Atletico Madrid and their merry band of resolute warriors

By David Lee Wheatley
@davewh1980

 

Bayern Munich struggled to break Atletico Madrid down in the opening leg of their Champions League semi-final tie, but they’re certainly not the first to do so.

Diego Simeone’s men carved out a 1-0 lead on Wednesday evening to take into the second leg at Bayern’s Allianz Arena next week.

They did it in part due to a wonderful show of individual skill by exciting 21-year-old midfielder Saul Niguez that put Atleti in front, prior to a defensive display full of grit and determination to eventually get the job done.

That result and performance should not have come as a surprise to anyone, not least visiting coach Pep Guardiola, who has now lost on three occasions to Atletico in his managerial career.

The so-called poorer city neighbours of glamorous Real are causing ripples both domestically and in continental competition, which could yet see them claim a hugely significant double this season.

Atletico Madrid boast one the very best defensive units across Europe’s big-five leagues on 16 goals conceded in 35 games played, with only last night’s opponents Bayern having conceded less [14] in that category.

In addition, the Spanish capital side have kept more clean sheets than any other team participating in the continent’s top-five domestic championships, owing to an outstanding 33 shut-outs in 52 all-competition outings.

The Rojiblancos haven’t allowed any goals in 14 of their latest 16 Champions League matches contested at the Vicente Calderon.

A key factor in everything they achieved during their stunning 2013-14 campaign, in which they won La Liga and reached the finale of Europe’s premier competition, was team spirit.

Working hard for the shirt, for each other and also for their popular head coach Simeone was central to their success – and that collective soul has remained under the enthusiastic Argentine.

Alongside an obvious togetherness within the tight-knit Atleti squad, there are several specific traits which allow the Colchoneros to thrive.

Central midfielders Lucas Fernandez and captain Gabi work in tandem to such a degree that they rarely stray more than a few feet away from one another, whilst hunting furiously for the ball.

Their impervious back-line, marshalled superbly by Stefan Savic, have allowed the least amount of shots against them per game [9.6] and made the highest amount of tackles per match [24.5] overall in La Liga this term.   

Former Fiorentina centre-back Savic, who singularly failed to impress during a previous stint at English Premier League outfit Manchester City, has proved to be a stand-out performer since arriving in Spain last summer. His club have not lost any of their 16 matches with the Montenegrin in the starting line-up across all competitions.

Meanwhile, Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak is the stopper with most shut-outs in a single European Cup season for the Madrid-based club on eight, since Miguel Reina posted seven in 1973-74.

Furthermore, Oblak has repelled the last 16 on-target shots he has been forced to deal with at home in the Champions League, including seven versus Die Roten on Wednesday.

Those combined efforts were in stark evidence at the Calderon during their titanic clash against Bayern, which stopped Guardiola’s free-scoring Bavarians from notching an away goal despite enjoying 74 per cent of possession.

With Barcelona’s sudden wobble at the top of Spain’s Primera Division having left the door ajar for Atleti to clamber back into the title race, plus their heroics in European action, it’s wholly conceivable that this roughhouse group of dedicated footballers could upset the applecart as they have done so many times in the past.

 

And, with the effervescent Diego Simeone kicking and heading every ball as he watches on proudly, who would bet against them?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss of Yaya may prove costly for Manchester City

By David Lee Wheatley

Manchester City may possess enough firepower to threaten Champions League last-16 foes Barcelona, but the first-leg suspension of powerhouse Yaya Toure could prove pivotal.

A great deal of water has gone under the bridge since Manchester City and FC Barcelona met at this stage of the same competition 12 months ago, with the Catalans advancing by way of a comfortable 4-1 aggregate margin.

City eventually claimed the Premier League crown, while Barca missed out on honours both domestically and in Europe to rivals Atletico Madrid. Additionally, ex-player Luis Enrique assumed the Nou Camp coaching reins in place of misfit Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino at the end of that campaign.

Normal service seemingly resumed when Barcelona won five out of six Champions League Group F contests to qualify above fancied French side Paris Saint-Germain. Meanwhile, the Citizens faced almost certain elimination having failed to win any of their opening four group encounters.

Astonishingly, Manuel Pellegrini’s men scraped through at the death courtesy of a home win over Bayern Munich and a subsequent away triumph at the Stadio Olimpico against Roma.

Now the two sides clash again on Tuesday night a year on from what can only be described as a massively one-sided affair in favour of the Blaugrana, but with many observers openly voicing their belief in City’s ability to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the very first time.

They’ve got Sergio Aguero delivering almost a goal-per-game this term, while David Silva is pulling the strings beautifully, as recently evidenced by a man-of-the-match performance against Newcastle United last Saturday.

However, there is the crucial matter of Yaya Toure’s enforced absence from the first leg, which could tip the balance of the tie in favour of the Catalonian side before they welcome City to the Nou Camp.

Former Barcelona star Toure’s galloping runs, supreme physicality and eye for goal will all be keenly missed by his team-mates who feed off his barnstorming performances.

The 31-year-old has undergone a turbulent spell at the Etihad, with persistent rumours of his unhappiness at the club. But, he remains a potent weapon in their armoury and represents several attributes their Spanish conquerors from last season simply can’t replicate from within their own squad.

Andres Iniesta is still one of the world’s best passers of a ball, while Ivan Rakitic has quickly grown into a key player following his move from Sevilla last summer. Argentine superstar Lionel Messi continues to devastate in between the lines of midfield and attack, with Sergio Busquets undertaking a deep role in helping Barca tighten their grip on possession.

