Carlo Ancelotti analiza la polémica victoria del Real Madrid ante el Bayern 4-2 2017 Sergio Ramos hit back at Gerard Piques cryptic tweet. (Getty Images)
Zinedine Zidanes side required extra time to secure a 4-2 win over Bayern to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, while Cristiano Ronaldo made it 100 goals in the competition with his hat-trick.
12 of Ronaldo"s most ridiculous Champions League stats and records
Madrids win was overshadowed by a series of controversial decisions as two of Ronaldos goals should have been chalked off for offside, while Arturo Vidal was harshly given a second yellow card byHungarian referee Viktor Kassai for a challenge on Marco Asensio.
Shortly after Ronaldos goal which made it 2-2, Pique posted on Twitter: , seemingly in reference to the fact that the 32-year-old was in an offside position.
Gerard Piqu (@3gerardpique) April 18, 2017
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And when asked about his rival after the match, the Madrid captain was quick to point out thatBarcelona have also benefited from decisions inthe Champions League this season.
Nothing new. Im not surprised, Ramos said.
He should rewind and look back to the PSG game and see if he thinks the same about the referees.
MORE: Arturo Vidal slams referee after Bayern Munich robbery in Real Madrid defeat
MORE: Carlo Ancelotti told referee he did a good job after Bayern Munichs defeat to Real Madrid
Ronaldo, along with club captain Sergio Ramos, wants the player back.
He feels the Argentina international would be a huge signing and one that can help them continue to challenge for silverware both domestically and on the European stage.
However, it is said Bale thinks differently.
The ex-Tottenham star is concerned that his return would be a big step back for the club.
Instead, he would rather see the likes of Marco Asensio and Lucas Vasquez given a chance to shine.
Real Madrid vs Deportivo Alaves 3-0 2017 - Highlights & Goals Stewart Robson doesn"t see Bayern posing much of a threat to Real Madrid when they square off in the UCL quarterfinals.
At some point during Real Madrid"s successful trip to Leganes on Wednesday, this scribe caught himself cursing Luka Modric. The Croatian had joined the team in the 85th minute. After just a couple of plays, he had the chance to find Marco Asensio on the left with some room to run, but decided against it and passed the ball to Danilo on his right.
The realisation that, after five and a half seasons, Modric had finally taken a passing decision I disagreed with was shocking, but it was explained by my own biased interest: I wanted Asensio to get the ball in every single play until the end of the match.
As a football fan, few things are as satisfying as a successful youngster making it big for your team"s senior side. Even though Asensio doesn"t quite fit that profile -- he was signed from Mallorca at age 18, so he"s hardly a Real Madrid product -- the fact that the club invested in a fresh talent, loaned him to Espanyol so that he could develop, and then brought him back to play with some of the best offensive players in the business feels good. It seems like that policy, also applied to Dani Carvajal and Casemiro, is working like a charm.
However, Asensio"s case is special. Rooting for his success has little to do with the club"s recruiting policy or its loan agreements, but with the sheer joy of playing and watching football. Asensio is not business, he"s fun.
Marco Asensio is emerging as one of Real Madrid"s brightest young talents this season.
In the past few decades, the sport has indeed become more professional, more tactical, better structured and, yes, a bit more predictable in the way games happen and even plays within a game unfold. Very few players have the gift of making the unexpected happen, and when one of those is a young prospect of your team, it feels like you have a treasure you"d rather not share with anyone.
Asensio"s talent and self-confidence allow him to generate advantageous situations when he"s obviously in numeric or physical inferiority -- or both! His accuracy, the speed at which he moves with the ball or makes decisions, his selflessness when he can find an open team mate, it"s just a gift to watch him play. And he still carries himself without the gravity of the professional, showing the fun of the kid that loves to play and for whom football hasn"t yet become a job.
His stats this season show that he"s one of those players who shine, rather than disappear, when surrounded by talent. With nine goals in 26 matches across all competitions, he"s already surpassed his scoring figures with Espanyol last season: four in 37 matches in which he played around 1,100 minutes more than in this term. With the competition he faces in Isco and James Rodriguez in the attacking midfielder position, or Lucas Vazquez and Gareth Bale as a winger, the fact that he"s putting up those numbers is more than remarkable.
Ahead of the Madrid derby, Football Whispers looks into the stats behind Real and Atletico.
But restricting Asensio"s impact on this Real Madrid to a set of facts and figures would take us back to the conception of modern football as a numbers game, when the potential of the young leftie from Mallorca goes well beyond that. On the pitch, he takes some real madrid fans back to the times of yore when one would go to the Santiago Bernabeu every other week just to watch one single player grow and evolve. He reminds us of the coming of age of Raul Gonzalez and Emilio Butragueno, when you would see sparks of the players they would later become combined with a youthful, exuberant energy they would progressively lose as years went by.
Asensio"s performances have given many Real Madrid supporters reason to feel good about watching his team play in a way they hadn"t for a while, and that alone is already great news. But his ceiling is still unknown, and that is the most exciting aspect of the Asensio hype, even if it means having to curse Modric every once in a while.
