An infinite team (0-4)

Again. Again, officially the best team of the world.
Again, Barça's quality football has been recognized as the best of the world.
And the result of the final says it: Santos Futebol Clube 0-4 FC Barcelona.
Amazing, isn't it??
But it wasn't as easy as it seemed (realtively). Santos began with a 5-3-2 (most of the time a 4-1-3-2), but they weren't able to do anything, because Barça had the midfield almost completely choked. It's true they had chances, but when they had, Valdés appeared to say "today, no ball gets through me".
The first goal came in minute 16, by someone you already know very well (yes, Messi), after a through pass by Xavi which Messi spooned over Rafael Cabral, Santos FC's goalkeeper, and Léo (Leonardo Lourenço Bastos), the brazilian's left wing back, couldn't reach in time to avoid the can opener.
The 0-2 was made in Xavi, in minute 23, after a cross by Alves which Xavi chested (thereby avoiding Bruno Rodrigo's missiled tackle)and delivering an impressive low cannonball which Rafael Cabral couldn't stop.
The 0-3 was made in Cesc, one minute before half time, after a mess of rebounds, shots and more rebounds in the "peixe" (Santos FC's players and supporters nickname)area, Cesc finally caught the ball and, with Rafael Cabral gone forward, he scored at pleasure with the goal empty.
In the second half, Santos added more intensity to the rhytm, and both Borges and Neymar had clear chances, but Valdés thwarted them all.
And so in minute 82 came the fourth and ultimate, again by Messi, after a through pass by Alves, Messi faced Rafael Cabral 1 vs 1, and with a gentle yet amazing outside foot touch, he left the brazilian goalkeeper sold and scored at pleasure.
Unlucky that last season we lost the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid... If we had won it, we AGAIN would have made a sextuple, you know??
After the match, Neymar admitted that they stood almost no chance to win, and that what was forecasted happened.
With five of six this year (it's still impressive), Barça faces one last match, against CE L'Hospitalet, in the Copa del Rey trophy, to determinate who (logically, it should be Barça)advances in the knockout stage and who gets knocked out.
So, next Thursday, playing home, Barça-CE L'Hospitalet, 22:00.
You'd say a match of this class does not deserve a post, doesn't it?? Well then let me remember you that this match is gonna be the last of the year.
So, that's all for now, folks, see ya after the Barça-L'Hospitalet!!

Hands up, this is a robbery!!(1-3)

Again, football takes over dirty playing. Tonight, justice has been made in the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.

Real Madrid was the first to strike; they needed just 24 seconds (you heard well) to open the can: ball given to Valdés, Benzema and Ronaldo press him, he makes a mindless pass, and gives a present to Di María, Di María gives the ball to Özil, who shoots, but Busquets blocks, the ball is sent to the air, and Benzema catches it with a point blank bazooka-style volley to net in.

Oh, oh... we have some trouble up there...

But the culé would put the draw in minute 30: a classical "all people" slalom by Messi, he loses the ball to Pepe, but the ball is sent forward, Alexis catches it, runs as fast as he can to the merengue area, and, being annoyed by Ramos and Carvalho, he decides to try a low whip crack, enough powerful to end netted in from almost outside the area.

Now in the second half, Messi toyed around with destiny by unsuccesfully trying to stop Xabi Alonso, a try that only ended in a horrorful tackle from Messi, knowing that he already had a yellow card. Miraculously, he wasn't sent off. Phew....

Barça would strike again in order to make the 1-2, a goal that can be desribed as "such a fool and a luck of a goal": a ball is sent into the air after Alexis tried to strike again, Xavi tries a volley, and instead obtains a blunder, a blunder that crashes against Marcelo's legs and is refracted, catching Casillas off-guard and almost completely gone to the right side, to which the merengue goalkeeper couldn't reach the ball in time before it crashed in the post and went in.

Football isn't only ability, ladies and gentlemen...

Barça would put the definitive 1-3 with Real Madrid style: netting in a textbook counterattack: Piqué manages to tackle off Ronaldo, gives the ball to Xavi, then Xavi runs as much as he is able to, before giving the ball to Iniesta, who in turn givs it to Cesc. Cesc then gives the ball to Messi, who, in turn, gives it to Alves; Alves runs as much as he is able to and then centers, and, out of nowhere, Cesc appears, having won the position against Fábio Coentrão, and heads the ball in. OMG, this is a goal to remember...

Having won one of the most important matches of the season, Barça then travels to Japan in order to play the FIFA Club World Cup. The culés first rival will come from the match between the African Champions League (CAF) champion (Ésperance Sportive de Tunis) and the Asian Champions League (AFC) champion (Al-Sadd Sports Club).

Well, that's all for now folks, see ya after the FIFA Club World Cup final!!

Placid walk (4-0)

As expected. They had nothin' to do.

Even with the second team boys, it's been a placid walk.

First of all, Sergi Roberto (the future Cesc) opened the can after many fast-paced passes, with an almost invisible low shot, in minute 34.

Then, Martín Montoya (the future Dani Alves), scored the second in minute 58, after reciving a through pass by Pedro, and not hesitating on trying to reduce the ball to shreds.

Then, on minute 61, Pedro scored the goal of the match: after a multiple man dribbling by Isaac Cuenca (this kid is sure to get a first team contract next season), Cuenca, who was almost in goal kick out, managed to make a pass inside the area, then Pedro arrived, but it's not sure that if it's because he was going too fast, or because he just wanted to show off, but he netted in with a halfway turn crossed heel kick.

Finally, on minute 86, Isaac Cuenca received a penalty from an already surrendering Marko Simić, and Pedro transformed it.

That's a true top flight level show. BATE had nothing to do.

The next issue is commented in the previous post.

WARNING!! WARNING!! Planetary collision incoming!! El Clásico has arrived!!

I mentioned the aside post beacuse the next league opponent is Real Madrid CF.

Yes, it's El Clásico again.

No doubt this time there will be a planetary collision in the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. Knowing that this time Mr. Mourinho has found an effective way to combine Real Madrid's usual advanced suffocating pressure to choke out any ball exit with the player's natural skill to create picture-perfect counterattacks to really damage Barça, things are going to get seriously difficult this time.

Mourinho's strategy is designed to damage pass and possession play like Barça's, so I think that this time Guardiola will have to work an stiletto-vertical strategy to avoid the pressure lines. Anyway, we'll see what is and what isn't. So remember this, next Saturday, 22:00, PPV, Real Madrid-Barça, at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. Don't miss it, scorching hot action is granted!!

