PREVIEW | SPANISH FOOTBALL | REAL MADRID - ATLETICO DE MADRID | POSSIBLE TEAMS LINE-UPS

Spanish Football has its first big Liga game tomorrow as part of Round 7. The divided city of Madrid will hook onto the TV around 22.00 hrs to watch the Real Madrid - Atletico de Madrid derby.

Real Madrid come in as the less in form team, with Atletico de Madrid enjoying an undefeated streak & are sharing the leadership of the Liga classification table with FC Barcelona. Atletico are favourites & seem to have finally gotten the upper hand over their city rivals after winning the Spanish Cup last season at the "Santiago Bernabeu Stadium".

However true this may be there is nothing more to "fear" than when the "enemy" is wounded. The last three games - Granada, Villareal & Elche - has seen a relatively poor Real Madrid pushed around & in occasions against the ropes as their star player Cristiano Ronaldo has needed to came to their rescue. The team is not working.

The Real Madrid defence is not solid, there are midfield issues to still be resolved & upfront Benzema is not proving to be the Number Nine the Club needs & is looking for this season. The squad lacks intensity & concentration & because of this Coach Ancelotti will concentrate his players tonight to begin the psychological strengthening. 

The other news is that Gareth Bale is fit & looks like he will play tomorrow which may give Real Madrid another useful resource, however no one is sure if he will start or come on in the second half.

A speculated & possible Real Madrid starting 11 team line-up against Atletico de Madrid could be:

Diego Lopez, Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao, Khedira, Modric, Isco, Di Maria ( Gareth Bale ), Cristiano Ronaldo & Karim Benzema*

Atletico de Madrid are in top form with Football observers claiming that perhaps they are currently the best team in Spanish Football. Their Spanish Cup win form at the end of the season has been carried on with the Spanish Super Cup were they drew twice with the all-mighty FC Barcelona squad. They are undefeated so far in the Spanish Liga.

They have excellent & inform players on all lines. Defensively perhaps the best in European Football at this moment, in the midfield they are solid & hard working & upfront the Costa-Villa duo is working magnificently. An aggressive & intense team that pressures their opponents leading them to make mistakes which lead to fast counter-attacks...& goals.

Youngsters like Goalkeeper Courtois is stopping everything along with midfielder Koke who has evolved into a mature player already called up & playing with the Spanish National Team. Forward Diego Costa is the "trending topic man" with 7 goals so far sharing the top goalscorer rankings. If there was ever a moment to win & knock off their pedestal their City rival it is tomorrow night in the Stadium of the "enemy".

The speculated & possible Atletico de Madrid starting 11 team line-up against  Real Madrid could be:

Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Luis Felipe, Thiago, Koke, Gabi, Arda Turan, Diego Costa & David Villa* 

Historically most derby games end in draw. May the better team win tomorrow, I am going with Atletico de Madrid. Aupa Atleti!

* both line-ups are speculations & may well change close to kick off time.

Latest:
Final score here in Liga Round up

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SPANISH SOCCER | DERBY ROUND 31 | REAL BETIS 3 SEVILLA FC 3

Spanish Soccer - Football started this Friday Night with Round 31 of Liga. The match usually gets included in the Saturday games round-up post, but this match is special & deserves to be treated now & separately. The big Andalusia region & city of Seville derby is famous for its intensity as it divides the city with Football emotion that gets dangerously close to being over zealous.

The Real Betis - Sevilla FC derby gets warmed up days before & tonight the final score ended being 3 - 3. An amazing game that lived up to the expectations & the circumstances with a Betis comeback included which will be talked about for a while.

The game was intense, hard, fought out & full of controversy. There were off-sides called but not whistled & even a red card. It was a true city of Seville derby. There was two clear halves, the first for Sevilla & the second for Betis. 

Sevilla exploded early & ran over Real Betis in every facet of the game. Sevilla midfielder Rakitic scored first in the 7th min & again in the 19th which Betis claimed off-side. Sevilla forward Alvaro Negredo then gave a "killer punch" with a third goal in the 33rd min.  

