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MADRID — Rodrygo thrived in the absence of Vinicius Junior as Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 on Sunday to keep an eight-point lead over Barcelona in the Spanish league. The influential England international set up Rodrygo's second goal in Madrid's third straight league win. Tuesday's "One Skin" friendly between Brazil and Spain at the Bernabeu, which ended 3-3, was …

Rodrygo scores twice in Vinícius’ absence as Spanish leader Real Madrid beats Athletic 2-0

MADRID — Rodrygo thrived in the absence of Vinícius Júnior as Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 on Sunday to keep an eight-point lead over Barcelona in the Spanish league. The influential England international set up Rodrygo’s second goal in Madrid’s third straight league win. It’s nine points ahead of fourth-place Athletic and 10 points in front of fifth-place Atletico …

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has urged his players to step up as the team has been hit by a fresh set of injuries ahead of their UEFA Europa League Round Of 16 second leg tie against Real Betis. United already have a 4-1 lead in the tie against Betis, but will be missing some key players heading into …

Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes scored as Manchester United outclassed Real Betis 4-1 in the first leg of the Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, four days after its humiliating loss to Liverpool. Erik ten Hag’s team, who was crushed 7-0 by its archrivals on Sunday, took an early lead through Rashford and although Betis equalised, the host dominated the …

Barcelona took a nine points lead over Real Madrid in LaLiga with win over Valencia as defending champions stumbled at Real Betis Barcelona: Barcelona clung on with 10 men to beat Valencia 1-0 and move nine points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga on Sunday, thanks to Raphinha’s early header. We have to learn how to …

Barcelona kept its title-chasing momentum by beating Valencia 1-0 and increasing its lead over Real Madrid in the Spanish league on Sunday. The win at the Camp Nou stadium came three days after Barcelona defeated Madrid 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals. Barcelona had lost two in a row — …

Leaders Real Madrid Drop Points Against Girona, Betis Strike Late

Karim Benzema's late goal gives Madrid 1-0 win at Rayo, grows lead

Like so many times this season, when Karim Benzema and Vinícius Júnior click for Real Madrid, defenses crumble against the leader of the Spanish league. Benzema scored late from an assist by Vinícius to snatch Madrid a 1-0 win at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, helping to increase the gap over second-place Sevilla to nine points. Spain’s soccer federation said Saturday …

Lionel Messi responded to being benched by scoring twice as a substitute and leading Barcelona to a 5-2 home victory over Real Betis on Saturday, snapping a four-game winless streak in La Liga for the Catalans. READ| Messi was brought on at the start of the second period and promptly produced a sublime dummy to allow Antoine Griezmann to tap …