La Liga Round-Up

While Barca were held 1-1 on Saturday by a spirited Villarreal side, Real Madrid failed to capitalize on the opportunity to get on equal terms with Barca at the La Liga summit with a sub-par performance against Osasuna, resulting in an 0-0 draw.

Elsewhere, Mallorca won 2-0 over Athletic Bilbao, moving them into CL qualifying fourth place over Sevilla, who were set back at Atleti over the weekend. Valencia (3rd), Mallorca (4th), Sevilla (5th) are now all within two points of each other, with Deportivo la Coruna, Getafe and Athletic Bilbao not far off their pace.

The title may be out of reach for most, but there's still a lot to play for in La Liga.

Hitting Their Stride

Real Madrid took full advantage 0f Barca's weekend absence from La Liga by thrashing Real Zaragoza 6-0. Both teams have now played 15 games. Both are +27 on goal difference. And now Madrid is a mere 2 points back from the league leaders.

It was always going to take time for Pellegrini's side to gel, but more than that the personnel selections were going to be difficult to figure out at first, especially with a veritable buffet of pedigreed footballers (Kaka, Ronaldo, Guti, Ramos, Benzema, Iker, Higauain, etc., etc.) from which to choose. It was bound to take a little trial and error. Though Pellegrini did seem too insistent on including Benzema in the first team, when the mercurial French striker did little to repay his faith.

But, as soon as Pellegrini followed our advice and started Higuain instead of Benzema, he and the club were handsomely rewarded. The young Argentine striker has racked up an impressive 10 goal tally over the past eight games, including two braces in the last two fixtures. Perhaps more importantly, he has worked harder for Madrid up front than Benzema ever cared to do.

And his efforts have freed up play throughout the midfield, unleashing the full potential of the likes of Van der Vaart, Diarra, and Marcelo. Ultimately, the flourishing of Los Blancos' central midfield will be particularly important to their future success, as their already faulty back line has been dealt an additional blow with Pepe's season-ending industry.

While Zaragoza were never going to be too much competition (the club hasn't won since September), one just has to look at Pompey's triumph over Liverpool to realize no opponent, no matter how downtrodden, can be counted out. Madrid's brilliance on the night, however, could not be but impressive.

Lessons from the FIFA Club World Cup

Bane of my footie existence.

1. Fox Soccer Commentators (Looking at you Bretos) are ABOMINABLE!!

I mean they really, really suck. Please note, most, if not all, viewers of FSC are not soccer neophytes, so, while it may be a stretch for you, you should try to elevate your insight to more than the inane "Ibra...How dare you go up on us? You wanna play with the big boys here you go..."; lest people's overwhelming suspicion that you are unable to produce coherent and cogent speech be confirmed as reality. At this point, I hardly expect insight, but would it kill you to stop the vacuous exigeses?

Listen, if I were a American sports fan I would change the channel, just so that I could escape your self-amusing-yet-mind-numbing commentary. Honestly, I'm glad you get a kick out of yourself; this being one of the occasions that if you didn't, no one else would. However, being that I am more dedicated than the general American sporting public, I can fight the impulse to turn away, because I understand the power of the mute button and use it to my advantage any (read: every) time I have the sincere and great displeasure of hearing your voice.

Oh yeah, and I'm not alone.

2. Barca can turn it on at will.

Whew now that I can move past my frustrations, I can focus on the actual game.

Despite going one down to Atlante, the final result was never in doubt...an 80-20 possession advantage made sure of that. After Sergio tied up the score at one all on an opportunistic finish, Messi fired Barca into the lead on his second touch of the game, and Pedrito moved the match out of reach, now having scored goals in the six different competitions Barca has taken part in this year.

The result could have been much worse as Barcelona peppered the Mexican side's goal, and, at times, the passing was so crisp and clinical as to make the ball, never mind the game, far beyond Atlante's grasp.

Next up for Barca is Estudiantes, the CONEMBOL representative from Argentina, with Valdes, Puyol, Iniesta, Xavi and Marquez looking to avenge their 2006 loss to another CONEMBOL team, Internacional.

