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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

Paolini's Italian Open Title Defense Ends Ahead of Sinner Bow

Italy's Jasmine Paolini reacts at the end of the match against Belgium's Elise Mertens at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Italy's Jasmine Paolini reacts at the end of the match against Belgium's Elise Mertens at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
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Paolini's Italian Open Title Defense Ends Ahead of Sinner Bow

Italy's Jasmine Paolini reacts at the end of the match against Belgium's Elise Mertens at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Italy's Jasmine Paolini reacts at the end of the match against Belgium's Elise Mertens at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Jasmine Paolini's defense of her Italian Open title came to an early end on Saturday after the home favorite was knocked out in the third round by Elise Mertens, as Jannik Sinner bids to continue his record-breaking Masters 1000 winning streak.

Local favorite Paolini was beaten 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 by Mertens following an error-strewn performance in front of disappointed fans on center court.

The 30-year-old is set to drop out of the top 10 of the women's world rankings after failing to reach the fourth round of a fourth consecutive tournament.

Paolini won both the women's singles and doubles tournaments in Rome last year but she has looked a shadow of that player this season with a string of early exits.

Her fate turned on her failure to capitalize on three match points against the serve at 6-5 in the second set, after which she lost the first two points of the tie-break and never recovered from there.

"I didn't make the most of my chances, I needed to keep a clearer head, keep my cool better in those moments," Paolini told reporters, according to AFP.

"I'm very disappointed to lose but there were moments in which I felt good on the court and I was competitive and positive."

Mertens, who lost last year's women's doubles final to Paolini and Sara Errani, could face eighth seed Mirra Andreeva in the next round.

Coco Gauff, beaten by Paolini in last year's singles final, took over two hours to beat Argentina's Solana Sierra 5-7, 6-0, 6-4.

The world number four and reigning French Open champion will face either her fellow American Taylor Townsend, a qualifier, or Iva Jovic in the next round.

Gauff has struggled on clay this season, with a last-16 exit in the Madrid Open coming after a disappointing run to the quarter-finals in Stuttgart.

The 22-year-old is on the same side of the draw as world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who faces Romania's Sorana Cirstea.

Sinner will take to an expectant center court later on Saturday as a hot favorite to extend his run of five consecutive Masters 1000 tournament victories.

Austria's Sebastian Ofner stands in the way of Sinner winning a 24th straight match, with few expecting anything more than a rapid victory in straight sets.

No Italian man has won at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago, and with Carlos Alcaraz out of action Sinner is expected to go one better than last year when he lost the final to his great rival.

Former winner Daniil Medvedev will begin his campaign in the third round after his match, which was scheduled to be the first on center court, was shelved after his opponent Tomas Machac pulled out of the tournament with an unspecified illness.

Fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime suffered a shock second-round defeat at the hands of Argentina's Mariano Navone, the Canadian losing to his 44th-ranked opponent in straight sets 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5).

Sports

Liverpool Settles for 1-1 Draw with Chelsea amid Boos at Anfield

Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez (top) celebrates with team-mate Wesley Fofana after scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea in Liverpool, England, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez (top) celebrates with team-mate Wesley Fofana after scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea in Liverpool, England, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
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Liverpool Settles for 1-1 Draw with Chelsea amid Boos at Anfield

Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez (top) celebrates with team-mate Wesley Fofana after scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea in Liverpool, England, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez (top) celebrates with team-mate Wesley Fofana after scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea in Liverpool, England, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

Liverpool stumbled to a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Anfield to merely inch toward Champions League qualification on Saturday as the visitors snapped their six-game Premier League losing streak.

Enzo Fernandez's bouncing free kick found its way into the net in the 36th minute to equalize for Chelsea after Ryan Gravenberch's early goal, The AP news reported.

Arne Slot's team heard boos at the final whistle after another inconsistent performance — the type that has marked their season as defending Premier League champions.

Fourth-place Liverpool is still on course to secure Champions League qualification, which it can achieve with a victory in its next game — at Aston Villa next Friday.

Gravenberch opened the scoring by curling a shot into the top right corner from just outside the area in the sixth minute.

Fernandez equalized with a long-range free kick in the 36th. He curled a bouncing strike into the area, off the far post and into the net. Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili stood frozen in anticipation of Wesley Fofana's attempt to redirect the ball but the Chelsea defender missed it. The ball then bounced, hit the post, and went in.

Liverpool went close in the 79th minute when Virgil van Dijk's header hit the bar. Eight minutes earlier, Dominik Szoboszlai hit the post with a shot from outside the area.

Sports

Lens Secure Champions League Spot and Send Nantes Down

Lens' Portuguese midfielder #04 Mezian Mesloub Soares (C-L) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Nantes at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens on May 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)
Lens' Portuguese midfielder #04 Mezian Mesloub Soares (C-L) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Nantes at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens on May 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)
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Lens Secure Champions League Spot and Send Nantes Down

Lens' Portuguese midfielder #04 Mezian Mesloub Soares (C-L) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Nantes at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens on May 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)
Lens' Portuguese midfielder #04 Mezian Mesloub Soares (C-L) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the French L1 football match between RC Lens and FC Nantes at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens on May 8, 2026. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)

Teenage substitute Mezian Mesloub gave Lens a 1-0 win over Nantes in Ligue 1 on Friday to clinch his side qualification for next season's Champions League, while relegating Nantes to the second tier.

The result also keeps the Ligue 1 title race alive with second-placed Lens the only team that can still pip Paris Saint-Germain to the trophy.

The 16-year-old substitute Mesloub picked up a loose ball in the box with his first touch in the 79th minute and fired home with his second to break the deadlock on his Ligue 1 debut, AFP reported.

Lens are now guaranteed a top-three finish in Ligue 1 after moving nine points clear of fourth-placed Lille, with both teams having two matches remaining.

The top three teams in Ligue 1 qualify automatically for the Champions League phase, while the fourth-placed side heads into the qualifying rounds.

Lens, whose budget is not even a 10th of Champions League finalists PSG, are still to play the Parisians who lead them by three points and have a game in hand.

Following the win, the sell-out 38,000 crowd at Lens' Stade Bollaert stayed behind for extravagant celebrations, with the players heralded one at a time on a spotlit center-circle with fireworks flaming.

Stopping PSG remains an outside chance, but Lens are also eyeing silverware in the French Cup, with the final against Nice on May 22.

Lens, the 1998 French champions, were the surprise package earlier in the season as they reached the winter break top of the table.

Lens had three goals ruled out for offside or handball Friday as Nantes held them at bay largely thanks to goalkeeper Anthony Lopes.

Nantes are now guaranteed to finish in the bottom two and will be relegated from Ligue 1.

Club great Vahid Halilhodzic took over as the third coach of their season in March but could not save the Canaries.

PSG play Brest at home on Sunday but the Lens win has prevented them from mathematically wrapping up a fifth straight title this weekend.

However, their far superior goal difference means victory would all but wrap up top spot.

Luis Enrique's men will face Arsenal in the Champions League final on May 30 after beating Bayern Munich 6-5 on aggregate in the semi-finals.