Re: Jornada 27 - Primera División

El Barsa a las cuatro. Y en Cuatro analizan los vómitos de Messi. La relación vómitos-rendimiento. Interesantísimo.

Y uno comiendo.

Re: Jornada 27 - Primera División

Caparrós: I have the best goalie in the world, the best squad in La Liga

Levante manager Joaquín Caparrós was in an animated and playful mood, ahead of taking his side to face Real Madrid at the Bernabéu on Sunday.

Speaking at his pre-match press call on Saturday lunchtime, Levante manager Joaquín Caparrós acknowledged that playing Real Madrid on their home turf, will obviously be a very stiff test for his team, with such high quality players throughout their squad.

“We have to be careful of everyone that plays for Real Madrid, because they’re a team with so many resources. Individually, their players are amongst the best around and collectively, they’ve grown a great deal as a team, which makes them even more dangerous.”

With suggestions that the points are more important for Real Madrid, than they are for Levante, Caparrós refuted such a suggestion.

“Both teams have the same pressure to win the points. They’re just as important for one team as the other. We have to give everything we’ve got, knowing that it’s going to be complicated, because when you look at the numbers and the statistics, there’s a very good reason why Real Madrid are top of La Liga.”

Accepting that the challenge of beating Real Madrid is eternally difficult at the Bernabéu, Caparrós pointed out that his team have their own key strengths too.

“They can beat us for quality, but not when it comes to getting on the end of rebounds or from set-pieces. If you were to say that normally, you have to pay great attention to detail, against teams like Real Madrid, you have to triple that attention.”

During the week, Chelsea manager José Mourinho made cheeky comments about the Real Madrid players lining up in front of a mirror, before heading out onto the pitch for games. Caparrós joked that times have changed since the era when he was playing football.

“Real Madrid are at a good level, they’re happy and all this about mirrors, well, there aren’t any on the pitch… Life has changed since the days I was playing, because that was unthinkable, but you have to roll with the times. I also ask my lads before they head out on the pitch; ‘Come on! What are you waiting for!’.”

Finally and asked if Keylor Navas is better than Diego López or Iker Casillas, Caparrós remained in jovial mood when it came to evaluating what he has at his disposal, compared to those of Real Madrid.

“For me, Keylor is the best goalkeeper in the world. I have the best squad in La Liga and I’m really enjoying working with my players.”

Re: Jornada 27 - Primera División

Amrabat: We’re in a difficult situation, but we’ll get back to our winning ways

Malaga winger, Nordin Amrabat recently admitted that the Andalusians have their work cut out for them if they hope to stave off relegation and the Moroccan international is eager to help the team earn three points against Osasuna this Monday.

In a recent press conference, Amrabat assessed their current situation and gave his advice on how they may be able to climb up the table against a direct rival.

“We’re in a difficult situation, but by working hard together as a group I believe we can return to winning ways. Every member of the team is on good form, although there is a lot of pressure on us at the moment. The most important thing we need to concentrate on is winning matches. We’ll perform much better I think if we were in 14thplace in the table. Every team has its problems, but the onus always has to be on winning as many games as possible. On a personal level, I don’t believe I’ve shown my full capability yet. I’m still adapting, but little by little I’ll improve and get to a higher level.

“The only thing the team is talking about at the moment is Monday’s game and ways in which we can improve. We’re only focused on the match against Osasuna. A lot of things can happen in football, but we’ll play as well as we can on Monday, in what is an important match for us, and hopefully come home with a win. Having patience and performing strongly as a team is key to controlling ball possession.

“The atmosphere amongst the team is a good one and we’re united in our determination to win.”

Amrabat then spoke about his own future and if he would like to make his loan a permanent deal after the season.

“I’ve spoken to Mario (Husillos) and I’m very happy here. I’d love to go back to [Galatasaray], but there aren’t many possibilities to play; it depends on three people. I don’t know anything about the figures surrounding the transfer, but I don’t think what the media are saying over there is true.”

No si el Valladolid...

Re: Jornada 27 - Primera División

Pizzi: Valverde knowing us, won’t determine anything

Valencia manager Juan Antonio Pizzi doesn’t believe that Athletic Club Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde having a good knowledge of his club, will make any difference in the outcome of Sunday’s clash at the Mestalla.

