Kick-off Time for 2013 Football Season

The pre-season friendly games are over and comes Saturday, 17 August, the biggest and wealthiest football clubs in Europe will kick-off the 2013 season. Although the French league and the Bundesliga have started already their respective season since last week still. And while the summer window transfer is still open, it is already interesting to watch players playing in different jersey with their new teams. As I wrote this post, there are still three big names that remain uncertain to which team they will be playing in the coming season.

The three notable names are Gareth Bale, Wayne Rooney and Luiz Suarez. And according to reports, all of them express their intention to leave their present clubs though so far only Suarez has openly said so. But speculations arises that both Bale and Rooney have strong intentions of transferring and move away from their clubs. And recent events in the pre-season friendly games have contributed to such speculations that they bound to play to a different club. Though one thing that made things complicated is the clear involvement of huge price tag especially Gareth Bale which, if materialized, will break the record books.

Right now, I can’t wait to start watching my favorite football clubs playing again and it also means, buying a different jersey since several clubs have new shirt sponsors too.

Image from wikimedia commons.

Eight Days That Will Define Real Madrid’s Season

To the fans of Real Madrid, we all know that their current La Liga season is an ongoing roller coaster ride and defending the La Liga title is almost impossible. Perhaps, even Mourinho has already given up the pursuit for another La Liga title and was instead focusing on other important titles that are still very viable to accomplish. 

image from

As of the moment, Real Madrid lays third place in La Liga standing with a massive 15 points to catch up the league leader and arch rival Barca, making it very gloomy to overtake with the current performance displayed by Barcelona. And when Real Madrid had a 1-1 draw against Manchester United in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, their upcoming games within the span of eight days, will define Real’s season starting on the 26th February. 

First, the Los Blancos will face Barca at Camp Nou on 26 February for the second leg in their Copa del Rey semis. Madrid earned a 1-1 draw in the first leg and a win will give them a better chance to finish the season with silverware. A loss would mean giving all they got to at least trim Barcelona’s 15-point advantage in the second El Clasico at Bernabeu on 2 March. And lastly, if they don’t succeed, they will have one more chance to salvage a trophy-less season in the return leg against Manchester United at Old Trafford three days later (5 March) for another break in their pursuit of “La Decima”. 

That is indeed, a crucial eight days to define Real’s Season.

The Slumping Real Madrid

I watched how pathetic the Los Blancos played at home against the struggling Espanyol who is now sitting at the bottom second in La Liga standings. In fact, it was Espanyol who made the first goal at the expense of defensive laziness in the back four. Although they actually came back in contention when CRon made a lovely first touch goal from Khedira in injury time just before half time.

Then in the second half CRon made a lovely reverse pass to Coentrao to silent the doubters and the Bernabeu crowd erupted in joy. And as time is waning, Espanyol started to become a threat at the back and it was only a matter of time when they’re going to make another goal. And indeed the defensive lapses of Real Madrid had cost them the valuable three points in trying to cut the already huge gap from La Liga leaders Barca.  

Real Madrid exposes their weakness again at the back by leaving several players without defenders during corner kicks in which Espanyol have capitalized in the 88th minute. This situation has been going on in almost all of Real Madrid’s defeat this season. Instead of cutting Atletico Madrid’s 5-point advantage to just two, all they can do is settle for a draw and salvage a single point which is not enough to be back in title contention.

Image from wikimedia commons.

The Sluggish Start of the Champions

As you have known already that the football season across five big leagues in Europe has started and many football analysts have said that the first few matches are the most difficult one. And I guess that holds so much truth right now because some of the defending champions are having great difficulties in their quest to defend and retain their respective titles at the moment. 

Champions Real Madrid had just lost their second La Liga game to city rivals Getafe and their sluggish start continued. The Los Blancos was held to a 1-1 draw at home in their first match of the season and was followed by a 3-2 defeat from fierce rivals Barca in the Spanish Super Cup first leg. Madrid is now five points behind Barca in the league standings and probably is now focusing on their Super Copa second leg on Wednesday at the Bernabeau. And was probably hoping Luka could finally join them by that time. 

