Benzema double keeps Real in Barcelona slipstream

January 31, 2010

A delightful back-heel from Jose Maria Gutierrez set up Karim Benzema for the first of a brace as Real Madrid, without suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, beat Deportivo La Coruna 3-1 on Saturday.

The win kept Real five points behind Barcelona who had earlier defeated Sporting Gijon 1-0 to stay top of La Liga in a game which also saw the champions reach the 50-goal mark for the league season.

Esteban Granero headed Real ahead after 13 minutes with the game played out in the home side’s half at the Riazor where the Madrid giants had not won for almost 20 years.

With Felipe Luis injured, Manuel Pablo moved to the left-hand side and the defence never looked comfortable especially against the pace of Benzema.

Raul Gonzalez had the chance to add to the lead with a close-range volley before a moment of real quality from Guti.

Through on goal instead of shooting on his weaker right foot, he back-heeled the ball into the path of Benzema to slot home.

Deportivo had their chances in the second half as Real took their foot off the gas and in a late rally Ivan Riki scored a penalty. The last word though was from Benzema who wrapped up the scoring in injury time.

“We went out to get the result from the very start even though this was not a win at all costs game. We knew how to deal with an important match against a good side,” said Real coach Manuel Pellegrini.

“I am very happy with the win because it was in a stadium which traditionally has been a difficult place to come for Real Madrid and also because we played well, although it did get a bit tight at the end.”

Barcelona stayed top after Pedro Rodriguez scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Sporting Gijon.

Mate Bilic went close with a header for the home side before Pedro put the visitors ahead with a clinical finish from a defence-breaking through ball by Andres Iniesta on the 30-minute mark.

“This is a good result for us because we played in a stadium where very few teams have won,” said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

“My only regret is that is that we did not make the right decisions in the final moments of the game that would have made the result a lot more comfortable.”

Sporting coach Manolo Preciado though felt that the free-kick that led up to Barca’s goal was not correctly taken.

“That goal was first of all an error from the referee and then from us but this is part of football, sometimes it goes for you and others not,” he said.

A Luis Garcia strike saw Espanyol overcome Athletic Bilbao 1-0 in a scrappy match to give them breathing space at the bottom of La Liga earlier Saturday.

The home side dominated from the start a match in which injury-hit Athletic were never able to get into their stride.

The Athletic keeper Gorka Iraizoz made a couple of important interventions in the first half but he was powerless to block Garcia’s close-range winner on 58 minutes after good work from Javi Marquez down the left wing.

The result moves Espanyol six points clear of the relegation zone but for Athletic, who are chasing a place in Europe, they have now lost back-to-back games.

Despite only managing a draw away to lowly Tenerife, Valencia are well placed to qualify for the Champions League but on Sunday they face a crucial game against fellow aspirants Sevilla who have dropped off the pace since Christmas after losing three of their last four matches.

BARCELONA (AFP)

Tags: Andres Iniesta, Barcelona, Bilbao, close range, Esteban Granero, Europe, Felipe Luis, five points, goal mark, guti, injury time, ivan riki, Jose Maria, Karim Benzema, la coruna, last word, left hand side, luis garcia, MADRID, Manuel Pablo, manuel pellegrini, Pedro, pedro rodriguez, pep guardiola, raul gonzalez, real madrid, riazor, right foot, ronaldo, SEVILLA, sporting gijon, Tenerife, Valencia

‘Iniesta generation’ flooding Barcelona maternity wards

January 29, 2010

The first week of May 2009 was a rather good one for Barcelona fans and it seems like many of them celebrated in the time honoured fashion.

An historic 6-2 humiliation of arch rivals Real Madrid at their Bernabeu home on May 2 that effectively wrapped up the La Liga title was followed on May 6 by Andres Iniesta’s brilliant, last-gasp goal at Stamford Bridge that took Pep Guardiola’s side through to the Champions League final at the expense of Chelsea.

