If you are a Real Madrid fan, you are on your own.

Arsenal defeated Real Madrid on tactics. During the quarterfinal stage of the Champions League, Arsenal won via effective tactics in 2025. A good tactic can win a football match. A bad one can lose it. In football, tactics involve the planning and execution of actions to gain an advantage over an opponent. Effective strategies revolve around team formation, style of play, and individual actions. For instance, Arsenal beat Real Madrid because Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, deployed better tactics. He relied on positioning. Pressing. Set pieces. Individual strength.

On the one hand

The cyber thieves, too, have shifted their tactics. The Kaspersky report has shown that thieves relied on attacking banking credentials by sending unwanted software updates. The report informed that more than 33.3 million attacks occurred in 2024 globally. The targets are smartphone users.

On the other hand

The report stated that Android smartphones suffered the most, with 420,000 attacks in 2023 and 1,242,000 in 2024. The thieves can steal your online credentials. The mobile malware threat landscape in 2024 report came out at Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona recently. To catch the unaware smartphone users, the cyber thieves trick victims into downloading unwanted software by spreading links via short message service or messaging apps. Malicious attachments in messengers and by directing users to cruel webpages.

In the long term

In 2024, Fakemoney – a group of fake apps that promote fake investments and payouts – was the most active threat. Another major concern was modified versions of WhatsApp. This contained unwanted software that can download and execute additional malicious or adware modules. For example, it can display advertisements. Or perform other unwanted actions on your Android smartphone. This fake WhatsApp platform is a cloud-based generic threat.

A friend who is a techie suffered a cyberattack this week. Her WhatsApp platform was hacked. The hackers stole her identity. Her banking credentials vanished. Her work documents disappeared. She contacted Meta, owner of the WhatsApp platform. The matter would be resolved. The hackers have done the damage. The road to recovery for my friend will be long and torturous for her. How did she get into the mess?

The cyber thieves sent her a message. They made the fraudulent message look trustworthy. They asked her to verify her two-factor authentication. She obeyed. That was the last time she gained access to her WhatsApp platform. Make that one instance.

Here is another instance. The cyber thieves exploit trending news and hype topics. They create a sense of urgency. They lower your guard. In 2024, for instance, cybercriminals launched an average of 2.8 million unwanted software attacks on mobile devices every month. The thieves have gone into overdrive. They have shifted their tactics. They are desperate to capture as many unsuspecting, innocent Android smartphone users as possible. Beware.

Why do these matter?

“Scammers have started to scale down their efforts to create unique malware packages. They focus on distributing the same files to as many victims as possible. It is important to be cyber-literate. Educate your loved ones. No one is completely safe from well-crafted scams and psychological tricks designed to steal banking data,” Anton Kivva, a security expert at Kaspersky, said.

In the short term

What are your tactics against the cyber thieves? If you are a Real Madrid fan, you are on your own.

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Barca scored four goals in a dominant first half and survived having their goalkeeper sent off to clinch a record-extending 15th trophy.

French forward Kylian Mbappe put Real in front after five minutes, finishing a solo run with a shot inside the far post.

However, Lamine Yamal levelled for Barcelona in the 22nd before striker Robert Lewandowski gave them the lead from the spot.

READ ALSO: NIS confirms four dead in suspected terrorist attack on Kebbi facility

Raphinha increased the advantage with a stunning header from a Jules Kounde cross in the 39th minute and left back Alejandro Balde added a fourth for Barca deep into first-half stoppage time.

Raphinha made it 5-1 just after the break, before Barca were left with 10 men when goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was sent off for fouling Mbappe in the 56th minute.

Rodrygo beat substitute keeper Inaki Pena from the resulting free kick but 10-man Barca easily saw out the win.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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This was after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, and the LaLiga club said on Sunday that the defender would require surgery.

Militao was injured when he hyperextended his knee early in the second half of Real’s 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday in their La Liga opener.

The 25-year-old defender was in tears as he was helped off the pitch.

READ ALSO: Mbappe reinstated into PSG first team squad

“After the tests carried out on our player Eder Militao, he has been diagnosed with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

“The player will undergo surgery in the coming days,” the club said.

Militao could be sidelined for several months, just like Courtois who also required surgery after tearing the ACL in his left knee during a training session on Thursday.

Militao’s injury leaves only three fit centre backs for Real as the season gets underway – Nacho, Antonio Ruediger and David Alaba.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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Leaders FC Barcelona climbed to 44 points, six ahead of their bitter rivals Real Madrid who have a game in hand and will visit Athletic Bilbao later on Sunday.

