Málaga C.F. face F.C. Porto at the Rosaleda in tonight's return leg of their last 16 clash in the Champions League having never been defeated at their home stadium in European competition. This is the clubs second European adventure and they will hope the legend of la Rosaleda will continue against the Portuguese giants. … [Read more...]
Barça Rely on Camp Nou Spirit for Champions League Comeback
F.C. Barcelona went through a light training and preparatory session at lunchtime today at the Camp Nou in advance of the return leg of their last 16 Champions League tie against A.C. Milan this evening. However, the Blaugrana know that their attitude and approach to the game once the match has kicked off can be anything but light as they seek to overturn a first leg deficit. … [Read more...]
Real Sociedad Revival in Race for Fourth
After a weekend when the duopoly at the top of La Liga has been given an untimely boost by the defeat of Atlético Madrid at the Vicente Calderón, Real Sociedad's rise up the ranks makes the fight for fourth, and a Champions League berth, the big story of round 27. … [Read more...]
Messi rises from the bench to revive Barça morale
F.C. Barcelona tonight recorded a 2-0 win against Deportivo la Coruña, a result that leaves them further ahead of their league rivals before they have had a chance to play and with the peace of mind now to think about the task ahead against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday evening at the Camp Nou. … [Read more...]
Copa del Rey Final to be held at Santiago Bernabéu
It was officially announced this afternoon that the Copa del Rey Final between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid will be played at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid on Friday the 17th of May at 21.30 local time. … [Read more...]
Mourinho to remain at Madrid?
After a week of euphoria for Real Madrid, having beaten their greatest rivals F.C. Barcelona in the Cup and League and having progressed at the expense of Manchester United in the Champions League, the whole mood of their season would appear to have changed. … [Read more...]
La Liga surprise XI of the season
It would be too easy and cliche to insert the entire Real Madrid squad here due to their unusual form this season but they would only merit inclusion in this team with respect to their negative performances. Instead the Surprise XI in La Liga this season shall be comprised of those who have shown outstanding qualities when unfancied to do so. Many of the following players have shown steady progress during their careers but experienced a breakout season unlike any of their previous ones. … [Read more...]
Spanish football in numbers: A Statistical Analysis of La Liga
A Guest post by Liam Corbett of www.averageopposition.com - a new stats based site with a difference - it measures the team and player performances not just on the normal numbers, but on the level of opposition. Liam gives us his take on La Liga this week. … [Read more...]
Barcelona’s defensive woes highlight their need to buy a defender
Two years ago, with Guardiola at the helm, Barcelona was on the receiving end of plaudits from the greatest the game has ever seen. They prided themselves in their ability to win the ball back quickly and in doing that continue their possession based game without interruptions. Their backline, consisting of Puyol and Pique at the centre was by far the most feared and arguably the strongest in the world. Puyol's physicality, strength and pace combining with Pique’s tackling technique made their backline the least penetrable. No one had answers and they played a major role in helping the side … [Read more...]
Transfer Speculation: Is Victor Valdes on his way to a Premier League club?
Victor Valdés could well have played his last clásico for the blaugrana at the Bernabeu today in the 2-1 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid, The sending off of the Catalan keeper at the end of the match was a clear sign of his frustration at the non-award of a penalty on Adriano in the whites box and Barça’s inability to take anything from a match which lacked the usual intensity of recent clásicos. In the referee’s official match report, the decision was made as Valdés repeatedly told him “you have no shame, you have no shame”. In truth Barça were pedestrian and looked as if they lacked any … [Read more...]