Tag Futebol

Manchester United are now ready to make a summer bid to sign a Real Madrid player who wants to leave, according to a recent report.

Man Utd eye defensive reinforcements

The Red Devils are looking to put their FA Cup elimination behind them as they travel to Spain to face Real Sociedad in the last 16 of the Europa League. This represents United’s last chance of picking up silverware this season, and Ruben Amorim will be eager for his side to come away from Spain in a healthy position ahead of the second leg.

Man Utd now want West Ham ace who La Liga club are already working to sign

The Red Devils could hijack the deal…

ByTom Cunningham Mar 6, 2025

Apart from the Europa League, United have nothing else to play for, so it is no surprise to see plans being drawn up ahead of the summer transfer window. There are several areas that Amorim will be keen to address, with the defensive structure of his team appearing to be high up on the agenda. That is because, according to reports from Spain, United now want to sign Nayef Aguerd from West Ham United in the summer but face competition from Sociedad, who also want to sign him after a successful loan spell there.

In another move to strengthen their defensive structure, United are preparing an offer worth £67 million to sign defensive midfielder Marc Casado from FC Barcelona. The La Liga giants are not looking to sell the midfielder, but their ongoing financial concerns mean they could be tempted into a sale for the right price.

Man Utd ready to offer £33m to sign Real Madrid goalkeeper Lunin

But it could be argued that it hasn’t been United’s defence that has let them down; it has been their goalkeeper, Andre Onana, who has made costly mistakes. Therefore, a new goalkeeper could be on their list of priorities this summer, and according to a report from Spain, Man United are ready to offer 40 million euros (£33 million) to sign Andriy Lunin, who is ready to leave Real Madrid.

The report states that United see signing Lunin as an opportunity to strengthen their goalkeeper department. Despite him being under contract until 2030, Lunin being second choice behind Thibaut Courtois means he will consider a move away from the Bernabeu. The Red Devils are keen to persuade the European champions into a sale by offering more than his market value.

The Premier League side do have Altay Bayindir in their ranks, but the Turkey international has missed the last few weeks through injury and has struggled to nail down a regular starting spot. Meanwhile, Onana started the season off very strong, but in recent months has made some costly mistakes, and it appears Amorim could be losing patience with him with reports suggesting the board regret signing him.

Apps

3

Goals conceded

4

Goals conceded per game

1.3

Saves made

4

Saves per game

1.3 (50%)

Goals prevented

-1.23

Clean sheets

2

Lunin, who helped Real Madrid secure the Champions League last season, has been with the Spanish giants since 2018. But it was only last season that he played regular football while Courtois was injured. Therefore, an opportunity to move to the Premier League and become a number one could be too tempting to turn down, and United could have a good chance of signing a proven goalkeeper.

The January transfer window officially slammed shut on Monday night last week and Celtic ended it with two new additions to their first-team squad.

Brendan Rodgers swooped to sign Ghana international Jeffrey Schlupp on loan from Premier League side Crystal Palace to provide cover at left-back, and he started in the 5-0 win over Raith Rovers on Saturday.

The Hoops had already brought Jota back to the club on a permanent deal from Rennes earlier in the window, 18 months on from his move to Al-Ittihad from the Scottish giants.

Celtic’s Portuguese whiz may have a fight on his hands to secure a place in the starting line-up during the second half of the season, though, due to the form of Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn.

Kuhn has racked up 17 goals and 12 assists in 34 appearances in all competitions for the Glasgow giants this term on the right flank, which has nailed down his position in the XI for now.

Meanwhile, Maeda has stepped up this season and improved his output at the top end of the pitch, to make himself a key figure in the Celtic attack.

Daizen Maeda's form this season

The Japan international managed ten goals and four assists in 36 appearances in all competitions under Rodgers for the Hoops in the 2023/24 campaign.

We are only in February of the following season and the 27-year-old forward has already surpassed his tally of both goals and assists in the current season, with a return of 21 goals and eight assists in all competitions.

Maeda hit the 20-goal mark with his hat-trick against Raith Rovers in the SFA Cup fifth round on Saturday, as he lined up as a centre-forward to hand Adam Idah a well-earned rest.

The Japanese attacker has, now, produced an extraordinary ten goals and one assist in five domestic cup matches for the Scottish giants this term, including four in two SFA Cup outings.

