Afzal's Blog: La Liga

Showing posts with label La Liga. Show all posts

Unknown Thursday, January 24, 2013

Athletic Bilbao’s Fernando Llorente to Join Juventus in July

EFT Report, Bilbao: One of the most sought after striker of last season, Spanish international Fernando Llorente will be leaving La Liga side Athletic Bilbao for Italian giants Juventus come summer on a free transfer deal.

The 27-year-old, who will be out of contract with Athletic Bilbao after the end of this season, has signed a four-year deal and will officially be a Juventus player from July 1, 2013.

Fernando Llorente

Unknown Thursday, January 24, 2013

Casillas to Miss Madrid CL’s Clash Against Man Utd With Broken Thumb

EFT Report, Madrid: Los Blancos’ inspirational captain Iker Casillas has been ruled out for 6 weeks after breaking his thumb during the 1-1 draw Copa del Rey clash against Valencia on Jan. 24, 2013. Saint Casillas, as he is popularly known as, will eventually miss the Champions League Round of 16 clash with English giants Manchester United on Feb. 13, 2013 at Santiago Bernabeu and is also highly doubtful for the return leg in England.

"After carrying out initial X-rays at the La Moraleja Sanitas Hospital, it has been confirmed that the footballer Iker Casillas has suffered a fracture at the base of the first metacarpal on his left hand," a statement on Real Madrid website reads.

Madrid’s Casillas to Miss CL’s Man Utd Clash With Broken Thumb

Iker Casillas

Unknown Wednesday, January 23, 2013

La Liga: Xavi to Sign New 2-Year Barcelona Deal

EFT Report, Barcelona: Influential Spanish playmaker Xavi Hernandez, whose current deal is due to expire in June 2014, is all set to sign a new two-year FC Barcelona contract extension that will keep him at Camp Nou till 2016.

The 32-year-old, who came through the Barcelona youth academy ‘La Masia’, will ink the deal official on Monday (Jan. 28, 2013).

Xavi has won six La Liga titles with FC Barcelona since making his debut in 1998.

Xavi Hernandez

Unknown Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Arsenal FC to Offer £10 Million for Barca’s David Villa

EFT Report, London: Desperate time calls for desperate measure after the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea FC in the weekend Arsenal FC boss Arsene Wenger is all set to break the money vault again, this time for FC Barcelona want-away Spanish striker David Villa. The London club will be to offering £10 million for the former Valencia striker before the transfer window closes.

Since his big money move to Catalan giants FC Barcelona from Valencia in 2010, injury has prevented the 31-year-old from cementing a permanent starting place in the talented FC Barcelona squad. Despite Barcelona saying he is not for sale, Villa has indicated that he want to move on to get more regular play-time.

David Villa

David Villa has made 62 appearances for FC Barcelona scoring 28 goals and he is Spain’s national team top goalscorer with 53 goals from 85 matches.

Unknown Thursday, January 17, 2013

La Liga: Victor Valdes Says No to New Barcelona Deal; to Leave in 2014

EFT Report, Barcelona: FC Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes has turned down offer to extend his contract at Camp Nou when it expires in 2014. The 31-year-old Spaniard, who has spent his entire career with the Catalan giants, will be playing out his existing contract which expires on June 30, 2014.

'The agents of Victor Valdes have communicated to Barcelona in a meeting held this afternoon the irrevocable decision of the player to not renew his contract', his representative released a statement on Jan. 17, 2013.

Valdes have won a total of 19 titles including 5 La Liga, 3 Champions League and 2 Copa del Rey with FC Barcelona but have always played second fiddle to Madrid’s Iker Casillas for Spain at the international front.

Victor Valdes

According to sources, Victor Valdes will be joining former boss Pep Guardiola at Germany’s Bayern Munich.

Unknown Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Pep Guardiola Signs 3-Year Deal With Bayern Munich; To Take Over as Coach in July

EFT Report, New York: In an unexpected move Pep Guardiola, one of the world most sought-after footballing coach, has signed a three-year deal with German giants Bayern Munich snubbing mega-rich English clubs Chelsea FC, Manchester City.

The 41-year-old former Barcelona FC coach will take over Bayern Munich in July 2013 after current coach Jupp Heynckes retires. Heynckes had already informed the Munich club of his retirement plans before Christmas.

Pep Guardiola, who is on a sabbatical in New York, is best-known for his work with Catalan giants Barcelona FC, where he won 14 trophies in four-seasons.

Bayern Munich currently sit atop the Bundesliga nine points clear of Bayer Leverkusen and will be meeting English club Arsenal FC in the Champions League Round of 16 next month.

