Spurs and Everton seek League Cup revival

October 27, 2009

Tottenham Hotspur and Everton will both be hoping to reignite their stuttering seasons when the English top-flight duo meet in the fourth round of the League Cup at White Hart Lane here on Tuesday.

Spurs started the campaign in electrifying form but a 1-0 home defeat against Stoke on Saturday has tempered dreams of a top four finish and increased the importance of the League Cup to the north London club.

Everton’s injury-ravaged squad were humiliated in Portugal in last week’s Europa League fixture, going down 5-0 to Benfica, and then were cruelly beaten late on by Bolton in a five-goal encounter in the Premier League on Sunday.

Toffees captain Phil Neville has criticised the scheduling of Tuesday’s game, claiming it doesn’t give Everton enough time for much needed recovery.

“The fact that we’re playing on Tuesday is nothing short of a disgrace,” Neville told the BBC.

“Somebody, somewhere is probably sat in their office not bothered about the fact we want to win the League Cup but that is something we can’t control,” the former Manchester United player added.

“We’ve handled situations like this in the past. When the chips are down and our backs are to the wall and people are writing us off, that’s when this club gels together.”

Everton manager David Moyes will see the League Cup as his team’s best chance of silverware this season.

Last year’s FA Cup finalists have had their small squad hugely exposed by injury with Moyes critical of his team’s defence, saying they were “soft-centred at the moment”.

Long-term casualties Phil Jagielka, Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta and striker Yakubu have now been joined on the treatment table by defenders Leighton Baines and Joseph Yobo and midfielder Steven Pienaar.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp will also be hopeful of another trip to Wembley in a competition which has proved kind to the Londoners in recent years.

The Lillywhites have won the trophy four times, most recently under the stewardship of Juande Ramos in 2008 when they beat Chelsea 2-1 in the final. They advanced to the final last season but were beaten on penalties by Manchester United.

Redknapp will hope to have the services of tricky winger Aaron Lennon at his disposal despite the England man taking himself off against Stoke, defying the wishes of his manager.

“I was hoping he could stay on but he couldn’t and suddenly we were down to 10 men. We’re not sure what the problem is. He just said he couldn’t carry on and that was that,” Redknapp said.

“I didn’t give him a nudge, I just said to him we would only have 10 men and could he play on, but he said his ankle was too sore.

“I don’t want to say any more, I don’t want to cause an issue. It’s not about England, he’s got big games coming up for Tottenham,” the former Portsmouth manager added.

Redknapp’s team struggled to break down a resilient Stoke side in the absence of in-form striker Jermain Defoe, suspended after his sending-off against Portsmouth.

The livewire striker will be available on Tuesday but Redknapp will still be without midfielder Luka Modric, who has a fractured leg.

Redknapp, recently at the centre of mysterious rumours regarding his future at the club, expressed his hope that injury-plagued captain Ledley King would stay on at the Lane.

“Ledley is a big part of this club, as a player and a person,” Redknapp said of the centre-back.

“He played 25 or whatever games last year, a good quota. If we can get 20-odd games out of him this year, then he will be more than worth his money in my opinion.

“He is a kid that has come through the youth team, a good example to everybody here, so I would want to keep him.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: benfica, David Moyes, fa cup finalists, Harry Redknapp, Hotspur, joseph yobo, juande ramos, leighton baines, lillywhites, manchester united player, Mikel Arteta, north london club, Phil Jagielka, phil neville, playmaker, steven pienaar, toffees, white hart lane, yakubu

Spurs have new gleam under Redknapp

October 24, 2009

If ever proof was needed of the renaissance enjoyed by Tottenham Hotspur under the guidance of Harry Redknapp, it could be writ large in the English Premier League table on Saturday.

The north Londoners could move joint top with a home win over Stoke City, almost a year to the day since Redknapp assumed control of a club in freefall.

Their stay at the summit might be brief – Chelsea could overtake them with a victory over Blackburn later Saturday, while Manchester United do not play against Liverpool until Sunday – and given Stoke’s dogged reputation, it might not even happen at all.

But, either way, there can be no doubting the extraordinary effect Redknapp has had on Tottenham in the space of 12 short months.

The extent of Spurs’ woes in October 2008 can hardly be overstated.

Team morale was at an all-time low when Juande Ramos was sacked by chairman Daniel Levy following a meek Uefa Cup defeat to Udinese, a result which followed hard on the heels of a reverse at Stoke which set new standards in incompetence.