Despite his exceptional goal return for the season as a whole, Maeda’s finishing skills in the Scottish Premiership have left a little bit to be desired.

24/25 Premiership	Daizen Maeda
Appearances	22
Goals	8
Big chances missed	14
Big chances created	8
Assists	7
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the experienced forward has missed a whopping 14 ‘big chances’, and scored eight, in the top-flight so far this term, which suggests that he could, still, improve as a finisher in the division.

Overall, however, it is hard to argue with his output across all competitions, with 21 goals at this stage of the season, and Rodgers will surely be delighted with the bulk of his performances in a Celtic shirt.

Maeda is in the prime years of his career, now, and is currently valued at €8m (£6.6m) by Transfermarkt, which makes him one of the most valuable players in the squad at this moment in time.

Celtic's most-valuable players

The Japanese marksman, despite all of his goals and assists this season, is not the most valuable player at Parkhead, though, as Cameron Carter-Vickers is valued at £11.6m by Transfermarkt.

Celtic’s American colossus, who has helped the team to 12 clean sheets in 19 Premiership appearances this term, has been a consistent presence at the heart of the defence and is a crucial member of the squad.

24/25	Market value
Cameron Carter-Vickers	£11.6m
Reo Hatate	£9.1m
Arne Engels	£9.1m
Nicolas Kuhn	£8.3m
Alistair Johnston	£7.5m
Daizen Maeda	£6.6m
Jota	£6.6m
Auston Trusty	£6.6m
Callum McGregor	£6.2m
Greg Taylor	£5.8m
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, his performances have led to him being valued above all of his current teammates, including the likes of Arne Engels, Nicolas Kuhn, and, of course, Maeda.

Celtic, however, sold a player in January who would have been the second-most valuable player in the squad and worth more than Maeda, as they decided to cash in on Kyogo Furuhashi.

Celtic struck gold with Kyogo Furuhashi

Back in the summer of 2021, Ange Postecoglou swooped to sign the Japan international from Vissel Kobe for a reported fee of £4.5m, which turned out to be an incredible piece of business.

Kyogo racked up 20 goals and five assists in 33 appearances in all competitions during his debut campaign with the Scottish giants, competing with Giorgos Giakoumakis for a place in the starting line-up.

The Japanese marksman then hit his full stride in a Hoops shirt in the 2022/23 campaign under the Australian head coach, with a staggering return of 34 goals and five assists in 50 matches.

Postecoglou’s exit from Celtic in the summer of 2023 seemingly affected Kyogo’s output, however, as the forward only managed 19 goals and five assists in 50 matches in his first season with Rodgers at the helm.

The 30-year-old attacker then racked up 12 goals and four assists in 32 appearances for the Scottish giants in the first half of the current campaign before his permanent move to Rennes.

24/25 Premiership	Kyogo Furuhashi
Appearances	22
Goals	10
Big chances missed	17
Big chances created	1
Assists	3
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Kyogo was wasteful in front of goal in the Premiership this season, missing a staggering 17 ‘big chances’ on his way to ten goals, and that may have been why the Hoops were open to allowing him to leave.

Rennes swooped in to secure his services for a reported fee of £10m last month, which is a valuation that is only bettered by Carter-Vickers in the current squad and one that is higher than Maeda’s current market value, despite his 21 goals this season.

Kyogo’s value soared by £5.5m during his time with the Hoops, from the £4.5m they signed him for to the £10m Rennes paid for him, and this shows that Postecoglou hit the jackpot by signing him from Vissel Kobe.

Celtic enjoyed his talents in front of goal for several years and still managed to make a significant profit on a player who entered his 30s this year, which is why it was a sublime bit of business to bring him to the club back in 2021.

Move over Maeda: 8/10 Celtic star has just given Rodgers a huge headache

The Celtic dynamo has just given Brendan Rodgers a selection headache.

