Joined: Jan 28 2006 Posts: 18736 Location: Baix Empordà, Catalunya
The Penguin wrote:Copa Del Rey last night:
Barcelona 3-2 Espanyol.
Barcelona surged into a 3-goal lead through Bojan (2) and Pique, only for Espanyol to fight back through Carominas and a superb strike from Jose Callejon. Barcelona held on though and will meet Mallorca in the semis.
shocking displays by both keepers
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Joined: Oct 24 2004 Posts: 12169 Location: South of the river
The weekend in preview:
Saturday January 31
19:00 Athletic Bilbao v Málaga
21:00 C.D Numancia v Real Madrid
Sunday February 1
16:00 Atletico Madrid v Valladolid
16:00 Espanyol v Recreativo Huelva
16:00 Real Betis Balompié v Getafe C.F
16:00 Racing Santander v Barcelona
16:00 Deportivo La Coruna v Villarreal
16:00 Osasuna v Mallorca
18:00 Valencia v Almeria
20:00 Sporting de Gijón v Sevilla
On Saturday Real Madrid, who have been winning of late without playing particularly well, visit Soria to play a Numancia side who are hanging precariously above the drop zone following recent results and are in the middle of the run of fixtures against the top sides. Nevertheless, Real have won six straight league fixtures under Ramos and you would expect this to be a fairly routine victory for Los Merengues. The first game of the weekend comes from the San Mames where Athletic, fresh from Copa Del Rey success, will look to break down a stubborn Malaga outfit who are unbeaten in six matches and are breathing right down the neck of Atletico in the final European spot.
On Sunday, the embattled Javier Aguirre will watch his team play Valladolid. It could not be a better time to play Zortilla’s side, who have taken just one point from a possible 15 in the league. However, with Aguero and Forlan struggling for goals and looking familiarly brittle in defence, it could be a struggle. Espanyol, who fought valiantly at the Camp Nou on Thursday, welcome Recreativo to the Montjuic in what has all the makings of being an ugly relegation dogfight. Pochettino is unbeaten in his short tenure with Los Pericos and I fancy they’ll grab an important 3 points, even though Recre won last time out against Betis. Speaking of Betis, Paco Chaparro is under pressure there and a defeat at home to Getafe could be the last straw. Betis have the worst home record in the league (5 defeats from 9 – woeful) so Getafe, fresh from their shellacking of Sporting last week, will fancy their chances.
Barcelona make the trip to Santander to play a Racing side who have looked full of confidence since the return of Nikola Zigic up front. Racing’s home form is poor, so Pep Guardiola will still be fairly confident his team can cruise unstoppably on. For Racing, a win, however unlikely, will strengthen their fight for UEFA cup place that looked out of the question in December. Manuel Pellegrini’s Villarreal, who continue to stumble, visit the Riazor to play a Deportivo side wounded from three straight league defeats.
Mallorca, who pulled off the result of the week last time with their win over Valencia, visit Osasuna and Gregorio Manzano will be praying the form lasts so they could jump out of the bottom 3. Unai Emery will look to bounce back following league and cup disappointment with a win over Almeria, who have picked up just one away win this season. Finally, Sevilla visit Sporting Gijon which is a simply must-win fixture for Manolo Jiminez’s men if they wish to remain in the top four.
Joined: Oct 24 2004 Posts: 12169 Location: South of the river
Anybody watch the superb game last night at the San Mames? Brilliant game between Athletic and Malaga. Malaga twice went ahead through Luque and Lolo only for Yeste and Llorente to equalise with a couple of peachy goals followed by an 85th minute winner from Susaeta. Yeste and Llorente were sensational for the hosts while Duda and Baha were constant threats for Malaga. That win means Malaga missed out on the chance to gatecrash the top 6 and Athletic move into 9th.
Contrast that with the rather soporific encounter at Los Parajitos where Numancia were, for long periods, the better side against Real Madrid only for Raul and Robben to score two quick second half goals to collect all three points. Real's gameplan seemed to be 'lump it up to Robben' and for the most part it didn't work as the Dutchman had an off day. Raul's 307th goal equals Alfredo Di Stefano's Real Madrid record, he can beat it at home against Racing next week.
Futher props to Juande Ramos - he looks like a faded matinee idol in that coat. Marvellous.
Joined: Feb 21 2002 Posts: 31779 Location: The commentary box
The Penguin wrote:Anybody watch the superb game last night at the San Mames?
No, but more than happy with the result. Nosebleed territory now and with the low average age of the side, something half decent looks like being built for the future.
The Penguin wrote:Futher props to Juande Ramos - he looks like a faded matinee idol in that coat. Marvellous.
2-1 defeat at home to Valladolid for Atlético this afternoon, if the reaction of the crowd toward the end of the match is anything to go by I don't see Aguirre being in his job for much longer, and I don't think he can have too many complaints.
Asim wrote:2-1 defeat at home to Valladolid for Atlético this afternoon, if the reaction of the crowd toward the end of the match is anything to go by I don't see Aguirre being in his job for much longer, and I don't think he can have too many complaints.
Aguirre i think will be gone by late this week.
Got to an unacceptable level where i think the players are losing faith and just not being very bothered anymore, a la Kun.
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Good call. Very noir-ish.
