-trick.

Barcelona appealed for a penalty when Aurelien Tchouameni blocked Torres’ shot with his arm, but the referee did not give it despite being called to review it by VAR.

Real Madrid substitute Victor Munoz fired high and wide when sent through, and Szczesny denied Mbappe, who had another strike ruled out for offside.

Barcelona thought they had wrapped up their win with a superb Fermin Lopez solo effort, but it was harshly disallowed for handball.

Madrid had no time left to fight back, though, and Barcelona, who last won the league in 2023, could seal the title as early as Wednesday, should Los Blancos stumble against Mallorca.

If Real Madrid avoid defeat, Barcelona will be champions with a win at Espanyol the next day.

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Kylian Mbappe struck twice as Real Madrid held off Celta Vigo with a thrilling 3-2 win to stay within sight of La Liga leaders Barcelona.

After the Catalans scraped a comeback win at Valladolid on Saturday, Madrid survived a late Celta fightback to maintain the four-point gap ahead of next Sunday’s Clasico.

Defending champions Madrid, second, took a three-goal lead but were left clinging on at the Santiago Bernabeu against a Celta side seventh and hoping to qualify for European football next season.

Madrid’s Champions League defence crumbled and Los Blancos were also beaten in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona last week, but Los Blancos are still hopeful of overhauling Hansi Flick’s side in La Liga.

“We had a very good first half (but)… we fell apart, these things can’t happen, it’s happened to us a lot,” admitted Real Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde on the club’s television channel.

“We left a lot minutes for them to get comfortable and they are a great team and they put us in a tough spot.”

Carlo Ancelotti’s side came into the game with a spate of defensive injuries but after riding out an early wave of Celta chances took control, with Turkish 20-year-old Arda Guler pulling the strings.

With Rodrygo Goes out with illness the youngster started in his stead and took full advantage.

Guler directed a spectacular overhead effort wide of goal in the opening stages, showing his ambition has no limits.

Former Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso headed just over and then forced a fine save from Thibaut Courtois, as Celta threatened.

Aurelien Tchouameni headed over when well-placed at the other end, as Madrid stifled the visitors.

Madrid opened the scoring through Guler after 33 minutes, when the playmaker cleverly worked some space in the box and then brilliantly curled a strike past the reach of Vicente Guaita.

Kylian Mbappe doubled Madrid’s lead after 39 minutes at the sharp end of a rapid breakaway.

Courtois saved well from Borja Iglesias and immediately Madrid thrust forward, with Bellingham setting Mbappe free down the right.

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The French superstar ruthlessly lashed past Guaita from just inside the area.

Just three minutes into the second half, Mbappe struck again for his 24th league goal of the season, putting him one behind the top scorer, Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski.

Guler was the creator, playing in the striker with a perfectly-weighted ball and Mbappe finished low with a stroke of his left boot.

It seemed the game was won for Madrid but Javier Rodriguez pulled Celta back into it with a finish from close range after a corner was wrongly awarded to Celta.

Lucas Vazquez blocked Pablo Duran’s backheeled effort on the line but Rodriguez was on hand to pounce.

Iago Aspas’ introduction off the bench for the Galicians immediately gave them more attacking impetus and he produced a superb pass for Williot Swedberg to slot a second past Courtois.

The Belgian goalkeeper had his heart in his mouth a few minutes later as Duran’s shot slipped out of his hands and could have squirmed across the line behind him if it had not slowed to a stop on the grass.

If Madrid had dropped points it would have allowed Barcelona to lift the title next weekend with a Clasico victory.

“It’s the game of the year for us, the last chance for us to win La Liga,” said Valverde.

“We will try our best to take the three points.”

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Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, who has been heavily linked with the Brazil post, said Saturday he will reveal his future plans on May 25 after their final La Liga game.

The immediate goal for the 65-year-old Italian, who has one year left on his Madrid contract, is with five matches remaining to overhaul bitter rivals Barcelona’s four point lead and retain the La Liga title.

Achieving that would make up somewhat for losing to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, and the defence of their Champions League crown ended by Arsenal in the quarter-finals.

“I have a lot of affection for my club, my players and our fans, and also a lot of respect,” Ancelotti told reporters ahead of Madrid’s La Liga clash against Celta Vigo on Sunday.

