[ESP] Primera Liga 2006/2007 (9 Viewers)
- Thread starter ReBeL
- Start date
well we need money to buy more experience and more players who can hit the damn net.Henry offers both at the moment and i think it would be suicidal to sell him.We dont want to go through another transitional period(ala after vieira's departure).
Having said that,Fabregas is being linked to a move away too.and if it came to a choice about who i'd prefer to go.It would defenitly not be the guy in my avatar.
Having said that,Fabregas is being linked to a move away too.and if it came to a choice about who i'd prefer to go.It would defenitly not be the guy in my avatar.
they went alright without him i agree..therefore if Wenger brings in an adequate replacement i wouldnt mind cashing in on Henry....with a heavy heart of course after all he's done for us.But there was life before Henry and there will be life after him.
Having said that,knowing Wenger if Henry were to leave,He'll probably replace him with some 16 year old from Botswana.So i'd rather we kept Henry.
Having said that,knowing Wenger if Henry were to leave,He'll probably replace him with some 16 year old from Botswana.So i'd rather we kept Henry.
La Liga Preview: Gimnastic - Barcelona
Who: Gimnastic de Tarragona (20th, 28 pts) vs. Barcelona (2nd, 73 pts.)
When: 2100 CET, 17 June 2007
Where: Nou Estadi, Tarragona
It's out of their hands. No matter what Nastic do, they'll be in La Segunda next season as they sit nine points adrift of safety going into the final round.
For Barcelona, they have slightly more control over their destiny: the blaugrana almost certainly require a win to keep them in the title race.
However, whether or not it's enough depends on Real Madrid's result against Mallorca. The events at the Bernabeu will weigh heavily on Barcelona minds as they prepare to face Gimnastic in Tarragona.
Title Race Continues
Barca came into the campaign with high hopes. They had successfully defended the Liga title and had designs on a third consecutive trophy; what's more, they'd won the Champions' League for the second time, their first European silverware since the UEFA Cup win of 1997.
The Nou Camp side had kept together much of the squad from the previous campaign - minus notable exceptions such as Mark van Bommell - and added Eidur Gudjohnsen, Lilian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta to the side. Clearly, all eyes were on repeating the feat.
Yet it didn't quite work out that way. Due to injuries, poor form and the occasional tactical blunder, Barca crashed out of Europe to eventual finalists Liverpool. La Liga still seemed a viable goal - Sevilla were losing their 2006 spark and Real Madrid briefly lost their way - but now the blaugrana head into the last round in far from ideal position.
Real Madrid's dramatic return to form saw them push Barca all the way as the Catalans took top spot. Nine wins in ten games saw Real eventually leapfrog Barca, who dropped off first place after a late equaliser from Betis at the Nou Camp.
Those 20 Seconds
And then came Round 37. Barca quickly went behind to local rivals Espanyol - the perequitos were out for revenge following Barca's Catalan Cup win midweek - but the indomitable Messi made it 2-1. With Real floundering in Zaragoza, the Nou Camp faithful were ready to celebrate regaining the initiative.
But then Raul Tamudo stepped forward yet again to score yet another late equaliser against Barcelona. The striker became an instant legend in the blue-and-white half of the city, while Barca fans prayed that Real Zaragoza could hold on against the Madrid men. Needless to say, they could not.
Just as Barca had become adept at conceding late goals, Real had become masters of scoring them, and one man was the greatest master of them all. Ruud van Nistelrooy's late effort saw the match end 2-2; with Sevilla also drawing, the title race remained the same. And Barca remained in a dreadful position.
Sure, there's plenty of doom and gloom, but it's worth remembering just how good this side can be on its day. The "tridente" of Eto'o, Messi and Ronaldinho is arguably the best strikeforce in the world when fit and on song; Iniesta continues to mature as a player; Zambrotta and Belleti are involved in one of football's fiercest competition for places in defence and Valdes is invaluable in goal.
On certain occasions, this dynamic side has shown what it's truly capable of - the recent 6-0 win over Atletico springs to mind, as does the 4-0 crushing of Villarreal earlier in the season - yet it will all prove fruitless if Real win in the final round. It's not in Barca's hands.
But perception is everything: of course, coach Rijkaard is placing the emphasis on his own team. Disregarding events in Madrid, the Dutchman is looking for total concentration. "It's not possible to say beforehand that a win over any team will be easy... we must prepare well, give a good showing and get a good result." Clearly, he seeks to avoid complacency, and the nightmarish possibility of Barca failing to capitalise on an unlikely Madrid slip-up.
On that subject, he was somewhat muted. He looked to play down the unlikely nature of Barca's title bid, denying that it would be a "miracle." He said, "I do not believe in miracles, only in that which is possible. If Barca is the champion, it's not a miracle; it's what was possible." Finally, he stated his massive respect for counterpart Paco Flores; perhaps, as his own position looks increasingly precarious, he was reminded of happier times under less pressure.
