Since the 1950's Spanish football has been thoroughly dominated by just two clubs – Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. The knock-out format of cup competitions may throw up a surprise winner here and there but La Liga has for a long time been considered a two-horse race. These two clubs have won Spain's Primera Division 52 times between them, with Real's 31 championships leading the way. Barca however just pip Real on total tournament wins with 75 and hold all the current bragging rights, with their recent tournament wins setting them apart in Spain, Europe and the World. So it's no surprise that … [Read more...]
Euro 2012: Time for Spain’s unknown quantities to make a name for themselves
Fernando Llorente, Iker Muniain and Roberto Soldado have only 24 international caps between them, yet with David Villa on the treatment table and Fernando Torres and Pedro enduring torrid seasons, these three must be ready to be called upon to join David Silva and Juan Mata in Spain’s Euro 2012 front line. Probably not exactly household names for most, they soon will be if they shine in Poland and Ukraine. Let’s run the rule over the pretenders to La Roja’s attack. … [Read more...]
Athletic Club: A model for all to follow
I must confess, I knew very little about Athletic Bilbao before I witnessed their footballing master class against Manchester United in the Europa League earlier this year. How glad I am that I flicked over to Channel 5 that night to gaze in awe as the Basque side put English football’s finest to the sword. Quite a spectacle it was. … [Read more...]
Simeone has transformed a stagnating Atletico side into stubborn contenders
Far from pretty, a lifeless Atletico Madrid secured 3 valuable points against lowly Granada in the race to contest in Europe next year with a 2-0 win at the Vicente Calderon. Toward the end of the game, enigmatic coach Diego Simeone could be seen trying to fire up the home fans in spite of a game which would fail to inspire even the most seasoned of supporters. Generating a reaction from the players however has been moderately successful as Madrid has since lost just one of his 13 games in charge following the departure of Gregorio Manzano in December. … [Read more...]
The magic of the Copa alive and kicking in Spain
With the recent trend of top sides putting out weakened teams for their domestic cup competition, an act claimed to be devaluing the prize and taking away that cup magic. It couldn't be more different in Spain where last year’s Copa del Rey final was fiercely fought in Valencia's Mestalla stadium by the giants of Spanish football Barcelona and Real Madrid. Fuelled by Jose Mourinho’s desire to wrestle some trophies away from Pep Guardiola’s Barca, who it seems just want to win every prize put in front of them, a new found competitiveness had revitalised the Copa del Rey. … [Read more...]
The top 10 Spanish football players of all time
While England has always laid claim to being the home of football, in the last few years the beautiful game has definitely taken a holiday home in sunny Spain. The two countries' footballing histories have a lot in common. Great league and cup competitions, big-spending clubs, world-renound players, and one glorious international tournament triumph followed by years of expectation and disappointment – that is until recently. During the last five years, Spanish football has truly made its mark on the game. The current period belongs, and will forever belong, to Spain. The international side … [Read more...]
Away-day syndrome: Why Barcelona have struggled on the road this season
A 1-1 draw meant Barcelona surrendered yet another valuable two points at the hands of their local rivals Espanyol on Monday night making it already their fifth draw of the domestic season with four of them being away from home. The gap between Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of the table has now stretched to a worrying five points for Pepe Guardiola's men and with games coming thick and fast and time seemingly running out for the Catalonians, we ask the much debated question; exactly why have Barcelona struggled to break teams down on the road this season? … [Read more...]
The top 5 La Liga goals of 2011
As 2011 draws to a close and all is quiet on the La Liga front until matches resume again in 2012, we've taken the chance to look back at a selection of our favourite goals from the year gone by. We've selected what we believe in our opinion are the best 5 goals from the La Liga Primera division in 2011. So why not check them out and let us know what you think by commenting below? … [Read more...]
Who needs David Beckham when you have Inigo Martinez?
For years now, football fans across the globe have reminisced about David Beckham's debut season in the Premier League and that infamous goal he scored from the half way line against Wimbledon. It seems Spain after all these years now finally have their own answer to the long-range heroics of David Beckham in the form of novice Real Sociedad defender Inigo Martinez, who has already netted two stunning long-range goals from the half way line this season against both Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis respectively. … [Read more...]
Versatility Allows Barcelona to be the Best
Attack minded in every sense of the word, we all know about the stunning capabilities of the strike force of Barcelona. Messi, Villa, Alexis, Pedro assisted by the more than capable Fabregas and Xavi score the majority and steal the plaudits in the process whilst the likes of Pique, Puyol, Abidal and Dani Alves stay out of the TV frame for 75% of the match. Various scoring and passing feats are challenged but this season another aspect of Barcelona has caught the attention of statisticians; their misly defence. Just the 8 goals have been scored past Victor Valdes as Barcelona pose the … [Read more...]