BBC Sport pundit Nedum Onuoha and tactics correspondent Umir Irfan join Sam Harris to discuss Trent Alexander-Arnold’s tough return to Anfield with Real Madrid.
READ MORE: Liverpool ‘back to their best’ as they dominate Real Madrid
Warnock said: “There is a great player in Conor Bradley, but he needs to stay fit and get a run of games to build up a relationship with Salah. These things can take time, even with the best players.
“Trent leaving has had an impact on Salah. Their partnership, if not exactly unnoticed, was almost taken as read. Yes, they are world-class individuals, but it was also a partnership.
“They really complemented each other. Trent could go inside, draw people towards him, which freed up more space for Salah. And when Salah drove at people he had the ability to feed Trent because teams were backing off.”
Alexander-Arnold’s comfort in possession with his fellow defenders, plus the ability to move into midfield, means his presence is also sorely missed elsewhere.
Warnock said: “I think Ibrahima Konate probably misses him as well. He knew he could give Trent the ball under pressure. I think it is having an impact on the right-hand side of the pitch, both in defence and attack.
“Liverpool also created a box system in the centre of midfield, which they did so well, when Trent was in the side.
“There was a lot of praise given to Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, but Trent was a big part of that as well. Losing that extra body in the midfield area, when he was in there, is also missed because opponents were drawn to him, fearful of what he could create.”
Jeremie Frimpong, signed in a £29m deal from Bayer Leverkusen to compete with Bradley for the place vacated by Alexander-Arnold, has had his Anfield start curtailed by hamstring injuries.
Warnock said: “The biggest issue with Frimpong is not only injuries, but what is his best position? At Bayer Leverkusen he spent a lot of time as a right wing-back.”
Dominant football win moves defending La Liga champions to second place in the standings, five adrift of archrivals Madrid.
Published On 2 Nov 20252 Nov 2025
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Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford struck for Barcelona as they earned a 3-1 win over Elche in La Liga to bounce back from last weekend’s El Clasico defeat and move back into second place to trail leaders Real Madrid by five points.
Barca continued to struggle in defence and Elche had chances to cause an upset on Sunday, scoring through Rafa Mir, with the striker also twice hitting the woodwork.
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Hansi Flick’s Barca have failed to keep a clean sheet in six consecutive league games, in the midst of an injury crisis.
The champions were missing Pedri, Gavi, and Joan Garcia among others, but were able to bring on Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo following spells out of action.
Teenage star Lamine Yamal underwhelmed in last week’s defeat by Real Madrid after coming back from a groin issue, but looked more spritely against Elche.
Coached by Eder Sarabia, a former Barcelona assistant coach under Quique Setien, the ninth-placed visitors came to play and impressed.
Barca took the lead after nine minutes when Alejandro Balde drove forward and fed Yamal in the area.
The winger took a touch to set himself and then whipped a clinical finish past former Barca goalkeeper Inaki Pena, a teammate of his last season.
Three minutes later, Torres doubled the hosts’ advantage, tapping home after Fermin Lopez broke into space down the left and provided an inch-perfect cross.
The striker revealed a T-shirt paying tribute to Valencia, his home region, a year on from the deadly flooding that hit Spain’s east coast.
Lopez and Rashford fired narrowly off-target while Pena saved from Torres as Barca squandered some presentable chances.
Mir pulled a goal back shortly before half-time. Barca tried to catch the forward offside, but he was in his own half when he was played in. Mir bent a shot past Ronald Araujo and Barca goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and in at the far post.
Torres might have scored again before the interval, but Pena produced a superb save to tip his strike to safety.
Early in the second half, Mir clipped the top of the crossbar with a curling effort as Elche battled well.
Rashford sealed Barca’s victory with a superb finish after Lopez picked him out with a cross, for his second league goal of the campaign.
Veteran goalkeeper Szczesny pushed a Mir effort onto the post to save Barca sweating over their advantage in the final stages.
“It was very important to start strong and intense. From there, we could take the game where we wanted it to go,” Torres told DAZN.
“We knew the type of game they were going to play, and we started very strong. We were a bit off afterwards, but we found our spirit and our intensity again in the second half.”
There has been tension and, at times, the atmosphere has been cold between Vinicius and Alonso.
The incident that defined the current mood came in the final training session before the Club World Cup semi-final against PSG. Vini, who had started every match until then, was told he would be a substitute. He did not take it well and Alonso stood firm, determined to show that no player, however talented, is beyond instruction.
That dynamic has continued.
The manager has insisted Vinicius will not finish every game, that he needs to rest more, and Rodrygo will challenge him for a place on the left side of the attack. Alonso’s stance is rooted in authority and planning. Vini Jr, used to being indulged, has found it hard to adapt.
The coach’s approach is consistent with the way he was as a player: methodical, controlled and, on top of that, he has the personality to be unafraid of confrontation. He wants every member of the squad to understand who sets the tone. For him, managing Real Madrid means creating order, not deferring to star power.
