Every now and again you'll see some prat wearing an LA Galaxy shirt with 'Beckham 23′ on the back and I just wonder what on earth they were thinking about when they bought it.

Chances are, they hadn't even heard of LA Galaxy before David Beckham signed for them so why on earth would you want to pay £40 for a shirt of a team you probably never have and probably never will watch play.

By CALEB SONNELAND

One of the most enticing soccer rivalries in the world revs up Saturday as Lionel Messi and Barcelona travel to the Bernabeu to take on Real Madrid in a key league match-up that is also part of a unique stretch of match-ups between the arch-rivals.

27.04.2011 - A los duelos catalán - madridista, Messi - Cristiano, Barcelona - Real Madrid, se suman en primera plana Guardiola - Mourinho.
Pep Guardiola se refirió a los arbitrajes (vídeo), Mourinho salió a la yugular (vídeo) y Pep volvió a contestarle (vídeo).

Real Madrid vs Barcelona Champions League 2011 Santiago Bernabeu- 27/4/11- UCL Semifinal First Leg Final score:- Real Madrid vs Barcelona 0-2 ( Lionel Messi*2) Two late goals from Lionel Messi leave Madrid with a mountain to climb as Barca move into the driver's seat with a 2-0 win at the Bernabeu. Three red cards in [.

The e-mail account of Spanish Football Sports is almost collapsed by readers around the World asking why I am not posting on the after shock-wave effects, or stating an opinion about the FC BARCELONA - REAL MADRID brawl & Mourinho "eye-poke" incident during the Spanish Super Cup last week. Why? Because everyone has already voiced an opinion, the majority from their own "coloured" glasses

Click here to watch Champions League Games Live!

Watching their respective seasons unfold, it seems unlikely that either Chelsea or Manchester United will be celebrating at Wembley come 28 May 2011. It's not to say that they're not capable of winning the Champions League only Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid and.

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. | Subscribe: Main Listening Report | Complete List Here

We are well into April now and leagues around Europe are entering the final stretch of the title races. This week, languagecaster takes a look at the five big leagues and which teams look best placed to be crowned champions.

Tevez: Manchester City have told me I can leave - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez has revealed that the club's multi-billionaire owner Sheikh Mansour has told him he can leave the club if that is to make him happy.

The Argentine international has been very unsteady throughout the season and now well into the transfer period, and with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and AC Milan reportedly sighting the 27-year-old, Tevez has long been interested in a move away from Eastlands.

On June 7th, the Spanish national team played the second of two international friendlies in the Americas. The first was an energetic 4-0 victory over the United States in Boston; the second, in Caracas, another dominating win against the Venezuelan team.

The match was noteworthy in contrast to the previous set of friendlies played by Spain since the World Cup.

This summer's World Football Challenge now involves 13 teams spanning seven countries.

Juventus will meet Sporting Lisbon at BMO Field in Toronto on July 23 in the latest match added to the tournament, organizers announced on Monday.

The list of teams now involved in the World Football Challenge includes Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City, Juventus, Club America, Chivas de Guadalajara, Sporting Lisbon, Los Angeles Galaxy, Chicago Fire, New England Revolution, Philadelphia Union and Vancouver Whitecaps.

Very shortly football leagues across Europe will begin the start of their regular season. Along with the return of regular football will be UEFA Champions and Europa League games. The excitement of the Champions League is greatly anticipated with the best clubs in Europe playing each other for the glory of being crown the best in Europe as Barcelona achieved last time around.

After a 2-2 on Sunday, we will have another El Clasico on Wednesday, at Nou Camp. The season has barely started and we are offered a double portion of the most expected game in the world. Some might say that the SuperCopa is not a really sought after trophy, and I agree with that, but the rivalry will surely make it another disputed match.

UEFA Champions League on Fox Soccer: Bayern Munich - Zurich at 2pm and Odense - Villarreal at 5pm. Fox Soccer Plus has Dinamo Zagreb - Malmo at 2pm and Wisla Krakow - Apoel at 9pm. Spanish Super Cup 2nd-leg on GolTV and ESPN Deportes: Barcelona - Real Madrid at 5pm. CONCACAF Champions League on Fox Soccer: Colorado - Metapan at 10pm and UNAM Pumas - Dallas at 12:30am (11pm on Galavision).

