Sports
Team News, Predicted Lineups for Spanish Super Cup
The Madrid Derby travels to the Middle East this week as
Real Madrid and
Atlético Madrid get set to face off in the Spanish Super Cup semifinal in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
Real are out for revenge after losing last year’s final to
FC Barcelona, while Atleti are looking for only their third ever Supercup title, and first since 2014.
Los Blancos are fresh off a convincing 5-1 win over Real Betis on Sunday, led by a Gonzalo Garcia hat-trick.
The win — Real’s fourth in a row in all competitions — allowed Xabi Alonso’s side to keep pace with Barca at the top of the La Liga table, still sitting four points adrift of their eternal rivals.
Atleti, meanwhile, settled for a 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad over the weekend, with both sides striking within five minutes of one another early in the second half.
The Rojiblancos still occupy fourth place in the league standings, tied with Villareal on 38 points despite having played two more games.
Diego Simeone’s troops got the better of their crosstown rivals earlier this season, prevailing 5-2 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in September.
Where to Watch Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid
Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid will face off at the 62,345-capacity King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
- When: Thursday, January 8 – 2PM ET / 11AM PT
- Where: King Abdullah Sports City – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Where to watch in the United States: ESPN+
Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid Betting Odds
- Real Madrid to qualify: -130
- Atlético Madrid to qualify: +106
- Both teams to score (Yes/No): -174 / +138
- Over/Under 3.5 goals: +176 / -230
- Julian Alvarez first goalscorer: +550
- Gonzalo Garcia anytime goalscorer: +175
- Jude Bellingham anytime goalscorer: +280
- Vinicius Jr to score or assist: +110
- Antoine Griezmann to score or assist: +135
Odds courtesy of FanDuel.
Atlético Madrid Team News and Predicted Lineup
Simeone will have a strong squad to call upon for Thursday’s derby, with just Nico Gonzalez and Clement Lenglet ruled out for the contest.
Summer signings Marc Pubill and David Hancko could make up the center-back pairing, with fellow newcomer Matteo Ruggeri operating at left-back.
With Pablo Barrios a doubt to feature, captain Koke could start in midfield alongside the USMNT’s Johnny Cardoso.
Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth will hope to rattle the net a couple of times as the strike partnership.
Atlético Madrid predicted lineup (4-4-2): Jan Oblak (GK) – Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill, David Hancko, Matteo Ruggeri – Giuliano Simeone, Johnny Cardoso, Koke, Alex Baena – Alexander Sorloth, Julian Alvarez.
Real Madrid Team News and Predicted Lineup
Real Madrid have once again been hit by the injury bug, leaving Xabi Alonso with some decisions to make for the clash with Atleti.
The most notable absence is Kylian Mbappé’s, who has been ruled out of the mini-tournament with a knee injury, and has not traveled to Saudi Arabia with his teammates.
Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal also remain unavailable, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is unlikely to feature as he continues to recover from a thigh injury. Brahim Díaz is also away with Morocco at the African Cup of Nations.
Gonzalo Garcia will hope to carry over the momentum for his hat-trick and fill the gigantic void left by Mbappé in attack.
Real Madrid predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Thibaut Courtois (GK) – Federico Valverde, Raul Asencio, Antonio Rudiger, Alvaro Carreras – Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni – Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr – Gonzalo Garcia.
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After a slow start in Spain, the former Liverpool defender is already being linked with a sale
Sports
Arsenal Set For Transfer Windfall Thanks To Rivals Chelsea
Arsenal could be in line for a decent transfer windfall this summer, as CaughtOffside claims that a former player may join their rivals Chelsea in the coming weeks.
The Gunners are set for an important market, with Mikel Arteta keen to add even more quality to his squad after winning the Premier League last season.
A move for Bruno Guimaraes has been at the forefront of their business so far, with an offer made for the Newcastle ace, with a belief that any move could prove costly.
As a result, some sales may need to help raise some funds, with Christian Norgaard among those who have been linked with an exit this summer.
However, London rivals Chelsea may help provide a windfall for the club through a sell-on clause for a former player.
Chelsea Eye Folarin Balogun
After a few impressive World Cup outings this summer, Chelsea are eyeing a transfer for Folarin Balogun this summer, according to Caught Offside.
The former Arsenal striker is believed to be a target for the Blues, with AS Monaco demanding roughly £47.4 million to sanction a possible exit.
Chelsea seemingly view the 24-year-old as an ideal option, while Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap are linked with an exit, handing Xabi Alonso another striker option.
However, it would hand Arsenal a transfer windfall as a result, due to the club having a sell-on clause inserted into the deal for the former Gunners academy product.
It’s a clause worth 17.5 percent of the overall fee, which could see the Premier League champions land a sizable sum to go towards their other transfer deals.
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Arsenal’s Transfer Plans
Arsenal’s summer transfer window is set to be an important one, as the team looks to keep progressing and continue winning all the biggest prizes.
Deals for some of the biggest names in the Premier League are on the cards, but it is likely to come at quite an expense for the Gunners.
Bruno Guimaraes is a major target, with the midfielder likely to cost upwards of £70 million, while Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is another who is being quoted at more than £100 million.
Arsenal Walk Away From Deal to Sign ‘World-Class’ Midfielder After Huge Reveal
Arsenal have seemingly walked away from a deal for one of their transfer targets, and will move on to other options this summer.
It all lines up towards an expensive window that will need to be financed by more than their impressive performances on the pitch over the course of the last season.
