Real do not impose sporting sanctions saying 500,000 euro fines concludes the ‘internal procedures’ against the pair.
Published On 8 May 20268 May 2026
Real Madrid have fined Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde 500,000 euros ($588,000) each after a training ground clash that left the latter needing hospital treatment.
The club did not impose any sporting sanctions on the two players, saying in a statement that the fine “thereby concludes the internal procedures” launched against them.
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Valverde will miss Sunday’s Clasico against Barcelona as a result of the head injury he suffered during the altercation. The club said he would be out for up to two weeks.
Tchouameni took part in training on Friday and could feature at Camp Nou this weekend.
Madrid said on Friday that both players “expressed their complete remorse for what happened and apologised to each other” while taking part in a club investigation.
“They extended their apologies to the club, their teammates, the coaching staff, and the fans, and both have made themselves available to Real Madrid to accept whatever sanction the club deems appropriate,” read a club statement.
Uruguay international Valverde was accompanied to the hospital facility near the club’s Valdebebas training complex by Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa, according to Spanish reports, which said the player needed stitches to treat a facial wound.
Valverde sought to downplay the severity of the altercation with the France midfielder.
“The strain of the competition and frustration caused the situation to escalate,” Valverde wrote on social media, expressing regret at the media coverage of the incident.
“I accidentally hit a table during the argument, causing a small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital,” he said.
“At no point did my teammate hit me, and I didn’t hit him either.”
According to reports, the two players quarrelled on Wednesday during training, and their argument continued on Thursday during and after the session.
Spanish media reported Valverde refused to shake Tchouameni’s hand and later fouled him in Thursday’s training session, with the pair scrapping afterwards in the dressing room when the injury occurred.
Tensions are running high at Real Madrid with the club on the verge of a second consecutive season without a major trophy.
Los Blancos trail Barca by 11 points at the top of La Liga, with Hansi Flick’s side able to clinch back-to-back league titles on Sunday if they do not lose.
Barcelona are set to storm La Liga this year and could seal title in Sunday’s Clasico, but what is the history of the Real Madrid rivalry?
Barcelona and Real Madrid will contest the 264th El Clasico when the Spanish giants come together in a La Liga clash on Sunday.
Rarely will there have been a more highly charged atmosphere with a heavily demoralised Real arriving in the Catalan capital, facing the prospect of watching their fiercest rivals crowned champions on the day.
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Although knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at the quarterfinals, as Los Blancos were too, Barca are well on course to defend their La Liga crown – and at a canter.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the talking points heading into the game and what the history is of a 124-year-old rivalry.
Will Kylian Mbappe play for Real Madrid against Barcelona?
The headline news surrounding Sunday’s game is the availability of Kylian Mbappe, with the French striker a doubt for the Clasico because of a hamstring injury.
The 27-year-old striker tops the scoring charts in the Spanish league this season with 24 goals. Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi is a surprise second on the list with 21 strikes, while Barca’s Lamine Yamal, who is out for the remainder of the season, has netted 16 times and is third on the list.
Despite Mbappe’s goalscoring achievements, a “Mbappe out” petition has garnered more than 33 million signatures calling for the club to sell the striker, who joined from Paris Saint-Germain two seasons ago.
What happened to Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde?
Federico Valverde will definitely miss out on El Clasico after a training ground bust-up on Thursday resulted in the midfielder being taken to hospital.
The 27-year-old Uruguayan is understood to have sustained a head injury following an incident with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni.
Real have said they are investigating internally, and have already decided to open disciplinary proceedings against both players.
It is not yet clear if Frenchman Tchouameni will be available for Sunday’s match as a result.
How can Barcelona win La Liga in Sunday’s El Clasico?
Alvaro Arbeloa’s Real trail Hansi Flick’s reigning champions by 11 points with four matches remaining, and are sinking towards a second straight season without a major trophy.
Anything but a win for Real on Sunday will see Barca lift the trophy in their own stadium against the only side to have won La Liga more.
What is meant by El Clasico?
The term El Clasico first appeared in a Spanish newspaper during the 1960s in reference to matches between the two biggest club teams in Spain.
The simple translation is “The Classic”.
By that time, the match had already been long considered one of sport’s fiercest derbies.
How did El Clasico become Spain’s greatest rivalry?
Originally, the phrase “Viejo Clasico” (Old Classic) was a term that referred to the Madrid derby between Real and Athletic Bilbao.
The match between the pair has historically been the most-played fixture in Spanish football before the rise of Barcelona to one of the two most prominent teams in the country.
The term El Clasico, although a 1960s invention in Spain, became a more widely popular and globally associated name when the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona peaked in the 1990s.
Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona were a side to be feared on the global stage, but Quinta del Buitre’s Real were putting up a stern test. In the late 90s, Real’s superstar lineup was dubbed the Galacticos following the heavy financial investment in overseas stars such as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham.
