Below is a round-up of the key battles we'll expect to see in tonight's Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. … [Read more...]
Real Madrid v Atletico match preview
The 2014 Champions League season comes to an end this Saturday, with an all Madrid final. Real Madrid overcame the title holders, Bayern Munich, overwhelmingly in the semi-finals, while Diego Simeone’s men beat Chelsea in the other semi-final to set up the first City derby final in the history of the competition. … [Read more...]
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid Prediction
On Saturday Evening the streets of the Spanish capital will be on lock-down as Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will descend on Lisbon to contest this year's Champions League Final. Real have won 2 and drawn 1 of the 4 matches they have played this season, including an impressive 5-0 aggregate win in the Copa Del Rey but I can see the final being a tighter, cagey affair. … [Read more...]
Real Betis 0-0 Real Madrid
Real Madrid moved joint top of La Liga yesterday after a 5-0 demolition of rock bottom Real Betis. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will see an ominous shadow looming as they prepare for their matches today. Cristiano Ronaldo rounded off his magnificent week with the opener, a fantastic power strike, but the greatest smile of the night was on the face of Gareth Bale. On 25 minutes he curled a perfect free kick past an unmoving Stephan Anderson in the Betis goal – his first goal in two months and his tenth for Madrid. The best is yet to come from Bale but he is showing signs of improvement. Madrid … [Read more...]
Ronaldo Or Messi: Who Is The Greatest?
Cristiano Ronaldo was overjoyed at winning his second Ballon D'or in Zurich last night, in the process beating Lionel Messi – the record breaking four times winner of the most coveted prize for individual footballers. So who is the greatest, and where doe they stand on the list of all-time greats? Goalscoring The most incredible thing about both players phenomenal goal scoring records is that neither player is a conventional centre forward. Ronaldo is often found out on the wings whilst Messi sits in the centre of midfield or operates as a 'false number 9'.Just look at their stats: Ronaldo … [Read more...]
Ballon d’Or: Ronaldo v Messi?
The two greatest players in Spanish football, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, go head to head tonight to see who will be crowned the greatest player in the world. It's an El Clasico being held in Zurich. The Ballon d'Or (or golden ball) is given to the player who has been the world's best player during the previous calendar year. Ronaldo was distraught at missing out to his arch rival Lionel Messi last year, but could this be the year that he snatches it back? La Liga blog assesses the contenders. Ronaldo is the heart beat of the Real Madrid side. He is a formidable striker of the ball, … [Read more...]
Real Madrid 3-0 Celta Vigo
Two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo closed the gap on leaders Barcelona and Atletico on an emotional night at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid sealed a 3-0 victory over Celta Vigo but the win wasn't as comfortable as the scoreline implies. The highlights of the match were the return from injury of record signing Gareth Bale and Ronaldo scoring his 400th career goal, but there was little else to lift the spirits of Los Blancos. Celta Vigo, in a relegation battle near the foot of La Liga, gave the match a real go. They created chances early on but found it difficult to test Lopez in the Madrid … [Read more...]
How La Liga stars got on in the World Cup play-offs
The international break has shown its face for the last time until March (thank goodness!) with plenty of celebration for the La Liga contingent in the World Cup qualifiers. Victory was around in abundance, none more so than in the Portugal camp where Cristiano Ronaldo was once again the shining light, after his late goal in Lisbon he grabbed a hat-trick in the second leg in Stockholm sending Portugal to the World Cup finals in Brazil. Pepe and Ronaldo’s Real team-mate Fabio Coentrao also played a part in the thrilling match which finished 3 – 2, seeing Portugal victorious by a 4 – 2 … [Read more...]
La Liga team of the week – match week 13
It’s time again for us at La liga blog to celebrate those Liga players who impressed after match week 13. In goal for this round, Almeria goal keeper, Estaban wins our hearts after taking charge in his side’s 1-0 away win against Osasuna in Pamplona. Estaban was full of life and made 7 crucial saves as Almeria surprisingly increased their winning streak to 3 after being winless in their previous 10 games. … [Read more...]
La Liga team of the week – match week 12
Villareal’s 1-0 win against Elche at the Estadio Martinez Valero brought to an end to a run of at least one game every day in the last 11 days in El Primera Division. Spanish football fans finally have a few days of rest after all the frenzy and excitement from the various centres. For us at La liga blog, it’s an opportunity for us to once again reel out our unique Team of the Round, recognizing and honouring those who have covered themselves in glory. … [Read more...]