Whereas, the Premier League champions Man City also continued their own destiny of come from behind. In fact, their second match of the season was another come from behind and the only thing that makes it different is that they just have to settle for a 2-2 draw at the Anfield. While their first match last week at home to Southampton was all the same from last season’s last match. Then city rivals ManU was able to salvage a 3-2 victory at the expense of Fulham and a far cry different from their season opening loss at Everton. 

And Ligue 1 champions Montpellier just got their second defeat of the season and remained winless. While runner-up PSG also is still yet to taste a win as they have another goalless draw at home. This is perhaps the sluggish start of the champions.

Wasted Opportunity

I thought March and April were that only crucial month in European football but it just seems that the ball is round and you can’t expect the result of the match to go in favor of the strong team (at least to some).

The Manchester derby last 30 April was crucial to both sides because the win of Man City gave them back the top spot and if Man United won, it should stretched their lead to six points with two more games remaining. Although it is not the end of Man City’s hope to lift the Premier League championship trophy if they lose but it will give their city rivals a psychological advantage. Statistically Man United can still win but that is also very unlikely considering the recent form of play by Man City. But the catch is, Manchester City never been defeated at Etihad Stadium this season thus they prevail in the derby with a slim win. Yet it is enough to snatch the lead from Manchester United and takes the race into the final two games of the season before a champion can be decided.

Across in Italy, champions Milan wasted a golden opportunity to take control of Serie A as they succumb to the pressure when they met city rivals Inter. The loss was crucial for Milan as it became the deciding factor of who will win the Scudetto as Juve win in the other game. The win by Inter eventually handed Juve the title and keeping their hope for a Champions League spot next year.

It was another classic inter-city rivalry that decides who emerge at the top and wins the championship title. It all started with the famous El Clasico last 21 April when the Los Blancos stunned the Blaugrana’s right at their own turf at Camp Nou with another 2-1 slim win. And it was concluded two weeks later at San Mames, giving Real Madrid their 32nd La Liga title.

Within Touching Distance

One down, one to go and that’s the reality now in the chase for the coveted La Liga championship. Real Madrid made it sure that the Champions League exit last Wednesday is already past and focusing on the remaining goal is what’s important if they’re going to have silverware this season. Although the last El Clasico victory at Nou Camp earlier last week is more than just a championship trophy for these arch rivals. In fact, it is the turning point why the Los Blancos is within touching distance of capturing their 32nd La Liga title and first in four years.

Barca visited the depleted Rayo Vallecano and was able to live another day and grasped a tiny breather in chasing for the 4^th successive title. It is still a slim chance though as Real Madrid will visit 7^th place Bilbao on Wednesday while Barcelona plays the resurgent and Qatari owned Malaga at home. A win by the Los Blancos will seal the game and lift the La Liga title no matter what the outcome of Barca’s match. With only two more games remaining, it is statistically impossible for Barca to overtake Real Madrid even if the latter will lose their last two games (which is very unlikely).

NB: Image from wikimedia commons.

El Clasico: La Liga title sur-Real for Madrid

The most anticipated and most talked match in football will happen again later tonight (21 April) or early morning the next day (depending which part of the world you are in). It could be there last matchup of the season if both aren’t going to over turn their recent Champions League semi-finals defeat. But if they do (like most have expected) they will meet again next month for the last time at the Allianz Arena to conquer the most elite silverware and become the European champions.

With that alone you know what teams I am talking about. And tonight the El Clasico is happening once again though as classic as it is, it was marred with a fair amount of controversy since Mourinho became the manager of Real Madrid. No matter what it is, the arch rivals will meet tonight at Camp Nou to decide and fight for three crucial points that will shape the destination of La Liga title this season.

