It's been 7 days since the beginning of the Dragon Year – and here we are 7 points ahead of Barca in the league table. Our 3-1 over Zaragoza and Barca's 0-0 (their first scoreless game in 15 matches) made sure of that. In a league where the margins of error between a league title or a bridesmaid finish is a hairline, 7 points is gold – it gives us that all-important precious margin for error: to account for that somewhat inevitable match that will see us drop points against a Levante, Sporting or.

The fallout from last week's El Clasico loss was astounding. The fallout from the coming El Clasico – should we lose (which is a likely event) will perhaps be equally astounding. . The players are shit – we need to buy 6 new players. We need a new defense We need a new midfield, We need better strikers.

Real dissension in the ranks?

The Real Madrid fans are in a barracking mood, just like the fans giving stick to Arsene Wenger. The Barca game blew up in their face because Mou decided to stick 11 men behind the ball and with the exception of an 11th minute of enterprise, played like he was afraid to lose which is exactly what happened.

Jose Mourinho's intentions were perfectly telegraphed as he consigned Mesut Oezil and Esteban Granero to anonymity. He started three holding midfielders with Lassana Diarra, Xabi Alonso, and Pepe in a deliberate park the bus tactics. The last mentioned was relocated to midfield from his usual centre back position with Sergio Ramos partnering Ricardo Carvalho.

The agent of Real Madrid's out of favour midfielder Esteban Granero has admitted that he would relish a transfer to Liverpool.
Teofilo Lazaro has spoken out about the future of 24-year-old Granero, who has slipped down Real boss Jose Mourinho's pecking order at the Bernabeu this season.
And, he revealed that the £8million-rated midfield man would be happy for a move away to secure regular first-team action elsewhere, namng the Reds as a possible destination.

Real Madrid will allow Esteban Granero to leave the Santiago Bernabeu on loan this month, with the midfielder a reported target for Liverpool.
The 25-year-old has made only five appearances for Real this season and is desperate for more regular first-team action.
According to SER Deportivos, Los Blancos are now offering Granero to potential suitors, with a view to a loan agreement for the remainder of the season.

Welcome to Offbeat Wednesday, where we bring you the wacky and pinky side of football. Today, read about Irina Shayk turning down 'Playboy', Neymar's Singing Antics, Podolski's Future and Granero's Miami Escapade.

The world's most favourite footballer to hate, Cristiano Ronaldo, recently visited Dubai with his namorada, Irina Shayk.

SPANISH FOOTBALL action with four matches played tonight of the 2 º leg of the SPANISH CUP last 32 Clubs. Below is a brief & rapid run through events, final results & scorers. Varane REAL MADRID defeated comfortably PONFERRADINA 5 - 1 ( 7 - 1 agg ) with a team full of "reserves" ( Altintop, Callejon, Sahin, Joselu, Varane, Casado, Granero.

The Daily Mirror is reporting that Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero is 'desperate' to join the Gunners in January. This coming after Arsene Wenger insisted that he is happy with the squad at hand and is unlikely to sign anyone this coming transfer window. "At the moment, in the transfer we are just interested in [.

According to the Mirror, Arsène Wenger has ruled himself out of a possible move for Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero. If this is true, it seems like a sudden end to his apparent interest that has been ongoing since the summer. Being linked with a player from the likes of Real Madrid may sound promising [.

Interesting news piece from Spanish Sports paper "Marca" that has been revealed in todays edition. Apparently earlier in the week ARSENAL representatives travelled to Madrid to have discussions with REAL MADRID Football Director Miguel Pardeza. The topic of conversation was midfielder ESTEBAN GRANERO with a personal message from Arsene Wenger of his interest in having the player over to London in

Interesting news piece from Spanish Sports paper "Marca" that has been revealed in todays edition. Apparently earlier in the week ARSENAL representatives travelled to Madrid to have discussions with REAL MADRID Football Director Miguel Pardeza. The topic of conversation was midfielder ESTEBAN GRANERO with a personal message from Arsene Wenger of his interest in having the player over to London in

There was Benze-cat, and now there's Cris Charming. Yuck.
.
"He's NOT handsome!" was my wife's instant reply when I read Cristiano's post-game comments to her. I can only suppose that this is what happens when you read out comments that epitomize the arrogance of an ex-Manchester United Player to a Liverpool fan.

