Like a group of bullies on a schoolyard, the experienced players overwhelmed a team that had the desire to succeed but lacked the necessary resources. Atlético Madrid found themselves in a delightful match against Valencia, who generously offered them space and possession of the ball. The likes of Griezmann, De Paul, and Depay were eager to take advantage of this opportunity, like hungry predators sensing their prey. Valencia, on the other hand, struggled to defend against the relentless attacks. Mamardashvili, their goalkeeper, did his best to keep them in the game, but even he couldn’t save them from the onslaught of Atlético’s talented forwards. (Narrative and statistics (2-0))

Atlético could afford to make mistakes without fear of a counterattack from Valencia. The distance between the two teams was significant, rendering Valencia’s speed useless. But to be safe, Reinildo, who had recently returned to the squad, acted as an additional line of defense. Valencia, under the guidance of Baraja, had assembled an intriguing team that displayed flashes of brilliance, but upon closer inspection, it was clear that they were not quite polished enough to compete with the best. They still had a lot to work on.

The Atlético players could sense the vulnerability in Valencia’s defense, particularly in the battle between Lino and Foulquier on the right wing. Nahuel Molina also tried to exploit the weaknesses, but it was Koke and Rodrigo De Paul who truly shone in their midfield dominance. Griezmann played his part in catalyzing the attacks, while Memphis Depay became a nightmare for Mosquera. Despite numerous attempts, the Valencia goalkeeper managed to save some close-range shots. However, the goal was inevitable, and it came in added time. Lino’s blistering run left his marker behind, allowing Griezmann to calmly finish the move. Even Oblak, Atlético’s goalkeeper, was left untested by Valencia’s feeble attempts.

Although the wound inflicted on Valencia was not fatal, it appeared significant enough to be problematic. However, Javi Guerra’s powerful strike from outside the box turned out to be nothing more than a mirage, as Savic quickly responded with a header that forced Mamardashvili to make another impressive save. While Simeone had a plethora of attacking options on his bench, Baraja was left with limited resources. It seemed like nothing was going well for Valencia, as even their captain, Gayà, struggled to win duels against Nahuel Molina. Before heading into halftime, Memphis showcased his talent once again, leaving Mosquera helpless with a magnificent shot that narrowly missed the crossbar.

There was even a penalty awarded to Valencia, initially given by De Burgos Bengoetxea but correctly overturned by VAR. With a comfortable lead, Simeone was able to control the pace of the game, while Valencia managed only one noteworthy play, which proved to be fruitless. It was a relatively straightforward match for Atlético Madrid, who secured their place on the third spot of the LaLiga standings.

The boasts, the comebacks, and the demand for a meaningless calendar pay off. The bill arrives sooner or later, and it appears that Real Madrid is now facing the consequences. Dreamland Gran Canaria did not show any mercy, as Jaka Lakovic’s team had the hunger and ambition to win. They showcased their best version and delivered a stunning blow to an exhausted rival. The final score was 100-77.

Real Madrid had been anticipating the review of the year in Gran Canaria, just a short distance away from where the football team had made a comeback in Las Palmas. This game had all the ingredients for a challenging match – a determined opponent and a heavily burdened squad. Along with the demanding schedule in January, this review will soon be forgotten. Moreover, it is a bad time for a crisis, especially with the Cup approaching.

Chus Mateo arrived in Las Palmas with only 10 players, as he couldn’t even rely on the youth players. Hugo González and Ismaila Diagné, who are usually present, were occupied with the ANGT qualifying phase. Edy Tavares and Sergio Llull were already out due to injuries, while Yabusele and Hezonja were also unavailable. The interior rotation was limited to Poirier, Ndiaye, and Deck. Granca, led by Lakovic, did not miss this opportunity.

Ethan Happ

One cannot disregard the fact that Gran Canaria has a strong team capable of competing with anyone. They are seeded for the Malaga Cup, where they are set to face Valencia in the quarterfinals. Additionally, they hold second place in their Eurocup group, a competition they triumphed in last year. Choosing not to participate in the Euroleague seems to have been a wise decision, given their current success. They demonstrated their strength with an intense performance, raining down triples and dominating the paint with Ethan Happ, as Madrid failed to provide any opposition.

By the halfway mark of the second quarter, the loss had become historic (46-21). Chus Mateo searched for impossible combinations to stop the storm, even resorting to playing Abalde as a power forward and having Campazzo and Chacho (the standout players for Madrid) on the court simultaneously.

