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The Brazilian may have been the club's star summer signing, but it is the former Fulham forward who has emerged as their talisman

On August 15, Al-Hilal announced the signing of Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain for €90 million (£77.2m/$98.3m). It was the most expensive transfer in the history of the Saudi Pro League (SPL), the biggest deal ever done outside of Europe too, and the Brazilian was given a predictably rapturous welcome when he arrived in Riyadh.

Al-Hilal had already made several other notable acquisitions during the off-season, including Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Malcom and, perhaps most impressively of all, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – but the Neymar transfer obviously trumped them all.

This was the statement signing the club had been desperate to make; a coup comparable to Al-Nassr landing Cristiano Ronaldo in January or Al-Ittihad convincing Karim Benzema to leave Real Madrid at the end of last season.

In terms of visibility and profile, bringing in Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer was priceless. But, from a sporting perspective, Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus didn't necessarily need Neymar. In reality, what he really needed was a No.9 – and just four days after Neymar joined, he got one.

Getty ImagesMitrovic forces his way out of Fulham

Al-Hilal did their utmost to persuade Romelu Lukaku to join in July, but the Belgian said that while he was "honoured" by the interest of "the biggest club in the Middle East", he wasn't "ready to leave Europe". Consequently, Al-Hilal had to turn their attention elsewhere, and Aleksandar Mitrovic quickly emerged as their preferred target.

The problem was that Fulham had no intention of selling their star striker, the man that had fired them back into the Premier League with a record-breaking 43 goals – before helping them stay there by netting 14 times last season. But Mitrovic made life difficult for Fulham. Impossible, in fact.

After "reluctantly" agreeing to let him leave after the Premier League season had already begun, and just two weeks before the close of the transfer window, the Cottagers stated that "the player had consistently made his desire to leave known".

Manager Marco Silva went even further, saying that Mitrovic had "forced" his way out of the club. "If you ask me if it is normal? No," the Portuguese told reporters. "If you ask me if football players should behave in this way? No. That is the easy answer."

Advertisement'Al-Hilal a bit like Real Madrid'

Mitrovic felt Al-Hilal had made him an offer that he couldn't refuse. "I talked about it with my family," he told the just over a month after signing a deal worth a reported £400,000 ($500,000) per week. "Turning it down was impossible."

Mitrovic insisted, though, that it wasn't just a question of money. The former Anderlecht and Newcastle forward said he was delighted to have finally "arrived at a top club". While that felt like an unnecessary dig at Fulham, he had a point when he claimed that "Al-Hilal is a bit like Real Madrid in Europe."

They're not just the most successful side in the history of Saudi Arabian football, no team in Asia has lifted more trophies (66), including four AFC Champions Leagues (1991, 2000, 2019 and 2021). They also reached the final of the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this year, losing 5-3 to Madrid themselves in a cracking contest in Morocco.

Getty Images'You can see how Mitrovic helped us'

Jesus was just as happy to have Mitrovic on board and threw him straight into the starting line-up for the August 24 clash with Al-Raed. Just five days after his unveiling as an Al-Hilal player, which coincided with a frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Al-Fayha, Mitrovic made his presence felt, opening the scoring in a 4-0 rout of Al-Raed with a trademark header.

"You can see how Mitrovic helped us offensively today," Jesus enthused afterwards. "In the second half he started to get physically tired, but that is normal because he joined the team only a few days ago."

Mitrovic admitted that he had felt some fatigue in the second half, and would require some time to get in sync with his team-mates, but declared that he felt "more than ready for the upcoming games". And he proved true to his word.

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Stealing Benzema's thunder

When Al-Hilal travelled to Al-Ittihad on September 1 for the first Saudi Clasico of the season, all eyes were on the home side's striker, the Ballon d'Or-holding Benzema. It was the visiting No.9 who stole the show, though. Mitrovic cancelled out Romarinho's opener with a stunning volley before going on to score a hat-trick in a thrilling 4-3 win. A very clear and unequivocal message had been sent to the reigning SPL champions: Al-Hilal were a very real threat to Al-Ittihad's crown with Mitrovic up front.

