Barcelona delivered a dominant performance in the Spanish Super Cup semifinal, defeating Athletic Bilbao 5-0 at King Abdullah Sports City in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday night. The Spanish champions scored four goals within just 16 minutes, with Raphinha netting twice and Ferran Torres, Fermin Lopez, and Runi Bardghji each adding one. Barcelona controlled 80 percent of possession, taking 14 shots with nine on target, while Bilbao managed nine shots, four of which were on target.

The match saw Ferran Torres open the scoring in the 21st minute, followed by goals from Lopez, Raphinha, and Bardghji before halftime. Raphinha added his second goal in the second half, sealing the emphatic victory. Despite several more chances, no further goals were scored.

With this win, Barcelona, who have already won nine consecutive La Liga matches, moved closer to their first trophy of the season. Their opponent in the Spanish Super Cup final will be decided on Thursday when Real Madrid face Atletico Madrid in the second semifinal.

Real Madrid secured a commanding 5-1 victory over Real Betis at Santiago Bernabéu on the night of January 4, 2026, reducing the points gap with Barcelona from seven to four. Joan Garcia scored a hat-trick, while Raúl Asensio and Fran Garcia added one goal each. Playing without star forward Kylian Mbappé, Real took the lead in the 20th minute through Garcia’s header from a Rodrygo free-kick. The first half ended 1-0, and Real dominated the second half with four more goals.

Garcia doubled the lead early in the second half before Asensio made it 3-0 in the 56th minute. Betis pulled one back through Hernández at the 60-minute mark, but Garcia completed his hat-trick in the 82nd minute with help from Franco Mastantuano. Francisco Garcia sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal. After this result, Barcelona lead the table with 49 points from 19 matches, while Real Madrid sit second with 45 points from the same number of games.

More than 3,000 migrants have died this year while attempting to reach Spain by sea, according to Spanish migrant rights group Caminando Fronteras. The organization reported that between January and December 15, 2025, a total of 3,090 people drowned, including 192 women and 437 children. Although the total number of deaths decreased compared to 2024, the number of shipwrecks rose to 303, with 70 boats disappearing without a trace.

Caminando Fronteras research coordinator Helena Maleno said that despite the lower death toll, the rise in shipwrecks remains alarming. Spain’s Interior Ministry stated that by December 15, 35,935 irregular migrants had arrived by sea and land, compared with 60,311 during the same period in 2024. Authorities attributed the decline in arrivals mainly to stricter border policing, particularly in Mauritania, a key departure point for migrants heading to Spain.

The report highlights the continuing risks faced by migrants seeking better lives in Europe and the impact of intensified border controls on migration routes.

More than 3,090 migrants died in 2025 while attempting to reach Spain from various countries, according to Spain’s migrant rights organization Caminando Fronteras. The group reported that the number of deaths, though still high, marked a significant decrease compared to 2024 as fewer people attempted the perilous crossings. Most fatalities occurred along the Atlantic migration route from Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands, one of the world’s most dangerous sea passages.

The report noted that while arrivals to the Canary Islands have fallen, a new, longer, and more dangerous route from Guinea has emerged. Among the dead were 437 children and 192 women. Caminando Fronteras also observed a rise in migrant boats departing Algeria toward Ibiza and Formentera in the Mediterranean, a route increasingly used by migrants from Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan in 2025. Deaths on this route doubled from the previous year to 1,037.

Spain’s Interior Ministry stated that by December 15, 2025, a total of 35,935 migrants had reached Spain, about 40 percent fewer than during the same period in 2024, with roughly half arriving via the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands.

Barcelona strengthened their grip on the La Liga title race with a comfortable 2–0 victory over ten-man Villarreal on Sunday night. Under coach Hansi Flick, the Catalan side regained a four-point lead over Real Madrid, with goals from Raphinha and teenage forward Lamine Yamal sealing the win at Estadio de la Cerámica.

The match turned in Barcelona’s favor early when Villarreal’s Renato Velga was sent off in the 39th minute for a reckless tackle on Yamal. Raphinha had earlier converted a penalty after being fouled in the box. The victory keeps Barcelona top of the table with 46 points from 18 matches, while Real Madrid remain second with 42.

