Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Monday superstar striker Kylian Mbappe is capable of becoming a legend at the club like all-time top goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo.
Mbappe idolised Ronaldo while growing up and after joining Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, has equalled the Portuguese striker’s tally of 33 goals in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“What I wish for Mbappe is that he is capable of achieving what Ronaldo did at Real Madrid — and I think that he can do it”, Ancelotti told a news conference.
“That means he will be a legend at Real Madrid, like Cristiano Ronaldo is”.
READ ALSO:  , Saka ‘ Ready To Go ‘ For Arsenal After Long Injury Lay-Off —Arteta
Ronaldo joined Real from Manchester United in 2009 and departed in 2018 as the club’s top scorer with 450 goals.
The 40-year-old, now at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, scored 33 goals in 35 games in his first campaign with Real Madrid.
Mbappe, 26, notched a brace against Leganes in La Liga on Saturday and said it was “very special” to match Ronaldo.
“We know what he means for Real Madrid and me, we speak, he gives me a lot of advice”, Mbappe told Real Madrid TV.
With Madrid still competing on three fronts this season Mbappe has plenty of time to increase his tally.
Ancelotti’s side host Real Sociedad on Tuesday in a Copa del Rey semi-final second leg clash, holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg in San Sebastian.
Should Madrid go on to win the cup, Ancelotti would become their first coach to lift it on three occasions.
“To be close to a final motivates me, it motivates the players and it motivates the club”, said Ancelotti.
“It’s an achievement to play in a final in any competition, so to be so close, to have a small advantage, and because we’ll have the support of our fans obviously motivates us even more”.
After three months out with a hamstring injury, boss Mikel Arteta announced on Monday that Bukayo Saka is “ready to go” for Arsenal.
Since Arsenal’s 5-1 win at Crystal Palace on December 21 and the club’s nine goals in all competitions this season, the England forward, 23, has not featured.
On the eve of Tuesday’s game against Fulham, Arteta declared, “Bukayo is ready to go.”
“All the careful things have already been done,” he said, “so it’s time to put him on the grass at the right moment.” However, he is pushing because of a genuine desire.
We have done everything, adhered to the deadline, and even held him back, “We have resisted the deadline.” He is prepared to depart.
The Arsenal boss said, “Yes, yeah, I’m not sure, but I’m not sure if Saka, who had hamstring surgery in December, will start against Fulham at the Emirates.
Bukayo is a powerful weapon, Arteta continued. We are aware of his significance and contribution to our success, as well as the impact he has had on the team. It’s wonderful to have him back.
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On December 11, 2024, Arsenal’s English midfielder #7 Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring the team’s second goal at the Emirates Stadium in north London. (Glyn KIRK/AFP photo)
With only nine games left, Arsenal is currently second in the Premier League, 12 points clear of Liverpool in the race for the title.
However, they have advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals and will face Real Madrid on April 8 in the first leg of their tie.
With Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus both out of action due to long-term injuries, Saka’s return is a huge boost for Arteta, who has been struggling in recent weeks.
Saka’s return, according to the Spaniard, would greatly improve Arsenal.
He said, “It’s more because of the energy he transmits, that he has missed the thing in his life that’s important: being on the team, playing, training, and competing at the highest level.”
The fact that he can join the team for the most crucial period of the season gives him a huge boost.
He has played for the past 48 months but hasn’t had a month off. Therefore, only three out of 48 is a very small percentage.
Jurrien Timber is still available following a bout of illness, according to Arteta, but fellow defender Riccardo Calafiori will have to watch from the sidelines as a result of his knee injury while playing for Italy.
The appointment of Andrea Berta, the club’s new sporting director, was confirmed on Sunday, according to the Arsenal manager.
Edu, a former Gunners midfielder, succeeds the 53-year-old Italian in the role.
We firmly believe that Arteta will have an impact on the club, Arteta added.
“And he has that experience, this personality, this charisma, and… will to win.” That will spread quickly.”
Czech teenager Jakub Mensik upset Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4) to win the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, denying the Serb his 100th career title.
The 19-year-old, ranked 54th in the world, claimed his first title on the ATP Tour with an outstanding display of powerful tennis.
The final was delayed by almost six hours due to heavy rain and when the players emerged it was clear that Djokovic had an eye infection. He used eye-drops during a changeover in the first set.
Mensik started strongly, breaking Djokovic’s first serve game to go 2-0 up and the tall, big-serving Czech was dominating until, at 4-2 Djokovic broke back when Mensik found the net.
The set remained on serve from then on, but in the tie-break Mensik’s powerful serve, with two aces, put him in charge from the outset. He opened up a 5-0 lead and although 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic fought back the youngster sealed the set with an overhead volley.
READ ALSO:  , Rashford Double Fires Villa Into FA Cup Semis
Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a shot against Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic during the second set of the men’s singles final on the final day of the Miami Open Presented by Itau 2025 at Hard Rock Stadium on March 30, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Florida. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP
It was the first set that Djokovic had lost in the entire tournament. Twice he lost his footing and ended up on his back, and he changed his footwear between sets.
