La Liga

JUDE BELLINGHAM has been praised by fans for his classy gesture as he walked off the pitch against Getafe.Real Madrid won 2-0 on Thursday with ex-Stoke striker Joselu netting both the goals.
Jude Bellingham did not step on the Getafe badge as he left the pitchCredit: Twitter @FBAwayDays
Bellingham also waved at supporters as he left the pitchCredit: Twitter @FBAwayDays
Jude Bellingham appeared to clash with Mason Greenwood during the gameCredit: Getty
The win saw Los Blancos climb to the top of the LaLiga table.
At the end of the game, Bellingham trudged off the pitch alongside team-mate Andriy Lunin.
A huge Getafe badge sits on the floor as players approach the tunnel at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
Bellingham, 20, showed his opponents a huge mark of respect as he swerved around the badge to avoid stepping on it.

He also waved at supporters and gave a lucky one his shirt.
Fans have praised his courteous action, with one saying: “He’s just a class act isn’t he.”
Another added: “He’s a great footballer and a wonderful, humble and talented man.”
A third commented: “How can you not love Bellingham?”
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More reacted: “England captain material.”
Meanwhile, Bellingham’s day at Getafe was not without controversy after an apparent spat with Mason Greenwood.
LaLiga chiefs have called in a lip reader to investigate a complaint by Getafe about an alleged “rapist” slur aimed at the on loan Manchester United star by the Madrid ace.
Cameras captured Bellingham appearing to mutter something at Greenwood after a crunching tackle on him.
The 22-year-old joined Getafe on loan in September, seven months after charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control were dropped. More

LALIGA have called in a lip reader to investigate a complaint filed by Getafe about an alleged slur aimed at Mason Greenwood by Jude Bellingham.The alleged incident occurred during Real Madrid’s 2-0 win at Getafe on Thursday evening.
LaLiga have called in a lip reader to investigate an incident between Jude Bellingham and Mason GreenwoodCredit: Getty
Bellingham is alleged to have said to a slur to Greenwood during the Getafe v Real Madrid match on ThursdayCredit: Getty
Cameras captured Bellingham muttering an alleged slur
It came after Bellingham landed a tackle on Greenwood

It came after England international Bellingham landed a tackle on the on-loan Manchester United player.
Cameras captured Bellingham, 20, appearing to mutter an insult at Greenwood, with the footage going viral on social media.
In response, Getafe asked match referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea to record the incident in his match report.
Spanish League chiefs have no power to sanction players.
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But if experts confirm “indisputably” that Bellingham used the alleged slur towards Greenwood they will pass the matter on to the disciplinary committee of the Spanish Football Federation.
Greenwood, 22, joined Getafe on loan in September, seven months after charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control were dropped.
A report from the Daily Mail said that an expert lid-reader they had hired was “97 per cent confident” Bellingham mouthed the alleged insult after studying video footage.
Bellingham joined Real Madrid in the summer in a £115million transfer from Borussia Dortmund.
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Since his arrival he has scored 14 goals and added three assists in 19 league games.
He has added four more goals and five assists across the Champions League, Copa Del Rey and Supercopa.
The meeting between Bellingham and Greenwood was the first time two English players met in the division for 22 years. More

JUDE BELLINGHAM got the better of Mason Greenwood as Real Madrid beat Getafe 2-0 on Thursday night.A double from Joselu saw Carlo Ancelotti’s side leapfrog Girona at the top of La Liga.
Jude Bellingham and Mason Greenwood faced off in La LigaCredit: Getty

Both Greenwood and Bellingham started for their respective sides as two English players faced off in La Liga for the first time in 22 years.
Greenwood came the closest to scoring out of the pair, but his shot rattled the post.
Real Madrid’s 7-0 win over Las Palmas in February 2002 was the last such meeting as Steve McManaman came off the bench for Real.
Meanwhile, Vinny Samways was part of the Las Palmas line-up.
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McManaman won eight trophies with Real between 1999 and 2003, including lifting both the Champions League and La Liga twice.
As for Samways, the former Tottenham midfielder featured for Las Palmas, Sevilla and Algeciras in Spain during his playing career.
Gary Lineker and Sammy Lee also clashed in Spain back in 1988 as Osasuna snatched a 1-0 win at the Camp Nou.
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Lineker led the line for Barcelona whilst Sam Allardyce’s side-kick Lee started for the visitors 36 years ago.
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Greenwood is currently on loan at Getafe from Manchester United, with the 22-year-old scoring six goals and providing four assists.
Bellingham also moved to Spain in the summer, arriving at the Bernabeu as the most expensive British player ever.
He has since scored 18 goals, with 14 of his strikes coming in the league to make him the joint-top scorer in the division.

