Primera Division 2010/2011 Thread

**beavis** · 18-12-2010 21:59

Kaka nears return

Real Madrid playmaker Kaka is close to make his return to the playing fields 4 months after surgery on his left knee.

"I'm keen to return and I hope, if all goes well, I'll be back playing again after the Christmas break", the Brazil international said.

Jose Mourinho's side, who are 2 points behind leaders FC Barcelona, host 11th-placed FC Sevilla on Sunday when Karim Benzema is expected to lead the line again in the absence of the injured Gonzalo Higuain.

FC Sevilla have lost Argentine winger Diego Perotti to a torn muscle for 3 weeks while striker Frederic Kanoute and winger Jesus Navas are doubts.

Brazil striker Luis Fabiano returned to action against Borussia Dortmund in midweek and is expected to start up front.

**beavis** · 20-12-2010 15:49

New Villarreal deal for Capdevila

Spain international Joan Capdevila has confirmed he has agreed a 2-year contract extension with Villarreal.

The 32-year-old, whose existing deal was due to run out next summer, joined the Yellow Submarine from Deportivo La Coruna in 2007 and during his time at El Madrigal has helped Spain win both the World Cup and European Championship.

"The negotiations are over. The club offered me what I wanted", Capdevila was quoted as saying in the Spanish media.

Capdevila's new deal ties him to the club until 30 June 2013 and the left-back added: "That was my idea. I will be 35 when I finish and therefore I'm very pleased to have reached this agreement, as it was without doubt what I wanted".

Iniesta hopes for Barca stay

Andres Iniesta has rubbished reports suggesting he could be lured away from FC Barcelona, insisting his wish is "to always stay at this club".

It had been claimed that the World Cup-winning midfielder was a January transfer target for Manchester City, who were prepared to offer Carlos Tevez in part-exchange.

It was believed that Barca were willing to consider offloading the talented playmaker in order to help reduce their mounting debts.

Such speculation has subsequently been played down by the Catalan giants, though, with the reining Spanish champions insisting Iniesta is not for sale at any price.

The 26-year-old midfielder is delighted to hear that he remains an important part of Barca's plans, as he hopes to see out his playing days at Camp Nou.

"Barcelona have done everything for me and my family", Iniesta, who is a product of the Barca academy system, told Esquire.

"My ambition is to always stay at this club. But my future will depend on my performances in the next few years."

"This is not about money, this is about my desire to remain at Barcelona."

**beavis** · 23-12-2010 11:47

COPA DEL REY

Real Madrid 8 - 0 Levante

REZUMAT

**beavis** · 28-12-2010 23:15

Cani agrees Villarreal stay

Ruben Cani claims to have agreed a new contract with Villarreal, keeping him at the Castellon until 2014.

The midfielder's existing deal had been due to expire in the summer.

"The matter is now closed and it is up to the club to announce it, but we've reached an agreement", Cani said in Marca.

"I'm happy because what I wanted most was to continue here. I had always made it clear that this was my choice and I wanted to stay."

Cani, 29-year-old, is one of the longest-serving players at Villarreal, having joined in 2006.

He joins Joan Capdevila in agreeing a new deal with the club, leaving veteran midfielder Marcos Senna as the only player left with a deal that expires in the summer.

The 34-year-old is understood to be negotiating with the club on a possible extension.

Senna injury blow for Villarreal

EURO 2008 winning midfielder Marcos Senna could be sidelined for up to 10 weeks through a right thigh injury, according to his employers Villarreal.

The 34-year-old Brazilian-born, who was pivotal in Spain's Euro 2008 win, suffered the injury in the Copa del Rey last 16 first leg draw with Valencia a week ago.

Senna, who failed to make it to Spain squad for the 2010 World Cup this year, returned to Brazil for Christmas and underwent medical tests there which revealed the extent of the injury.

**beavis** · 01-01-2011 15:28

Real striker set for back operation

REAL & JABULANI

Real Madrid's Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain will have to undergo an operation on his slipped disc, sports daily Marca reported on Friday.

