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Trent Return Can Help Arbeloa’s Real Madrid Move Forward 

Real Madrid's head coach Alvaro Arbeloa looks on prior to the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid at the Mestalla Stadium, in Valencia, Spain, 08 February 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid's head coach Alvaro Arbeloa looks on prior to the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid at the Mestalla Stadium, in Valencia, Spain, 08 February 2026. (EPA)
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Trent Return Can Help Arbeloa’s Real Madrid Move Forward 

Real Madrid's head coach Alvaro Arbeloa looks on prior to the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid at the Mestalla Stadium, in Valencia, Spain, 08 February 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid's head coach Alvaro Arbeloa looks on prior to the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid at the Mestalla Stadium, in Valencia, Spain, 08 February 2026. (EPA)

Trent Alexander-Arnold's Real Madrid career has not got off the ground yet but, fit again after injury, the England right-back could be crucial for the Spanish giants in the second half of the season.

With Alvaro Arbeloa's side still taking shape following the coach's arrival in January, Alexander-Arnold has the chance to make himself a key part of the club's battle for silverware.

Pellegrino Matarazzo's in-form Real Sociedad visit the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday in La Liga, in what promises to be an enticing clash.

Arbeloa's Madrid are looking to move two points clear of Barcelona and take the lead in La Liga before the Catalans visit Girona on Monday.

Former Liverpool full-back Alexander-Arnold, who came off the bench last weekend as Madrid beat Valencia, could potentially start for the first time since December 3.

After a decent early showing for Madrid at the Club World Cup last summer, hamstring and thigh injuries have stopped him settling in, limiting him to 12 appearances across all competitions this season.

"After (he's had) a long time out, we will proceed with caution," said Arbeloa after Alexander-Arnold's return, with Spanish newspaper AS reporting Madrid's aim is for him to start against Benfica in the Champions League play-off round on February 17.

Even if Arbeloa uses veteran Dani Carvajal or youngster David Jimenez to start against Real Sociedad, the expectation is for Alexander-Arnold to get more crucial minutes under his belt.

With superstar striker Kylian Mbappe a doubt for the game because of knee discomfort, the defender's creative input could prove an important weapon for Los Blancos against a Real Sociedad side unbeaten in nine matches.

Matarazzo's side defeated champions Barcelona last month and have one foot in the Copa del Rey final after a semi-final first leg win at rivals Athletic Bilbao this week.

Winger Vinicius Junior is set to return from suspension for Madrid after missing the effective but uninspiring win over Valencia.

Alexander-Arnold, one of the finest crossers and passers of a ball in the world, is yet to fully unfurl his attacking tool-kit for Madrid.

His return could be a welcome boost for the bad-tempered Bernabeu crowd, who have been on their own team's backs in recent weeks after coach Xabi Alonso's dismissal and a run of inconsistent form.

Alexander-Arnold has the talent to dazzle supporters in the Spanish capital, and if he can stay fit, the opportunity to establish himself as a vital pillar of Arbeloa's project is ripe for the taking.

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Sports

2 Sailors Injured after Crash between New Zealand, France at SailGP Race

Black Foils SailGP Team helmed by Peter Burling and DS Automobiles SailGP Team France helmed by Quentin Delapierre collide during racing on Race Day 1 of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (Andrew Baker/ SailGP via AP)
Black Foils SailGP Team helmed by Peter Burling and DS Automobiles SailGP Team France helmed by Quentin Delapierre collide during racing on Race Day 1 of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (Andrew Baker/ SailGP via AP)
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2 Sailors Injured after Crash between New Zealand, France at SailGP Race

Black Foils SailGP Team helmed by Peter Burling and DS Automobiles SailGP Team France helmed by Quentin Delapierre collide during racing on Race Day 1 of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (Andrew Baker/ SailGP via AP)
Black Foils SailGP Team helmed by Peter Burling and DS Automobiles SailGP Team France helmed by Quentin Delapierre collide during racing on Race Day 1 of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (Andrew Baker/ SailGP via AP)

Two sailors have been injured in a high-speed crash between New Zealand and France on the first day of the SailGP race in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday.

Both sailors were taken to hospital and were said to be awake and alert. Their names and conditions are not immediately available, The Associated Press reported.

The crash occurred in the third of four SailGP races scheduled on Saturday. As the fleet of 13 boats approached the first gate at speeds of almost 90 kilometers per hour (56 mph), the New Zealand yacht lost control and spun into the path of France.

The French boat rode over the top of the New Zealand boat causing severe damage to both boats which were locked together. Racing was abandoned for the day while the injured sailors were ferried to shore and to hospital and while the damaged boats were recovered.

Television footage suggested the New Zealand boat had lifted and heeled at speed, causing the rudder to rise out of the water.

New Zealand had just returned after a crash with Switzerland in the first event of the season in Perth, Australia which was won by Britain. The New Zealand driver Peter Burling received demerit points on his super sailing license for his role in that collision.

In SailGP, teams from 13 nations race identical 50-foot catamarans which rise out of the water on foils and are capable of reaching speeds of 100 kph (60 mph).

Two races were completed on Saturday before the crash. Australia won the first and New Zealand won the second. Racing on the second day Sunday will start early because of the threat of thunderstorms.

