Real Madrid taking Route One to glory? Why the long ball still matters in elite soccer
The "kick it long" tactic has long seemed outdated in soccer, but some teams -- including Toni Kroos and Real Madrid -- are making it work.
2020 Schedule
GETGET018/412:00 PM
0Real MadridMAD
LIVLIV0FTAgg. 1-30Real MadridMAD- Real MadridMAD2FT
1BARBAR - Real MadridMAD3FT1LIVLIV
- Real MadridMAD2FT
0EIBEIB 
CELCEL1FT3Real MadridMAD- Real MadridMAD3FTAgg. 4-1
1ATAATA - Real MadridMAD2FT
1ELCELC 
ATLATL1FT1Real MadridMAD- Real MadridMAD1FT
1RSORSO - ATAATA0FT1Real MadridMAD
VALLVALL0FT1Real MadridMAD- Real MadridMAD2FT
0VALVAL - Real MadridMAD2FT0GETGET
HUEHUE1FT2Real MadridMAD- Real MadridMAD1FT
2LEVLEV 
ALVALV1FT4Real MadridMAD
ALCALC2FT1Real MadridMAD- Real MadridMAD1FT
2ATHATH 
OSAOSA0FT0Real MadridMAD- Real MadridMAD2FT0CELCEL
- ELCELC1FT1Real MadridMAD
- Real MadridMAD2FT
0GCFGCF - EIBEIB1FT3Real MadridMAD
- Real MadridMAD3FT1ATHATH
- Real MadridMAD2FT0ATLATL
2020 Schedule
20-6-4, 2nd in Spanish Primera División
Real MadridMAD212/12FT0ATLATL- Real MadridMAD315/12FT1ATHATH
- EIBEIB120/12FT3Real MadridMAD
- Real MadridMAD223/12FT0GCFGCF
- ELCELC130/12FT1Real MadridMAD
- Real MadridMAD22/1FT0CELCEL
- OSAOSA09/1FT0Real MadridMAD
- Real MadridMAD114/1FT2ATHATH
- ALCALC220/1FT1Real MadridMAD
- ALVALV123/1FT4Real MadridMAD
- Real MadridMAD130/1FT2LEVLEV
- HUEHUE16/2FT2Real MadridMAD
- Real MadridMAD29/2FT0GETGET
- Real MadridMAD214/2FT0VALVAL
- VALLVALL020/2FT1Real MadridMAD
- ATAATA024/2FT1Real MadridMAD
- Real MadridMAD11/3FT1RSORSO
- ATLATL17/3FT1Real MadridMAD
- Real MadridMAD213/3FT1ELCELC
- Real MadridMAD316/3FTAgg. 4-11ATAATA
- CELCEL120/3FT3Real MadridMAD
- Real MadridMAD23/4FT0EIBEIB
- Real MadridMAD36/4FT1LIVLIV
- Real MadridMAD210/4FT1BARBAR
- LIVLIV014/4FTAgg. 1-30Real MadridMAD
- GETGET018/4h:mm a z, US/Eastern0Real MadridMAD
New No. 1 in Shaka's Power Rankings (1:17)
Valverde: Bus attack gave me extra motivation
Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde said the incident that damaged the team bus ahead of the clash with Liverpool further motivated him.
Champions League talking points: Man City, Real Madrid the teams to beat?
Who'll emerge between Real Madrid, Chelsea, Man City and PSG? Were Bayern and Dortmund unlucky? ESPN's writers break it all down.
Laurens: Chelsea will need some 'craziness' to beat Real Madrid (1:07)
Real Madrid's last 3 games 'some of Zidane's finest work' (1:32)
Madrid eliminate Liverpool with draw at Anfield
Real Madrid knocked out Liverpool to reach the Champions League semifinals following a 0-0 draw at Anfield on Wednesday.
With Real Madrid's triumph over Liverpool, a fourth Champions League title would be Zidane's finest
If Zinedine Zidane guides this particular Real Madrid side to Champions League glory after ousting Liverpool, he should get full recognition.
Window on Madrid bus smashed en route to Anfield
Real Madrid's team bus was hit by an object outside Anfield ahead of Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Liverpool.
