Barcelona have suffered another significant injury blow after confirming on Wednesday that Pedri will be out for the foreseeable future with a hamstring injury. Pedri, who was sent off in Barcelona’s 2-1 defeat to rivals Real Madrid in Sunday’s Clasico after being shown a second yellow card, could miss up to several weeks of action.
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Real Madrid edged an impassioned El Clasico at the Bernabeu to beat Barcelona 2-1 and go five points clear at the top of La Liga. Kylian Mbappe fired Los Blancos ahead before Fermin Lopez brought Barca level however a Jude Bellingham header proved decisive before the interval. Mbappe saw a second half penalty saved but Barcelona were unable to find an equaliser.
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Both Liverpool and Manchester City will face 15-time winners Real Madrid in the league phase of the Champions League, while Tottenham and Newcastle must both play holders Paris St-Germain. The 36-team league – introduced last season – will see six Premier League teams in action for the first time, but they can not face each other until the knockout stages.
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Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has been discharged from hospital after being admitted with “acute gastroenteritis”. Mbappe missed Real’s opening Club World Cup match against Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal on Wednesday, with head coach Xabi Alonso revealing he had a fever. The club subsequently confirmed Mbappe was suffering from “an acute case of gastroenteritis” and had been admitted to hospital for further tests and treatment.
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Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has signed a two-year contract to succeed Xabi Alonso as head coach of German club Bayer Leverkusen. It is the first managerial role that Ten Hag, 55, has taken since his departure from United in October. Alonso was confirmed as the new boss of Spanish giants Real Madrid on Sunday. The Dutchman had enjoyed prior success with Ajax before joining United in 2022.
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