Spanish Primera Division (La Liga) Recap 11 February 2012 - The 90th Minute Soccer Blog

Below is a recap of all the La Liga matches on February 11, 2012.

Racing Santander 0-0 Atletico Madrid

Racing moves out of the relegation zone Atletico Madrid are up to 6th place. It was a physical match with four yellow cards given to each side.

Today's game at White hart Lane is a massive game for Newcastle United. And it's not that we will be at full strength today either, since we'll be missing Yohan Cabaye through suspension, Cheick Tiote because he's still at the African Cup of Nations, and Ryan Taylor and Leon Best are both injured with [.

AC Milan will be looking to put behind them their disastrous weekend outing when they host Juventus at the San Siro tonight in the Coppa Italia first leg semi-final. With Juventus also having settled for a similar barren draw with Siena in the weekend, the match will definitely be an explosive one.

A few notes from around the club today, including the signing of another young talent (as seen below).

Window shopping

Mikel to be fit for Saturday, Lampard likely
• After some seven weeks on the shelf, John Obi Mikel is finally ready to resurface.

Michael Bradley is currently the only American international playing in Italy's Serie A
U.S. Soccer announced today that a limited number of tickets are available for purchase for the USA-Italy friendly on Feb. 29 in Genoa. This is only the USA's second friendly on Italian soil, and the first since 2002.

After Liverpool's fantastic achievement in beating Man City over two legs to reach the Carling Cup Final last Wednesday night, thanks to Craig Bellamy's goal.
It is now time to look towards beating the other half of Manchester in the form of the Red side of the City.
Our arch-rivals come to Anfield on Saturday afternoon in the fourth round of the FA Cup with it all to play for.

Ghana 1-0 Botswana by goalsarena2012

Ghana made a jittery start to their ACN campaign overcoming a plucky Botswana through John Mensah's 25th minute goal. The Black Stars then had to endure without Mensah who was sent off in the 66th minute for his foul on Jerome Ramatlhakwane.

Goran Stevanovic's squad were at full strength minus Kevin Prince Boateng with World Cup standouts Asamoah Gyan, Andrew Ayew, and Sulley Muntari present.

The U.S. Women's National Team started their quest for a ticket to the 2012 Olympics by walking over a young inexperienced Dominican Republic team, 14-0. Playing a full strength side, the U.S. who played their game indoors at Vancouver, Canada's BC Place, now take the lead in Group B of their CONCACAF qualifying group.

After a month's hiatus (due primarily to an extended internet-free trip to India see below), we're back with a TV guide to the weekend. As usual, we provide US TV listings with ET kickoffs, since that's where we reside. For our non-US readers, we've included a link to livesoccertv.com for each match.

It's interesting to see that, despite all our complaints, that we've only bettered our current points total on 21 games on just one occasion in recent years, back in 2006/2007. Even if you didn't take in to account the fact our injury list has been far worse than our title rivals, Manchester City, to be three points off the top at this stage in the season is a good position to be in.

League leaders AC Milan host their cross city rivals Inter Milan in the 204th meeting between them at the San Siro. Though Milan leads with the most number of wins in all meetings, there really is nothing to separate both sides.

Milan have won 72 of all the 204 meetings just one more than Inter with the pair each having scored an 279 goals in all meetings.

League leaders AC Milan host their cross city rivals Inter Milan in the 204th meeting between them at the San Siro. Though Milan leads with the most number of wins in all meetings, there really is nothing to separate both sides.

Milan have won 72 of all the 204 meetings just one more than Inter with the pair each having scored an 279 goals in all meetings.

One of the lasting benefits of watching soccer (football or whatever you want to call it) is how it never ceases to surprise and just when you think you've got it all figured out, everything changes. Such was the nature of today's FA Cup Third Round match between Premier League Leaders Man City and their closest rivals Manchester United.

United are a top priced 1.75 with Paddy Power to bounce back from their humiliating defeat at the hands of Blackburn and beat Newcastle at St James' tonight, and everything suggest they will do just that.