First 2 in 1 of the season: The chase begins: Alexis's match (4-0) & They eat'em five on five: Cesc's match(5-0)

The chase begins: Alexis's match (4-0)

They said Rayo Vallecano is a daring team. Well, let me modify that. Rayo Vallecano is a suicidal team. Have you ever seen anyone playing in the Camp Nou with a three man defense? (aside of UD Almería (that's an exceptional case))

I'd say no. But José Ramón Sandoval made a quite strange scheme: a 3-5-2 (wtf??), with long range left and right defensive midfileders, convertible (with this two long range defensive midfielders) in a 5-3-2 when it comes to defense, also aplying a suffocating pressure to choke and close any possible ball exit from the culé field. But they couldn't keep the rhytm.

After half an hour, Alexis (this dude promises) opened the can with a wonderful masterpiece: after reciving a pass from Xavi, with a gentle touch he dribbled Arribas, who seemed a tomahawk missile aimed at Alexis, and connected a heavily threaded shot that bounced off the post and went in (1-0). Wonderful. That's why he's called "Kid Wonder", isn't it?

Just ten minutes later, AGAIN Alexis struck (I wonder if Udinese misses him, 'cos he's doing really well here), after an horitzontal series of passes (Alves-Messi-Xavi-Alexis), Alexis, like a true killer, faced Cobeño and didn't forgive (2-0). Man, that's a wonderful (you get it?) way to earn fame.

Just a minute later, when Rayo was beginning to feel "gas-out", Villa scored a really silly goal: Piqué finds a corridor and connects a line-breaking pass to Alves who then faces Cobeño along with Villa, and gives the goal to Villa (3-0). Rayo is really "gas-out", believe me, because it's been such a fool of a goal...

In the beginning of the second half, Messi (nothing to say, y'already know him) scored another really silly goal: he catches a long pass from Alves, probes the ball with Casado, and gets past him with little effort, as Casado (like the rest of the team) is "gas-out", sprints the right side, enters the area, and, to everybody's surprise, no defender comes to face him, so, as if nothing, he gets in front of Cobeño, and beats him with little effort with a low and not very powerful crossed shot (4-0). This match is becoming a real fool... And so it finished with no more goals.

Next opponent is Levante UD, the surprising fourth placed team, who visits the Camp Nou with hopes of at least ripping out a point from there. So, next Saturday, 20:00, PPV, Barça-Levante, at the Camp Nou.

Well, that's all for now, folks, see ya after the Barça-Levante!!

They eat'em five on five: Cesc's match(5-0)

Five on five. Impossible to keep that rhytm.

We did not have to wait much to see the first: , an early can opener, just in the third minute, from Cesc, who, after reciving a pass from Xavi, surprised Munúa with an accurate low shot (1-0). Over everything, it's a psycological goal.

Many minutes later, in minute 33, a free kick after an outrageously blatant fault by Javi Venta over Alexis, is headed in by Cesc (2-0). Seems that today it's Cesc's day.

Three minutes later, with Levante UD still confused by the Cesc storm, the defense didn't pay attention to an easily interceptable pass from Messi to Cuenca (this kid is destined to be a future idol), who didn't hesitate in netting in (3-0). Whoa, two goals in three minutes... That's gotta hurt^^.

Now in the second half, still stunned by the three goals, Messi, after a line-breaker from Alves, beat Munúa with his fashion "silly cross". Nothing to say, we all know Messi.

And to close the handful, Alexis (this guy is rising faster than champagne foam), after a series of passes, tricks, and tackles by his partners, scored a quite lucky goal, as he tried to do the same than his first goal against Rayo Vallecano, but the ball bounced off Asier Del Horno's back, then off the lower crossbar and it ended quite narrowly going in (5-0). Luckily, the referee saw it...

After that, the UEFA Champions League comes again, as a fearful BATE Borisov comes for a visit. The match in Minsk was a placid walk, so things shouldn't be too difficult here. So, next Tuesday, 20:45, TV3? PPV?, Barça-BATE, in the Camp Nou stadium.

So that's all for now folks (pay attention to the finishing phrase under this), see ya after the Barça-BATE!!

(The next league issue deserves an aside post.)

The worst match we could lose (1-0)

There couldn't be a worse match to lose. We almost said goodbye to the league.

Barça has had the ball, and had many chances along the match, but, almost always, as soon as the ball was shot, it immediately found a leag, head or chest that diverted it. Messi?? Has not existed today. And Getafe only needed a corner and Juan Valera's head to spread panic in the culé squad.

All the chances that were clear to goal were punched out by Miguel Ángel Moyà, who won't forget this match, basically beacuse Getafe won. Alexis Sánchez is the man who did most damage, with some out-area tries that went out by centimetres. Messi also had a last-gamble chance that, luckily for the "azulones", smacked against the post.

...

I think we can begin forgetting about winning this season's league... Real Madrid now is six points over Barça... Conclusion: A catastrophic defeat.

Anyway, now we gotta think about next rival, newly promoted Rayo Vallecano, that comes to visit us, so that's the main scheme: Barça-Rayo, next Tuesday, 21:00 (TV3??)

That's all for now, folks, see ya after the Barça-Rayo (You'll suppose I'm not happy at all today)

Extraordinary!! We told you so^^ (2-3)

One word to define it (Fifa Online 2 classic): EXTRAORDINARY!!! It's been a frantic two-sided round-trip match.

Although the first goal was for the culé side, after Messi centered and Van Bommel involuntarily headed in the ball to an own goal (that's gotta hurt)(min. 13), AC Milan also endangered Valdés's goal much times. The answer and draw was made in Ibrahimović, only six minutes later, as Clarence Seedorf (classic in Milan's starting eleven) sees a misplacing in the culé defense, to which he gives a slow but poisoned ball to Ibra, which Puyol can't intercept in time. And when it comes facing the goalkeeper, Ibrahimović does not forgive (minute 19).

Then, in minute 30, Messi suffers a penalty, to which it is not known if it's Alessandro Nesta or Alberto Aquilani who tossed him to the ground. Anyway, it was given to Nesta, who'd also be booked, beacuse Aquilani already had a yellow card, and would have been sent off.

First try. Messi scores. It's not valid. Why? Messi tricks Abbiati with a "paradinha", thing that is illegal in top flight football. Messi booked (great^^). Messi tries again. Cannonball to the right. GOAL!!! Unstoppable for Abbiati, all in the same minute.

Then, in minute 55, we would see the best goal in the match, made in Kévin-Prince Boateng: a high, quite forced control from a too high pass from Ignazio Abate, and then, using the momentum from the chest control, leaves Abidal standing in his tracks with an almost extraterrestrial heel self-pass, and then he fusillates Valdés with an accurate, yet powerful low shot.

And they talk about Ibrahimović's, Robinho's and Pato's fancy stuff with the ball... man, what about this, man, WHAT ABOUT THIS???

