Real Madrid face Marseille in the opening Champions League match of the season, with England midfielder Jude Bellingham back in the squad after shoulder surgery. The 22-year-old, sidelined since the FIFA Club World Cup, first sustained the injury in 2023 against Rayo Vallecano. He resumed full training last week.

In 2023, Bellingham joined Madrid from Dortmund for £115m. In his first season, he scored 23 goals in 43 games and won both La Liga and the Champions League. Last season, he scored 15 goals in 58 matches, but Madrid lost the league to Barcelona and were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Arsenal.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is also in the squad. Coach Xabi Alonso praised Dani Carvajal, saying, 'He was still recovering while we were in the United States, but now he's fit enough to play. You can see what a positive impact he has on everyone around him.�?/p>

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Kylian Mbappé says his love for football keeps him going despite the tough side of the sport. He believes that without passion, football would have turned him away long ago. However, Mbappé says he wouldn't tell his children to become football players due to the challenges involved.

He also explains how fame changes a person. People expect him to stay the same as when he was younger, but he now carries new duties. Mbappé admits he's very hard on himself and accepts criticism since he never wants to fail.

The 26-year-old striker left Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) last year after a long-running conflict. He is pursuing �?5 million in unpaid wages and a bonus, while PSG maintains he forfeited the sum when he joined Real Madrid. Mbappé insists he only wants what he earned.

Despite the struggles, Mbappé stays focused on life beyond football and values the support of his friends and family.

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Real Madrid issued a strongly worded statement opposing the decision to host a LALIGA match outside of Spain. This is a fixture revolving around Villarreal and FC Barcelona’s clash on 21st December 2025 in the 2025/26 LALIGA season. Spanish football fans and all team captains share Real Madrid’s concerns.

This is a dream come true for the league’s president, Javier Tebas, who always wanted to bring Spanish football to a global audience. Hosting on foreign soil is a significant step forward, but the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) still needs authorisation from FIFA and UEFA before the match can go ahead. Why would Real Madrid be so against this idea? 

Why is this an issue for Real Madrid?

The match is a LALIGA event between Villarreal and FC Barcelona, two of the top contenders in Spanish football. That means it’s a fan-favourite matchup that the league is offering to showcase abroad, not to their dedicated local fans. 

Additionally, playing a LALIGA match outside of Spain contradicts the tradition of hosting domestic league matches on home soil. This would also mean that both sides play on neutral ground, rather than Villarreal hosting the event at Estadi de la Ceràmica. 

Other parties opposed to the LALIGA showcase abroad

Real Madrid isn’t the only one opposing this idea. The Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) released a statement opposing the Miami-scheduled fixture as well. According to their statement, executives made the decision without consulting the rest of LALIGA. 

‘We want respect and transparency�?is a key statement highlighted. This statement is co-signed by all 20 team captains in the First Division, including Marc-André ter Stegen. Barcelona management was reportedly unhappy with their team captain’s stance, as the Miami showcase aligns with the club’s interests. 

Villarreal and FC Barcelona support the decision

The idea of playing a Barcelona game in Miami wasn’t a new concept that came out of nowhere. It was a continued endeavour for over seven years, which wasn’t successful until this season. With the proposal approved, the RFEF is now seeking FIFA and UEFA’s authorisation to hold the match at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

Villarreal club president Fernando Roig acknowledged inevitable inconveniences, but will do their best to compensate. However, it’s a fantastic opportunity for the club. Villarreal offered to compensate 19,500 season-ticket holders for their travel to Miami to watch the match live. If they cannot attend or choose not to, they will receive a 20% discount on their season ticket.

Spain isn’t the only country with this idea. It was a race with Italy, which wanted to host a Serie A game in Australia. This is also happening in 2026 at Perth between AC Milan and Como. This means Spain is the first country to successfully host a major football competition abroad, giving LALIGA a huge lead over other leagues. 

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Fabián Ruiz gave a strong performance on Wednesday, scoring two goals as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) beat Real Madrid 4-0 to secure a spot at the Club World Cup final. The Spanish midfielder took advantage of Madrid’s weak defence during a fast and sharp first half, exposing the flaws of manager Xabi Alonso’s new system.

With Dean Huijsen suspended and Trent Alexander-Arnold injured, Real Madrid’s defence was badly affected. Abandoning their usual five-man backline, Madrid conceded two goals in just nine minutes. Ruiz and Ousmane Dembélé made the most of their chances and scored easily.

Ruiz struck again in the 24th minute. Later in the match, sub Gonçalo Ramos added a fourth goal. Real Madrid never came close to troubling keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Kylian Mbappé’s return also further strengthened PSG.

Ruiz said it was a perfect game when he spoke to DAZN. After beating Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final, PSG now moves on to face Chelsea in the final. Another trophy is now within reach.

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Real Madrid advanced to the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals with a 1�? win over Juventus in the round of 16 at Hard Rock Stadium. Gonzalo García scored with a header from a cross by Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 54th minute. It was his third goal in the tournament. The win sets up a match against either Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey in the next round. 

