Madrid look for quick fix, Barca off to fast start

A 1-1 draw at Las Palmas leaves Madrid with only one win from three games

MADRID:

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says the Spanish and European champions must quickly navigate their way through a patchy start to the season, with Kylian Mbappe still searching for his first goal in La Liga.

A 1-1 draw at Las Palmas on Thursday left Madrid with only one win from their first three games in Spain, already lagging four points behind Barcelona who have hit the ground running under new coach Hansi Flick.

Real face Real Betis at the Bernabeu on Sunday while Barca host Real Valladolid on Saturday.

Ancelotti admits he has yet to find the right formula to best accommodate his galaxy of attacking stars but recalled that it also took Madrid time to settle last season before they enjoyed a hugely successful campaign culminating in their 15th Champions League title.

"Last year we needed time too," said the Italian. "Early on, we won a lot of games in the last few minutes. We have to adjust the team a bit this year and find its best version."

English midfielder Jude Bellingham is out until at least the international break and Madrid are still adapting to life with Mbappe, who scored on his debut in the UEFA Super Cup win over Italian club Atalanta but has drawn a blank in the three matches since.

"We have to hold on and suffer a bit because the team isn't well balanced," said Ancelotti. "We have to look for a quick solution and we're going to find it."

Madrid will hope a return home to face Betis this weekend can soothe their teething pains and perhaps be the occasion Mbappe clicks into gear.

Barcelona have won their three opening league fixtures for the first time since 2018.

They came from behind in two of those matches, with Dani Olmo celebrating his delayed Barcelona debut by scoring the winner in Tuesday's 2-1 victory at Rayo Vallecano. That success came at a price though with 17-year-old defensive midfielder Marc Bernal set for an extended absence after rupturing the ACL in his left knee.

"We win, it's OK but when you see the dressing room nobody is happy," said Flick.

In other games, Atletico Madrid go to Athletic Bilbao while second-placed Villarreal make the short trip south to Valencia, who have lost each of their first three games.

The Colombia playmaker returned to La Liga this week, signing with Rayo Vallecano as a free agent after helping his country to the final of the Copa America.

The 33-year-old was voted player of the tournament but was without a club after terminating his contract with Brazilian side Sao Paulo.

Ronaldo in Portugal squad for Nations League

Cristiano Ronaldo has kept his place in the Portugal squad for next month's UEFA Nations games against Croatia and Scotland despite an ineffective display at Euro 2024.

The 39-year-old failed to score as he appeared at a record sixth European Championship, with Portugal exiting in the quarter-finals, but he retains the backing of coach Roberto Martinez.

"When I quit the national team, I won't tell anyone in advance... At the moment what I want is to be able to help the Selecao," Ronaldo said in an interview with Portuguese TV this week.

Ronaldo has started the new season with four goals in as many games for Saudi side Al-Nassr and is likely to continue to lead the Portugal attack with Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos sidelined by an ankle injury.

While veteran defender Pepe announced his retirement from football at the age of 41 earlier this month, Martinez is looking to the future with Friday's call-up of 17-year-old Sporting Lisbon winger Geovany Quenda.

Chelsea left-back Renato Veiga and Lille defender Tiago Santos are other new faces in the squad for the games against Croatia and Scotland on September 5 and 8 in Lisbon.