What Goes Up
And for Flores, it's a pressure-free situation. Nastic are the only team of the three new boys in La Liga - Recreativo and Levante being the other two - to sink straight back down into the Liga BBVA. Under the recently-appointed coach, the Tarragona club saw a brief revival in the second half of the season, even overtaking Real Sociedad in Spring. Hopes of a "great escape" arose in Tarragona, but ultimately the inconsitency and lack of depth in the squad began to show, and they were relegated with two games left to go, although the die had been cast much earlier.
Yet it is not a squad without talent. Portillo, ex-Real Madrid, has proved deadly in front of goal, while Bizzari played well between the posts until his dramatic fall from grace. But a combination of injuries, low morale, and perhaps a squad just not good enough for the rigours of the top level meant that the 2nd place side in last season's Segunda became the first to drop back down.
Levante, 3rd place finishers in 2006, had already assured themselves of Liga football again next season, while Recreativo were not too far off a UEFA Cup place; a remarkable achievement given their financial constraints.
That said, there have been some happy moments this season. Home wins over Zaragoza and Sevilla proved that the squad can turn it on on its day, while an opening-day victory over Espanyol perhaps set sights somewhere above survival. (Of course, the nine game winless streak that soon followed brought the fans back down to earth.) Nonetheless, Nastic will be a year older and wiser heading into the next campaign; they'll go from being a small fish in a big pond to a big fish in calmer waters. Much depends on how they keep their squad together going into the next campaign, but Paco Flores is confident heading into next season, and seemed pleased with the praise from Rijkaard.
Beyond Catalonia
But for all the pleasantries from the coaches, the players and fans know the importance of this game and others in Round 38 of La Liga. A win for Barca and a win for Real will see it "as you were" at the top, with the trophy heading to the Bernabeu. Indeed, due to head-to-head results, Barca absolutely must finish above Real Madrid to defend their title. The thrilling 3-3 home draw in March followed the 2-0 home win for Real back in October, when Raul and van Nistelrooy proved so deadly.
There is a third player in the title race. Sevilla are still mathematically in with a chance, but Barca will look on them as only a minute concern. Barca won 3-1 at home against the rojiblancos, and lost by just two goals to one in Andalucia, ensuring a positive head-to-head outcome. Real Madrid also pip the Seville side, this time on goals scored. As such, both Barca and Real would need to lose, and Sevilla to win, for the title to head that far south; extremely unlikely, given the circumstances.
It's been a long and gruelling season for Barcelona, and one with an unusual amount of heartache. From Anfield to the Coliseum of Getafe, the club has been uncharacteristically unable to finish what they've started. From the dizzy heights of last season's deserved double at home and in Europe, they've fallen to a disappointing second-best. To be bridesmaids to their deadly rivals, Real Madrid, would be an unbearably bitter end to the campaign, but one that even victory in Tarragona may be unable to prevent.
FORM GUIDE
Gimnastic de Tarragona: The 2-0 defeat to Atletico was the final nail in the coffin, and the day that Nastic were formally relegated. With the pressure off, some players noted that they could perform to their best, and they duly managed a 1-0 win at the Coliseum against a lazy Getafe side to prove this point. Before that, however, Nastic had struggled, and indeed had not won since April 15.
Last Five:
Jun. 10 Getafe - Gimnastic de Tarragona 0-1
May 27 Gimnastic de Tarragona - Atletico Madrid 0-2
May 19 Real Betis - Gimnastic de Tarragona 1-1
May 13 Gimnastic de Tarragona - Real Sociedad 1-3
May 06 Gimnastic de Tarragona - Levante 0-2
Barcelona: Another mixed month for Barcelona. When the wins have come, they've been great; however, two late equalisers from Betis and then Espanyol severely dented the Catalan side's title hopes. Away from home, they have not lost since the 2-0 defeat in Villarreal back in April, and their previous result against Nastic was a 3-0 victory at the Nou Camp.
Last Five:
May 06 Real Zaragoza - Racing Santander - 0-0
Apr. 29 Osasuna - Real Zaragoza 2-2
Apr. 22 Real Zaragoza - Celta Vigo 2-0
Apr. 15 Gimnastic - Real Zaragoza 1-0
Apr. 07 Real Zaragoza - Barcelona 1-0
TEAM NEWS
Gimnastic de Tarragona
Only long-term casualties in defence worry Nastic; as such, the back line is set to remain unchanged. Bizarri is still out of favour, so Ruben Perez will look for a second consecutive clean sheet in goal.
Portillo missed the last game but is set to take part up front; Irurzun could partner him, but Pinilla is equally adept in a forward position.
PROBABLE STARTING XI (Unconfirmed): Ruben Perez - Calvo, Navas, Matellan, Marco Ortega - Campano, Generolo, Morales, Pinilla - Irurzun, Portillo
Barcelona
Ronaldinho is back from his one-match suspension, earned for kicking out at Getafe's David Belenguer, and is excused from Copa America duty. Rijkaard seems set to stick with his usual 4-3-3, and Ronaldinho will be called upon to complete the "tridente" up front in place of Eidur Gudjohnsen.
At the back, Gio will hope to start again, while Deco is expected to marshal the midfield as normal.
