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Real Madrid Need More Conversion, Not More Possession

It seems easy to blame lack of possession (i.e. negative tactics) on Madrid’s defeat against Barcelona but numbers don’t tell the whole story. In fact, as Castrol EDGE Performance data shows, one of Real Madrid’s main problems in both the league and Champions League this season has been poor finishing in front of goal –…

UEFA versus Real Madrid and Barcelona

Uefa have initiated disciplinary cased against both Real Madrid and Barcelona in the aftermath of their diving contest Champions League semi-final clash on Wednesday. UEFA’s case against Real Madrid: The throwing of missiles, a pitch invasion, the red card shown to Pepe, the dismissal of coach José Mourinho, as well as the inappropriate statement given…

Dubious or not? Controversial refereeing decisions involving Barcelona in the Champions League

The build-up and aftermath of Barcelona’s victory over Real Madrid in their first-leg Champions League semi-final has been marred by Jose Mourinho’s comments regarding Coach Pep Guardiola and referees. The 0-2 defeat at the Bernabeu now leaves the nine-time winners aspiration of making it a perfect 10 in complete ruin. Los Blancos had Pepe sent…

The Strange Death of Brazilian Flair

Ahead of tonight’s semi-final clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona, Real’s Brazilian left-back Marcelo has pointedly suggested that he prefers ‘to win and not play well’ over defeat. He sums up an increasing trend in Brazilian football away from the flair and ingenuity which made the golden shirt a symbol of The Beautiful Game’.

Beyond Lionel Messi: An Alternative List of the Top 25 Football Players in the World (25-11)

In my previous article, I argued that the process by which we decide who the world’s best players are has been grossly distorted. A combination of mainstream media hype (backed up with its ‘statistics’ – often little more than a ruse to get people gambling) and a nostalgic longing for the return of the great…

Beyond Lionel Messi: An Alternative List of the Top 25 Football Players in the World (10-1)

In my previous article, I argued that the process by which we decide who the world’s best players are has been grossly distorted. A combination of mainstream media hype (backed up with its ‘statistics’ – often little more than a ruse to get people gambling) and a nostalgic longing for the return of the great…

Highest Football Club Wages

Player transfer fees and their larger than life wage bills are a common topic of discussion for a football fan of today. From Wayne Rooney threatening to quit to oil-rich owners going on shopping sprees, the footballers have now become spoilt and they now know that their high demands will be met at their current club or…

What Mourinho learned from 5-0 at Nou Camp

El Clasico is probably the most watched football derby in the world. Nowhere in the world so much is put on the line. If you think Chelsea and Manchester City have the most expensive players and the biggest wage budget, you should really take a look at the numbers Real Madrid and Barcelona spend. Without…

Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona: Catalans Close in on the Title, But Mourinho’s Men Rejuvenated

Barcelona practically wrapped up La Liga with a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu, but there were few celebrations fron Pep Guardiola’s men as Real Madrid appear to have gained a big psychological advantage going into the three remaining Classicos.

Cristiano Ronaldo Interview: ‘El Clasicos’ Ahead

Real Madrid’s convincing win over Tottenham saw them cruise to the semifinals all thanks to the conman-like Jose Mourinho. But the upcoming month for the Galacticos is something like you have probably come across in FIFA or Football Manager. Back-to-back matches against the same opposition in different competitions. Well, the video games have just been…