Valencia edge Atletico to reach last 8

Troubled Valencia lifted the gloom on Wednesday when they claimed a place in the semi-finals of the King's Cup after an away goals win over Atletico Madrid.

Valencia, who have won just one of their last 10 league matches, lost 3-2 on the night, but their 1-0 win in the first leg was enough to see them through to the last four.

Ronald Koeman's side were joined in the semis by last season's losing finalists Getafe who claimed another away goals victory over 2003 winners Real Mallorca.

Trailing 1-0 after the first leg, the islanders looked to be on course for victory after an Ariel Ibagaza penalty and a close-range header from Venezuelan striker Juan Arango put them 2-0 up.

But midfielder Esteban Granero stunned the home crowd when his curling cross bounced between a forest of players and crept in at the far post nine minutes from time.

Granero was red-carded a minute from time but the sending off did little to dampen his team's celebrations.

The game at the Calderon started badly for Valencia, fullback Miguel bundling into his own net in the 10th minute after Diego Forlan curled a cross into the area.

Atletico went 2-0 up nine minutes later, Argentine striker Sergio Aguero cracking a low shot in off the far post after a sharp through-ball from Forlan.

But the tie was turned on its head when Atletico midfielder Cleber Santana sent the ball into his own net after Valencia striker Villa tried to cut past him on the edge of the area.

Valencia extended their advantage before the break when forward Juan Manuel Mata hammered home inside the near post from the left side of the area.

Atletico piled forward into attack and went 3-2 up on the hour when defender Juan Valera headed in after a corner. But their efforts were to avail as Valencia kept them at bay for the rest of the game.

Barcelona host Villarreal at the Nou Camp on Thursday, while Racing Santander travel to Athletic Bilbao.

by soccernet.espn.go.com

Valencia 'full of doubt' under Koeman - Joaquin

Valencia midfielder Joaquin has said team morale has suffered since Ronald Koeman took charge as coach last November.

'Ever since the boss took over things have got worse,' the Spain international was quoted as saying in Marca on Wednesday. 'Sometimes we have improved a little during a game, but it hasn't lasted long and that has sapped our confidence.

'The team is gutted, we are full of doubt and it is difficult to get out of a situation like this although we are the only ones who are capable of sorting it out.'

He added that players were at a loss as to how to halt the side's dramatic downturn in form.

Valencia have won just one of their 10 league matches since Koeman took over and they are now just five points above the relegation zone in 11th place in the table.

The team were fourth in the league when the club decided to sack Koeman's predecessor Quique Sanchez Flores.

Joaquin said that the team had been affected by the upheaval and by Koeman's decision to sideline three of the clubs most experienced players, David Albelda and Miguel Angel Angulo and Santiago Canizares.

'The team has been affected and it is obvious the team isn't working,' he said. 'It is an awful situation because they are players who have been at Valencia for a long time and they are our team mates.

'Because of our reputation and the players that we have we must get out of this but what worries us is that we want to but can't seem to be able to.'

Valencia play Atletico Madrid at the Calderon in the return leg of the quarter-finals of the King's Cup on Wednesday. They hold a 1-0 advantage after last week's first leg.

by soccernet.espn.go.com

Barca prodigy Bojan set for Spain call-up

Barcelona's talented youngster Bojan Krkic is likely to be called up to Spain's squad for next week's friendly against France in order to prevent him from being poached by Serbia, said national coach Luis Aragones.

'Yes, we might call him up now. My idea that he comes now to stop him going to another national team.

'He's an extraordinary lad and we've been nuturing him through all the youth categories in the national set-up.'

Known to Barcelona fans simply as 'Bojan', Krkic's father is Serbian but he was born in Spain in Linyola in the province of Lleida. The forward has said he wanted to play for Spain.

Bojan made a name for himself by notching up over 800 goals during his time in the Barcelona youth team set-up and scored on his debut for the first team in an exhibition match against Egyptian side Al-Ahly last April.

He was one of the most eye-catching players in last year's Under-17 World Cup in South Korea and was instrumental in helping Spain get to the final.

However, he received a red card in the dying seconds of the semi-final against Ghana and missed the final against Nigeria, which Spain lost on penalties.

He made his Primera Liga debut against Osasuna this season and became the youngest player to score for the club in the league when he found the net in the 3-1 win over Villarreal in October.

If he plays against France he will become the youngest player to be capped by Spain, beating the previous record set by Athletic Bilbao's Angel Zubieta in 1936.

Zubieta won the first of his two caps at the age of 17 years and nine months while Bojan will be three months younger.

by soccernet.espn.go.com

Real Madrid stretch lead over Barcelona

Barcelona's title hopes were dealt a crushing blow on Sunday as Athletic Bilbao took a point off them at the Estadio San Mamés while Real Madrid beat Villarreal.

Real Madrid clinched a thrilling win thanks to Wesley Sneijder's precise left footed volley from ten yards out in the 77th minute.It came just a minute after Villarreal had drawn level for the second time in the game, through defender Joan Capdevila.

Madrid took the lead with just nine minutes on the clock, Robinho sweeping home from Guti's superb pass.Giuseppe Rossi fired in a curling left-footed drive from the edge of the area after escaping the attentions of Fabio Cannavaro within six minutes to equalise.

