MADRID (Reuters) – With a fifth world player of the year award safely tucked away in the trophy cabinet, Lionel Messi can set his sights on one of the next milestones in his remarkable career: reaching 500 goals for club and country. The Barcelona and Argentina forward can add to his jaw-dropping tally of 479 […]
By Brian Homewood ZURICH (Reuters) – Real Madrid and their neighbours Atletico Madrid have been banned from signing new players for two transfer windows for breaching rules over the transfer of under-18 players, world soccer’s governing body FIFA said on Thursday. The announcement means that the clubs, currently third and first respectively in Spain’s top […]
MADRID (Reuters) – Stuttering Valencia have made a second key appointment in as many months by bringing back Jesus Garcia Pitarch as sporting director to work with new coach Gary Neville. Garcia Pitarch, 52, played for the La Liga club between 1982 and 1985 and was sporting director between 2002 and 2004 when Valencia won […]
MADRID (Reuters) – Spanish telecoms group Telefonica said on Tuesday its pay TV division had reached a 2.4 billion-euro ($2.60 billion) deal with rival Mediapro that will allow it to offer clients more La Liga and Champions League soccer matches for several seasons. Telefonica’s DTS unit, which had already won the rights to show some […]
MADRID (Reuters) – Barcelona’s appeal against Luis Suarez’s two-match King’s Cup ban for allegedly provoking a fracas in the tunnel after last week’s game against Espanyol has been rejected, the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) said. At the end of a bad-tempered last 16 first leg derby at the Nou Camp that Barca won 4-1, the […]
BARCELONA (Reuters) – Barcelona are looking to reinforce their formidable attack in the January transfer window, the Spanish and European champions’ coach Luis Enrique said on Tuesday. Barca have one of the most potent forward lines in world soccer in FIFA Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez but lack a reliable replacement […]
Lionel Messi wins his 5th Ballon d’Or ahead of fellow FC Barcelona team-mate Neymar Jr and Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi is the only footballer in the world to win the coveted trophy five times. Messi had previously won four consecutive titles in 2009,2010,2011 and 2012, though Cristiano Ronaldo had won the last two […]
MADRID (Reuters) – Barcelona and Espanyol have fought out a couple of brutal derbies in recent weeks and the bitter city rivals are seeking to calm the waters ahead of Wednesday’s King’s Cup last-16 second leg. Espanyol held visiting Barca to a 0-0 draw in La Liga on Jan. 2 before the Cup holders thumped […]
MADRID (Reuters) – Antoine Griezmann and Yannick Carrasco each conjured moments of magic as Atletico Madrid recaptured top spot in La Liga from Barcelona with a hard-fought 2-0 victory at Celta Vigo on Sunday. Chances were scarce on a heavy Balaidos stadium pitch sodden with rain but Griezmann and Carrasco both scored excellent goals to […]
MADRID (Reuters) – Valencia coach Gary Neville has asked the fans for patience after watching his side stumble to a 2-0 reverse at Real Sociedad in La Liga on Sunday that left him still winless in Spain’s top flight. Appointed last month to replace the sacked Nuno Espirito Santo, Neville has presided over three draws […]
MADRID (Reuters) – Villarreal stayed hard on the heels of the La Liga leaders when a Cedric Bakambu double secured a 2-0 win at home to Sporting Gijon on Sunday as Gary Neville was again denied a debut victory with Valencia in Spain’s top flight. Villarreal occupy Spain’s fourth Champions League qualification berth with half […]
