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Bruised Real Madrid Must Stay in Title Fight against Celta

Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid are fighting to stay in the title race behind Barcelona. Josep LAGO / AFP
Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid are fighting to stay in the title race behind Barcelona. Josep LAGO / AFP
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Bruised Real Madrid Must Stay in Title Fight against Celta

Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid are fighting to stay in the title race behind Barcelona. Josep LAGO / AFP
Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid are fighting to stay in the title race behind Barcelona. Josep LAGO / AFP

After crushing defeats by Arsenal in the Champions League and Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, Real Madrid have one remaining ambition -- defending their La Liga title.

Los Blancos host Celta Vigo on Sunday aiming to stay hot on league leaders Barcelona's tail, despite bruises from the cup final fallout this week, AFP said.

Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was banned for six matches for throwing an object at the referee, and also chose to undergo a knee operation, meaning he is out until the end of the season.

Ferland Mendy and David Alaba were also ruled out injured for the rest of the campaign, joining long-term absentees Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao on the sidelines.

Carlo Ancelotti's defense, one of the team's weak points in general this season, is in tatters as a Celta side hoping to secure European football next season visit the Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid, second and trailing Barcelona by four points, have lost five matches in La Liga this season after stumbling just once in their previous campaign, as they lifted the title.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti, poised to leave the club at the end of the season, still believes his team can defend their crown.

Out of the Champions League, Madrid have had a week to rest and recover from the Copa final defeat on Saturday.

"We have time to prepare the games against Celta and Barcelona, we have to continue competing until the end," insisted the Italian coach.

After Celta, Madrid visit the Catalan giants at the Olympic Stadium in a clash which could go a long way to deciding the fate of the title race.

Madrid need to arrive at that match without the four-point gap growing, with Barcelona in action at Real Valladolid on Saturday, between the two legs of their Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan.

Madrid beat Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey last 16 on the way to the final, although it was a controversial night after the Galician side were not awarded what looked a likely penalty.

"All of Spain saw it," said Celta striker Iago Aspas this week ahead of his team's return to the Bernabeu.

Despite Madrid's struggles, Aspas said he would not rule them out of the title race.

"In football you can never rule out anything, sometimes it seems a team might lose but then they win," added Aspas.

"We'll try to be the protagonists, have the ball, attack... and after that, it could go well or not for us."

Player to watch: Ayoze Perez

As Villarreal close in on a Champions League spot for next season, striker Ayoze Perez is also hoping to finish the season as the top Spanish scorer in La Liga. The Villarreal forward has 14 goals, one behind Athletic Bilbao's Oihan Sancet, who is currently recovering from injury. Perez could add to his tally as Osasuna visit on Saturday.

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Sports

Slot Blames Fatigue as Liverpool Fail Again

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool (C) argues with the referee Michael Salisbury (L) during the English Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC, in Bournemouth, Britain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool (C) argues with the referee Michael Salisbury (L) during the English Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC, in Bournemouth, Britain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)
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Slot Blames Fatigue as Liverpool Fail Again

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool (C) argues with the referee Michael Salisbury (L) during the English Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC, in Bournemouth, Britain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool (C) argues with the referee Michael Salisbury (L) during the English Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC, in Bournemouth, Britain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)

Liverpool boss Arne Slot blamed tiredness for his side's concession of a 95th-minute goal away to Bournemouth that saw them slump to a 3-2 Premier league defeat after coming back from two goals down on Saturday.

The reigning champions have been a shadow of last year's side so far, losing seven league games and struggling to break down sides that they brushed aside during their imperious march to the 2024/25 title.

"For the last five, six, seven, eight, nine, ‌10 games, we ‌mainly have to play with ‌the ⁠same players, the ‌players we have available and then sometimes a few of them could be, in the end of the game, a bit tired," Slot said in post-match interviews with a variety of British broadcasters.

"I think that's what you could see today in the end as well."

Bournemouth raced out to ⁠a 2-0 lead before being pegged back to 2-2 in the 80th ‌minute through Dominik Szoboszlai's equalizer, and ‍the remainder of the ‍game was a wide-open, end-to-end affair.

"Both teams were trying ‍to score a goal, they had better opportunities than us in the last 10 minutes and then in the end there is a long throw in which led to a goal," Slot said before criticizing officials for not playing more added time.

"But in the end, that didn't ⁠matter because they scored, although maybe we could have had them two or three (more) minutes but this game should not have had (only) four minutes of extra time."

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola was delighted with his side's resilience and how they reacted to Liverpool's surging comeback.

"It is a massive win for us because we were in a difficult situation," he told the BBC.

"We are finding ways to get points against difficult opposition. I am very proud of ‌the team and what we are doing. We are adapting, and we are getting good points."

