Two eye-catching games took place on Friday 30th August as early table-toppers Seville host Celta Vigo whilst Athletic Bilbao with their own designs on top spot hosted perennial mid-table outfit Real Sociedad. Here’s what happened… Sevilla 1 Celta Vigo 1 Sevilla head coach Julen Lopetegui will view this as a missed opportunity as a former Barcelona man came back to haunt the former Real Madrid manager with a late equalizer to see his side knocked off top spot after three games. The first half gave little to write home about with the home side as expected edging the contest. … [Read more...]
Promoted Team Profile: Osasuna
Although the Segunda division still rumbles on for another two matchdays, as Osasuna boast a six-point lead at the top of the able and a ten-point advantage over third-place Albacete, it is safe to say the minnows from Pamplona will be contesting La Liga next season. But are they? And what will they bring to the division? History The club with the nickname Gorritxoak are no strangers to Spain’s top-flight. In fact, from 2000 to 2014 the side contested every La Liga season and even finished fourth at the end of the 2005/06 campaign. However, relegation followed at the end of the … [Read more...]
Who will be La Liga’s surprise package next season?
Whatever happens from now, Getafe will have had a season to celebrate and are all but assured of contesting some form of European football in 2019/20. When they confirm it, it will be only the third European campaign the club have embarked on and the first since the 2010/11 season. The deep blues have been on an upward curve since promotion from the Segunda division in 2017 and finished eighth last year in their first season back in the top flight. That makes José Bordalás’ side well worth a close look at in the betting markets for next season and making sure you get the … [Read more...]
Athletic Romp To Victory Over Osasuna
Athletic Bilbao eased to a superb 5-1 victory at Osasuna, cementing their place in the fourth Champion's League spot. Athletic's previously off-form striker Aritz Aduriz regained his scoring touch. He grabbed two goals and set up another for substitute Ibai Gomez. A man of the match performance. Osasuna are only three points from the drop zone now. Their problem all season has been scoring goals, but when Armanteros scored a tenth minute free-kick equaliser to cancel out a fourth minute goal from Athletic's Susaeta, things were looking promising. Little did they know that the floodgates were … [Read more...]
Osasuna 0-2 Real Madrid
Ronaldo continued his award winning week with a bizarre goal to help Real Madrid win 2-0 against Osasuna and march into the quarter finals of the Copa Del Rey. Madrid were already two up from the first leg so it was a damage limitation exercise for the home side in Pamplona. They created some chances but never looked like scoring against much classier opposition. The breakthrough cam on 22 minutes and who scored – of course it was the new world footballer of the year Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo is famed for his wonderful free kicks, but this wasn't one of them. The ball was heading straight to … [Read more...]
Osasuna Sign Acuna from Watford
As always in early January there are lots of transfer rumours but little firm action. I have it on very good authority that at least one big name player will be joining an English Premier League club next week – be sure to read www.laligablog.com every day for the confirmation. In the meantime we can reveal a done deal – Javier Acuna has joined Osasuna on loan from Watford. Acuna is a 25 year old Paraguayan who has represented his country at under-20 level. He can pay either as a conventional centre forward or as a winger and has notched 33 goals in 148 career appearances. Acuna … [Read more...]
The Battle against the Drop – who will stay up?
It has become a yearly occurrence for the bottom of Spain's premier division to take us until the final day to find out who has the privilege of hosting Real Madrid and Barcelona again in the next campaign, usually providing much greater excitement than the title race. This year is no different as Barcelona have all but sealed the league championship from Real Madrid, boasting a massive 13 point gap, whilst at the foot of the table six teams are battling for another season in the top flight. Athletic Bilbao are just about safe by our predictions so the three relegation spots are most likely to … [Read more...]
Terrible start angers Mourinho
Real Madrid's woeful start to the new La Liga season continued last night as Getafe humbled Los Blancos and took a 2-1 victory at La Coliseum. Goals from Juan Valera and Abdelaziz Barrada turned the game around in the second half after Gonzalo Higuain had given Real the lead, which infuriated boss Jose Mourinho so much that he publicly blasted his star studded team. Having now lost two and drawn one of their three games so far it stands as one of the worst beginnings to a new campaign in decades for Madrid. … [Read more...]
Opening La Liga weekend in threat of strike action for second year in a row
A dispute between 13 La Liga clubs and their broadcasting partners is putting the first round of matches at risk. Should an agreement not be reached then strike action could postpone the opening round of fixtures for the second season in succession. Clubs are unhappy with a number of factors with 11pm kick-off times causing the greatest amount of fuss. Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid, Betis, Celta Vigo, Espanyol, Getafe, Granada, Mallorca, Osasuna, Vallecano, Soceidad, Sevilla and Zaragoza all attended a meeting in Madrid today demanding changes to agreements between themselves and two media … [Read more...]
Osasuna Season Preview
It wouldn't take you too long to point out the standout games in Osasuna's season last year. Disappointingly, two heavy defeats to Real Madrid and Barcelona tarnish a campaign where Osasuna finished just behind Levante, duelling for European football. The drubbings stick in our minds as the lasting memories of the 2011/12 season for Osasuna but all we remember are the scintillating performances of Ronaldo and Messi. No one cares for Osasuna. Especially when a team so proudly express their desire to contest others with their widely-regarded brand of 'anti-football'. Why lean towards … [Read more...]