Vinny Samways (right) played in the last La Liga clash between two English playersCredit: Getty More

SPANISH footballer Hugo Mallo will stand trial this summer after being accused of sexually assaulting a team mascot.The former Celta Vigo captain, 32, allegedly “grabbed the breasts” of a woman under a parakeet costume as he led his side out for a top-flight match against Espanyol in April 2019.
Hugo Mallo will stand trial for sexual assault this summerCredit: 2023 Getty Images
Video footage purportedly shows the moment of the incident, which occurred at Espanyol’s Stage Front Stadium in Barcelona.
Former Spain U21 ace Mallo, who played 449 times for Celta Vigo, denies the accusations.
The alleged victim, who has upheld her right to anonymity but is referred to as ‘Ana’, made a complaint to Catalan police the day after the alleged incident.
According to the Mail, it read: “When Hugo Mallo arrived (to greet) the mascots, he gave his hand to the (male) parakeet (Periquito) as is usually done, but when he reached Ms. Ana, who at that time was playing the role of the (female) parakeet, he introduced his hands under the costume and touched her breasts.
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“According to the declarant, he grabbed her breasts with his hands and began to make movements.”
‘Ana’ then testified two months later in June 2019, with Mallo appearing in court in July 2019 to provide his own statement.
The defender, who now plays in Brazil for Internacional, requested that the case be thrown out.
But that was rejected, and two years later in May 2021 the case was instead deemed to constitute sexual assault.
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A judge said at the time: “Although it seems to occur quickly, it lasts longer than the rest of the greetings made previously to the mascot, so we do see that something is happening with the mascot (Periquita) and the player, since the mascot moves, (she) takes away (her) hand from the player and stands behind the male mascot.
 “And we can see from the position of the player that he may have incurred said touches.”
Mallo was initially due to stand trial in Barcelona last year.
However, the case was postponed and he will now appear in court in July – five years after the alleged incident took place.
‘Ana’ is reportedly requesting the sentence of a 24-month fine to the state, which is reflected in article 181.1 of the Penal Code.
She is apparently no longer working at Espanyol after leaving the club in 2021, having been there since 2006. More

GETAFE boss Jose Bordalas has called on Mason Greenwood to improve despite labelling him a “great player”.The Manchester United loanee, 22, joined the LaLiga side in September, seven months after charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control were dropped.
Mason Greenwood has impressed for Getafe in recent monthsCredit: Rex
Greenwood has now scored four LaLiga goals since joining Getafe

He has scored six goals and assisted four more in 20 appearances for Getafe.
That included the opening goal in a 2-0 win over Granada on Monday evening as he dribbled the ball to the edge of the area before curling a superb effort into the far corner.
But Bordalas insisted after the game that Greenwood, who has been linked with a move to Barcelona, remains a work in progress.
As reported by The Metro, he said: “He is a great player but everyone has a job.
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“We are very happy with the work from Greenwood, Borja, Maxi, but without everyone’s work he cannot shine.
“Greenwood had a great first half, although not so much in the second half. But everyone has worked for the team.
“They were aware of the importance of the game and finally we achieved it.”
SunSport exclusively revealed last week that Greenwood is potentially on his way to the Nou Camp in the summer.
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A source said: “Barcelona want to sign Greenwood, and he wants to move there. The next step is for the clubs to come to an agreement.
“Manchester United want to sell the player and the manager has accepted Greenwood won’t be returning. The view is that it is best for all parties to have a clean break.
“As talented as Greenwood is, a return to the club when they are at the start of a new chapter, with new owners, is regarded as a backward step.
“A deal with Barcelona is likely to include a number of add-ons depending on games Mason goes on to play for them and possibly for England too.
“Mason is setting his sights on playing for his country again one day.
“Time will tell on that, but for the moment Mason is focused on further making a name for himself in LaLiga. He hit the ground running at Getafe and played well which is why Barcelona want him.
“They think he is a player who can help take them to the next level both in the domestic competitions and in Europe and is one for the future.
“They think Greenwood would also be an exciting signing for the fans. They’ve sent scouts to watch him six times this season and the reports have been overwhelmingly positive.”
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Along with Barcelona, Valencia and Real Sociedad are also “monitoring” the English forward, while Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are tracking his progress.
He has a contract with Man Utd until 2025. More