Spurs ended that game with nine men, a goalkeeper, Heurelho Gomes, in tears, and well beaten by a side whose sheer physicality overwhelmed a team with a well-deserved reputation for flakiness.

Tottenham were bottom of the table with just two points when Redknapp was parachuted in from Portsmouth to perform a rescue act; now, they are deservedly being mooted as possible contenders for a top four finish.

There is no great secret to Redknapp’s success. He has made a string of astute signings, beefing up his midfield with the addition of Wilson Palacios from Wigan and adding a cutting edge to his front-line by recruiting Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch from Pompey.

Other than that, his triumph appears to lie in having convinced his squad to enjoy their football once again, allowing Tottenham to regain their former reputation as one of English football’s great entertainers.

Aaron Lennon, previously a frustrating talent, is finding consistency and players such as Benoit Assou-Ekotto, once cowed by the expectations which hang heavy at White Hart Lane, are revelling in their surroundings.

The net result is that the club’s ambitions are beginning to mushroom, much to Redknapp’s pleasure. “We have to believe and we have to have a go,” he said. “That is the aim and I can’t keep saying we can’t do it.

“This is the year the top teams are getting beaten. In other years it’s been different but Chelsea and Liverpool were beaten last weekend.

“Liverpool only lost twice last year in the league. There are teams now who, on their better days, can knock the top sides over so I think the league is getting closer.

“Aston Villa got a great result against Chelsea and are going to be there, Manchester City can achieve anything with their squad. We can look to push on and be around that top group all season.”

Tottenham’s progress has earned admiring glances from Stoke manager Tony Pulis, who now believes the Premier League’s traditional ‘big four’ has been doubled in size.

“There is definitely a ‘Big Eight’ now,” he observed. “It is getting a lot more open and Spurs are now a team that can break into the top four, without a doubt.

“I would place them alongside Manchester City, Aston Villa and Everton as the teams with potential to unsettle the big boys,” Pulis added.

“They have just got a wealth of attacking options and it’s undoubtedly one of our toughest games of the season.”

That said, Stoke are no pushovers. Pulis has established the Potters as one of the top flight’s most rigorously disciplined and hard-working teams who like nothing better than upsetting the established elite.

Their visit will be a test of Spurs’ new-found credentials under Redknapp.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: daniel levy, deserved reputation, english football, English Premier League, english premier league table, freefall, Goalkeeper, hard on the heels, Hotspur, jermain defoe, juande ramos, londoners, manchester united, midfield, peter crouch, pompey, rescue act, UEFA Cup, wilson palacios

Manchester return to Moscow with knockout in sight

October 21, 2009

Manchester United return to the scene of their 2008 Champions League final victory over Chelsea looking for a win over CSKA Moscow that will virtually ensure their passage to the knockout stages of this season’s competition.

Despite some mixed displays in the Premier League this season, the English champions have looked assured on the European stage so far, recording wins over Besiktas, in Turkey, and German champions Wolfsburg at Old Trafford.

Another three points at the Luzhniki Stadium — where John Terry’s slip and penalty miss in the decisive shootout effectively gifted United the third European Cup triumph in the club’s history — would put Sir Alex Ferguson’s side firmly in control of group B.

History, however, suggests that will not be a straightforward affair. United have never won in Russia while CSKA, now managed by the former Sevilla, Tottenham and Real Madrid coach Juande Ramos, have won their last six European ties at home.

CSKA were far from impressive in a 1-1 draw at minnows Nalchik in the Russian league at the weekend and will be missing Marc Gonzalez, who suffered a serious ankle injury on international duty with Chile last week, while Brazilian striker Guilherme is a major doubt.

United’s absentees are more significant with Wayne Rooney, who is still struggling to recover from a calf problem, and Ryan Giggs, who has been outstanding this season, both left at home in order to ensure they are fully rested for Sunday’s Premier League showdown with Liverpool at Anfield.

South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung, Scotland captain Darren Fletcher and France left-back Patrice Evra have also missed the trip through injury.

But Ferguson has Nemanja Vidic, once a star with CSKA’s great rivals Spartak Moscow, back from injury and could opt to pair the Serbia centreback with Jonny Evans at the expense of Rio Ferdinand.

The United manager admitted last week that Ferdinand’s current lack of form was causing him concern, while he has been unstinting in his praise for the blossoming talent of Northern Ireland’s Evans, who finally feels he is beginning to find his feet in the United first team.

“Last season was a decent one for me but I was playing within myself a bit,” said the 21-year-old.

