Zidane faces fight to save his job as Real & Ronaldo fail again

  The Frenchman is under pressure following yet another disappointing display and another defeat in La Liga, this time at home to Villarreal

Real Madrid's problems at home continue. Zinedine Zidane's side lost 1-0 to Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday in a fresh disappointment that leaves Los Blancos well adrift in the Liga table – and the Frenchman fighting for his job in the second half of the season.

Zidane's side had failed to beat Valencia, Levante, Betis, Tottenham, Fuenlabrada, Barcelona and Numancia at home in 2017-18 and now Villarreal have become the third visiting team (after Barca and Betis) to leave their famous stadium with a win this term.

The Spanish and European champions claimed five titles in 2017, a club record, yet there were alarm bells before Christmas as they were brushed aside by Barca in a one-sided Clasico clash.
If Barca beat Real Sociedad on Sunday, Madrid (with a game in hand) will now be 17 points adrift at the halfway stage of the Primera Division, with no guarantee of finishing in the top four either as things stand, given Villarreal are now just one point behind them in fifth.
This was a season in which Madrid were supposed to dominate. Having won back-to-back Champions League crowns under Zidane, plus a first Liga title since 2011-12, this looked like the start of something. Instead, it could be the end.

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 The top 5 leauge which are :  the English premier league , German , French , Italian league and the Spanish league, are all over .check  Here, to earn more. Below is a summary of the table and the clubs who qualified for next season Champions League for the different leagues.
English Premier League:
 Chelsea eventually ended up as winners and Champions of the Epl with 93 points Tottenham came second with 86 points and ended up finishing above the Gunners, Man City came third with 78 points and the last champion league spots was occupied by Liverpool with 76 points which enables them qualify for Champion League play-off , Arsenal despite winning their last game against Everton couldn't qualify for champion league for the the first time in more than 2 decades. They ended up with 75points and Man utd ended the season in 6th place with 69 points .although they might eventually qualify for the Champion league if they can overcome a tough and experience Ajax side in the Europa League final in Stockholm at 20:45 CET on Wednesday  24 May 2017,
 German Bundesliga saw Bayern  end up as Champions with 82 points, followed by Rbs Leiszig with 67 points , Borrusia Dortmud 64points and Hoffenheim with 62points qualified for the Champion League play-off . the fifth and sixth position were eventually held by FC Cologne 49 points and Hertha Berlin 49points respectively.

Ronaldo's belated birthday bash looks like gifting Madrid the title

The Portuguese forward scored twice in the rearranged fixture at Celta Vigo, originally scheduled for February 5, as Los Blancos close in on La Liga
Real Madrid were furious. ZInedine Zidane's side were eager to play away to Celta Vigo in February despite damage to the Galicians' Balaidos stadium. However, the game was postponed and Cristiano Ronaldo had a night off on his birthday instead.
The fixture had seemed ideal for Madrid at the time. Celta were in the middle of their two Copa del Rey semi-final matches against Alaves and their coach Eduardo Berizzo had admitted he would play with reserves in the Liga clash.

Madrid put pressure on Celta to make repairs to their stadium or find an alternative venue, but there were no viable options and the game was rescheduled for the final week of the season because both teams were in action in Europe - Real in the Champions League and their rivals in the Europa League.

Messi in attack, messy in defence - Barca back line a worry ahead of Juventus & Madrid tests

Luis Enrique's side beat Real Sociedad to stay in the race for La Liga, but they will need to defend better than this in their next two matches
Four hundred and ninety eight and counting. Lionel Messi closed in on 500 goals for Barcelona with two against Real Sociedad on Saturday night and they turned out to be very important. Because at the other end of the pitch, the Catalans were decidedly shaky throughout.
Luis Enrique's side had conceded five in their last two games: two in the 2-0 loss at Malaga in the Primera Division at the weekend and then three more in their Champions League quarter-final first leg away to Juventus on Tuesday.

The world's best reserve - Isco proves he's too good for the Madrid bench

The former Malaga midfielder produced a match-winning performance in Gijon to show his worth once again and keep Los Blancos on track for the title
There is surely no better reserve around. Isco Alarcon would walk into the starting XI at virtually every club in the world yet he is not first choice when everyone is fit at Real Madrid. On this form, however, that may soon change
Isco inspired a vital 3-2 win for Los Blancos at Sporting Gijon on Saturday, as Zinedine Zidane's second string twice came from behind to seal a victory that moves them a step closer to winning La Liga for the first time since 2011-12.

