La Liga Weekly

First off an apology for going another week without making any weekend predictions. A funeral precluded me from doing so last week and then the Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S. this past weekend prevented me from being able to sit down and bang out some picks. However, I was lucky enough to find some time to watch and review the 11 matches from the Liga Adelante in addition to the assorted Primera games. While Betis manager Pepe Mel is [...]

So often in futbol a home match for a team is the surest way to a win and for alot of teams, that is the case. Your Manchester Uniteds, Real Madrids and Barcelonas of the world hardly ever lose at home. But if you dip down into the mid-table or even into the Segunda, a home match is frankly a crapshoot. A study of the numbers of this year’s Segunda bears that out. With one-third of the season now gone, [...]

For certain clubs in Europe, spending big money is nothing new. Man Utd, Barcelona, Real Madrid & the two Milan clubs are examples of clubs for which out spending and out achieving the teams around them is par for the course. For others, success comes as a result of a rich sugar daddy pumping vast sums of money into the club and elevating them above their natural state. The problem comes when the money runs out and said club is [...]

Before we dissect the derbi gallego, let’s first go over the other weekend action in Spain’s Segunda. It was a comedy of errors in Huelva on Sunday with Recreativo the biggest beneficiary as they beat Las Palmas 4-2. Two Recre goals came from two major Las Palmas defensive and goalkeeping mistakes while the first Las Palmas goal was a result of a bouncing ball over the Recre goalkeeper’s head. Pretty juvenile stuff but Recre will surely take the win. That now [...]

I´m not usually in the business of covering internationals, let alone friendlies, but since this is one of these storied match-ups, set in mythical Wembley even if it is the reconstituted version of the fabled stadium made of reinforced concrete and costly litigation. Even if it has been half a century since the mother country, birthplace of football, dominated all competitions, everyone, even European Champions and World Cup winners Spain measures itself against the English. Regardless of history, this match [...]

I can’t remember the last time I have been so eager to write up a preview of weekend action in the Segunda. Let’s face it, the other fixtures this weekend are just an appetizer for the big one in La Coruna on Saturday. But in all fairness to the other 20 teams, we still need to talk about their matches before we analyze el derbi gallego. I promise it won’t take long. Huesca-Valladolid: Credit to Huesca who put up a [...]

The Santos forward, Neymar da SIlva Santos Junior, who was expected to sign with Real Madrid next Summer has signed for another contract extension with his current club Santos until after the 2014 World Cup in Brasil. Coincidence? What is pertinent here is that both the player and Santos have reneged on the gentlemen´s agreement that would have allowed the starlet to sign with Real Madrid. It´s important. Everyone thinks so, even Mourinho hasn´t nixed the deal completely, but why [...]

There have been whispers around, in the media and amongst us the twitterati, that the powerful Barça dynasty, that dominance that they have enforced over the last 6 years is running its course, that lesser clubs are testing them and have found them out or at least that they themselves have finally managed to lose the war of attrition that all clubs succumb to: age strikes at all clubs, and all of them lose sooner or later. I think FC [...]

More La Liga Weekly more banter on Champions League success for La Liga clubs (Villarreal the exception).  Join Mark, Isaiah and Kevin “discuss”! In the first segment Mark and Kevin offer a pre-match ramble while the closing 2 segments with Isaiah is all after the fact in this week of UEFA Champions League action. leave your comments and words below     give us a listen and leave your comments Podcast Powered By La Liga Weekly Standard Podcasts: | itunes [...]

It has been a rocky two-plus months up in northern Galicia for Jose Luis Oltra who was the chosen one to lead Deportivo back up to the Primera. In hindsight, hiring Oltra was a good choice. Remember that this was the guy who got Tenerife back to the Primera after finishing third during the 2008-2009 season. Even though Tenerife were relegated back to the Segunda on his watch, he was still liked and admired by the fans. Still, Oltra was [...]

The players change but the problems remain the same. It is a fact that does not just show its validity on the football pitch. It creeps its ugly head in several aspects of life. We’ve all met that one person that always blames “bad luck” or “circumstances” every time they face yet the same problem once again. Whether its relationships, employments, or any miscellaneous events going on in everyday life; these individuals always point the finger elsewhere. I know it’s [...]