The 2017/18 Copa Del Rey semi-finals second legs complete this week with a place in the final just 90 minutes away (barring extra time of course). Across the two semi-finals it is all to play for with Leganes and Sevilla entering their second leg finely poised at 1-1 with Barcelona holding a slender 1-0 lead over a resurgent Valencia. However, with Barcelona soon set to resume their Champions League campaign, the Valencianistes are eyeing a chance to take the crown away from the three-time defending champions with chinks in the seemingly unbreakable Barcelona armour starting to … [Read more...]
Zidane Signs Until 2020
Despite many suggesting the Real Madrid hierarchy have been a little unsettled of late with Los Blancos trailing arch rivals Barcelona by sixteen points at the half way stage in the league, head coach Zinedine Zidane confirmed to press last night after his sides 2-2 Copa Del Rey draw that he has signed a contract extension until 2020. "It's signed, I'm enjoying what I do every day, because that's the way it is. I can't imagine myself as a coach in two, three years, because things are not like that. I know how it goes, nothing more, even with this contract it does not change anything." … [Read more...]
Will 2018 be the World Cup year for Lionel Messi at last?
The unthinkable almost became a reality on October 10, 2017, when just 40 seconds into the World Cup qualifier between Ecuador and Argentina in Quito, Romario Ibarra fired the home side into the lead. For the first time since 1970, the Argentine national team was facing the genuine prospect of failing to qualify for the World Cup finals. The footballing pride of an entire nation was at stake, and the pressure was on. The 2018 World Cup was looking like it might not feature arguably the best player on the planet, but of course, Lionel Messi had other ideas about that. Captaining his side and … [Read more...]
Who will you bet on to win the La Liga 2017/2018 title? Barcelona or Real Madrid?
The Spanish Primera División, also known as La Liga has some of the best players in the world. These teams play some of the best football there is and it is a joy to watch. La Liga is one of the most popular football leagues in the world as well, coming in closely behind the English Premier League. There are 20 teams in the division and it generally ends up with four teams being the main challengers. Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Valencia, with only 2 of those teams being entrenched in history. Real Madrid has won the championship 33 times and Barcelona has won it 24 times. … [Read more...]
La Liga Self Destructs as Barcelona Wrap up the Title
As Dani Carvajal saw red and Lionel Messi slammed in the resulting penalty to put Barce 2-0 up at the Bernabeu, you could see the whole of Spain outside of Catalonia’s shoulders slump and raise the white flag. Aleix Vidal added a third in injury-time to leave Zinedine Zidane’s men to face the baying home support as his side slipped to fourteen points behind their great rivals with the season not even at the half way stage. Catastrophe This week has been a catastrophe for Barcelona’s rivals but a triumph for the Blaugrana as the quartet of Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Real Madrid and … [Read more...]
Competition & El Clasico Preview
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid Date: 23/12/2017 Kick-off: 12:00 PM GMT The biggest rivalry in world football takes place this Saturday as Real Madrid and Barcelona clash at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Spanish capital. Real Madrid are in desperate need of all three points at home as they head into the final La Liga game in 2017 with an 11-point deficit with only one game in hand on their rivals. Avoiding defeat would be a huge step towards Ernesto Valverde winning his first La Liga title in his debut season at Barcelona. Barcelona News The Catalan club have won two straight in … [Read more...]
Barcelona’s La Liga Future Unknown after Catalan Independence
Earlier this month Catalan leaders signed a declaration of independence that would see the region become separate to Spain and could lead to Barcelona being kicked out of La Liga. Catalonians voted overwhelmingly in favour of independence from Spain, and president of the league Javier Tebas has insisted that if this political shift is realised, he would not allow the Catalan team to compete in the competition. While speaking with the press he said that if a rebellion succeeds, they would make plans to continue life in La Liga without the Spanish giant. His … [Read more...]
Barcelona Righting Last Season’s Wrongs with Early Dominance
The 2017/18 season is proving to be quite the reversal in form for one of Spain’s giants. Barcelona had a somewhat substandard 2016/17 with only a Copa Del Rey to show for their efforts whilst their arch rivals Real Madrid took a mighty La Liga and Champions League double. However, after being left in the shadow of Real Madrid’s achievements, Barcelona have picked themselves up and find themselves quietly going about their business in a fashion unexpected for a club of such magnitude as the Catalans find themselves. Seven games in to the new season and seven wins have followed for … [Read more...]
Liverpool demand quality player in exchange for Philippe Coutinho
According to reports from Spanish outlet Diario Gol, Liverpool want Ivan Rakitic as part of the potential deal taking Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona. Despite their tough stance, Liverpool now look resigned to losing the services of Philippe Coutinho after the player handed in a transfer request and the Reds are currently believed to be in negotiations with Barcelona over the sale of the Brazilian playmaker. A fee of around £133million has been quoted for the potential transfer but in recent times, there has been talk that Liverpool could look to agree a cash plus player deal for Coutinho … [Read more...]
Ex-Tottenham star explains the extreme lengths Coutinho could go, to force Barcelona move
Former Tottenham Hotspur man Jermaine Jenas believes Philippe Coutinho will do all he can to earn Barcelona move – even feign injuries, as reported by the Daily Star. It is no secret that Barcelona have been desperate to sign a replacement for Neymar and have identified Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho as the ideal candidate to fill in the void left by the Brazilian superstar. Liverpool have been adamant that they will not look to sell Coutinho at any price but as a huge shock to the Reds, the attacking midfielder recently handed in a transfer request and it is clear that the 25-year-old … [Read more...]