Real Madrid went level on points with rivals Barcelona at the LaLiga summit following their 2-0 triumph over high-flying Villarreal on Saturday.

The hosts opened the scoring in stunning fashion when Luka Modric's short corner was dummied by Jude Bellingham for Federico Valverde, with the Uruguayan taking aim from distance and finding the bottom corner with the aid of a deflection. 

But Villarreal, who had won back-to-back league games heading into the encounter at the Bernabeu, responded almost immediately when Nicolas Pepe's header rattled the crossbar before Thierno Barry nodded over. 

Los Blancos had further chances to increase their lead, but Antonio Rudiger sent an effort over the bar before Bellingham's long-range effort sailed wide of the post.

But the victory was sealed 17 minutes from time with another sensational strike, this time Vinicius Junior tried his luck from long-range and curled a superb strike beyond the grasp of Diego Conde after being found by Valverde. 

The result, however, was overshadowed by a nasty injury in second-half stoppage time to Dani Carvajal, with the Spaniard leaving the pitch on a stretcher and in tears after a collision with Yeremy Pino. 

Data Debrief: Wonder goals save Los Blancos

Madrid's two strikes against Villarreal both came from outside the box, as many as they had scored in their previous 39 goals in LaLiga. 

But Carlo Ancelotti's side were far from their very best at the Bernabeu. They managed to muster an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.47 compared to Villarreal's 0.62, with only two of Los Blancos' 11 shots on target. 

Valverde, however, impressed for Madrid, creating the joint-most chances alongside Modric (three), while also completing more accurate passes (77) than any other player on the pitch. 

Barcelona's new goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny will not make his debut against Alaves on Sunday and will instead have to wait until after the international break.

The club signed the Pole as a free agent on Wednesday, with the goalkeeper reversing his decision to retire so he could come to the team's aid following Marc-Andre ter Stegen's season-ending injury.

Ter Stegen suffered a serious knee injury against Villarreal last month, and Inaki Pena has featured in the last three games for Barcelona, most recently keeping a clean sheet in their 5-0 win over Young Boys in the Champions League.

And it looks like Pena is set to start between the sticks against Alaves, too, with Hansi Flick confirming that Szczesny is not yet available for selection. 

"Szczesny is in good shape and, with his experience, character and quality, I think he is the very best option for the club," Flick told reporters.

"It's very good to have him, he will help us a lot, but he is not with us against Alaves.

"I am sure after the international break Szczesny will be an option for us. For him also, to play for Barca will be great. We will see how he is doing in training. We have a lot of time."

The Catalan side have a tough run after the international break, hosting Bayern Munich in the Champions League three days before visiting Real Madrid in LaLiga on October 26.

They are in a strong position though, sitting top of the table heading into their match against Alaves, though did suffer their first loss of the domestic season against Osasuna last weekend in a 4-2 defeat.

With 25 goals to their name already, they have made their best scoring start to a single campaign since 2016-17 (26).

However, Flick admitted his decision to rest key starters had an impact in that loss, and accepted the players would not like his choices.

"It's normal to get angry, everyone wants to play more. Those changes had to be made. It's a decision that they have to accept, and they did," he added.

"Lamine Yamal [a 59th-minute substitute against Osasuna] complained that he wasn't receiving many balls, but now he can work on fixing that.

"We have to avoid the many mistakes we made at Osasuna. We need to have more control and possession. It is going to be a high-intensity game at Alaves." 

Girona head coach Michel has urged his team to rediscover their attacking spark by adopting a bolder approach in the final third against Athletic Bilbao this Sunday. 

Girona return to LaLiga action at the Estadi Montilivi following their 3-2 Champions League defeat to Feyenoord in midweek, leaving them winless in the competition.

The Blanquivermells have also struggled in the league, failing to win any of their last four matches (D2 L2), while only scoring two goals during that run. 

Michel's side currently sit 13th in the standings with nine points from their first eight games, while Bilbao are up in sixth on 14 points. 

Girona have lost only one of their last four against this weekend's opponents in LaLiga (W2 D1), with Michel desperate to see his side return to winning ways. 

"The most important thing is the league, which is our vitality, it is where we have to perform to be able to make the club grow," Michel said. 

"We need a victory with home fans so that the good feelings can turn into points."

But the Girona head coach did take on some of the blame for his side's transition to playing Champions League football this term. 