It’s certainly a highly subjective debate, but the likes of Fernando, Samir Nasri, Fernandinho, Jesus Navas and even the fabulous David Silva cannot legitimately claim to be better than their Barcelona counterparts.

What’s more, not one of those aforementioned players offer the beast-like presence of Yaya Toure, who can win a game single-handedly when on top form.

He could well make the difference for Manchester City in the second leg of this glamourous tie once he’s served the last of a three-match ban imposed for his November sending-off against CSKA Moscow, but by then it could be too little, too late.

Follow @davewh1980

La Liga: Real Sociedad v Barcelona preview

By David Lee Wheatley     @davewh1980

David Moyes faces an acid test of his managerial credentials this evening when Real Sociedad take on Luis Suarez’s Barcelona in a mouth-watering La Liga clash.

Scotsman David Moyes has encountered an inconsistent start to life in Spain since taking over the Basque outfit Real Sociedad in November.

He’s unbeaten at home, but has witnessed only one victory over strugglers Elche from his five league matches at the helm, having also surrendered leads in eventual draws with local rivals Athletic Bilbao and Levante.

A 4-0 hammering away to Villarreal highlighted worrying defensive frailties, which must be corrected alongside a severe lack of goals at the other end; Real Sociedad aren’t scoring anywhere near enough, managing 17 in 16 games.

Furthermore, a meagre return of three wins leaves them perched perilously just two points above the drop zone.

Ex-Arsenal star Carlos Vela is a slight doubt ahead of the contest, with the six-goal striker vital to the Basques’ hopes of victory.

Luis Suarez has so far failed to hit the goal-trail since his sensational move from Liverpool, notching once in eight La Liga outings, but caused nightmares for former Everton boss David Moyes during the pair’s time on Merseyside.

Barcelona have been unbeaten for six top-flight games since a double loss to Real Madrid and Celta Vigo to close within one point of league-leading arch-rivals Real Madrid. Five of those have been wins, including one-sided thrashings of Sevilla, Espanyol and Cordoba when plundering five goals on each occasion.

Right wing-back Dani Alves is ready to return after a calf strain, thus handing head coach Luis Enrique an almost fully-fit squad to choose from; only Thomas Vermaelen misses out.

Real Sociedad can take some comfort from their recent home record against the Blaugrana, whose last triumph at the Anoeta arrived in May 2007. Meanwhile, the hosts defeated Barcelona 3-1 when they last met there in February 2014.

The fans will be out in force at the Anoeta for such an enticing fixture, with Moyes hoping they’ll produce the kind of cacophonous atmosphere they’ve been renowned for in the past.

However, it’ll take a effort of Herculean proportions to ward off the rampant Barcelona attack and repeat such a result.

Team news

Real Sociedad: Rulli, C.Martinez, Bergara, Inigo, Granero, Xabi Prieto, Vela, Ansotegi, Canales, Chory Castro, De La Bella

Barcelona: 13. Bravo, 2. Montoya,14. Mascherano, 24. Mathieu, 18. Jordi Alba, 7. Pedro, 6. Xavi, 8. Iniesta, 5. Sergio Busquets, 9. Suarez, 31. Munir

Xavi: The International Years

By David Lee Wheatley

Xavi, the master craftsman of the Barcelona midfield, announced earlier this week that his time had arrived to bow out at international level. Having won everything available with both club and country, I take a look back at the huge impact made by one of the finest footballers of his time on the astounding successes achieved by the Spanish national team within his 14 years of loyal national duty.

Making his senior international debut for Spain in 2000, the same year he helped the under-23 side win Olympic silver in Sydney, Xavi went on to amass an incredible 133 caps up to and including the 2014 World Cup. Though he and his team-mates suffered terribly in Brazil when being dumped out of the tournament at the group stage, it certainly cannot be allowed to tarnish the immense legacy left by the Barca star on his nation's footballing history.

Having featured at the ultimately disappointing 2002 and 2006 editions of the World Cup finals, as well as Euro 2004, Xavi and his peers were under great pressure to deliver thanks to the feverish clamour from the Spanish public to see an end to their agonising wait for major honours. The closest they'd come to global glory was placing fourth at the 1950 World Cup, despite possessing a plethora of top-class players over the course of many years since. Meanwhile, they'd last claimed victory in continental competition when hosting the 1964 championships.

In 2008, eternally optimistic Spain fans believed they finally had a crop of outstanding individuals capable of evolving into winning team. Their faith wasn't misplaced for once, with a vibrant squad led by hugely experienced coach Luis Aragones sweeping all before them on their march towards the final.

A slightly weak group comprising of Russia, Sweden and Greece were no match for the Spaniards, while a tight quarter-final clash saw La Roja advance on penalties against fierce rivals Italy.

Surprisingly, Russia made it all the way to the last four and in doing so booked a return match with Spain in the semi-finals. Yet again, Aragones' men proved too strong for their Eastern European opponents when trouncing them 3-0. Xavi was instrumental in the downfall of a Guus Hiddink-inspired Russian side, including grabbing the opening goal of the game after 50 minutes.

The final in Vienna was another close encounter against Germany and it was won by a solitary strike from Fernando Torres just beyond the half-hour mark. Spain were 'Kings of Europe' for the second time and deservedly so; cool, calm and collected midfield lynchpin Xavi taking away the 'Player of the Tournament' award in recognition of his sublime performances.