Getafe are 16th and level with Celta Vigo and 18th-placed Real Valladolid on 17 points, just above the relegation zone thanks to a superior goal difference.

Xavi Hernandez made several changes to his regular team.

The coach rested key players such as Robert Lewandowski, Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong ahead to their Copa del Rey quarter-final clash against Real Sociedad on Wednesday.

Pedri opened the scoring in the 34th minute when he latched onto a pass from Raphinha and tapped into an empty net.

With almost 70 per cent of ball possession, FC Barcelona were dominant in every aspect of the game but did not create many clear opportunities to extend their lead.

There were only four shots on target during the entire match.

After a first half in which Ansu Fati wasted a couple of chances before Pedri’s goal, FC Barcelona came back from the break at a slower pace.

They seemed contented with their advantage as Getafe failed to mount a serious threat.

“We were not great tonight. It was not our best game at home and we have to improve a lot, but we got the three points and that’s massive,” Xavi told reporters.

“We struggled against an opponent who played with a low block with five-man in defence. It was an important victory in which we did not give our best version.”

Source: Reuters/NAN

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Real Madrid captain Benzema was a strong favourite for the top award on Monday after inspiring the Spanish giants to a LaLiga and UEFA Champions League double last term.

Ahead of a November to December FIFA World Cup, a change in the format saw the Ballon d’Or awarded based on performances over a regular season for the first time.

It rather used to be over the calendar year.

France international Benzema would have been a leading candidate in either case.

REAL MADRID: Benzema to miss Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey clash with Athletic Bilbao

But he was the clear winner after scoring 44 goals in 46 matches and earning a fifth European crown in the 2021/2022 campaign.

Although his haul was topped by Robert Lewandowski (50) —- then of Bayern Munich and now of FC Barcelona —- 10 of Benzema’s goals came in the Champions League knockout stages.

He tied a Cristiano Ronaldo single-season record.

Vinicius Junior netted the decisive strike in the final against Liverpool.

But Benzema had already established himself as the world’s best with hat-tricks against both Paris Saint-Germain, PSG, and Chelsea.

Adding 15 assists, Benzema’s total of 59 goal involvements last season fell just shy of Kylian Mbappe’s Europe-wide high of 60 (39 goals, 21 assists).

Benzema had been nominated for the Ballon d’Or on 10 previous occasions but only cracked the top 10 for the first time in 2021.

He finished fourth as Lionel Messi – not nominated this year – claimed a seventh award.

Source: dpa/NAN

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The draw looked to be the meanest of all, as holders Real Madrid will take on RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic in a seemingly-easy group.

Real Madrid captured a record-extending 14th European crown when they beat Liverpool in last season’s final.

On paper, Carlo Ancelotti’s side should have few problems in making the last 16 from Group F.

However, FC Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski will take on his former side in the group stage after the five-times champions were drawn with Bayern Munich in Group C.

READ ALSO: Oshoala wins UEFA Champions League with FC Barcelona Ladies

They have been drawn along with Inter Milan and Viktoria Plzen.

Manchester City forward Erling Haaland will also face his former employers as the English champions were drawn in Group G with Borussia Dortmund.

Sevilla and FC Copenhagen completed the group.

Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) begin their quest for a maiden trophy in Europe’s elite club competition in a tricky Group H with Juventus, Benfica and Maccabi Haifa.

Last season’s runners-up Liverpool meet Ajax Amsterdam, Napoli and Rangers in Group A.

The UEFA Champions League group stage will begin earlier than usual on September 6 and end ahead of this year’s World Cup finals which take place in Qatar from November 20.

The competition’s knockout stages begin in February, with the final taking place in Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium in June.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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United said that the transfer was subject to the agreement of personal terms, British visa requirements and a medical.

Reuters understands that the 30-year-old is to sign a four- to five-year deal at United with wages of around 16 million euros ($16.1 million) per year.

British media said United had closed on a deal worth up to 70 million euros for Casemiro, who has 63 caps for Brazil.

Earlier, Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said Casemiro wanted to leave Real to face a “new challenge”.

“We understand his feeling, I do not think there is a way back,” Ancelotti told a news conference on Friday.

“Real Madrid loses a player that has linked really well with the other midfielders with more quality, (Luka) Modric and (Toni) Kroos.

