Control of midfield the key to United success
MADRID, Spain ● Manchester United’s chances of earning at least a draw in the Bernabeu on Wednesday lie on the success of their midfield to close down Real Madrid and stop the supply line to Cristiano Ronaldo. United are in Spain preparing for Wednesday night’s clash, which pits two of the best teams in Europe [...]
Juve signs Anelka on 5-month deal
TURIN, Italy ● Former Arsenal, Real Madrid and Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has joined Juventus on a five-month deal from China’s Shanghai Shenhua, the Italian club said on Saturday. Juventus general manager Beppe Marotta told Sky Sport Italia that the 33-year-old ex-France international would help solve an “emergency” situation in attack. “It can be a [...]
Real Madrid, Sevilla into Spanish Cup semis
MADRID, Spain ● Real Madrid advanced to the semi-finals of the Spanish Cup on Wednesday after a 1-1 draw at Valencia saw Jose Mourinho’s side progress 3-1 on aggregate. Leading 2-0 from the first leg in Madrid, Karim Benzema gave Real the lead a minute before half-time but Tino Costa levelled for the home side [...]
Nothing can stop Messi and Barca
MADRID, Spain ● Barcelona set a new record for the best-ever start to a La Liga season on Sunday when a 3-1 win at Malaga allowed them to remain 11 points clear of Atletico Madrid and 18 in front of Real Madrid. Ballon d’Or winner Messi scored for a ninth successive league game and then [...]
Real Madrid slumps without Cristiano Ronaldo
MADRID, Spain ● Ten-man Real Madrid slumped to a dire 0-0 draw at Osasuna in the Spanish league as coach Jose Mourinho failed to compensate for the absence of top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo on Saturday. With Ronaldo serving a one-game suspension, Madrid’s pedestrian attack didn’t manage a shot between the posts until injury [...]
Juve want to avoid Real on return to last 16
MILAN, Italy ● Former two-time winners Juventus hope to avoid being drawn with Real Madrid when they end a three-year absence from Europe’s top football table and join the last 16 of the Champions League. Juve secured qualification for the knockout phase with a narrow 1-0 win away to Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. The win [...]
Another record Barca; Real survive Madrid derby
MADRID, Spain ● Lionel Messi closed in on Gerd Mueller’s calendar year scoring mark as Barcelona crushed Athletic Bilbao 5-1 Saturday to set a new record for the best ever start to a La Liga season and stay 11 points ahead of Real Madrid. Defending champions Real edged city rivals Atletico 2-0 with Cristiano Ronaldo [...]
Another record Barca, Real keep track
MADRID, Spain ● Lionel Messi hit a brace as Barcelona beat Zaragoza 3-1 to make the best ever start to a Liga season but Real Madrid kept in touch with a 5-1 win over Athletic Bilbao. There were doubts that Tito Vilanova could take on the mantle left by Pep Guardiola this summer but he [...]
Defensive Levante keep out Sevilla
MADRID, Spain ● A resolute defensive display saw Levante hold out for a 0-0 draw away to Sevilla on Sunday which moves them up to fifth in La Liga as they battle for a European place. Only Barcelona had taken points off Sevilla at home so far with Real Madrid amongst those defeated but an [...]
