La Liga Weekly

Things have gotten very ugly at Rayo Vallecano very quickly in light of the team’s upset 4-1 defeat at Huesca. At any other time, the fact that Huesca scored four goals at home would be the story, but instead the comments made by Rayo president Teresa Rivero garnered all the headlines following this one. If you missed it, Rayo came out of the locker rooms holding up a sign that read, “Enough of nonpayments, solution now Rayo.” This was in [...]

Players making guarantees of wins first became famous way back in 1969 when Joe Namath of the New York Jets predicted a Super Bowl win over the heavily-favored Baltimore Colts (BTW, European readers, I’m talking American football here). Lo and behold Broadway Joe’s words proved prophetic in the Jets’ 16-7 upset. There have been other athletes since then in all different sports who have made similar predictions but rare is the day where you have a coach come out and [...]

Three defeats in a row was a ‘bache.’ A rough patch. Four losses in a row was labeled a ‘depresion‘. Now after Sunday’s 1-0 loss at Valladolid, I think it’s safe to say that Betis are in full ‘crisis’ mode. The verdiblancos haven’t registered a win since their stunning Cup victory over Barcelona and Sunday’s encounter against the pucelanos proved to be more of the same. A lack of punch on the offensive end and timely goal-scoring from their opponents. [...]

For their high standards, Barcelona are wobbling. Failing to win in two consecutive games is hardly a crisis, but it is a change to what we are used to. Arsenal pipped them in the first leg of their Champions League tie just days after Sporting Gijon held them to a draw. Despite being 2-1 down on aggregate, Barcelona remain favourites to progress after playing the second leg in the Nou Camp. But Arsenal have proved they are worthy opponents and [...]

If you had told me back in September that come jornada 25 the Girona-Alcorcon match would be of importance, I would have said, ‘Of course!’ Naturally, the thinking was that both teams would be fighting to stay out of the relegation zone so yes, this game would be crucial to both sides. Well, Friday night’s contest is indeed crucial but instead of avoiding relegation, the stakes are much higher. We have two teams here who are battling for the promotion [...]

Kristan Heneage pays tribute to the original Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima I feel old. I’m only 22 but the players of my childhood are retiring. It feels like just last week I was watching France 1998 and a fleet footed Ronaldo tear defences apart. The final would ultimately be about Zidane who has also retired but that’s beside the point Ronaldo would abolish those poor memories 4 years later in Asia. Brought to Europe by the late Sir Bobby [...]

There are times during the Segunda season when I sit back and think to myself, “What in the hell is going on?” It usually happens once or twice a year and by midday on Sunday that feeling was back in spades. The only thing to console me from an otherwise unnatural weekend was my correct 0-1 prediction in the Huesca-Girona game. Rayo might lose to Tenerife and Betis might lose two straight at home, but Huesca are certain to play [...]

Real Madrid vs Espanyol with knowledge of Barcelona struggles against Sporting Gijon Saturday Cristiano Ronaldo has assured the Real Madrid nation that the title race isn’t over yet. After Barcelona’s draw against Sporting Gijon in Asturias on Saturday, Madrid has been granted a breath of fresh air. Can Jose Mourinho capitalize on this rare Barca tie? Real Madrid will travel to Catalunya tomorrow to take on Espanyol who have won all but two of their league games at Cornella el [...]

Sit back and defend well Probably the likeliest way of defeating the mighty Barca. Last season in the Champions League semi-final, Inter demonstrated how to do this perfectly. Jose Mourinho, Inter’s coach at the time, got one over on his former employers by asking his players to sit very deep and give Barca no room to penetrate them with their passing. The likes of Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti were outstanding in nullifying Barca at the Nou Camp, and Inter [...]

This past week marked the 100th birthday of the ‘The Gipper’, Ronald Reagan, who made famous the phrase ‘There you go again’ during a 1980 presidential debate with Jimmy Carter which belittled the Georgian and all but sealed the election for Reagan that November. I was reminded of Reagan’s words reading this week’s headlines in the Segunda particularly by Xerez coach Javi Lopez. It was Lopez back during the fall who played up then-opponent Valladolid as one of the best [...]

More often than not the way you watch something will go a long way to drastically shaping your viewing experience of that event. For example, watching a film at the cinema and seeing it on the big screen with awesome sound blaring out at full volume will enhance that film far beyond the level of watching it while at home on TV. The same goes for sporting events. What struck me most of all while at the Camp Nou Saturday [...]

Guest writer Juan Arango – Villarreal striker and Italian international Giuseppe Rossi visited the Circuit de Valencia in Cheste where Italian Formula One team Ferrari was on of several teams running test on their new cars as they prepare for the 2011 season set to kick off in Bahrain in March. The native of Teaneck, New Jersey was present in the pits while drivers like Felipe Massa and two-time Formula One champions Fernando Alonso were breaking in the much talked [...]