FC Barcelona takes on Osasuna looking to keep their lead atop the Spanish Primera Division (La Liga) table. Who won the match and was Barcelona able to win or did Osasuna get an upset? Here's a recap of the match along with video highlights.

FC Barcelona draws with Osasuna 1-1 Video Highlights

Barcelona once again dominated possession as they usually do every match but couldn't score in the first half.

Click to continue reading...

Fernando Torres, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas, Carlos Puyol, and David Villa head a Spanish heavy representation for the player of the year award. It's noteworthy that Torres is the only player who is not part of the Liga.

The English have Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, and John Terry.

Click to continue reading...

The January transfer season began in earnest this week with rumors flying that Manchester City and Barcelona were working on a deal involving Robinho. But chalk it up to pure speculation because this transfer doesn't make sense for either club. Here are three reasons why:

Barcelona Can't Come Up with the Cash: Manchester City would want to recoup their £32.

Click to continue reading...

It may just be another vicious rumour doing the rounds, however there are a lot or murmurings that a handful of Premiership teams are interested in signing Carlos Puyol from Barcelona.

Although Puyol is the captain and his commitment can never be denied when he pulls on a Barcelona shirt, there have been rumours for t a while that the Barcelona management would rather leave the player out of the team because he doesn't necessarily fit within the team.

Click to continue reading...

Barcelona star Andres Iniesta has said that he could sign an improved deal with Barcelona within the next two weeks. Barca have been working hard to tie their bunch of treble winners to long-term deals.

They have already improved the contracts of Lionel Messi, Victor Valdes and Xavi while talks are ongoing with Carlos Puyol, Rafael Marquez and coach Pep Guardiola.

Click to continue reading...

Despues de unas cortas vacaciones del blog esto es lo que encuentro en mi buzon. No me quejo. Al parecer a Carlos Puyol y a Ibrahimovic se les olvido que estaban en la cancha de futbol y no en el telo de la noche anterior. Pique como siempre no pudo esperar su turno y queria formar parte del Erotismo en la Cancha 2009. Click to continue reading...

By Guest writer Thomas Rooney Transfer deadline day may have come and gone, but Barcelona are confident of making one more signing in the not too distant future. This is because Carlos Puyol is set to extend his stay at... Click to continue reading...

 Vicente Del Bosque Spain's head manager chooses his squad for Belgium and Estonia qualifiers for 2010 World Cup  Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) Pepe Reina (Liverpool) Diego Lopez (Villarreal) Defenders: Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid) Raul Albiol (Real Madrid) Carlos Puyol (Barcelona) Gerard Pique (Barcelona) Carlos Marchena (Valencia) Joan Capdevila (Villarreal) Ignacio Monreal (Osasuna) Midfielders: Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona) Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) Santiago Cazorla (Villarreal) Albert Riera (Liverpool) Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid) David Silva [. Click to continue reading...

Ahead of tonight's match between FC Barcelona and another MLS team (the Seattle Sounders), here is a little post-game action from the FC Barcelona vs LA Galaxy match.
In English, we have Maxwell (talking about Real Madrid) and Stefani Miglioranzi (on Beckham being a great guy; on Beckham handling the incident well with the LA Riot Squad, LA Galaxy depth) in English y en Espanol. Click to continue reading...

Since we are approaching the end of a decade, and since it's summer,I thought I would offer up my La Liga Team of the decade. I set my team based on the best actual season had by a player in each position. It is not an aggregative list. It is not based on contributions over the course of a few seasons or a career.

Click to continue reading...

Today is a good day.

The sky is a bit more blue, the air carries a hint of possibility and the birds are signing Better Than Ezra tunes.

Because today is the first day of a new era of American soccer.

Of course you know that the United States beat Spain, 2-0, Wednesday at the Confederations Cup.

Click to continue reading...

MARKHAM - Say that title 5 times fast.
In front of family and friends under a Saharan-like sun, longtime Pistola Matt Dookie, emerged from his home on defence at left back, to score a Steven Gerrard like goal - the first of his career.
This stay at home defensemen took advantage of a weak opponent, a strong lead, and numerous miscues by the attack force, and took it upon himself to play a Carlos Puyol style of play, joining many offensive rushes that culminated with his goal. Click to continue reading...

This observation comes from fellow Winning Ugly panelist Brian Bentley...
Sigmund the Sea Monster & Carlos Puyol...
Click to continue reading...

