Carlo Ancelotti lamented Real Madrid's late showing for inviting "unnecessary suffering" in what should have been a more comfortable victory over Cadiz.

Madrid will head into November's World Cup break trailing LaLiga leaders Barcelona by two points after overcoming Cadiz 2-1 on Thursday.

Eder Militao's second goal in as many games and a thunderous Toni Kroos volley seemingly had Madrid cruising to victory, before Lucas Perez's 81st-minute strike ensured a nervy ending at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Ancelotti acknowledged there were a lot of positives to take from Madrid's first victory in three league games, though the Blancos coach was frustrated to see his side concede late on.

"Yes, we played very well until 2-1. We were able to score 3-0 with [Luka] Modric, who had an easy chance," the Italian told DAZN. 

"Then it's normal. It was unnecessary suffering. Three deserved points and we finished well [before the World Cup]."

Modric, who will aim for World Cup glory with Croatia in Qatar, missed a gilt-edged chance at 2-0 up as he fired wide of an open goal following Vinicius Junior's offload.

The failure in front of goal did not come back to haunt Madrid, allowing Ancelotti to joke about the miss, saying: "I've told him Croatia have already given him the call-up, so he won't have a problem."

Cadiz attempted to ruffle Madrid feathers by imposing their physical presence, leading to six yellow cards being shown in an ill-tempered clash.

Vinicius voiced his displeasure in the first half after team-mate Rodrygo and centre-back Fali clashed off the ball, with Ancelotti stunned by the lack of retrospective VAR action.

"Yes, they told me that [Fali] punched [Rodrygo]. I saw a video and it seemed like an attack to me," Ancelotti said of the altercation where Fali appeared to elbow the Madrid attacker.

The Cadiz defender suggested he may have let the heat of the moment get to him, too.

"In the end it's true that I did hit him. He says it's an elbow and I say no," Fali said. "I try to stop him and try to grab him. The VAR sees it and gives me a yellow card. 

"In this action maybe, I went a little too far. It is not to hurt him. The still image seems to be more than it is. I try to grab his head. He says that I elbowed him, and tell him I did not."

Madrid will not be in action until a trip to Real Valladolid on December 31 after the break for the World Cup.

The Las Vegas Raiders will be without two former Pro Bowl pass-catchers for at least a month after placing tight end Darren Waller and wide receiver Hunter Renfrow on injured reserve Thursday.  

Both Waller and Renfrow will miss a minimum of four games, making them eligible to return against the Los Angeles Rams on December 8.

Waller hasn’t played since pulling his hamstring in a Week 5 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but had been a game-time decision in each of the last two weeks. The 30-year-old tight end aggravated the injury in practice this week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Thursday, leading to his move to IR.  

In a corresponding move, the Raiders will sign tight end Jacob Hollister from the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad for added depth. Foster Moreau will continue to start while Waller is out.  

While Las Vegas still expects him to return this season, Waller has been one of the Raiders’ biggest disappointments in a passing game that has fallen well short of expectations.  

Waller told reporters Wednesday that he has become frustrated with his slow recovery.  

"It's not like I'm doing anything to keep myself off the field willingly,” Waller said. "I'm doing everything that I can. It just may not be happening in the timetable that I'd like for that to happen." 

The 2020 Pro Bowl selection has just 16 catches for 175 yards this season, playing in only five games.  

Renfrow has been similarly disappointing this season and will now miss serious time with an oblique injury.  

Coming off his 100-catch, 1000-yard breakout season in 2021, Renfrow has just 21 receptions this season for 192 yards as Mack Hollins has emerged as the Raiders’ second receiver behind Davante Adams.  

After trading for Adams in the offseason and signing him to a massive contract extension, Derek Carr and the Raiders appeared poised to have an explosive offense with plenty of weapons for new coach Josh McDaniels to work with.  

Carr, however, is having just a middling season with 11 touchdown passes and five interceptions through eight games.  

The 2-6 Raiders host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.  

Erik ten Hag was proud of Manchester United's resilience after the Red Devils twice came from behind to seal a frantic 4-2 win over Aston Villa in the EFL Cup on Thursday.

United were heading for a second consecutive third-round exit from the competition when Ollie Watkins opened the scoring at Old Trafford, and again when Diogo Dalot put through his own net after Anthony Martial equalised.

However, Marcus Rashford got United back on level terms before goals from Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay took the game away from Villa, helping the Red Devils into the fourth round.

Ten Hag hit out at an "unacceptable" performance when United fell to a 3-1 Premier League defeat to Villa on Sunday, but he was thrilled by Thursday's comeback against the same opponents.

"Two halves are never the same, it's true. First half, we controlled the game by good pressing, we won a lot of balls in the opponents' half, but then did the wrong things," he told Sky Sports shortly before United were drawn with Burnley in the fourth round.

