New Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui faces Getafe in his first La Liga match in charge. Reuters
New Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui faces Getafe in his first La Liga match in charge. Reuters
New Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui faces Getafe in his first La Liga match in charge. Reuters
New Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui faces Getafe in his first La Liga match in charge. Reuters

Real Madrid need to come racing out of the blocks as they face up to life without Ronaldo


Andy Mitten
  • English
  • Arabic

"Do we sign a player?" asked the front cover of Friday's Marca after Wednesday's 4-2 Uefa Super Cup defeat for Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid in Estonia. The two Madrid clubs have won 60 per cent of all European trophies in the past five years - Real Madrid have won four of the past five Uefa Champions League titles - but there's a nervousness since the departure of Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo over the summer.

Smelling blood, the Catalan press splashed with the "confusion" at the Bernabeu, yet it was the first international final which Madrid had lost since 2000 – 13 matches in total – and they didn’t play badly. Real seldom do defeat in any of the finals that matter, though Atletico did get the better of them in the 2013 Copa del Rey final too.

So far it has been a relatively quiet summer for Real, although there is time for new arrivals before the Spanish transfer window closes in two weeks. Having broken even on deals this summer, they also have money – €300 million (over Dh1.2 billion) according to several Spanish sources – to spend, but it’s not like a team who have proven they are the best in the world haven’t signed players.

With his Chelsea contract running down into its final year, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois came back to the city where he was a hero with Atletico for a bargain €35 million, while midfielder Mateo Kovacic has gone the other way on loan.

Alvaro Odriozola, the 22-year-old right-back who so impressed with Real Sociedad last season and was called up to Spain’s World Cup squad under Julen Lopetegui – now his manager at club level – arrived in a €30 million deal. Odriozola will hope to do better than Asier Illarramendi, the last similarly priced youngster to make the move from San Sebastian to the Bernabeu.

_______________

Read more:

Julen Lopetegui: Real Madrid have to improve in all facets if they are to challenge for La Liga title

Atletico Madrid take sweet revenge on Real to lift Uefa Super Cup

Andy Mitten: New faces and renewed focus at Camp Nou as Messi and Barcelona set sights on Champions League

Ian Hawkey: Cristiano Ronaldo may find goals harder to come by in the land of tough-as-teak defenders

Andy Mitten: Cristiano Ronaldo will find Juventus perfect environment for further greatness

_______________

Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior is the most exciting acquisition. The 18 year old arrives in a €45 million deal from Flamengo. He delighted a 64,000 crowd with his trickery when Madrid played Manchester United in their first pre-season game in Miami.

Ronaldo aside, Madrid have kept all their big guns. Those serial winners from captain Sergio Ramos to Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos to Isco all remain for the new season. Gareth Bale will be expected to become more of a star man in Ronaldo’s absence. As the Welshman showed in the Uefa Champions League final, which he was frustrated to start on the bench, he has the talent to produce something spectacular in the biggest matches. Bale needs to stay injury free, but while he hasn’t really learnt Spanish, he is genuinely happy at Madrid - when he’s playing.

Madrid have a tough first two months, with games at Girona, who defeated them last season, Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla, Alaves and Barcelona. They also host Atletico Madrid, who have a ruthless confidence about them, on September 29.

Madrid and Spain will miss Ronaldo, the question is: how much? The Portuguese has been Madrid’s best player season after season, their top scorer with 450 goals in nine incredible seasons. Madrid made a profit on him and won’t miss his annual agitating for a new contract, but they will be heavily criticised if they slip from the heights Ronaldo helped them reach.

Madrid suffered a terrible start last season, winning two of their opening five league games. The title race wasn’t over by the time they lost to Real Betis in September, but they were already seven points behind Barcelona after five games, a gap which only increased.

Getafe, Madrid’s first opponents who travel across the capital to visit the Bernabeu where they narrowly lost 2-1 last season, are a genuine test. They fared better than any of the promoted teams last season, finishing eighth, and were superbly organised as they held champions Barcelona 0-0 away in February.

New manager Lopetegui, who wants his team to play a high pressing attacking game, doesn’t control which players arrive, but there is external pressure for his side to be bolstered by a forward, even if only as a back-up, as Javier Hernandez was in 2014/15. That pressure would quickly melt if his team start the season as well as Barcelona did last term, but the managerial fuse is a short one at Madrid.

RESULTS

6.30pm UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

Winner Final Song, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).

7.05pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m

Winner Almanaara, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.

7.40pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m

Winner Grand Argentier, Brett Doyle, Doug Watson.

