Atletico Madrid will be looking to continue their brilliant run of form as they prepare for a trip to Celta Vigo. Diego Simeone’s men are unbeaten in La Liga in 2015 and will go into Sunday’s match on the back of their biggest win over Real Madrid since 1947. … [Read more...]
Archives for February 2015
Is Bale’s criticism deserved?
Some say that there’s no bigger transfer in football than a move to Real Madrid. A club with such a rich history, and an even richer owner. Real have broken the transfer fee record five times, and when Gareth Bale joined the club in 2013, he became the most expensive footballer of all time. … [Read more...]
Kings of the Capital?
Felipe VI may occupy the throne in Madrid, but who are the sporting kings of Spain? Fittingly, it has been neighbours in Spain’s royal city offering arguments with the greater weight in recent times. Following a period of Catalan dominance, with Barcelona’s tiki-taka approach masterminded by Pep Guardiola and perfected by Lionel Messi et al, bragging rights have been dragged back to the capital. … [Read more...]
Simeone for City job?
After Atletico’s emphatic win against bitter league rivals Real, closing the gap between 3rd and 1st to just 4 points, attention has been drawn to the man behind the success, Diego Simeone. … [Read more...]
The double standards at Real Madrid
Gareth Bale's statistics are highly impressive for somebody who has to play second fiddle to another player. He already has ten league goals this season. The fact, he's rarely afforded opportunities to take free-kicks and penalties mean his goal tally is automatically impeded. His defensive work rate also leads me to regard him in high esteem. Does Ronaldo ever track back? The answer is no, yet nobody in Madrid seems to mind. Bale covers more blades of grass in one match than Ronaldo does in three, the statistics reinforce this. … [Read more...]
Mario Mandzukic leads our La Liga team of the week
I believe only a very few will argue if we go ahead and name Atletico Madrid the outright team of the round after they pulled off the biggest result (both in scoreline and importance) of the round of matches. But we won’t. Once again this week, there’s a mixture of players from different club sides, including the champions, Barcelona, and Valencia. … [Read more...]
Why Barcelona are La Liga Title Favourites
Barcelona moved within one point of league leaders Real Madrid at the top of La Liga over the weekend following Atlético Madrid’s 4-0 humbling of their rivals. … [Read more...]
What has happened to Iker Muniain?
Three years ago, Iker Muniain found himself being lauded as a major part of a talented Athletic Bilbao side who wowed worldwide audiences as they ripped through Manchester United on the way to the Europa League final. Playing as part of a front three alongside Fernando Llorente and Markel Susaeta, Muniain flourished and was heralded as one of the best young players in the world. Although Bilbao were defeated in the Europa League final by Atletico Madrid, Muniain’s stock went through the roof. Soon links with the world’s biggest clubs were being made, hyperinflated valuations were being placed … [Read more...]
The best La Liga XI of the 21st Century
La Liga has hosted many of the modern day greats. Yet, many pundits in the United Kingdom are keen to criticise the apparent monopolization of resources by Barcelona and Real Madrid. Is this really any different to Manchester United and Liverpool until recently, anyway? Or in Germany where Bayern Munich essentially buy off the competition? Or about in Italy where Juventus appear to be on track for a fourth Serie A title? Since 2000, five, yes five different teams in La Liga have won the league. This number is more than all the other major leagues, including England. Valencia, Deportivo, … [Read more...]
Five things the Premier League can learn from La Liga
For once let us not get into this subjective and yet a futile debate on whether La Liga is better than the Premier League and vice-versa. Why can’t we be happy with the notion that both are great leagues in their own right and have enriched the beautiful game in various manners. … [Read more...]