After tomorrow's fixture, the Blanquivermells will have played six games in 18 days, and Michel was able to pinpoint the differences from last season to this. 

"I have to be the one who adapts to the player's characteristics because otherwise they won't be comfortable on the pitch," Michel said. 

"In my mind it is clear that my way of playing is good for any player, but they have to understand that they have to take a step in our game. Any player can do that.

"I'm not asking them to dribble past three defenders and score, but I do ask that they play forward and upward, that they should always look at their opponents' faces (bravely).

"We have a team that can perform very well and do things very well. We must not enter into negative dynamics."

Diego Simeone has dismissed claims of negativity surrounding Atletico Madrid following their resounding 4-0 Champions League defeat to Benfica in midweek.

Los Colchoneros are unbeaten in LaLiga after eight matches, winning four and drawing four, sitting five points behind leaders Barcelona, ahead of Sunday's trip to Real Sociedad.

However, they were trounced by Benfica in their second match in the Champions League's new league phase on Wednesday, the first time they had shipped four goals in a Champions League group-stage game since October 2020 (0-4 at Bayern Munich).

"I don't think that there is a negative climate. I believe our atmosphere is good and we are working towards the team we want to have," Simeone told reporters on Saturday.

"There are players who arrived in the last days of the transfer window, and they are acclimatising.

"From our position, we need to help them adapt as quickly as possible so the team can take shape swiftly. I don't see that as negativity at all."

Atletico bolstered their squad with new signings Conor Gallagher and Julian Alvarez ahead of the new campaign, and Simeone is still waiting for his players to gel.

"I didn't see the team lacking commitment or intensity, but rather a lack of creative play and resources ... Let's see if we can win against Sociedad," Simeone added. 

Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger has lauded Barcelona's Lamine Yamal as 'ridiculous' following the teenager's rapid rise to stardom for their fierce LaLiga rivals. 

Yamal broke into Barca's first-team last term, making 50 appearances in all competitions before announcing himself on the international stage for Spain at Euro 2024. 

He became the first Spanish player to register four assists in a single European Championship tournament.

It was also the joint most that any player has ever assisted at a single edition of the tournament that Opta has on record (1980 onwards).

Yamal also broke Pele's record from the 1958 World Cup final for Brazil against Sweden by becoming the youngest player to feature in a major international tournament final at the age of 17 years and 249 days in Spain's 2-1 win over England. 

And the teenager has picked up where he left off in Germany, already notching 10 goal involvements (five goals and five assists) in 10 appearances in all competitions this season.

The 17-year-old has also completed the joint-most dribbles alongside Sevilla's Chidera Ejuke (23) in LaLiga this season, while only Raphinha (26) has created more chances for Barcelona in the league this season than Yamal (17). 

"You have to give credit where credit is due," Rudiger told The Inside Scoop podcast when asked about Yamal.

"He is 17, it's ridiculous. The player he is already for them [Barca] at 17, it's quite scary. What he did in the Euros, you have to give kudos to him. He has a great future ahead.

"I think they [Barca] have a player who has a [big] career and hopefully, he will stay healthy."

Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful Real Madrid can bounce back from their shock Champions League loss to Lille, despite the short turnaround before Villarreal.

Madrid return to LaLiga action on the back of the 1-0 defeat to the French side, with Jonathan David's penalty enough to deny the holders a victory.

It also ended their 36-match unbeaten run in all competitions and was their first Champions League group-stage defeat since October 2022 against RB Leipzig.

Ancelotti's side have now failed to win their last two, having also conceded a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid last weekend, but he is confident the team will be back to winning ways soon.

"[Villarreal] are doing really well. Saturday, it's an opportunity for us to reconnect, to get back to playing good football," Ancelotti told a press conference on Friday.

"[The mood] is fine, as always. [Wednesday's] defeat is an opportunity, if we take it and react well. We are self-critical. There are times when you have to reconnect and you need to do it quickly.

"Sometimes a good run makes you think you're invincible, but a defeat brings you back to reality. We are still not at our level, we have players who are not at their best.

"We are not far from where we want to be. There is a lack of defensive intensity and, offensively, a lack of ball circulation."

Coming off a remarkable 2023-24 season in which they won the LaLiga and Champions League double, Madrid are second in the Spanish top-flight standings on 18 points, three behind leaders Barcelona and one ahead of Villarreal.

