Serie A na Spanish La Liga Title Championship

1-0 Barca - naweza kusema ni 'un clasico'

Mkuu, it was el classico!!! Flare, pace, stars, counter-punching etc. 2 red cards and Messi's superiority was vivid

Messi is another creature, he was just having fun at the game and barca deserved to win and they won!!

MOTM = Messi

Merci Messi!!
 
Barcelona 1 - 0 Real Madrid

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Ibrahimovic made a telling impact after coming on as a substitute


By Jonathan Stevenson
BBC Sport in Barcelona​


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Barcelona's £60m striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic came off the bench to score the only goal of a fiercely contested El Clasico against Real Madrid and move the champions back to the top of the league.

Barca, who started the game a point behind their arch rivals, had to play with 10 men for nearly 30 minutes after Sergio Busquets was shown a second yellow card.

But by that time they had a lead courtesy of Ibrahimovic's brilliantly-struck left-foot volley from Dani Alves' right-wing cross - the Swede netting just minutes after coming on for Thierry Henry.

Real created the better of the chances in the Camp Nou, but paid for their wastefulness, with substitute Karim Benzema most culpable as he ballooned haplessly over with only five minutes left.

Barca captain Carles Puyol twice crucially denied Marcelo with last-ditch blocks as the Brazilian prepared to shoot and, despite a fraught last few minutes, Barca held on for victory.

Real ended the game with 10 men too, as Lassana Diarra was booked for the second time in the last minute after a reckless kick out at Xavi.

Barca move two points ahead of Real, but there is plenty of life left in this Spanish league season and the Catalans, who swept all before them last year, will know they face a real threat to their La Liga crown in Manuel Pellegrini's Real.

The last time these two teams met in May Barca thrashed Real 6-2 in the Bernabeu as they romped to the league title as well as picking up the Champions League and Spanish Cup.

Real hit back in the summer, splashing out nearly £250m as Florentino Perez, in his second spell as president, began the second era of Galacticos by signing Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema and Xabi Alonso, among others.

Real's football this season has rarely hit the heights, but they have been instantly effective and went into the game a point ahead of Barca at the top of La Liga.

It was not difficult to see why, as the visitors caused Pep Guardiola's team far more problems than they have become accustomed to on their own turf, in front of 98,000 baying fans.

Ronaldo, who had made his first appearance in six weeks as a substitute in midweek, was handed a start and the Barca fans reserved the full extent of their vitriol for the £80m man in his first Clasico with his every touch greeted by a cacophony of whistles.

Barca's main injury doubt was Lionel Messi but he ran the game in its opening spell, drifting infield to link up with Xavi and Henry as he had done so effectively in the Champions League final victory against Manchester United in May.

Barca, as they are prone to do, enjoyed the majority of the possession, but Real always looked a threat on the counter attack and with the pace of Ronaldo and Kaka they began to worry their hosts.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8385497.stm
 
Wikiendi ilikuwa tamu kweli Man,Barca na Milan walishinda
 
Top 10 Most Unexpected Things That Will Happen During El Clasico

Barca and Madrid meetings are usually known for their unpredictability. But what could possibly happen in Sunday's El Clasico?




