Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde offered a measured and realistic assessment of his team’s 1-0 loss at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday night, praising Real Madrid’s quality while pointing to fixture congestion and missed offensive clarity as key factors in the narrow defeat. Valverde’s side, fresh off a…
Four numbers, in particular. Four numbers that jumped out from my notebook following Sunday night’s win, albeit against a very non-urgent, watered-down Athletic side: 4-4-2 Is the 4-4-2 the way to go? Real Madrid generated 22 shots and an xG of 2.41 — their highest mark since January 19. It may not be much, and…
Photo by Mateo Villalba/Getty Images Full match player ratings below: Thibaut Courtois—7: Only had to make one save on the night with Athletic defending mostly in a low block with many rotations after their Thursday Europa League game. Fede Valverde—8.5: Never gives up, and his 92nd-minute goal personified his spirit—willed that goal into existence and…
Kiyan and Matt down break down a solid performance and a thrilling Fede game-winner. PLUS: Best XI vs Barca? TORONTO PODCAST RSVP AUDIO: VIDEO: On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Matt Wiltse discuss: Why didn’t Real Madrid use this formation more this season? Should Kylian Mbappe replace Rodrygo in this…
Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images Ancelotti talked to the media after the 1-0 win over Athletic Club. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the media after Real Madrid’s 1-0 win over Athletic Club on Sunday night. He was asked about the system he used to beat Athletic, to which he said: “My…
Photo by Maria Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images Still in the title race… Real Madrid 1-0 Athletic Bilbao (Valverde). Back to winning ways. Here is the immediate reaction to the late win. Next for you: Player ratings, interviews and a ManagingMadrid podcast. After crashing out of the Champions League, it is interesting to see where the season…
Photo by Bruno Penas/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images All set! Real Madrid have published their starting lineup for the upcoming match against Athletic Bilbao in La Liga. Real Madrid starting XI: Courtois, Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Camavinga, Ceballos, Modric, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius. Athletic Bilbao starting XI (TBC): Simon, Gorosabel, Nuñez, Paredes, Adama, Vesga, Prados, Williams, Sancet,…
Photo By Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images Another April goleada. Another Bruun brace. Real Madrid beat Real Betis with the result 5-1 on matchday 26 of Liga F. Below are my thoughts and views on the match. Misa started in goal. Olga and Antonia started on fullbacks, with Lakrar and Méndez as the…
Photo by Pedro Castillo/Real Madrid via Getty Images Can Real Madrid get back to their winning ways? Real Madrid host Athletic Bilbao in the return of LaLiga to the Santiago Bernabeu. Los Blancos are wounded after their elimination from the Champions League, but they won’t have time to regroup as they must win this game…
Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images Real Betis fights for permanence in Liga F. Preview Real Madrid face Real Betis on matchday 26 of Liga F. Five games are left in this season’s league campaign and the first one on the list is the Andalusian team. Real Betis sit in fifteenth place on the table and…