By the turn of the century, the rivalry was recognised as one of the biggest match-ups in world sport and heralded in the era of Pep Guardiola vs Jose Mourinho in the dugouts – and the small matter of Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo on the field.
When was the first El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid?
The first match between the clubs took place on May 13, 1902, in the Copa de la Coronacion (a predecessor to the Copa del Rey).
Barcelona won the match 3-1 in the Spanish capital against Madrid FC (the club later became Real Madrid).
Who has won more El Clasico matches, Real Madrid or Barcelona?
Of the 261 matches between the clubs over the last 124 years, Real have won 106, while Barcelona have won 105.
How many times have Real Madrid and Barcelona won La Liga?
Real have lifted the La Liga trophy 36 times while Barca are targeting their 28th title.
Who has scored the most El Clasico goals?
Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 26 goals for Barcelona
Alfredo Di Stefano (Portugal) – 18 goals for Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 18 goals for Real Madrid
Karim Benzema (France) – 16 goals for Real Madrid
Raul (Spain) – 15 goals for Real Madrid
What are the last five results between Barcelona and Real Madrid?
January 11, 2026 – Spanish Super Cup final: Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid
October 26, 2025 – La Liga: Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
May 11, 2025 – La Liga: Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid
April 26, 2025 – Copa del Rey final: Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid (after extra time)
January 12, 2025 – Spanish Super Cup final: Real Madrid 2-5 Barcelona
How can I follow Sunday’s El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid?
We will bring you our comprehensive text commentary stream of Sunday’s match, starting with our usual extensive build-up – including all the news, analyses and opinion surrounding the game.
Spain international Dani Carvajal injured his right foot during a training session for Real Madrid last week.
Published On 7 May 20267 May 2026
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente says Dani Carvajal could still make his World Cup squad but the right back must prove his fitness and form after suffering a foot injury in training with his club Real Madrid last week.
“Carvajal is a very important figure in our dressing room,” de la Fuente said on Wednesday.
“I actually spoke with him yesterday, so I’m aware of what’s going on. He doesn’t have a specific injury, nothing serious, but he needs time to get back to his usual level.
“We’ll see in the remaining matches whether he truly gets the opportunity and delivers the performances.”
De la Fuente added that Carvajal, who made just one appearance for Spain in 2025, would understand if he is left out of the squad for the World Cup, which is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Carvajal, 34, is approaching the final weeks of his contract with Real and has struggled for game time this season amid competition from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Spain begin their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on June 15 and also face Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H.
Bukayo Saka reacts quickest as Leandro Trossard’s shot is saved by Jan Oblak, putting in the rebound from close range to give Arsenal a 1-0 lead against Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Emiates Stadium.
It might seem odd to suggest an English club reaching a Champions League final have been in danger of going under the radar – but that has almost been the case for Arsenal this year.
Such has been the immense pressure piled upon Mikel Arteta’s side to end a 22-wait for a Premier League title, their remarkable unbeaten run to the European showpiece in Budapest has arguably not got the credit it deserves.
In truth, while their display at Emirates Stadium was not necessarily vintage, some of Arsenal‘s best performances of the season have come in Europe.
The Gunners remain the only unbeaten team left in the Champions League, defeating teams like Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Sporting along the way.
There has been a desperation to win the league – which, indeed, they could well go on to do as well given Manchester City‘s draw at Everton 24 hours before this semi-final.
But there has been a quiet ruthlessness in Arsenal‘s European games – rarely troubled, rarely in danger of going out.
“I don’t think you can underestimate what we have done in this competition up to this point,” midfielder Declan Rice told Amazon Prime.
“We have every right to celebrate that moment. The most prestigious competition in club football. We are just trying to soak it all in.
“We knew coming into the game what was at stake. If you can’t get up for that, then you can’t get up for any game of football.
“When we went 1-0 up, I knew we were going to win. I could feel something special building.”
The Arsenal supporters welcomed the team bus with flares and chants – the first time that has happened at the stadium – setting the tone and atmosphere for what Arteta described as “an incredible night”.
“We made history again together,” said Arteta. “I cannot be happier, prouder for everybody that’s involved in this football club. The manner that we [were] received outside the stadium was special and unique.
“The atmosphere, our support has created the energy, the way they managed every ball with us… I never felt that in the stadium [before].
“We knew how much it meant to everybody… the boys did an incredible job and after 20 years and a second time in our history, we are back in the Champions League final.”
Madrid’s current boomtown dynamics are driving the city centre way upmarket, pushing the average punter to outer barrios in search of cheaper rent. As seen in New York and elsewhere, the creative class is moving too – crossing the River Manzanares to open studios in the former factories and metalworks of Carabanchel. Now the city’s most populous district, this used to be a separate municipality, which was annexed to the capital in 1948 and built up into canyons of high-rise flats to house the postwar influx from the provinces, and later from Latin America.
Today, old and new Madrid coexist here in a certain harmony: coffee roasters and bistros slot in beside weathered blue-collar tapas bars and Colombian or Peruvian cantinas, but the neighbourhood still feels a bit like an independent republic. Long-term residents roll their eyes at claims made for the area’s coolness, and some express pride, or resistance, through a popular T-shirt slogan: “This is not Soho. This is Carabanchel.”