Real Madrid battling Liverpool in Champions League, but also physical, emotional fatigue after Clasico win
Real Madrid aren't just trying to beat Liverpool this week. They're also trying to beat the fatigue. Do they have enough left for Anfield?
Klopp: Liverpool don't have a lot to lose vs. Real
Jurgen Klopp has said Liverpool "don't have a lot to lose" in their Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Real Madrid at Anfield.
Perez re-elected Real Madrid president
Florentino Perez has been re-elected unopposed as Real Madrid president for another four years after no other candidates came forward.
Barca top Madrid as Forbes' most valuable club
Barcelona have leapfrogged Real Madrid to become the world's most valuable club with a valuation of $4.76 billion, according to Forbes.
LIVE Transfer Talk: Real Madrid target Camavinga won't sign new Rennes deal
Real Madrid's hopes of signing Eduardo Camavinga have been boosted by the news that he won't sign a new deal. Transfer Talk is LIVE with the latest.
Why Alexander-Arnold's late heroics aren't fooling Ogden (1:24)
Sources: PSG, Madrid, Inter monitor Lingard
Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Real Madrid are eyeing Jesse Lingard's situation ahead of the summer transfer window, sources have told ESPN.
LIVE Transfer Talk: Mbappe to Real Madrid could mean Ronaldo to PSG
Cristiano Ronaldo could be a shock target for Paris Saint-Germain if Kylian Mbappe moves to Real Madrid. Transfer Talk has the latest.
Real Madrid's defensive woes build with Vazquez
Real Madrid's defensive crisis has deepened with the club confirming on Sunday that Lucas Vazquez sustained a knee injury in their El Clasico win.
Savvy Real Madrid teach Barcelona a Clasico lesson
Real Madrid's Clasico win was won long before a ball was kicked, with Zinedine Zidane setting up his team to easily exploit Barca's inexperience.
Furious Koeman: Barca deserved pen vs. Real
Ronald Koeman was left exasperated that Barcelona weren't awarded a late penalty as they were beaten 2-1 by Real Madrid.
Why Messi was unable to make an impact in El Clasico (1:50)
Moreno: I never saw this coming from Real Madrid (1:46)
How Zidane's tactics got the better of Barcelona (2:08)
Real Madrid beat Barcelona to take La Liga lead
Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 to leap their 'Clasico' foes, as well as city rivals Atletico Madrid, to go top of the table.
2020-21 La Liga Table
| TEAM | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atletico Madrid | 30 | 20 | 7 | 3 | +32 | 67 |
| Real Madrid | 30 | 20 | 6 | 4 | +29 | 66 |
| Barcelona | 30 | 20 | 5 | 5 | +43 | 65 |
| Sevilla FC | 30 | 19 | 4 | 7 | +20 | 61 |
| Real Sociedad | 30 | 12 | 11 | 7 | +16 | 47 |
| Real Betis | 30 | 14 | 5 | 11 | -3 | 47 |
| Villarreal | 30 | 11 | 13 | 6 | +10 | 46 |
| Granada | 30 | 11 | 6 | 13 | -14 | 39 |
| Levante | 30 | 9 | 11 | 10 | -2 | 38 |
| Celta Vigo | 30 | 9 | 10 | 11 | -7 | 37 |
| Athletic Bilbao | 30 | 9 | 10 | 11 | +6 | 37 |
| Cádiz | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | -18 | 35 |
| Valencia | 30 | 8 | 10 | 12 | -5 | 34 |
| Osasuna | 30 | 8 | 10 | 12 | -11 | 34 |
| Getafe | 30 | 7 | 9 | 14 | -12 | 30 |
| Huesca | 30 | 5 | 12 | 13 | -14 | 27 |
| Real Valladolid | 30 | 5 | 12 | 13 | -14 | 27 |
| Elche | 30 | 5 | 11 | 14 | -19 | 26 |
| Alavés | 30 | 5 | 9 | 16 | -23 | 24 |
| Eibar | 30 | 4 | 11 | 15 | -14 | 23 |
2020-21 Team LeadersSpanish Primera División
- Goals
- Assists
RankingsSpanish Primera División
Goal Difference293rd
Goals Scored532nd
Assists412nd
Goals Conceded24Tied-2nd