PROBABLE STARTING XI (Unconfirmed): Valdes - Zambrotta, Puyol, Thuram, Gio van Bronckhorst - Xavi, Deco, Iniesta - Messi, Eto'o, Ronaldinho
KEY PLAYERS
Gimnastic de Tarragona: Javier Portillo, Antonio Pinilla
In what has been a difficult season for Nastic, "Portigol" has been a bright spark in the duller moments of the campaign. The ex-Real Madrid starlet has scored 11 Liga goals this season, or a third of the club's total. Osasuna are allegedly chasing his signature for the 2007-8 season; facing Barca in such a crunch match is a fitting send-off for the former Galactico.
Pinilla is the club captain, and is one of the more versatile members of the squad. He's moved between a midfield and striking positionon several occasions this season, and has generally impressed in each role. He's been in and out of the side, largely due to injury concerns, but will hope to bounce back for La Segunda.
Barcelona: Ronaldinho, Carles Puyol
Ronaldinho freely admits that he's been out of shape this season, but he's still more than capable of turning on the magic. Rested after his suspension, he returns to the side with a point to prove and will be eager to get involved from the outset. Despite a poor campaign by his standards, he's still managed 20 Liga goals.
The New Year did not bring great tidings for Barca and it was the defence that suffered most, particularly in matches like that against Liverpool at the Nou Camp. However, the vastly experienced captain Puyol has recovered to provide a strong influence at the back ahead of Valdes. While Nastic seldom offer much threat against the bigger clubs, they did take Sevilla's scalp earlier in the season, and Puyol will have to watch Portillo carefully to ensure there isn't a repeat performance.
PREDICTION
The pressure is off Nastic but firmly on Barca. Half a mind will be on events in Madrid, but with what is essentially a full-strength lineup, the blaugrana should prove too strong for Nastic. A 3-0 away win.
Ewan Macdonald
Who: Gimnastic de Tarragona (20th, 28 pts) vs. Barcelona (2nd, 73 pts.)
When: 2100 CET, 17 June 2007
Where: Nou Estadi, Tarragona
It's out of their hands. No matter what Nastic do, they'll be in La Segunda next season as they sit nine points adrift of safety going into the final round.
For Barcelona, they have slightly more control over their destiny: the blaugrana almost certainly require a win to keep them in the title race.
However, whether or not it's enough depends on Real Madrid's result against Mallorca. The events at the Bernabeu will weigh heavily on Barcelona minds as they prepare to face Gimnastic in Tarragona.
Title Race Continues
Barca came into the campaign with high hopes. They had successfully defended the Liga title and had designs on a third consecutive trophy; what's more, they'd won the Champions' League for the second time, their first European silverware since the UEFA Cup win of 1997.
The Nou Camp side had kept together much of the squad from the previous campaign - minus notable exceptions such as Mark van Bommell - and added Eidur Gudjohnsen, Lilian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta to the side. Clearly, all eyes were on repeating the feat.
Yet it didn't quite work out that way. Due to injuries, poor form and the occasional tactical blunder, Barca crashed out of Europe to eventual finalists Liverpool. La Liga still seemed a viable goal - Sevilla were losing their 2006 spark and Real Madrid briefly lost their way - but now the blaugrana head into the last round in far from ideal position.
Real Madrid's dramatic return to form saw them push Barca all the way as the Catalans took top spot. Nine wins in ten games saw Real eventually leapfrog Barca, who dropped off first place after a late equaliser from Betis at the Nou Camp.
Those 20 Seconds
And then came Round 37. Barca quickly went behind to local rivals Espanyol - the perequitos were out for revenge following Barca's Catalan Cup win midweek - but the indomitable Messi made it 2-1. With Real floundering in Zaragoza, the Nou Camp faithful were ready to celebrate regaining the initiative.
But then Raul Tamudo stepped forward yet again to score yet another late equaliser against Barcelona. The striker became an instant legend in the blue-and-white half of the city, while Barca fans prayed that Real Zaragoza could hold on against the Madrid men. Needless to say, they could not.
Just as Barca had become adept at conceding late goals, Real had become masters of scoring them, and one man was the greatest master of them all. Ruud van Nistelrooy's late effort saw the match end 2-2; with Sevilla also drawing, the title race remained the same. And Barca remained in a dreadful position.
Sure, there's plenty of doom and gloom, but it's worth remembering just how good this side can be on its day. The "tridente" of Eto'o, Messi and Ronaldinho is arguably the best strikeforce in the world when fit and on song; Iniesta continues to mature as a player; Zambrotta and Belleti are involved in one of football's fiercest competition for places in defence and Valdes is invaluable in goal.
On certain occasions, this dynamic side has shown what it's truly capable of - the recent 6-0 win over Atletico springs to mind, as does the 4-0 crushing of Villarreal earlier in the season - yet it will all prove fruitless if Real win in the final round. It's not in Barca's hands.
But perception is everything: of course, coach Rijkaard is placing the emphasis on his own team. Disregarding events in Madrid, the Dutchman is looking for total concentration. "It's not possible to say beforehand that a win over any team will be easy... we must prepare well, give a good showing and get a good result." Clearly, he seeks to avoid complacency, and the nightmarish possibility of Barca failing to capitalise on an unlikely Madrid slip-up.