But also this goal would suffer from another fast-paced answer: after tiring and dizzing the rossoneri with possession and possession, the defense inadvertently advanced too much, allowing Messi to connect an incisive through-pass to Xavi, who would not forgive in front of Abbiati (min.63).

From there on, AC Milan would put his pride on the line, and they could even draw, as near the end of the match, Aquilani managed to find a corridor on the culé defense and tried to connect a ball out there to Ibrahimović, but luckily, Busquets was paying attention, he took out the broom, and managed to close the corridor in time (he intercepted).

And then the end was whistled. Whew, that was a close shave... luckily we won. But, what the hell!!, that was a TRUE match, man!! THAT was a true match!! Hell yeah!!

Now, La Liga takes over again, as we go to the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, in Getafe, to play against the "azulones", Getafe CF, this Saturday, 22:00, TV3 (I suppose, od course) (Did you know that the budget cuts have arrived to the TV and the radio, and will cost TV3 the loss of two of his TDT channels, and also (sadly) the open emission of league matches?? Yes, it's true, and, believe me, it is VERY SAD). I'd like Mr. Mitjavila to also talk about this in the commentary.

Get ready to rumble, AC Milan (4-0)

You rossoneros, prepare yourself for the battle of your lives, as we cleared things up with this match AND you crashed down against Alberto Gilardino's ACF Fiorentina.

Just read about this match, and you'll know that a fearsome storm system is about to fall on San Siro:

We had to wait a nineteen minute domination in order to see the first: Messi receives a fault from Efraín Juárez, Xavi delivers a silked but quite low high pass into the area, and Piqué (WTF is he doing here), more clever than anyone, anticipates both Mateos and Roberto and heads the ball in (notice that the pass was so low that he even had to crouch in order to succesfully hit the ball). And that makes the can opener.

Scrapping the end of the first half, an outraging mistake of the "maño" defense left Messi in line with Efraín Juárez, but almost completely alone inside the area, so when he received a ball, imagine. Nothing to say, we all know Messi.

Surprising (and somewhat controversial (it's not what you think)) is that the third fell not much after the beginning of the second half (that's not the surprise), supposedly by the boots of Barça's beloved captain, Carles Puyol, as Cesc (living wonder) centered a perfect ball in the area, which Keita could have tried to head in, but he saw Puyol standing in front of the goal and decided to give him the goal, so he headed the ball to him, Puyol controlled and made a quite troubled flying kick (seemingly he isn't very good when it comes to shoot to goal... logical, he's a defender), which Roberto somehow managed to acrobatically block, but the rebound fell in a grounded Puyol's leg range, and there comes the controversy: Efraín Juárez ran to save his team, and tried to kick the ball out of the goal, but the replays show that when the ball was struck, seemingly it was done by both Puyol and Juárez, each of one with antagonical intentions, but no matter what, the ball ended in. There have been people that saw that as a goal by Puyol, but others saw it as an own goal by Efraín Juárez. Anyway, it's in.

Then, reaching almost the hour and a quarter of match, Alexis was changed by Villa. Everybody said that the "guaje" wasn't doing very well recently, but as soon as that became a "trending topic", Isaac Cuenca (season revelation) centered a ball, refracted into the air by Lanzaro's legs, and seeing no one to cover him, Villa headed in at pleasure (another outraging mistake by the defense). Bam! Lapidary answer by Villa to the rumours that he wasn't doing well.

Then Barça slowed down, Zaragoza tried to consume the remaining fuel in one last, desperated full throttle, but it was a pyrrhic effort, as Barça had almost no trouble on containing them.

As I was saying, you rossoneros, prepare for your own Third World War, beacuse La Liga takes a breath to settle in the UEFA Champions League again, and next Wednesday, there's gonna be a planet-size starship collision in San Siro. So, next Wednesday, 20:45, (I wonder) TV3, AC Milan-Barça, in the San Siro stadium (a dangerous place to be if you aren't a rossonero).

That's all for now, folks, see ya after the Milan-Barça!!

Atomic train collision (2-2)

It's maybe one of the craziest matches I've ever seen. The ball was constantly going from field to field. So? Epic "in extremis" draw in San Mamés (you'll see why).

As soon as the match began (both teams starting with a 4-3-3), action by both teams was granted. But the lions were the first to strike : Mascherano slips off while chasing Susaeta, allowing him to sprint all over the left side. As he gets to the area, Susaeta gives the ball to Ander Herrera, who tries to (and succesfully does) connect a magnificient threaded cannonball (min. 20, 1-0). Bam. Trouble. What the hell will we do...

Not much after, Abidal picks a dead ball from a leg mess, centers it straight to Cesc's head, who only has to make a small jump in order to strike an unstoppable header for Iraizoz (min. 24, 1-1). Wham! That's an answer!!

Late in the second half, luck would smile to the lions, as the field itself was beginning to trouble both teams, beacuse it was raining so heavily that the drainage pipes became overwhelmed and weren't able to absorb all that much water. That caused a ball from Mascherano to Valdés to go too fast and end up in a fatidical corner. Muniaín kicked it, and after a mess of rebounds inside the culé area, the ball ended up flippering in Piqué's right leg and ending netted as an own goal (min. 80, 2-1). OMG. Frozen water jar.

When the points seemed to clearly stay in Bilbao, the lions wanted to hurry too much, and there's an old proverb that says "hurries aren't good messengers". So: a dead ball causes a defensive mess in the lion area, in one of these Iraizoz left himself sold by trying to catch a nearly-kicked away ball by a defender (I think that was the later sent off Fernando Amorebieta), thereby leaving the goal empty ,and the ball fell right in Messi's boots. Imagine (min. 90, 2-2). Boom!! It's in the net!! Epic draw!!

It was said that Marcelo Bielsa was a fearsome coach, and now I suppose you'll understand why...

Well, we need some rest after this heart-attacking match, and we'll have it in the most curious way: with the first Copa del Rey match, against a Segunda División B club (CE L'Hospitalet), playing in the La Feixa Llarga stadium (theirs, as you'll suppose), this Wednesday, 20:00??, TV3.

Well, that's all for now, folks, I ain't gonna write about this match, so see ya after the Barça-Zaragoza!!

Clearing things up (0-4)

Spectacular. Just amazing.

That was a match to remember, mostly thanks to three records broken: first, Valdés became the most time unbeaten Barça goalkeeper (although Milan Petržela almost shattered his chance to it) , second, Messi scored his 200th goal with the culé t-shirt, and third, the 0-4 supposed the 500th goal of the Guardiola Age.

