La Liga Wk29: Bottom three drift away

Las Palmas, Deportivo La Coruna and Malaga all drifted further away of safety in La Liga Week 29 as Levante moved six points clear of their relegation rivals.

Levante made a winning start under Paco Lopez last weekend, and they followed that up with a 2-1 victory over Europe-chasing Eibar on Friday.

Roger Marti, Levante’s top scorer in Segunda last season, got the ball rolling on 25 minutes, before Charles pulled one back for Eibar.

However, Emmanuel Boateng popped up on the hour mark to consolidate Levante’s grip on 17th place and leave the Basques 10th, five points behind a Europa League spot.

That made Saturday a must-win for Deportivo La Coruna and Las Palmas, yet the two teams were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Riazor.

Alen Halilovic put the islanders, without as many as six first-teamers, ahead after just three minutes, but Raul Albentosa equalised midway through the first half.

The defender’s goal did no favours for either side, with Clarence Seedorf still looking for a first victory – seven games into his reign – and Las Palmas stuck in 19th.

Real Sociedad’s season, meanwhile, continued to spiral out of control after they were beaten 2-1 at home by surprise packages Getafe.

Willian Jose showed why he was called up by Brazil for the upcoming international break with the opener at Anoeta, but a six-minute smash-and-grab saw Djene Dakonam and talisman Angel Rodriguez score either side of the break.

With that, La Real fell to their second successive defeat and left them languishing in 14th, while Geta snuck into the top half.

Saturday’s best performance was saved for last, when Real Betis enjoyed a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Espanyol.

Espanyol goalkeeper Pau Lopez has been heavily linked with Betis, but the former Tottenham Hotspur loanee could do little about any of the Andalusians’ efforts from Junior Firpo, Ryad Boudebouz and Francis Guerrero.

Quique Setien’s side are now just two points off fifth-placed neighbours Sevilla, whereas the Catalans’ hopes of a top-10 finish took a blow.

Read more: https://www.football-espana.net/70532/la-liga-wk29-bottom-three-drift-away

CHELSEA HAVE THEIR WORK CUT OUT TO SALVAGE THEIR SEASON

Chelsea went out of the Champions League on Wednesday as they lost to Barcelona at the Nou Camp. The 3-0 score-line was perhaps unfair on the Premier League champions, but it underlined the difference in quality between the two sides. The Blues managed to get into promising positions throughout the match and managed to have more attempts than their hosts. They managed 14 shots on goal, while they only conceded eight. However, their final ball was lacking, as they regularly wasted good opportunities to score. Meanwhile, Los Cules were clinical with Lionel Messi at his influential best.

It was always going to be a difficult task for Chelsea considering their recent form in the Premier League and losing an early goal didn’t help. Thibaut Courtois is regularly talked about as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe, but he was one of the worst performers on Wednesday. The Belgian could have done better for the first and third goals, as he was twice beaten through his legs by Messi. The first in particular was poor as the Argentine had a tight angle to shoot from, but he still managed to beat the goalkeeper at his near post. In the second-half, the Belgian keeper nearly gifted Barcelona another goal, when he coughed up possession to Luis Suarez and had to make a stop to spare his blushes.

The main problem in attack for Chelsea was the poor final ball. Eden Hazard and Willian both carried a threat with their direct approach in transition completing ten dribbles between, but they couldn’t create the opening that the team needed. That was a fault of the whole team, as the movement in the final third was predictable at best. Marcos Alonso attempted four shots, which was more than any other player on the pitch. The Spaniard has provided a goal threat since joining the club, but it isn’t great if he is your most productive attacker in a huge Champions League match such as this one.

Antonio Conte will know that 2018 hasn’t been good enough for his team as this was their sixth defeat in the last 11 matches across all competitions. The Champions League would have been a priority for the Italian at the beginning of the season as his track record in the competition is patchy, but to drop out at this stage will be regarded as a failure.

The focus now has to be on the Premier League and FA Cup. They could somewhat salvage their season with a top-four finish and an FA Cup triumph, but it would only be papering over the cracks. After a superb first campaign under Antonio Conte, Chelsea have gone backwards over the last nine months. This is due to poor tactical decisions, terrible recruitment and the improvement of their rivals. Manchester City are now a million miles ahead of them and the gap would have been inconceivable a year ago.

It will be interesting to see how this defeat affects the team for the rest of the season. Their performance levels certainly increased during the two matches against Barcelona and it may be that there is little motivation for the domestic campaign within the squad and coaching staff. Conte is unlikely to be the manager of the club at the start of next season, which is a worry for Chelsea, as he may not care about finishing in the Champions League places. They are currently four points behind Liverpool with little room for error.

