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Madrid Bets Benzema Will Stay in Top Form for Another Season

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema reacts as an insect (L) flies past ahead of the international friendly football match between Real Madrid and Juventus at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on July 30, 2022. (AFP)
Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema reacts as an insect (L) flies past ahead of the international friendly football match between Real Madrid and Juventus at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on July 30, 2022. (AFP)
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Madrid Bets Benzema Will Stay in Top Form for Another Season

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema reacts as an insect (L) flies past ahead of the international friendly football match between Real Madrid and Juventus at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on July 30, 2022. (AFP)
Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema reacts as an insect (L) flies past ahead of the international friendly football match between Real Madrid and Juventus at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on July 30, 2022. (AFP)

When Karim Benzema went down in pain after getting hurt in a practice session during Real Madrid’s preseason tour in the United States, it was understandable why his teammates and the coaching staff appeared concerned.

Madrid can't afford to lose Benzema, who was the team's best player last season and had a key role as the club won the Champions League and the Spanish league.

To repeat its success, Madrid knows it will need the 34-year-old France striker to perform at a high level for another season. And the club bets he can do it — Madrid didn't make any major additions to its attack.

Thankfully for Madrid, it was just a knock that brought Benzema down in practice across the pond. He is set to be ready when Madrid begins its season this month.

“Benzema is in good shape,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said during the team's preseason tour. "He is fine despite not having trained much. He came back well. He’s fine but still needs to work on his fitness.”

Benzema did not play in the friendly against Barcelona in Las Vegas a few weeks ago, when Madrid struggled offensively in a 1-0 loss. Benzema was back in the starting lineup against Mexican club América in San Francisco, playing well and scoring a goal in the 2-2 draw. He also scored once in the team's 2-0 win over Juventus in Los Angeles.

“Benzema is the best player in the world, so we obviously lack something when he is not playing,” Ancelotti said.

Madrid is hoping Benzema can perform at least close to how he did last season, when he led an attack that also included Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo. The trio helped the club score 80 goals in the Spanish league, 12 more than any other club.

Benzema also was crucial as a leader and advisor to the youngsters.

“Karim’s been telling me to be brave since I arrived at the club,” the 22-year-old Vinícius said. “We have had a very good connection and have linked up to win a lot of games.”

Benzema himself had his best season ever, being the top scorer in the Spanish league and the Champions League. He scored 44 goals from 45 matches with Madrid, and equaled Raúl González as the club’s second-highest scorer with 323 goals, behind the 451 of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Frenchman, a strong candidate to win best player of the year awards for his performances last season, has thrived after being in the shadow of Ronaldo until the Portugal star left for Juventus in 2018.

Madrid did not make many high-profile signings since Ronaldo left, and its attempt to boost its attack with Kylian Mbappé failed this season. The other forwards in the squad include Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio and Mariano Díaz. Gareth Bale left at the end of last season and the club did not replace him.

The team’s only additions to the squad came in defense with central defender Antonio Rüdiger and midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni.

If Benzema remains in top form, though, Madrid should do just fine with the players it has in the squad.

Madrid's season begins on Aug. 10 in the UEFA Super Cup against Eintracht Frankfurt in Helsinki. The club will play its first match in the Spanish league on Aug. 14 at promoted Almería.

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'Weeks, Not Days' in Kompany Recovery, Say Bayern

FILE - Bayern's head coach Vincent Kompany arrives for the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Augsburg and FC Bayern Munich in Augsburg, Germany, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
FILE - Bayern's head coach Vincent Kompany arrives for the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Augsburg and FC Bayern Munich in Augsburg, Germany, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
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'Weeks, Not Days' in Kompany Recovery, Say Bayern

FILE - Bayern's head coach Vincent Kompany arrives for the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Augsburg and FC Bayern Munich in Augsburg, Germany, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
FILE - Bayern's head coach Vincent Kompany arrives for the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Augsburg and FC Bayern Munich in Augsburg, Germany, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

Bayern Munich expect coach Vincent Kompany to miss an extended period as he continues his hospital treatment for a virus after collapsing on the training pitch on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Bayern sporting director Max Eberl confirmed Kompany was still hospitalized in a "stable" condition.

Kompany's English assistant coach Aaron Danks will replace the 40-year-old for Sunday's Bundesliga match at Freiburg.

Eberl told reporters "examinations were continuing" to determine the nature of the former Manchester City and Belgium captain's condition, with a recovery timeframe yet to be determined.

"Vinnie will be given all the time he needs. We're not starting to put together any timeframes.

"We need to firstly figure out what it is and then we'll discuss calmly what recovery time is to be. We won't be talking about days, but weeks. We need to all be clear on that."

