The man's name is David Zimmari and these are his "football dogs." Those are Barcelona and Real Madrid shirts. That's a balloon. Those are goals. There are also what appears to be a decent number of spectators.
Outside of Spain, few places in the world can boast more fervent support of Barcelona and Real Madrid than Iraq.
In Iraqi Kurdistan, some 3,5000 miles from the action, locals are obsessed with La Liga's two biggest teams. When they face each other in El Clasico, bars and coffee houses are segregated between rivals fans and police presence is increased as people celebrate, commiserate and fight long into the night.
For the second time in a week, Real Madrid emerged victorious from El Clasico as the form of runaway leaders Barcelona continued to stutter. The Blaugrana's lead over Atletico was reduced to 11 points as Los Colchoneros were held at Malaga, while Los Blancos are now just two points behind their city rivals.
Two losses in a row have not been the headlines you would normally see in local Barcelona newspaper for the last three years. Losing in two consecutive El Clasicos had not happened since the 07/08 season as well. Today, Barcelona slump again in the El Clasico and officially entered a new low point after losing at the Bernabeu in an unusual early afternoon fixture.
Karim Benzema (#9) of Real Madrid CF celebrates with Xabi Alonso (C) Sami Khedira (L) and Raphael Varone (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
After an impressive victory in Barcelona midweek, Real Madrid capped off a fantastic week with a home victory in the return match of the Clasico series thanks to Sergio Ramos' late game winner.
Victor Valdes received his second yellow card of the game after the final whistle as he lost his cool with the referee who denied Barcelona a last gasp penalty in yesterdays El Clasico which Madrid won 2-1.
Head coach Jose Mourinho of Real Madrid (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)
Jose Mourinho didn't do himself any favors when he gave himself the moniker, "The Special One." Mourinho may have one of the biggest egos in world football, but throughout his career, the Portuguese tactician has proven himself as one of the best coaches in the world.
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, who was caught driving at speeds of up to 216km/hr (in an area with a speed limit of 100km/h) in Madrid on February 3rd, has requested that his trial date be postponed because of this weekend's crucial el clasico rematch.
The Frenchman was due to testify in court on Tuesday, but there isn't really much to argue about if you've already broken the speed limit!
Much of the world will watch together as Barcelona and Real Madrid re-kindle the madness that is El Clasico, when the two meet on Tuesday in the second leg of the Copa Del Rey semifinals at the Camp Nou.
Last time around, the teams tied 1-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas' opener being cancelled out by the young Frenchman Raphael Varane, helping save Madrid in the tie.
The latest installment of 'El Clasico' kicks off today as Barcelona takes on Real Madrid in the first leg of their Copa Del Rey semifinal series, just one of several quality matches on a loaded Wednesday of soccer action.
Barcelona's dream season has seen them run away with La Liga, and cruise to the Champions League knockout rounds, but Real Madrid is sure to offer a stiff challenge despite the fact the team is mired in controversy amid rumored strife between manager Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid's top players.
"When planning this piece for AFR I wanted to capture a moment of heightened tension in the Clásico. Something about night games gives a match an added sense of excitement and I love the air of carnival that descends whenever La Liga's two titans go head-to-head.
Barcelona and Real Madrid might be two of the biggest football clubs in the world, but at times they act like petulant children.
According to Catalunya Radio, Barcelona secretly filmed Real Madrid defender's Pepe's during 2010-11's Clasicos, with the goal of recording all his tackles on Barcelona players.
Cristiano Ronaldo to make 100th appearance for Portugal - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Cristiano Ronaldo recieved a shoulder injury in the El Clasico last week but he is said to have recovered and will be available for selection on internation duty.
100th National Cap & Current Form
Portugal host Northern Ireland later today and if CR plays, it will be his 100th international cap in the national football team.
With Josh away, the mice will play. Zach shifts to the hosting chair and Alexi Lalas joins us to discuss the Beatdown at the Camp Nou, Super Mario's new statue and the new MLS "Mass Confrontation" rules. We also talk about American soccer fans being too hard on MLS and celebrating with or without utilizing your genitalia.
Radio Cuju is back to discuss a variety of enthralling topics including why people don't like El Clasico, US vs. Canada, and ESPN airing Mexican National Team games. We also spend an inordinate amount of time fighting about the MLS Castrol Index and answer listener questions.
This week's music from the show:Autograph "Turn up the Radio", George Straight "All My Exes Live in Texas", Fleetwood Mac "The Chain", The Piranhas "Tom Hark"
episode 39: fighting over castrol's indexaudio rss | iTunes | Stitcher| NASN Radio
Josh returns and a level or normalcy is restored on Radio Cuju, though we're joined by a special guest for the first half of the show that totally makes us a more rounded and better show. We discuss Ashley Cole's tweet about the FA, review the lackluster weekend of EPL matches, talk El Clasico and finally get to talking about the future of Spanish league football.
