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Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso praised Kylian Mbappe for his stellar form this season, as the French forward tops both the La Liga and Champions League scoring charts ahead of Wednesday's home clash with Juventus. Mbappe, 26, who joined Real from Paris St Germain last season, has scored 10 goals in nine LaLiga matches and five in two Champions League appearances, alongside three goals for the French national team this term. His form has helped Real make a strong start under Alonso, winning 10 of their 11 games across all competitions. The Spanish side lead LaLiga with 24 points, two ahead of Barcelona, and have secured maximum points in the Champions League. "It's not just the goals," Alonso told reporters. "His influence is almost as important in terms of his teammates following him with and without the ball. He's helping us. He's scored goals everywhere. The influence, as well as the goals, is what the team needs." Real face a struggling Juve side who have not won in more than a month and sit seventh in the Serie A standings, four points behind leaders AC Milan. However, Alonso warned against taking the Italians lightly. "We're on alert for Juve tomorrow. Any Italian team that's struggling can be dangerous. We must not forget history. Juve are a big club, both now and in the past. They have some very good players," he said. "It's a European classic. They have faced each other many times, and I’ve played in some of those games. We feel very prepared. We want our third Champions League victory and to get off to a great start. We need the stadium. People go to the Bernabeu wanting to see big games. We have to give them what they want so that they respond in kind." Courtois slams La Liga over plans for Barca-Villarreal Miami match Meanwhile, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has launched a scathing attack on LaLiga and its President Javier Tebas, criticising the decision to stage Barcelona's away match with Villarreal in Miami on December 20, saying it "distorts the competition”. The game, set to take place at the Hard Rock Stadium, would be the first La Liga fixture held outside Spain and the first European league match staged abroad. While European governing body UEFA reluctantly approved the plan, Real Madrid and other LaLiga teams' players have expressed their opposition, with Courtois leading the charge. Speaking at a press conference on the eve of Real’s Champions League clash with visiting Juventus, Courtois accused La Liga of bypassing clubs in the decision-making process and argued that the move undermines the principles of fairness in the home-and-away league format. "LaLiga does whatever it wants because it suits them,” Courtois said. "This decision distorts the competition. Playing at home is not the same as playing away. In LaLiga, playing away is very difficult, as we saw against Real Sociedad and Getafe. Villarreal away is tough. It’s not fair to change the rules mid-season without consulting us.” Courtois also contrasted La Liga’s plans with the NBA and NFL, who regularly play matches abroad. "The NBA has 82 games, and the NFL’s owners collectively approve these decisions. Here, La Liga acts unilaterally. It’s not the same,” he said. Over the weekend, La Liga players staged silent protests by standing motionless at kickoffs across all matches, symbolising their discontent. However, La Liga’s broadcasts ignored the protests in several games, showing a wide, aerial shot of the stadiums accompanied by a banner that read "Commitment to peace", which LaL iga has been using due to the war in Gaza, an attitude that prompted further criticism from Courtois. "Hiding the protests and trying to change the narrative is censorship and manipulation,” Courtois said. "I’m not surprised. (Tebas) behaves like no other sports executive I’ve ever seen. His actions on social media and in public speak volumes.” Real Madrid, who opposed the decision as early as August, have filed two complaints with Spain’s Sports Ministry, arguing that the move undermines the league’s competitive integrity. Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone also weighed in on the controversy, expressing his scepticism over the Miami fixture. "I won’t believe it until I see it,” he told reporters. "The home team loses the advantage. Their fans won’t be there, and they have to travel thousands of miles. We need to respect the fans.” La Liga has repeatedly defended its plan to stage matches abroad, stating that the proposal "does not distort competition or violate any rights of players, clubs or fans". However, with the match now scheduled for Miami, the stage is set for further tension between the league and its players.