Vinicius, meanwhile, feels treated like any other player when he expected a closer, more personal relationship. The warmth he shared with Ancelotti is missing, replaced by professional distance.
Follow the build-up, analysis and live text commentary of the game as Madrid host Barcelona for Spain’s El Clasico.
Published On 26 Oct 202526 Oct 2025
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Bellingham’s start to the season was inevitably difficult, having had shoulder surgery in July for a long-standing injury he sustained in 2023.
He missed 63 days of training and playing, including five matches for Los Blancos.
In his first appearance back in late September, he was welcomed to the pitch with a huge roar as his return thrilled the Madridistas.
“Bellingham has nothing to prove on Sunday,” said Real supporter Carlos Campillo. “He already does that with every game he plays in and every assist he makes. He doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone but himself.
Fellow fan Juan Antonio Lillo added: “It’s not a decisive game for him. He needs to keep picking up pace and getting a feel for the game. It’s just one more step towards reaching the level he needs to be at and he’ll get there sooner or later.”
Since Bellingham’s return, he has appeared in six more fixtures in all competitions, slowly increasing his minutes and trying to rediscover his best form.
For much of that stretch, however, his influence was limited – until this week, where his match-winning goal in the Champions League against Juventus reignited the Bernabeu’s belief – and perhaps his too.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a big team”, Bellingham told US broadcaster CBS after scoring his first goal of the season.
“To score a winner here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was important, and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”
Bellingham shone in his debut season at the Bernabeu, scoring 19 goals in La Liga, but his form dipped slightly in 2024–25 as Madrid finished the campaign without a major trophy.
“I didn’t think last year was a disaster,” he reflected. “[It was] still 15 goals, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year.
“There were still good moments, but not the level I want to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we want to play.”
Real Madrid see off improved Juventus in UCL win, while Liverpool come back in Frankfurt and Victor Osimhen stars again.
Jude Bellingham scored his first goal since June as Real Madrid saw off a spirited performance by Juventus to win 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu and maintain their 100 percent record in this season’s Champions League.
The goal on Wednesday was created by Vinicius Jr, who in the 58th minute took on three Juventus players and made space to shoot. His attempt rebounded off the post for Bellingham to slot home his first goal of the season since returning from shoulder surgery.
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Juve are winless since September 13 and have gone seven consecutive matches without a victory in all competitions. They have secured just two points from three Champions League games, while Madrid have nine points.
The Italians did, however, draw a number of fine saves from Real keeper Thibaut Courtois as they defied the record Champions League winners for nearly an hour.
The Belgium international stopper remained pivotal even in the dying moments as Juve applied the pressure in search of an equaliser, with Filip Kostic’s long-range strike needing to be pummelled away.
Liverpool emphatically rebounded from a miserable run as it won 5-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday.
There were also comfortable wins for Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
Liverpool travelled to Germany on a four-game losing streak that included Sunday’s home defeat to Manchester United in the Premier League. Among its recent setbacks was also a loss at Galatasaray in its second league-phase match.
Rasmus Kristensen gave the home side the lead in the 26th minute, but Liverpool levelled nine minutes later through former Frankfurt player Hugo Ekitike, who outsprinted three of his former teammates before firing a low effort under Michael Zetterer.
Ekitike didn’t celebrate but raised his hands in an apologetic gesture.
Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate headed in corners within five minutes of each other to give Liverpool a comfortable halftime lead.
Florian Wirtz provided his first Champions League assist in the 66th, setting up Cody Gakpo for a tap-in, and he did it again four minutes later for a low drive from Dominik Szoboszlai from 30 meters out.
Chelsea beat Ajax 5-1, while Bayern topped Club Brugge 4-0.
Victor Osimhen continued his impressive scoring record in Europe to help Galatasaray to a 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt.
Osimhen netted two first-half goals to extend his scoring streak in continental competition to seven outings – with nine goals in that period – stretching back to Galatasaray’s Europa League campaign last term.
The Nigerian forward came close to a hat-trick on several occasions, notably in the 60th minute when his attempt was parried by Nikita Haikin, but Yunus Akgun tucked away the rebound for Galatasaray’s third.
Substitute Andreas Helmersen grabbed a consolation for Bodø/Glimt shortly after coming off the bench.
Substitute Roberto Navarro had an immediate – and stunning – impact as he helped Athletic Bilbao to its first points in this season’s Champions League, with a 3-1 comeback victory over Qarabag.
Navarro was brought on in the 65th minute, with the score 1-1, and gave the hosts the lead five minutes later with a delightful curled finish into the far corner.
Qarabag, which was surprisingly perfect going into the encounter, had taken the lead after just 49 seconds through Leandro Andrade.
But Gorka Guruzeta levelled shortly before halftime and also gave his team a two-goal cushion with full-time looming.