Eduardo Alvarez covers Real Madrid and the Spanish national team for ESPN FC. Twitter: @alvarez.
Sorteo UEFA Champions League 2017 | Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid || Juventus vs FC Barcelona |
Real Madrid C.F. went five points clear a the top of La Liga after coming through a testing game at Athletic Bilbao to win 2-1 thanks to Brazilian midfield lynchpin Casemiros strike on Saturday.
Karim Benzema fired Real ahead in the 25th minute with an exquisite first-time finish from a Cristiano Ronaldo cross after Casemiro had begun the move with a clever long ball from the halfway line.
Read more | West Bromwich Albion F.C. inflict more misery on Arsenal Football Club
Athletic worked hard to get back into the game and, after real keeper keylor navas produced a brilliant save to deny Inaki Williams, veteran striker Aritz Aduriz headed the home side level from close range in the 65th minute.
Casemiro restored Reals lead in the 68th, however, by controlling a Ronaldos flicked header from a corner and calmly taking his time to tuck the ball into the net from close range thanks to some careless defending.
Read more | FIFA U-17 World Cup: Mali friendlies for Indian team deferred, says AIFF
Real lead on 65 points from second-placed Barcelona, who have also played 27 games and host Valencia on Sunday.
SD Eibar vs Real Madrid 1-4 - Full Highlights - 04/03/2017 HD 1080i broken dyb
Argentine ace wants future sorted with contract talks still ongoing and is not enjoying playing in Bianconeri"s system
PAULO DYBALA is growing frustrated at his prolonged contract talks at Juventus and is disgusted with recent decisions made by Max Allegri, according to reports in Italy.
The Argentine striker is a target for Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid after proving his class in Serie A.
EPA
Paulo Dybala endured one of his most frustrating displays against Udinese
Juventus are hopeful of tying him down a long-term deal for their prized asset.
Keep up to date with ALL the Juventusnews, gossip and transfers on our club page
They are eight points clear at the top of the table, with a 3-1 lead over Napoli following the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg and one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals after winning 2-0 in Porto.
But TuttoSport report everything is not so rosy.
AP:Associated Press
Paulo Dybala is billed as a future Ballon dOr winner and football superstar
.
Antonio Conte leaves Juventus game as forward Paulo Dybala is subbed - Is it proof he"s interested?
Dybala turned in arguably his worst performance in a Juventus shirt and cut a frustrated figure during the weekends 1-1 draw with Udinese.
It led his former boss at Palermo, Gennaro Gattuso, to comment: He looks stressed.
I have seen Dybala with a different expression over the past four or five weeks.
He doesnt smile and everyone knows he is a happy lad.
EPA
Paulo Dybala scores a penalty against Napoli in Coppa Italia semi-final
Getty Images
Paulo Dybala is Paul Pogba"s heir in terns of Juventus" No.1 superstar
Juventus director, Giuseppe Marotta, claimed talks would commence over a new contract before Christmas but so far nothing has been confirmed.
Sevilla vs Real Madrid 2-1 - Full Highlights - 15/01/2017 HD 1080i
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Real Madrid vs Sevilla 3-0 - All Goals - 04/01/2017 HD 720p
A Gareth Bale-style goal from 20-year-old Marco Asensio, a Sergio Ramos Paneka penalty, and a third goal from Karim Benzema with the last kick of the game, put Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals and took their unbeaten run to 40 matches.
Sevilla came into the second leg 3-0 down from the first game but they are the team that never know when they are beaten and with the help of a debut goal from former Manchester City forward Stevan Jovetic they so nearly turned the tie around and ended Madrid"s run.
Asensio"s strike was the pick of the six goals and good enough to win any game. He galloped from deep inside his own half to score it, covering 70 metres in 11 seconds.
Sevilla players celebrate after Danilo"s own goal put them in the lead after just 10 minutes of the last 16 second leg
The Brazilian full back headed the ball past his own goalkeeper from close range to give the hosts the perfect start
Sevilla"s Vicente Iborra picks up the ball out of the net and runs back to the centre circle to get the game going again
Marco Asensio is embraced by manager Zinedine Zidane after scoring a magnificent solo goal to equalise
Stevan Jovetic put Sevilla back in front shortly after Asensio"s strike as they chased an unlikely second-half comeback
Sergio Ramos scored a Panenka penalty to reduce the deficit for Real Madrid inside the final 10 minutes on Thursday
Ramos gestures towards the home fans after securing Real"s safe passage to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey
Not since Bale ran from the halfway line in the Copa del Rey final in 2014 had we seen anything like it. He did not make the Bale detour off the pitch but he showed the same power and control to finish after such a lung-busting run. Against another rival it might have put the game to bed but against Sevilla it merely kick-started the drama.
They had come into the game needing an early goal and they got it from an unexpected source. Real Madrid left-back Danillo threw himself at Pablo Sarabia"s cross and headed it past his own goalkeeper Kiko Casilla.
That made it 3-1 on aggregate and Sevilla were lifted with Wissam Ben Yedder going close on several occasions as Madrid wobbled. Danilo was booked for a foul as his night got no better.
