Pabón, the Valencia forward, just ran 60 yards and made a goal-saving block tackle 
Valencia all over the place now..
Valencia all over the place now..La Liga 2013-2014
- Thread starter jojojo
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Yeah, if he tried the tackle during the dribble, it could, but I was thinking more of a last ditch tackle, like a block more than a tackle.
Diego Costa, that wink through his gloves
Atletico underpar tonight, but they are just getting the job done. If Costa can keep this ridiculous goalscoring up for the rest of the season they have a real chance of this title.
Stupid run up to the penalty.
Costa has his penalty saved. Very lackadaisical penalty.
Never looked like scoring it.
Wasn't a good pen, but Diego Alves has an outstanding penalty saving record (something silly like 60% I'd heard, dunno if true) and he's saved pens from Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi in the past.
Costa such a handful
such a handfulReferee pointing to the penalty spot in the stand there.
Atléti level with Barça on points and GD, Barça have scored 1 goal more which is why they're still top. Diego Costa also level with Cristiano Ronaldo on 17 goals.
Amazing season Atletico are having. You keep expecting them to run out of steam but Simeone's doing an amazing job. He's not been able to do much rotation but he's got them playing well enough as a team that when he does make changes it isn't really affecting their play.
Since they qualified in the CL after gameweek 4, he's managed to take over half of the first XI out a couple of times, and the week off for most of them during Copa weekend would have helped too. They are pretty well stocked with cover for pretty much all positions and some decent players to come in (Adrian, Raul Garcia, Rodriguez, Insua, Alderweireld)
Madrid and Barca to be investigated by Europe for illegal state aid. A bit bloody late. In the case of Madrid the digout from the government funded the 'Galatico' era.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ish-clubs-under-investigation-for-illegal-aid
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ish-clubs-under-investigation-for-illegal-aid
The government didn't fund the galactico era, a land re-zoning deal that may have been helped along by one of the biggest construction companies in Spain (owned by Perez!) funded the galactico era and one of the least successful football teams Madrid has owned.
The first investigation relates to the fact that certain clubs are member-owned rather than PLCs. As "sporting clubs" they get tax breaks more akin to not for profit organsations and local sports clubs rather than businesses.
The clubs involved are currently looking at how to keep their member owned status, even if their current "sporting club" status is rejected.
The other issues - local authorities leasing grounds to clubs, tax offices giving clubs 5 years to clear tax debts rather than invoking bankruptcy proceedngs, clubs that are insolvent in normal trading terms being allowed to continue operating - raise a massive can of worms for the rest of La Liga (and beyond) but don't have much impact on the big two. In fact, if they follow through on it, Barca and Real Madrid maybe the only solvent clubs in Spain and La Liga really will be a two horse race.
Valencia have sacked their manager: Miroslav Djukic. The youth team coach is in temporary charge. Not much of a surprise, even though the directors denied they were sacking him on Sunday.
He's the third Liga manager to go this season the others were Mendílibar (Osasuna) and the Betis coach, Pepe Mel.
Pepe Mel's the odd one out in that I think their fans were sad to see him go, he looked brokenhearted at the goodbye press conference and even the chairman said that, "I'm sure he'll be back with us again."
He's the third Liga manager to go this season the others were Mendílibar (Osasuna) and the Betis coach, Pepe Mel.
Pepe Mel's the odd one out in that I think their fans were sad to see him go, he looked brokenhearted at the goodbye press conference and even the chairman said that, "I'm sure he'll be back with us again."
With Djukic out, wonder if this means the loan of Rami is still happening in January
La Liga goes off for a week's holiday after this weekend's games, they're back on the 4th January
Friday 20th December 2013 (from the BBC so all times are UK)
Elche V Málaga 19:30
Saturday 21st December 2013
Villarreal V Sevilla 15:00
Real Betis V Almería 17:00
Atlético Madrid V Levante 19:00
Granada CF V Real Sociedad 21:00
Sunday 22nd December 2013
Espanyol V Real Valladolid 11:00
Getafe V Barcelona 16:00
Athletic Club V Rayo Vallecano 18:00
Celta de Vigo V Osasuna 20:00
Valencia CF V Real Madrid 20:00
The match of the weekend ought to be Valencia V Real Madrid. Which Valencia will show up is anyone's guess, but they are still waiting for a new manager which doesn't sound like the best situation. In terms of who will take over, Pizzi (who played in Spain) is the name in the press at the moment, but I don't know anything about him as a manager, he's been working in Argentina.
