When a Gareth Bale-inspired Real Madrid overcame Liverpool 3-1 in last season s Champions League final, the triumph merely scratched the surface of LaLiga s recent dominance in Europe s premier club competition.
Having become the first team in the Champions League era to retain the title against Juventus in Cardiff in 2017, head coach Zinedine Zidane made it three in a row before riding off into the sunset.
Madrid have won four out of five, their bitter rivals Barcelona interrupting the streak in 2015. Indeed, Liverpool and Juventus proved to be the only interlopers on a Spanish party during this period – Atletico Madrid were left in anguish by their city rivals in 2014 and 2016.
Five wins out of five and seven of the previous 10 finalists paints a picture of…
Paco Jemez has returned for a second spell in charge of Rayo Vallecano as the LaLiga club bid to avoid relegation.
Michel was sacked by Rayo on Monday after seven straight defeats left them 19th in the table, six points adrift of safety.
And with 10 games left after the international break, Rayo have turned back to Jemez by handing their former coach a deal that runs until June 2020.
Jemez, who also played for the club, was at Rayo from 2012 to 2016 but they were relegated from LaLiga during his final season in charge.
2 Rayo Vallecano won their first two LaLiga games under Paco Jémez (2012). Hope.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose)
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Yaya Toure is desperate to stay in the Premier League next season, according to the Manchester City midfielder s agent.
The 34-year-old, who has made just 16 appearances for the Premier League champions in all competitions this season, is out of contract at the end of the campaign.
His agent, Dimitri Seluk, has revealed the Ivorian has his heart set on a stay in England and will even agree to pay back half his wages if his new club are not satisfied with his performances.
He told Sky Sports News: Yaya is fit and desperate to prove he s still the best central midfielder in the Premier League.
He s happy to accept a one-year deal to stay in England. And if his club are not satisfied with his performances, he will pay back half his wages, or the club can …