And the feeling at the time was that as soon as Neymar was fit to play, Jesus' side would become even more formidable up front. That notion was reinforced by the South American setting up two goals in a 26-minute minute cameo against Al-Riyadh a fortnight later. There was another assist – but still no goals – in a 2-0 win over Al-Shabab on September 29.

However, by that point, there were already rumours that Neymar and Jesus were not seeing eye to eye. It was even claimed that the forward wanted the Portuguese sacked, prompting talk that Jesus might return to former club Flamengo.

The forward dismissed the speculation as "bullsh*t" and "fake news", but some have argued that the season-ending injury Neymar suffered while on international duty in October may have been something of a blessing in disguise for Jesus, at least from a tactical perspective.

Goal takes a look at what El Tri fans can expect from the new year, plus makes a few predictions about both the national team and Liga MX

Kevin C. CoxTata Martino arrives

It's not exactly a closely guarded secret, but Mexico should hire a men's national team coach early in the year. It should be Gerardo "Tata" Martino.

Fresh off winning MLS Cup with Atlanta United after just two seasons, the Argentine will come to Mexico looking for a new challenge. He'll find it but also will be tasked with thinking long-term as El Tri looks to compete for the 2026 World Cup which will begin on home soil in addition to the 2022 tournament that is approaching more quickly.

AdvertisementHector VivasEl Tri returns to Gold Cup final

Mexico won the 2015 Gold Cup final but missed out on the final altogether in 2017, with an alternate team falling short against Jamaica in the semifinals.

This year will see El Tri's A-team return to the competition, with Mexico taking part in this summer's Gold Cup but not the Copa America. With all attention on its own region, Mexico should be able to return to the final where the United States may be waiting by design – though Costa Rica or another upset-minded team could once again complicate things.

Getty ImagesLozano makes his move

Hirving Lozano was expected to move on from PSV after just one season but stayed put despite his standout showings at the World Cup. This winter, his name once again is being linked to huge clubs like Chelsea and Milan.

El Tri fans may find his name in the transfer rumor sections yet again in the summer, with the Dutch champion not under an obligation to sell for anything less than what it wants for the 23-year-old winger. But whether it's in January or after the Gold Cup, look for 2019 to be the year Lozano takes yet another jump and joins one of the world's largest clubs.

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GettyThis year is 'el bueno' for Cruz Azul

Cruz Azul hasn't won the league since 1997, and the Apertura runners-up have gotten close to winning before only to fall off the next season (it's happened six times since the last title). This prediction could look very silly in 2020. Yet, there's a reason La Maquina could final roll to a title.

Rather than be content with the same team that topped the regular-season table and made it to the final, the club is making more alterations. Former Chivas midifleder Orbelin Pineda and ex-Santos Laguna forward Jonathan Rodriguez continue with sporting director Ricardo Pelaez's strategy of spending for players with proven Liga MX track records. It should pay off either in the upcoming Clausura or in the following Apertura.

Manchester United have been urged to sign Kaoru Mitoma as the Brighton winger would be an upgrade on their current attacking options.

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Red Devils lacking an attacking sparkCreative talents overthinking Saha wants to see Japan star snapped upWHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Devils have continued to splash the cash on creative talent in recent windows, with big-money deals done for the likes of Jadon Sancho, Antony and Mason Mount. Erik ten Hag’s side are, however, still lacking a spark, with Louis Saha claiming that is because those charged with the task of dribbling with the ball and making things happen are “thinking too much”.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Former United striker Saha has told of moves he would be making in upcoming recruitment markets: “I would like to see Mitoma arrive at Old Trafford. He's a very exciting player and he never seems to have any doubt of the ball. He'll bombard defences with offensive moves all the time, and I love his energy and the way he plays with a smile. Mitoma is great to watch, and his attitude would be perfect for any club. Some players think too much, but Mitoma relies on instinct. You can tell he's worked very hard on the training ground to achieve this, and now he's got to a point where he looks like a natural.

“Managers know exactly what they're going to get from Mitoma, and he'd be a strong asset to any club. He'd be very exciting at Manchester United as they tend to have wide players who overthink. They play as if every defender is quicker than them, and that's why they don't often dribble or cross as much as they should. They're too worried that they won't get past defenders! They need to be more direct, and the only United forward who possesses that directness is Rasmus Hojlund. The other players are thinking too much.”

