[SP] La Liga 2004/05 (26 Viewers)
- Thread starter Stu
- Start date
There's a great article on Eurosport regarding Barcelona's signing of Albertini:
http://www.eurosport.com/home/pages/v4/l0/s22/e6875/sport_lng0_spo22_evt6875_sto679771.shtml
Some quotes:
http://www.eurosport.com/home/pages/v4/l0/s22/e6875/sport_lng0_spo22_evt6875_sto679771.shtml
Some quotes:
Albertini isn't as bad a signing as some of you guys are saying. Actually, I see him making a decent contribution to Barca's season. He didn't start today against Sevilla and I highly doubt he'll play 90 minutes very often, but he'll certainly add depth and experience to Frank Rijkaard's side. He's not the ball winner that Davids was and certainly doesn't have the workrate that the Dutchman had, not at the age of 33, probably not ever, but I believe he still has the requisite quality to be useful in the Primera. In my view he'll come in handy when first team regulars need a rest and it's not like if Barcelona will be relying on him to put in stellar performances week in, week out. As of now Rafael Marquez has played the holding midfield role with supreme efficiency while Xavi, though he isn't a ball winner by nature, is no slouch in midfield.
050205:
It is the turn of Cesar Ferrando’s Atletico Madrid to try and put the brakes on the Barcelona freight train this weekend. We should see new signings Maxi Lopez and Demetrio Albertini on the pitch at some point. If so, the latter could be making his first start against his very first Spanish employers, having spent a season at the Vicente Calderon himself.
Barca were impressive in the second half at Sevilla, so it seems the extra fitness work over the new year is starting to bring results. And what price on potential debutant Maxi Lopez getting his first Blaugrana goal?
Real will for once be hoping their bitter city rivals succeed this weekend, as the Galatico’s try and keep pace with the Blaugrana when they welcome fellow Catalynia club Espanyol - a side that unexpectedly continues to impress, well into the season.
Valencia travel to the Basque region and the Anoeta, home of Sociedad, having failed to secure a much needed win at home to their opponent’s rivals Bilbao last week. Los Ches look to be out of the title race, and could be there for the taking, although it is hard to see how Sociedad can apply themselves as their torrid form continues.
Off the back of a 4-0 away romp at Sociedad, Villarreal are absolutely flying and take on Santander in what looks like a home banker. Things are not so good for those in the lower echelons, many of which will have a great chance to defeat fellow strugglers this week – Mallorca travel to Malaga, while the new kids on the block face off as Getafe host Numancia.
Elsewhere, Zaragoza travel to Albacete, while Betis and an arguably rejuvenated Deportivo will be eager to record 3 points at home as they welcome Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao respectively. SuperDepor must look to build on an unbeaten run of 4 matches to move up the table and aim for Europe.
Finally, Sevilla will be in shock after the 4-0 thumping they bizarrely received at the hands of Barca in their own back yard. They have every right to feel somewhat aggrieved but cannot afford to wallow in disappointment, as they travel east to Valencia and a Levante side that’s in good spirits after a couple of good results.
It is the turn of Cesar Ferrando’s Atletico Madrid to try and put the brakes on the Barcelona freight train this weekend. We should see new signings Maxi Lopez and Demetrio Albertini on the pitch at some point. If so, the latter could be making his first start against his very first Spanish employers, having spent a season at the Vicente Calderon himself.
Barca were impressive in the second half at Sevilla, so it seems the extra fitness work over the new year is starting to bring results. And what price on potential debutant Maxi Lopez getting his first Blaugrana goal?
Real will for once be hoping their bitter city rivals succeed this weekend, as the Galatico’s try and keep pace with the Blaugrana when they welcome fellow Catalynia club Espanyol - a side that unexpectedly continues to impress, well into the season.
Valencia travel to the Basque region and the Anoeta, home of Sociedad, having failed to secure a much needed win at home to their opponent’s rivals Bilbao last week. Los Ches look to be out of the title race, and could be there for the taking, although it is hard to see how Sociedad can apply themselves as their torrid form continues.
Off the back of a 4-0 away romp at Sociedad, Villarreal are absolutely flying and take on Santander in what looks like a home banker. Things are not so good for those in the lower echelons, many of which will have a great chance to defeat fellow strugglers this week – Mallorca travel to Malaga, while the new kids on the block face off as Getafe host Numancia.
Elsewhere, Zaragoza travel to Albacete, while Betis and an arguably rejuvenated Deportivo will be eager to record 3 points at home as they welcome Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao respectively. SuperDepor must look to build on an unbeaten run of 4 matches to move up the table and aim for Europe.
Finally, Sevilla will be in shock after the 4-0 thumping they bizarrely received at the hands of Barca in their own back yard. They have every right to feel somewhat aggrieved but cannot afford to wallow in disappointment, as they travel east to Valencia and a Levante side that’s in good spirits after a couple of good results.