Real Madrid News
Real Madrid believe they will need 90+ points to beat Barcelona in La Liga title race
As things stand, it seems like the La Liga title race has all the makings of one that goes down to the wire.
After all, Barcelona are a mere two points behind Real Madrid, despite the latter winning all six out of six games so far.
While the 2021/22 season saw Los Blancos finish 13 points above the Catalan giants to become the champions of Spain, the same is not expected this term, by Carlo Ancelotti’s men, who are reportedly wary about the threat posed by their arch-rivals.
As per a report by MARCA, those within the Real Madrid camp fully realize that winning the league title at the end of the current campaign will be far more challenging than the last due to Barça’s excellent summer window.
Even before he kicked a ball for Xavi’s men, Robert Lewandowski’s arrival was considered by the Los Merengues as a signing that could have a transformative effect on the side.
They believe that, with the addition of the Pole striker, Barcelona would no longer struggle in games as they did in the previous seasons. That has proven to be true, too, with the clashes against Real Sociedad and Cadiz standing as examples.
The La Liga winners are understood to firmly believe that their points tally of 86 will not be enough for them to defend their league crown.
Instead, it is said that the European champions hold the opinion that putting in excess of 90 points on the board, as was the case from 2010 to 2018, to win the league will be demanded of them this term.
Despite the side’s flawless start to the season, the message behind closed doors is to maintain the incredible standards going forward.
Only time will tell whether Real Madrid will be able to keep a reinvigorated Barcelona side at bay to reign over La Liga once again.
Real Madrid News
U-turn? Benzema hints at Real Madrid stay during ceremony: “Reality is not the internet”
There has been a lot of talk around Karim Benzema’s situation over the course of the last week or so, with reports claiming that the Frenchman was on his way out of the Santiago Bernabeu.
With his contract expiring at the end of the season, it was reported that Benzema was joining Al Ittihad as part of an incredible deal worth nearly €200 million. The striker was also offered 100% of his image rights and advertising deals by the Saudi government.
Over the last day or so, it has been reported that the move is all but official at the moment, as Benzema has accepted the offer, and will soon inform Real Madrid about it.
Benzema was awarded the MARCA Leyenda awards for contribution to sports today, and speaking during it, he dropped a rather cryptic message about his future – one that says quite the opposite to what has been in the news recently.
“Speak to the fans? Speak about what? Why should I speak of the future if I’m in Madrid?”, Benzema said.
“It’s the internet speaking, and reality is not the internet,” he added.
This certainly falls away from the departure line for Benzema, who was reportedly already contemplating his life away from Madrid.
At first, though, he was hesitant about speaking about his future, saying, “Staying or leaving Real Madrid? At the moment, I’m here…we have a game on Saturday.”
He repeatedly talked about the fans, calling them the best in world football. He also said, “I know how much Real Madrid fans love me. I feel that when I’m on the pitch, I give my best for them, always.”
“I always say that we play with 11 on the pitch but also with a crucial factor, Real Madrid fans,” Benzema concluded.