Athletic Club Bilbao visit the Mestalla on Sunday with Ernesto Valverde at the helm. His return to Valencia is much anticipated, but current manager Juan Antonio Pizzi doesn’t feel that the prior knowledge of Valverde, will affect how the game plays out.

“Whilst there’s been a few changes in names, the majority of people at Valencia we’re here when Valverde was manager, every game is different. Every time someone takes to the pitch, they try to give the best version of themselves. He may know us well, but I don’t think that will determine anything or be decisive. I don’t think it’s an advantage for him.”

Valencia slipped to defeat at Rayo Vallecano last weekend, but Pizzi assured that he and the players have worked hard this week, trying to ensure they don’t make the same sort of mistakes they did at Vallecas.

“As time passes, you can analyse things more coldly. In general lines, we didn’t have a good game at all. We lacked things we’re obliged to have and we’ve spoken about that during the week. Everyone here has matched the willingness required to change things.”

Focusing on Athletic Club Bilbao, Pizzi noted the impact that Marcelo Bielsa made at the Basque side, whilst suggesting that Valverde has built very well on those foundations.

“I try to analyse their last month, with their last game as a focal point. Over the last three or four years they’ve managed to get their fans behind them again. With Bielsa they reached a position where they could compete with the best teams. This season, it’s no coincidence that they’re where they are. They have a good squad, a good manager and I don’t think they’re going to fall from where they are right now.”

As for the clash being billed as one between direct rivals for a Champions League place, Pizzi doesn’t share that view, aware of the reality that they’re fifteen points behind fourth position.

“I don’t think it’s necessary to think of that, when it comes to giving importance to this game. If we get there or not, we have to play every game as if it were our last opportunity to get there. Only time will put us in our place, but we shouldn’t show any lesser effort, because we have to keep that up, whether we get there or not.”

Re: Jornada 27 - Primera División

After 72 minutes of play between Valladolid-Barcelona still 1-0 by Fausto Rossi (17 min).

Re: Jornada 27 - Primera División

Valladolid wins 1-0 against Barca.What a freak result.

Re: Jornada 27 - Primera División

Infame el Barcelona hoy, desconocido, hoy que precisamente nos podía hacer un gran favor ganando al Valladolid va y hace su peor partido en muuuuucho tiempo. Ni para eso tenemos suerte.

Re: Jornada 27 - Primera División

Real Valladolid 1-0 Barcelona: Pucela punishment for lacklustre Barca

Barcelona had their customary dominance of possession, but simply couldn’t do anything with it. Valladolid took the lead through Rossi in the 16th minute and held firm, stubbornly frustrating their opponents and claiming a priceless home victory, resisting everything the Catalan side could throw at them.

A packed house at the José Zorilla and expectant hoping fans hoping to see an upset, greeted the two sides for Saturday’s first game in La Liga. Real Valladolid didn’t want to disappoint and though Barcelona enjoyed their customary dominance of possession as the game began, the home side were showing plenty of industry and forcing errors from their opponents.

Sergio Busquets lost the ball dangerously in the 5th minute and Guerra was presented with a great chance to give his side an early lead, but clean through on goal, he wasn’t able to sent his shot anywhere but into the hands of a relieved Valdés.

The inaccuracies continued from Barcelona and the home fans roared as Valladolid continued to pose attacking threats. There was also defending to do though and in the 9th minute, Messi struck powerfully when he caught a whiff of goal, but was denied by a good save from Mariño. Valladolid were taking absolutely no risks as Barca continued to push and probe for openings, holding firm and clearing upfield at the first opportunity to make interceptions and challenges.

Attacking threats were still very much there from Valladolid though and in the 16th minute, confusion in the Barca defence after failing to clear one effort on goal, saw Rossi provide the punishment by giving the home side the lead.

Barca had to find a reaction, but they weren’t getting into their stride and Valladolid continued to make the most of their strategy, quickly pressing their opponents, whenever they pushed out of their own half. The intensity of the game began to drop for a spell, but the home side had the game exactly where they wanted it.

By the 28th minute, Barca were still struggling to present any danger as the home side held firm at the back, whilst at the other end, a free-kick presented Valladolid with another good opportunity, only for Rossi to fire off-target. On the half-hour mark and still struggling to get into dangerous positions, Neymar tried his luck from distance, but only succeeded in sending the ball well off-target and into the crowd behind the goal. Moments later though, Barca were presented with an opportunity from a free-kick and though Messi managed to get his effort on-target, it was straight into the hands of Mariño in the Valladolid goal.