“So I will speak about my future on the 25th (of May) and not before.”

Real Madrid host Real Sociedad on May 25 in their final La Liga match of the season — they then leave for the United States and the Club World Cup which starts on June 14.

Ancelotti said the day he leaves Madrid will be a “beautiful” one and he has never had a single problem with the club across two spells at the helm.

“It will be a fantastic goodbye, because I have a lot of affection for the club and it does for me too, I will never fight or argue with the club,” said the veteran coach.

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“Never have I done so in six years and I never will, I won’t let myself, until the last day, which could be the 25th, which could be in 2025, or it could be the 25th of May 2026, or 2030.

“That I don’t know, but whichever day it is, it will be a very beautiful day.”

Carlo Ancelotti, who coached Madrid between 2013-15 and then again since 2021, has won three Champions League trophies and two La Liga titles with the club.

Ancelotti, though, faces a defensive crisis in the run-in to the season.

Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy and David Alaba were all ruled out for the rest of the season this week, adding to long-term problems for Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao.

“We’re thinking about the upcoming games, we’re thinking about what we can fight for — La Liga until the last second,” said Ancelotti.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries in this week but we’re convinced we can put out a good team and win tomorrow’s game.”

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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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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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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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Arda Guler struck the only goal as Real Madrid won 1-0 at Getafe on Wednesday to claw back to within four points of La Liga leaders Barcelona.

The young Turkish international fired in from outside the area midway through the first half as Carlo Ancelotti’s side stayed in title contention after Barcelona won by the same scoreline at Mallorca on Tuesday.

Arch-rivals Madrid and Barcelona will meet in the Copa del Rey final in Seville on Saturday, with Kylian Mbappe poised to return from injury for the weekend Clasico — one of two remaining this season. The clubs are also due to meet in the league on May 11.

However, the win over Getafe may have come at a cost to Madrid, with David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga both forced off.

“We’ll see what they have tomorrow, but I think they’re both suffering from muscle soreness. It will certainly be difficult for them to be available on Saturday (to play Barcelona),” said Ancelotti.

In Mbappe’s absence on the outskirts of Madrid, 18-year-old Brazilian striker Endrick made his first league start as England international Jude Bellingham dropped to the bench.

Left-back Fran Garcia twice went close for Madrid, his initial effort palmed away by David Soria before he blasted the rebound high and wide.

It wasn’t long before Guler broke the deadlock after Brahim Diaz looked to have wasted the chance.

Real Madrid worked the ball back out to Guler, whose powerful 20-yard drive flashed past Soria despite the Getafe goalkeeper getting a hand to it.

Endrick thought he had scored only his second La Liga goal after being put through by Vinicius Junior, but Soria took the sting out of his shot, and Djene cleared off the line.

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Getafe created opportunities of their own, the best of which fell in the second half to an unmarked Mauro Arambarri, who dragged wide with only Thibaut Courtois to beat.

Courtois came to Madrid’s rescue in stoppage time as he smothered inside his six-yard box after Peter and Juanmi tried to force the ball home from close range.

Getafe substitute Alvaro Rodriguez, who is on loan from Madrid, nearly snatched an equaliser at the death but saw his low shot beaten away by Courtois.

Inaki Williams fired Athletic Bilbao to a 1-0 home win over Las Palmas earlier on Wednesday to strengthen their chances of direct qualification for next season’s Champions League.

The Basque side sit fourth with five games to go, eight points clear of fifth-placed Villarreal, who suffered a 3-0 defeat at Celta Vigo.

Bilbao also have a Europa League semi-final against Manchester United to come, and should they win that, they will play the final in their home stadium.

Five La Liga sides qualify for the Champions League this season. Sixth-placed Betis are a point behind Villarreal ahead of their encounter with rock-bottom Valladolid on Thursday.

A fifth-minute goal from the elder Williams brother after he turned a defender in the box and side-footed home with the outside of his boot was enough for all three points.

Bilbao needed two sharp saves from Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon before half-time as relegation-threatened Las Palmas went down fighting.

Alaves climbed out of the bottom three at the expense of Las Palmas with a 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad.

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