Friday 20th December 2013 (from the BBC so all times are UK)
Elche V Málaga 19:30
Saturday 21st December 2013
Villarreal V Sevilla 15:00
Real Betis V Almería 17:00
Atlético Madrid V Levante 19:00
Granada CF V Real Sociedad 21:00
Sunday 22nd December 2013
Espanyol V Real Valladolid 11:00
Getafe V Barcelona 16:00
Athletic Club V Rayo Vallecano 18:00
Celta de Vigo V Osasuna 20:00
Valencia CF V Real Madrid 20:00
The match of the weekend ought to be Valencia V Real Madrid. Which Valencia will show up is anyone's guess, but they are still waiting for a new manager which doesn't sound like the best situation. In terms of who will take over, Pizzi (who played in Spain) is the name in the press at the moment, but I don't know anything about him as a manager, he's been working in Argentina.
He's just come off winning the Apertura with San Lorenzo.
Barça without Messi (due back after the winter break?) and Neymar (suspension, I believe), away to Getafe might be tricky. They lost there two seasons ago and last season they didn't at all look comfortable until Messi came on as a sub and scored two goals for a 4-1 win. Atléti should record a fairly easy win at home against an uninspired Levante and wouldn't be surprised at all to see them finish the year on top (if not on points, then likely on GD). No chance for Valencia IMO, they'd somehow gotten away with selling all of Silva, Mata and Villa, but the sale of Soldado has proven incredibly costly (for every party involved in the deal it seems, weirdly) in the sense that their offense has completely withered away, while the defense remains fragile.
A random stat moment. People think the clasicos are the title deciders, however far more reliable is the result of Getafe Vs Barcelona. Getafe have been in Liga 1 since 2004, and if Barca win there, they win La Liga.
12/13 (Week 4): Getafe 1-4 Barcelona (Champions Barcelona)
11/12 (Week 14): Getafe 1-0 Barcelona (Champions Real Madrid)
10/11 (Week 10): Getafe 1-3 Barcelona (Champions Barcelona)
09/10 (Week 2): Getafe 0-2 Barcelona (Champions Barcelona)
08/09 (Week 31): Getafe 0-1 Barcelona (Champions Barcelona)
07/08 (Week 12): Getafe 2-0 Barcelona (Champions Real Madrid)
06/07 (Week 17): Getafe 1-1 Barcelona (Champions Real Madrid)
05/06 (Week 10): Getafe 1-3 Barcelona (Champions Barcelona)
04/05 (Week 13): Getafe 1-2 Barcelona (Champions Barcelona)
12/13 (Week 4): Getafe 1-4 Barcelona (Champions Barcelona)
11/12 (Week 14): Getafe 1-0 Barcelona (Champions Real Madrid)
10/11 (Week 10): Getafe 1-3 Barcelona (Champions Barcelona)
09/10 (Week 2): Getafe 0-2 Barcelona (Champions Barcelona)
08/09 (Week 31): Getafe 0-1 Barcelona (Champions Barcelona)
07/08 (Week 12): Getafe 2-0 Barcelona (Champions Real Madrid)
06/07 (Week 17): Getafe 1-1 Barcelona (Champions Real Madrid)
05/06 (Week 10): Getafe 1-3 Barcelona (Champions Barcelona)
04/05 (Week 13): Getafe 1-2 Barcelona (Champions Barcelona)
More than it being Madrid nevermind the lack of Leo or Neymar, the bigger concern will be this man
Mallenco
Levante score in the first minute against Atletico. Big surprise
How was that not a yellow for Costa?
Costa, 2-1. Superb volley
Quick break from Levante and it's 2-2. Excellent finish.
Diego Costa's having an amazing season - it's depressing that him and Suarez are so talented. Falcao's gone and they've lost nothing from the attack.
Meanwhile, Levante refusing to quit.
Meanwhile, Levante refusing to quit.
Certainly proved me wrong... they hadn't really shown that tenacity that typified them in recent seasons so far IMO, although they did make RM sweat (until they threw it away in the dying minutes) but that was at home.
Pen to Atléti! Diego Costa's already missed 3 times from the spot this season, does he take this?
edit: yes he does! and close, but struck well enough in the end.
edit: yes he does! and close, but struck well enough in the end.
Pen to Atletico
Almost saved
Levante are the first team to score twice against Atléti in a game this season (and they've already faced Barça twice and RM away).
They're still at it... looking fervently for that equaliser.
They're still at it... looking fervently for that equaliser.
Piti with a screamer for Granada, 1-1. Vela scored the goal for La Real after a neat through ball from the impressive Griezmann.
Griezmann! What a goal! He's on fire.
Barca down a goal to Getafe
2-0 GetafeGetting interesting now.
However Getafe and shut up shop don't normally fit together that well. We'll see.
However Getafe and shut up shop don't normally fit together that well. We'll see.
Plenty of time for Barca to score 3. Getafe have scored too early for their own good
No Messi, no party.
Well, with no Neymar or Messi, it is a bit of a tall order. This is when the likes of Alexis and Pedro need to step up to the plate and show to the manager that they deserved to be picked.