La Liga - 2012/2013

Falcao with the only goal of the game, poacher's effort on a Raúl García cross/shot, Sevilla 0-1 Atlético. Another clean sheet away from home.
 
Was a scrappy game with lots of playacting from both teams. Atleti need 2 wins from their last 6 to guarantee 3rd place and automatic qualification to the champions league.
 
Gio said:
Yes, Valencia were immense - one of the top performances I've seen outside of the elite this year - and he was at the hub of a lot of it.
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He was brilliant against Real Madrid too in the Copa Del Rey when Valencia lost 2-0. He seems a very consistent performer, it really is a shame about his mentality.
 
Orton said:
Was a scrappy game with lots of playacting from both teams. Atleti need 2 wins from their last 6 to guarantee 3rd place and automatic qualification to the champions league.
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Currently,

1. FC Barcelona : 32 games, 27W 3D 2L, 99-33 (+66); 84pts
2. Real Madrid.. : 32 games, 22W 5D 5L, 83-30 (+53); 71pts
3. Atlético....... : 32 games, 21W 5D 6L, 57-25 (+32); 68pts

Considering their schedules it's unlikely that they'll steal 2nd spot from RM, but it's not outside the realm of possibility.

RM's schedule:

24 April 2013 -- Dortmund (A) -- CL SF 1st Leg
27 April 2013 -- Atlético (A) -- La Liga J33
30 April 2013 -- Dortmund (H) -- CL SF 2nd Leg
04/05 May 2013 -- Valladolid (H) -- La Liga J34
07/08 May 2013 -- Málaga (H) -- La Liga J35
11/12 May 2013 -- Espanyol (A) -- La Liga J36
17 May 2013 -- Atlético (N) -- Copa del Rey Final
[25 May 2013 -- CL Final]
28/29 May 2013 -- Real Sociedad (A) -- La Liga J37
01/02 June 2013 -- Osasuna (H) -- La Liga J38


Atléti's schedule:

27 April 2013 -- Real Madrid (H) -- La Liga J33
04/05 May 2013 -- Depor (A) -- La Liga J34
07/08 May 2013 -- FC Barcelona (H) -- La Liga J35
11/12 May 2013 -- Celta (A) -- La Liga J36
17 May 2013 -- Real Madrid (N) -- Copa del Rey Final
28/29 May 2013 -- Mallorca (H) -- La Liga J37
01/02 June 2013 -- Zaragoza (A) -- La Liga J38


It's tough, but if they can beat Real next week (taking advantage of their CL commitments), and don't lose to Barcelona it's a def possibility. Celta & Zaragoza away could already both be relegated by the time they have to play them. Mallorca at home should be cake (could also be relegated), so that just leaves Depor away as a tricky fixture (apart from the 2 obv ones).

Real only have a tough away game to RSoc, but that's still so long. Espanyol are currently in good form and have already stolen points off RM this season, but Málaga will probably not be up for it anymore with nothing to play for.


The fight for 4th spot will be nail-biting.

4. Real Sociedad : 32 games, 15W 10D 7L, 57-39 (+18); 55pts
5. Valencia....... : 32 games, 15W 8D 9L, 52-46 (+6); 53pts
6. Málaga......... : 32 games, 14W 8D 10L, 45-37 (+8); 50pts
7. Betis............ : 32 games, 14W 6D 12L, 48-49 (-1); 48pts
8. Rayo Vallecano: 32 games, 14W 3D 15L, 41-52 (-11); 45pts

Poor Málaga, the CL took everything out of them. I assume their ban also extends to the EL? Would be awesome to see teams like Betis and Rayo in the EL; and RSoc into the CL, but you can't ever rule Valencia out, they're like the Arsenal of Spain on that front. Sevilla can't seem to break from their inconsistent rut, reminiscent of pre-Simeone Atléti.

Pichichi
1. Messi : 43 goals (4 pen./2 fk.) in 29 games -- 1.48 gpg
2. Cristiano : 31 goals (6 pen./3 fk.) in 31 games -- 1.00 gpg
3. Falcao : 25 goals (8 pen./1 fk.) in 29 games -- 0.86 gpg
4. Negredo : 18 goals (2 pen./0 fk.) in 30 games -- 0.60 gpg
5. Soldado : 17 goals (4 pen./0 fk.) in 29 games -- 0.59 gpg
6. R. Castro : 16 goals (2 pen./0 fk.) in 28 games -- 0.57 gpg
7. Piti ....... : 14 goals (3 pen./1 fk.) in 29 games -- 0.48 gpg
8. Higuaín : 13 goals (0 pen./0 fk.) in 23 games (16 starts!) -- 0.57 gpg
9. Aduriz : 13 goals (1 pen./0 fk.) in 29 games -- 0.45 gpg
10. Vela : 13 goals (4 pen./0 fk.) in 30 games -- 0.43 gpg


Assists
1. Iniesta : 14 assists in 25 games
2. Messi : 11 assists in 29 games
3. Fàbregas : 10 assists in 27 games
4. Özil : 9 assists in 28 games
5. A. Sánchez : 8 assists in 24 games (14 starts!)
6. Valerón : 8 assists in 27 games
7. Koke : 8 assists in 28 games
8. Rakitic : 8 assists in 28 games
9. Vela : 8 assists in 30 games
10. Cristiano : 8 assists in 31 games


Zamora (min. 28 games played)
1. Courtois : 23 conceded in 30 games -- 0.77 gpg
2. Willy : 27 conceded in 29 games -- 0.93 gpg
3. V. Valdés : 30 conceded in 28 games -- 1.07 gpg
4. A. Fernández : 36 conceded in 31 games -- 1.16 gpg
5. M.A. Moyá : 38 conceded in 26 games -- 1.46 gpg


