Sevilla at the Bernabéu, then it gets serious
Real Madrid face Sevilla at the Bernabéu on Sunday, 21:00 CEST (fixtures). You sit fourth on 18 points from eight games with a goal difference of +11, and the form line reads W W L W W.
The run after Sevilla is the real test: RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday, 21:00 CEST, then Barcelona away on Sunday, October 25.
Madrid won 4–3 at Roma in the Champions League on October 14. Rüdiger scored the late goal that finished it. "No se prodiga demasiado en ataque. Pero cuando marca, el Madrid se lleva el botín" (5). Translation: he does not get forward much, but when he scores, Madrid take the points.
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Courtois is staying until 2028
Thibaut Courtois will extend his Real Madrid contract until June 2028. He was due to be out of contract at the end of this season (4).
That settles the goalkeeping question. Andriy Lunin stays as the number two.
A €100m midfield shortlist, and Zubimendi is back on it
Real Madrid are preparing €100m for a midfielder and the list runs long: Adam Wharton, Manu Koné, Kees Smit, Alex Scott and Martín Zubimendi (8).
Zubimendi is the name to watch. He chose London over Madrid 14 months ago and is now a substitute at Arsenal (1). Madrid are reported as ready to pay €70m for him in January (1).
Mikel Arteta, in a French outlet's words, called him "l'un des meilleurs joueurs d'Arsenal la saison dernière" (1), one of Arsenal's best players last season.
Roma was closer than 4–3 looks
Mourinho's long-ball plan nearly cost you in Rome. Against Gasperini's man-marking system, Madrid struggled in aerial duels and on second balls, and Donyell Malen scored for Roma (6).
The win came anyway. Leipzig on Wednesday will tell you whether that was a one-off.
Barcelona can break a record that belongs to you
Barcelona beat Betis 2–5 and have now matched Real Madrid's 1968/69 record of nine straight LaLiga wins (7).
They can break it against you, at their place, on October 25 (7). Hansi Flick's response: "É bom. É um recorde bonito, mas o que queremos é ganhar títulos e alcançar grandes feitos" (7). Translation: it is a nice record, but we want titles.
Real Madrid Femenino beat Espanyol 3–1
Real Madrid's women's side beat RCD Espanyol 3–1 at home in Liga F Moeve on October 17 (2) (3). Felicia Schröder scored the third, late in the match (2).
That win came after a heavy one: Barcelona beat Real Madrid Femenino 0–7 in the same competition. Barça coach Pere Romeu was asked to take it in stride. "Lo que hemos hecho hasta ahora está muy bien, pero el fútbol va de repetirlo al día siguiente" (9), meaning: football is about doing it again the next day.
Madrid are watching Cavan Sullivan
Real Madrid are among the clubs monitoring Cavan Sullivan, with Manchester City trying to close the deal and Barcelona trying to hijack it (10).
His agent Dan Segal put it plainly: "Il est vrai qu'il existe un accord préliminaire avec eux concernant Sullivan, mais on ne sait jamais ce qui peut arriver" (10). There is a preliminary agreement, but you never know what can happen.