On that subject, he was somewhat muted. He looked to play down the unlikely nature of Barca's title bid, denying that it would be a "miracle." He said, "I do not believe in miracles, only in that which is possible. If Barca is the champion, it's not a miracle; it's what was possible." Finally, he stated his massive respect for counterpart Paco Flores; perhaps, as his own position looks increasingly precarious, he was reminded of happier times under less pressure.
What Goes Up
And for Flores, it's a pressure-free situation. Nastic are the only team of the three new boys in La Liga - Recreativo and Levante being the other two - to sink straight back down into the Liga BBVA. Under the recently-appointed coach, the Tarragona club saw a brief revival in the second half of the season, even overtaking Real Sociedad in Spring. Hopes of a "great escape" arose in Tarragona, but ultimately the inconsitency and lack of depth in the squad began to show, and they were relegated with two games left to go, although the die had been cast much earlier.
Yet it is not a squad without talent. Portillo, ex-Real Madrid, has proved deadly in front of goal, while Bizzari played well between the posts until his dramatic fall from grace. But a combination of injuries, low morale, and perhaps a squad just not good enough for the rigours of the top level meant that the 2nd place side in last season's Segunda became the first to drop back down.
Levante, 3rd place finishers in 2006, had already assured themselves of Liga football again next season, while Recreativo were not too far off a UEFA Cup place; a remarkable achievement given their financial constraints.
That said, there have been some happy moments this season. Home wins over Zaragoza and Sevilla proved that the squad can turn it on on its day, while an opening-day victory over Espanyol perhaps set sights somewhere above survival. (Of course, the nine game winless streak that soon followed brought the fans back down to earth.) Nonetheless, Nastic will be a year older and wiser heading into the next campaign; they'll go from being a small fish in a big pond to a big fish in calmer waters. Much depends on how they keep their squad together going into the next campaign, but Paco Flores is confident heading into next season, and seemed pleased with the praise from Rijkaard.
Beyond Catalonia
But for all the pleasantries from the coaches, the players and fans know the importance of this game and others in Round 38 of La Liga. A win for Barca and a win for Real will see it "as you were" at the top, with the trophy heading to the Bernabeu. Indeed, due to head-to-head results, Barca absolutely must finish above Real Madrid to defend their title. The thrilling 3-3 home draw in March followed the 2-0 home win for Real back in October, when Raul and van Nistelrooy proved so deadly.
There is a third player in the title race. Sevilla are still mathematically in with a chance, but Barca will look on them as only a minute concern. Barca won 3-1 at home against the rojiblancos, and lost by just two goals to one in Andalucia, ensuring a positive head-to-head outcome. Real Madrid also pip the Seville side, this time on goals scored. As such, both Barca and Real would need to lose, and Sevilla to win, for the title to head that far south; extremely unlikely, given the circumstances.
It's been a long and gruelling season for Barcelona, and one with an unusual amount of heartache. From Anfield to the Coliseum of Getafe, the club has been uncharacteristically unable to finish what they've started. From the dizzy heights of last season's deserved double at home and in Europe, they've fallen to a disappointing second-best. To be bridesmaids to their deadly rivals, Real Madrid, would be an unbearably bitter end to the campaign, but one that even victory in Tarragona may be unable to prevent.
FORM GUIDE
Gimnastic de Tarragona: The 2-0 defeat to Atletico was the final nail in the coffin, and the day that Nastic were formally relegated. With the pressure off, some players noted that they could perform to their best, and they duly managed a 1-0 win at the Coliseum against a lazy Getafe side to prove this point. Before that, however, Nastic had struggled, and indeed had not won since April 15.
Last Five:
Jun. 10 Getafe - Gimnastic de Tarragona 0-1
May 27 Gimnastic de Tarragona - Atletico Madrid 0-2
May 19 Real Betis - Gimnastic de Tarragona 1-1
May 13 Gimnastic de Tarragona - Real Sociedad 1-3
May 06 Gimnastic de Tarragona - Levante 0-2
Barcelona: Another mixed month for Barcelona. When the wins have come, they've been great; however, two late equalisers from Betis and then Espanyol severely dented the Catalan side's title hopes. Away from home, they have not lost since the 2-0 defeat in Villarreal back in April, and their previous result against Nastic was a 3-0 victory at the Nou Camp.
Last Five:
May 06 Real Zaragoza - Racing Santander - 0-0
Apr. 29 Osasuna - Real Zaragoza 2-2
Apr. 22 Real Zaragoza - Celta Vigo 2-0
Apr. 15 Gimnastic - Real Zaragoza 1-0
Apr. 07 Real Zaragoza - Barcelona 1-0
TEAM NEWS
Gimnastic de Tarragona
Only long-term casualties in defence worry Nastic; as such, the back line is set to remain unchanged. Bizarri is still out of favour, so Ruben Perez will look for a second consecutive clean sheet in goal.
Portillo missed the last game but is set to take part up front; Irurzun could partner him, but Pinilla is equally adept in a forward position.
