MLS begins a transformative season with Lionel Messi, Son Heung-min and record transfers as North America prepares to host the World Cup.
Images from Saturday's La Liga action.
Real Madrid continued their march towards a 35th LaLiga title
Brazilian forward Julio Baptista donned the all-white shirt of Real Madrid for the first time on Monday after signing a five-year deal with the club for an initial fee of 20 million euros (13.8 million pounds).
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice but had to leave the pitch with his face covered in blood as Real Madrid eased their domestic crisis by hammering Liga strugglers Deportivo La Coruna 7-1 at home on Sunday to reclaim fourth place in the standing
The 24-year-old Wales international, who has agreed a six-year contract, eclipsed the previous record of 80m which was also paid by Real Madrid to Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.
Spanish football giant Real Madrid have tabled a 30 million pound bid for Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. score twice as his side punished a sloppy Liverpool to win 3-1, while Manchester City beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg.
Liverpool came into Saturday's Champions League final against Real Madrid on a wave of confidence but Zinedine Zidane's side showed exactly why they are the masters of Europe's top club competition in their 3-1 win.
Depleted Real Madrid ended a disappointing week with a 0-0 draw at Sporting Gijon on Saturday, handing champions Barcelona the chance to open a three-point lead at the top of La Liga.
The Barcelona striker was fined 12,000 euros for insulting his former club Real Madrid during his team's title celebrations on May 15.
Espanyol have agreed a deal for goalkeeper Kiko Casilla to join Real Madrid, the Catalan club said on Friday.
Madrid's trip to San Sebastian was full of intrigue after Barca failed to beat Sevilla and the Catalan side's defender Gerard Pique said the title was now Madrid's for the taking.
Spain coach Julen Lopetegui will take over as Real Madrid manager on a three-year contract after the World Cup, the European champions said on Tuesday.
Italy striker Balotelli has scored only once in nine appearances since signing from AC Milan for 16 million pounds and has often cut a frustrated figure during a series of low-key displays.
Real Madrid climbed back above arch rivals Barcelona to the top of La Liga when Gonzalo Higuain netted a late winner in a laboured 1-0 win at Sporting Gijon on Sunday.
Real Madrid and AC Milan led a procession of six teams into the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday while big-spending Manchester City failed again on the European stage to further dent English soccer's standing.
Atletico Madrid earned a 1-1 draw away to Girona in a chaotic and entertaining Copa del Rey last 16 first-leg match on Wednesday, leaving the tie finely balanced.
Late goals from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi gave Spanish Primera Liga leaders Barcelona a 2-0 win over Real Madrid at the Nou Camp on Saturday, condemning Juande Ramos to defeat on his league debut as coach of the champions. Barcelona top the table with 38 points from 15 matches, eight ahead of Valencia who beat Espanyol 2-1 earlier on Saturday. Villarreal, who play at fourth-placed Sevilla on Sunday, are third on 29 points with Real fifth on 26.
Real coach Zinedine Zidane left out Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in a largely second-string side but not even the injection of youth could breathe life into his team until Asensio's late goal ended a run of three games without a win.
The Bernabeu faithful have never taken Gareth Bale to their hearts with injury problems and a perceived lack of integration into the side often used as sticks to beat him with.
Real Madrid failed to keep the pressure on leaders Barcelona as they were held to a draw by relegation-threatened Real Sociedad.
Cristiano Ronaldo played down talk of crisis at Real Madrid after the European and Spanish champions were trounced 3-1 on their Wembley debut against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
Real Madrid equalled a Spanish record of 39 games unbeaten in all competitions by crushing struggling Granada 5-0 on Saturday to go six points clear at the top of La Liga.
The historic rivals will meet again twice in August in the Spanish Super Cup and this International Champions Cup match set the entertainment bar high, with Barcelona maintaining their 100 per cent record in pre-season.
Real Madrid chief Predrag Mijatovic said the former England captain must complete the remaining six months of his contract.
Leaders Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw away to promoted Real Murcia in the Primera Liga on Saturday, allowing arch-rivals Barcelona to close to within two points in the standings.
Third-tier Alcorcon lost 1-0 to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Tuesday but dumped the nine-times European champions out of the King's Cup 4-1 on aggregate. Alcorcon operate on a budget of just over one million euros ($1.50 million), some 400 times smaller than Real's.
Zidane calls on Madrid fans to create best atmosphere ever against Bayern
Real, who have not won the title since 2017, lead the table on 74 points, four ahead of Barca with five games left and have a superior head-to-head record over the Catalans which would give them the trophy if both teams finished the season level on points.
Real Madrid suffered a shock 2-1 defeat by Sevilla in La Liga on Sunday as winger Jesus Navas and midfielder Renato stuck with headers in each half.
The Real Madrid striker is accused of complicity in the alleged targeting of midfielder Mathieu Valbuena, who plays for the Greek Super League club Olympiacos. Prosecutors allege that Benzema encouraged Valbuena, 37, to pay the blackmailers.
Blackburn Rovers have signed former Real Madrid defender Michel Salgado for two years on a free transfer, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.
AC Milan have agreed a deal with Real Madrid to make Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar their first major signing of the close season.
Real Madrid ended their four-year trophy drought when they won the league title for the 30th time after a dramatic 3-1 comeback victory over Real Mallorca.
This is Real Madrid's third consecutive Champions League title.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Real Madrid will be targeting a sixth consecutive victory since the COVID-19 hiatus when they host Getafe, looking to capitalise on Barca's 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday
Newly-crowned European club football champions Real Madrid took their Champions League celebrations on to the streets of Madrid.
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