Where to eat and drink
The district’s focal point is La Capa, a defunct 1960s cafe revived by three local men, who gave the original interior a good scrub and upgraded the kitchen to serve exemplary dishes such as chicken escalope with red pepper confit and premium wines from small bodegas, many sold at cost price.
Restaurante La Capa. Photograph: Leah Pattem
Three actors have repurposed an old corner shop as a small, bright bar called Merinas. The walls are hung with caricatures of famous film directors, the palm-shaded patio creates a beach-like feel in a landlocked city, and the judicious menu runs to guest wines, charcuterie boards and spectacular sandwiches with fillings like cured tuna and payoyo cheese on organic sourdough rolls.
Cultural experiences
95 Art Gallery. Photograph: Juan Barbosa/Europa Press/Getty Images
Sabrina Amrani recalls the opening night of her new Carabanchel gallery in 2019, when one guest almost cried while telling her that she had changed the map of Madrid by bringing art across the river. “Perhaps we helped open a door,” she says, “but many artists were based here before we arrived, and they generated a different kind of energy in the neighbourhood.”
While Amrani converted a car workshop into a showroom for work by international talents such as Alexandra Karakashian, native street artist Sfhir made space for more than 200 painters, muralists and sculptors in a nearby underground garage now called 95 Gallery.
Carabanchel has its own punky, DIY music scene, too, packed around a cluster of low-cost recording studios and rehearsal rooms, with raucous gigs atGruta 77,battles of the bands at Madreams, and after-hours DJ sets at industrial complex turned arts hub CasaBanchel.
Where to shop
At Planeta Ganga, retired film producer María Arellano draws on her contacts in wardrobe departments to source and sell outfits seen in Spanish films and TV shows such as Elite. Prices are surprisingly low, and a big cut goes to an orthopaedic charity for kids (Arellano’s daughter was born with mobility issues).
Local rockabillies buy their Harrington jackets and boogie shoes at specialist boutique Rocket, and the barrio’s first dedicated bottle shop for natural wines also doubles as a tiny late-night hangout, Luz Verde.
A mural on an old turret in Carabanchel. Photograph: Madrid Destino
Don’t miss
Far removed from the city’s historic core, Carabanchel has its own architectural legacy, from the modernist turrets and chalets of an early 20th-century writers’ colony, the Colonia de la Prensa,to the medieval brickwork hermitage of Santa María La Antigua– one of the oldest buildings in Madrid.
Where to stay
Cielo Studios offers stylish modern guest apartments from €80, with a rooftop garden and lounge overlooking the surrounding block of bars and galleries.
Vinicius Jr scores twice as Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-0 to keep Barcelona waiting to win the La Liga title, which they could now do when the two rivals meet in next Sunday’s El Clasico.
World number one Jannik Sinner remains on course for a record fifth consecutive Masters 1,000 title after reaching the Madrid Open final with a straight-set win over Arthur Fils.
The Italian won his 22nd successive match to reach Sunday’s final, where he will face either second seed Alexander Zverev or unseeded Belgian Alexander Blockx.
Sinner, 24, has won the opening three ATP 1,000 events of the season – in Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo – and also triumphed in Paris late last year.
The four-time Grand Slam winner broke twice to take the first set 6-2 against 21st seed Fils, who won the clay-court Barcelona Open two weeks ago.
Fils, 21, was 3-2 up in the second set having saved two break points, but Sinner finally broke to move 5-4 ahead and served out the match to progress 6-2 6-4.
Zverev and Blockx play their semi-final later on Friday.
Teenager Mirra Andreeva reached her first Madrid Open final with a 6-4 7-6 (10-8) victory over Hailey Baptiste.
The 19-year-old Russian will face 26th seed Marta Kostyuk in Saturday’s final, after the Ukrainian beat Austria’s Anastasia Potapova 6-2 1-6 6-1.
Ninth seed Andreeva has won all bar one of her 13 clay-court matches this season, taking the title in Linz and reaching the semi-finals in Stuttgart, and becomes the first teenager to reach three WTA 1000 finals.
After taking the first set against the 30th seed, Andreeva served for the match at 5-4, but was broken by Baptiste who then took the second set to a tiebreak.
“Honestly, I feel so much adrenaline inside. I feel like I’m still nervous. I’m just so happy that I won and that I was able to save all those set points,” said Andreeva, who has become the second-youngest finalist in the tournament’s history, behind Caroline Wozniacki.
“The serve helped me a lot. I’m so, so happy – I cannot really find ways to describe what I’m feeling right now,” added Andreeva.
Kostyuk advanced to her first WTA 1000 final in an error-strewn match against lucky loser Potapova, winning the first set with two breaks but losing the second in 30 minutes.
The 23-year-old raced to a 4-0 lead in the decider and refused to shake the hand of her Russian-born opponent after closing the match out.