3. Pep Guardiola has apparently gotten the hang of this whole tactics thing.

Early in the first half, Barca weren't gelling in the midfield at all. They were unable to dictate the pace of the game and looked unmotivated to seize the initiative. The nonchalance of their effort was overcome by the tactical magic of Guardiola. His decision to move Sergio and Xavi closer together in the midfield proved prescient, as the Blaugrana's passing improved almost immediately. In fact, that decision, along with Pepe's later introductions of Messi and Pique (the latter for the ineffective and over-the-hill Marquez), laid the foundation for their three goal resurgence.

Top of the Table Show-downs

La Liga: Barcelona v. Real Madrid (a.k.a. El Clasico)

Finally, an El Clasico that began to live up to its hype. In the past few years especially it has devolved into a one-sided affair, despite the considerable hoopla in the run-up. And while both sides missed chances (looking at you Ronaldo and Messi) on the night, it was actually an entertianing match that came down to the cool calm of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his 56th minute winner.

Did you know that Figo was once pelted with a pig's head after crossing the divide from Barca to Madrid? Here's some more info on El Clasico, if you just can't get enough fun facts about the rivalry.

EPL: Chelsea v. Arsenal

A competitive contest until the last three minutes of the first half. Wenger's wonder kids failed to capitalize on their early dominance, and it was left to the always dynamic Didier Drogba to take it early and finish it late, as he seized the initiative and the win from the young Gunners (with a little help from Thomas Vermaelen, of course). The win at the Emirates solidified Chelsea's hold of the top spot, while Arsenal relinquished third place to on-form Tottenham.

Messi Wins the Ballon d'Or

Lionel Messi is officially the best player in the world. Messi became the first Argentinian player to win the award and the sixth Barcelona player to receive the prestigious Ballon d'Or. Just rewards for his record-breaking treble season with Barca triumphing in the Champions League, La Liga, and in the Copa del Rey.

The 96 France Football voters gave Messi a near perfect 473 points out of a possible 480 points, putting him far ahead of other competitors for the honor. Ronaldo garnered 233 votes to put him in second place (the only non-Barca player in the top four); he was followed by Xavi (170), Andres Iniesta (149), and Samuel Eto'o (75).

Champions League Round-Up

Ronnie returns.

• Higuain is scoring, Kaka is clicking and Ronaldo is returning. All is well for Madrid and just in time for El Clasico.
• As for their Clasico rivals, Barcelona seized initiative in their crucial match against Inter Milan, but advancement is still very much up in the air.
• Bordeaux took firm control of their group, leaving Juventus and Bayern to fight it out for second place.
• Chelsea and Arsenal pulled out wins against Porto and Standard Lige respectively, while Man Utd stumbled against Besiktas at home and Liverpool crashed out. But Rafa got a vote of confidence, well, um, until this...

• In the great tradition of Scouser/Manconian rivalry, Gary Neville then decided to rub salt into the Kop's open fleshy wound.

From the Mouths of Babes...

Sometimes footballers forget the lessons they learned in kindergarden. You know, like, don't hit people, share with others, etc. So, every now and then, it's nice to know that they remember how to mind their manners.

Such is the case with Femme Football fav Didier Drogba. The mercurial Blues man recently returned to Champions League action after serving a 3 match ban for his foul mouthed tirade during last year's tie against Barcelona. But he learned his lesson....all thanks to his 8 year old son.

It really is all about the kids.

Smell That?

Let's just say it hasn't gone well.

It's the stink emanating from the Camp Nou's own right now.

A fortnight ago Barca suffered one of the most unexpected, not to mention embarrassing, losses at home to Russian champs Rubin Kazan. And how did they follow-up that gem? With an uninspired 0-0 tie away to Rubin, of course.

While CL slip-ups are to be expected, especially in the group stages, and while every Goliath is bound to fall sometime or other to an enterprising David, Barca has struggled mightily to even come close to the expectations (and odds) put on them.

We also don't really know what's happened to Messi in these last few games, but surely the world's best player ought to be able to take over a game against on at least one occasion, non?

There is a positive side to all of this...for Inter Milan, at least. In the space of 2 hours, the Italian champions jumped from last to first place in the group. Now there's a good day of work for you.

Turning Tricks: "Oh, no he didn't!"

Don't let his intense glare fool you...he already knew that was going in.