Spain qualified for the Semi Finals of the competition with three wins out of three after securing a two nil victory against South Africa.

The Free State stadium was packed as all eyes were on next summer's World Cup Host, South Africa, to see if they could secure a place in the semis.

Click to continue reading...

Much like the country's Euro '08 roster. Glad the U.S. isn't playing them -- we got lightweights in comparison (Italy, Brazil).
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's Iniesta:

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Diego Lopez (Villarreal).
Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Carlos Puyol and Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Raul Albiol and Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Alvaro Arbeloa (Liverpool).

Click to continue reading...

Barcelona 2 - 0 Manchester Untied
I wasn't able to watch the Champions League final live, but I have since seen the reply twice, and it was truly a remarkable performance by Barcelona. Manchester United started well, with Cristiano Ronaldo getting a couple early shots at goal, but after the first eight minutes, it was all Barcelona.

Click to continue reading...

The Champions League final was over before it began. Going into the game Manchester United were, for better or for worse, red-hot favourites, with critics pointing to the semi-final dismantling of an Arsenal team who, like Barce, know only one way to play. To make matters worse for the Catalans, they were missing three out of their four first-choice defenders and as such, were forced into incorporating midfielder Yaya Toure and the aging Carlos Puyol in unfamiliar defensive roles. Click to continue reading...

Let's do 'em bullet-style, that's always more fun.

• Xavi is the best. No surprise he's on the reigning European national team and club team champion. There is not a player in the world I enjoy watching more. And only the post denied him from a great goal.
  
• All the same praise goes to Iniesta.

Click to continue reading...

Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez hold the CL trophy aloft

The number 4s are a special breed in Barcelona history:

It was love at first sight, so the story goes. When Barcelona's then-captain Pep Guardiola first clapped eyes on youth team midfielder Xavi Hernandez he turned to a team-mate and said: "This kid will retire me.

Click to continue reading...

In the end it was the heroic Carlos Puyol, overmatched in speed but not in intensity and in desire who held aloft the CL trophy. His Barcelona side turned in a dominating display which overwhelmed the Red Devils. I have to say, watching this match, gave an impression of a sacrificial lamb fattened up before the inevitable slaughter.

Click to continue reading...

Barcelona stands against the trope of English dominance. If they lose, it will be UEFA's last shot at a concerted effort in keeping parity. Well, as per conspiracy theorists. How many times will they rely on Tom Hennings Ovrebro? Then there is Platini's 6+5 argument. Surely, that was hatched to loosen the English death grip on the CL.

Click to continue reading...

Chelsea v Barcelona Live Streaming & Match Preview
Watch Chelsea vs Barcelona Live Online - Click Here
Live UEFA Champions League Football
Wednesday 6th May 2009
Kick Off : 19:45 GMT
Venue : Stamford Bridge

Barcelona treated everyone to a 6-2 thriller with Real Madrid at the weekend and that result is sure to give them a massive confidence boost coming into this match (not that they needed it).

Click to continue reading...

I often wonder why soccer hasn't been so readily accepted by the mainstream media in the US.
I hear the same arguments all the time:
They don"t understand the game.
It's not that hard to understand.
They don't appreciate the subtle nuances.
The sport is not that complicated. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink announced Monday night that there would be no hesitancy in Chelsea's tactics in their match against Barcelona on Tuesday. Surprisingly, the next day, Hiddink fielded a team that included John Mikel Obi and left out forward Nicolas Anelka. That managerial decision set the tone for the match as Chelsea played extremely defensively for the entire match.

Click to continue reading...

Some superb saves from Chelsea's Czech backstop Petr Cech kept Barcelona off the score sheet at Camp Nou last night. Blues didn't score any either (done in by some key saves by Cech's counterpart Victor Valdes) putting Guus Hiddinck's team in a good position to advance to the UEFA Cup Champions League final when the two sides meet again at Stamford Bridge next week. Click to continue reading...

How do you stop the best player in the world, Lionel Messi will probably be keeping Guus Hiddink awake tonight as he prepares for his stiffest test yet as Chelsea's interim manager. Whilst I appreciate the bravado that Hiddink is giving in regards to his own players, he is right to dampen down the furore over just concentrating on the supreme Argentine magician.

Click to continue reading...