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As El Clasico fever intensifies, Goal.com takes a light-hearted look at the top 10 things you would least expect to happen during the fiercest of all footballing showdowns.
10. Joan Laporta and Florentino Perez, in the VIP box, discussing a Lionel Messi transfer
Stranger things have happened, haven't they? Luis Figo leaving the Camp Nou for the Bernabeu and pig's flying, for instance. If the two supremos do end up having a lengthy, serious-looking discussion throughout the game, don't be surprised to see the likes of Marca and AS the next day trying to decode what the conversation was about through a lip-reader.
9. Usain Bolt caught on camera wearing a Barcelona kit; Kobe Bryant a Real Madrid shirt
The fastest man on earth is a self-confessed Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Raul fan, while the LA Lakers NBA star is a huge Barcelona and Lionel Messi fanatic. What are the chances that Bolt and Bryant will swap jerseys and allegiances at half-time? If they do, they shouldn't have any problems fitting into each other's sizes.
8. Karim Benzema spending the evening playing FIFA 10 on his Playstation 3
The Frenchman has been known to go very quiet during certain games as he continues to integrate with his new team-mates. And if Barcelona dominate Madrid like they do in their other games, Benz could be in for a very lonely 90 minutes. So could Victor Valdes in the Barca goal. Perhaps the two of them could hook up for a PS3 Clasico of their own. After all, Xavi is looking for someone to avenge his defeat.
7. Andres Iniesta telling Guardiola to "Shove it up your…" during the interval
This is, ofcourse, a reference to Guti's alleged outburst at Manuel Pellegrini during the Alcorcon debacle. While the Madrid playmaker is well known for his fiery temperament and his hissy fits, Iniesta, on the other hand, is about as mild-mannered and saintly as Clark Kent and Mother Theresa. Well, not really. Like Zidane, who normally cuts a shy figure off the pitch, San Andres has been known to retaliate vindictively at opponents who kick him into lumps. But surely he wouldn't say something like that to his coach?
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Who, me? Vindictive?
6. Royston Drenthe, at left-back, completely outplaying Messi
The Dutchman is unlikely to start the game anyway for Madrid, let alone at left-back where he was tormented and shred to pieces by third division opponents the last time he occupied that position. Having him go up against ‘El Mesias' would be the biggest mismatch since Alcorcon were pitted against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey. Well, that didn't turn out to be such a mismatch after all… but you know what I mean.
5. Seydou Keita and Lassana Diarra scoring a hat-trick
It would be quite the irony if Barca and Madrid's ‘unsung heroes' were to outshine all the high-profile drawcards such as Kaka, Ronaldo, Messi, Ibrahimovic, Xavi, Xabi, et al., especially after the clash was built up for months and months (ever since the fixture list was released) as the gathering of the megastars. Unexpected heroes are few and far between in El Clasico: Julio Baptista was the most recent and there was Miguel Angel Nadal who scored the winner for the Blaugrana back in a 1995 meeting. Can Seydou and Lass etch their names into footballing folklore?
4. Cristiano Ronaldo getting a standing ovation from the Camp Nou faithful
It's no secret that the cules love taking a jab at Madrid's millionaires. The bigger they are, the louder the catcalls, as was the case with David Beckham, for instance. And Los Blancos' equivalent of a Beckham in 2009 is Cristiano. There are rumours that the Barca supporters are planning to denounce CR9 for taking on the name ‘Ronaldo' and the ‘No. 9' on the back of his shirt. Will the Portuguese make the home fans eat their words and earn a standing ovation? Let's just say no one thought Ronaldinho would be afforded one either at the Bernabeu.
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CR9 practise blowing kisses to the Camp Nou fans
3. Thierry Henry setting up a goal for Gerard Pique with his hand. Twice
The giant Barca defender has become quite the goalscorer, netting yet again in midweek against Inter in the Champions League. ‘Titi', meanwhile, has become quite the assist-man, setting up Pique's goal with a nod-on from a corner – legitimately –just a week after that controversial hand-ball assist for William Gallas against Ireland in the WCQ play-off. If the Frenchman does get away with any illegal goals or assists on Sunday evening, any debates about referee's helping Madrid will be banished forever and ever.
2. Laporta agreeing to sell Messi to Real Madrid at half-time
Kaka's move to Madrid was a surprise, Samuel Eto'o leaving Barcelona and Ibrahimovic coming to the Camp Nou was unexpected, but Cristiano Ronaldo ditching Manchester United for the Bernabeu was the big shocker. But all of that would pale in comparison to Barca agreeing to sell ‘Little Lionel' to their arch nemesis, and the player himself agreeing to the switch. Forget a flying pig's head… the whole of Barcelona will be hurling a horse's head at him.
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Messi does look quite good in white
1. Real Madrid celebrating a 6-2 win at the final whistle
 
The Messi and Ronaldo show


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Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo removes his shirt to celebrate a goal during their Spanish first division soccer match against Almeria at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid December 5, 2009

MADRID


Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were vying for top billing in La Liga on Saturday after leading their sides to victories.