The Czechs made a flagrant and electrical beginning, creating up to three chances in only fifty seconds (you heard well). But slowly, slowly Barça regained control, although the match could have been radically different if Valdés didn't make a heavenly block when Milan Petržela managed to: catch an almost dead ball, quickly sneak through Puyol and Piqué, run the opposite field in no more than 7 seconds (that's speed), and get in a 1 vs 1 against him. Such a scare. But I shall repeat we've got one of the best goalkeepers in the whole planet.

The match didn't have the tides concretized to any team, until Marián Čišovský was sent off in minute 21 by commiting a penalty over Messi (finally!!! finally!!! a penalty over Messi that HAS been whistled!!!), by taking him down with a really silly tackle almost in front of the goalkeeper.

So Messi shot and scored. That made the can opener (0-1, min. 22).

In the first half's extra time, a brilliant heel assist by Cuenca (this dude is truly beginning to amaze everyone) leaves Messi alone to beat Pavlik at pleasure (0-2, min 45+2).

Late in the second half, again Cuenca connects a millimetrical assist that leaves Pavlik sold, and allows Cesc to volley at pleasure (0-3, min.71)

In the second half's extra time, another brilliant heel assist, this time by Piqué (WTF is he doing so advanced??) leaves Messi again alone against Pavlik, and you suppose (0-4, min. 90+2).

Could we ask for more? Maybe, yes^^ (Oh! I was forgetting Alexis Sánchez's reappearance in the late second half... He performed good quality deatils on the pitch).

Now, it's La Liga time again, as we visit San Mamés to face a refloated Athletic Club de Bilbao, this Sunday, 20:00 (PPV??). I also remark that our next Champions League match is gonna be such a challenge, as we'll visit San Siro to play against AC Milan, who are trying to refloat from the shock that one of their star strikers, Antonio Cassano, has just suffered a brain ictus. Luckily, he survived, but after that I don't think he'll be able to play football again, as rumours say that brain damage has been so severe that, if he truly recovers, he'll remain fool for life. I hope this rumours are false.

Well, thats all for now, folks, see ya after the Athletic-Barça!!

Panel discussion: why are anterior cruciate ligament breakings becoming so sadly common??

First, it was Afellay. Then, Ion Vélez, from Girona FC. Then, Eneko, from CE Sabadell FC. And now Villarreal's star striker, Giuseppe Rossi. All them have fallen victim to the "fashion" injury: anterior cruciate ligament breaking. So this is the question:

Why are anterior cruciate ligament breakings becoming so sadly common??

Don't hesitate to answer if you got anything to say!!

No doubt on who's da best (5-0)

Handful after handful. Barça is a bruiser, with all it's letters. I'm really sorry for Mr. Caparrós.

Caparrós seemingly also founs a way to override the 3-4-3, as Joao Victor has the first goal in his head, but will it be because he was nervous, will it be somewhat else, he missed (luckily).

Messi (who else?) vanished up all hesitations in minute 13: unlucky move for Mallorca, as while trying to stop Barça's pass and pass flood, Nsue, one of Mallorca's forwards (forward!! A forward defending?? It does not sound logical... Well, except in catenaccios) touched the ball with the hands (you'll say: supposedly involuntarily, then fault and direct free kick). Not exactly, as he did this inside his area, thereby committing a penalty that was transformed by Messi with a high ball-breaking shot.

Again, "La Pulga" struck in minute 21: Isaac Cuenca (a Barça B forward that had done merits to climb to the first team) managed to avoid Ivan Ramis, connected a long center that was mis-volleyed by Adriano, and that mis-volley landed right in front of Messi, who was right in front of the goal (what a coincidence, isn't it?), and he did not forgive.

Again, AGAIN!!, Messi struck, just nine minutes later, when he cannoned in a great pass by Alves (this guy has managed to do something worthy of YouTube, you'll see).

Four minutes after the beginning of the second half, Isaac Cuenca finally had the price he had been so desperately looking for: line-breaking assist by Thiago, Cuenca dribbles Aouate and scores at pleasure.

And in the late second half extra time, Alves scored an impossible goal that could be the goal of the month: Messi takes a fault short, Alves gets the ball, and out of nowhere he connects an almost 25 meter mindless cannonball from the vertex of the area that goes straight to goal, hits the lower crossbar, and bounces in the net (OMG you don't see that every day).

Poor "bermellones". Poor Mr. Caparrós. Well... this is football, folks, this is football.

Now, La Liga takes a breath to allow the UEFA Champions League to take over, this time we lay exactly the last match, but reversed (instead of Barça-Viktoria, Viktoria-Barça), so that means Barça will travel to Czech Republic, more concretely, to Prague (why? because Viktoria's stadium is like BATE's one: it does not accomplish UEFA's requirements). So, this Monday (ooooofffff, three matches in a less than a week... that must be tiring), 20:45 (TV3?? PPV??), Viktoria-Barça at the Struncovy Stadium in Prague.

That's all for now, folks, see ya after the Viktoria-Barça!!

Anesthesically boring three points (0-1)

...TRANSMISSION BEGINNING...

No doubt that this match has been a wake-up call for a Barça that is slowly getting asleep.

As happened in Gijón, the first half had many clear chances that went scratching he post, or were saved in the last instance by Roberto, Granada CF's goalkeeper (dubbed "The Pink Cat" in Granada, because of his more than once shown feline reflexes and Granada CF's first goalkeeper outfit, which is almost completely pink).

Excepting for one: In minute 33, Xavi received a foul from Mainz, one of Granada's centre backs (who later made an heroic act), and when it came to shoot it, Xavi loaded his right leg, and launched a masterly thread-effected cannonball, unstoppable for Roberto (0-1, the only goal of the match).

The second half was quite a difference from the first. The hesitations began when Pedro injured himself when he was trying to retain the ball while avoiding Dani Benítez's continuous tackles. In one of these, he made a 180º turn, but his left foot got stuck in the ground, he twisted it and he fell to the gound, having the bad luck of also landing on his foot. Ankle distension. Two weeks down. You see, there's no way to stop the injuries curse.

Later, in minute 64, Nyom, Granada's left back, gave a present to Villa by accidentally giving the ball to him, so Villa did not hesitate in giving the ball to Messi, who vaselined it over Roberto. When everybody thought that the 0-2 was about to be settled in the scorer, Mainz, running like no one did in this match, managed to kick away the ball with a last-chance dive as it was about to cross the line. Really, when Mainz did this, the whole Nuevo Los Cármenes became a joy explosion.

And I was forgetting that there were two sending offs in this match, both by double yellow card: one for Jaime Romero, when he was fighting a ball near Barça's area, made a risky dangerous play move; Maxwell anticipated him, tried to head out the ball, and so he (Maxwell) received a horroful kick in the chin which supposed Jaime Romero's sending off.

