Spain

The Real Madrid stadium renovation completion date remains June 2022 with the $650 million project now taking shape after over one year of redevelopment work. 

Although the Santiago Bernabéu capacity will hardly change following the renovation — going from 81,044 to 81,043 — the biggest visual difference is the addition of a retractable roof that covers all of the pitch while the fixed roof structure protects all of the stadium’s seats. 

Lokomotiv Moscow’s Brazilian keeper Guilherme had himself a night to remember, pulling off five saves, many of the remarkable variety. But the lasting imagery of Atlético Madrid’s 1-1 draw on Tuesday will be that of the Luis Suárez yellow card for a bit of tomfoolery. 

Leading 1-0 after 20 minutes, Héctor Herrera had a ball deflect off his arm in the box, which can mean only one thing these days: VAR. Referee Viktor Kassai was asked to watch the replay on the pitch-side monitor to check out the infringement. He was joined by Suárez, who wanted to sneak a peek himself. 

One of the rarest moments in football is when, with one team trailing late, the goalkeeper rushes forward to join the attack and actually pulls off the miracle equalizer. It's rare, but it happens (our favorite example being this bicycle kick).

Sizzling Real Sociedad thrashed Celta Vigo 4-1 away from home on Sunday for a fourth consecutive LaLiga victory, which returned them to the top of the standings.

David Silva scored his first goal for Sociedad by heading home midway through the first half, while Spain forward Mikel Oyarzabal added the second soon after, following up his own shot which had come off the post. Willian Jose further stretched the visitors' lead early in the second half, tapping in a cross from Cristian Portu, who had chased down Celta defender Jeison Murillo to win the ball back by the penalty area.

VITORIA-GASTEIZ, Spain — Barcelona goalkeeper Neto made an embarrassing gaffe as his side were held to a 1-1 draw away to Alaves on Saturday, despite playing the final half an hour with an extra man.

Barca fell behind in the 31st minute after a moment of madness from Brazilian keeper Neto, who clumsily allowed a back pass from Gerard Pique to trickle through his legs towards goal, and Luis Rioja nipped in to nudge the ball into the empty net.

MADRID — Eden Hazard scored his first goal for Real Madrid in over a year and Karim Benzema struck twice as the Spanish champions coasted to a 4-1 win at home to Huesca in La Liga on Saturday.

Making his first start of the campaign after persistent injury problems, Hazard broke the deadlock in the 40th minute with a thunderous strike from outside the area, scoring only his second goal for Madrid since his 2019 move from Chelsea for a joint-club record fee of 100 million euros.

After a long spell in the purgatory that is the Spanish third division, Cadiz CF is flourishing in LaLiga.

The Yellow Submarine is hoping to avoid a repeat of its last spell in the top division, which ended in immediate relegation. Eight games into the 2020-21 campaign, the club has laid itself a solid foundation to prolong its stay this time around. As the Friday games of round eight come to a close, Cadiz sits in second place on 14 points, which would have surprised even the most optimistic of supporters heading into the season. 

MADRID — Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said on Friday that there is no problem between forwards Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior.

Barcelona's 17-year-old midfielder Pedri may not have got on the scoresheet in his side's 2-0 Champions League win over Juventus but the teenager was the unmistakeable star in a victory that gave life to his wounded side and put him on the map.

Given a second start in a row despite looking fazed in Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Real Madrid, Pedri played with ambition and bravery against the Italian champions, driving Barça's play with slick passing and confident dribbling.

After a week in which Karim Benzema's damning opinion of strike partner Vinícius Júnior was unwittingly revealed, Real Madrid's forwards will be hoping to present a united front when they host Huesca in LaLiga on Saturday.