Our eyes!! Sálvanos! Our friends here want you to pay attention to the Crease on the Grease in this picture .... can you see it? Many of you chicas may be wondering why we had to put you through the pain of Greaseano Watching two weekends in a row. Click to continue reading...

Crowds have apparently been steadily growing this week at UCLA as word of Inter Milan's presence on campus gets around.

Nice story here from the Daily Bruin about a Thursday scrimmage against a travel team that included the likes of U.S. Under-20 international and Bruins goalkeeper Brian Perk (as well as Kyle Nakazawa of Palos Verdes Estates).

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Dubai is the place to be right now if you are a soccer fan. With most teams training in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, why not have a few pre-season friendly games? Spain's, A.C. Milan played German's, Hamburg SV January 6th, 2008 that left Hamburg SV short 5-4. The game was decided from a penalty [. Click to continue reading...

That is an overstatement obviously, but Italian football does seem to be hotbed of naive footballers with some extreme political views. I am not closely enough involved in Italian football to be able to prescribe a solution, but I can certainly detect a problem. AC Milan keeper Christian Abbiati is the latest player to declare himself [. Click to continue reading...

One of Silvio Berlusconi's players at AC Milan has declared he is a fascist. Christian Abbiati, 31, an Italian international, said: "I am not ashamed to proclaim my political beliefs. I share [the] ideals of fascism, such as the fatherland and the values of the Catholic religion."
Oh dear. Click to continue reading...

So it seems to be a FIFA rule that each national team manager must submit a mega-list of 50 players that will be available for selection for World Cup qualifying games. I'm unsure about the rules of this list and if/when players can be changed or added (and info about these lists are hard to find, the list was unveiled by a Fiorentina website) but it does show you the players that the national team manager has in consideration.

