This morning started on an unusually cold note, with severe weather warnings in place and, for the first time, the café door closed. The atmosphere inside was warm, though, as football dominated conversations. The café’s owner, an Atletico Madrid fan, bluntly summed up last night’s action to me: “Those f***ers Real Madrid pulled it off.”
With that, here’s a look at the biggest stories from today’s Spanish football dailies.
MARCA: Real Madrid’s European Heroics and Liverpool’s Edge
The front page of MARCA declares “BMV to the rescue,” celebrating Real Madrid’s 3-2 win over Atalanta in the Champions League. The acronym BMV highlights the contributions of Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinícius Jr. However, not all went smoothly for Madrid. Aurélien Tchouaméni, converted into a centre-back, gave away a penalty that allowed Atalanta to equalise. One journalist scathingly wrote: “That stupid penalty put Atalanta back in the game. Until then, the Frenchman had been quite successful, displacing Asencio, who did not deserve to be on the bench.”
MARCA also praised Girona despite their 1-0 loss to Liverpool, labelling the Reds as “Slot’s dizzying Liverpool.” Girona’s brave approach impressed many, but their own errors cost them. Arne Slot was full of admiration, saying: “Girona is a fantastic team. They deserve much more than what they have.”
Elsewhere, Nuri Sahin, former Liverpool loanee and now Borussia Dortmund manager, previews his side’s clash against Barcelona. Sahin revealed his admiration for Frenkie de Jong, calling him his favourite midfielder since his Ajax days and praising Barcelona for having such a player.
AS: Madrid’s Resilience and a 2030 World Cup Announcement
AS leads with “The Champion Returns,” alongside a photo of Jude Bellingham celebrating his crucial role in Real Madrid’s victory. In an article titled “The Great Madrid,” they describe the Champions League as Madrid’s “private garden,” where the team consistently thrives under pressure, scoring six goals across challenging fixtures against Girona and Atalanta.
On Liverpool’s win, AS runs the provocative headline “VAR says ‘goodbye’ to Girona.” They write: “Girona will always be able to say that Liverpool had to rely on VAR to beat them.” Ticket prices for the Montilivi showdown were also noted, starting at 95 euros (£81.70).
AS also focuses on Spain’s impending confirmation as a co-host for the 2030 World Cup, alongside Portugal and Morocco. While this is a moment of pride, they highlight a logistical challenge: only three proposed stadiums currently meet hosting requirements—the Santiago Bernabéu, the Camp Nou, and a new 115,000-capacity stadium under construction in Casablanca, set to be the world’s largest when completed in 2028.
SPORT: A Call for Reaction and Girona’s Honour
SPORT’s front page rallies Barcelona ahead of their Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund with the headline: “Guys, it’s time for a reaction.” A photo of the coaching staff addressing the players underlines the urgency.
Reflecting on Liverpool’s narrow victory, SPORT writes: “Míchel can sleep satisfied with his team, which lacked a little more success to impose itself. Girona was brave, had options to get the three points, and fell in a very dignified way against the best team right now. This will never be forgotten in Montilivi.”
A Warm Note to End the Morning
This morning’s newspaper review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning this week’s café special: a baguette with sausages, onions, and cheese, plus a drink, for just 6 euros (£5.16). It’s a fitting way to fuel up while reflecting on the week’s football drama. Thanks to KopTalker Will Scanlon for treating me to it! It made reviewing the papers more enjoyable ‘for sure’, as Rafa Benitez would say!
This roundup showcases the depth of Spanish football’s narratives, from Real Madrid’s relentless pursuit of European glory to Girona’s valiant effort against Liverpool and Spain’s growing role on the world stage. Football fans, both neutral and loyal, have much to discuss over coffee today.