Follow our live build-up, with full team news coverage, ahead of our text commentary stream of the UCL tie.
Published On 22 Oct 202522 Oct 2025
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Follow our live build-up, with the latest team news coverage, ahead of our full text commentary stream of the UCL football fixture.
Published On 21 Oct 202521 Oct 2025
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Who: Real Madrid vs Juventus
What: UEFA Champions League
Where: Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain
When: Wednesday, October 22 at 9pm (19:00 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 6pm (16:00 GMT) before our live text commentary streams.
La Liga leaders Real Madrid host Italy’s Juventus at the Bernabeu Stadium, with both sides looking to improve their UEFA Champions League (UCL) ladder position in the Matchday 3 showdown.
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Real, who are one of just six unbeaten sides remaining in the UCL and sit second on the ladder behind Bayern Munich, would want nothing less than three points against Juventus before their next fixture against English champions Liverpool on November 4.
Juventus are languishing in 23rd position in the group phase standings – near the elimination zone – with only two draws so far against Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal. They desperately need a victory against Los Blancos on Wednesday to keep pace with the leaders.
Here is all to know before their high-stakes encounter:
Kylian Mbappe extended his goalscoring streak to 11 consecutive games to help Real Madrid reclaim top spot in La Liga with a 1-0 victory at nine-man Getafe on Sunday.
After rivals Barcelona briefly displaced Real with a narrow win over Girona on Saturday, Xabi Alonso’s side restored their two-point advantage before next weekend’s Clasico.
Juventus lost 2-0 at Como in Serie A on Sunday, another disappointing result after five successive draws in all competitions for Igor Tudor’s side.
Juve slumped to seventh position in the standings, four points behind leaders AC Milan.
Real Madrid have won the UEFA Champions League 15 times, making them the most successful team in history. They most recently won the title two years ago, in the 2023-24 season, beating German side Borussia Dortmund 2-0.
Juventus have won the trophy twice. Their most recent title was in 1996 against the Dutch side Ajax. Juve did make the UCL final as recently as 2017, losing 4-1 to Real Madrid.
The two mega clubs last played on July 2 at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
Real won the round-of-16 showdown 1-0, edging Juventus in a tight affair to reach the quarterfinals thanks to a second-half strike from Gonzalo Garcia.
The last time Real and Juventus clashed in the Champions League was on April 11, 2018, when Cristiano Ronaldo’s dramatic 98th-minute penalty sent Madrid through (4-3 on aggregate) to their eighth consecutive UCL semifinal.
Alonso will continue to be without several starting-calibre players heading into Wednesday’s contest against Juventus.
Defender Dean Huijsen, who suffered a micro-tear in his left calf muscle during international duty for Spain in early October, is out of the squad. Initially diagnosed as a strain, the injury now threatens his availability for the Clasico fixture against Barcelona on October 26.
Austrian international David Alaba limped off during Sunday’s game against Getafe with a calf issue, and the 33-year-old is a game-time decision. If he is unavailable, then Raul Asencio would likely move into the starting XI.
The side is further weakened by the ongoing absence of four other defenders, as Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger and Ferland Mendy are all sidelined.
Coach Tudor will be without centre back Gleison Bremer as he recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery, with the Brazilian expected to be out until mid-November.
Also missing from the defence line is left back Juan Cabal, who continues to rehabilitate a thigh injury suffered in Juve’s 2-2 draw against Villarreal in the Champions League on October 1.
Winger Edon Zhegrova is questionable to play against Real Madrid after he reinjured his hip.
It is unclear which formation Tudor will deploy against Real after he ditched his preferred 3-4-2-1 setup during their upset loss to Como on Sunday.
Thibaut Courtois (goalkeeper); Fede Valverde, Eder Militao, Raul Asencio, Alvaro Carreras; Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Franco Mastantuono; Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappe
Michele Di Gregorio (goalkeeper); Pierre Kalulu, Daniele Rugani, Lloyd Kelly, Andrea Cambiaso; Khephren Thuram, Manuel Locatelli, Teun Koopmeiners; Francisco Conceicao, Jonathan David, Kenan Yildiz
Real Madrid and Juventus have faced each other 21 times in the Champions League, with Los Blancos having the slight advantage in total victories.
Real Madrid: W-L-W-W-W (All competitions, most recent result last)
Juventus: D-D-D-D-L
Marco Penge held his nerve in a play-off to defeat fellow Englishman Daniel Brown and take the Spanish Open title in Madrid.
Penge held a four-shot lead over nearest challenger Joel Girrbach going into the final round, while he was five shots better off than Brown.
However, he only had a one-shot advantage going to the 18th on Sunday after his lead was trimmed.
After Penge made par to finish with a one-over 72 for his final round at the Club de Campo, Brown sank a birdie putt for a 67 which forced a play-off as both finished on 15 under.
At the first time of asking in the sudden-death play-off, Penge birdied the 18th with an eight-foot putt to secure a third European Tour title of the season.