Juventus got off to a good start. Kenan Yildiz helped create early chances. Randal Kolo Muani nearly scored with a soft shot over Thibaut Courtois. Yildiz later took a long shot that bounced off Aurélien Tchouaméni. However, Madrid slowly gained control of the game.

Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde both tested Juve’s goalkeeper, Michele Di Gregorio. Juventus tried to fight back with shots from Francisco Conceição and Nicolás González, but Thibaut Courtois stayed strong. Valverde nearly scored again, and Arda Güler forced another save. 

Kylian Mbappé made his first appearance for Real Madrid since recovering from gastrointestinal illness, coming on in the 68th minute to a loud ovation from the crowd of 62,149. Real Madrid remained composed and kept their 1�? lead, advancing to the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals. 

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Carlo Ancelotti is finishing his second stint as Real Madrid’s manager at the end of the 2024-25 season. He will be Brazil’s national team manager after La Liga’s 2024-25 campaign concludes. 

The 65-year-old Italian leaves Real Madrid as one of the club’s best coaches. He won 15 trophies across two spells as Los Blancos�?coach, including the double in the 2023-24 season when he led them to a La Liga win and their 15th Champions League title.

Brazil is happy to have a legend as the manager

Brazil is the most successful country at the FIFA World Cup, and with the event looming for 2026, they wanted a strong and famous manager for the team.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) is happy with its announcement. They wrote: ‘The CBF warmly welcomes Mr Ancelotti and looks forward to a new era of success under his leadership�?

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In football, every moment counts. A single goal or foul can turn a team’s hope into heartbreak in just seconds. That’s why the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) came into play. Introduced to bring more fairness to the game, this tech aims to help football referees make better calls by using video footage.

Since its launch, VAR has corrected key game errors, some even deemed crucial for a win. Yet, despite all the good it’s done, it remains one of the most argued tech tools in the football field. Fans, players, and coaches often clash over whether it helps or ruins the flow and feel of the match.

Dive into the story of VAR. Discover what it is, how it works behind the scenes, and the big football moments where it either made history or caused backlash.

What is VAR?

The Video Assistant Referee is a support system designed to help match referees review major decisions. It is a team of three people, assisted by video technology, who revisit key incidents during a match, especially those that could impact a match result.

Think of VAR as a second pair of eyes. It’s not there to replace the main referee and take over the game. Instead, it works like a safety net that catches big mistakes before they can affect the final score. The main referees still oversee the match; the VAR is only there as a backup when things get unclear.

The use of VAR in football was introduced during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, following its inclusion in the 2018/19 edition of the Laws of the Game. Since then, the system has been used in over 100 competitions worldwide.

How does VAR work?

The VAR review follows a simple three-step process:

1. Incident occurs

A possible mistake or controversy happens on the pitch. It could be a foul, offside, or handball. The referee can request a review, or the VAR team can recommend one if they spot an error.

2. Review by the VAR team

The VAR team replays the footage from various camera angles. They confirm whether the decision was wrong or not. The VAR head then notifies the main referee about it.

3. The referee makes the final call

The main referee receives the team’s verdict. If unsure, they can also review the footage from the pitch-side monitor to double-check before making a final call.

To break this down, here are some key factors and considerations that keep the VAR process fair and accurate.

When is VAR used?

Unlike other sports, where video reviews are only presented when asked by a referee or players, VAR monitors each match nonstop. They’d instantly alert the referee in case a wrong call was made or if there had been an overlooked mistake.

However, the VAR doesn’t get involved in every play. It can only step in during four key incidents on the pitch where ‘a clear and obvious error�?is likely to occur:

• Goals: Checks if a foul, offside, or handball occurred before the team scored a goal.
• Penalty: Confirms whether a foul happened inside the box or a penalty was wrongly given or denied.
• Direct red cards: VAR is also used to judge if a serious foul deserves a straight red card. The team also checks for possible red-card incidents that the referee might have given a yellow card for.
• Mistaken identity: Fixes cases where the wrong player is shown a yellow or red card.

Timing rules for VAR intervention

Timing plays a big part in how VAR works. The team must flag an issue as quickly as they can, as they can only intervene in the match after the ball goes out of play. Once the game restarts, though, the chance to use VAR for that play has passed, and any calls made can’t be overturned.

For instance, if the VAR team spots an incident as the ball goes out of play, they must notify the referee to pause the game until it is dealt with. Otherwise, no reviews or calls can be made unless it’s a case of mistaken identity. 

Moments caught on VAR

Since its debut in 2018, VAR has captured some of football’s most dramatic moments. It has helped referees make the right call, but also triggered outrage from fans and players due to errors or missed calls.

In the Premier League, there has been a drop in incorrect VAR calls. From 23 mistakes last season, the 2024-25 season has only seen 10 so far. Even so, fans still call out flaws in how VAR handles real-time decisions. The loudest comments are all about missed fouls, inconsistent offside lines, and long delays. 