“Because it was my first real season in the team I just stuck to the defending side of things. It was a conscious decision to play it safe and make sure I wasn’t at fault for any goals, I just generally wanted to concentrate on defending above all else.

“This year I need to try and get on the ball and express myself a bit more.

“I am not saying I will be trying to dribble all the way through the opposition from now on, just that I need to be a bit more outgoing on the pitch and a bit more commanding.”

Despite his current form, Evans expects that he will have to serve some more time on the bench this season and he does not read too much into the lavish praise he has received from Ferguson.

“The manager likes to give the players little boosts sometimes,” Evans said.

“He is going to have to leave me out at times during the season and he can say things that make you feel good while he is leaving you out.

“It is nice that he is saying those things and if he is thinking that way it shows that I am doing something right. That’s good because Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are unbelievable players.”

MOSCOW (AFP)

Tags: alex ferguson, cska moscow, darren fletcher, english champions, european stage, final victory, german champions, juande ramos, knockout stages, nalchik, park ji sung, patrice evra, russian league, ryan giggs, sir alex ferguson, straightforward affair, vidic, wayne rooney

Real look CR9 dependent as Sevilla heed cry for challengers

October 6, 2009

One swallow does not make a summer, but Sevilla’s bristling 2-1 victory over Real Madrid on Sunday offers hope that the answer to the question posed in Thursday’s blog is ‘no’.

Three teams can challenge for the La Liga title this year.

Manolo Jimenez’s side inflicted a first defeat on Real with a vibrant, attacking display that was reminiscent of their performances under Juande Ramos when they won back-to-back UEFA Cups.

Sevilla are now level on 15 points with Real, though third due to their inferior goal difference. Barcelona are top with 18 points from six games.

Wingers Jesus Navas and Diego Perotti did the damage at the Sanchez Pizjuan, truly testing Real Madrid’s defence for the first time this season, but it was a strong all-round team performance.

They have strength in depth, are solid at the back and club president Jose Maria del Nido boasts: “the best strike force in Europe” with Frederic Kanoute, Luis Fabiano and Alvaro Negredo. They have now won seven on the trot in all competitions.

Real were without top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo due to an ankle strain, but it was the absence of first choice left back Alvaro Arbeloa that may have been more telling as Navas made a fool of his replacement Marcelo.

Once again, Real lacked fluidity in their play and it was the familiar figure of Iker Casillas who was their outstanding player, pulling off a couple of magnificent saves.

“Real reveal their shortcomings in the first serious test of the year. They have CR9 dependency. They continue to rely excessively on their stars,” Marca wrote on Monday.

Barcelona remain unbeaten after shaking off Almeria 1-0, but the Andalucians made life extremely difficult for them at the Nou Camp with their man-marking of midfield creators Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

“It wasn’t marking, it was an obsession,” Xavi said of Almeria midfielder Chico’s work on Saturday. “All he did was watch me. I felt very important. I told him ‘Why don’t you go and mark Messi?’”

It may not be pretty but it was effective, and as Espanyol and Chelsea showed last year an asphyxiating pressure on the midfield can throw Barca off their game.

“I hope it is a blueprint for a way to play against a team as powerful as Barcelona. I hope they respect my patent,” Almeria coach Hugo Sanchez said.

After six rounds of matches, La Liga could be about to get a bit more interesting with both Real and Barca showing chinks in their armour. Maybe it won’t be the most boring league in Europe after all…

PHOTO: Real Madrid’s Kaka (top) falls over Sevilla’s Didier Zokora during their Spanish First Division soccer match at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville October 4, 2009. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo

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Tags: Andres Iniesta, ankle strain, arbeloa, Barcelona, Casillas, Chico, club president, Diego Perotti, Europe, fluidity, frederic kanoute, goal difference, Hugo Sanchez, Jesus, jesus navas, Jose Maria, juande ramos, luis fabiano, nou camp, perotti, Ramon Sanchez, real madrid, ronaldo, six games, team performance, top scorer, uefa cups, wingers, xavi

Writing on wall for Moscow as Grafite hits hat-trick

September 16, 2009

Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg got off to a winning start on their Champions League debut in Group B as Brazil striker Grafite scored a hat-trick to seal a 3-1 win here on Tuesday over Russian side CSKA Moscow.

The German champions brushed off defeats in their last three league games to begin their campaign in style.

The hosts will face bigger challenges ahead in their quest to get out of Group B, where they are also up against 2008 champions Manchester United and Turkish champions Besiktas – who were beaten 1-0 aty home by United – but they had few problems here at the Volkswagen Arena.