Penge’s victory in Spain also means he has automatically qualified for the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale next year.
“It was a strange day for me,” said Penge, who carded 66, 67 and 64 in his first three rounds.
“I had it in my head that the golfing gods were kind of against me in a way. Dan and Joel played great, they were holing putts and putting the pressure on me.
“I just couldn’t get it in the hole. It felt like I was really up against it, but I felt like I managed myself really well.”
Penge was given a three-month ban in December 2024 for placing bets on multiple events, with one month suspended for a year.
He has resumed his career in fine fashion and said: “I think tee to green I played solid and it was just a matter of the putts – I think I used them all yesterday, but holing that one [on the play-off hole] was worth the wait.”
Switzerland’s Girrbach finished with a 69 as he ended up in third place on 14 under.
Three-time champion Jon Rahm carded a closing 65, which included seven birdies and a bogey, as the Spaniard finished tied for ninth at his home Open.
Footage shows rescue dogs and workers combing through debris after a building collapse in central Madrid killed four people, including three construction workers and an architect. The six-story building was being converted into a hotel. Several people were also injured.
Published On 8 Oct 20258 Oct 2025
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The hostility towards Vinicius is real – and it has names, dates, and court sentences.
He has been insulted in stadiums across Spain. He has testified in trials after a black mannequin wearing his shirt was hung from a bridge.
He has seen fans being sanctioned with suspended sentences for racist abuse in Valencia and Mallorca, largely thanks to LaLiga’s efforts to ensure those actions do not remain unpunished within a judicial culture that long treated football’s “industrial” language and “banter” with indulgence.
And yet, each time he reacts – pointing to the stands, asking referees to act, refusing to pretend it didn’t happen – the same voices reappear: “Yes, they insult him, but he should behave better.”
It’s as if his protest and his provocation didn’t come from the same place. His gestures, his anger, his resistance all emerge from living in a context that demands he smile while being insulted.
To be a black footballer is to play under constant scrutiny in Spain. Every movement becomes evidence in a cultural trial. Every expression is judged through a gaze that demands docility.
Spanish football insists it isn’t racist, and maybe that’s part of the problem. The bias isn’t shouted; it’s whispered through commentary, coded in tone.
That’s Vinicius’ existence: being himself while constantly measured by someone else’s comfort.
This fight happens every weekend, in stadiums and studios alike. His dance is joy, but also defiance. His anger is not petulance – it’s protection.
Spain’s moral code still confuses composure with virtue. It rewards the player who remains calm, who never challenges the crowd, who fits the image of the polite star. But that code was built in a football world that no longer exists.
Today’s players are not silent idols. They are global citizens, performers, brands, and sometimes activists. Visibility is a tool. Vinicius understands that his presence and his defiance carry meaning.
Yet, instead of recognising that courage, much of the public reads it as provocation. He isn’t misunderstood because he behaves badly; he’s misunderstood because his existence unsettles old certainties about who gets to define respect.
He also represents something else – the transformation of the footballer into a public narrative. The modern player doesn’t just play; he builds identity through social media, sponsorships, personal branding.
Lamine Yamal’s birthday celebration – luxury, lights, spectacle – is a sign of that new world. His display can be read as authenticity, an embrace of modern fame.
Vinicius, however, is treated differently. He is loud, but his noise has purpose.
He stands at the crossroads of football, race, and modern celebrity – a figure both sociological and sporting.
He’s not just a winger; he’s a symbol of a new generation of athletes who refuse to shrink themselves to fit into someone else’s comfort.
Vinicius Junior doesn’t need to change for Spain to understand him. Spain needs to change to understand itself.
A Vinicius Jr brace helped Madrid reclaim top spot in La Liga after Kylian Mbappe limped off with an ankle sprain.
Published On 5 Oct 20255 Oct 2025
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Vinicius Jr scored twice as Real Madrid wrapped up a 3-1 home victory over 10-man Villarreal on Saturday, but lost Kylian Mbappe to injury after the star forward limped off minutes before full-time.
Real now sit atop the La Liga standings on 21 points, two clear of Barcelona, who visit Sevilla on Sunday. Villarreal are third on 16 points.
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The game was deadlocked in the early stages, but Real began to pile on the pressure as the clock ticked past 20 minutes.
Aurelien Tchouameni rose to meet a cross, but his header drifted just wide of the post.
Moments later, Mbappe pounced on a loose pass as the visitors tried to play out from the back. The Frenchman squared the ball to Franco Mastantuono, whose shot from point-blank range was deflected over the bar by defender Renato Veiga.
Villarreal also had chances in the first half as Tani Oluwaseyi broke into the box and found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who produced a sprawling save.
Xabi Alonso’s Real side eventually broke the deadlock just after the break when Vinicius picked up the ball near the left byline, drove into the box and squeezed a shot in from a tight angle that deflected off Villarreal midfielder Santi Comesana.