Everyone already knew about Xavi's supreme passing accuracy, vision, movement and unerring ability to locate space which mere mortals simply wouldn't spot. Post-Euro 2008 though, the La Masia academy graduate was being hailed by many observers as the greatest midfielder on the planet. His instinctive understanding of the possession game practised by both FC Barcelona and Spain allowed him to dictate the pattern of play to such an extreme level that nobody on the opposition team could even hope to put a halt on whatever Xavi intended to happen. He literally never gave the ball away and every single pass seemed choreographed due to the Barcelona star being one step ahead mentally at all times.

Spain entered the 2010 World Cup as firm favourites for the title, even if such an outcome required a European team to lift the trophy away from their own continent for the first-ever occasion in tournament history. South Africa was the venue, but there was a growing sense of Spain's entitlement to the Holy Grail of a World Cup triumph, albeit on foreign soil.

Again, Xavi played a pivotal role in Spain's continued prosperity with new man Vicente Del Bosque now at the helm. Overcoming a shock 0-1 reverse at the hands of Switzerland in the first group game, the Spanish banished all doubts about their overall superiority in the 32-team competition by beating Honduras and Chile in order to safely make the round of 16.

Portugal provided a tough, hard-fought encounter for Spain in the knock-out phase and pushed the European champions to the very limit. Despite seeing a large majority of the ball, it took until the 63rd minute for David Villa to latch on to a Xavi backheel before making the breakthrough and deflating Portuguese hopes in the process.

Villa was on the scoresheet once more to settle another one-sided affair against Paraguay at the quarter-final stage, with the South Americans holding out until seven minutes from the end. Del Bosque's men wore them down with their relentless possession play until they finally caved into the inevitability of the situation.

In a repeat of the Euro 2008 final, the German powerhouse clashed with Spanish artistry in Durban. Xavi turned out to be key to the result when sending over a fine cross for club-mate Puyol to head home the winner.

The final through up a meeting in Johannesburg with Holland, which was expected to provide a feast for viewers relating to the traditional footballing styles of both nations. Unfortunately, the Dutch threw the usual play-book out of the window when deciding to kick and foul their way through the game, thus creating a terrible spectacle for those watching on. Eventually, the persistence of the Spanish told late into extra-time when Iniesta fired home to seal victory in spite of the roughhouse tactics employed by Bert van Marwijk.

To most, it was a triumph for beautiful football due to the strange tactical plan put in place by the Netherlands. Spain, the disciples of 'Tiki-Taka', had managed to withstand a furious physical assault from the Oranje, thus enhancing their own reputation while being intimately linked to the day when the often classy Dutch temporarily forgot all about their long-held 'Total Football' principles.

With an overall passing accuracy of 91%, the tremendous Xavi proved his worth once again when driving the side towards their ambitious goal of world domination from the middle of the park. Additionally, the wonderful inter-play and innate understanding between the Barcelona-based trio Xavi, Iniesta and David Villa had been central to each and every victory along the way.

So, it was on to Euro 2012 and a chance to defend a major trophy in an event co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine. Spain stuttered to a 1-1 draw with old foes Italy in their opening fixture, but soon slipped into top gear when dismissing the Republic of Ireland 4-0 and Croatia by the only goal of the game. Amazingly, the combined passes made by Xavi and Iniesta totalled more than the entire Irish XI when taking them apart in the second group match.

The holders saw off France with ease to reach the semi-finals, where they were drawn with Portugal. It took a penalty shoot-out to settle matters, which went in the favour of Spain by 4-2 following a dour 0-0 draw after extra-time had been played. Over in the other semi, Italy knocked Germany out to recreate the billing for the Group C opening match featured at the beginning of the European Championships which ended all-square.

This time, however, Spain were a different animal altogether and two assists from Xavi helped the team to record a resounding 4-0 win to defend the trophy in great style. With that result, Xavi inked his name in Spanish football folklore as the most successful player in the history of the national side and therefore cemented his status as one of the very best players to pull on the famous red jersey.

True, the World Cup earlier this summer saw a waning Xavi claim only one more cap to make his final tally up to 133, second only to Real Madrid 'keeper Iker Casillas who sits on a highly commendable 156 caps for his country. Spain lost to a rejuvenated Holland and exciting Chile side, before regaining a modicum of respectability by putting Australia to the sword. However, it was too late by the time they tasted victory in Brazil and they returned home without the golden trophy they travelled across the seas to defend.

It came as no great shock to hear of 34-year-old Xavi's decision to step down from national team duty, while many either have or will follow his lead in announcing their retirement from the international stage. The fantastic generation that brought immense joy and happiness to millions of Spanish supporters have all-but ran out of steam; now they're ready to stand aside and allow the next wave of talent to emerge.

As for Xavi, he will continue running the show at Camp Nou for at least another season under the tutelage of new head coach Luis Enrique, safe in the knowledge that his lasting impact on the sport shall never be forgotten.

Twitter: @davewh1980

Bale blockbuster breaks Barça hearts

By David Lee Wheatley

Real Madrid took home the King's Cup after a hard-fought meeting with arch-rivals Barcelona left the Catalan side's season crumbling down all around them.

Having lost to local foes Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions' League quarter-finals, the Blaugrana were hopeful of securing at least one major trophy this campaign in the domestic cup competition they last won in 2012.

