Real Madrid

From Madrid bossing Barca in the Clasico, to Union being the surprise Bundesliga leaders, there's no shortage of drama in ESPN's weekend review.

In the middle of that was the cheekiest of goals from Eintracht playmaker [Jesper Lindstrom](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/278822/Jesper-Lindstrom), a bit of decoration on top of a dominant display. [Denmark](/soccer/team?id=479) international notched the third goal of a game that never seemed close, stealing in behind [Piero Hincapie](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/292062/Piero-Hincapié) after a sloppy passage of play before calmly chipping it beyond a dazed and confused [Lukas Hradecky](https://www.espn.com.au/soccer/player/_/id/134169/lukas-hradecky) from a narrow angle. [Ruthless Real show how far Barcelona have to go](/soccer/spanish-laliga/story/4771670/ruthless-real-madrid-show-how-far-barcelona-have-to-go-yet) [Speaking to ESPN ahead of the Clasico](/soccer/barcelona-espbarcelona/story/4770194/barcelonas-pedri-on-clasico-showdown-at-real-madrid-we-must-move-on-from-champions-league-drama), Barca midfielder [Pedri](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/250465/Pedri) conceded that the team are easily bruised when they concede. [Villarreal](/soccer/team?id=102), Athletic Club, Bayern Munich and [Valencia](/soccer/team?id=94) are all to come before the end of the month. [Ligue 1](/soccer/league/_/name/fra.1) giants [Paris Saint-Germain](/soccer/team?id=160) and [Marseille](/soccer/team?id=176) -- the first of the 2022-2023 campaign -- felt a bit like old times. [Janik Haberer](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/170604/Janik-Haberer)'s two goals in the opening 21 minutes were sufficient to take all three points. [St Johnstone](/soccer/club/_/id/267/st-johnstone) in mid-August, so he needed to end his goal drought quickly. And he did so in spectacular style to help Rangers on the way to a win that moved Giovanni van Bronckhorst's team to within two points of leaders [Celtic](/soccer/team?id=256). [Sassuolo](/soccer/team?id=3997) left-back's volley is one of the most beautiful, most pure, most powerful, most sensational strikes you will see all season. They produced a performance in the image of some of the best Simeone sides throughout the years, though, digging in to repel Athletic's constant attacks and secure a [1-0](/soccer/report?gameId=643853) win thanks to a goal from [Antoine Griezmann](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/140416/Antoine-Griezmann). [LaLiga](/soccer/league/_/name/esp.1), which is just how [Atletico Madrid](/soccer/team?id=1068) coach Diego Simeone likes it. [Athletic Club](/soccer/team?id=93) at San Mames, a ground they had not won at in over five years.

Madrid victorious against Barcelona at Bernabeu · Valverde impressed and got on scoresheet · Kroos took to Twitter in praise of teammate.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Valverde's display against Barca was one in a long line of impressive recent performances, as the Uruguayan has recorded four goals and an assist in nine league games so far this season. WHAT THEY SAID: The World Cup winner played the full 90 minutes alongside Valverde as Madrid saw off their arch-rivals at Santiago Bernabeu. An impressive performance from Valverde included a fine finish just after the half-hour mark, prompting Toni Kroos to take to Twitter in praise of his Real Madrid teammate.

From Madrid bossing Barca in the Clasico, to Union being the surprise Bundesliga leaders, there's no shortage of drama in ESPN's weekend review.

