Barcelona and Real Madrid – love them or hate them. In a previous article, I explained some of the massive differences between the big two in Spain and the rest of La Liga. In fact, I am absolutely sure that no one will argue with me that we watch two separate leagues in Spain, the Championship between Barcelona and Real Madrid and a competition between [...]
Last week, Pinto Da Costa, President of FC Oporto, sat down to negotiate the transfer of Radamal Falcao with Miguel Angel Gil, Managing Director of Atletico de Madrid. They agreed a transfer fee of 40 million euros for a footballer that had cost Oporto just 5’5m, two years ago from River Plate, in Argentina. The Falcao deal is simply the [...]
Brazil beat Portugal in extra time to win the Under 20 World Cup 2011 In a very even match (and certainly not a night for the goalkeepers), Brazil overcame Portugal with a winning strike in the second half of extra time. Oscar was the hero of the night scoring all three goals for Brazil. Both teams managed to come back [...]
Barcelona sealed their third consecutive league title (La Liga) last week, although, unlike Manchester United who beat Liverpool (and are now the most successful club in English football with 19 titles) Barcelona are way behind Real Madrid. Indeed, Barcelone still need about another 10 titles….however, the championship alternates between the big two. To see why, have a look at my [...]
The world’s two richest clubs, based on Deloitte’s revenue rankings, Barcelona and Real Madrid, seem to be, year in year out, unbeatable by their Spanish rivals in La Liga. There are very good reasons for their domination of domestic football, which analysts have said also gives them an edge over European rivals. But actually how dominant are they in Spain? [...]
Severiano Ballesteros, Born in Santander on 9 Abril 1957, passed away yesterday, 7 May 2011, aged 54. For once, on this football blog, I feel obliged to write about a great man who wasn’t a football player. He was a great football fan, and one of the biggest fans of Racing de Santander CF and supported that club in every [...]
Fergie’s dilemma. 4-3-3, 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, what’s in a tactical scheme… We have spoken on a number of occasions about tactical formations on this blog, and I think you all know that I feel it’s a bit of nonsense. Tactical formations change constantly depending on many factors; starting with the opponents formation, the score, and, fundamentally, whether you have possession [...]
If anyone who knows anything about football were to judge the options of each team on the performances in the first leg, without any shadow of a doubt, Manchester United would be clear favourites to lift the trophy in Wembley at 28 May. Tuesday night saw Manchester United sail past Shalke 04 in Germany. It was one of the most [...]
Real Madrid vs Barcelona are truly massive games in Spain…and, as I have discovered on my travels around Latin-America, they are just as important throughout the whole of the Spanish speaking world. I remember being told in El Salvador, for example, that a Real Madrid vs Barcelona game had more impact on the nation than the national team playing – [...]