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AC Milan
In: Mathieu Flamini (free, Arsenal), Gianluca Zambrotta (€8.5 million, Barcelona), Marco Borriello (€10 + Davide Di Gennaro, Genoa), Christian Abbiati (loan return, Atletico Madrid), Ronaldinho (€25m, Barcelona), Andriy Shevchenko (loan, Chelsea), Philippe Senderos (loan, Arsenal)
Out: Alberto Gilardino (€13 million, Fiorentina), Yoann Gourcuff (loan, Bordeaux), Ricardo Oliveira (€10 mil, Real Zaragoza), Luca Antonelli (co-ownership, Parma), Davide Di Gennaro (part of Marco Borriello deal, Genoa), Cafu (released), Serginho (retired), Ibrahim Ba (retired), Valerio Flori (retired), Ignazio Abate (co-ownership, Torino), Dario Simic (undisclosed, Monaco), Alberto Paloschi (loan, Parma), Cristian Brocchi (undisclosed, Lazio), Massimo Oddo (loan, Bayern Munich)
Atalanta
In: Jaime Valdes (undisclosed, Lecce), Christian Vieri (free, Fiorentina), Luca Cigarini (co-ownership, Parma), Alessio Cerci (loan, Roma)
Out: Antonio Langella (undisclosed, Udinese), Fernando Tissone (undisclosed, Udinese), Andrea Lazzari (co-ownership, Cagliari), Zlatan Muslimovic (undisclosed, PAOK), George Forsyth (loan, Alianza Lima)
Bologna
In: Sergio Volpi (free, Sampdoria), Marco Bernacci (undisclosed, Ascoli), Christian Zenoni (undisclosed, Sampdoria), Diego Manuel Rodriguez (loan, Penarol), Coelho (loan, Corinthians), Gabi Mudingayi (€6m, Lazio), Davide Marchini (loan, Triestina)
Out: Riccardo Bonetto (loan, Livorno)
Cagliari
In: Federico Marchetti (undisclosed, Albinoleffe), Andrea Lazzari (co-ownership, Atalanta), Carlos Matheu (undisclosed, Independiente)
Out: Cristian Del Grosso (undisclosed, Siena)
Catania
In: Tomas Kosicky (undisclosed, Inter Bratislava), Julian Di Cosmo (undisclosed, Igea Virtus), Ezequiel Alejo Carboni (undisclosed, Red Bull Salzburg), Pablo Ledesma (undisclosed, Boca Juniors), Nicolae Dica (€2m, Steaua), Giuseppe Colucci (undisclosed, Verona)
Out: Juan Manuel Vargas (undisclosed, Fiorentina), Adriano Mezavilla (loan, Perugia), Mauro Minelli (loan, Triestina), Gianluca Pegolo (loan, Parma)
Chievo
In: Stefano Sorrentino (free, AEK Athens), Mauro Esposito (loan, Roma), Kerlon (undisclosed, Cruzeiro)
Out: Matteo Alberti (undisclosed, QPR), Giovanni Marchese (loan, Salernitana), Victor Obinna (undisclosed, Inter), Pablo Granoche (loan, Triestina), Mirco Gasparetto (loan, Pisa)
Fiorentina
In: Alberto Gilardino (€13 million, AC Milan), Stevan Jovetic (€8 million, Partizan Belgrade), Felipe Melo (€13m, Almeria), Gianluca Comotto (undisclosed, Torino), Juan Manuel Vargas (undisclosed, Catania), Jefferson (free, Parana), Luciano Zauri (loan, Lazio), Sergio Almiron (loan, Juventus)
Out: Tomas Ujfalusi (free, Atletico Madrid), Fabio Liverani (undisclosed, Palermo), Christian Vieri (released), Daniele Cacia (undisclosed, Piacenza)
Genoa
In: Abdelkader Ghezzal (undisclosed, Crotone), Davide Di Gennaro (part of Marco Borriello deal, AC Milan), Francesco Modesto (Reggina), Andrea Gasbarroni (undisclosed, Parma), Salvatore Bocchetti (co-ownership, Frosinone), Giuseppe Biava (undisclosed, Palermo), Steve Pinau (undisclosed, Monaco), Sokratis Papastathopoloulos (€4m, AEK Athens), Diego Milito (undisclosed, Real Zaragoza), Davide Brivio (loan, Vicenza)
Out: Marco Borriello (€10 million + Davide Di Gennaro, AC Milan), Abdoulay Konko (undisclosed, Sevilla), Leon (undisclosed, Parma), Alessandro Lucarelli (undisclosed, Parma), Fabiano (loan, Reggina), Silvano Garibaldi (loan, Pisa), Danilo (undisclosed, Celta Vigo), Steve Pinau (loan, Hibs)
Inter
In: Stefano Giacomelli (loan, Foligno), Luis Antonio Jimenez (permanent deal, Ternana), Mancini (€13m, Roma), Sulley Muntari (€16m, Portsmouth), Victor Obinna (undisclosed, Chievo), Ricardo Quaresma (€18. Click to continue reading...

Here's the third installment of the Serie A preview. In this part we take a look at Milan, Napoli, Palermo, Reggina, and Roma.

MILAN

This is the year Milan has to redeem themselves. The Rossoneri had a season way below expectations last year, based on a mix of injuries and a terrible summer transfer market.

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Three is a Crowd at AC Milan
by Steve Amoia for Keeper Skool
On 16 July, AC Milan will convene at their Milanello training facility to begin summer training. They have an interesting dilemma. Who among three very experienced goalkeepers (Zeljko Kalac, Christian Abbiati, and Nelson Dida) to select as their #1?

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#4 Atleti 54 points. #13 Betis 41 points. We played Betis in their stadium back in December and won them (0-2). Now we must play them at home... Here's Aguirre's starting 11: STARTING 11: Leo Franco; Seitaridis, Pablo, Perea, Antonio López; Cléber, Raúl García, Maxi, Simão; Agüero & Forlán. Click to continue reading...

When Atleti lose, it demotivates me...a lot. All I want to do is sing their praises here, but when they lose against the likes of Zaragoza in the manner that they did, it's, well, discouraging...to the point where I can't even bring myself to blog about the mayhem. Hence, the blog-laziness. /rant over. Click to continue reading...

After 17 long years, Los Colchoneros finally collect 3 points at Estadio Riazor against a very poor, clueless Deportivo. BRIEFLY: Our overall game was average, but the goals were of the highest quality. Abbiati; Perea, Pablo, Eller, Antonio López; Raúl García, Jurado (73′ Luis García), Maxi, Simão (75′ Reyes); Kun Agüero (67′ Cléber) and Forlán. Click to continue reading...

