MADRID (AP) — After a disappointing season that followed its first Spanish league title in nearly a decade, Atlético Madrid leads the list of challengers to traditional powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona.
MADRID (AP) — Atlético Madrid has secured the transfer of Argentina defender Nahuel Molina from Udinese, the Spanish club said Thursday.
Atlético said the 24-year-old Molina has agreed to sign a five-year contract.
MADRID (AP) — Italian coach Gennaro Gattuso agreed to take charge of Spanish club Valencia on Thursday for the next two seasons.
The 44-year-old Gattuso replaced José Bordalás after he was fired last week despite having led Valencia to the Copa del Rey final in his single season in charge.
MADRID (AP) — Barcelona moved a step closer to securing second place in the Spanish league by defeating 10-man Celta Vigo 3-1 on Tuesday despite defender Ronald Araújo leaving the field in an ambulance with a head injury after colliding with a teammate.
The last time Real Betis won a major title, Joaquín Sánchez was there to help it lift the Copa del Rey.
Seventeen years later, the charismatic forward has the chance to put the perfect finish to his long career when his Betis plays Valencia in the final of Spain’s cup competition on Saturday.
MADRID (AP) — Spain’s Civil Guard says it is investigating a businessman in the eastern Valencia region who owned a private taxidermy collection with more than 1,000 stuffed animals, including just over 400 from protected species and at least one specimen of a North African oryx, already extinct.
MADRID (AP) — Valencia prevented Athletic Bilbao from reaching its third straight Copa del Rey final with a 1-0 win in the second leg of the semifinals on Wednesday.
Gonçalo Guedes scored in the first half as Valencia advanced 2-1 on aggregate to reach its second Copa final in four seasons after winning its eighth title in 2019.
MADRID (AP) — Valencia may get a much-needed boost for its struggling defense with the return of Spain international José Luis Gayà in the Copa del Rey semifinal against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.
MADRID (AP) — The last-minute scramble to secure the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has started to pay off for Barcelona.
Aubameyang scored a hat trick for his first goals since joining from Arsenal at the end of the winter transfer window, leading the Catalan club to a resounding 4-1 win at Valencia in the Spanish league on Sunday.
A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Sunday:
ENGLAND
Manchester United can open up a four-point gap in the race for the final Champions League qualification spot by beating fierce rival Leeds at Elland Road in the Premier League.
MADRID (AP) — Trying to make it to its third straight Copa del Rey final, Athletic Bilbao was held to a 1-1 draw at home against Valencia in the first leg of the semifinals on Thursday.
Raúl García opened the scoring for the hosts with a header off a free kick by Iker Muniain in the 37th minute, but Valencia equalized in the 65th with a goal from close range by Hugo Duro off the rebound of a shot by Bryan Gil.
MADRID (AP) — Surrounded by defenders inside the area, William Carvalho came up with a solution that would make most top strikers proud.
Without panicking, the Real Betis midfielder pulled off a neat nutmeg to get past the defender standing in front of him, sending the ball in-between his legs before calmly firing a low shot into the back of the net.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Athletic Bilbao is again showing Spain why it claims to be the “king” of the Copa del Rey.
Athletic advanced to the semifinals of the "King's Cup” on Thursday after eliminating Real Madrid 1-0.
MADRID (AP) — Diego Simeone sprinted toward the stands and celebrated with Atlético Madrid fans, then jogged back to the bench and dropped his hands to his knees, breathing a big sigh of relief.
Atlético had pulled off a dramatic comeback, and just like that a ton of pressure was lifted from Simeone's shoulders.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — This season was supposed to be Diego Simeone’s chance to firmly establish Atlético Madrid as Spain’s top team and cap his incredibly successful decade as its coach.
While Barcelona lost Lionel Messi and Real Madrid had to replace coach Zinedine Zidane, Atlético strengthened its championship squad with the return of Antoine Griezmann and the signing of attacking players Rodrigo de Paul and Matheus Cunha.
MADRID (AP) — Six residents of a nursing home in eastern Spain died after a fire started by a faulty power strip broke out in the night, authorities said Wednesday.
Another 17 residents were hospitalized, with three in serious condition, the regional leader of Valencia, Ximo Puig, said.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spain’s medical community has scored a victory after a court ordered that a regional government must compensate doctors up to 49,000 euros ($56,000) each for having to work without personal protection suits during the devastating early months of the pandemic.
MADRID (AP) — Despite the absence of key players, Sevilla is not slowing down in its fight to win the Spanish league for the first time in nearly 80 years.
Sevilla’s depleted squad found a way to beat Getafe 1-0 Sunday to maintain its momentum and stay close to leader Real Madrid.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid hosts Valencia on Saturday aiming to bounce back from its first loss in three months and protect its now diminished lead of the Spanish league.
Madrid had gone unbeaten in 15 games across all competitions, including 12 in the domestic league, until it stumbled at Getafe last round.
MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid kept its momentum from before the international break by winning its fourth game in a row and getting back to the top of the Spanish league.
Madrid cruised to a 4-1 win over 10-man Granada on Sunday after dominating from the start to reclaim first place.
MADRID (AP) — Worried by a rise in COVID-19 infections, some of Spain’s regional governments are asking courts to authorize the introduction of virus passports that can help control the pandemic’s spread.
MADRID (AP) — A late push moved Real Sociedad back to first place in the Spanish league. A late collapse kept Atlético Madrid from getting closer to the top.
Atlético conceded twice in stoppage time in a 3-3 draw at Valencia on Sunday, while Sociedad scored twice in the final 20 minutes in a 2-0 win at Osasuna.
MADRID (AP) — Draws by Real Madrid and Sevilla left four teams tied for the lead in the Spanish league. Another Barcelona loss left coach Ronald Koeman out of a job.
The Catalan club fired Koeman shortly after the team’s 1-0 loss at Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday, three days after a a 2-1 home defeat to rival Madrid in the “clásico” at the Camp Nou Stadium.
MADRID (AP) — Barcelona can't be afraid of Real Madrid when the teams meet in the first “clásico” of the season this weekend, Ronald Koeman said Saturday.
“We have to play without fear,” the Barcelona coach said.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona faces another test of its post-Messi era when Real Madrid visits Camp Nou on an action-packed Sunday that also features a clash between the Spanish league leader and its defending champion.
MADRID (AP) — Ansu Fati is quickly becoming Barcelona's go-to player in the absence of Lionel Messi.
The 18-year-old Fati made his first start for Barcelona after a long injury layoff on Sunday, scoring a goal and earning his team a penalty as the Catalan club halted its losing streak by rallying to beat Valencia 3-1 in the Spanish league.