A guard of honour may not be a tradition normally associated with Atlético Madrid but playing their first league game since they demolished Chelsea 4-1 in the UEFA Super Cup just over a fortnight ago, that was exactly what they got. Winning silverware is not such a novelty in the other half of Madrid these days as back in May, when the talk was of what a great season Athletic Bilbao were having and Atléti surprised everyone by beating the Basques 3-0 in the Europa League final. In Monaco, they brushed aside the reigning European Champions Chelsea with ease and despite the fact that their prize money is being withheld by UEFA for failure to comply with financial fairplay rules (the … [Read more...] about La Liga: Atletico survive scare and Real lose again
Sports
Disability and Spain’s low-key Paralympics
On September 9, London bid a fond farewell to this year's Paralympic Games. A fact which, if you live in Spain, may well have escaped your notice. As fireworks exploded over the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, the closing ceremony of this major international sporting event was not covered by any of Spain's major TV stations. In a departure from previous years the 2012 Games did, however, receive comprehensive coverage on Teledeportes (although Spain's national sports channel, aimed at broadcasting news across the country, changed frequency in June 2011, and I doubt ours is the only household which still does not receive it.) A quick search for Paralympic news in the national and local … [Read more...] about Disability and Spain’s low-key Paralympics
La Liga: Ronaldo’s sulk overshadows Real Madrid win
On Sunday night, there was temporary relief in the Spanish capital. Real Madrid had finally secured their first win of the season, coming rather belatedly on matchday three against Granada at home. It capped a week in which Madrid had defeated Barcelona on away goals at the Santiago Bernabéu to lift their first piece of silverware, the Spanish Supercopa. But as journalists in the mixed zone looked for a few quotes and prepared for a slow news spell during the upcoming two-week international break, something altogether unexpected happened. For one, Cristiano Ronaldo who had notched a brace of goals on the night, stopped to talk. When one journalist innocently asked why he didn’t celebrate … [Read more...] about La Liga: Ronaldo’s sulk overshadows Real Madrid win
La Liga: Getafe upset leaves Real Madrid still seeking a win
El Derbi madrileño may be a forgone conclusion most years, with Atlético Madrid rolling over every time for their neighbours, but Real Madrid are always given a much tougher time by their other cross-city rivals, Getafe. Jose Mourinho’s men took to the pitch on Sunday night looking to collect three points for the first time this season. Instead they left with none. They began comfortably when Gonzalo Higuaín – who has an excellent record against El Geta – scored from close range in the 27th minute at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, but eight minutes after the break, the home side levelled when Juan Valera nodded past Iker Casillas from a free-kick. The visitors failed to capitalise on their … [Read more...] about La Liga: Getafe upset leaves Real Madrid still seeking a win
La Liga: Villa’s return a boost for new Barça boss
La Liga returned at the weekend, and while sports daily Marca may have had a front cover dedicated to the seemingly duel never-ending duel between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, a marginally less celebrated player, who could prove the key to FC Barcelona’s attempts to wrestle the league title back from Real Madrid, was also back and doing what he does best. David Villa marked his return from an eight-month layoff by netting Barça’s final goal in a 5-1 drubbing of Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou. He scored in the 84th minute, having come on as a substitute only seven minutes earlier to a standing ovation. The Asturian striker’s relief was evident as he wheeled away in celebration, … [Read more...] about La Liga: Villa’s return a boost for new Barça boss
La Liga: Real Madrid and Barcelona prepare to do battle
"I should not have done what I did, obviously not," said José Mourinho. "The person who messed up there was me," he added, referring to the moment when he casually strolled over to then FC Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova at the Camp Nou and poked him in the eye. The incident has been brought up countless times over the past year but as the opening of 2012/13 season approaches, the Real Madrid manager seems to be attempting to calm the waters as the man he once assaulted is now head coach at Barcelona. The two men start the season at different stages. Mourinho, is now beginning his third year at the helm of the capital club where many a manager before him did not even last a … [Read more...] about La Liga: Real Madrid and Barcelona prepare to do battle
Spain and Sod’s Law
One of the great enigmas of this summer in Spain, apart from the future of the economy, has been the country’s performance at the Olympics, belying the received wisdom that it is a world power in sport. As I write this, Spain sits 21st in the medal table, having finally won a gold, in the women’s windsurfing, 11 days into the Games, followed by a second in taekwondo. The medal haul so far of two gold, six silver and one bronze is puzzlingly poor. Spain is the reigning football world and European champion, the current Davis Cup champion (its fifth title in the last decade), its cyclists have won the Tour de France three times in the last five years, and its basketball players, many of … [Read more...] about Spain and Sod’s Law
Profile: Spain’s gentlemanly football genius, Vicente del Bosque
Gentlemen are thin on the pitch in soccer today, but if anybody deserves the soubriquet of el caballero, it’s Vicente del Bosque, the coach of Spain’s national side. Going into the European Cup with a World Cup under his belt, and with Spain the favourites to win the tournament for the second consecutive time, Del Bosque, 61, displayed his typical understatement when describing his team’s chances, saying: “The important thing is not to lose a sense of modesty, that they continue being good guys and if they continue like that, everything can get better.” And better they got: progressing steadfastly through the tournament to trounce Italy 4-0 in the final on July 1 in Kiev. Del Bosque’s … [Read more...] about Profile: Spain’s gentlemanly football genius, Vicente del Bosque
Spain’s golden generation rewrites history
Spanish captain Iker Casillas was at it again on Sunday night. Though he has long been crowned San Iker by his club fans, he may just have performed the three miracles needed to obtain sainthood. The culmination of the three-week tournament played in Poland and Ukraine ended with the goalkeeper lifting the Henri Delaunay trophy for the second time. In between European championships, La Roja were also crowned world champions in South Africa 2010. In the final, Spain gave a commanding performance in a 4-0 rout of Italy, a side they had failed to beat over 90 minutes for 98 years. Their route to the final began against the very same team, and the Azzurri were the only side to have scored … [Read more...] about Spain’s golden generation rewrites history
Why I no longer love Spain’s tiki-taka
“Since the Brazil team of 1970, I can’t remember a side that thrashed and thrilled in virtually all its games – the closest thing to that I have seen is this Spanish team.” (José Sámano, El País) When world and European champions Spain play Portugal for a place in the 2012 European Championship final on Wednesday night, part of me will be rooting for Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portuguese. And if I don’t punch the air when Andrés Iniesta (or one of the other seemingly countless pixie-like midfielders) scores Spain’s first goal, it’s because I’m bored of tiki-taka. First of all, I should explain that I deeply admire what Spain have achieved over the last four years. Having struggled for … [Read more...] about Why I no longer love Spain’s tiki-taka