In the men’s tournament, defending champion Casper Ruud was beaten in the quarter-finals by Belgian Alexander Blockx, 6-4 6-4.
Unseeded Blockx, who only broke into the top 100 for the first time last month and is at a career-high 69th in the world, has knocked out four consecutive seeds, including third-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime, in the Spanish capital.
The 21-year-old defeated Ruud, the Norwegian 21st seed, in 96 minutes and will now face Alexander Zverev in his first tour-level semi-final, having never previously won a tour match on clay prior to this season.
Two-time Madrid champion Zverev won 6-1 6-4 against Italian 10th seed Flavio Cobolli, who beat the German en route to the Munich final 12 days ago, and has now reached the semi-finals in seven of his past eight Masters 1000 tournaments.
Top seed Jannik Sinner will face 21st seed Arthur Fils in Friday’s other semi-final after the pair won their quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes that the penalty awarded against Atletico Madrid for a foul on Eberechi Eze was not a “clear and obvious error”, meaning VAR did not need to intervene and the original on-field decision to give the penalty should have stood.
We’ve had two nights of handball controversy, first involving Bayern Munich and now Arsenal.
In both cases, the ball took a deflection off the body before hitting the arm, and fans have been conditioned into thinking this means there cannot be a penalty.
What referees actually look for is a clear change of trajectory. Why is that? Because it means the arm position would not create a barrier to the natural direction of the ball.
If the ball stays on roughly its intended path, then the ball touching the arm takes precedent.
The penalty given against Alphonso Davies on Tuesday would not have been awarded in the Premier League as the arm was too close to the body.
For Uefa, the fact that the arm moves out from the body before the ball hits it would trump the small deflection.
But Ben White’s handball against Atletico was a very clear penalty under Uefa’s definition. The arm was a long way out from the body and came in to make contact with the ball.
There is some discretion if the arm is being brought in to make the body smaller, but in White’s case it started from so far out, a penalty would be expected.
The Premier League is more relaxed than Europe even when it comes to deflections before a handball. That said, Arsenal defender Gabriel should have really conceded a penalty at Newcastle earlier this season as his arm, when sliding, was raised very high and the deflection off the body was negligible.
Would the ball deflecting off White’s shin have caused VAR to stay out of this in the Premier League? Possibly, but the movement of the arm was very clear.
A definite spot-kick in Europe, borderline for the Premier League.
How to watch Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid: TV channel, live stream and kick-off time – The Mirror
Everything you need to know about Arsenal’s most important game of the season so far
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Bukayo Saka could be back from injury to help Arsenal during their crunch match with Atletico Madrid(Image: Javier Garcia/Shutterstock)
Kick-off time: Arsenal vs Atletico is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time tonight, April 29. It’s the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, giving Mikel Arteta’s side their first chance to secure a place in the final, against either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich, depending on how their matches end. The French and German sides faced off for their first leg last night in a barn storming match which Paris won 5-4.
Match location: Arsenal vs Atletico will take place at the Spanish club’s home ground, the state-of-the-art Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid.
Why is the game important? Despite a packed trophy cabinet, Arsenal has never won the Champions League. Ensuring a good showing away from home will put them in a good position for the second leg, which will be held at the Emirates Stadium in London on Tuesday, May 5 at 8pm.
UK TV channel: Live coverage of the game will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max. The official broadcast coverage begins at 7pm, with an hour of pre-match analysis and team news before kick off.
Live stream information: TNT Sports is no longer streamed on the Discovery+ app. Instead, viewers who want to stream the game must download the HBO Max app and sign in.
UK radio coverage: Live commentary will be provided by BBC Radio 5 Live on national radio across the UK. Meanwhile, local coverage and fan-focused audio commentary can also be accessed through the official Arsenal app and the club’s website.
Team news is largely based around injuries: Both teams have their own injury worries after intense home league seasons and some full-on games earlier in the tournament. There is a glimmer of hope for the Gunners, with Bukayo Saka potentially fit enough to stage a return, having come off the bench for the team’s recent Newcastle game.Meanwhile Diego Simeone’s men, who knocked out Barcelona to take their place in the semi-finals are no longer in contention for the La Liga title so are expected to be going all out for the trophy here. The side could be without midfield star Pablo Barrios who was injured during a match at the weekend against Athletic Bilbao.
Head-to-head record: On previous form, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid seem fairly evenly matched. In five games played since 2009, Atletico has won one, Arsenal won two and two were draws.
What happens if Arsenal and Atletico tie? Because it’s the first leg there’s no need for extra time if the match ends with one team ahead of the other.
Do away goals count for more? The away goals rule for Champions League games is no longer in effect, meaning there’s no difference when calculating the aggregate depending on where the goal was scored. If at the end of the ninety minutes of the second the teams are equal, this will send the tie directly into extra time. If the aggregate score remains level after thirty minutes of extra time, a penalty shootout will be the final decider on which team advances to the final.