New Year's Eve turned into a 70th birthday nightmare for Sir Alex when Steve Kean's men pulled off the unthinkable, but if the past is anything to go by he will have read the riot act to the players and they will respond with a victory.

Team News: Balotelli set for City return against Liverpool

Roberto Mancini has virtually a full-strength squad at his disposal

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2012-01-02 10:25:41 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Martinez and Dalglish agree – there's more to Liverpool than Suarez

THE FESTIVE fixture list continues for Liverpool tomorrow night at the DW Stadium when Kenny Dalglish's side take on Roberto Martinez's Wigan Athletic. Kenny has almost a full-strength squad at his disposal but there won't be a return – for now at least – for Steven Gerrard.

Olympiakos 3 (Djebbour 16, Fuster 36, Modesto 89) Arsenal 1 (Benayoun 57)
(Champions League Group Stage)

It seems the knives are out again. Described as Euro flops in some quarters, and a laughing stock in others, it seems many of the press are finally able to pull the trigger on the negative stories they've been unable to run over the past month, thanks to our improved form.

The Bundesliga doesn't get the concept of extra time. On paper the Bundesliga referees get it. It's up to them to decide, how much time was wasted through substitutions, injury delays, time wasting or excessive goal celebrations. It's OK for them to routinely add only one or two minutes or call it quits after exactly 90 minutes.

Thank heavens for Wojciech Szczesny.

Well, that was pleasant, wasn't it? A team full of reserves and youngsters faced off against a determined, full-strength Olympiakos side determined to get the win, in any way possible. With a ravenous home crowd egging them on, this game turned out to be a bit of an ugly affair, with studs flying at different times and resulting in some nasty tackles and unsightly scenes.

As a United fan, I must say life has been pretty dull of late. I don't remember the last time we scored more than one goal in a game (of course I remember the 8-2. Shameless Plug alert) or winning a game when we did go ahead and score 2 or 3. Not winning is definitely a bummer, especially when it closely follows home-ground hammerings at the hands of the rich, evil super-villain (also note lack of plug here).

As attention shifts to matchday 5 of the Champions League today, many will be waiting with bated breath for what could very well be the Match of the season. Italian giants AC Milan host defending Champions Barcelona at the San Siro tomorrow.

The first leg of this fixture ended in a 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp and Milan know that they can't take any chances with the champs this time round.

It is the 2nd round of the North Riding Senior Cup tomorrow night (Tuesday) and Boro are home to Guisborough Town in the competition.
This is a minor competition and I personally feel that the £7 admission fee will deter many fans from attending.
Plus the fact that Rudy is unlikely to field a full strength side and the late 8.

The final lineup for next summer's European Championship in Poland & Ukraine is now set after tonight's playoff second legs, with a strong field of sixteen heading for Eastern Europe.
There were no winning fightbacks following the first legs and Portugal, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Ireland and Croatia all advanced to Euro 2012, eliminating respectively Bosnia & Herzogovina, Montenegro, Estonia and Turkey.

Messi vs Ronaldo in El Clasico (Photo: AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

We are just one month away from the next El Clasico and football fans all over Spain are clamoring for Barcelona v Real Madrid tickets!

If you are a FC Barcelona fan you have to be a little bit concerned as the clubs inconsistent play and numerous injuries seem to be hampering their run in La Liga currently.

Oh Udinese, what happened to you in Thursday's Europa League match against Atlético? The zebrette won the first leg, 2-0, but on their visit to Madrid were hammered 4-0. But there's not really that much you can take away from an Udinese loss in Europe's lesser tournament. Francesco Guidolin certainly didn't field a full-strength squad, at least not from the start, leaving out Mauricio Isla,.

Today the second leg matches of the Major League Soccer playoff quarterfinals begin. An ailing Colorado Rapids side visit Sporting Kansas City while everyone's favorite neighbors to the north, the Seattle Sounders, will try to dig themselves out of a three goal hole at home against Real Salt Lake.

Back to back Premiership wins have done wonders for the confidence and league position of Arsenal but a trip to Chelsea is testing at the best of times, especially when you're not at full strength, and the bookies make Chelsea the hot favourites to inflict a fifth loss of the season on the Gunners. Chelsea [.

