Big-spending Real Madrid have crashed out of the Spanish Cup in the second round for the second year in a row after failing to overturn a 4-0 deficit against third-tier club Alcorcon.
Real Madrid have closed the gap on Spanish league leaders Barcelona after the defending champions dropped their first points of the season on Saturday night.
If no news is good news, then it's tempting to conclude that good news is no news at all. Not when it's this familiar, anyway, because when it's this familiar, the extraordinary becomes ordinary.
The exit remains open, its doors flung wide, but the entrance to the Santiago Bernabéu has been closed and bolted.
Even the proudest of Spaniards had to accept defeat; even the most enthusiastic La Liga cheerleaders were forced to pack away their pompoms. The warm glow of the European Championship success still endured -- but the national team was one thing, the nation's teams quite another. The lineup for the 2008-09 Champions League semifinals brought Spain crashing back down to earth.
After an off-season of big-money transfers and endless speculation in Spain the focus finally turns to matters on the pitch. The first round of La Liga fixtures kick off this weekend and Fanzone details what to expect from the new campaign:
Xabi Alonso completed his medical at Real Madrid on Wednesday as club director general Jorge Valdano said their close season transfer spending spree was over.
Return of the Galácticos. Galácticos Strike Back. Revenge of the Galácticos. Galácticos Part Deux.
Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo has been unveiled as Real Madrid's new number 9, in front of 80,000 passionate fans at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, after his world record $130 million move from Manchester United.
Real Madrid's incredible summer spending spree will go past $300 million this week as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema sign on the dotted line at the Bernabeu.
Big-spending Real Madrid have crashed out of the Spanish Cup in the second round for the second year in a row after failing to overturn a 4-0 deficit against third-tier club Alcorcon.
Real Madrid have closed the gap on Spanish league leaders Barcelona after the defending champions dropped their first points of the season on Saturday night.
If no news is good news, then it's tempting to conclude that good news is no news at all. Not when it's this familiar, anyway, because when it's this familiar, the extraordinary becomes ordinary.
The exit remains open, its doors flung wide, but the entrance to the Santiago Bernabéu has been closed and bolted.
Even the proudest of Spaniards had to accept defeat; even the most enthusiastic La Liga cheerleaders were forced to pack away their pompoms. The warm glow of the European Championship success still endured -- but the national team was one thing, the nation's teams quite another. The lineup for the 2008-09 Champions League semifinals brought Spain crashing back down to earth.
After an off-season of big-money transfers and endless speculation in Spain the focus finally turns to matters on the pitch. The first round of La Liga fixtures kick off this weekend and Fanzone details what to expect from the new campaign:
Xabi Alonso completed his medical at Real Madrid on Wednesday as club director general Jorge Valdano said their close season transfer spending spree was over.
Return of the Galácticos. Galácticos Strike Back. Revenge of the Galácticos. Galácticos Part Deux.
Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo has been unveiled as Real Madrid's new number 9, in front of 80,000 passionate fans at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, after his world record $130 million move from Manchester United.
Real Madrid's incredible summer spending spree will go past $300 million this week as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema sign on the dotted line at the Bernabeu.
For Europe's biggest leagues the football season has ended, the boring business of kicking a ball about is over, and now the real fun can begin as the transfer window opens.
Lyon have accepted an offer of approximately 35 million euros ($50m) from Real Madrid for 21-year-old French international striker Karim Benzema.
Brazilian playmaker Kaka was officially presented as a Real Madrid player, after being handed the number eight jersey in front of thousands of supporters and a huge media contingent at the club's Bernabeu stadium on Tuesday evening.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be unveiled as a Real Madrid player on July 6, having finally agreed terms over his world-record $130 million transfer from Manchester United.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez claims it is only "a question of time" before the club sign David Villa.
Michel Platini, the president of the governing body for European football (UEFA), has hit out at the large fee offered by Real Madrid for the Portugal playmaker Cristiano Ronaldo.
Manchester United have accepted a world-record $130 million offer for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid.
Nine years ago, Florentino Pérez walked into the game and ushered in a new era. Call it "the Galáctico Age," call it "the Zidanes y Pavones experiment," call it the destruction of conventional wisdom, call it what you like.
Brazilian star Kaka expects to be joined by fellow world 'Galacticos' as Real Madrid president Florentino Perez constructs a Spanish Primera Liga side that he hopes will rule supreme.
AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has told Kaka that he must decide on his reported $92 million move to Real Madrid on Monday.
AC Milan are denying that their star playmaker Kaka is being transferred to Real Madrid in a $92 million deal.
Brazilian star Kaka has agreed to join Real Madrid from Italy's AC Milan in a $92 million deal, the Spanish radio station Cadena Ser reported on Tuesday.
The summer transfer market is a few weeks away from opening and already the signs are that the global financial crisis is forcing clubs to rethink their annual spending.
Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini has been unveiled at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium as the new coach of Spanish giants Real Madrid, signing a two-year deal with the side.
Cristiano Ronaldo has moved to end speculation about his Manchester United future by dropping a clear hint that he intends to stay at Old Trafford.
Real Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic has left the Primera Liga giants by mutual agreement -- the club have confirmed on their official Web site.