Robinho put Madrid ahead again on 53 minutes and Madrid seemed to be cruising again before Capdevila struck.But Dutch international Sneijder burst into the box after coming on as a substitute to restore Madrid's lead and give them a nine-point advantage over their main title rivals Barca.

Bojan Krkic had given Barcelona a 35th minute lead at Althletic Bilbao with a precise left-footed finish but they failed to kill off the game, and finished hanging on for the final whistle after Lilian Thuram turned the ball into his own net 11 minutes from time.

Bilbao huffed and puffed to little effect in San Mames and when they did get a clear sight of goal in the first half striker Aritz Aduriz hoisted his shot over the bar with only Victor Valdes to beat.

In the 35th minute, Barca counter-attacked, Deco laid the ball out wide for Krkic and the 17-year-old scored low in the far corner.Barca were far from impressive and their grip on the game was broken in the 79th minute when French defender Thuram turned a low cross past Valdes, under pressure from Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente on a counter-attack.

Deportivo La Coruna were on course for only their second home win of the season when defender Alberto Lopo scrambled the ball in at a corner in the seventh minute against Valladolid.

Striker Xisco broke away to double the lead in the 46th and Mexican Andres Guardado made it three in the 72nd.

Valladolid had goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo sent off two minutes later but striker Victor pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 83rd.

Bottom club Levante had to come from behind for their first away win of the season after striker Ivan Alonso flicked Murcia in front in the 46th minute.

Brazilian defender Alvaro headed them level from a corner in the 73rd, and striker Riga scored from the penalty spot in the 83rd after Murcia's Alvaro Mejia had been sent off.

Levante's Serbian goalkeeper Vladan Kujovic fumbled a corner into his own net in the 89th, but midfielder Pedro Leon floated a last gap winner in off the far post.

Recreativo Huelva made it six games without a win and were booed off after losing at home to Getafe.

Getafe's Uruguayan midfielder Juan Albin powered into the area and scored after three minutes but Recre levelled through Javier Camunas at the end of a counter-attack in the 16th.

Midfielder Esteban Granero restored Getafe's lead direct from a free kick in the 44th and striker Manu del Moral headed the third in the 91st.

Earlier, Atletico Madrid and Espanyol both lost as their vague pretensions of challenging for the title were knocked back even further.

Fourth-placed Atletico, on 37 points, fell to a goal from Venezuela striker Juan Arango at Real Mallorca, making it three defeats in a week for Javier Aguirre's side.

Espanyol, a point back in fifth, lost 2-1 at home to Real Betis for their third consecutive league defeat.

They stayed three points ahead of sixth-placed Racing Santander who scrambled a 2-2 draw at home to Real Zaragoza, thanks to a last-minute goal from striker Mohamed Tchite.

Elsewhere, problems mounted for under-fire coach Ronald Koeman as Valencia made it nine games without a win, losing 1-0 at home to promoted Almeria.

by soccernet.espn.go.com

Sevilla's Fabiano in no hurry to quit club

Striker Luis Fabiano wants to remain at Sevilla for at least the rest of the season despite reports of a possible transfer window move to Manchester City.

Luis Fabiano was quoted as telling the Brazilian media earlier this week that negotiations with an English team were at an 'advanced' stage and that it was a big opportunity for him.

The in-form Brazil international confirmed today that several clubs were interested in him and claimed that Manchester City had made an offer, but he also insisted that he did not want to leave Sevilla at this stage of the campaign.

'At no point have I said that I want to leave Sevilla. The possibility exists, but I would like to finish the season (here),' he said on Sevilla's official website.

'There have been offers but I do not want to think about them at this time, I want to continue working. I am very happy and I do not want to leave Sevilla in the middle of the season.'

Spanish media have been reporting that Manchester City, Liverpool and Everton are among those interested in signing the striker, who is the joint-leading goalscorer in La Liga this season with 13.

The situation is not clear-cut though, with 65% of Luis Fabiano's rights being held by an investment group and the Brazilian admitted that a move during the current transfer window was not out of the question.

'We cannot discount anything because the group want to sell their stake and they have every right in the world to do it. We are talking to see what we can do. I will try to do everything I can to continue at Sevilla,' explained the striker.

'At no point have Sevilla said that they could equal the offer. Now I am hoping to see what Sevilla are going to do to help me. The offer is of 12million (euros) from Manchester City.

'I am fine, I do not have any reason to leave now. I am playing and I do not want to go in the middle of the season.

'At the end of the season I will have a year left on my contract and if the group do not sell now they will want to do it in the summer.'

by soccernet.espn.go.com

Barcelona hoping to break El Madrigal hoodoo

Barcelona will look to improve on their previous couple of visits to El Madrigal this week when they take on Villarreal in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final.Back in October, Barca conceded three times in the opening 35 minutes against Villarreal en route to a 3-1 Primera Liga defeat.

That ended a six-match winning streak in all competitions for Barca and it was also their first league loss since last April when they were beaten 2-0 - also by Villarreal at El Madrigal.'I hope that the experience of the league game we played in Villarreal will serve us well in the cup,' said Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta.

Striker Bojan Krkic, who netted Barca's consolation goal during that 3-1 league defeat earlier this season, added: 'Villarreal is a difficult place to go and we will try to get a good result from the first leg.'With Primera Liga champions Real Madrid and holders Sevilla both out of the cup, Barca and Villarreal are among the favourites to win this year's title.

