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MADRID (AP) — A missed penalty kick. An injury. A burglary.
It wasn’t the type of day Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema had hoped for.
Benzema had a tough day on the field Sunday then came back home to realize his house had been burglarized while he was away.
MADRID (AP) — Barcelona finally got things going its way, finding a late goal to end its winless run and go into the international break on a positive note.
Barcelona struggled again but Frenkie de Jong scored in the 87th minute to salvage a 1-0 victory at relegation-threatened Alavés in the Spanish league on Sunday, snapping its three-match winless streak that included elimination from the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid won't be going a second consecutive season without a title.
After failing to lift a trophy under Zinedine Zidane last season, Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid secured the Spanish Super Cup with a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday in Saudi Arabia.
A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Wednesday:
SPAIN
Barcelona and Real Madrid meet in their second “clásico” of the season in the semifinals of the Spanish Super Cup. The competition returns to Saudi Arabia after being played in Spain last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Saturday:
SPAIN
Carlo Ancelotti will have Real Madrid's leading players back against Valencia following a surprise loss at the lowly Getafe.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid hosts Valencia on Saturday aiming to bounce back from its first loss in three months and protect its now diminished lead of the Spanish league.
Madrid had gone unbeaten in 15 games across all competitions, including 12 in the domestic league, until it stumbled at Getafe last round.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Karim Benzema struck two quick goals to lead Real Madrid to a 2-1 win at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday in a Spanish league game missing several players because of coronavirus infections.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio inflicted the latest blow on Atlético Madrid’s title defense after leading Real Madrid to a 2-0 win Sunday to keep their team comfortably at the top of the Spanish league.
MADRID (AP) — Karim Benzema and Luis Suárez will be ready to face off in the Spanish capital derby despite doubts regarding their fitness, their coaches said on Saturday.
Carlo Ancelotti said Benzema will play for Real Madrid on Sunday when it aims to deal a serious blow to Atlético Madrid’s chances of catching it in the Spanish league title race.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — When Karim Benzema went down injured, Vinícius Júnior and the rarely used Luka Jovic stepped up to secure Real Madrid a 2-0 win at Real Sociedad and strengthen its hold of the Spanish league lead on Saturday.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Relying on Karim Benzema's feet and Thibaut Courtois' hands, Real Madrid is back on course to winning titles in its second stint under veteran coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday increased its lead of the Spanish league to seven points over defending champion Atlético Madrid and surprise chaser Real Sociedad.
MADRID (AP) — Shortly after Karim Benzema scored again for Real Madrid, the “Ballon d’Or” chants began echoing from the Santiago Bernabéu crowd.
Madrid fans made it clear who they felt deserved the player of the year award that was won by Lionel Messi on Monday.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Karim Benzema and the teams that employ him appear unfazed by his guilty verdict for having played a part in the sex tape blackmail plot against a former France teammate.
Hours after the conviction by a Versailles court on Wednesday, Benzema helped Real Madrid clinch a spot in the Champions League knockout phase for a 25th consecutive season by scoring in a 3-0 win at Sheriff in Moldavia.
TIRASPOL, Moldova (AP) — Yet again, Real Madrid has made it past the group stage of the Champions League.
For the 25th straight time, the Spanish powerhouse will be playing in the competition's knockout rounds.
VERSAILLES, France (AP) — France and Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema was given a one-year suspended jail sentence and a fine of 75,000 euros ($84,000) Wednesday in a sex-tape case that rocked French soccer and put the talented striker's international career on hold for more than five years.
MADRID (AP) — Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard were not included in Real Madrid’s squad for the Champions League match at Sheriff because of health issues, the club said on Monday.
Both players were not available for coach Carlo Ancelotti after returning from the international break, and missed the team’s 4-1 win at Granada in the Spanish league on Sunday.
A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Sunday:
ENGLAND
Manchester City could be without three of its key attackers for a home match against Everton in the Premier League. Kevin De Bruyne is definitely missing after contracting the coronavirus while England players Jack Grealish and Phil Foden were hurt during the international break and are doubts.
PARIS (AP) — Second-half goals from midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko and forward Artem Dovbyk gave Ukraine a 2-0 win at Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday and sent it to the World Cup playoffs in second place behind runway group winner France.
PARIS (AP) — Striker Kylian Mbappe scored four goals as defending champion France qualified for next year's World Cup by crushing Kazakhstan 8-0 on Saturday.
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema netted twice after the break in a fine display of attacking soccer as Les Bleus qualified for Qatar as group winner with one game to spare.
MADRID (AP) — With Real Madrid struggling and being jeered by fans, Karim Benzema came through again for the Spanish powerhouse, scoring a pair of goals that included a milestone 1,000th for Madrid in Europe’s top club competition.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — New coach, similar disappointment for Barcelona.
Barcelona was held to a 1-1 draw at home by lowly Alavés in the debut of caretaker coach Sergi Barjuan, while Real Madrid and Sevilla both won on Saturday to leave the Catalan club even further behind in the Spanish league.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Angry fans surrounded Ronald Koeman's car and shouted insults at the Barcelona coach as he tried to leave Camp Nou on Sunday following his team's latest painful loss since the departure of Lionel Messi.
VERSAILLES, France (AP) — A French court trying an alleged blackmail case involving Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema and four other defendants will render its verdict on Nov. 24.
Benzema, who denies wrongdoing, didn't attend the trial this week in Versailles that wrapped up Friday.
