La Liga 2013-2014

Real Sociedad beat Athletic 2-0 last night, which leaves them in fifth place but now only one point behind Athletic.

Next up we have Real Madrid trying to stop themselves from drifting even further behind the big two - if they win, they'll be only 5 points off the pace. :D

Diego López; Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Xabi, Modric; Di María, Isco, Cristiano; y Benzema.
Vs
Yoel; Hugo Mallo, Cabral, David Costas, Jonny; Augusto, Oubiña, Álex López; Rafinha, Charles y Orellana.

Bale's on the bench because he's been injured.
 
Why can't the channels covering La Liga get better commentators?

They're all dull as dishwater and almost all of them have this strange style of talking about the match like they're on the half-time show, not like a match is actually on.
 
Do Madrids front four always work so little in defence? They don't even bother helping the full back.
 
100 said:
Do Madrids front four always work so little in defence? They don't even bother helping the full back.
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At home, against Celta, when they're desperately chasing a goal?

No. No way and the fans wouldn't expect them to.

In a hard match, or a tight away where they're struggling to hold a one goal lead, or if the team go down to ten men. Yes, they defend - even Ronaldo and Benzema- and not just at setpieces. Draws are useless in La Liga.
 
It was still relatively early in the match and Celta could've scored 1 or 2, not playing their greatest football anyway.
 
LARulz said:
Are Madrid fans fed up with Di Maria?
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Di Maria is fed up with Madrid, according to his entourage. He nearly left during the summer, but got talked into staying.

The fans are probably reacting to that. In any case they'd rather see Jese out there when Bale's out.

Bale-Ronaldo combi scores again!
 
jojojo said:
Di Maria is fed up with Madrid, according to his entourage. He nearly left during the summer, but got talked into staying.

The fans are probably reacting to that. In any case they'd rather see Jese out there when Bale's out.

Bale-Ronaldo combi scores again!
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I was surprised he stayed after Bale joined. You think he'll go this month (I'd happily take him at United) or will he stick it out this season?
 
On his way off the pitch when subbed, Di Maria either grabbed his balls as an insult to the fans or reshuffled his parts to a more comfortable position. Spain now awaits the customary 50 repeats from 27 different camera angles and the expert opinion of body language specialists to decide.

Anyway this either fits with the "Di Maria wants to leave" story or the "some pople like to put this the worst possible interpretation on every move Di Maria makes" version.

A Madrid ITK :D says, "All options are open until the end of the transfer window."
 
:lol: Maybe Marca will manipulate the image.
 
:lol:
 
Sixpence said:
Spanish refs :lol:

Shouldn't be reffing a pub game this one.
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La Liga reaches the halfway point in the season this weekend, fittingly with the biggest match of the season so far.

Friday 10th January 2014 (From the BBC so all times are UK)
Granada CF V Real Valladolid 20:00

Saturday 11th January 2014
Athletic Bilbao V Almería 15:00
Celta de Vigo V Valencia CF 17:00
Atlético Madrid V Barcelona 19:00
Elche V Sevilla 21:00

Sunday 12th January 2014
Getafe V Rayo Vallecano 11:00
Real Betis V Osasuna 16:00
Espanyol V Real Madrid 18:00
Levante V Málaga 20:00

Monday 13th January 2014
Villarreal V Real Sociedad 21:00

Atletico's fullback, Juanfran, had a yellow card revoked this week and can play. So, they're more or less at full strength. Barcelona have Messi back, but Tata says he doesn't want to rush him into playing 90 minutes having worked so hard to let him recover, so he may start on the bench.

It could be a great contest - the Supercopa matches were hard fought, Barca winning on away goals after a 1-1 aggregate. The teams are level on points, Barca's goals for/against are 53/12 Vs Atletico's 47/11.

So there you go. Atletico have home advantage. Barca have Alexis and Pedro, who've both scored hattricks this past week and waiting (on the bench?) are Messi and Neymar. I have no idea what will happen. I just hope it's worth watching!

There are other matches of course, notably Villareal Vs Sociedad on Monday night which is part of the battle for fourth that is running very intensely in Spain.

Madrid meanwhile travel to Espanyol, not an easy game but a must win. They're probably still without Alonso, who is apparently training normally but who found the noise of the stadium on match day too painful on his perforated eardrum. Incidentally. a ferociusly optimistic Madrid fan told me this week. "Whatever happens this weekend. Provided we win, we'll be closer to second place." Great example of positive thinking.:D
 
Atleti used to have quite a good record against Barca during the Torres and Aguero days. They are due a victory over them, and I do think if they can win this one then they really are going to challenge all the way this year.
 
fishfingers15 said:
Is this the week that Atletico finally win against Barcelona?
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They beat Guardiola's Barça in the league on back-to-back visits to the Calderón... In 08/09 and 09/10 (Barça's only loss in La Liga that season and last time Atléti have beaten them, I believe?).
 
Skorenzy said:
They beat Guardiola's Barça in the league on back-to-back visits to the Calderón... In 08/09 and 09/10 (Barça's only loss in La Liga that season and last time Atléti have beaten them, I believe?).
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That sounds right. Barcelona have won the last 7 Liga matches between the two clubs.

The Supercopa in August was 1-1 at the Calderon, 0-0 at the Camp Nou.

They are one of Messi's favourite teams to score against - 20 goals in 18 games overall, 17 in 14 in La Liga. Though Courtois has stopped him scoring in the last three games.
 
feck what a match up :drool:

& it's 1-1 in a fiercely contested, tight match...it's the 60th minutes and who do you see warming up on the sidelines, as an Atletico player....Lionel Messi! :lol:
 
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