Constitution Hill back on track for Christmas return to action – ‘Miles better’​

Madrid click after position swap for Mbappé, Vini​​

Carlo Ancelotti praised Kylian Mbappé’s performance after the Real Madrid forward scored from a new, left-sided role in their 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganés on Sunday.

​Carlo Ancelotti praised Kylian Mbappé’s performance after the Real Madrid forward scored from a new, left-sided role in their 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganés on Sunday. Carlo Ancelotti praised Kylian Mbappé’s performance after the Real Madrid forward scored from a new, left-sided role in their 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganés on Sunday.   

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Nov 24, 2024, 03:39 PM ET

Carlo Ancelotti praised Kylian Mbappé‘s performance after the Real Madrid forward scored from a new, left-sided role in their 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganés on Sunday.

Mbappé put Madrid ahead in the 43rd minute at Butarque, converting Vinícius Júnior‘s pass from close range, before Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham secured the three points in the second half.

It was Mbappé’s first Madrid goal in five games, having switched positions with Vinícius, starting on the left side of the attack.

“It was a good game from beginning to end,” Ancelotti said in his postmatch news conference. “The team was solid and focused. We changed the positions of the forwards a bit, with Mbappé on the outside, and he did well.

“Vinicius did well too, on the inside. We opened the scoring, and after that the team controlled the game well.”

Mbappé has now scored seven goals in 12 league appearances for Madrid but had faced criticism for his performances in recent weeks, going four matches without finding the net.

“I started in a different position than in recent games,” Mbappé said afterward. “But as I said the first day I arrived here, I can play in different positions. Today was different, and maybe in the next game it will be different again. I’m ready to help the team.

“It’s the story of my career. I can play on the right, on the left, as a front two, I don’t mind. What I want to do is play well, help the team and score goals.”

After the game, Ancelotti gave his reasons for the switch, adding the best part about the setup and the result was the growing partnership between his two superstars.

“I think [Mbappé] is more used to playing [on the left],” Ancelotti said. “Today that was best for the team, and for him too. On the outside it’s more tiring, and Vini had returned [from international duty] on Thursday.

“Mbappé was fresher than Vinicius. He did very well with the goal, after a fantastic assist from Vini. Little by little the two are getting better.”

With right-backs Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vázquez both missing through injury, Ancelotti picked midfielder Valverde in the role, and suggested he could play there against Liverpool in the Champions League this week.

Madrid go into the game at Anfield on Wednesday in need of a win, after losing twice in four Champions League games so far.

“Valverde is a fantastic full-back,” Ancelotti said. “After Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez, he’s the best in the world. The problem is choosing where he’s best for the team. But he’s incredibly versatile. We’ll see if Lucas and [Aurelien] Tchouameni recover for Wednesday, and then we’ll see.”

​www.espn.com – SOCCER

Carlo Ancelotti praised Kylian Mbappé’s performance after the Real Madrid forward scored from a new, left-sided role in their 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganés on Sunday.

Madrid click after position swap for Mbappé, Vini​​

Carlo Ancelotti praised Kylian Mbappé’s performance after the Real Madrid forward scored from a new, left-sided role in their 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganés on Sunday.

​Carlo Ancelotti praised Kylian Mbappé’s performance after the Real Madrid forward scored from a new, left-sided role in their 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganés on Sunday. Carlo Ancelotti praised Kylian Mbappé’s performance after the Real Madrid forward scored from a new, left-sided role in their 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganés on Sunday.   

play

Nov 24, 2024, 03:39 PM ET

Carlo Ancelotti praised Kylian Mbappé‘s performance after the Real Madrid forward scored from a new, left-sided role in their 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganés on Sunday.

Mbappé put Madrid ahead in the 43rd minute at Butarque, converting Vinícius Júnior‘s pass from close range, before Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham secured the three points in the second half.

It was Mbappé’s first Madrid goal in five games, having switched positions with Vinícius, starting on the left side of the attack.

“It was a good game from beginning to end,” Ancelotti said in his postmatch news conference. “The team was solid and focused. We changed the positions of the forwards a bit, with Mbappé on the outside, and he did well.

“Vinicius did well too, on the inside. We opened the scoring, and after that the team controlled the game well.”

Mbappé has now scored seven goals in 12 league appearances for Madrid but had faced criticism for his performances in recent weeks, going four matches without finding the net.