Achieving a hold to love in the opening game, 30-year-old Norrie’s strong start faded quickly as Sinner broke twice to dominate the first set 6-2.
Each held serve until the fifth game when Norrie, having resisted a break point, attempted to seize momentum with an underarm serve but it failed to clear the net.
The Italian claimed the game, but Norrie broke back, winning seven successive points in his efforts to turn the tide in a first competitive meeting between the players.
At 5-5, the British number one survived two break points before surrendering the game to Sinner, who served out in the final game to become only the second player in tennis history to win the first 20 Masters 1000 matches of the season, after Novak Djokovic in 2011 and 2015.
“We know each other quite well. We practised a lot in the last tournament. We both kind of knew what to expect,” the four-time Grand Slam champion said of Norrie.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he added: “This surface is very very different to all the other surfaces so it’s very tough to get the right feedback and sometimes you feel like you are not playing your best.
“But I’m very happy to be in the quarters again, it’s a tournament I haven’t played a lot so it means a lot to me and I’m happy to be through in two sets.”
In the quarter-final he will play either Kopriva or Jodar, who meet later on Tuesday. The pair were given the afternoon slot after Jodar’s round of 32 win over Joao Fonseca finished late on Sunday night.
After playing at the “unusual” time of 11am local time (10:00 BST), Sinner questioned the way that the tournament is organised.
“[Jodar] finished very, very late [on Sunday], but at the same time I feel like we need to make some adjustments with scheduling of the day,” he said.
“For matches at 8pm, it’s very very late, even though you have one day in between – still, it’s very very late.
“You finish at 1.30am and you need to eat, you need to have treatment, so it’s very late. We try to adapt ourselves, our bodies and minds.”
Who: Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal What: Champions League semifinal, first leg Where: Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid, Spain When: Wednesday, April 29 at 9pm (19:00 GMT) How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 16:00 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream.
Arsenal’s record as the only unbeaten football team in this season’s Champions League will be tested in the intense atmosphere of the Metropolitano Stadium.
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The Gunners have conceded just five goals in 12 games so far, the kind of record associated with Atletico during coach Diego Simeone’s long reign of feisty football.
But this is a more expansive Atletico side, with a surprising 26 goals conceded in 14 Champions League games this season, while Julian Alvarez has scored nine of the 34 scored at the other end.
The two teams have already faced off this season, but Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Atletico in October in the league stage feels a long time ago. A four-goal burst in 15 second-half minutes, including two from Viktor Gyokeres, showed a freedom that Mikel Arteta’s team has found hard to recapture in a tense second half of the season.
Arsenal have endured a rocky patch recently – losing to Man City in the League Cup final, and in a key league game – but maintain a three-point lead at the top of the table, although City have a game in hand.
The hosts, meanwhile, are fourth in La Liga, and the Champions League represents their last hope of silverware this season after defeat in last weekend’s Copa del Rey final.
Atletico’s path to the semifinals has been taking first-leg leads – ambushing Tottenham at home then winning at Barcelona – before riding out severe pressure in the return game. That will be in London on Tuesday next week.
Atleti coach Diego Simeone said, “We’re heading into the semifinals with all our enthusiasm and all our faith. We know our strengths and our weaknesses. We have great confidence in what we do. We’re ready, and we’re going to go after what we’ve been chasing for many years.”
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said, “It’s a massive moment [to reach consecutive semi-finals]. It’s the first time in our history, in 140 years – to be part of those four teams is something very special. You have to earn it. You have to go through a lot of work.”
What have the players said?
Atleti forward Antoine Griezmann said, “It doesn’t matter who we face as long as we’re still in it. It’s been a great and tough tie [against Barcelona] against a fantastic team that plays very well. It was a struggle, but we’re still in it.”
Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli noted, “We believe in ourselves, we know the quality we have. We won against them in the league phase, but it’s going to be a completely different game.”
How did Atletico reach the semifinals?
Atletico Madrid sent 10-man Barcelona crashing out of the Champions League and reached the final four with a 3-2 aggregate victory, despite a 2-1 quarterfinal second-leg defeat.
Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres fired visitors Barca ahead inside 24 minutes, but Ademola Lookman’s strike gave Atletico the edge in the gripping all-Spanish tie after their 2-0 win in the first leg.
Ademola Lookman celebrates scoring Atletico’s first goal with teammates [Angel Martinez/Getty Images]
How did Arsenal reach the semifinals?
Arsenal reached the Champions League semifinals after riding their luck in a nervous goalless draw against Sporting Lisbon that clinched a 1-0 aggregate victory.
Mikel Arteta’s team were well below their best in the quarterfinal second leg at the Emirates Stadium, but they held onto their slender first-leg advantage as Sporting failed to make them pay.
Head-to-head
The two clubs have only faced each other on three occasions, with each winning one game and one match ending as a draw.
Before meeting this season, the previews encounter ended up being the last European tie for former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
October 21, 2025: Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid (Champions League, league stage)
May 03, 2018: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Europa League semifinal)
April 26, 2018: Arsenal 1-1 Atletico Madrid (Europa League semifinal)
What happened when they last played each other?
