Lionel Messi has suffered many setbacks during the last six months and faces his longest battle yet to recover from injury in time for the second half of Barcelona's season. Messi suffered his third injury of the season, tearing his left hamstring just 20 minutes into the match against Betis on Sunday and will be on the treatment table for 6-8 weeks. It is the longest spell Messi will have been injured for and this recent spate of injuries has marked a new chapter in his career. … [Read more...]
Ronaldo blasts Blatter’s ‘lack of respect’
Cristiano Ronaldo and FIFA President Sepp Blatter have been involved in a heated exchange during the past few days after Blatter made derogatory remarks about Ronaldo whilst giving an interview in England. Blatter has since apologised via twitter after the Portuguese striker used social media to vent his anger at the 'joke' whilst also suggesting FIFA have preference for Barcelona over Real Madrid. … [Read more...]
El Clasico Review
El Gran Clasico certainly lived up to it’s name with the star names on show. The likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Bale and Neymar all started the world’s most famous fixture. But what was the fallout after Barcelona’s 2-1 victory at the Camp Nou? With none of the four superstars at their dazzling best, it was the Barca possession coupled with Real’s defensive frailties and tactical naivety that widened the gap between the two global icons to six points. … [Read more...]
La Liga team of the week – Game Week Six
Week six has come and gone and the biggest news was the flurry of controversial refereeing decisions made by Belgian-born La liga referee, César Muñiz Fernández in the game involving Elche and Real Madrid at the Martínez Valero. Barcelona and Atleti keep their 100 percent record while Espanyol record their first loss of the season. For us at La liga Blog, it’s time to once again reward the top performers of the Matchday. Don’t fret guys, Fernandez missed out! … [Read more...]
Footballers and their cars: A look at Europe’s finest talent and their taste in automobiles
The summer transfer window or 'silly season' as it is more affectionately known is well under way with plenty of transfer activity to report. In Spain in particular there has been plenty of speculation to sink our teeth into. Like in Madrid for example where the Bernabeu vultures are preparing to circle in on White Hart Lane and take with them the Premier League's number one prized asset or in Barcelona where one influential midfielder could potentially be returning to the EPL itself, a league where he made his name as player in Arsenal colours just over half a decade ago. But as a complete … [Read more...]
Camp Nou clamours for another epic night of pride
The dream of an all Spanish Champions League final ended last night with Real Madrid’s elimination from the competition by 4 goals to 3 on aggregate to Borussia Dortmund. Real Madrid had a good opening 15 minute spell and an heroic last 8 minutes that would have seen them through with one more goal. Alas it wasn’t to be and apart from those short spells at either end of last night’s 90 minutes, Dortmund were the better side over the two legs and deserved to go through. F.C. Barcelona will face an even harder task this evening in the 2nd leg of their semi final against the newly crowned … [Read more...]
Barça Rest Key Players With Bayern In Mind
FC Barcelona will go into Sunday's match away at Real Zaragoza missing a number of 1st team regulars. With the semi-finals of the Champions League in just under two weeks, a number of stars will be rested and rotated in the matches before the two clashes against Bayern Munich. The highest profile absentee is Lionel Messi. The Argentine was on the bench for Wednesday's 2nd leg of the quarter final against Paris Saint-Germain, but was required to make an appearance in the 2nd half with the Catalans losing 0-1 and looking to be on their way out of the tournament. … [Read more...]
Champions League Semi Final Draw Keeps Favourites Apart
Today's UEFA Champions League draw paired Bayern Munich against FC Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League Semi Finals. The draw is what many in Spain had hoped for with the prospect of a Clásico Final at Wembley still very much alive. A similar situation was presented at the same point of the last campaign, with Barça being drawn against Chelsea and Madrid facing the Bavarians. Unfortunately for the fans of the two Liga giants, their dreams were shattered by the English and German sides who went on to contest the Final at the Allianz Arena. … [Read more...]
Five Star Barça Shine Without Messi
At half time at the Parc des Princes in Paris in midweek, the alarm bells were ringing for all who viewed F.C. Barcelona as a one man team. After sending an effort just past the top corner of the PSG goal, Lionel Messi pulled up and started rubbing his right knee and then hamstring. An innocuous knock on his standing leg as he shot had left the 4 time Ballon D'Or winner looking human. At the start of the second half, Barça took to the field with Cesc Fàbregas having replaced the mercurial Messi. The Catalans would take a 2-2 draw from the game, conceding a last kick of the game Matuidi goal … [Read more...]
Messi, The Perfect 10, Sets Yet Another Record
Lionel Messi completed the perfect personal half of a la Liga season on Saturday evening, in the process setting another record, by scoring against all 19 Primera opponents in consecutive matches (coincidentally, 19 was his squad number before being given the coveted number 10 shirt on Ronaldinho's departure from the Camp Nou). Cristiano Ronaldo scored against all 19 opponents in Madrid's record breaking last season, but not in consecutive matches. … [Read more...]