By
Dan Emery

Feb 9, 2025

Australia have a trickier ride while New Zealand are hot favourites to top Group 1

S Rajesh29-Oct-20221:40

Fleming: Possibly the strongest squad NZ have ever had

New Zealand
New Zealand have pulled clear of the rest of the teams in the group, both in terms of points, and even more so, in terms of net run rate. One more win in their two remaining matches should seal qualification, given their excellent NRR. However, if they lose both games, then several other results will have to go their way for them to qualify with five points.England
The defeat against Ireland could hurt England badly.Rain is forecast in Brisbane on Tuesday for their game against New Zealand – if points are shared in that game, England will finish on a maximum of six points, not what they want since New Zealand (with a much better NRR) would touch six points too, and Australia can get up to seven if they beat both Ireland and Afghanistan.If England grab four points from their last two games, then it is possible that three teams – New Zealand, England and Australia – finish on seven points, bringing NRR into play.Ireland
Ireland’s fortunes rest in their own hands: if their follow the victory against England with wins in their last two games – against heavyweights Australia and New Zealand – then they will qualify for the semi-finals regardless of other results. The problem for them, though, is that they have a 0-5 T20I record against those two teams.For the defending champs, it is a chance to stay in contention of making the semis at their home World Cup•Associated Press

Australia
Australia’s two remaining games are against the two new Full Members – Ireland and Afghanistan. Victory in both will lift them to seven points, but Australia will also want to undo the damage caused by the 89-run loss in their tournament opener against New Zealand. The margin of that defeat could hurt them if it comes down to NRR.Sri Lanka
If Sri Lanka win their last two games, New Zealand lose their last two, and Australia beat Ireland but lose to Afghanistan, then Sri Lanka will top group 1 with six points. However, both Australia and New Zealand will finish on seven points if the scenario doesn’t play out that way. Sri Lanka’s only option, then, is to win their last two and then hope.They might not even get a chance to get to their maximum of six points if the weather forecast holds true for Brisbane on Tuesday, when they are scheduled to play Afghanistan.Afghanistan
Like Sri Lanka, Afghanistan can also top the group – on six points – if they win both their games and if New Zealand lose both of theirs. For a start, though, they will be hoping to play some cricket after their last two games were abandoned without a ball being bowled. A third such match is on the cards given the forecast in Brisbane for Tuesday. If that game is washed out and other results follow a specific pattern, it is possible for all six teams in the group to finish on exactly five points.

Transfer deadline day in the Championship didn’t disappoint as various different clubs up and down the second tier managed to secure some dramatic last-gasp deals.

Sunderland would have been the talk of the town in the division if they had managed to clinch this unbelievable switch at the death, with Brighton and Hove Albion ace Simon Adingra linked with a shock move to Wearside, only for the Black Cats to tie up the expected loan capture of Jayden Danns instead.

If the 11th hour move had taken place, it would have likely seen Sunderland youngster Tommy Watson relocate to the Seagulls as part of the exchange deal, with the Black Cats possessing yet another top young talent on their hands.

Watson's failed move to Brighton

Indeed, in a window that must have seen Regis Le Bris fear for the long-term futures of the likes of Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg, Watson could well have ended up being the notable casualty.

Brighton would have been purchasing Watson for his raw potential rather than what he has shown for Sunderland in the men’s team over a long stretch of time, however, with the 18-year-old only gaining his first significant senior opportunities this campaign.

One of those rare shots in the first team this season did see the promising teen fire home two blistering strikes versus Stoke City to gift his boyhood club a 2-0 win, with another ten chances in Le Bris’ main team coming his way away from this standout showing against the Potters.

It will be intriguing to see if Watson does end up winning himself a statement Premier League switch down the line, as the Black Cats already begin to ponder whether another attacking starlet could be the club’s next exciting youngster in the same mould as the much-talked-about 18-year-old.

Sunderland's next Watson

The next gem off the fruitful Black Cats production line could well end up being Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi who already has Premier League admirers of his own.

Amazingly, it has already been speculated that Liverpool have had a peek at the Belgian off the back of his explosive goalscoring form in the youth ranks.

This season alone, playing for both the U18s and U21s, Sunderland’s “super talent” – as he has been lauded by U23 football talent scout Antonio Mango – boasts an exceptional record of nine strikes from ten contests, leading to Arne Slot’s table-topping Reds remarkably beginning to take note of his potency in front of goal.

The similarities don’t end there between Watson and his 18-year-old counterpart, however, with Ogunsuyi also capable of playing down the left wing if needed, where Watson has shone in flashes in the main fold at the Stadium of Light.