Mbappe keeps on scoringReal take back top spot from BarcaGetafe finish game with nine menKylian Mbappe continued his impressive scoring streak as his 10th goal in nine league games earned Real Madrid a 1-0 win at Getafe on Sunday and sent his side back to the top of the LaLiga in a game where the hosts finished with nine men.Real struggled to find a way past a stubborn Getafe until Allan Nyom was sent off 13 minutes from time, one minute after coming off the bench, and Mbappe scored three minutes later.Alex Sancris was then sent off for a second booking before the end.Real are on 24 points, two ahead of Barcelona and the top two will go head-to-head in next Sunday's El Clasico. Getafe are 12th in the standings on 11 points.Real coach Xabi Alonso continued his habit of rotating the starting side, leaving both Vinicius Jr and Arda Guler on the bench while handing Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo rare starts. The game began with both sets of players standing still for 15 seconds, part of a protest organised by the Spanish Footballers' Association over LaLiga's decision to play December's match between Villarreal and Barcelona in the United States.In reality, the match took even longer to get going.Mbappe was a constant threat in the opening half, taking his side into the opposition area, but his own teammates often appeared to be operating on different wavelengths. Aurelien Tchouameni's shot from distance went narrowly over and on the stroke of halftime David Alaba's powerful free kick was parried away by the keeper with Federico Valverde's follow-up effort well off target.Getafe spent most of the opening half keeping Real at bay, but Sancris volleyed narrowly wide shortly before the break to fire a warning shot.With Real no closer to finding the net, Vinicius replaced the unimpressive Franco Mastantuono 10 minutes after the interval and Guler made his entrance after another uneventful 10 minutes.Nyom saw red for a foul on Vinicius and Real wasted little time in taking advantage. When Guler's defence-splitting pass found Mbappe with his back to goal, the French forward turned, took the ball into the area and smashed his shot past David Soria.Mbappe, who has also scored five in two Champions League games, and keeper Thibaut Courtois are the two players Alonso cannot do without this season, and Courtois denied Abu Kamara in added time to deny Getafe an equaliser.Before the top of the table clash with Barcelona, Real host Juventus on Wednesday in the Champions League.

Kylian Mbappe and Ibrahima Konate have been ruled out of Monday's 2026 World Cup qualifier in Iceland where France could book their ticket to next year's tournament. Already suffering from a "small niggle" in his right ankle from playing for Real Madrid, Mbappe took two knocks during Friday's 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Azerbaijan in Paris, where he opened the scoring but was substituted before the end of the match.Liverpool defender Konate remained on the bench with a right thigh problem with his place against Iceland now taken by Marseille's Benjamin Pavard. Mbappe's absence adds to the long list of forwards unavailable for October's World Cup qualifiers, which includes Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Marcus Thuram and Bradley Barcola.After returning to the Clairefontaine training ground on Friday night, "the French team captain spoke with (coach) Didier Deschamps who acknowledged his absence", the French federation (FFF) said in a statement.Mbappe "has been released to his club (Real Madrid) and will not be replaced", the FFF added, confirming hours later that Konate "has returned to his club's availability".Konate had joined the team with a slight injury and "underwent treatment and a specific protocol but will not be able to play Monday in Reykjavik", the FFF said.Mbappe scored on the stroke of half-time against Azerbaijan and was then struck by a tackle from Rustam Ahmedzade. He took another knock to the same ankle late in the game, and was replaced by Florian Thauvin. "He has a sore ankle and he took a knock there. He preferred to come off; the pain was quite significant," Deschamps said after the French victory.Adrien Rabiot and the substitute Thauvin were also on the scoresheet as Deschamps's team remain unbeaten after three games and top of Group D. Les Bleus will book their passage to the United States, Canada and Mexico next year if they win in Iceland on Monday and Ukraine fail to beat Azerbaijan.Germany cruiseMeanwhile, captain Joshua Kimmich's double inspired four-time winners Germany to a 4-0 win over 10-man Luxembourg and to the top of Group A on goal difference with Slovakia and Northern Ireland, who await them in Belfast tomorrow. Germany showed the poise and swagger that had abandoned them so far in their World Cup qualifying campaign, losing away in Slovakia for the first time and edging past Northern Ireland at home.Kimmich converted a first-half penalty and tapped in from close range just after the break. David Raum's first-half free kick and a Serge Gnabry goal early in the second half secured the Germans an important victory. Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann praised his team's "aggression and greed". "We could have scored one or two more, but it was a deserved win, one we absolutely wanted and needed," he added.Germany were eliminated at the group stage of the World Cup in 2018 and 2022. Lowly Luxembourg's task was made even harder when after only 20 minutes Dirk Carlson saw red and gave away a penalty for handball in the box.Northern Ireland kept alive their dream of appearing at their fourth World Cup and first since 1986 with a 2-0 home win over Slovakia courtesy of Patrik Hrosovsky's own goal and Trai Hume's stunning volley nine minutes from time to ignite the fans at Windsor Park. "It was a great night, good performance and the most important thing is the three points. I think we deserved it" said the Sunderland defender.Ukraine sit second in the group, five points adrift, after a captivating 5-3 win in Iceland. Switzerland maintained their perfect record to keep control of Group B with a 2-0 defeat of a Sweden side featuring Liverpool's new British transfer record signing Alexander Isak.Kosovo and Slovenia slogged it out for a goalless draw in the group's other game. Belgium, seeking a 13th appearance at the World Cup, were held to a goalless draw at home to North Macedonia, who famously downed Germany in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup and now sit top of Group J, tantalisingly close to a first ever seat at football's high table next year.

