Category sport-news

After correcting errors made in their derby defeat by Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso stated that his team is better prepared for Sunday’s La Liga Championship.

Los Blancos’ only defeat of the season came against rivals Atletico, who defeated them 5-2 in their final game of the season.

As they gear up to host the champions this weekend at the Santiago Bernabeu, Alonso’s team are two points clear of Barcelona at the top of the table.

Alonso stated at a news conference on Saturday, “Without a doubt, a few weeks have passed where we have been fixing things and improving.”

“We are arriving in a good moment tomorrow, both in terms of morale and footballing; it’s a good moment.”

READ ALSO: Yamal’s criticism will inspire him at Clasico, claims a barca assistant.

The Clasico gives Alonso’s side another chance to show they can handle the biggest situations after being defeated 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-final this summer.

“These are significant games, and I don’t like to evaluate them just by the outcome, but by the process, right”? Alonso remarked.

“There has been growth in this 12-game process. Although there is room for improvement, November is just around the corner.

No medals or awards have been presented. This season has a long way to go, but tomorrow is still the most crucial moment. Our minds are only tuned in to tomorrow’s Clasico.

Real Madrid defeated Barcelona last season in both league championship matches and Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup finals.

Alonso, who became in charge in June, said, “There could be other situations in this game, so we have analysed them, but the moment is different for them and for us.

Our project is unique, it is just beginning, we are working on it daily, and we will try to use our strengths and play a good game tomorrow.

Alonso stated that he would have nearly all of the team’s players available for the game, with injuries to Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, and Dean Huijsen being expected to be recoverable.

Lamine Yamal, the assistant coach of Barcelona, will face criticism ahead of Saturday’s Clasico, according to the assistant coach.

Teenager winger Yamal has been in the limelight in the Spanish capital after making fun of Real Madrid’s “steal” and “complain” during a social media post.

Real Madrid and Barca, the reigning champions of La Liga, square off against each other on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The assistant coach Hansi Flick, Marcus Sorg, said, “I think the criticism will be motivating for him.

“I hope he gives the best performance tomorrow,” he said.

Fernandes also refrained from accepting a Saudi offer to pursue Man Utd Dreams.

Alvaro Carreras, an 18-year-old Spain international who struggled against him at times last season when Barcelona faced Benfica three times in the Champions League, will be playing alongside the left-back from Madrid.

According to Sorg, “Lamine is always motivated, and if I recall correctly, we won all three games against Benfica.”

Flick was shown a red card last weekend for his role in the win over Girona, and Sorg took over the contact center.

Since Hansi is the most significant member of the team, Sorg said, “To be honest, he is always missing if he is not there.”

“We have to deal with it like we do with (missing) players, of course, but it’s a disadvantage. Everyone is aware of his expectations, and I believe we will fulfill them.

Raphinha, who returned from a hamstring injury, has suffered a setback in his absence, according to Barcelona.

Every team would miss him, but “Raphinha,” Sorg said, “We have enough players and have to deal with it,” but that’s how it is.

Jules Kounde, who was injured on Saturday, may be fit enough to play for Madrid, along with Ferran Torres, according to the assistant coach.

Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, and Gavi are among the injured players who have been ruled out with Barcelona.

The arrest of an NBA coach and player in two extensive federal investigations highlights the potential cost of working with the gambling industry. US sports leagues jumped in to capitalize on the multi-billion dollar boom of legalized betting.

Former Detroit Pistons star Chauncey Billups, an NBA Hall of Famer, was detained for his alleged involvement in fabricated illegal poker games, which the prosecution claims were connected to Mafia crime families.

In both cases, former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were accused of manipulating his play for the benefit of bettors.

The scope of the fraud was described as “mind-boggling,” according to FBI director Kash Patel, who described the criminal enterprise as “a criminal enterprise that encompasses both the NBA and La Cosa Nostra.” ”

It’s not necessarily surprising, though, for those who have witnessed how US leagues have grown more closely connected to the explosive sports betting industry.

Any of us can access a gambling app anywhere we are in seconds thanks to mobile and smartphone gambling, according to Dr. Professor of psychology and head of Vancouver’s University of British Columbia’s Center for Gambling Research.

I study the psychology of gambling harm and the psychology of sports gambling,  how betting on a game might increase the excitement or the type of  fandom  of sports

In this most recent story about the NBA arrest, it ;s; we primarily think about that in terms of the fan. sort of brings  a focus on the athletes

“They’re  working in a world where there are so many gambling and opportunity opportunities that they are unable to resist.

The teams work with gambling, according to the statement. firms,  Players can be sponsored by the major leagues because they are all partnered.

The players and coaches are quite a bit exposed here, and that includes the way that gambling information is woven into sports broadcast, both in terms of the commentary and the odds updates. ”

Professional leagues took care to distance themselves from the lucrative operations of illegal bookmakers and offshore betting organizations up until 2018 and sports wagering was prohibited in most US states.

However, the US Supreme Court overturned a 1992 federal law that effectively outlawed sports betting in most states seven years ago.

In a 2014 New York Times opinion piece, NBA commissioner Adam Silver argued that sports betting should be pushed into the open so that it could be properly monitored and regulated. ”

It should come as no surprise that Silver and other league officials are attempting to seize control of the pie.

According to estimates from the American Gaming Association (AGA), which promotes the industry and monitors the economic impact of commercial gaming, commercial sports betting revenue has reached $ 10 billion as of August 2025. 9% more than the previous year’s same time last year.

However, according to the NBA, the indictments that were made public on Thursday stifled what ought to have been a celebratory season-opening week in the wake of a new, 11-year, $77 billion media rights agreement.

Billups and Rozier’s arrests shocked players in the league, but they also quickly changed their tune about the issue of the bust-driven online bets.