The other one was for Dani Benítez, who was getting despaired because the match was ending, and the draw was so close yet so far. So after Roberto kicked a very long ball from his area, Dani Benítez reached for it, but was whistled offside by the referee (replay shows that when the ball was kicked by Roberto, both Dani Benítez and Alexandre Geijo were in clear offside), so he ended up losing his temper and kicked the ball to the other pitch, to which the referee did not hesitate in showing him his second yellow card, and thereby, sending him off.

Amazing on how much juice can anesthesic matches have...

After all this endless chatter (don't worry, I'm about to finish), just remember the next opponent: RCD Mallorca, now commanded by a good'ol known Joaquín Caparrós (yes, the former Athletic Club de Bilbao's coach), but they have the field handicap: yes, we play home.

So, Barça-Mallorca, this Saturday, 20:00, at the Camp Nou (Suppose it'll be by PPV, as TV3 always broadcasts the 22:00 matches)

That's all for now, folks, see ya after the Barça-Mallorca!!

END OF TRANSMISSION. OVER AND OUT (finally)

Maginot Line (0-0)

Much like Inter did, Sevilla formed an almost unbreakable Maginaud Line with 100% effective defenders. And the many balls that the defenders coludn't kick away were saved by "the octopus", Javi Varas, most probably the man of the match today. Conclusion? An adamantium bunker.

Both teams had chances, although Sevilla was the first one to endanger, as seemingly Marcelino García had found a way to "override" the 3-4-3, hence Sevilla's most dangerous opportunity: a poisoned thread shot by Jesús Navas, answered with a world-class dive by Valdés. As Guardiola put on the field the B scheme (4-3-3), things apparently normalized: Sevilla was still trying, but Barça was beginning to endanger Javi Varas's goal.

So Marcelino said "no more. I'm happy with a draw" and ordered his players to form an unbreakable catenaccio. Along the second half, many chances fell, but all, ALL of them collided with Javi Varas. Really, Sevilla's goalkeeper won't forget this match. The biggest chance came in what was almost the last chance of the game: Iniesta manages to sneak in, only to receive a penalty (Finally!! A penalty whistled for Barça!!) by Federico Fazio. As logical, Sevilla players tried to lose as much time as they could, but really, Kanouté went too far away. First by annoying Messi when he was about to kick the maximum penalty, to which he received a yellow card. Immediately after being booked, he toyed around with destiny by kicking the ball away; luckily, the referee was writing his name on the bookings notebook, so he didn't see him, and then, the Malian made one last gamble by seemingly starting a reasonless, meaningless brawl with Cesc, to which he (Kanouté, of course) was directly sent off.

All that lost time (about three minutes) affected Messi's keen accuracy sense, so when he kicked the penalty, Javi Varas already knew where he had to dive, he did, and he blocked it. There was one last chance, a foul near, very near the area by Fernando Navarro (a few steps nearer and it's another penalty) that supposed Navarro's sending off via double yellow card. Messi made the last gamble by trying to direct it straight into the goal, but AGAIN, it collided with the defense and with Javi Varas (yes, again. It can really be said that is thanks to Javi Varas that Sevilla managed to rip a point from the Camp Nou)

Not always you can win, it's true, but losing this way, with the opponent never daring to make at least a decent attack... it simply and really pisses you off.

Well next opponent is recently promoted Granada CF, Tuesday, at 20:00, PPV (we really have to watch out this time, as we play in the Nuevo Los Cármenes stadium, where Granada proves that, whenever they want, they can stand face-to-face with the biggest and best of this league)

Well, that's all for now, folks, see ya after the Granada-Barça!!

Shallow flavored "viktory" (2-0)

We won, yes. But we deserved more.

Viktoria didn't even dare to attack, concentrating all their efforts in overloading their own area with white-shirted players.

Like always, no much time was spent before the first one came form the boots of "Lo Puto Gusiluz" (Andrés Iniesta; he was called this way by the RAC1 speakers when he scored that dramatical extra-time goal at Stamford Bridge): zig-zag walling between Messi and Iniesta which Iniesta ends up by leaving a defender stuck with an awesome hat, and then connecting a merciless left shot.

The second one did not come until minute 82 (the czechs transformed themselves into a human bunker for almost an hour, also, Messi seemed to have a collision with David Bystroň, which unstabilized him (Bystroň) and Messi ended up having the bad luck of having Bystroň with all his weight falling on his right ankle. He's injured FOR SURE.) Well, after all this chatter, let's retake the main thread: the second one did not come until minute 82, as an already-damaged Messi tried to culminate a counterattack driven by Villa, and again, AGAIN!!, he was object of a penalty which was not whistled, but luckily for us, between the referee's and the defender's confusion, Villa managed to sneak his right foot between the mess to connect a ball-breaking shot.

It's a "viktory", yes. But it has a shallow flavor. I shall repeat we deserved more.

Ok. Now the Champions League takes a breath to allow La Liga to return, and this time we face Sevilla FC (OMG!). OMG?? Don't worry, dude, we play home!!

So, you know, this Saturday, at 22:00 (I wonder it's gonna be broadcasted by PPV), FC Barcelona-Sevilla FC from the Camp Nou.

That's all for now, folks, see ya after the Barça-Sevilla!!

FIFA Virus?? I don' have that word in my dictionary (3-0)

FIFA Virus, eh?? That's no more than a cheap excuse.

True is that Racing began trying to trouble up barça with five players in the midfield and an the advanced pressure standard always used by Héctor Cúper .

To that we have to add something (guess what): another injury (this time Piqué is the fallen one). Yes, that's not a jinx anymore. It has directly become a CURSE!!

When Barça seemed to lose the north and Racing began putting more and more pressure, the "Polaris" of the team (guess who) came up with one of his classical maneuvers: dizzing up the rival with countless passes and then the classical "all-people-dribble-around" (dribbling even Toño, Racing's goalkeeper) and finishing with the right foot (Min. 11).

Sixteen minutes later, we could clearly appreciate that Cesc is having his own trace in the team, with his classical, yet still nasty and deadly second line incomings (well, he did not play, as he's injured, of course, but midfielders seem to be taking example from him), as Pedro made a quite forced high pass from the left which Xavi, making a surprise incursion from the midfield line, headed in at pleasure (really, he has to see it very clearly to use the head, as Xavi isn't very good when it comes to air play)(min. 27)

The next one would not come 'till minute 60 (I remark that in minute 58 Messi received a clearer than water penalty, which the referee (classical) did not whistle): Iniesta manages to connect a ball-breaking shot with his left foot (this guy also has to see it very clearly, as Iniesta uses his left foot almost only for running and walking) which almost shatters the left post, Messi catches the rebound, and does not forgive.

And finally, in minute 87 or 88 (I don't remember which), an almost-goal by Abidal (surpirsing): a high pass by Messi, Abidal chests the ball, and then connects an overhead cannonball, answered by Toño with a Superman-like dive in order to stop the ball.