Madrid threatened too and Mariano had a goal chalked-off for offside. They were soon up against former Manchester City striker Jovetic. He came on for his debut replacing the injured Joaquin Correa just before half-time.
Before he could make his mark on the game Asensio made his. He was inside his own half when Real Madrid keeper Casilla punched the ball clear. He glided past the first white-shirted opponent midway inside his own half, then proceeded to run the length of the pitch to score.
It was Sevilla forward Luciano Vietto who tried to stay with him but he was out-paced and overpowered and when Sevilla keeper David Soria came out to close the angle, Asensio slipped the ball through his legs and it trickled over the line.
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has his eyes on the ball as he battles for possession with Ben Yedder
Sevilla"s Argentinian striker Joaquin Correa fights for the ball with opposite number Alvaro Morata by the touchline
Sevilla"s French centre-back Adil Rami shields the ball from Real Madrid forward Mariano during the first half
Sevilla"s Gabriel Mercado jostles for possession alongside Real Madrid"s Spanish forward Alvaro Morata
It was some goal but such is the cup spirit of Sevilla it did nothing to dampen spirits in the Sanchez Pizjuan.
They made it 2-1 on the night and 2-4 on aggregate when Jovetic announced himself formally on his new Spanish stage. Sergio Escudero crossed from the left and the Montenegro forward lashed a shot past Casilla.
Sevilla"s ballsy coach Jorge Sampaoli was going for it now. He had held back some first teamers with one eye on Sunday"s league repeat of this fixture. But he threw on Samir Nasri and Vitolo to roars from the home supporters.
Sevilla duly closed the gap to one goal on aggregate with their third of the night. Casilla failed to deal with a cross from the Sevilla right and when he pushed the ball out into Vicente Iborra"s path the midfielder poked the ball home to make it 3-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.
There were still ten minutes left and Real Madrid appeared to be hanging on but Ramos eased their nerves. Casemiro was bundled over in the box and with his former supporters abusing him behind the goal he dinked a Panenka penalty past Soria to finally kill off the never-say-die home side.
Madrid even got to keep their unbeaten run going when Benzema struck on 93 minutes to make it 3-3 on the night. Madrid through, and still seemingly invincible.
Sevilla midfielder Pablo Sarabia attempts to charge down Real Madrid"s Marcelo as he plays the ball forwards
Mariano rues a wasted opportunity as a much-changed Real Madrid side were frustrated in the opening period
Königliche Reise mit dem BVB! | Real Madrid - BVB Shaka Hislop and Alexis Nunes bite into the days juiciest transfer rumours. The FC crew discuss how a Tottenham win over Chelsea Wednesday could impact the title race in the Premier League.
A report in Tuesday"s Daily Mirror claims Real Madrid want to sign Tottenham Hotspur"s Dele Alli next summer. ESPN FC assesses Alli"s chances of becoming the next British Galactico.
Reasons for
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has backed Alli to become one of the best players in Europe in the next decade -- and Real Madrid want the best players. In May, Alli was named as the most-marketable footballer in the Premier League by SportsPro, and this will also appeal to Real from a non-football perspective.
When the Spanish giants come calling, there is nothing much anyone -- even a master-negotiator like Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy -- can do. Spurs are a big club but Real are an empire, and they could offer Alli the biggest stage in football and treble his salary without a second thought.
Real have previous form here too, having already prized Luka Modric and Gareth Bale away from Tottenham. Spurs do not want to lose Alli but, if he wants a move, Levy would rather sell to real than a Premier League rival like Manchester United or Chelsea.
If the chairman can extract a huge fee, north of 60 million, for Alli and sign a replacement like Everton"s Ross Barkley for half of that, he may consider it sensible business while Spurs continue to fund their new stadium.
There is something about Alli reminiscent of Zinedine Zidane and it"s easy to imagine that the current Real Madrid head coach admires the 20-year-old"s style.
Real Madrid are reportedly interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur"s Dele Alli next summer.
Reasons against
Real Madrid only tend to buy the Premier League"s very best players and Alli, for all his talent, is not there yet. His start to this season has been patchy and he has only recently hit form with consecutive doubles at Southampton and Watford.
Real found World Cup-winner Mesut Ozil inconsistent, so they will not have much patience with Alli, who is just 20 and still learning. Los Blancos already have Isco and James Rodriguez -- four and five years Alli"s senior, respectively -- who are struggling to make Zidane"s XI, so adding another to the mix seems unlikely.
What"s more, Spurs don"t want to sell Alli and, although Pochettino recently said that he is worth 50m, Levy extracted 85m from Madrid for Bale. In today"s market, he could reasonably ask for a similar fee, which would definitely deter even the Champions League winners.
There is also the issue of Alli"s temperament: he was involved in a number of incidents last season, including a punch on Claudio Yacob which earned him a three-match ban, and he has been criticised for diving this term. Real may want to wait to see if he grows out of such behaviour, which could prove costly in the biggest games, before making a move.