The Copa del Rey final appeared delicately poised at 1-1 with just moments remaining inside a packed Mestalla in Valencia when Gareth Bale received the ball on the halfway line and set his sights on goal.

Angel Di Maria handed Real an early lead in the 11th minute, but Barcelona were level just over twenty minutes into the second half through a Marc Bartra header. In fact, Barça were looking the better side as normal time in the tie drew to a close.

However, Welshman Bale had designs on victory when isolating the tiring Bartra one-on-one in his favoured left-hand side area of the pitch. The Barcelona defender was in trouble the moment Bale knocked the ball several yards in front of him and began galloping towards goal; the power on display was extraordinary as he set off on a trademark lung-busting run.

Bartra tried to knock Bale off balance with a shoulder charge, but was unsuccessful in his attempts to stop the flying machine from gliding past him. Bale actually bounced off his opponent so severely that he ended up running off the field of play and into the coach's technical area in order to go around Bartra and reconnect with the ball. It proved just how quick and strong the former Tottenham man is when he literally had to take a round-trip to maintain possession.

Once Bale got back within the boundaries of the pitch, it was a losing battle for Bartra to put in a telling tackle. The world's most expensive footballer zeroed in on the penalty box before toe-poking the ball beyond Barça keeper Pinto to bring the house down in Valencia.

Despite Neymar's best efforts to equalise in injury-time when hitting the post, it was to be Real's night as Bale sealed his first trophy with Los Blancos following a summer switch from Spurs. His strike was worthy of winning any match and seems to have finally confirmed Bale's position at the top table of European football.

It's true that Bale's form and fitness fluctuated wildly at the beginning of his time in Madrid, but it must be remembered that he didn't have any involvement in Spurs' pre-season preparations due to the ongoing speculation surrounding his future in London. Therefore, considering the pressures caused by a protracted big-money transfer and the distinct lack of sharpness on arrival in a new country, it must be conceded that the 24-year-old has been a revelation overall and is only going to keep getting better with time.

Real remain firmly in the mix for both Champions' League and La Liga glory, as the first part of what would be an historic treble has been completed in sensational fashion ahead of the most crucial weeks of the campaign.

Twitter: @davewh1980

Young Guns: Alen Halilovic

 

 

By David Lee Wheatley

 

 

17-year-old attacking midfielder Alen Halilovic is the youngest-ever player to represent his nation in a full international and also the Croatian first division's youngest goalscorer in history. With a plethora of European heavyweights scouting him from all across the continent for months, it is FC Barcelona who have finally won the day for his signature in a 2.2million euros transfer.

 

 

Born in Dubrovnik, Halilovic quickly ascended through the youth ranks at Dinamo Zagreb to make his first-team debut in September 2012 as a late substitute within the hostile atmosphere of a clash with rivals Hadjuk Split. A UEFA Champions' League bow followed against Paris Saint-Germain, thus gaining further invaluable experience at the highest level.

 

 

Even better was to come, though, for the diminutive left-footer when breaking into the senior national squad, having represented his homeland at all youth stages up to under-17. Portugal were the opposition on June 10, 2013, as Halilovic broke yet another record due to his tender years.

 

 

Many observers have been swift in comparing the wonder-kid to Real Madrid superstar Luka Modric, but his club have been careful to keep their prize asset from getting too carried away with such high praise. Dinamo bled the youngster slowly but surely into action, with the starlet appearing on 19 occasions and scoring 3 goals this season. However, only eight of those were starts in order to allow the developing midfielder the rest he requires to avoid burn-out issues.

 

 

His current side hold an 11-point lead this campaign domestically, while Halilovic has been further subjected to European competition in both the Champions' League qualifiers and Europa League group stage. He will stay with the 15-time Croatian first division champions until the season's end, at which point the Catalan giants will begin to phase him in gently - after what he hopes will be an adventure at the World Cup in Brazil - with a stint playing for their 'B' team initially.

 

 

Hopes are high that Halilovic will mature and prosper under the expert guidance of one of the greatest training academies in the world, while helping him to fulfil his undoubted potential later on during a projected minimum stay of five years. There is no specific timeframe for his promotion to the big leagues and Barca will surely caress his career with great understanding.

 

 

If he performs as well as hoped, his succession of Blaugrana great Xavi won't be too far into the future and the meagre fee of 2.2million euros will increase substantially with myriad add-ons attached to the deal.

 

 

Twitter: @davewh1980

Analysis: Champions' League quarter-final draw

 

 

By David Lee Wheatley

The Champions League quarter-final draw handed Manchester United a mighty difficult task in order to overcome holders Bayern, while the other remaining English representatives Chelsea will undoubtedly fancy their chances against French league leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

An all-Spanish tie between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid appears almost too close to call, with both sides separated by just one point in La Liga at time of writing. Meanwhile, Real Madrid make up an extremely powerful trio of clubs from that country and would seem heavy favourites to sweep opponents Borussia Dortmund aside.

United woke up from their season-long slumber when defeating Greek side Olympiakos 3-0 at Old Trafford on Wednesday, thus coming back from a 2-0 first-leg deficit. The first 60 minutes of that second-leg clash were played at a frantic pace from the off and saw the home side cruising thanks to an impressive Robin van Persie hat-trick. However, they had to survive a sprinkling of shaky moments before finally seeing out the game and dumping the plucky Greeks out of the tournament.

