ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO 3 - NAPOLI 1 (4-1 AGG) | CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIER FINAL RESULT

Spanish Football Club Athletic Club Bilbao will join Atletico de Madrid, Real Madrid & FC Barcelona in tomorrow UEFA Champions League Groups draw after defeating 3 - 1 Italian Club Napoli in the 2 leg Champions League Qualifier. At Bilbao wins on a 4 - 1 aggregate that was also the perfect way to celebrate the Clubs fabulous new & modern "San Mames Stadium".

The first half already gave us signs of the intentions of Athletic Club with numerous chances of goal that were continuously being failed. The Italians shocked early in the second half when Hamski scored in the 47th min. However, for some unknown reason Napoli slowly deteriorated with some serious defensive mistakes & of course, great Bilbao Football.

The equalizer came in the 61st min when Aduriz slipped away from his marker in a corner & found space to score. The second was another Aduriz goal in the 69th min when the Napoli goalkeeper came out to attempt to clear a long Bilbao defensive clearance & messed up badly. The third came in the 74th min when Ubai Lopez scored after another Napoli defensive mix up. Surprising to watch Napoli in defence, especially being an Italian Club, the trip back home will be hard.

Special mention to Bilbao midfielder Iturraspe who was the driver & the main player that put Bilbao on their winning ways. Spanish Football Team selector Del Bosque was present tonight watching the game & the Bilbao midfielder certainly put in his candidacy for a call-up.

Congratulations to Athletic Club Bilbao! Tweet

Share

ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO 1 - NAPOLI 1 | CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 1º ST LEG PRELIMINARY

Spanish Football Club Athletic Club Bilbao managed a suffered 1 -1 draw against Napoli in the 1ºst leg of the Champions League preliminary. Spanish & Bilbao midfielder Muniain put his team ahead first in the 41st min, while Napoli forward Gonzalo Higuain equalized in the 69th min. From this moment until the end of the match Napoli took control & could have increased their advantage, especially in the final minutes, had Bilbao goalie Gorka Iraizoz not made several outstanding saves.

Napoli travels next week to "San Mames" (Bilbao, Spain) for the 2º leg return match were Bilbao has the home & a goal advantage. However, the tie is wide open & promises to be a match not to miss.

Tweet

Share

ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO TO FACE NAPOLI IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PRELIMINARY QUALIFIER

Spanish Football Club Athletic Club Bilbao has been matched with Italian Club Napoli for the upcoming Champions League preliminary qualifier. The winner of this home & away game will go directly into the Champions League competition while the loser goes into the Europa League competition.

The dates are the following:

• 20th of August - Napoli vs At Club Bilbao
• 27th of August - At Club Bilbao - Napoli

Complicated endeavour & games for both sides.  

Other match ups:

Maribor (SLO) - Celtic (SCO)

Salzburgo (AUT) - Malmoe (SWE)

Aalborg (DEN) - Apoel (CYP)

Steaua Bucarest (RUM) - Ludogorets (BUL)

Slovan Bratislava (SVK) - Bate Borisov (BLR)

Besiktas (TUR) - Arsenal (ENG)

Standard Lieja (BEL) - Zenit (RUS)

Copenhague (DEN) - Bayer Leverkusen (GER)

Lille (FRA) - Oporto (POR)

Tweet

Share

REAL MADRID SIGNS KEYLOR NAVAS FROM LEVANTE

Mayor bombshell that has saturated the front pages of most Spanish Sports daily´s & media today. According to "Marca" REAL MADRID CF has paid the 10M€ contract release clause for 27 year old Costa Rica International & Levante goalkeeper KEYLOR NAVAS. Spanish newspaper "Abc.es" gives details like a 5 year contract with a 2,5M€ net salary/season. All the above has important ramifications for the Real Madrid Goalkeeping area as it will force either Iker Casillas or Diego Lopez to have to leave the Club. 

The Spanish Sports paper "Marca" bets that Diego Lopez will leave to either Italian Club Napoli or to Monaco. Both are very insistent with the possibility of signing Diego Lopez. However, things are not as clear as one would expect & this news piece opens up a variety of unexpected possibilities which still may surprise all of us. 

What seems clear is that Real Madrid wishes to avoid this new season the ongoing debate & continual controversy of Iker Casillas vs Diego Lopez that has split the Club fanbase & fuelled media the last 12 months. 

Earlier last month Spanish TV "Antenna 3" advanced that Real Madrid would sell both Iker Casillas & Diego Lopez, & substitute for Keylor Navas & RCD Espanyol goalie Kiko Casillas. The media source was criticised for announcing  an over exaggerated "prediction" that now seems to be at least a half truth. 

Other sources indicated that Iker Casillas is currently doubting whether to continue at Real Madrid for next season. His bad performance in the Champions League Final, World Cup & continuing criticism has made the apparent interest from Arsenal FC & Paris St Germain a possibility. His Club team-mate Diego Lopez has told his inner circle that he has no intention of leaving Real Madrid & feels better than last season to keep fighting for the Clubs Nº1 goalie position. 

All this leaves open the following upcoming scenarios:

• Although "Marca" gives the scoop of Real Madrid signing Keylor Navas, we need to wait for an official Club announcement,
• The arrival of Keylor Navas will cause either Diego Lopez or Iker Casillas to leave the Club,
• Most media sources speculate that Diego Lopez will leave for either Napoli or Monaco,
• Iker Casillas leaving instead has gained strength in the last days. Club candidates are Arsenal FC or Paris St Germain,
• The possibility of both Diego Lopez & Iker Casillas leaving is still a viable option,
• If both leave, the new look Real Madrid goalkeepers would be Keylor Navas & Kiko Casillas (from RCD Espanyol).