WHAT THEY SAID

While questioning those on the flanks, Saha has said of central playmaker Mount – who arrived from Chelsea over the summer in a £60 million ($77m) deal: “I think Mason Mount can be a lot better, but I'd say the fee was too much. I think Chelsea were playing a game with the fee, even if the market is very competitive and a lot of players have moved for similar fees. People will always have an opinion on transfer fees, and there'll be people who think even [Erling] Haaland and [Kylian] Mbappe cost too much! It's just the nature of football. I'd say, based on what we've seen, Mason Mount isn't performing and I've seen Casemiro play more offensively than Mount! That's a crazy thing to say, but it's true.”

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Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Mount has just one Carabao Cup assist to his name for United, while wide attackers Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho have only two goals between them. In contrast, Mitoma has already registered three goals and four assists this season – to go with the 10 efforts he plundered for Brighton last term.

Ricardo Pepi has lifted the lid on his relationship with Gregg Berhalter after hanging up on the USMNT coach when snubbed for 2022 World Cup duty.

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Striker left out of squad for Qatar 2022Coach returned for second spellAny issues between the pair ironed outWHAT HAPPENED?

The 20-year-old striker, who is now on the books of Dutch giants PSV, did not take kindly to being informed that there was no place for him on the plane to Qatar last year. He was forced to watch on from afar as his international team-mates strutted their stuff in the Middle East – with Berhalter briefly walking away at the end of that tournament after seeing his contract come to a close.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT THEY SAID

Berhalter is now back for a second spell in charge of the United States, and he has called upon Pepi for friendly dates with Uzbekistan and Oman. Pepi has told the podcast when quizzed on potential friction between player and head coach: “I never really had a problem with Gregg. I feel like the interaction we’ve had, we had a phone call before this camp and he explained to me my role in the squad. It’s all a healthy relationship with him. It’s all normal. He asked me about PSV and the Champions League, it was a good conversation. I told him I’m ready to work for the team.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Pepi is still finding his feet in Eindhoven, following a €10 million (£9m/$11m) transfer, but he does have a couple of familiar faces alongside in the form of Sergino Dest and Malik Tillman to help aid that adjustment. He said of being joined at PSV by two international colleagues: “It’s great to have two team-mates from the national team at club level. You always have that connection and I feel that translates to the national team. I now have a closer connection with Sergino and Malik ever since they joined PSV, so it just helps everyone all over the place.”

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Pepi has already recorded his first goal for PSV, after hitting 13 on loan at Groningen last season, and feels better placed to thrive in European football following a tough transition to life in Germany at Augsburg. He said of the challenges he has faced since leaving FC Dallas in 2022: “It was just the intensity of the game. Coming from Major League Soccer to a league like the German league, which is very aggressive and physical and faster, that was the biggest difference. But then, not playing as well was difficult as you don’t get used to the rhythm of the game and the speed. I felt as soon as I made my move to Dutch soccer, I started getting minutes and getting used to the play – that came out well.”

How have the two continental giants fared as they’ve made their way to Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations showpiece?

Getty ImagesMatchday One

Zimbabwe came within seconds of holding Senegal in the two sides’ tournament opener, with Sadio Mane stepping up to bag a 97th-minute penalty after Kelvin Madzongwe was penalised for a handball in the box.

The Teranga Lions headed into the game with only 18 players due to injuries and coronavirus diagnoses, but monopolised the possession in a one-sided encounter.

Nonetheless, their game lacked precision and a cutting edge amidst humid, energy-sapping conditions.

For Egypt, things were even tougher, as they were blown away by a rampant Nigeria side, who should have won more convincingly than 1-0.

AdvertisementGettyMatchday Two

Yet another turgid performance from Senegal, as they and Guinea ground out a 0-0 victory with the Syli Nationale slightly edging the possession stakes.

Egypt bounced back from their victory over Nigeria with an unconvincing 1-0 triumph over Guinea-Bissau, who thought they’d nabbed a late equaliser when Mama Balde bagged a goal of the tournament contender after cutting in from the left flank.

