..::Football IV::..

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Mane agrees terms on new five-year Liverpool contract


Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has agreed terms on a new long-term contract with the Anfield outfit.Goal understands the deal will see him remain with the Merseyside club until 2023 as the Premier League giants continue to tie down their star players.

Mane's partners in crime Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino have already signed fresh five-year deals in the last 12 months, and Jurgen Klopp has now ensured his ferocious front three have all committed their futures to the club with Mane set to finalise the deal before the end of 2018.

Senegal international Mane joined the Reds from Southampton in a deal worth £30 million ($38m) in the summer of 2016 and has gone onto become a firm fan favourite with the five-time European champions.

He has scored 40 goals and laid on a further 18 assists in 89 matches for Liverpool and scored in each round, including the final, as Klopp's team finished as runners-up in the 2017-18 Champions League.

Such form has seen him linked with Real Madrid, though the Reds have always insisted that he is not for sale.“I am very happy, very happy to extend my time at Liverpool,” Mane said in a statement released on the club's official website.

“It is a great day for me and now I am looking forward to everything – to helping the team, to helping the club achieve our dreams and, especially, to win trophies.

“I’ve always said, when I knew I had a chance to come here I didn’t have to think twice. The right club in the right moment and with the right coach as well. I came here and was very happy.“For me, I have made the best decision in my career.”Klopp added: “This is a big boost for everyone and another demonstration of how the players we have at this club are committed, not just to our present but our future also.

“I can't think of a single club anywhere in Europe that wouldn't want a player like Sadio available to them, so the fact he wants to remain with us says something about where we are currently.“He is a such an important member of our team and squad. He radiates joy and I think this is reflected in his performances and impact on the pitch.

“The only criticism I could ever have of Sadio is that maybe at times he is the only one not to see just how good he is - but as an attacking player he is the complete package.“He made a big impact when he first arrived, but if anything he's got better and better each season. His trajectory has only been upwards in terms of his level and his contribution."

Mane and his Liverpool team-mates will return to action on Saturday when they look to close the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester City as they visit Watford.

 

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'Ronaldo exit doesn't explain poor start' – Asensio refuses to make excuses for Madrid's struggles


Real Madrid attacker Marco Asensio denied suggestions Cristiano Ronaldo's departure was the reason for his team's slow start to the season.Madrid's poor start to the campaign led to the sacking of Julen Lopetegui, but Santiago Solari has managed to get the La Liga giants back on track.But Asensio does not believe that Ronaldo's move to Juventus in July could be used as an excuse to explain Madrid's struggles.

"I don't think so, really," he told Marca on Thursday."We have players of the right quality to score goals, play well and win titles this year."

As the caretaker boss, Solari led Madrid to four consecutive wins, which earned him a permanent contract until 2021, as they closed to within four points of league leaders and rivals Barcelona.

Asensio, who has a goal and an assist in La Liga this season, believes Madrid have become safer in their approach under the Argentinian. "Above all, we take fewer risks. We are more vertical now and we rely on that a little," he said.

"We stay compact in defence and in attack we try to be more clinical and be more effective."Asensio then praised Solari's communication, saying the coach was clear with what he expected from his players.

"For now, as far as I see, he doesn't talk much," he said. "But the words he says are always effective and he gets to the point telling each of us what he wants from us."He gives off tranquillity and confidence, which is important, especially considering the circumstances we were in."

Madrid make the trip to Eibar on Saturday in their first game after the international break, before travelling to the Stadio Olimpico three days later to face AS Roma in the Champions League.

