Hell of a race these last 3 weeks, essentially between 4 clubs. Anyone watch the games today (anyone interested)? With virtually no European soccer on TV anymore, I'm giving Spain my full attention.

Valencia were effectively KOed by rivals Villareal at the Mestalla. Terrific game, one-touch football for the entire 90 minutes from both teams. Great performances by David Villa, Joaquin, Miguel, Marcos Senna, Pires and Diego Forlan. A striker that I've never heard of (Tomasson?) scored right after being subbed in with his first touch of the ball after being played in by Senna or Pires. Go-ahead goal, but Forlan scores another and yellows win 3-1. One of the best games I've seen all year, if anyone manages to catch a rerun I highly recommend.

Barca - Getafe was great too. Minnows came with blades drawn, fouled Ronaldinho pretty much the entire first half. Bucky finally lost his cool and kicked a Getafe player in the cajones, instant red card. To be fair, Getafe should've had about 3 reds in this game. Messi stepped up though and had a terrific second half. This kid has to be my favorite player in the world (well, maybe next to Dimitar Berbatov), just seems like he gives his all every single game. Absolute blast to watch. Ten-man Barca keep the attack going for most of the second half, should've scored again but Abondanzieri (horrible sp) makes a couple of terrific saves. Barcelona manage to hold off a resurgent Getafe offense in the last 10 minutes and win it 1-0.

I'll be gone for awhile, but I'll be taping the games. I expect a couple pages when I get back, but probably won't get them. Predictions - either Villareal or Zaragoza KO Sevilla tomorrow or next weekend, the Milito brothers KO Real Madrid the final weekend at La Romerada, and Lionel Messi scores another hat trick and wins the Primera. See ya.

He's a Danish international, and he played for Milan before being picked up by Villarreal last summer.

I watched all the three games this evening(also Real Madrid-Deportivo La Coruna), and all were very entertaining. Barcelona will have a tough end to the season since Ronaldinho will be suspended for the remaining two games.

The key match will be the one you mentioned, since Real Zaragoza can inflict real damage on an in-form Real Madrid(won 9 of their last 10 I think). I don't know who's my favourite to win, but both Real and Barca has a challenge ahead of them. I also think Sevilla will be kept at bay.

Grande Villarreal

you're not going to believe this, but my uncle is friends with him, i've met him a few times. He used to play for SC Heerenveen in Holland and my uncles company is their players garden designer. also, i think he went from Milan to Stuttgart and he is only on loan at Villarreal this season.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... efault.stm

How does this work? Barca are in second yet they have a far superior Goal Difference. Do they do things different in Spain?

The only reason I can see Real are on top is because they have won 22 games where as Barca have only won 21.

Yep, it's the two matches between the two teams that count. And since Real Madrid won at Bernabeu and drew at Nou Camp, they will win La Liga if they end up with the same amount of points. Stupid rule if you ask me. Goal difference is a much better way of deciding a championship.



Cool

You're right, I forgot his spell at Stuttgart last season. Luckily he left them so he didn't win the German championship

Ahh I sse, I just took it for granted that because we use GD in case of a tie in the league that everyone else did.

that's a stupid rule, it's about who's best overall, not who's the best against each other.

I would hate it if Real won the liga.

As much as I'd love Barca to win the league, there's no need for another "Mano de Dios"

Strange that the ref didn't see that incident. But status quo on top of the league, and Real Madrid are very strong favourites to win. But, they sure as hell can fuck up at home vs Mallorca.

I really hope Madrid do it, would love it if them toy throwers from Barca won fuck all.

the "fuck all winning" feeling is very familiar to you, right?

So Becks is maybe going to win his first trophy since leaving Manchester in order to win more trophies. Great choice, Becks!

And how we deal with it is where we really struggle. I think most of the players thought after going out the cups "that's the end of the world, to hell with 3rd place". Because they're foreign? I don't know. I'm not sure the Cole's and Campbell's of this world would care that much about their clubs future.

I remember rooting for Real to win the European cup because they had Anelka. It was a weird feeling.

FUCK

the positive thing is that the title + that big stupid Dutch guy being the topscorer earns Man United a good sum of money.

really? how does that work?

though i'm not a fan Madrid this year, i'm glad they won and not Barca. i can't stand Rijkaard.

It was a deal in Ruud's transfer. It happens a lot.

Madrid pays this transfer sum and when they win prizes, they pay more. United also had to pay extra to Everton based on Rooney's performances, ... It happens all the time.

well yeah but i thought it mainly happened only with young players from smaller teams who move to bigger teams. i didn't know this also happened with the star players, if you will.