Real Madrid: ¿Mbappé tiene un rival de más nivel que Vinícius?

La llegada de Mbappé al Real Madrid como figura abre la puerta a nuevas rivalidades, pero su mayor competencia puede estar en el mismo vestidor


MADRID — La llegada de Kylian Mbappé a España ha supuesto una revolución a todos los niveles. Tanto el Real Madrid como la propia Liga agradecen la vuelta de galácticos como el francés, que ha llegado con el hambre de los campeones.

Sin embargo, en toda historia de superhéroes siempre hay un malvado que, como contrapunto, intenta rivalizar con el protagonista de una saga que, para Mbappé, pinta a ser histórica. ¿Quién puede ser?

A nivel europeo está claro que Erling Haaland podría ser su gran rival. El noruego juega en otra liga, la inglesa, y lo hace en el otro gran equipo continental que rivaliza en los últimos años con el Real Madrid por el trono europeo. Por eso el delantero del Manchester City es un rival a tener en cuenta en una rivalidad que podría ser épica.

De hecho, para muchos, el fichaje de Mbappé por el Madrid ha sido una vuelta a la era de Lionel Messi y Cristiano Ronaldo. Ambos protagonizaron la batalla de las batallas en una Liga que, no hace mucho tiempo, disfrutó de ambos cracks durante muchos años. Ambos se hicieron mejores el uno al otro, ambos lo ganaron todo y ambos hicieron historia con sus dos equipos. Y eso es lo que quiere hacer Mbappé, que busca alguien a quien enfrentarse en el aspecto individual.

Tras Haaland podría abrirse un melón importante: ¿y si ese rival tiene 17 años y juega en el Barcelona? Hablamos de Lamine Yamal, cuya juventud es directamente proporcional a su proyección: meteórica. El atacante del Barça ya ha conseguido una Liga y una Eurocopa, enamorando a todo el mundo por su plasticidiad, velocidad y manejo del balón. Insistimos en que sólo tiene 17 años y ya es más una realidad que una promesa. Además, el hecho de jugar en el FC Barcelona también puede ser un extra a la hora de rivalizar con el jugador del Madrid.

Sin embargo, y llegados a este punto… Sabiendo que Mbappé quiere varias Champions League y que, a nivel individual, busca ganar un Balón de Oro… ¿Y si el rival del francés está en su propia casa? ¿Y si su “villano” particular se sienta en su mismo vestuario? ¿Y si ese “enemigo” se llama Vinícius Júnior? Obviamente, estamos utilizando términos figurados porque la relación entre ambos es magnífica, pero tiene sentido.

Primero porque ambos quieren un bien colectivo que pasa por hacer que el Madrid perpetúe su hegemonía en Europa ganando más Champions League. Segundo porque los dos buscan sus títulos individuales y también rivalizarán por el Balón de Oro a partir de 2025. Y tercero porque los dos juegan en la misma posición y puede llegar un momento en el que el Madrid tenga que elegir a uno.

Está claro que los grandes jugadores juegan donde quieren y con quien más cómodos estén. En el caso de Mbappé y Vinícius, al compartir vestuario y colores, da la sensación de que es complicado que puedan encarnar esa lucha que en su día mantuvieron Leo Messi y Cristiano Ronaldo. Pero en el futbol todo puede ser posible.

Hasta el momento, y haciendo una panorámica de la situación del futbol mundial, es complicado encontrar más rivales que puedan tener tanto en común con Mbappé como para rivalizar por sus mismos objetivos. En un año se verá si de verdad son rivales o si el propio Mbappé se busca a algún outsider contra el que luchar. Todo dependerá de él, de su rendimiento, de sus goles y, por supuesto, de sus títulos.


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France captain Mbappé on bench vs. Belgium in Nations League

LYON, France (AP) — France captain Kylian Mbappé was left out of the starting lineup to play Belgium on Monday in the UEFA Nations League.

Mbappé played the full game in a 3-1 loss to Italy in Paris on Friday and coach Didier Deschamps changed the entire forward line to face Belgium in Lyon. Mbappé was replaced by Marcus Thuram in a central role.

Top European national teams have this week been rotating and resting star players who had limited preseason preparation in August after the European Championship.