 

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Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2018.11.24

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2018.11.24

Brighton Vs Leicester City

Everton Vs Cardiff City

Fulham Vs Southampton

Manchester United Vs Crystal Palace

Watford Vs Liverpool

West Ham Vs Manchester City

Tottenham Vs Chelsea

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Good Luck Manchester United!
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LA Liga Fixtures 2018.11.24

LA Liga Fixtures 2018.11.24

Eibar Vs Real Madrid

Valencia Vs Rayo Vallecano

Huesca Vs Levante

Atletico Madrid Vs Barcelona
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Serie A Fixtures 2018.11.24

Serie A Fixtures 2018.11.24

Udinese Vs Roma

Juventus Vs Spal

Inter Vs Frosinone
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Bundesliga Fixtures 2018.11.24

Bundesliga Fixtures 2018.11.24

Bayern Vs Fortuna

Augsburg Vs Frankfurt

Hertha Berlin Vs Hoffenheim

Mainz Vs Dortmund

Wolfsburg Vs Leipzig

Schalke Vs Nurnberg
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Full Time

Manchester United 0 Vs 0 Crystal Palace

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anthimai Manchester United play karana widiyanamMust win matches draw karagannawa

Good luck for the next match Manchester United!
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Manchester United 0 Crystal Palace 0: Lifeless Red Devils held at Old Trafford

Manchester United drifted further off the pace in the Premier League in a dispiriting 0-0 home draw with struggling Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Comfortably beaten in the Manchester derby a fortnight ago, Jose Mourinho's men - now some 14 points adrift of leaders City - offered only a limp response as the Eagles secured their first point in 12 league visits to Old Trafford.Roy Hodgson will feel his side should have taken more from the contest with Patrick van Aanholt and Andros Townsend culpable for poor misses either side of half-time.

But having avoided a third successive defeat, the visitors will be satisfied with having added to the pressure that continues to hang over Mourinho.
Though on top early, United were fortunate not to fall behind in the 25th minute as an unmarked Van Aanholt scuffed wide on the end of a counter-attack.

Chris Smalling next nodded past the far post from a Juan Mata free-kick, before Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial drew close-range saves from Wayne Hennessey.Palace had the ball in the net moments before half-time, but Cheikhou Kouyate was adjudged to have strayed marginally offside in contesting the header with Victor Lindelof.

The visitors were more thankful to see the assistant's flag raised 10 minutes after the interval as a tight call disallowed Romelu Lukaku's follow-up finish to Ashley Young's initial effort.Mourinho turned to Marouane Fellaini for impact and the midfielder's first act was to escape without caution for an ugly follow-through on Luka Milivojevic.

United were increasingly vulnerable and were given another reprieve when Townsend screwed his shot across the face of goal after squirming through a pair of challenges, before Hennessey's smart save from a Lukaku header at the other end ensured the points were fittingly shared.

 

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Bayern Munich 3 Fortuna Dusseldorf 3: Lukebakio treble cranks pressure up on Kovac

Dodi Lukebakio scored a stunning hat-trick as Fortuna Dusseldorf secured a 3-3 Bundesliga draw with Bayern Munich on Saturday to pile the pressure onto Niko Kovac.

Defeat to Borussia Dortmund before the international break had added to speculation over Kovac's future and the Bayern boss will come under increasing scrutiny after his side threw away a 3-1 lead against their lowly opponents.

They looked set for a routine win when Niklas Sule and Thomas Muller scored in the space of three first-half minutes, but Fortuna clawed their way back into the game after 44 minutes through Lukebakio.


Muller restored Bayern's two-goal advantage shortly before the hour, but Lukebakio had the final say, scoring breakaway goals in the 77th minute and three minutes into stoppage time to seal a superb point for his side.
Manuel Neuer had to be alert inside the opening minute to turn Lukebakio's low drive around the post, while Jerome Boateng flashed wide from long distance for the hosts after 14 minutes.

Sule's first goal of the season set Bayern on their way in the 17th minute, the Germany defender lashing beyond Michael Rensing after a corner had fallen to him 10 yards out.That lead was doubled just three minutes later when Muller collected Boateng's long-range pass and prodded past Rensing for his third league goal of the campaign.

Lukebakio pulled one back for Fortuna on the stroke of half-time, taking advantage of generous defending from Boateng and Sule to thump past Neuer from five yards.

Muller looked to have put the game beyond the visitors, curling a measured drive into Rensing's bottom-right corner from Robert Lewandowski's lay off. Lukebakio had other ideas, though.