It is being reported this morning that Arsene Wenger has not finished his investment in the growing Arsenal squad, and is still looking for another top class creative midfielder, and it seems he is now looking at another cast-off from one of Spain's giants. This time the focus is on the out-of-favour midfielder Estaban Granero, [.

It is being reported this morning that Arsene Wenger has not finished his investment in the growing Arsenal squad, and is still looking for another top class creative midfielder, and it seems he is now looking at another cast-off from one of Spain's giants. This time the focus is on the out-of-favour midfielder Estaban Granero, [.

.At 12 midnight, after watching Liverpool go down 0-1 to Stoke, I decided to take a nap prior to Real Madrid's match which would be at 2am Singapore time: deciding to give Real Sociedad- Barcelona a miss. Before dozing off though, Barca was already 2-0 up with just over 15 minutes into the game.

I am in Philadelphia tonight for Real Madrid's third and final pre-season game in the U.S. The team has been training hard in California and they have flown 3,000 miles to a very warm Philadelphia for tonight's game.

More than 50,000 tickets have been sold for this game and the parking lots are full of Real Madrid fans with them all anticipating another convincing Real victory tonight.

(I posted this article first on Real Madrid Football Blog. The article can be found here):Marca says it's 39, AS says it's 38 Goals just like the rest of the World. That Marca refuses to correct the number: What idiots and losers.With 180 minutes of football left in the season and the outcome already decided, there has never been better time to experiment.

(I posted this article first on Real Madrid Football Blog. The article can be found here):Marca says it's 39, AS says it's 38 Goals just like the rest of the World. That Marca refuses to correct the number: What idiots and losers.With 180 minutes of football left in the season and the outcome already decided, there has never been better time to experiment.

(I posted this article first on Real Madrid Football Blog. The article can be found here):Marca says it's 39, AS says it's 38 Goals just like the rest of the World. That Marca refuses to correct the number: What idiots and losers.With 180 minutes of football left in the season and the outcome already decided, there has never been better time to experiment.

Let's hope the Offside gives Dan an account soon. Offside, anyone listening? HELLO? Dan's back for more about Los Che. Take it away ... Cesar

So we've turned the corner with a comfortable win over Sociedad (HOW DID THAT RABBLE BEAT BARCA?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!??). Fourth ours maybe?

Los blancos ya están pensando en la próxima temporada y han reforzado su centro del campo. El objetivo era conseguir un medio que acompañase a Xabi Alonso y los merengues ya lo tienen: Nuri Sahin. Su llegada puede provocar la salida de varios jugadores españoles.
Aún no ha terminado la liga, pero el Madrid ya empieza a pensar en el nuevo proyecto de Mou y el primero en subirse al barco será el jugador del Borussia y actual campeón de la Bundesliga, Nuri Sahin.

27.04.2011 - A los duelos catalán - madridista, Messi - Cristiano, Barcelona - Real Madrid, se suman en primera plana Guardiola - Mourinho.
Pep Guardiola se refirió a los arbitrajes (vídeo), Mourinho salió a la yugular (vídeo) y Pep volvió a contestarle (vídeo).

At the beginning of the season, Jose Mourinho, as part of his I'm-not-Harry-Potter tone to condition the expectations of the Real Madrid faithful, said that this Real Madrid would hit their peak form on their second season, just as he did with Inter (winning the treble on his 2nd season). It was also with this as a ‘base starting point' that explained his early season decision to establish a core starting XI and play them over and over and over again within his set system to get them familiarized with the ‘Mourinho way.

At the beginning of the season, Jose Mourinho, as part of his I'm-not-Harry-Potter tone to condition the expectations of the Real Madrid faithful, said that this Real Madrid would hit their peak form on their second season, just as he did with Inter (winning the treble on his 2nd season). It was also with this as a ‘base starting point' that explained his early season decision to establish a core starting XI and play them over and over and over again within his set system to get them familiarized with the ‘Mourinho way.