However, Atletico Madrid and Valencia will also be viewing the competition as a realistic chance of silverware heading into their quarter-final encounter at the Mestalla on Wednesday.Atletico at least have the UEFA Cup to challenge for as well, but for crisis club Valencia the Copa del Rey represents the last realistic hope they have of salvaging something from a dismal season.

Valencia's 3-0 defeat at local rivals Villarreal this weekend means they have now gone eight league matches without a win, and although Ronald Koeman's men are still eighth in the standings, they are now just five points above the relegation zone.Atletico also go into the match on the back of a defeat following their 2-0 home reverse to local rivals Real, but Rojiblancos captain Maxi Rodriguez has urged his side to put that result behind them.

'During the week we said that we have to fight to finish third or fourth in the league and fight for the Copa del Rey. We need to turn the page and continue forward,' said the Argentina international.

In Wednesday's other tie, Real Mallorca make a quick return to Madrid as they take on 2007 runners-up Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.Mallorca last week ended Real Madrid's 13-match winning streak at the Bernabeu, with a 1-0 victory in the capital helping the Balearic Island side earn a 3-1 aggregate win over the champions.

The fourth quarter-final takes place on Thursday - the same day as the Villarreal-Barca game - and pits Racing Santander against 23-time winners Athletic Bilbao, with the first leg taking place at El Sardinero.

Barcelona agree loan deal for Celta keeper Pinto

MADRID, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto on loan from second division Celta Vigo until the end of the season, the Primera Liga side said on Thursday.

Barca said the deal, which will cost the club €500,000 and which includes an option to buy the player, would be completed on Friday after the keeper undergoes a medical.

The 32-year-old has been signed to provide cover for first choice Victor Valdes after reserve keeper Albert Jorquera sustained a serious knee injury while playing for a Catalan selection team during the Christmas break.

Pinto, who joined Celta in 1999 from Real Betis, has made 126 appearances in the top flight and has experience of playing in the Champions League and UEFA Cup.

by soccernet.espn.go.com

Mallorca knock Real Madrid out of King's Cup

MADRID, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Primera Liga leaders Real Madrid lost 1-0 at home to Real Mallorca in the King's Cup last-16 on Wednesday and went out of the tournament 3-1 on aggregate.

Argentine midfielder Ariel Ibagaza scored the only goal seven minutes from time at the Bernabeu, controlling a long freekick in the area and lobbing Jerzy Dudek to seal his side's passage. Mallorca won the first leg 2-1 last week.

Real dominated the match but missed a host of chances after starting with a second-string side.

The introduction of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robinho in the second half failed to improve their luck and an inspired Miguel Angel Moya in the visitors' goal kept them at bay.

'I don't think you can play any better than we did at times, especially in the first half, but you cannot afford to miss your chances,' said Real coach Bernd Schuster.

Mallorca will meet last season's finalists and Real coach Bernd Schuster's former club Getafe in the quarter-finals. Getafe beat the league's bottom club Levante 4-0 on aggregate.

Villarreal needed an extra-time goal from Italian striker Giuseppe Rossi to get past Recreativo Huelva with a 2-0 home win giving them a 2-1 aggregate victory.

Their reward is a meeting with Barcelona after Frank Rijkaard's side knocked out holders Sevilla on Tuesday. Barca drew 0-0 at the Nou Camp to go through on the away goals rule, having drawn 1-1 in Seville last week.

Argentine Sergio Aguero scored a great individual goal to put Atletico Madrid into the quarter-finals as they drew 1-1 at Valladolid to also progress on away goals.

They will face Valencia who, despite a seven-game winless streak in the league, overcame Real Betis 4-2 on aggregate with a comfortable 2-1 home win.

Racing Santander spoiled Ander Garitano's debut as coach of Real Zaragoza with a 4-2 comeback win at home to earn a 5-3 aggregate victory.

Ricardo Oliveira gave Zaragoza an early lead but Racing struck back with goals from Mohamed Tchite, Oriol, Oscar Serrano and an Ezequiel Garay penalty to win the tie.

Racing face 23-times Cup winners Athletic Bilbao who beat the 2006 winners Espanyol on penalties.

Andoni Iraola got a late equaliser for Bilbao, with Espanyol down to 10 men from the first half, sending the game into extra time tied at 2-2. There were no more goals in the extra period but the visitors held their nerve to win the shootout 4-3.

by soccernet.espn.go.com

Coleman resigns as Real Sociedad manager

Chris Coleman has announced his resignation as coach of Real Sociedad.

Coleman's decision comes less than a week after the Welshman said he would be staying at the Spanish second division outfit following a meeting with the club's new president Inaki Badiola.

There had been speculation about the former Fulham manager's future at Sociedad due to the recent election of Badiola, whose new ideas on the club's aims for the season and transfer policy differed greatly to the ones set out following Coleman's arrival last summer.

Having asked for a few days to consider his position, Coleman last Thursday announced he would be staying at Sociedad for 'as long as the club need me' after receiving the backing of both his players and Badiola.

However, the 37-year-old Coleman now appears to have had a change of heart and today announced to a press conference that he was stepping down as coach.

Coleman joined Sociedad last July on a three-year contract, taking over from Miguel Angel Lotina who was unable to prevent the Basque giants from being relegated from the top flight for the first time in 40 years.

After a slow start to the season which saw Coleman's side win four of their opening 10 league and cup games while also losing five, Sociedad have built up some momentum recently and have now lost just one of their last 11 matches.