VAR ultimately ruled out the stunning effort, denying the islanders a second point, and getting the North Africans back to winning ways.

BackpagePix.Matchday Three

Mohamed Abdelmomen scored the only goal of the game for Egypt as they downed Sudan in a low-key encounter in Yaounde, with the Pharaohs largely faring well with their opponents’ long-ball approach but unable to carve open clear opportunities.

Senegal were even more effectively neutralised in Bafoussam, playing out an underwhelming 0-0 draw against their lowly opponents.

At this stage of the tournament, while both Senegal and Egypt were largely looking solid, neither were truly looking like title contenders.

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BackpageLast 16

Quarter-finalEgypt took their game to new heights when faced with high-flying Ivory Coast, who entered the contest on the back of eliminating reigning champions Algeria in their final group game.

The Pharaohs at times rode their luck, but created over 20 chances and kept the Elephants at bay before progressing on penalties when Eric Bailly missed his spot kick.

On paper, Senegal had an easier ride, winning 2-0 against nine-men Cape Verde, although the contest didn’t exactly pan out as expected, with the Teranga Lions only taking the lead through Mane after the Liverpool man had suffered a head injury in a collision with goalkeeper Vozinha.

Bamba Dieng finally guaranteed progress in the 92nd minute.

The U.S. boss didn't set his team up to succeed and then left them out to dry in a game that was dying for a change

Heading into the World Cup, the United States women's national team had more question marks than ever before. How would they cope with an obvious lack of depth at center-back? Would they ever find an answer at the No.6 position? Could the team's young stars step up to the moment in their first real opportunity on a stage this big?

As it turns out, though, their draw with the Netherlands showed that the USWNT's biggest question mark may just be their coach. Despite escaping with a point, this 1-1 draw showed that, if the USWNT are to win this World Cup, they're more likely to do it in spite of Vlatko Andonovski, rather than because of him.

This is a long tournament, of course, and Andonovski, like his players, will learn from this. Still, this is a game that will feel both like a lucky result and a missed opportunity for a number of reasons.

Few players will leave this one feeling good, especially given how the game played out, but Andonovski, in particular, will now know that he'll have to do something different if the U.S. are to really make a run this summer.

GOAL has you covered with the winners and losers from the USWNT's draw with the Netherlands…

Please enable Javascript to view this contentGettyLOSER: Vlatko Andonovski

This was a mess from a coaching perspective. Where do we even begin? It makes sense to start with the line up, in theory. Andonovski went with an unchanged XI, rolling out the same starters that cruised past Vietnam last game. Risky, but understandable, despite the fact that there were some obvious rotations to be made if he wanted to.

We can excuse the optimism, even if it was shut down very quickly. The USWNT looked like a team totally unprepared to face the Netherlands' three-at-the-back system. Whenever the Dutch center-backs stepped up, the U.S. looked clueless, allowing passes to break all of the lines and totally bypass the midfield.

That, we can also excuse. A coach won't always get the XI right, and Andonovski definitely didn't, but you do get the benefit of substitutions, right? Well, Andonovski only made one. In a World Cup game. With the deepest team in the world.

His one sub, Rose Lavelle, was spot on, but the decision to not make a single other change is baffling, to say the least. Early in the second half, this game was dying for a player to help the U.S. establish control. Later, it was dying for a player with the ability to steal a winner. Instead, Andonovski let several gassed players run around aimlessly in the name of continuity. No Lynn Williams, no Alyssa Thompson, no Megan Rapinoe… nothing.

It's something you simply can't do at this level. Rest is at a premium, and the USWNT has an advantage over just about every team when it comes to depth. Why, then, would Andonovski not roll the dice when the U.S. was so obviously not getting what they wanted out of the game?

The USWNT survived it this time, only just. It wasn't due to some change in tactics or game-changing coaching decision. No, it was due to the fact that Lindsey Horan got angry and dunked on the Netherlands out of revenge. It was frustration, not coaching, that got the U.S. out of this mess.