“I started in a different position than in recent games,” Mbappé said afterward. “But as I said the first day I arrived here, I can play in different positions. Today was different, and maybe in the next game it will be different again. I’m ready to help the team.

“It’s the story of my career. I can play on the right, on the left, as a front two, I don’t mind. What I want to do is play well, help the team and score goals.”

After the game, Ancelotti gave his reasons for the switch, adding the best part about the setup and the result was the growing partnership between his two superstars.

“I think [Mbappé] is more used to playing [on the left],” Ancelotti said. “Today that was best for the team, and for him too. On the outside it’s more tiring, and Vini had returned [from international duty] on Thursday.

“Mbappé was fresher than Vinicius. He did very well with the goal, after a fantastic assist from Vini. Little by little the two are getting better.”

With right-backs Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vázquez both missing through injury, Ancelotti picked midfielder Valverde in the role, and suggested he could play there against Liverpool in the Champions League this week.

Madrid go into the game at Anfield on Wednesday in need of a win, after losing twice in four Champions League games so far.

“Valverde is a fantastic full-back,” Ancelotti said. “After Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez, he’s the best in the world. The problem is choosing where he’s best for the team. But he’s incredibly versatile. We’ll see if Lucas and [Aurelien] Tchouameni recover for Wednesday, and then we’ll see.”

​www.espn.com – SOCCER

Carlo Ancelotti praised Kylian Mbappé’s performance after the Real Madrid forward scored from a new, left-sided role in their 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganés on Sunday.

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West​​

Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic each scored twice — with one goal in each half — and the LA Galaxy earned a 6-2 victory over visiting Minnesota United FC in Sunday’s Western Conference semifinal.

​Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic each scored twice — with one goal in each half — and the LA Galaxy earned a 6-2 victory over visiting Minnesota United FC in Sunday’s Western Conference semifinal. Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic each scored twice — with one goal in each half — and the LA Galaxy earned a 6-2 victory over visiting Minnesota United FC in Sunday’s Western Conference semifinal.   

Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic each scored twice — with one goal in each half — and the LA Galaxy earned a 6-2 victory over visiting Minnesota United FC in Sunday’s Western Conference semifinal in Carson, California.

Paintsil also had an assist for the second-seeded Galaxy, who will host fourth-seed Seattle Sounders FC next Saturday in their first Western Conference final appearance since winning a record fifth MLS Cup in 2014.

Manager Greg Vanney’s squad is the highest remaining seed, meaning it will also host the MLS Cup final should it advance past the Sounders.

Midfielders Riqui Puig and Marco Reus each had first-half assists for LA, which has outscored opponents 15-3 over three postseason matches.

Kelvin Yeboah scored a first-half brace for sixth-seeded Minnesota, which lost for the first time in eight matches in all competitions.

Dayne St. Clair also saved a penalty kick to deny Pec — the newly minted 2024 MLS Newcomer of the Year — a hat trick. But any late hopes for a Loons comeback ended with Jefferson Díaz‘s dismissal for a second yellow card in the 82nd minute, which preceded the second goals for Paintsil and Joveljic.

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Even so, the Galaxy were also dominant 11-on-11 also, and from the very opening seconds when Pec’s opener gave the hosts an almost instant lead.

Puig played an exceptional outlet ball down the right to pick out the Brazilian on the run.

Pec still had a lot to do, eluding the pressure of the retreating Diaz before driving his finish past the charging St. Clair from close range.

Yeboah’s first tied the game at 1-1 five minutes later, before Joveljic’s header of Reus’ free kick service put the Galaxy up again in the 18th minute.

Paintsil added to the lead before Yeboah converted a second from the penalty spot to make it 3-2 at halftime.

But it was Pec’s sensational second that put things out of reach early in the second half.

After receiving an outlet pass from Puig in his own half, Pec used his exceptional pace and ball control to beat three Minnesota defenders down the right flank before dispatching a low finish past St. Clair and inside the far left post.

Orlando beat Atlanta United in the day’s other game — the Eastern Conference semifinal — and will play the New York Red Bulls for a spot in MLS Cup.

Information from Field Level Media was used in this recap.

​www.espn.com – SOCCER

Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic each scored twice — with one goal in each half — and the LA Galaxy earned a 6-2 victory over visiting Minnesota United FC in Sunday’s Western Conference semifinal.

As Man City spiral, Liverpool open historic lead in title race​​

With Man City slumping, Liverpool look like they could put the Premier League title race to bed. That and more in this edition of Weekend Review.