Unfortunately for Madrid, things did not improve much in the second half, despite their efforts to narrow the gap. They managed a 0-10 run at the end of the third quarter (75-60) led by Rudy, but Gran Canaria responded even more forcefully. They unleashed a flurry of triples (finishing with a remarkable 15 out of 27, with nine coming from Bassas, Shurna, and Slaughter), bringing their total score to 100 points with ample time remaining and a commanding 30-point lead. This is the first time this season that Real Madrid has scored so much in the Endesa League. In the Euroleague, only Fenerbahçe and Efes achieved similar scores, although both games went into overtime.

This loss marks the third defeat for Real Madrid in the ACB, the second in their last three games, and the sixth across all competitions. “Gran Canaria played exceptionally well. We couldn’t find any solutions or energy,” admitted Mateo, who is desperately seeking ways to recover key players for the upcoming challenges, including a doubleheader in the Euroleague this week.

In two weeks, Barcelona has said goodbye to the Super Cup, the Copa del Rey and practically also the League after the defeat against Villarreal in a schizophrenic match that leaves them 10 points behind the lead.. Xavi's team was able to overcome a 0-2 deficit against a Villarreal that knew how to play its tricks during the first hour and that took advantage of the Barça concessions in defense to tie first and finish off their rival in stoppage time.. [Narrative and statistics (3-5)]

The match had everything, including the usual dose of controversy. Munuera annulled a goal against Villarreal midway through the first half due to an offside that would later be confirmed by the VAR. Gerard had caught a ball in the area, after a struggle between Kounde and Álex Baena that ended with the Frenchman on the ground claiming a foul, and he shot Peña from the small area. However, the assistant interpreted that Sorloth, in an advanced position, had hindered Araujo.

The score did not move, but the play was like a turning point in a duel to which Xavi's team had entered on the right foot and giving the sensation of having recovered from the setback at San Mamés. Barça clung to Yamal's audacity to find the goal. The youth player created the first chance after running to the baseline and giving way behind for Gundogan's shot, which Jorge Cuenca blocked with his foot.

The Barça team put pressure on a Villarreal team whose absence of Parejo made it a little more difficult to get the ball out.. Marcelino's men joined lines when defending and tried to get out quickly when they recovered, looking for that buoy in attack that is Sorloth to generate second plays from the Norwegian's downloads. They were also looking for the Akhomach interns on the wing, where Xavi had placed the young Héctor Font to cover the loss of the operated Balde.

As the Castellón team adjusted, it was more difficult for Barcelona to generate danger, although they had a good option in a shot by Joao Felix that Jörgensen saved with a good hand. In any case, the Portuguese didn't appear much and neither did Lewandowski. And Yamal found it increasingly difficult to overwhelm Alberto Moreno, so Xavi's men were fading while Villarreal grew.

Gerard was the one who insisted the most in the search for the goal and ended up catching it shortly before the break, in a throw-in that Barça defended regularly. Sorloth received and swiveled to put the ball into the heart of the area, where Gerard took advantage of the meters that Christensen had given him to finish first into the net.

The Dane stayed on the bench for the second half, like Romeu and Héctor Fort after a triple substitution with which Xavi tried to revive his team and succeeded.. It was soon seen that the Blaugrana's circulation speed was greater, with Pedri now at the wheel. The entry of Cancelo also gave more depth to the left wing, although the Portuguese made a mistake that made the game very difficult for his team.. He tried to hit a long ball, but control slipped and Akhomach was skilled to take it, dribble past Peña and score at will before apologizing to his former fans.

Fired up by adrenaline

Xavi doubled his bet and brought in Ferran, the definitive push that Barça was missing to launch a comeback that seemed impossible and was achieved in just eleven minutes.. The first step was taken by Gundogan, taking advantage of a backheel pass from Lewandowski. Ferran had the second and he failed in the goalmouth with a pass from the German, although it didn't take long for the tie to arrive, after a ball rejected to the front that Pedri sent into the net.. Only three minutes later the comeback was completed with a hanging free kick in the area that Bailly put into his goal.

Fired up by adrenaline, Barcelona wanted to finish the game and was able to do so with a pair of arrivals from Vitor Roque and Cancelo that Jorgensen aborted. But Villarreal had not yet said its last word. Guedes' freshness allowed him to get behind the defense on a good delivery from Sorloth and score with a cross shot. And after the tie, a crazy discount. In the 90th minute, Munuera pointed out a penalty, although he backed away after seeing the replay on the monitor, to Xavi's indignation. And with Barça in search of victory, Marcelino's team finished it off with goals from Sorloth, after a grotesque defensive action by the Blaugranas, and Morales on the counterattack.