Pep Guardiola

Unknown Tuesday, January 15, 2013

EPL: Atletico Madrid Ready to Offer £15 Million for Man Utd’s Chicharito

EFT Report, Madrid: With its prize assets Radamel Falcao and Adrian Lopez all set to leave the club come end of this season, Spanish side Atletico Madrid are all-set to renew its interest on Manchester United Mexican striker Javier Hernandez popularly known as ‘Chicharito’ with an attractive £15 million offer.

The 24-year-old Mexican international have scored 12 goals this season for the Red Devils.

Manchester United signed Chicharito for £7 million from Mexican side Guadalajara in 2010.

Atletico Madrid Ready to Offer £15 Million for Man Utd’s Chicharito

Unknown Monday, January 07, 2013

La Liga: Barcelona Beat Espanyol 4–0 (Watch All Goals, Highlights)

Barcelona started their 2013 La Liga football season with a victory at Camp Nou on January 6, 2013, continuing their unbeaten track of 2012.

Barca's 4–0 win over local rivals Espanyol means that Tito Vilanova's side continues to set records and after 18 games they have amassed an incredible 52 points from a possible 54.

Pedro scored two goals where as Xavi and Lionel Messi scored one goal each.

Unknown Friday, December 28, 2012

Cristiano Ronaldo Snubs New Madrid Contract

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has refused to sign a new deal with Spanish giants Real Madrid and will be seeing out his final two years contract till 2015 until some drastic changes take place.

According to sources, the 27-year-old, who have scored 23 goals for the Spanish champions this season, was offered a contract extension until 2018 with a 50 per cent increase in his salary which he declined.

Ronaldo joined Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009 for £80 million to become the most expensive footballer in history.

Unknown Thursday, December 20, 2012

Man City’s Yaya Toure Named African Footballer of the Year

Ivory Coast's Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure was named African Footballer of the Year for the second consecutive year running beating his national team mate Didier Drogba at the African Football gala in Accra, Ghana.

The 29-year-old, who joined Manchester City from Barcelona FC in 2010, played a key role in helping Citizens’ win the Barclays Premier League 2011-12 season and was part of the Ivory Coast national team that reached the African Cup of Nations final.

Shanghai Shenhua’s Didier Drogba came second while Barcelona FC midfielder Alex Song, who left Arsenal FC in the summer, was placed third.

Unknown Thursday, December 20, 2012

Champions League Rd of 16 Draw Out: Real Madrid to Face Man Utd, AC Milan Against Barcelona

The draw for the knock-out phase of the UEFA Champions League 2012-13 is finally out.

Given below are the Round of 16 fixtures:

Galatasaray vs FC Schalke
Celtic vs Juventus
Arsenal FC vs Bayern Munich
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Borussia Dortmund
AC Milan vs FC Barcelona
Real Madrid vs Manchester United
Valencia vs Paris St Germain
FC Porto vs Malaga.

Unknown Wednesday, December 19, 2012

La Liga: Tito Vilanova to Step Down as Barca Coach After Tumor Relapse

In a shocking news that will stun the footballing world, Barcelona FC coach Tito Vilanova is likely to step down from the top post at Camp Nou after a suspected relapse of a tumor he had removed last year.

The 44-year-old, who took over as Barcelona head coach from Pep Guardiola in June 2012, had undergone a surgery in November 2011 to remove the growth on his parotid gland.

Under Tito, Barcelona FC are unbeaten in the Primera Division this season, winning 15 and drawing 1 in the 16 games played so far and more importantly the Catalan giants are 13 points above eternal rivals Real Madrid.

An official confirmation from the club awaits.

Unknown Wednesday, December 19, 2012

La Liga: Messi to Sign New 6-Year Barca Deal Worth £17Million a Year

The planet best football player Argentine Lionel Messi (25) is all set to sign a new 6-year deal with Barcelona FC worth a whooping £17 million a year that will see him stay at Camp Nou till 2018.

In the new contract, Messi’s buy-out clause is estimated to be around £210 million. Inspirational skipper Carles Puyol (34) and playmaker Xavi (32) have also agreed to new deals, the club has announced.

This is the sixth time the three Ballons d'Or winner has renewed his contract since joining Barcelona FC youth academy in 2000.

Unknown Sunday, December 16, 2012

La Liga: Messi’s Brace in Barca 4-1 Win Over Atletico Madrid; Goal Tally at Amazing 90

Lionel Messi's amazing goal-scoring run continues as he took his goal tally of the season to a record shattering 90 goals in Barcelona 4-1 win over their nearest rivals Atletico Madrid in their La Liga match played at Camp Nou on December 17.