Barcelona's Gerard Pique took a little break from the Ballon d'Or festivities with 2012 FIFA Interactive World Cup winner, Alfonso Ramos on Monday. The two got down to playing FIFA 13, as Lionel Messi watched from the side. Naturally, Pique who made it to the FIFPro World XI along with several of his Barca teammates couldn't beat Alfonso, a Real Madrid fan, as they played a virtual edition of El Clasico, which Alfonso won 3-1.
Tito Vilanova has been tasked with replacing a Barcelona legend. Because he is the immediate successor to Pep Guardiola, he will always be compared to Pep. It doesn't matter whether or not that's fair.
Semana regia, semana de clásico. Apenas iniciándola y con el ambiente de rivalidad (siempre existe, pero en estas fechas más) se vive. No faltan en los cruceros de cada calle las personas vendiendo banderas con los colores de los clubes regiomontanos, no falta la mujer que se emociona por primera vez durante la temporada porque ahí viene el clásico.
Después del resultado negativo de Tigres este fin de semana y de prácticamente estar eliminados, nos encontramos en la semana de clásico, pero para muchos de nosotros lo viviremos diferente.
Sin duda alguna es una semana especial, pero el duelo contra Rayados no tendrá el mismo sabor que otros clásicos; Tigres llega a este partido prácticamente eliminado y empezando a cargar la palabra fracaso en la espalda, aún ganando el clásico y el partido de la jornada final contra América, los felinos dependen varias combinaciones de resultados para poder aspirar a un lugar en la liguilla.
Pues nada, que se viene el juego del sábado y parece que llegamos con la etiqueta de victimas seguras, y pues si luce difícil pero, si bien no llegamos con etiqueta de favoritos, tampoco vamos a ser apabullados.
Vamos a jugar con el equipo más disminuido de los últimos tres años, con toda la defensa improvisada, sin nuestro capitán y sin un centro delantero natural.
La jornada pasada rodaron cabezas, Mario Carrillo por fin salió de ciudad universitaria y ahora Torres Servin será el timonel de los felinos, vergonzoso papel de Alberto García Aspe como directivo de los Pumas. Las chivas ganaron el clásico tapatío y buscan meterse a la liguilla en estas ultimas fechas.
Como siempre la semana previa al clásico regio el tema de conversación es el partido entre rayados y tigres, se empieza a calentar con ciertas declaraciones, aquí Walter Ayoví destacó que el Equipo va en un ascenso futbolístico.
En Monterrey el futbol se vive de manera distinta que en el resto del país.
Este domingo es de clásicos en el fútbol mundial, acá en México tendremos al más longevo de nuestro balompié nacional Atlas vs Chivas de Guadalajara.
De Chivas se ha hablado ya mucho, por eso hoy nos ocuparemos de uno de los equipos con la afición más fiel de este país, desde el año de 1951 que la academia (como se le conocía por esas épocas) no gana un solo campeonato, su directiva no ha tomado buenas decisiones para los fanáticos rojinegros, pero ellos siguen ahí al pie del cañón.
El clásico tapatío es este domingo y para todos los fieles aficionados al equipo rojinegro del Atlas les tenemos un regalo que les va a gustar, un jersey del Atlas.
1.-Seguir la cuenta en twitter de @futblognet, dar like a este post y la fan page de http://facebook.com/futblog
Sergio Ramos headed the winner as Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 to record their second win in 5 days over their rivals who will feel hard done by as the referee denied them a last minute penalty after the goalscorer Ramos brought down Adriano in the area at the death.
Victor Valdes was shown a second yellow card after the final whistle as the Barca players surrounded the official at the final whistle in ugly scenes.
Two intense rivalries and a 1 vs. 2 clash headline a massive weekend in European soccer.
We start with the always heated North London Derby, where Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur will battle for crucial league positioning on top of the usual local bragging rights.
Of the many matters of concern for Spurs this week, most worrying is how easily Warnock and now the lovely Chrissie Hughton have outsmarted our Andre tactically. Yesterday it was less about the lack of a striker or even Dembele's shameful admissionthat the players could not get motivated for the FA Cup, and more about our inability to handle Norwich in the first half.
A diferencia de jornadas anteriores, esta semana fue de malos resultados para las filiales rayadas, pues ya que la Sub-17 perdió 2-1 mientras que la Sub-20 rescató un punto. En mención especial, los rayaditos de tercera división ganaron el clásico de la categoría frente al siempre archirrival Tigres.
Cristiano Ronaldo recieved a shoulder injury in the El Clasico last week but he is said to have recovered and will be available for international duty. Portugal host Northern Ireland later today and if CR plays, it will be his ... Continue reading →
Se dio a conocer que el estudio al que fue sometido Hiram Mier después de su molestia sufrida en la cancha de CU el domingo pasado arrojó como resultado una ruptura fibrilar del muslo derecho.