"At half-time, we said, 'keep the pressing but be more direct, pass the ball behind their defence'. Then we came back, we fought back. 

"I'm really proud of the team that they could do that after Sunday's defeat.

"I'm really happy with that resilience, that's what we need to show every game, that's why I was so disappointed – so mad – with the performance on Sunday.

"We didn't fight, we didn't cooperate, we were sloppy – especially in the defensive discipline, and a United player always has to show 100 per cent discipline."

United travel to Fulham for their final Premier League game before the World Cup on Sunday, and Ten Hag says the extended break will allow for a better analysis of his team's progress.

"Now we have a little more time, we can go a bit deeper, and we will see where we can improve. We will have a good reflection, definitely," Ten Hag added.

"It's a quick game, an intense game, and what we have to do better is to play football at a high intensity, that's what the top teams do. 

"I think we have made a step in the right direction, but on the ball, we can be more in control. There's still a long way to go."

Meanwhile, Rashford hit the net for the eighth time this season on the day he was named in Gareth Southgate's England squad for the World Cup, and the 25-year-old believes focusing on United has benefited him.

"For me, the focus is United. If you're performing for United then England is always going to be around the corner," Rashford said.

"I'm obviously really pleased to be back in the mix and back with the squad, and it's going to be a massive month so I'm looking forward to that, but hopefully we can close this chapter off with a win on Sunday."

EFL Cup holders Liverpool will go up against fellow Premier League giants Manchester City in the fourth round of the competition.

Liverpool needed penalties to get past League One side Derby County on Wednesday, while City have already seen off top-flight rivals in Chelsea thanks to a 2-0 win.

But the two were paired together in Thursday's draw, meaning there will be at least one major casualty in the fourth round, with games due to take place just a few days after the World Cup final.

Manchester United booked their place in the draw with a thrilling 4-2 win over Aston Villa on Thursday, and they will be confident of a more straightforward route through the next round after drawing Championship side Burnley, now managed by City great Vincent Kompany.

New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge collected the first of many individual awards set to come his way when he was named winner of the American League's Hank Aaron Award.

Paul Goldschmidt of the St Louis Cardinals was named the National League winner of the award, which honours the player in each league who had the best offensive season.

Judge, 30, enjoyed the best year of his career as he broke the single-season Yankees and American League home run record, reaching 62 to surpass Roger Maris' 61 – set 61 years ago in 1961.

Making his fourth All-Star game, Judge also set career-highs in batting average (.311), slugging percentage (.686) and on-base percentage (.425) – leading the majors in the latter two metrics.

With two top-five MVP finishes on his resume already – in 2017 and 2021, winning Silver Slugger awards in both years – Judge is considered a lock to top the votes and claim his first this time around.

Meanwhile, Goldschmidt has looked like the NL MVP since the All-Star break, and was rewarded with his second Hank Aaron Award after also winning it back in 2013 with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Goldschmidt, 35, is set for his sixth top-six finish in MVP voting, batting .317 while leading the NL in on-base-plus-slugging (OPS) at .981.

His 35 home runs finished one off his career-high, set in 2013 and equalled in 2017, giving him his seventh season with at least 30 dingers.

Goldschmidt has two years remaining on his contract with the Cardinals, while Judge is set to enter free agency for the first time in his career.

Toni Kroos scored a superb volley and assisted another goal as Real Madrid moved within two points of LaLiga leaders Barcelona by beating Cadiz 2-1 in their final match before the World Cup break.

Carlo Ancelotti's side suffered their first loss of the top-flight season at Rayo Vallecano on Monday, but returned to winning ways with a much-improved showing at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Eder Militao opened the scoring with a first-half header from Kroos' cross on Thursday, marking the centre-back's second goal in as many league games.

Kroos' emphatic second-half strike meant Lucas Perez's late goal proved irrelevant as Madrid closed the gap on Barca.

Alfonso Espino offered Madrid an early scare as his long-range strike clipped the top of the crossbar, before Federico Valverde fired narrowly wide at the other end.

A frenetic first half continued with tempers flaring for both sides before Militao headed Toni Kroos' left-wing cross into the bottom-right corner five minutes before half-time.

Thibaut Courtois thwarted Ruben Sobrino from a rare Cadiz chance after the interval, before Kroos powered into the bottom-left corner stylishly from the edge of the area. 

Luka Modric inexplicably missed an open goal to add a late third and was punished as Perez pounced on a spilled Courtois save, though Madrid held on for victory.

What does it mean? Los Blancos back on track

Madrid were a shadow of their usual high standards in their last two league outings and faced a three-match winless LaLiga run for the first time in two years – under Zinedine Zidane.