Diego Simeone’s men took the lead in the 31 minute with a superb-solo goal from who els….... but Radamel Falcao but the Catalan giants hit back with goals from Adriano, Busquets and a brace from the Argentine wizard to complete the 4-1 thrashing. With this win Barcelona maintained their cent-per-cent record; winning 15, drawing 1 in their 16 La Liga matches played so far. Meanwhile, Real Madrid torrid run in the Primera Division continues as a late goal from Juan Angel Albin helped Espanyol earned a well deserved 2-2 draw at Santiago Bernabeu. Portuguese pair Cristiano Ronaldo and Fabio Coentrao found the net for Los Blancos.

Barcelona still top La Liga points table with 46 points followed by Atletico Madrid on 37 while Jose’s men are at a distant third with 33 points.

Unknown Sunday, December 16, 2012

Karim Benzema is French Footballer of the Year for 2012

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been named French Footballer of the Year for 2012 by France Football for the second successive year; the Santiago Bernabeu favorite, who joined Los Blancos in 2009, beat Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery to win the coveted award.

The 24-year-old had a prolific 2011-12 season finding the net 21 times in Primera Division as Real Madrid went on to registered their 32nd La Liga title.

Montpellier’s coach Rene Girard was named coach of the year.

Unknown Friday, December 14, 2012

EPL: Chelsea FC to Offer £10 Million-a-Year Deal for Atletico’s Falcao

Chelsea FC are going all-out to sign Colombian goal scoring machine Radamel Falcao from Spanish side Atletico Madrid come transfer window by offering a whooping £10 million-a-year contract for the in-demand striker.

According to sources, Blues owner Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has already approved the move. The 26-year-old striker will be offered a £200,000-per-week contract.

Atletico Madrid paid £38 million for Falcao's services to Portuguese side FC Porto in 2011.

Unknown Thursday, December 13, 2012

Messi’s Brace in Barca 2-0 Win Over FC Cordoba in Copa del Rey; Goal Tally at 88

There is just no stopping of this footballing wizard from finding the opposition net this year, Lionel Messi scored his 87th and 88th goal of the season in Barcelona’s 2-0 win over FC Cordoba in the first leg of their Copa del Rey (King's Cup) Round of 16 encounter at the Nuevo Arcangel on December 13.

Meanwhile, eternal rivals Real Madrid went down 2-1 to Celta Vigo in their Copa del Rey last 16 tie away at Estadio de Balaidos. Ronaldo scored the lone goal for Los Blancos’ while Bermejo and Cristian Bustos found the net for Celta Vigo.

All the return-legs will be played next month. FC Barcelona are the current holder of Copa del Rey.

Unknown Monday, December 10, 2012

La Liga: Falcao Scores 5 Goals in Atletico 6-0 Thrashing of Deportivo

Colombian-goal scoring machine Radamel Falcao scored an incredible 5 goals as Atletico Madrid demolished newly promoted side Deportivo La Coruna 6-0 in their Primera Division match played at Estadio Vicente Calderon on December 9.

Radamel Falcao, who has been heavily link with a move to English side Chelsea FC, has now scored 19 goals in 15 games. Diego Costa scored the other goal for Atletico Madrid.

With this win, Atletico consolidated their second place in the La Liga standing, five points clear of third place Real Madrid and six points behind table topper Barcelona.

Unknown Monday, December 10, 2012

La Liga: Barca’s Fabregas Out for 4 Weeks With Thigh Injury

Barcelona FC’s playmaker Cesc Fabregas has been ruled out for 4 weeks after tearing a thigh muscle during the Catalan giants 2-1 win over Real Betis at Estadio Benito Villamarin.

The 25-year-old came off after just nine minutes into the match against Real Betis and is expected to miss three to five games.

Fabregas has scored seven goals and made nine assists in 21 appearances this season so far.

Unknown Sunday, December 09, 2012

La Liga: Messi’s Brace in Barca 2-1 Win Over Betis; Breaks Muller Record

Argentine footballing magician Lionel Messi scored his 85th and 86th goals of the season, breaking the 40-year-old record of 85 goals in one calendar year set by Germany’s Gerd Muller in 1972, in Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Real Betis in their La Liga encounter played on December 10.

Ruben Castro scored the lone goal for Real Betis in an evenly fought match played at Estadio Benito Villamarin. With this win, Barcelona maintained their 11 points lead over arch rivals Real Madrid, who won their weekend match 3-2 away against Real Valladolid.

Messi now has 86 in 66 matches this season, 74 goals for Barcelona and 12 for Argentina. Messi has also become Barcelona's all-time leading goalscorer in La Liga with 192 goals.

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