Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to make Real Madrid’s home clash with Valencia today, after pulling out of Spain/Portugal’s bid presentation for the 2018 World Cup finals to focus on recovery from a bruised right ankle.
Gonzalo Higuain’s back injury means French striker Karim Benzema will get another chance to improve on his one La Liga goal so far this season.
Spain duo Raul Albiol and Alvaro Arbeloa will probably step in for suspended defenders Sergio Ramos and Ricardo Carvalho.
Valencia will probably have to use third-choice goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, with Cesar and Miguel Angel Moya struggling with injuries.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi missed Barcelona training on Thursday with a bruised left ankle, but is expected to be fit for today’s trip to play Osasuna, who have yet to lose a home game this season.
“They are very tough and they never stop running, but we aren’t worried about their physical approach. It’ll be a great game,” Barca forward Jeffren told reporters.
Sevilla lost their third game in a row when they went down 4-2 at Paris St-Germain in the Europa League and they will need to improve at the back tomorrow against third-placed Villarreal, who are unbeaten at the Madrigal.
“We have made mistakes in three consecutive games now, but we have quality in the side. Everyone was happy with the defense a few weeks ago and they remain good players,” striker Frederic Kanoute told reporters.
Atletico Madrid travel to promoted Levante today looking for a lift after consecutive home defeats, the most recent to Aris Salonika that left them on the brink of elimination from the Europa League.
Promoted Real Sociedad are relishing the visit of near neighbors Athletic Bilbao tomorrow and the first Basque derby in four years has already sold out their 32,000 seat Anoeta stadium.
“It’s the best game of the year,” La Real striker Joseba Llorente told reporters. “We’re in good form. We’ll go for them and will be snapping at their heels.”
La Liga’s bottom two meet when Real Zaragoza visit Almeria tomorrow. Zaragoza’s new coach Javier Aguirre takes on Almeria’s new boss Jose Luis Oltra in a battle between a side without an away win, and hosts who have yet to win at home.
The next generation of running talent takes center stage at today’s Berlin Marathon, in the absence of stars including Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge and Ethiopian world record holder Tigist Assefa. With most of the major marathon stars skipping the event in the wake of the Paris Olympics just more than a month ago, the field is wide open in the men’s and women’s races. Since 2015, Kipchoge has won five times in Berlin, Kenenisa Bekele has won twice and Guye Adola once — with all three missing today. Kenyan Kibiwott Kandie and Ethiopian Tadese Takele are among the favourites for the men, while
Zhang Shuai yesterday said that she nearly quit after losing 24 matches in a row — now the world No. 595 is into the quarter-finals of her home China Open. The 35-year-old is to face Spain’s Paula Badosa as the lowest-ranked player to reach this stage in the history of the tournament after Badosa reeled off 11 of the last 12 games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over US Open finalist Jessica Pegula. Zhang went into Beijing on a barren run lasting more than 600 days and her string of singles defeats was the second-longest on the WTA Tour Open era, which
Taiwan’s Tony Wu yesterday beat Mackenzie McDonald of the US to win the Nonthaburi Challenger IV in Thailand, his first challenger victory since 2022. The 26-year-old world No. 315, who won both his qualifiers to advance to the main draw, has been on a hot streak this month, winning his past nine matches, including two that ensured Taiwan’s victory in their Davis Cup World Group I tie. Wu took just more than two hours to top world No. 172 McDonald 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to win his second challenger tournament since the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger in 2022. Wu’s Tallahassee win followed two years of
UP IN SMOKE: More than half a dozen riders crashed out of the race, with Marquez’s title chances in doubt after driving off the track with flames flickering from his bike Jorge Martin yesterday won a crash-filled Indonesia MotoGP to extend his championship lead, while closest rival Francesco Bagnaia limited the damage by claiming the final podium place. The win leaves the Pramac Racing rider 21 points ahead of his Italian Ducati rival, who finished third behind Spaniard Pedro Acosta in sweltering conditions at the Mandalika International Street Circuit on Lombok island. In front of a crowd of 60,000 in motorbike-mad Indonesia, the 26-year-old put his tumble in Saturday’s sprint behind him, canceling out the gains his title rival Bagnaia made after securing victory in that race. “Thank you Indonesia. I am very happy.
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