FIFA Virus, FIFA Virus... I know we are in an economical crisis, and we need money, but this is going too far away!!

Well, now, La Liga takes a deep breath, as the UEFA Champions League group stage returns:

after a cruel draw against A.C. Milan, and a walk against BATE Borisov, we receive the last contender of the group: FC Viktoria Plzeň (did I write it well?). Should be another walk.

Well, that's al for now, folks, see ya after the Barça-Viktoria!!

Panel discussion: Do we really have to worry about the "injuries jinx" that Barça is suffering?

He, he... Seems I'm getting used to panel discussions... Here's another one:

Do we really have to worry about the "injuries jinx" that Barça is suffering?

Don't hesitate to answer if you've got anythin' to say!

Dark grey, almost black (0-1)

Dark grey match. That's what happened in El Molinón.

Barça began the match with the usual high energy, and we did not have to wait much for the first goal: min. 11, as a missile from Xavi crashes against the right post, Adriano catches a forced rebound and manages to connect an irregular, low and slow shot that, luckily, is refracted by a defender and ends inside the net.

We can't complain, coming from a defender, but comparing to other goals and masterpieces we've seen, this is quite an ugly and flawed piece. Well, the most important is that it ended in the net.

Barça had more chances along the first half, but the second never fell. In the second half, the madness began, first beacuse Abidal went to enlarge the injuries list (it's a second degree contracture, one week down, luckily), and then Barça seemed to sink, and Sporting began to add pressure and freak out the culés (you'll wonder why precisely freaked out. What about Maxwell's many gifts to the opponents??).

And things kept this way till the match ended.

Well, as La Liga takes a breath to let a national team takeover, I'll say the our next match is on Saturday, the 15th, at 20:00, vs Racing de Santander, playing home.

That's all for now, folks, see ya after the Barça-Racing!!

BATEd away (0-5)

Sorry for not being able to write sooner.

Let's begin.

Someone said: "Rubin Kazan, Rubin Kazan..." Excuse me? I didn't hear you!!

Just amazing. BATE began the match planting the tank in front of the goal (everybody, even the referee, defending) and it wasn't until minute 18 when that tank was blown up: great high pass by Alves, Messi intimidates (I don't know how, as he's quite smaller than him) Volodko, making him hit the ball as he steps backwards and net an own goal.

Then, four minutes later, a superstar-class center by Villa is awesomely headed in by Pedro.

Eight minutes later, BATE suffered from bad luck again, as what it seemed an easy ball wasn't well caught by Gutor, and Messi, pricking opportunism, headed it in.

Almost twenty minutes later, Messi equaled Kubala as the second top scorer of Barça's history, after a good pass from Alves followed by a ball-breaking shot from him.

Scrapping the second half's extra time, Villa finally was gifted with what he had been desperately looking for: a goal, after a present from the belarusian defense, Villa and Messi drove the counterattack, and, whereas everybody thought that Villa would give the goal to Messi, the "guaje" performed an awesome low, ball-breaking shot to beat Gutor for the fifth time in the night.

OK. Back home. Puyol injured. Recovered. Cesc injured. One month down. Along with Afellay, Adriano, Iniesta and Alexis. It seems that Espanyol has spreaded the jinx of injuries to Barça.

And, man, that's bad luck, beacuse our next rival is Real Sporting de Gijón, and we play in El Molinón... remember, last season they managed to rip away two points from us there after a masterpiece from their star striker, David Barral...

We should not be off guard, but if we play like we know, it should be an easy job.

That's all for now, folks, see you after the Sporting-Barça!!

Panel discussion: does the image of Real Betis being the current leader means that something strange is happening??

Here's another panel discussion:

Does the image of Real Betis being the current leader means that something strange is happening in La Liga??

Don't hesitate in commenting if you have any suggestion!!

Welcome to hell (5-0)

Welcome to HELL. That's how the Camp Nou greets it's visitors. And today it seemed to work.

We could ultimately say it was a "typical from home" match.

Although the first bite was from the colchoneros, with a quite lucky long shot from Tiago Mendes that slammed against the crossbar and went out, Barça went progressively up, and Atlético progressively down.

In minute 9 came the can opener: a greatest pass by Xavi, Villa chests it down, ingeniously feints up Antonio López and ends up beating Thibaut Courtois with a typical "ground power shot".

While trying to recover from the 1-0, the colchoneros suffered the worst disgrace a team can always find: an own goal, in minute 15, after a sensational pass by Xavi (man of the match for sure) Messi slams the ball against Courtois, and the rebound hits Miranda's legs, and despite the brazilian's best efforts, the ball ends up in the net, much to Courtois's dismay.

Messi (omnipotence personified) was the scorer of the three following goals (yes, it's a hat-trick, and again, against the colchoneros... they seem to be Messi's speciality), the first one is an amazing, rogue-styled move, coming from a throw-in, advancing forwards and suddenly feinting ino the area, at the same time leaving both Filipe Luis and Mario Suárez stuck, and then beating Courtois for the third time with a ball-breaking shot. So typical, yet still so amazing...

Let's get into the second one, another masterpiece (I highlight that between the third and this fourth goal Messi could have made a truly historical goal, if it wasn't for Perea, who was looking to kill Messi around this time, as Messi got the ball in the front of Barça's area, and I would not exaggerate if I say that he dribbled almost all of the opposing team and he ended in front of the colchonero area just before Perea tried to kill him.) Eeeeem as I was saying, the second goal from Messi is such another masterpiece: after an all-star pass by Xavi (omnipresent today), Messi makes his classical "all-people dribble-around" to end it with a "ground power shot", leaving Courtois beaten again and begging for the match's ending.

The fifth and last is another "typical from home" made goal: after dizzing and dizzing around the colchoneros (who had some chances near the end of the second half) Cesc gives the ball to Messi, who then makes a wall pass with Villa, to end up beating Courtois again with an impressive, almost spaceless "ground power shot" (Yes, Messi's preferred shots).

Falcao?? Has this guy existed today?? I'd say no, almost like the rest of the the colchonero team.

Well, take a deep breath, beacuse a looooong, very long travel to Minsk awaits us to play next Wednesday against BATE Borisov in the UEFA C.L. group stage (should not be too difficult, but lets not get off guard, beacuse another draw could really begin to complicate things in the C.L.).

If I remark something of the belarusians? Only their new star striker: a former colchonero, the serbian Mateja Kezman.

Well, that's all for now, folks, see ya after the BATE-Barça!!

Cesc: I knew this guy would save us some day!! (2-2)

Another draw. What to say? Too "logged out". Barça seemed to be a lil' bit too "logged out" of the match, and Valencia used it to do a great deal of damage.