“It was not exactly an intoxicating match to watch, but that was part of the plan,” said Wolfsburg coach Armin Veh.

“We didn’t want to deliver a spectacle, we wanted to put in a good defensive performance and win.

“We were the better team, we created and took a few good chances and deserved to get the victory.”

The Wolves got the early breakthrough they needed when playmaker Zvjezdan Misimovic put Grafite in the perfect position and the Brazilian drilled his shot through the legs of Moscow goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev on 36 minutes.

The Brazil hot-shot then slotted home a 41st minute penalty after he was held back in the penalty area by Moscow defender Deividas Semberas by his shirt and he scored with his spot-kick.

Moscow pulled a goal back when Russia defender Alan Dzagoev smashed home his shot past Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio on 77 minutes.

But the night belonged to Grafite, the Bundesliga’s top scorer last season, when he put the result beyond doubt by netting after being set up by Marcel Schaefer in the 87th minute.

It was a bad European start for Moscow’s former Tottenham and Real Madrid manager Juande Ramos, who replaced Brazilian legend Zico as coach of the Russian side last weekend.

The Spaniard, 54, has been out of work since his contract at Real expired at the end of last season.

Both sides are next in action again when Wolfsburg travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on September 30, while Moscow are home to Besiktas the same night.

WOLFSBURG, Germany (AFP)

Tags: Alan Dzagoev, Armin Veh, brazil, Bundesliga, cska moscow, defensive performance, diego benaglio, german champions, Germany, Goalkeeper, grafite, hat trick, igor akinfeev, juande ramos, MADRID, Manchester, Marcel Schaefer, Moscow, old trafford, russia, russian side, schaefer, striker, wolves, zico

Pellegrini presented as new Real coach

June 2, 2009

MADRID (AFP) – Real Madrid Tuesday presented its new coach, Manuel Pellegrini opening up what the club hopes will be a new era in its history.

The 55-year-old Chilean was named late Monday to replace Juande Ramos, who was signed to a six-month contract in mid-December.

He is the first coach under the second term of president Florentino Perez, the inspiration behind the Real “Galacticos” when he first headed the club from 2000 to 2006.

Pellegrini is “an intelligent professional, a worker, well-balanced … who always tries for elegant and tasteful football,” said Perez in presenting him to the press at the Santiago-Bernabeu stadium.

Pellegrini arrives in the Spanish capital after five years at Villareal, during which time he maintained the small club in the top flight of the Primera Liga and gained a reputation for encouraging fluid and attacking football.

In his first season there, Villareal finished third in La Liga and achieved their first direct qualification for the European Champions League, going on to the semi-finals before losing narrowly to Arsenal.

“I have always sought well-played football because I think it is the football that gives the best results,” said Pellegrini, who has also coached clubs in his native Chile and in Ecuador and Argentina.

“Very often a lot of journalists oppose a beautiful game in favour of results. In my career I have had the chance to be able to do both, they can go together.”

The Chilean said he felt “emotion and pride to be chosen to lead the most important club in the world.

“When I started my career 23 years ago I said that I would end it by leading Real Madrid. Now that I have accomplished that, I can say that it is a dream.”

Next season Real will be up against a resurgent Barcelona, its arch-rival and who this year won the unique treble of league, Spanish cup and Champions League under new coach Pep Guardiola.

Tags: 23 years, arch rival, Argentina, arsenal, Barcelona, beautiful game, bernabeu, Chile, Ecuador, european champions, Florentino, florentino perez, galacticos, juande ramos, LA Liga, MADRID, manuel pellegrini, native chile, pep guardiola, president, primera liga, real madrid, santiago bernabeu stadium, second term, semi finals, spanish capital, spanish cup, top flight, treble, villareal

Pellegrini new coach of Real Madrid: club

June 2, 2009

MADRID (AFP) – Real Madrid announced on Monday it has appointed Chilean Manuel Pellegrini, currently with Villareal, as the club’s new coach.

“Real Madrid C.F. and Manuel Pellegrini have reached a deal for the Chilean to become the first team head coach,” it said in a statement.

It said he would be officially presented at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Tuesday by the club’s new president, Florentino Perez.

Pellegrini replaces Juande Ramos, who was handed a six-month contract in mid-December.