Officially, the Los Blancos is four points ahead of bitter rivals Barca with five more games left including tonight’s game. A win or draw at Nou Camp will almost certainly hand over the La Liga title and momentarily halt Barca’s four year dominance in the league. And giving Mourinho his first La Liga title and will be his second trophy (2011 King’s Cup) since taking charge of Real Madrid last season. If they lose, Madrid must win their four remaining games and cannot allow any draw because if ever they finished with the same points, Barca had a head-to-head advantage.

I believe that even a loss, the La Liga title will probably be sur-Real for Madrid considering their dominance this season. And there have been so much at stake on hand and records to fall after tonight’s El Clasico.

NB: Image from cristianoronaldofan.net.

Another Nerve Wreaking Football Month

April is another nerve wreaking month for football fanatics and right now most of the top teams are still fighting until the end of the season.

Man City lost its ground at the top and is now chasing ManU for 5 points. And their game on Sunday, 8 April, against Arsenal is very crucial if they are going to cut off the lead and stay in contention for the EPL championship. On the other hand, United is much poised to extend the lead to 8 points (temporarily) when they face QPR (fourth bottom dwellers) tomorrow at Old Trafford.

While Real Madrid is facing its toughest test against third place Valencia on Sunday in a bid to end Barca’s monopoly of La Liga titles and retain their 6 points advantage or extend the lead to nine (if Barcelona lost at Zaragoza on Saturday). Then another difficult game is looming on 11 April against the revived city rivals Atletico Madrid. A double loss for Los Blancos will put Barcelona on top of the leader board and if Barca won their two incoming games against Zaragoza and Getafe. A Barcelona loss is very unlikely to happen knowing that Zaragoza stands at the bottom third. Although they lost to Getafe at Coliseum Alfonso Pérez for their first ever loss of the season but it was way back then and it could be another an easy match for them.

Meanwhile in Serie A, league leader Milan have the comfort of facing a miserable Fiorentina squad at San Siro tomorrow and will extend their lead from Juve to five points. Who will be seeing action later on the day when they visit the unpredictable Palermo and they still yet to taste what its like to lose. At the moment, they remain unbeaten this season.

Day 30 in Football: Could be the Turning Point?

It is day 30 in La Liga and English Premier League while it is still day 29 in Serie A, yet there are something in common amongst them. There are a lot of things that will happen if they are going to lose this game or even just a draw will turn things around dramatically.

It is crucial for Chelsea, QPR and Man City to win the game on hand if they are going to at least remove some pressure and stay with their own individual task in the standings. Although QPR is in must win situation in order to stay away from relegation or the last three should lose their own games. Man City is trying to snatch back the top spot from ManU at least for two days as they travel to Stoke City today and ManU will play at home with Fulham.

Across the English Channel, Real Madrid is trying to stop a 2-game without a win and to keep their lead from Barcelona which is already cut down to six points that used to be from 10. Both clubs have games today but it will be another two hours later before we know the result between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad. Meanwhile, AC Milan on the other hand is also trying to increase their four-point lead from Juventus who will be seeing in action tomorrow against Inter.

I am just hoping that the teams I routed with will win their respective games.

NB: Image from wikimedia commons. 

La Liga and Premier League Commentaries

Valencia’s continued lackluster run in their last two games made the La Liga fixture became a two way battle between league leader Real Madrid and Barca. The gap from second and third stands at seven points already and Valencia cannot afford another drop in points as Levante and Espanyol are also trying to narrow it.

Athletic Bilbao would try to spoil Real Madrid’s three game winning streaks while Malaga will do to taste what its like to win again by facing Barcelona. Which I would say that is not very unlikely to happen considering Barca’s horrible away from home record. Barcelona won only three games in their last nine away matches with one loss and has drawn the rest of the games. Real Madrid on the other hand, has so far had impressive stats with only two losses (one from Barca) a draw and an exceptional fifteen wins, so it would be a stiff climb for Athletic to win.