Here are some of the most talked-about VAR calls that still get football fans debating:

• RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid (UCL 2024)

Leipzig scored a goal early in the game, thanks to Benjamin Šeško. However, the VAR flagged an offside in the build-up, which meant the goal was ruled out. The call made fans and the club itself furious for questioning a clearly kicked goal. The match ended in a Real Madrid win at 1-0.

• Wolves vs Man Utd (EPL 2023-24)

In stoppage time, the Utd goalkeeper André Onana collided with Wolves player Sasa Kalajdzic inside the box. Despite loud protests, neither the referee nor the VAR awarded a penalty. A later review admitted that one should have been given after PGMOL manager Jonathan Moss said it was a mistake. The Wolves lost the match 1-0.

VAR in football: Its future or flaw?

VAR was built to make football fairer, and in many cases, it has. It helped clear up mistakes, which then led to major trophies and careers. Still, no system is perfect. Football authorities are working hard to refine VAR for future seasons. You may love or hate the VAR, but one thing’s sure: it will always be a part of football’s identity.

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Real Madrid edged out Alavés with a tight 1-0 win in La Liga on Sunday, April 13. The match saw Kylian Mbappé receive a red card for a reckless tackle in the first half. 

Eduardo Camavinga scored the lone goal for Madrid in the 34th minute. The incident occurred in the 38th minute when Mbappé’s high challenge on Antonio Blanco was deemed dangerous.

The second half saw Vinícius Júnior fouled by Manu Sánchez, levelling the player count as Sánchez was also sent off. The game drew a tight fight for Madrid, who now trail Barcelona in the La Liga race. 

After the match, Real Madrid’s assistant coach Davide Ancelotti spoke about Mbappé’s moves, saying the star isn’t a violent player, is aware of the mistake, and has already apologised.

This was the forward’s first red card since joining Madrid last summer, though he was sent off three times during his PSG tenure.

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As the gem of the Liverpool academy, fans were ecstatic when Trent Alexander-Arnold climbed the ranks and became a first-team mainstay. Since debuting in 2016, Trent has been a fixture of the squad at right-back. Now, he might be on his way out, with reports saying he is set to join Real Madrid in the summer of 2025.

Alexander-Arnold is one of the most talented full-backs in the world, even though his defensive skills are not his primary strength. However, he is one of the most creative playmakers in football. That is rare for a right-back, but he is an innovative player with an unbelievable skill ceiling. While many have discussed his potential role with Real, his likely exit will leave a big void in the LFC squad.

Liverpool will lose their most creative player

Originally brought up as a central midfielder in Liverpool academy, Trent became a right-back in Jürgen Klopp’s system. It was a remarkable shift as Alexander-Arnold still had the creativity of a midfielder in a different position. While he had some deficiencies, especially on defence, the value of his playmaking was second to none.

In his 349 games played for Liverpool across all competitions, Trent has contributed 22 goals and 87 assists. That is almost unheard of from a right-back, as it is a defensive role. However, Trent made it work with his trademark long passes that hit his target often. 

He and Mohamed Salah became the most fearsome right-sided partnership in the football world. Whenever Salah broke through the right wing, it was almost always a Trent pass that propelled him there.

Despite Trent’s likely exit from Liverpool, they have another talented right-back on the team, Conor Bradley. This opens the door for the midfielders as well, as they won’t have to cover for Trent’s attacking responsibilities.

Trent will play the rest of the season with this cloud over his head. Thankfully for him, the Reds are far ahead in the league table. He can end his time with the club with a second Premier League trophy after the 2020 win.

Real Madrid have another superstar

Now that Trent is likely headed to Madrid, he will be another addition to the superstar-laden Los Blancos side. They have always been the club for superstars, as evidenced by club legends like Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Trent will likely join his fellow England international, Jude Bellingham in the Spanish capital. The creative full-back will also have plenty of players to pass to, with names like Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo, and Vinícius Júnior as the stars of the club’s attack. 

This is a great decision from Alexander-Arnold since playing for Real Madrid means he will be part of the world’s most successful club.

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After an impressive performance in Round of 16 of the Champions League, Arsenal are back to the Quarter-Final stage. This is the second straight year they have done this after missing the UCL for many years. They now set up a date against 15-time winner Real Madrid, which is possibly the best matchup of the competition so far. 

A blockbuster clash between elite teams

This is a matchup that any football fan could enjoy as it’s a fantastic story heading into the two-legged tie in April 2025. Arsenal have long starved for a Champions League trophy, which got even worse when they lost in the UCL Final in 2006 to Barcelona. 

On the other hand, Real has been the most successful team in the competition, as they win it nearly every year. It is only the Quarter-Finals, but if Arsenal can get past Los Blancos, they could win the UCL.

With Bukayo Saka returning soon, he could be the key for Arsenal to beat Real Madrid. It will be difficult because of the championship pedigree and experience the Spanish titans have over their English adversaries.

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