Real Madrid woke up on time from their nap in Gran Canaria, a tourist destination par excellence, to return to Las Palmas and once again be the leader of the League while waiting for what Girona does this Sunday in Vigo. The whites, with goals from Vinicius and Tchouaméni, turned around Javi Muñoz's initial goal and will sleep today in first position in the championship. [Narrative and statistics (1-2)]

Madrid had six days to rest between the duel against Almería and the visit to Las Palmas, six days insufficient for some of Carlo Ancelotti's men to recover from the fatigue accumulated between the trip to Saudi Arabia, the cup derby and the League. For this reason, and also taking advantage of Bellingham's absence due to suspension, the Italian opted for one of the lineups with the most novelties of the season.. In addition to the Englishman, Mendy, Tchouaméni, Modric and Valverde left the eleven, all four by technical decision. Fran García, Camavinga, Ceballos and Brahim entered. The drawing did not change, but the functions did.

Faced with a UD Las Palmas capable of assuming possession and little by little caging their rival in the area, Ancelotti centered Vinicius even more, placed Brahim in the shadow of Perrone, the 'yellow' anchor, and brought a lot of play together in the middle. Kroos, Ceballos and Camavinga to avoid the transitions that have placed the Canaries in seventh place.

In attack, Camavinga acted as the axis, Ceballos on the right, Kroos on the left and Brahim at the point of the diamond. The whites dominated most of the first half, doing good defensive work, but without being too successful in the final meters.

In the 4th, a good touch from Ceballos left Rodrygo alone against Valles, saving the situation for Zamora in the League. Warning for the Brazilian, who received a yellow card for slapping the goalkeeper. Ten minutes later, Rüdiger almost hooked a header a meter from the rival line, but his shot went wide.

Lots of tactics

Few chances and a lot of tactical play between two well-constructed teams. García Pimienta's men did not tremble when it came to playing, waiting for a failure in the rival pressure and keeping their sights on the left zone of the Madrid defense, where Vinicius was unable to help Fran García much.. In those starts from Marvin came the best spaces for the Canaries, although without clear shots against Lunin.

In the 31st minute, the locals asked for a penalty for a possible knockdown by Ceballos of Cardona, but neither Soto Grado nor the VAR considered the action as a maximum penalty.. The rage gave Las Palmas some wings against a Madrid that was too contemplative, but the first half died with the only opportunities for Vinicius, the most active in the Madrid attack, as always. The Brazilian missed a shot on Valles and tried his luck from a distance on the stroke of half-time. Madrid did not produce more, in the middle of the Canary Islands siesta.

After the intermission, the whites came out asleep and paid for it. Munir, beating Nacho, was about to surprise Lunin in the first play of the second act, but the Ukrainian quickly reached the base of his left post.

Javi Muñoz, Canarian illusion

Las Palmas believed it. Five minutes later, he had a prize. Sandro started a counterattack after a short cross from Fran García and took advantage of the absence of the full-back on the left. He won a duel with Nacho, ran for Kirian to find him long, dribbled past Rüdiger and made a perfect pass of death so that Javi Muñoz, a former Madrid youth player, defined the 1-0 against Lunin while Kroos and Nacho stayed looking at the brand.

With the score against, Ancelotti moved pieces. He sat down Brahim and Ceballos, badly in an important opportunity, and opted for Valverde and Joselu, changing the scheme to a 4-3-3 that settled his team better on the field. With the changes, Camavinga grew even more, key in defense in the first half and excellent in attack, sharing creation with Kroos and generating for Vinicius.

In the 63rd minute, the German found the Brazilian with a long pass towards the area but Vinicius scored terribly, attempting a shot that went very, very high.. He redeemed himself, however, two minutes later, when he controlled a subtle touch from Camavinga with his chest and finished with his left foot, crossed, against Valles to tie the duel.

The goal hurt a Canarian team that throughout the season has been suffering in the second half, something that is even more noticeable given the physical superiority of Madrid, which introduced Tchouaméni and Arda Güler for the last ten minutes and already saw how Vinicius managed to do damage on the left.

In the 83rd minute, with a diagonal zigzag, the Brazilian stood in the area and was about to make it 1-2, but the defense diverted his shot for a corner.. In the corner kick, Kroos put a perfect ball to Tchouaméni that the Frenchman headed, unmarked, into Valles' net.

Las Palmas tried in the eight minutes of extra time, but Madrid held on and took three key points for the capital in one of the most complicated exits left this season.

Perseverance, dedication, determination, and commitment are all qualities that define Hugo Duro’s performance in every game for Valencia. This season, the 24-year-old has already scored nine goals and provided two assists, making it his best season since joining the league. Under the guidance of coach Rubén Baraja, Duro has established himself at Mestalla and has been rewarded for his hard work, which he never fails to give. “He is a fair person who selects those who are most connected on the field. Here, your name doesn’t determine whether you play or not. We are a group of hardworking individuals, and we all want to prove ourselves,” admits the forward, who hasn’t missed a single league game. Hugo Duro is truly coming into his own.

