Kylian Mbappe has urged Real Madrid fans to refrain from singling out Vinicius Jr for the club's woes, insisting the blame for their stuttering form rests on the entire team.

Barcelona, who hit the woodwork four times and had two goals disallowed, now only lead rivals Real Madrid by a single point at the top of the table after Alvaro Arbeloa's side beat Levante on Saturday.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick showed his disappointment on Saturday after reports that talented teenager Dro Fernandez is poised to leave the club and said youngsters needed to "live for" the club's colours.

Angry Real Madrid fans jeered their own team before they went on to beat Levante 2-0 in La Liga on Saturday to record new coach Alvaro Arbeloa's first win at the helm.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Wednesday Xabi Alonso has a great future in football despite Real Madrid replacing him at the helm this week.

Xabi Alonso departed Real Madrid saying he was “grateful to the club, players and fans”, but the outcome appeared inevitable, waiting for it to be triggered by another fall.

New Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa insisted Tuesday he would be himself at the helm of the Spanish giants rather than trying to imitate Jose Mourinho.

Striker Kylian Mbappe was absent as Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa took charge of his first training session on Tuesday, after replacing Xabi Alonso at the helm of the Spanish giants.

Real Madrid said Monday that coach Xabi Alonso has left the Spanish giants by mutual consent, to be replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa.

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone apologised to Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior on Monday after the pair squared off in the Spanish Super Cup.

Gonzalo Garcia bagged a hat-trick for Real Madrid as they beat Real Betis 5-1 on Sunday to stay on La Liga leaders Barcelona's tail.

Real Madrid on Wednesday said that Kylian Mbappe had suffered a knee sprain, delivering a blow to their bid to reel in Liga leaders Barcelona.

There are plenty of moments in an English Premier League footballer’s life that might inspire envy, but playing through the holiday season is unlikely to be one of them.

Barcelona wingers Raphinha and Lamine Yamal guided the Catalan giants four points clear at the top of La Liga with a 2-0 win at 10-man Villarreal on Sunday.

"To do like Cristiano did, my idol, the best player in Real Madrid's history and a world great, it's an honour for me," said Mbappe, who turned 27 on Saturday.

Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo Goes's goals earned Real Madrid a tense 2-1 win at Alaves in La Liga on Sunday to potentially keep coach Xabi Alonso in his job.

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick praised his club’s famed academy after a 2-0 LaLiga victory over Osasuna at the Camp Nou, highlighting the impact of several young players in the defence.

Raphinha hit a brace to give Barcelona a narrow 2-0 win over Osasuna on Saturday and take them seven points clear at the top of LaLiga.

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said Kylian Mbappe is fit to play on Sunday against Alaves in LaLiga, as his depleted team bid to turn around a run of bad results.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick downplayed his team's LaLiga lead on Friday, saying their four-point cushion over stuttering Real Madrid means little and the real test will be staying focused as the season unfolds.