In the middle of that was the cheekiest of goals from Eintracht playmaker [Jesper Lindstrom](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/278822/Jesper-Lindstrom), a bit of decoration on top of a dominant display. [Denmark](/soccer/team?id=479) international notched the third goal of a game that never seemed close, stealing in behind [Piero Hincapie](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/292062/Piero-Hincapié) after a sloppy passage of play before calmly chipping it beyond a dazed and confused [Lukas Hradecky](https://www.espn.com.au/soccer/player/_/id/134169/lukas-hradecky) from a narrow angle. [Ruthless Real show how far Barcelona have to go](/soccer/spanish-laliga/story/4771670/ruthless-real-madrid-show-how-far-barcelona-have-to-go-yet) [Speaking to ESPN ahead of the Clasico](/soccer/barcelona-espbarcelona/story/4770194/barcelonas-pedri-on-clasico-showdown-at-real-madrid-we-must-move-on-from-champions-league-drama), Barca midfielder [Pedri](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/250465/Pedri) conceded that the team are easily bruised when they concede. [Villarreal](/soccer/team?id=102), Athletic Club, Bayern Munich and [Valencia](/soccer/team?id=94) are all to come before the end of the month. [Ligue 1](/soccer/league/_/name/fra.1) giants [Paris Saint-Germain](/soccer/team?id=160) and [Marseille](/soccer/team?id=176) -- the first of the 2022-2023 campaign -- felt a bit like old times. [Janik Haberer](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/170604/Janik-Haberer)'s two goals in the opening 21 minutes were sufficient to take all three points. [St Johnstone](/soccer/club/_/id/267/st-johnstone) in mid-August, so he needed to end his goal drought quickly. And he did so in spectacular style to help Rangers on the way to a win that moved Giovanni van Bronckhorst's team to within two points of leaders [Celtic](/soccer/team?id=256). [Sassuolo](/soccer/team?id=3997) left-back's volley is one of the most beautiful, most pure, most powerful, most sensational strikes you will see all season. They produced a performance in the image of some of the best Simeone sides throughout the years, though, digging in to repel Athletic's constant attacks and secure a [1-0](/soccer/report?gameId=643853) win thanks to a goal from [Antoine Griezmann](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/140416/Antoine-Griezmann). [LaLiga](/soccer/league/_/name/esp.1), which is just how [Atletico Madrid](/soccer/team?id=1068) coach Diego Simeone likes it. [Athletic Club](/soccer/team?id=93) at San Mames, a ground they had not won at in over five years.

The well-deserved win sees Los Blancos take a three-point lead at the top of the LaLiga table after nine games played, ahead of second-placed Barca. JUMP TO: ...

Garcia then gave a penalty away when he was caught flat-footed by Rodrygo late on, although Barca will point to a penalty that was not given for a [Dani Carvajal](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/168531/Dani-Carvajal) challenge on Lewandowski. [Sergio Busquets](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/121893/Sergio-Busquets) was beaten too easily by Kroos for Madrid's first goal. We should have made the foul to avoid the first goal and the second is the same. It was just the second goal Barca had conceded in the league this season. Too soft on Kroos in the build-up to Madrid's opener and not in position for the second. The buildup to the Clásico had everything. [Robert Lewandowski](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/125824/Robert-Lewandowski) did not score here but he has scored 14 times this season -- more than any Barca player managed last season. Even relative youngsters Valverde and [Vinicius Junior](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/252107/Vinícius-Júnior) already play with the mentality and confidence of veterans. The absence of [Thibaut Courtois](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/134283/Thibaut-Courtois) didn't matter -- [Andriy Lunin](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/257237/Andriy-Lunin) was mostly well protected in goal -- and once Valverde had made it 2-0, Madrid's lead never felt under threat until those nervy few moments after Ferran had pulled a goal back, before Rodrygo's penalty. [Match report: Madrid 3-1 Barca](/soccer/report?gameId=643856) They are still better than the rest in LaLiga and on that fact alone they should at least be able to keep up with Madrid, who move three points ahead of them for now. [Real Madrid](/soccer/team?id=86) looked comfortable throughout their 3-1 Clásico win over [Barcelona](/soccer/team?id=83) at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

Possession-heavy teams like Barcelona tend to preach control with the ball, but not Real Madrid, who are gradually becoming a unicorn football team that's ...

Real Madrid’s midfield domination was probably not as apparent during the game but in reality, it lived up to the billing. Barcelona had a lot of touches outside Real Madrid’s penalty area, on both flanks. The 250th Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona was living proof of it.

The Portuguese's was a club decision, discussed and meditated, as was that of Sergio Ramos. And there we can place the sales of Sergio Reguilon, Achraf Hakimi, ...

Of course there have been mistakes such as the cases of Luka Jovic and Eden Hazard, but at all times they have lived with them to try to minimize the negative impact. The Portuguese's was a club decision, discussed and meditated, as was that of Sergio Ramos. The feeling of impenetrability is evident and all because the team shows faith in what they do, as Toni Kroos showed by sending Antonio Rudiger into the attack in Warsaw. Fede Valverde was a more measured, but decided bet of the club. [win against Barcelona](https://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/cronica/2022/10/16/634c338aca4741c27c8b45df.html) and maintaining the undefeated status in the 14 matches so far, make clear the policy or management model of [Real Madrid](https://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid.html). [Fede Valverde's transformation into one of the best midfielders in the world](https://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid/2022/10/17/634d308d22601d24258b458e.html)

It's Monday, and Gab Marcotti reacts to the biggest moments in the world of football. Jump to: Clasico fall-out | Liverpool beat Man City | Juventus get a win | ...