In the Premier League, it is again another disappointing day for Newcastle and Liverpool as both lost their respective matches and stalled their chances of catching up in the leader board. While Chelsea was unable to cut down the Spurs lead of six points as they are forced to a goalless draw with the newly promoted Norwich City.

Man City will face third place Tottenham, who are trying to defend their three point lead from Manchester United. While ManU is trying to catch up with city rivals Man City and a win at Arsenal will tie them in points but would still remain second place because Man City thrashed ManU with a humiliating 6-1 loss at Old Trafford last October. And Tottenham will try to cut the lead to at least two points yet they are also facing their own roadblock as Man City has never been defeated at Etihad Stadium this season at a span of 10 games already. And for the record, it was only Arsenal who gave them a hard time playing football and it was already in the second half that Manchester City scored the only goal of the match.


NB: Image from wikimedia commons.

The Other Half of Crucial January Month

It only took 22 minutes of playing time before Man City sealed another game and back at the top of the Premier League. Many would expect such result considering that Wigan Athletic lies at the bottom of the table. Yet they played a descent and tight game last night and made Man City players sweat out real hard with a 1-0 win.

Dzeko’s timely and precise header at 22 minutes of the game found the back of the net that became the only goal of the match. And the gap between the second and third spot starts to open up a little bit and could be stretched farther when they (Tottenham) face Man City at Etihad Stadium. More so that the odds are not at their side as Man City has still to taste defeat, unbeaten in the last 10 games at their own turf this season.

Lazio and Inter’s game on Sunday 22 January is crucial for both teams. As Lazio’s loss last January 7 became a big blow as it closes the gap and Inter is knocking at its door with only a point that separates them now. An Inter win will knock off Lazio in the fourth spot and Inter’s loss will widen Lazio’s gap by at least four points. Udinese and Milan on the other hand, will try to bounce back from its own defeat though they will face a separate foe. Milan will take on bottom dweller Novara and Udinese will face struggling Catania.

The Crucial January Month

As the second half of football season has started kicking off, so does the nerve wreaking suspense if the league leaders will hold on to their respective spot. Real Madrid for that matter was able to salvage a 2-1 comeback victory and stretched their lead over Barca to eight points. But a win by Barcelona at Nou Camp tomorrow will trim the deficit back to five, while Valencia was unable to keep up the pace as they lost at home to Real Sociedad.

While across in the English Channel, the title chasing Spurs wasted a chance to joined league leaders Man City and ManU after they were held with a stunning draw at home by the relegation threatened Wolverhampton. But the opposite happened at Old Trafford as ManU don’t seem to have trouble manhandling Bolton and avoid a three-game losing streak. With the result, they are now level on points with city rivals Man City but The Blues could take back the lead if they win at bottom club Wigan Athletic on Monday.

And in Serie A, the only game was abandoned due to persistent rain which will be replayed in a later date. So Sunday is a big day for the league leaders, Milan and Juve, if they can hold on the top two spot. The Rossoneri’s has a big obstacle as they face city rival, Inter, at the San Siro. Whereas, Juventus is pretty much confident as they haven’t tasted a defeat as of the moment this season.

By Monday, 16 January, we’ll see if there will be shaking up of standings as the intensity are heating up in the crucial January month. Whoever survives January will have a bigger chance of taking home the silverware.


NB: Image from wikimedia commons.

The Title Race is so Intense

I've been a football (the real football and not American football) fan for quite sometime and was following every game of my teams. First in the list that I avidly follow is Real Madrid… that is because of Ronaldo. Not C-Ron (I used to hate him when he was still at ManU) but the “Samba Boys” member. Then it snowballed from there and it’s no longer La Liga games that I’ve been chasing but also the Serie A and the Premier League. And the 2011-2012 seasons is full of tension in all three leagues for none of the league leaders were able to build a comfortable lead.

