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10th European Cup in hand, Madrid turns to Liga

By WTOP Staff

JOSEPH WILSON
Associated Press

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid is set to place an even greater emphasis on winning the Spanish league title after ending its quest for an elusive 10th European Cup last season.

For 12 straight years, Madrid’s coaches and players had been tasked with winning another Champions League title, a mission that had grown into an obsession that overshadowed winning the domestic crown.

Now Madrid can turn its full attention to winning the title, which it has raised just once in the last six season.

“Above all it takes away the pressure,” said Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas on having won the European title. “I hope that having won it we have opened an escape valve to reduce some of the anxiety and anguish.”

Here are five things you should know about Real Madrid before beginning its Spanish league campaign at home against Cordoba on Monday:

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RONALDO’S REBOUND

Seemingly insatiable when it comes to basking in the spotlight, Cristiano Ronaldo should be eager to rebound from a disappointing World Cup with Portugal as he tries to repeat being voted the FIFA world player of the year.

Hampered by nagging injuries, Ronaldo couldn’t help Portugal make it out of the group stage at this summer’s World Cup. Instead, he had to watch as Barcelona rival Lionel Messi guided Argentina to the final before succumbing to Germany.

Last year the 29-year-old Ronaldo ended Messi’s four-year run as the world best player en route to scoring a record-setting 17 goals to help Madrid to the Champions League title as well as leading the Spanish league with 31 goals.

Ronaldo has started the season in fine form by scoring twice to give Madrid the European Super Cup title over Sevilla.

“I had problems at the end of last season and at the World Cup, but that is over,” Ronaldo said. “I am back.”

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WHO’S IN GOAL?

The main drama in Madrid will be between the goal posts as Iker Casillas competes with new signing Keylor Navas for the starting job.

Casillas is beloved by a large segment of Madrid fans, but the team captain hasn’t been Madrid’s starter in league play since former coach Jose Mourinho demoted him two seasons ago.

Casillas’ disastrous showing for Spain in the World Cup was followed by Madrid acquiring Navas after his outstanding play with Costa Rica.

So despite Diego Lopez’s exit for AC Milan the debate will rage on over who should be Madrid’s No. 1 ‘keeper.

“What happened in the World Cup has been forgotten,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “This is a new season for (Casillas) and for us. We all believe in him.”

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BIGGER BALE

Gareth Bale scored two of Real Madrid’s most important goals in his first season after a world record EUR100-million ($132-million) transfer from Tottenham.

First came his electrifying sprint to net the winner in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona in April. A month later his header proved to be the decisive goal in the Champions League final and 4-1 victory over Atletico Madrid.

Bale scored 22 goals in all competitions for Madrid last season, but with a year in Spain under his belt an even bigger season could be in store for the speedy Welshman.

“Everyone comes to Real Madrid to win trophies,” Bale said. “So we will be looking to win everything that is up for grabs this season.”

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TOO MUCH TALENT?

Teams dream of having the problem facing Real Madrid this season: a glut of many talented players.

Club president Florentino Perez rarely lets a summer go by without making a splash in the transfer market, and this year was no exception.

Madrid spent around EUR115 million ($154 million) to add the World Cup’s leading scorer, Colombia’s James Rodriguez, new world champion Toni Kroos of Germany, and Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas to its team.

With Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema fixtures in attack, that leaves a surplus of midfielders to vie for playing time.

Besides Rodriguez and Kroos, coach Carlo Ancelotti will have to divvy up minutes among Angel Di Maria, Luka Modric, Isco, Sami Khedira, Xabi Alonso and Asier Illarramendi.

“To be competitive we will need to rotate our starting lineup,” Ancelotti said.

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COOL CARLO

Carlo Ancelotti enters his second season at Real Madrid with the complete backing of the club, its fans and the Madrid sports press after conquering the Champions League last spring.

Ancelotti’s relaxed, hands-off approach– the exact opposite of Jose Mourinho’s us-against-the-world mentality– has proven to be just what Madrid’s star-studded squad needed to finally fulfill its promise in Europe.

The Italian manager now has a different goal: restore Madrid’s rule of the Spanish league that it has failed to consolidate in a decade dominated by Barcelona.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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