Ancelotti expects to get Kylian Mbappe back into the starting team after the forward missed last weekend's derby against Atletico and came off the bench at Lille due to a hamstring injury, which led to France manager Didier Deschamps leaving his captain out of the squad for next week's Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium.

"He has had a problem that seems to have been solved. He has trained normally," Ancelotti said.

"I don't get involved in what national coaches do. Deschamps has decided not to call him. We need to get the ball to the strikers quicker and we lack defensive intensity."

Barcelona have signed Wojciech Szczesny as a free agent, with the goalkeeper reversing his decision to retire after the Blaugrana lost Marc-Andre ter Stegen to a long-term injury.

Germany international Ter Stegen underwent surgery after suffering a rupture of the patella tendon in his right knee last weekend and is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Inaki Pena was initially expected to cover for Ter Stegen, but Barca have now reinforced their squad with the signing of former Arsenal man Szczesny.

Szczesny had announced his retirement from football last month after terminating his contract with Juventus, where he had been a regular after replacing Italy great Gianluigi Buffon between the sticks.

Szczesny won Serie A and the Coppa Italia three times each with Juve, making more than 250 appearances for the club, but he then lost his place to close-season recruit Michele Di Gregorio.

Barcelona are top of LaLiga with 21 points from eight games and Hansi Flick's side next visit Alaves on Sunday, looking to bounce back from last week's defeat at Osasuna. 

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has reiterated his view that players should be punished for provoking fans, after some supporters threw objects at Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in Sunday's derby.

Atleti played out a 1-1 draw with their cross-city rivals on Sunday, as both teams maintained their unbeaten starts to the season in LaLiga. 

The match was suspended after Eder Militao opened the scoring in the 64th minute, with fans from ultras group Fondo Sur throwing objects including cigarette lighters at Courtois during the visitors' celebrations.

After the game, which saw Angel Correa net a 95th-minute equaliser, Atletico's players were heavily criticised for applauding the ultras, while Simeone attracted scrutiny for suggesting Courtois' actions contributed to the unsavoury scenes.

Speaking ahead of Atleti's Champions League trip to Benfica on Wednesday, Simeone defended those comments as he said: "The other day I didn't shut up, I said something many see. I received millions of messages thanking me for what I said, many are represented in that situation.

"If it was up to me, I would sanction the one who provokes from the place he has as a protagonist. Now society is very sensitive and we need firmness."

Despite saying some took his comments out of context, the Argentine refused to retract what he said, adding: "I'm calm because I am clear and up front, I like to say what I feel. I wouldn't change anything I said.

"I have said three times that I condemn violence, showed rejection of the aggressors, said that as a club it was a great opportunity to show outwardly what should be done.

"Then I gave an opinion that they twisted and took wherever they wanted. I think it is good for football if that debate is opened up. The other day it was Courtois' turn but it could have been someone else. But people stop at what they want.

"I said one thing and then I gave an opinion and many took the opportunity to have fun between Monday and Tuesday, but now we are thinking about Benfica."

Atletico said on Monday they had banned a person identified as taking part in the violence and were working with police to identify others, who will also be disciplined. 

Barcelona have set midfielder Marc Bernal's buyout clause at €500million and extended the 17-year-old's contract until June 2026, the LaLiga club said on Monday

When Spaniard Bernal will no longer be an Under-19 player in 2026, he will have an option to extend for an additional three years, Barca added.

Bernal ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during Barca's 2-1 victory at Rayo Vallecano last month, where he was forced off the pitch in the final minutes.

A product of Barcelona's youth academy, Bernal has made three league appearances since his debut for the senior team in their LaLiga opener against Valencia.

"Barcelona and Marc Bernal have reached an agreement on an adjustment of the player's contract, which binds him to the club until 30 June 2026, when his status as an U19 player ends, with the option to three more years," a Barca statement read on Monday.

"The buyout clause has been set at €500million.

"Marc Bernal was, until his unfortunate injury, the huge sensation at the start of the season.

"After he joined manager Hansi Flick for the pre-season, the German coach was convinced that he was ready to move up to the next level.

"The club is convinced that he is a fabulous investment for the future and has reflected this belief with today's new deal." 

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois suffered an adductor injury in Sunday's derby draw with Atletico Madrid, the Spanish champions have confirmed.

Courtois struggled to kick with his left foot in the latter stages of the match at the Civitas Metropolitano, where he was earlier targeted with projectiles by a group of supporters.

