Welcome to a slightly late edition of La Liga Lunes (La Liga Monday!)
Over the weekend, the Women's FIFA Ballon d'Or winner Homare Sawa
met up with Barcelona maestro Xavi at the club's training ground. Her team, INAC
Kobe from the Japanese Women's league, played a friendly against Barcelona's female squad
(highlights below).
You can argue that everything Barca does these days is being scrutinized or subject to unfair
criticism. But it's hard to deny the club's latest tribute to a journalist who passed away and
spent his life reporting on the club. That's affectionate dedication for you!
Last week prior to the club's normal press conference, first-team players Xavi, Puyol, Valdés
and Iniesta along with Pep Guardiola observed a silent tribute to Dani Montesinos, who formerly
worked for Spanish TV and Barca TV.
By Chris Wright
Massive thanks to Pies' fan Nick Sincere for bringing this photo to our attention Jose Mourinho
lurking menacingly in the shadows of the underground car-park at the Camp Nou with the express
intent of having 'a little chat' with referee Fernando Teixeira after his questionable performance
during Wednesday night's El Clasico farrago.
COPA DEL RAYReal Madrid vs Barcelona 22:00
Lo maravilloso!! The Day of Reckoning has arrived. Put away your
Vicente Del Bosque Panini stickers right NOW because the first el
clasico of the year between Real Madrid and Barcelona will be fought out at
the Bernabeu tonight.
Bienvenidaaaaa! We know it's Monday and you're probably still nursing
that hangover from last Saturday but Gracias a Dios for football because
Villarreal held Valencia to a 2-2 draw last night and we
know the town folks are celebrating!
This photo of the Moc Moc trio is clearly missing
Puyol- except Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique are
making a different type of toast that doesn't involve their Mop Haired amic! They're both
celebrating their reunion and return from the Premier League to
Barcelona.
Liverpool's efforts to sign Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita could be derailed by AC Milan striker
Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Swedish forward is trying to convince the Mali international - recently named his nation's best
sportsman of 2011 - to snub a move to Anfield and the Premier League in favour of a move to his
Serie A side.
WEEKEND WRAP : CHRISTMAS EDITION
Nothing warms our heart (and stockings) more than futbolitos who are
committed to charity work and give back to their communities! To be fair, every club in world
football makes an attempt do this but special mention must go out to Tottenham, whose efforts are
equally impressive (na na, don't be hatin' this
Christmas!
According to a sourceless and quoteless article in 'The People', Liverpool are monitoring the
situation of Real Madrid's Mesut Ozil, allegedly with a view to signing the player at some point in
the near future.Ozil has come in for some major criticism from the press after his performance in
the 3-1 defeat to Barcelona last week.
The Los Angeles Galaxy made it 3-for-3 on their Asia Pacific tour, defeating the Melbourne
Victory in a penalty shootout, 4-3, after the teams played to a 2-2 draw in regulation.
The Galaxy trailed, 2-0, but Robbie Keane twice converted penalty kicks to pull the MLS Cup
champions level.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter is facing what could be the toughest phase of his career as football
head in the more than 10 years since he took over from Joao Havelange.
The president recently came out to say that England are still bitter at him for their failed
attempt to land the hosting rights to the 2018 tournament.
MIRA ESO! Everyone in that photo above has a different facial
expression and a different story to tell, from Dani Alves who is about to break
into a funk carioca, David Villa who is keeping his
hands politely to himself to Mascherano who seems annoyed with the crowd (probably
not, it's the default look of the Tevez clan.
Barcelona's Gerard Pique stepped out with his
Rrrrrabiosa, Shakira, at the launch of
his father's new book 'Dues Vides' (Two Lives) at the 'Casa del Llibre' bookstore in
Barcelona yesterday. And although they didn't let her sing or do an impromptu dance to 'I'm
crazy but you like it.
Liverpool have contacted Barcelona to find out whether the Spanish giants would be willing to part
with midfielder Seydou Keita when the transfer window opens in January.
Respected Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has
been in touch with the reigning La Liga champions over the availability of Keita.
Spanish Supermodel of the World... is that YOU?! Well, you were close.
