With Lionel Messi absent and Lionel Scaloni fielding an alternative lineup, the world champions struggled for rhythm in a tense contest that saw two red cards and a decisive VAR intervention.

Real Madrid signed defender Alvaro Carreras from Benfica on a six-year deal, the Spanish giants said on Monday.

Real Madrid have agreed a deal to sign teenage playmaker Franco Mastantuono from River Plate, the Spanish giants announced on Friday.

Real Madrid have agreed to sign River Plate's young forward Franco Mastantuono for an initial fee of about $45 million, a spokesman for the Argentine club told Reuters on Thursday.

"Yamal is a pure, unique talent, a player who has proven to be different from the rest. He grew up in Barcelona's academy, where the 'Lionel Messi' identity is very present, so these kids copy that format," Trezeguet, a World Cup winner with France in 1998, told reporters.