Reminder: The game is on 5-December at 20.45pm. A victory in this game would seal our place in the last 32. The chosen 18 have been selected: Falcón; Antonio López; Pernía; Motta; Cléber; Forlán; Raúl García; Luis Garcíal Agüero; Maxi; Eller; Abbiati; Reyes; Maniche; Mista; Perea; Pablo; Simão. Click to continue reading...

Kun, Kun, Kun! TACTICS: Christian Abbiati; Antonio López; Pablo Ibáñez; Eller; Pernía; Cléber (65′ Maxi); Raúl García; Jurado (75′ Maniche); Simão (69′ Luis García ); Forlán; Agüero GOALS 16′ Agüero (assist by Jurado) 27′ Bilyaletdinov 47′ Forlan 61′ Odemwingie 64′ Odemwingie 85′ Agüero CLICK HERE FOR VIDEOS OF GOALS! Click to continue reading...

Some excerpts from Aguirre's: [Barcelona]Â deserved to win. We controlled the ball, we started very well, but it was not meant to be. On Abbiati's blunders: Those are accidents of the game. We're all responsible. I'm the first. It wasn't the determining factor, there were more factors that led to the defeat. His error did halt the 'euphoria', but [. Click to continue reading...

The photo says it all really. After a truly promising start, we went down a goal after a sloppy clearance by Abbiati, which allowed Deco to tap in #1. Shambolic goalkeeping at it's best. After that point, we lost focus and Barcelona played their game. I've said it before and I'll say it again: this was always going [...] Click to continue reading...

Aguirre on our recent victories: "The players are beginning to believe and have understood that if they make sacrifices, they have enough quality to resolve matches...This has just gotten started and there are many matches left, but if we maintain this seriousness, we have the team to do great things." Hm, 'sacrifices'. I'm sure he's speaking of [.. Click to continue reading...

Third win in a row! The scoreline flatters Osasuna as we had very clear opportunities to put the game out of reach. Abbiati; Seitaridis; Pablo; Eller; Antonio Lopez; Raul Garcia; Maniche; Reyes (58′ Maxi); Simao (58′ Luis Garcia); Forlan (79′ Jurado); Aguero Note that three changes were made in the backline: Abbiati (for injured Leo Franco), Eller [. Click to continue reading...

 Great result that virtually assures us of progressing to the group stages of UEFA. GOLS Mista 12′ Forlan 16′ Luis Garcia 82′ Luis Garcia 91′ (assist by Maniche) According to match reports, we scored our first two goals during 10 minutes of 'inspiration'. It's disconcerting to read, though, that we continued to play unconvincingly (wobbly) for portions of the game, especially in [. Click to continue reading...

Atleti had their final training session today before leaving for Murcia this Sunday. Luis Perea returned to Madrid this morning after playing in a friendly for Colombia earlier this week. He did not exercise with the group. Maxi did not participate with the rest of the team; instead, he exercised separately. They won't know if he's [...] Click to continue reading...

Here are some excerpts from Abbiati's press talk today (Friday): I love that the people have confidence in me; it's something that [makes me happy] and gives me more confidence when I play. He's certainly a fan favourite. When asked if he would like to say with Atleti after this season: I've only been here for a few months [...] Click to continue reading...

25 year old Brasilian midfielder Thiago Motta was officially presented today as the newest member of the rojiblanco family. Don Enrique Cerezo described him as a "[versatile] footballer with [plenty of] experience" Some words from the ex-Barcelona man (after his 1st training with the squad): I saw an extraordinary atmosphere in the dressing room and I think that is important [. Click to continue reading...

After six long years of no UEFA action, we finally qualified today after winning Serbian club FK Vojvodina, 1-2 (1-5 agg)! I didn't follow this as carefully as I could have because I'm at work, so I can't offer any incite on specific performances. The important thing is that we've officially qualified. We went down towards the end [...] Click to continue reading...