Last weekend they beat local rivals Alaves 1-0 to move up to fifth in the Segunda Division standings, one point behind Sporting Gijon who occupy the third and final promotion place.

Coleman came close to stepping down once before during a testing first six months in San Sebastian, when in November he offered to quit following the resignation of former president Maria de la Pena.

De la Pena played an influential role in bringing Coleman to Sociedad and the former Wales international admitted at the time that if she left he was willing to follow suit.

Coleman was persuaded to stay on by the remaining board members though, who asked him to remain in charge at least until the new presidential elections took place on January 3.

Those elections resulted in the appointment of Badiola, whose new ideas in running the club included the addition of a number of new players that he had already pinpointed - a policy which did not sit well with Coleman, who was against new faces being brought in over his head.

Badiola also had a six-month timescale to take Sociedad back into the Primera Liga.

A meeting between the two at the start of last week resulted in Coleman committing his future to the club, but the Swansea-born coach has now reversed that decision.

by soccernet.espn.go.com

Real Madrid insist injured Robben will be 'useful'

Real Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic has defended the club's acquisition of Arjen Robben, whose first five months at the Bernabeu since his move from Chelsea have been plagued by fitness setbacks.

Robben joined Real last August for a fee believed to be more than £20million, but a series of injuries have severely limited the impact the Holland international has made in Spain.

The 23-year-old winger, who also struggled with fitness problems at Chelsea, has started only five matches for Real.

But Mijatovic said: 'He is only 23 and he has a lot of quality. This is not something that doesn't have a solution - we need him to relax a little, because it has not been easy mentally for him.

'It is too soon to say that we have made a mistake. We need more time. Robben will be very useful.'

by soccernet.espn.go.com

Copa del Rey: Barca through on away goals

BARCELONA, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Barcelona knocked holders Sevilla out of the King's Cup on the away goals rule on Tuesday after a battling 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp.

Frank Rijkaard's side, who drew 1-1 in last week's first leg, were put under heavy pressure by Sevilla but held their nerve to book their place in the quarter-finals.

Barca will now meet the winners of Wednesday's tie between Recreativo Huelva and Villarreal.

'It was a titanic effort from both teams,' said Barcelona president Joan Laporta. 'In the end we had the luck to go through, but Sevilla are a great team and we saw two of the best sides in Europe competing out there.'

Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez said the tie had turned on Thierry Henry's away goal in the first leg.

'It was a very evenly balanced tie, but a great piece of skill from Henry proved to be decisive and that was what allowed his team to get through.'

The game got off to a high tempo start with Sevilla keeping Barca on the rack in the opening minutes as they went in search of an early goal.

Striker Ernesto Chevanton had a great opportunity with seconds on the clock, just failing to connect when Daniel Alves curled a cross behind the Barca back four.

Barca refused to wilt under the pressure, however, and had several chances of their own with Andres Iniesta lashing over the bar after a jinking run into the area and Henry and Eidur Gudjohnsen both going close with shots from distance.

Alves almost broke the deadlock with a fierce dipping shot late on in the second half, while winger Jesus Navas had the ball in the net minutes later only to see the goal ruled out for offside.

Barca's arch-rivals Real Madrid will need to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit when they host Real Mallorca at the Bernabeu on Wednesday if they are to join the Catalans in the last eight.

by soccernet.espn.go.com

Le Monde must compensate Barca for doping story

MADRID, Jan 15 (Reuters) - French daily Le Monde has been ordered by a Spanish court to pay Barcelona €300,000 in compensation for linking the club with the doctor at the centre of the Operation Puerto doping investigation.

Barcelona said the ruling from a Barcelona court also stated that Le Monde should publish a correction about the articles, which appeared in the paper on Dec. 7 and 8 in 2006, in its printed and online editions and in two leading Catalan dailies.

'The verdict satisfies Barcelona's desire for the publication of a correction of the articles which will deny any links between Barcelona and Eufemiano Fuentes and deny any links between the club and any doping practices,' the club said in a statement on Tuesday.

Le Monde have the right to appeal against the ruling to a higher court.

Barca and fellow Primera Liga sides Real Madrid, Real Betis and Valencia, who were also mentioned in the articles, have also denied having any relationship with Fuentes.

Fuentes was accused of committing offences against public health after raids on addresses in Spain in May 2006 found large quantities of anabolic steroids, laboratory equipment used for blood transfusions and more than 100 bags of frozen blood.

Last March, a Spanish judge ruled that although there had been clear evidence of doping practices, Fuentes had not been guilty of offences against public health.

The state prosecutor has appealed against the decision.

by soccernet.espn.go.com

Inter Milan sign Maniche on loan from Atletico

MILAN, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Portugal midfielder Maniche has joined Inter Milan on loan from Spanish side Atletico Madrid until June, the Serie A leaders said on Tuesday.

'Maniche is Inter's. This morning, having completed a medical, he signed a contract with the club until June. 30 2008,' the club said on their website after the loan was concluded following days of talks.

Media reports said Inter had first option to buy Maniche for €6 million.

The 30-year-old was an important part of Jose Mourinho's Porto side that won the 2003 UEFA Cup and the 2004 Champions League. He was also in the Portugal team which reached the Euro 2004 final and the 2006 World Cup semi-final.

