With only one win in 17 league games leaving the team in the drop zone, it is none too surprising that a 3-0 defeat against Real Sociedad at the weekend was the final straw for Mallorca, who dismissed manager Joaquín Caparrós on Monday night. Unusually, however, the club were quick to praise the departing coach. "I respect Caparrós so much. I know that we have sacked a great coach. I would like to thank Joaquín and his coaching staff for their honour, dedication, desire and for helping the club grow in every sense” said acting president Llorenç Serra Ferrer. The islanders took to the pitch at the weekend with new names Fernando Tissone and Alan Hutton – brought in during the January … [Read more...] about La Liga: Struggling Mallorca fire “great coach” Caparrós
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La Liga: Rayo Vallecano defy the odds to keep riding high
They are not the first, second, or arguably, even the third team in Madrid, but they are already in position for a Europa League place and currently sit one point away from the Champions League spots. It is an even more impressive feat given that this is a club in administration, a team that was almost relegated to segunda on the final day of last season and that lost both its manager in the summer and a total of 13 players including their star, Michu, who is currently lighting up the Premier League. Rayo Vallecano are defying all expectations. While Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid sit in second and third respectively, the other team from the capital are just a point behind Málaga in … [Read more...] about La Liga: Rayo Vallecano defy the odds to keep riding high
La Liga: Real Sociedad inflict Barça’s first loss of season
A strange thing happened at the weekend - something not witnessed at all during the 2012/13 season so far. Having drawn with Málaga in the Copa del Rey in midweek, FC Barcelona finally lost a liga game after 19 jornadas unbeaten. Tito Vilanova’s men were looking pretty much unstoppable having torn apart almost every team they have come up against, but Real Sociedad were to inflict the Catalans’ first liga defeat, coming from two goals down to claim a last-minute 3-2 victory over the league leaders. It had seemed to be business as usual for Barça, who took the lead early on with a Lionel Messi goal. The Argentine scored for a record 10th game in a row when he struck after just seven … [Read more...] about La Liga: Real Sociedad inflict Barça’s first loss of season
La Liga: Depor find fortune on pitch despite financial woes
In a week when Deportivo La Coruña filed for bankruptcy protection, you would think a club which is €99 million in debt would not have much to smile about. But the Galicians, who currently sit in 19th place in the league table, seem to be slowly turning around their fortunes on the pitch with the help of their new manager. Drafted in during the winter break to replace José Luis Oltra, who was at least not given his marching orders until after he had enjoyed Christmas day, Domingos Paciência got off to the best possible start in his first match in charge when his new team beat high-flying visitors Málaga 1-0 thanks to a goal by Luis Pizzi for their first win in two months. The … [Read more...] about La Liga: Depor find fortune on pitch despite financial woes
La Liga: Messi’s Ballon d’Or highlights gulf dividing Barça and Real
As liga action resumed after a short break for Christmas, it seemed not much had changed in Spanish football. Barcelona continued their winning run and got their manager Tito Vilanova back following surgery after his cancer was found to have returned, José Mourinho was still stirring the pot at Real Madrid by continuing to leave Iker Casillas on the bench, Fernando Llorente still wants out of Athletic Bilbao and Lionel Messi once again stood in Cristiano Ronaldo’s way to take the FIFA Ballon d’Or. The Argentine was awarded the prize for the fourth consecutive time in Zurich on Monday night, beating teammate Andrés Iniesta and the Portuguese forward to the prestigious honour in a year when … [Read more...] about La Liga: Messi’s Ballon d’Or highlights gulf dividing Barça and Real
La Liga: The end is nigh for José Mourinho
This season, there have been very few quiet weekends in the Spanish capital and on Saturday evening, one decision by José Mourinho opened the floodgates. At around 7pm, with just over an hour to go to kick-off, the press began circulating the news. Club president Florentino Pérez was caught on camera, peering at the phone of a Canal+ presenter to read the extraordinary line-up and appearing bewildered. When the starting eleven was confirmed a few minutes later, it was clear why. Club captain and World Cup winning goalkeeper Iker Casillas was dropped to the bench and replaced in goal by Antonio Adán. The man dubbed ‘San Iker’ for the miracles he performs in front of goal for Los … [Read more...] about La Liga: The end is nigh for José Mourinho
La Liga: Fallen hero Llorente eyes Bilbao exit
When Athletic Bilbao took to the pitch at the Iberostar Stadium at the weekend, Fernando Llorente was on the bench. It is a place the once-talismanic striker has become accustomed to, as he has been occupying that spot pretty much all season. He wasn’t needed as Aritz Aduriz's 11th-minute header condemned Real Mallorca to defeat – for the ninth time in 11 league games. The visitors went ahead early on at the Iberostar Stadium with their first serious attack as Andoni Iraola – who has returned after missing several weeks through injury – launched a high ball up to the far post, where Aduriz rose to head into the far corner of the goal. However, the visitors had goalkeeper Gorka … [Read more...] about La Liga: Fallen hero Llorente eyes Bilbao exit
La Liga: Barça win again as Messi is crowned king
On Wednesday night the Camp Nou was silenced. It was the worst sight for Los Culés, Lionel Messi, who had no need to be on the pitch with his FC Barcelona side having already qualified for the knockout stage of the Champions League, was stretchered off in considerable pain. It was meant to be a night of celebration, a night when the Argentine would set an incredible new record but it ended on a sour note. Many feared it could be a long-term injury to his knee with even the man himself admitting: "I thought it was the last shot I was going to have for a long time…for a moment I thought the worst." but he was back on the pitch at the Benito Villamarín stadium on Sunday night, fit and … [Read more...] about La Liga: Barça win again as Messi is crowned king
La Liga: Ronaldo sinks Atlético’s hopes in Madrid derby
On Saturday morning, 21,000 people piled into the Vicente Calderón in Madrid to roar support as their team stepped onto the turf, the loudest cheers reserved for golden boy Radamel Falcao. Yet the derbi that was to be played on matchday 14 would take place across town at the Santiago Bernabéu. This was no early kick-off, merely a final training session before the big game, but the fans had been summoned by coach Diego Simeone to show their affection for the players. The huge turnout spoke volumes. While every year since 1999, the question of whether Atlético can finally beat their neighbours Real Madrid was greeted with pessimism, the build-up to this weekend really was different because … [Read more...] about La Liga: Ronaldo sinks Atlético’s hopes in Madrid derby
Nacho a pawn in Mourinho’s battle with the Spanish media
Until a few months ago not many Spanish football fans, even of his own club Real Madrid, were too familiar with the merits of young blancos defender José Ignacio Fernández Iglesias. In recent weeks however, Nacho, as he is known, has become one of the most talked about footballers in the country, an unwitting pawn in yet another battle between Madrid boss José Mourinho and the city’s sporting press. Nacho joined Real Madrid's La Fábrica youth academy in 2001, progressing through juvenil sides and the C team before establishing himself as a first choice in Real Madrid Castilla (the B team) in Spain’s third tier by 2010. The Cádiz born defender made his debut for Mourinho’s senior side in a … [Read more...] about Nacho a pawn in Mourinho’s battle with the Spanish media