Real Madrid 3 PSG 1

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane looked supremely relaxed as he smiled his way through yesterday’s press conference ahead of tonight’s Champions League last-16 first leg at home to Paris Saint Germain.

Only at Real Madrid could the manager be potentially under pressure for his job at the end of a week which began with the team returning home as world champions.

Less than two years ago, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez shifted uncomfortably in his seat at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu as most of the 80,000 Blancos supporters around him chanted ‘Florentino Dimision’ (‘Florentino Resign’).

All sides of the Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos’ unique personality are on show as he leads his team towards an increasingly likely La Liga and Champions League double.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid swept aside city rivals Atletico 3-0 at the Bernabeu in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

Big matches often fail to live up to their billing, but Real Madrid and Barcelona produced a belter on Sunday night that genuinely deserved the title of El Clasico.

Even before the final whistle had gone in last Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg at Wolfsburg, talk of another historic second leg comeback by Real Madrid had begun.

Last week, many around Real Madrid were claiming that the selection of their youth talent was their best hope of getting something from this season.

Not for the first time in his almost two seasons at Real Madrid, Gareth Bale goes into tonight’s Champions League semi-final second leg with debate raging over his talents.

La Liga: This January’s transfer window has been a relatively quiet affair, especially in Spain. But one big name has made a huge, and not widely expected, impact since switching clubs earlier this month.

Last month, Pádraig Harrington told us, on the back of Europe’s Ryder Cup win, that Paul McGinley could do a job managing in the Premier League.

Head coach Luis Enrique has confirmed that Luis Suarez will make his Barcelona debut during today’s El Clasico showdown at the Bernabeu.

Saturday began with the Spanish press full of tributes to Real Madrid club captain Iker Casillas on completing 15 years as a first-team player at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu — with over 700 games for the club, and an enviable trophy haul including three Champions Leagues, five La Liga titles and two Copas del Rey.

Manchester United last night clinched the British record signing of Real Madrid winger Angel di Maria.

Real Madrid 1 Bayern Munich 0

Anyone expecting a feast of attacking football in tonight’s Champions League semi-final first leg between Atletico Madrid and Chelsea will be disappointed, says Atletico midfielder Gabi Fernandez.

The spat between Tottenham and Real Madrid over Gareth Bale’s transfer to the Bernabeu continued on Thursday after the Spanish club’s vice-president accused Daniel Levy of holding up the deal.

Unsettled Tottenham star Gareth Bale has failed to report for training for a second day.

Gareth Bale’s spectacular world record €99 million (£85m) move to Real Madrid from Tottenham will be officially announced today.

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes Gareth Bale would flourish at Real Madrid as talks over a potential transfer continue.

Most around Real Madrid are resigned to seeing Jose Mourinho leave the club this summer, and many will be more than happy to see him go.

It was early 2013, not long after the clubs had been drawn together in the Champions League, that officials from Manchester United informally sounded Real Madrid out about an idea.

Michael Carrick believes David de Gea showed his true character in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of a Champions League examination at the Bernabeu.

Alex Ferguson has expressed his disappointment that tomorrow night’s Champions League showdown between Manchester United and Real Madrid had not been reserved for the final at Wembley in May.

It is the game the world is waiting to see, according to José Mourinho, and he may well be right.

Real Madrid 3 Manchester City 2

Jose Mourinho claimed his seventh domestic title – confirmed last night after his Real Madrid side clinched the Primera Division crown with a 3-0 win at Athletic Bilbao – was the toughest of his career.

Jose Mourinho says his Real Madrid side “fear nothing and no one” in their bid to bring the Champions League trophy back to the Bernabeu for the first time in a decade.

IT was derby day in Barcelona on Sunday just as it was in Manchester.

IN an ugly encounter, Lionel Messi provided a timely reminder of why this four-game sequence between Barcelona and Real Madrid has received such sensational pre-match billing.

Aaron Lennon was given a chance to show Tottenham fans what they were missing in their thrashing by Real Madrid last week after being recalled for tonight’s Champions League quarter-final second leg at White Hart Lane.

Emmanuel Adebayor will travel to Madrid this morning for a medical that should pave the way for the Manchester City striker to join Real on loan for the rest of the season.

Real Madrid officially confirmed tonight that Bernabeu legend Raul is to leave the club and will hold a farewell press conference tomorrow.

Prospective Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho admits England midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are the type of players he will look to bring to the Bernabeu.

JOSE MOURINHO made the Santiago Bernabeu feel like home as he led Inter Milan to victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.

TERMS such as “failure”, “catastrophe” and “nightmare” filled the Spanish press yesterday in the wake of Real Madrid’s Champions League exit at the hands of Lyon.

NO SOONER are we sure that our Premier League dance is done, than fate goes and gives Gooners reason to believe.

ALEX FERGUSON is adamant the Barclays Premier League is still the best domestic competition in the world as Manchester United begin their quest for a record fourth successive title tomorrow.

XABI ALONSO’S Liverpool career appeared to be coming towards an end as he arrived for training yesterday.

Xabi Alonso joined up with the Liverpool squad last night for their Far East tour with his future at the club still uncertain.