​With Man City slumping, Liverpool look like they could put the Premier League title race to bed. That and more in this edition of Weekend Review. With Man City slumping, Liverpool look like they could put the Premier League title race to bed. That and more in this edition of Weekend Review.   

While Manchester City were slumping to their fifth straight defeat across all competitions, Liverpool extended their lead atop the Premier League table with a come-from-behind win over Southampton. The Reds now sit eight points ahead of the four-time defending English champions.

In Spain, Valencia returned to action following a month away in light of the devastating, deadly flooding that has overwhelmed the area. From the players on the pitch to the fans in the stands, the Mestalla was full of emotion, but the home support went home with the subtle satisfaction of witnessing Los Che‘s second win of the season.

In the Bundesliga, meanwhile, Bayern Munich picked up where they left off before the international break: keeping balls out of the back of their net. The league leaders recorded their sixth straight win, while also keeping their sixth consecutive clean sheet. An impressive feat, even if the attack was far less convincing.

What else did you miss around Europe this weekend? ESPN’s Julien Laurens, Alex Kirkland and Constantin Eckner recap all the action in this edition of ESPN’s Weekend Review.

Top takeaway: Spiralling City put Liverpool in title race driver’s seat

With Ruben Amorim debuting with Manchester United at Ipswich Town on Sunday and Manchester City’s crisis continuing to unfold with their latest defeat, the Premier League was not short of storylines this weekend, but Liverpool going eight points clear at the top of the table over Guardiola’s men is the main takeaway. Their 3-2 win at Southampton wasn’t convincing, but Mohamed Salah‘s brace, massively helped by the Saints’ defensive howlers, got them over the line after being 2-1 down.

After 12 games, eight points is a massive gap. It’s a chasm. A gulf. Only Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man United in 1993-94 had a bigger lead at this stage of the season in Premier League history.

With a mouthwatering clash between Liverpool and City next weekend at Anfield, could the title be done by early December? Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion (third, fourth and fifth in the table, respectively) are nine points behind.

It is hard to see the Reds continuing this incredible run of form (10 wins, one draw, one loss), but it is also hard to see them collapsing so badly that their rivals make up the necessary ground. This is the Premier League, though, and anything is possible.

Best match: Man City 0, Spurs 4

This was the game of the weekend across Europe, as much for the result plunging City firmly into crisis as for Spurs’ outstanding performance on the day. This encounter rarely disappoints, and it was quite extraordinary again on Saturday when the Londoners engineered a 4-0 win at the Etihad.

Best goal: Saka vs. Forest

Matheus Cunha, James Maddison and Kaoru Mitoma all could have won this week’s award, but Bukayo Saka‘s beautiful strike for Arsenal against Nottingham Forest on Saturday is a worthy winner. Cutting inside from the right onto his left foot, the England star unleashed an unstoppable strike from just inside the box.

MVP of the weekend: Matheus Cunha

What a weekend he’s enjoyed and what a player he has been in the past few weeks: six goals and three assists in his past nine Premier League appearances. Two beautiful goals and a great assist on Saturday at Fulham led Wolves to back-to-back wins. — Julien Laurens

Top takeaway: Valencia win, grieve in return to action

Valencia’s 4-2 win over Real Betis on Saturday wasn’t just about three points. It was an opportunity to remember those whose lives were lost in the region’s deadly floods last month (221 fatalities to date) and reflect on the reconstruction effort in the team’s first game back at Mestalla since the disaster.

Before kickoff, players, staff and officials gathered around a giant Senyera, the Valencian flag, covering most of the pitch. In the stands, a banner listed the names of towns and villages devastated by floodwater, where rebuilding will be ongoing for some time.

When Valencia defender César Tárrega scored the opener, he held up a shirt with the message, “We’ll get through this together.” Betis celebrated their equaliser, from an Aitor Ruibal free kick, by holding aloft a Valencian flag.

Outstanding goals from Hugo Duro and Diego López followed in an emotionally charged game. Many of Valencia’s players were personally affected by the tragedy and took to the streets in its aftermath to help. The win, only Valencia’s second of the season, took them off the bottom of the LaLiga table, but this was a day when the team’s recovery on the pitch was secondary to recovery off it.

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Valencia cruise past Real Betis with quick-fire second half goals

Relegation-battling Valencia defeat Real Betis 4-2 in a shock LaLiga win.