[Olivier Giroud](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/88965/Olivier-Giroud) (who is now 36) and [Zlatan Ibrahimovic](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/11001/Zlatan-Ibrahimovic) (who is 41 and has yet to play this season). [Antoine Griezmann](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/140416/Antoine-Griezmann) and Atleti needed to dig deep to resist the late Bilbao onslaught, with Reinildo channeling his inner [Diego Godin](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/104564/Diego-Godín). [Richarlison](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/156799/Richarlison) went down injured early in the second half, he sent on [Yves Bissouma](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/232810/Yves-Bissouma) and switched to a 3-5-2. Playing him up front, with [Sadio Mane](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/169797/Sadio-Mané) wide and Sane through the middle -- has to be tempting, but then where do you put [Jamal Musiala](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/303821/Jamal-Musiala)? [Newcastle United](/soccer/team?id=361) are a good side who played well, [Manchester United](/soccer/team?id=360) won the xG battle and [Marcus Rashford](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/230945/Marcus-Rashford)'s header at the end could have won the game. We see little of this in the current Barca side, despite the fact that in [Pedri](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/250465/Pedri) and [Gavi](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/323702/Gavi) he has the players to do it. [Eric Garcia](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/128714/Eric-García) is what he is, [Sergi Roberto](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/150225/Sergi-Roberto) is a makeshift right-back and unless [Ronald Araujo](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/270821/Ronald-Araújo) and [Jules Kounde](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/231692/Jules-Koundé) are both fit at the same time, this side is bound to be vulnerable. [Harvey Elliott](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/280806/Harvey-Elliott) (who was excellent) in midfield and [James Milner](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/26843/James-Milner) at right-back -- and they mostly paid off. And while they showed more drive and cohesion after the break, this set-up -- with [Filip Kostic](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/174496/Filip-Kostic) as a winger in a 4-3-3 -- is not the answer. From Salah's first-half chance (brilliantly saved by [Ederson](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/176948/Ederson)) to [Diogo Jota](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/208133/Diogo-Jota)'s header on the one hand, to [Erling Haaland](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/253989/Erling-Haaland)'s chances and [Phil Foden](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/250787/Phil-Foden)'s disallowed goal, which so incensed Pep Guardiola, on the other. [Ansu Fati](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/292957/Ansu-Fati)). So much of their play goes through [Ousmane Dembele](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/229744/Ousmane-Dembélé) on the left and [Raphinha](http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/231050/Raphinha) on the right to the point that the midfield is often a bit player in terms of offering penetration.

Speculation here and there, anxiousness to see our favourite player lifting the greatest individual trophy possible, the crowning of a whole year's work ...

He won the Ballon d'Or after leading Barcelona to the Champions League semi-final, scoring 14 goals and providing 17 assists in the 1999/00 season. The legendary Brazilian striker won his second Ballon d'Or in 2002, when he won the World Cup in Korea and Japan. A Champions League title and reaching the 2018 World Cup final as Croatia's best player earned Luka Modric the 2018 Ballon d'Or. He overtook his compatriot Buffon and Thierry Henry in the Top 3. He has won five trophies, one of them with Manchester United in 2008, and the rest with Real Madrid (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017). The Frenchman played a key role in the 21/22 season, helping Real Madrid win LaLiga Santander, the Supercopa de Espana and the Champions League with his 44 goals and 15 assists.

Karim Benzema was awarded the 2022 men's Ballon d'Or on Monday after leading Real Madrid to a Champions League and LaLiga double.