With the scoreline 0 - 3 Real Betis began their reaction & scored their first in the 43rd min via Pabon, an important goal that is called "psychological". It had an effect as Betis started the second half strong & added a second goal in the 54th min via Ruben Castro that Sevilla FC claimed off-side, it was given as OK.

Sevilla was at this point rattled & nervous & then lost Medal to a red card after an incident with Betis Cañas who should have been sent off as well but was not. With Sevilla down to 10 men Betis went all out & suffocated Sevilla in their own half. The chances arrived for Betis while Sevilla held out until the 89th min when Nosa headed home the equalizer & completed the turn around.

In the end deserved draw for both with merit to Real Betis for their grit & never say never attitude.
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SPANISH FOOTBALL - ROUND 25 FRIDAY RESULT | AT.BILBAO 1 - REAL SOCIEDAD 3

Round 25 of the Spanish League kicked -off with the habitual Friday Night match. A special game as it was the anticipated & big "Basque Region" derby between Athletic Club Bilbao & Real Sociedad ( city of San Sebastian ). This "derby" is always special & even more when played at Bilbao in the "Cathedral of Spanish Football" the "San Mames Stadium". The followers of both sides get on well & celebrate jointly in the streets before the match, but both Clubs & their fans are people with pride & the loser feels the pinch. Both teams wish to avoid a loss.

The end result was a 1 - 3 victory to Real Sociedad, a very felt loss for Bilbao on their "sacred" turf & with a convincing scoreline. What hurts more the losers is that this is the last derby in this ground before moving next season to the new Stadium  The last anticipated Bilbao hurray on their century long home ground turned sour.

But there is a reason for the Real Sociedad victory, they are simple better this season & the in Euro positions on the Spanish League ladder while Bilbao is having a very poor & inconsistent season full of internal problems on & off the field.

Bilbao got ahead first in the 19 th min with Ibai, but their Football glory & moment would soon end when Real Sociedad equalized via Griezmann in the 33 rd min. From here onwards the visitors took over & went ahead thanks to Aguirretxe in the 66th min & Mexican Carlos Vela got the third in the 76th min.

What made it even more sweet for Real Sociedad is that they have not won in "San Mames" for the last 12 years, & tonight they did in the night of derby farewells from the mythical home ground of Bilbao. Party poopers indeed.

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SPANISH FOOTBALL | REAL MADRID - ATLETICO DE MADRID POSSIBLE STARTING 11

SPANISH FOOTBALL ( LA LIGA ) celebrates tonight at 22.00 hrs at the "Santiago Bernabeu" the big city of Madrid derby between REAL MADRID - ATLETICO DE MADRID. The former has not lost against the latter in the last 14 years, while Atletico comes into this match ahead of Real on the Liga ladder & in excellent form. A win tonight by Atletico de Madrid would open up a 14 point gap for Real Madrid in reference to their rival FC Barcelona if the latter wins their game against At.Bilbao. Real Madrid could definitely say goodbye to the Spanish League title & unsettle the Club internally if they lose.

As always in these special pre-match situations the speculations on the starting line ups for both teams are ripe. 

Here are what many consider the most likely starting 11 for both teams. Speculation, but fairly well thought out by the observers.

Good luck to both teams.

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SPANISH FOOTBALL | DERBY NIGHT ATLETICO - REAL MADRID

Spanish Football action today with three games down as part of Round 29 of La Liga. Important Saturday afternoon - night of Football as FC Barcelona plays Getafe at 20.00 & Atletico de Madrid plays Real Madrid in the big local derby. There is currently 5 points that seperates Barça from Real Madrid & there are various possible outcome combimations beforehand: Barça loses Real Madrid wins...draws... or Barça wins Real Madrid loses thus putting the Spanish League title on a platter for Barça.

