Spanish Clubs

It’s not at all what you want to see when you turn on the TV to watch Barcelona play at the Camp Nou, but Wednesday’s Champions League match against Dynamo Kyiv transformed into a goalkeepers’ duel between the returning Marc-André ter Stegen (six saves) and 18-year-old Ruslan Neshcheret (11 saves). 

With Lionel Messi still unable to score from open play and Antoine Griezmann unable to score by any definition of the word, Barcelona’s 2-1 victory was narrowly achieved but ultimately retains the club’s 100 percent record in Group G.

The Real Madrid stadium renovation completion date remains June 2022 with the $650 million project now taking shape after over one year of redevelopment work. 

Although the Santiago Bernabéu capacity will hardly change following the renovation — going from 81,044 to 81,043 — the biggest visual difference is the addition of a retractable roof that covers all of the pitch while the fixed roof structure protects all of the stadium’s seats. 

Although somewhat premature seeing as it was only Matchday 3 in the Champions League, Real Madrid and Inter Milan at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano was billed as a must-win game for both clubs on Tuesday. 

The match didn’t disappoint with Real taking a two-goal lead through Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos before Lautaro Martínez and Ivan Perišić leveled for Inter. In the 80th minute, substitutes Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo combined to hand Real a much-needed first win in group play.

Lokomotiv Moscow’s Brazilian keeper Guilherme had himself a night to remember, pulling off five saves, many of the remarkable variety. But the lasting imagery of Atlético Madrid’s 1-1 draw on Tuesday will be that of the Luis Suárez yellow card for a bit of tomfoolery. 

Leading 1-0 after 20 minutes, Héctor Herrera had a ball deflect off his arm in the box, which can mean only one thing these days: VAR. Referee Viktor Kassai was asked to watch the replay on the pitch-side monitor to check out the infringement. He was joined by Suárez, who wanted to sneak a peek himself. 

VITORIA-GASTEIZ, Spain — Barcelona goalkeeper Neto made an embarrassing gaffe as his side were held to a 1-1 draw away to Alaves on Saturday, despite playing the final half an hour with an extra man.

Barca fell behind in the 31st minute after a moment of madness from Brazilian keeper Neto, who clumsily allowed a back pass from Gerard Pique to trickle through his legs towards goal, and Luis Rioja nipped in to nudge the ball into the empty net.

MADRID — Eden Hazard scored his first goal for Real Madrid in over a year and Karim Benzema struck twice as the Spanish champions coasted to a 4-1 win at home to Huesca in La Liga on Saturday.

Making his first start of the campaign after persistent injury problems, Hazard broke the deadlock in the 40th minute with a thunderous strike from outside the area, scoring only his second goal for Madrid since his 2019 move from Chelsea for a joint-club record fee of 100 million euros.

MADRID — Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said on Friday that there is no problem between forwards Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior.

Barcelona's 17-year-old midfielder Pedri may not have got on the scoresheet in his side's 2-0 Champions League win over Juventus but the teenager was the unmistakeable star in a victory that gave life to his wounded side and put him on the map.

Given a second start in a row despite looking fazed in Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Real Madrid, Pedri played with ambition and bravery against the Italian champions, driving Barça's play with slick passing and confident dribbling.

After a week in which Karim Benzema's damning opinion of strike partner Vinícius Júnior was unwittingly revealed, Real Madrid's forwards will be hoping to present a united front when they host Huesca in LaLiga on Saturday.