VERSAILLES, France (AP) — The trial of French soccer player Karim Benzema and four others began Wednesday outside Paris, without the Real Madrid forward in attendance.
Benzema, who played in Kyiv on Tuesday against Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, is accused of being involved in an attempt in 2015 to blackmail France teammate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Vinícius Júnior scored twice, including a wondrous solo goal, to lead Real Madrid to a 5-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk and put its Champions League campaign back on track on Tuesday.
LYON, France (AP) — Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema will stand trial outside Paris starting Wednesday after being accused of trying to blackmail former France teammate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape.
TURIN, Italy (AP) — Kylian Mbappé redeemed himself with a goal and an assist as France came from two goals down to beat Belgium 3-2 Thursday and reach the Nations League final.
Theo Hernández scored the last-minute winner to complete the comeback and send world champion France through to Sunday’s final against Spain.
Key talking points ahead of the second round of Champions League games in the group stage:
UNITED STRUGGLES
With 55 shots in the last two games, no goals and a pair of 1-0 losses, Manchester United's attack is looking blunt.
MADRID (AP) — This time, Real Madrid didn't need to rely solely on Karim Benzema and Vinícius Júnior to keep winning in the Spanish league.
Benzema scored twice to reach 200 league goals but Madrid also got a hat trick from Marco Asensio on its way to a comfortable 6-1 win over Mallorca at home on Wednesday, a result that extended the team's winning streak to five matches in all competitions.
MADRID (AP) — Only a few games into the season, Real Madrid already knows it has an attacking duo it can rely on.
Vinícius Junior and Karim Benzema added to their impressive starts to the season by scoring late goals in Madrid’s 2-1 win against Valencia in the Spanish league on Sunday.
MADRID (AP) — Vinícius Júnior sent his low shot into the net and rushed to the sideline, jumping over the barrier and going into the stands to be quickly engulfed by Real Madrid fans.
It was a scene that wouldn't have been possible during the last 18 months.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Amid reports in the Spanish capital that Kylian Mbappé could soon be on his way, Real Madrid won 1-0 at Real Betis in the Spanish league on Saturday.
Right back Dani Carvajal volleyed in a pass from Karim Benzema in the 61st minute on a counterattack led by Vinícius Júnior, who again proved decisive to Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
PARIS (AP) — Coach Didier Deschamps announced France’s squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers on Thursday with four new players and no place for veteran striker Olivier Giroud.
Giroud is the France team’s second highest scorer with 46 goals, but the 34-year-old AC Milan forward lost his place to Karim Benzema at the European Championship.
MADRID (AP) — Karim Benzema picked up from where he left off last season, playing a decisive role for Real Madrid once again.
Benzema led Madrid in its Spanish league opener on Saturday by scoring twice in the team's comfortable 4-1 win at Alavés.
MADRID (AP) — Striker Karim Benzema tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of preseason training, Real Madrid said Friday.
The club did not elaborate on the France forward’s condition in a short statement.
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Winning the toughest group at the European Championship wasn’t really a big surprise for the World Cup champions. Winning only one match in that group was, though.
Regardless, it was still enough for France to finish first in Group F and set up a match against Switzerland on Monday in the round of 16.
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — After ending a nearly six-year wait for an international goal, Karim Benzema could score again as soon as Monday.
France will face Switzerland in the round of 16 at the European Championship and the striker may relish that contest for a couple of reasons.
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals are adding up fast, and they are taking Portugal deeper into yet another tournament.
Ronaldo scored two penalties Wednesday to help the defending champions secure a 2-2 draw with France and give the team a spot in the round of 16 at the European Championship.
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Karim Benzema’s return speeds up France’s attack and has taken some pressure off the defense.
The French team will be going for a fourth consecutive clean sheet with Benzema playing when it faces Hungary in Budapest on Saturday at the European Championship.
The Latest on soccer’s European Championship:
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UEFA says “several people” are being treated in the hospital for injuries caused by a protestor who parachuted into the stadium before France’s 1-0 victory over Germany in Munich.
Karim Benzema missed a penalty and hit the post on his international return as France warmed up for the European Championship with a 3-0 home win against Wales on Wednesday.
Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele grabbed the goals.
The international returns of France striker Karim Benzema, England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and Germany players Mats Hummels and Thomas Müller didn’t go according to plan on Wednesday.
Benzema, back in France’s team after a 5½-year absence, had a penalty saved and also hit the post in a 3-0 win over Wales in a warmup match ahead of the European Championship.
PARIS (AP) — French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu on Wednesday welcomed the return of striker Karim Benzema to the country's national team following a long exile.
In a surprise move Tuesday, France coach Didier Deschamps recalled Benzema after nearly six years out because of his links to the “sex tape scandal." The Real Madrid forward was included in the coach's 26-man squad for this year's European Championship.
PARIS (AP) — France coach Didier Deschamps recalled forward Karim Benzema after nearly six years out for his alleged part in a “sex tape" scandal, including the Real Madrid star in his squad for the European Championship.
MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid is not letting up in its quest to catch Atlético Madrid and repeat as Spanish league champion.
Madrid won 4-1 at Granada on Thursday to stay within range of leader Atlético entering the final two rounds.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The top four teams in the Spanish league meet this weekend in a round that promises to prove critical to the most tightly contested title fight in years.
Leader Atlético Madrid visits third-place Barcelona on Saturday, a day before second-place Real Madrid hosts fourth-place Sevilla...