Their prize for struggling through is a daunting meeting with current holders Bayern Munich, with United hosting the Bundesliga giants first of all. The only way David Moyes’ men will survive in the competition is by establishing a lead to take to Germany; otherwise it is curtains for the fading Manchester giants. However, even getting their noses in front will prove easier said than done and would be a major turn-up for the books in itself given the Red Devils shocking league form overall this campaign.

Bayern have swept all before them domestically once again, while seeing off the challenge of Arsenal with great ease at the last-16 stage in Europe. Despite the draw pitting them against three-time European champions United, the Bavarian bulldozer seems set to roll on regardless under the canny guidance of renowned tactician Pep Guardiola. The former Barcelona captain is looking to secure his third Champions’ League crown as a coach and won’t be fazed by the prospect of facing up to a team evidently shorn of confidence and possibly the services of the injured van Persie.

Chelsea never left second gear when putting Galatasaray to the sword in the last round against a side with an aging Didier Drogba leading the line against his beloved former club, plus the ineffective Wesley Sneijder in midfield; a once-feted footballer whose star has fallen alarmingly since his apparent peak four years ago under Jose Mourinho at Inter. It was oh-so-easy for the Blues to dissect the Turks’ defence in winning by a comfortable 3-1 aggregate margin and that victory will give 2012 champions Chelsea a great boost as they size up their next assignment.

Led by talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paris Saint-Germain are eleven points clear at the top of Ligue 1 and demolished Bayer Leverkusen 6-1 over two legs, with an especially one-sided 4-0 victory coming their way in Germany. Though they possess a fearsome strike-force and a commanding lead domestically, they will find the Stamford Bridge outfit a much tougher nut to crack; wily old Mourinho is a master at stifling opposition strengths, while exposing their weaknesses at will. Additionally, he and the majority of his squad hold the invaluable experience of claiming continental trophies over a number of years and collectively they form a formidable obstacle for the Parisian artisans to successfully negotiate.

It’s likely that Barcelona will be slight favourites going into battle against compatriots Atletico, but only marginally so. In fact, with ten matches left to play, Madrid’s so-called second side sit one point above their more illustrious rivals in La Liga following a fantastic season so far. They underwent a slight wobble when managing just one triumph in four fixtures, including surprise losses to minnows Almeria and Osasuna, but bounced back by securing two league wins on the trot most recently and knocking a severely demoralised Milan out of the Champions’ League.

Atletico will feel they have a strong chance of conquering their fellow title contenders from Catalonia, but must play both legs at the very height of their powers if they wish to progress. Barcelona have also suffered two unusual defeats in the last four games against Real Sociedad and Valladolid, thus falling four points behind leaders Real Madrid and giving Atletico hope. However, they swatted away widely-touted pretenders to their throne Manchester City without much fuss in the round of 16 and are seasoned campaigners at the top table of European competition in comparison with Diego Simeone’s men. It’s likely to be a tight fixture between the two Spanish clubs and will probably be won by the odd goal either way.

Last year’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund squeaked past Zenit in making their way to the quarter-finals, but they will go into their match-up with Real Madrid with a measure of trepidation. The legendary Galacticos have not lost a La Liga game since 26^th October, a defeat which arrived in the last El Clasico, and look odds-on to lift the league championship trophy come the end of the campaign. Of course, the second instalment of Real-Barca takes place tomorrow evening and that could determine the destination of the title.

Complimentary to their sparking domestic displays, Real also thrashed Schalke 9-2 on aggregate to make it into the last-eight and will aim to do a similar job on a Dortmund side that don’t appear quite as strong as they were during 2012/13. The 1997 winners are miles behind Bayern in the Bundesliga – as they found themselves last campaign – and also looked decidedly porous at the back in leaking a total of four goals to the beleaguered Russians, who sacked manager Luciano Spalletti on 11^th March after a run of one victory in eleven matches. A 5-4 aggregate advantage for the side from Germany's industrial heartland is hardly the stuff of potential European kings.

 

Barring a minor miracle, Carlo Ancelotti’s charges will be in the hat for the semi-final stage of the world’s greatest club competition, as they attempt to justify the bookies’ faith in their ability to claim the glory on offer.

 

Twitter: @davewh1980

Legend Rivaldo retires

By David Lee Wheatley

Former Brazil international forward Rivaldo announced his retirement yesterday at the ripe old age of 41.

Now president of Brazilian Serie C side Mogi Mirim, with whom he played his final match, Rivaldo pulled down the curtain on a fine career having featured alongside his 18-year-old son in a 1-1 draw with XV de Piracicaba.

He leaves the game having won the World Cup in 2002 as a crucial part of triumvirate Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and himself, while he also helped his country to the final four years prior. A Ballon d'Or winner in 1999, the Paulista native scored 34 times during 74 caps for his country despite rarely playing as an out-and-out striker.

Having moved to Europe when signing with Spaniards Deportivo La Coruña from Palmeiras in 1996, the young South American quickly found his feet in La Liga. His 21 league strikes caught the attention of the biggest clubs across the continent and he was off to Barcelona only a year into his time in Spanish football.

A glittering five-year stay at Camp Nou saw the club lift the Copa del Rey and UEFA Super Cup once each, while Rivaldo's considerable influence assisted the team in claiming the domestic league title twice consecutively in 1998 and 1999.