Sports

Top Seed Fritz Makes ATP Dallas Semis with Fantastic Finish

FRISCO, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 13: Taylor Fritz of the United States plays a shot against Sebastian Korda of the United States in the Men's Singles Quarterfinals match during day five of the 2026 Dallas Open at The Ford Center at The Star on February 13, 2026 in Frisco, Texas. Sam Hodde/Getty Images/AFP
FRISCO, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 13: Taylor Fritz of the United States plays a shot against Sebastian Korda of the United States in the Men's Singles Quarterfinals match during day five of the 2026 Dallas Open at The Ford Center at The Star on February 13, 2026 in Frisco, Texas. Sam Hodde/Getty Images/AFP
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Top Seed Fritz Makes ATP Dallas Semis with Fantastic Finish

FRISCO, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 13: Taylor Fritz of the United States plays a shot against Sebastian Korda of the United States in the Men's Singles Quarterfinals match during day five of the 2026 Dallas Open at The Ford Center at The Star on February 13, 2026 in Frisco, Texas. Sam Hodde/Getty Images/AFP
FRISCO, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 13: Taylor Fritz of the United States plays a shot against Sebastian Korda of the United States in the Men's Singles Quarterfinals match during day five of the 2026 Dallas Open at The Ford Center at The Star on February 13, 2026 in Frisco, Texas. Sam Hodde/Getty Images/AFP

Top seed Taylor Fritz captured the last five points in a deciding tie-breaker to defeat fellow American Sebastian Korda and advance to the ATP Dallas Open semi-finals on Friday.

World number seven Fritz fought back to defeat 53rd-ranked Korda 6-7 (2/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) and book a place against Croatian Marin Cilic, the 2014 US Open winner, in a Saturday semi-final.

Fritz, now 4-1 in matches against Korda, fired 22 aces and won all four break points he faced to conclude matters in two hours and 30 minutes.

"Just (proud of) the way I handled those big moments in that match," Fritz said.

"He was constantly putting a lot of pressure on my serve. He was playing really well."

Fritz also fought back after suffering a right elbow injury returning a Korda shot in the second set.

"I just instantly got this really sharp pain in my elbow, served one serve afterwards -- luckily I made it -- and knew right then I needed to get the physio there. It was pretty bad," AFP quoted Fritz as saying.

"I had a couple games where I was really scared to snap my serve because I feel that pain I'm going to lose that point, but then I got some painkillers, I started to feel better and then I started to just trust it and it wasn't even something I was thinking of most of the second and the full third (sets)."

Up 5-4 in the final tie-breaker, Korda sent two forehands long and Fritz blasted a service winner on the final point for the triumph.

Cilic advanced by beating British qualifier Jack Pinnington Jones 6-1, 6-4.

Fritz is 2-1 in ATP play against 37-year-old Cilic, winning on Monte Carlo clay in 2022 and at Indian Wells in 2017 but losing a 2021 final at St. Petersburg.

Canada's Denis Shapovalov kept his title defense on track, beating third-seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.

Shapovalov next faces second seeded American Ben Shelton, who rallied for a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.

Sports

Coachless Rennes Stuns Ligue 1 Leader PSG and Ends Winless Run

Rennes' Jordanian forward #11 Mousa Tamari (R) celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the French L1 football match between Stade Rennais FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Roazhon Park stadium in Rennes, western France, on February 13, 2026. (Photo by Damien MEYER / AFP)
Rennes' Jordanian forward #11 Mousa Tamari (R) celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the French L1 football match between Stade Rennais FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Roazhon Park stadium in Rennes, western France, on February 13, 2026. (Photo by Damien MEYER / AFP)
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Coachless Rennes Stuns Ligue 1 Leader PSG and Ends Winless Run

Rennes' Jordanian forward #11 Mousa Tamari (R) celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the French L1 football match between Stade Rennais FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Roazhon Park stadium in Rennes, western France, on February 13, 2026. (Photo by Damien MEYER / AFP)
Rennes' Jordanian forward #11 Mousa Tamari (R) celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the French L1 football match between Stade Rennais FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Roazhon Park stadium in Rennes, western France, on February 13, 2026. (Photo by Damien MEYER / AFP)

Coachless Rennes stunned Ligue 1 leader Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 at home and snapped a five-game winless run on Friday.

The home side fired coach Habib Beye on Monday after its early season gains looked to be slipping away, and it was a firm underdog against PSG, which came to Brittany after winning all seven of its last league fixtures.

But Rennes hit the post early on and it got a reward for its confident start after 33 minutes. Jordanian midfielder Mousa Al-Tamari charged forward on the counterattack and found enough space between two defenders on the edge of the penalty area to curl in a superb opener, The Associated Press reported.

PSG came into the game but was hesitant in front of goal and Esteban Lepaul doubled Rennes' lead midway through the second half. The prolific center forward rose highest to bullet a header past Matvey Safonov for his 11th goal of the season.

Former Rennes player Ousmane Dembélé pulled one back for PSG two minutes later but Breel Embolo restored Rennes' two-goal cushion in the 81st when he finished off another counterattack.

PSG remained atop the table but second-placed Lens can take over if it beats Paris FC on Saturday.

Rennes moved above Lille into fifth place.

Monaco beats Nantes

Monaco overcame lowly Nantes 3-1 for its fourth league game without defeat.

Monaco rose three places to seventh after a horrendous run of seven losses in eight league games from the start of December to mid-January.

Ivory Coast winger Adingra scored in the 25th and 28th minutes and Denis Zakaria added a third after half an hour — his first goal of the season — to put Monaco in the driver's seat.

Fabien Centonze pulled a goal back on the stroke of halftime for Nantes.

Although Aleksandr Golovin’s dismissal after 65 minutes gave Nantes a man advantage for most of the second half it could not muster a fightback.

Nantes was second from bottom of Ligue 1, equal on points with third-from-bottom Auxerre.

With a third of the season remaining, the gap between the bottom three and the teams above them was an intimidating eight points.