La Liga Gets Exciting Yet Again!

Barca’s victory over Real Madrid last weekend has made La Liga very exciting yet again. This is the beauty of the beautiful game; it was unpredictable that by this time the title race would still be a three-horse competition with Atletico on top. Seeing Barca’s flaws recently and seeing how Madrid was flawless, it was predictable that Los Blancos would have secured that silverware in the last Clasico.

One of The Three Stupendous must win

A three horse-race is better than a two horse-race. It is usually Barca and Madrid who at this point are fighting for the La Liga title but Atletico has been able to keep up. For this reason each match for these three teams has become so important as none of them can’t afford to drop any points or might as well say good-bye to the title.

La Liga is exciting because there are nine games left and each one will be like watching a final. Whoever gets the most out of the possible 27 points will be crowned champions. One particular game that will be the most thrilling to watch is Barca versus Atletico at the Camp Nou which will be the last match of the tournament.

Barca has 69 points, Real Madrid and Atletico have 70. This means that Real Madrid and Atletico cannot afford even a tie as that would be enough for an encouraged Barca to clinch the top spot and possibly snatch La Liga Title.

El Clasico is Imminent

There is no bigger rivalry in sports than Real Madrid vs Barcelona. Forget what everyone else has told you about sports contention. The fierce rivalry between the giant Spanish soccer clubs is so exciting not only because of the history that gets thrown in the pile but also the pride that these two iconic clubs represent in the world of football.

• Barca and Madrid are among the most successful and richest soccer clubs in Spain and the world.
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• Their crests represent the two largest cities in Spain.
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• Both teams of La Liga that have never seen relegation
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• Political views get tossed in their rivalry as Barca represents the Catalans and Madrid Spanish nationalism.

• Both teams and fans claim to have the best player in the world.
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• It is exiting to watch Madrid’s Ronaldo versus Barca’s Messi going against each other.
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• El Clasico will be an excellent match showcasing the best talent of world football.
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• Real Madrid has come from behind to claim the top of the table this season as Barcelona has struggle and dropped invaluable points in a few matches.

Barca is chasing Madrid by four points so it’s a must win situation in order to keep La Liga hopes alive. Madrid must win not only to avenge their lost against Barca early this season but also to secure the title from their biggest rivals.

Some say Ronaldo is a more complete footballer than Messi, and some say that Messi's left foot is more complete than Ronaldo.

A game of the titans no doubt! No matter what the standing of these two is on the table, fans from around the world get glued to their TV screens for 90 minutes to watch fantastic non-stop action of world football. 

Soccer sucks... That's what the usual troll says!

Soccerfool knows the beautiful game is not about the scoreboard flipping numbers, it’s not about attacking or tackling your opponent, and it’s not about whether you’re rich or poor but it is about fitness, endurance, quick thinking, accuracy, and ball control. It is a game where a counterattack, a hit on the goal post, a long range shot and a great save are more exiting than just adding numbers.

It is true that it is a low scoring game. So what? That is why the phrase ‘a goal changes everything’ couldn’t be further from the truth. Scoring a goal in professional soccer is not easy at all and for that reason fans go crazy when their team puts one on the net against their opponents.

In order to score a goal you have to bring that ball to the opposite field across a lot of legs. It is competitive when playing against players who are as fit and fast as you are and it is not easy to beat the goalkeeper who has cat-like reflects.

Soccer players are always flopping and acting as if they have been shot. You can attack the ball but not your opponent. In this beautiful game contact is inevitable and injury is part of the risk. However, it is part of the game to play as clean as possible and to avoid hitting your opponent. Soccer players only wear shin guards as extra protection and when they get clip with those spikes it truly hurts… ouch!

Some do exaggerate injuries in order to get the ref attention to the opposite player.

It is not the game of third world countries where you only need a ball to play. Really! Last time I checked Europe is not part of third world countries and when I tune in to watch the Spanish La Liga or the English Premier League (EPL) I see great stadiums and facilities that require millions of dollars to maintain.

Did I mention endurance, quick thinking and accuracy as well as ball control? Well, it is not easy to run back and forth in field that is over 100 yards long and keep up. Sometimes the players are jogging but that also becomes a sudden sprint.

Soccer players have to think fast. They have to see who is open to receive a good pass (while being chased) and make sure the teammate is not offside.

The passes have to be accurate or the ball gets intersected and with so many legs on the field and each player being covered by an opponent that task becomes uneasy.

