Real Madrid have made Thomas Muller their main transfer target alongside Manchester United's Wayne Rooney. Muller has been influential in Bayern Munich's rise to the top of European football. The perfect foil to Franck Ribery, he has picked up 52 goals in 150 appearances for them. This season has been Muller's best to date. Bayern have continued to dominate the Bundesliga and Muller has been a huge factor in their success, scoring 7 goals in 16 league outings. Carlo Ancelotti is already blessed with attacking flair at Madrid. Benzema, Ronaldo, Bale, Di Maria, Morata, and it is likely that … [Read more...]
Levante 1-4 Barcelona
Cristian Tello grabbed a hat-trick as Barcelona romped to a 4-1 away victory over Levante in last night's Copa Del Rey quarter final first leg. Arsenal target Tello may have persuaded Arsene Wenger to prise open his purse strings as he put on a fine display, ably assisted by Lionel Messi. It sounds strange to say after a team mate scores three, but the mercurial Mess was my man of the match. He tore the home side apart at every opportunity and laid on all three goals for Tello. It was Levante who took the lead. Nabir El Zhar scored after 31 minutes to have Levante fans dreaming of victory. … [Read more...]
Chelsea To Sign Real Sociedad Forward
Jose Mourinho is set to bring in his second signing of the transfer window – Real Sociedad's young Frenchman, Antoine Griezmann. Juan Mata will be leaving Stamford Bridge within 48 hours, although it's still not certain to be Manchester United rather than Atletico Madrid, and Mourinho is moving swiftly to secure a replacement. Griezmann has youth on his side. Aged only 22, he has already made over 160 appearances for the San Sebastian club, scoring 42 goals in the process. He can play as a centre forward, although he is more often deployed as a left winger. This has been a breakthrough season … [Read more...]
Real Madrid Make It Six In A Row At Espanyol
Real Madrid grabbed a one goal advantage over Espanyol last night, in the first leg of their Copa Del Rey quarter final. Madrid had smashed five past Real Betis at the weekend, a result that saw Juan Carlos Garrido lose his job, but they were made to work much harder by an improving Espanyol side Carlo Ancelotti's side also ran out one nil victors at the Cornella-El Prat in La Liga just nine days ago, but the fact of the matter is that Madrid have now won six games in a row and could yet win the domestic double this season. Cristiano Ronaldo went closest for Madrid in the earlier stages, a … [Read more...]
Mata Move To Manchester May Be Off – Atletico Await
Spanish midfielder Juan Mata's move from Chelsea to Manchester United could be scuppered in the unlikeliest of ways – by Manchester United manager David Moyes. Talks are at an advanced stage between Mata and Manchester United advisors. His relationship with Jose Mourinho has broken down, and Mata doesn't feel that he will get the chances that he deserves at Stamford Bridge this season. There is fierce competition for a place in the Spain midfield at this summer's World Cup, and Mata knows that he needs to grab as much game time as possible before then with him currently at 6/4 to make the … [Read more...]
Rooney To Sign For Real Madrid
It will be Adios, Old Trafford as Wayne Rooney swaps Manchester for Madrid in 2014. The only question remaining is whether it will be in the summer or within the next nine days. With strike partner Robin Van Persie injured for large swathes of the season, Manchester United have been more reliant than ever on the England forward's goals. He has scored 9 goals in 16 games, a worse strike rate than potential replacement Danny Welbeck, but of course there is so much more to Rooney's game than goals. It is Rooney's energy and determination that have caught the eye of Carlo Ancelotti. He sees Rooney … [Read more...]
Barcelona To Stay At Camp Nou
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...]
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...]