Real Madrid’s David Alaba is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament against Villarreal on Sunday.
The Austria international was forced off in the first half of his side’s 4-1 victory at the Bernabeu and tests have confirmed his and his club’s worst fears.
A statement from Madrid read: “Following tests carried out on our player David Alaba, he has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Alaba medical report.
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden)
“He will undergo surgery in the coming days.”
Alaba, 31, joined Madrid from Bayern Munich in 2021.
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Under-pressure Erik ten Hag defended his tactics and his players’ character as Manchester United look to bounce back from a pair of humiliating home defeats.
The misfiring Red Devils are under intense scrutiny after Sunday’s meek 3-0 derby defeat against Manchester City at Old Trafford was compounded against Newcastle.
United lost by the same scoreline as the Carabao Cup holders went out in the fourth round on Wednesday, with their eighth defeat in 15 matches making this the club’s worst start to a campaign since 1962-63.
Defiant Ten Hag said he was a “fighter” immediately afterwards but there have been suggestions that his players lack the same desire to dig themselves out of this current hole, starting with Saturday’s league trip to Fulham.
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Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall slammed the amateurish behaviour of the Women s Super League, who he feels are damaging English teams chances of success in European competition.
The Gunners are one of three English teams competing in the Women s Champions League group stages this season, along with Manchester City and Chelsea.
All three are due to commence their campaigns in midweek, but while Arsenal and City are in WSL action on Sunday, Chelsea s scheduled clash with Manchester United was postponed due to player welfare concerns.
Eidevall s side, who face Bayern Munich on Wednesday, then take on the Blues three days later, and the head coach feels his side are at a sporting disadvantage with their fixture congestion.
It s not a good situation, he tol…
Juventus were reduced to 10 and conceded for the first time this season in Serie A as a late Razvan Marin penalty snatched a 1-1 draw for Cagliari.
Dusan Vlahovic put Juve ahead with a penalty of his own in the 15th minute on Sunday.
Sebastiano Luperto, making his 150th appearance in Serie A, had been judged to have handled in the area after a VAR check.
Yet despite dominating the ball, with 73.7% possession, Juve were unable to find a decisive second goal, with Vlahovic guilty of squandering a fantastic chance in the 79th minute.
And they were made to pay when Marin converted from the spot after Douglas Luiz fouled Roberto Piccoli.
Juve s frustration was compounded when Francisco Conceicao picked up his second yellow card in the 89th minute, with…
Title races are the best, aren t they?
Months of games, so many ups and downs, goals scored and conceded, and yet it can all still come down to the finest margins in the closing minutes of the last day.
To paraphrase Homer Simpson, the winner is showered with praise; the loser is taunted and booed until my throat is sore.
With one matchday left, the title races in both Serie A and the Premier League are going to the final 90 minutes. Milan and Manchester City have their destinies in their own hands, but Inter and Liverpool are looking to respectively pounce on any stumble.
There is the potential for exceptional drama in Italy and England, but can the Nerazzurri and the Reds have much hope of pulling off the improbable and wrestling the respective title…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is bemused by criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo, who again rescued Manchester United a result in midweek at Atalanta.
After a Champions League brace, Ronaldo now has nine goals in 11 games for United this season heading into Saturday s Old Trafford derby against Manchester City.
The veteran forward scored three goals in his last five Premier League Manchester derbies in his first stint with United. Indeed, his final strike for the club before joining Real Madrid came against City in May 2009.
However, he is also the only player to have been sent off in two Manchester derbies in the Premier League.
Despite Ronaldo s goals, United have been unconvincing since he returned to the club this season, prompting some to suggest his role in the te…
Borussia Dortmund demolished Augsburg 5-1 in the Bundesliga on Saturday in a perfect dress rehearsal ahead of next week s Champions League semi-final return leg at Paris Saint-Germain.
Dortmund, who face PSG on Tuesday after their 1-0 first leg win in Germany earlier this week, enjoyed a whirlwind start with three goals in the first 29 minutes.
Youssoufa Moukoko struck either side of Doneyll Malen s 20th minute goal to quickly put the game to bed.
Augsburg cut the deficit in the 32nd minute with Ruben Vargas but the visitors restored their three-goal cushion through Marco Reus, who will leave the club after 12 years at the end of the season, in the 34th.
34 Aged 34 years and 339 days, Dortmund’s Marco Reus is the oldest player to be directly involved in…
Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw
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Molde FK and Cercle Brugge KSV will lock horns with each other in the UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round. The first leg of the tie between the Eliteserien club and the Belgian Pro League team will be held at the Aker Stadion and is scheduled to kick off at 6 pm UK time on Thursday.
Molde FK
Molde FK are one of the most well-known clubs from Norway and have a rich history. They have been successful as well, winning the Eliteserien five times and the Norwegian Cup on six occasions. Molde are one of two Norwegian clubs who have played in the UEFA Champions League.
MFK are trying to book their place in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League this season after finishing fifth in th…
Best odds: 13/25
Bookmaker:
The upcoming match between Barcelona and Girona on Sunday promises to be a significant encounter in La Liga.
Girona has indeed emerged as an significant surprise in the Spanish top flight this season, amassing an impressive 38 points from 15 matches, placing them second in the standings alongside Real Madrid. Barcelona, currently occupying the third position, trails Girona by four points, and that makes the match likely to prove an intriguing battle between the Catalan rivals at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
Barcelona
Barcelona s recent victory against Atletico Madrid was pivotal in maintaining their challenge in La Liga, securing a 1-0 win with Joao Felix, on loan from Atletico, scoring the only goal in the first half. With…
Ryan Babel has pulled out of the Netherlands squad ahead of Tuesday s final Euro 2020 qualifier against Estonia.
The Galatasaray forward was not intact after the 0-0 weekend draw with Northern Ireland and has returned to his club, according to statement from the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB).
Babel, 32, started in Belfast and lasted until the 90th minute before making way for defender Nathan Ake.
Ronald Koeman has now lost three of the players who started Saturday s stalemate, which was enough to confirm the Oranje s qualification for Euro 2020.
Virgil van Dijk was released from the squad for personal reasons, while Martin de Roon is suspended after receiving a third yellow card.
Netherlands are two points behind Group C leaders Germany …