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El Clasico: Real Madrid receive triple injury boost for Barcelona showdown

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Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has received a significant boost ahead of the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona, with Kylian Mbappe, David Alaba, and Ferland Mendy all declared fit for the clash. Their returns offer a welcome lift as Los Blancos prepare to take on their biggest rivals in one of the most anticipated matches of the season.

Mbappe had been a major doubt for El Clasico after sustaining an ankle injury during the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal. Concerns over his fitness lingered throughout the week, but the French forward participated in full training on both Thursday and Friday. Having come through the sessions without issue, Ancelotti has named him in the squad for the showdown with Barcelona.

Ferland Mendy also returns to the fold following a muscular injury suffered during the Champions League last-16 second leg against Atletico Madrid on March 12. The French left-back, who has made 30 appearances across all competitions this season, is not expected to start the final. Fran Garcia is reportedly set to keep his place in the starting lineup, but Mendy’s presence on the bench adds depth and options for Ancelotti.

David Alaba’s return has come as a surprise. The Austrian defender was forced off at halftime in the recent clash with Getafe and was initially ruled out of the final by Ancelotti himself. However, a swift recovery has seen him included in the squad, signaling that the injury was less severe than first feared.

Despite these boosts, Real Madrid will still be without three key players. Eduardo Camavinga has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after suffering an adductor injury against Getafe. Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao remain sidelined with long-term knee injuries. However, there is optimism that both could return in time for the FIFA Club World Cup in June, providing further reinforcement as the season concludes.

Jude Bellingham, who is expected to start in the final, is managing a persistent shoulder issue that has been bothering him for some time. According to journalist Jorge Picon, the club may consider surgery for the England international after the Club World Cup, which could potentially sideline him for the beginning of the 2025-26 La Liga season.

The full Real Madrid squad named for the Copa del Rey final includes Courtois, Lunin, Gonzalez; Alaba, Vazquez, Vallejo, Fran Garcia, Rudiger, Mendy, Asencio; Bellingham, Valverde, Modric, Tchouameni, Guler, Ceballos; Vinicius, Mbappe, Rodrygo, Endrick, and Brahim.

With three key players back and others stepping up in their absence, Real Madrid enters El Clasico with renewed confidence. The showdown against Barcelona promises to be a thrilling encounter, with silverware and bragging rights on the line.

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.

The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.

In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.

Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.

Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

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Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

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Man City place Arsenal 'bottles' for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.

The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.

With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.

A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.

Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.

Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.

After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.

Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.

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