Endrick Scores in Extra Time to Help Madrid top Celta in Copa. Titleholder Athletic Loses to Osasuna

Soccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Real Madrid v Celta Vigo - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2025 Real Madrid's Endrick celebrates scoring their fifth goal REUTERS/Juan Medina
Soccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Real Madrid v Celta Vigo - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2025 Real Madrid's Endrick celebrates scoring their fifth goal REUTERS/Juan Medina
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Endrick Scores in Extra Time to Help Madrid top Celta in Copa. Titleholder Athletic Loses to Osasuna

Soccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Real Madrid v Celta Vigo - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2025 Real Madrid's Endrick celebrates scoring their fifth goal REUTERS/Juan Medina
Soccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - Real Madrid v Celta Vigo - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - January 16, 2025 Real Madrid's Endrick celebrates scoring their fifth goal REUTERS/Juan Medina

Real Madrid needed two goals from Endrick in extra time to get past Celta Vigo in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey and avoid another embarrassing setback less than a week after losing 5-2 to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.
Federico Valverde also scored in extra time Thursday as Madrid reached the quarterfinals with a 5-2 victory after squandering a 2-0 lead in a 2-2 draw in regulation at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior scored a goal in each half but Celta rallied with goals by Jonathan Bamba in the 83rd minute and Marcos Alonso in stoppage time.
The 18-year-old Endrick, who entered the match in the 79th, put Madrid ahead in the 108th with a shot from outside the area and then sealed the victory in the 119th with a back-heel flick after Valverde had added to the lead in the 112th.
“It was tough, but with Madrid it’s always like this, we keep fighting until the end and we come out on top,” said Endrick, who profusely celebrated his first goal by taking off his shirt. “We never give up.”
Madrid was looking for a comfortable victory to bounce back from the rout against Barcelona. Carlo Ancelotti's team is trying to keep pace with Atletico Madrid at the top of the Spanish league and improve its standings in the league phase of the Champions League.
It was the first of a three-game home stretch for Madrid, which on Sunday hosts Las Palmas in the Spanish league and on Wednesday takes on Salzburg in the Champions League.
Mbappé put Madrid ahead in the 37th minute after picking up the ball before the midfield line and making a run all the way into the Celta area to finish with a left-footed cross shot. It was Mbappé’s second goal in his last five matches with Madrid. Vinícius scored his first goal in five matches after a breakaway in the 48th.
Celta pulled closer after Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga lost possession near the area and allowed Bamba to score in the 83rd, and the Vigo team evened the match early in stoppage time with a penalty kick converted by Alonso after Bamba was fouled inside the area.
Endrick got off to a strong start in his first season with Madrid but had not been given much playing time by Ancelotti recently.
“(Ancelotti) knows what he's doing," Endrick said. “He doesn't have to do what's best for Endrick, he has to do what's best for the team. He knows that I've been working hard.”
Aurélien Tchouaméni, who struggled in the Super Cup final against Barcelona in Saudi Arabia, was booed by part of the crowd at the Bernabeu.
Defending champion beaten Titleholder Athletic Bilbao rallied from a two-goal deficit in the first half but still lost 3-2 to Osasuna at home.
The visitors took the lead with goals by Aimar Oroz in the 40th and Ante Budimir in the 44th before Athletic evened the match with Nico Williams in first-half stoppage time and Óscar de Marcos in the 55th.
Budimir netted the winning goal in the 70th to help Osasuna advance two years after it had eliminated Athletic in the semifinals.
Also Thursday, Real Sociedad advanced by defeating Rayo Vallecano 3-1 at home.
On Wednesday, Barcelona beat Real Betis 5-1. Atletico Madrid defeated second-division club Elche 4-0, while Getafe won 1-0 at fourth-division team Pontevedra and Leganes won 3-2 at second-tier side Almeria.



Man Utd Close in on Champions League Spot but Still Work to Do, Carrick Says

Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick reacts after the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Brentford FC, in Manchester, Britain, 27 April 2026. (EPA)
Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick reacts after the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Brentford FC, in Manchester, Britain, 27 April 2026. (EPA)
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Man Utd Close in on Champions League Spot but Still Work to Do, Carrick Says

Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick reacts after the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Brentford FC, in Manchester, Britain, 27 April 2026. (EPA)
Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick reacts after the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Brentford FC, in Manchester, Britain, 27 April 2026. (EPA)

Manchester United's 2-1 win ‌over Brentford on Monday put them on the brink of Champions League qualification but interim manager Michael Carrick said they must keep pushing to finish as high up the Premier League table as possible.

The victory lifted United to third place on 61 points, 11 clear of sixth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, with four games remaining.

With the top five qualifying for the Champions ‌League next season, ‌United need two more points ‌to ⁠seal their return ⁠to Europe's elite competition after a two-year absence.

"The Champions League is one thing, but it's not something that we should be over-celebrating either," former United midfielder Carrick told reporters.

"We want to be finishing high up the league really, ⁠and we want to be challenging ‌high up in the ‌league and trying to get more points so our ‌season doesn't get to a close when ‌that happens.

"We have put ourselves in good position, but there's still more work to be done," added Carrick, who took charge in January with United in ‌sixth spot after Ruben Amorim's dismissal.

Casemiro was on the scoresheet on Monday ⁠and ⁠while supporters have called on the club to keep him for another year, Carrick said the midfielder's situation was clear.

"From both sides it's pretty clear. Probably the situation and the clarity of it has helped everything," he added.

