Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo, more commonly known as Monchi, is quite possibly the most important figure in European football that you have never heard of. Born in San Fernando in 1968, Monchi was a goalkeeper who spent the entirety of his nine year playing career with Sevilla. It was after he hung up his boots in 1999, however, that Monchi really rose to prominence. Just a year after his retirement, when Sevilla were relegated from the Spanish top division in the year 2000, Monchi was appointed as the club’s new director of football. Sevilla’s board gave him two clear instructions; develop the … [Read more...]
Why Have So Few English Managers Made the Switch to La Liga?
At the start of the 2016/17 Premier League season David Moyes will be in the Sunderland dugout and Gary Neville will be in a TV studio. Not so long ago, however, both were enjoying sunnier climes as managers in Spain’s La Liga. Moyes took the helm of comparatively lowly Real Sociedad and Neville was installed at Valencia by an owner who also happens to be his business partner, and yet both appointments were still huge news in England. The reason those appointments did make so many headlines is because it is today so unusual for British and more specifically English managers to score a top … [Read more...]
Eibar vs Barcelona: Preview, Predicted Lineups and Prediction
Venue: Estadio Municipal de Ipurúa Date: 06/03/2016 Kick-off: 03:00 PM GMT / 10:00 AM EST Match Eibar News Eibar looked like they could be challenging for a place in the Champions League following a stunning start to the season but 8 defeats in their last 11 matches means that Mendilibar’s men are now very unlikely to earn a place in Europe next season. Nonetheless, Eibar are currently in 8th position in the table and the campaign so far has to be seen as a huge success for the tiny Spanish club. Now Eibar welcome Barcelona to the Estadio Municipal de Ipurúa this weekend and earning … [Read more...]
Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona: Preview, Predicted Lineups and Prediction
Venue: Estadio del Rayo Vallecano Date: 03/02/2016 Kick-off: 08:00 PM GMT / 3:00 PM EST Match Rayo Vallecano News Rayo Vallecano have not been able to consolidate on their promising season from last year and are set to be embroiled in a battle against the drop during the current campaign. Quite astonishingly, Vallecano have drawn five of their last seven matches with the identical score line of 2-2 and despite their lack of victories, manager Paco Jémez would gladly take another 2-2 draw on Thursday night as they prepare to square off against a rampant Barcelona outfit. Injury Doubts: … [Read more...]
Barcelona vs Sevilla: Preview, Predicted Lineups and Prediction
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona Date: 28/02/2016 Kick-off: 07:30 PM GMT / 2:30 PM EST Match Barcelona News Barcelona all but sealed their place in the quarter finals of the Champions League following an extremely impressive 2-0 victory away from home against Arsenal and the Catalan giants are now very well placed to claim an unprecedented consecutive treble this season. Barcelona cannot afford to get complacent despite their strong position in all three fronts though and manager Luis Enrique will surely want his players to take advantage of the clash between closest title challengers Real … [Read more...]
Analysis – Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Who will win the Champions League this season
To predict the winner of the UEFA Champions League at the current stage of the competition is virtually impossible and this season is no different as there are a number of strong contenders as well as dark horses who are capable of going all the way. In the betting on the Champions League, the bookies feel that Spanish duo Barcelona and Real Madrid have the best chance of claiming triumph in the Champions League this season, with their odds being priced at 2/1 and 9/2 respectively. Given the embarrassment of riches in terms of talented players in both Barcelona and Real Madrid, it is no … [Read more...]
Probable Barcelona Lineup vs Arsenal: Busquets and Rakitic return to the lineup
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London Date: 23/02/2016 Kick-off: 07:45 PM GMT / 2:45 PM EST Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is the player who usually starts for Barcelona during the cup competitions and the goalkeeper is certain to feature against Arsenal this weekend as well. ter Stegen has usually found it easy so far, just like claiming a code on Betminded this season in the cup against arguably weaker opposition but one can be sure that he will be put to the test on Tuesday night against a dangerous Arsenal attack. Defence Jeremy Mathieu featured for Barcelona in central defence … [Read more...]
Arsenal vs Barcelona: Preview, Predicted Lineups and Prediction
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London Date: 23/02/2016 Kick-off: 07:45 PM GMT / 2:45 PM EST Match Arsenal News Arsenal have enjoyed a decent season so far and remain in the hunt for honours in the Premier League, FA Cup as well as the Champions League. However as recent history tells us, Arsenal tend to struggle during this particular stage of the campaign and it will be interesting to see how the Gunners acquit themselves this season. In arguably the biggest game for Arsenal during the current campaign so far, they prepare to square off against Barcelona at the Emirates Stadium in the … [Read more...]
Probable Barcelona Lineup vs Las Palmas: Vermaelen and Roberto to start
Venue: Estadio de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas Date: 20/02/2016 Kick-off: 03:00 PM GMT / 10:00 AM EST Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is unlikely to be featuring in the upcoming Champions League encounter against Arsenal and as a result, the Chilean is certain to start against Las Palmas this weekend. Bravo did not have much to do against Sporting Gijon in midweek but he did make a couple of decent saves and the goalkeeper should expect another similar encounter with Las Palmas. Defence Fringe players Jeremy Mathieu, Adriano and Aleix Vidal were handed a start during the clash against Sporting but the … [Read more...]
Las Palmas vs Barcelona: Preview, Predicted Lineups and Prediction
Venue: Estadio de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas Date: 20/02/2016 Kick-off: 03:00 PM GMT / 10:00 AM EST Match Las Palmas News Las Palmas looked liked they would be able to comfortably avoid relegation this season following a positive start in La Liga but a run of four defeats in their last five matches has seen Quique Setien’s men slip into the drop zone. Now Las Palmas need a victory from somewhere in order to be able to get themselves out of the dreaded relegation places but with a clash against the rampant Barcelona up next, Los Amarillos will need to put in a herculean effort to claim anything … [Read more...]