In Serie A, AC Milan is tied with Juve at the top while a few teams chasing them. While in Spain, it seems there’s only three teams fighting for the top spot although Madrid is enjoying a 5-point advantage from Barca at the moment. And across the English Channel, it used to be city rivals Man City and ManU at the top of the leaderboard but a sudden twist of fate has brought the three teams (Tottenham is tie with ManU) with unexpected news.

What is more interesting in the month of January is the looming El Clasico that will start on 18 January at the Bernabeu. They already have met three times this season and the latest one was a Barca win at Madrid’s turf last month. While the coming match-up is for the Copa del Rey quarterfinals and The Meringues is trying to defend the only title they have last season. So keep on watching because next week is yet another crucial game that would decide which team will emerge on top at the end of the month.


NB: Image from wikimedia commons.

Real Madrid Dethroned Barcelona in El Clasico…

After we came back at home from a day out in the city, I immediately tuned in to watch the most anticipated first Clasico in La Liga. I was surprised that the match had started already and it is already past half an hour and the sad thing was Real Madrid was down 1-0 too. After I ate my dinner the second half is already half way and I already lost hope that Real Madrid can now dethrone Barcelona. Then several minutes after that, Marcelo was brought down inside the penalty box and Ronaldo calmly put the ball at the back of the net while the goalkeeper went to the opposite side.

As the match dwindled to its last minutes I noticed something odd in the game after seeing a tall black player at the frontline of Madrid and later knew that it was Adebayor. And with that, it is pretty obvious that I am watching an old El Clasico so it was a big relief knowing that the 2011 Clasico hasn’t started yet. But I cannot see it live either for it is almost 11 in the evening and I have an early work in the morning and I will just have to be contented with the news result.

I woke up at 5:20 AM but I was actually awaken with my alarm at 5:15, carried my son to his high chair then turn on the TV. This time it’s already the real and updated El Clasico with 1-1 score and half time is almost finished. I know that I am not going to finish it yet still very hopefully, in fact, very high that the Merengues will emerge victorious in this Clasico considering that Benzema draw the first blood and was the fastest goal in the history of the Clasico.

image from yahoo sports

And so I went to work but still with doubts at the back of my mind whether Real Madrid will finally take a stronghold at the top of the leaderboard and topple Barca’s supremacy in La Liga. Along the way, I turned on my car radio and listen to the news which by luck was sports news that was airing the result of the first El Clasico.

And the prolific Barca showed their dominance again being the La Liga and the European Champions by perhaps demoralizing the Madrid side with a 3-1 come from behind victory. And probably Barca showed that they are not ready to be dethroned just yet…!

The Thrill of European Football Leagues

This blog has become a sports niche blog and if you have noticed in the recent posts that I had, 90% of it, I have been writing about sports and majority of it is on a sport that I haven't played a single game ever in my life. I have been writing updates, news and previews about football since March 2011 from the La Liga to Serie A that extends towards the European Champions League games with a brief stopover in the Premier League.

But most of what I wrote is about my favorite team Real Madrid, which you might notice that I have been very biased at some point. There’s just so much to say about the Los Blancos especially their rivalry against Barca and take note that there have been four El Clasico that happened in less than a month. They met each other in three different league games starting from their second Clasico in La Liga going to the finals of Copa del Rey and it ended at their Champions League semifinal meeting that provokes unwarranted circumstances.

Most of the European League at this time is almost finish and there are only two or three games left to go but only in Serie A that a definite champion is proclaimed already whatever is the outcome of Inter Milan’s game. Even if they will win, there are no enough points to surpass city rival AC Milan in claiming the Scudetto for the first time since 2004. It is even sweeter for they stopped the 5 year reign and dominance of Inter in the domestic league.

Other interesting matches to watch are the games of ManU and Chelsea and Barca against city rival Espanyol. The odds are, if ManU wins it will set them six points clear from Chelsea and needed one more point to claim a record breaking 19 Premier League trophies with two more games remaining. While Barca on the other hand, if they win, it would be near impossible for Real Madrid to catch them up and they can claim the La Liga trophy with a draw at Levante mid of this week.