If the squad can’t pull together and pick up the majority of points that are available to them, they won’t be in the competition next season and that will provide them with another setback, both on and off the pitch. Their run-in looks kind as they only have to face two top-six rivals, both at home, but they need to improve to get the results required.

Read More: http://eplindex.com/82019/chelsea-work-cut-salvage-season.html

Barcelona ace Lionel Messi has classy message for Chelsea boss Antonio Conte

Lionel Messi and Antonio Conte left the pitch together

Barca dumped the Blues out of the Champions League after a 3-0 win at the Nou Camp.

Messi led the way after scoring twice and setting another up for Ousmane Dembele to score his first goal for the Catalan club.

Both the 30-year-old’s goals came through Thibaut Courtois’ legs after a series of mistakes from the Chelsea defence.

But despite the result, Italian boss Conte could be seen hugging Messi as they both left the pitch.

And as pressure mounts on the 48-year-old’s job, Messi and some words of encouragement.

"I didn't hear him, but they told me what he said and I thank him for his words," Messi said.

“I am happy for how this night has ended and for reaching the quarter-finals, which is what we wanted."

The Argentinean’s brace took his Champions League total to 100 goals - 17 behind Cristiano Ronaldo.

Lionel Messi scored twice against Chelsea

And the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was delighted which his latest achievement.

“I’m happy to have reached 100 goals in such a beautiful competition,” he added.

“But the important thing was to move forward in a difficult match against a team with lots of really good players.

"I'm happy with how it all happened.

"This was a tough match and we were strong as a team.

"When we scored the third then the tie was practically ours."

Read more: https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/689006/Barcelona-Chelsea-Lionel-Messi-Champions-League-Antonio-Conte-Nou-Camp-Ernesto-Valverde

Man City put £177m ‘on the table’ to sign Kane

According to Don Balon, Manchester City want ‘the best striker in the Premier League’ to join Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus in their attack next season.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane has been linked with Real Madrid but City may have stolen a march as Real can’t afford the English international.

The 24-year-old has become one of the best strikers in Europe, scoring 134 goals in 204 games for Spurs. He’s netted 12 in 23 games for the national team too.

Kane’s form has led to increased interest in his signature, but Tottenham reportedly won’t accept less than £177m for the centre-forward.

Don Balon say City are ‘willing to pay’, but Real Madrid aren’t and may opt for Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski as a result.

Despite the Sky Blues having won the EFL Cup and being on course to win the Premier League, manager Pep Guardiola still wants to ‘blow up the market’ this summer with the best players possible.

The Citizens are ahead of Real in the race for Kane, but the £110k-per-week star has shown no desire to leave Tottenham which may prove a stumbling block in their pursuit.

He’s recently admitted that he “can’t wait to be out there (at Tottenham’s new stadium next season) scoring some goals”, which is a good sign he’s staying for at least another year.

Read more: http://sportslens.com/man-city-put-177m-on-the-table-to-sign-kane/227097/

TRANSFER NEWS: LUCAS HERNANDEZ THE LATEST ATLETICO MADRID PLAYER ON BARCELONA RADAR

Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Atletico Madrid centre-back Lucas Hernandez in the summer transfer window.

According to a report by Spanish publication Don Balon, Antoine Griezmann isn’t the only Atletico Madrid superstar that Barcelona are after. The Blaugrana have also set their sights on Lucas Hernandez, and are plotting a summer move for the versatile defender.

Lucas Hernandez progressed through the ranks at Atletico Madrid before breaking into the first-team setup in 2014. But, he enjoyed his true breakthrough in the 2015-16 season, and has since consistently grown in stature at the club.

This season, Lucas Hernandez has made 30 appearances across all competitions till date, and has contributed to his team’s cause with three goals as well. It has been his versatility that has truly been an asset for Atletico Madrid, and the player has now caught the attention of Los Rojiblancos’ rivals Barcelona.

Barcelona did bolster their defence in January by signing Yerry Mina from Palmeiras. But, the Colombian was a direct replacement for Javier Mascherano, who moved to Hebei China Fortune in the winter.

But, the fact that Gerard Pique and Thomas Vermaelen are on the wrong side of 30 is not lost on Ernesto Valverde. With Samuel Umtiti the only other centre-back at the disposal of the Barcelona manager, Lucas Hernandez is a viable target for Barcelona to pursue.

What further makes the Atletico Madrid defender an attractive prospect for Barcelona is that he can be a cover on the left side of defence as well. With Lucas Digne being linked with a move away from Camp Nou, Lucas Hernandez could also be a backup for Jordi Alba, if he joins the Catalan club.

The bone of contention for the player though, will be that he will have to bide his time for a while like Yerry Mina, with Pique and Umtiti likely to be the first-choice central defensive partnership next season as well.