The beginning of the match was a total madness, after 15 minues both teams were tied 1-1, but both goal were scored by Barça players (you'd wonder if there's been an own goal, and I say that, unluckily, yes).

First of all, in minute 10, Jéremy Mathieu (Valencia's most incisive man) made a strong, low pass to Soldado from the left side, and Abidal (the unlucky fool of the match) while trying to clear the ball to corner, man, I don't know however he's done that, but he ended up touching the ball with the heel, redirecting it to the goal, catching offguard a full output Valdés and scoring the 1-0 for the "che". An unlucky move.

But the answer was instantaneous. In the next play (minute 11), barça kept looking for the goal 'till Messi found a gap to give a defense-breaking pass to Pedro who did not forgive against Guaita. Instantaneous answer. Extraordinary!!

Again, in minute 23, almost the same scene tham in minute 10 was repeated: Mathieu connects a deadly pass from the left side, Abidal ends up not clearing it (I suppose he was not sure of which maneuver to do to avoid another own goal) and Pablo Hernández, who was right behind the frenchman, caught the ball and did not forgive against Valdés.

Then Valencia added chloroform to the match. 'Till minute 75, when Cesc the Savior rose: "the fashion duo" (Cesc-Messi) acted up again to put the 2-2 in the scorer after Messi putting on another defense-breaking pass, this time to his good'ol friend, Cesc (did I mention that Messi, Cesc and Piqué are childhood friends??), already prepared to "bullet up" right to Guaita's goal and not forgive.

Despite the draw no one is disappointed. Our next opponent is one of the two "fashion teams" of the moment: Atlético de Madrid (yes, I'm sorry for Mr. Toni, but this Saturday we'll be eternal enemies for a hour and a half). Counting their matches with victories, Atlético has become a fearsome team, mainly due to to their "midfield grandmasters" Diego Ribas and Arda Turan, and their well known, yet still imposing striker Radamel Falcao (a.k.a "El Tigre" (The Tiger)).

And all this, on Saturday, 22:00 (probably on TV3, because 22:00 is the hour they always broadcast matches).

That's all for now, folks, see ya after the Atlético-Barça!!

The "rojillos" pay the piper (8-0)

How could we define it? A complete and total bruising.

Osasuna seemed to have permanently lost the north, and Barça used it to toy around with'em, scoring almost at pleasure.

The first strike came at minute 4: assist by Alves to Messi, who nets in with a point-blank volley. A psicological goal over anything.

The second came at minute 13: world-class spoon pass by Messi, and Cesc (no words left to describe him) almost breaks the ball with a tremendous volley.

About the third goal there's no much to say: typical line-breaking assist that Villa nets in after dribbling Andrés Fernández. But hey! The assistant was no other one than Abidal.

The fourth goal, fairly speaking, should not have been validated: great high-long pass by Messi to Villa, who is parting from a seemingly clear offside position, Villa drives the counterattack alone, shoots, Fernández blocks, but the dead ball hits Roversio's legs and ends up netted as an own goal.

The fifth: Cesc returns the favor to Messi: Xavi gives the ball to Cesc, who breaks in the area like a battering ram, controls the ball with a Romário-like 180º turn, and then gives the ball to an immobile, expecting Messi, who does not hesitate in netting the handful.

The sixth is a true wonder: great pass by Alves, Xavi makes an extraordinary control followed by a Romário-style vaseline (note thas as the ball entered, Andrés Fernández's face was an open book desperately begging for two things: mercy from the culé side and the ending of the match).

The seventh happened to be somewhat like the fourth: Osasuna suffers a defensive mess, Ibrahima loses the ball to Cesc, who clearly takes control of it with the left wrist, Cesc and Villa advance straight to Andrés Fernández, Cesc makes a death pass try to Villa who dribbles Fernández and nets in.

The eighth is a typical Messi-style goal (basically beacuse the goal was scored by Messi): Good assist from Cesc to Messi, who (again) makes an "all-people dribble-around" and gets sooooo nervous when facing Andrés Fernández that he even feints the final shot two times before releasing it and netting the eighth and ultimate goal.

Poor "rojillos". I feel sorry for them.

Well, now that we've recovered the winning ways in the best way possible (I guess that CA Osasuna did not deserve to pay the piper from the last two draws, but this is football, ladies and gentleman), get ready for a match of intensity, suffering, beacuse next opponent is Valencia CF, and we play in their territory (I guess you suppose we play in Mestalla), next Wednesday, 22:00 (sorrily too late for me :-( ), luckily broadcasted by TV3.

That's all for now folks, see ya next Thursday after the Valencia-Barça!!

Tuesday, the 13th: an unfair draw to begin the Champions League (2-2)

Tuesday, the 13th: something terrible was said to happen and it happened.

Barça has just been victim of a hell of unfair draw.

But the first team to strike was Milan, and how fast!! Almost lightning speed!! They only needed 23 seconds (you heard well, 23 seconds) to put the 0-1 in the scorer, after a world-class self-pass and a soundspeed 40 meter sprint ended with a powerful low shot under Valdés's legs, all made in Alexandre Pato (no doubt this guy will be among the world elite in a few years).

An unexpected cold water jar. But Barça did not throw the towel, and they began cornering Milan in their own area till the first arrived: a classical "all-people dribble-around" by Messi that ends in a death pass to Pedro who only has to push the ball.

In the second half arrived the second and the best goal of the match: a CR7-like foul shot by Villa, straight to the right square, unstoppable for Abbiati. Then Barça had more chances, but in the last gamble from the "rossoneri", Thiago Silva seemingly was enlightened by God: Abbate shot the corner apparently to no one, but then, out of nowhere, Thiago Silva appeared, and with a kangaroo jump followed by a masterful header, he made the Camp Nou shut up for the second time in the match (note that when Thiago Silva scored, some Barça fans bursted out of their seating in rage and anger).

Football is not always fair with the best team, you see... Hope we have better luck with BATE Borisov. And now let's focus in La Liga again, as we receive CA Osasuna.

That's all for now, folks, more after the Barça-Osasuna!!

Another curse?? Anoeta: the story of Guardiola's black beast (2-2)

4 victorys, 17 draws and 11 defeats.

What? No, i'm not talking about Sporting de Gijón or Racing de Santander, no.

These numbers are everything that Guardiola has done in Anoeta as player and manager. Surprising, isn't it?? I'd say yes. It seems that Real Sociedad is somewhat Guardiola's black beast (while playing as visitors, they're a joke team, but playing as locals, they can become a nightmare even for Barça and Madrid).

The match begun as it had to begin: Barça taking the lead role and scoring two goals in 11 minutes (Xavi (the grandmaster of the midfield) and Cesc (I shall repeat: This guy is on fire!!)).

