On Saturday, with a wave to the hardcore Ultra fans at the final whistle, he was off. José Mourinho had made his exit after three years at the helm of Real Madrid and he was not the only one, with an exodus of big names from la liga this summer. With no major international football tournament being played this year, the summer trading has got off to a quick start with a host of big players making a quick exit. Another Madrid man, this time from across town, made a highly anticipated big-money move. Radamel Falcao, who has been a revelation for Atlético Madrid since his arrival two years ago, has been courted by a host of clubs this season, with the like of Chelsea, Manchester United … [Read more...] about La Liga: Big-name exodus as season ends
Liga
La Liga: Relegation battle rages
While most major leagues have wrapped up their domestic championships, La Liga continues to rumble on. And although the winners have long been crowned, the back end of the table is yet to be determined, with four teams ready to fight for their lives during the final jornada of the season this weekend. As it stands, a 3-1 defeat for 17th-placed Deportivo La Coruña at Málaga means that all four teams in the relegation spots – Depor, Celta Vigo, Real Zaragoza and Real Mallorca – still have a chance of avoiding the drop. Celta, in 18th on 34 points, won 2-0 away to Real Valladolid. Zaragoza, who also have 34 points, sit in 19th place and were thrashed 4-0 at Real Betis, while Mallorca, who … [Read more...] about La Liga: Relegation battle rages
La Liga: The end of a controversial era for Real Madrid
It has been a very long goodbye but finally, on Monday evening, journalists crowded into the press room at the Santiago Bernabéu to hear Real Madrid club President Florentino Pérez confirm what everyone has known for months: José Mourinho will leave at the end of the season. His three years at the club have been marred by controversies and there were numerous other occasions when it was felt he might depart, but in recent months, with results going against Los Blancos and his own players turning against him, his position at the helm of one of the biggest clubs in the world had become untenable. In his first season, Madrid won the Copa del Rey, in the second they stormed to their first … [Read more...] about La Liga: The end of a controversial era for Real Madrid
La Liga: Atlético seek to make most of Real Madrid’s civil war
It has been 14 years since Atlético Madrid last took the scalp of their neighbours. Their inferiority complex has lasted since 1999, and on Friday the cross-town rivals meet in the Copa del Rey final. At times during that period, Los Rojiblancos have played better than Real Madrid but still the latter have taken victory. The occasional draw is about as close as Atlético have come to breaking the jinx and despite renewed optimism earlier this season when Diego Simeone’s men were in fine form, they lost again. Twice, in fact: the latest la liga game between the two at the Vicente Calderón just over two weeks ago saw a second-string Madrid side who were without Cristiano Ronaldo win … [Read more...] about La Liga: Atlético seek to make most of Real Madrid’s civil war
La Liga: Real Sociedad stake Champions League claim
Currently without a permanent president after Manuel Llorente’s tearful resignation earlier in the month; without their new stadium which has been years in the making due to the club’s financial problems; and possibly without a manager as Ernesto Valverde is stalling over committing his future to the club - Valencia could also be without Champions League football next season. Heading into the weekend clash at Real Sociedad – their direct rivals for a coveted spot in Europe’s premier competition – Los Che’s manager led a rallying call, billing the game the most important since he took charge of the club. "This is the closest game we've had to a final until now," he said. "Real … [Read more...] about La Liga: Real Sociedad stake Champions League claim
La Liga: Barça and Real Madrid warm up for European showdowns
Both Barcelona and Real Madrid won at the weekend, the Catalans scoring a solitary goal at home to defeat Levante, while at the Santiago Bernabéu the hosts put three past Real Betis. Neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi – who missed the match through injury – got on the scoresheet. Both sides barely got out of first gear and no one seemed to care because in truth, Jornada 32 for the big two was merely a formality. The 2012/13 La Liga season, which doesn’t end until June, was effectively won by the New Year as champions-elect FC Barcelona opened up a huge gap at the top. Madrid meanwhile, have spent most of the season in third place and only recently overtook city rivals Atlético … [Read more...] about La Liga: Barça and Real Madrid warm up for European showdowns
La Liga: Seville and Betis share the honours
The Andalusian rivalry that has seen club directors pushed around in their plush seats, family members insulted and a manager passing out on the pitch after being hit on the head with a bottle thrown from the stands was back this weekend with some of its usual drama including a last-minute victory, a glut of goals and plenty of middle fingers in the air. When the two sides met in November, Sevilla emerged triumphant over Real Betis as two goals by José Antonio Reyes ensured a 5-1 thrashing of their city neighbours, but while Los Rojiblancos may have enjoyed bragging rights for a short time, they now find themselves in the same predicament as in the autumn, trailing both the Verdiblancos … [Read more...] about La Liga: Seville and Betis share the honours
La Liga: Deportivo fight back
Just three weeks ago, with only three liga wins all season to their name, Deportivo de La Coruña were staring down the barrel of relegation. Currently working with their third manager of the season, it’s a far cry from the glory days of a decade ago. League title winners in the 1999–2000 season and runners-up on five occasions, not so long ago the club was regularly finishing in the top half of the table and featuring in European competition. Depor played in the UEFA Champions League five seasons in a row, and reached the semi-finals in 2004 where they were eventually defeated by José Mourinho’s Porto side who would go on to lift the trophy. They have been relegated before, dropping … [Read more...] about La Liga: Deportivo fight back
La Liga: Despondent Benzema searches for form
Last week, Karim Benzema was booed by the home crowd as he departed the Stade de France during a World Cup qualifier against Spain. It was not the first time this season he has been heckled by his own fans. Whilst the same has not yet occurred at the Santiago Bernabéu, the Frenchman is struggling to score, with every passing week and every goalless game sending his confidence plummeting. Brought in to the club by President Florentino Pérez, who flew to Lyon to personally secure his signing in 2009, Benzema’s trajectory at Real Madrid has been up and down to say the least, going from a cat to a lion and perhaps now back to the cat again. It was coach José Mourinho who, in his first … [Read more...] about La Liga: Despondent Benzema searches for form
La Liga: Real Sociedad scale the heights
In 2002, Real Sociedad were runners up in La Liga, chasing Real Madrid until the penultimate week of the season when a loss 3-2 loss away to Celta Vigo effectively put an end to their title hopes. There has not been much to shout about since, with the Basque side spending several years in the second division. But as the table currently stands, Philippe Montanier’s men have found themselves in a coveted Champions League spot with their latest victory, a 4-1 drubbing of Real Valladolid on Saturday. Though they started brightly, it wasn't until just after the half-hour mark that La Real took the lead when Antoine Griezmann lashed a strike into the bottom corner. Six minutes later, Imanol … [Read more...] about La Liga: Real Sociedad scale the heights