PROBABLE STARTING XI (Unconfirmed): Ruben Perez - Calvo, Navas, Matellan, Marco Ortega - Campano, Generolo, Morales, Pinilla - Irurzun, Portillo
Barcelona
Ronaldinho is back from his one-match suspension, earned for kicking out at Getafe's David Belenguer, and is excused from Copa America duty. Rijkaard seems set to stick with his usual 4-3-3, and Ronaldinho will be called upon to complete the "tridente" up front in place of Eidur Gudjohnsen.
At the back, Gio will hope to start again, while Deco is expected to marshal the midfield as normal.
PROBABLE STARTING XI (Unconfirmed): Valdes - Zambrotta, Puyol, Thuram, Gio van Bronckhorst - Xavi, Deco, Iniesta - Messi, Eto'o, Ronaldinho
KEY PLAYERS
Gimnastic de Tarragona: Javier Portillo, Antonio Pinilla
In what has been a difficult season for Nastic, "Portigol" has been a bright spark in the duller moments of the campaign. The ex-Real Madrid starlet has scored 11 Liga goals this season, or a third of the club's total. Osasuna are allegedly chasing his signature for the 2007-8 season; facing Barca in such a crunch match is a fitting send-off for the former Galactico.
Pinilla is the club captain, and is one of the more versatile members of the squad. He's moved between a midfield and striking positionon several occasions this season, and has generally impressed in each role. He's been in and out of the side, largely due to injury concerns, but will hope to bounce back for La Segunda.
Barcelona: Ronaldinho, Carles Puyol
Ronaldinho freely admits that he's been out of shape this season, but he's still more than capable of turning on the magic. Rested after his suspension, he returns to the side with a point to prove and will be eager to get involved from the outset. Despite a poor campaign by his standards, he's still managed 20 Liga goals.
The New Year did not bring great tidings for Barca and it was the defence that suffered most, particularly in matches like that against Liverpool at the Nou Camp. However, the vastly experienced captain Puyol has recovered to provide a strong influence at the back ahead of Valdes. While Nastic seldom offer much threat against the bigger clubs, they did take Sevilla's scalp earlier in the season, and Puyol will have to watch Portillo carefully to ensure there isn't a repeat performance.
PREDICTION
The pressure is off Nastic but firmly on Barca. Half a mind will be on events in Madrid, but with what is essentially a full-strength lineup, the blaugrana should prove too strong for Nastic. A 3-0 away win.
Ewan Macdonald
La Liga Preview: Real Madrid - Real Mallorca
Who: Real Madrid (1st, 73 pts.) vs Real Mallorca (12th, 49 pts.)
When: 2100 CET, Sunday, June 17th 2007
Where: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
A series of incredible results and dramatic turnarounds in recent weeks have set the stage perfectly for the final day of a riveting La Liga season.
All eyes will be on the Spanish capital for the climactic title race as Real Madrid bid to win their first major trophy in four years in front of their long suffering fans.
Standing between them and glory will be a Mallorca side who are on a mission to make Madrid regret their premature celebrations at Zaragoza last week.
Cibeles Calling
It has been four years since Real Madrid and their die hard fans paid a visit to the Plaza de Cibeles to celebrate winning a title. On Sunday, they will have a chance to put an end to their worse trophy drought in the club's history if they can beat Mallorca in the final instalment of their self-proclaimed 12 'finals'.
The biggest advantage that Los Blancos have over their direct title rivals is that they need only depend on themselves to determine their own destiny and not have to wait for and worry about results elsewhere.
A win will ensure that the Primera Liga crown returns to the Spanish capital, eventhough they may have to share top spot with bitter enemies Barcelona in the final standings. But Madrid will be proclaimed champions thanks to their superior head-to-head record against the Catalan giants, so long as they at least match Barca's result on the night and Sevilla fail to win.
After a gruelling, painstaking ten months, only 90 minutes and a very determined Mallorca stand in the way of one of the most memorable title fightbacks in the club's and the league's history, and a long awaited return to the Cibeles fountain.
Emotions and Controversies
Sunday's end-game, while it promises the likelihood of the championship, will be a bitter sweet evening for the Bernabéu faithful. It will be the final match for two Madrid icons, David Beckham and Roberto Carlos, in the famous white shirt. The two free-kick specialists will be hoping for a triumphant swan-song, especially the Englishman who will be all too eager to make sure he does not leave the city of Madrid empty handed after four years.
One of the controversies leading up to this weekend's season finale concerns the notorious club vs country row. Brazilian forward Robinho and Malian captain Mahamadou Diarra have been caught in an unenviable tug of war: their respective countries have demand they report back to their national teams whilst their club desperately need them to play a key role in the crucial title decider.
FIFA have stepped in and intervene and they have now cleared the pair to appear for Real on Sunday. But the move has generated criticism of rule-bending and the ever-present claims of Real Madrid receiving favouritism from higher powers have surfaced once again.
Closer to home, president Ramón Calderón was lambasted for his supposed lap of honour after Los Merengues snatched a nail-biting 2-2 draw at Zaragoza last week, a result that left the supremo pre-empting La Liga was already in the bag despite one more vital opponent still to face. Calderón however, insisted that his actions were misunderstood, and that he simply went down to the Romadera pitch to thank the travelling supporters.