Atleti ultras group Fondo Sur launched objects including cigarette lighters at Courtois when he celebrated Eder Militao's 64th-minute opener in front of the home fans.

The teams were taken off the pitch for over 15 minutes in response to that incident, with Angel Correa's stoppage-time strike later salvaging a 1-1 draw for the hosts.

On Monday, Madrid released an update on Courtois' condition, confirming he had suffered an adductor injury in his left leg and would be monitored.

Spanish media reports subsequently claimed he could miss around two weeks, which would mean sitting out Wednesday's Champions League trip to Lille and a home league game versus Villarreal on Saturday.

After the subsequent international break, Los Blancos go to Celta Vigo on October 19 before facing Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona in two huge home games the following week.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti believes Sunday's derby draw with Atletico Madrid could prove to be an important result in the future, despite their last-gasp concession.

Madrid were on course to move within a point of Barcelona – who saw their unbeaten start to the season ended by Osasuna on Saturday – in LaLiga when Eder Militao opened the scoring after 64 minutes.

However, after a 15-minute stoppage due to members of the crowd throwing objects at Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Angel Correa snatched a 95th-minute leveller for Atleti.

The Argentine's strike was the first stoppage-time goal scored by Atleti in a Madrid derby this century, as both teams maintained their unbeaten starts to the campaign.

Ancelotti was frustrated to drop two points but feels the result was still a positive one, telling reporters: "It is hard to cope with a draw when we were very close to winning.

"It can happen, the opponents are very strong and have a lot of quality. Their goal was in the last minute, it's a pity. We controlled the game well, we came close.

"But I always like to think positively. We've won a point away from home and we are a point closer [to Barcelona].

"The dynamic is good, we are in contention and we don't despair, a draw here can mean a good point for the future."

Referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer took both teams off the pitch in the aftermath of Militao's opening goal as objects rained down from the stands, causing Atleti boss Diego Simeone to say Los Colchoneros "do not need these people".

Ancelotti hailed the officials' reaction to the incident and said the stoppage had not affected the flow of the game, adding: "I don't think it helped Atletico, it affected us both equally.

"We all wanted to play. The decision to stop the match was the right one. The referee said that lighters were thrown and that he had stopped the match twice, if they threw another one, he had to suspend it.

"I think it was a correct decision by the referee. It had to stop, a few things were sorted out, and we started again. Obviously, none of us liked the situation. Everyone wanted to play. The referee acted well."

Diego Simeone slammed Atletico Madrid's ultras after violence caused Sunday's 1-1 draw with Real Madrid to be temporarily halted, though he also feels players who provoke fans should be sanctioned.

Atleti and their cross-city rivals both maintained their unbeaten starts to the season as they played out a fiery draw at the Civitas Metropolitano, with Angel Correa's stoppage-time goal cancelling out Eder Militao's 64th-minute opener.

Militao's goal precipitated violent scenes as the ultras group Fondo Sur hurled objects including cigarette lighters at visiting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. 

That caused referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer to take both teams off the pitch for 15 minutes, as Simeone and Atleti captain Koke approached the stands in a bid to placate fans.

After the delayed match finally ended level, with Atleti also seeing Marcos Llorente sent off nine minutes into stoppage time, Simeone told DAZN: "My opinion is that people who have committed incidents should be sanctioned by the club. We don't need these people. We need the people who accompany and support us."

He was also critical, however, of Courtois' celebrations, adding: "They harm the club, but be careful: that does not justify generating situations that we, the protagonists, generate.

"We all have to help. The people who have thrown those lighters, it's not right. But maybe it doesn't help when us, the protagonists, undermine people, charge against people, provoke people and then people get angry.

"People have no other way of doing it, in a bad way, which is not right, but we also have to try to be calm, to understand the situations.

"You can celebrate a goal by celebrating it, but not by celebrating it by staring at the stands, charging against the stands, making gestures... because then people get angry.

"Of course it's not justified, but neither is the initial thing justified because otherwise we'll always be victims. The one who throws the cigarette lighter should be sanctioned and the one who provokes should also be sanctioned. 

"This way there is no more laughter and things like that; as you are not sanctioned, you are allowed to do things."

Atletico later released an official statement saying they have already identified one fan who hurled objects onto the pitch and are working with police to identify others.

"Atletico de Madrid wishes to express their rejection of the throwing of objects from a section of the south stand in the 68th minute of the match against Real Madrid," the statement read. 