Cover of Spanish Sports paper 

However, back to the derby & why this match is "dangerous" for Real Madrid. Atletico wishes to desperately win their local town rival after not being able to for the last 11 years  & 4 months, or better said, in the last 20 local "clasicos". The last time Atletico de Madrid defeated Real Madrid was on the 30th of October in 1999 with a 3 - 1 score-line.

Surf into Spanish Football Sports around midnight Sp.time to see all the results & if Atletico managed to break the "derby curse" & if so, if Barça won to practically seal the Liga title.

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ACB SPANISH BASKETBALL | REGAL BARCELONA 95 - REAL MADRID 75

Big night of ACB SPANISH BASKETBALL action with REAL MADRID travelling to BARCELONA for the big Spanish Basketball Derby. Real Madrid went into this game as ACB Table leader & full of confidence to attempt to win in a traditional doom stadium & thus find revenge for past defeats.

The end result was a FC (REGAL) BARCELONA demolition job with a 95 - 75 win over Real Madrid that puts Barça sharing Top spot on the ACB ladder with their arch rivals & once again gives the Madrid team a good old whipping that will leave a "scar".

Navarro shots over Real Madrid player

This 20 point defeat may have a psychological effect over Real Madrid who are clear way below the level needed to match Regal Barcelona. Juan Carlos Navarro played a cracker for Barça along with Lakovic, while the name to note from Real Madrid was Fischer.

Seems 2010 will go down as a bad year for Real Madrid when it comes to head to head clashes in different Sporting events with Barça. We all remember the 5- 0 Barça win in Football, yesterdays Barça´s 1-2 Final win in the XV International Football U-12 title & tonight in Basketball. Will 2011 be the same story?

Here are some brief details of the match with individual scores & the partials:

95 - REGAL BARCELONA (28+21+25+21):Rubio (2), Navarro (14), Grimau (13), Lorbek (13), Perovic (8) -starting team-, Sada (6), Lakovic (17), Vázquez (8), Inglés (-), Anderson (-), Morris (12) & Ndong (2).


75 - REAL MADRID (15+19+21+20):Prigioni (-), Llull (10), Suárez (3), Reyes (11), Fischer (11) -starting team-, Tomic (8), Velickovic (6), Garbajosa (-), Tucker (13), Rodríguez (13) & Mirotic (-). Tweet

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CRISTIANO RONALDO BACK PASS - "ESPALDINHA" PISSES OFF ATLETICO DE MADRID PLAYERS

Brazilian Ronaldinho did it in 2006 & it was magic:



Zlatan Ibrahimovic pulled it off in season 2009-2010 & it was a touch of class:



Cristiano Ronaldo did it last night in the Real Madrid - Atletico de Madrid derby & was heavily criticised by Atletico de Madrid players who thought that with 2-0 score line in favour & with two minutes left in the game that this type of "showing -off" was a slap to their face. In fact, Atletico midfielder Raul Garcia went straight to Ronaldo & said "...you wouldn´t do that if 0 - 0 ..."



I am an Atletico "die hard" & I believe that the Atletico players should reflect on their poor game & get their shit together instead of "crying about" if Ronaldo passed a ball with his back. Score goals Atletico & you will stop players being inventive & crowd pleaser's, do F*ck all most of the match & you deserve to be pissed around, thats the price when you lose & lose in a derby! Tweet

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THE MADRID DERBY 2010 - 2011 | 11 YEARS WITHOUT A VICTORY FOR ATLETICO DE MADRID

The big highlight tonight in Round 10 of the Spanish League - La Liga is its last scheduled Sunday match at 21.00 hrs local Spanish time: the REAL MADRID vs ATLETICO DE MADRID clash.


This "Derby" has a greater significance for Atletico than Real because the latter places more importance playing against its historical arch rivel Barça & because they come into tonight´s match undefeated & current Liga leaders, while Atletico hasn´t defeated its city neighbour & "spiritual rival" in the last 11 years.