"It means a lot to him and credit to him because of the situation that it is, he's given absolutely everything as well and had some big moments for us."

United next face fourth-placed Liverpool on Sunday.


Modric Undergoes Cheekbone Surgery Weeks Before World Cup

AC Milan's Croatian midfielder #14 Luka Modric leaves the pitch after being injured during the Italian Serie A football match between AC Milan and Juventus FC at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on April 26, 2026. (AFP)
AC Milan's Croatian midfielder #14 Luka Modric leaves the pitch after being injured during the Italian Serie A football match between AC Milan and Juventus FC at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on April 26, 2026. (AFP)
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Modric Undergoes Cheekbone Surgery Weeks Before World Cup

AC Milan's Croatian midfielder #14 Luka Modric leaves the pitch after being injured during the Italian Serie A football match between AC Milan and Juventus FC at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on April 26, 2026. (AFP)
AC Milan's Croatian midfielder #14 Luka Modric leaves the pitch after being injured during the Italian Serie A football match between AC Milan and Juventus FC at the San Siro stadium in Milan, northern Italy, on April 26, 2026. (AFP)

Luka Modric has undergone successful surgery after fracturing his left cheekbone, the Croatian Football Federation said on Monday, weeks before the 40-year-old AC Milan midfielder is due to participate in his fifth World Cup.

Modric sustained the injury following a clash of heads with Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli during Sunday's 0-0 Serie A draw at the San Siro. ‌He left the ‌field with 10 minutes left.

Although ‌clearly ⁠in pain, Modric ⁠remained on the bench until the end of the game without receiving medical treatment.

The Croatian federation said national medical staff remained in contact with Modric, who captains the side, as well as his club.

"I've been talking to Luka, ⁠and wished him a successful surgery ‌and a quality ‌and speedy recovery," Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic said ‌in a statement.

"I am convinced that he ‌will do everything to be ready for the World Cup, and we'll provide full support.

"I am confident that the recovery will go according to plan ‌and that Luka, as team captain, will lead us at another major ⁠competition this ⁠summer."

Milan are third in the standings, 12 points behind leaders Inter Milan with four games remaining, and Modric is doubtful to take any part in their season run-in. A protective mask may be needed should he recover in time for the World Cup.

The World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, starts on June 11, and Croatia will face England, Ghana and Panama in Group L.


Nobody Better Than PSG, Says Luis Enrique Ahead of Bayern Semi

Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish head coach Luis Enrique arrives for a press conference of French football club Paris Saint-Germain a day ahead of their UEFA Champions League semi-final match against German club FC Bayern Munich at the PSG Campus in Poissy, north-west of Paris, on April 27, 2026. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish head coach Luis Enrique arrives for a press conference of French football club Paris Saint-Germain a day ahead of their UEFA Champions League semi-final match against German club FC Bayern Munich at the PSG Campus in Poissy, north-west of Paris, on April 27, 2026. (AFP)
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Nobody Better Than PSG, Says Luis Enrique Ahead of Bayern Semi

Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish head coach Luis Enrique arrives for a press conference of French football club Paris Saint-Germain a day ahead of their UEFA Champions League semi-final match against German club FC Bayern Munich at the PSG Campus in Poissy, north-west of Paris, on April 27, 2026. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish head coach Luis Enrique arrives for a press conference of French football club Paris Saint-Germain a day ahead of their UEFA Champions League semi-final match against German club FC Bayern Munich at the PSG Campus in Poissy, north-west of Paris, on April 27, 2026. (AFP)

Holders Paris St Germain take on Bayern Munich in a Champions League semi-final clash of two of the top attacking teams in Europe, and while Luis Enrique says the German club are the most consistent, no team is better than his side.

Three of the last four teams, PSG, Bayern and Arsenal, are top of their domestic leagues and the German side have clinched the Bundesliga, losing one game, having also lost once in Europe.

While PSG and Atletico Madrid had to come through the playoffs, Arsenal and Bayern were the top two in the league phase. In the last ‌16 and quarter-finals, ‌PSG netted 12 goals and Bayern 16.

"It's not just about ‌attacking ⁠statistics, but if ⁠you look at the defensive ones too, these are the best teams in Europe," Luis Enrique told reporters ahead of Tuesday's first leg at home.

"Arsenal have done an incredible job this season also, in terms of consistency. Bayern are a bit ahead of us because they have only lost two games, but if we speak about what we have shown as a team, we're right up there.

"And no team is ⁠better than us. I said this after we didn't finish ‌in the top eight in the league ‌phase that I didn't see any teams better than us."

Last season, PSG also finished outside ‌the top eight in the league stage before going on to lift the ‌trophy, and in Ligue 1, having battled with Lens for long periods, they are six points clear.

"Every coach wants to head into the run-in in the best possible conditions," the PSG manager said.

"It's the magic of the Champions League which gives special energy to the ‌players, everyone wants to be there and to make the most of this time."

NO NEGOTIATING

Luis Enrique is well aware of ⁠the attacking threat ⁠posed by Bayern, including wingers Luis Diaz and Michael Olise, but that will not change the way his side approach the tie.

"We won the Champions League last season with (full backs) Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes doing what they do," he said.

"Of course they have to defend as well, but we know that they have to attack more than they defend if we want to win.

"We know how difficult it will be and we have to know how to defend well."

The French club had long set their sights on winning the Champions League, and having finally realized that dream last season, there is no chance of a less ambitious PSG this time.

"The first run was a relief, now it's a different source of motivation because last year was great," Luis Enrique said. "We made history. And now, we're hungry for more."