Enough Motivation
The Balearic Island outfit may not have anything left to play for this season (they can finish no lower than 13th and no higher than 9th) but the fact that they have a chance to deny a club such as Real Madrid a league title at the Santiago Bernabéu no less, is more than enough motivation for the players to step onto the pitch with plenty of enthusiasm.
If ever there were doubts, numerous players have already made public that their allegiance lies with either Barcelona or Sevilla, and they will gladly beat the capital giants so that the title will head elsewhere.
Manager Gregorio Manzano has vehemently voiced his disapproval at accusations that his players would need extra incentives in the form of "suitcases" to do well in Madrid. He went on to illustrate that against Sevilla last week, his men played to their truest ability to force out a draw against the title chasing Andalucians without being given any added "motivation".
Mallorca's season may be over, but Manzano has set himself and the team a target of a top ten finish. They will be able to achieve that if they win and the two teams above them, Espanyol and Racing Santander, lose or draw.
Bernabéu's Bogey Team
It wasn't until two years ago that Real Madrid managed to snap a horrendously poor streak against modest Mallorca at the Bernabéu coliseum. From 2000 to 2004, the merengues had failed to beat the islanders on home turf in four consecutive seasons, losing three times and only managing one draw. The most embarrassing defeat of all came in 2003 when they were mauled 1-5 by a Samuel Eto'o led Mallorca attack. Significantly enough, that was the season when they last lifted the La Liga trophy.
The bright side for the Madridistas is that 19 of their 29 league championships have been won infront of their demanding but vociferous home fans. Capello and co will be counting on that electrifying home support once again to make it 20 out of 30.
FORM GUIDE
Real Madrid: Los Merengues' six match winning sequence came to an end last week with the draw at Zaragoza, but grinding out nine wins out of their 11 'finals' so far is an impressive run in itself. The last five rounds, with the exception of the win over Deportivo, have all been close calls with either a comeback or a last minute goal needed to salvage the game and their title dreams.
LAST FIVE:
Jun 09: Zaragoza vs Real Madrid 2-2
May 26: Real Madrid vs Deportivo La Coruña 3-1
May 20: Recreativo Huelva vs Real Madrid 2-3
May 12: Real Madrid vs Espanyol 4-3
May 06: Real Madrid vs Sevilla 3-2
Real Mallorca: The Vermilions were enjoying a run of four consecutive wins and only one defeat in eight games before sliding backwards in the last three matches, losing two of them and failing to find the target even once. They are, however, equally miserly at the back, conceding just five goals in their last 11 games. And the last time they conceded more than a goal in a game was 12 rounds ago.
LAST FIVE:
Jun 09: Mallorca vs Sevilla 0-0
May 27: Athletic Bilbao vs Mallorca 1-0
May 19: Mallorca vs Valencia 0-1
May 13: Racing Santander vs Mallorca 0-2
May 06: Mallorca vs Osasuna 3-1
TEAM NEWS
Real Madrid
The big news at the Bernabéu camp is that both Robinho and Diarra have been made eligible to play for Real without the worry of incurring any points-penalty to the club.
It will be a big boost for Capello in midfield but at the back, Ivan Helguera is suspended and young fullback Miguel Torres is doubtful as he continues recovering from the hamstring pull he suffered during the warm-up session against Zaragoza. The Italian coach has been experimenting with Michel Salgado and Cicinho to occupy the right back position.
David Beckham and Fernando Gago trained separately from the team for most of the week to recover from niggles, but both men are expected to be fully fit come match day. Cassano, Raul Bravo and Mejia remain the other long term injury casualties.
PROBABLE STARTING XI: Casillas - Salgado/Cicinho, Cannavaro, Sergio Ramos, R. Carlos - Diarra, Emerson/Gago - Beckham, Raul, Robinho - van Nistelrooy
Real Mallorca
Argentine midfielder Ariel Ibagaza is suspended for card accumulation after picking up his 10th booking of the season against Sevilla, while Serbian Bosko Jankovic, who is the club's joint top scorer, is away representing his country in the U-21 European Championships.
Greek Angelos Basinas will thus deputize in the centre of the park to form the defensive midfield pivot with Guillermo Pereyra.
Coach Manzano is certain to start with the very stingy back-four that he has been using for the last 11 games. Upfront, Victor should get the nod ahead of Maxi Lopez to play as the lone striker eventhough the Argentine, on loan from Barcelona, is desperate to help his wage-paying employers win the title with a goal or two against Madrid.
PROBABLE STARTING XI: Moya - Hector, Ballesteros, Nunes, Navarro - Varela, Pereyra, Basinas, Arango, Jonas - Victor
KEY PLAYERS
Real Madrid: Ruud van Nistelrooy
The Dutchman's two goals against Zaragoza last week has put him in pole position to sew up the Pichichi this weekend. In addition, he's now also chasing Europe's Golden Boot, needing only one more goal to become the continent's joint top scorer (on points) and two to win in outright. Having already scored in seven consecutive matches, he will tie his personal best if he makes it eight in a row.