8.15pm Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m

Winner Major Partnership, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.

8.50pm Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.

9.25pm Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m

Winner Universal Order, Richard Mullen, David Simcock.

ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures

October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA

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The%20Iron%20Claw
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The%20specs%3A%20Taycan%20Turbo%20GT
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Company profile

Company name: Suraasa

Started: 2018

Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker

Based: India, UAE and the UK

Industry: EdTech

Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
NINE WINLESS GAMES

Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace (Oct 27, PL)

Liverpool 5-5 Arsenal  (Oct 30, EFL)

Arsenal 1-1 Wolves (Nov 02, PL)

Vitoria Guimaraes 1-1 Arsenal  (Nov 6, Europa)

Leicester 2-0 Arsenal (Nov 9, PL)

Arsenal 2-2 Southampton (Nov 23, PL)

Arsenal 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt (Nov 28, Europa)

Norwich 2-2 Arsenal (Dec 01, PL)

Arsenal 1-2 Brighton (Dec 05, PL)

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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HAJJAN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Abu%20Bakr%20Shawky%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3EStarring%3A%20Omar%20Alatawi%2C%20Tulin%20Essam%2C%20Ibrahim%20Al-Hasawi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

TCL INFO

Teams:
Punjabi Legends 
Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan

Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
When December 14-17

Don't get fined

The UAE FTA requires following to be kept:

  • Records of all supplies and imports of goods and services
  • All tax invoices and tax credit notes
  • Alternative documents related to receiving goods or services
  • All tax invoices and tax credit notes
  • Alternative documents issued
  • Records of goods and services that have been disposed of or used for matters not related to business
RESULTS
%3Cp%3E%0D5pm%3A%20Al%20Maha%20Stables%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(Turf)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20AF%20Alfahem%2C%20Tadhg%20O%E2%80%99Shea%20(jockey)%2C%20Ernst%20Oetrel%20(trainer)%0D%3Cbr%3E5.30pm%3A%20Al%20Anoud%20Stables%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20AF%20Musannef%2C%20Tadhg%20O%E2%80%99Shea%2C%20Ernst%20Oertel%0D%3Cbr%3E6pm%3A%20Wathba%20Stallions%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20AF%20Rasam%2C%20Tadhg%20O%E2%80%99Shea%2C%20Ernst%20Oertel%0D%3Cbr%3E6.30pm%3A%20Arabian%20Triple%20Crown%20Round%202%20%E2%80%93%20Group%203%20(PA)%20Dh%20300%2C000%20(T)%202%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Joe%20Star%2C%20Tadhg%20O%E2%80%99Shea%2C%20Helal%20Al%20Alawi%0D%3Cbr%3E7pm%3A%20Liwa%20Oasis%20%E2%80%93%20Group%202%20(PA)%20Dh300%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20AF%20Alajaj%2C%20Tadhg%20O%E2%80%99Shea%2C%20Ernst%20Oertel%0D%3Cbr%3E7.30pm%3A%20Dames%20Stables%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Silent%20Defense%2C%20Oscar%20Chavez%2C%20Rashed%20Bouresly%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20specs
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ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

Dubai Creek Open in numbers
  • The Dubai Creek Open is the 10th tournament on this year's Mena Tour
  • It is the first of five events before the season-concluding Mena Tour Championship
  • This week's field comprises 120 players, 21 of which are amateurs
  • 15 previous Mena Tour winners are competing at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club  
WWE Evolution results
  • Trish Stratus and Lita beat Alicia Fox and Mickie James in a tag match
  • Nia Jax won a battle royal, eliminating Ember Moon last to win
  • Toni Storm beat Io Shirai to win the Mae Young Classic
  • Natalya, Sasha Banks and Bayley beat The Riott Squad in a six-woman tag match​​​​​​​
  • Shayna Baszler won the NXT Women’s title by defeating Kairi Sane
  • Becky Lynch retained the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match
  • Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women’s title by beating Nikki Bella

Rainbow

Kesha

(Kemosabe)

Abandon
Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay
Translated by Arunava Sinha
Tilted Axis Press 

RESULTS

6.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82.500 (Dirt) 1,400m

Winner Meshakel, Royston Ffrench (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)

7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m

Winner Gervais, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (Turf) 2,410m

Winner Global Heat, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.

8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,900m

Winner Firnas, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

8.50pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (D) 1,600m

Winner Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

9.25pm Dubai Trophy (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (T) 1,200m

Winner Topper Bill, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m

Winner Wasim, Mickael Barzalona, Ismail Mohammed.