The Italian champions, seven points clear at the top and in the last 16 of the Champions League, have drafted Maniche in after their midfield was ravaged by injuries.

Patrick Vieira and Luis Figo are battling to return from long-term problems, Olivier Dacourt is out for the rest of the season after knee surgery and Dejan Stankovic has only just got over a heel injury.

Coach Roberto Mancini was forced to use Romania defender Cristian Chivu in the centre of the park but Maniche's arrival means Chivu can slot back into defence after Walter Samuel suffered a knee injury which could rule him out for the season.

Maniche joined Atletico in 2006, where he revived his club career after disappointing spells at Dynamo Moscow and Chelsea.

But he fell out of favour with the Primera Liga club's coach Javier Aguirre recently and was keen to move to boost his chances of a place in Portugal's Euro 2008 squad.

by soccernet.espn.go.com

La Liga half-term report: Part 2

Coming in from the cold?
Erm, probably not. Valencia's wretched form continues, and the wonder of it is that they still lie seventh, in grasping distance of Europe if only they could get their season on-line. With lawsuits flying around the club like hospital superbugs, the atmosphere is hardly one of peace and harmony, and Koeman seems to have upset just about everyone apart from himself.

The return of Baraja is good news, but where is the next win coming from? Next week at home to Villarreal is hardly an easy fixture, but a restoration of self-belief is the first thing on the menu. If they can get that back, they might arrest the slide. If not, they're looking at mid-table for the first time since 1996.

Ready for a recovery?
Much more likely. Despite the weekend's set-back at Bilbao, most observers see Sevilla climbing up through the table in the 2nd half of the season and continuing where they left off for the last few campaigns. Too many upheavals at the same time have had an inevitable effect, but the squad is still strong and the will to win seems as fervent as ever. Fenerbahce shouldn't cause them too many nightmares in the next round of the Champions. Watch them climb and watch them do ok in Europe too.

Chasing the pack or packing in the chase?
Valladolid must be pretty chuffed to be inside the top ten for their half-term report. Then again, their utter dominance of Segunda 'A' last season rather suggested that they would do ok for themselves, once they'd settled down. In José Luis Mendilibar, they have one of La Liga's brightest managerial prospects, fully recovered now from the scandalous lack of confidence shown in him by Athletic Bilbao two years ago. Europe might be behind them, but they'll certainly stay up. There's something resonant about Valladolid, and something attractive about their ground and their weird colours. The top flight seems more complete with their presence, if only because it feels really good to make 'Vall-a-do-lid' roll off your tongue. I never tire of it.

Neither hell nor heaven
Almería tried to give Valladolid a run for their money last season in the Second Division, but ended up below them - a lot further in terms of points than now. Also inspired by a bright young Basque manager (Unai Emery) they have done just fine in their first adventure in the top flight, using a mixture of experienced heads and young pretenders. The second half of the season is difficult to predict, but there seem to be plenty of sides more likely to go down. Their main problem is a lack of goals, despite Diego Negredo's efforts - but they've been solid enough at the back, like last year.

No-Man's Land
Well that's how it might look in the trenches for Athletic Bilbao, but only two points separate them from the comfy-looking position of 11th and the barbed-wire relegation position that their cousins Osasuna presently occupy. The win over Sevilla should give them confidence, since their home record has again been poor, but doubts remain as to the depth of the young squad. Manager Joaquín Caparros has given them the aggression that he normally supplies to his teams, and last season's defensive jitters seem to have been calmed by new keeper Iraizoz, but they still find goals hard to come by. Expect a struggle. Eleventh flatters them somewhat, although they can hardly be accused of not trying. Expect them to fall, but they should have enough spirit to escape the drop again.

Disappointing:
Everything seemed to go right for Zaragoza last season, culminating in a top six finish. But immediate elimination from the UEFA and the departure of Gabi Milito to Barça seem to have taken the wind from their sails. A run of nine games without a win resulted in this weekend's departure of Victor Fernández, who was actually on his second spell with the club. His first period in the 1990's was much more successful, and had many observers predicting that he would be Spain's manager after Javier Clemente. Now only England would have him, and he's too late for that.

13th - unlucky for some:
Mallorca always seem to be in the middle of life's table, and are another team on their second spell with a manager, the schoolmasterish-looking Gregorio Manzano, famous for his foul mouth and his ability to maintain teams in mid-table. The usual yawn in San Moix then, with Ibagaza looking half-decent and Arango, their other decent mucker, apparently in talks with Liverpool. Güiza has done ok, but shone more when he was at Getafe.

Staying up this time?
They only lasted a season back in 2003/04, but Murcia have put in some hardy performances, notably against Real Madrid and Atlético, and seem to have the work ethic necessary for staying alive. Ok at home, they've only won once away, and it seems a bit of a risk to rely on the fading Baiano for goals. But I reckon they'll stay up.

On the slide:
The same might not be said for Getafe, despite beginning to look last season like a veteran campaigner in the top flight, in only their second year there. Their epic campaign ended in a cup final and a more than decent 9th position, but also culminated in the departure of big Bernd to the Bernabéu. His replacement, Michael Laudrup, does a good line in fine wines and elegant suits, but so far has not quite convinced as a manager. Getafe suddenly look unconvinced at their approach, trying to play good football but without the resources to carry it out. Güiza has gone, and neither Uche nor Kepa have really looked the part in his place. One point from the bottom three, I smell relegation.

