Barcelona must keep fighting, said Dani Alves on Monday, “it’s a question of honour, of prestige” - but most likely no longer a question of the Liga title. Mid-February is perhaps too early for the race for top spot to be over, and of course it isn’t yet, but the 10-point gap that separates Real Madrid from the reigning European and Spanish champions now seems too big for Barça to close. Following a defeat to city rivals Espanyol on their return to action after the winter break, Pep Guardiola repeatedly stated his side could no longer afford to slip up. Their margin of error was gone but still they dropped points, away against Villarreal, and this weekend in Pamplona. In freezing … [Read more...] about La Liga: Real Madrid’s lead leaves Barcelona fighting for honour
José Mourinho
La Liga: Málaga find form
The second Andalusian derby in just over a week saw not only local bragging rights at stake but with one point separating them in the standings, Málaga and Sevilla were each looking to strike a psychological blow in the race for a European place. Both clubs have been struggling of late and with the race for Europe only set to intensify, it was a heated affair. Over the summer Málaga coach Manuel Pellegrini brought in former Real Madrid and Manchester United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy and he spoke enthusiastically of the team that the club are building. The high-profile signing brought much attention but for the 35-year-old, goals are a lot harder to come by than they used to be and he … [Read more...] about La Liga: Málaga find form
Real Madrid’s Barça jinx leaves Mourinho facing wrath of Bernabéu
José Mourinho has finally arrived. A year and half after he touched down in the Spanish capital, the only Real Madrid manager to have his name chanted at the Santiago Bernabéu was booed by his own supporters during Sunday’s league win against Athletic Bilbao. Boos and whistles aimed at their own team are nothing new for supporters at the Bernabéu. Many a manager and player has befallen the same fate, but it was a first for Mourinho - who has up until now enjoyed huge support from the Madridista faithful - and the huge fallout from last week’s Copa del Rey quarter final against Barcelona rumbles on. It was all smiles in training only a week ago, but as his reign at Madrid has shown, … [Read more...] about Real Madrid’s Barça jinx leaves Mourinho facing wrath of Bernabéu
La Liga: Sevilla and Betis bury the hatchet as the Andalusia derby returns
Long before Real Madrid’s Pepe stamped on Lionel Messi’s hand and José Mourinho poked his finger into the eye of Barça’s Tito Vilanova, a bottle was thrown from the stands of the Ruiz de Lopera stadium which would knock Juande Ramos – then Sevilla manager – unconscious. It was to mark the height of the rivalry between Sevilla and Betis in recent times, when weeks of growing tension between the two sides finally came to a head at the latter’s stadium during a Copa del Rey clash. El derbi sevillano has always divided the Andalusian city but never more so than in 2007. Less than a month before the Ramos incident, a Liga clash also took an unsavoury turn, but this time not on the pitch or … [Read more...] about La Liga: Sevilla and Betis bury the hatchet as the Andalusia derby returns
La Liga: At Valencia, Soldado finally feels at home
Coming through the ranks of the cantera, his 86th minute winner in his debut season against Olympiakos at the Santiago Bernabéu not only spared the blushes of the home side but also gave fans a glimpse of a potentially great Real Madrid striker. Labelled the “new Raúl” like so many before him, he did for a time adopt the famous number nine shirt at Madrid, but success for Roberto Soldado has come most recently at the Mestalla and the city of his birth, Valencia. Following a successful loan spell at Osasuna in 2006 while still a Madrid player – where he finished as the Navarra club’s top scorer – he returned to the Spanish capital still hoping to leave his mark on Los Merengues. … [Read more...] about La Liga: At Valencia, Soldado finally feels at home
Barcelona still in charge, but they’re driving Madrid in the right direction
There remained only a few brave souls, hardcore Real Madrid fanatics who stayed not out of choice, but because they know no other way. Twisting the knife they may have been, but the wound was so familiar it barely stung anymore. As the last minutes of the Clásico wound down and Señor Borbalán blew the final whistle, the cheers of the Catalans sounded once more in the sanctum sanctorum of their sworn enemy. The dejection of the Madridistas was palpable; they had thought this would be their time, the catharsis of three years of humiliation. A 3-1 defeat it may have been, but in the grand scheme of things for Real Madrid it still represents progress, and the gap between the two sides continues … [Read more...] about Barcelona still in charge, but they’re driving Madrid in the right direction
La Liga: Real Madrid still in thrall to Barça’s brilliance
Starting slowly but building to a crescendo, countless statistics have been bounded about for the past week. This was the eighth time since his arrival, that José Mourinho’s Real Madrid side would face reigning Spanish champions FC Barcelona. The hosts had a 100-percent record at the Santiago Bernabéu this season and were on the verge of a record-breaking run of victories. This clash would supposedly signal a shift in power to the Spanish capital. A Clásico that would be el fin de ciclo for Barcelona. But at the final whistle, only one statistic stood out. Madrid have not beaten Barcelona in la liga since 2008. The game could not have started better for Madrid who were ahead in just 23 … [Read more...] about La Liga: Real Madrid still in thrall to Barça’s brilliance
Cristiano Ronaldo
Barcelona and Real Madrid’s rivalry has been particularly fierce in recent months, due in great part to the tense relationship between the soccer teams’ coaches, Pep Guardiola and José Mourinho. But an equally fascinating contest has been played out between the two teams’ biggest stars: Leo Messi for Barça and Cristiano Ronaldo for Madrid. Barcelona’s dominance in Spain and Europe in recent years has seen Messi eclipse the Portuguese somewhat, but there is a feeling that Real Madrid, and Ronaldo, could finally be turning the tables. It was Ronaldo’s head that scored the last-gasp goal against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final in April and under Mourinho he seems to have found a coach who … [Read more...] about Cristiano Ronaldo
El Clásico offers Mourinho a glimpse of glory
While Spain’s La Liga contest has long been seen as a two-horse race, the Champions League is also starting to show signs of falling into the grasp of the Real Madrid-Barcelona duopoly. That impression is, admittedly, based heavily on this week’s elimination of two English giants from the European competition, Manchesters United and City. But with the two Spanish sides strolling into the knock-out stages, their status as the best in Europe has been further burnished. So when they meet on Saturday in Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu to contest the Clásico, the eyes of the world will be on them. Barcelona have eight players nominated for UEFA’s 2011 team of the year; Real Madrid have six. … [Read more...] about El Clásico offers Mourinho a glimpse of glory
Late-blooming Benzema the apple of Real Madrid’s eye
Florentino Pérez rarely betrays emotion. A wry smile is the most common reaction from the presidential palco, maybe a broad grin upon winning a title. But on a chilly night in Lyon in February, the Real Madrid president stunned everyone when he leapt up, arms raised, to celebrate the goal just scored by Karim Benzema. It was a moment that would be a turning point for Benzema and a very public display of affection for the young man Pérez personally secured by flying to the same French city in 2009, to convince him to sign. Born to parents of Algerian descent and one of nine siblings in the working class Bron neighbourhood in Lyon, his background and shaven head gave rise to comparisons … [Read more...] about Late-blooming Benzema the apple of Real Madrid’s eye