Player

Games played

Goals scored

Assists

Ogunsuyi

44

18

2

Watson

68

30

18

Sourced by Transfermarkt

But, based on the table above, the Liverpool-linked centre-forward will have to remain patient regarding any forthcoming first-team opportunities, with Watson up to 68 appearances himself in and around the youth pitches at Sunderland before being given his first proper big break this season.

Ogusuyi would no doubt relish the opportunity of some minutes in the senior fold, with Black Cats star Wilson Isidor acting as a phenomenal mentor for the 18-year-old to bounce off of, but zero Championship chances – minus the odd bench appearance here and there – have been handed to him at this moment in time.

There is no rush, but if Le Bris can get the very best out of the Belgian down the line, he could well end up being a mega-money sale for the Black Cats to boast about.

Forget Le Fee: £3m Sunderland talent could be their next big-money star

Sunderland and Middlesbrough played out a Championship classic on Monday night.

ByKelan Sarson Feb 4, 2025

Aston Villa could now see one member of their squad depart in January, according to the reliable Fabrizio Romano, with talks underway over his exit.

Aston Villa win again

Aston Villa continued their recovery under Unai Emery after a tricky period as they edged past Midlands rivals Leicester City at Villa Park.

Goals from Ross Barkley and Leon Bailey proved enough to ensure that the Villans picked up all three points, a result that moved them to just four points outside the top four despite currently sitting eighth in the Premier League. After the game, Emery urged his side to be “proud” of digging out results despite a largely indifferent performance.

Aston Villa in talks over signing striker whose contract expires in January

Unai Emery has said Villa are moving for signings.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 4, 2025

“We have to be proud of how we are doing, with the difficulties. The difficulties today were that Leicester City were performing well and it is difficult to beat them.

“In the second half, we were getting better and creating chances, not very clear chances but enough to score the two goals like we did.”

One concern for Villa was the injury to John McGinn, who the Villa boss confirmed would now be sidelined for two to five weeks after picking up a hamstring issue that forced him off in the first half of the win over the Foxes.

Villa’s winter plans are unlikely to change though, as they were already expected to be active in the January transfer window, having already seen an offer for forward Donyell Malen rejected by Borussia Dortmund as the German side hold out for a larger fee. Now, they could be set to let a player leave to make room for a new arrival.

Romano reveals Aston Villa forward set to leave

That player comes in the shape of forward Jaden Philogene, who has endured a tough return to Villa Park so far this season.

Re-signed by the club after impressing with Hull City, Philogene has not made an impression on Emery and has only started two Premier League games, having not featured in the top flight in almost a month.

Appearances

15

Starts

4

Goals

0

Assists

0

Red Cards

1

Though his ability was dubbed ‘ridiculous’ by former Hull boss Liam Rosenior, he is yet to show it in the Midlands and now he could depart. Emery himself admitted as such, claiming that “for January, it could be one option for him or for the club to let him leave.”

Now, transfer guru Romano has provided an update on the situation, claiming that the forward is now “expected to leave Aston Villa on loan” and that “talks have already started” about a potential exit.

The forward still has over four years to run on his £40,000-a-week deal at Villa Park, meaning that a loan is only likely to see his value increase. Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town were one of the clubs keen on signing him from Hull City over the summer before Villa exercised their buy-back clause and Kieran McKenna’s could again be keen to sign the talented forward this month.

With another forward seemingly on Emery’s wishlist, a loan move could be just what Philogene needs to rediscover his form.

It might have only been Dinamo Zagreb, but in the context of the last month or so, Arsenal’s win in the Champions League last night felt like a big one.

Mikel Arteta’s side played out a comfortable 3-0 win, and while there were good performances from most of the starters, it was another lacklustre display from Raheem Sterling.

The Chelsea loanee was the latest player to stand in for the injured Bukayo Saka but, rather unsurprisingly, could not replicate even a fraction of Hale Ender’s sensational game-changing impact.

Appearances

16

5

3

Minutes

1276′

433′

119′

Goals

5

4

0

Assists

10

2

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.93

1.2

0.33

Minutes per Goal Involvement

85.06′

72.16′

119′

In his defence, it’s almost an impossible task as, before getting injured last month, the 23-year-old was undoubtedly performing at a world-class level, even if those around him were not.

So, recent reports of the club now agreeing personal terms with an attacker who looks like he could help shoulder some of the attacking burden once he returns from his injury should excite the fans.