The Brazilian forward doubled his tally from the penalty spot in the 69th minute, having been brought down by Rafa Marin, with his effort just squeezing under goalkeeper Arnau Tenas.
However, four minutes later, Villarreal proved they had come to the Santiago Bernabeu to fight as Georges Mikautadze pulled one back with a low strike from the edge of the box.
The drama continued in the 77th minute, when Villarreal defender Santiago Mourino was sent off after a second booking for a foul on Vinicius, leaving the visitors on the back foot.
The impact was immediate as Mbappe scored Real’s third in the 80th minute after Brahim Diaz broke through and laid the ball back for the striker to complete the victory. A short time later, Mbappe went down with an ankle injury and was replaced by Rodrygo as Madrid saw the game out.
It’s autumn and Madrid is breathing a collective sigh of relief. Everything is open again and the intense heat, which seems to ooze out of the walls and up from the pavements in summer, has mellowed to pleasantly warm. It’s the perfect temperature for languishing on a cafe terrace with the sun tickling your skin as afternoon slips into evening. Noise levels are back to normal, which means cacophonous.
It feels like the entire population is out on the streets, catching up with their friends and chatting about all the things they want to do, the films they want to see, the new bars they’ve heard about and the restaurants they fancy trying over the next few months. If you could do with a boost, spend a few days in the Spanish capital this autumn.
The dazzling light and clear blue skies lift your mood as soon as you arrive. Madrid being the highest major capital city in Europe may have something to do with that. It is a comparatively young capital too. Arabs from north Africa settled here in the ninth century, building a citadel where the royal palace and Almudena cathedral are now, but Madrid only really got going when Philip II moved his court here from Toledo in 1561, establishing the city as the new capital of Spain.
To get a sense of the city’s history, walk from the Puerta del Sol – the centre not just of Madrid but the whole of Spain – to the 17th-century Plaza Mayor, which is framed by redbrick buildings with slate roofs and spindly spires. Then stroll along Cava Baja, the curving street that follows the course of the 12th-century city wall. Vestiges survive in the basements of several bars and restaurants that originated as inns and taverns for the merchants and travellers who arrived by stagecoach.
In Madrid, you absorb the city’s heritage just by walking around. In the Barrio de las Letras, or literary quarter, the bar-lined streets are named after the great writers who lived there in the 16th and 17th centuries, such as Miguel de Cervantes, Francisco de Quevedo and Lope de Vega.
You could spend weeks in the city’s big three museums – Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofia – but try to fit in some others too. The Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando gets a fraction of the visitors, despite being just off the Puerta del Sol and having astounding collections that include Goya, El Greco, Picasso and Francisco de Zurbarán.
This autumn I’m looking forward to the Suma Flamenca festival (14 Oct-2 Nov), where leading flamenco dancers, singers and musicians will be performing new work such as Flamenco Gospel by Juan Carmona. The main festival venue is the Teatros del Canal, an arts complex designed by Juan Navarro Baldeweg, one of Spain’s most renowned architects, who is also an artist (an exhibition of his work is on at Centro Centro until 14 December). The Teatros del Canal is also a hub for the Festival de Otoño, (6-30 Nov), one of the cultural highlights of the year, with theatre, music and more by Spanish and international artists.
The Chamberí district, where the Teatros del Canal is found, is in a less touristy area, just north of downtown. The most traditional and characterful areas of the city, considered the homes of a “pure” and distinctive Madrileño spirit, are called barrios castizos – and Chamberí certainly fits that description. Base yourself here for a more authentic feel – try the palatial and stylish One Shot Fortuny hotel, which has doubles from around £160 room-only in October.
As you explore, take in the flowers spilling over the wrought-iron balconies and the gleaming fruit and vegetables outside little shops (particularly the mushrooms at this time of year) and peer into the tiny, tiled bars where locals are having a quick coffee or beer. Walk in, find yourself a place at the bar and you’ll wonder why you don’t live in Madrid.
Trafalgar, the part of Chamberí closest to the centre, is fast becoming one of the most fashionable parts of town, but still has a laid-back, family vibe. I’ve been meeting friends in the Plaza de Olavide for decades and seen it undergo umpteen makeovers.
Eight streets flow into the square, bringing a constant stream of people searching for friends and dragging chairs to form messy configurations of all ages that change constantly as the night wears on. It’s normal to arrange to meet one friend here, and end up with a table of 10.
New bars, restaurants, galleries and boutiques are opening in traditional premises here, but I love that the people behind them are keeping the original fixtures and fittings or hunting down zinc or steel counters and revamping old bar stools to recreate the castizo character, while also adding their own contemporary vibe. Pop into Bar Trafalgar for a cocktail – or maybe a vermouth and a smoked ham and cheese toasted sandwich – and you’ll get the idea. It’s the kind of place that works at any time of day or night. I love the Olavide Bar de Libros too, both a bookshop and a cafe – browsing books and sipping a glass of wine are two of my favourite things.