Cristiano Ronaldo - Diego Forlan

The last Atletico de Madrid victory was in Oct 1999 at the "Santiago Bernabeu Stadium" with a 1 -3 scoreline. That night Real Madrid forward Morientes scored & Jose Mari & Hasselbaink x 2 scored for Atletico de Madrid . Here are the 2 goals - videos - from Hasselbaink:

The equalizer after Morientes scored first for Real

Hasselbaink scores here the 3º goal

Since this day Atletico has suffered draws & more defeats that have wounded the Atletico pride & exaggerated the "inferiority" complex. Hopefully tonight Atletico can regain some pride & lift the local spirits of their  fans with a victory.

Starting 11 line - ups:


Real Madrid

Casillas, Ramos, Pepe, Carvalho, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso, Khedira, CR7, Özil, Di María & amp; Higuaín
(only team 100% confirmed)

Atletico de Madrid

De Gea, Valera, Ujfalusi, Domínguez, Felipe Luis, Assuncao, Tiago,Reyes, Simao, Forlan & Aguero
(still to be confirmed - maybe changes).

There is no doubt that it will be a Top game & that you should not miss with Real Madrid clear favourites. But Football has an unexpected touch with these sort of occasions when things can go against the planned script. It will be a great night with a ground full of World Football stars & we hope we can witness a clean, goal packed game with the better team winning.

Spanish Football Sports Blog will be posting very late tonight as I will be watch the match that finishes around 23.45, I  will then upload the full summary. Tweet

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SPANISH FOOTBALL SOCCER LEAGUE - LA LIGA 2009 /2010 - REAL MADRID 3 ATLETICO DE MADRID 2 : VIDEO GOALS

Source: Spanish Football Sports Blog /
It could not be tonight for ATLETICO DE MADRID as they went down 3-2 at the home ground of REAL MADRID in the big city derby. There was same hope during the first 45 minutes for the visitors who scored first via REYES in the 25th min. However, the 2ºhalf was all Real Madrid as they scored three goals straight via XABI ALONSO (49th min), ARBELOA (55th min) & HIGUAIN ( 61st min) to put the game under their control. Atletico was awarded a penalty for a Xabi Alonso handball that FORLAN converted in the 67th min but Real held on to win.

Real Madrid remains leader of the classification table with goal advantage over FC Barcelona. Watch the VIDEOS of the Real Madrid - At Madrid goals below:

Reyes


Xabi, Arbeloa & Higuain


Diego Forlan
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PREVIEW - FC BARCELONA vs REAL MADRID - "El CLASICO 2009": THE DAY THE EARTH STOPS STILL.

It’s Sunday evening, the 29th of November at 19.00hrs & on a field
in a stadium named “Camp Nou” located in the Spanish city of
Barcelona there are 24 players looking at a ball situated in the middle
of the field awaiting the referee’s whistle.You focus your vision further
& realize that you are seeing Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká,
Xavi,Iniesta, Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Ibrahimovic, Xabi Alonso, Thierry
Henry, Karim Benzema …& you realize that the Best Players in the
World of Football are before your very own eyes. The whistle blows
& you are witnessing the “Clasico” the big Spanish League “Derby”
between FC BARCELONA & REAL MADRID.

(photo: Mundodeportivo.com)

There are few occasions & few places (perhaps except for Argentina
& the Boca Juniors vs. River Plate game) in the World of Football
that allows you to view, feel & live Football at its highest level.
Never before have so many World Class players been summoned
together in one place to play with & against each other. For example,
rumour has it that this years Golden Ball Award final places will be
Messi the winner, Cristiano Ronaldo second & Xavi Hernandez third;
they will all be there this Sunday representing their team along with
the current Best Goalkeeper in the World who is Iker Casillas & a list
of Top 10 World ranked stars: Kaká, Iniesta, Ibrahimovic, Benzema,
Xabi Alonso, Ramos, Puyol, Henry…etc & etc. This is awesome,
unique, special & not to be missed if you are a Football fan.