Skill Spotlight: Leo Messi

In honor of this week's news that Barca are making one pint size Argentine their highest paid player, we are dedicating this weeks "Turning Tricks" to Lionel Messi. Undoubtedly deserving of the pay raise after leading the Blaugranes to a famous treble last season, Messi deserves special approbations for his stylish, yet effective play (take note Jose, Leonardo, et al.).

The Good, The Bad, and The Fugly: Champions League Edition (9/15-9/16)

You might as well stay on your knees and pray for the return of your first touch while you're at it.

Good: The surprisingly decent 1-1 Stuttgart v. Rangers tie: An entertaining battle of two halves. First there was Pavel Pogrebniak's powerful 18th minute strike to put the home team ahead, in a half in which Stuttgat dictated the pace of the game to Rangers. But after their half-time regrouping, Madjid Bougherra did the visitor's renewed efforts justice with a brilliant strike in the 77th to take a point from the tie.

We applaud the Ibrox's redoubled discipline and purpose. Instead of relinquishing initiative after a less than stellar first half, Rangers turned this game into a competitive match, deservedly drawing level, and, indeed, unlucky not to take all 3 points from their away foray, given Steven Davis' near miss at the death.



Bad: Kaka's first touch and Real Madrid's failure to seal the deal: Before you regail us with how Madrid won 5-2, after going up 3-0 by the end of the first half, just take a moment and explain how favorites to win the competition can allow their opponents to crawl back 2 goals in the space of 2 minutes and mount an unexpected, if unsuccessful, challenge for the points.

The Gallacticos have only been playing together for a few weeks now, but it definitely not a good omen when F.C. Zurich can make your 226 million pound transfers look like cheap Chinatown knock-offs of their former selves (save Cristiano). A game like this is generally not a good omen when you actually have legit competition in the group stage. More importantly, since when has Kaka's first touch been so freakin' awful? Is this what Italian football does to you? Eto'o beware!



Fugly: The disjointed Barca v. Inter Milan tie. Now we understand rain can wreak as much havoc on a footie match as on our perfectly coifed hair, but we expect better from the La Liga champs (if not Serie A's). In the words of Barca boss, Pep Guardiola,"It's always hard to play Italian teams, nor is it easy to create chances against them." We tend to agree, Pep, especially when your opposition is as cynical as Jose's Nerazurri.

Player Encyclopedia: Future Phenom, Present Prodigy, Historic Hotshot

Image via National Geographic

Look at that concentration.

Future Phenom: We knew it from the moment we laid my bleary eyes on you -- bleary, because of the 2 am wake-up we endured to watch the proceedings of Japan/Korea 2002 live -- but oh how you made it worth it...those free kicks (you remember, the one against England?)...that goofy smile...you made it all look so easy...sure the people at PSG warned us about your late nights, but you had such joy and innocence that we were wont to believe it...and plus everything started out so well at Barca.

Present Prodigy: Some people may question your listing here, especially in this "what have you done for me lately industy," but you were FIFA World Player of the Year...twice (in 2004 and 2005)...and even when all of those dumb commentators were talking up ol' golden balls and his free kicks (seriously, the man's pretty, but he ain't got skillz like you), you were leading Brazil to their second Confederations Cup title in 2005, while helping Barca to back-to-back La Liga titles and the Champions League crown in 2006...but then you got lazy, unmotivated and, well, a bit more than pleasantly plump (granted not to the "fat f%$!" level of Ronaldo, but still)...and they turned on you at the Nou Camp and you became a shadow of your old self with a reputation tanking faster than Emmanuel Ungaro's since they've signed Lindsay Lohan as an "Artistic Advisor."

Historic Hotshot (?): TBD - New chapter, new place? Here's hoping to another club giving you another chance because things aren't working so well at Milan. Let's be honest you could do with another "new lease on life"; you've never linked up well with Pato and Leonardo isn't exactly you're biggest fan. I'm gonna take a wait and see approach with you, and pray that you don't waste your talents like some other wayward compatriots (Corinthians *cough* Ronaldo *cough*)...I mean it would only really take you actually showing up (physically and mentally, that is) to redeem yourself, but that's all part of your master plan, right? Because you obvi learned, when you went all Hollywood, that everybody loves a good comeback.