Arsenal’s inability to sell for large transfer fees has been an issue that needs to be addressed. While Balogun’s sale could indirectly help, the Gunners need to find a way to maximise the fees they receive in the transfer market.
Sports
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Blames Netherlands’ Shock World Cup Exit on Ronald Koeman
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has pinned the blame on one man after the Netherlands crashed out of the 2026 World Cup on Monday night.
Morocco secured their place in the last 16 thanks to a penalty shootout victory over the Oranje at Estadio Monterrey in Mexico.
Cody Gakpo had put Netherlands 1-0 up in the 72nd minute, days after the Liverpool star’s girlfriend tragically announced their unborn son had passed away during pregnancy, but the European nation were denied victory when Issa Diop equalised in stoppage-time.
No further goals were scored in extra-time, meaning the Round of 32 tie was settled on penalties.
Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber and Crysencio Summerville all failed to convert from the spot before Ismael Saibari fired Morocco through to the next round, where they will meet joint-hosts Canada at the Houston Stadium on Saturday.
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The Germans are out in disappointing fashion.
Zlatan Pins Blame on Koeman
Shortly after the final whistle, former Sweden striker Ibrahimovic didn’t hold back with his honest thoughts live on FOX Sports.
The ex-PSG, Barcelona and Manchester United star was quoted by ESPN as saying:
“I think this loss is on Koeman because I didn’t recognise this Dutch team. He lost with an identity that is not the Dutch identity and that makes me angry. Lose with your identity… that’s who you are.”
Koeman, who earned 78 caps for the Dutch national team between 1983-1994, has been in charge of the Oranje since 2023. However, his position as head coach is now under severe threat following Monday’s lacklustre performance against Morocco.
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World Cup History Quiz
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Koeman Defends Defensive Tactics
The Netherlands, who perfected the revolutionary philosophy of Total Football in the 1970s, are accused of using ultra defensive tactics in their Round of 32 clash.
However, Koeman defended his tactical approach following the penalty shootout defeat. The 63-year-old told NOS, per Tribuna: “The atmosphere in the locker room was dramatic. When you see things like the penalty [from Soufiane Rahimi] that went under [Bart] Verbruggen, it’s because it wasn’t meant to be for us.
“I decided to play this way because we gave too much space in the group stage. We needed to mark better, you know! Morocco is an excellent team, with star players. So, I decided this after a meeting with the group. I don’t regret it one bit.
“I was trying to change the team according to the thinking about who could take the penalties. I lost [Frenkie] De Jong, I lost Gakpo… so I was trying to put in capable people. It didn’t work out, what can you do?”
De Jong was replaced by Marten de Roon in the 110th minute, while Kluivert came on for Gakpo minutes later.
Sports
Arsenal Told To Pay £130m For Morgan Rogers
Arsenal have been told they will need to pay an eye-watering amount to land one of their key transfer targets this summer, according to a report from The Telegraph.
The Gunners are keen to strengthen across most positions in the squad, with hopes that they will be able to retain the Premier League table, and perhaps win even more than that.
The forward areas have been a particular place of focus, with the North London outfit struggling to crack open games on several different occasions, with their dominance not always reflective of the scoreline or result.
Several options have appeared as players who could make the difference, with Morgan Rogers emerging as one of the main targets to add a spark up front.
However, a deal won’t come cheap for the Aston Villa talisman.
Arsenal Told Morgan Rogers Price
Arsenal are chasing a move for Rogers this summer, but it will come at quite a cost. According to The Telegraph, Aston Villa have quoted an English-record fee of £130 million to land the playmaker.
It’s a move that would smash the record set by Alexander Isak’s move from Newcastle to Liverpool, which cost the Reds £125 million last summer.
It would also eclipse the current window’s largest fee, which is Elliot Anderson’s move from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City, which has cost a staggering £116 million.
The report claims that Villa view Rogers as being worth more than his England teammate, though they are reluctant to allow a sale to go through.
Another sticking point for the Midlands club is a 20 percent sell-on clause that Middlesbrough have in the deal, which will eat into the overall profit they can make from the star – who they paid £15 million for back in 2024.
Arsenal‘s stance on such a fee is unclear, while rivals Chelsea are also keen on a move for Rogers, who has been described as a “superstar”.
It would be quite a stunning transfer, however, that would set a new bar for transfer fees across the whole division.
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Arsenal’s Record Transfer Signings
If Arsenal were to cough up the £130 million, it would also set a record for the most-expensive signing in the club’s history so far, overshadowing their other deals in the market.
The top ten are largely made up of more recent signings, but only Declan Rice’s deal has seen the Gunners cross over the £100 million threshold.
Arsenal Walk Away From Deal to Sign ‘World-Class’ Midfielder After Huge Reveal
Arsenal have seemingly walked away from a deal for one of their transfer targets, and will move on to other options this summer.
- Declan Rice – £105m
- Nicolas Pepe – £72m
- Eberechi Eze – £67.5m
- Kai Havertz – £65m
- Viktor Gyokeres – £64.2m
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – £56m
- Martin Zubimendi – £55.8m
- Gabriel Jesus – £55m
- Noni Madueke – £52m
- Ben White – £50m
Having outlaid plenty in recent years for new signings, smashing the transfer record for Rogers would take them another step in the direction of spending.
It may add some immediate pressure on the England international, but it’s unclear whether Arsenal will be able to get a deal over the line in the near future.
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