However, Ancelotti's side bounced back to record just their second victory in five league games against Cadiz, who have won just three of their 38 top-flight visits to Madrid (D5 L30).

With the World Cup now taking centre stage, Ancelotti will be delighted to head into the break with victory before Madrid reconvene in their seemingly two-horse race for the LaLiga title with Barca.

Kroos control

Kroos will be an integral figure for Germany in their bid to lift the Jules Rimet trophy in the Middle East and the veteran midfielder offered a timely reminder of his qualities with his second-half strike.

The 32-year-old appeared to be everywhere for Madrid, assisting Militao's header with one of his game-high four chances created, as well as regaining possession eight times – another game-leading figure.

Gonzalez struggles again

Cadiz coach Sergio Gonzalez must be pondering what he must do to taste victory against Madrid.

He has gone 11 games without defeating Los Blancos in LaLiga (D2 L9), more than against any other team in the competition.

What's next?

Madrid are not in action until visiting Real Valladolid on December 31 after the World Cup in Qatar, while Cadiz travel to Real Union Club on Sunday in the Copa del Rey first round.

Manchester United twice came from behind to seal a thrilling 4-2 win over Aston Villa in the EFL Cup, avenging Sunday's Premier League defeat to Unai Emery's men.

With Erik ten Hag resting several key players and Cristiano Ronaldo absent through illness at Old Trafford, United fell behind through Ollie Watkins' well-taken finish at the start of a frantic second half, though Anthony Martial swiftly levelled.

United then went 2-1 down when Diogo Dalot put into his own net, but Marcus Rashford's strike set up a grandstand finish.

Fernandes saw an effort deflect off Tyrone Mings before nestling in the top-left corner and McTominay finished the visitors off to ensure United advanced to the fourth round following a back-and-forth encounter.

Jack Draper comfortably defeated home favourite Lorenzo Musetti 4-1 4-0 4-3 (7-3) in Milan to reach the semi-finals of the ATP Next Gen Finals.

Draper only dropped one game in romping to a two-set lead, and though the world number 23 put up more of a fight in the third, his British opponent secured victory and his place in the final four with his second match point.

Brandon Nakashima awaits Draper in the next round, after the American made it three from three by beating Francesco Passaro in straight sets.

A tight opener saw Nakashima find three crucial breaks of serve to take the tie-break, but Passaro could not keep up the pressure and the world number 49 took over to clinch a 4-3 (7-4) 4-2 4-1 triumph.

Matteo Arnaldi joined his countrymen Musetti and Passaro in crashing out at the group-stage, though Jiri Lehecka needed two tie-breaks to see him off 4-3 (7-5) 4-1 4-3 (7-4).

Lehecka and Arnaldi combined to save 11 of 12 break points outside of tie-breaks, but Lehecka's strong second set helped him set up a semi-final encounter with Dominic Stricker.

Stricker reached the final four by cruising past Chun Hsin Tseng 4-2 4-1 4-2 to secure his third straight win at the competition.

The Swiss 20-year-old remained undefeated with 25 winners to Tseng's 11 while he out-aced his Taiwanese opponent six to zero.

Massimiliano Allegri was grateful after Alex Sandro's cynical red card helped Juventus to a 1-0 win over bottom-placed Hellas Verona on Thursday.

Moise Kean's strike with half an hour to play looked to be enough for Juve to make it five victories and five clean sheets in a row, but in injury time, a Thomas Henry throughball put Kevin Lasagna in on goal.

However, Sandro barged Lasagna over before the Verona forward reached the box and though the full-back was sent off, the resulting free-kick was skied over and Juve saw the game out to secure the three points.

Allegri was delighted after the match with his side's dogged performance and Sandro's unselfish decision to take Lasagna down, telling Sky Sport: "Alex Sandro's red card is worth a goal.

"He should not be fined but given a prize.

"It certainly wasn't a great match on a technical level. In some situations we could have done better but it is an important sign for the team. We came through a tiring period and with players out, and luckily the changes helped us."

Allegri also spoke of his joy for Kean, who has now scored in three straight starts in all competitions after failing to hit the target in his previous seven, saying: "If he played many games, he would score many goals.

"For me he is very important and I'm happy. It took a while to get out of the way to find space, he [Kean] and [Arkadiusz] Milik did it better in the second half."

Angel Di Maria continued his return from injury with a cameo and though he failed to make much of an impact, Allegri was understanding with the former Real Madrid man expected to be in Argentina's World Cup squad.

"On a technical level, he did well. Angel managed the ball," Allegri added. 

"It's normal, there's a World Cup in a few days and you unconsciously leave something on the pitch. It's not wanted, but that's the way it is."

LeBron James believes Kyrie Irving's apology following his suspension for posting anti-semitic material on Twitter should be enough to warrant his return to the court.

