La Liga

[Bulldog Force]

I was talking about Coppa Italia there...

Right, my bad

 

[Big Sam]

Last Barca/Bilbao final was actually in '09 at the Mestalla. Funny about Real Madrid's bitchiness.

Maybe to avoid all this the Spanish Federation should set the venue at the beginning of the season and if it ultimately ends up being the home ground of one of the finalists, then so be it.

 

[Bulldog Force]

Wow, the plot thickens! Real are refusing to host the Cup Final as payback to Barca, who did the same thing in 2004 for the Real Madrid vs Real Zaragoza final. Apparently, Valencia's stadium is being considered the favourite to get the final. (I haven't been able to find an english version)....

http://es.eurosport.yahoo.com/09022012/47/copa-rey-bernabeu-quiere-final-copa.html

Meh! Camp Nou is the best stadium in Europe!

 

[langpark]

Last Barca/Bilbao final was actually in '09 at the Mestalla. Funny about Real Madrid's bitchiness.

Maybe to avoid all this the Spanish Federation should set the venue at the beginning of the season and if it ultimately ends up being the home ground of one of the finalists, then so be it.

No they should absolutely not do that. It HAS to be neutral......

 

[Big Sam]

Barca minus Xavi, Iniesta, and Fabregas go down 3-2 in Pamplona. Madrid to host Levante tomorrow with the possibility of opening up a 10 point gap.

Title race all over?

 

[boxhead]

Couldnt wake up to better news, honestly. Still, Madrid have to get on with the job. If they beat Levante, it really is their title to lose.

 

[langpark]

Barca minus Xavi, Iniesta, and Fabregas go down 3-2 in Pamplona. Madrid to host Levante tomorrow with the possibility of opening up a 10 point gap.

Title race all over?

Well and truly....

 

[pennywisealfie]

tbh Real can have it imo. I want Champions League

 

[langpark]

tbh Real can have it imo. I want Champions League

I doubt this will be a view shared by the coach, players and most fans. Winning your domestic league should always be top priority, it's what you turn up for each week for a full season...

 

[Big Sam]

tbh Real can have it imo. I want Champions League

The concern for Barca is they're not playing well enough to even win the European Cup. Their depth's been really tested since Villa's injury. And the defense is flimsy. Mascherano's not a centre-half! They'll get over Leverkusen but after that, their fortune rests heavily on the draw.

 

[langpark]

I think they'll probably reach the UCL final, they seem to be able rise for the big matches, it's the 'easy' teams that they're failing to put away and that is what has cost them this season's title in La Liga...

 

[Big Sam]

I think they'll probably reach the UCL final, they seem to be able rise for the big matches, it's the 'easy' teams that they're failing to put away and that is what has cost them this season's title in La Liga...

That's a depth issue though. Because of the number of midweek games they have, Guardiola has to play the kids against the 'easy' teams. And whilst guys like Tello, Cuenca etc. may be stars in the future, they're clearly not ready for first team action.

Instead of paying $50M (or whatever it was) for Cesc, they'd have been better served buying 2-3 semi decent players for that money.

 

[Big Sam]

HT Madrid/Levante 1-all. Real getting a very lucky penalty on the stoke of halftime. Valencians are also down to 10 because of it.

 

[Bulldog Force]

Ronaldo

 

[Big Sam]

FT RM 4-2 Levante. Hattrick to Ronaldo. Meringues all but have title #32 in the bag.

 

[langpark]

Mallorca vs Villareal; Villareal are paying 3.10. Not bad odds given their recent form...

 

[langpark]

60th min, Villareal losing 3-0. Let that be a lesson, NEVER listen to my betting advice! :lol:

 

[Big Sam]

Against Mallorca and at that price, I can see your rationale though.

 

[Big Sam]

Messi ripping up Valencia. 4 goals - almost caught up with Ronaldo. All on his 200th Barca appearance.

Btw I'm not sold that Madrid have the title wrapped up. They do have a tough-ish run home. Games where they may not exactly lose, but also may not get all 3 points. And of course they do play Barca once more so the gap could be 7 points. Barca also have a period now where they can focus solely on the league until the UCL QF First leg in late March.

Barca of course have to be virtually perfect, especially away from home; something they've struggled with this season.

 

[Bulldog Force]

Oh Messi <3

First Division - Day 24

Barcelona 5 - Valencia 1

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Montoya, Puyol, Piqué, Abidal; Fábregas (Thiago 76'), Busquets, Iniesta (Xavi 85'); Alexis, Messi, Pedro (Tello 67'). 4-3-3.


Valencia: Diego Alves; Miguel (Ricardo Costa 24'), Rami, Víctor Ruíz, Mathieu; Albelda, Tino Costa (Mehmet Topal 82'); Feghouli, Jonas, Piatti (Jordi Alba 65'); Soldado. 4-2-3-1.


Goals:
0-1. 09. Piatti. Got on the end of long Feghouli cross to turn ball past Valdés.
1-1. 22. Messi. Beat keeper from wide angle after Rami blocked Pedro cross.
2-1. 27. Messi. Knocked rebound back in to net after Alves saved first shot.
3-1. 75. Messi. Clipped shot across Alves after keeper saved shot from Tello.
4-1. 84. Messi. Ran on to Busquets pass and scooped shot over keeper.
5-1. 90. Xavi. Lifted shot over head of keeper after Messi pass blocked.
Yellow cards: Albelda 04', Tino Costa 33', Soldado 64'.


http://www.soccer-spain.com/ssdocs/reports2011/div1/day24/report2.php