Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Roberto Soldado has expressed his delight following Spurs’ comprehensive 3-0 victory over Norwich City on Boxing Day. Tottenham Hotspur continued their march for a top four finish after claiming a comfortable 3-0 victory over Norwich City at White Hart Lane on Saturday. While Harry Kane stole the headlines after grabbing two goals, it was Erik Lamela who was arguably the star of the show after putting in a stunning display. Lamela pulled the strings from an attacking midfield role and even delighted the fans with a Rabona effort on goal. Former Tottenham … [Read more...]
Valencia miss out on Champions League – and possibly lose Roberto Soldado
With Valencia’s 4-3 defeat to Sevilla on the last day of the La Liga season, Los Che missed out on a place in next season’s Champions League, being pipped at the post by Real Sociedad. The blow for the Mestalla club is obvious – however the biggest repercussion of Europa League, rather than Champions League football, could well be the departure of star striker Roberto Soldado. … [Read more...]
Pellegrino given timely boost but Los Che are losing patience
Since Unai Emery's messy resignation last season, Mauricio Pellegrino has had trouble in succeeding the unpopular manager at Valencia. Having led the team to a hat-trick of Champions League qualifications in La Liga, Emery's time at Los Che came to a sad ending and was ultimately forced out amid constant financial constraints and a perceived lack of improvement. Despite a Europa League semi-final last year, it was deemed that another coach would have to continue from where Emery left off. Of Argentine nationality, Pellegrino hails from the same country as Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa, … [Read more...]
Valencia Season Preview
Can Valencia win La Liga? I was always told it was best to begin with a joke. Maybe humour isn't my strong point... The fact that the question above is usually followed by an instant dismissal of Valencia's title dreams, almost as quick as Messi changes direction, makes glum reading for Valencia supporters. … [Read more...]
Three Spanish bets you should consider for this year’s European Championships
With the titans of Spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid now left with nothing to play for this season following their dramatic Champions League exits and Madrid's La Liga title clincher last night, the attentions of Spain will now turn to their national team, in their bid to win back to back European Championships in Poland and Ukraine next month. España of course go into this competition as favourites with a price of 5/2 with Bet 365 to win the tournament outright but we've highlighted three other bets you might be tempted to place during Spain's defence of their European title. … [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...]
Torres omitted from Spain squad
Fernando Torres has been left out of Vicente del Bosque's squad for the Venezuela friendly next week due to his woeful form for Chelsea in front of goal this season. The Spanish striker has scored just 4 times in 29 games this season adding to his sole goal at the end of the last campaign, and has failed to find the net in over 5 months. Del Bosque told Spanish media that his performances of late had 'been a bit irregular' and that he would like to reward other strikers who merit a place in the squad more than the man who's goal won the Euro 2008 Final. As a result, Roberto Soldado, Iker … [Read more...]
Valencia v Stoke: The key battles
After seeing Lionel Messi rip apart yet another Champions League defence with tantalising ease a couple of years ago,the wise, old pundit Andy Gray once remarked that he'd love to see how the Argentine would fair on a dark, damp, dreary night under the floodlights of Britannia Stadium. This question has almost been turned into cliche it has been bounded about that much recently by the media and whilst Barcelona being demoted to the Europa League was never really a possibility, we will get to feast our eyes on arguably the next best thing as Aver Banega, Jordi Alba, Roberto Soldado and Adil … [Read more...]