READ ALSO: Ronaldo’s hat-trick rescues Manchester United against Norwich

“He is important and has been key to Madrid’s success,” Ancelotti said.

Casemiro’s addition will boost United’s options in midfield, with Ten Hag currently having only Fred and Scott McTominay as the regular players in that department.

United are bottom of the Premier League after losing both their opening games.

They host rivals Liverpool on Monday night.

LaLiga and European champions Real signed France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni in June from AS Monaco, with the 22-year-old believed to be a replacement for Casemiro.

After joining the Spanish giants in 2013 from Sao Paulo, Casemiro won five Champions League trophies, three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, and three Club World Cups among other honours.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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But he declared the Reds “will come again” after the narrow reverse.

Klopp added next year’s final in Istanbul was already a target, advising supporters: “Book the hotel!”

A 1-0 loss to Real Madrid at the Stade de France meant Liverpool were left with FA Cup and EFL Cup triumphs.

That is what they have to show for a season in which they threatened an unprecedented quadruple.

Manchester City denied them the English Premier League, EPL, title on the competition’s dramatic final day last Sunday.

Now, it was UEFA Champions League specialists Real Madrid who toppled them on Saturday to claim their 14th European crown, with Vinicius Junior netting a second-half winner.

“Everyone in the dressing room, nobody feels it was a great season at the moment,” Klopp said after the loss. “We probably need a few minutes for that, maybe hours.”

He said two decisions had gone against Liverpool by “the smallest margin possible,” but did not specify which incidents he was referring to.

“We played a good game, not the perfect game,” Klopp added. “We had a lot of shots but not the clearest, only three or so where [Thibaut] Courtois made top saves.

“Then we conceded a goal… Vinicius was there and that was it.”

Klopp said Liverpool tried “absolutely everything” after he had told his players to “be more brave in the second half.”

Vinicius struck just before the hour mark, and Liverpool huffed and puffed.

But they were not at their best as Real Madrid repelled the threat of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, with Courtois outstanding as the last line of defence.

The Belgian made nine saves in the match, the most on record by a goalkeeper in a single UEFA Champions League final (since 2003/2004).

Klopp added he was alone among the Liverpool contingent in being able to put the game swiftly into perspective.

“It’s not hard. I have that already, but I’m the only one in the dressing room,” he said.

“I know it’s not the success you want to have, but I have the strong feeling we will come again. That’s how it is, because the boys are competitive.

“We have an outstanding group together and will have again an outstanding group next year. Then we go again. We obviously have to try a bit more often than others but no problem.

“Where’s it next year? Istanbul? Yeah, book the hotel.”

Source: dpa/NAN

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A brace from Rodrygo and a Karim Benzema penalty, all scored from the 90th minute on, gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side a 3-1 win after extra time at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.

The result meant that Real Madrid will be heading to the final in Paris with a 6-5 aggregate triumph in a semifinal not soon to be forgotten.

Madrid trailed 1-0 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate heading into the 90th minute after Riyad Mahrez’s 73rd-minute goal looked set to send City to their second successive Champions League final.

But, as dramatic fight backs against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea have already shown in this season’s competition, Madrid are never to be counted out and they indeed saved their most incredible feat for the night.

After coming off the bench, Rodrygo scored in the 90th and 91st minutes to level the aggregate score and send the Bernabeu crowd into bedlam and the semifinal to extra time.

With City shaken, Benzema then won and scored a penalty in the first five minutes of extra time to give Madrid a lead they would not relinquish.

As they seek a record-extending 14th European Cup, Madrid will now take on six-time winners Liverpool in the final at the Stade de France later this month.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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The France international’s fitness has been a source of concern since he hobbled off in the second half of Real Madrid’s 2-2 draw with Elche in LaLiga on January 23.

During his pre-match news conference, Carlo Ancelotti was hopeful Benzema would be fit for the trip to San Mames.

He has been in sensational form this season with 24 goals in 28 games in all competitions.

But Ancelotti insisted no risks would be taken.

Benzema’s name was not in the 22-man squad for the match against Athletic Bilbao which was released later on Wednesday.

This prompted concerns about his fitness for the UEFA Champions League last-16 meeting with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in less than two weeks.

Mariano Diaz and Ferland Mendy also miss out through injury, while Marcelo is ineligible due to suspension.

However, Marco Asensio could make his return from a hamstring injury sustained in the Supercopa de Espana success against FC Barcelona.

Source: dpa/NAN

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