Mundo Deportivo notas

Porteros (GK)
- Courtois : 75
- Willy : 74
- A. Fernández : 70
- V. Valdés : 67
- Javi Varas : 66
- Munúa : 65
- Adrían : 64
- M.A. Moyá : 63
- Roberto : 62
- Dudu Aouate : 60

Defensas (DF)
- Iñigo Martínez : 74
- Mikel González : 73
- De la Bella : 67
- Godín : 67
- Filipe Luis : 66
- João Miranda : 65
- Rukavina : 64
- Juanfran : 62
- Carlos Martínez : 61
- Jordi Alba : 61

Centrocampistas (MF)
- Verdú : 79
- Xavi : 77
- Navas : 76
- Iniesta : 71
- Óscar : 71
- Illarramendi : 69
- Beñat : 69
- Busquets : 68
- V. Sánchez : 67
- Özil : 67
(Isco : 66)

Delanteros (FW)
- Messi : 96 (yeah, that's not a typo...)
- Cristiano : 76
- Vela : 76
- Iago Aspas : 72
- Falcao : 71
- Piti : 70
- Negredo : 67
- Diego Costa : 65
- Riki : 64
- Montañés : 63

.

But, I digress...
 
Schedule from the BBC so all times UK
Friday 26th April 2013
Rayo Vallecano 2-2 Osasuna

Saturday 27th April 2013
Levante v Celta de Vigo 15:00
Athletic Bilbao v Barcelona 17:00
Atl Madrid v Real Madrid 19:00
Real Zaragoza v Mallorca 21:00

Sunday 28th April 2013
Espanyol v Granada 11:00
Malaga v Getafe 16:00
Valladolid v Sevilla 18:00
Real Sociedad v Valencia 20:00

Monday 29th April 2013
Real Betis v Deportivo 21:00

So, a defeat for Real Madrid and a win for Barcelona will give the title (officially) to Barca this weekend.

However that depends on Atletico defeating an underpowered Real Madrid and Athletic losing to an underpowered Barcelona - so the maths may have to wait another week.

Ronaldo's out - injured (and presumably) rested, Ramos and Coentrao are out because Mou's got no cover for them. Arbeloa and Marcelo are still injured, but Essien returns.

Busquets is out for Barca. Puyol and Mascherano are still injured.

However, just on the off chance of a miracle, or at least of humiliation reduction I'd expect the big two to rest more players than that.

Atletico fans must be feeling pretty excited right now :devil:
It's the hope that kills you...

However there is a real (no ifs or buts) match this weekend that will be played by the best available 11s - Valencia/Real Sociedad in the fight for 4th place. A win for Sociedad will put them 5 points clear of Valencia. No prizes for working out the alternative scenarios.
 
Tito starting Dani Alves and Xavi again... and no Villa or Tello. Messi on the bench, so still not fit enough to play prolongued periods. Can't see how they're even going to trouble Bayern a little in the 2nd leg.
 
Skorenzy said:
Tito starting Dani Alves and Xavi again... and no Villa or Tello. Messi on the bench, so still not fit enough to play prolongued periods. Can't see how they're even going to trouble Bayern a little in the 2nd leg.
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Nobody is saying that, even Barcelona themselves..
 
Danny1982 said:
Nobody is saying that, even Barcelona themselves..
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??

I was just making a statement of my own. I don't expect them to go through, but they should at least be able to play better than they did and ideally win at home, even if it's only by 1 goal. Doesn't look even remotely likely at this point IMO.
 
They've never won and only once drawn at San Mamés when losing at half-time apparently, in 29 occurences.
 
Messi has done in 5 mins much more than what he did in 90 mins against Bayern.
 
Messi with his luckiest assist of the season.
 
1-2 .. he really is the difference between an ordinary and a world class team. That's a big problem for Barcelona this season.
 
Snow said:
Wtf. Changing the captains armband in the middle of the game? Never seen that before.
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Valdes is 2nd Captain and Leo is the 4th. It was unusual but I think Victor must've made a gesture to have Leo wear it as he was surely going to lead the team on
 
NoLogo said:
That pitch :lol:

And people were complaining about a bit of water on Bayerns pitch. :lol:

2-1 Sanchez, not even he could bottle this one.
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For years, San Mames was like going into a swamp to play. Not only rain but fog and wind. One of the stadiums I never look forward to the team visiting.
 
FCBarca said:
Valdes is 2nd Captain and Leo is the 4th. It was unusual but I think Victor must've made a gesture to have Leo wear it as he was surely going to lead the team on
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I forgot how magical the armband is.

I'm still so much behind. Still 1-0 over here :/

There's the goal. Very nice.
 
adexkola said:
When did Ronaldo get injured?
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Is he injured? I know he got a couple of knocks against Dortmund. You never can't tell with these indispensable types when they're injured. They don't show it like the normal footballer does.
 
Avatar said:
1-2 .. he really is the difference between an ordinary and a world class team. That's a big problem for Barcelona this season.
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Added in that the support cast have been mainly poor this season - especially Sanchez, their defence is literally worse than a mid table side's (injuries contributed to that) and Barca definitely have a problem - which can be seen whenever Messi's not playing. (Luckily for them he's been largely injury free, or unluckily for them, the 1 injury he picks up is in the latter stages of the season).
 
who said Ronaldo is injured? he's not playing to rest for Tuesday
 
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