Arsenal target Premier League star

According to a recent report from Football Transfers, Arsenal are continuing to look for a new centre-forward this month and have now made progress in the pursuit of Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The report has revealed that the two-time Premier League runners-up have now reached an agreement on personal terms with the player himself and that any contract will not be a problem. He is allegedly yet to sign the new deal proposed to him by the Old Gold.

However, while this is certainly encouraging news for the North Londoners, the report also clarifies that as things stand, the two teams are very far apart in terms of their valuations of the player, with the West Midlands side demanding a fee in excess of £70m, while the Gunners are unwilling to go above £45m ‘for a player who is not considered a top priority target.’

In all, it looks like Arsenal will need to spend more than they’d like to get this transfer over the line, but given Cunha’s ability, that seems like something worth doing, especially as he could be incredible alongside Saka.

Why Cunha would be an unreal teammate for Saka

So, beyond the positive momentum that such a signing would surely bring to Arsenal this season, there are a couple of key reasons why Cunha would be such an incredible teammate for Saka once he returns from injury, and the first is down to his output.

For example, the Wolves star has been in sensational form this season, and in just 22 appearances, totalling 1717 minutes, has racked up a haul of ten goals and four assists.

This means that the “unbelievable” attacker, as dubbed by journalist Alex Richards, is currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.57 games, or every 122.64 minutes, which for a relegation-threatened side is undeniably brilliant.

Appearances

22

30

Minutes

1717′

2486′

Goals

10

14

Assists

4

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.63

0.60

Minutes per Goal Involvement

122.64′

138.11′

Moreover, when you consider that the Gunners’ current top scorer, Kai Havertz, has racked up 14 goals and four assists in 30 appearances, totalling 2486 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.66 games, or 138.11 minutes, you start to imagine how much more dangerous the Hale Ender could be with the far more effective Brazilian to his left.

The second reason that the former Atlético Madrid star would be a dream teammate for the Englishman relates to the first and is the simple fact that he’d occupy defenders.

By this, we mean that, due to his level of output and the dynamic way in which he can get at teams, he’ll be more of a focus for opposition defenders than Havertz currently is, which in turn could free up more space for the North Londoners’ mercurial number seven to operate and thus impact games himself.

Ultimately, Arsenal are in need of some attacking reinforcements this month, and while he may cost more than they would like him to, the club should do what they can to sign Cunha, as not only would he bring more goals to the team himself, but he’d also help Saka reach another level.

Better than Rice: 8/10 Arsenal star just showed he could save KSE millions

Arsenal sealed a comfortable 3-0 victory over Zagreb in the Champions League.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 23, 2025

Leeds United are now in negotiations over a move for a highly-rated goalkeeper to replace Illan Meslier, according to a report.

Illan Meslier set to be replaced

It is difficult not to feel some sympathy for Meslier, who was left in tears after making a mistake which cost Leeds all three points away at Sunderland earlier this season, but his mistakes are starting to hold his side back in their push for promotion.

There was visible frustration from the goalkeeper’s teammates after yet another horror show in the 3-3 draw against Hull City last time out, and manager Daniel Farke has now started to look at potential replacements.

According to a report from Spain, Leeds have identified a goalkeeper as a necessary signing as they look to secure promotion from the Championship, and River Plate’s Conan Ledesma could be on his way to Elland Road.

Leeds eyeing move to sign "clinical" forward who scored 23 goals for Marsch

Daniel Farke looks to have his eyes on a new striker for Leeds United.

3 ByBrett Worthington Jan 6, 2025

The report states that negotiations are “not yet closed”, the phrasing of which suggests the Whites have discussed the terms of a deal but been unable to reach an agreement thus far, with rumours of a possible offer being made now intensifying.

The 31-year-old’s proven track record make him an ideal target for Leeds, and there are signs he could look to leave River Plate in the near future, given that he has failed to displace Franco Armani in the starting XI.

The former Cadiz man has barely had any opportunities in the first team, meaning he is now considering his options.

Why Leeds need a new goalkeeper

Meslier’s mistakes leading directly to goals have cost the Whites seven points already this season, and that’s only the ones officially counted as an error in the stats sheet. This could prove to be crucial in the battle for automatic promotion, even though they remain top of the table for the time being.

As such, Farke must replace the Frenchman this month, and there are signs that Ledesma could be a fantastic replacement, given how highly he was spoken of during his time with Cadiz in La Liga.