According to a survey of hospitals and clinics by a local radio station, the euphoria (and other emotions) generated among Barca fans by those two performances has had a rather unexpected result nine months on.

Maternity hospitals say they are struggling to cope with demand for beds and the survey, by COMRadio, of four hospitals and a clinic showed births this week and those expected next week are 45 percent higher than the average.

“When we notice some sort of surge we look for the reason and it’s evident that the cause of the increase this week is the euphoria of Barca fans thanks to the huge win (against Real) and Iniesta’s goal,” El Mundo newspaper quoted Mercedes Rodriguez of the city’s Quiron Clinic as saying.

The babies were popularly known in Barcelona as “the Iniesta generation”, the paper added.

We did a story out of Berlin a couple of years ago that, disappointingly, showed expectations of a baby boom in Germany inspired by the 2006 World Cup proved to be little more than wishful thinking.

“It’s unrealistic to think that because there were more parties and people forgot their birth control it would make a statistical difference,” Nicola Huelskamp, a consultant at the German Economic Institute in Cologne, told us.

It seems thrashing Real Madrid and getting through to the Champions League final are pretty special events for the Catalans.

PHOTO: Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta celebrates his goal against Chelsea during their Champions League semi-final second-leg at Stamford Bridge, May 6, 2009. REUTERS/Albert Gea

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Tags: Albert Gea, Andres Iniesta, arch rivals, baby boom, Barcelona, barcelona fans, CHELSEA, cologne, comradio, euphoria, gasp goal, Germany, last gasp, local radio station, MADRID, maternity hospitals, mercedes rodriguez, Nicola Huelskamp, pep guardiola, quiron, real madrid, reuters, stamford bridge, statistical difference, unexpected result, wishful thinking

Rooney’s relentless workload must worry Capello

January 18, 2010

Fabio Capello hates the concept of “one-man teams” but the England manager faces an anxious few months watching Wayne Rooney shoulder a punishing workload at Manchester United.

The striker is far and away United’s most important player this season as he takes up the slack left by Cristiano Ronaldo’s summer move to Real Madrid and his value to his club is matched by that to his country.

Quite simply, United would have no hope of keeping the Premier League title out of Chelsea’s hands without Rooney and England have little chance of winning the World Cup unless he is firing on all cylinders.

Rooney has been sensational for United this season, scoring 15 Premier League goals already, but with precious little margin for error in the scrap for the title manager Alex Ferguson dare not rest him because one more defeat in the league could prove terminal for a side that has stuttered this season.

Barring injury, it is more than likely Rooney will play in United’s remaining 16 league matches and will also be key to their Champions League hopes.

Ferguson is also unlikely to rest him for this week’s League Cup semi-final against Manchester City, although he might be spared from the final should United prevail over two legs.

All Capello can really do is hope that Rooney avoids serious injury and does not burn out in the hectic months ahead. He may even be secretly hoping that United’s Champions League campaign is cut short by AC Milan.

England have never had a problem replacing central defenders, workhorse midfielders and target men. All-round players like Rooney are a rarity in the English game, however, and Capello has no back-up option as far he is concerned.

For that reason alone, England’s odds for winning the World Cup are ludicrously short. They are second favourites behind Spain who seemingly have two or three world class players in every position on the field.

Cesc Fabregas is the best midfielder in England this year by a country mile, yet Spain also have Andres Iniesta and Xavi and Xabi Alonso playing at a similarly high level. Brazil, too, boast far more depth in terms of creative attacking players, as do Argentina.

Capello knows Rooney is is his trump card and the Italian can be excused for watching every United game from here until May with his hands in front of his eyes.

