Bellingham Claims Liga Leaders Real Madrid Clasico Win Over Barca

 Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham reacts after a La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (AP)
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham reacts after a La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (AP)
TT

Bellingham Claims Liga Leaders Real Madrid Clasico Win Over Barca

 Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham reacts after a La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (AP)
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham reacts after a La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (AP)

Jude Bellingham's goal helped Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 to win a tense Clasico and move five points clear of their bitter rivals at the top of La Liga on Sunday.

Champions Barcelona won all four times the teams were pitted against each other last season but in his first Clasico as Real Madrid coach, Xabi Alonso snapped that run.

Kylian Mbappe, who later missed a penalty, fired Madrid in front and although Fermin Lopez levelled for the visitors at the Santiago Bernabeu, Bellingham netted a second for the hosts before half-time which proved decisive.

Barca playmaker Pedri was sent off in the final stages for a second yellow card as tensions spilled over in the Spanish capital.

Madrid's victory means they have won nine of their opening 10 league games and Alonso's side proved against Barca they can triumph on the big occasion, following their derby humbling by Atletico Madrid in September.

Hansi Flick's team were led on the touchline by his assistant Marcus Sorg, as the German coach was suspended following a red card last weekend as they scraped a victory over relegation-battling Girona.

Barcelona were without several regular starters, including Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo among others, while Lamine Yamal still does not appear fully fit after a groin injury but started.

The teenager wound up Madrid fans in the week by claiming Los Blancos "steal" and "complain" and his name was greeted with a chorus of jeers when read out before kick-off.

Barcelona had more of the ball in the first half, but it was largely sterile possession and Madrid created the most dangerous opportunities.

The hosts were awarded an early penalty when Yamal appeared to bring down Vinicius Junior. However, it was cancelled after a VAR review as it was the Brazilian initiated the contact.

Madrid fans' ire at the officials grew when Mbappe blasted home from outside the area, but the goal was ruled out for a millimetric offside against the French superstar.

Mbappe did not have long to wait before he could celebrate in earnest, after superb work by Bellingham sent him through on goal.

The forward, the division's top goalscorer, netted his 11th league goal of the campaign with a lethal low finish past Wojciech Szczesny.

The goalkeeper made a good save from Dean Huijsen, while Bellingham and Fede Valverde went close as Madrid took control.

Szczesny stopped efforts from Vinicius and Bellingham again, and it was against the run of play when Barcelona equalized.

Arda Guler gave away possession in a dangerous area and Marcus Rashford, playing in his first Clasico, crossed for Lopez to blast the visitors level in the 38th minute.

Bellingham struck Madrid's second five minutes later to give Los Blancos a deserved advantage at the interval.

The England international, who scored his first goal at the Bernabeu since April in midweek against Juventus, gleefully tapped home after Eder Militao nodded Vinicius's cross back into his path.

Madrid should have extended their lead at the start of the second half but Szczesny made a fine save to push out Mbappe's penalty, after Eric Garcia was penalized for handball.

Yamal, frustrated and struggling to make an impact on the game, sent a long-range shot high over the bar as Madrid closed ranks and kept the Catalans at a safe distance from their goal.

Madrid looked the more threatening in the final stages despite Barca needing to score, able to bring on Rodrygo Goes and Brahim Diaz, while Barca had little in the way of attacking reinforcements.

Sorg sent defender Ronald Araujo up front during nine minutes of stoppage time after he netted the winner as a makeshift striker against Girona, but the center-back could not trouble Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Pedri was sent off in the final seconds for a second yellow card for a late foul on Aurelien Tchouameni, sparking a brief sideline shoving match, while players from both sides rowed after the final whistle.



Everton Hope to Pile Merseyside Derby Blues on Liverpool at New Stadium

Football - Premier League - Brentford v Everton - GTech Community Stadium, London, Britain - April 11, 2026 Everton manager David Moyes reacts. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Brentford v Everton - GTech Community Stadium, London, Britain - April 11, 2026 Everton manager David Moyes reacts. (Action Images via Reuters)
TT

Everton Hope to Pile Merseyside Derby Blues on Liverpool at New Stadium

Football - Premier League - Brentford v Everton - GTech Community Stadium, London, Britain - April 11, 2026 Everton manager David Moyes reacts. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Brentford v Everton - GTech Community Stadium, London, Britain - April 11, 2026 Everton manager David Moyes reacts. (Action Images via Reuters)

Everton manager David Moyes wants ‌to make the Hill Dickinson Stadium a happy home and a famous win over old foes Liverpool in the first Merseyside Derby at the new venue on Sunday would go a long way to achieving that.

It has been several seasons since Everton were involved in the European reckoning, but with six games to go in the Premier League campaign they are five points off fifth-placed Liverpool in the table, a gap they could cut to two this weekend.

It was a typically feverish final Goodison Park derby last season when James Tarkowski’s volley in the dying seconds earned Everton a 2-2 ‌draw as ‌they said farewell to the Grand Old Lady.

The Hill ‌Dickinson ⁠Stadium has not ⁠quite felt like home yet for many Evertonians, but a derby win on a raucous Sunday afternoon may start to change that.