Best match: Celta 2, Barça 2

When Raphinha hit the post in the 77th minute — missing the chance to put Barcelona 3-0 up at Celta Vigo — only one outcome looked possible at Balaídos. How quickly things change. Five minutes later, Barcelona midfielder Marc Casadó was sent off. Two minutes after that, Alfon Gonzalez made it 2-1. And two minutes later, Hugo Álvarez scored a brilliant second, levelling at 2-2. Leaders Barça were stunned. With Celta this season, entertainment is guaranteed.

Best goal: Rodríguez vs. Valladolid

OK, so it might not have been the best goal in LaLiga this weekend, but it must have felt like it to Getafe‘s long-suffering fans. Álvaro Rodríguez‘s 70th-minute strike in their 2-0 win over Real Valladolid on Friday was Getafe’s first goal from open play all season — as a reminder, we’re now on Matchday 14, three months into the campaign. It was a smart finish, and an important goal too, helping Getafe climb clear of the bottom three.

MVP of the weekend: Federico Valverde

Real Madrid went into their game at Leganés without any fit right backs. No drama, said Valverde, who stepped into a makeshift defence and performed admirably in the role, even scoring Madrid’s second in a 3-0 away win with a trademark long-range shot. Even out of position, Valverde is still Madrid’s Mr. Reliable. — Alex Kirkland

Top takeaway: Can Bayern continue stacking up clean sheets?

Ever since Bayern Munich slipped to a 4-1 UEFA Champions League defeat to Barcelona, Vincent Kompany’s side have been on a roll. Bayern’s 3-0 home win over FC Augsburg on Friday marked their sixth consecutive win and clean sheet.

However, as they have so often in league play, Bayern had to remain patient: Despite controlling up to 80% of possession, Kompany’s side looked increasingly frustrated and bereft of ideas during the first hour inside a snow-dusted Allianz Arena. If there’s anything to criticise about Bayern’s performance, it is the fact that most of their attacking plays looked interchangeable.

The ball repeatedly moved from Joshua Kimmich to Alphonso Davies to Kingsley Coman, who was usually positioned close to the left touchline. As Coman received little to no room to force a one-on-one with Augsburg wing-back Marius Wolf, the France international retreated and the process started over again. Frequent crosses were expertly defended by Augsburg.

It was eventually a handball by Mads Pedersen, who made an unnecessary error while trying to head the ball away, that gave Bayern the chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot. Harry Kane again serenely kept his composure from 12 yards out and repeated the feat again in stoppage time after Keven Schlotterbeck had pushed the England captain inside the box.

Pessimists might say that Bayern may run out of luck at some point if teams keep defending as intensely as Augsburg and previous opponents have. In the end, though, the constant pressure through crosses and ground passes into the penalty area forces opponents into making mistakes.

Best match: Leverkusen 5, Heidenheim 2

Gone are the days when Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side were able to cruise to wins almost effortlessly. Instead, they have to fight for every point this season. Against Heidenheim, the Werkself were in trouble early on as they conceded twice in the opening 21 minutes before staging a remarkable comeback, eventually winning 5-2 at BayArena. Following three draws in a row, it was a much-needed victory for last season’s champions.

Best goal: Kane vs. Augsburg

Kane has set a new Bundesliga record by scoring his first 50 goals in only 43 league games. His 50th was also a beauty, with the England skipper picking up the ball in mid-air after a pinpoint cross, sending Augsburg goalkeeper Nediljko Labrovic flying as the Croatia international expected a direct header. Instead, Kane used his first touch to put the ball on his head, pushing it across the goal line while Labrović was laying on the ground.

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Harry Kane grabs his hat trick in incredible fashion for Bayern

Harry Kane takes an impressive touch in front of net to set up his own header to give Bayern Munich a 3-0 lead.

MVP of the weekend: Patrik Schick

Kane was not the only player in the Bundesliga to notch a hat trick. In light of Victor Boniface‘s thigh injury that could potentially sideline him until the winter break, Schick showed once again what an outstanding striker the Czechia international can be if he is healthy, scoring three goals against Heidenheim to secure Leverkusen their first win in the month of November. — Constantin Eckner

What else you missed this weekend

Hamburg dispense with Baumgart

Hamburg were once upon a time known as the dinosaurs of the Bundesliga because of their 55-year uninterrupted stay in Germany‘s top flight, but ever since being relegated to the 2. Bundesliga in 2018, the club have failed time and time again to secure promotion. When the club hired Steffen Baumgart in February, they were hoping that the former Cologne manager, who had been a self-confessed Hamburg fan for decades, could push them over the finish line.