The player himself only signed a new six-year contract with Spurs in September and he recently said he is happy at White Hart Lane after links to French giants Paris Saint-Germain. He is mature and level-headed enough to realise that there is no better place for him than at Tottenham.
Verdict
There are reasons to think that Alli is a good fit for Real Madrid but next summer would be too soon for him to join Real. If the England international continues his upward trajectory and establishes himself as one of the top two or three players in England, he has the technique and attitude to succeed at the Bernabeu.
For now, though, he would be better to stay at Spurs and continue his development under Pochettino, who is one of the best managers in the game at improving young English talent.
Dan is ESPN FC"s Tottenham correspondent. Follow him on Twitter: @Dan_KP.
Real Betis vs Real Madrid 1-6 All Goals & Highlights 2016
Zinedine Zidane praised Real Madrids attitude after they put a four-game winless run behind them by thrashing Real Betis 6-1 in a relentless display away from home on Saturday.
Real were missing their captain Sergio Ramos and the influential midfielders Luka Modric, Casemiro and James Rodrguez but raced into the lead in the fourth minute when Raphal Varane nodded in Toni Krooss cross from a free-kick.
The players are talented and intelligent, and they knew they had to begin the game in the way they did. When we play with that intensity from the start its very difficult for our opponents, Zidane said.
Now we have to remain consistent and this game was a great display, a reference point. Its not easy to play like this away from home.
The German international Kroos, who signed a new contract with the club until 2022 on Wednesday, compensated for the absence of his usual midfield partners with a powerful display and also teed up Karim Benzema for Reals second.
The Spain international Isco made the most of the opportunity his sides injury crisis afforded him by scoring Reals fourth and fifth goals either side of the break.
First he finished off a frenetic counterattack, tapping Pepes pass into the net after an arrowed cross from Cristiano Ronaldo, and just after the hour mark he sent a majestic curled effort into the far top corner.
He played very well and Im very happy with his goals and his overall work. Im delighted with his display, added Zidane.
When you love football and you see your team score a goal like our fourth, with very few touches and with the speed of the transition, you just want to watch it again and enjoy it, and thats what Im going to do.
The left-back Marcelo got on the scoresheet to mark his return from three weeks out through injury, and the talisman Ronaldo grabbed the final goal to round off a happy night for Real after a difficult month.
Những Pha Phản Công THẦN TỐC - KINH ĐIỂN Của Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo marked his 350th game in a Real Madrid shirt by saving their blushes with a late free-kick against Sporting Lisbon to help them stage a late comeback and win a game they looked like losing.
Ronaldo"s strike cancelled out the visitors" 46th minute opener and when Alvaro Morata headed in James Rodriguez" cross with the last move of the game, Zinedine Zidane"s team had somehow taken all three points from a match they struggled in throughout.
Jorge Jesus" lively Sporting side had taken full advantage of the fact that the Champions League holders were not so much resting on their laurels as fast asleep on them for the most part and Bruno Cesar gave them a rude awakening when he scored the opening goal.
Scroll down for video
Alvaro Morata gleefully runs away to celebrate after completing Real Madrid"s comeback on a dramatic night at Bernabeu
Cristiano Ronaldo sends towards goal the free-kick that broke Sporting"s resistance on a night when Real didn"t get going
The Portuguese reins in his celebrations against the club where he first came to the attention of the footballing world
Bruno Cesar curls home the goal that gave Sporting Lisbon the most improbable of leads at Real Madrid"s Bernabeu Stadium
Cesar"s features betray a mix of delight and disbelief after he capitalised on Real"s hesitancy to clinically find the net
The Portuguese team"s players are c**k-a-hoop after grabbing an advantage in Madrid that must have surprised even them
MATCH FACTS
REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Casilla, Carvajal, Varane, Ramos,Marcelo,Modric, Casemiro, Kroos (Rodriguez 77),Bale (Lucas 67),Benzema (Morata 68), Ronaldo
Unused subs: Beto, Schelotto, Paulo Oliveira, Andre Felipe
Booked: Adrien Silva,William Carvalho,Zeegelaar.
Goal: Bruno Cesar 47
Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (Italy)
Ronaldo"s response was his 94th Champions League goal and as promised he barely celebrated it against the first team he ever played professionally for.
In truth there was very little to celebrate from such a below par performance from Madrid. But Ronaldo always scores against Sporting he did it twice for Manchester United - and his late free-kick was perfectly placed past Rui Patricio.
Real Madrid did not concede a single goal at home last season as they won this competition. Already that defensive record has been broken but the win is all that matters and Rodriguez and Morata, who both started the game on the bench, combined to deliver the three points.
Sporting were coming into the game on a run of four straight league wins and they had the first chance when Cesar found a surprising amount of space on the edge of the area and curled his shot just wide of Kiko Casilla"s right post.
They fashioned the second chance too when Gelson Martins shot from the right and Casilla had to palm the shot away.
Gareth Bale was the first to threaten for Madrid. He broke down the right cutting past Marvin Zeegelaar and his shot was smothered by Patricio at his near post. Bale then swapped wings and crossed dangerously from the left only for Ruben Semedo to clear. On the three year anniversary of the Welshman"s debut for Real Madrid he was their brightest player.
