Real Madrid are counting on the dinner to bring the team together in order to help them win La Liga and Champions League trophies at the end of the season. Midfielder Dani Ceballos told reporters that Vincius Junior and Kylian Mbappu paid the bill at a restaurant in Madrid on Tuesday. According to Spanish media reports, the tab cost more than 1,000 euros ($1,100).
Vincius posted a photo of the entire team during a dinner at a swanky venue featuring the Art Dining Club near the city center. After dinner, fans waited outside the restaurant to talk with the players, and the dinner party continued well past midnight. According to Spanish media, coach Lubalo Arbeloa and his assistants were not present at the dinner.
The show of unity came a week before Madrid faced Benfica in the first leg of the Champions League knockout stage. The team lost 4-2 to fellow club Benfica in the final round of the league, dropping them out of the top eight, which automatically qualified them for the round of 16. Defender Lal Asensio told the media after dinner that the team was “very united”.
Madrid experienced turmoil at the end of last year, with some players reportedly at odds with manager Xabi Alonso, who replaced Arbeloa last month. Madrid improved, but under Arbeloa they were eliminated in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey by second-tier Albacete, and lost to Benfica in a game that relegated the team to the Champions League knockout play-offs.
In La Liga, Madrid have won seven games in a row and are now one point behind leaders Barcelona. A win against Real Sociedad on Saturday would move Madrid into the top spot by the time Barcelona play Girona on Monday. 8th place Sociedad defeated Basque country rivals Athletic Bilbao 1-0 in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
major matches
Barcelona will aim for a fourth straight league win against 12th place Girona, which has not won in their last three games. Barcelona visit Atletico Madrid on Thursday in the first leg of the Copa del Rey and will arrive having won 17 of their last 18 games in all competitions. Their last setback came when they lost 2-1 to Sociedad in a league match last month.
Third-placed Atlético will play bottom-placed Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, while fourth-placed Villarreal will play mid-table Getafe.
Activity suspended
Mbappu trained separately from the team on Thursday due to a knee problem and is doubtful for Saturday’s match at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. He had already been made to work at the gym on Wednesday. The club did not immediately provide details about his condition. Vincius was due to return to Madrid after missing the previous league match due to suspension due to a yellow card, but Jude Bellingham will remain sidelined with a hamstring injury.
It remained unclear whether forward Rafinha would fully recover from his muscle problem in time for Barcelona’s game against Girona. Barcelona forward Marcus Rashford is doubtful after taking a hit to his knee.
Featured players
Mbapp’s presence will be a big boost for Madrid, as the French star has scored nine goals in his last nine games. He has scored 23 goals in 22 league games.
off the field
Rayo’s home game against Atlético will be played at Leganes in Madrid’s second division due to field conditions at Vallecas Stadium.
I replaced the surface last week. Additionally, preparations for last weekend’s match against Oviedo were not completed in time, and the match was postponed.
It has been raining in Madrid this week, making it difficult for the new grass to establish properly.
