Real Madrid have enviously looked on as Barcelona claimed six La Liga titles in the last eight years, but Zinedine Zidane's side can take a huge step towards a first crown since 2012 with victory over their bitter rivals at the Nou Camp on Saturday.
Thousands of Real Madrid fans flocked to the Bernabeu to welcome Gareth Bale on Monday after the nine-times European champions sealed the purchase of the Wales winger from Tottenham Hotspur for what the London club said is a world record fee.
New US Open tennis champion Rafa Nadal was given a standing ovation by Real Madrid fans when he strolled out on to the Bernabeu pitch before their Champions League match against Ajax Amsterdam on Wednesday.
The coach of Brazilian champions Santos might take over as the third new coach of Real Madrid this season, Spanish media reports said.
Striker Mariano's header was glanced onto the crossbar by Sociedad's Andoni Gorosabel while the loose ball fell to Marco Asensio, whose shot was deflected wide for a corner from which Raphael Varane header hit the top of the bar.
Germany midfielder Sami Khedira, who played a major part in Germany's progress to the World Cup semi-finals, is to join Real Madrid from VfB Stuttgart, the Bundesliga club said Friday. 'VfB and Real Madrid have agreed on the midfielder's move to the Spanish capital,' the German club said on their website (www.vfb.de).
Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has quashed persistent transfer rumours, saying he had never thought of leaving the StamfordBridge and that he is extremely happy with his current club.
Barca will now visit seventh-placed Osasuna on Saturday before hosting Young Boys in the Champions League next week, when they will look to rebound following a 2-1 loss in their opening match at Monaco.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Zinedine Zidane cast doubt on his long-term future at Real Madrid by saying he is unsure if he will be in charge of the club next season. The former midfielder was named as Rafael Benitez's successor in January when he signed a contract until June 2018. But when asked what role he would have in the Liga club's transfer dealings for next season, Zidane said he did not know if he would still be at the Bernabeu. "I can't know what role I'm going to have if I don't know if I'm going to be here. We'll see what happens at the end of the season," Zidane was quoted as saying by Spanish newspaper Marca. The 43-year-old was also asked if Madrid would make another attempt to sign David de Gea after their move for the Manchester United and Spain goalkeeper fell through on the last day of the transfer window last August.
Real Madrid's failure to convert dominance into goals could have cost them dear in their 2-1 win over Olympiakos Piraeus in the Champions League.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale both scored as Real Madrid staged a remarkable late comeback from two goals down to win 3-2 at Villarreal and stay top of La Liga.
Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho will either be sitting in the dugout at the San Siro or Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium next season, the Portuguese coach said on Wednesday. 'My only options are Madrid or Inter,' he said in an interview with sports daily Marca, when asked if he would leave the Italian champions at the end of the season.
Zinedine Zidane was thrilled to steer Real Madrid to a second consecutive Champions League final in which his team will bid to defend their title against his former club Juventus.
Spanish striker Raul scored twice in an impressive 3-1 victory.
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.
The defending champions suffered an extraordinary 4-1 away defeat in the Spanish League.\n\n
The local government, meanwhile, is deploying more than 200 national police officers to prevent crowds assembling, with mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida also asking people to stay away.
Real Madrid will sign Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil from Werder Bremen, the Spanish club said in a statement on their website (www.realmadrid.com) on Tuesday.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane denied his side were facing a crisis after they drew 1-1 at home to La Liga minnows Eibar and racked up a fourth consecutive draw for the first time in more than 10 years.
Teenager Curtis Jones grabbed a 58th-minute winner as an injury-hit Liverpool qualified for the knockout stage of the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Ajax Amsterdam at Anfield on Tuesday.
Former France soccer great Raymond Kopa, who won three European Cups with Real Madrid in the 1950s, died at the age of 85 on Friday.
Marcelo Zalayeta scored four minutes from the end of extra-time gave the Italians a 2-0 win and a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The England captain, who was involved in a dressing room bust-up with Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, is said to be interested.
Real Madrid became the first team to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League.
Paris St Germain will take their wage dispute with Kylian Mbappe to court after the French football league's governing body (LFP) ruled in favour of the France captain on Friday.
Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder is resisting pressure from Real Madrid to accept a move away from the club, the player said on Saturday.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente left Barcelona's 17-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi and midfielders Marcos Llorente and Aleix Garcia out of his 26-man squad
'We aren't playing well and we can't blame the coach, as the players are the ones who have to perform on the pitch'
'This is more than just a number -- it's a testament to our shared passion, drive, and love for the game and beyond,' Ronaldo said on X.
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.
Real Sociedad moved above Real Madrid into second place behind leaders Deportivo after a 3-1 win over an in-form Real Mallorca in the Spanish League.
Real Mallorca rallied from a goal down at half-time to beat the European champs 5-1 in the Spanish League.
Real Madrid crashed out of the King's Cup quarter-finals 4-3 on aggregate after being held to a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo on Wednesday in another major setback for the stuttering European champions.
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 former Paris St Germain manager will be presented on Wednesday and will replace Jose Mourinho who left at the end of last season to join Chelsea.
Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa has passed a medical and will sign a five-year contract with Real Madrid, the Primera Liga club said on their website (www.realmadrid.com) on Wednesday.