PHOTO: Wayne Rooney throws a cone during a practice session at Al-Sadd club in Doha January 14, 2010. REUTERS/Fadi Al-Assaad

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Tags: al sadd, Al-Assaad, alex ferguson, Andres Iniesta, Argentina, brazil, central defenders, CHELSEA, Doha, England, england manager, english game, fabio capello, fabregas, firing on all cylinders, little chance, MADRID, man teams, manager alex ferguson, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, midfielders, Milan, premier league goals, real madrid, ronaldo, Spain, target men, two legs, wayne rooney

Man City must aim higher still

January 13, 2010

This time last year, I wrote a piece arguing that Manchester City were setting their sights in the transfer market pathetically low.

For a club with almost limiteless funds, putting Craig Bellamy and Nigel de Jong at the top of the transfer wish list was a bit like a Lottery winner hunting through the racks of last year’s suits at TK Maxx.

Since then, their dealings in the transfer market, with the exception of moves for Carlos Tevez and possibly Emmanuel Adebayor, have shown a similar lack of ambition.

As well as Tevez and Adebayor, City have signed Joleon Lescott, Kolo Toure, Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz and now Patrick Vieira, who is returning to the Premier League at the age of 33. Most of them are decent players. None of them are from the top drawer.

It may seem perverse to criticise City when they have just won their fourth successive league game, a Tevez-inspired 4-1 success over Blackburn Rovers, to climb to fourth place under an ambitious new coach in Roberto Mancini.

Yet now, with the Champions League a realistic target and no one in the Premier League looking beyond their reach, this is precisely the time they must set their sights much, much higher than the rollcall of mediocrity they’ve spent the last couple of years assembling.

What is Roberto Mancini’s coaching philosophy? What sets them apart from the other clubs, like Aston Villa, with their noses pressed up against the Big Four glass?

How many non-City fans could tell me what their first choice midfield is? Who is the player pulling the strings? What are the team’s defining characteristics? Are they ruthless counter-attackers led by the bustling Bellamy, reformed Rusholme Ruffians inspired by Robinho (or Stephen Ireland) or do they have aspirations to pass teams into submission?

You can see why City might be reluctant to shop at the high end of the market after two high-profile failures — first Robinho, who has not done much to suggest Real Madrid were unwise to let him go, and then the 100 million pound rebuff from Kaka – but they should not let that discourage them.

I’m not saying City need to make a “galactico” signing in the 100 million pounds range. They should, however, be shopping for elite internationals at the peak of their careers, the sort of players who can really stamp an identity on the side. Patrick Vieira? Five or six years ago, maybe.

Once City have established an identity, they should find it easier to attract more top players who find the prospect of playing for them appealing from a football point of view.

Tevez was a good start. Next on the list should be David Villa, Franck Ribery, Kun Aguero, Andres Iniesta, Karim Benzema, and if they want to be really cheeky, Nemanja Vidic and Cesc Fabregas.

How much debt was it that Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan wrote off? £300 million should get you a lot more than the current hotch-potch of styles and players, and fourth place in the league.

PHOTO: Manchester City’s new signing Patrick Vieira (L) poses with manager Roberto Mancini during a photocall at the club’s Carrington training complex in Manchester, January 8, 2010. REUTERS/Phil Noble

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Tags: Al Nahyan, Andres Iniesta, carlos tevez, CITY, city fans, craig bellamy, DAVID VILLA, decent players, Emmanuel, Gareth Barry, Karim Benzema, kolo toure, league game, lottery winner, MADRID, man city, Manchester, manchester city, nigel de jong, Patrick, patrick vieira, Phil Noble Source, premier league, profile failures, pulling the strings, real madrid, roberto mancini, Robinho, rollcall, roque santa cruz, ruffians, santa cruz, Stephen Ireland, target, top drawer

Barcelona´s Messi named World Player of the Year

December 22, 2009

Barcelona and Argentina striker Lionel Messi was crowned World Player of the Year by world football’s ruling body FIFA on Monday.

Messi, whose goals this year helped Barcelona win the Champions League final and World Club Cup final, thus succeeds Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo as the world’s top player, as voted by national team captains and coaches.

Messi has played a huge role in the recent success of Spanish giants Barcelona, who have won a total of six trophies in the past season including the Champions League title and the World Club Cup trophy last week.