His contribution to the team goes beyond scoring goals; it extends to the less glamorous aspects of the game that may not be reflected in statistics. Duro has endured 60 fouls, more than Bellingham or Isco, and has caused 14 cautionary cards for his opponents, including two penalties. His consistent presence in the starting lineup and these numbers are a testament to his resilience, especially considering the difficult season he had last year when he only managed to score one goal in the league. Struggling with injuries, he would often return home feeling defeated after games because he couldn’t contribute more. He lost his smile, sought help to cope with the situation, and had to mature as a player. This wasn’t the first time he faced adversity.

When Hugo Duro arrived at Valencia on loan from Getafe in the 2021/2022 season, the only memory of that young boy at Mestalla was his deflected shot in the 2019 Copa del Rey, resulting in a counterattack that led to Rodrigo Moreno scoring the winning goal against Barcelona in the semifinals. The phrase “Tocó en Hugo Duro” (It touched Hugo Duro) became famous, and he has always taken it with humor. It was a great introduction to his new fans, but since then, his career has flourished.

From Getafe to Castilla…and to the Champions League

Hugo Duro made his debut for the U-21 national team under Luis De la Fuente in September 2020, scoring from a penalty in the 83rd minute in a European Championship qualification match against Macedonia. However, he wasn’t called up again for international duty. That same year, he left Getafe’s reserve team to join Castilla under Raúl’s management, where he played alongside Sergio Arribas, Miguel Gutiérrez, and Antonio Blanco.

Karim Benzema’s injuries that season led Zinedine Zidane to look towards the reserve team, and Duro was called up for five league games and three Champions League games. He played against Inter in the group stage and in the round of 16 match against Atalanta. It was in Bergamo where he made his first 14-minute appearance in the prestigious continental competition.

Despite these fleeting moments, Getafe was unsure about Duro’s future, and José Bordalás paved the way for his move to Valencia. There, he scored seven goals in the league, three of them against Atlético Madrid, including a brace at Mestalla (3-3) and another at the Metropolitano (3-2). Atlético became his favorite opponent. He also scored the goal in the Copa del Rey final, although Valencia ultimately lost on penalties. His performances convinced the club to exercise their four-million-euro purchase option.

Financial Constraints

Under manager Gennaro Gattuso, Duro faced ankle problems and fierce competition from Edinson Cavani, which affected his overall performance. Even with Rubén Baraja taking charge, Duro struggled under the weight of responsibility on the team. However, he has since become the team’s number 9, a position he personally chose. Despite playing with a collarbone injury, he remains crucial to the attack, especially with limited competition from Yaremchuk, as Valencia has no plans to search for additional forwards in the transfer market. Any chances of signing Rafa Mir have disappeared as Peter Lim is determined to control spending, although the team has shown potential to challenge for a spot in Europe. “I have a feeling that there won’t be any new signings,” Baraja confesses. The club has already secured its first signing, the young Belgian Arthur Vermeeren, who could make his debut soon.

All eyes are now on the clash at the Metropolitano, where Valencia will need to deliver an almost flawless performance to secure a positive result, something they haven’t achieved since 2011. Furthermore, the Valencian dressing room is fully aware that Atletico will seek revenge after their previous defeat at Mestalla. The upcoming match is an exciting opportunity for everyone involved.

In a dramatic final at the Australian Open, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus clinched a hard-fought victory against her opponent, Zheng Qinwen from China. Despite some moments of uncertainty and nerves, Sabalenka sealed her second consecutive title in Melbourne. The 25-year-old displayed her dominance throughout the tournament, not dropping a single set and spending a mere eight hours on the court. Even challenging opponents like Barbora Krejcíkova and Coco Gauff could not deter her.

Sabalenka’s aggressive and powerful playing style left no room for Qinwen to gain any advantage in a final that lacked excitement. The 21-year-old Chinese player, appearing in her first Grand Slam final, struggled to find her footing and missed crucial opportunities to turn the tide of the match. Sabalenka’s relentless blows proved too much for Qinwen to handle, culminating in a nerve-wracking final point.

With her impressive performance and reaching the semifinals in all four Grand Slams last year, it seems that 2024 will be the year of Sabalenka’s confirmation as a top player. There is even speculation that she may ascend to the number one ranking in the WTA. During the post-final ceremony, Sabalenka, known for her quiet demeanor, expressed gratitude to her team for their support and acknowledged the pressure she had placed on them after a previous defeat in Brisbane.