Of course, Rivaldo will also be remembered for the incident at the 2002 World Cup when a ball was kicked towards his thigh by a Turkish opponent before he inexplicably slumped to the ground while holding his face in apparent agony. It was one of the most blatant examples of play-acting ever to take place on a football field.

Thankfully, Rivaldo's talent as a footballer far outweighed such shenanigans and he followed up his World Cup winners' medal with a splendid UEFA Champions' League victory at new club Milan in 2003. The Coppa Italia and UEFA Super Cup also came the Italian giants' way that same year, but Rivaldo failed to make a single league appearance in the second season of his stint at the San Siro, thus leading him to a brief homecoming with Cruzeiro on loan.

Olympiakos was his next permanent destination after the end of a short loan spell back in Brazil and he got into the groove straight away when scoring many sublime goals for the Greek side. After three years there, AEK Athens took him on for one campaign previous to an unusual move on to Uzbek side Bunyodkor, accompanied by a mega-money contract. This started a worldwide farewell tour of sorts for Rivaldo, as he also went on to play for São Paulo and then unknown Angolans Kabuscorp before returning to his home country for good with São Caetano and finally back to his very first club Mogi Mirim.

It's been an incredible journey from his early days in the game, with a best period undoubtedly enjoyed in the famous colours of Barcelona. Not only is his longevity a mighty impressive statistic to behold, but also his silky skills on the ball, ability to find a killer pass and an unerring accuracy in front of goal were attributes which blended together to make him one of the finest and most versatile footballers of his generation.

Twitter: @davewh1980

Puyol calls time on career

By David Lee Wheatley

Inspirational Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has decided to leave the club at the end of this season, much earlier than expected after serious injury ruined his campaign.

The 35-year-old has been troubled by numerous knee problems recently, causing him to miss Euro 2012 for his country, while also limiting the defender to just 12 appearances for Barça so far during 2013-14.

Puyol had hoped to make another triumphant comeback for club and country as he'd done following previous injuries, but it wasn't to be. After nineteen hugely successful years in association with FC Barcelona, the defensive lynchpin has been forced into the decision to rescind the final two seasons on his current deal in order to avoid punishing his body any further.

Three years with Barcelona's 'C' and 'B' teams taught a young Puyol his trade prior to a surprise debut for the Blaugrana in October 1999, when pressed into action as a second-half substitute by Louis van Gaal away at Valladolid. He never looked back, cementing the right-back slot with a total of 37 appearances that season.

It took Puyol five long years ensconced within the first-team before a first major title arrived, but in 2004-05 he played an instrumental role as captain of Frank Rijkaard's side as they sealed the domestic league championship. A year on, he lifted the Champions' League trophy in Paris, as the Catalan giants saw off the challenge of Arsenal in the final.

At international level, the versatile Puyol assisted Spain in their successful quest to reach the pinnacle of global football when winning both Euro 2008 and, most impressively, the World Cup on the African continent in 2010. Playing regularly in the heart of defence by that stage for both Barcelona and Spain, Puyol was the rock upon which both teams built their astonishing run of success.

Back at Barça, the highly respected Catalonia native eventually led his club to a total of six La Liga titles, three Champions' League wins and two victories each in the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA World Club Cup and the Copa del Rey, throughout a period largely dominated by the 'tiki-taka' pass-and-move style of play encouraged by Pep Guardiola before he took a sabbatical from the game.

This time around, it's a three-way battle at the top of the Spanish league for honours between Barcelona and the two big Madrid clubs, while the Blaugrana still appear to possess a fantastic opportunity to secure another Champions' League triumph following their precise dissection of Manchester City in the first leg of their last-16 clash. If all goes well, Puyol could yet be signing off with another two trophies to his name come the end of a glittering career with his beloved Barça.

Whatever does occur between now and the season's end, the La Pobla de Segur-born star will go down in the history as one of the club's greatest servants. Tough, uncompromising and above all a winner, Puyol has made the most of his ability in leading Barcelona through an era to cherish and savour. He will be sorely missed around Camp Nou when he goes.

Twitter: @davewh1980

Messi return heralds Barça resurgence

By David Lee Wheatley

Perennial Ballon d'Or victor Lionel Messi back in action just in time for latest trophy announcement.

Lionel Messi spent eight frustrating weeks on the sidelines thanks to a niggling hamstring injury, but certainly made up for lost time with two goals in an easy victory at home to Getafe on Wednesday which suggests Barcelona are ready to finally nullify Atletico Madrid's amazing attempt to wrestle the La Liga crown from their grasp.

Iniesta gave way to the South American star after 63 minutes of the Copa del Rey clash and it was as though Messi had never been away once he began hurtling towards the apprehensive Getafe defence with his trademark slalom-running style. They simply couldn't handle a barely match-fit Messi, who exploited their frailties time and again during the final 30 minutes of a one-sided contest.

Barcelona's league form has been largely been good in Messi's absence, but there's no doubting they're a much tougher proposition when the Argentine is orchestrating play in the attacking third. Also, it seems the 26-year-old has returned in the nick of time, as Barça travel to championship rivals Atletico Madrid for a much-anticipated meeting that could determine the ultimate direction of this season's title race.

It must have been a hugely welcome sight for fans in attendance at Camp Nou on Wednesday night to witness the resumption of Messi's season as an impact substitute. Despite his two goals, the dynamic attacker may still have to settle for a spot on the bench at the Vicente Calderon. However, what a confidence boost it'll be for team-mates and supporters alike to see the world's best footballer back in action whether from the start or later in proceedings.