Keep an eye on departing heroes David Beckham and Roberto Carlos as they strut their stuff one final time for Spanish audiences. It will be a true fairytale farewell should either or both of them score the championship winning goal.
Real Mallorca: Juan Arango
In what is expected to be a highly defensive-minded Mallorca line up, the Venezuelan attacking midfielder will be the player to unlock and exploit Madrid's habitually shaky backline. The 27 year old playmaker, aside from having tremendous pace and passing skills, has a keen eye for goal. He joins Jankovic as the club's leading goalscorer with nine goals.
Barcelona-backing defenders Sergio Ballesteros and Fernando Navarro will be the other two players acting as the thorn in Madrid's side as they look to blunt and frustrate Real's quest for goals.
PREDICTION
Real Madrid need to score first and score early to settle the jangling nerves. But an over-adventurous approach could cost them dearly, as it almost did against Espanyol five weeks ago. Capello would have learnt his lesson but Mallorca will be looking to emulate the Catalan side and punish Madrid on the break.
This will be a very tight game but after suffering so much and having turned their season around so spectacularly, it's hard to see Madrid falter now just when it matters the most. Real Madrid to win 2-1 with their winning goal scored in the dying minutes.
KS Leong
Who: Real Madrid (1st, 73 pts.) vs Real Mallorca (12th, 49 pts.)
When: 2100 CET, Sunday, June 17th 2007
Where: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
A series of incredible results and dramatic turnarounds in recent weeks have set the stage perfectly for the final day of a riveting La Liga season.
All eyes will be on the Spanish capital for the climactic title race as Real Madrid bid to win their first major trophy in four years in front of their long suffering fans.
Standing between them and glory will be a Mallorca side who are on a mission to make Madrid regret their premature celebrations at Zaragoza last week.
Cibeles Calling
It has been four years since Real Madrid and their die hard fans paid a visit to the Plaza de Cibeles to celebrate winning a title. On Sunday, they will have a chance to put an end to their worse trophy drought in the club's history if they can beat Mallorca in the final instalment of their self-proclaimed 12 'finals'.
The biggest advantage that Los Blancos have over their direct title rivals is that they need only depend on themselves to determine their own destiny and not have to wait for and worry about results elsewhere.
A win will ensure that the Primera Liga crown returns to the Spanish capital, eventhough they may have to share top spot with bitter enemies Barcelona in the final standings. But Madrid will be proclaimed champions thanks to their superior head-to-head record against the Catalan giants, so long as they at least match Barca's result on the night and Sevilla fail to win.
After a gruelling, painstaking ten months, only 90 minutes and a very determined Mallorca stand in the way of one of the most memorable title fightbacks in the club's and the league's history, and a long awaited return to the Cibeles fountain.
Emotions and Controversies
Sunday's end-game, while it promises the likelihood of the championship, will be a bitter sweet evening for the Bernabéu faithful. It will be the final match for two Madrid icons, David Beckham and Roberto Carlos, in the famous white shirt. The two free-kick specialists will be hoping for a triumphant swan-song, especially the Englishman who will be all too eager to make sure he does not leave the city of Madrid empty handed after four years.
One of the controversies leading up to this weekend's season finale concerns the notorious club vs country row. Brazilian forward Robinho and Malian captain Mahamadou Diarra have been caught in an unenviable tug of war: their respective countries have demand they report back to their national teams whilst their club desperately need them to play a key role in the crucial title decider.
FIFA have stepped in and intervene and they have now cleared the pair to appear for Real on Sunday. But the move has generated criticism of rule-bending and the ever-present claims of Real Madrid receiving favouritism from higher powers have surfaced once again.
Closer to home, president Ramón Calderón was lambasted for his supposed lap of honour after Los Merengues snatched a nail-biting 2-2 draw at Zaragoza last week, a result that left the supremo pre-empting La Liga was already in the bag despite one more vital opponent still to face. Calderón however, insisted that his actions were misunderstood, and that he simply went down to the Romadera pitch to thank the travelling supporters.
Enough Motivation
The Balearic Island outfit may not have anything left to play for this season (they can finish no lower than 13th and no higher than 9th) but the fact that they have a chance to deny a club such as Real Madrid a league title at the Santiago Bernabéu no less, is more than enough motivation for the players to step onto the pitch with plenty of enthusiasm.
If ever there were doubts, numerous players have already made public that their allegiance lies with either Barcelona or Sevilla, and they will gladly beat the capital giants so that the title will head elsewhere.
Manager Gregorio Manzano has vehemently voiced his disapproval at accusations that his players would need extra incentives in the form of "suitcases" to do well in Madrid. He went on to illustrate that against Sevilla last week, his men played to their truest ability to force out a draw against the title chasing Andalucians without being given any added "motivation".
Mallorca's season may be over, but Manzano has set himself and the team a target of a top ten finish. They will be able to achieve that if they win and the two teams above them, Espanyol and Racing Santander, lose or draw.