Tags: bernabeu, Florentino, florentino perez, head coach, Juande, juande ramos, LA Liga, MADRID, madrid club, manuel pellegrini, new president, Perez, Ramos, real madrid, Santiago, santiago bernabeu stadium, villareal

Real´s ´Galactico´ president signs Pellegrini, Zidane

June 2, 2009

MADRID (AFP) – Florentino Perez, the inspiration behind the Real Madrid ‘Galacticos’, launched his second term as president on Monday by bringing in Chile’s Manuel Pellegrini as the club’s new coach and France legend Zinedine Zidane as a top advisor.

The club also announced former Argentine striker and coach Jorge Valdano as its new director general.

“Real Madrid C.F. and Manuel Pellegrini have reached a deal for the Chilean to become the first team head coach,” Real said in a statement.

It said he would be officially presented at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Tuesday.

He replaces Juande Ramos, who began a six-month contract in mid-December in place of Germany’s Bernd Schuster.

Pellegrini, 55, a qualified civil engineer, joined Villareal in 2004 from River Plate of Argentina and was under contract with the club until 2010.

In his first season there, Villareal qualified for the Champions League by finishing third in La Liga. Last season, they were second behind champions Real Madrid.

In a speech on taking office Monday, the 62-year-old Perez vowed to build “the best club of the 21st century.

“We will devote all our effort to building a spectacular team with great players who are role models on and off the pitch. A club where ethics are indestructible and where solidarity will be a basic cornerstone of behaviour,” he said.

The construction magnate is retaking the reins of Real, Spain’s historically most successful team and the world’s richest football club by revenues, for the next four years after standing unopposed in elections for president.

Real had been led on an interim basis by Vicente Boluda after Ramon Calderon stepped down in January following allegations that he rigged voting at the club’s last annual general assembly in December.

Perez led Real from 2000 to 2006, when it earned the nickname “Los Galacticos”, winning the Primera Liga twice and European Champions League with such stars as Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, David Beckham and Michael Owen.

Zidane’s transfer from Juventus in 2000 cost Real a world record 75 million euros.

The former France captain now becomes “adviser to the president” at Real.

Perez had promised to give both Zidane and Valdano senior positions at Real if his comeback bid was successful. Valdano had acted as Real’s sports director during his last term in office.

He has not mentioned any names regarding top signings but Spanish media speculate that Manchester United’s Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, Liverpool’s Spanish star Xabi Alonso and AC Milan’s Brazilian playmaker Kaka are all in his sights for next season.

“We must recover the dreams, stability and lost time,” said Perez. “The road ahead will be difficult, but we have the passion and necessary ideas to overcome the great challenges of this complicated time.”

Perez had quit Real in 2006 after the club went a third straight season without a trophy, its worst run in more than half a century, but he has remained popular with supporters.

This season, the club’s arch-rivals Barcelona won a unique treble of league, Spanish Cup and Champions League trophies under debutante coach Pep Guardiola.

Real finished second in La Liga and exited the first knockout stage of the Champions League for the fifth straight season.

It ended the season on Sunday with a 2-1 loss to lowly Osasuna.

Tags: Alonso, Argentina, Argentine, Barcelona, bernabeu, Bernd Schuster, boluda, Chile, civil engineer, David Beckham, european champions, florentino perez, France, Germany, interim basis, Jorge Valdano, juande ramos, LA Liga, Liverpool, los galacticos, luis figo, MADRID, Manchester, manuel pellegrini, michael owen, Milan, primera liga, ramon calderon, real madrid, river plate, role models, ronaldo, Santiago, santiago bernabeu stadium, Spain, successful team, vicente boluda, zinedine zidane

Perez vows to make Real 21st century´s best club

June 1, 2009

MADRID (AFP) – Spanish construction magnate Florentino Perez vowed to make Real Madrid the best football side in the world in the 21st century after he was sworn in Monday for another stint as club president.

“Real Madrid has to leave behind all doubts and relentlessly advance towards this objective which must always be present in its spirit: to continuously to be considered the best club of the 21st century,” he said.

“We are going to dedicate our efforts to build a spectacular team with great players who are exemplary both inside and outside the pitch. A club where ethics are indestructible,” the 62-year-old added.

Perez is taking the reins again of Real, Spain’s historically most successful team and the world’s richest football club by revenues, after standing unopposed in elections for president.

Under his previous term at Real between 2000 and 2006 he signed top players like Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham which helped the club win the league title twice and also the Champions League.

Perez quit Real in 2006 after the club went a third straight season without a trophy, its worst run in more than half a century, but he has remained popular with supporters.

Real has been led on an interim basis by Vicente Boluda after Ramon Calderon stepped down in January following allegations that he rigged voting at the club’s last annual general assembly in December.