The Belgian sprung the offside trap to score his second 13 minutes from time and then produced an almost carbon copy in stoppage time, powering away from Sule to slot past Neuer and stun the Bundesliga champions.

 

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Mainz 1 Borussia Dortmund 2: Piszczek puts leaders seven points clear

Lukasz Piszczek scored an impressive late winner as Borussia Dortmund earned a thrilling 2-1 win at Mainz to extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga.The win stretched Dortmund's advantage at the summit to seven points, with closest challengers Borussia Monchengladbach not in action until Sunday when they face Hannover.

Dortmund dominated the first-half possession and made the brighter start, Dan-Axel Zagadou's header saved by Robin Zentner shortly before Marco Reus was narrowly wide with another aerial effort.


Axel Witsel had a strike well tipped over for the visitors, before Jean-Philippe Mateta's chip was kept out by an onrushing Roman Burki at the other end.Mainz started brightly after the break with Mateta's blocked shot drifting just wide before Danny Latza fired a threatening effort into the side netting.

But Paco Alcacer, for whom Dortmund activated their option to sign him permanently from Barcelona on Friday, came on for Mario Gotze after 64 minutes and scored his ninth Bundesliga goal of the season exactly two-and-a-half minutes later to cap a superb counterattack.

The Spain striker tapped in after Jadon Sancho's impressive throughball found Reus, whose cut-back laid it on a plate for him.Mainz made a quick response, Alexander Hack's pass deflecting off Witsel into the path of Robin Quaison to slot a first-time finish under Burki with 20 minutes remaining, his first league goal of the season.

But the decisive blow came with 14 minutes remaining as Piszczek netted his first Bundesliga goal since February 2017. After seeing his initial effort blocked, the defender curled a magnificent effort in off the bar from 18 yards to maintain Lucien Favre's side's momentum.

Dortmund's battling victory gained further in significance as rivals Bayern Munich were pegged back in a 3-3 home draw against Dusseldorf, leaving them nine points off the pace.

 

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Fulham 3 Southampton 2: Ranieri makes winning start to pile pressure on Hughes


Claudio Ranieri made an immediate impact at Fulham as they climbed off the foot of the Premier League with an entertaining 3-2 home triumph over fellow strugglers Southampton.

Ranieri took over from Slavisa Jokanovic during the international break after Fulham had claimed just five points from their first 12 matches, conceding 31 goals in the process.

The Cottagers' defensive woes remained evident on Saturday as Stuart Armstrong scored his first two Premier League goals, but Aleksandar Mitrovic claimed a brace of his own either side of an Andre Schurrle strike to ensure a winning start for Ranieri and Fulham's first league victory since August 26.


As a result, they are now above Huddersfield Town and level on points with Southampton, this result piling further pressure on Saints boss Mark Hughes, who has overseen just one league win all season.
Manolo Gabbiadini had already wasted a fine chance before the lively Armstrong fired Southampton ahead in the 18th minute, taking a touch on his chest and shooting across Sergio Rico into the bottom-left corner after Fulham had failed to adequately clear Nathan Redmond's cross.

Fulham felt Charlie Austin had obstructed a defender as Armstrong scored, but the mood of the hosts improved markedly after 33 minutes when a slick passing move culminated in Maxime Le Marchand crossing for an unmarked Mitrovic to nod home from six yards.

More poor Southampton defending enabled Ranieri's men to take the lead before the break. Ryan Sessegnon's low ball in from the left was allowed to run all the way through to the far post, where Schurrle finished emphatically.After Alex McCarthy had denied Mitrovic with a superb save early in the second half, Armstrong produced a wonderful first-time finish from 20 yards to pull Southampton level.

Yet McCarthy could do nothing in the 63rd minute as Cyrus Christie’s cross was flicked on by Sessegnon and Mitrovic found the far corner with a stylish volley that proved decisive.

Rico pulled off a point-blank stop to deny Southampton substitute Michael Obafemi, while Southampton also saw an appeal for a penalty from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg turned down as Fulham held on.