Bernabéu's Bogey Team
It wasn't until two years ago that Real Madrid managed to snap a horrendously poor streak against modest Mallorca at the Bernabéu coliseum. From 2000 to 2004, the merengues had failed to beat the islanders on home turf in four consecutive seasons, losing three times and only managing one draw. The most embarrassing defeat of all came in 2003 when they were mauled 1-5 by a Samuel Eto'o led Mallorca attack. Significantly enough, that was the season when they last lifted the La Liga trophy.
The bright side for the Madridistas is that 19 of their 29 league championships have been won infront of their demanding but vociferous home fans. Capello and co will be counting on that electrifying home support once again to make it 20 out of 30.
FORM GUIDE
Real Madrid: Los Merengues' six match winning sequence came to an end last week with the draw at Zaragoza, but grinding out nine wins out of their 11 'finals' so far is an impressive run in itself. The last five rounds, with the exception of the win over Deportivo, have all been close calls with either a comeback or a last minute goal needed to salvage the game and their title dreams.
LAST FIVE:
Jun 09: Zaragoza vs Real Madrid 2-2
May 26: Real Madrid vs Deportivo La Coruña 3-1
May 20: Recreativo Huelva vs Real Madrid 2-3
May 12: Real Madrid vs Espanyol 4-3
May 06: Real Madrid vs Sevilla 3-2
Real Mallorca: The Vermilions were enjoying a run of four consecutive wins and only one defeat in eight games before sliding backwards in the last three matches, losing two of them and failing to find the target even once. They are, however, equally miserly at the back, conceding just five goals in their last 11 games. And the last time they conceded more than a goal in a game was 12 rounds ago.
LAST FIVE:
Jun 09: Mallorca vs Sevilla 0-0
May 27: Athletic Bilbao vs Mallorca 1-0
May 19: Mallorca vs Valencia 0-1
May 13: Racing Santander vs Mallorca 0-2
May 06: Mallorca vs Osasuna 3-1
TEAM NEWS
Real Madrid
The big news at the Bernabéu camp is that both Robinho and Diarra have been made eligible to play for Real without the worry of incurring any points-penalty to the club.
It will be a big boost for Capello in midfield but at the back, Ivan Helguera is suspended and young fullback Miguel Torres is doubtful as he continues recovering from the hamstring pull he suffered during the warm-up session against Zaragoza. The Italian coach has been experimenting with Michel Salgado and Cicinho to occupy the right back position.
David Beckham and Fernando Gago trained separately from the team for most of the week to recover from niggles, but both men are expected to be fully fit come match day. Cassano, Raul Bravo and Mejia remain the other long term injury casualties.
PROBABLE STARTING XI: Casillas - Salgado/Cicinho, Cannavaro, Sergio Ramos, R. Carlos - Diarra, Emerson/Gago - Beckham, Raul, Robinho - van Nistelrooy
Real Mallorca
Argentine midfielder Ariel Ibagaza is suspended for card accumulation after picking up his 10th booking of the season against Sevilla, while Serbian Bosko Jankovic, who is the club's joint top scorer, is away representing his country in the U-21 European Championships.
Greek Angelos Basinas will thus deputize in the centre of the park to form the defensive midfield pivot with Guillermo Pereyra.
Coach Manzano is certain to start with the very stingy back-four that he has been using for the last 11 games. Upfront, Victor should get the nod ahead of Maxi Lopez to play as the lone striker eventhough the Argentine, on loan from Barcelona, is desperate to help his wage-paying employers win the title with a goal or two against Madrid.
PROBABLE STARTING XI: Moya - Hector, Ballesteros, Nunes, Navarro - Varela, Pereyra, Basinas, Arango, Jonas - Victor
KEY PLAYERS
Real Madrid: Ruud van Nistelrooy
The Dutchman's two goals against Zaragoza last week has put him in pole position to sew up the Pichichi this weekend. In addition, he's now also chasing Europe's Golden Boot, needing only one more goal to become the continent's joint top scorer (on points) and two to win in outright. Having already scored in seven consecutive matches, he will tie his personal best if he makes it eight in a row.
Keep an eye on departing heroes David Beckham and Roberto Carlos as they strut their stuff one final time for Spanish audiences. It will be a true fairytale farewell should either or both of them score the championship winning goal.
Real Mallorca: Juan Arango
In what is expected to be a highly defensive-minded Mallorca line up, the Venezuelan attacking midfielder will be the player to unlock and exploit Madrid's habitually shaky backline. The 27 year old playmaker, aside from having tremendous pace and passing skills, has a keen eye for goal. He joins Jankovic as the club's leading goalscorer with nine goals.
Barcelona-backing defenders Sergio Ballesteros and Fernando Navarro will be the other two players acting as the thorn in Madrid's side as they look to blunt and frustrate Real's quest for goals.
PREDICTION
Real Madrid need to score first and score early to settle the jangling nerves. But an over-adventurous approach could cost them dearly, as it almost did against Espanyol five weeks ago. Capello would have learnt his lesson but Mallorca will be looking to emulate the Catalan side and punish Madrid on the break.
This will be a very tight game but after suffering so much and having turned their season around so spectacularly, it's hard to see Madrid falter now just when it matters the most. Real Madrid to win 2-1 with their winning goal scored in the dying minutes.
KS Leong