The Argentine forward’s talents were given the ultimate thumbs-up earlier this month when he was voted the winner of the Ballon d’Or for the European Footballer of the Year.

On Monday Messi, 22, had been in contention with Barcelona teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi, both from Spain, Brazilian striker Kaka of Real Madrid, the winner in 2007, and last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo also won both trophies last season.

While Ronaldo won the Ferenc Puskas award for goal of the season while playing with former club Manchester United, one of Messi’s goals was among the highlights.

Messi profile

Despite his diminutive stature Messi, who stands 1.69 metres or five feet seven inches tall, rose above United’s defence in the Champions League final in Rome to head the second of Barcelona’s goals in their 2-0 victory.

The Argentine is also known for his superb dribbling and fast, mazy runs that leave opposition defences in tatters, and on Monday he was just as quick to share out the plaudits.

“I want to thank my teammates, notably those who are present here tonight, without whom none of my achievements would have been possible,” said Messi.

“2009 has been a wonderful year for Barcelona and also for me.”

Messi’s goal against United in last season’s final was his ninth of the 2009 Champions League campaign and left him as the competition’s top scorer.

Last week Messi also proved decisive in the World Club Cup final. He scored Barcelona’s second goal in the 2-1 victory over South American champions Estudiantes of Argentina.

In 2009 Barcelona also won the league title, the King’s (Spanish) Cup, the Spanish Super Cup and the European Super Cup.

ZURICH, Switzerland (AFP)

Tags: Andres Iniesta, Argentina, Argentine, Barcelona, body fifa, champions league final, club manchester united, cristiano ronaldo, cup trophy, five feet seven, footballer of the year, league campaign, lionel messi, MADRID, plaudits, real madrid, ronaldo, South American, Spain, Switzerland, tatters, team captains, wonderful year, world football, world player of the year, ZURICH, zurich switzerland

Pique set to extend Barca contract

December 21, 2009

Barcelona is keen to hold on to the key players of their current, succesful squad. Gerard Pique is next in line to extend his contract at Barca after key players like Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Carles Puyol already signed a new contract with the Catalans.

“Gerard Pique will be one of the next players to renew his contract,” chairman Joan Laporta told several Spanish media on Monday. “He deserves it. He is one of the best in the world in his position.”

Pique, whose current deal with Barca expires in June 2012, is poised to extend his stay with the European and Club World Champions. “I consider it a challenge to be part of this beautiful and succesful club for many years.”

22-year-old Pique began his Barca career at the age of 10 and later spent three seasons at Manchester United and one term on loan at Real Zaragoza before returning to the Catalan capital where he was a key part of last year’s treble-winning side.

Tags: Andres Iniesta, barca, Barcelona, carles puyol, catalans, gerard pique, joan laporta, lionel messi, Manchester, manchester united, new contract, real zaragoza, spent three, three seasons, treble, winning side, world champions, Zaragoza

Messi Player of the Year, Ronaldinho Player of the Decade

December 11, 2009

AC Milan’s Ronaldinho has been named World Player of the Decade by prestigious British magazine World Soccer.

The same magazine picked Barcelona’s Lionel Messi as their Player of the Year.

Former winners of the Player of the Year award, which has been active since 1982, are: Cristiano Ronaldo,Kaka, Fabio Cannavaro, Ronaldinho, Pavel Nedved, Ronaldo, Michael Owen, Luis Figo, Rivaldo, Zineddine Zidane, Gianluca Vialli, Paolo Maldini, Roberto Baggio, Marco van Basten, Jean-Pierre Papin, Lothar Matthaus, Ruud Gullit, Diego Maradona, Michel Platini, Zico and Paolo Rossi.

Ronaldinho won World Player of the Decade ahead of Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

Meanwhile Barcelona won the Team of the Year Award while Messi won the World Player award.