Instead, Hamburg’s performances regressed.

Baumgart could neither convince with his results nor with the style with which his team were playing during the first few months of the season. While Hamburg were an attacking-minded side under former manager Tim Walter, they have played much more conservatively under Baumgart. Gathering only 20 points in the first 13 matchdays of the 2. Bundesliga season, Hamburg decided to sack Baumgart on Sunday.

Whoever gets hired in the coming days will be the seventh manager since Hamburg were relegated to Germany’s second division six-plus years ago. — Eckner

​www.espn.com – SOCCER

With Man City slumping, Liverpool look like they could put the Premier League title race to bed. That and more in this edition of Weekend Review.

Madrid to consider new ownership model – Pérez​​

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has said he’ll propose a “corporate reorganization” of the club, with members to vote on whether a change in ownership structure is necessary to protect its financial assets.

​Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has said he’ll propose a “corporate reorganization” of the club, with members to vote on whether a change in ownership structure is necessary to protect its financial assets. Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has said he’ll propose a “corporate reorganization” of the club, with members to vote on whether a change in ownership structure is necessary to protect its financial assets.   

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Nov 24, 2024, 07:37 AM ET

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has said he will propose a “corporate reorganisation” of the club, with members to vote on whether a change in ownership structure is necessary to protect its financial assets.

Madrid are one of just four Spanish clubs — with Barcelona, Athletic Club and Osasuna — which remain member-owned, and weren’t obliged to become public limited companies under a 1990 law.

In a 90-minute speech to the club’s annual assembly, Pérez claimed that a dispute with LaLiga over the CVC investment deal — which saw other clubs receive a total of €2 billion in exchange for future broadcast income — and the way the league collectively negotiates TV rights meant that a new structure was needed to guarantee the club’s independence.

“We’re working on defending ourselves on attacks on our financial wealth,” Perez said. “Our club should have a structure which protects us as an institution. We’ll do everything necessary so that the club belongs to its members, so that nobody can take away our financial assets.

“I can confirm that we’ll bring a corporate reorganisation proposal to an assembly, which guarantees members are real owners of our club. They wanted to take away our income to give it to LaLiga.”

Pérez did not give details of what the reorganisation would involve.

“I’ll keep you informed, we’ll have an assembly to explain it clearly,” he said. “You’ll understand it perfectly … I’ll give everything so that Madrid’s income continues to be Madrid’s, Barcelona’s continues to be Barcelona’s and Athletic Club’s continues to be Athletic’s. Our club should have a structure to protect us.”

The speech also saw Pérez criticize the decision not to hand Vinícius Júnior the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or, reiterate his opposition to UEFA and support for the Super League, and dismiss concerns over lost revenue due to postponed concerts at the new Bernabéu.

“Rodri [Hernández] is a great player, he’s from Madrid, and he has our affection,” Pérez said. “He deserved a Ballon d’Or, but not this one. He deserved it the year before. This year, the Ballon d’Or should have gone to a Real Madrid player: Vinícius, or our captain Dani Carvajal, or even Jude Bellingham.

“Some of [the voters] didn’t even include Vinícius in the top 10. Can anyone understand journalists not thinking Vinícius is one of the best in the world? Nobody knows who [the journalists] are … The Ballon d’Or should be independently organized, and it should be in the hands of people who are recognized.”

In recent years, Pérez has used his speech at the assembly to repeatedly express his opposition to UEFA and the new Champions League format, and insist on the need for radical change in European football.

“We don’t want to go down in history like Blockbuster,” he said, referring to the once-dominant video rental chain, and comparing it unfavourably with Netflix. “We want to embrace new technology … There’s a real opportunity for a change of direction, to restore football’s greatness. This system doesn’t work. The moment is critical. It’s time to act.”

Pérez said the club’s decision in September to postpone all planned concerts at the rebuilt Bernabéu stadium after complaints from neighbors over noise levels was a minor issue in terms of its financial impact.

“The organization of concerts isn’t especially lucrative for the club,” he said. “We only rent out the stadium. The income is around 1% of our annual budget.

“But we understand this activity is important. It means that all the citizens of Madrid benefit [from the stadium]. We’re at the disposition of the local authorities.”

​www.espn.com – SOCCER

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has said he’ll propose a “corporate reorganization” of the club, with members to vote on whether a change in ownership structure is necessary to protect its financial assets.