10-man Real Madrid fought back from a goal down to claim a 3-1 win at home to Athletic Bilbao.
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.
Coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo said he only wants those players who are fully committed to staying on next season.\n
Spanish soccer's 'El Clasico' encounters between Barcelona and Real Madrid will happen in December and April, two of the most anticipated games of the 2016-17 Primera Division season whose fixtures were announced on Friday. Defending champions Barca host Real on Dec. 4 at the Camp Nou. The reverse fixture will take place on April 23, at the Bernabeu stadium, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed after the draw. As the La Liga season kicks off, Barca will begin their title defence at home to Real Betis on Aug. 21.
Real Madrid signed Turkey midfielder Nuri Sahin from Borussia Dortmund on a six-year contract on Monday as coach Jose Mourinho began strengthening his squad for next season.
Man City to face Spurs in League Cup
Rumours and speculations abound that Cristiano Ronaldo will be heading to Old Trafford soon.
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema produced an audacious back-heeled assist for Casemiro to score as they beat Espanyol 1-0 away on Sunday to capitalise on Barcelona's slip-up a day earlier and move two points clear at the top of La Liga. Brazilian midfielder Casemiro slid to the ground to guide the ball home on the stroke of halftime after being played in by a stroke of genius from Benzema, who dragged the ball through the legs of his marker Bernardo Espinosa to find his team mate.
'The football world is not ready to accept a player who fights against the system.'
The coach of Brazilian champions Santos might take over as the third new coach of Real Madrid this season, Spanish media reports said.
The Welsh winger is thriving in the absence of Ronaldo and Madrid have three wins from four La Liga matches.
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.
Madrid went into halftime with a three-goal lead after Marco Asensio scored twice in three minutes and debutant Javi Sanchez also got on the scoresheet late in the half.
Robert Lewandowski and substitute Pablo Torre each scored twice to help leaders Barcelona thrash visitors Sevilla 5-1 in LaLiga on Sunday in a confidence boost for Hansi Flick's side ahead of key clashes against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
Barcelona will go to the international break on top of the standings on a perfect 12 points from four games, five ahead second-placed Villarreal and seven clear of bitter rivals Real Madrid
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.
Manchester City reached the Champions League quarter-finals after beating Real Madrid 2-1 (4-2 on aggregate) at the Etihad Stadium on Friday, with scorers Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus taking advantage of errors by defender Raphael Varane.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Spanish striker Raul scored twice in an impressive 3-1 victory.
The defending champions suffered an extraordinary 4-1 away defeat in the Spanish League.\n\n
Ronaldo had won his first Ballon d'Or in 2008 while he was playing for Manchester United and still holds the record of the last Premier League player to claim the top prize. Messi won his first in 2009 and was nominated for 16 years.
Images from Sunday's action in La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1.
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.
Rodri won the Ballon d'Or award for the best player in the world, beating Brazil's Vinicius Jr and England's Jude Bellingham.
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.
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.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
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.
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.
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.
Real Madrid became the first team to qualify for the last 16 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.
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