Also on my list this autumn is International Architecture Week (until 13 Oct, although some exhibitions run beyond that date). The programme includes an Álvaro Siza exhibition (until 9 Jan 2026) at the Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de Madrid, a short stroll from the Plaza de Olavide. This is followed by Madrid Otra Mirada (16-19 Oct), when you can visit historic buildings and gardens that are not usually open to the public.
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At the Fernán Gómez Centro Cultural de la Villa, Leica: A Century of Photography, 1925-2025, features work by Sebastião Salgado, Steve McCurry and Alberto García-Alix and runs until 11 Jan. And I’ll be booking ahead for Warhol, Pollock and other American spaces at the Thyssen-Bornemisza (21 Oct-25 Jan).
While there’s certainly a lot to see and do at this time of year, you don’t want to get too hung up on packing your days with plans. Madrid is all about going with the flow. Drift around Parque del Buen Retiro for a couple of hours, taking in the startlingly vivid magenta and ochre tones of the oak, chestnut and willow trees. Exit the park on the east side, where Calle de Ibiza and the surrounding streets have become a gastronomic hotspot. I love tapas at the bar at La Catapa or La Taberna de Rox, although both also have tables if you want to rest tired feet.
For more autumnal hues, it’s now a lot easier to visit the elegant Campo del Moro gardens, which slope down from the royal palace to the Manzanares River. There used to be only one entrance, down by the river – which always felt like too much of a hike after traipsing around the palace. A lot of people weren’t aware that the gardens were open to visitors. Now, thank goodness, you can get in from the top end, from the Cuesta de San Vicente or the Cuesta de la Vega, which is really handy if you are going to the Royal Collections Gallery as there is direct access.
If you haven’t been to Madrid for a few years, this museum, which opened in 2023, is a must, with paintings by Bosch, Titian, Velázquez and Goya as well as a vast array of treasures collected by Spanish monarchs over the centuries, housed in a spectacular building designed by Emilio Tuñón and Luis Moreno Mansilla.
Walk down through the gardens – maybe stopping for a drink on the cafe terrace at the bottom – and cross the river to reach the Casa de Campo, the largest green space in Madrid. I rarely get beyond the lake, where there is a string of restaurants with tons of outdoor tables. A plate of garlic prawns with fried eggs at Villa Verbena invariably seems like an excellent idea at this point. It’s worth going just for the view of the Madrid skyline.
Back in the centre, head for Lavapiés, which is one of the most castizo neighbourhoods in Madrid but also the most international, with a huge range of places to eat and drink. Not that you need any excuse for a night out here, but the Tapapiés tapas and music festival (16-26 October) is a particularly good time for a mooch around. More than 100 bars and restaurants are taking part and are offering a tapa and a beer for €3.50. There’s going to be live music, dancing, processions and kids’ activities too. If all that’s not a good enough reason to book a stay, I don’t know what is.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has been given a one-match ban for “unsporting conduct” by Uefa following his clash with Liverpool supporters at Anfield earlier this month.
After Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk scored a 92nd-minute winner in Atletico’s 3-2 defeat, Simeone reacted after he appeared to be goaded by a small number of home fans.
The Argentine complained to the fourth official with a number of stewards positioned between him and the Liverpool supporters.
Simeone had to be dragged away from the scene and continued his protests before he was sent off and walked down the tunnel.
His ban lasts for one competitive Uefa fixture, meaning he will miss his side’s home game against Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday (20:00 BST).
Speaking in the news conference after the Liverpool match, the 55-year-old said: “Firstly I regret the part I played. It’s clear we are in a position where we do not have the right to react and it is not good when we react.”
Simone said he “could not remember exactly” what had been, but he took issue with the “insults throughout the whole game” from the home supporters.
“We [managers] are in a position where we are protagonists/standard bearers, so in the same manner that we fight against racism and insults in stadiums today, we could also fight on behalf of the managers, against the insults we receive throughout the whole game.
“It’s not easy to be in the position we are in and receive insults for the whole game. I saw it from far away after the third goal. I saw the third goal go in and I turned, the insults continued, and well, I’m a person.”
Liverpool, meanwhile, have been fined 4,000 euros (£3,492) for the throwing of objects.
Julian Alvarez scores twice as Atletico came from behind to inflict a first defeat of the season on city rivals Real.
Published On 27 Sep 202527 Sep 2025
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Julian Alvarez scored twice as Atletico Madrid came from behind to thrash city rivals Real Madrid 5-2 in a pulsating derby that handed the La Liga leaders their first loss after a perfect start to the season.
The thrilling encounter at a raucous Metropolitano stadium saw Atletico fight back from 2-1 down to claim a memorable victory that lifted them to fourth place with 12 points.
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Real Madrid remain top of La Liga on 18 points, two ahead of Barcelona, who have a game in hand.