 

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West Ham 0 Manchester City 4: Sane at the double for dominant champions

Manchester City stormed to a 4-0 victory at London Stadium as West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini endured an unhappy reunion with his former employers.

Pellegrini masterminded City's 2013-14 Premier League title triumph and one of the heroes of that campaign, David Silva, opened the scoring in the 11th minute – the evergreen playmaker's fourth in as many matches.Raheem Sterling, who Pellegrini made City's record signing in 2015, scored the second and turned provider for Leroy Sane to put the game beyond the Hammers in the 34th minute.

West Ham enjoyed their share of chances and Michail Antonio struck the post after half-time, before Sane blasted past Aaron Cresswell's best efforts on the line in the game's final act.

As in the 3-1 derby win over Manchester United last time out, Silva was on hand to find the breakthrough – deftly touching home Sterling's deflected cross at the near post having fired an earlier chance into the side netting.
West Ham had made an enterprising start but were left with a mountain to climb in the 19th minute, as Sane gained the yard of space he required around the outside of Pablo Zabaleta and crossed for Sterling to tap in.

The hosts continued to pose questions of Aymeric Laporte and Nicolas Otamendi at the heart of the champions' defence, with Marko Arnautovic and Antonio forcing goalkeeper Ederson into action.

Issa Diop made a superb last-ditch challenge to frustrate Sane but the Germany winger then left his centre-back partner Fabian Balbuena sprawled on his back as he coolly converted Sterling's pass.Antonio's profligacy remained a theme after the break when he powered past Fabian Delph but drilled against the base of the near post.

Arnautovic hobbled off before the end with an apparent knee problem - arguably a far greater concern for West Ham than Sane clattering into the bottom corner in stoppage time.

 

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Watford 0 Liverpool 3: Reds stay on Manchester City's tail

Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino ensured Liverpool kept up with the searing pace set by Premier League leaders Manchester City by scoring in a 3-0 win at Watford.Jurgen Klopp's side struggled to find a way through the Hornets defence for 66 minutes on Saturday, the Reds perhaps having an eye on Wednesday's pivotal Champions League game away to Paris Saint-Germain.

The hosts could have taken all three points, Gerard Deulofeu having an early goal ruled out for offside while a strong penalty appeal from Will Hughes was denied by the referee.


But Salah hit a first-time finish through the legs of goalkeeper Ben Foster, scoring his fourth goal in five Premier League games, before Alexander-Arnold's wonderful free-kick put the visitors in control.

Their win was marred, though, when captain Jordan Henderson was dismissed with eight minutes to go, meaning will be banned for next weekend's Merseyside derby, although Firmino added a late third.

Watford had a goal ruled out in the second minute, Deulofeu running on to Troy Deeney's pass to beat Alisson with a smart finish, but he was offside.Liverpool added Xherdan Shaqiri to a front three of Salah, Firmino and Sadio Mane – who signed a new deal on Thursday – but it took them 38 minutes to record a shot.

Firmino found space and fired off a low effort which Foster held well, Roberto Pereyra then testing Alisson's reflexes at the other end before the Watford goalkeeper kept out Salah's header.

Referee Jon Moss waved away Watford penalty appeals when Hughes went down under Andy Robertson's rash challenge early in the second half. Salah should have opened the scoring, slotting his finish through Foster's legs but wide of the far post, but he did break the deadlock soon after.

Firmino fed Mane through the left channel and the Senegal star pulled back a low cross for Salah, whose finish lacked power but was directed well enough to beat Foster.

Alexander-Arnold put Liverpool's firmly in the ascendancy with 14 minutes to go, curling a fantastic 25-yard set piece out of Foster's reach for his first Premier League goal of the year, before Henderson was sent off for a second yellow card late on.

And Firmino added his name to the scoresheet in the 89th minute, nodding in from close range after Foster denied Mane.

 

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Brighton and Hove Albion 1 Leicester City 1: Vardy the penalty hero after Maddison's red card


Jamie Vardy converted a late penalty to earn 10-man Leicester City a gritty 1-1 Premier League draw at Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.