Fomer Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has confirmed that he will stand in the club's forthcoming presidential election -- the official Real Madrid Web site has confirmed.
Brazilian superstar Kaka has again pledged his future to AC Milan and ruled out a summer move to Real Madrid.
Zinedine Zidane is sure of the quality most necessary to create a successful team: mutual respect.
These are difficult days for the Calderóns -- Ramón, the Real Madrid president, and Vicente, the Atlético Madrid stadium -- as both are forced to defend their honor in the face of what they deem to be "conspiracies" against them.
And then, just like that, he went down again. A sprint into space, his left foot seemingly crazy-glued to the San Siro pitch, his left knee buckling and his body collapsing in a heap.
Nothing hurts Real Madrid more than having to live in the shadow of arch-rivals Barcelona.
Former director Ramon Calderon has been named the new president of Real Madrid -- the day after claiming a narrow victory in a chaotic election campaign.
England's Sven-Goran Eriksson will be made Real Madrid coach if Arturo Baldasano wins the club's presidential election on July 2.
Former president Fernando Martin has said he will not stand in the Real Madrid presidential election on July 2.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he loves Real Madrid but has no plans to swap England for Spain.
Real Madrid striker Ronaldo has been recalled for Wednesday's Champions League match against Arsenal after being dropped against Atletico Madrid at the weekend.
Fernando Martin has signalled the end of Real Madrid's galacticos era by warning every player at the club they face a day of reckoning.
Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano is in a stable condition in hospital in Sagunto near Valencia after suffering a heart attack in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Real Madrid are delaying a decision on whether to sign former Manchester United captain Roy Keane until after their final match of 2005, according to club president Florentino Perez.
Real Madrid coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo was sacked on Sunday just over 11 months after taking charge of the nine-time European champions.
Arsene Wenger has dismissed media speculation that he will leave Premier League Arsenal to become the next manager of Spanish giants Real Madrid.
AC Milan's record-breaking captain Paolo Maldini has announced he intends to quit football at the end of next season.
After three successive defeats Real Madrid's home league game against Bilbao on Thursday could have major significance for coach Wanderley Luxemburgo.
Spain defender Sergio Ramos has completed his 27 million ($33.5 million) transfer to Real Madrid from Sevilla after passing a routine medical.
Real Madrid have signed Sevilla defender Sergio Ramos for a fee of around $30 million, news agency Efe reported.
England captain David Beckham is close to extending his contract at Real Madrid by two years, until 2009, Spanish sports daily newspaper Marca reported on Wednesday.
Real Madrid beat the Thai national team 3-0 in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 30,000 at Bangkok's Rajmangala Stadium, as they completed their pre-season tour.
Real Madrid have denied reports they have approached Inter Milan striker Adriano with a view to signing the Brazilian international.
Brazil midfielder Edu's future at Arsenal could be decided this week with the English champions stalling over offering him a new contract.
Real Madrid's board of directors have ratified the appointment of former Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi in a newly created post of director of football.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said on Tuesday the club would consider bids for out-of-favor striker Fernando Morientes.
Real Madrid's under-fire coach Jose Antonio Camacho has resigned just four months after taking up the post after the club's poor start to the campaign.
Real Madrid's under-fire coach Jose Antonio Camacho has offered to resign after the club's poor start to the campaign, Cadena Ser radio has reported.
Michael Owen was officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player on Saturday, a day after completing his $14.7 million move from Liverpool.
Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid finally reached agreement on Wednesday night about the destiny of African player of the year Samuel Eto'o.
Real Madrid have submitted an official bid to Arsenal for French midfield star Patrick Vieira, Spanish media reported on Tuesday.
Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira has not agreed personal terms with Real Madrid, his agent said Wednesday as speculation mounted over the French international's future.
Patrick Vieira will stay at English champions Arsenal even if Real Madrid make a big money bid for the French midfielder, Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger said on Saturday.
Real Madrid chief Florentino Perez wants to recruit one of the world's top stars before next season after his landslide victory in Sunday's presidential election.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez sees Arsenal captain and midfielder Patrick Vieira as the man to bring back the glory days to the Spanish giants.
Incumbent Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has been re-elected with a landslide victory in Sunday's election.
David Beckham's arrival was one of the reasons behind Real Madrid's failure to win any major trophies last season, former club president Lorenzo Sanz said on Tuesday.
Brazilian international defender Roberto Carlos has extended his contract with Real Madrid until June 2007, the Primera Liga club said on Friday.
Real Madrid are trying to close a deal to sign Real Sociedad and Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso before Euro 2004 gets underway.
Former Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque has agreed a two-year deal to manage Turkish side Besiktas.
Real Madrid are close to signing AS Roma midfielder Emerson according to Ernesto Bronzetti, a bona fide FIFA agent and representative of the Spanish giants.
Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos insists he wants to stay with the Spanish giants, despite media speculation linking him with a big money move to Chelsea.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez announced on Monday that coach Carlos Queiroz had been dismissed by the Spanish Primera Liga club.
There's rarely been a dull moment with Real Madrid in recent years.
Real Madrid's superstar recruitment policy appeared in tatters on Wednesday following the Spanish champions' shock elimination from the Champions League.
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