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Real Madrid held by Osasuna with Bellingham sent off

Real Madrid held by Osasuna with Bellingham sent off
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe challenges Osasuna’s goalkeeper Sergio Herrera during their La Liga match at El Sardar stadium in Pamplona, Spain, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP)
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Updated 15 February 2025

Real Madrid held by Osasuna with Bellingham sent off

Real Madrid held by Osasuna with Bellingham sent off
  • The Spanish champions took the lead through Kylian Mbappe
  • Ante Budimir levelled for hosts Osasuna from the penalty spot

PAMPLONA, Spain: La Liga leaders Real Madrid dropped two points in a 1-1 draw at Osasuna on Saturday in which Jude Bellingham was sent off.
The Spanish champions took the lead through Kylian Mbappe before the referee expelled England international Bellingham for dissent toward the end of the first half.
Ante Budimir levelled for hosts Osasuna from the penalty spot after 58 minutes as Carlo Ancelotti’s side endured a third consecutive league match without victory.
Atletico Madrid, second and two points behind the leaders, host Celta Vigo later Saturday, while third-place Barcelona welcome Rayo Vallecano on Monday.
Ancelotti said Bellingham should not have been dismissed and had just been expressing his frustration rather than directly insulting the referee.
“I think with Bellingham’s red card (the referee) didn’t understand the English well... I don’t think it’s something offensive,” Ancelotti told reporters.
“I think the red card came out because the referee was nervous... Bellingham did nothing today to have been sent off, absolutely nothing.”
The coach said he was happy with how Madrid played despite dropping points.
“In a footballing sense we started very well, and we finished well despite having one less player,” said Ancelotti.
The Italian made a few rotations with the midweek Champions League play-off second leg clash against Manchester City in mind, with Rodrygo resting and Brahim Diaz given a rare start.
Los Blancos controlled the game from the off, moving the ball around too quickly for Osasuna to get a foothold.
Vinicius appealed for an early penalty when Alejandro Catena slid in to dispossess him and the ball struck the defender’s arm.
The Brazilian winger should have put the champions ahead when Mbappe crossed for him, but misjudged the flight of the ball and headed wide from close range.
Madrid did not have to wait long for their opener and Fede Valverde created it with a low cross for Mbappe, who produced a clinical finish.
It was the in-form French forward’s seventh goal in his last five La Liga matches.
Osasuna threatened just once in the first half, with a low drive from Aimar Oroz, which Thibaut Courtois superbly pushed to safety.
Vinicius spurned another golden opportunity when Mbappe teed him up, before Bellingham was dismissed in the 39th minute.
The England international exchanged words with referee Jose Munuera Montero, who then reached for his red card.
Madrid have complained heavily about Spanish refereeing in recent weeks, labelling it “rigged” and they grew further frustrated with Munuera Montero in the second half.
Osasuna levelled before the hour mark through Budimir from the spot after Eduardo Camavinga was late on the Croatian striker.
Budimir had already shot wide of the post when the French midfielder clattered into the forward, similar to the penalty Aurelien Tchouameni conceded in Madrid’s derby draw with Atletico Madrid last weekend.
Budimir’s penalty was his 13th goal of the season, behind only Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski and Mbappe, on 17, in the standings.
Mbappe came close to scoring a second but fired narrowly over and Vinicius had an effort deflected wide after a dangerous incursion from the left.
Madrid pushed for a winner despite their numerical disadvantage, knowing their title rivals are breathing down their necks.
Mbappe had one last chance in stoppage time but Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera palmed away his effort with a strong hand.
After playing for nearly an hour with 10 men, Manchester City will hope it takes a toll on Madrid on Wednesday when the sides meet at the Santiago Bernabeu.


Sabalenka dumps Gauff as semi-final lineup is set for WTA Finals in Riyadh

Sabalenka dumps Gauff as semi-final lineup is set for WTA Finals in Riyadh
Updated 07 November 2025

Sabalenka dumps Gauff as semi-final lineup is set for WTA Finals in Riyadh

Sabalenka dumps Gauff as semi-final lineup is set for WTA Finals in Riyadh
  • Top seed Aryna Sabalenka will face 4th seed Amanda Anisimova for a place in the final
  • 5th seed Jessica Pegula will take on 6th seed Elena Rybakina in the other semi

RIYADH: The lineup for the semi-finals of the 2025 WTA Finals Riyadh was decided on Thursday during a thrilling finale to the group stage in which world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka eliminated defending champion Coco Gauff.

There was everything to play for ahead of the third and final round of matches in the Stefanie Graf Group at the King Saud University Indoor Arena, with three of the four players still in contention for a place in the last four.

Fifth seed Jessica Pegula gave herself the best possible chance of advancing by sealing a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 victory over eighth seed Jasmine Paolini. However, the American’s progression still hinged on the outcome of a blockbuster showdown between top seed Sabalenka and third seed Gauff.

Various permutations were in play regarding which two of the three would qualify, but Gauff knew that anything short of a victory would mean elimination and the end of her title defense.

In the clash of two of the biggest superstars in tennis, Gauff claimed an early lead, but in the end it would be a dramatic tiebreak that decided the opening set, with Sabalenka edging it to put herself on the brink of the semi-finals. She then claimed the second set by a more comfortable 6-2 margin to seal the victory.

Sabalenka, 27, said she was “super happy to get this win in straight sets. I’m staying hungry and staying aggressive in the game. Sometimes I need to throw emotions out just to be able to compete, and I think I’m balancing it pretty well.”

She will now face fellow American, and fourth seed, Amanda Anisimova on Friday. The pair have already faced each other in three huge matches this year, not least their most recent clash in the final of the US Open in September, which Sabalenka won 6-3, 7-6. However, Anisimova leads their career head-to-head record with six wins to Sabalenka’s four.

Gauff made history last year when she won the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh, the first ever professional women’s tennis tournament staged in ֱ. Just 20 years old at the time, she was also the youngest winner in two decades.

After her loss to Sabalenka on Thursday she said: “I had a lot of chances in the first set. It was a bit disappointing not to get that one. She stepped her level up and I just couldn’t find it after that.

“Overall, I think I was playing a high level. Couple points in the tiebreaker, I had on my racket. It was a tough one.”

In the other semi-final, also on Friday, Pegula will face sixth seed Elena Rybakina.