The way fans interact with each other has changed thanks to the prevalence of “prop” bets, which allow bettors to wager on in-game factors like how many points or assists a player will receive or even details like whether he’ll make his first three-point attempt.

Regardless of the game’s quality

When we step on the court, our players experience it a lot, according to Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic.

Get a win before you used to hear ‘Vuc,” Now it reads, “Hey, my parlay is 10 rebounds. ’

It really pisses me off because it disrespects the game, I think. ”

Jaylen Brown, the star player for the Boston Celtics, demanded more from the NBA to assist players in navigating the new environment.

When people have money involved, he said, it causes a negative conversation between the game and the players.

Stephen Curry, the star of the Golden State Warriors, stated on Thursday that he was reassured that the game’s integrity would remain intact. ”

However, teammate Al Horford argued that more must be done to “protect the players and be better.” ”

After winning the first-leg match against the Benin Republic on Friday, the Super Falcons of Nigeria defeated the Benin Republic 2–0 to advance to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in a comfortable manner.

The nine-time African champions dictated play from beginning to end and never appeared to be troubled by the first-half goals from Chinwendu Ihezuo and Esther Okoronkwo.

Rasheedat Ajibade’s audacious sixth-minute lob beat goalkeeper Ogoun before crashing against the crossbar was a first-time Falcons’ intention. As Nigeria continued to put pressure on, Folashade Ijamilusi’s vicious drive soon after forced a fine save.

Fernandes also refrained from accepting a Saudi offer to pursue Man Utd Dreams.

With a pinpoint pass from Deborah Abiodun to Ihezuo, who made no mistakes from close range to give Nigeria a deserved lead, their dominance came to fruit in the 23rd minute.

Moumouni slipped through Nigeria’s backline in the 36th minute, but goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie brilliantly denied her.

These two photos https://twitter.com/9meVm4FXGI

Before halftime, Abiodun found Okoronkwo, who put together a composed finish to tie the game at 2–0.

Just before the break, Moumouni’s effort hit the post, which almost reduced the deficit for the Beninese side.

Nigeria fought off Benin’s late advances while maintaining control in the latter half. In the final moments, Nnadozie capped a strong defensive performance by keeping out Sadikou’s header with a reflex save. The defensive pairing of Osinachi Ohale and Tosin Demehin held firm.

Bruno Fernandes has revealed that he prefers to pursue his Manchester United aspirations over a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.

In Saturday’s Premier League game against Brighton at Old Trafford, United captain Fernandes will make his 300th appearance for the club.

United have struggled for a lot of Fernandes’ time in Manchester, finishing 15th last season, which was the club’s worst final top-flight position since 1973-74.

Additionally, they lost to Tottenham in the Europa League final, which also undermined their chances of making it to the Champions League.

When Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal reportedly expressed interest, Fernandes was given a means of escape during the off-season.

He jest, however, and the 20-time English champions, who last won the title in 2013, rejected the move to concentrate on unfinished business.

“We always say we have an offer from Saudi because, after all, they must come wherever I am.” He said in response to his wife Ana and his family, “They can choose not to, but I’d prefer them to come.”

“And obviously, she said, “Are you successful at the club?” because she is aware of my absence.

Fernandes has occasionally received criticism for having too much emotion on the pitch and having frustrated tirades against teammates.

However, Ruben Amorim, the manager of United, acknowledges that the Portugal midfielder has a burning desire to win the Premier League and Champions League.

Fernandes stated that the manager spoke with her. He claimed that I was still a project participant. He desired that I remain. The club repeated itself.

I’ve always said, “Okay, I have to find a solution for myself, whatever is best for me and my family, and I will leave” if the club was like “Bobby, we want to cash in, we want to make some money, we don’t think you can be part of the future project” or whatever.

“But it’s obvious that wasn’t the case.” I believed that whatever our goals were, the club could still benefit from my involvement in the plan.

Fernandes has a year’s contract with the option to extend it until 2027.

And the 31-year-old won’t be able to talk about his future until after the World Cup in 2014.

He said, “I feel good here, as I’ve always said. “I still want to realize my dreams. I can’t speak by the side of the club, though, of course.

I’ve seen a lot of news, they say. I’ve heard a lot of people saying I’m ready to leave the following season. I haven’t spoken with anyone because that agreement was never made with the club because it wasn’t made with me.

Riad Bajic, a Bosnia and Herzegovina attacker, scored the winning goal for AEK Larnaca to defeat Crystal Palace 1-0 on Thursday in the UEFA Conference League.

After two rounds, Bajic’s second-half home earned the Cypriots a second-place finish behind Fiorentina in the standings.

After losing their first home game in a European competition, Palace are now 18th.

The English club’s coach, Oliver Glasner, told TNT Sports, “You have to understand that small mistakes get punished when you play in Europe.”

The German continued, “We are frustrated and it hurts, but it’s our second game and our play was good.”

READ MORE:   Arsenal’s Gyokeres “Hungry” To Build On Champions League Double

With a header over the crossbar and a header from Jean-Philippe Mateta before the break, Palace had two of the best chances to break the deadlock.

After 51 minutes, Bajic surprised Selhurst Park, but despite a flurry of late chances, the hosts were unable to score an equalizer.

As a result of Mauritania’s substitution for Aboubakary’s goals, Koita scored twice as AEK Athens defeated Aberdeen 6-0.

After making their bow in continental competition in 1967, the Scottish side lost their heaviest defeat in European football.

As Rayo Vallecano’s draw at Hacken ended goalless in the 103rd minute, Romania right-back Andrei Ratiu scored the winner.

Due to bad weather, Sparta Prague had to cancel its trip to Rijeka.