As you can read big news if it is confirmed that Real Madrid has signed Keylor Navas, & a big "revolution" with the Real Madrid goalkeeping positions.

Who will leave? Diego Lopez or Iker Casillas? Both? Stay tuned?

Tweet

Share

LOOKING FOR A STRIKER | FC BARCELONA - REAL MADRID CF

Leaving aside the Luis Suarez "biting incident" & his severe FIFA sanction, the news is that FC Barcelona remains interested in signing the Uruguayan striker. The Barcelona based Spanish Sports papers are very adamant that Luis Suarez has given his OK to FC Barcelona & that the latter now only needs to begin negotiations with Liverpool FC. Barça from their end wish to take advantage of the Luis Suarez "biting rage" & force Liverpool to lower their initial asking price of around 85M€ to around 50M€. The Spanish Football Club feels that Liverpool FC is in a "must sell" phase after Suarez sank his teeth into Italian defender Chiellini.

However, other Football observers claim that Luis Suarez is NOT the Nº1 priority of FC Barcelona for their forward line. It is claimed that Napoli & Argentine International Gonzalo Higuain is the main target. It is claimed that Barça retired Captain - & now Club Nº2 Football Director - Carles Puyol shut an agreement with Higuain weeks back, & that it was now a case between Clubs to negotiate. Plus, Coach Luis Enrique & Club Directives want to keep Messi "happy" after losing "best mate" Pinto & Cesc Fabregas, with his current Argentine team-mate.

Luis Suarez, with this news piece, is the alternative for Barcelona, & some Club Directives are questioning the signing option with all the fracas associated with Suarez.  

The other option for Luis Suarez to play in Spanish Football is Real Madrid. The Spanish Football Club is patiently watching events as their main objective is to renew the contract of Karim Benzema. The Club is satisfied with their current forward line-up of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale & Benzema (the BBC). There is talk that Alvaro Morata may leave for Juventus FC & if so Real Madrid may sign a "young talent" instead of a consolidated striker. 

It is rumoured that neither Coach Ancelotti nor Cristiano Ronaldo feel comfortable with the possible arrival of Luis Suarez as his inclusion may ruffle feathers at the dressing room level. Said this a new forward has entered the picture - again - in the name of Monaco & Colombian International Radamel Falcao. 

Falcao seems to be confident that Real Madrid will make an effort this summer to sign him for next season. It has been written that Falcao has told Colombian (squad) friends that he is really close to Real Madrid for next season. 

In any case,  there is plenty of time to shut all these deals. I would think that the mayor Clubs will allow time to expire & thus make nervous players & their respective Clubs. Once nerve set in, the pretending Clubs can better leverage their position & bargaining strength to get their way.

Stay tuned, very interesting weeks ahead for Higuain, Suarez & Falcao.

Tweet

Share

FC BARCELONA - GONZALO HIGUAIN HAVE AN AGREEMENT FOR NEXT SEASON ?

Surprise, surprise. Spanish Sports paper "Marca" advances that ex-Real Madrid & now Napoli Argentine International Gonzalo Higuain is very close to landing at FC Barcelona for next season. That is right, as you read, according to the media source Higuain has come to an agreement with with Spanish Football Club FC Barcelona to be their new forward signing for next season.

The only thing now needed is the both Napoli & Barça agree to the transfer terms. The other name that were being flown around was Sergio Aguero, but it looks like things have taken a turn.

I need to remind that this is still speculation & that both Clubs involved have not made any comments about this new transfer story. For all we know it could be a "smoke-screen" while Barça works on another candidate that they desire to keep under wraps for the moment. 

Real Madrid sold the 26 year old Gonzalo Higuain to Napoli last season for 40M€ & one could think that Napoli would at least want to get back their investment. The hypothetical operation could involve cash plus a player/s.

If all this is correct & Higuain ends up at FC Barcelona the Argentine will be another in a list of players that crossed over from Real Madrid to the "enemy". One of the most remembered & infamous is current Barça Coach Luis Enrique, which in itself is now ironic.

Stay tuned, as I will keep an eye on this interesting new development.

LATEST: Monday 16th June: Both Napoli & FC Barcelona release notes communicating that this story has no truth.

Tweet

Share

EDUARDO VARGAS CLOSE TO VALENCIA CF AS LOAN | WINTER MARKET

Spanish Football Club Valencia CF is having a horror season, which has already cost them a Coach ( Djukic was sacked ). One of the reasons is the lack of effective "fire-power" upfront which has lead the Spanish club to scout the "Winter Transfer Market". New Coach Pizzi along with Club Directives have placed their eyes on Chilean International forward Eduardo Vargas.

The Chilean belongs to Italian Club Napoli but has been loaned out to Brazilian Club Gremio. Both Napoli & Valencia CF are said to have come to a virtual agreement to "ship" the player to Valencia CF as a loan for the rest of the season , with another option of extending the loan for the following season as well.

It is expected that a formal communication will be made tomorrow announcing the incorporation of the Chilean player into the Valencia squad. As always this news is not official & in Football it is wise to read said upcoming official announcement before celebrating the new member of Spanish Football. Stay tuned!

Tweet

Share