Atletico’s aggressive start paid off when Robin Le Normand opened the scoring with a header in the 14th minute.
However, Kylian Mbappe burst through to level with an unstoppable strike from close range in a quick counter in the 25th minute, with Arda Guller netting a volley from a Vinicius Jr cross 11 minutes later to put the visitors in front.
Alexander Sorloth’s header in added time before the break gave Atletico a boost and they regained the lead five minutes into the second half when Alvarez converted a penalty after Guler’s high boot clipped rival Nico Gonzalez on the face inside the box.
After Alvarez extended their lead in the 64th minute with a sublime free kick into the top corner, substitute Antoine Griezmann sealed the win in a quick counter in added time.
Alvarez’s performance was sweet redemption after his controversial double-kick penalty contributed to Atletico losing to Madrid in last season’s Champions League.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico dealt Xabi Alonso his first loss of the season after Madrid had won all six La Liga games and its Champions League opener. Alonso’s only other loss since taking over as Madrid’s coach in the summer was against Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semifinals in July.
Barcelona can overtake leader Madrid with a win at Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Real Madrid coach Alonso admitted that his side deserved to lose the game.
“We were bad at everything. We couldn’t string passes together, we couldn’t win duels, we couldn’t create chances,” he said.
“We need to analyse what happened and get better, and we will.”
The Madrid coach tried to find positives from this painful defeat as he looked ahead to the rest of the season.
“This is a process,” he said. “We’re in a phase where we’re building an identity. We will get better, for sure.”
Who: Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid
What: Spanish La Liga
Where: Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain
When: Saturday, September 26, at 4:15PM (14:15 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 1:15pm (13:15 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.
Real Madrid have made a perfect start to the season under Xabi Alonso, but their new coach warned against complacency on Friday before his first Madrid derby in charge of La Liga’s leaders.
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Alonso spent five seasons as a player with Real but now takes his team to the Metropolitano stadium to take on Atletico in his latest role with his side in impressive form.
Real have won all six league matches, conceding three goals, and hold a two-point advantage over champions Barcelona.
“We’ve only played six and got full points, but some games were a real struggle, so we can’t get overconfident,” Alonso told reporters before Saturday’s game.
“You can’t think that just by stepping onto the pitch you’ll win because of the badge you wear or the squad we have. I believe the more we educate ourselves to come out switched on for any match at any ground, the more games we’ll win.
“And if we win a lot of games, if we have that natural activation, we can pick up a lot of points. But we mustn’t relax because a lapse can cost you.”
Alonso has faced Atletico as manager when in charge of Bayer Leverkusen – drawing 2-2 in Madrid in 2022 shortly after taking over the German club and losing 2-1 away last season – but going there with Real is a very different prospect.
“It’s definitely different going to the Metropolitano with any other club than with Real Madrid,” Alonso said.
“Because of the healthy rivalry, and I think that’s something beautiful, something that’s been enjoyed for many years, and hopefully, we can keep enjoying it tomorrow, as well.”
While Alonso’s Real are flying high, Diego Simeone’s Atletico have won two of their six league games, which leaves them already trailing their Madrid rivals by nine points, but those numbers are not so relevant at this stage.
Real have also failed to beat Atletico in the league over the last two seasons.
“The standings don’t say much right now,” Alonso said.
“Sure, we could extend the lead, but the match is going to be tough; it’s going to be tight. Winning at the Metropolitano isn’t easy; we’re going to have to work for it.”
Simeone has been in charge at Atletico for 14 years, but 43-year-old Alonso, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti in June, is not looking that far ahead.
“What Simeone has done over these 14 years at Atletico is very important, not just what he’s achieved,” Alonso said.
“I’m just starting out, so I like to take things step by step. I don’t set such long-term goals.
“The beginning has been good, and there’s a long road ahead, so we will see.”
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone famously hates to deviate from the here and now, but when his team host Real, it is difficult not to look both forwards and backwards.
The last time these teams met was in March in the Champions League last 16, when Atletico were eliminated after Julian Alvarez’s controversially disallowed shootout penalty.
The Rojiblancos seethed for weeks about the incident, with Alvarez ruled to have double-kicked the ball, and their season rapidly flew off the rails. Perhaps they have never fully recovered since.
STANDINGS | Here’s how the #LALIGAEASPORTS table looks after Matchday 6. pic.twitter.com/VlRzyf2ZRB
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) September 25, 2025
Atletico spent big in the summer, signing Alex Baena, David Hancko and Thiago Almada among others, for a total of more than 175 million euros ($204m).
“We want to recover in the best way we can,” said Simeone after his team came from behind to beat Rayo Vallecano 3-2 in a thrilling clash on Wednesday.
“We will have a really hard, difficult game against a side that has been winning all their games, and who have a tonne of very good players in their squad.”
Simeone this week became the coach who has spent the longest time in charge of a La Liga club, having arrived in December 2011.