It's Barcelona goalkeeper, Victor Valdes, getting hot (and probably cold, from
the rain!) with his SuperGuapa wife, Yolanda Cardona in a recent fashion editorial
for 'DTLux'.
El Mundo Deportivo reports that midfielder Mesut Ozil has grown increasingly unhappy at Real
Madrid and is seeking a way out of the Santiago Bernabéu at the end of the season.
According to the newspaper, Inter Milan have already been in contact and have asked to be kept
informed of any developments concerning the German international, although Madrid President,
Florentino Pérez, will attempt to get the player to reconsider his position.
So Gerard Pique has told Catalonia daily, El Mundo Deportivo big
'Waka Waka' fans, by the way that he hasn't been in tuned with all those
relationship rumours about Shakira and just wants to focus on Spain's campaign
ahead.
How many big players have we sold in the past? Tons. When a player is not 100% committed to the
club both physically and mentally it is best to let them go for the sake of the other ten players
on the pitch who are giving a lot more for the side. It doesn't matter how good this player is,
when it comes to a team you are all equal, you all have to work tirelessly and give total
commitment.
Being away for two weeks during some work for our new portal, Futbolita.TV does
not mean that we won't be here for you during preseason. We're back and we can't wait to kick this
season off!
Hot off the Spanish press (from the newspaper with reporters who are willing to hold your arms
as you are walking on unstable grass conditions: El Mundo Deportivo) is the news that Kun
Aguero's transfer to Man City will be finalized by Wednesday!
El Clasico seems like an eternal fixture. No matter how much change we see in a season, it's this
match which captures the attention of just about every soccer fan around the world. Admittedly, El
Clasico has been slightly one-sided these past few seasons, with Barcelona having won the past five
encounters.
El Clasico seems like an eternal fixture. No matter how much change we see in a season, it's this
match which captures the attention of just about every soccer fan around the world. Admittedly, El
Clasico has been slightly one-sided these past few seasons, with Barcelona having won the past five
encounters.
Sara Carbonero y Shakira suelen estar en el punto de mira de los medios de comunicación
más rosas por sus relaciones sentimentales con
Iker Casillas y Gerard Piqué,
respectivamente. Sin embargo, de un tiempo a esta parte la lÃnea entre la prensa del corazón y la
deportiva está cada vez más difusa.
Just another chapter in the Real Madrid vs Barcelona rivalry.
No couple has garnered more attention and criticism over the past few months than Shakira and
Gerard Pique. On the one hand, the guy is punching above his weight by about 10 years so who are we
to cry foul? On the other hand, a noticeable drop in performance has plagued Pique recently and I'm
assuming that lack of sleep has EVERYTHING to do with it.
La posición de
Jorge Valdano en el Real Madrid está en entredicho. El director deportivo,
cuya relación con
José Mourinho deja mucho que desear, no continuará en el conjunto
blanco si sigue en el banquillo el técnico portugués.
El organigrama del Real Madrid tiene tres cabezas.
El mercado de fichajes del próximo verano en el fútbol mundial, y especialmente, en la Liga
española, se prevé realmente movido. Real Madrid y Barcelona tienen intención de de mejorar aún
más sus plantillas, y la competencia entre ambos clubes puede ser feroz.
Asà lo asegura al menos José Luis Carazo en las páginas de 'El Mundo Deportivo', en las
que asegura que Florentino Pérez está dispuesto a realizar un férreo marcaje al máximo
rival, boicoteando todos los fichajes que este esté dispuesto a realizar.
As far as the Spanish sporting press goes, a good rule of thumb to abide by is that, if the twin
Catalan-based newspapers Sport and El Mundo Deportivo aren't running with another
'Barcelona make us giggle like schoolgirls' cover story, then there must be a potentially
devastating ruction to try and undermine over at Real Madrid.
On the day the news broke, I was filled with unreasoning anger. If you asked me articulate why I
was so mad, I would have had trouble, which is really not very good going for someone trained to
make well reasoned arguments.
There's been a lot of link spilled on the topic already, whether in support of the Qatar Foundation
deal or in opposition to it.