For years, Andonovski has, perhaps unfairly, been criticized for many of this team's shortcomings. The USWNT has never quite been a dominant force under his leadership, and that isn't totally his fault. Injuries have played a part, for sure, as have some irregularities in the player pool. You can't control everything.

What you can control is something as simple as substitutions. Andonovski didn't. It's a mistake that went relatively unpunished, thankfully for the USWNT, who simply can't get away with this type of coaching against the best teams in the world

AdvertisementGettyWINNER: Lindsey Horan

As it turns out, Horan called her shot. "You get trash talk every single day from Dan van de Donk," she told GOAL just before the World Cup, "and once we play them, you'll see it. She'll be coming for my ankles like every single play so watch out for that. That will be fun!" Prophetic, huh?

Horan was right all along, unfortunately for Van de Donk, who woke up her Lyon team-mate in a big way. After a collision between the two and some obvious frustration from Horan, the USWNT captain stepped up with a huge header just moments later, turning her anger into a game-tying goal.

It was the type of moment you'd expect from a captain. She had her difficulties in the first half, for sure, but as the game wore on and frustration mounted, Horan turned it into the moment this team needed. Job well done for the USWNT captain. Who knows what she'll predict next?

Getty ImagesLOSER: Trinity Rodman

Early on, Trinity Rodman was the USWNT's only bright spot. Her pace made her dangerous and she nearly got a goal seconds after the USWNT conceded. There was a pretty significant amount of time that it looked like the goal was most likely to come from something Rodman did.

But you just have to look at the numbers to see that this wasn't the game the USWNT needed from Rodman. The young winger attempted 23 passes; she completed just 10 of them. That's 43 percent. She was also dispossessed six different times. So many attacks came to an end once the ball got to Rodman's feet. You simply can't give up the ball that often at this level.

Now, Andonovski should have seen that and taken her off. She obviously faded as the game went on and, generally, a coach would have thrown on fresh legs for some fresh ideas in the attack. Instead, Rodman was left out to dry a bit.

The bright spots should ensure her confidence doesn't dip too much. Rodman is a legitimate weapon, one that kept the Netherlands on the back foot right up until they scored. She'll have better games than this, for sure, and she'll learn from what was a very, very big lesson on the biggest stage.

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GettyWINNER: Rose Lavelle

We all knew that Lavelle was important to this team, but this first half proved just how vital she is. The Netherlands cut through the USWNT midfield like Swiss cheese throughout the opening 45 minutes, completely dominating the American midfield three with ease. That is until Lavelle arrived to save the day.

The balance totally shifted when the midfielder was tossed into the game as she replaced Savannah DeMelo, who may just have been the team's best midfielder in the opening half. Lavelle immediately got herself stuck in in what was a physical game, helping provide some fight back against the tide.

Her assist on Horan's goal, meanwhile, was fantastic, helping the U.S. salvage a point. Andonovski only made one sub on the day, and he did get that one right as Lavelle was the player to change this game.

The question is what comes next. Is she healthy enough to finally go 90 against Portugal? The U.S. better hope so. They can't win this thing without her.

There was an understanding that given his run of low scores, Tamim shouldn’t have played the warm-up match in Fatullah and he made just nine. Yet Tamim struck back on Friday with his fifth ODI hundred.

