Last season was quite unique for La Liga as all three promoted teams from the prior season stayed up with relative ease. Girona’s likeness to new boys Huesca cannot be ignored, after finishing runners-up to Levante in the Segunda season during the 2016/17 season, Girona made their first steps into the top flight and blew the competition away ending the campaign in 10th. Huesca are now in the same situation after earning promotion to the top-flight for the first time ever. Spanish yo-yo club Levante had a solid if unspectacular season finishing 15th after earning promotion whilst … [Read more...]
Barca Lookalikes Huesca Earn Promotion to La Liga For First Time
Spanish minnows Huesca are celebrating after achieving promotion to the top table of Spanish football for the first time in the club’s history after a 2-0 victory over Lugo in Spain’s second tier Segunda division was enough to see the side claim enough points to guarantee promotion. With two games still to go, Huesca will now aim to win the Segunda title ahead of Rayo Vallecano who they have a two-point advantage over. A Long Road to the Top The club is notable for their similarity in kits to the mighty Barcelona who they will be mixing it with next season and can trace their heritage … [Read more...]
Three Things To Expect From Sporting Gijon Next Season
Following Las Palmas' promotion on Sunday, all 20 teams for next season's La Liga campaign are known. Alongside the Gran Canarians are Segunda champions Real Betis and Sporting Gijon. Plenty has been made of Betis with the return of Pepe Mel causing quite a stir, and it will be interesting to see whether their free-scoring style will continue next season. However, less is known about Sporting, the side that finished second ahead of Girona by a whisker. Here are three things you need to know before seeing them next year. Defensive solidity Although Sporting ended the season in second place … [Read more...]
Copa del Rey Final: Three Key Battles
Barcelona will look to seal their second trophy of an incredible season against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to maintain their chances of winning the treble. Having already wrapped up the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey would sign off their domestic season in some style ahead of the Champions League Final against Juventus. The match will be staged at the Nou Camp, much to Barca's advantage, and is also expected to be the final match on home soil for midfielder Xavi which would make it an even more special occasion. Despite having already qualified for the Europa League by finishing 7th, … [Read more...]
The Fight for Survival in La Liga
Almeria, Eibar, Granada and Deportivo La Coruna head into the final day of the La Liga season knowing that they need a result to avoid relegation back to the Segunda Division. Two of those teams will be going down, with just two points separating them and head-to-head records making matters even more interesting. Deportivo face the toughest task and will be reliant on the other teams below them not picking up results. They have to travel away to the Nou Camp to face a Barcelona side ready to pick up the title. However, with Depor requiring a result and Barca players wary of picking up … [Read more...]
Three Reasons Why Betis Are Storming Back to La Liga
Real Betis' relegation from La Liga last season was an absolute shambles, finishing a massive 15 points from safety in the end. Down long before the season's climax, the club are now making waves in La Segunda and look to be heading back to the big time. To bounce straight back up to La Liga is uncommon, although Deportivo did manage the feat last season as runners-up to Eibar. Yet looking further down this season's table, we see many ex-Primera Liga sides squandering such as Mallorca, Racing Santander and Osasuna in 17th, 18th and 19th respectively. Having suffered a 14 match winless streak … [Read more...]
Vitolo & Asenjo – Who Are Spain’s Possible Debutants?
Vicente del Bosque today announced that Vitolo and Sergio Asenjo have won call-ups to the national team squad ahead of games against Ukraine and the Netherlands. There were also recalls for Atletico Madrid midfielder Mario Suarez as well as Athletic Bilbao defender Mikel San Jose. Rayo Vallecano striker Alberto Bueno's hopes of a call-up were dashed by del Bosque, who instead preferred to name Diego Costa and Alvaro Morata in his full squad. Instead, Sevilla winger Vitolo and Villarreal goalkeeper Asenjo will hope to impress the Spain boss and win their first senior caps. Vitolo, a … [Read more...]
Is Alberto Bueno worthy of a Spanish call-up?
Spain face Ukraine and the Netherlands in the next fortnight as European football takes a short break for the international schedule to resume. One man who won't be happy to see a pause in proceedings is Rayo Vallecano striker Alberto Bueno who has been in scintillating form since the turn of the year. The former Derby man, who will turn 27 next weekend, is the top scoring Spaniard in La Liga with 15 strikes for the season. He's scored in five of his last seven games, including an incredible four in the win over Levante at the end of February. With national team selection just one week … [Read more...]
Player Profile – Inaki Williams
Inaki Williams has quickly become a hit with the Athletic Bilbao fans since his promotion from the youth feeder team, Bilbao Athletic. The 20-year-old starred in last week's 1-0 win over Real Madrid and received a standing ovation from the San Mames upon his substitution. More was known about how a player with the name 'Williams' came to appear in the Basque-only zone that is Bilbao, rather than his footballing ability. That has all changed however since becoming the first Black player to score for the club, and many of Europe's top sides are turning their heads in his direction. Williams, … [Read more...]
Newcastle closing in on 18-year-old Spaniard
Newcastle United are hoping to complete a deal for Racing Santander forward David Concha soon, after the youngster made the trip to Tyneside last month. The club are in advanced talks with Concha, who was shown around the training ground by Ayoze Perez and watched the Tyne-Wear derby with his parents during the visit, and could loan the youngster back to Racing for the remainder of the season. Concha can also play on the wing and has been impressive in the Segunda Division for Racing this season. Summer recruit Perez, who has made a decent impact since joining the club, also came from … [Read more...]