Thursday’s sports press is clearly split along both geographic and emotional lines. While the newspapers published in Madrid proudly and wistfully focus on Rayo Vallecano’s historic European final, the Barcelona-based papers splash a major transfer market coup across their front pages: the rapid signing of England international Anthony Gordon.
Rayo, pride of the neighborhood, the team, and the fans
The Conference League final played in Leipzig dominates the front pages of MARCA and AS. The European dream of the modest Vallecas side slipped away by the narrowest of margins (1-0) against Crystal Palace thanks to a lone goal from Mateta, but the overall feeling is not one of failure, but of enormous dignity.
MARCA runs the eloquent headline in capital letters: “Sad, but proud”, highlighting in its report that “a goal from Mateta ends Vallecas’ dream.” The Madrid daily stresses the team’s lack of cutting edge on the decisive night, but underlines the unique bond with its supporters in what was the first European final in the club’s entire history.
AS, for its part, goes for a more emotional angle on its front page with the headline: “Despite everything… it was worth it”. The image shows the players (with Camello and Pathé Ciss in the foreground) looking toward the stands packed with fans who never stopped cheering. .
Even in the Catalan press, some respectful space is reserved for Rayo’s feat: Mundo Deportivo runs the strapline “Rayo fall with honor,” while Sport notes that Crystal Palace “denies Rayo European glory.”
2. Bombshell in Barcelona: Anthony Gordon is now a Barça player
In the Catalan capital, the tone of the front pages changes completely. Optimism is overflowing after confirmation of the first major strategic move for next season: the signing of English winger Anthony Gordon from Newcastle.
Mundo Deportivo is emphatic: “Gordon, signed“. The paper details the figures of what it describes as an “express deal”: a five-season contract in exchange for 70 million euros fixed plus another 10 million in variables tied to trophies. The front page highlights that the 25-year-old attacker is due to land in Barcelona today before joining up with the England squad on Monday to prepare for the World Cup.
Sport takes almost exactly the same angle with a celebratory “Gordon, signed!“, dressing the player in the Magpies shirt. Matching the financial figures of the deal, the newspaper underlines the immediate impact expected from him, making him the first major cornerstone of Barça’s project for the 2026/2027 season.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.