Real have been trying to avoid an operation but the treatment which Higuain followed in Argentina has not worked, according to Marca.

The 23-year-old striker has consulted Donato Villani, the doctor of the Argentine national team, who has told him he would need surgery immediately, the report said.

Higuain, who has not played for a month, will return to Madrid on 3 January and the Real doctors will decide where and when the operation will take place. He will then be out of action for around 3 months.

Because of Higuain's injury, Jose Mourinho has asked Real to sign a new striker in the winter transfer window.

But Florentino Perez would prefer Mourinho to get by with the current squad, giving more match time to French forward Karim Benzema and youngster Alvaro Morata, reports say.

Maxwell's house in order

FC Barcelona full-back Maxwell has warned his team-mates against complacency as they head into the New Year.

The reigning Primera Division champions have swept all before them so far this season, culminating in a 5-0 annihilation of second-placed Real Madrid on 29 November.

They are 2 points clear of Real at the top of the table with a staggering goal difference of 42, but Maxell is keen to ensure his team-mates are not getting carried away and remain focused on the job at hand - beginning with Sunday's home clash with Levante.

"Games are always difficult", the 29-year-old said.

"You can train as much as you can, but maybe we haven't had enough time to get in shape for it."

"We have to be focused and play an intense game, so that there are no surprises and we can get a fundamental 3 points."

"You can never be comfortable in football and should always look for improvement and titles. You can't live off what you have done. You have to look for new titles and to improve our game, even though in 2010 we did very well."

"We have the challenge of winning all the competitions that we are participating in. The Cup, the Champions League and the Primera - we want to win them all and we'll have to be very prepared."

Maxwell was full of praise for Barca's new signing Ibrahim Afellay, a 24-year-old Dutch winger the Catalan giants have bought from PSV Eindhoven

"He is very fast, technical and intelligent. He has talent. He will have to get used to our game, but we will support him", he said.

**beavis** · 04-01-2011 23:00

Aguero extends Atletico deal

Sergio Aguero has agreed to extend his contract with Atletico Madrid by 2 years to the end of June 2014.

Tying the 22-year-old Argentina forward to the club was part of a policy of continuity that has also seen striker Diego Forlan and winger Jose Antonio Reyes extend their deals recently, the club said on their website.

Aguero, who has played for Atletico since 2006 and has a son with Diego Maradona's daughter Gianina, said on his website that he wanted "to continue making progress with the club".

Atletico won last season's Europa League and went on to beat Champions League winners Internazionale Milano in the European SuperCup and Aguero said he wanted more titles.

"This is not merely putting a signature on a contract", he added.

"It's also about renewing a commitment to the club at which I arrived when I was only 18 years old and I have been with for almost 5 years."

Atletico are 6th in Primera with 27 points from 17 matches, 19 behind leaders FC Barcelona, and were knocked out of this term's Europa League at the group stage.

Getafe 2 - 3 Real Madrid

REZUMAT

**beavis** · 05-01-2011 15:34

Ronaldo rested for Copa

PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4

Cristiano Ronaldo will miss his first game of the season for Real Madrid on Thursday night as Jose Mourinho rings the changes against Levante.

With Real leading 8-0 from the Copa del Rey last 16 first leg tie, Mourinho has opted to give some of his fringe players a chance in the return match and has rested Iker Casillas, Angel Di Maria, Xabi Alonso, Marcelo, Mesut Ozil, Raul Albiol and Mahamadou Diarra.

Ronaldo, who scored a hat-trick in the first leg and took his season tally to 27 goals in all competitions with a brace in Monday's win over Getafe, has featured in every competitive match under Mourinho.

Mourinho will welcome back centre-backs Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho following suspension however, while he has also named 5 youth-team players in a 20-man squad for the trip to Levante.

**b3bytzu** · 07-01-2011 10:04

COPA DEL REY

Levante 2-0 Real Madrid

1-0
2-0

mansa tur de pe Bernabeu a fost 8-0.