For Sporting, Martins was giving Marcelo a torrid time down the Madrid left. The 21-year-old looks like being the next big thing to come from the club"s Alcochete Academy and several times in the first half he exposed the space behind the Brazilian full back.
Sporting"s Euro 2016 winning keeper Rui Patricio just about stretches far enough to take the ball off Raphael Varane"s head
Sporting apply the squeeze to Ronaldo, with Portuguese"s compatriot Adrien Silva in pursuit and Sebastian Coates waiting
Sporting defender Marvin Zeegelaar adopts a rather rudimentary approach to trying to get a handle on Real Madrid"s Bale
Former Liverpool defender Coates shows no little athleticism to clear ahead of Real"s German playmaker Toni Kroos
When he crossed dangerously on 33 minutes all it needed was a touch from a team-mate on the edge of the six-yard area and Real would have been behind.
Bale was clattered by Joao Pereira and hobbled off at half time. It looked like 50-50 challenge but Real Madrid were awarded a free-kick and from it Ronaldo skimmed the top of the net.
The Wales star appeared to tell Zidane he was fine to carry on some good news for the Madrid manager after watching his side put in an average first half performance against a spirited and confident Sporting side looking every bit like the best team in Portugal on current form.
Bale did emerge for the second half but the real Real Madrid did not. They looked just as off the pace at the start of the second period and it was no surprise when they went behind on 46 minutes.
Real"s late act of escapology leaves Champions League Group F looking like most would have expected after Matchday One
Brazilian left back Marcelo gets his foot on the ball but the home team were lethargic from the outset against Sporting
Sergio Ramos, trying to become the first man to lead a side to successive Champions League triumphs, outjumps Bryan Ruiz
REAL MADRID: NEXT FIVE FIXTURES IN EUROPE
27 September:Dortmund (A)
18 October:Legia Warsaw (H)
2 November:Legia Warsaw (A)
22 November:Sporting Lisbon (A)
7 December:Dortmund (H)
Not surprisingly it was Martins who carried the ball forward with menace but Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric seemed to get in each other"s way as both tried to clear and the ball ran to Cesar, who swept it in from the edge of the area.
Sporting coach Jesus was sent off for dissent after William Carvalho was booked but from his new position just behind the dug-out everything must have looked rosy with Real showing no sign of breaking down his team.
Zidane finally made changes with 20 minutes left. Bale was still feeling his hip after the knock he picked up at the end of the first half and he was replaced by Lucas Vazquez. Morata came on for Karim Benzema.
Vazquez made a difference with his direct running and from his cross Dani Carvajal volleyed over. Marcelo misplaced another pass and Zidane played his last card with Rodriguez coming on for Toni Kroos.
It was to be crucial when the Colombian set up the winner for Morata after Ronaldo"s timely intervention.
Ronaldo was continuing his comeback from the knee injury he sustained in the final of the summer"s European Championship
Real defender Dani Carvajal snaps into a challenge on the Portuguese team"s Costa Rican former Fulham attacker Ruiz
The two sides" respective managers, Jorge Jesus (left) and Real"s Zinedine Zidane, exchange pleasantries before kick-off
Sporting Lisbon"s travelling fans can"t conceal their excitement at the prospect of watching their team in action in Madrid
Real Madrid vs Osasuna 5-2 All Goals 10/09/2016 HD 1080i
Pepe has revealed the one Barcelona player he would like to see sign for Real Madrid.
The Portugal defender was asked to name one player from their fierce rivals he would love to see wearing the white of Los Blancos by Spanish radio station Cadena Ser.
But instead of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez or Neymar, the Pepe named compatriot Andre Gomes.
He said: "No, I think we"re alright... Andre Gomes? Yes, we played together in the national team, but he wanted to go to Barcelona.
Gomes moved to the Nou Camp this summer for 41.7million but is yet to feature for Luis Enriques side this season.
Sergio Ramos will begin his journey to make history when Madrid face Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League this evening.
Ramos scored as the La Liga giants beat fierce rivals Atletico Madrid to lift the trophy back in May.
He is now aiming to become the first man to lift the trophy in consecutive years.
No team has ever retained the Champions League under the current format.
Manchester United have come the closest, but lost to Barcelona in the 2009 final.
Gareth Bale is dreaming of winning the Champions League in his hometown in Cardiff.
This season"s final takes place at the National Stadium in the Welsh capital next June.
And Bale, who has won the competition twice since joining Madrid from Tottenham in 2013, is dreaming of lifting the trophy in his own back yard.
I played in the 2014 Super Cup in Cardiff and it was an amazing experience to have my friends and family close by," he said.
I suppose theres a little more motivation if there needs to be any more. Our aim is to win. We have only found out who is in the group. Its a difficult group.
Everyone wants to beat Real Madrid. We will just be concentrating on getting out of the group.
We know we have a chance to make history and we will be trying our best to do that.
Carvajal"s goal seals it for Real Madrid late in extra-time | 2016 UEFA Super Cup Highlights
Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to Real Madrid training just a month after suffering sprained collateral ligament damage in his left knee.