Real Madrid Ripped Off Valencia at the Mestalla

With the Copa del Rey celebration may now be over but the excitement probably is not finished yet. I’m sure you know already who won and brought the Super King’s Cup trophy home. The game is one of the arch-rivals fantastic games and in fact it needs an extra time to decide who should be raising the silverware. I believe Real Madrid deserves to grab its first silverware under Mourinho and it’s their first after a long 18 years of drought.

image from

And it really seems that the Los Blancos is not over yet in their quest for more silverware as they return to the Mestalla Stadium for their La Liga game with Valencia. The goal scores showed how they needed to win more games in order to catch up with Barcelona in the leaderboard and possibly grab one more trophy. But the hope of a treble starts to fade after Barcelona won its game at home against Osasuna with 5 more games left yet 3 of it are against lower half teams.

Real displayed another thrashing game by scoring 6 goals against Valencia’s 3 when they visit the Mestalla again despite playing with mostly second tier players. And Valencia was torn apart with the explosive pace of the Merengues counter attacks.

While another game to watch is on 27 April when they meet each other again for the Champions League semifinal first leg at the Bernabeu and the return game will be on 3 May at the Nou Camp for the last of four Clasico.

Quatro El Clasico Had Just Started

With the first of the four Clasico between bitter rival Barcelona and Real Madrid ended in 1-1 draw, it would still be difficult to gauge who will emerge winners in the next three important games in two different competitions. Both teams will see action again at mid-week in the finals of the Copa del Rey and the remaining two games, for the Champions League semifinals.  Although Barca had an upper hand in last Saturday’s game but Real fought back relentlessly in the second half with just only 10 men and salvage a draw.

The draw put Barca closer in winning a third straight La Liga title and preserved their 8 points lead with only 6 games remained. Although, mathematically, there are still 18 points for grab but the remaining 4 games of Barcelona are against those from the lower half of the table. While Real Madrid has 3 games against top five teams and on top of it, the Blaugrana’s has been defeated only once this season and have drawn 4 times. So, the Los Blancos should win all of their remaining games and hoping Barca will slip up and at least get a draw in five games. Which I believe is less likely to happen.

image source

I believe at the moment Jose Mourinho is concentrating on winning his first silverware with Madrid in the upcoming Copa del Rey finals on Wednesday and also in their Champions League semifinals showdown in the next two weeks. Perhaps, Real Madrid had boosted their confidence with their 1-1 draw in the second Clasico despite playing with only 10 men in the second half. And Barca was unable to capitalized and beat 10-man Real Madrid. But the next three games were in a different level of competition and I believe, of greater magnitude as well.

See you on 20 April (Copa del Rey) and 27 April / 3 May (Champions League semifinals).

El Clasico Extends to Champions League

The line for the Champions League semis has been drawn already and it is confirmed that Los Blancos and the Blaugrana are going to face each other not just in the local league. They are going to test each other in the European competition as well and they will meet four times in less than a month. They're going to start it with the second Clasico this coming weekend and will be followed by the finals in Copa del Rey then the first leg of the Champions League semis will start in the Bernabeu on the 27th of April. Comes 3rd May, is the second semis leg and this time will be at the Camp Nou.

image source

The El Clasico derby is no longer confined in Spain and it have been extended outside of its boundaries, the Champions League. This is very interesting to watch since Real Madrid has been demolished by Barca at Nou Camp but that was in the first Clasico yet. I believe what will be the outcome of the second Clasico matters in the outcome on the succeeding games ahead. One of them will face ManU or Schalke, who are also trying to out-clash each other in the other semifinals slot which will start on 26 April at Veltins-Arena and will be finished at Old Trafford on the 4th of May.

Although I want to see Real Madrid to advance in the finals but it is quite difficult to just dispatch Barca that easily. It is possible for ManU and Barca for a two-peat.