**beavis** · 07-01-2011 15:33

SFERTURI

Villarreal - FC Sevilla

FC Barcelona - Real Betis

Deportivo La Coruna - Almeria

Atletico Madrid - Real Madrid

**beavis** · 08-01-2011 09:45

Pepe facing 4 weeks out

Real Madrid defender Pepe has been ruled out for up to 4 weeks with a torn calf muscle.

The Portugal centre-back suffered the injury during their Copa del Rey defeat away to Levante on Thursday, when they progressed to a quarter-final meeting with city rivals Atletico.

Pepe will miss both legs of the Cup tie, which are scheduled to be played over the next 2 weeks and Sunday's high-profile Primera clash with third-placed Villarreal at Santiago Bernabeu.

**beavis** · 10-01-2011 22:47

Mourinho named Coach of the Year

PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3

Irrepressible Jose Mourinho has added to his collection of titles by winning the first FIFA Coach of the Year award.

The Portuguese, now with Real Madrid, was given the accolade after leading Inter Milano to a Treble of Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia last season.

He won the poll ahead of 2 Spaniards, Vicente del Bosque, who led Spain to last year's World Cup and FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

Former Chelsea coach Mourinho, 47-year-old, has won the Champions League with 2 different clubs having previously led FC Porto to the title.

The new award was organised by FIFA in conjunction with France Football magazine.

Albelda out for month

Valencia midfielder David Albelda has been ruled out for a month after having knee surgery, the Primera Division club said.

The 33-year-old former Spain international has been suffering from a lingering inflammation of the right knee over the last month and a half, the club said on their website.

He is expected back just before Valencia return to Champions League action for their last 16 first leg match at home to Schalke on 15 February.

**beavis** · 11-01-2011 19:51

POZE GALA FIFA

2 TREBLES

2002/2003 with FC Porto: Liga Sagres, Portuguese Cup and UEFA Cup

2009/2010 with Internazionale Milano: Serie A, Coppa Italia and UEFA Champions League

**beavis** · 12-01-2011 17:45

Angel ruled out for season

Villarreal full-back Angel Lopez will be out for the rest of the season after having surgery to repair torn knee ligaments.

Angel suffered the injury during the 4-2 Primera Division defeat at Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

The loss of Angel, who will be out for 6 months, added to Juan Carlos Garrido's growing injury problems as he tries to maintain the side's momentum after an impressive season.

They head into Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg at home to holders FC Sevilla without the injured Angel, Spain internationals Marcos Senna and Carlos Marchena.

Midfielder Cani was cleared to join the squad, however, after the Spanish football federation approved an appeal from the club to reduce a red card he received on Sunday to a yellow.

Osvaldo out for 2 months

Espanyol's leading striker Pablo Osvaldo has undergone surgery on a torn thigh muscle and will be out for around 2 months.

The Argentine forward, Espanyol's top scorer with 7 goals, was stretchered off after suffering the injury during the first half of Sunday's 4-0 Primera win at home to Real Zaragoza.

"Tests confirmed that Daniel Osvaldo has suffered an almost complete rupture of the left adductor", the club said in a statement.

"Doctors believe that surgery is recommended because it is a very simple operation."

The injury is a major blow to Mauricio Pochettino's side, who are pushing for a Champions League qualification place for next season.

They lie fifth in the standings 3 points behind 4th place Valencia.

**beavis** · 14-01-2011 18:27

REZUMAT

**beavis** · 15-01-2011 11:27

Ronaldo - locul 1 în topul celor mai mari salarii

Internaţionalul portughez al echipei Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo, ocupă primul loc în topul celor mai bine plătiţi 50 de fotbalişti din lume, cu un salariu anual de €12 milioane, conform unui clasament realizat de Sport Magazine.

Publicaţia franceză a luat în considerare în realizarea clasamentului doar salariile anuale ale jucãtorilor, fãrã prime sau venituri din publicitate.