Barcelona though, will look to use Antoine Griezmann, who they believe is set to move to Camp Nou in the summer, to turn Lucas’ head. It now remains to be seen if they can indeed make a double raid on Atletico Madrid in the summer transfer window, or if Lucas Hernandez ends up staying at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Read more: http://www.thehardtackle.com/news/2018/03/13/transfer-news-lucas-hernandez-the-latest-atletico-madrid-player-on-barcelona-radar/

Fabregas: Playing Barca motivates me!

Former Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas has described facing his old club as an ‘extra motivation’ for him in the Champions League.

The Spanish international joined Chelsea from the Blaugrana in the summer of 2014 and has won two league titles in England, and visits the Camp Nou on Wednesday with the English champions.

“It will be good for me to play against friends as it is an extra motivation for winning,” Fabregas told an interview with Marca.

“It is not the first time I have done this as I played against Barca with Arsenal and also against Arsenal with Chelsea, so I know the feeling.

“It’s always good to go up against your old club because it just motivates you more to show the level you are now at and what you are capable of.

“This will be a complicated match for us for sure, to go 90 minutes in the Camp Nou is a massive ask for any away team, but we are prepared and looking forward to the challenge.

“We must work together and take advantage of our opportunities, to play our game – I’ve trained tactically more at Chelsea more than anywhere else and you can see that on the pitch.

“We must start the match with a positive outlook because if we do not, then we will struggle.”

Read more: https://www.football-espana.net/70421/fabregas-playing-barca-motivates-me

Manchester City: Dominance and possession mean nothing without winning

Pep Guardiola teams dominate opponents on the pitch. Starving the opponent is a cardinal rule in Pep's tiki-taka bible. From Barcelona to Bayern Munich and now Manchester City, it’s a well-established pattern.

Fortunately for the Catalan, his City side has been scoring goals aplenty. But the team has also suffered dire consequences when failing to score in matches. Even when dominating the opponent. Case in point, the painful defeat to Wigan that crashed the Sky Blues out of the FA Cup. 

Just as when they win, City has bossed possession in every defeat. From the surprise Champions League loss to Shakhtar Donetsk and the 2-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium to Basel, it’s been that way. Heavy on the ball, dictate the match, but light on the goals. City did score three against Liverpool. That match was the exception, where they simply didn't keep the ball out of their own net.

After the match against Basel, a headline in The Sun read:

Manchester City shatter the Champions League passing record… Pep Guardiola’s men attempted an outrageous 1,058 passes in the 2-1 loss at home to Basel, completing 978.

Why is this celebrated? A child's guinea pig can rotate the wheel in its cage 978 times and still go nowhere. Personally, I’ll take a 2-1 win over a passing record all day long. So would Jose Mourinho.

The most important statistic at the end of the day remains the scoreline. Maybe that is the last part of their game City must improve. Ball possession helps but it does not decide games. Only goals do.

The Citizens can learn a thing or two from post-Pep Barcelona. No side in world football dominates games more than the Catalans. It was said Guardiola's Barcelona would pass a team to sleep on the pitch. That hasn't changed. It’s in the club's DNA to boss the ball.

Barca does not stop there, however. It delivers the killer blow. That is what made the Messi, Suarez, and Neymar partnership world famous. MSN was known for their goals. The trio scored 180 goals in a single calendar year. That killer instinct delivered five trophies. City has already let a trophy slip out of its reach by failing to score a single goal against Wigan. It’s not the Barcelona way. For the Blaugrana, scoring is very much a part of the game; winning, the reason for it.

Pep Guardiola in his usual manner has tried to talk down his team by claiming that Man City is not yet at the level of Barcelona and Real Madrid. This may just be a ploy to deflect attention and pressure away from his side. But the fact remains that the City hierarchy is not paying money for top-class talent only to play second fiddle to European rivals. The club wants to compete with the best on an equal basis.

That’s not to say the club has the same experience Barca and Real have. Don't be silly. But that’s the reason Guardiola was recruited. He’s been there and done it; has the t-shirt.

Manchester City did not sack Robert Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini for failing to win trophies. Each of them won the Premier League title and other domestic trophies in their time. But the Champions League eluded them. That’s Guardiola’s biggest task in Manchester, arguably his only one. A failure to win the Champions League will mean City has made little progress since sacking Pellegrini. 

Jose Mourinho may not play the most beautiful football but he trumps Guardiola on trophies won. He did it last season, winning three while his nemesis went empty-handed. Pep has pegged one back this season, but just as with Mancini and Pellegrini, the League Cup falls into the 'other trophies' category. He must pip Mourinho to another Champions League title.

The Basel loss should be lesson enough for Guardiola and City as a club. If it isn't, City will fall short of winning the Champions League again. All the possession in the world won't matter then.

Read more: http://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/articles/manchester-city-dominance-possession-mean-nothing-without-winning