JOSE MOURINHO could make a surprise move to Barcelona as the club’s new manager.The reigning Spanish champions are searching for a new boss ahead of next season after Xavi’s decision to leave the club.
Jose Mourinho could make an astonishing return to BarcelonaCredit: AP
Xavi announced on Saturday he will step down as manager at the end of the season.
According to Spanish outlet ABC, Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes has offered him to Barca as Xavi’s successor.
The super-agent has the support of Barcelona sporting director Deco after his involvement in several recent transfers.
Former Portugal international Deco also played under Mourinho at Porto, where he won the Champions League in 2004.
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Mourinho is currently available after his sacking by Roma earlier this month and was previously a target for Barcelona in 2008 before taking over at Inter.
Prior to his first managerial role, the 61-year-old spent four years as a translator and assistant manager at Barca under Louis van Gaal and Sir Bobby Robson.
However, he has gone on to have several high profile clashes with the club, including during a three-year spell as manager of bitter rivals Real Madrid.
Mourinho was also involved in heated clashes with the Blaugrana whilst at the helm of both Chelsea and Inter.
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Mourinho’s Barcelona bust-ups
‘Illegal meeting’
After Chelsea beat Barcelona in the Champions League last 16 in 2005, Mourinho accused Frank Rijkaard of meeting with referee Anders Frisk at half-time.
He claimed the meeting impacted Frisk’s decision to send off Didier Drogba during the second half, with the official later retiring after receiving death threats from angry fans.
Meanwhile, Mourinho was handed a two-match touchline ban for his comments and labelled an “enemy of football” by Uefa referees chief Volker Roth.
2010 Champions League semi-final
Mourinho again knocked Barca out of Europe in the Champions League semi-finals in 2010, advancing 3-2 on aggregate despite a 1-0 second leg defeat at the Camp Nou.
He called the match “the most beautiful defeat of my life” and suggested Barca had been obsessed with reaching the final at the Santiago Bernabeu after the match.
Mourinho’s passionate on-field celebrations at full-time also led to a clash with goalkeeper Victor Valdes, whilst the Spanish press declared the match as the moment he passed the test to become Real Madrid boss.
Eye poke
A brawl erupted during the closing stages of the Spanish Super Cup in 2011 as Barca won 3-2 to claim the trophy 5-4 on aggregate.
During the brawl, Mourinho was spotted poking Barcelona assistant Tito Vilanova in the eye, although he escaped punishment as the incident was not included in the referee’s report.
Mourinho doubled down after the match, though, claiming he did not know who “Pito” Vilanova was, with “pito” being Spanish slang for penis.
Ending the drought
Mourinho ended Los Blancos’ five-year wait for a victory at the Camp Nou in April 2012 as a 2-1 victory extended his side’s lead at the top of La Liga to seven points with just four matches remaining.
Although not as heated as his previous bust-ups, the win was a significant victory over Barca, as it also represented their first El Clasico defeat since 2008.
Then manager Pep Guardiola conceded the title to Real Madrid after the match.

During his managerial career, he has faced Barca 27 times, winning on eight occasions and losing 10 times.
As Real Madrid boss, he finished nine points clear of Barca to win the title in 2012 after finishing on 100 points.
Both his Chelsea and Inter sides knocked the Spanish giants out of the Champions League, with the Italians doing so on their way to winning the treble in 2010. More