Taking Saturday's press conference in Kompany's absence, Danks said he had spoken with the former center-back briefly on Friday but only to wish him well.

"I explained to him that we wouldn't be having no football conversations. It was just checking in on his health and making sure he's OK.

"All the football operations are in our hands and we'll work together as a team to keep the club moving forward."

Bayern's second team's game was postponed after Kompany's collapse but Eberl said the club did not consider trying to postpone Sunday's Bundesliga game.

"I think the greatest joy for Vinnie would be for us to play well tomorrow and, ideally, get a positive result," AFP quoted Eberl as saying.

"That would probably be one of the best things we could do to help him recover."

Danks confirmed Germany captain Joshua Kimmich, who has been on bereavement leave since Tuesday, would also miss Sunday's game.

Kompany returned to the dugout for Wednesday's home clash with Arsenal despite missing the pre-match press conference due to the virus.

Speaking after the Arsenal game, Kompany said his body reacted after he tried to push through the illness.

"I caught a pretty nasty virus last week, and of course I didn't listen to my body -- and then at some point my body just said, 'enough is enough!'"

The defending champions sit on top of the Bundesliga table ahead of Sunday's game, one point above Freiburg.

Their next Champions League match is on November 3 in Madrid against Atletico.

Sports

Marquez Wins Thrilling Australian MotoGP Sprint to Retake Championship Lead

Ducati Lenovo Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez (R) leads BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP's Spanish rider Alex Marquez (C) and Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team's Italian rider Fabio Di Giannantonio (L) during the MotoGP sprint race at the Australian MotoGP Grand Prix on Phillip Island on October 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Crock / AFP)
Ducati Lenovo Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez (R) leads BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP's Spanish rider Alex Marquez (C) and Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team's Italian rider Fabio Di Giannantonio (L) during the MotoGP sprint race at the Australian MotoGP Grand Prix on Phillip Island on October 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Crock / AFP)
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Marquez Wins Thrilling Australian MotoGP Sprint to Retake Championship Lead

Ducati Lenovo Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez (R) leads BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP's Spanish rider Alex Marquez (C) and Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team's Italian rider Fabio Di Giannantonio (L) during the MotoGP sprint race at the Australian MotoGP Grand Prix on Phillip Island on October 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Crock / AFP)
Ducati Lenovo Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez (R) leads BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP's Spanish rider Alex Marquez (C) and Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team's Italian rider Fabio Di Giannantonio (L) during the MotoGP sprint race at the Australian MotoGP Grand Prix on Phillip Island on October 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Crock / AFP)

Ducati's Marc Marquez emerged victorious in an electrifying battle with championship rival Jorge Martin before going on to win the Australian Grand Prix sprint from pole position on Saturday and reclaim the MotoGP championship lead.

Victory moved seven-times MotoGP champion Marquez up to 365 points in the championship standings, 10 points ahead of Martin, who did not finish the sprint after suffering a gruesome crash in the eighth lap.

The reigning champion can further extend that lead in Sunday's race, with Martin declared unfit after breaking his wrist in the crash.

After a couple of wet qualifying sessions earlier in the day, the sprint began on a dry track at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, with dark clouds looming overhead.

Pole-sitter Marquez shot off the line and held on to his lead, though his start was matched by title rival Martin, who barreled past Alex Marquez and Johann ⁠Zarco into second ⁠place from fourth.

Without the rain to hinder him, Martin squeezed every ounce of pace he could out of his Aprilia on the circuit's swooping corners and stole the lead from Marquez three times, only to overplay his hand and quickly give it away on every occasion.

The 2024 champion continued to push, and his overzealousness proved to be his undoing in the eighth lap, as his bike slid out from under him and he went hurtling into the gravel at high speed.

"It was a title battle. Of course I gave everything. I was ⁠aggressive and he was faster than me, but I tried to defend in the best way possible," Reuters quoted Marquez as saying after his win.

"There were nice overtakes, limit overtakes. And in the end, both of us were riding on the limit. Both of us deserved the victory because we are pushing a lot. But, you know, racing is like it is.

"Today, it was on my side, but, this (season) is super long, so, keep calm, keep going, and yeah, happy for today."

Martin was carried away from the site of the crash on a stretcher as Aprilia confirmed that he had been taken to the medical center for evaluation.

The Spaniard was later pictured walking out of the medical center with his arm in a sling and his wrist wrapped up tightly.

"Jorge Martin has been declared unfit to race after suffering a fracture to ⁠his right wrist! Wishing ⁠Jorge a speedy recovery," MotoGP said in a statement on social media, according to Reuters.

Martin will also be a doubt for next week's Malaysian Grand Prix.

Trackhouse Aprilia rider Raul Fernandez, who won the Australian Grand Prix in 2025, was also ruled out of Sunday's race due to inflammation of tissue around a finger fracture that he sustained at the Indonesian Grand Prix this month.