The Argentine was a key player for Cadiz in La Liga before making the move back to his home country, proving his worth by making some fantastic saves during the 2022-23 campaign.

Although Leeds remain in a good position to return to the Premier League at the moment, Meslier’s confidence must be diminished given how many mistakes he has made, and signing the more experienced Ledesma is likely to give Farke’s side a better chance of winning promotion.

A major European outfit is planning to make a move and sign an exciting Aston Villa player, but NSWE are not looking to sell anytime soon, according to a recent report.

Aston Villa transfer rumours

The 2024/25 Premier League season started off very well for Unai Emery’s side, but in recent weeks there has been an inconsistency in performances and results, and that has seen them fall away slightly in the table. Villa still have plenty to play for, and because of that, January is a good opportunity for Emery and co to bring in some fresh faces.

It could be a busy January for Villa given the number of players they have been linked with. Benfica defender Antonio Silva is probably the most high-profile player to be linked with a move to Villa Park. The centre-back is admired a lot by people at Villa, and contact has already been made with his representatives to get an understanding of the costs of a potential deal in January.

Sky Sports: Aston Villa eyeing move for 18 y/o talent who could cost £19m

Aston Villa find themselves in a Premier League transfer race to sign a striker.

ByBrett Worthington Dec 17, 2024

Silva is not the only defender on Villa’s radar, as they are also interested in signing Raul Asencio from Real Madrid. The young man has impressed in his limited appearances for the Spanish giants, and Emery sees him as someone who could improve his side’s defence, but they are not the only Premier League team interested in securing this transfer.

Emery also appears to have his eye on improving his forward line, as they are interested in signing Stefanos Tzimas. The 18-year-old has scored seven goals in 14 games for Nuremberg while on loan from Greek side PAOK. Tzimas is considered a very talented forward in his homeland, and if Villa are to secure his signature, it could cost them £19 million.

European side move to sign £30m+ Aston Villa ace

According to Il Mattino, relayed by Sport Witness, Napoli are prepared to make a move and sign Jhon Duran from Aston Villa. The 21-year-old has been at Villa Park since January of last year, when he joined from MLS side Chicago.

Duran arrived at Villa relatively unknown, but he had a growing reputation in the game due to his performances in the USA. It took the Colombia international a while to get familiar to his new surroundings, but from the back end of last season and now this campaign, Duran has become an important player for Villa and has scored some key goals, particularly the winning goal against Bayern Munich.

Duran has 11 goals in 24 games this season, and now this report states that Napoli are starting to take serious notice. It is claimed that the Italian giants are putting the “spotlight” on the Villa striker as they look for a “sidekick” to current striker Romelu Lukaku. Duran is said to be at the top of Napoli’s director of football, Giovanni Manna’s, wish list.

Apps

73

Goals

19

Assists

0

People at Napoli have been left impressed by Duran’s physicality and speed which are on show most weeks at Villa Park. Aston Villa are not looking to sell their forward, and it is claimed that should Duran leave, it would cost up to €40 million, which is roughly £33 million. Napoli have already begun contact with Aston Villa intermediaries, but they are described as “frenetic,” and it is unclear if this is a deal for January or the summer.

Los Blancos proved their European immortality once again by beating their cross-city rivals to secure a quarter-final spot

Of course Real Madrid's Champions League last-16 tie with Atletico Madrid would all come down to a contentious VAR decision! Julian Alvarez did touch the ball twice when scoring Atleti's second penalty, but was a cruel way for 210 minutes of cagey, often unwatchable football to end.

In the second leg on Wednesday, Atletico edged it. The scoreline – a 1-0 win to level the tie at 2-2 – suggests as much. But over two full fixtures, extra-time, and a controversial penalty shootout, of course Real won; it's just what they do. And it's really quite a shame that it all had to end like this – with angry press conferences from Diego Simeone, trolling on social media, and righteous indigation from Madrid fans on X.

After 27 seconds, in fact, this looked poised to be something of a classic. Atleti scored right from the kick-off, a wonderfully worked goal that began with a clever Antoine Griezmann pass and ended with a Conor Gallagher jab – with some chaotic Madrid defending in between. From there, Atleti squeezed all of the spaces, leaving Madrid no room to play. Vinicius Jr jinked, pushed and cut, only to find a swarm of red and white shirts wherever he looked. Atleti flew forward on the break, but without a clear goal-scorer lacked cutting edge.

