For decades, La Liga was blessed with having two of the almighty superpowers of footballing prowess in one league, and at opposite ends of an immensely competitive, rich, and almost age-old rivalry. Ronaldo’s departure from Los Blancos had football fans wondering whether El Clasico would ever be the same after encounters with the other man vying for the title of best footballer in the world, but now with Messi’s departure from Barcelona, many are questioning whether the old and bitter rivalry will ever be as beautifully contested as it was in what has been a golden age for football. Whenever Messi or Ronaldo move clubs, football stands still, and then erupts. High calibre players have been common throughout history, but none left as influential of a mark as those etched into history by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The footballing gods looked kindly on us earthlings when they decided to grant us two of the best footballers in the history of the sport within … [Read More...]
If Lionel Messi leaves, La Liga will Never Recover its Glory Days
Real Madrid’s exit from the Champions League was met with understandably dramatic reactions in not just Madrid, but all over Spain. It was perhaps less the defeat itself, and more the manner of it, which led to hyperbolic exaggerations but the match made one thing clear - La Liga’s star is falling. In the past three seasons, only two of the twelve semi-finalists in the UEFA Champions League have been from Spain - Barcelona in 2018/19 and Real Madrid this season. The Spanish league potentially faces a potential existential threat should the best player in the country, and the world, Lionel Messi decide to leave this summer. LIONEL MESSI’S UNCERTAIN FUTURE Last summer’s biggest story was the Argentine’s burofax delivered to then Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu stating his desire to leave the club. Barcelona had a dismal 2019/20 season - losing the La Liga to Real Madrid, crashing out of the Copa Del Rey to Athletic Bilbao, and being humiliated in the Champions League 8-2 by … [Read More...]
Three Premier League Stars That Could Be On Their Way To La Liga
There have been a number of stars that have decided to swap the Premier League for La Liga over the last ten years, with some of them having more success than others. Luka Modric and Gareth Bale both left Tottenham Hotspur to join Real Madrid and win multiple Champions League honours, while Eden Hazard’s transfer to the same Spanish club from Chelsea hasn’t worked out as well as many would have believed. However, that won’t stop stars from moving to Spain, and there are already a number of players currently playing in the Premier League that are being linked with a move to the warmer climate in the near future. Mohamed Salah One of the biggest transfer rumours over the past couple of weeks has been linking Mohamed Salah with a move to La Liga. Recent reports have claimed that the Egyptian is unhappy at Premier League champions Liverpool, and a move to Spain could be the end goal for the Reds star. The departure of Salah would undoubtedly be a blow for Jurgen Klopp and his … [Read More...]
Inspirational Iago: Celta Find Form
In the previous years of the Premier League when you thought of Arsenal, many would of joke of the number four conundrum, the fact no matter how well Arsenal performed throughout the season they would always wind up fourth. The same can be said in La Liga in recent years for Celta Vigo and the position of 17th, just one place above the relegation zone narrowly avoiding the drop into the Segunda Liga. The past two seasons the Galician side have found them selves finishing the campaign in 17th place, being involved in a relegation dog fight through out the season. However, the 2017/2108 saw Celta finish in 13th place, with inspirational performances from local hero Iago Aspas earning a place in the Spanish national team for the Russian 2018 World Cup. Netting 22 goals and 5 assists, the striker squeezed himself into the La Liga team of the season to top off a successful season. Since the return from the World Cup the performances from the Sky Blues have been equal to the famous … [Read More...]
Diving Deep into the Mediterranean: UD Ibiza’s Rapid Rise
Ibiza is often described as a millionaire’s playboy paradise, a scenic marvel and a house music pilgrimage, but a footballing haven? Not a chance at all. Although over the past few seasons with some heavy investment, Union Deportivo Ibiza Eivissa are rapidly rising through Spain’s lower divisions. Currently sat top of the table in the Segunda B, Ibiza are in fine form both home and away, only drawing one game and powering on unbeaten. Last season the sky blues made the play-offs, however it was fellow Ibizan islanders Sporting Club Deportivo Pena who would advance, only to lose in the final game to CD Castellon. Draped in ocean sky blue it is quite easy to see the appeal of football in Ibiza. Glorious year-round sunshine with the world’s best nightlife at your doorstep. Whilst this is most managers worst nightmare; Ibiza is a different world and a different culture who embrace to party atmosphere, as do the passionate local fans. Reborn and reinstated into the Spanish … [Read More...]
Who do you think you are: Real Sociedad?
At the time of writing Real Sociedad sit pretty at the top of La Liga (although Atletico does have two games in hand on them) and riding a crest of a wave that has been a couple of seasons in the making. After spending many seasons threatening the top half then scattering away again, the club from the Basque country is finally finding some consistency and head coach Imanol Alguacil getting the most out of his financially smaller assembled squad than some of his upper La Liga echelons rivals. So, who is this club looking to cause an almighty shock in Spain? And where did they come from? In the beginning Founded in 1909, Real Sociedad hail from the city of San Sebastian in the Basque Country harbouring an intense rivalry with Athletic Bilbao. Up until 1989, the club was similar to Bilbao in so much as they would only sign players from the Basque Country, but the club has since taken on a more ‘international’ feel ever since. The club began from workers returning from … [Read More...]
Atletico Madrid v Barcelona Preview
David Jones from La Liga Online previews the big game coming up this weekend as Atletico Madrid host Barcelona in La Liga on Saturday night. Barcelona seem to be regressing while Atletico Madrid are going from strength to strength. As things stand, Atletico are third in the La Liga table with 17 points from seven matches, while Barcelona have picked up just 11 points from seven games. The Rojiblancos are three points behind leaders Real Sociedad, who have played nine matches. True, Atletico are not having the best of times in the Champions League, but in La Liga, Diego Simeone’s side are doing extremely well. The Madrid outfit have scored 17 goals in seven league matches and have the league’s best defence, having conceded just twice. In their last game before the two-week international break, Atletico hammered Cadiz 4-0 at home in the league. Luiz Suarez, so unceremoniously let go by Barcelona in the summer of 2020, scored once in that match, taking his tally to five goals in … [Read More...]
FM 21 Release Clause Wonder Kids – La Liga
Hosting the famed La Masia and lesser known academies such as the Cantera, La Liga is one of the top producers of talent in World Football. Yet Spain is also known for the heavy use of release clauses, a set fee for which players can leave without objection. These may be the bane of every fans life but can prove useful for those who play Football Manager. Today we’ll use FM Stories ‘best FM 2021 Wonderkids’ list to scout out the top 5 bargain prospects in La Liga. Gavi - Barcelona - 15 years old - MC/AMC - Costs £300K With a £300K release clause Gavi is one of the hottest prospects in La Masia. Operating from Central or Attacking Midfield the 15 year old possesses excellent technique and skill with the ball. High flexible potential can see Gavi reach elite status and should be top of your list of Playmakers and ball carriers. Ilias Akhomach - Barcelona - 16 years old - AMR/AMC - £5.5m Another Wonderkid from Barcelona, Akhomach is best used from AMC or AMR utilising … [Read More...]