Although the Segunda division still rumbles on for another two matchdays, as Osasuna boast a six-point lead at the top of the able and a ten-point advantage over third-place Albacete, it is safe to say the minnows from Pamplona will be contesting La Liga next season. But are they? And what will they bring to the division? History The club with the nickname Gorritxoak are no strangers to Spain’s top-flight. In fact, from 2000 to 2014 the side contested every La Liga season and even finished fourth at the end of the 2005/06 campaign. However, relegation followed at the end of the … [Read more...]
Copa Del Rey – The route to the final
Barcelona’s bid for domestic dominance could be completed on Saturday but first, they will have to overcome a plucky Valencia side seeking their first piece of silverware since winning this very competition in 2008. So, how did both sides The route to the final Barcelona 5 cultural y deportiva leonesa 1 - (all results given as aggregate totals) The Spanish giants were paired with Segunda B division side cultural y deportiva leonesa for their opening exploits in the competition. Ernesto Valverde’s side breezed through two-legged affair 5-1 on aggregate to get their defence … [Read more...]
Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla: Crunch time for the visitors
With three games to go in La Liga this season (just two by the time this contest rolls around), one may be forgiven for thinking it is possible Atletico Madrid may take their foot off the gas as they prepare for their summer holidays. Many punters may fancy looking at Sevilla in their football betting because Atletico sit nine-points in front of their great rivals Real Madrid in the table and have secured Champions League football assured for next season. All of this begs the question of what is there left to play for? Err, actually, quite a lot. Atletico may not have a huge … [Read more...]
Who will be La Liga’s surprise package next season?
Whatever happens from now, Getafe will have had a season to celebrate and are all but assured of contesting some form of European football in 2019/20. When they confirm it, it will be only the third European campaign the club have embarked on and the first since the 2010/11 season. The deep blues have been on an upward curve since promotion from the Segunda division in 2017 and finished eighth last year in their first season back in the top flight. That makes José Bordalás’ side well worth a close look at in the betting markets for next season and making sure you get the … [Read more...]
Messi Secures Title for Barca
It had to be him didn’t it! Lionel Messi struck the only goal of the game at the Camp Nou against Levante to secure his tenth La Liga title and twenty-sixth in the club’s history. The title success will arguably go down as one of Barcelona’s easiest seasons especially in recent memory with three games still to go and little to no threat coming from Real Madrid all campaign. And so, it was left to the club’s talisman on Sunday night to strike the killer blow against a Levante side who showed plenty of spirit as they tried to get away from the city with a point in the bag which would … [Read more...]
La Liga set for a record-breaking transfer window
Who doesn’t love a transfer rumour? Come on admit, we all do however, this summer looks set to be a window of epic proportions with a host of names being banded around. Some rumours are just that, but a number have been gathering some pace for awhile now and have quickly gone from being an opinion piece in the newspaper, to a genuine target for the clubs in question. With Barcelona running away with the league but boasting an aging squad and Real Madrid with Zinedine Zidane back at the helm and in need of a refresh, there is opportunity galore across Spain’s top flight (as Getafe are … [Read more...]
Huesca Dealt Cruel Real Blow
It is safe to say it has been a tough debut season in La Liga for minnows Huesca. However, the club that four years ago was plying its trade in Spain’s third tier has proven a welcome and solid edition to the league this season even if relegation is looking an almost certainty. With nine games to go, Francisco Javier Rodríguez Vílchez’s men find themselves seven-points adrift of safety. By no means down and out, but clearly with much to do and their fate out of their hands. Five wins this season has highlighted the progression a club can make despite boasting a stadium that only … [Read more...]
Cheerio Nike, Welcome Puma as La Liga Signs New Ball Deal
For 23-years, sports giant Nike and Spain’s top-flight football governing body La Liga has enjoyed a tight relationship. However, the rumors bursting out of Spain look to have confirmed that relationship will come to a close at the end of this season after La Liga signed a deal with Puma to supply the league with footballs for the next three seasons. The deal is reportedly worth around $5.6 million per year and sees the German sports brand trump one of their biggest rivals. Why the change? La Liga president Javier Tebas wants a ball that is exclusive to La Liga and … [Read more...]
The Getafe Gate-Crashers out to Make History
At the end of the 2009/10 Spanish top-flight season Barcelona were celebrating their 20th La Liga title, Atletico Madrid were left frustrated down in ninth and Xerez had just been relegated from their one and only appearance in the big time (the club now plays in the fourth tier of Spanish football). However, there was another story that went under the radar unless you hail from a city located in the Madrid metropolitan area known as Getafe. That season, the club achieved its highest ever finish since the club’s reformation in 1983. Sixth place a still unbeaten haul of 58-points … [Read more...]
Villarreal in Serious Relegation Threat
The Yellow Submarine are having a truly torrid time of things this season. At the time of writing, Javier Calleja’s men find themselves one-point adrift of safety in La Liga having picked up just four wins all season. Since taking over, Calleja himself has claimed just one La Liga win (although it did come against Sevilla) since taking back charge of the club despite having already been sacked by the club this season. In a move similar to that of Monaco this season, the man who had been in charge of the club since May 2017 and guided them into the Europa League this season was … [Read more...]