Euro 2024 winner Spain let 17-year-old winger Lamine Yamal play only the first half in a 4-1 win against Switzerland on Sunday. Spain captain Rodri played his first competitive minutes of the season in Geneva after being rested by Manchester City in its three English Premier League games so far.

Cristiano Ronaldo did not start for Portugal on Sunday, went on as a second-half substitute and scored the winning goal against Scotland in Lisbon.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer




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Three talking points ahead of Las Palmas vs Real Madrid | La Liga GW3

Three talking points ahead of Las Palmas vs Real Madrid | La Liga GW3

Barcelona’s perfect start to the new season has put pressure on Real Madrid early on. The defending champions, after all, dropped two points against Mallorca and currently sit five points behind the leaders, albeit with a game in hand.

The men in white play their third game of the league season on tonight against Luis Miguel Carrion’s Las Palmas side and will be put to a tough test away from home.

Gran Canaria will play host to Carlo Ancelotti’s men, and while it is a venue they have dominated in recent years, they only took three points at the stadium last season courtesy of a late strike by Aurelien Tchouameni.

Heading into the game, the hosts sit on just one point in two games with one defeat and one draw to their name. Real Madrid will thus fancy their chances and hope to maintain the pressure on Las Palmas.

Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Las Palmas vs Real Madrid.

Time for minor rotations

Time for rotations? (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)Time for rotations? (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Time for rotations? (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The 2024-25 campaign is just getting started but is set to go down as one of the most hectic seasons in the history of the game.

Real Madrid, as defending champions both domestically and in Europe, have the pressure of being the favourites and cannot let their guard down at any point. Optimal squad management, needless to say, becomes paramount.

With the team playing its second game in less than a week, Carlo Ancelotti must set the tone concerning rotations straight starting tonight, however minor they may be.

For starters, Ferland Mendy will likely replace Fran Garcia at left-back after completing his suspension and resting at the weekend. Dani Carvajal, meanwhile, is likely to be rested at right-back with Lucas Vazquez taking his place.

The clash at Gran Canaria could also bring with it a first start for Luka Modric whose role has been highly subdued to this point. He could take the place of Federico Valverde who has been a constant feature over the past three games.

While there may be changes in the final third, the topic warrants a segment of its own given the intricacies and complexities associated with the gold-mine of options Ancelotti has.

The Guler-Diaz conundrum

<a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/players/882047/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Brahim;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Brahim</a> or <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/players/3901372/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Guler;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Guler</a> in the starting XI? (Photo by THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images)<a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/players/882047/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Brahim;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0"><button class=

Jude Bellingham’s injury earlier this month came as a big blow to Ancelotti’s plans given that the youngster was just recovering to his best version.

It did, however, open the door for some of the team’s other talented youngsters who have been waiting for their chance to shine for a long time.

Arda Guler and Brahim Diaz, by far, were the manager’s two strong candidates to replace the Englishman in the starting lineup and Ancelotti eventually opted for the Turkish star to earn the start.

Playing as the attacking midfielder, the youngster dished out a confident display with flawless distribution, good vision, a key pass and a stunning three shots on target.

While his performance would be celebrated on any other day, Diaz’s cameo on the night changed the perception.

Coming on for just 21 minutes, the Moroccan star recorded one goal and one assist in addition to a 100% pass completion rate and one key pass. His cameo made a strong claim for a place in the starting lineup, leaving Ancelotti with a dilemma.

The manager must thus choose if he opts to deploy Guler or Diaz tonight in the place of Jude Bellingham. A third option would be to start both players and rest Rodrygo Goes, giving Diaz a place on the right wing.

Pressure growing on Mbappe

Under pressure to deliver. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)Under pressure to deliver. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Under pressure to deliver. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Coming in as Real Madrid’s marquee signing after years of melodrama, Kylian Mbappe was always going to be under pressure at the Spanish capital.

The Frenchman handled the weight of the expectation well on debut, scoring a wonderful goal and pitching in with useful contributions against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup.

His first two games in Spain, however, have not seen him replicate the same impact and his struggles in front of goal were well documented in the team’s latest clash.

