Real Madrid

He may not be the only one to blame for the defeat at Villarreal, but Ferland Mendy has not managed to defy critics who question his presence in Real ...

Mendy does not provide balance to the Real Madrid defence as he used to do in the past. However, Mendy was not the only player at fault. Antonio Rudiger has yet to impress at the back and opponents are making the most of Real Madrid's defensive frailties.

Real Madrid face Valencia in the semi-finals of the tournament being played in Riyadh (Wednesday 8 pm CET).

[European Super Cup](https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2022/08/15/clubs-fifth-uefa-super-cup-crown) this season, have won the Spanish Super Cup 12 times. [Spanish Super Champions](https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2022/01/16/0-2-spanish-super-cup-champions) title in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), which we won last season at the same venue. Real Madrid will get the competition underway on Wednesday against Valencia (8 pm CET).

The Frenchman is struggling at Real Madrid, meaning the Bayern left-back has moved up the to-do list at the Bernabéu.

Hopefully for Madrid, the player has not renewed his deal and the German club become forced to negotiate instead of allowing him to go on a free, just as happened with Toni Kroos back in 2014. The French defender started the season with doubts circling overhead, knowing that his future at the 13-time European Champions was not 100% secure: after the signing of Rüdiger, the club decided they would listen to offers for Mendy and Ancelotti would move Alaba to a permanent role at left-back. No offers arrived for Mendy during the summer (something that was always seen as unlikely given his huge price tag when he arrived at Madrid: €48M), so the left-back stayed put and the squad now suffers from something of an asymmetry in his position: there is no direct substitute, only temporary cover. As reported before by AS, the chosen player is Alphonso Davies, the Canadian defender currently at Bayern Munich, whose contract finishes in 2025 and who Madrid will try to sign one year earlier. With the statistics in hand, Mendy’s game was quiet if not interesting: he completed 23/26 passes (88%), won 2/4 duels, recovered the ball 4 times and lost the ball another 4. The full-back gifted Villarreal’s opener and Ancelotti hooked him off after an hour, deciding to bring on Lucas Vázquez and switching Alaba out onto the left.

LABARIN LABARI. 08/01/2023Real Madrid za ta kara da Valencia a wasan kusa da na karshe na gasar da ake bugawa a Riyadh (Laraba 8 na dare CET).

Da fatan za a kula. Ba za mu iya ba da tabbacin cewa ya yi daidai ba. Madrid wadda tuni ta dauki kofin Super Cup na Turai a bana, ta lashe kofin Spanish Super Cup sau 12. Za a yi wasan karshe ne a ranar Lahadi 15 ga watan Janairu tsakanin wadanda suka yi nasara a wasannin biyu (8pm CET). Real Madrid za ta fara gasar ranar Laraba da Valencia (8pm CET). Real Madrid dai za ta buga wasan ne a wannan mako a gasar cin kofin duniya na biyu wato Spanish Super Cup.

Summary of the headlineReal Madrid scored from one penalty before conceding from another as they dropped points in the La Liga title race against a buoyant ...

Ferland Mendy gave the ball away with a lazy pass, and Gerard Moreno fed Yeremi Pino, who turned home past Courtois - via a deflection from the struggling Mendy. Gerard Moreno dutifully tucked away the ensuing penalty, sending the home side to a deserved three points. The referee swiftly, and somewhat harshly, pointed to the spot, with Villarreal's Gerard Moreno converting the ensuing penalty to give his side a 2-1 lead - one they wouldn't relinquish.

Villareal manager, Quique Setien, has explained why his team defeated Real Madrid 2-1 in Saturday's La Liga tie. Setien said his team defeated Real Madrid.

“We started well, dominating the rival’s half and generating chances,” Setien said at his post-match press conference after the game. Setien said his team defeated Real Madrid because his players started well against the visitors, adding that they dominated the rival’s half and generated chances. LaLiga: Real reason we beat Real Madrid – Villarreal coach Quique Setien