Atletico Madrid have enjoyed a remarkable first-half of the campaign and will feel they have a good chance of success at home against their illustrious opponents this evening, but it will send a cold shiver down coach Simeone's spine when he reads the name Lionel Messi on the official team-sheet.

His cameo appearance on Wednesday suggests Messi is now ready to lead the Blaugrana to La Liga glory in one of the most exciting domestic seasons for many years.

Twitter: @davewh1980

Round-up: La Liga week 1

 

By David Lee Wheatley

The Spanish league campaign got underway last weekend as top two sides in the country Barcelona and Real Madrid both recorded victories in their opening day fixtures.

Saturday’s action set the scene for week one, with Real Sociedad warming up for their Champions League qualifier with Lyon by easing to a win over Getafe 2-0. Former Arsenal man Carlos Vela gave them a precious first-half lead and Seferovic finished the job with twenty minutes remaining. Fellow Basque side Athletic Bilbao beat Valladolid 2-1 away, with goals from Susaeta and Muniain coming either side of an equalising strike by Ebert. And, having narrowly missed out on a Champions League qualification spot last season, Valencia started well when overcoming Malaga 1-0 at home thanks to Ricardo Costa.

Reigning champions Barcelona started their title defence by putting Levante to the sword in spectacular fashion during Gerardo Martino’s first league outing as head coach at Camp Nou, with a stunning 7-0 thrashing handed out. Alexis got things going with a 3^rd-minute strike, extraordinarily followed by another five before half-time from Lionel Messi (2, 1 pen), Dani Alves, Pedro and Xavi. The Blaugrana took it easy on their visitors in the second period, scoring just once through Pedro for his double to round off a truly sumptuous display.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid didn’t enjoy proceedings all their own way against battling opponents Real Betis, as the Andalusia side took an early advantage through Molina to shock the Bernabeu with quarter-of-an-hour gone. It seemed to wake the hosts into life and Karim Benzema slotted home a low shot from the left-hand of the penalty area to level the tie eleven minutes later. Real toiled until four minutes from time, when new boy Isco rose majestically to power a header past the keeper, thus handing Los Blancos a key victory, even at this very early stage of the season.

Other results on Sunday saw Granada nick three points away to Osasuna with a 2-1 scoreline and Atletico Madrid defeated a much-changed Sevilla 3-1 away, thanks to an impressive double from former Liverpool target Diego Costa, plus a 90^th-minute hit from Rodriguez to end the match as a contest. Perotti brought Sevilla level after Diego Costa’s opener, but the home side simply couldn’t live with their dangerous foes and duly crumbled as the clash progressed.

There were three fixtures scheduled for Monday evening featuring a glut of goals; Rayo Vallecano trounced Elche 3-0 at home, newly-promoted sides Almeria and Villarreal met in a 3-2 away win for the Yellow Submarine and Celta Vigo and Espanyol shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw.

It all represents a fantastic opening round of matches in La Liga for a season that promises great excitement in the months ahead.

Twitter: @davewh1980

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Barca-Real: Who'll prevail as La Liga returns?

By David Lee Wheatley

The beginning of an exciting La Liga campaign is set to get underway this weekend with the ‘Big Two’ of Barcelona and Real Madrid again the only likely candidates for the title. There’s two new names installed as head coach at each respective club and a number of interesting additions to both squads; particularly in Madrid. It promises to be a very interesting season ahead as the two titans of Spanish football clash over domestic supremacy.

Barcelona were taken aback somewhat by the news that championship-winning coach Tito Vilanova was to step down from his role this summer due to ongoing treatment for throat cancer. It was a shock to the system for the Barca hierarchy, but they acted swiftly to replace him with respected South American Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino.

Martino has developed a fine pedigree on his native continent, with success in both the Paraguayan and Argentine leagues complimented by a decent stint in charge of the Paraguay national side. Though not well-known or well-versed in European football, the Argentinean knows his profession and openly encourages the fluid style of play demonstrated by Barcelona in recent years under Pep Guardiola and Vilanova himself.

A major signing of the transfer window in Catalonia so far involves Brazilian superstar Neymar, touted by many to be potentially even greater than the legendary Pele. The forward cost a mind-blowing £49million from Santos and expectations are high at Camp Nou that he can be the catalyst for not only a retention of the league trophy, but also a return to the European pinnacle.

Keeping hold of Cesc Fabregas in the face of strong interest from Manchester United allows Martino options and flexibility, with the former Arsenal man capable of slotting into midfield or a forward role if required. World-class talent including Lionel Messi, Xavi and Iniesta still remain to pull the strings, but it’s at the back where Barca look vulnerable.

Revered centre-back Carles Puyol has serious doubts over his long-term fitness hanging over him due to ongoing knee problems, while Barcelona have a tendency to rely on midfielders such as Javier Mascherano and Alex Song to fill in defensively. There’s been speculation about a Barcelona bid for Chelsea’s David Luiz, but the west London side seem determined to at least drive a hard bargain over the sale of the 26-year-old. A lack of depth and quality in the centre-back positions must be addressed sooner rather than later.

However, Martino has such an array of attacking talent to call upon that most Spanish teams will struggle to cope with the Blaugrana in full flow and that might well be enough to see off the majority of opposition sides, but the panic-level will rise substantially when it comes to clashes against arch-rivals Real, Valencia, Atletico Madrid et al.

