Players.bio is a large online platform sharing the best live coverage of your favourite sports: Football, Golf, Rugby, Cricket, F1, Boxing, NFL, NBA, plus the latest sports news, transfers & scores. Exclusive interviews, fresh photos and videos, breaking news. Stay tuned to know everything you wish about your favorite stars 24/7. Check our daily updates and make sure you don't miss anything about celebrities' lives.

Contacts

  • Owner: SNOWLAND s.r.o.
  • Registration certificate 06691200
  • 16200, Na okraji 381/41, Veleslavín, 162 00 Praha 6
  • Czech Republic

Club World Cup opportunity gives Madrid respite from domestic woes

Carlo Ancelotti's side were beaten 1-0 at Real Mallorca in a frustrating game which dented their bid to retain the Spanish league title, but they can earn their second piece of silverware of the season this week.

Madrid lifted the European Super Cup in August, beating German side Eintracht Frankfurt, but were damaged by defeat against rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in January.

The record four-time Club World Cup champions face Egyptian side Al Ahly, runners-up in the African Champions League, on Wednesday in the second semi-final.

In the first, on Tuesday, Brazil's Flamengo, 2022 Copa Libertadores winners, play Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, holders of the Asian Champions League trophy.

Real Madrid won a La Liga and Champions League double last season but have struggled to hit the same heights this year.

French striker Karim Benzema, the current Ballon d'Or holder, has been set back by frequent injuries and is a doubt for the semi-final, while several other squad members have also been sidelined.

The latest is goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, not fit to face Al Ahly after a thigh problem, but holding onto a faint hope of return for a prospective final on Saturday.

Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, Eden Hazard and Lucas Vazquez are set to miss the tournament entirely.

Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin stepped in for Courtois against Mallorca and said the team had to focus on their new challenge in Morocco.

"It's Real Madrid and we always come back," said Lunin.

"We've got the Club World Cup coming up and we have to be ready for it.

"We can't spend too much time thinking about defeat. We have to study our mistakes and move on."

 

 

Despite a refreshing change of scenery, the extra matches are a double-edged sword for Madrid.

Ancelo

Read more on beinsports.com