Off colour and offside - Madrid start slowly in month of tough tests

Zinedine Zidane's side beat Alaves comfortably enough in the end, but will need to be better as Atletico, Barcelona and Bayern Munich lie in wait
The final score does not tell the story. Real Madrid made hard work of this Liga game against a tricky Alaves side in the blazing sunshine at the Santiago Bernabeu. It finished 3-0 to Los Blancos, but it was a slow start for Zinedine Zidane's side in a month of tough tests
Before the match, Madrid fans paid tribute to their former hero Juanito by unfurling a tifo in his honour and a minute of silence followed. But the league leaders struggled to replicate the spirit of their fabled forward as the game got under way.

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Neymar on Rayo exploits: I've practiced scoring four goals many times

Neymar partially revealed the source of his devastating performance on Saturday, though he admitted the visitors gave Barcelona a real scare

Barcelona forward Neymar attributed his four goal haul in Barcelona's 5-2 win against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday to constant practice, although he refused to give up his exact methods.

The treble winners recovered from conceding Javi Guerra's 15th-minute opener as an inspired Neymar turned the game on its head with two penalties before completing his exploits with a quick-fire brace just after the hour mark.

Real Madrid 3-0 Levante: Ronaldo strikes to break new record

The Portugal international has moved one clear of Raul to become the Spanish club's all-time leading scorer with 324 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo has become Real Madrid's all-time leading goalscorer after finding the net in Saturday's 3-0 win over Levante.

Marcelo gave the hosts a first-half lead before Ronaldo's 324th Madrid goal took him beyond Raul in the club's scoring charts and made the game safe.

Roger and Deyverson called Keylor Navas into action, but the home goalkeeper was in fine form to earn a clean sheet.

Simeone: Crazy second half cost Atletico

The Argentine coach saw his side rescue a 2-2 draw with Malaga on Saturday but insists their season is still very much alive and kicking
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone was left to rue a "crazy second half" as his side were held to a 2-2 draw at Malaga on Saturday.

The reigning Liga champions went ahead thanks to a first-half Antoine Griezmann strike before the hosts turned the game on its head thanks to a Fernando Torres own goal and a neat Samu finish.

Griezmann smashed home a 78th-minute equaliser to rescue a point for Simeone's side with his 18th league goal of the season, and the Argentine coach admits it could have been worse.

"The second half was so crazy, it wasn't good for us," Simeone said.

"It's an important result for our league campaign. We drew and we were not that bad. This year we have changed a lot but we can still compete. This is an important point that allows us to carry on."

The draw leaves third-placed Atleti four points clear of fourth-placed Valencia, who host Levante on Monday.

"We wanted to win and get the three points, but it was not possible," said Griezmann, who has scored 10 goals in his last 11 games for the club.

"It was a tough, intense game. Now we must think about the Champions League and then again come back to the league. We have to try to win every game."

On Tuesday, Atleti host city rivals Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash.

Ronaldo scores first free kick in almost a year

The Portuguese superstar had gone more than 50 set-piece attempts without scoring before his strike against Eibar
Cristiano Ronaldo finally ended his free kick drought on Saturday against Eibar, scoring his first set piece for Real Madrid in almost a year.

The 30-year-old has been criticised in recent weeks after it was revealed that he'd had more than 50 attempts since he last scored from a set piece.

But Ronaldo lashed home a swerving long-range strike to break the deadlock on 21 minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu, although Eibar goalkeeper Xabi Irureta is likely to have been disappointed with his attempt at saving the shot.

The last time Ronaldo had scored from a free kick for the Blancos was during the 4-0 Champions League semi-final second leg win over Bayern Munich on April 29, 2014.

Real Madrid began the day on Saturday four points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.

