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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

Enter Our Raffle To Win A Visit And Home-Cooked Meal From Drew Magary

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Patrick Redford

Ozil warms up before the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Semi Final match between Germany and Spain at Durban Stadium on July 7, 2010 in Durban, South Africa.

Germany v Spain: 2010 FIFA World Cup – Semi Final

Soccer

Mesut Özil Would Dare

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Albert Burneko

Barcelona players celebrate Franck Kessié's stoppage-time winner against Real Madrid, Mar. 19 2023

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La Liga

Things Are Looking Up For Barcelona, So Long As You Don’t Look Up

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker reacts as Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring the team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 21, 2023.

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Real Madrid Will Take What Is Given

AL KHOR, QATAR - DECEMBER 04: Jude Bellingham #22 of England reacts during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between England and Senegal at Al Bayt Stadium on December 4, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar.

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Window Shopping: There’s Nothing Jude Bellingham Can’t Do

Real Madrid's Welsh forward Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League final football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, on May 26, 2018.

Gareth Bale Always Scored The Biggest Goals

Christopher Nkunku of RB Leipzig celebrates scoring their side's second goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League group F match between RB Leipzig and Real Madrid at Red Bull Arena on October 25, 2022 in Leipzig, Germany.

RB Leipzig v Real Madrid: Group F – UEFA Champions League

Christopher Nkunku Is Just The Best

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Billy Haisley

Thibaut Courtois receives the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper during the Ballon D'Or ceremony at Theatre Du Chatelet In Paris on October 17, 2022 in Paris, France.

Ballon D’Or Ceremony At Theatre Du Chatelet In Paris

There’s A Reason Keepers Don’t Win The Big Hardware

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid CF celebrates a goal prior to the referee cancelling the goal during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 16, 2022 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid CF v FC Barcelona – LaLiga Santander

For Real Madrid, The Clásico Was Just Another Game

Real Madrid's David Alaba celebrates scoring Madrid's second goal in a 2-1 La Liga win over UD Almeria

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David Alaba’s Left Foot Is Always Ready To Win A Game

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Ray Ratto

Wales' striker Gareth Bale celebrates after winning the FIFA World Cup 2022 play-off final qualifier football match between Wales and Ukraine at the Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales, on June 5, 2022.

Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale To LAFC Is Just Another Business Arrangement 

Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (R) makes a save from an attempt by Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) during the UEFA Champions League final football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on May 28, 2022.

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Thanks To Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid Only Needed One Chance

Real Madrid players celebrate wining the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 4, 2022.

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The Champions League Is For Mentality Monsters

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring their side's third goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Leg Two match between Real Madrid and Manchester City at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 04, 2022 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid v Manchester City Semi Final Leg Two – UEFA Champions League

Real Madrid’s Comeback Didn’t Need The Dreaded Away Goals Rule

Real Madrid CF v Getafe CF – La Liga Santander

Carlo Ancelotti, Everyone’s Cool Soccer Uncle, Just Keeps Winning

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring their side's third goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Leg One match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at Etihad Stadium on April 26, 2022 in Manchester, England.

Manchester City v Real Madrid Semi Final Leg One – UEFA Champions League

Real Madrid Can’t Be Killed Quite So Easily

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring their team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg Two match between Real Madrid and Chelsea FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 12, 2022 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid v Chelsea FC Quarter Final Leg Two – UEFA Champions League

Real Madrid Will Not Go Gently Into That Good Night

Alexia Putellas of FC Barcelona (obscured) celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's fourth goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou on March 30, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid: Quarter Final Second Leg – UEFA Women’s Champions League

Barcelona Showed Off For The Biggest Crowd In Women’s Soccer History

Barcelona's Spanish forward Ferran Torres (R) celebrates with Barcelona's Gabonese midfielder Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (L) and Barcelona's French forward Ousmane Dembele (C) after scoring a goal during the Spanish League football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 20, 2022. (

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A Most Meaningless Clásico Was A Meaningful Ass-Whooping

Karim Benzema (L) Real Madrid CF celebrates scoring their third goal with teammate Luka Modric (R) during the UEFA Champions League Round Of Sixteen Leg Two match between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 09, 2022 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain: Round Of Sixteen Leg Two – UEFA Champions League

How On Earth Is Luka Modric Still Doing This?

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Spanish League football match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid CF at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian on December 4, 2021.

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Vinícius Go Boom

Real Madrid's Austrian defender David Alaba celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Spanish League football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on October 24, 2021.

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Real Madrid Beat Barcelona In The Least Classic Clásico In Ages

MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 28: Players of FC Sheriff celebrate after victory in the UEFA Champions League group D match between Real Madrid and FC Sheriff at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 28, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Real Madrid v FC Sheriff: Group D – UEFA Champions League

There’s A New Sheriff In Town, And That Sheriff’s Name Is FC Sheriff

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Tom Ley

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The Race For Erling Haaland Just Gets Crazier From Here

France's defender Raphael Varane gets back on his feet during the UEFA EURO 2020 round of 16 football match between France and Switzerland at the National Arena in Bucharest on June 28, 2021.

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Raphaël Varane Can Help Manchester United, But United Has To Help Him, Too

Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers – Premier League

Carlo Ancelotti Goes Back To Normal

Real Madrid