Messi, winner of the 2009 Ballon d’Or, is the first Argentine to win World Soccer’s World Player award since Diego Maradona in 1986.

Messi won the award ahead of his Barcelona teammates Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

After just one season in charge of Barcelona, Pep Guardiola received the award for Manager of the Year while former Wolfsburg manager Felix Magath came in second place and Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson came in third.

Tags: ac milan, alex ferguson, Andres Iniesta, Argentine, Barcelona, cristiano ronaldo, diego maradona, fabio cannavaro, felix magath, gianluca vialli, jean pierre papin, lionel messi, lothar matthäus, luis figo, Manchester, marco van basten, michael owen, michel platini, Milan, paolo maldini, Paolo Rossi, Pavel Nedved, prestigious british magazine, roberto baggio, ronaldo, ruud gullit, zineddine zidane

Real and Barca sweep FIFA world player nominees

December 8, 2009

Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid have swept the list of five nominees for the 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year award.

Barcelona are represented by Spanish midfielders Andres Iniesta and Xavi along with Argentine playmaker Lionel Messi, the strong favourite for the award to be handed out on December 21.

Real Madrid are present thanks to the inclusion of Brazilian Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugal international who won the award last year when in Manchester United colours.

The quintet have emerged from an initial 23-strong shortlist with voting restricted to the coaches and captains of national selections.

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: Andres Iniesta, Argentine, Barcelona, fifa world player, fifa world player of the year, fifa world player of the year award, giants, inclusion, kaka, Lionel, lionel messi, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, midfielders, national selections, PARIS, playmaker, portugal, quintet, Real, real madrid, ronaldo, shortlist, united colours, world player of the year, xavi

Ronaldo behaviour causes a real stir in Madrid

December 7, 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo has become a real favorite with Real Madrid fans with his dazzling skills and goals but they saw a different side of the Portuguese captain in the 4-2 home win over Almeria on Saturday when he didn’t celebrate a vital goal with his team-mates and was then sent off for kicking an opponent.

Ronaldo won a controversial 82nd minute penalty – with goalkeeper Diego Alves appearing to get a hand on the ball – with the score at 2-2 but fluffed his spot-kick only for team-mate Karim Benzema to spare his blushes by slotting in the rebound.

Rather than celebrate with Benzema, Ronaldo strangely walked back to the centre circle in disappointment at missing his penalty although Frenchman Benzema played down the incident afterwards.

“He (Ronaldo) told us he was really sorry in the changing room,” said Benzema. “It is the type of thing that can happen to anyone. He was disappointed to miss the penalty but afterwards he was happy I scored. He is a great professional and wants the team to win.”

Despite not celebrating, Ronaldo said he was happy for Benzema, declaring: “I am a perfectionist but the good thing was Karim managed to score.”

Real coach Manuel Pellegrini defended Ronaldo’s behaviour saying the world’s most expensive player didn’t have any problems with his team-mates.

“It is difficult when you miss a penalty not to dwell on it,” said coach Manuel Pellegrini. “It wasn’t bad sportsmanship and he (Ronaldo) doesn’t have a problem with anyone else nor is he selfish.”

Minutes later Ronaldo scored Real’s fourth goal rolling in from close range and ripped off his shirt to celebrate earning him a yellow card for his trouble and it proved a significant booking.

Frustrated by being on the receiving end of shirt-tugs and late challenges, the former Manchester United man was justifiably sent off in the closing stages for kicking Juanma Ortiz completing an action-packed ten minutes for Ronaldo.

“I am human and have my faults too,” said Ronaldo. “It was an instinctive reaction and I have apologised to my team-mates.”

Ronaldo’s red card means he is now suspended for next weekend’s trip to rivals Valencia having only just returned to action following his ankle injury. “It is a game I really wanted to play in so I am sad,” he admitted.

It has been an eventful week for Ronaldo who ended two months out injured with a dramatic first start in ‘El Clasico’ against Barcelona last Sunday with the winger left to rue a glaring early miss as Barca went on to win 1-0 at Camp Nou.

