Gareth Bale said in the mixed zone after the game in Istanbul: "It was great to be back in the Champions League. It has been two or three years now. It is great to get out on the pitch and get some game time. "It was good to make an immediate contribution with the free kick. I think I was involved in all the last three goals which was delightful. So it was just great to get back on the pitch ...Full Story »

The Madrid keeper described the event as "painful" although it does not look serious initially. Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Diego López regretted the injury suffered by Iker Casillas during the opening minutes against Galatasaray, which in turn allowed him to take his place during the rest of the match. Diego López said that he was "saddened by a teammate's injury", adding "I not...Full Story »

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has been forced into making an early change in the first half of his side's Champions League clash against Galatasaray in Istanbul. Just 14 minutes into his big return and Iker Casillas was forced off through injury, making way for Diego López after Sergio Ramos accidentally elbowed him in the ribs. This was Casillas' first competitive Real Madrid appea...Full Story »

The secretary and spokesman for the Barcelona Board of Directors, Toni Freixa, has announced that "there is no problem" with Iniesta's contract renewal. He also stressed, "If it were not for Messi, Iniesta would be the best in the world. We really value him and he is essential to our project. We want to put him in the position he deserves, behind Messi." Freixa does not want to hurry the renewa...Full Story »

Zenit St Petersburg coach Luciano Spalletti has praised Diego Simeone's stylistic influence on Atletico Madrid, with the two sides set to lock horns on Wednesday. The Liga side have won the Uefa Super Cup, Europa League and Copa del Rey since Simeone took the reins in the 2011-12 season and Spalletti feels that his opponents will provide a more stern test than Zenit are used to facing domesti...Full Story »

A late winner from Manuel Lanzarote allowed Espanyol to beat Granada away from home in controversial circumstances. The midfielder struck the only goal of the game on 76 minutes following an indirect free-kick inside the Granada area which was wrongly awarded for a backpass. Referee Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva then further angered the home crowd at El Nuevo Los Carmenes by sending off Odion ...Full Story »

Barça's worst fears have been confirmed, with tests performed on Sunday revealing that left-back Jordi Alba will be sidelined for three weeks after tearing fibres in his right hamstring. The Catalan full-back had to make way for Adriano just a quarter of an hour into Saturday's meeting with Sevilla. The Brazilian is now the only senior left-back available in the squad and will feature in t...Full Story »

Alexis' last-gasp strike to clinch victory for Barça over Sevilla saw a small brawl break out on the touchline, resulting in Pinto being yellow-carded. In his match report, referee César Muñiz Fernández noted that he had booked the goalkeeper for "squaring up to and taunting the opposition bench after the goal went in". However, Barcelona boss Gerardo Martino played down t...Full Story »

The Sevilla defender Fernando Navarro was clear and forthright after his side's defeat against Barcelona at the Camp Nou (3-2), with a goal from Alexis Sanchez settling the game in injury time: "Everyone can see it was a stitch up. We're angry. I don't want to say anything further because I might be suspended for what I have to say".Full Story »

The coach lauded his Brazilian forward's decisive output in a tense encounter which saw Jordi Alba suffer a thigh injury Gerardo Martino branded Neymar's performance as flawless after Barcelona survived a Sevilla fightback to win 3-2 on Saturday. Dani Alves and Lionel Messi's strikes were cancelled out by Ivan Rakitic and Coke, leaving Alexis Sanchez to net a last-ditch winner in a game that...Full Story »