He succeeds Barca teammate [Pedri](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/250465/Pedri), last year's winner. [Bayern Munich](/football/team?id=132)'s [Sadio Mane](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/169797/Sadio-Mané) and [Manchester City](/football/team?id=382)'s [Kevin de Bruyne](http://www.espnfc.com/socer/player/_/id/134947/kevin-de-bruyne), who came in second and third, respectively. Ballon d'Or organisers added a humanitarian prize named after the late Brazil midfielder Socrates. [Robert Lewandowski](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/125824/Robert-Lewandowski) won the Gerd Muller award for the best striker of the year, and Madrid's [Thibaut Courtois](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/134283/Thibaut-Courtois) won the Lev Yashin for best goalkeeper. [Borussia Dortmund](/football/team?id=124)'s [Jude Bellingham](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/291281/Jude-Bellingham) and [Bayern Munich](/football/team?id=132)'s [Jamal Musiala](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/303821/Jamal-Musiala). It's a lot of work; I never gave up and I kept that dream in my head. It's been difficult for me and that just makes me stronger mentally. "I had two role models in my life: Zizou [Zinedine Zidane] and [Brazil legend] Ronaldo. "I'm really proud seeing this prize, it's been my dream since I was a kid. [Gavi](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/323702/Gavi) won the Kopa Trophy, the award presented to the best player under age 21. "It's been difficult for me. PSG striker [Kylian Mbappe](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/231388/Kylian-Mbappé) came in sixth, while [Manchester United](/football/team?id=360) forward [Cristiano Ronaldo](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/22774/Cristiano-Ronaldo) was 20th.

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid won the 2022 Men's Ballon d'Or award at the ceremony held in the Theatre du Chatalet in Paris on Tuesday.

Benzema also excelled in Madrid’s Champions League winning run finishing as the competitions top-scorer with 15. It was not just the goals that paved way for Benzema’s first Ballon d’Or. Benzema was the favourite to win the award this year after winning the La Liga and Champions League with Real Madrid last season.

Karim Benzema has been named Ballon d'Or winner for 2022, with the Real Madrid striker considered to have been the best player on the planet.

Other iconic performers to have taken the top prize on multiple occasions include Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Franz Beckenbauer, Ronaldo and Alfredo Di Stefano. He has now been recognised as the world’s best by his peers, with competition from the likes of Mohamed Salah, Robert Lewandowski, Sadio Mane, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland seen off to land the prestigious Golden Ball. The 34-year-old found the target on 27 occasions in the Spanish top flight last season and 15 times in European competition.

The Real Madrid forward won the voting after a season when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were nowhere in sight. Barcelona's Alexia Putellas repeated as ...

That he has had to wait so long to flourish on his own accord is a measure of the height of the bar set by Messi and Ronaldo, and of the challenge of thriving in an era marked by twin greats. Benzema may not have been the decisive player in the Champions League final, an honor that fell to his teammate Vinícius Júnior, but he had unquestionably been the defining figure in Real’s journey to the final in Paris. When that advantage seemed to have been wasted in the return fixture, it was Benzema who lifted Real Madrid once more, scoring the extra-time goal that sealed its place in the semifinal. Benzema joined Real Madrid in the same summer as Ronaldo, though to rather less fanfare. And yet that assessment risks not only turning Benzema’s triumph into a subplot in a story of Messi and Ronaldo’s fall, but also ignoring the context for his victory. Benzema did not win the Ballon d’Or because Messi and Ronaldo finally fell to earth. (Benzema’s Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric was the other exception, in 2018.) It is the first time since 2006 that neither man has at least been on the podium. The blunt measures, of course, are the trophies — his fifth Champions League, another Spanish title — and the goals: 27 in La Liga, 15 in just a dozen games in Europe. Ferré hoped that measure — clearly directed at what might be regarded as legacy voters for Messi and Ronaldo — would make the Ballon d’Or an “open competition, rather than a preserve.” It is, after all, only the second time since 2008 that a player other than Messi or Ronaldo has been anointed as the best on the planet. (Ferré, more than a little disparagingly, said this new “elite” panel represented the “real connoisseurs” of the game.) But the tournament is a feeling that money can’t buy,

Karim Benzema has won the Ballon d'Or for the first time in his career. The Frenchman becomes only the second player aside from Lionel Messi and Cristiano ...

Last season, Benzema was in scintillating form. It is this drive that has kept me going and never allowed me to let up. Aged 34, Benzema is the oldest Ballon d'Or winner since Stanley Matthews in 1956. "There are a lot of people to thank. To be here today for the first time, I am happy, pleased for my work and want to keep going. Benzema's Real Madrid team-mate Luka Modric won the prize in 2018.

Karim Benzema was awarded the 2022 men's Ballon d'Or on Monday after leading Real Madrid to a Champions League and LaLiga double.