Helping Atletico to reach two Champions League finals, both lost against Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016, as well as winning two La Liga titles, Simeone has taken the club to their very best moments.
Unfortunately, over the past few seasons, since they won La Liga in 2021, the team have fallen from their peak.
“The team needs to evolve to the height the club has,” admitted Simeone in August.
Alonso can match Vanderlei Luxemburgo’s record of seven straight league wins at the start of a season set in 2005, if Real emerge on top this weekend.
The main force behind Madrid’s excellent results is superstar striker Kylian Mbappe, who leads the scoring charts with seven. The France international ended last season in rich form and has continued that into the new campaign.
Atletico, by contrast to Real, lacked finesse in front of goal until Alvarez netted the first hat-trick of his career against Rayo to climb to four league goals.
“Julian is the best player that we have. We need to look after him, so he stays many years here at Atletico,” said Simeone.
“He has to help us and we have to help him, so he gets even better than he currently is. Each time he scores, he makes the difference, he helps us so much.”
Second-placed Barcelona host Real Sociedad on Sunday at the Olympic Stadium, hoping Real Madrid drop points so they can close the two-point gap to the top.
Spanish international Alex Baena returned from injury to start on the bench on Wednesday, while Alexander Sorloth is back from suspension.
Jose Gimenez, Johnny Cardoso and Thiago Almada, however, all remain absent due to injuries.
Alonso refused to give any clues away over his starting lineup, but said Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga were fit enough to start after recently returning from injury and playing as substitutes.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ferland Mendy and Antonio Rudiger all remain sidelined by injury.
Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, Hancko; Simeone, Koke, Barrios, Gallagher; Alvarez, Sorloth
Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni; Mastantuono, Guler, Vinicius; Mbappe
Marc Guehi tempted by Real Madrid move, Barcelona keep tabs on Erling Haaland and Liverpool interested in Carlos Baleba.
Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, 25, has informed his advisors he would prefer to join Real Madrid after his summer move to Liverpool collapsed. (Mirror), external
Barcelona have identified Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, 25, as a long-term replacement for forward Robert Lewandowski. (Football Insider), external
Premier League champions Liverpool are monitoring Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba. The 21-year-old Cameroon international also remains a target for Manchester United. (Teamtalk), external
Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are among a number of Premier League sides keeping tabs on Athletic Club and Spain midfielder Oihan Sancet, 25. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external
Manchester United are ready to offer England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 20, plus cash in order to sign Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde. However, Real see the Uruguayan midfielder, 27, as not for sale. (Goal), external
Bayern Munich and Manchester United are interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, 28, with the Netherlands international’s contract set to expire next summer. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external
Marcus Rashford’s hopes of a transfer to Barcelona have been dented by La Liga’s wage constraints. The Manchester United and England forward, 27, is currently on loan at the Spanish club but financial rules could impact any permanent deal. (Daily Mail), external
Senne Lammens turned down a move to Aston Villa in the summer in favour of joining Manchester United. The 23-year-old Belgian goalkeeper was identified as a potential replacement for Emiliano Martinez if he had left the club. (Birmingham Live), external
The agent of Spurs midfielder Xavi Simons says the 22-year-old Dutch international has “no regrets” following the collapse of his move to Chelsea over the summer. (Metro), external
Arne Slot has no hair left to lose but the man celebrating his 47th birthday might have been left feeling a few years older as his Liverpool team put him through the wringer again.
In the end, however, Liverpool were able to make it many happy returns for their head coach – but not before another dose of late drama that has characterised their winning start to this season.
The old cliche that 2-0 is the most dangerous lead in football is being given new meaning by Liverpool, who have lost this advantage twice in the Premier League this season – to Bournemouth and Newcastle United – and did so again against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
On each occasion, however, Liverpool have pulled back from the brink to win.
Such is the sheer force of will in Slot’s side, as well as the power of Anfield on Champions League nights, that there was almost an inevitability about Virgil van Dijk’s towering header deep into stoppage time that enabled Liverpool to open their Champions League with victory.
The Dutchman’s 93rd-minute winner was the fourth goal Liverpool have scored in the 90th minute or later across all competitions this season, with six of their eight second-half goals this season being scored from the 88th minute onwards.
Slot was able to celebrate wildly in his technical area once more, as he has done as Liverpool have won all their games this season in the last 10 minutes and into stoppage time, but even in triumph he must wish that Liverpool would not leave him and their fans knee-deep in chewed fingernails before they can celebrate.
Even Liverpool, for all their attacking prowess, will not be able to perform this trick every time. Their carelessness will be a concern for Slot, even if they have shown five times this season that they have what it takes to pull themselves out of trouble.
“A game like this should not have gone to a late winner,” Slot said.
“I understand that’s the story of this game and the last five games, but for me it is a different game than the ones we played before. We had so many great attacks today where we could have scored the third goal.”