Real Madrid Back in Front of Girona in Spanish League After 2-0 Win at Getafe

Real Madrid's Spanish forward #14 Joselu (R) celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Spanish league football match between Getafe CF and Real Madrid CF at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez stadium in Getafe on February 1, 2024. (AFP)

07:20-2 February 2024 AD ـ 24 Rajab 1445 AH

Real Madrid regained the Spanish league lead with a comfortable 2-0 win at Getafe on Thursday in a match rescheduled because of the Spanish Super Cup.

Joselu Mato scored a goal in each half to move Madrid two points clear of Girona at the top of the standings.

It was the sixth straight league victory for Madrid, which is unbeaten in 25 matches in all competitions, since a 3-1 league loss at Atletico Madrid in September.

Madrid is 10 points ahead of both Atletico and defending champion Barcelona. Atletico defeated Rayo Vallecano 2-1 on Wednesday, while Barcelona defeated Osasuna 1-0. Both matches were postponed because of the Spanish Super Cup that was won by Madrid last month in Saudi Arabia.

Madrid beat Atletico in the Super Cup semifinal before defeating Barcelona in the final. Atletico later eliminated Madrid in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey.

Atletico plays Madrid on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Madrid opened the scoring against Getafe with a header by Joselu in the 14th minute after a well-placed cross by Lucas Vázquez from the right side. Joselu doubled the lead with a low shot from inside the area in the 56th.

Vinícius Júnior missed a couple of clear chances in one-on-one situations in the second half. Getafe found the woodwork once while trailing 2-0.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team has won 20 games during its 25-match unbeaten streak.

“It was a superb match for us,” said Ancelotti, who rotated some of his players ahead of Sunday's derby. “We are enjoying a good run and the team is motivated. We played well from start to finish, now we prepare for the derby.”

Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger did not return for the second half after sustaining a hard knock to a leg muscle before the break.

Ancelotti had few defensive options because of injuries and had to improvise with midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni as a central defender alongside Nacho Fernández.

Ancelotti was shown a yellow card after the final whistle for complaining for a late penalty kick that was not called.

Getafe was coming off a win at Granada after three straight league matches without a win. The club from southern Madrid stayed in 10th place.

Hadjar Back for Red Bull at Azerbaijan GP

FILE - Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar prepares for the first practice ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)

Asharq Al Awsat

10:33-22 September 2026 AD ـ 11 Rabi’ Al-Thani 1448 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

10:33-22 September 2026 AD ـ 11 Rabi’ Al-Thani 1448 AH

Hadjar Back for Red Bull at Azerbaijan GP

French racer Isack Hadjar will make his Formula One return this weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after missing the last three races, his Red Bull team said on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old missed GPs in the Netherlands, Italy and Spain, and was replaced by New Zealander Liam Lawson.

He had injured his wrist in training over the summer break.

"Oracle Red Bull Racing is delighted to welcome Isack back this weekend," the team said in social media posts, according to AFP.

"Having made a successful recovery from his wrist injury, Isack will return to action at the Baku City circuit on Thursday."

Lawson will return to the sister Racing Bulls team this weekend.
Japan's Yuki Tsunoda had filled in for Lawson during the last three Grand Prix.

Lawson scored 14 points during his Red Bull secondment, while Tsunoda managed a single point in the Racing Bulls seat.

Sports

Zidane Leads First France Training Session

France's head coach Zinedine Zidane takes part in a training session four days ahead of France's UEFA Nations League football match against Türkiye in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines outside Paris, on September 21, 2026. (AFP)

00:00-22 September 2026 AD ـ 11 Rabi’ Al-Thani 1448 AH

Zidane Leads First France Training Session

Zinedine Zidane oversaw his first training session with the France national team on Monday as Les Bleus prepared for the start of the new Nations League campaign.

Under the gaze of some 50 journalists, the 1998 World Cup winner led a dozen of his players through a light training session at the country's national football center, Clairefontaine.

With many of France's stars in action with their clubs across Europe last weekend, not all of Zidane's 23-man squad were present.

Michael Olise, Eduardo Camavinga, Jules Kounde and Dayot Upamecano featured in the 12-strong group but captain Kylian Mbappe, who played in Real Madrid's derby loss to Atletico Madrid on Sunday, was a notable absentee.

Zidane was joined for the session by his assistant David Bettoni, who worked alongside him at Real Madrid, and former team-mate from the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000-winning sides, Fabien Barthez, who is France's goalkeeping coach.

The session concluded with a short practice match, followed by shots on goal from crosses delivered by Zidane himself.

France face four Nations League fixtures following this first training camp of the Zidane era: away matches in Türkiye and Belgium on September 25 and 28, followed by home matches against Italy and Belgium at the Stade de France in early October.

Sports

Infantino Proposes Consulting Federations to Reform FIFA

13 July 2025, US, East Rutherford: FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the DAZN pre-match interview ahead of the Club World Cup final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Metlife Stadium. (dpa)

23:45-21 September 2026 AD ـ 10 Rabi’ Al-Thani 1448 AH

Infantino Proposes Consulting Federations to Reform FIFA

FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Monday suggested a "consultation" with the member federations to reform the world football governing body's decision-making processes, in a letter addressed to the 211 member associations, and seen by AFP.

"I will propose that the Council establish a direct, structured and time-limited consultation with confederations, Member Associations and relevant stakeholders on how FIFA's decision-making can be further strengthened," Infantino wrote.

The 56-year-old Swiss has come under fire since his now-abandoned plan to bring private investment into the men's and women's World Cups.

"The consultation would invite specific proposals on earlier institutional involvement, the respective roles of the President, the Bureau, the Council and the Congress, and practical ways to strengthen transparency, participation and accountability in major strategic initiatives," the letter continued.

Infantino asked for the initial proposals to be considered at the council meeting scheduled for October 15.

Infantino replaced Sepp Blatter as president of FIFA in 2016. He has come under severe pressure since the announcement in late July of proposals to create a commercial subsidiary to run its biggest events, such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.

The plan would have allowed private investors to acquire stakes in a company created under the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative. The backlash that followed led to the proposals being quickly shelved.

European football's governing body UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA competitions. It later suspended that threat, but has urged Infantino to resign and has been preparing possible legal action against him for alleged "criminal mismanagement".

Infantino addressed FFE in his letter on Monday and wrote that "FIFA's democratic processes, independence and sporting authority were never for sale".

The plan also "did not involve relinquishing FIFA's control or authority over sporting decisions", he insisted.

- 'Clear and trusted' -

He further lamented the fact that the scheme "entered the public domain before FIFA's planned institutional process had been completed and before it could be presented in full to the Council and the Member Associations".

"I recognize that, without the full context, this caused concern and created the impression that decisions had already been taken. They had not," Infantino added.

"Major ideas must be developed, tested and communicated through clear and trusted institutions. That is a responsibility I take seriously."

UEFA, alongside North American body CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), issued a no-holds-barred joint letter against Infantino in August.

"Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding -- or demanding -- power to be held," they wrote.

FIFA confirmed earlier in September that Infantino will stand for re-election as president next March.

At this stage, he is the only candidate. However, CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani is widely seen as a likely challenger.

Candidate nominations for next year's election must be submitted by November 18.

Real Madrid Back in Front of Girona in Spanish League After 2-0 Win at Getafe

Most Viewed

Hadjar Back for Red Bull at Azerbaijan GP

Zidane Leads First France Training Session

Infantino Proposes Consulting Federations to Reform FIFA

لم تشترك بعد