Fútbol México - Fútbol MéxicoFútbol México -

Real Madrid vs Barcelona 16:00

Despues de un intenso y emocionante partido el domingo pasado que termino en un empate a dos goles hoy se define la supercopa de España, este torneo que se disputa entre el ultimo campeon de copa (el madrid) y el campeon de liga (el barca).

En un dia en el cual casi nadie pudo ver el partido en vivo en México por ser un juego de transmisión pago por evento, muchos se perdieron de un juego lleno de bronca y polemica de principio a fin.
En resumen los goles del Real Madrid son circunstanciales y los del Barcelona de una manufactura excelsa en las tres ocasiones que el balón beso las redes.

No habrá Liga en Primera y Segunda, pero los futbolistas cumplirán servicios mínimos. Aunque la competición se para, la mayoría de las plantillas acudirá a entrenar durante los cuatro días de huelga convocados por la Asociación de Futbolistas Españoles (AFE).

Entre los equipos que menos van a secundar completamente el parón están los grandes de la competición.

Wanted to out some perspective on the 64,000 Seattle Sounders fans who came out for Kasey keller's farewell game.

The Seattle Sounders crowd was the fourth largest crowd to watch a soccer match anywhere in the world on Saturday night. Only FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich had larger attendances.

Just days after Neymar put pen to paper and signed a new improved contract that will see him stay with Brazilian club Santos until 2014, club President Luis Alvaro Ribiero has spoken out on Spanish club Real Madrid's aim to sign the teen sensation.

Ribiero who did not have any kind words for the European power house slammed the club's behaviour labeling it lamentable and arrogant.

Image that makes the heart shudder in fear

As fans, we are more than easily riled aren't we. I will be the first to admit that when it comes to Arsenal, emotions are rarely things within my control. When I saw the way Real Madrid has acted in trying to tap up one of our players, I was incensed.

On one hand, the endless trolley cars of cliches spilling from the mouths of footballers the world over can be and has become a little difficult to bear. We know you'd rather play for a bigger club and that you are "happy to see out your contract" is a touch of an emotional exaggeration. Happy? No.

Since my last report about conversion and shot records for various teams in the EPL, I've been wondering how things were looking so far this season on the shot frequency/conversion front. But instead of analyzing one league at a time, I thought it'd be interesting to compare several leagues together.

Barcelona's relentless quest for world domination leaves Real Madrid and the rest far behind.

Simply put, Barcelona are just too good for Madrid, or any other team in Spain. We knew that in November when in this season's first El Clasico, Madrid were beaten 5-0, a scoreline that flattered their beleagured team and coach.

The UEFA Champions League returns on Tuesday after a 2-month layoff.
Who will take home Europe's biggest club prize this season?

Barcelona? Real Madrid?

How about our beloved Valencia?

Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet. But why not us?

We've been to two finals (2000, 2001), we've won leagues, we've won European cups and we're currently 3rd in the very tough Spanish La Liga.

Click here to watch Champions League Games Live!

Watching their respective seasons unfold, it seems unlikely that either Chelsea or Manchester United will be celebrating at Wembley come 28 May 2011. It's not to say that they're not capable of winning the Champions League only Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid and.

Arsenal's midfield star, Samir Nasri, gives a certain worries to the club's fans after the player once again postponed the possible transfer talks between him and the Gunners' management, leaving the media speculating about his future.

However, despite still stalling the contract talks, Nasri has calmed the fans' heart by stating that he is not planning to leave the club and the reason for stalling the renewal is because he wants to focus on giving the best for his team.

So the waiting is over and we now know the final 8 names for the Champions League draw which will take place tomorrow.
The quarter finalists are Spurs, Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Schalke 04 and Shakhtar Donetsk so it's all eyes on Nyon in Switzerland to see who our next opponents will be.

Manchester United will face Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, while a potential Real Madrid-Barcelona clash looks set for the semifinals, after Friday's draw was held to determine the quarterfinal match-ups.

Here are the quarterfinal pairings:

Real Madrid vs.

If you thought your summer soccer plans were going to be limited to MLS and the Gold Cup, think again.

Major League Soccer recently announced the staging of the World Football Challenge from July 14th through August 6th and now sources have revealed the names of some of the clubs being lined up to compete in the competition.

