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VALENCIA, SPAIN – JANUARY 03: Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring their sides second goal during the LaLiga match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid CF at Estadio Mestalla on January 03, 2025 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Ten-man Real Madrid moved top of LALIGA with a late 2-1 victory over Valencia on Friday night.

LALIGA

Result: Valencia 1-2 Real Madrid

Date: 03 January 2025

Venue: Mestalla

Madrid were boosted by the return from injury of Vinicius Junior, who joined Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham in attack.

Los Blancos had the bulk of possession in the opening exchanges but it was Valencia who looked more dangerous on transitions.

It was no surprise just before the half-hour mark after Hugo Duro broke the deadlock for Los Ches with a strike from a rebound after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois parried a shot by Javi Guerra.

Carlo Ancelotti’s charges pinned Valencia in their own half for the latter part of the first stanza but they were wasteful in front of goal and went to the break trailing by an odd goal.

Madrid had a lifeline early from the break after they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Mbappe in the box.

However, Bellingham could not capitalize for the visitors, after his spot-kick came off the post.

Mbappe thought he had finally made it 1-1 for Los Blancos on the hour-mark, after he latched onto a through ball by Bellingham, rounded shot-stopper Stole Dimitrievski and rolled the ball into an empty net but the goal was chalked off for offside by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

Madrid continued to have the momentum with 22 minutes to go as Ancelotti brought on Brahim Diaz in place of Rodrygo for fresh legs in attack.

Things got bad for Los Blancos in the last ten minutes after they were down to ten men following the red-card of Vinicius Junior, who was sent off for shoving down Dimitrievski.

However, Luka Modric levelled matters for Madrid five minutes later with a toe-poked effort in the box after a sustained pressure.

Ancelotti’s men were pushing for the winner in the closing minutes and Bellingham sealed the three points in stoppages with a shot past Dimitrievski in a one-on-one, after a mistake at the back by Valencia.

Madrid opened a two-point lead at the top of the standings. 

Belouizdad’s Khanyisa Mayo in action against Al Ahly.

Khanyiso Mayo’s CR Belouizdad leapfrogged Orlando Pirates in Group C after defeating Al Ahly in CAF Champions League action on Friday night.

CAF Champions League

Result: CR Belouizdad 1-0 Al Ahly

Date: 03 January 2025

Venue: Stade du 5 Juillet 1962

South African Percy Tau was among players who were dropped from the goalless draw against ENPPI in the league, as The Red Devils only retained Abdou Ali in a new attack that also had Hussein El Shahat, Amr Solia and Karim El Debes.

Fellow Bafana striker Khanyisa Mayo was in the line-up for Belouizdad, who were hammered 6-1 by the same side in mid December.

Chances were few and far between in the opening exchanges, with the sides limited to shots from range which were not accurate.

Al Ahly had the momentum after the half-hour mark but it was CRB who got the first shot on target ten minutes before the interval after Islam Belkhir was denied by goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.

The game opened up towards the end of the first stanza, as Rami Rabia also had a chance for Marcel Koller’s charges with a header that that was gathered by shot-stopper Moustapha Zeghba.

Mayo also came close to breaking the deadlock for Belouizdad at the other end on the stroke of half-time with a header in the box that was kept out by El Shenawy, as the sides went to the break without goals.

The Algerian side showed urgency from the interval but they were not finding their way through and just after they hour-mark they made an attacking change as Islam Slimani replaced Aimen Mahious for fresh legs up top.

Al Ahly hardly threatened going forward and with 12 minutes to go also introduced the fresh legs of Akram Tawfik and Mohamed Magdi Kafsha, in attack and midfield respectively.

However, CRB continued to pressurize the Egyptian giants in the dying minutes and Naoufel Khacef finally broke the deadlock in added time with a strike from a rebound after El Shenawy saved Hedy Chaabi’s shot in the box.

Belouizdad moved up to second in Group C, one point behind The Red Devils and one point ahead of third-placed Orlando Pirates, who are in action against bottom side Stade d’Abidjan on Saturday evening at Orlando Stadium. 

POLOKWANE, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 27: Kaizer Chiefs supporters during the Betway Premiership match between Kaizer Chiefs and Richards Bay at Peter Mokaba Stadium on November 27, 2024 in Polokwane, South Africa. (Photo by Philip Maeta/Gallo Images)

A young Kaizer Chiefs defender has jetted out of the country for an assessment with Belgium side RWD Molenbeek during their training camp in Turkey.

As previously reported by the Siya crew, young defender Sifiso Timba was invited to train with the Amakhosi first team with the intention of getting promoted. 

Read: Where Is Sirino? Chiefs Star’s Absence Explained

However, the player’s agent Steve Kapeluschnik has now told the Siya crew that the 19-year-old will be assessed by the Belgian second tier outfit after leaving South Africa on Thursday.

“Yes, Sifiso [Timba] has gone to Belgium to join RWD Molenbeek on an assessment programme. He left on Thursday and he will join them in Turkey where the team is currently on their mid-season training camp,”  Kapeluschnik told Soccer Laduma.

“This is a great opportunity for the boy to showcase his talent and win a move to Europe. This will not only help the club but also the country as well. 

“He is still young and he has a lot to learn and gain while he is in Turkey. We just wish him all the best while on this journey and his stay there.”

Read: Comitis Denies Signing Chiefs Midfielder

The 19-year-old has been doing very well under coaches Vela Khumalo and Dillon Sheppard and he is tipped to be the long time replacement for right-backs Reeve Frosler and Dillan Solomons, but with this assessment in Turkey, Chiefs could lose out in this talented defender, who was recently part of the South Africa U-20 team that won the COSAFA Under 20 tournament in Mozambique in September 2024.

Soccer Laduma contacted Chiefs for comment on the issue but there was no response at the time of publishing.

Burnley boss Scott Parker has expressed concern about bringing Lyle Foster back into the starting XI so soon after a lengthy injury layoff.

Burnley boss Scott Parker has expressed concern about rushing Lyle Foster back into his starting XI.

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The 24-year-old marksman has been out of action since suffering a muscle injury while on international duty late last year.

The Johannesburg native had to be stretchered off the pitch during Bafana Bafana’s 5-0 victory over Congo Brazzaville and has missed significant football for both club and country since.

He has, however, recently recovered, with the Clarets slowly reintegrating him into the team.

The South African attacker has come off the bench in the team’s last three league encounters. In Burnley’s most recent match against Stoke City, he played the most minutes since his return—12 minutes in total.

It does not appear that Foster will be earning a starting spot any time soon though, given what his manager Scott Parker recently said about his return into the side.

“Lyle has been out for some time, so we need to tread carefully,” Parker said about the striker, as per the Burnley Express.

“He’s getting some good training into him, albeit not as much as we’d like just because of the sheer volume of games and training has been reduced because of that.

Check Out: Al Ahly ‘Line Up’ Brazilian Star To Replace Tau

“But Lyle is in a good place, and we’re going to need him along with all the other boys.”