Kylian Mbappe is receiving treatment for a "small niggle" in his right ankle after meeting up with his international team-mates ahead of the latest round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers, France coach Didier Deschamps said Monday.The France captain sustained the knock at the end of Real Madrid's 3-1 La Liga victory over Villarreal on Saturday, casting doubts over his availability to the national team for their upcoming qualifying matches against Azerbaijan and Iceland."I spoke with Kylian, he had a small niggle but it's not serious, otherwise he wouldn't be here today," Deschamps told reporters at the French team's Clairefontaine base near Paris."We will take the time with the medical staff to assess the situation and then see how it develops."Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate also underwent tests, after coming off injured in the Reds' 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday.The pair received treatment on Monday during training and are set to continue treatment on Tuesday, according to the French national team's coaching staff.The French football federation (FFF) also confirmed Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola would be sent home from Clairefontaine due to a hamstring injury."After consulting with the French national team doctor... (Barcola) has been diagnosed with a chronic injury to his right hamstring since Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League match against Atalanta (on September 17)," the FFF said.PSG then publicly rejected the diagnosis of the 23-year-old by France's medical team."The information published in this statement does not correspond in any way to the medical information provided by Paris Saint-Germain's medical teams," the club posted on social media."Prior to the gathering (at Clairefontaine) and following the Ligue 1 matchday 7 fixture against Lille, Paris Saint-Germain provided the French national team with a medical report on Bradley Barcola that made no mention of any chronic injury following the match against Atalanta."The attacker played 60 minutes of PSG's Ligue 1 draw at Lille on Sunday before being replaced, showing no apparent signs of injury during the encounter.Should Barcola end up facing time on the sidelines, he would be a further addition to PSG's lengthy injury list which already includes fellow France forwards Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue, as well as Marquinhos, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves.Last month there was friction between the two parties after PSG criticised the French national team staff following injuries suffered by Dembele and Doue during France's opening Group D win over Ukraine.Les Bleus are top of their group with two wins from two so far in qualifying. They host Azerbaijan on Friday at PSG's Parc des Princes stadium before travelling to Iceland three days later.

Kylian Mbappe struck a hat-trick as record 15-time Champions League winners Real Madrid romped to a 5-0 league phase win over Kairat in Kazakhstan Tuesday.Xabi Alonso’s side bounced back from their thrashing by city rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday with an emphatic victory on the road, after travelling more than 7,000 kilometres. Mbappe put the hosts to the sword with his treble and Eduardo Camavinga and Brahim Diaz wrapped up Madrid’s victory, which took them provisionally top of the table.Kairat, appearing in the tournament proper for the first time, beat Celtic in qualifying but could not handle Los Blancos, even after their long journey east, in particular French superstar Mbappe.“We can’t forget what happened this weekend (against Atletico) but we have to keep thinking about it, and working to be better each day and each week so we don’t have another night like that,” Mbappe said.The forward boasts 13 goals already this season in nine games across all competitions, but looked frustrated with himself when he missed a good chance in the second half.“My work is helping the team, doing what I can so that the team wins,” continued Mbappe. “If I have five chances, and I want to score five goals then I have to score five goals, that’s why Real Madrid bought me. I’ll work to be better and try to score more goals and be more efficient in front of goal.”Hosts Kairat lined up with 18-year-old Sherkhan Kalmurza in goal because of injuries to three other goalkeepers at the club. Kalmurza was to blame for Madrid’s opener, as he clumsily felled Franco Mastantuono.Mbappe, who had a shot saved earlier by the youngster, sent Kalmurza the wrong way from the spot in the 25th minute.The Frenchman was Madrid’s main threat, as has been the case all season, and whistled a shot narrowly wide of the far post before the break. Seven minutes into the second period Mbappe grabbed his second, after a long kick by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois sent him through on goal.Mbappe gently dinked the ball over Kalmurza to net his fourth in the competition after a brace against Marseille in Madrid’s opener. “It was an enormous pass worth 80 percent of the goal, and I