At the beginning of the season, Jose Mourinho, as part of his I'm-not-Harry-Potter tone to condition the expectations of the Real Madrid faithful, said that this Real Madrid would hit their peak form on their second season, just as he did with Inter (winning the treble on his 2nd season). It was also with this as a ‘base starting point' that explained his early season decision to establish a core starting XI and play them over and over and over again within his set system to get them familiarized with the ‘Mourinho way.

At the beginning of the season, Jose Mourinho, as part of his I'm-not-Harry-Potter tone to condition the expectations of the Real Madrid faithful, said that this Real Madrid would hit their peak form on their second season, just as he did with Inter (winning the treble on his 2nd season). It was also with this as a ‘base starting point' that explained his early season decision to establish a core starting XI and play them over and over and over again within his set system to get them familiarized with the ‘Mourinho way.

At the beginning of the season, Jose Mourinho, as part of his I'm-not-Harry-Potter tone to condition the expectations of the Real Madrid faithful, said that this Real Madrid would hit their peak form on their second season, just as he did with Inter (winning the treble on his 2nd season). It was also with this as a ‘base starting point' that explained his early season decision to establish a core starting XI and play them over and over and over again within his set system to get them familiarized with the ‘Mourinho way.

At the beginning of the season, Jose Mourinho, as part of his I'm-not-Harry-Potter tone to condition the expectations of the Real Madrid faithful, said that this Real Madrid would hit their peak form on their second season, just as he did with Inter (winning the treble on his 2nd season). It was also with this as a ‘base starting point' that explained his early season decision to establish a core starting XI and play them over and over and over again within his set system to get them familiarized with the ‘Mourinho way.

La recién Copa del Rey ganada por el Real Madrid, implicaba otra final de las firmas que representan a los merengues y a los blaugranas. Un choque entre adidas y nike. Ambos activaron el evento, ambos desplegaron sus fuerzas, y sus figuras para animar el derbi copero.

Al ganar el Madrid, los alemanes de adidas también pueden sentirse bien impactados, y sobre todo porque durante el encuentro pudimos ver una y otra vez su campaña "all in" en la valla de publicidad LED alrededor del campo.

Mourinho's Midfield B-Team: Kaka (as 'Face'), Graneo as ('Mad Murdock') and Lass as (Mr. D, er.. Mr. T). Mourinho would be none other than the Man with The Plan: Hannibal Smith.In his post-match assessment of last week's loss at the hands of Sporting Gijon, Jose Mourinho concluded that while the league is still ‘mathematically possible', it is ‘virtually impossible' to overturn Barcelona's 8-point lead to win La Liga.

Mourinho's Midfield B-Team: Kaka (as 'Face'), Graneo as ('Mad Murdock') and Lass as (Mr. D, er.. Mr. T). Mourinho would be none other than the Man with The Plan: Hannibal Smith.In his post-match assessment of last week's loss at the hands of Sporting Gijon, Jose Mourinho concluded that while the league is still ‘mathematically possible', it is ‘virtually impossible' to overturn Barcelona's 8-point lead to win La Liga.

On a weekend where the outcome of the Battle for the League Title has pretty much been decided for Europe's 3 Top Leagues: I find myself amongst like-minded Madridistas lamenting the fact that we are perhaps to be victims of fate. A 15-minute hat trick, complete with a swearing fit in front of camera from Manchester United pseudo-bad boy Wayne Rooney put Manchester United ahead by 8 points in England.

It's difficult to come up with an original title for this post, where all I can find myself buzzing about was this brilliantly captured phrase in today's column c/o AS' Mad Madridista Tomas Roncero..It's a bloody clever thing to call Benzema not just because of the fact that 1.) he's IS a former Olympique Lyonnais youth stalwart, or that 2.

Things would've turned out VERY differently had Ronaldo scored in the couple of chances he had in the first half.It's one thing to lose to team like Barca (regardless of the score), much less THIS Barca... or losing a Champions League tie to a team with some form of European Pedigree.