Definitely iffy:
Another side with a weaker look to them this season, Recreativo have found goals horribly hard to come by. Fifteen goals in nineteen games is the stuff relegation is made of, and manager Victor Muñoz, despite his experience, seems to be on the verge of the sack every week. Definite candidates for the drop.

Not so Healthy:
After the euphoria of 2006 and a top four finish, things haven't been quite the same for Osasuna ('Health' in Basque). Too many good players left in the summer, and although Portillo was a good addition to the ranks, the losses of Webo, Valdo, David López, Iñaki Muñoz and Raúl Garcia have ripped the heart out of the side. Manager Cuco Ziganda is suddenly beginning to have a slightly hapless look to him. On few resources, Osasuna have managed to remain in the top flight since the millennium, but it's looking dodgy now.

The only way is down, baby:
Deportivo - oh dear. But after five fantastic seasons which followed on from their league win in 2000, the decline has been a steady one. Caparrós saw the way the wind was blowing and escaped to Bilbao, but the hang-dog nice bloke of La Liga, Miguel Angel Lotina, has saddled himself with yet another relegation issue - something in which he is becoming an expert. But good bloke or not, in the end you have to wonder if it's just a coincidence or if he's basically a bad manager.

Last week's scrap between the two first team goalies, ending in a whopping shiner for Israeli Aouate and a possible police investigation for Gustavo Munua, is simply an indication of the fact that Lotina has lost control. There's nothing there. They're going down, after one league title and four runners-up places in the last fifteen seasons. It's a shame, but it's on the cards.

Looking up at the stars:
But definitely from the gutter. Poor Levante - but they should really have gone down last season. Ask relegated Real Sociedad, who muttered darkly about refereeing favours and a few 'suitcases' during the final weeks of the season. Now they're definitely on their way, having garnered a mere eight points and scored only eleven goals in the first term. The fact that the players haven't been paid for a couple of months hardly helps the situation. Mustapha Riga looks a decent player, and will probably stay in the top flight when Levante go down, but it's looking a bit miserable with regard to the second term. Expect a slight improvement, but no miracles.

by soccernet.espn.go.com

La Liga half-term report: Part 1

Top of the Class
Real Madrid just sealed a sensational half-term with a typically practical display at bottom of the table Levante, who could easily have won but who found themselves, like so many before them, up against a large slice of Madrileño luck and a goalkeeper (Casillas) in a state of grace. I use the word 'sensational' with a certain reluctance, but it refers more to the statistical achievement than to the football.

Madrid's tally of 47 points from 19 games is the best since three points were introduced for a win in Spain (1995). Seven points ahead of Barcelona at the half-way stage - who would have thought? A year ago the club were immersed in a dual crisis of confidence and schizophrenia, unable to decide upon whom or what they wanted. The brave but equally ruthless decision not to continue with Capello seems to have paid off, if only because the squad in general looks a lot happier. But it's a chicken and egg sort of argument - what came first, the results or the smiles?

Whatever the truth, the startling fact is that Real Madrid appear to be where they are by virtue of two players, rather than by virtue of any revolutionary change in personnel or style. Amazingly, Real Madrid are the team most 'shot at' by other teams in the league, even more than lowly Levante. The statistic was made public last week, prompting Schuster to declare that it had to stop. But Casillas just saves everything that comes his way. The side has only conceded 14 goals, despite having their posts peppered 279 times, 82 of which ended with San Iker (Saint Iker) making a save. He has now gone 468 minutes without conceding, and played 58 consecutive games since being sent off in Santander in May 2006.

At the other end, of course, Van Nistlerooy just keeps on scoring, as has been his wont since time immemorial. It's kind of annoying for other teams, who certainly haven't been shy of attacking them. But will the run last? Such a reliance on two players is not a great basis for the future. The team has a better balanced look about it, it's true, but it could still all go horribly wrong next term. It did for Barça, just after this report last year. So far, everything has gone too much according to plan for Real Madrid. The gods of (mis)fortune may be planning changes before the summer comes.

Second Best
How did that song go? 'It's got to be-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee perfect'. Reactions to Barcelona's first term have ranged from the surreal to the hysterical, but when all is done and dusted they sit second in the league and are still on for the Champions League (and the King's Cup). If they hadn't lost at home to Real Madrid, things would in no way look so bleak as some are painting them. The squad still has an awesome look to it, at least on paper, and any slip-up from Madrid in the next few weeks could change the scene overnight.

Barça's defensive record is the best in the league (13), and up front the options still seem dizzying, whether or not Ronaldinho ever returns satisfactorily to the fold. Whilst Deco's influence in midfield has decreased, Iniesta's rise has compensated for it - as has Bojan's introduction on Messi's injury. Eto'o has now gone to Africa for a fortnight, but Henry is back and looking sharp. Rijkaard is leaving at the end of the season, but don't write them off just yet. A seven-point gap looks intimidating, but in truth it's nothing at this stage. A couple of setbacks for Madrid and things could begin to look rather different.

Best of the Rest
Atlético Madrid have long been Spain's great enigma, always promising more than they have delivered, but in the absence of their perennial star-boy Fernando Torres, departed for Liverpool, the team seems to have improved both in results and spirit. After a dodgy start, the team has been involved in some breathtaking encounters, banging in and then conceding goals with gay abandon, but delighting their long-suffering supporters in the process.