"It’s not how I wanted to say goodbye to Phillip Island, but my finger has said it’s enough. I need to take a break and recover so I can come back at 100%," Fernandez said on social media.

Marquez's brother Alex of Gresini Racing finished second, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Racing) completing the podium.

"It was quite dramatic. For me, I had the best seat, sitting in the third place (behind Marc Marquez and Martin)," Alex said.

Martin's teammate Marco Bezzecchi finished in fourth place, keeping his outside shot at winning the title alive.

Home hero Jack Miller of Pramac Racing was eighth in the final sprint at Phillip Island, with the Australian Grand Prix moving to the streets of Adelaide next year.

Sports

Mourinho Must Stop Barca Machine as Clasico Tensions Resume

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Real Madrid v RB Leipzig - Estadio Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 21, 2026 Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho looks on REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Real Madrid v RB Leipzig - Estadio Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 21, 2026 Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho looks on REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura
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Mourinho Must Stop Barca Machine as Clasico Tensions Resume

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Real Madrid v RB Leipzig - Estadio Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 21, 2026 Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho looks on REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Real Madrid v RB Leipzig - Estadio Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 21, 2026 Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho looks on REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho will renew one of football's most bitter rivalries on Sunday when he takes charge of his first Clasico since returning to the club, with La Liga leaders Barcelona awaiting him at Camp Nou, AFP reported.

The Portuguese veteran's first spell at Madrid was defined in large part by his battle to end Barca's dominance under Pep Guardiola, with relations between the Spanish giants slumping to their lowest ebb.

Mourinho managed to break Barca's spell by guiding Real Madrid to the Spanish title in 2012, the crowning achievement of his reign from 2010-13.

Clasicos became increasingly compelling during that period, some would say not for the right reasons, as he and his staff clashed with their Barcelona counterparts both pitch-side and verbally in the media.

The 63-year-old worked as an assistant at Barca under Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal in the 1990s but was overlooked for Guardiola in 2008 when the Catalans replaced Frank Rijkaard.

Mourinho's frequent battles with Guardiola, Lionel Messi and even with Madrid's own icons like Iker Casillas sometimes overshadowed his sporting achievements.

The most infamous flashpoint was when Mourinho poked then Barca assistant coach Tito Vilanova in the eye in August 2011.

Earlier that year, at the end of the prior season, Madrid and Barca clashed four times in just 18 days, illustrating the intensity of the rivalry.

The first was in La Liga, a 1-1 draw, which helped Barcelona take a step towards retaining the Spanish title as Madrid trailed them.

Mourinho's Madrid beat Barca to win the Copa del Rey in the second, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the winner in extra-time.

Then the Catalans got the better of Los Blancos in a Champions League semi-final double header, winning the first leg 2-0 in the Santiago Bernabeu, with Madrid defender Pepe sent off. Mourinho called it a "scandal".

Barcelona held Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw in the second leg to reach the final, which they went on to win.

It was in this period that Guardiola said he could not and would not compete with the "boss" Mourinho in the press room.

Mourinho has hit the ground running in his second spell at Madrid in that regard.

The coach brandished print-outs of incidents after losing the derby clash to try and prove his point that Atletico Madrid deserved two red cards, and refused to attend a press conference after Vinicius Junior was sent off against Villarreal.

Many believe Mourinho employs these tactics as a distraction to take the pressure off his team when they are not performing.

A victory in the Clasico might encourage him to focus on the football, and stopping Hansi Flick's side -- back-to-back Spanish champions -- is one of the main reasons he was rehired by president Florentino Perez.

Flick's Barca have won six of seven Clasicos against Real Madrid since the German arrived, scoring 22 goals and shipping only 11.

Mourinho insists it is impossible for his team to be at the level he wants them to be at after such a short time in charge.

"I've been here for over a hundred days. Obviously, we are not where I want, but there are things we are doing better today than before," said the coach.

Madrid have won their last four matches between La Liga and the Champions League, and after sharing minutes around early in the season, some preferences are emerging.

Although Mourinho said initially he did not see midfielder Federico Valverde as a right-back, where he has been used in the past, he has selected the Uruguayan there in the last two games, ahead of Denzel Dumfries and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

"We created a lot on that side, and Fede had a fantastic match," said Mourinho after the Leipzig win.

In Valverde's place in midfield Mourinho deployed Arda Guler against Sevilla on Sunday and then Bernardo Silva against the German side, with Madrid improving on the ball and retaining more possession.

However the Clasico poses a different challenge. Mourinho, who deployed defender Pepe in midfield against Barca, may revert to type to try and spoil the hosts' flowing football.