The pre-match favourites are FC BARCELONA who displayed last
Tuesday in their Champions League must win game against Inter
Milan that they are firing, & won 2-0 without Messi & Ibrahimovic.
REAL MADRID is leading the Spanish League classification table by
1ºpoint over Barça, but their game yesterday showed that they
are a playing contradiction, miles behind the worst level Barça
could play & are winning thanks to individual solutions ahead of
any real coherent team play which is lacking & worrying some Real
Madrid Directives. In fact, Real Madrid show continuing signs of
lack of physical endurance in their matches, lack of coordination,
emptiness in creativity & solutions. This paints a bleak picture for
Madrid, but they will have back CRISTIANO RONALDO & his mere
presence will give the visitors a moral boost & a substantial lift in
the quality scale. According to the latest media comments by
Ronaldo, the man is centred, eager & wishing to score to let the
World know that the “King wishes his crown back”.

(photo:elmundo.es)

Either way, anything can happen as this match, this very special
clash of giants does not follow the standard prognostics & written
rules of a normal obliged scheduled game. This is one of the biggest
spectacles in Football & even the “Gods” themselves take a break
& desert their control over destiny to hand it over with free reign to
24 players who are consciously & physically lifted above their normal
levels.

Latest news is that Messi is trying hard to overcome injury to be fit,
with Ibrahimovic almost certain to start. At Real Madrid Cristiano
Ronaldo is fit & roaring to go with Benzema upfront & Kaká in his
natural position just behind the forwards…The stage is set, will you

miss it, will you dare give a result?

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VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: REAL MADRID 2 - FC BARCELONA 6. BARÇA TIE UP THE SPANISH LEAGUE TITLE

SFS could´nt believe what it witnessed, terrible Real Madrid
defending, mistakes & a total demolition job by FC BARCELONA
as they won away to REAL MADRID 2-6 to open up a 7º point gap

& virtually seal this seasons Spanish League Championship. It was
the Xavi Hernandez, Thierry Henry & Messi "Show", that cancelled
Real Madrid early good play. Plus if it was´nt for Casillas it could
have been more goals for Barça. Here are theVIDEOS of the goals:

Higuain 14th min


Henry 17th min


Puyol 20th min


Messi 35th min


Ramos 55th min

Henry 58th min

Messi 75th min


Pique 83rd min

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REAL MADRID - FC BARCELONA 2009: A PREVIEW

It´s the only news in today´s Sports daily´s, & in Spain.

The Round 34 clash REAL MADRID vs FC BARCELONA the game of
the season were the Spanish League Title could be up for grabs, or
at least signal the beginning of a Real Madrid take-over at the top of
the ladder if they manage to win. A Barça victory would virtually
halt any chance of a Real Madrid takeover by extending their lead
gap to 7 points & "sealing" them the title. If not & Real win, the
points gap difference will be only 1 point!

The local media is speculating on tonight’s team’s line-ups. Here
are the mentioned players that will play at the “Santiago Bernabeu
Stadium” with kick-off time 20.00hrs Spanish time.
















Possible REAL MADRID starting line-up (may change):

Casillas;Ramos;Cannavaro;Metzelder;Heinze;Lass Diarra;
Gago;Marcelo;Robben;Raul & Higuaín.

Possible FC BARCELONA starting line-up (may change):

Valdés; Alves; Puyol; Pique; Abidal; Toure; Iniesta; Xavi; Henry

(or Busquets);Eto´o & Messi

There is a doubt about Henry, due to the clash of heads in the
Champions League match against Chelsea, however SFS believes it´s
too big of a game to leave him out.

Who will win? SFS puts down a DRAW, not brave enough for a score,
but a draw.