Forlán has proved a more accommodating partner to the young Agüero than was Torres, and Maxi Rodriguez and Raúl Garcia have given the side a tougher, more balanced look. Reyes has been disappointing, but is hardly a bad player to have in reserve, whilst Simao and Luis Garcia (when he's fit) have added class to the general act. Those who question their defence do so because of the run of high-scoring games, but the team has only conceded 19, which is hardly cause for a crisis. They've done well, and should stay where they are (3rd) - or climb even higher if Barça get the wobbles. Watch them in the UEFA too. Bolton in the next round should hardly cause them to sweat too much.

Champions League back-door men.
How wonderful that Espanyol sit fourth, at the half-way stage, wonderful because nobody had seen it coming. The poor cousins of Barcelona once finished third in the 1972/73 season, but have only ever come close to repeating the feat when they finished a very respectable fifth in 2005. Then again, they did get to the final of the UEFA Cup, and unlike Middlesbrough before them, gave a much better account of themselves against Sevilla. But nobody saw it as anything other than a flash in the pan. However, this weekend's defeat at Almería was their first in fifteen matches, and the morale around the club is at an all-time high.

Ernesto Valverde has proved to be a thoughtful, intelligent manager, given neither to hysterics nor empty soundbites, and after a wobbly departure from Athletic Bilbao has got his bearings back. The team has a good goalie (Kameni), a potent midfield with De La Peña still painting patterns and Riera dangerous down the left, and the evergreen Tamudo still doing damage up front. This weekend's game was his 300th for the club.

Will they stay the course and earn themselves an outing in the Champions League? Possibly. Their problem will reside in the fact that both Atlético Madrid and Villarreal - the most likely of the pack to stop them, have more depth to their squads. But even if they slip up, another shot at the UEFA next season should hardly be beyond them.

Aspiring to higher things
Well - despite the permanent air of obscurity that continues to surround them, Villarreal, the team from nowhere (Villarreal isn't even a town) remain amongst the elite, after their startling assault on Europe in the 2005/06 season. Having lost Diego Forlan to Atlético's bigger bank account, they have welcomed back the reliable goal-scorer Nihat from injury and added the more-than-useful Rossi from Man Utd.

Jon Tomasson knows where the net is too, and the tally of 34 goals this term is only tempered by the fact that they have conceded 30, hinting at an Achilles Heel that could scupper their plans for a Champions League berth, unless they tighten up. This weekend's game against Deportivo (4-3) was typical of their games recently. No other team in La Liga has been so involved in goals (64) - Sevilla lying second on sixty. If it's excitement you're after, go to watch Villarreal. Will they stay up there? I think so - but only if they improve at home. The win against Deportivo was their first on home soil for two months.

Another aspirant
Along with Espanyol, Racing de Santander are probably the other side who deserve most praise this season. If few had expected Espanyol to be up there, absolutely no-one had foreseen such a radical improvement in Racing's fortunes. They just look very, very solid - not scoring many (20) but not conceding too badly either (19). This is their best half-term finish since 1993 (when they stood 8th), and the success is based on being hard to beat.

Nobody has stuffed them this season (as opposed to previous campaigns), and although last season's finish of 10th hinted at better things to come, the departure of the much-loved Zigic hardly augured the improvement that has taken place. Duscher has added steel in the middle, and at the back the team continues to take few prisoners, but you just wonder if they can really fight off Sevilla below them, despite the problems they are experiencing.

by soccernet.espn.go.com

Deportivo's Munua sorry for attacking team-mate

MADRID, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Deportivo Coruna's Gustavo Munua has apologised for attacking fellow goalkeeper Dudu Aouate during an argument after training last week.

Israel keeper Aouate needed several stitches around his left eye after the Uruguayan international punched him in the face during a dispute in the changing room on Friday.

'I want to apologise to my team mate Dudu Aouate, his family and everyone that knows him for the incident,' Munua told a news conference on Monday. 'I'm ashamed to be in this situation.'

'We were arguing a bit and I lost it for 10 seconds. The truth is I never thought things would go so far -- it is very sad.'

The day before, Aouate had told a news conference that it was unfair he had been dropped as first-choice keeper.

After the incident, Deportivo coach Miguel Angel Lotina left both players out of the squad to play Villarreal and said they would remain on the sidelines for the rest of the season.

But Munua hinted Lotina might be reconsidering his decision.

'I have talked to the coach and he has asked us to sort out the problem between ourselves so that we can train with the team as soon as possible,' he said.

Deportivo lost 4-3 to Villarreal on Sunday and remain in 19th place in the 20-team Primera Liga.

by soccernet.espn.go.com

Van Nistelrooy's late double keeps Real on track

Ruud van Nistelrooy scored two late goals as Spanish champions Real Madrid defeated bottom side Levante 2-0 on Sunday to re-establish their seven-point lead over Barcelona at the top of the table.

A staggering 36 points separated Real and Levante before kick-off but on the pitch there was little to choose between them before Dutch striker van Nistelrooy stole the points with his 10th and 11th goals of the campaign. The Dutch forward put Real ahead on 76 minutes from the penalty spot before adding a second two minutes from time with a clinical right-footed strike.

"It was hard work but we got the win and it will be vital for us come the end of the season," said Real coach Bernd Schuster. Real's next match is the derby against Atletico Madrid next Sunday and Schuster said his players would require no motivation for the capital clash.