Argentina’s Messi, who beat Ronaldo in the voting to lift the Ballon d’Or during the week, scored twice for leaders Barcelona in a 3-1 victory at Deportivo Coruna.

Portugal’s Ronaldo won and missed a penalty, scored a goal and was then sent off as Real Madrid came back to beat visiting Almeria 4-2.

The champions are top with 36 points from 14 games, five ahead of second-placed Real who have played a game less.

Messi gave Barca a deserved lead at the Riazor scoring from the edge of the area after 27 minutes.

But Depor levelled when a punt from the goalkeeper was inadvertently flicked on by Sergio Busquets and Adrian headed past Victor Valdes before halftime.

Substitute Pedro crossed for an unopposed Messi to head Barca back in front after a well-worked move in the 80th and in-form Zlatan Ibrahimovic rounded off the scoring at the end.

The Swedish striker netted his 10th of the campaign, and third in three matches this week.

Real looked to be cruising at the Bernabeu when Sergio Ramos headed them in front after 31 minutes but the visitors netted twice in four minutes midway through the second half.
Gonzalo Higuain levelled for Real in the 74th before Ronaldo flung himself over Almeria goalkeeper Diego Alves to win a disputed penalty in the 81st.

Alves saved the spot kick but Karim Benzema converted the rebound and Ronaldo made it 4-2 two minutes later, picking up a yellow card as he celebrated by taking his shirt off.

In the last minute, Ronaldo kicked Almeria’s Juanma Ortiz after a tussle for the ball, earning his second yellow card and was dismissed.

Earlier, third-placed Sevilla were held 1-1 at home by 10-man Real Valladolid, bringing their La Liga title credentials into question for the second week in a row. Manolo Jimenez’s side are on 27 points, having now dropped four points at the Sanchez Pizjuan in consecutive home games.

After lowly Malaga held them to a 2-2 draw last weekend, it was Valladolid’s Angolan striker Manucho who put the visitors ahead with a superb diving header in the 33rd on Saturday.
 
Serea A imeanza kuwa tamu Juve kampiga Inter 2-1


Mourinho sent off as Juventus hit Inter to open up Serie A title race

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Inter Milan's coach Jose' Mourinho reacts during their Italian Serie A soccer match
Posted Sunday, December 6 2009 at 19:08

MILAN

Claudio Marchisio blew open the Serie A title race when his superb goal gave 10-man Juventus a 2-1 win over leaders Inter Milan in an enthralling game on Saturday.

Inter’s lead has been cut to four points after second-placed AC Milan outclassed Sampdoria 3-0 at the San Siro while third-placed Juve are a point further back after 15 matches.

Italy midfielder Marchisio danced past Walter Samuel and dinked the ball over Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar just before the hour mark to inflict Inter’s second league defeat this term.

Champions Inter, aiming for a fifth straight scudetto come May, were largely on top when Marchisio struck having equalised after 26 minutes when a completely unmarked Samuel Eto’o nodded in Dejan Stankovic’s cross after a quick free kick.

The Cameroon striker has failed to really shine since his July swap move from Barcelona involving Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but he was busy throughout at Turin’s Stadio Olimpico.

Juve had taken the lead after 20 minutes when Diego’s free kick was headed on by Giorgio Chiellini, wearing a mask because of a broken nose, and the ball deflected in off Inter’s Lucio.
Inter coach Jose Mourinho sarcastically applauded the referee after the goal for awarding the free kick and was immediately ordered to the stands.

The match was suitably tough-tackling and the atmosphere electric for one of Serie A’s biggest rivalries but fears Juve fans would again consistently racially abuse Inter’s black striker Mario Balotelli failed to materialise.

Juve were forced to play a game behind closed doors last term after supporters sang racist chants towards Balotelli and the authorities had said the game would be suspended if there was more racial abuse on Saturday.

Balotelli was only whistled when he came on after an hour and again was booed after two theatrical falls, one of which led to Felipe Melo’s dismissal late on for a second booking. (Reuters)
 
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