Throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s, Racing Santander were a regular feature in Spain’s topflight, but since relegation in the summer of 2012, the club based in the Cantabria community has seemingly dropped off the face of the Earth. It was a dramatic decline for Racing after a decade uninterrupted in La Liga as 20th place in the topflight in 2011/12 was followed up by a 20th finish the next season in the Segunda Division thus confirming back to back relegations. A familiar tale of economic issues was the main reason for the plight of the club and in January 2014, things reached boiling … [Read more...]
Copa Del Rey – The route to the final
Barcelona’s bid for domestic dominance could be completed on Saturday but first, they will have to overcome a plucky Valencia side seeking their first piece of silverware since winning this very competition in 2008. So, how did both sides The route to the final Barcelona 5 cultural y deportiva leonesa 1 - (all results given as aggregate totals) The Spanish giants were paired with Segunda B division side cultural y deportiva leonesa for their opening exploits in the competition. Ernesto Valverde’s side breezed through two-legged affair 5-1 on aggregate to get their defence … [Read more...]
Copa del Rey Special: Pique Out as Valencia Eye the Title
The 2017/18 Copa Del Rey semi-finals second legs complete this week with a place in the final just 90 minutes away (barring extra time of course). Across the two semi-finals it is all to play for with Leganes and Sevilla entering their second leg finely poised at 1-1 with Barcelona holding a slender 1-0 lead over a resurgent Valencia. However, with Barcelona soon set to resume their Champions League campaign, the Valencianistes are eyeing a chance to take the crown away from the three-time defending champions with chinks in the seemingly unbreakable Barcelona armour starting to … [Read more...]
Leganes Dancing in the Streets as Cup Exit Leaves Zidane on the Brink
It was only the other week we reported that Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane was signing a contract extension until 2020. But just a matter of days later, Zidane is facing a very uncertain future. Football is a fickle business where one week you are king and the next in line for the boot, but the signs have been poor for awhile despite the man at the helm guiding Los Blancos to a successful defence of their Champions League title and a 33rd La Liga title just eight months ago. However, eight months in football is an eternity and now Zidane has found himself in the arduous … [Read more...]
Zidane Signs Until 2020
Despite many suggesting the Real Madrid hierarchy have been a little unsettled of late with Los Blancos trailing arch rivals Barcelona by sixteen points at the half way stage in the league, head coach Zinedine Zidane confirmed to press last night after his sides 2-2 Copa Del Rey draw that he has signed a contract extension until 2020. "It's signed, I'm enjoying what I do every day, because that's the way it is. I can't imagine myself as a coach in two, three years, because things are not like that. I know how it goes, nothing more, even with this contract it does not change anything." … [Read more...]
Copa del Rey Final: Three Key Battles
Barcelona will look to seal their second trophy of an incredible season against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to maintain their chances of winning the treble. Having already wrapped up the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey would sign off their domestic season in some style ahead of the Champions League Final against Juventus. The match will be staged at the Nou Camp, much to Barca's advantage, and is also expected to be the final match on home soil for midfielder Xavi which would make it an even more special occasion. Despite having already qualified for the Europa League by finishing 7th, … [Read more...]
Barcelona Ease Through To The Copa Final
Barcelona drew 1-1 at Real Sociedad last night, to set up a mouth watering final against Real Madrid in April. Barcelona held a 2-0 lead from last week's first leg, and never looked likely to relinquish it. Barca could have been forgiven for taking it easy, but their goalscorer isn't one to do things by halves. Lionel Messi scored another wonder goal to add to his collection. He ran from the half way line, beat four Sociedad players on a mazy dribble and then slammed the ball past Zubikarai. The goal gave Tata Martino's men the freedom to express themselves. They passed the ball brilliantly, … [Read more...]
Atletico Madrid Humbled By Real
It's been a bad week for Diego Simeone. After a weekend 2-0 defeat by Almeria, his side lost by the same scoreline at home to Real Madrid. Bettors at sportsbook sites such as Sportsbettingonline.ag no doubt would have had this Copa del Rey tie down as a Los Galacticos win but next to no one would have predicted for them to destroy their fierce rivals in the manner that they did. Real's 2-0 victory gave them a 5-0 aggregate win over their city rivals, in the Copa Del Rey semi-finals. Barcelona are expected to progress from tonight's semi-final, to set up a mouth-watering final. Both Real goals … [Read more...]
Real And Barcelona Take Commanding Leads
Real Madrid and Barcelona both took commanding leads last night, in the first leg of the Copa Del Rey semi-finals. Real Madrid won 3-0 at home to cross city rivals Atletico. This wasn't the flowing match that I'd expected. Ancelotti's side took a much more pragmatic approach. They marked Atletico's danger men closely. It was a rough and tumble match, with the home side in particular testing the referee's patience. Diego Costa was kicked at every opportunity. Finally losing his temper, he kicked back, and received a yellow card that will keep him out of the return. An injustice at every … [Read more...]
Racing Santander Banned After Copa Protest
Racing Santander have been banned from next season's Copa Del Rey, after their protest saw last night's quarter final abandoned. Racing were the lowest placed team left in the competition, but their story wasn't to have a happy ending. Racing are a club in financial turmoil. As recently as 2008 they were La Liga big hitters, fighting for a European spot. It's been a tale of mismanagement, on and off the pitch, since then. They now languish in the third tier of Spanish football. The Santander players and staff haven't been paid in seven months. Last night,with the spotlight on their big match … [Read more...]