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur17-Apr-2015Mushfiqur Rahim was surprised to get the Man-of-the-Match award after Friday’s first ODI against Pakistan. He had scored a century, that too the third fastest by a Bangladeshi batsman in an ODI, and taken a catch. He was also involved in Bangladesh’s highest ODI partnership for any wicket with Tamim Iqbal. Still, Mushfiqur felt that it was Tamim’s 132 which had more impact on Bangladesh’s highest-ever score in an ODI of 329 for 6. However, the judges thought differently.”I tried to remind him of one thing,” Mushfiqur said of Tamim after Bangladesh’s 79-run win on Friday. “He used to get out in the 50s, 60s and 70s. I told him he cannot go for the shots until the last five overs because a new batsman can’t come and start hitting from the onset. He took calculative risks. I was very surprised to get the Man-of-the-Match award. He deserved it.”This was Tamim’s first ODI hundred in two years. He had broken his Test century hoodoo in the series against Zimbabwe last year, after which he looked relieved. A knee injury hampered his World Cup preparation and he made one significant score in the tournament, ending it with 155 runs at an average of 25.66. Every low score was greeted by derision on social media. Internet trolls and memes vilified Tamim, while there was always the odd question through traditional media about his place in the team.There was an understanding that given his run of low scores, he shouldn’t have played the warm-up match in Fatullah. He made just nine, further denting his confidence on the eve of the match.Yet Tamim struck back on Friday with his fifth ODI hundred, a match-winning one at that. The duo of Mushfiqur and Tamim added 178 runs in just 21.4 overs, completely changing the course of the game as Bangladesh were 67 for two when Mahmudullah fell at the end of the 20th over. By the time Tamim got out, Bangladesh were looking towards a 300-run score.Tamim didn’t come to the post-match press conference so Mushfiqur and Shakib Al Hasan had to field many questions related to Tamim. Shakib praised Tamim’s effort and said that it was one of the best innings he had seen of the batsman.”It was an extraordinary innings,” Shakib said. “To be honest, he was under some pressure but his batting didn’t show any nerve. It is definitely one of his best innings. The way him and Mushfiqur batted, it was the turning point in the game. I think Tamim played the way he usually plays.”Mushfiqur said that he enjoyed Tamim’s celebration which included a gesture towards the stands for the amount of talk on him. He said that patience should be shown with Tamim, because even though he has been going through a lean trot Tamim’s last big innings wasn’t too long ago.’I think it was easy to understand [his celebration],” Mushfiqur said. “There was a lot of talk about him in the last 4-5 months. I believe there are very few accomplished batsman in Bangladesh. He got out to good balls in the last few games. People get out to bad balls. A batsman can go through a bad time.”There were many batsmen in the World Cup who didn’t score more than 200 runs. He had one very important score in the World Cup. We couldn’t have won that game against Scotland had he not done well in that game. If we lost that game, we probably wouldn’t have made it to the quarterfinals. It is not entirely the media’s fault. There will always be criticism. We don’t need support in a good time, rather we need it in bad time. I think his celebration was great. I liked it. I hope Tamim will play more big innings in the future.”

The Blancos' Brazilian forwards starred as Real Madrid came from behind to beat Real Mallorca and maintain their perfect start to the season

Real Madrid's Brazilian duo, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, were the stars of the show as Los Blancos moved back to the top of the table with a fifth straight win in La Liga.

Vinicius maintained his prolific form by scoring his fifth goal in as many games, while Rodrygo ended up with a goal and an assist in a 4-1 victory over a spirited Real Mallorca at Santiago Bernabeu.

The duo completely outshone a disappointing Eden Hazard, who was making his first start since January. The Belgian was back in the team but then back on the bench after 58 minutes as Carlo Ancelotti opted for changes.

The hosts had earlier needed a rocket from Fede Valverde to get them back on level terms after Vedat Muriqi stunned the home fans by opening the scoring.

Real Madrid's Brazilian duo then did the business and there was even time for a first Blancos goal for summer signing Antonio Rudiger late on.

Getty ImagesThe Winners

Rodrygo:

The 21-year-old is a enjoying a fine start to the season and is making a big difference to the defending champions in the early weeks of the campaign.

Rodrygo's run and pass to tee up Vinicius to make it 2-1 was very special, but the Brazilian wasn't done there as he got his name on the scoresheet in style, beating two defenders and then applying an ice-cool finish.

The forward has now been involved in four goals in his last four games.

Vinicius Jr:

The Brazilian remains in unstoppable form for Real Madrid and is a big reason why the champions have won all seven games so far this season.

There was no Karim Benzema against Real Mallorca, but it didn't really matter because Vini stepped up when it counted to make it 2-1 and end the visitors' hopes of a first win over Madrid in 2009.

Vinicius has now scored in his last five games in a row and is absolutely vital to Madrid's hopes of success this season.

Fede Valverde:

Vinicius may have scored the winner but there's no doubt the highlight of the game was the absolute thunderbolt that Valverde struck in the first half to level the game at 1-1.

