Following a humbling 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, Real Madrid players reportedly held an inquest in the dressing room. The loss, their third consecutive, has ignited concerns within the squad.

According to El Chiringuito, midfielder Federico Valverde initiated a frank discussion, questioning the team’s lack of response after Declan Rice’s free-kick goals. This sparked responses from key players including Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappe.

The sentiment amongst the players appears unified: Real Madrid must demonstrate their championship pedigree in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. A focus on early goals is perceived as crucial to mounting a successful comeback against a confident Arsenal side. The challenge now lies in translating this internal resolve into tangible results on the pitch.

Following Southampton’s confirmed relegation from the Premier League on Sunday, manager Ivan Juric has parted ways with the club. The Croatian’s tenure lasted a mere 108 days, marked by a challenging run of 12 defeats in 14 top-flight fixtures.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Juric exercised a relegation clause in his contract, leading to his departure. Southampton’s fate was sealed after a 3-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, coupled with results elsewhere that rendered their survival mathematically impossible.

Southampton’s dismal season sees them relegated with a historically low points tally, highlighting the considerable task ahead as they prepare for life in the Championship. The club will now commence the search for a new manager to spearhead their efforts to return to the Premier League.

Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili added an unexpected layer of intrigue to his team’s recent 2-1 victory over Real Madrid, revealing a pre-match bet with Vinícius Júnior concerning the Brazilian’s first-half penalty.

Following the penalty awarded to Real Madrid in the 13th minute, Mamardashvili proposed a wager of €50 to Vinícius, predicting he would save the spot-kick. The Georgian goalkeeper subsequently fulfilled his prediction, diving to his right to deny Vinícius the opening goal.

While Vinícius did find the net later in the match, Valencia ultimately secured the win thanks to a late goal from Hugo Duro. Post-match, Mamardashvili humorously noted, “I had a conversation with Vinicius, and I won €50. He ought to pay me, but he hasn’t yet.”

Beyond the lighthearted wager, Mamardashvili’s performance was a crucial factor in Valencia’s triumph, with several key saves contributing significantly to their victory. The penalty save, however, adds a memorable anecdote to a game already rich in narrative.