"Van Gol" 88:35 - Repost

I am reposting this nerve wreaking game by Real Madrid while Barca is playing too. This is full of thrill since Real is playing the game of their life hanging in a small thread but a slip up will cause them the biggest game to Barca. A win by Real will give them an edge even though it is very small yet they gonna bring home the silverware. But this time around Real is playing catch up by 4 points (temporarily) while Barca is playing later tonight and if they're going to beat Sevilla then it would be another difficult path for Real ahead of the second El Classico on 17 April at the turf of Los Blancos.

Read on and feel the intense thrill way back 2006...

The quest for La Liga De Las Estrellas kicks-off 1500 EDT (09 June) and things started badly for Real and Barca when Tamudo stroke home at 29:00 and stuns the Nou Camp fans but Messi-ah equalized with a replica of the famous Maradona's "hand of god" goal just before half time. While on the other match, Real fell prey to Milito's penalty kick two mins after Tamudo's goal, leaving the Merengues a point behind Barca going to the second half and possibly relegating La Liga to Barca in this pulsating title race.

As the second halves begins, Messi puts Barcelona in front while the Bernabeu galacticos struggles to find the net but they refused to lie down just yet and levelled the game through "Van Gol", not long enough after Messi hands them a 2 point edge. But the La Romareda's seems not giving Real any breather and are not finished yet when Milito calmy works his way and stabbed the Bernabeu's, conceding a second goal. Real looks desperate and its title hopes looked to have gone up in smoke as they trailed 2-1 and Barca ahead at 2-1. Two minutes to go and Real can see it slipping away and Barca will be left needing just one point going to next Sunday's last game in Primera Liga. But then a sudden twist of faith and another dramatic change of atmosphere emerge with another "Van Gol" at 88:35, saving Real and staging yet another comeback, drawing 2-2. When everyone thought that it would be the end and that would be the end of the high drama across Espanya, but there was still one last title race twist to come.

The Periquitos struck again, 20 seconds after the "Van Gol", drilled a low angled shot past Barca's keeper to earn a 2-2 draw, putting Real Madrid back on top of the Primera Liga title race, as Barcelona surrendered their lead at Nou Camp. There were no easy ride in La Liga, anything can happen and any of the three sides (The Merengues, The Catalans, The Andalusians) can still win it coz the game doesn't end until the final whistle is blown comes 17 June.

Second El Clasico is fast approaching...

Real Madrid had a home game on the way now and I can't resist not to follow the game but aren't subscribe and I don't want to waste some fee for only a few games that I may like in a month. So I am just watching, I mean, reading the live text commentary at Yahoo Sports and while making this post... GOOOOAL...! by Benzema in just 6 minutes of playing time.

photo source

Today's game at the Bernabeu, home of the Los Blancos will be a test if they could catch up Barca in the La Liga championship race. Real Madrid is 5 points adrift from Barca. Real is trying to maintain the small gap between them when Barca unexpectedly draw with Sporting de Gijon last week in fact, they almost lost that game if not for the late goal of David Villa. A win will move them with in two points from the league leader Barcelona.

What's more interesting is the second round of El Clasico is fast approaching. We all know how Barcelon thrashed Real in their turf with a demolition score of 5 - 0. That is just so embarrassing knowing how Real Madrid have spent to get star players in their squad. But that's not it, the two bog clubs are fighting for supremacy again in the Copa del Rey on April 20, four days after the second Clasico.

15 minutes more left before half time and the score still remains the same. It looks like Real will salvage another win at home and have a clean record so far at home soil. A win will also extend Jose Mourinho's unbeaten run in home league games to a whooping nine years. 

And just as I about to publish this post and to left you hanging for an update tomorrow if Real will get another win, a GOOOOAL...! from Carvalho coming from Ronaldo could seal the game from here.

And there goes the half time... Looks like the game is over with the way Real Madrid is playing. They have dominated the ball possessions so far.