Vinicius did have big chance to flip the narrative after Kylian Mbappe burst through on goal, cut to his left, and was dragged down by Clement Lenglet in the box. Vinicius took the penalty, but smashed it high into the Madrid night – which summed up his miserable evening.

Atleti really should have capitalised, but Madrid defended well, keeping the hosts mostly away from their box, and forced Alvarez – who was excellent for 120 minutes before his shootout nightmare – into the sort of shooting angles he never wanted to be in.

Once it went to penalties, there never seemed to be all that much doubt. Alvarez's controversial double-hit, combined with a Marcos Llorente effort that smacked against the crossbar, negated the potential damange of a limp effort from Lucas Vazquez. Antonio Rudiger – as he did against Manchester City last season – was left to add the finishing touch.

And so Madrid roll on, the unkillable giants of Europe, who use fortune and sheer belief to drag themselves deep into the Champions League.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the Metropolitano…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WINNER: Carlo Ancelotti

  Well, some credit has to go to the manager, right? There is constant debate as to how much of a difference Carlo Ancelotti actually makes to this Madrid team. It is well chronicled, at this point, that he doesn't run training sessions (that's his son's job, nor is he necessarily a master tactician who reinvents the wheel every year. Instead, he is a sort of manager-by-aura, a man who instils confidence into an incredibly talented group of players and gets the best out of them despite the contrasting intentions and ego clashes that really tear this locker room apart.

  And so it proved again. Ancelotti did make some correct calls on Wednesday. Substitutingg Luka Modric (tired) and Aurelien Tchouameni (ineffective) just after the hour mark gave Madrid an injection of energy into the midfield. Replacing Vinicius before the penalty shootout made sense, even if it seemed risky at the time. And more broadly, he ensured his team did not capitulate in a hostile environment.

  There has been some scattered talk of late that Ancelotti might lose his job if Madrid end the season without silverware, but such claims are ridiculous. Madrid have been changed by €150 million worth of ego in Mbappe and decimated by injuries in key positions. Many a manager would see this season crumble, and, at times, Ancelotti has Los Blancos holding on by a thread. But who cares? A treble is still very much on at the Bernabeu.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  LOSER: Julian Alvarez

  Is it possible to feel anything other than sorrow for Alvarez? The replays are going to be shown over, and over, and over in the coming weeks. But VAR made the right call: the Argentine touched the ball twice on his otherwise wonderfully converted penalty. There was nothing intentional about it – he slipped on the turf – but it is a moment that will now live in infamy.

  It was a night of 'almosts' for Alvarez. He did all of the right things, played out 99.9 percent of his evening to perfection, but couldn't quite come up with a killer blow. He ran the channels, pressed at the right times and forced Thibaut Courtois into three excellent saves. It really has become clear, in recent months, that he was wasted as a back-up to Erling Haaland at Man City.

  However, it is unfortunate that his debut season in Spain will now almost certainly be remembered for a stroke of awful luck.

• AFP
  

  LOSER: Vinicius Jr

  "I will come back 10x stronger if I have to." Those were the words of Vinicius after narrowly missing out on the Ballon d'Or to Rodri in 2024. The Brazilian claimed, in effect, that him being overlooked would only spur him on.

  Since that tweet, though, he has produced a rather mixed bag. There have been some wonderful goals and exciting moments, but consistency has been elusive. Of course, there is a big fat Mbappe-shaped reason why this has all happened, but more broadly, Vinicius has lacked cutting edge at times.

  These, though, are supposed to be the games when that all gets forgotten. On Champions League nights, Ballon d'Or-mode Vini tends to show up.

  Only against Atleti, he really didn't. Diego Simeone has shown, repeatedly, that he knows how to get under Vinicius' skin. The solution? Swarm him, ensure that he has no room to breathe, foul him if you have to, and laugh at him when he tries to complain.

  Such treatment seemed into Vinicius' head a bit, so much so that when his moment arrived – a penalty in the second half that may well have killed off the tie – he fell short. Vini doesn't have to be the hero every time, but if this is the kind of night when star men show up, and Ballons d'Or are handed out, then Wednesday was nothing short of a failure.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• getty
  

  WINNER: Kylian Mbappe

  Well, Kylian, you wanted your Champions League trophy; now you're one step closer to grabbing it.