Chances started to come thick and fast for Barca and in the 35th minute, first Messi and then Fàbregas had shots on-target, but once more, into the hands of Mariño. The offside flag didn’t help matters the following moment, as Pedro found himself with just the Valladolid keeper to beat, but correctly called offside, as the home defence stepped forward.

Heading towards the interval, still Barca had all the pressure and attacking momentum, but Valladolid had erected an impenetrable wall of defenders behind the ball and there was simply no way through. Adding to the frustrations of the visitors, Valladolid even finished the half on an attacking foot, winning a corner. The home fans, more than impressed with the efforts from their team as the whistle blew. Effective snatch and grab from Valladolid, against impotent dominance of possession from Barcelona.

Barcelona were clearly keen to haul themselves back on level terms, as play commenced for the second half. Adriano quickly came close with their first effort, then in the 47th minute, Messi was denied by another good save from Mariño in the Valladolid goal.

The home side were stubbornly resistant, but Barca still kept pushing, as a dangerous cross almost caused problems for the Valladolid defence, then in the 57th minute, Neymar was there with an opportunity, but over the crossbar with his finish. A forced change for Valladolid coming in the 58th minute, after Valiente couldn’t recover from a heavy knock, with Sastre taking his place on the pitch.

On the hour and still trailing, Tata decided it was time to make motions from the substitutes bench, as Alexis replaced Fàbregas. After a good spell for Valladolid, they too made a change as JIM looked for freshness in his attacking line, with Óscar on for Manucho. Barca were seeming to have trouble staying tight as the home side mounted a few promising, but ultimately fruitless attacks, whilst the Catalan side were still struggling to find any chinks in the armour of the stubborn Valladolid rearguard.

More changes came in a flurry as the game headed into the final twenty minutes. In the 71st minute, Valladolid brought on Rama for Bergdich, whilst Barca sent on Sergi Roberto for an extra man in midfield, at the expense of defender Pique. The final Barca move came in the 73rd minute, with Tello on for Neymar and Tata had dealt his last option from the bench.

Still Valladolid held firm at the back, with plenty of men ahead of Barca, who clearly dominated possession, but impotently so against the wall of players ahead of them. There was no end product for the visitors, as Messi fired straight into the hands of Mariño in the 82nd minute, then in the 83rd, Valladolid sprang their counter swiftly as Rama hit the byline and sent in a deep cross for Óscar, but he couldn’t hit his effort on target, after getting into a glorious position to inflict more damage.

Into the final moments of the game, it was all Barcelona, throwing everything they could into attack, desperately looking for the equaliser. Valladolid had everyone back to guard their goal and ultimately, they managed to hang on through injury time.

A fantastic result for Real Valladolid and the roar of the crowd as the final whistle blew, tells the whole story of how important the victory is for them. For now, they’re outside the relegation zone, ahead of the remaining games this weekend. Barcelona meanwhile, will be hugely disappointed. Banging their heads against a brick wall for ninety minutes, they simply couldn’t find a way through. A blow for their title bid.

Re: Jornada 27 - Primera División

gana el valladolid al barsa
pierde el celta en casa
y va ganando el granada al villareal

Re: Jornada 27 - Primera División

Me caggo en el barsa y en el villarreal de miercelino.

Perdemos nosotros, pierden todos

Ganamos y has se follan al Barcelona y Villarreal...

Re: Jornada 27 - Primera División

Granada 2-0 Villarreal:

Clinical first-half as Granada seal the points

Granada took the points at Nuevo Los Cármenes, taking full advantage of the weakness at the back against a depleted Villarreal defence in the first half with two goals. In the second half, Villarreal pushed forward, but couldn’t find a way back into the game.

A lively opening from the two sides, with play swinging from end to end. Uche with the first clear chance for Villarreal, beating two Granada defenders, but unable to beat goalkeeper Roberto, who was down well at his feet in the third minute. A moment later at the other end, Brahimi carved open space for a dangerous cross, with Riki and El Arabi lurking in the middle, but Asenjo was out of his goal quickly to claim the ball.