"Sometimes it is difficult to motivate your players to face a team that is theoretically inferior but next week I won't need to say a thing just like it was for the Barcelona match," added the German. Atletico are riding high in third after a 1-0 home win over Valencia. Kun Aguero took advantage of a mistake from Valencia goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand to score the decisive goal and Atletico move above Espanyol who saw their 14-match unbeaten run come to an abrupt end with a surprise 1-0 loss at Almeria. Espanyol had not lost since a 2-1 defeat to Recreativo Huelva at the end of September but an 87th minute goal from Kalu Uche ended that sequence.

"It was our worst away performance of the season," admitted Espanyol boss Ernesto Valverde. Villarreal are now breathing down their necks after a 4-3 comeback win over strugglers Deportivo La Coruna. Turkish international Nihat scored twice in as many minutes to help Villarreal close to within a point of Espanyol. Villarreal looked to be heading for their seventh defeat of the campaign trailing 2-1 but Nihat struck twice, in the 66th and 68th minutes, to turn the game in their favour. "We were poor for 65 minutes and good for 25," confessed Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini.

"Conceding so many goals makes it difficult to have a good campaign but reaching 35 points at this stage means there are more positives than negatives." Fernando Gago started in the midfield for Real with Mohamadou Diarra gone for the African Nations Cup and Miguel Torres replaced the suspended Sergio Ramos at right back. Goalkeeper Iker Casillas shrugged off a bout of gastro-enteritis to start with Schuster seemingly reluctant to field former Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek.

Levante started the better with Real squandering possession far too easily but the champions look so dangerous going forward and Julio Baptista and Raul both had efforts cleared off the goal-line. In the second half Baptista and Brazilian compatriot Robinho both hit the post as Levante rode their luck.

Real had only failed to score in of the their previous 18 league matches and the breakthrough came on 76 minutes with Jose Serrano unfortunately handling in the penalty area. Van Nistelrooy made no mistake with the penalty sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and he scored again on 88 minutes as Real took the spoils.

by www.wldcup.com

Villarreal win seven-goal thriller

MADRID, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci scored twice to help Villarreal to a 4-3 comeback win at home against Deportivo Coruna in the Primera Liga on Sunday.

Struggling Depor took a 2-1 lead before Nihat poached an equaliser midway through the second half and then curled a superb shot in the top corner two minutes later.

Danish forward Jon Dahl Tomasson made it four from the penalty spot while Depor finished with 10 men and a late goal from Mexican Andres Guardado.

Villarreal went fourth with 35 points, one behind Espanyol who lost their first game in 15 outings after falling 1-0 away to promoted Almeria.

Later on Sunday, leaders Real Madrid, on 44 points, can restore their seven-point cushion over second-placed Barcelona with a win away at bottom club Levante.

Fifth-placed Atletico Madrid, with 34, host troubled Valencia in the late game.

The goalkeeping performance of the day came from Portugal's Ricardo Pereira who denied Getafe a hatful of goals as Real Betis stole a 3-2 home win.

by soccernet.espn.go.com

Cameroon surprised by Eto'o no show

Cameroon football federation (Fecafoot) chiefs on Tuesday expressed their surprise that striker Samuel Eto'o has yet to be released by Barcelona for the African Nations Cup which starts on January 20.

Barcelona coach Franck Rikjaard insisted Tuesday that the Spanish club had reached an agreement with Cameroon to hold on to Eto'o until January 12. "The club has an agreement with the Cameroon federation which authorises Eto'o to join up later with the team," Rijkaard told Barcelona's website.

Barcelona's agreement delays by about one week the three-time African Player of the Year's trip to join his national team, he said. Barcelona want Eto'o to play in their King's Cup last 16 away match at Sevilla on January 9 and a Primera Liga tie against Murcia on January 12. But Fecafoot vice-president Francis Mveng told AFP: "We don't have official news from FC Barcelona. "Fecafoot asked FC Barcelona by letter to release Eto'o 14 days before the competition starts, or January 6 at the latest, as stipulated by FIFA regulations. "We have never had a answer.

We just heard that FC Barcelona said in a press conference that it was understood that they would release him later," said Mveng, insisting this was not the case. Mveng evoked the possibility that Barca had struck some deal with "Cameroonian authorities" to hold the player beyond the January 6 deadline.

by www.wldcup.com

Fernandez: Diego Milito Is One Of Our Greats

After Real Zaragoza’s 3-2 victory over Pontevedra in the Copa del Rey on Thursday, Victor Fernandez, the team’s coach, stated that with players like Diego Milito championship teams are made.

Fernandez was extremely happy with his team’s performance, and in particular with that of Diego Milito, who scored his team’s equalizer, but ended up getting himself sent-off in second half injury time.

“Diego is one of the greats of Real Zaragoza’s history, something that isn’t easy, and he is one of the best players I’ve had under my orders,” he stated in relation to the prolific Argentine striker, who will miss Sunday’s clash with Real Madrid.

He explained that the Argentine, who has scored over 40 goals in two years at Zaragoza, is a great player not only because of his quality, but because his attitude, and the loyalty he has for the club.

“Despite him being the player who earns the most money, and also that he is our most recognized player internationally in these moments, he is a player who always does his best, and that is very valuable for us,” stated Fernandez, who always defended the striker, even after he returned from the Copa America in a bad state.

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