  Mbappe left Paris Saint-Germain because he wanted to play for Real Madrid ever since he was a child. Everything about his career has been geared towards him becoming a Galactico. Individual accolades and big-stage moments are what seem to matter to him most.

  What an embarrassment it would have been, then, had Mbappe exited stage right from the Champions League just 24 hours after his former club had finally announced themselves as genuine contenders for a continental crown. Talk of an 'Mbappe curse' would have dominated Spanish newspapers, with PSG seemingly free of a goal-scoring marvel who was secretly holding them back the whole time while Madrid had inherited a wonderful footballer who looked destined to never quite make it to the top of the mountain.

  Fortunately for the France captain, that didn't come to pass, and he remains on the path towards both a first European Cup, while Mohamed Salah's departure from the Champions League means the Ballon d'Or is back in play too. This could still turn into a dream debut campaign for the boyhood Blanco.

It has been an eventful few weeks for Dane Cleaver. In February this year, he became a dad, and around mid-March, he made his captaincy debut for Central Districts, against Northern Districts, in the four-day Plunket Shield. Nearly two weeks later, he is preparing to make his international debut for New Zealand, against Netherlands, at his domestic home ground of McLean Park, in front of his friends and family.Blair Tickner, Doug Bracewell and Will Young, Cleaver’s team-mates at Central Districts, are also part of New Zealand’s squad, drafted in because of the absence of a number of seniors who are gearing up for IPL 2022. Their presence adds to the celebratory mood in the New Zealand camp.Related

• Michael Rippon becomes first left-arm wristspinner picked by New Zealand

• Guptill: NZ won't take 'well-acclimatised' Netherlands lightly

• Brownlie added to New Zealand's coaching staff

“Yeah [starting to sink in], absolutely. Just being around the group and I suppose dreaming of this moment and hopefully getting the opportunity on Friday night [in the one-off T20I],” Cleaver, a wicketkeeper-batter, said. “Yeah, there’s a pretty excited bunch of family members that are organising their way over for Friday night. So, it will be very special to amongst not only friends and family but just home crowd in general.”Cleaver heard the news of his call-up from selector Gavin Larsen. “Gavin Larsen gave me the call and just, I suppose, ran me through the possibility and the squad selection,” Cleaver said. “It was a pretty surreal moment really – I suppose something you always aspire to and all that time and effort, love for the game, trainings, travel, everything sort of culminates in that. Yeah, [it] took a while to sink in and now that I’m here, it’s really exciting.”Sure, this is a second-string New Zealand side, but the 30-year-old Cleaver’s call-up is reward for his toil in domestic and A-team cricket. He was part of New Zealand’s squad in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup alongside Michael Bracewell. More than a decade later, the pair could make their international debuts together, against Netherlands. Fun fact: in the 2008 Under-19 World Cup, it was Cleaver’s first cousin Kane Williamson, who captained New Zealand.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Cleaver has now played nearly 200 games across formats for Central Districts and is seen as a senior figure in the set-up. He brings with him strong Super Smash form: he hit 369 runs in nine innings at an average of 46.12 and a strike rate of 166.21 in the latest edition. Only Bracewell scored more runs than Cleaver. Cleaver was particularly brutal in the middle overs; his middle-overs strike rate of 171.52 was the best among batters who had faced at least 100 balls in the season.”Yeah, absolutely [confident ahead of a possible international debut],” Cleaver said. “I think playing Netherlands [in the warm-ups] last week – you see the quality in their side and also the fact that you can stack up against an international side and taking that form from domestic into this… I suppose it’s just another game of cricket and just got to prepare the best you can and hopefully have some fun.”The weather in Napier, though, could spoil the fun, as it did during the third warm-up fixture against Netherlands.”You’ve got to take in a bit of a what-will-be-will-be attitude,” Cleaver said. “You can’t control the weather – so you got to prepare the best you can and I’m pretty positive that it will turn around in the next couple of days and we get some good cricket on Friday night.”New Zealand have a rich stable of wicketkeeper-batters – Tim Seifert, Devon Conway, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Finn Allen – but this is Cleaver’s chance to shake things up, and step out of his illustrious first cousin’s shadow, ahead of twin World Cups.