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2012/13 Pre-Season Schedules: Tottenham, Liverpool, Real Madrid and more

Despite the 2011-12 season just drawing to a close and Euro 2012 and the Olympics on the horizon, a raft of leading European teams are planning their warm up games for next term. With an increase in popularity in the game across in North America, it has been the trend for pre-season friendlies to be…

Barcelona’s Summer 2012 Transfer Targets: Who’s coming in and who’s going out?

Depending upon the outcome of Copa del Rey Final on May 25th against Athletic Bilbao, FC Barcelona can finish the 2011/2012 campaign on a (relative) high. Winning the domestic Cup competition is nothing to sniff at but it pales to the accomplishments achieved in previous seasons. FC Barcelona finished the season with 91 points; in…

Real Madrid’s Summer 2012 Transfer Targets

Jose Mourinho has a successful season in charge of Real Madrid. The Spanish side have become the deserved winners of the La Liga and fell just short in the Champions League. Despite this, the Portuguese manager will look to strengthen his squad even further going into next season, as Madrid seek European glory. Especially with…

Jose Mourinho: One Manager To Rule Them All

Real Madrid wrapped up the La Liga title last weekend, with Jose Mourinho leading the Santiago Bernabeu outfit to their first Spanish top-flight success in four years. A convincing 3-0 away win over Europa League finalists Athletic Bilbao sealed the triumph, and broke Barcelona’s stranglehold over the game in Spain. The achievement has not gone…

Madrid Win La Liga as Messi Breaks Another Record

Real Madrid clinched the La Liga title for the first time since 2008 after their 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night. A little over one week later after their Champions league misery, Jose Mourinho’s side have recovered to take the title from holders Barcelona. Gonzalo Higuain smashed home a superb 16th-minute opener after Cristiano…

10 Great Footballing Chokes

Everyone remembers the winners. Most know that Brazil have won a record five World Cups, that Real Madrid have won the European Cup/Champions League a record nine times, and that Manchester United have captured a record 19 English First Division/Premier League titles. But how many people can name every runner-up in those competitions directly from…

Ronaldo in New Boots Scores Twice But Can’t Avoid Champions League Defeat

After Chelsea’s success in Spain the previous night, Real Madrid would have been looking to add further insult to rivals Barcelona following their win over them at the weekend, by doing what Barcelona could not do and reach the Champions League Final. Cristiano Ronaldo was wearing a pair of sail/red Mercurial Vapor 8 football boots,…

‘The Special One’ – Jose Mourinho’s Success in Madrid

On 28th May 2010, it was confirmed Jose Mourinho would be taking over from Manuel Pellegrini at Real Madrid. ‘The Special One’ arrived at the Bernabau with a huge task on his hands. Since 2008, Barcelona had become the dominant force in Spanish football; it was his job to change this. Before joining Los Blancos,…

10 of the best Dutch footballers in recent years

The Netherlands international team go into this summer’s Euro 2012 tournament as one of the favourites and frontrunners, with quality throughout Bert van Marwijk’s side. However, unfortunately the Eredivisie has lost its ability to keep the best homegrown players in the country and Ajax’s UEFA Champions League glory of 1995 seems like an eternity ago….

El Clasico Stats: Messi v Ronaldo, Valdes v Casillas and Mesut Ozil

Ahead of Barcelona v Real Madrid this Saturday, we look at key stats and performers that will feature in El Clasico. The analysis looks at Messi v Ronaldo, Valdés v Casillas and Mesut Özil.   MESSI EDGES RONALDO  Ahead of this weekend’s decisive Clásico, we compare Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, the only…