Romelu Lukaku has described himself as one of the most gifted strikers in world football.

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.

Atletico Madrid’s 1-0 win at Real Madrid on Saturday has reopened an internal Estadio Santiago Bernabeu debate which could end badly for Blancos superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, coach Zinedine Zidane and even president Florentino Perez.

Real Madrid’s 5-0 hammering of Real Betis on Saturday evening helped to ease the pressure on both Gareth Bale and Rafa Benitez — but may have troubled Los Blancos longtime talisman Cristiano Ronaldo.

Football managers are either wizards or muggles.

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.

The world of football has been lining up to praise the incredible skills of Lionel Messi after his spellbinding show against Bayern Munich.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009, and Marca’s editors are sure they are onto a winner.

Real Madrid are set to sign Costa Rica’s World Cup hero Keylor Navas after paying the goalkeeper’s release clause, according to reports in Spain.

Holland’s Manchester United-bound boss Louis van Gaal has warned against getting carried away with his side’s stunning 5-1 victory over holders Spain in their World Cup opener, insisting they have achieved nothing yet.

The Real Madrid supporting press in the Spanish capital were unsurprisingly euphoric yesterday morning, as Blancos fans were reassured that it had not all been a dream – the night before their side really had finally secured the long-awaited tenth European Cup by beating city neighbours Atletico Madrid 4-1 after extra-time.

Something most unusual is happening in Spain. There are signs that La Liga could turn into a genuine competition.

El City — No! was the headline in El Mundo Deportivo before the Champions League draw yesterday.

Real Madrid's Gareth Bale encourages Cristiano Ronaldo after he missed a goalscoring opportunity during the La Liga game against Malaga at the Bernabeu. Right: Barca coach Gerardo Martino’s in his fashionable light green polo shirt. Pic: Getty

The €100 million man Gareth Bale joined fellow galacticos David Beckham, Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo in scoring on his La Liga debut for Real Madrid on Saturday night, but was still upstaged by teammates Diego Lopez and Ronaldo — who looks keen to show he remains Madrid’s top dog.

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

Luis Suarez has insisted that he is "still defending the Liverpool shirt", despite several public appeals to leave the club.

Luis Suarez is happy to acknowledge he has a contract with Liverpool, but amid talk of an Anfield exit he has stressed that what he wants should be listened to.

Barcelona playmaker Cesc Fabregas has described speculation linking him with a move away from the Nou Camp as “absurd”.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez claims Cristiano Ronaldo wants to commit his future to the club.

Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes was last night found to have doped cyclists and was subsequently handed a one-year suspended jail sentence in Madrid.

Madrid’s sporting press has been revelling in their side’s thumping 3-1 Copa del Rey semi-final second leg victory over Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Tuesday night, which sent Jose Mourinho’s side through to May’s final, while setting them up nicely for Wednesday’s Champions League last 16 second leg at Manchester United.

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo hailed his team’s continuing good form against Barcelona at the Nou Camp after they stormed into the Copa del Rey final last night.

Spanish newspaper Marca today made a strong statement in defence of its claim that senior Real Madrid players presented club president Florentino Perez with an ultimatum demanding the removal of coach Jose Mourinho.

I have never seen a benched player support his team as passionately as Iker Casillas cheered on Real Madrid against Malaga on Saturday night.

While many fans and reporters in Ireland and Scotland hailed a brave and disciplined performance by Celtic on Tuesday night at the Camp Nou, lamenting their bad luck at losing to Jordi Alba’s 94th minute winner, most observers in Spain saw a different game.

This time last year, few Spanish fans or pundits could say with certainty who would be playing left-back for La Roja at Euro 2012.

Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has insisted they will not settle for a draw against Croatia in their final Group C game at Euro 2012 on Monday.

Spain’s 4-0 win over Ireland convinced a previously wavering Madrid media that La Roja were on track to win Euro 2012.

Premier League followers might be surprised, but Chelsea misfit Fernando Torres looks set for a more central role than Manchester City’s title winner David Silva for Spain this month.

There’s little doubt that Sergio Ramos stands out.

Real Madrid’s players insist the club will be as happy to meet Barcelona as any other side in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

CRISTIANO RONALDO is one of the most famous men in the world and yet he remains oddly unknown.

Spain have named an experienced squad for their friendly matches against England and Costa Rica this month.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has accused Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho of “destroying Spanish football” after an ill-tempered denouement to the Supercopa final.

VALENCIA winger Juan Mata has distanced himself from a move to the Premier League or anywhere else this summer, reiterating that he is happy to remain at Mestalla.

WHEN Real Madrid beat Barcelona in the 2002 Champions League semi-final, the worldwide TV audience was estimated at 500 million. When Barcelona ran riot last November, 400 million watched on the box and countless millions more on laptops round the world.

Real Madrid midfielder Mahamadou Diarra believes new coach Jose Mourinho is the right man to bring success to the Santiago Bernabeu and claims the Portuguese has the same winning mentality as England boss Fabio Capello.

ON the final day, The Greatest League in the World (copyright: Spanish Football Federation) ended with a whimper, not a bang.

THE Madrid press joined the rest of the world’s media in hailing Lionel Messi as the greatest player on the planet following his display against Arsenal.