Arsenal thrashed Atletico Madrid 4-0 back in October thanks to a devastating second-half broadside at the Emirates Stadium in a Champions League league-stage clash.
What had been a compelling clash with little between the sides in the first half became an Arsenal rout, with goals by Gabriel, Martinelli and a brace from Gyokeres leaving Simeone’s side shell-shocked.
Viktor Gyokeres scores Arsenal’s fourth goal against Atletico [Andrew Couldridge/Action Images via Reuters]
Have either side ever won the European Cup/Champions League?
Neither side have ever been European champions.
Atletico reached the final in 2014 and 2016, and were beaten on both occasions by archrivals Real Madrid.
Arsenal reached the final in 2006, but were beaten 2-1 by Barcelona.
Atletico’s team news
Midfielder Pablo Barrios is set to miss the game and will be out for about a month after sustaining a thigh injury against Bilbao.
Lookman was not named in the squad for the weekend game after picking up a knock in the Copa del Rey final defeat by Real Sociedad, but may return for the Arsenal game.
Defender David Hancko is also expected to remain unavailable due to an injury.
Kai Havertz and Eberechi Eze were both forced off with muscles issues in the win over Newcastle – Eze subsequently said he came off as a precaution and is “fine”, but Havertz is a doubt.
Midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who was taken off at half-time against Newcastle, will also face a late assessment.
Riccardo Calafiori is still recovering from a knock and is a major doubt, while Jurrien Timber has been out with a groin issue for about a month and is likely still some way from making a full recovery.
Mikel Merino is definitely unavailable as he recovers from surgery on an ankle injury.
American Gauff, who has been unwell with a stomach virus, will drop from third to fourth when the updated world rankings are released, with Poland’s Iga Swiatek replacing her.
The reigning French Open champion was ruthless in the second set after losing the first and looked a safe bet to advance to the next round at the expense of Noskova, after breaking the 21-year-old for a second time in the third set.
But world number 13 Noskova produced an impressive comeback in front of the Spanish crowd as Gauff faltered andwill face Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Kostyuk, 23, won 6-2 6-3 against American Caty McNally to celebrate her ninth victory in a row and back-to-back Madrid quarter-finals.
“Sometimes I get lost on court, especially in the second [set], as it happened today,” said Noskova. “I had to find my rhythm all over again in the third [set].”
Meanwhile, Sabalenka will take on American Hailey Baptiste, who defeated Belinda Bencic 6-1 6-7 (14-16) 6-3 in her fourth-round match, on Tuesday.
She defeated Baptiste, 24, in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open on her way to winning the title last month.
In the mood for more sun? Wizz Air are launching six new routes from London to Spanish hotspots this summer, and prices start from just £18 one way to some of the country’s best destinations
New Wizz Air routes mean more people can enjoy the Spanish sunshine(Image: Stefano RELLANDINI / AFP via Getty Images)
Nothing beats some Spanish sunshine, and if the British weather still isn’t warm enough for you, then some new Wizz Air routes can take you somewhere with better weather in less than three hours.
Wizz Air is launching new flights from London Luton Airport to six Spanish destinations, adding to its existing route from the Bedfordshire airport to Palma in Majorca. The new destinations include a mix of city breaks and coastal favourites, so whether you’re looking for a family holiday or a cultural weekend away, there is bound to be something to suit you.
Here are the new destinations now available to book from London Luton and what you need to know about each one.
Bilbao
Bilbao is set in Spain’s lesser-visited north, which has been growing in popularity recently as people look to explore different parts of the country.
This classic Basque city has a mix of old-world and industrial influences, and it’s a cultural hub for the area. There’s the Guggenheim Museum with a Frank Gehry-designed exterior, the medieval Casco Viejo old town, and Mercado de la Ribera, the world’s largest indoor market.
Barcelona
Can’t decide between a city break and the beach? Choose Barcelona, which not only has the long sandy Barceloneta Beach, but also has the gorgeous city center, including Gaudí’s iconic architecture, La Ramblas, a thriving food scene, and endless museums and things to do.
Best of all, the London to Barcelona flight time is just shy of two hours, so it’s perfect for a short break, such as a weekend away, and the compact size means you can fit plenty into a short trip.
Madrid
The vibrant and energetic capital of Madrid is an ideal city break thanks to its short flight times and streets packed with history and culture. It’s home to some of Spain’s most important museums such as the Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum. The latter hosts a number of iconic paintings from renaissance to pop art pieces.
Visitors should also visit the grand Royal Palace, and walk along the historic Plaza Mayor, which is full of chic cafés and places serving authentic Spanish cuisine.
Valencia
An underrated city break destination, Valencia sits on the banks of the Mediterranean Sea. While it’s the third-largest city in Spain, it’s not often visited by Brits, despite having an impressive amount of things to do.