Looks like Chelsea officials have been busy behind the scenes trying to sell the naming rights to Stamford Bridge.

Multiple reports today say that Chelsea, who have been asking have £100m for a 10-year deal, have failed to get a single serious bid.

It is 17 months since chief executive Ron Gourlay announced he was ready to open talks on stadium sponsorship.

Despite already pledging his future with Tottenham Hotspurs by extending his contract with the London club not so long ago, Welsh international winger, Gareth Bale, once again stated that he is still open for a move outside England.

Bale stated that the thought of learning new cultures, languages, another country fascinates him and that's pretty much the reason why he wouldn't say no should a good offer arrives for him.

Manchester United hold the upper hand from their quarter-final tie against Chelsea after grabbing a precious away goal at Stamford Bridge last night.

A Wayne Rooney goal proved the difference between the two sides on the night and handed United their first win at the Bridge since 2002 when Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were among the scorers in a 3-0 victory that day.

Monterrey hosts Real Salt Lake in the opening leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final on Fox Soccer Channel at 10pm. EPL on ESPN2: Spurs – Arsenal at 2:30pm. FSC has Chelsea – Birmingham City also at 2:30pm. GolTV has Barcelona – Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey at 3:30pm. All Times Eastern

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. | Subscribe: Main Listening Report | Complete List Here

This week languagecaster previews the semi-finals of the Champions League and attempts to predict the finalists at Wembley in May. There is a transcript below, while explanations of key vocabulary (in bold) can be found at the foot of the post, while other key phrases (in blue) also have meanings explained.

Me: Why hello, madam. You seem very sprightly and alive today. Not to mention a little big around the edges.

Fat Lady: Of course I'm alive, it's my time. And what do you mean, big? You're one to talk, baby Jupiter.

Me: I resent that.

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. | Subscribe: Predictions

This week, the languagecaster team attempt to predict some big games at the foot of the table in Spain and England, wonder if Manchester United can be stopped in the Premier League and who will win the big derbies in London and in Rio de Janeiro.

Fútbol México - Noticias estadisticas fotos videos y galerias del futbol mexicano e internacional

Bellísimo timelapse de imágenes en el clásico español Real Madrid vs Barcelona que tras Tres días y más de 50.000 fotos nos ofrece Luis Caldevilla

Champions timelapse from Luis Caldevilla on Vimeo.

Image Credit: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images Europe.

While there's still much for us to discuss re: the Barcelona/Real Madrid CL tie since our last recap, we've elected to keep things short and sweet this time around.

Why? Mainly because we have bigger and better things on our plates. Like photoshopping our new Finest Five together, for example.

Lionel Messi fue el mejor jugador de la final de la Champions League el dia de ayer. Solo tiene 23 años y ay es considerado uno de los mejores jugadores de todos los tiempos, ya lo ha ganado todo.

¿Como son sus goles? si eres nuevo en el planeta fútbol, estos fueron los 53 goles de Lionel Messi con el Barcelona.

FECHA ESTADIO MOTIVO PARTIDO 23 de julio Poljud (Split) Centenario del Hajduk Split Hajduk Split-Barcelona 26 de julio Allianz Arena (Münich) Copa Audi Barcelona-Internacional de Porto Alegre 27 de julio Allianz Arena (Münich) Copa Audi Barcelona-Bayern o Milan 30 de julio FedEx Field (Washington) World Football Challenge 2011 Barcelona-Manchester 3 de agosto Sun Life Stadium (Miami) World Football Challenge 2011 Barcelona-Chivas 6 de agosto Cowboy Stadium (Dallas) World Football Challenge 2011 Barcelona-América 14 de agosto Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid) Supercopa de España (ida) Real Madrid-Barcelona 17 de agosto Camp Nou (Barcelona) Supercopa de España (vuelta) Barcelona-Real Madrid 26 de agosto Luis II (Mónaco) Supercopa de Europa Barcelona-Oporto Gracias por tu visita Estadísticas de Fútbol

The pre-season for some of the world's most popular soccer teams kicks off on Wednesday, July 13th when English Premier League champions Manchester United meets the New England Revolution in the first match of the 2011 HerbalifeWorld Football Challenge. The series will feature European giants such as United, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Juventus [.