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Real Madrid Held by Betis before Champions League Final

Real Madrid's Marcelo da Silva (C) and teammates at the end of the Spanish La Liga match between Real Madrid and Real Betis held at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, in Madrid, central Spain, 20 May 2022. (EPA)
Real Madrid's Marcelo da Silva (C) and teammates at the end of the Spanish La Liga match between Real Madrid and Real Betis held at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, in Madrid, central Spain, 20 May 2022. (EPA)
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Real Madrid Held by Betis before Champions League Final

Real Madrid's Marcelo da Silva (C) and teammates at the end of the Spanish La Liga match between Real Madrid and Real Betis held at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, in Madrid, central Spain, 20 May 2022. (EPA)
Real Madrid's Marcelo da Silva (C) and teammates at the end of the Spanish La Liga match between Real Madrid and Real Betis held at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, in Madrid, central Spain, 20 May 2022. (EPA)

Real Madrid’s regular starters were held by Real Betis to 0-0 on Friday in the team’s last match before the Champions League final.

Madrid began with the team that is expected to face Liverpool on May 28 in Paris, where it will try to win a record-extending 14th European title.

Madrid won the Spanish league weeks ago and coach Carlo Ancelotti had been rotating the squad, but he put his best on the field against Betis to fine-tune them ahead of the trip to France next week.

At halftime, Ancelotti replaced Casemiro with Eduardo Camavinga and Toni Kroos with Federico Valverde. Later in the second half he rested Luka Modric, Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy.

Veteran left back Marcelo came in for Mendy in what may have been his final match with Madrid, although Ancelotti said no decision on the player’s future had been made yet. The Brazilian received a huge ovation from the fans when entering the match and after the final whistle at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

"He will still be one of our captains in Paris," Ancelotti said. "If in the end he leaves, he will leave as one of the best full backs in the world."

Karim Benzema came closest to scoring for Madrid but ended his campaign with a league-leading 27 goals, 10 more than any other player.

Since clinching its record-extending 35th league title, Madrid eliminated Manchester City in the semifinals of the Champions League before routing Levante 6-0 and drawing at Cádiz 1-1.

The draw left Madrid 13 points ahead of second-placed Barcelona, which closes its season against seventh-placed Villarreal on Sunday.

Betis secured fifth place with the draw, its best league finish since 2005. Manuel Pellegrini's team had already earned a spot in the second-tier Europa League by winning the Copa del Rey in a final against Valencia last month.

Before the match, both teams did a guard of honor, with players lining up to salute the opponents for their titles.

"We deserve a 10 for our season," Pellegrini said.

It was Betis' fifth straight game without conceding away to Madrid in the league. It won two of those matches, drawing the last three in a row.

In the other match on Friday, already relegated Levante made sure it won’t finish last after a 4-2 win at 12th-placed Rayo Vallecano, with Gonzalo Melero scoring twice for the visitors.

Granada, Mallorca and Cádiz will fight to avoid relegation on Sunday, while Villarreal and Athletic try to end in seventh place and earn the berth for the Europa Conference League.

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Slot: Liverpool's Isak Faces Two Months Out After 'Reckless' Tackle

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - December 20, 2025 Liverpool's Alexander Isak receives medical attention due to an injury after scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - December 20, 2025 Liverpool's Alexander Isak receives medical attention due to an injury after scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
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Slot: Liverpool's Isak Faces Two Months Out After 'Reckless' Tackle

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - December 20, 2025 Liverpool's Alexander Isak receives medical attention due to an injury after scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - December 20, 2025 Liverpool's Alexander Isak receives medical attention due to an injury after scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Alexander Isak is expected to be out of action for two months after fracturing his leg against Tottenham, with Liverpool manager Arne Slot accusing Tottenham's Micky van de Ven of making a "reckless challenge".

The Sweden striker was injured in a tackle from the defender in the act of scoring the opening goal in Saturday's 2-1 victory and limped off the pitch, said AFP.

Liverpool said in a statement on Monday that the forward had had an operation on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture.

"It's going to be a long injury, for a couple of months," Slot told reporters on Tuesday, "So, yeah, that's a big, big, big disappointment for him. And as a result also of course for us."

Slot described Van de Ven's tackle as "reckless".

"I think I said a lot about the tackle of Xavi Simons (sent off earlier in the game for Spurs), which for me was completely unintentional, and I don't think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that.

"The tackle of Van de Ven, if you make that tackle 10 times, I think 10 times there's a serious chance that a player gets a serious injury."