The Foxes were a man light for more than an hour after James Maddison received two bookings in as many first-half minutes - the second for simulation as he threw himself to the floor in the box in trying to win a foul against Shane Duffy.

Maddison's meek reaction as he trudged off suggested he knew he could have no complaints, but Vardy climbed off the bench in the second period and dispatched his 79th-minute spot-kick into the net to cancel out Glenn Murray's early opener.


Murray, who signed a one-year contract extension during the international break, headed in his seventh league goal of a stellar campaign 15 minutes in to celebrate his 100th Premier League appearance, but the Seagulls could not hold on as time ticked down.
The pouring rain provided a fitting backdrop for Leicester's miserable start to proceedings, when only Kasper Schmeichel's clawing save from Beram Kayal prevented them going behind in the 12th minute.Brighton did break the deadlock shortly afterwards, though, as Murray got across the front post and glanced in Anthony Knockaert's right-wing corner.

A cynical foul on Knockaert earned Maddison his first caution and two minutes later a disgraceful dive to try and win the Foxes a penalty earned him a second yellow and a red.

As the second half progressed the edginess seemed to grow among the home faithful and Kayal's rash foul on Kelechi Iheanacho allowed Vardy to rattle in from the spot and ensure Maddison's dive did not prove too costly.

 

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Paris Saint-Germain 1 Toulouse 0: Champions scrape by without injured stars

Edinson Cavani led Paris Saint-Germain to a 1-0 Ligue 1 win over Toulouse in front of injured spectators Neymar and Kylian Mbappe at the Parc des Princes.Club record goalscorer Cavani netted a superb opener inside nine minutes to seemingly set the tone for PSG to soar to victory, yet the champions appeared to feel the absence of the world's two most expensive players as their momentum waned.

Thomas Tuchel's men were still able to hold on for a 14th consecutive victory to start the Ligue 1 season, but the story may well be different when Liverpool arrive in Paris on Wednesday for a make-or-break Champions League meeting.


PSG will hope to see Neymar and Mbappe on the pitch rather than in the stands for that match, having underwhelmed against modest domestic opponents.

With the focus on his absent team-mates, Cavani did not take long to provide a reminder of his talents. The forward claimed a loose ball in the area with his back to goal, turned brilliantly past his marker and thumped a volley into the net.

However, PSG's suffocating possession initially led to few further openings and, after Cavani had a second goal disallowed, Toulouse threatened with a couple of speculative efforts before the break.

There was more urgency to the hosts' play at the start of the second half and Thomas Meunier headed over, but that just about proved to be the extent of their attacking ambition.

Christopher Jullien blazed over at the other end when he should have equalised, before Presnel Kimpembe crucially intervened on the goal-line to protect the points in a nervy finish.

 

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Juventus 2 SPAL 0: Ronaldo fires Bianconeri nine points clear

Cristiano Ronaldo made it six goals in as many Serie A games on Saturday as Juventus beat SPAL 2-0 to move nine points clear at the top of the table.The five-time Ballon d'Or winner beat SPAL goalkeeper Alfred Gomis from six yards in the 28th minute at the Allianz Stadium – his ninth league strike for the Bianconeri.

Douglas Costa – one of six changes for Juve – impressed throughout for the league leaders, creating numerous openings that the hosts, including Ronaldo, were unable to convert.


Mario Mandzukic finally doubled Juve's advantage on the hour, the Croatia international sealing all three points with a simple tap-in after Costa's shot had stung the palms of Gomis.
Juve thought they had the game's opening goal after 11 minutes when a shambolic SPAL goal kick resulted in Felipe bundling a Costa cross into his own goal, but the visitors were spared as Gomis' initial kick had not exited the area before being played.

The impressive Costa went close with two efforts of his own in quick succession soon after, but his radar was slightly off from distance.Ronaldo was much more clinical from six yards just before the half hour, though, the Portugal international timing his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and tap home Miralem Pjanic's free-kick.

Juve and Ronaldo should have doubled their tally early in the second half but somehow he failed to convert from a yard out, the ball dropping to him after Costa's shot had thudded against the post.Costa's next involvement brought the second goal, his shot too hot for Gomis to hold and Mandzukic made no mistake from close range.