Meanwhile over in the Spanish capital, Los Blancos set about the mounting of a concerted challenge to Barcelona’s dominance domestically by firstly appointing top-class coach Carlo Ancelotti, fresh from leading Paris Saint-Germain to French title glory, in place of the departed Jose Mourinho and then proceeding to recruit a plethora of young guns in the shape of Malaga attacking midfielder Isco, Real Sociedad’s orchestrator Asier Illarramendi, skilful Brazilian Casemiro (following a loan spell from parent club Sao Paulo) and returning right-back Dani Carvajal after only one season away from the Bernabeu with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.

It all represents a very different direction to the days of the Galacticos, when players firmly established in the world of football would pitch up for exorbitant fees with little or no sell-on value after their time with Real came to an end. Now, Ancelotti’s arrival appears to herald a new approach with a focus on younger talent to spruce up an already strong squad.

21-year-old Casemiro has caught the eye consistently during pre-season and looks an absolutely fine prospect. If, as expected, the club manage to hold on to prize asset Cristiano Ronaldo they could boast the most promising side in La Liga with an eye on the future. But, for the present time, it’s a case of wait-and-see before judging this current crop of youthful Real superstars.

Links continue in connection with lung-busting running man Gareth Bale, but talks are said to be stalling due to Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy’s insistence on a world-record £100m fee. Widespread media reports suggest the best offer the Spanish giants are willing to put forward is around the £85m mark, which seemingly isn’t tempting enough for Spurs somewhat surprisingly.

Even so, Ancelotti has proved himself beyond doubt during hugely successful spells in charge of Milan, Chelsea and PSG and possesses all the ingredients within the squad to make serious waves in La Liga and the Champions League during the forthcoming season. Granted, they don’t have Messi, but they do have Ronaldo and a set of extremely gifted attack-minded footballers to call upon. Most importantly when in comparison with Barca, they have a stronger back-line with stars Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Pepe vying for the central roles, while Carvajal adds much greater competition at right full-back alongside the experienced Alvaro Arbeloa.

Where they may have a slight problem is at left-back should Portuguese Fabio Coentrao go through with his frequently stated desire to leave, leaving Marcelo as the only senior player fully comfortable in that position. However, if they do fall short due to injury or suspension, they can perhaps ask Pepe to step in or switch to a formation in which Di Maria or another winger takes on the job of wing-back. And, of course, the transfer window doesn’t close until early September, thus allowing them time to bring in a replacement if Coentrao bids farewell to Madrid this summer.

Though the new campaign kicks-off in earnest on Saturday, most eyes will be fixed on the return to league action of Real and Barca on Sunday evening. Both sides begin at home, as Barcelona go up against Levante and Real Madrid face a tricky tie with Betis, who played their way into an impressive seventh spot last season.

It’s going to be one heck of a battle and it certainly appears both potential champions are closely-matched; El Clasico ties will most likely have a massive bearing on the destination of the title, but my feeling is that we’ll be witnessing a return to the top for Real Madrid come May.

Twitter: @davewh1980
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Fab future for Fabregas

By David Lee Wheatley

Former Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas today put paid to speculation surrounding his future at hometown team Barcelona by insisting the dream to play for the Camp Nou club may have been realised but is not yet at an end.

Having made his debut with the Gunners at the tender age of 16 following a switch from Barcelona's famed La Masia youth academy, the Spaniard spent eight happy years in north London before the lure of a return to Catalonia became too hard to resist.

Despite starting 30 La Liga matches last season, the talented midfielder failed to fully convince Barca fans of his worth. Fabregas has since been strongly linked with a move back to England, with Manchester United ready and willing to fork out over £30million to land the 26-year-old.

New United boss David Moyes seemed doggedly determined to capture the attacking midfield man, as the Old Trafford outfit vigorously pursued his signature over the last couple of weeks.

The death of the deal will be a big blow to Moyes as attempts to stamp his authority on the well established United line-up continue to labour, while Barcelona head coach Gerardo Martino will be relieved to have the Spain international available to him for the forseeable future.

It's a critical time for Fabregas and he must produce a consistently high level of performance to finally win over supporters and show them his true colours.

Twitter: @davewh1980
Facebook.com/DLWSports 

Luiz fits the Barcelona framework

By David Lee Wheatley

Barcelona have today put in an official bid for Chelsea central defender David Luiz, which has been rejected initially by the west London club.

The Brazilian has long been linked to a switch to the Nou Camp, but Jose Mourinho appears keen to keep him.

Incoming Barcelona head coach Gerardo Martino earmarked the versatile 26-year-old as vital to his strategy on arrival at the club, but the reported £35million on the table hasn't tempted the Blues to sell as yet.

David Luiz fits into the Barcelona way perfectly with his marauding runs from defence, attacking capabilities in the opposition box from set-pieces and undoubted skill on the ball. It's true that his insistence on going forward can sometimes leave a hole in defensive areas, but his ability far outweighs the disadvantages of having him in the side.

Returning Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho had to bat away questions over the future of Luiz during the first few weeks of his second tenure by stating several times that the Brazil international is part of his plans, but there's been an overriding feeling that Chelsea would be willing to listen to offers if the Portuguese tactician could secure a worthy replacement.

The next step is to see if Barca come back with an improved bid for the player who only signed a new five-year contract last September at Stamford Bridge and if so, it'll be intriguing to hear the response.

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