Real Madrid paid for defensive mistakes as they were held to a 3-3 draw at lowly local rivals Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.
Benzema and Courtois helped Real seal a record 14th European title last season while De Bruyne guided City to the Premier League title -- his fourth crown in seven seasons at the club.
Images from Sunday's action in LaLiga and Serie A.
Brazil's older players will have to step up to lead the team as they continue without a full time manager, defender Danilo said on Friday.
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola hailed the spectacular football his side played in their 4-3 Champions League semi-final first-leg win over visitors Real Madrid on Tuesday, even if he was not completely satisfied with the scoreline.
Real Madrid are comfortably perched on top of the La Liga standings with 66 points while Barca are now third on 54 points with a game in hand, three points behind second-placed Sevilla.
"The result of the first leg, in this aspect, puts us a little in doubt. We will try to go all in out there from the first minute, but we have more questions and responsibility than our rival."
A double from Vinicius laid the foundation for a thumping Champions League win.
Empoli beat Juventus 4-2 on penalties to advance to their first ever Coppa Italia semi-finals on Wednesday after a resilient performance helped them to hold the defending champions to a 1-1 draw in regular time.
Zinedine Zidane said he would be willing to become Real Madrid head coach although he is not in a hurry.
Rodri won the Ballon d'Or award for the best player in the world, beating Brazil's Vinicius Jr and England's Jude Bellingham.
Real are on 81 points with four games to go. They are 17 points ahead of nearest rivals Sevilla.
LaLiga leaders Real Madrid's pursuit of a record-extending 36th Spanish title
Holders Real Madrid will need to maintain their intensity for the whole of next week's return leg if they are to get past Atletico Madrid into the Champions League semi-finals, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Tuesday.
British media said United had closed on a deal worth up to 70 million euros for Casemiro, who has 63 caps for Brazil.
Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that he wants to return to management at the start of next season and hinted that he would relish the chance to take charge of Manchester United in the future.
Real Madrid had courted Mbappe in the past but failed to land the player, who signed a contract extension with PSG in May 2022 when the Spanish club had a bid rejected.
The numbers behind Sunday's 'El Clasico' between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Bernabeu stadium.
A round-up of Saturday's action in LaLiga, Ligue 1 and Serie A
As European heavyweights Juventus and Real Madrid prepare for Wednesday's Champions League clash at the Bernabeu, Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon has questioned the Spanish side's 'galactico' transfer policy.
Mesut Ozil quit Real Madrid to join Arsenal because he realised he no longer had the confidence of Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, the Germany playmaker said.
For months, the 2024 Ballon d'Or seemed to have a clear front-runner, with everyone anticipating the coronation of Vinícius Júnior as the new king of football.
Real Madrid top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo's participation against Borussia Dortmund in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg is still in doubt with the player nursing a knee problem, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday.
IMAGES from the Euro 2024 Group F match played between Turkey and Georgia, at Dortmund BVB Stadion, Dortmund, Germany, on Tuesday.
The two teams have met eight times in the European Cup, with Real winning four times and Liverpool three.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be fit for Real Madrid's Spanish Super Cup second leg against Atletico Madrid on Friday, coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed on Thursday.
Sporting marked the final home game of coach Ruben Amorim's reign in stunning fashion as Viktor Gyokeres' hat-trick saw them come from behind to thrash Manchester City 4-1 and maintain their superb start to the Champions League on Tuesday.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is expecting Angel Di Maria to begin pre-season training on August 5 and has no information about the Argentina winger leaving for Paris St Germain.
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti believes that the club is benefiting from England's ouster from the 2010 World Cup as John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole have all looked in good shape.
Manchester City marched into the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons after outclassing holders Real Madrid 4-0 for a 5-1 aggregate victory.
According to a report in as.com, speaking at a Madrid fans' meeting on Saturday, De Bla said: "Carlo Ancelotti is a phenomenon. We're eternally grateful to him. For me, up to three days ago he was the best coach in the world, as was Jose Mourinho a couple of years ago and as of next week it will be Rafa Bentez."
"To say I'll be happy for Argentina (if they win), that will not be true, it would be a lie, I will not be a hypocrite," Ronaldo said in an interview with the Spanish daily Marca.
Roundup of the matches being held across major football leagues in Europe
Andriy Shevchenko will quit Chelsea by the end of the month because the London side cannot guarantee him regular first-team football, Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti said Friday.
A stoppage time header by fullback Lucas Vazquez earned 10-man Real Madrid a 1-0 victory at lowly Alaves.
Vinicius Jr scored a hat-trick in the first half as Real Madrid were crowned Spanish Super Cup champions
David Beckham is likely to feature in the Paris St Germain squad for the first time when the Ligue 1 leaders take on arch rivals Olympique Marseille on February 24, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday.
Paris St Germain have ruled out a move for David Beckham after the former England midfielder announced he was leaving LA Galaxy after next month's Major League Soccer Cup final.
Spaniard Benitez left Napoli at the end of the season and takes over from Italian Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu.
Midfielder Frank Lampard could miss champions Chelsea's Premier League opener at home to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
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