From historic markets to green spaces, the modern City of Arts and Sciences to the La Lonja de la Seda, an ornate palace, Valencia packs in the old and new. Its location also means it has an abundance of beautiful beaches, so you can get some time in the sun after sightseeing.
Alicante
Alicante needs no introduction. It’s that city you land in on the way to Benidorm. However, before you board the transfer bus, you may want to spend some time in Alicante itself. Walk the peaceful Explanada de España, lined with palm trees, or the Castell de Santa Bàrbera fort from the 16th century.
Alicante’s hillside Barrio Santa Cruz is full of traditional Mediterranean homes and colourful buildings, and feels a world away from Benidorm. There’s also the sandy Playa del Postiguet beach just steps from the town.
Say olé to Seville and you could be enjoying vibrant flamenco shows, authentic tapas, and the beautiful narrow winding streets of this historic city.
Visit the stunning Alcázar palace, or walk the world-famous Plaza de España, enjoying the intricate mosaic designs. Seville also has the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, and as impressive as it is, it’s just one of the many breathtaking buildings you’ll see around the city.
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Real Madrid could close gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to six points on Friday, three weeks shy of a Clasico meeting.
Who: Real Betis vs Real Madrid What: Spanish La Liga Where: Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla in Seville, Spain When: Friday at 9pm (20:00 GMT) How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream.
Real Madrid will continue their pursuit of league leaders Barcelona when they travel to Real Betis on Friday, but the record La Liga winners know that any slip-up now will be terminal for their hopes of lifting silverware this season.
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Barca play at Getafe on Saturday but only narrowly beat Celta Vigo on Wednesday to respond to Real’s latest win a day earlier.
It has been a turbulent season for Los Blancos on and off the field, but they are still fighting. Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at their latest fixture.
How is the La Liga race between Real Madrid and Barcelona looking?
Barcelona are nine points clear of Real after their 1-0 win against Celta Vigo.
The two Spanish giants have been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League, where they both stood as favourites.
The quarterfinal exits for both came as a shock and leave all focus now on the La Liga race, which has only six rounds of matches remaining.
What is Real Madrid’s form before the Real Betis match?
Real’s season has lurched from bad to worse. Their run of 13 wins from the first 14 games of the season under new coach Xabi Alonso is a distant memory.
Barcelona have long since held a grip on the La Liga title, which has been strengthened by Los Blancos winning just one of their last three league matches.
Back-to-back La Liga defeats in March at Osasuna and at home to Getafe handed Barca full control of the league although a run of three wins thereafter kept them on the Catalans’ tails.
There is little doubt, though, that no further points can be dropped from this point forward for the Madrid giants.
Including the Champions League defeats by Bayern Munich, Real’s 2-1 win against Alaves on Tuesday was their first win in five matches, a run that saw them lose three games.
Will Real Madrid play Barcelona again in a Clasico this season?
One of the hopes that Real are clinging to in the final six games of the La Liga season is that they do still have to play Barcelona in a Clasico.
The match on May 10 at Barcelona will offer the chance to trim their rivals lead, if only by three points. Three further rounds of La Liga matches will follow that game.
What happened the last time Real Madrid played Real Betis?
Real Madrid stormed to a 5-1 home win in their previous La Liga meeting this season with Gonzalo Garcia netting a hat-trick in the fixture on January 4.
Raul Asencio and Fran Garcia were also on the scoresheet while Cucho Hernandez scored a consolation goal midway through the second half for Betis.
What happened in the corresponding La Liga fixture last season?
Betis came from behind to win 2-1 at home against Real Madrid in this fixture last season.
Brahim Diaz had given Los Blancos the lead, but Johnny Cardoso and Isco, with a penalty against his former club, turned the game.
Head-to-head
This will be the 143rd meeting between the sides with Real winning 78 of the matches while Real Betis have emerged victorious on 32 occasions.
Real Betis team news
Betis have former Manchester United winger Antony back from a one-match suspension.
Junior Firpo misses out with a knock, but Diego Llorente and Angel Ortiz are still in with a chance of featuring despite ankle and muscle problems, respectively.
Real’s faint hopes of overhauling Barcelona in La Liga suffered a further blow on Thursday with both Eder Militao and Arda Guler ruled out for the rest of the season.
Brazilian defender Militao has a left thigh injury while Turkish attacking midfielder Guler is sidelined with a right thigh problem, the club said.
For now, neither Militao, 28, nor 21-year-old Guler is considered at risk of missing the World Cup finals.
England and Real Madrid footballer Jude Bellingham has bought a 1% stake in cricket team Birmingham Phoenix.
The deal for The Hundred franchise, set to be confirmed on Wednesday, is worth around £800,000.
The eight franchises were put up for sale last year and American investment group Knighthead Capital Management, who own Bellingham’s former club Birmingham City, bought a 49% stake for £48m. Warwickshire retained their 51% stake.
Bellingham is a cricket fan and played junior cricket for Hagley Cricket Club in Worcestershire.
