This weekend it's the big one as Madrid rivals Real and Atletico lock horns in Milan to decide who will be crowned winner of the Champions League. In a game that mirrors the 2014 final, Diego Simeone's men will be looking to exact revenge after a late Sergio Ramos equaliser and extra time winner from Gareth Bale broke Atleti hearts in the Estádio da Luz two years ago. With Real manager Zinedine Zidane adjusting well to the learning curve of managing unarguably the most successful team in world football, his side are at odds of 7/5 at the time of writing going into Saturday's tie, according … [Read more...]
Zidane to take over should Real lose tonight
Reports in Italy claim that should Carlo Ancelotti lose the Champions League Final, Zinedine Zidane will be named as the new coach of Real Madrid. Stories had been circulating in recent weeks suggesting Zidane did not have enough experience to take charge at the Bernabeu. But Milan-based daily, Gazzetta Dello Sport say this is not the case, with the final tomorrow deciding his future. This seems quite harsh on Ancelotti ( He did win the Copa Del Rey ) but then the obstacle standing in Real,s way are noisy neighbours and recently crowned La Liga champions Atletico Madrid. … [Read more...]
Real Madrid’s Bale Conundrum
On the surface, there would appear to be little wrong in Madrid. The club, fresh from a 3-1 win against Chelsea in the final of the Guinness International Champions Cup, are preparing for a new Welsh-inspired era of dominance. That will cost the princely sum of £105m. Oh, and they have Cristiano Ronaldo and Champions League-winning coach Carlo Ancelotti. So a new season for Real Madrid and what might it hold? … [Read more...]
Transfer Latest: Have Real Madrid pulled the plug on Gareth Bale?
Gareth Bale to Real Madrid; a transfer saga that was once so talked about that even your neighbour's cat would have formed an opinion on whether the Welshman will go the Bernabeu or not. Yet here we are, smack bang in the middle of August and all looks very quiet on the Castillian front, perhaps a little too quiet one may hasten to add. … [Read more...]
El Clásico – More than a game
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...]