The Portuguese sustained the injury in the first half of the Euro 2016 final against France on July 10.
It was thought that the 31-year-old would need eight weeks to recover but now it appears he is ahead of schedule.
Portuguese teammate Pepe was there to greet Ronaldo at Ciudad Real Madrid on the outskirts of the Spanish capital.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe return to training after a post-Euro 2016 vacationRonaldo continues to build back strength in his knee
Zinedine Zidane"s side did not need Ronaldo to dispatch Sevilla 3-2 after extra-time in the UEFA Super Cup on Tuesday with Dani Carvajal scoring a superb winner.
Los Merengues face Real Sociedad in their La Liga opener on August 21, which could be circled as the game that Ronaldo returns in some capacity.
Ronaldo suffered the injury during the first half of the Euro 2016 final
Next up is Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu on August 27.
Madrid then have a two week gap before taking on Osasuna on September 10 - which could be a wiser date to play again to ensure the former Man United star has completely recovered.
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Carvajal"s goal seals it for Real Madrid late in extra-time | 2016 UEFA Super Cup Highlights Mesut Ozil would swap Arsenal for move back to Real Madrid (Picture:Getty)
Arsenal star Mesut Ozil would reportedly be ready to make a transfer back to former club Real Madrid immediately.
Reports emerged this morning that the Germany international has been stalling on signing a new contract at the Emirates Stadium despite talks over the summer.
Rumour Mill: our round-up of football gossip, rumours and speculation
Arsenal have also struggled to tie Alexis Sanchez down to a new deal, but it is further reports from Germany that will be worrying for Gunners supporters.
According to Bild, Ozil would be enthusiastically ready to make a return to Real Madrid, the club he left Arsenal for just three years ago.
The Spanish giants have twice won the Champions League since the 27-year-olds departure, while he has had to make do with just two FA Cups and repeated failure in the title race and in Europe with Arsenal.
While Ozil is said to be happy living in London, it is thought that he wants to win more major trophies, and hinted in an interview that hes not been too impressed by the clubs lack of transfer activity this summer.
MORE: Arsenal make improved bid for Premier League superstar
Real Madrid vs. Sevilla | 2016 UEFA Super Cup Highlights
Manchester United have announced the signing of Paul Pogba in a world-record transfer from Juventus.
Pogba, 23, has signed a five-year contract with the option of a sixth season after United agreed to pay the Italian champions 105million (89m) over the course of two years.
That figure beats the estimated 85m that Real Madrid paid Tottenham for Gareth Bale in 2013 in the previous world-record deal.
Juventus revealed United could owe them a further five million euros (4.25million) if certain sporting targets are reached during the course of Pogba"s contract.
Pogba left United four years ago for a nominal fee, and went on to win four Serie A titles and the Coppa Italia twice while his reputation grew - persuading Jose Mourinho to pay a colossal sum to bring him back to Old Trafford.
"I am delighted to rejoin United," Pogba said. "It has always been a club with a special place in my heart and I am really looking forward to working with Jose Mourinho.
REAL MADRID 1-1 (5-3) ATLÉTICO DE MADRID | UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GOLES | ¿LEWANDOWSKI AL MADRID?
Martin Meissner/Associated Press
Reported Real Madrid target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will leave Borussia Dortmund this summer, according to his national-team coach.
As reported by Marc Williams of the Daily Star, when asked about why the Gabon international was left out of his most recent squad, manager Jorge Costa gave a fascinating response: Aubameyang asked me not to be selected because he is in the process of changing club.
ASnoted "Aubameyang was in the stands at the San Siro[on Saturday] to watch Real Madrid beat city rivals AtleticoMadrid on penalties in the Champions League final."
Williams noted that aside from Real Madrid, the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City and Barcelona are also interested in the striker.
However,Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke deniedAubameyang is leaving. "Is Aubameyang set to leave? That"s bulls--t,"Watzke toldSport Bild (h/tStefanCoertsof Goal)when questioned about a potential transfer.
It was a memorable season for Aubameyang, as a string of scintillating displays at the point of the attack saw the 26-year-old cement his status as one of the best forwards in the game. Here is a recap of some of his best moments of the campaign:
Under Thomas Tuchel, the forward has made tremendous progress.Aubameyang blends his stunning raw speed and dribbling ability with composed finishing, an area of his game that held him back previously in his career. Playing through the middle on the shoulder of the last man has allowed him to be devastating in the final third.
Aubameyang would fit in well alongside Real"s current attacking options.
He has all the attributes to become a Real Madrid player should that come to fruition. Los Blancos are synonymous with direct attacking football and moving the ball quickly through the phases to exploit the weaknesses of opponents. Its the kind of setup thatd see Aubameyang thrive, especially if he had Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo flanking him.
As noted by BBC Sports Oluwashina Okeleji, the player once toldCadena Cope hed love to sample La Liga too:
Dortmund will be desperate to keep hold of the striker, as hes epitomised the manner in which they play under Tuchel. However, BVB have always been open to cashing in for the right price, and if there is so much interest in their star man from so many illustrious clubs, they could command a huge fee.
