The Santiago Bernabeu will play host to the final group stage match for Real Madrid in the Champions League this season vs Ludogorets, a match that might see the reigning European champions set not 1, but 2 records with a win vs the team at the bottom of Group B. The first record is becoming the Spanish club with the most consecutive wins in all competitions in history, a record they currently share with Barcelona as both clubs have 18 straight wins. Beating Ludogorets would push Real Madrid towards their 19th consecutive win and make them outright holders of the coveted record. The second … [Read more...]
Real Madrid 3-0 Celta: Records Aren’t Easy
With 18 wins in all competitions, Real Madrid have now equaled Barcelona as the Spanish club with the most consecutive wins in all competitions in history, and with a home match vs Ludogorets in a few days, you have to believe that Ancelotti's men will break the record. In fact, Carlo Ancelotti might have his eyes set on Coritiba's all-time record which is the longest stretch of wins in the history of football in all competitions (recorded history at least). Coritiba's streak went to 24 matches, 6 more than Real Madrid's current streak. To equal it, Real Madrid have to win all their remaining … [Read more...]
Who Can Stop Real Madrid?
17 matches, 17 wins, 64 goals scored, just 9 conceded, and 9 clean sheets = Real Madrid's record-breaking 17-match winning streak with Carlo Ancelotti. The longest winning run in the club's history and second longest by any Spanish club in history (second only to Barcelona's 18 wins). Real Madrid have rampaged to a 10-match winning streak in La Liga that propelled them to the top of La Liga rankings in addition to a 5-match winning streak in this season's UCL that secured the top spot in their group. Finally, they also won their 2 matches in the Copa del Rey this season to set up a potential … [Read more...]
Eibar holding their own
League minnows Eibar were hotly tipped for relegation this season. They have won back to back promotions from the Segunda Division B right up to La Liga within two seasons and they managed an average home attendance last season of 2,901 fans, which is smaller than 84 of the English football league’s clubs. It is therefore easy to see why many punters backed them to not be able to withstand the rigours of Spanish’s footballs top division, however their performance this season has been nothing but extraordinary. … [Read more...]
La Liga losing out? How Di Maria and Fabregas have made their mark on the Premier League
It is always something of a pointless discussion trying to debate which league is the best. ‘Best’ is such a subjective term and it is impossible to come to a sensible conclusion that pleases everyone, with some arguing that La Liga’s big two of Real Madrid and Barcelona mean their league is clearly the best while others will suggest that the competition for places at the top of the table ensures the Premier League should be top of the pile. You’ll probably even find some people that will fight the Bundesliga’s corner. … [Read more...]
Is Moyes the right man for Sociedad?
There is no debate that David Moyes has a tarnished reputation in the UK after his calamitous tenure at Manchester United came to an abrupt end 10 months into a 6 year contract. On Sunday the Scot was offered a route back into football management by Spanish side Real Sociedad following the sacking of Jagabo Arrastate. With the Basque based side struggling in the league, this certainly won’t be an easy way back into the game for Moyes. … [Read more...]
Are Valencia back?
After a hugely disrupted season which ended with two managerial changes, an eighth place finish in La Liga, missing out on European football and losing key players in the summer transfer window, no one had really expected Valencia to achieve much this season. Despite all this, the club currently sit 2nd in the Primera Division winning five of their seven league games and have yet to taste defeat. Last seasons’ struggles, both on and off the field, seem a thing of the past after Peter Lim bought a 70% stake in Los Che in August. New manager Nuno Espirito Santo came in relatively unknown to … [Read more...]
Chelsea hotshot Costa set to improve La Roja relationship
Diego Costa has been one of the most highly rated strikers in world football for the past 18 months, topping the scoring charts at Chelsea despite claims of injury from boss Jose Mourinho. With 9 goals in his first 7 games in England, Costa's reputation has already begun to change from a one-season wonder at Atletico to one of Europe's deadliest finishers. However, supporters of his national football team are yet to be convinced. Costa endured plenty of criticism for switching allegiance from Brazil to Spain months before the World Cup began, though thoroughly merited his inclusion in the … [Read more...]
The mighty rise of little Eibar
It is not often in La Liga that you hear of a 'fairy tale story'. Clubs from top to bottom of Spain's top divisions are carrying huge burdens of debt, and many sides are subsequently not as strong as they used to be. However, in May 2014, the story of SD Eibar was reaching its fairy tale ending. A club who's ground holds less supporters than Dagenham & Redbridge, were promoted to the Primera Division for the first ever time in their 70 year history. But like all good stories, there was inevitably a dramatic twist on the way. Located in the Basque area of Spain, Eibar has a population of … [Read more...]
Diego Simeone: Tactical genius or angry Argentinian?
With his latest act of madness on the touchline causing himself to receive an eight match ban, I want to see if the man who guided Atletico Madrid to their first La Liga title in 18 seasons is worth all the trouble that comes with the tactical genius. Simeone took over at Atletico from Gregorio Manzano, after the teams defeat in the Copa del Rey to minos Albacete Balompie. In his first season as manager they won the UEFA Europa League final in Bucharest, defeating fellow Spaniards Athletic Bilbao in the final 3-0. … [Read more...]