"The club's security department has been working together with the police to locate those involved, one of whom has already been identified.

"The club will apply the internal regime foreseen for very serious cases to the people involved in this incident. 

"These attitudes have no place in football and tarnish the image of a stadium that has experienced a spectacular atmosphere with more than 70,000 spectators in the stands, the vast majority of whom have shown exemplary behaviour." 

Angel Correa bundled home a stoppage-time equaliser to snatch a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in a LaLiga derby which was suspended in the second half.

The home fans threw objects onto the pitch near Thibaut Courtois in the 69th minute, forcing a stop to proceedings as the trouble was dealt with. 

Shortly before that, Eder Militao had opened the scoring for the visitors, with his rifled effort taking a deflection past Jan Oblak into the back of the net 64 minutes in.

The game was stopped for around 20 minutes, and when the players returned to the pitch, Atletico piled the pressure on.

They eventually levelled the score in the 95th minute, with substitute Correa rounding Courtois to roll it into an empty net, and the goal, which was initially ruled offside, was given following a VAR review.

Diego Llorente was then sent off four minutes later, sliding in with a heavy challenge on Fran Garcia, with VAR upgrading his yellow card to a red.

Real Madrid are second in the standings on 18 points, three behind Barcelona, but two ahead of Atletico in third after eight games.

Data Debrief: Sharing the spoils

For the most part, the Madrid derby was a cagey affair, with neither side creating too much of note in the opening exchanges, but they both ramped up the pressure after the break. 

Vinicius Junior's assist for the opener was his fifth in all competitions so far this season, the joint-most of any player across the top five European leagues.

But you can never count Atletico out - they have scored five goals in the final 15 minutes of the second half so far this season, with no team in LaLiga netting more. 

All in all, it was a memorable tie, even more so for Antoine Griezmann, who was making his 500th LaLiga appearance, becoming the 14th player to hit the milestone in the competition's history. 

Michel thinks injuries to key players are a concern for Girona, after Oriol Romeu and Daley Blind limped off during the 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo.

The Blanquivermells' winless streak in LaLiga stretched to four matches, after Iago Aspas' late strike cancelled out Yangel Herrera's earlier effort at Balaidos.

The stalemate also saw midfielder Romeu forced off in the 14th minute, while defender Blind had to be replaced early in the second half, with both players doubtful for Girona's Champions League clash with Feyenoord on Wednesday.

Michel's side are embarking on the first European campaign of their 94-year history after finishing third in LaLiga last term, and the head coach believes his players are feeling the effects of the increased workload.

"That's [injuries] the biggest concern I have about the game," he told reporters. 

"We don't have experience of playing every three days. If Romeu is out for several weeks in midfield, we will be left with a weak team. We'll see what the tests tell us.

"We are inexperienced and, every day, we are looking for solutions to the new reality. The players have raised their voices and Girona cannot manage like the big teams.

"We lose two players? Well, that's the way it is. We have to train as little as possible and analyse a lot from the office."

Although his side's wait for a league victory continues, Michel focused on the positive side of the draw.

"I'm happy because I have the feeling that my team dominated with the ball," he added. "We didn't do badly despite the fact that, in the first 15 minutes of the second half, they put us under pressure."

Girona's are now without a win in four LaLiga matches after Iago Aspas' late goal held them to a 1-1 draw at Celta Vigo on Sunday.

Girona, surprise third-place finishers last season, dominated possession in the early stages before taking the lead in the 38th minute when Yangel Herrera rose high to head in Daley Blind's cross.

Celta responded well but initially struggled to test Paulo Gazzaniga in their search for an equaliser, with Girona offering little in terms of threat at the other end.

The hosts eventually found a way through in the 81st minute - Williot Swedberg laid the ball off to Aspas, who made no mistake with his composed finish. 

Girona sit 12th in the LaLiga table on nine points from eight games, while Celta moved to ninth place with 10 points ahead of the remaining weekend fixtures.

Data Debrief: Girona stumble again

Girona may have had fewer shots than their hosts (nine compared to Celta's 12), but they looked set to end their winless run despite that. In the first half, they had three big chances, of which they took one.

In the end, Celta's push for an equaliser paid off, with Aspas netting the winner with their first shot on target. They only had two overall, with the other coming just seconds before the final whistle. 

It was the Celta captain's fourth goal in LaLiga this campaign, and his 160th in the competition overall (365 appearances).