Itd be easy to see why Real would be intent on getting him on board too. Karim Benzema aside, theres no other natural No. 9 available to manager Zinedine Zidane; Aubameyang would offer a frightening new dimension.
Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has dismissed speculation about a possible transfer, insisting he is happy to remain in the Spanish capital.
I dont have any worries [Real Madrid will look to sell], no, said the Germany international, per James Walters of the Daily Star. "The media now says a lot hinges on the outcome of the [Champions League] final, but I have played two very good years here and have taken a central position in our game right from the beginning.
Kroos added he feels as though his standing is good at the club despite links with a move to both City and United.
Theres certainly been an upturn in form fromKroos since Zidane took over at Real in January. As noted by Squawka Football, he was a crucial influence in the clubs successful UEFA Champions League campaign:
Kroos quality has never been in doubt. With the ball at his feet, hes incredibly gifted, able to ping passes long distances, dictate the tempo of a game and take the pressure off his team with his quick feet. But there were times last season when the German was exposed by Los Blancos" system.
Kroos has been much improved under Zidane"s guidance.
With Casemiro nestled at the base of the midfield, Kroos doesnt have to worry too much about defensive duties. Hes allowed to shuffle forward, pick possession up higher up the field and have a greater say in more dangerous areas. Provided he continues to be protected, the 26-year-old could be a key player at the Santiago Bernabeu for many years yet.
Getafe vs Real Madrid 1-5 - Full Match Highlights - 16/04/2016 HD 1080i
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Manchester United have been named as the most profitable club in world football following a study conducted by Forbes.
As reported by Lee Astley of the Sun, the business magazine ran a study looking into the numbers behind top clubs in 2014-15, when United made a massive 132 million. Real Madrid were second on the list, having posted a 112 million profit. The Red Devils city rivals, Manchester City, were third with 91 million.
Aside from the two Manchester clubs, the Premier League also had Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in the top 10 spots, which were rounded out by Barcelona, Juventus,Bayern Munich and Schalke.
Commercially, theres no denying United are in excellent shape. Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward has his critics among the club"s supporters, but hes been central to securing a succession of key, profitable partnerships.
The Red Devils, despite their slump since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, secured a whopping 750 million kit deal with Adidas in 2014. A report from the Daily Mirrors James Whaling in February noted that the club has a staggering 70 commercial partners in total.
Oliver Holt of the Mail on Sunday suggested the pursuit of off-field tie-ups has come at the cost of performances on it:
Indeed, the club is not having the best campaign under the guidance of Louis van Gaal. Its a season that could still end positively as United could feasibly win the FA Cup and still have an outside chance of finishing in the UEFA Champions League spots. But they are synonymous with challenging for the biggest prizes, and theyre a long way off doing so.
As midfielder Bastian Schweinsteigers social media post suggested in the wake of Uniteds 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday, getting into the top four is very much the main aim for this group of players:
If United are to continue prospering financially, a sustained spell of competing at the top level is vital.
Jack Gaughan ofMailOnline noted earlier this season that should United fail to qualify for next seasons Champions League, as well as the 2017-18 edition, their revenue from the deal with Adidas would be slashed by around 30 per cent.
Its also stated that while this is arguably the most vital contract the club has in place, there are no stipulations in other deals thatd see the Red Devils short-changed as a result of underachievement on the field.
There may be other sponsors who inserted something but those figures are nowhere near United"s huge global partners, added Gaughan.
It means United will once again be likely be able to compete for the best players in the world. However, with the Premier League more awash with money than ever before, reported by Nick Harris for MailOnline, its imperative thats supplemented by evident progression on the field too. At the moment, United havent got that balance right.
Published: 12:00 EST, 6 April 2016 | Updated: 17:10 EST, 6 April 2016
What a difference four days make there were no dressing room selfies in the Volkswagen Arena for Real Madrid after they went down 2-0 in Germany and now face Champions League elimination.
They started the game with a confident post-Clasico swagger but limped out of it having completely under-estimated the team currently placed eighth in the Bundesliga.
Gareth Bale was comfortably Real Madrids best player but Julian Draxler was in inspired form for the home side and Zinedine Zidane had lined his team up with no apparent plan as to how to contain him with Danilo back in the side at right back and having a night to forget.
CLICK HERE TO READ PETE JENSON"S FULL MATCH REPORT
Having come from behind to beat Barcelona in El Clasico, Real Madrid will be hoping to continue their fine form when they visit Wolfsburg in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
Cristiano Ronaldo was on target as Real Madrid triumphed at the Nou Camp and the forward was also on the score sheet as Madrid defeated Roma 4-0 on aggregate in the last 16 of the Champions League - with the German side now in his sights.
Wolfsburg are huge underdogs heading into the first leg of the quarter-final having reached this stage after beating Gent in the last 16. Follow all the action with Sportsmail"s ANTHONY HAY.
