German midfielder Toni Kroos scored direct from a corner for Real. Isco and Luka Modric were also on target for Zinedine Zidane’s side.
In Sunday’s final in Saudi Arabia Real will take on one of their big rivals. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid go head-to-head in tonight’s other semi-final (7pm).
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Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat at home to rivals Manchester City in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final looks likely to bring down the curtain on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s spell as manager.
The Sun says it’s only a matter of time before United contact former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Kelechi Iheanacho’s thunderbolt ensured Leicester City shared the spoils with Aston Villa in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at the King Power Stadium.
Villa had taken the lead on 28 minutes through Frederic Guilbert but the Foxes fought back to earn a 1-1 draw with Iheanacho smashing the leveller on 84 minutes. The second leg at Villa Park is on Tuesday 28 January.
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4. Anderson out of South Africa tour
Jimmy Anderson has been forced out of England’s tour of South Africa after suffering a rib injury in the second Test victory in Cape Town. The tourists have already lost opening batsman Rory Burns to an ankle injury, while illness has also ravaged the squad.
On a more positive note, however, Jofra Archer is expected to replace Anderson for next week’s third Test. Fast bowler Archer has recovered from the elbow injury that kept him out of the Cape Town clash.
5. Tokyo 2020 beds made of recycled cardboard
The bed frames in the athletes’s village at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be made from recyclable cardboard.
BBC Sport reports that the mattresses for the beds will be “formed of polyethylene materials that will be reused for plastic products after the events”.
Around 18,000 beds will be needed for the Olympics and 8,000 beds for the Paralympics.
(Image credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
6. Brady: I have more to prove
Six-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady says he still has “more to prove” after defending champions New England Patriots were knocked out of the NFL play-offs by the Tennessee Titans.
There had been rumours the star quarterback could retire, but the 42-year-old said: “In both life and football, failure is inevitable. You don’t always win. You can, however, learn from that failure, pick yourself up with great enthusiasm, and place yourself in the arena again. And that’s right where you will find me. Because I know I still have more to prove.”
7. Australian Barty shocked in Brisbane
Women’s tennis world No.1 Ashleigh Barty is out of the Brisbane International after losing to world No.53 Jennifer Brady in the second round. Home favourite Barty is expected to be a major contender for the Australian Open grand slam which starts on 20 January in Melbourne.
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8. Lionesses to face world champions USA
SheBelieves Cup holders England women will start their trophy defence against world champions United States on 5 March. The opening match of the tournament will take place at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando. USA beat England in the semi-finals before going on to lift the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup.
9. Ricciardo talks retirement
Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo admits that once his time comes to retire from Formula 1 he will step away from the sport altogether.
This year will be the Australian’s tenth season in F1 and it’s also the final year of his contract with French team Renault.
There’s no suggestion he is planning to retire soon but the 30-year-old said: “Once I’ve burnt myself out from racing, I think I’ll want to step away. Another thing is, I’ve always had other interests growing up.”
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire faces a month on the sidelines after suffering a torn hip muscle.
Maguire sustained the injury in the FA Cup third round tie against Wolves last weekend and the England blocker is not expected to be back in action until late February.
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