Two teams fighting for their lives square off in the nations capital as D.C. United hosts the Portland Timbers in a must-win match for both clubs (8 p.m., MLS Direct Kick/MatchDay Live).

After coming off a shocking collapse in stoppage time against Chicago on Saturday, D.C.

This game oh man this game. This one beat me. Right now I'm just glad there are only two games left to go over. Join me after the break as we go over this game. Not a whole lot of good things to talk about here so I'm going to make this quick.

After the game there was a lot of talk about how the team wasn't "trying" or lacked effort.

Reds at full strength

Kenny Dalglish has reported that Liverpool will be at full strength for their meeting with Man Utd, with Steven Gerrard expected to return.

View the full story here: Sky Sports

A news article on 2011-10-13 16:31:55 from: Sky Sports

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Brazil left it late to secure a 2-1 win over Mexico in an international friendly played at the Estadio Corona stadium in Torreón last night. Goals from play maker Ronaldinho and Marcelo were enough to give coach Mano Menezes the much needed win.

The night however, belonged to Flamengo striker Ronaldinho who scored a superb free kick that left Oswaldo Sanchez for dead then setting up team mate Marcelo 4 minutes later to effectively seal the Mexican's hopes.

The U.S. men's national team will field as close to a full strength squad as it has had since Jurgen Klinsmann took over, leaving what should be some easy decisions when it comes time for him to pick a lineup for Saturday's match vs. Honduras.

Landon Donovan is the lone regular starter not to make the trip to South Florida, and now Klinsmann will have some good options as he tries to put together a team to deliver his first win as U.

The sight of Gamba Osaka running out at Expo '70 Stadium tonight is unlikely to fill their fans with hope. It's more likely to fill those in attendance with a sense of trepidation as the team currently leading the J. League standings does battle with defending Nabisco Cup champions Jubilo Iwata for a trophy no one genuinely wants to win.

The New York Red Bulls and Los Angeles Galaxy head into tonight's contest with plenty to play for, with extra incentives awaiting a victory in this high-profile contest (8pm, ESPN).

The Galaxy can clinch a second straight Supporters Shield with a win tonight, while a victory for the Red Bulls would push New York a big step closer to the playoffs.

Match Preview: Everton vs Liverpool

Liverpool meet Everton at Goodison Park in the derby tomorrow, eager to secure victory over their L4 rivals for the first time since February 2010. The Reds went without victory over Everton last season, losing 2-0 at Goodison in the first game after FSG's takeover before a Dirk Kuyt penalty secured a 2-2 draw at Anfield in January.



Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

By THOMAS FLOYD

Good luck trying to figure out the New York Red Bulls' problems.

With a full-strength starting 11 that featured two players who are each paid well more than Real Salt Lake's entire roster combined, the Red Bulls were outclassed by their visitors from Utah on Wednesday night, conceding three goals in the first 21 minutes before falling 3-1.

Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

Few teams in Major League Soccer are as in-form as Real Salt Lake, which is on a four-game winning streak and is within striking distance of catching the Los Angeles Galaxy and capturing the Supporters' Shield. The club is also on the verge of getting its playmaker back.

Morning all,
Welcome to the blog. In the real world (away from computers) there's supposed to be a horse race or two in town today.
More importantly, FP is told, there is supposed some fine fashion on display. Offices in this town are known to shut down for the afternoon, just so the ladies can get out there and enjoy the festivities.

The Portland Timbers trained at Jeld-Wen Field on Monday in positive spirits two days removed from their 0-0 draw in Philadelphia.

Futty Danso appeared to be at near full strength as he participated in the short field 8v8 two-touch scrimmage. Also participating in the scrimmage was John Spencer, which is reportedly a regular occurrence at the practice after a match.

Arsenal only won 1-0 against Swansea. You wouldn't say Arsenal only got three points against Swansea though, would you?

'Rome wasn't built in a day', that much is true, teams aren't built over a two week period and a handful of training sessions either. That is what this Arsenal team is, it a new team with a modified style and approach mentally, it is a new team too.