“When you move to a new stadium it's always difficult,” Moyes told reporters on Friday. “If you look through the records of all teams who have built new stadiums, it has never been easy.

“We have had our ups and downs in it, ⁠we had a great start, the bits in the ‌middle were not so good, but we ‌are finding a bit better form now.”

Moyes has repeatedly said Everton hope to finish ‌in the European places this season but added that in such ‌a tight league table they need to be wary of the teams below them too.

“All we can do is try and catch whoever is above us,” he said. “It is Brentford at the moment. But probably more important is to make sure ‌nobody catches us.

"If we stay in a strong position, we give ourselves every chance of getting something in ⁠terms of ⁠Europe.

“The biggest thing for me is that with six games to go we have something to play for. Over recent years it has been the wrong thing we have been playing for (survival). I hope we can keep the dream alive.”

Moyes confirmed there had been no talks over a new contract, with his current deal running out at the end of next season.

“There is no need to start any talks now because I have so much on my mind. These six games will be crucial as to how things go. I want Everton to be in this position every year, having a chance of the top places."

He said there were no injury concerns with midfielder Carlos Alcaraz back in contention after a lengthy injury lay-off.


Romero Out for the Season but De Zerbi Backs Spurs to Survive

Football - Premier League - Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - April 12, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur's Cristian Romero looks dejected as he is substituted off after sustaining an injury. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - April 12, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur's Cristian Romero looks dejected as he is substituted off after sustaining an injury. (Reuters)
TT

Romero Out for the Season but De Zerbi Backs Spurs to Survive

Football - Premier League - Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - April 12, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur's Cristian Romero looks dejected as he is substituted off after sustaining an injury. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - April 12, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur's Cristian Romero looks dejected as he is substituted off after sustaining an injury. (Reuters)

Roberto De Zerbi confirmed on Friday Cristian Romero will miss the rest of Tottenham's battle for Premier League survival, but remains optimistic that just one win can transform his side's fortunes.

Romero suffered a knee injury, that could also endanger his place in Argentina's World Cup squad, during last weekend's 1-0 defeat by Sunderland in De Zerbi's first match in charge.

"I am really sorry for him and his injury," said De Zerbi.

"Romero first of all loves Tottenham and the people have to know he is suffering for this injury and because he cannot play any more for us this season."

Without a win in 14 league games, Spurs are two points adrift of safety with six matches of the campaign to go.

But victory against De Zerbi's former club Brighton on Saturday would propel Tottenham out of the bottom three for at least 48 hours.

"I think it is crucial to win a game not just for the table. Of course one part of the table for sure, but we have to feel again what is nice to win a game and what it can do," he added.

"I have no doubts about the quality of the players."

In a bid to build team chemistry, De Zerbi took his players out to dinner this week in London's Mayfair.

The Italian is happy to pick up the bill for more dinners in the coming weeks if he is rewarded with results on the field.

"The food was amazing and if we win, I am ready to pay every week for one dinner," said the former Marseille coach.

"I am positive, I am ready to fight and I believe to keep Premier League (status). I believe in my words that I said last week. The focus is to win one game."

Rodrigo Bentancur could make his return from a three-month injury layoff against the Seagulls.

However, first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario remains out after surgery on a hernia.


Verstappen Gave Lambiase His Blessing for ‘Great’ McLaren Move

Dutch racing driver Max Verstappen answers questions during a show "An evening with Max Verstappen" in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 16 April 2026. (EPA)
Dutch racing driver Max Verstappen answers questions during a show "An evening with Max Verstappen" in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 16 April 2026. (EPA)
TT

Verstappen Gave Lambiase His Blessing for ‘Great’ McLaren Move

Dutch racing driver Max Verstappen answers questions during a show "An evening with Max Verstappen" in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 16 April 2026. (EPA)
Dutch racing driver Max Verstappen answers questions during a show "An evening with Max Verstappen" in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 16 April 2026. (EPA)

Max Verstappen encouraged ‌his Red Bull race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to move to McLaren after the Briton received an offer that was hard to refuse.

Lambiase will switch teams when his contract expires at the end of 2027 and join McLaren as their chief racing officer in a move announced last week.

"He told me what kind of offer he received," four-times ‌world champion ‌Verstappen said at a recent ‌Viaplay ⁠event in Amsterdam ⁠in his first public comments on the announcement. "I said: 'You would be stupid not to do that'.

"We have already achieved everything together. And then he gets such a great offer, also with his family in mind ⁠and the security it would give ‌him.

"He asked me ‌for a sort of permission and I said ‌that he absolutely had to do it. ‌He really wanted to hear that from me."

Lambiase will be the latest in a string of senior employees to have left once-dominant Red ‌Bull, with former principal Christian Horner sacked last year.

Verstappen's own future at ⁠the ⁠team remains uncertain, with the Dutch driver contracted to 2028 but unhappy with rule changes in a new engine era.

Red Bull announced on Thursday changes to their technical leadership team, with Ben Waterhouse taking on an expanded role as chief performance and design engineer with immediate effect.

From July 1, Andrea Landi will join from sister team Racing Bulls, where he was deputy technical director, as head of performance.