He succeeds Barca teammate [Pedri](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/250465/Pedri), last year's winner. [Bayern Munich](/soccer/team?id=132)'s [Sadio Mane](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/169797/Sadio-Mané) and [Manchester City](/soccer/team?id=382)'s [Kevin de Bruyne](http://www.espnfc.com/socer/player/_/id/134947/kevin-de-bruyne), who came in second and third, respectively. Ballon d'Or organisers added a humanitarian prize named after the late Brazil midfielder Socrates. [Robert Lewandowski](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/125824/Robert-Lewandowski) won the Gerd Muller award for the best striker of the year, and Madrid's [Thibaut Courtois](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/134283/Thibaut-Courtois) won the Lev Yashin for best goalkeeper. [Borussia Dortmund](/soccer/team?id=124)'s [Jude Bellingham](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/291281/Jude-Bellingham) and [Bayern Munich](/soccer/team?id=132)'s [Jamal Musiala](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/303821/Jamal-Musiala). It's a lot of work; I never gave up and I kept that dream in my head. It's been difficult for me and that just makes me stronger mentally. "I had two role models in my life: Zizou [Zinedine Zidane] and [Brazil legend] Ronaldo. "I'm really proud seeing this prize, it's been my dream since I was a kid. [Gavi](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/323702/Gavi) won the Kopa Trophy, the award presented to the best player under age 21. "It's been difficult for me. PSG striker [Kylian Mbappe](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/231388/Kylian-Mbappé) came in sixth, while [Manchester United](/soccer/team?id=360) forward [Cristiano Ronaldo](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/22774/Cristiano-Ronaldo) was 20th.

Stunning performances helped Real win the Champions League and La Liga last season. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Winning the award, which is given out by France Football magazine, caps a remarkable career revival for Benzema, who was frozen out of the France team for five and a half years because of his involvement in He was later handed a one-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of €75,000 (S$100,000) for his involvement in the affair. Benzema, who is the first French winner of the most prestigious individual prize in football since Zinedine Zidane in 1998, scored 44 goals in 46 games for his club including 15 in the Champions League.

Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 matches last season for Real Madrid, who won LaLiga and the Champions League; Sadio Mane finished in second place while Kevin ...

I'm really proud to win this trophy alongside the other goalkeepers who are there - and the female ones too," said Belgian goalkeeper Courtois. "I want to thank my team-mates at Real Madrid. "I have a lot of people to thank. I had two motivations in my life - Zidane and Ronaldo. My coach, thanks to him as well. "I want to thank my team-mates, whether it's Real Madrid or the national team.

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's La Liga clash between Elche and Real Madrid, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

[Click here](https://sporita.com/?utm_source=sportsmole&utm_campaign=162164)to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Away Win:curl [Lucas Boye](/people/lucas-boye/) should also start up front, after serving a suspension. He will certainly be licking his lips ahead of a trip to the league's leakiest defence. [Fidel Chaves](/people/fidel-chaves/) will miss out again due to a hamstring injury, but [Gerard Gumbau](/people/gerard-gumbau/) will return to the squad after becoming a father on the weekend. [Luka Modric](/people/luka-modric/) and [Eder Militao](/people/eder-militao/). [Elche](/football/elche/) welcome league leaders [Real Madrid](/football/real-madrid/) to the Estadio Martinez Valero on Wednesday, still searching for their first win of the season.

Spain's Alexia Putellas wins women's trophy for the second straight year after another standout season with Barcelona.

“To retain the trophy is much harder,” Putellas said on Monday. “The knee is doing well. His 15 goals in the Champions League guided Real to a record-extending 14th title.

Karim Benzema is the fourth highest scorer in UEFA Champions League history: marvel at his stats.

2016/17 5 (Real Madrid) [2-1 group stage win against Rosenborg on 6 December 2005](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/81782--lyon-vs-rosenborg/), [13 days before his 18th birthday](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/025a-0e9f8a869d0f-4945c17a2380-1000--champions-league-youngest-goalscorers-ansu-fati-cesc-fabregas-k/). 2013/14 5 (Real Madrid)

While receiving the award De Bruyne mentioned that "We couldn't win the Champions League but we had a great season. Guardiola always tries to make us progress.

He's the best, really," which could answer the question of why they won, others claim that it was because of the club as a whole, including the Women's team as well, however there was not a clear answer yet since the voting system was not revealed. Real Madrid was the strongest contender to receive the first ever club of the year award at the Ballon d'Or gala since they won La Liga and made history in the Champions League by eliminating all the favorites including PSG, Chelsea who were reigning champions, Manchester City, and Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool in the final. Real Madrid, in fact, came third, as the runner-up was Liverpool, and