Irving initially failed to apologise for a social media post about a book and movie with alleged anti-semitic views, nor "unequivocally say he has no anti-semitic beliefs".

The 30-year-old, who was handed a minimum five-game suspension by the Nets, belatedly issued an apology on Instagram after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver had expressed his disappointment at the lack of one.

James previously said he did not condone the behaviour of his former Cleveland Cavaliers team-mate, though he now feels Irving has educated himself and should be allowed to return to the NBA court.

"I told you guys that I don't believe in sharing hurtful information, and I'll continue to be that way, but Kyrie apologised and he should be able to play," the Los Angeles Lakers star posted on Twitter on Thursday.

"That's what I think. It's that simple. Help him learn – but he should be playing."

James also suggested the demands on Irving, who has reportedly been presented with a list of requirements to see his suspension overturned, are "excessive".

"What he's [been] asked to do to get back on the floor I think is excessive [in my opinion]," he said. "He's not the person that's being portrayed of him."

Gareth Southgate says it may have been perceived as "arrogant" to select Reece James for England at the World Cup with "too many unknowns" over his recovery from injury.

The Chelsea full-back was left out of England's 26-man squad for the World Cup, which starts on November 20 in Qatar, after being sidelined since October 11 with a knee issue.

James sustained the injury in a Champions League clash with Milan and, despite no initial concern, scans revealed damaged ligaments could keep him out for up to eight weeks.

The 22-year-old still hoped to make England's travelling party but Three Lions manager Southgate opted to leave the right-back out due to the unknown nature of his recovery.

"We had to make a very difficult call with Reece, who is a fantastic player," Southgate said.

"He was not going to be available – if everything went perfectly – until the latter stages of the tournament and there were too many unknowns for us on that road to recovery."

Kyle Walker was still selected despite not playing since limping off in Manchester City's derby-day victory over Manchester United on October 2.

Southgate suggested Walker has made more encouraging progression in his recovery as he claimed including James may not be looked upon favourably due to issues over his group-stage availability.

"I do not think we can take a player who is not available for the group stage, that would be deemed arrogant in some circles," the 52-year-old added.

"But if everything went well and he was available, we would be dropping him into a quarter-final after eight weeks out. That would be really demanding. So it was a tough call.

"Kyle is a long way ahead of that and is progressing really well."

England face Iran in their World Cup opener before Group B fixtures against the United States and Wales.

Gareth Southgate does not want the World Cup to be "diminished" amid human rights concerns in Qatar but the England manager vowed to continue discussing issues "we think should be talked about".

The 2022 World Cup has come under repeated scrutiny before the November 20 opener, with concerns cited over the human rights standards in a country where same-sex relationships are prohibited.

FIFA aimed to quieten the discussion around the global tournament in the Middle East, penning a letter telling the 32 teams to "now focus on the football", but it was met with a backlash.

Southgate has repeatedly acknowledged the criticism of Qatar hosting the World Cup and he cannot foresee England adhering to FIFA's demands when the opportunity arises to vocalise their opinions.

"We have always spoken about issues we think should be talked about, particularly the ones we feel we can affect," Southgate said on Thursday after announcing his 26-man squad.

"Contrary to one or two observations in the last few weeks, we have spoken in the same way other nations have spoken about this tournament, the human rights challenges.

"We've been very clear on our standpoint on that. So, look, I think we would like to focus primarily on football. For every player, every coach and everybody travelling to a World Cup, this is a carnival of football.

"It is the thing you work for this your whole life and you don't want that to be diminished by everything else that is going on around it currently.

"But we recognise we are going to be in that situation, we've got to accept and deal with it."

England captain Harry Kane will be among 10 skippers to wear a distinctive rainbow heart-adorned armband at the tournament, raising awareness for the OneLove campaign against discrimination.

Southgate previously pinpointed the role of gay players in the Women's Euros triumph for England earlier in the year and reiterated his desire for inclusivity across the world.

"So regarding the [LGBTQ+] community, we stand for inclusivity and we are very, very strong on that," he said when asked about Qatar's same-sex relationship laws. "We think that is important in terms of all our supporters. 

"We understand the challenges this tournament brings within that. If it wasn't for the strength of that community, we wouldn't be women's European champions. So it's very, very important to us."

He hopes hosting world football's showpiece event will help educate Qatar and inspire change within the country.

"I think we have seen that. There have been improvements, there has been change," he added.

"We have released statements already saying that change could improve in certain areas and we are very clear on that.

"But I think the process of the World Cup being in Qatar will of course put them under the spotlight and that will be uncomfortable for them.

"At times that will be a bit harsh for them, but I think the whole thing has improved certain areas that I think everyone will recognise has helped."

England start their World Cup campaign against Iran on November 21 before facing United States and Wales in Group B.