In the 8th minute, a free-kick presented Granada with their next opportunity. Fran Rico with a clever flick to set up Riki for a powerful shot at goal, but Asenjo managed to gather the ball at the second attempt.

Play continued to move swiftly from end to end, as both sides looked to attack the spaces breaking forward with velocity. So the game continued, but just when Villarreal were beginning to look the more dangerous going forward, a break forward from Riki and a foul inside the edge of the area from makeshift centre-back Bruno, bought Granada a penalty. Up stepped Fran Rico from the spot in the 22nd minute, shooting straight down the middle and giving the home side the lead.

Buoyed by their lead, Granada were now looking the stronger side as Brahimi forced a save from Asenjo in the 28th minute. Riki then in the 31st minute with an excellent run and strike, which whizzed just a fraction wide of the mark. The pressure continued from the home side though and in the 33rd minute, Fran Rico turned provider, stealing the ball in midfield and threading it through to El Arabi, who squeezed past his marker and fired low past Asenjo.

Heading towards the interval, Nyom powered forward down the right, cut inside well and drove a shot at goal in the 38th minute, but it was always curling away from its intended target and wide. A corner brought Villarreal their best chance, fired in by Trigueros and met with a powerful header from Gabriel, but just inches wide of the far post in the 40th minute. Granada pressured at the end of the half, but Villarreal managed to hold out.

A change at half-time for Villarreal, as Marcelino withdrew Moi Gómez and sent on Cani for his comeback, from injury. Granada were quickly looking for their third goal of the night though and in the 48th minute, El Arabi was a fraction wide, after a good ball into the area from Fran Rico.

Another chance for the home side came shortly after, as Recio speculatively shot from distance, but was unlucky as the ball dipped just over the crossbar in the 51st minute. Villarreal weren’t making any real inroads and in the 56th minute, Marcelino brought on his two remaining substitutes, with Perbet and Pantic replacing J.Pereira and Trigueros.

Villarreal pressed and were seeing more of the ball, but without causing the Granada defence any real problems. In the 61st minute, the visitors were caught by a swift counter, as Brahimi controlled the ball well on the edge of his own area, then threaded a pass through to Riki, but as he burst into the area, he could only find the side netting with his strike.

In the 66th minute, again Granada attacked and Brahimi once more causing the Villarreal defence problems, slipping in a pass from the byline and across the face of goal, but neither Riki or El Arabi could stretch their toes out enough for the contact.

Granada made their first change of the game in the 68th minute, as Michael Pereira came on for El Arabi. Villarreal then had their best chance of the half in the 71st minute, as Uche powerfully surged forward and into the area, only to blast his finish just wide of the post.

Pina got forward well from midfield in the 74th minute for Villarreal, found enough space to squeeze off a shot, but without enough sting behind it to cause Granada keeper Roberto any problems. A second change for Granada came in the 79th minute, with Dani Benítez replacing Brahimi, who left the field to an ovation, thanks to an excellent display.

Into the final ten minutes, Granada seemed content to see out the remaining minutes with the game in their favour. Foulquier replaced Riki in the 84th minute and without any real threats from Villarreal, Granada remained in control until the final whistle.

Re: Jornada 27 - Primera División

David Villa scored twice as Atletico Madrid beat Celta Vigo to go top of La Liga.

Following Barcelona's shock defeat at Real Valladolid and with Real Madrid not in action until Sunday, Atletico knew a victory would take them top courtesy of their head-to-head record with Real.

But for the first hour it looked like Atletico, with top scorer Diego Costa absent through suspension, were going to be frustrated.

Raul Garcia hit a shot from the wing 45 yards from goal that bounced over the crossbar, and Villa forced a good save from Yoel down low with Garcia unable to capitalise on the rebound.

Celta Vigo offered little going forward although Charles did force a close-range save from Thibaut Courtois.

And when Atletico's opener came it was from a Celta error.

Jonny Castro's horrible backpass was intercepted by Villa, who charged forward and slammed past Yoel at his near post.

And 90 seconds later the Spain international had doubled their lead. Substitute Jose Sosa, who had only been on the pitch four minutes, squared the ball from the right to Villa, who slammed home past Yose.

Mid-table Celta never looked like mounting a comeback with Alex Lopez's shot straight at Courtois as good as it got.

Real Madrid will return to the top of the table if they avoid defeat in their game in hand against Levante on Sunday.