Barcelona back to square one - and show free-scoring City they are very beatable

Luis Enrique's side were made to look ordinary against Malaga at Camp Nou and their latest loss raises serious doubts over their recent return to form
Back to square one for Barcelona. After 11 straight wins and some superb showings in recent weeks, Luis Enrique's side ran into a brick wall against Malaga on Saturday - for the second time this season. And as Manchester City await in the Champions League on Tuesday, the signs are very worrying indeed.
Malaga frustrated Barca back in September at La Rosaleda, when the Catalans failed to register a single shot on target. However, Luis Enrique said on Friday: "We are a different team now."
But are they really? Barca's first effort on target this time came via a Luis Suarez header just short of the seven-minute mark. And 15 seconds later, they were behind as Dani Alves' awful back-pass fell way short of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and Juanmi kept his cool to round the Chilean and net as Jordi Alba sprinted back to try and save his fellow full-back.

It was a gift of a goal, but Barca's high line can be prone to such attacks. Malaga gave the home side problems all afternoon with their quick breaks from deep positions and their intense pressing high up the pitch. If the two league games had been a knockout tie, the Andalusians would have triumphed. Barca, be warned.

"Mistakes are made by the team as a whole and by the coach first and foremost," Luis Enrique said afterwards. "We never focus on individuals."

Perhaps more concerning than the nature of the goal and how it was conceded, however, was the fact that Barca barely looked like scoring in a match at home against a supposedly limited rival
Indeed, this match evoked memories of the 1-0 loss at Camp Nou against Celta Vigo in early November, when Luis Enrique's side huffed and puffed but were stifled with relative ease and ultimately created very little.

Real Madrid 2-0 Deportivo: Isco and Benzema get Liga leaders back on track

The European champions recovered from a turbulent week to see off a stubborn visiting side at the Santiago Bernabeu and put pressure back on Atletico and Barcelona
Real Madrid got their title charge back on track on Saturday as Isco and Karim Benzema sealed a 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna.

Carlo Ancelotti's side had a week to lick their wounds after suffering a humiliating 4-0 hammering at the Vicente Calderon and they got back on track at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday courtesy of a goal in each half.

Cristiano Ronaldo and some of his team-mates came in for criticism after being pictured at the Portugal captain's 30th birthday party just hours after the loss against Atleti and they responded by securing a ninth successive home win the league.

Ronaldo and Gareth Bale struck the crossbar in the first half and Depor midfielder Celso Borges hit the post after the break as the visitors showed the confidence of a side fresh from back-to-back wins over Rayo Vallecano and Eibar.

Bullied AGAIN :Atletico Madrid 4-0 Real Madrid: Champions gatecrash Ronaldo party

The Portugal star returned from suspension having celebrated his 30th birthday this week, but was left stunned along with the rest of his Madrid team-mates
Atletico Madrid produced a stunning attacking display to stun Real Madrid 4-0 at the Vicente Calderon and cut the gap between the two sides to just four points at the top of La Liga.

Diego Simeone's men would have fallen 10 points behind Real with defeat at the Vicente Calderon, but the Liga pacesetters were rolled over in ruthless fashion by a rampant home side.

Victory extends Atletico's unbeaten run against their neighbours to six games this season after the visitors were out-fought and out-thought in every department.

Eibar 1-3 Atletico Madrid: Mandzukic and Griezmann fire champions to victory

                                                                                                                                                          
The Croatia international netted twice after the French attacker opened the scoring as Diego Simeone's men had the game wrapped up at half time
Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic were in sparkling form as Atletico Madrid bounced back from Copa del Rey elimination to beat Eibar 3-1 at a sodden Ipurua.

Diego Simeone's men crashed out of the Copa after a 3-2 home defeat by Barcelona on Wednesday and they were greeted with torrential rain in the Basque Country – initially plunging the game into doubt - but the Liga champions produced an instant response as they cruised in testing circumstances.

Eighth-placed Eibar rarely looked capable of causing a splash on Saturday, with Griezmann's eighth league goal from his last six outings giving Atletico a seventh-minute lead.

Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad: Benzema at the double as hosts fight back

An early goal for David Moyes' men saw the world champions go behind but James Rodriguez, Sergio Ramos and the French striker turned it around easily
Karim Benzema starred in the absence of the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo by scoring twice in Real Madrid's 4-1 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Ronaldo received a two-match ban after lashing out at Cordoba's Edimar in Real's last league outing, but the leaders marched without the Portugal forward at Santiago Bernabeu.