Ronaldo's quest for a second goal brought a fine late save from Gomis before an acrobatic bicycle kick sailed over, but it mattered little as Juve eased to ninth home league match without defeat.

 

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Tottenham 3 Chelsea 1: Brilliant Spurs hammer Sarri's men to first defeat

Tottenham left Maurizio Sarri's unbeaten record as Chelsea boss in tatters as they stormed to a 3-1 derby win at Wembley.Dele Alli's sixth goal in this fixture got Spurs off to a flyer and Harry Kane made it 2-0 in the 16th minute.

Son Heung-min was a menace to a ramshackle Chelsea defence throughout and brought up his 50th goal in Tottenham colours with a sublime 54th-minute solo effort.


Olivier Giroud's late header from Cesar Azpilicueta's cross could not stop Mauricio Pochettino's men leapfrogging Chelsea to go third in the Premier League, five points shy of leaders Manchester City on 30 points.

Spurs swarmed all over Chelsea from kick-off and had their reward in the eighth minute when Alli headed Christian Eriksen's delightful free-kick beyond Kepa Arrizabalaga.Son then blazed over and Kepa produced a superb save to deny the South Korea international.

The world's most expensive goalkeeper will look back at events from the 16th minute less favourably as David Luiz squirmed out of the way of Kane's speculative drive and Kepa remained static as the ball zipped past him.

In between the goals, Spurs defender Juan Foyth was fortunate not to be punished for clumsily challenging Eden Hazard in the area.Son curled just over on a rampaging break before Kepa repelled his volley in first-half stoppage time following Eriksen's superb chipped pass.Willian had a strike deflected over as Chelsea showed signs of life early in the second period, only for Son to bring the house down.

The effervescent Tottenham forward had plenty to do when Alli fed the ball to him down the right flank, but he comfortably outstripped Jorginho and was barely troubled by David Luiz's ineffectual presence on his way to arrowing a crisp finish into the bottom corner.

Kane and Alli should have added further goals before substitute Giroud found scant consolation for a well-beaten Chelsea.

 

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Eibar 3 Real Madrid 0: Nightmare start to Solari's full-time tenure

Real Madrid succumbed to a stunning 3-0 defeat at Eibar as Santiago Solari's reign as permanent head coach got off to a torrid start on Saturday.Having taken over from the sacked Julen Lopetegui following the 5-1 Clasico drubbing at the hands of Barcelona, Solari showed early promise with four wins from four in his interim tenure.

That run was enough to earn the former Madrid midfielder a deal through to June 2021, but his fortunes will have to improve drastically if he is to have any hope of remaining in the Santiago Bernabeu hotseat until then.


Gonzalo Escalante's scrappy opener saw Madrid fall behind for the first time under Solari, and the writing was on the wall with quickfire goals early in the second period through Sergi Enrich and Kike.

The shocking defeat capped a tough 48 hours for the club, who on Friday released a statement to deny accusations made by Der Spiegel that captain Sergio Ramos had broken anti-doping regulations on two occasions in the past.Ramos and the rest of the backline were soon under pressure, Thibaut Courtois producing a wonder-save to tip Kike's dipping 30-yard volley onto the post, before Karim Benzema was denied on the line by Cote.

After 15 minutes of frenetic action, Eibar broke the deadlock as Barca loanee Marc Cucurella surged down the left and squared for Kike. His attempt was brilliantly kept out by Courtois but Escalante managed to bundle the ball home from inside the six-yard box.

And shortly after the restart, the European champions' woe worsened.
Toni Kroos played a poor pass across the defence to Alvaro Odriozola, who dallied on the ball, allowing Cucurella to steal in and tee up Enrich for a low finish inside the left-hand post.

Five minutes later, the game was effectively put beyond a desperate Madrid as Cucurella whipped in a low cross that took a touch off Enrich and ran perfectly for Kike to tap into an empty net from five yards to seal Eibar's first ever league win over their illustrious opponents.