In his first year in charge of his former club, Luis Enrique has Barcelona where they expect to be: heavy favorites to advance to the Champions League semifinals, in front and in control of La Liga, and finalists in the Copa Del Rey. In levels of performance, Enrique has solidified the defense with only a scant 19 goals allowed in 32 league matches. Offensively, the team is hitting on all cylinders; Lionel Messi is back to his top form after a pedestrian (for him) year last season and the addition of Luis Suarez has been a massive help in terms of stretching opponents’ backline and creating … [Read more...]
Luis Suarez – From flat-track bully to man for the big occasion
Despite shining in England, some questioned the Uruguayan's ability to perform in the big games enough. This reputation as a flat-track bully though, is quickly changing at Barcelona, with Sunday's El Clasico winner the latest in a number of big game goals in recent times for El Pistolero. … [Read more...]
An analysis of Barcelona’s new tactics
After another hard fought and tense El Clasico, Barcelona left the stadium with a 2-1 victory and a four point cushion atop of the league table. Barcelona has now won 19 out of their last 20 games and a team that just two months ago seemed on the edge of collapse now controls its own fate. … [Read more...]
El Clasico – Barcelona v Real Madrid prediction
As we all know, the biggest game in club football occurs tomorrow when Barcelona host Real Madrid. Depending on the person, the fixture symbolises alternative things. For some, it is Republicanism versus Monarchism, while others regard it as Spain versus Catalonia but for me it is simply footballing juggernaut versus a fellow footballing juggernaut. … [Read more...]
Barcelona Need Neymar to Find Best Form Ahead of Man City and Madrid Clashes
Barcelona's win over Eibar on Saturday night was down to the one and only Lionel Messi, however the player it seems most interesting to focus on is his strike partner Neymar. We know all about the Argentinian and his propensity to bewitch, dazzle and destroy opponents, with the Basque minnows his latest victims and the quality of his two goals, a penalty and a header from a corner, does little to reflect the majesty of his overall display. … [Read more...]
Infographic: Lionel Messi’s penalty misses
If there's one glaring weakness in Lionel Messi's near-perfect game, it is his penalty taking. Lately the Barcelona record-breaker has made headlines because of his awry penalties rather than the bucketload of goals he grabs every week. His miss against Manchester City last night was the fifth penalty Messi has missed in the last 12 months for club and country, proving that he is in fact human after all. It is a weakness slowly growing into Messi's game after he had almost perfected the art of penalty taking, rarely missing from the spot. However, it appears as if an element of pressure has … [Read more...]
Messi outshining CR7 as Barca surge continues
Barcelona and Lionel Messi are breaking records once again, rekindling the memories of the team that won multiple honours under Pep Guardiola. The club have won their last 11 games since defeat at Real Sociedad, equalling the run set under Guardiola in 2008/09. Manager Luis Enrique received plenty of criticism early on in the season, yet is quick to dismiss these records comparing him to Guardiola and Tito Vilanova. "I care about titles, not records," the former Barca man was quoted at the weekend. Enrique may receive his titles with the club firing in all three major competitions, and Real … [Read more...]
La Liga Title Race: Mid-Season Check-in
With half of the La Liga season completed, the table is shaping up to look exactly what everyone thought it would. Currently Real Madrid (with a game in hand) sits atop of the table, one point ahead of their rivals Barcelona and 4 points ahead of last year’s winners, Atletico Madrid. All three teams are still alive in the Champions League and after next week’s Copa Del Rey matchup between Barca and Atletico, only one team will remain in that competition. Therefore, with 19 more games to be played (20 for Real Madrid) all three teams are more or less on even ground and can control their own … [Read more...]
Neymar leads this week’s La Liga team of the week
Legendary penalty stopper Diego Alves made yet again a crucial save from 12 yards out, to keep Valencia on top in the biggest game of Match Round 20. Valencia – who were leading 2-0 at some point – were at risk of being pegged-back after Sevilla got a second penalty in less than five minutes, but the Brazilian stepped-up big a second time to keep Los Che in the lead and ahead of their Andalusian rivals. Valencia went on to win 3-1 to leapfrog Sevilla on La Liga table. … [Read more...]
Liverpool Transfers: Reds want £17m Barca keeper
Liverpool are monitoring the situation of Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen ahead of a reported £17 million transfer this January. According to the Daily Star, the Reds want to bring in the German either on loan or permanently to solve their current goalkeeping nightmare. Current number one Simon Mignolet has been heavily criticised this season for a series of errors, leading to him being benched at the end of 2014. Liverpool want ter Stegen to become their new number one for the forseeable future. It is thought that Barcelona have similar intentions for 22-year-old ter Stegen, who … [Read more...]