The Uruguay midfielder now has two goals and three assists in his last five outings for Carlo Ancelotti's side this season.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers

Eden Hazard:

Hazard was back in the starting XI for the first time since January after impressing last time out against Celtic with a goal off the bench in the Champions League.

The visit of Mallorca, who were beaten 6-1 in this fixture last season, looked to be the perfect opportunity for Hazard to shine, but the game largely passed him by.

Hazard didn't lack for effort, but nothing really came off and it was no real surprise to see him substituted just before the hour.

The Bernabeu pitch:

The 2022-23 La Liga season is only a few weeks old, but the pitch at Santiago Bernabeu already looks as though it has seen better days.

The turf at the home of the champions looked dry and bare in places and certainly did not help Carlo Ancelotti's side, who toiled at times before running away with it late on.

Ferland Mendy:

Real Madrid had to come from behind at home, and fingers will be pointed at Mendy for the opening goal. The left-back, who was also booked early on, was caught ball-watching which allowed Vedat Muriqi to thunder a header home.

Getty ImagesReal Madrid Ratings: Defence

Thibaut Courtois (6/10):

Made a good early parry inside the first minute. Could do nothing about Muriqi’s header but otherwise didn’t have too much to do in the Madrid goal.

Ferland Mendy (4/10):

Not a great day for the left-back who was booked in the first half, lost Muriqi for the opener and taken off before the hour.

David Alaba (7/10):

Typically strong at the back and kept on looking to set Vinicius free down the left flank.

Antonio Rudiger (8/10):

A memorable day for the summer signing who scored his first goal for Los Blancos in stoppage time with a volley at the back post.

Lucas Vazquez (6/10):

A decent showing from the full-back, but his game was ended early in the second half by injury.

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GettyMidfield

Dani Ceballos (6/10):

Some good moments on just his third start since returning from a loan spell with Arsenal. Laid the ball off to Valverde for the Uruguayan’s sensational equaliser but was replaced for the last 20 minutes by Eduardo Camavinga.

Toni Kroos (8/10):

Took over the armband from Benzema and had a few sights of goal but couldn't find the back of the net. Did, though, dictate proceedings in midfield and grabbed an assist late on for Rudiger with a fine free-kick into the penalty area.

Fede Valverde (8/10):

Gave away from the free-kick from which Mallorca opened the scoring but made amends in style with a fabulous equaliser.

After some eye-catching transfers, Villa have made club history in the Women's FA Cup this season and are on track for a best-ever WSL finish

Carla Ward, manager of Aston Villa’s women’s team, remembers being told last summer that another coach in the Women’s Super League had tipped her team for relegation.

Almost a year on, Villa are fifth in the WSL table. They have taken four points off title-chasing Manchester City and beat the same opponent last month to set up a meeting with Chelsea on Sunday in the club’s first-ever Women’s FA Cup semi-final.

Ward admits that if GOAL had told her 12 months ago that the team would be in this position, “I would have called you crazy.”

But the progress made is a testament to the work behind the scenes, the way this group has come together and some brilliant transfer business, which has led to them grabbing headlines for all the right reasons.

GettyDaly, Dali and the summer's dazzling deals

Those headlines started last summer with Rachel Daly’s surprise arrival. Despite her having offers from top-four clubs, the Euro 2022 winner made her way to Villa Park.

“I still don't know how we kept it such a secret,” Ward tells GOAL. “There were only two or three of us that knew for the entire duration of it.

“We’re on a journey and I think she likes the idea of being part of something and helping a club like us and a manager, I guess, like me, who is early on in their career.

"I think that was probably quite important, just to have that sort of impact. If she goes to a top club, might she just be another player? Whereas if she comes to a club like ours, she can make a real difference in helping us move forward.

“It shows the type of person she is. She didn't just go to a big club for big money. She wanted to really come and be part of something special.”

"Rach has been absolutely unbelievable for us," adds Dan Turner, another of Villa’s superb summer signings. "She just won the Euros as a left-back, comes in and is absolutely firing on all cylinders as a No.9. That's just testament to her as a player and a person how well she's done for us. She's been pivotal, as many of the other signings and players have been, for how well we're doing.