Sociedad, who beat Carlo Ancelotti’s side 4-2 at the Anoeta in September, were out to record their first away win over Real since 2004 and they enjoyed a fine start, as Aritz Elustondo headed them in front in the first minute.

James Rodriguez equalised just two minutes later, but Sociedad carried a serious attacking threat until Carlos Vela's injury 17 minutes in.

The hosts began to take control after the Mexico striker's substitution and Sergio Ramos put them ahead eight minutes before the break with his 41st Liga goal, with Benzema adding a third early in the second half.

Real saw several chances go begging in the second half, but Benzema completed the scoring in spectacular fashion with 14 minutes to go as Real moved four points clear of Barcelona, who face Villarreal on Sunday.
The visitors made a breathtaking start at the Bernabeu and broke the deadlock in the first minute, as Elustondo rose highest to meet Ruben Pardo's corner with an unstoppable header.

Moyes' men had barely finished celebrating when the hosts equalised just two minutes later, though.

Rodriguez darted in front of Yuri in anticipation of a cross and placed a fine header into the top-left corner when Marcelo's delivery eventually arrived.

Sociedad went close to retaking the lead a few moments later, as former Real midfielder Sergio Canales poked agonisingly wide after latching on to Esteban Granero's wayward effort.

But the away side's chances of securing a surprise win suffered a blow with Vela's forced withdrawal due to injury in the 17th minute and Real took control from then on.

Bale bails out Real as Ronaldo red lets side down

The Welshman scored the winning penalty at Cordoba after the Portuguese lost his head and was sent off for aggression when Madrid needed him most
It was quite the role reversal. Cristiano Ronaldo, lauded lately for his Ballon d'Or win and fantastic form in front of goal, let Real Madrid down badly on Saturday as Gareth Bale, much maligned in recent weeks, saved the day for the Liga leaders.

Madrid's performance was wretched. Without Luka Modric and Isco to provide a creative spark in midfield, there was no imagination and seemingly no ideas from Carlo Ancelotti's men. Behind from a contentious penalty when Sergio Ramos was adjudged to have handled inside two minutes, it took a Karim Benzema strike from a corner (following a Bale flick-on) to level the game at the interval.

Atletico Madrid 3-1 Rayo Vallecano: Griezmann shines again for champions

The France international scored twice before a Manucho own goal made Roberto Trashorras' goal irrelevant as the home side picked up the points
An Antoine Griezmann-inspired Atletico Madrid responded to Wednesday's Copa del Rey first-leg defeat to Barcelona by cruising to a comfortable 3-1 La Liga win over neighbours Rayo Vallecano.

The France international was in lethal form for the champions, scoring twice in the first half and playing a pivotal role in the third - an own goal - as Atletico eased to a routine triumph at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday.

Griezmann pounced on a defensive mistake to break the deadlock in the 12th minute and doubled his tally midway through the opening half.

Elche 0-6 Barcelona: Messi and Neymar run riot

The attacking duo combined to ruthless effect after Gerard Pique's early goal against a home side forced to play much of the second half with 10 men
Lionel Messi and Neymar scored twice each as Barcelona recorded an emphatic 6-0 win over Elche on Saturday.

Barca had already beaten Elche three times this season - and scored 12 goals in the process - ahead of the La Liga clash at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero and the Catalan giants heaped more misery on Fran Escriba's struggling side.

Gerard Pique marked his 200th La Liga appearance with the opening goal in the first half and Barca ran riot in the second, with Messi scoring from the penalty spot before Elche had Faycal Fajr sent off for a second bookable offence.

Real Madrid 3-0 Espanyol: Bale and James arrest slump

The Champions League winners returned to winning ways after losing twice in the last seven days, despite seeing Fabio Coentrao sent off early in the second half
Gareth Bale and James Rodridguez both scored to help Real Madrid arrest a worrying dip in form as they dispatched Espanyol 3-0 on Saturday.

Karim Benzema struck the post on 10 minutes but the home side didn't have to wait long for an opener, as James converted Cristiano Ronaldo's pass.

The Ballon d'Or nominee then watched on as Bale doubled Real's lead with a fine free-kick in the 28th minute.