With two games against Barcelona and then Manchester United to contend with in the Champions League, it was widely said to be a season-defining week for Real Madrid and José Mourinho. In what has been a poor season for them so far, trailing the Catalans by a huge gap in the league, Los Merengues were well aware that their season could spectacularly implode and be over by the beginning of March. The record-breaking team that won la liga with 100 points last year threw away their title aspirations this year before Christmas and as the Champions League and Copa del Rey draw was made, it was apparent that the outcome of their season would rest on the outcome of a Clásico, or rather, … [Read more...] about La Liga: Double defeat of Barça leaves Real Madrid dreaming of glory
Liga
La Liga: Wins give Real Madrid and Barça belief ahead of clásico
More often than not it comes down to this. In a league dominated by the ‘Big Two’ of Real Madrid and Barcelona, when the business end of the season arrives, it’s the arch-rival that stands in the way. They are familiar foes and yet the rivalry does not dim, does not lose its edge, it only seems to get bigger and more meaningful, with more riding on their meetings every season. This week there will be two Clásicos in the space of five days, the first tonight, is the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final at the Camp Nou, while the other, on Saturday, is a league fixture to be played at the Bernabéu. Real Madrid will most likely be conceding their league title to the Catalans come … [Read more...] about La Liga: Wins give Real Madrid and Barça belief ahead of clásico
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: 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: 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: Espanyol’s Pochettino falls on his sword
It took a little longer than normal for la liga. While several men have been touted for the chop – notably Marcelo Bielsa and Mauricio Pellegrino – jornada 13 provided one loss too many for RCD Espanyol, and in late November, the managerial axe finally fell for the first time this season. Mauricio Pochettino, who had been the longest-serving coach in la liga after three years at Espanyol, took over in late January 2009 when the Barcelona-based side were third from bottom; his only task was to save them from relegation. But the Argentinean, who had plied his trade for his national side, Espanyol, Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux as a central defender, did more than that, giving … [Read more...] about La Liga: Espanyol’s Pochettino falls on his sword
La Liga: prodigal Reyes finds form for derby demolition
He has exasperated fans and coaches wherever he has played. Sevilla, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Benfica and then Sevilla again. He started out as the 16-year-old boy wonder with the world at his feet and while he has reached plenty of heights during his career, in recent years the feeling is that his is a talent unfulfilled. José Antonio Reyes, now 29, has been one of Spanish football’s greatest enigmas of the last decade and some would say one of its biggest disappointments. But on Sunday night, the Sevilla winger reminded la liga why he was once talked about with such awe. It didn’t take him long to make his mark on the Andalusian derby - 14 seconds, in fact. Betis … [Read more...] about La Liga: prodigal Reyes finds form for derby demolition
La Liga: Levante v Real Madrid
The Ciutat de València has been a fortress this season, with no team having won there and on Sunday night it was certainly the scene of an epic battle. As José Mourinho’s men were all too aware, the home of Levante has been a tough place to go and the team had never won there in the league under the Portuguese coach. Madrid lost here last season, dropping vital points which were forgotten in the wake of their league win but now, trailing league leaders Barcelona by an eight-point gap, memories of the loss could not be ignored. Sergio Ballesteros, a veteran defender who you would not like to meet in a darkened alley, sent a clear message to the opposition, carried via the front cover of … [Read more...] about La Liga: Levante v Real Madrid