“It’s a massive coup for us. She's a leader in the dressing room. Everyone has so much respect for her, as we do for everyone. She's a big character off the pitch as well and, bonus, she brings Dexi, her dog, in most days!”

As well as those Daly and Turner, in came France international Kenza Dali, New Zealand goalkeeper Anna Leat, the versatile Natasha Harding, Northern Ireland striker Simone Magill, Anna Patten on loan from Arsenal, and Kirsty Hanson on loan from Manchester United.

It didn’t click right away, with Ward describing pre-season as “dreadful”. But since it has, it’s been superb.

AdvertisementGettyThe thorn in Man City's side

It was the opening weekend of the season when it came together. Villa raced into a two-goal lead against Man City before half time, were trailing 3-2 before the hour mark, but ended the match as 4-3 winners.

“It's probably one of the best games I've ever been involved in as a player,” Turner says. “I think that win, it was like, 'Okay, we can really kick on from here and we've really got something in this group'.”

That belief was well-placed. Villa have since found consistency, taken points off City again and only lost once in 2023 – that to Chelsea. After a few transfer windows, Ward believes the squad is now tailor made for how she wants to play.

“We plan very strategically who we want, what we want, and how we're going to get there,” she explains. “It's not all about spending money. It's about identifying players that fit the system, fit what we want, fit the philosophy, fit the kind of environment we've got and then bringing those players in.”

GettyBacking it all up with a giant January

That continued into January when Villa caught the eye again. Jordan Nobbs – a player with three WSL titles, four FA Cups and five League Cups to her name – joined from Arsenal. Three days later, Lucy Staniforth, another England international with huge pedigree, followed her through the door.

Villa's team was depleted with injuries at this point and reinforcements were more than welcome – especially ones as good as these.

“I think Christmas came at a good time for us,” Turner says. “A lot of us needed that physical and mental reset. Then when you come back in and there's quality added to the squad, immediately the quality and the standards in training go up because everybody's now fighting for the shirt that maybe wasn't as competitive before Christmas, because of the injuries.

“They're two exciting signings that I think have done unbelievably well since they've been in. Jordan is doing what Jordan does, scoring goals! Stan has been unbelievable controlling the middle of the pitch for us.

“When you hear those names are coming through the door, it just makes for a really exciting second half of the season.”

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GettyPutting it all together

It’s one thing to sign lots of good players, though, and another to put all the pieces together. Villa have certainly done the latter.

Turner believes that she is in the best form of her career – and GOAL agrees. Daly is in the hunt for the WSL’s Golden Boot. Dali deserves to be nominated for the league’s Player of the Season award. The list goes on.

“It's probably a number of factors,” Turner says, asked what is getting the best out of everyone. “I think the togetherness in the group is unbelievable. We're quite an open group, so the environment helps. Carla brings out the best in people, brings out confidence in people.

“Things have been thrown at us, decisions have gone against us this season, things haven't gone our way at times, but there's a lot of character in this group and you can see that.

“There's a lot of experience in the group now and there's winners. We're really starting to build a winning mentality. We're finding different ways to win games. We play some unbelievable football at times but it's not always pretty. That's how you are successful, by finding different ways to win.”

Manchester United fans should not expect their club to join the race for Kylian Mbappe, with Sir Dave Brailsford answering a cheeky transfer question.

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PSG superstar running down contractSet to hit free agency in the summerExpected to link up with Real MadridGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

World Cup winner Mbappe is generating plenty of headlines as he runs down his contract at Paris Saint-Germain. With no extension option in the French capital being triggered, the 25-year-old forward is preparing to hit free agency.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

He has been linked with a move to England at Liverpool or Arsenal, but the expectation is that he will end up at La Liga giants Real Madrid. There have been reports of a deal being agreed there, with Los Blancos landing themselves another ‘Galactico’.

GettyWHAT BRAILSFORD SAID ABOUT MBAPPE

United were never in the running for Mbappe, with Brailsford – who forms part of the new leadership team being put in place at Old Trafford by Sir Jim Ratcliffe – responding to a fan asking him if the Red Devils could sign the France international: “I don't think so, he's probably off to Real Madrid ain't he.”

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