Asked in an interview last year which sportsperson he would swap places with, he said England Test captain Ben Stokes.
Legendary NFL quarterback Brady is also part of the Knighthead group.
Raducanu had a very promising debut clay court season in 2022 – the year after she won the US Open in New York as a teenager – but hurt her back in Madrid and had to retire from her first match in Rome a week later.
Much of 2023 was lost to the operations she had on her hands and left ankle. In 2024, Raducanu played very promisingly on indoor clay, winning two matches for Great Britain against France in the Billie Jean King Cup before reaching the quarter-finals in Stuttgart.
But that was followed by a heavy first-round defeat by qualifier Maria Lourdes Carle in Madrid.
Raducanu said she was “mentally and emotionally exhausted” and did not play on clay again that year, choosing to skip the French Open to prioritise a training block that she thought would benefit her fitness in the second half of the year.
She played four clay court events last year, with the highlight a run to the fourth round in Rome, but experienced further back issues in Strasbourg and after competing at Roland Garros.
Her next opportunity to play on clay will be at the Italian Open in Rome from 5 May. There are also two tournaments – in Strasbourg and Rabat – the week before the French Open, which rounds off the clay court swing.
Real win the final of Spain’s premier annual knockout football competition with a dramatic penalty shootout in Seville.
Published On 19 Apr 202619 Apr 2026
Real Sociedad beat Atletico Madrid 4-3 on penalties to win the Copa del Rey on Saturday following a 2-2 draw after extra time, with goalkeeper Unai Marrero saving two spot kicks in the shootout to help his side win the trophy for the fourth time.
Sociedad last won the Cup in 2021, when the delayed 2020 final was also played at the La Cartuja stadium in Seville, but there were no supporters present due to the COVID pandemic.
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This time, the Basque side’s fans were behind the goal to witness Marrero save Atletico’s first two penalties from Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez.
Atletico keeper Juan Musso then stopped Orri Oskarsson’s kick, but Pablo Marin kept his nerve to net the winning penalty.
“I tried to clear my mind. Calm and serene,” Marin told RTVE. “Real is my life. I’ve lived here since I was a child. This is the greatest thing I could ever dream of – winning a title with the team of my life.”
The last time the two sides met in the final was 1987, when it also finished 2-2 with Sociedad coming out on top on penalties, and they repeated the job to deny Atletico, who were looking for their first Copa del Rey win since 2013.
Ander Barrenetxea had given Sociedad the lead after 14 seconds, but Ademola Lookman levelled in the 19th minute. Mikel Oyarzabal then put the Basque side back in front with a penalty on the stroke of halftime.
Alvarez drew Atletico level, with seven minutes remaining, to force the extra period in a dramatic final.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico were fresh from reaching the Champions League semifinals, but Sociedad, managed by American Pellegrino Matarazzo, triumphed despite twice losing the lead.
Atletico Madrid’s forward Julian Alvarez, right, scores his side’s second goal in the 83rd minute to level the final at 2-2 [Jose Breton/AP]
Fast start
Sociedad stunned Atletico from the start. After a punt downfield from Marrero, Goncalo Guedes crossed into the box, and Barrenetxea rose above his marker to send a looping header beyond Musso.
Atletico levelled with Lookman collecting a pass from Antoine Griezmann and sending a precise low strike through the legs of a defender and into the far bottom corner.
Some Sociedad fans were celebrating, as they thought their side had retaken the lead when Guedes’s deflected shot flew into the side netting, but when Musso later fouled Guedes, captain Oyarzabal converted the penalty in first-half added time.
“I’ve never walked on water, but it must feel something like this,” said Oyarzabal, who scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot when his side won their last Copa.
Real Sociedad’s goalkeeper, Unai Marrero, right, deflects the ball by Alvarez during the penalty shootout [Thomas Coex/AFP]
Late drama
Sociedad looked like hanging on until Alvarez struck an unstoppable shot from just inside the area, letting Thiago Almada’s pass through his legs before turning to send the ball into the top corner.
In the opening period of extra time, Musso pulled off a double-save from Luka Sucic and Oskarsson, with Alvarez hitting the upright at the other end, as both sides created chances before running out of steam, and penalties beckoned.
Marrero danced across his line as the Atletico players lined up their penalties, and his mind games paid off.
“I knew that if it went to penalties, I had a lot of confidence in myself,” he said.
“The team and the fans did, too. I still can’t believe it.”
Matarazzo has worked a remarkable turnaround at Sociedad since taking over in December, with the club hovering above the relegation zone but now seventh in the standings and, even more importantly, with a trophy to show for their work.
Simeone’s Atletico have one final chance of silverware, with a last-four meeting against Arsenal in the Champions League.
“We have a beautiful challenge ahead of us. We want the Champions League, and we’ll do everything possible to win it,” Atletico captain Koke said. “But tonight is a sad night.”
Real Sociedad’s Marin scores the winning penalty during the shootout [Marcelo Del Pozo/Reuters]