Ronaldo also rubbed Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta up the wrong way in the match by accusing him of diving and the two had some choice words on the pitch before the softly-spoken Iniesta insinuated afterwards that it was a bit hypocritical coming from Ronaldo.

“It disturbed me that Cristiano felt the need to tell me that I shouldn’t dive,” said an irate Iniesta. “He is not the most appropriate person to be doing such a thing.”

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: almeria, Andres Iniesta, bad sportsmanship, Barcelona, blushes, camp nou, changing room, close range, Diego Alves, frenchman, Goalkeeper, instinctive reaction, juanma, Karim, Karim Benzema, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, manuel pellegrini, perfectionist, ronaldo, saying the world, team mate, team mates, tugs, Valencia, yellow card

Barca go five clear with Xerez win

December 3, 2009

Barcelona and their new Ballon D’Or victor Lionel Messi moved five points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the Spanish league with goals from Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic sealing a 2-0 win at Xerez on Wednesday.

Barca built on their 1-0 win over foes Real in Sunday’s ‘Clasico’ and piled more pressure on their rivals in a rearranged league fixture to accommodate their participation in the FIFA World Club Cup in Abu Dhabi in mid-December.

France international Henry headed the opener 58 seconds into the second half before substitute Ibrahimovic scored his ninth goal of the season with a delightful chip in the final minute.

Messi, basking in lifting the Ballon D’Or 24 hours ago, came on as a substitute and hit the post before setting up Ibrahimovic’s goal.

Champions Barca are also in league action this Saturday at Deportivo La Coruna while Real host Almeria.

The Xerez game had been brought forward due to Barca’s participation in the FIFA World Club Cup in Abu Dhabi and coach Pep Guardiola rang the changes with Ballon D’Or winner Messi, who won the award on Tuesday at a canter, starting on the substitutes’ bench.

Messi was joined by first teamers Andres Iniesta, Ibrahimovic, Gerard Pique and captain Carles Puyol while Sergi Busquets was suspended following his stupid dismissal against Real.

Nevertheless there was enough quality on show with Thierry Henry, Dani Alves and Xavi, voted third in the Ballon d’Or, to test a Xerez side that had been thrashed 5-1 by Getafe last time out to leave them rooted to the bottom of the table.

With key inventive players missing Barcelona struggled to create chances and it was not until the 25th minute that they looked like scoring with Frenchman Henry shooting over the bar from an acute angle.

Two set-pieces provided the best first half opportunities with Cote D’Ivoire midfielder Yaya Toure, who recently expressed his disappointment at not being in the first team, wasting a golden chance as the ball ricocheted off his chest to goalkeeper Renan Brito.

Barca had drawn their last three league matches but Guardiola didn’t panic with the score 0-0 at the interval and 59 seconds into the second half the breakthrough came.

Brazilian left back Maxwell broke down the flank and stood a cross up for Henry to glance a header in off the underside of the crossbar.

It was Henry’s first goal since his controversial handball helped France eliminate Ireland in the World Cup play-off and he celebrated wildly.

Xerez were frustrated at conceding so early and then had to deal with the sight of Messi warming up on the touchline.

Messi replaced Pedro Rodriguez on 55 minutes to give Barca more trickery going forward but Xerez recovered well from the goal setback and a fantastic counter attack almost provided the equaliser just after the hour mark but a poor touch from striker Mario Bermejo saw the move break down.

Xerez had only scored four goals in the league but were looking threatening and Guardiola threw on Ibrahimovic – the hero against Real with his winning volley – for Bojan Krkic.

Messi showed why his regarded as the best player on the planet with a great run and back heel to wow the crowd and set up Alves but the Brazilian’s cross was scrambled to safety.

Messi hit the post late on and Iniesta missed an unbelievable chance but they didn’t prove costly for the champions as Ibrahimovic chipped in a late second.

MADRID (AFP)