added the other 20 percent,” said Mbappe. The striker should have had his hat-trick after exchanging passes with Vinicius Junior but fired wide with just the goalkeeper to beat. At the other end, promising 17-year-old forward Dastan Satpayev, who will join Chelsea next summer, whipped a free-kick narrowly wide.Kairat thought they had won a penalty when Dani Ceballos was penalised for tripping Valery Gromyko, but it was cancelled after a VAR review. Mbappe then completed his treble after Arda Guler flicked the ball into his path on the edge of the box and he produced a razor-sharp finish. Camavinga, on as a substitute, nodded home after 83 minutes and Diaz rounded off Madrid’s rout in stoppage time.Atalanta come from behind to beat Club BruggeIn Bergamo, Italy, Atalanta came from behind to beat Belgium’s Club Brugge 2-1 at home with Mario Pasalic netting the winner after earning the penalty that led to the equaliser. The Croatia international, in his eighth season at the Serie A club, headed home in the 87th minute from a corner to win the game for the hosts, who were trailing with 16 minutes remaining.Christos Tzolis’ first-half strike gave the visitors the lead, but a penalty tucked away by Lazar Samardzic in the 74th minute brought Atalanta back into the game.The win gave the Italian outfit their first points of the campaign after they lost 4-0 to holders Paris St Germain in their opening league-stage fixture in mid-September, while Brugge already had three points after beating Monaco 4-1 at home.Brugge were first on the score sheet when an error from Marten de Roon allowed Carlos Forbs to tee up Tzolis, who jinked left and then right before firing home a curling effort in the 38th minute.Atalanta won a penalty when goalkeeper Nordin Jackers rushed out to try and tap the ball away from the feet of Pasalic but made contact with the midfielder and gave away the spotkick, which substitute Samardzic converted.Brugge might have snatched the lead back a minute later, but Romeo Vermant’s effort went narrowly wide with the goalkeeper out of position before home pressure told and Pasalic got in at the back post to head home the winner.

Real Madrid maintained their flawless start to the season with a swashbuckling 4-1 victory over Levante on Tuesday, as Vinicius Jr orchestrated the first-half demolition before Kylian Mbappe's second-half brace sealed a comprehensive win.The result keeps Real Madrid comfortably atop the standings on 18 points after six matches, stretching their lead to five points over reigning champions Barcelona, who have a game in hand ahead of Thursday's clash at Real Oviedo. Levante languish in 16th place on four points.It was a particularly satisfying night for Vinicius Jr, who was under scrutiny after a mixed start under new manager Xabi Alonso. Before Tuesday, he was yet to complete a full 90 minutes for Real Madrid at the start of the season and started on the bench on two occasions.But he produced an excellent performance against Levante and was rewarded by playing the full game and finished the match wearing the captain's armband. Vinicius Jr set the tone with a moment of brilliance in the 28th minute, unleashing a strike from the right side of the box using the outside of his right boot that went in just inside the far post.The Brazilian turned provider 11 minutes later, threading Franco Mastantuono through down the right channel in a lightning-fast counter-attack. The youngster burst into the box and unleashed an unstoppable strike into the top corner from close range to double Madrid's advantage.Real could have entered the break with an even more commanding lead had it not been for Levante's Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, who produced crucial saves to deny efforts from Vinicius, Federico Valverde and Mbappe in the opening 45 minutes.Levante briefly threatened a comeback when Ivan Romero's 54th-minute effort deflected off Dean Huijsen and lobbed over the wrong-footed Thibaut Courtois, allowing Etta Eyong to head home the loose ball at the far post. However, Mbappe restored Madrid's two-goal cushion nine minutes later, converting from the penalty spot with a cheeky chip down the middle after Levante captain Unai Elgezabal fouled him in the box, as Ryan dived helplessly to his left.The French forward completed his brace three minutes later, collecting Arda Guler's long pass through the middle before rounding the goalkeeper and tapping into an empty net. Real Madrid face a stern test away at city rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday, while Levante play Getafe in the Spanish capital on the same day."Vinicius has played a decisive and very important role tonight," coach Alonso told a press conference. "We are in a phase of growth, of construction. We are in the beginning of the season and there is still a long way to go. We are still building a solid foundation to be competitive in the Champions League, LaLiga and the Copa del Rey."I see the players feeling energised and connected, which is important. There are still things to improve, things we can do better, but we are on the right track."