Ballon d’Or ceremony: Alexia Putellas makes history, Real Madrid men’s players take offense and boos for Mbappé? A roundup of the Spanish football news from last night.
In the morning, the news
• Lionel Messi will start in La Liga against Granada, having recovered from picking up three yellow cards. He faces Granada with a record of four league goals in his 21 games. “He’s still very raw but he has experience and it’s always good to put him out against a team like Granada,” coach Zinedine Zidane said. Lionel Messi could start against Granada on Saturday (AFP)
• Madrid defender Marcelo made his comeback from injury – after a year with hip surgery – as Real Madrid defeated Girona 10-2. “After the first year, it is not only the physical part but psychology that takes time to adapt to,” said coach Zinedine Zidane. Marcelo said goodbye to Real Madrid in the club store at the Bernabéu (AFP)
In the afternoon, the football
• Barcelona’s La Liga squad can’t wait to face Atletico Madrid and it is the first time in La Liga that the Catalan giants have faced the Madrid rivals in the same round. “They [Atletico] have been here many times but it’s different to be playing against them in the league,” winger Gerard Piqué said. “The first time is an upset but the second time is not as strange,” added the Barça man. The T-shirts with the slogan ‘I hate you’ have been sold for €10 in Barcelona (Telegra.es)
• Diego Simeone’s men have never won the Spanish league title, but the coach has the perfect way to avoid losing it, having an eye on the La Liga title. At the end of the season, the club will hold a vote for their coach, with the winner’s candidacy open to only one person. But it seems more likely that it will be the former Manchester City, Chelsea and Barcelona coach who will be elected to succeed Zidane. “A vote for the coach is what we should do,” said Simeone. “When Zidane leaves, we have to give him