In England, Aston Villa delivered a surprise 2–1 win over Manchester United, adding further pressure on Erik ten Hag’s side. The result highlights contrasting fortunes for two European giants as Barcelona continue their dominance while United struggle for consistency.

Real Madrid returned to winning form in La Liga with a 2–0 victory over Sevilla, led by goals from Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé. The French forward’s late penalty not only sealed the win but also allowed him to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record of 59 goals in a calendar year. The result brought Madrid to 42 points from 18 matches, just one point behind league leaders Barcelona, who have played one game fewer.

Mbappé’s goal-scoring consistency continues to define Real’s season, with 18 goals in 18 league matches making him La Liga’s top scorer. His celebration mirrored Ronaldo’s signature gesture, symbolizing both respect and rivalry with the Portuguese legend. Sevilla, meanwhile, remain in ninth place with 20 points from 17 matches.

The win strengthens Madrid’s title challenge as the season approaches its midpoint. With Mbappé and Bellingham in top form, Carlo Ancelotti’s side appears poised to maintain pressure on Barcelona in the coming fixtures.

Real Madrid advanced to the Copa del Rey Round of 16 after a hard-fought 3–2 victory over third-division side Talavera, powered by a brace from Kylian Mbappé. Manager Xabi Alonso rotated his squad heavily, resting key players such as Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham, and Aurélien Tchouaméni, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remained unavailable. Despite the changes, Real managed to edge past their spirited opponents.

Talavera fought back impressively after falling behind, leveling the score at 2–2 through goals from Nahuel Arroyo Majora and Gonzalo Di Renzo. However, Mbappé’s decisive second goal sealed the win for Los Blancos, with an own goal from Talavera contributing to Real’s tally. The match highlighted Real Madrid’s depth but also exposed defensive vulnerabilities against lower-tier opposition.

The result ensures Real Madrid’s progression in the domestic cup, while Alonso’s rotation strategy will be closely watched as the team balances multiple competitions. Mbappé’s form continues to be a key factor as Real targets silverware across all fronts this season.

Barcelona’s teenage forward Lamine Yamal made headlines again on Tuesday after surpassing Kylian Mbappé’s record for most goal contributions by a player aged 18 or under in the UEFA Champions League. In the 2–1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, Yamal assisted Jules Koundé’s decisive goal, taking his total to 14 goal involvements — seven goals and seven assists — one more than Mbappé’s previous record of 13.

Despite the milestone, Yamal’s night ended on a bittersweet note as he received his third yellow card of the tournament, triggering a one-match suspension. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick confirmed that the young winger will miss the upcoming European fixture against Slavia Prague in January. Flick noted that Yamal was disappointed to be substituted late in the match but emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline and freshness in the squad. With several months left before Yamal turns 19, he still has opportunities to extend his record further as Barcelona aim to secure more points in the group stage.

Real Madrid endured their first home defeat of the season at Santiago Bernabéu, losing 2–0 to Celta Vigo in a chaotic La Liga match marked by three red cards. Despite dominating the first half and missing several scoring chances, Madrid fell behind early in the second half when Williot Swedberg opened the scoring for Celta.

The situation worsened as Fran García received a second yellow card in the 64th minute, followed by late dismissals for Álvaro Carreras and substitute Endrick, who was sent off for arguing with the referee. Coach Xabi Alonso also received a yellow card amid growing frustration. Swedberg sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal against a nine-man Madrid side.

The loss was Real Madrid’s second in La Liga this season, widening the gap with leaders Barcelona to four points. With Villarreal close behind and a game in hand, Madrid face renewed pressure to stabilize their campaign before their next fixture.

Barcelona secured a spectacular 5–3 win over Real Betis on Saturday night in a high-scoring La Liga encounter. Despite Betis leading early through an Antony strike in the sixth minute, Barcelona responded with dominance, led by Ferran Torres, who completed his hat-trick within the first half. Rooney Bardghji and Lamine Yamal added further goals to seal the victory for Hansi Flick’s side.