Ball control is an art form. When a long pass gets chested down and the ball is quickly rolling on the ground towards the opponent goalie is the display of countless hours of practice

Dear Troll, don’t be a troll; scientists have already said that you’re miserable in real life. Show them that is simply not true.

SoccerFool impatiently waits for the next clasico

Soccerfool asks what Barca team will show up for the next Clasico? 

Barca’s last game against Manchester City was fantastic, but their previous match against Real Valladolid was a total disaster.  For that reason it is interesting to take a look and analyze both games.

Real Valladolid made it difficult for Barca on March 8^th because their life was on the line. At lot was at stake at this match; Barca was playing to keep up with archrival Real Madrid who are leading them by four points. Real Valladolid was playing to keep away from the relegation zone. It was basically a match of top of the table vs bottom of the table.

Barca was simply terrible against Real Valladolid.  The team did not create many chances of goals, their passes did not connect well and their ball possession was useless and for that reason they lost three invaluable points.

Against Manchester City in the Champions League the Blaugrana were fantastic! As usual they kept ball possession, they were faster and created more chances than their previous match and Messi was praised once again from fans across the globe.

It is for that reason that Soccerfool asks what team will show up against Real Madrid?

Los Blancos are performing really well! Their lately counterattacks with Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema usually end up with a goal. They are doing extraordinarily well in the Champions League and La Liga.

If Barca does not want to be bombarded by Real Madrid in the next Clasico, they must bring the game face they brought against Manchester City.

What Has Happened to Barca?

What Has Happened to Messi and the Blaugrana?

The short answer is…Well! It simply is not the Super-Barcelona that with coach Pep Guardiola was capable of raising the bar of football to the highest level. It is not that team that in 2009 was capable of winning six out six competitions across Europe.

Though it is not that same Barca team that have made many fans smile for a long time there are many reasons to be disappointed with the latest results. It is not that the Blaugrana are spared from losing matches but the lack of character and winning attitude seems to have dropped by some of the players.

Barca still has those players that were part of the Guardiola era that made this team one of the greatest ones the beautiful game has ever seen. For that reason it is puzzling that this Barca team of Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and Victor Valdes drops points when they need them the most.

Messi seems lost in the pitch, he has become more of an opportunist than the creative player fans have been used to seeing. There is lack of connection in those plays where the ball needs to be finished in the back of the net. Barca and Messi need to find that compass that in previous seasons has led the team to glory.

Dropping three precious points against Real Valladolid puts the Blaugrana in a complicated situation for the title race. Now not only are they competing with their arch rival Real Madrid but also with Atletico de Madrid who are up there in La Liga standings with 64 points and are hungry to take some silverware home.

Barca really needs to quickly pick up the winning attitude and character if they want to lift a trophy this season. They’re not done just yet! They are only trailing Real Madrid for a few points and they are likely to go through the next round of the Champions League but they need to not just keep possession of the ball but to put it on the back of the net as well.

An invisible Ronaldo Saved the day for Real Madrid

Ronaldo was invisible for most of the match but his strike gave Los Blancos that extra point to stay on top of La Liga. It was an intense match no doubt! With Atletico de Madrid coming to the pitch with an intensity that kept Real Madrid clueless.

In this physical match Real Madrid was able to pull through in a day that seemed to go in favor of Atletico. With Diego Costa being a constant threat against Real defenders as well as the entire squad not giving breathing space against their city rivals the game turned out to be spectacular nonetheless.

Does Pepe diserve the Oscar?

Yes, there were controversial calls and in the beautiful game the referees are not perfect. A penalty against Costa as he was clipped by Sergio Ramos in the box area but the ref gave the Atletico player a yellow card for allegedly being a diving diva instead. A penalty in favor of Real was denied in a free kick as the Atletico defender seemed to deviate the ball with his arm. A tackle by Costa to Diego Lopez was a clear foul that was disregarded as well.

It was expected that Atletico would step into this game seeking revenge against their city rivals. Since Real knocked out Atletico in the semis of the Copa del Rey it was clear that the Rojiblancos were coming in as a dangerous wounded animal. They were fast, physical and  very technical; they still are a clear candidate to challenge Barca and Real Madrid for La Liga title.

Many would say that Atletico deserved the three points for the chances they created. However, they were fast the entire first half but in the second one they simple run out of fuel and gave space and the ball to Real. It is simply not a good idea to stay back and defend against a team with the quality of Real Madrid.

The BBC or Benzema, Bale and Cristiano were not as effective as previous matches but they are capable of unexpectedly change the course of a game. Ronaldo’s goal in the 82 minute of the match was one of those unexpected strikes that saved the day for the madridistas.