There are three teams left in the J. League title race after Shimizu S-Pulse and FC Tokyo both dropped out of the running following the latest round of fixtures.
A Renatinho hat-trick propelled Kawasaki Frontale to a 3-2 win over relegated JEF United in a thriller watched by 18,470 fans at Todoroki Stadium. Click to continue reading...

After the 29th round of Brasileiro, it seems no one wants to take the title home. Like in the last round, when only one club on the top won, the leaders collectively failed again. Palmeiras, Sao Paulo and Atletico-MG lost. Inter and Goias tied at home. And, in this way, Flamengo, the 6th side on the table, was the first team on the top to win.

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Sunday September 27
Shimizu S-Pulse 1 Vissel Kobe 0
Urawa Reds 1 Yokohama F Marinos 2
Saturday September 26
FC Tokyo 3 Jubilo Iwata 2
Gamba Osaka 2 Kawasaki Frontale 1
JEF United Chiba 1 Montedio Yamagata 2
Kashima Antlers 1 Nagoya Grampus 4
Kyoto Sanga 1, Omiya Ardija 3
Oita Trinita 0 Kashiwa Reysol 0
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1 Albirex Niigata 2
Kashima Antlers remain top of the J-League but now only by a single point as the season approches its traditionally tight finish. Click to continue reading...

This time last year The Guardian writers predicted that after winning the Premiership and European Cup double, Manchester United would give up their title to Chelsea. The reasons were obvious, apparently, but I disagreed with every single one.

First they argued that if Chelsea came within a few points of us that season, with a World Cup winning manager in charge they were certain to improve.

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"It's Groundhog Day!"
There's no sign of Punxsutawney Phil, but Nagoya Grampus coach Dragan Stojkovic must be checking his calendar in disbelief as the Aichi-based side prepare to face FC Tokyo at Ajinomoto Stadium for the second time in three days.
Naohiro Ishikawa looks set to play the Ned Ryerson role to the Serbian coach's Phil Connors, with Ishikawa causing opponents plenty of irritation with some career-best form. Click to continue reading...

Negotiations with Manchester United over (Barca youth academy grad) Gerard Pique are said to be almost complete. The player has passed a medical in Barcelona and if all goes well the signing should be announced soon. [I am very pleased by this signing. Decent price, good player coming home, everybody's happy. Click to continue reading...

All signs point to major changes in the Barcelona squad next season. My (massively long, as it turns out) two cents on who should be staying and who needs to be ushered out the door below.
Keep in mind, though, that I haven't taken any economic considerations (e.g. selling X will get us some cash to spend on Y) into account. Click to continue reading...

So we get out of the Champions League and now we immediately start selling off players?? I first read this on <a href="http://spanishfootballsports.blogspot.com/2008/03/fc-barcelona-has-agreement-with-poulsen.html#links">Spanish Football and Sports</a> that Sevilla midfielder Christian Poulsen is headed to Barcelona come season's end. Click to continue reading...

Barcelona player is having a tough time flirting with injury. The Brazilian defensive midfield player was out with a knee injury since May and was back playing for the Catalan giants during Wednesday's Copa Del Rey tie against Sevilla FC when he was again injured and had to limp off the pitch after 75 minutes. Click to continue reading...

Exams are over (hooray!) and I'm back, although currently preoccupied with...well, life in general. To be honest, I've just been thinking a lot, and there's a couple of posts I want to make about coaching styles, quotas in European leagues, and all that. But it's Barca that's really been frustrating me. Click to continue reading...

The so-called 'FIFA virus' strikes again. Personally, I've got nothing against international football - in fact, I love it - but I just wish the federations and FIFA would schedule things a bit better. It's unfortunate that this international break comes two weeks into the La Liga (and Serie A) season. 14 Barca players have been called up this time:
friendies
Ronaldinho (Brazil, vs Mexico and USA)
Giovani dso Santos (Mexico, vs Panama and Brazil)
Gabi Milito and Leo Messi (Argentina, vs Australia)
competitive matches
Xavi and Iniesta (Spain, Euro 08 qualifiers vs Iceland and Latvia)
Lilian Thuram, Eric Abidal and Thierry Henry (France, Euro 08 qualifiers vs Italy and Scotland)
Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy, Euro 08 qualifiers vs France and Ukraine)
Eidur Gudjohnsen (Iceland, Euro 08 qualifiers vs Spain and Northern Ireland)
Deco (Portugal, Euro 08 qualifiers vs Poland and Serbia)
Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast, African Nations Cup qualifier, Gabon)
Samuel Eto'o had his operation, and it was apparently a success. Click to continue reading...