Real Betis showed resilience in the second half, pressing hard and managing two late goals through Diego Llorente and Cucho Hernández, but the deficit proved too large to overcome. Barcelona’s attacking efficiency and Torres’s finishing were the highlights of the match.

With this result, Barcelona remain at the top of the La Liga standings with 40 points from 16 matches, four points ahead of archrivals Real Madrid, who have a game in hand. The win reinforces Barcelona’s strong title ambitions under Flick’s management as the season approaches its midpoint.

Real Madrid missed the chance to reclaim the top spot in La Liga after being held to a 1-1 draw by Girona. Despite Kylian Mbappe scoring from the penalty spot in the 67th minute, Real could not secure a win. Earlier, Girona took the lead just before halftime through a powerful strike from Azzedine Ounahi. Mbappe had a goal disallowed for handball before Girona’s opener. Real Madrid pushed hard in the second half, with Vinícius Júnior creating several chances, but an offside call denied him a goal. The draw leaves Real Madrid in second place, one point behind Barcelona, who remain at the top of the table. Girona, with 12 points, stay near the relegation zone but earned a valuable point against one of the league’s giants.

Real Madrid returned to winning ways after 25 days as Kylian Mbappe scored four goals to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory over Olympiacos in the UEFA Champions League. The Spanish giants had not won since their 4-0 triumph against Valencia on November 2, enduring a three-match winless run across all competitions. Olympiacos took an early lead through Chiquinho’s long-range strike, but Mbappe responded with a quick hat-trick within just over six minutes—the second-fastest in Champions League history. Substitute Mehdi Taremi pulled one back for Olympiacos, but Mbappe’s fourth goal restored Real’s control. Despite a late goal from Ayoub El Kaabi, Real held on for their fourth win in five group matches. This victory also marked Real Madrid’s first-ever win in Greece after seven previous attempts. Mbappe now has nine goals in five Champions League appearances this season, three ahead of Victor Osimhen. The result lifted Real’s morale following their previous defeat to Liverpool.

Barcelona marked their long-awaited return to Camp Nou with a commanding 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, moving level on points with Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. The club returned to their iconic home after nearly two and a half years of reconstruction delays, with around 45,000 fans filling every available seat despite high ticket prices. Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring in the fourth minute, followed by goals from Ferran Torres, Fermin Lopez, and another from Torres late in the match. Goalkeeper Joan Garcia made a successful comeback from injury, keeping a clean sheet for the first time since September. The evening was filled with nostalgia as fans chanted Lionel Messi’s name, while young star Lamine Yamal impressed with two assists. Barcelona expect to expand seating in 2026 and restore full 105,000 capacity next season, making this victory a symbolic new beginning at their renovated home.

After more than two years away, FC Barcelona will finally return to their iconic home ground, Camp Nou, on November 22 for a La Liga match against Athletic Bilbao. The Catalan club confirmed the news in a statement on Monday. The team last played at Camp Nou during the 2022–23 season and has since been hosting matches at the Olympic Stadium on Montjuïc Hill due to extensive renovation work. The €1.5 billion ($1.75 billion) redevelopment faced multiple delays, pushing the reopening back by a year. Initially, the stadium will reopen with a temporary capacity of 45,401 spectators, which will eventually expand to 105,000 once the upper tiers are completed. Earlier this month, a test event was held with 23,000 fans attending an open training session. Barcelona also hopes to host their December 9 UEFA Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt at the revamped Camp Nou, pending UEFA approval.

Spain has scrapped a third major defense deal with Israel worth approximately €207 million, citing the ongoing genocide in Gaza and mounting international pressure.

The decision was approved in a cabinet meeting last Tuesday, where the Spanish government imposed a complete arms embargo on Israel. This ban halts all imports and exports of military equipment, defense technology, and related materials.

Finance Minister Carlos Cuerpo hailed the move as a “bold and pioneering step,” calling it a significant advancement in the international campaign to hold Israel accountable.