Mensik had beaten Djokovic by the exact same margin in the first set of their only other meeting in Shanghai before losing in three sets.
This time, however, the momentum appeared to be with him.
The second set was a nip and tuck affair, though, with neither player able to break. Once again Mensik’s power proved decisive in the tie-break and when Djokovic went long on a return to hand him victory he fell to his back in celebration.
“To be honest I don’t know what to say. It feels incredible, obviously”, Mensik said in his on-court interview.
“It was probably the biggest day of my life and I did super, which I’m really glad (about), to show the performance and keep the nerves outside of the court before the match.
” I feel just super happy and I think that the feelings will come later, “he said.
Mensik has made no secret of the fact that he grew up with Djokovic as his idol and after receiving the trophy he said that he started his career in the hope of emulating the Serb.
” There is no harder task for a tennis player than to beat you in the final of a tournament, “he said.
” I am pretty sure that this was just the first of many, “Mensik added, before revealing that he had been close to pulling out of the tournament before his first match due to a knee injury before last minute physiotherapy produced the desired results.
 , No excuses ,
(R) Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic talks with Novak Djokovic of Serbia after winning the men’s singles final on the final day of the Miami Open Presented by Itau 2025 at Hard Rock Stadium on March 30, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP
After the match Djokovic admitted he had not felt at his best.
” It’s unfortunate for me. Two tiebreaks, just very weird match, weird day with rain delay and all the things that (were) happening. Honestly, yeah, I didn’t feel my greatest on the court, but it is what it is. Nothing to take away from his victory, “he said.
Asked specifically about his eye problem, the Serb said:” I really prefer not to talk about — there are quite a few things, but I prefer not to… just congratulate him. That’s it. I don’t want to sound like I’m giving excuses here for my loss. “
Djokovic said he had spotted Mensik’s talent a few years ago and invited him to train at his club.
” I saw him play when he was 15 or 16 and invited him, we had some training blocks together. He was training at my club in Belgrade, and, you know, to see his development and evolution is really great, amazing, “he said.
” Never really happy to lose, but he’s one of the very few players that I would be happier to lose to, to be honest. “
The match between the 37-year-old Djokovic and Mensik was the biggest age gap difference in a Masters 1000 final and the biggest age gap of any tour-level final since 1976.
Manchester City came from behind to reach the FA Cup semi-finals for a record seventh consecutive season with a 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday, but victory came at a cost as Erling Haaland hobbled off injured.
Haaland had seen a first-half penalty saved before Evanilson put the Cherries in front.
The Norwegian made amends by equalising four minutes into the second period before being forced off with an ankle injury.
READ ALSO: Rashford Double Fires Villa Into FA Cup Semis
His replacement, Omar Marmoush, took just two minutes to score the winner from a second assist by the impressive Nico O’Reilly as City booked a semi-final clash against Nottingham Forest.
Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola celebrates after the English FA Cup quarter-final football match between Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, on the south coast of England, on March 30, 2025. City won the game 2-1. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
“Seven times in a row reaching semi-finals in the FA Cup…this is outstanding. This generation of players, they have done this”, said City boss Pep Guardiola.
City have been a shadow of the side that won four consecutive Premier League titles this season, and Guardiola said prior to the game that even FA Cup glory would not save a miserable season.
The English champions ‘ collapse in the Premier League began at Bournemouth back in November with a 2-1 defeat that kicked off a run of six defeats in eight games.
But Guardiola hailed the difference in attitude on his side between then and now.
“We came here (in November) with the flip flops on against a team that if you don’t compete, it is impossible”, added Guardiola.
“In football, you have to run. People say about my teams ‘ how good they play ‘ but no, it is how much we run, how much we fight and for many games this season it didn’t happen”.
– Haaland’s hat-trick of misses –
Manchester City’s Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland receives medical attention after picking up an injury during the English FA Cup quarter-final football match between Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, on the south coast of England, on March 30, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Haaland should have punished a makeshift Cherries defence, missing the suspended Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez, with a hat-trick before half-time.
He headed wide his first chance from Matheus Nunes ‘ driven cross.
A Tyler Adams handball then gifted City the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot.
But for the third time in his last six spot-kicks, Haaland failed to find the net as Kepa Arrizabalaga made a fine save.
That miss seemed to be still in Haaland’s mind when he dinked over Kepa and over the bar with just the Spanish goalkeeper to beat moments later.
City were then hit with a sucker punch by Bournemouth on 21 minutes.
Nunes, deputising in an unfamiliar right-back role, gave the ball away to David Brooks, whose cross was turned across goal by Justin Kluivert and bundled in from point-blank range by Evanilson.
Manchester City’s Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland reacts after a challenge with Bournemouth’s English midfielder #04 Lewis Cook during the English FA Cup quarter-final football match between Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, on the south coast of England on March 30, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Guardiola responded by introducing 20-year-old midfielder O’Reilly as a makeshift left-back.
