The 2017/18 La Liga season has just four games left for a majority of the sides and for some, the campaign has been an overwhelming success no matter what happens in the remaining games whilst for others, it has been a disaster. However, as we like to focus on the positive side of the game, we thought what better time than now to check out who deserves a shot at the manager of the season accolade after nine months of hard work. Ernesto Valverde – Barcelona We may as well start at the top and you simply cannot exclude the man who wins the league title. Granted, the league title is … [Read more...]
PSG v Real Madrid – All Still to Play for in the French Capital
Eighty minutes in and it looked like PSG were going to come away from the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium with the perfect score draw and thus putting the balance power in the hands of Paris. However, Ronaldo and Marcelo had other ideas and late strikes by the pair gives the defending European title holders a heavy advantage as they head to the Parc des Princes for a critical last sixteen-second leg tie. But do not think for a second that it is game over. If Real have proved anything this season, it is that they have the capability to implode as witnessed once again at the weekend when they … [Read more...]
Copa del Rey Special: Pique Out as Valencia Eye the Title
The 2017/18 Copa Del Rey semi-finals second legs complete this week with a place in the final just 90 minutes away (barring extra time of course). Across the two semi-finals it is all to play for with Leganes and Sevilla entering their second leg finely poised at 1-1 with Barcelona holding a slender 1-0 lead over a resurgent Valencia. However, with Barcelona soon set to resume their Champions League campaign, the Valencianistes are eyeing a chance to take the crown away from the three-time defending champions with chinks in the seemingly unbreakable Barcelona armour starting to … [Read more...]
Leganes Dancing in the Streets as Cup Exit Leaves Zidane on the Brink
It was only the other week we reported that Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane was signing a contract extension until 2020. But just a matter of days later, Zidane is facing a very uncertain future. Football is a fickle business where one week you are king and the next in line for the boot, but the signs have been poor for awhile despite the man at the helm guiding Los Blancos to a successful defence of their Champions League title and a 33rd La Liga title just eight months ago. However, eight months in football is an eternity and now Zidane has found himself in the arduous … [Read more...]
Zidane Signs Until 2020
Despite many suggesting the Real Madrid hierarchy have been a little unsettled of late with Los Blancos trailing arch rivals Barcelona by sixteen points at the half way stage in the league, head coach Zinedine Zidane confirmed to press last night after his sides 2-2 Copa Del Rey draw that he has signed a contract extension until 2020. "It's signed, I'm enjoying what I do every day, because that's the way it is. I can't imagine myself as a coach in two, three years, because things are not like that. I know how it goes, nothing more, even with this contract it does not change anything." … [Read more...]
La Liga Self Destructs as Barcelona Wrap up the Title
As Dani Carvajal saw red and Lionel Messi slammed in the resulting penalty to put Barce 2-0 up at the Bernabeu, you could see the whole of Spain outside of Catalonia’s shoulders slump and raise the white flag. Aleix Vidal added a third in injury-time to leave Zinedine Zidane’s men to face the baying home support as his side slipped to fourteen points behind their great rivals with the season not even at the half way stage. Catastrophe This week has been a catastrophe for Barcelona’s rivals but a triumph for the Blaugrana as the quartet of Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Real Madrid and … [Read more...]
Spain fifth favourites for the World Cup ahead of qualifying clash with Italy
La Furia Roja or the Red Fury’s (for those like myself less au-fait with the Spanish language) dominance of World and European football may have been on the decline for a number of years since their 2012 European Championship title, but in the race to Russia, Spain are just edging nemesis Italy in the hunt for an automatic qualifying spot. As it stands, Spain and Italy are locked on 16 points together in first and second, however, largely thanks to Spain’s 8-0 drubbing of Liechtenstein in the opening qualifier, Julien Lopetegui’s men hold a +4-goal advantage over their Italian rivals as the … [Read more...]
Stoke City Striker Target To Join La Liga Club
Stoke City's search for a new striker has been dealt a blow with one of their targets reportedly set to sign for a La Liga club. The Potters are looking for a new striker to lead the line in the Premier League this season, with Mark Hughes having been linked with a move for Independiente del Valle forward Jose Angulo, whose goals recently fired the club to the Copa Libertadores final. Angulo's agent Matias Lipman told the Guardian last month: "So far Stoke and Monaco have shown an interest but I’m sure when the Copa Libertadores final game is played there will be other Premier League … [Read more...]
Probable Barcelona Lineup vs Arsenal: Busquets and Rakitic return to the lineup
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London Date: 23/02/2016 Kick-off: 07:45 PM GMT / 2:45 PM EST Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is the player who usually starts for Barcelona during the cup competitions and the goalkeeper is certain to feature against Arsenal this weekend as well. ter Stegen has usually found it easy so far, just like claiming a code on Betminded this season in the cup against arguably weaker opposition but one can be sure that he will be put to the test on Tuesday night against a dangerous Arsenal attack. Defence Jeremy Mathieu featured for Barcelona in central defence … [Read more...]
Arsenal vs Barcelona: Preview, Predicted Lineups and Prediction
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London Date: 23/02/2016 Kick-off: 07:45 PM GMT / 2:45 PM EST Match Arsenal News Arsenal have enjoyed a decent season so far and remain in the hunt for honours in the Premier League, FA Cup as well as the Champions League. However as recent history tells us, Arsenal tend to struggle during this particular stage of the campaign and it will be interesting to see how the Gunners acquit themselves this season. In arguably the biggest game for Arsenal during the current campaign so far, they prepare to square off against Barcelona at the Emirates Stadium in the … [Read more...]