On the back of a historic week, Atletico Madrid must mount one final surge to cap off a season which has defied all expectations. Having won the La Liga title just seven days ago, Diego Simeone will lead his side out in a Champions League final against city rivals Real Madrid, who are gunning for their tenth European Cup. … [Read more...]
De Gea likely to get Spain nod over Lopez
Manchester United keeper David de Gea is likely to be selected ahead of Real Madrid's Diego Lopez for the 2014 World Cup this year despite contrasting seasons with their clubs. With Victor Valdes ruled out due to a knee injury picked up in midweek, one spot remains, and the United youngster is expected to take it. … [Read more...]
Griezmann denial the start of Sociedad exodus
Real Sociedad's star player Antoine Griezmann took to Twitter yesterday to refute rumours of a move to PSG being completed. The 23-year-old Frenchman was the subject of an apparently confirmed news story suggesting he had agreed terms with the Ligue 1 club. The Sociedad youth prospect answered back to these claims, saying ,"Having seen this news, I want to deny any discussions or an agreement with a club. … [Read more...]
Cosmin Contra replaces Luis Garcia at Getafe
Former Getafe player Cosmin Contra has taken over from the sacked Luis Garcia and has been given the instruction to keep the club in the top flight. Getafe have not won in 12 La Liga games and sit just a point above the bottom three, but Contra has vowed to impress supporters. Contra spent five years as a Getafe player, finishing his playing career with the Madrid-based club, and had been managing Romanian club Petrolul Ploiesti. He had been strongly linked with the Getafe job during the club's woeful run but has taken over with just 11 games of the season to play. He has been told by the … [Read more...]
Betis make officiating display viral
Real Betis have taken an alternative approach to a contentious refereeing performance - by taking clips from the recent game against Athletic Bilbao of controversial decisions and putting them on YouTube! Betis were incensed by three decisions by Spanish official Gil Manzano during the weekend game, which finished 2-0 to Bilbao. The video has amassed 14,000 views by Tuesday but was published on the club's official YouTube channel as a response to the performance of Manzano. The three incidents which Betis complained about were that Ruben Castro was denied a penalty, Athletic's penalty was … [Read more...]
One to Watch – Paco Alcacer
Valencia have long been a selling club, making huge profits on the likes of Juan Mata, Roberto Soldado, David Silva, Jordi Alba and David Villa - and Paco Alcacer could be the latest to join that elite group. The 20-year-old forward has been on fire since the end of January and is one of the reasons as to why Valencia could form a powerful push for European football this season. … [Read more...]
Row between Perez and supporters rages on
The animosity between members of the now defunct Ultras Sur and Real Madrid President Florentino Perez looks set to continue as the fan group relent in their quest to return to the Bernabeu. The Ultras Sur, Real Madrid's fervent supporters formerly housed in the South stand at the Bernabeu, remain upset about their treatment after 500 season tickets were rescinded after an altercation before a match with Real Sociedad. The fans are angry with how Perez has dealt with the situation as the club welcomed a new section to replace the Ultras made up of young fans. … [Read more...]
Arrasate hoping for instant retribution after Villarreal hammering
Real Sociedad boss Jagoba Arrasate has labelled the 5-1 defeat to Villarreal on Monday night as 'his worst day as coach of the club'. The good news for the recently appointed boss however is that his side have the chance to get revenge over Villarreal this Thursday in the Copa del Rey. Sociedad slumped to the uncharacteristic defeat after previously enjoying a series of games without defeat. … [Read more...]
Atletico title hopes answered
Diego Simeone has continued to play down Atletico Madrid's title hopes throughout the season, despite keeping pace with the league leaders Barcelona. The two meet next week in what could be the acid test as to whether Atletico really are good enough to lift the La Liga crown. … [Read more...]
Four Premier League transfer targets from La Liga
The January transfer window is just around the corner and after the influx of Spanish stars to the Premier League in the summer, more clubs are likely to be monitoring the talent in Spain's Primera Division this winter. At the midpoint of the season just 7 points separate 10th from the relegation zone and the title race looks set to be one of the tightest battles in years after a week in which top spot changed hands three times, so many teams could be looking to spend big to achieve their goals. … [Read more...]