But after that, Barça seemed to take a nap, thing that Mr. Philippe Montanier used in favor of the "Txuri-urdin".

First of all, after half an hour of game, Estrada delivers an horrorful tackle to Alexis. Result? Alexis, two months K.O., and Estrada, not even a yellow card. Who was the referee?? Mateu Lahoz (that says everything).

The catastrophe culminated in the second half, in a period of three fatidical minutes: 59-61.

1- A very long pass from Griezmann to Agirretxe that Xabi Prieto manages to save from throw in. Then Prieto delivers a clumsy, slow, and heavy long pass that Agirretxe somehow heads in Valdés's net. That makes the 1-2 (min. 59).

2-The most polemical instant of the game: counterattack driven by Agirretxe, Valdés makes a fake outcome (not typical at all in him), Agirretxe dribbles past him, shoots, and Busquets (the unlucky fool of the match) does not have other idea than crossing in the shot's path and handling out the ball to the crossbar. Everyone was claiming penalty and sending off, when Griezmann came and headed the falling ball in. This ended with everybody arguing with Mr. Lahoz, who finally validated the goal and gave a yellow card (still no known if it's for Busquets for handling out the ball, or for Zurutuza, for too much protesting) (min. 61).

Conclusion? We may be the best team of the world, but arrogancy is one of the worst enemies, and the "Txuri-urdin" have forced us to learn the lesson.

We gotta get in the way again, beacuse La Liga takes a breath and the UEFA Champions League group stage begins, with AC Milan visiting the Camp Nou this Tuesday (Yes, Ibrahimovic will also come, yes^^).

Well that's all for now, folks, hope we'll find the good way again and easily get rid of CA Osasuna, the 3rd league opponent.

Villarreal, Villarreal... "Villa-Porras"!! A handful to begin (5-0)

Could we wish a better beginning?? Maybe, yes^^, but have no doubt that today Barça has signed a dream-like beginning for this season: first match, first handful of goals (impressive, isn't it??).

And not against Racing de Santander or Levante UD, no, against Villarreal CF, one of the strongest rivals of La Liga!!

Like I always did, after the introduction, i'll tell things as how they happened:

1-0: Thiago (Kid Wonder): Enveloped by three defenders, he hasn't got a sure pass to Messi or Alexis and, out of nowhere, he kicks an impressive low shot that ends in the net.

W O W, what a goal.

2-0: Cesc Fàbregas (This guy is on fire!): A truly killer assist by Messi that leaves Cesc alone against Diego López. Cesc dribbles him and scores at pleasure.

It's a so traditional yet still so beautfiul goal...

3-0: Alexis (Grande Alexis!!): A Koeman-like long pass by Thiago that Alexis mercilessly kicks into the net.

Too bad that Alexis received a yellow card for removing his shirt while celebrating his first goal as a culé...

4-0(1) and 5-0(2): Messi (The omnipotent God of football)(Continues below)

1-After stunning Villareal CF with passes and more passes (typical Barça) a final assist by Iniesta is taken profit by Messi with a powerful left shot.

It's a so traditional yet still so beautfiul goal...

2- After stunning even more the yellow-shirted players, Messi passes the ball to Thiago, Thiago enters in the area and retains 'till Messi appears, and then connects a death pass to Messi. Diego López is able to see it, but is unable to launch Messi into the air in time to prevent the handful.

Like everybody would say: "Typical from home."

Two words describe this match for every side: For Barça, Dream Beginning

For Villarreal, Total Humiliation

Eeeeehm where was I going?? Aaaaaah yes!! That's all for now, folks, see you after the Real Sociedad-Barça!! (remember it's gonna be the 11th of September 'cos there will be a stop for national team play)

Luis Enrique about to be fired? A.S. Roma eliminated from Europa league in playoff round by SK SLOVAN BRATISLAVA!!!!

Luis Enrique said he was going to try export the Barça style to A.S. Roma, and it seems the players aren't answering well AT ALL.

Proof?? Roma has been eliminated from Europa League in playoff round by a little joke team like SK Slovan Bratislava!!!

I don't know you, but I think that, with that ignominious, shameful and bashful defeat and subsequent shocking elimination, Luis Enrique has his days counted in A.S. Roma...

Panel discussion: Should we take things lighter now that FC Oporto has just lost Radamel Falcao?

Well, that's the question of the the day (it's a panel discussion, so I'll leave the question and you the answers, ok?):

Should we take things lighter now that FC Oporto has just lost Radamel Falcao for Atlético de Madrid?

Any answer about it is welcome!

To begin: an analysis of the newly promoted to La Liga

To begin talkin' about football, we'll make an analysis of the three teams promoted to La Liga this year, in substitution of the relegated RC Deportivo, Hércules CF and UD Almería. These teams are:

-Real Betis Balompié, S.A.D.: Promoted as Liga Adelante's champion, Betis is a team that needs shooting, but that is capable of instilling fear to anyone in their path. Why? Simple: They play exactly the same way than Barça: offensive possession football with advanced forward pressure to lock the enemy on their own field.

-Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D.: Promoted as Liga Adelante's runner up, Rayo is a fearsome team because it's players are like a pack of ravenous wolves for goal. From the first to the last second, they are always loyal to their superoffensive scheme, in which ALL players run into the opposite team's field ,almost like thrown by some kind of bazooka, to tamp them down. Currently they are in very serious economical trouble.

-Granada CF: Promoted as the play-offs winner, Granada can be defined as a team with stylish offensive ways. Currently having the 94% of its players on loan from Udinese Calcio (due to a multimillion-dollar scam suffered in Segunda B that almost left the team in bankruptcy), however, they made maybe the greatest season of their lives, because not every day you see a team recently promoted from Segunda B being Promoted to La Liga in the following season.

They have very versatile players, balanced between attack, defense and technique with the ball, being the three quintessential examples of that the left forward, Dani Benítez, the right forward, Fabián Orellana, and the centreforward and star striker of the team, Alexandre Geijo.

Well that's all for now, next post probably after Málaga-Barça. Well then, goodbye and see ya in the next post!

Hey, everybody, hello again!

Heeeeey people, wassup??

Soooo much time without me! Did you miss me or not?

Well, that's not the main scheme. This blog opens to follow the pathway of my older blog cut in half in the middle of January. Yeah, exactly the same subject: Barça, Barça and more Barça.

What to do, I'm a culé from the skin to the bone marrow...

This season promises lots, lots of action, believe me. So, May God help us achieve the treble again... and if we do, one last prayer for the sextuple... and maybe more titles (Catalonia Cup? Audi Cup?)

Well, too much meaningless chatter. Just say goodbye and see ya in the next post!! ;-)