Sports

Mbappe Double Powers Real Madrid Past Villarreal to Top of LaLiga

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores the 0-2 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Villarreal CF and Real Madrid, in Villarreal, Spain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores the 0-2 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Villarreal CF and Real Madrid, in Villarreal, Spain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)
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Mbappe Double Powers Real Madrid Past Villarreal to Top of LaLiga

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores the 0-2 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Villarreal CF and Real Madrid, in Villarreal, Spain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores the 0-2 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Villarreal CF and Real Madrid, in Villarreal, Spain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)

Kylian Mbappe struck twice in the second half as Real Madrid secured a 2-0 victory at Villarreal on Saturday, climbing above Barcelona to take provisional pole position in LaLiga.

The win moved Alvaro Arbeloa's side to 51 points, two clear of second-placed Barcelona, who host bottom club Oviedo on Sunday. Villarreal are fourth, level on 41 with Atletico Madrid.

Real dominated from the outset, with Vinicius Jr causing endless problems on the left flank.

The Brazilian's pivotal moment came just after halftime when he weaved past defenders in the 47th minute and fed Mbappe inside the penalty area, leaving the French forward an easy finish from close range.

Real continued to control the tempo and ‌Mbappe sealed ‌the win in stoppage time, converting from the ‌penalty ⁠spot after being ‌clumsily fouled inside the box.

REAL DICTATE COMPELLING ENCOUNTER

In a compelling encounter in the first half, Real dictated the rhythm while the home side tried to hit back with quick counter attacks.

Vinicius came closest to a breakthrough in the first half, narrowly missing the target with a low shot in the 40th minute after a surging run.

Villarreal's best chance came through their Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye's powerful effort from ⁠the edge of the box that went just wide on the stroke of halftime.

The second half began ‌with drama two minutes in when Gueye's misplaced pass ‍was intercepted by Vinicius.

The Brazilian darted ‍into the box, reached the byline and cut the ball back for ‍Mbappe. Villarreal's defense managed a partial clearance, but Mbappe reacted quickest, smashing the rebound into the net for his first goal of the evening.

Villarreal's best chance came in the 62nd minute when Gerard Moreno, unmarked inside the box after a precise Dani Parejo pass, blasted his first-time shot over the crossbar.

Real sealed the win in stoppage time. Vinicius released Mbappe with a perfectly weighted pass ⁠and as the Frenchman charged into the box he was brought down from behind by Alfonso Pedraza.

Mbappe, the league's top scorer, stepped up to calmly chip the resulting penalty into the middle of the goal for his 21st goal in 20 LaLiga appearances this season.

"(Vinicius and Mbappe) are the two best in the world," manager Alvaro Arbeloa told Real Madrid TV.

"They are very disruptive. We try to get them to touch the ball as much as possible, explore situations where Vini can go out wide and Kylian can break into space.

"We are very happy to have them in this form, they are the first two who are pressing, ‌helping the midfielders, showing the solidarity we need from them, and we are very happy that the reward comes in the form of goals."

Sports

Djokovic Says ‘Great Champion’ Wawrinka’s Legacy Will Live on

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2026 Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka applauds fans in the stands after losing his third round match against Taylor Fritz of the US. (Reuters)
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2026 Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka applauds fans in the stands after losing his third round match against Taylor Fritz of the US. (Reuters)
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Djokovic Says ‘Great Champion’ Wawrinka’s Legacy Will Live on

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2026 Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka applauds fans in the stands after losing his third round match against Taylor Fritz of the US. (Reuters)
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2026 Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka applauds fans in the stands after losing his third round match against Taylor Fritz of the US. (Reuters)

Novak Djokovic says the retiring Stan Wawrinka's legacy will live on in tennis, hailing the Swiss veteran as a "great champion" who inspired him.

The 40-year-old Wawrinka bid a final farewell to the Australian Open on Saturday in a battling third-round loss to Taylor Fritz.

The current season is his last before the three-time Grand Slam winner hangs up his racquet.

"Proud to call him a friend and a rival and someone that definitely has inspired me," said 24-time major winner Djokovic, whose career has run parallel to Wawrinka's for nearly two decades.

"I mean, no doubt with his longevity, with commitment to the game. He's so passionate about it. His legacy will definitely stay and live with many different younger generations that look up to him.

"He's a great champion on and off the court," added the 38-year-old.

Wawrinka made his debut at Melbourne Park in 2006 and won the major in 2014.

He also won the French Open a year later and the US Open in 2016 at a time when Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal were dominating men's tennis.

"I think it's been a great farewell Australian Open for him with the crowd support and everything that has happened on the court," said Djokovic.

"When he's gone, tennis is going to lose a great player and a great person."