Poziţia a doua a topului este ocupată de englezul Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) cu €11.5 milioane, iar pe locul 3 se află argentinianul Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) cu €11 milioane.

Ivorianul Yaya Toure, care are la Manchester City un salariu anual de €10.8 milioane, este ocupantul locului 4, fiind urmat de camerunezul Samuel Eto'o (Inter Milano - €10.5 milioane), germanul Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munchen - €9.7 milioane), suedezul Ibrahimovic (AC Milan - €9 milioane), brazilianul Kaka (Real Madrid - €9 milioane), englezul John Terry (Chelsea - €9 milioane) şi, pe locul 10, de togolezul Adebayor (Manchester City - €8.4 milioane).

**beavis** · 16-01-2011 16:02

Aguero injury rules him out of Real return

Sergio Aguero has damaged a thigh muscle in Atletico's 3-1 Copa del Rey quarter-finals first leg defeat at city rivals and will be out for at least 10 days.

The injury, sustained in a clash with Real defender Sergio Ramos in midweek, means Aguero will miss Monday's Primera Division match at home to Real Mallorca and the Copa del Rey second leg at Vicente Calderon on Thursday.

"They are telling me I need at least 10 days of recuperation", the player said on his website.

"I am annoyed because I don't like missing any matches and even less so given we have such an important week ahead of us. I have no option but to work to recover."

La Liga - Team of the Week 18

Ricardo Lopez (Osasuna)

Marcelo (Real Madrid) - Demichelis (Malaga) - Ramis (Mallorca)

Ozil (Real Madrid) - Martinez (Athletic Bilbao) - Iniesta (Barca) - Cazorla (Villarreal)

Messi (Barca) - Ronaldo (Real Madrid) - Kanoute (FC Sevilla)

**b3bytzu** · 17-01-2011 09:34

Etapa 19
Almeria - Real Madrid

1-0
1-1

**beavis** · 18-01-2011 18:14

La Liga - Team of the Week 19

Diego Alves (Almeria)

Valera (Atletico Madrid) - Diogo (Zaragoza) - Mathieu (Valencia)

Iniesta (Barca) - Prieto (Sociedad) - Cani (Villarreal) - Reyes (Atletico Madrid)

Callejon (Espanyol) - David Villa (Barca) - Muniain (Athletic Bilbao)

**beavis** · 20-01-2011 15:56

"Balotelli should speak less"

vs ALMERIA

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has told Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli he should "speak less and play more".

Balotelli joined City from Inter Milano last summer and recently made headlines in the press by declaring United's Wayne Rooney was not the best player in Manchester.

When asked about the 20-year-old Italy international, former Manchester United star Ronaldo said to Gazzetta dello Sport: "He is a good player but he has to speak less and play more".

He continued: "In Premier League, if he knows how to listen and wants to learn, he could become a great player".

"I hope he achieves that. However, he puts many other things ahead of his career and this is not good."

Diarra dropped for Copa clash

Real Madrid have left troubled midfielder Lassana Diarra out of the squad for the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final clash with Atletico Madrid on Thursday.

The club made the announcement on their website.

Lass, as he is known in Spain, was not selected for the draw with Almeria at the weekend, in apparent punishment for leaving Santiago Bernabeu at half-time when he was substituted in the previous La Liga match, a 4-2 win over Villarreal.

Sami Khedira, who replaced Lass in that game, has started in his place since.

The France international, who has played for Arsenal, Portsmouth and Chelsea, has been linked with a move to Manchester United.

Real lead city rivals Atletico 3-1 from the first leg.

**b3bytzu** · 21-01-2011 10:11

0-1

În tur scorul a fost 1-3.

---------- Post added 21-01-2011 at 10:14 ----------

În semifinale, Real Madrid va întâlni FC Sevilla, iar FC Barcelona va evolua în compania echipei Almeria. Turul este programat la 26-27 ianuarie, iar returul la 2-3 februarie.