At top clubs like Barcelona competition for places is always fierce. In order to compete at the highest level, Europe’s premier teams have to stack their squads full of talent and that means that top class players can often find themselves outside of the first eleven. What is perhaps not quite so common, however, is for there to be as fierce a competition for the goalkeeper’s number one jersey as there appears to be at the Nou Camp this season. Ahead of the 2016/17 campaign, the trio of Marc-André ter Stegen, Claudio Bravo and Jordi Masip have designs on that prestigious position, and … [Read more...]
Will La Liga Dominate Europe this season?
Spanish fans had to endure a bit of a nightmare during the European Championships in France; getting taken apart by Italy in the round of 16 left many saying that Spain’s golden era is over. Whereas that might be true on the international stage, Spain still dominates when it comes to club football and this year see’s Spain represented by 5 clubs in the Champions League. The usual suspects will be there and Barcelona and Real Madrid will be the favourites as there is every chance of another all Spanish final. See the betting lines for all the Champions League teams’ odds. Last year saw … [Read more...]
Can Anyone Take the Title From Barcelona?
Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr! How do you stop that forward line? That is the question that 19 La Liga teams will need to answer if they are to claim the Spanish League title for their own. Real Madrid still hold the record amount of La Liga titles with 32, but Barcelona will once more be looking to close the gap and aim for a 25th League title. As expected the ‘Blaugrana’ are favorites to retain the trophy and despite Atletico’s recent gate crashing of the monopoly of the top two it is Real Madrid who are viewed as second favourites to win the Primera division according to the … [Read more...]
Real Madrid transfer circus at the Euros
There have been a few stars at Euro 2016 that have attracted interest from Real Madrid, but there are also a couple of Galacticos that could be on their way to pastures new. Dimitri Payet Payet’s highly impressive debut season in the Premier League with West Ham had him making headlines, but it took a while for him to break into the France first team. Didier Deschamps initially needed some convincing, but after a run of sizzling form in the group stages, the West Ham playmaker must be one of the first names on the team sheet. His goal in the opening game of the tournament could well win … [Read more...]
Benzema: I want to stay
Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has dismissed recent speculation surrounding his future, insisting he wants to remain with the club for “many years”. Benzema, 28, played 77 minutes of Real’s Champions League success on Saturday night before being replaced by winger Lucas Vazquez whilst his side were 1-0 ahead, with Atletico equalising just two minutes later. But the Frenchman - who will miss the upcoming European Championship in his native France due to a blackmail scandal - has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu Stadium in recent weeks, with Robert Lewandowski’s agent … [Read more...]
Barca win closely fought Copa del Rey final
Barcelona had managed to enthrall many with their fantastic display of attacking football throughout the campaign but the usually artistic Catalans proved that they have more than enough grit in their locker as well with their brave performance in the Spanish Copa Del Rey victory over Sevilla on Sunday. Such is the high level of standards at Barcelona that ‘merely’ winning the title would have been seen as a failure of a season and as a result, Luis Enrique and his men were under pressure to deliver another trophy in the form of the Copa del Rey in order to avoid criticism from the blood … [Read more...]
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid – Can Atleti get revenge on rivals?
This weekend it's the big one as Madrid rivals Real and Atletico lock horns in Milan to decide who will be crowned winner of the Champions League. In a game that mirrors the 2014 final, Diego Simeone's men will be looking to exact revenge after a late Sergio Ramos equaliser and extra time winner from Gareth Bale broke Atleti hearts in the Estádio da Luz two years ago. With Real manager Zinedine Zidane adjusting well to the learning curve of managing unarguably the most successful team in world football, his side are at odds of 7/5 at the time of writing going into Saturday's tie, according … [Read more...]
Could Barca make a move for this PSG star?
According to reports from Italian newspaper La Rebubblica, Barcelona could make a move for Paris Saint Germain midfielder Marco Veratti in the summer. The 23-year-old Italian has yet again been pulling up trees in Ligue 1 this season and his performances as the Parisian club's play maker has attracted the attention of some of Europe's biggest side recently. With legendary pass master Xavi Hernandez no longer at Barca, the club are reportedly on the look out for his long term replacement this year. And fans of US Casinos and betting in general wouldn't be willing to back Los Blaugranes to … [Read more...]
Barca fans want to see the back of star player – could he be off to Man City, Real Madrid or PSG?
In a poll conducted by the Daily Mail, it has emerged that the majority of Barcelona fans wish for their club to sell Neymar this summer. The Brazilian reportedly has a £150 million release clause on his contract and a total of 61% of participants voted yes to getting rid of the striker at the end of the season. The survey coincides with arguably the darkest period the club has endured since manager Luis Enrique took over. After failing to defend their Champions League trophy with a quarter final defeat to Atletico Madrid last week, Barca's La Liga match-up with Deportivo La Coruna last … [Read more...]
Two Barca players make it into UEFA team of the week
FC Barcelona due Luis Suarez and Neymar aka two thirds of the much lauded 'MSN' trio at Barcelona have made it into this week's UEFA Champions League team of the week. … [Read more...]