Liverpool have landed a major transfer coup by pulling off the capture of the hottest prospect in Spanish football – Atletico Madrid's Saul Niguez. Niguez, currently on loan at Rayo Vallecano, had been tipped to join David Moyes' Manchester revolution, but there was also known interest from Arsenal and Real Madrid. The news from Merseyside is that Brendan Rogers has beaten them all to the 19 year old's signature. The Spanish Under-21 international has been a revelation at Vallecano this season. With a maturity beyond his years, he has grabbed games by the scruff of the neck and has been the … [Read more...]
Real Madrid’s Magnificent Seven
Normal service has been resumed at the top of La Liga, Real Madrid's 2-0 victory at home to Granada saw them open a two point gap over Barcelona and Atletico, both of whom have yet to play this weekend. It was a record breaking result, if not a pulse racing performance. The win marked a magnificent seven wins in a row without conceding a single goal – a Real Madrid record. Carlo Ancelotti's side have hit top gear now, an ominous sign for their title rivals. The party atmosphere was soured somewhat by an injury to record signing Gareth Bale, who had to be replaced by Jese at the start of the … [Read more...]
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Athletic Bilbao
Atletico created the chances but failed to capitalise on their superiority, as they take a 1-0 lead over Athletic Bilbao in the Copa Del Rey. Diego Simeone rested players in this first leg encounter, but his side were still hot favourites to take a convincing lead over Athletic. Despite a strong opening from Atletico, it was Athletic who should have taken the lead after ten minutes. Herrera sliced wide with the goal invitingly before him. It was a miss that would prove costly. Athletic goalkeeper Iago Herrerin was the man of the match, producing fine saves throughout the game. Two particularly … [Read more...]
Saturday Round-Up
There were four matches played in La Liga on Saturday, with teams picking up points at both top and bottom of the table. Here is our Saturday round-up. Real Betis 0-5 Real Madrid Two milestones were reached in this one side match. Karim Benzema scored his hundredth goal for the club and manager Carlo Ancelotti gained his 500th career victory. Read a full match report here: http://laligablog.com/2014/01/19/real-betis-0-0-real-madrid/ Elche 2-0 Rayo Vallecano 0 An important clash at the bottom of La Liga saw Elche pull away from trouble thanks to a two nil win over Rayo Vallecano, who find only … [Read more...]
Real Betis 0-0 Real Madrid
Real Madrid moved joint top of La Liga yesterday after a 5-0 demolition of rock bottom Real Betis. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will see an ominous shadow looming as they prepare for their matches today. Cristiano Ronaldo rounded off his magnificent week with the opener, a fantastic power strike, but the greatest smile of the night was on the face of Gareth Bale. On 25 minutes he curled a perfect free kick past an unmoving Stephan Anderson in the Betis goal – his first goal in two months and his tenth for Madrid. The best is yet to come from Bale but he is showing signs of improvement. Madrid … [Read more...]
Liverpool Player Linked With Granada
Liverpool's young Portuguese defender Tiago Ilori is being linked with a transfer window move to La Liga with Granada. I understand that the move will initially be a loan until the end of the season with the option to make this permanent before the start of the next season. Ilori had been talked of as one for the future at Anfield, when Brendan Rodgers signed him at the beginning of the 2013-14 season for a fee of £7M. He has composure on the ball and likes to play the ball from the back rather than looking for the long ball forward. With Jamie Carragher having retired from the game, it had … [Read more...]
Manchester United Lead Race For Niguez
Saul Niguez is the hottest prospect in Spanish football at the moment, and it seems that Manchester United have taken the lead in a three way race to secure his signature. The 19 year old midfielder is currently plying his football on loan at Rayo Vallecano, having been sent there to gain first team experience by Atletico manager Diego Simeone. Niguez has grabbed the chance with both hands and has been the outstanding player in a Vallecona side struggling at the foot of La Liga. Niguez has scored one goal in his sixteen appearances for the Vallecanos, but it his passing vision and composure … [Read more...]
Ferdinand Begged Ronaldo To Join Manchester United
Manchester United's veteran defender Rio Ferdinand has revealed that he begged Cristiano Ronaldo to re-join Manchester United during the summer. United had just appointed a new manager in David Moyes and they were desperate to make a marquee signing. A last minute move to hijack the Gareth Bale to Real Madrid transfer failed but it does show that the Old Trafford club had the money to make a serious splash in the summer market. Ronaldo is still a legend at Manchester United, having scored 84 goals in 196 appearances for the Red Devils. Earlier in 2013 Ronaldo had said that he felt unhappy at … [Read more...]
Neymar leads the La Liga team of the week
Matches of the Spanish Primera Division resumed once again with round 16 games after a week-long break during which Copa del Rey games were given precedence. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid were surely the big winners of the round as they took full advantage of Real Madrid’s loss of points. As we always do here at La liga blog it’s time for us to reel out our best 11 performers of the weekend in our unique team of the week. Granada shot-stopper Roberto Fernandez was key in his side’s 2-0 away victory at Vallecas against Rayo Vallecano. Roberto kept his side alive in the tie, giving them a … [Read more...]
El Clasico Review
El Gran Clasico certainly lived up to it’s name with the star names on show. The likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Bale and Neymar all started the world’s most famous fixture. But what was the fallout after Barcelona’s 2-1 victory at the Camp Nou? With none of the four superstars at their dazzling best, it was the Barca possession coupled with Real’s defensive frailties and tactical naivety that widened the gap between the two global icons to six points. … [Read more...]