First and foremost, my thoughts are with Antonio Puerta's family, friends, and teammates. Best wishes to them during this time. Click here for photos of the funeral. Here's a video of some of the events. Did you know...the largest officially-formed group (aka 'peña') of Atleti supporters outside of Spain exists in Serbia? According to AS, there are over 1000 of them. Click to continue reading...

I have pre-derbi thoughts below; this is an addendum to that with some recent news. Here's the chosen squad: Leo Franco, Abbiati, Seitaridis, Pablo Ibáñez, Perea, Fabiano Eller, Pernía, Antonio López, Maniche, Cléber Santana, Raúl García, Luis García, Simão, Reyes, Maxi Rodríguez, Kun Agüero, Forlán and Mista. It's a bit curious to me that Braulio was left out [. Click to continue reading...

History Lesson Did you know that La Liga season has kicked-off with the Madrid derbi only two times in the history of league? 1960/61 Season: Atlético won it 1-0 and bragging rights. During this season, Atleti finished the season in 2nd place. In 1997/98 (a decade ago!): both clubs shared the points in a 1-1 draw. Although Atleti [...] Click to continue reading...

History Lesson Did you know that La Liga season has kicked-off with the Madrid derbi only two times in the history of league? 1960/61 Season: Atlético won it 1-0 and bragging rights. During this season, Atleti finished the season in 2nd place. In 1997/98 (a decade ago!): both clubs shared the points in a 1-1 draw. Although Atleti [...] Click to continue reading...

I had an opportunity to watch this friendly this afternoon (4.00pm NY time). It was a very physical game between the two Madrid clubs- Getafe entered the competition much hungrier for a win from the start, it must be said. That said, they could not find the back of the net they did have a goal wrongfully called [...] Click to continue reading...

Today our beloved play a local friendly against neighbours Getafe. Since the departure of Schuster to Real Madrid, Getafe have been managed by Dane Michael Laudrup. So far, under his charge, have won all 7 of their pre-season friendlies. Manager Aguirre plans on taking a second-string side to the friendly, giving key players a rest. Chosen Squad: GK: [. Click to continue reading...

 Good news, fellow Colchoneros! Sergio 'kun' Aguero will play in the starting 11 tomorrow (UEFA qualifer) after much pressure from the media (particularly in Argentina) and supporters. Many including myself feel that the young Argentine has earned a spot alongside Diego Forlan after his fine form during the U-20 World Cup. I'm very happy with [. Click to continue reading...

This was not the scoreline I was expecting at all. It was the story of the two-faced Atleti: a good, dominating first half...and an average, boring second half. Los Rojiblancos did end up winning el Trofeo Ciudad de Vigo in penalties, 4-2. Meaningless pre-season friendly, of course. Random Notes -We were awarded two penalties in the first [...] Click to continue reading...

Manager Aguirre is expected to field a 4-2-3-1 formed- squad with a Simao-Maxi-Reyes line. AS is calling it the 'tridente mágico' (the magical trident)- and who can blame them? If this trio proves deadly without Forlan and Aguero, imagine how potent our attack will be when they're back from holiday? I'm salivating right now. It's an [...] Click to continue reading...

Atletico Madrid's youngsters, Braulio and Julian Vara, are adamant about staying with their boyhood club. Braulio looks likely to stay as a striking option. Julian Vara's situation is slightly different: the right-back will have a difficult time receiving any playing time with Seitaridis as manager Aguirre's #1 choice for that position. Juan Valera, although still [. Click to continue reading...

These pre-season tourneys are excellent for fitness and such. The second goal for Ajax, by Wesley Sneijder, was an absolute beauty. Here are some very brief, general notes (I watched some of the 1st half & all of the 2nd half): -I'm actually a bit torn between Eller and Perea. If the club don't plan to change the [...] Click to continue reading...

IN 1. Diego Costa 2. Raúl García 3. Christian Abbiati 4. Diego Forlán 5. Luis García 6. Cléber Santana Diego Costa (full name Diego da Silva Costa) I know very little about this player, so I did a few web-searches and came up with some interesting tid bits of information. For starters, Atleti signed him from Sporting Braga in January '07 (until 2010), only [. Click to continue reading...