Last season saw a somewhat rise to prominence for 22-year-old La Masia graduate Sergi Roberto. Making 27 appearances in the first team last season, the young midfielder was often the first choice to rotate into the Barcelona line-up when key first team players – Xavi, Iniesta, Fàbregas – were either injured or being rested. … [Read more...]
Battle for the Barcelona number one
Barcelona fans will have awoken to the news this morning that goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen injured his back in a training session on Monday afternoon. He will now train alone for the next few days while the extent of the damage is analysed. The young German shot-stopper, along with Chilean custodian Claudio Bravo, are new signings at Camp Nou this season as the club aims to replace the seemingly irreplaceable and influential Víctor Valdés who decided to take up the option of departing the club on a free transfer to stimulate himself with new challenges having amassed an amazing 21 major … [Read more...]
Newcastle United vs Real Sociedad: Match Report
Goals and clear-cut opportunities were certainly not the order of the day at a damp and drizzly St James' Park on Sunday afternoon as Newcastle United and Real Sociedad played out a pre-season friendly ending in a 1-0 victory for the home side. For Newcastle, the fixture was the final opportunity to fine-tune any areas of their game in which they were lacking before kicking off their Barclays Premier League season at home to Manchester City in one week's time. For Real Sociedad, the game was still part of building match fitness and avoiding injury to key players, with their season beginning … [Read more...]
Real Madrid season preview
La Décima – two words which will forever define the 2013/14 season in the eyes of Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. Carlo Ancelotti and his band of Galácticos last season achieved what no other Real Madrid side since 2002 had – reclaim the UEFA Champions League. It was a historic season for Los Merengues as they also captured the Copa Del Rey in spectacular circumstances with a man-of-the-match performance from new superstar Gareth Bale against their eternal rivals in FC Barcelona. … [Read more...]