O’Reilly made an instant impact with a rampaging run down the left and an inch-perfect cross, as this time Haaland did not miss for his 30th goal of the season.
Moments later, he was forced off in concerning scenes for Guardiola with City still involved in a battle just to qualify for next season’s Champions League in their last nine Premier League games.
But City’s January transfer window move for Marmoush is already looking like a shrewd deal.
The Egyptian has now scored six times in 11 appearances since a £59 million ($76 million) transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt.
If Kepa was a Bournemouth hero in the first half, he was at fault for the winner as Marmoush’s effort slipped through his grasp from O’Reilly’s pass.
“First half we played very well, but the second half the game was definitely for them”, said Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola.
Robert Lewandowski bagged a brace as Barcelona eased to a 4-1 victory over Girona to move three points clear at the top of La Liga on Sunday.
After second-placed Real Madrid pulled level on points with them on Saturday by beating Leganes, Hansi Flick’s side restored their advantage at the Olympic Stadium.
Lewandowski responded to Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe’s double with one of his own to stay three goals ahead in the race for Spain’s golden boot.
Barcelona, unbeaten this year in 20 matches, took the lead through a Ladislav Krejci own goal near the end of the first half.
Arnaut Danjuma pulled Girona level but Lewandowski netted twice and Ferran Torres finished off the rout.
Barcelona’s Spanish defender #03 Alex Balde controls the ball during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Girona FC at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on March 30, 2025. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP)
Girona beat Barcelona twice last season but have struggled to hit those heights again and sit 13th.
“We played with patience, we had a plan and if we play with that plan we can always score a lot of goals and win the game”, veteran striker Lewandowski told DAZN.
READ ALSO: Atalanta’s Serie A Title Hopes Hit With Fiorentina Defeat
The 36-year-old said he had the legs to keep playing for seasons to come.
“I know a lot of people are talking abut my age but… I want to play more years at the top level”, said the Poland international.
“I feel very good physically, I think looking at the stats there’s no difference now to a few years ago”.
Flick rotated some of his usual suspects with the Copa del Rey semi-final clash against Atletico Madrid in mind.
Barca were below their free-flowing best in the first half despite dominating, occasionally threatening through the dynamic running of teenage star Lamine Yamal and frantic energy of Fermin Lopez.
Paulo Gazzaniga saved well from Lopez on the counter-attack after Viktor Tsygankov blazed over Girona’s first decent opportunity.
Gazzaniga saved well from Lewandowski and then Yamal, who also fired over.
Barcelona wanted a penalty when Fermin was brought down by Yaser Asprilla on the edge of the box and a free-kick was given.
A VAR review showed the contact was inside the area but the referee decided Lopez fouled Asprilla as they came together, much to Barcelona’s chagrin.
– Breakthrough – Gazzaniga produced a sensational save with his fingertips to push out a Ronald Araujo header but Barca found a way through before half-time.
Yamal’s dangerous free-kick aimed at Eric Garcia was deflected into his own net by Krejci at the near post.
Girona had produced very little of note in the first half but were back level eight minutes into the second through Danjuma.
Daley Blind played the Dutch striker through and he beat Wojciech Szczesny with a clinical low finish.
However Barcelona were swiftly back in front as La Liga’s top goalscorer Lewandowski notched his 24th of the campaign.
Lopez nodded the ball across the six-yard box and Lewandowski contorted his body to reach it and flick it between Gazzaniga’s legs.
The forward secured Barcelona’s victory with his 25th, slotting home after substitute Frenkie de Jong pushed forward into space and fed him.
There was time for Torres to add a fourth after Gerard Martin found him and the brilliant Yamal to bend a strike against the crossbar.
This was remarkably the 20th time this season Flick’s side have scored four goals or more from 45 games, with a potential treble in their sights.
“In the first half we had the game under control but lacked the final ball, but in the second half we played more attacking, made more chances and scored some goals, that’s the most important thing”, added Lewandowski.
Atalanta’s hopes of winning their first Serie A title took another big hit on Sunday with a 1-0 defeat at Fiorentina, ahead of fixtures for Scudetto rivals Inter Milan and Napoli.
Moise Kean continued his excellent season up front for Fiorentina with the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time in Florence, pushing the hosts to within a point of the division’s European places.
Italy striker Kean, who scored twice for his country against Germany a week ago, confidently netted his 16th league goal of the season after robbing Atalanta defender Isak Hien on the halfway line.
Defeat means Atalanta stay six points behind league leaders and reigning champions Inter, who are expected to beat mid-table Udinese later on Sunday.
Napoli are three points ahead of Atalanta in second and could pull further away in the day’s late match, where Antonio Conte’s side host AC Milan.
Regardless, last year’s Europa League winners Atalanta, who looked like title candidates following an 11-match winning streak between October and December, have fallen away since the turn of the year.