Perez has not mentioned any names regarding top signings but Spanish media has reported that Chilean Manuel Pellegrini, currently at Villarreal, would become coach in place of Juande Ramos and the club would also land AC Milan’s Brazilian playmaker Kaka.

Media reports also constantly speculate that Manchester united’s Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, Liverpool’s Spanish star Xabi Alonso and Bayern Munich’s French star Franck Ribery will don the all-white strip next term.

Real’s arch-rivals Barcelona won the Champions League, the Spanish title and the Spanish Cup this season under debutante coach Pep Guardiola.

The club finished in second place in La liga and exited the first knockout stage of the Champions League for the fifth straight season.

Tags: ac milan, Alonso, arch rivals, Barcelona, Bayern, bayern munich, boluda, cristiano ronaldo, David Beckham, florentino perez, franck ribery, french star, juande ramos, LA Liga, Liverpool, MADRID, Manchester, manuel pellegrini, Milan, Munich, pep guardiola, ramon calderon, ronaldo, Spain, spanish cup, spanish media, spanish star, spanish title, vicente boluda, white strip, xabi alonso, zinedine zidane

Barcelona eclipse dream team with historic treble

June 1, 2009

MADRID (AFP) – The 2008/09 season will live long in the memories of Barcelona fans as Pep Guardiola guided the club to a unique league, Kings Cup and Champions League treble in his debut season.

Barcelona had gone two years without a trophy but swept all before them to seal a historic treble that no Spanish team, not even the great Real Madrid, had previously managed.

With Spain’s Euro 2008 heroes Xavi and Andres Iniesta feeding the striking trio of Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry, Barcelona destroyed teams at home and abroad with a scintillating brand of football that harped back to Johan Cruyff’s ‘Dream team’.

Every Barca side since has been measured against Cruyff’s great side, captained by Guardiola, that won four successive league titles between 1991 and 1994 along with the 1992 European Cup.

However, Guardiola wrote his own history by guiding Barcelona to the treble, leaving Real Madrid and Manchester United in their wake.

“We have demonstrated that we are the best,” said Messi. “I?m also happy because everyone seems to enjoy our football, whether or not they are Barca fans.

“All over the world, I?ve heard people saying that they have been enchanted by us. This type of football deserves to be rewarded with titles.

“I think it will be very difficult for something like this (the treble) to be repeated.”

Real Madrid were humilated 6-2 by Barcelona at their Santiago Bernabeu and the result summed up a nightmare season.

Starting off as double champions Real had high hopes of a third successive title and having an impact on Europe but from the get-go they were clinging to Barcelona’s coat-tails.

Bernd Schuster, moaning about referees and injuries, was axed in December and Juande Ramos came in with the task of reeling in the leaders.

Ramos helped claw Real back into the title race but when it mattered most his team were outplayed with Barca running rings around them in that 6-2 win and they were hopelessly outclassed by Liverpool in the last 16 of the Champions League, losing 5-0 on aggregate.

With Barcelona playing sensational freeflowing football, Real’s jeering fans wanted the same but instead they got a pragmatic approach.

Even Real’s players didn’t like what was on show with French winger Julien Faubert, on loan from West Ham, pictured sleeping on the Real substitutes bench in their 3-2 defeat by Villarreal.

From an early stage it was clear that it would be a two-horse race with the other big sides competing for the Champions League.

Sevilla’s approach, specialising in 1-0 wins, won points if few plaudits for coach Manolo Jimenez who guided the club into the top four and secured Champions League qualification to earn a new contract extension.

Atletico Madrid had another inconsistent season with their defence a shambles but their prolific forward line of Sergio “Kun” Aguero and Diego Forlan bailed them out, firing the club into fourth and a second successive season in the Champions League.

Forlan took the ‘pichichi’ crown for the league’s top-scorer with 32 goals after netting in the final eight games of the season.

Valencia and Villarreal both had chances to make fourth their own but paid the price for poor run-ins and had to settle for a place in the Europa League, the re-branded UEFA Cup.

Valencia must now try to persuade Spanish stars David Silva and David Silva, both bound by long contracts, to stay at the club and forego another season in the Champions League.

Villarreal just want to hang onto their highly-rated coach Manuel Pellegrini who has been touted for the Real Madrid job.

At the bottom of the table, Espanyol produced a minor miracle to stay up winning eight of their final ten games to climb off the foot of the table and survive when everyone had written them off.

Numancia and Recreativo Huelva were relegated from the top-flight along with Real Betis who dropped into the second division on the final day of the season as Osasuna and Sporting Gijon both won to save their skins.