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid 0-1 Extended Highlights [ English Commentary ] 27.02.2016
First Posted: Mar 03, 2016 07:08 AM EST
Real Madrid bounced back on Wednesday with a 3-1away win against Levante. The win came several days after Los Blancos lost to crosstown rivals, Atletico Madrid. However, an overhaul is expected since the La Ligais out of reach with Barcelona sitting pretty at the top of the table.
According to a report by Marca, Madrid are looking to sell two of their technically gifted young players, James Rodriguez and Isco. Both players have failed to find their form this campaign as Madrid lag behind Atletico and Barcelona in the La Liga table.
The final three months of the season will be very vital for the future of James and Isco as they try to impress manager Zinedine Zidane. If both fail to find their form, a replacement from the English Premier League is reportedly in place.
Incoming Hazard
According to the latest tabloid rumors via FOX Sports, the transfer fees from the sale of James and Isco will fund the arrival of Chelsea forward Eden Hazard. Kristof Terreur of Het Laatste Nieuwsmentioned on Twitter that Marca claims that Zidane is a fan of the Belgian international.
In an interview with the Le Parisien, Hazard appreciates all the praises Zidane has given him. He said as quoted by ESPN, "Of course, Zinedine Zidane gets you interested. He was my idol when he was a player and he"s been saying good things about me for a long time."
However, Hazard is not having the best season of his career as Chelsea may not finish within the top four of the EPL. His form has gone south since winning the 2014-2015 PFA Player of the Year after helping the Blues lift the Premier League trophy, per The Guardian.
The 25-year-old has a contract at Stamford Bridge until 2020 but has expressed his desire to join Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. Current Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink challenged him to find his form and fitness in order to increase his value.
If Hazard indeed becomes the new "Galactico" signing, he forms an incredible quartet of attackers with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.
Ronaldo Issue Over
Marcarecently reported that Ronaldo might be leaving the Spanish capital after criticizing his teammates. Sport360stressed out how important CR7 is to Madrid and Zidane seems to agree.
"Cristiano has spoken with everyone. Myself and everyone. The issue is already in the past. We know how important Cristiano is and we"re with him," Zidane said as quoted by Football Espana.
Tags Real Madrid, Madrid, Los Blancos, Atletico Madrid, barcelona, zinedine zidane, james rodriguez, Isco, Eden Hazard, Chelsea, La Liga, English Premier League, Guus Hiddink, Cristiano Ronaldo
2015 Latin Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao 4-2 All Goals (Full Screen) 13/2/2016 (HD) Cristiano Ronaldo hit home his 12th Champions League goal this season, leading Real Madrid to a 2-0 win over AS Roma. The ESPN FC crew analyse Zinedine Zidane"s tactics in Real Madrid"s 2-0 victory over AS Roma.
Real Madrid beat Roma 2-0 in their Champions League last-16 first leg at the Stadio Olimpico, with away goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Jese giving them the upper hand.
Ronaldo, who hadn"t scored an away goal in any competition since Nov. 29, put Real Madrid up 1-0 in the 57th minute with a curled effort that deflected past Roma goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
Real dominated possession in the first half, pinning Roma back in their defensive third for large chunks of the game, but couldn"t find a way through.
Roma did look dangerous on the counter-attack on several occasions, with Mohamed Salah and Stephan El Shaarawy forcing the action when the Italian side broke free of their own half.
Real"s best chance of the first half came when Ronaldo flipped the ball to Marcelo in the Roma penalty area, but the Brazilian"s curling first-time strike went just wide of the far post.
El Shaarawy nearly put Roma ahead before half-time when he collected a long pass just past midfield and ran at Keylor Navas" goal only to be denied at the last second by a retreating Dani Carvajal.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the opener in Real Madrid"s 2-0 win vs. Roma.
Roma came out the stronger of the two teams after the break, once again finding plenty of space on the counter. Radja Nainggolan"s effort from 18 yards was deflected away and El Shaarawy almost got to the ball as Navas came off his line to sweep away.
However, Real Madrid soon got the upper hand as Ronaldo chased down a through ball from Marcelo, cut back and hit a curling effort that beat Wojciech Szczesny after deflecting off Alessandro Florenzi.
The goal was Ronaldo"s 33rd in the Champions League on the road over the last six seasons.
A desperate Roma weren"t done, though, with Salah"s pace continuing to open up opportunities to run at Real Madrid"s goal. The Egyptian nearly played substitute Edin Dzeko in with a curling cross after a run down the right flank.
Minutes later, Dzeko laid the ball off toWilliam Vainqueur following a goalmouth scramble, but the midfielder"s well-struck volley blazed wide.
Dzeko again got in on goal in the 80th minute, but his quick turn and shot hit the side netting.
Roma players felt hard done when the referee did not point to the spot following a late Carvajal tackle on Florenzi in the Madrid penalty area.
Substitute Jese scored the clinching goal when played through in the 86th minute, firing beyond Szczesny into the bottom corner, and Zinedine Zidane"s team were able to kill off the remainder of the match.
The win marked Real"s first away win in their last nine attempts against Italian sides, with their last win on Italian soil a 3-0 victory against Roma in 2004.
The two teams meet again at the Santiago Bernabeu on March 8 to determine who will advance to the quarterfinals.
