LaLiga

Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid Advance to Copa del Rey Semi-Finals

Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid have secured their spots in the semi-final stage of the Copa del Rey.

Real Madrid triumphed over Leganés in a thrilling quarter-final clash, winning 3-2. Early goals from Luka Modrić and Endrick put Los Blancos ahead, but Leganés fought back.

Juan Cruz converted a penalty to reduce the deficit, and his deflected shot off Mendy leveled the game in the second half. Gonzalo sealed the victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s side with a stoppage-time winner.

Atlético Madrid had a dominant display, thrashing Getafe 5-0 to earn their semi-final berth.

In other quarter-final fixtures tonight, Valencia will face Barcelona, while Real Sociedad will take on Osasuna, completing the lineup for the last four.

LaLiga

Florentino Perez Lauds Marcelo’s Legendary Real Madrid Career Following Retirement

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has paid tribute to club legend Marcelo following the Brazilian’s retirement announcement on Thursday.

Marcelo, 36, revealed his decision in a heartfelt social media video, bringing an illustrious 19-year playing career to an end.

“My story as a player ends here but I still have much to give to football,” Marcelo stated.

During his time at Real Madrid, Marcelo secured five Champions League titles and six LaLiga crowns, leaving the Bernabeu as the club’s most decorated player with 25 trophies—a record later surpassed by Nacho, Luka Modric, and Dani Carvajal.

Perez described Marcelo as a legend of world football, saying:

“One of the greatest left-backs in Real Madrid and world football history, and we had the privilege of watching him for a long time. He is one of our greatest legends and Real Madrid is and always will be his home.”

LaLiga

Flick confirms Szczesny as Barcelona’s first-choice goalkeeper

Barcelona Coach Flick Cries Out VAR Decision In Loss

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has officially confirmed that Wojciech Szczesny is the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.

Szczesny has been the preferred option in recent weeks, surpassing Inaki Pena, who had been Barcelona’s regular starter after Marc-André ter Stegen’s season-ending knee injury last September.

Speaking ahead of Barcelona’s Copa del Rey quarter-final against Valencia, Flick emphasized that Szczesny’s position as the number-one keeper is now clear.

“Szczesny is our first goalkeeper now, it’s confirmed,” Flick said. “It’s not just about Iñaki or Szczesny, but about the whole team, and we always make decisions that are in the best interest of the team, and that is the approach I want to follow.”

Szczesny made his La Liga debut on January 26 in Barcelona’s dominant 7-1 victory over Valencia. The 34-year-old joined the club last year after leaving Juventus.

LaLiga

Antony shines on debut for Real Betis, Scoops La Liga MOTM award

Brazilian winger Antony had a dream debut for Real Betis, earning the Man of the Match award following his standout performance in the 2-2 draw against Athletic Bilbao.

After an underwhelming two-and-a-half seasons at Old Trafford, Antony joined Betis on loan for the rest of the season. The 24-year-old had initially joined Manchester United from Ajax in the summer of 2022 for £82m but struggled to live up to his hefty price tag.

During his time at United, he made 96 appearances and scored 12 goals but found himself out of favor under Ruben Amorim. Seizing the opportunity, Antony moved to Betis in January for a fresh start.

His debut in Spain was a promising one, as he played a key role in the game against Bilbao, registering an assist when his saved shot was finished off by former Real Madrid star Isco. Antony’s performance earned him the La Liga MVP award for the match.

Reacting to the honor, Antony shared on Instagram: “Let’s go for more! Happy to be elected MVP!!!”

Meanwhile, United’s struggles continued as they were defeated 2-0 by Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Sunday.