Mbappe was inspiring against Mallorca, creating threat time and time again in the hosts’ box. However, he simply could not find the finish and had both his shots on target saved.

Against Valladolid, the World Cup winner was a shadow of his best as he missed two big chances and was poor in the face of goal.

Heading into his third game in La Liga, the pressure is thus steadily growing on Mbappe and will continue to do so until he scores his first goal. Given his quality, it is only a matter of time and the Gran Canaria could be the stadium where he makes it happen.


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Kylian Mbappé goals will come, Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti says

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said he is not concerned about Kylian Mbappé‘s goal scoring after the forward failed to find the net for a second LaLiga game in a row.

Mbappé joined Madrid on a five-year contract this summer, and opened his account for the club in their UEFA Super Cup win against Atalanta earlier this month.

However the LaLiga champions’ 3-0 victory at the Bernabéu against Real Valladolid on Sunday saw Mbappé substituted after 86 minutes, after his second league game without scoring.

“It makes me very happy. I’ve started off at the Bernabéu winning the game and we got the three points,” Mbappé said to Real Madrid TV after the game.

“It was a great night. The fans were top. We wanted to win the first game [here]. It’s a dream playing in this stadium, but we have another game on Thursday and we want to win again.”

Midfielder Federico Valverde put Madrid ahead after half-time, and substitute Brahim Díaz added a second goal, before Mbappé’s replacement Endrick scored his first goal for the club in the 96th minute.

Speaking in his postmatch news conference, Ancelotti denied that Mbappé’s position at centre-forward — rather than starting off out wide — was limiting his ability to contribute to the team.

“No, I don’t think so at all,” Ancelotti said. “[Mbappé] is a spectacular forward, he’s very fast, he moves well without the ball.

“He had three chances. I think in that position he’ll score, as he’s always scored. I don’t think he has to play on the left or the right. He’ll score goals.”

Ancelotti also praised Endrick, who signed for Madrid this summer after turning 18.

“He looks good,” Ancelotti said. “He has great potential, and with the goal, he showed all his qualities. He has good control, and a good shot.

“He’s a penalty box forward. In small spaces, he’s very, very dangerous.”

Madrid’s win over Valladolid followed a 1-1 draw away at Real Mallorca on the opening weekend of the LaLiga season, as they look to defend their title.

The team are currently without midfielders Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga, both injured, while defender Ferland Mendy was suspended against Valladolid.

Madrid will travel to Las Palmas on Thursday, before hosting Real Betis next weekend.


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Real Madrid's French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Atalanta BC in Warsaw, on August 14, 2024. (Photo by Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP) (Photo by WOJTEK RADWANSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

UEFA Super Cup: Kylian Mbappé scores in Real Madrid debut during victory over Atalanta

Kylian Mbappé scored his first goal for Real Madrid as the Spanish side beat Atalanta of Italy’s Serie A 2-0 to win Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup in Warsaw, Poland.

The annual preseason match features the winners of the Champions League (Real Madrid) and Europa League (Atalanta) meeting ahead of the start of their domestic league schedules.

After a quiet first half that saw Vinícius Júnior hit the post, Real Madrid took control of the game within the first 20 minutes of the second half. Federico Valverde opened the scoring in the 59th minute, and nine minutes later, Mbappé left his mark on the match.

Jude Bellingham found Mbappé cutting into space inside the Atalanta penalty box and the French star connected to find the top right corner for his first goal.

Mbappé, 25, was sporting the No. 9 shirt, previously worn by Real Madrid legends like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Ronaldo Nazário and Fernando Morientes, and played all 90 minutes during the club’s sixth UEFA Super Cup victory.

Mbappé joined Real Madrid in June after spending seven seasons in France with Paris Saint-Germain. There he won six Ligue 1 titles, the Coupe de France four times and helped PSG reach the 2019-20 Champions League final.

Now with Real Madrid, Mbappé will reportedly make $16 million a year after receiving a $100 million-plus signing bonus and is part of a squad that is loaded with world-class talent such as Viní Jr., Bellingham, Rodrygo and Luka Modrić, among many others.

Mbappé and Real Madrid will play next on Saturday against Mallorca as they begin their La Liga campaign and seek their 37th La Liga title and fifth since 2016-17.


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