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SFS FLASHBACKS: VIDEO OF FC BARCELONA 2 - REAL MADRID 0 (13.12.08 CAMP NOU)

SFS has received emails asking for the video of the last “Clasico”
played this season 2008/ 2009. Here it is below, although the video
portals are full of clips, this is one of the more “cleaner” versions
hang up from “AlbertCoch1986” (his nik & thanks!) & will serve as a
SFS Flashback Video.

The date is 13.12.08 FC Barcelona plays Real Madrid at “Camp Nou”.
Barça won 2-0 with goals from Samuel Eto´o in the 37th min &
Messi in the 89th min.

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REAL MADRID - FC BARCELONA DERBY - HUMOUR OR NERVES FROM BARCELONA?

Barcelona based Sports daily “Mundo Deportivo” add humour
to the upcoming Real Madrid – FC Barcelona game next Saturday
with this cartoon from “Kap”. Both Coach Guardiola & President
Laporta are drawn saying (Translated):

“No, No. It’s not that we are afraid of the Swine Flu.
It´s the media campaign coming out from Madrid that
stinks”

¿Humour or nerves at Camp Barça?

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"EL CLÁSICO": REAL MADRID vs FC BARCELONA 2009. THE GAME OF THE SEASON

It´s the biggest Football game of the season & possibly on Earth as
REAL MADRID CF meets FC BARCELONA at 20.00 hrs (Sp.time) at the
"Santiago Bernabeu Stadium" to determine if:

1. Real Madrid can scratch another 3ºpoints from Barça & put the
difference between them & the latter to just a single point with 4
more Rounds in play of the Championship.
2. Barça win & make it "virtually" impossible to be overtaken by
Real & thus "clinch" the Spanish League title.

However, what if its a draw? Anything can happen & anything is
possible!











Speculations aside, what is clear is that the whole of Spain will
come to a standstill. FC Barcelona showed signs yesterday of
tiredness against Chelsea FC in its 0-0 draw,especially key players
like Xavi,Eto´o & Messi. Plus the fact that they were "de-activated"
by the English team may have allowed some doubt to "creep"
in psychologically into the team & that can only benefit Real Madrid.

Real Madrid will regain defender Heinz & winger Robben for the
clash,however today Guti was ruled out with a serious ankle strain
after clashing with goalie Dudek during training today.

Three days left & the clock is already in motion & counting! Tweet

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CAN ATLETICO BREAK THE 10 YEAR "CURSE" TOMORROW AGAINST REAL MADRID?

Tomorrow is the big Madrid derby game between REAL MADRID
& ATLETICO DE MADRID. The latter has´nt won at the Santiago
Bernabeu stadium for the last 10 years.

Way back in 1999 Real Madrid lost to Atletico 1-3 with goals from:
Real Madrid - Morientes
Atletico - Hasselbaink 2; Solari

¿Can Atletico undo the 10 year curse tomorrow?

Until then lets re-live that magical night for Atletico 10 years ago with
the below video. By the way watch an 18 year old Samuel Eto´o jump onto
the field for Real Madrid with 20 minutes to go, he was a Real player then...

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HISTORIC MODERN VIDEOS OF THE FC BARCELONA vs REAL MADRID DERBY

Historic games between FC BARCELONA & REAL MADRID, both cases
5-0 for each side. Tonight at 22.00 another chance to send the "enemy"
home with their tail between their legs.

Will it be a repeat of this?

FC Barcelona 5 – Real Madrid 0


Can Real manage against all odds do this again?

Real Madrid 5 – FC Barcelona 0


More likely the first option, however anything is possible in this
match. Good luck to both & may the better team win. Tweet

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"EL CLASICO": FC BARCELONA vs REAL MADRID 2008

"El Clasico", the big one, the "derby" between FC BARCELONA &
REAL MADRID: Saturday at 22.00. Real Madrid visit Barça 9 points

behind & in turmoil, will they be able to get out alive?

Thanks to daily "Sport", here are the possible line ups of both sides:

SFS prediction: a draw, as history tells us. However, Barça is BURNING
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