After a board meeting yesterday, Barcelona have announced that they are to stay at their iconic Camp Nou home. There had been speculation that Barcelona would build a new stadium near to the University of Barcelona, but board members voted overwhelmingly to revamp the current stadium instead. The capacity will increase form just under 100,000 to 105,000 and a roof will be built to cover the spectators. The roof will not be retractable, however, and will not cover the pitch. Barcelona is a Mecca for football lovers the world over. Tourists come to Barcelona specifically to see a match at Camp … [Read more...]
Archives for January 2014
Athletic Bilbao 4-2 Real Valladolid
A fantastic game at the San Mames Barria last night saw Athletic Bilbao run out 4-2 winners over Real Valladolid. The three points takes Athletic back up to fourth in La Liga, in their personal duel against Villareal for a Champion's League spot. Valladolid, deep in a relegation dogfight, took a surprise lead on 15 minutes through Oscar. It was enough to take them into a half-time lead and Athletic's unbeaten run at home this season looked to be under threat. The second half was a whole different affair. The equaliser came on 65 minutes from Ibai. Oscar de Marcos,who came on as a substitute … [Read more...]
Third Manager In Six Weeks At Betis
The managerial merry-go-round is revolving again at the Benito Villamarin stadium in Seville. Juan Carlos Garrido has been sacked after just 47 days in charge. It has been an unhappy, if mercifully brief, tenure for Garrido. The writing was on the wall from the moment that Real Madrid thumped them 5-0 on Saturday. A Madrid team in full flow, as they were for the first time in a while, can do that to anyone but the result was symptomatic of the poor displays that Betis have produced under Garrido The Betis fans chanted for Garrido to go throughout the game, and more dangerously for the manager … [Read more...]
Manchester United Move For Moreno
As gloom descends over Old Trafford, David Moyes is on the brink of making his first transfer window move and bringing in a La Liga left back. Not, however, the expected move for Real Madrid outcast Fabio Coentrao but a swoop for Sevilla's young defender Alberto Moreno. Patrice Evra is nearing the end of his Manchester United career and has looked increasingly fragile as the season has progressed. With a left back the priority it had seemed that Coentrao was the one who would be flying in from Spain. The Madrid full back had other ideas – he doesn't want to move to a club that seems likely to … [Read more...]
Atletico Madrid 1-1 Sevilla
Atletico Madrid missed a glorious chance to go clear at the top of La Liga. Having earlier watched Barcelona fail to beat Levante, Diego Simeone's side achieved the exact same result at home to Sevilla. A 1-1 draw that keeps them behind Barca on goal difference. The Vicente Calderon stadium should be renamed the Vicente Cauldron this season as the fans have been ramping up the atmosphere and the decibels. The party spirit before kick off yesterday was frenzied, this was their chance to go top and they would snatch it with both hands. What could go wrong. Sevilla had other ideas, they hadn't … [Read more...]
Levante 1-1 Barcelona
It was a glorious Sunday for Real Madrid boss Claudio Ancelotti, and his side didn't even kick a ball. Surprise draws for both Barcelona and Atletico leave Ancelotti's side just one point behind the co-leaders of La Liga. Plucky Levante put thoughts of the season opener, when they were thumped 7-0 at Camp Nou, out of their head. They played a pressing, containing game designed to shut off supply to the returning Lionel Messi – and Joaquin Capaross's plan worked to perfection. Whilst they defended superbly they also found time to break with menace, and it was the home side who opened the … [Read more...]
Getafe 2-2 Real Sociedad
Getafe had lost five games in a row, but manager Luis Garcia Plaza secured a point in an entertaining 2-2 draw against Real Sociedad in the first La Liga game of the day. It looked as if Getafe were heading for yet another defeat as they went two goals down inside the first twenty minutes. Sociedad's Spanish striker Imano Agirretxe took full advantage of a Getafe defence that was low in confidence, scoring in just the fourth minute and then adding a second on 16 minutes. At this point it seemed as if the floodgates would open but Getafe shook off their lethargy and began to dig deep. Ciprian … [Read more...]
Saturday Round-Up
There were four matches played in La Liga on Saturday, with teams picking up points at both top and bottom of the table. Here is our Saturday round-up. Real Betis 0-5 Real Madrid Two milestones were reached in this one side match. Karim Benzema scored his hundredth goal for the club and manager Carlo Ancelotti gained his 500th career victory. Read a full match report here: http://laligablog.com/2014/01/19/real-betis-0-0-real-madrid/ Elche 2-0 Rayo Vallecano 0 An important clash at the bottom of La Liga saw Elche pull away from trouble thanks to a two nil win over Rayo Vallecano, who find only … [Read more...]
Real Betis 0-0 Real Madrid
Real Madrid moved joint top of La Liga yesterday after a 5-0 demolition of rock bottom Real Betis. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will see an ominous shadow looming as they prepare for their matches today. Cristiano Ronaldo rounded off his magnificent week with the opener, a fantastic power strike, but the greatest smile of the night was on the face of Gareth Bale. On 25 minutes he curled a perfect free kick past an unmoving Stephan Anderson in the Betis goal – his first goal in two months and his tenth for Madrid. The best is yet to come from Bale but he is showing signs of improvement. Madrid … [Read more...]
Muchas Gracias, Xavi!
There were celebrations in the Hernandez household this week as Xavi made his 700th first team appearance for Barcelona. Here we look at the man who has had all of Spain saying 'Muchas gracias, Xavi!' Xavi was born on 25th January 1980 in the Catalonian town of Terrassa. He showed promise from an early age and was snapped up by the world famous Barcelona academy. From 1997 he started playing for Barcelona B, making 61 appearances for them and scoring four goals. He made his first team debut on 3rd October 1998 in a 3-1 win over Valencia – it was to form a pattern. When Xavi plays to his … [Read more...]