Isak's injury is the latest setback for the forward after he signed from Newcastle for a British record £125 million ($168 million) in September.

A dispute with Newcastle meant he did not have a proper pre-season program and arrived at Liverpool well behind his team-mates in terms of fitness.

His season was then interrupted by a groin injury.

The 26-year-old has scored just three goals in 16 appearances since completing his protracted move to Anfield.

Isak's absence will be a major blow for Reds boss Slot, with Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo not ready to return from a muscle injury until early in the new year.

It leaves Slot with Hugo Ekitike, who has five goals in his past four games, and the little-used Federico Chiesa as his only senior forwards.

Liverpool, whose Premier League title defense collapsed after a shocking run of results, have climbed to fifth in the table after extending their unbeaten league run to five games.

Isak's injury raises the prospect of Liverpool moving to boost their attack in the January transfer window, with Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo linked with a move to Anfield.

It may also change the conversation around Salah following his recent claim that he had been thrown under the bus by the club and no longer had a relationship with Slot.

Salah's rant, which came after he was left on the bench for three successive matches, prompted Liverpool to leave him out of the squad for a Champions League match at Inter Milan.

But he returned to action as a substitute against Brighton before leaving for international duty.

Liverpool host bottom side Wolves on Saturday.

Sports

Saudi Weightlifting Team Wins 36 Medals at Qatar Cup, Arab, West Asian Championships

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
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Saudi Weightlifting Team Wins 36 Medals at Qatar Cup, Arab, West Asian Championships

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT

The Qatar International Weightlifting Cup, the Arab Weightlifting Championship and the West Asian Weightlifting Championship began concurrently in the State of Qatar, with the participation of several regional national teams.

The Saudi national team is taking part with 36 male and female lifters across various age categories, reflecting the expansion of the sport’s base and its continued technical and competitive development in the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency said on Tuesday.

The Saudi team delivered a strong performance, securing a total of 36 medals, including 27 gold and nine silver medals.

Abdullah Al-Zubaidi won six gold medals in the snatch, the clean and jerk, and the total in the youth 56 kg category in the Arab and West Asian competitions. Mohammed Al-Ajyan claimed 12 gold medals in the snatch, the clean and jerk, and the total in the youth and junior 60 kg categories in the Arab and West Asian competitions.

In the senior category, Aqeel Al-Jassim captured nine gold medals in the snatch, the clean and jerk, and the total in the 60 kg category at the Qatar International Weightlifting Cup and the Arab and West Asian competitions, while Mansour Al-Saleem earned nine silver medals in the same weight category.

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Reports: Liverpool Fear Isak Has Broken Leg

Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) is helped off the field by medical staff after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) is helped off the field by medical staff after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
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Reports: Liverpool Fear Isak Has Broken Leg

Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) is helped off the field by medical staff after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) is helped off the field by medical staff after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

Liverpool are awaiting scan results they fear will confirm record signing Alexander Isak has suffered a broken leg after he was injured in their win against Tottenham, reports said Monday.

The Sweden forward was hurt in the act of scoring the opening goal in Saturday's 2-1 victory in London after a sliding challenge from Spurs defender Micky van der Ven.

Isak, 26, who had come on as a second-half substitute, was unable to celebrate with his teammates and left the pitch in considerable distress.

Immediately after the game Liverpool boss Arne Slot admitted the injury was "not a good thing".

"If a player doesn't even try to come back, that is usually not a good thing but I cannot say anything more than that," AFP quoted him as saying.

"That is just gut feeling and nothing medical... let's not be too negative yet. We don't know yet. Let's hope he is back with us soon."

The Athletic and Sky Sports reported Monday that Liverpool fear Isak has broken his leg, which would mean a lengthy period on the sidelines.

Isak has had a disrupted start to his life at Anfield, making just 16 appearances and scoring three goals since his £125 million ($168 million) British record move from Newcastle on transfer deadline day.

A dispute with Newcastle meant he did not have a proper pre-season program and arrived at Anfield well behind his team-mates in terms of fitness. His season was then interrupted by a groin injury.

Any absence would be a major blow for Slot, with Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo not ready to return from a muscle injury until early in the yew year.

It leaves the Liverpool manager with Hugo Ekitike, who has five goals in his past four games, and the little-used Federico Chiesa as his only senior forwards.

Liverpool, whose Premier League title defense collapsed after a shocking run of results, have climbed to fifth in the table after extending their unbeaten league run to five games.