La Liga Season 2011/2012

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Barcelona's Gerard Pique: Pep Guardiola's vision is unique
The towering defender has taken the time to praise the Catalans' head coach's vision, and added that he holds the ability to keep everybody at the club motivated

Barcelona vice president Javier Faus expecting Pep Guardiola to decide his future soon
The 41-year-old's current deal expires at the end of the season, and the club are hopeful that he will extend his stay at Camp Nou after enjoying great success in recent years

Real Madrid's Iker Casillas: There are no problems between the Spaniards & Portuguese in the squad
The Spain international has denied reports that the squad is divided in two, and added that he does not have a bad relationship with any of his team-mates in the capital

Barcelona's Adriano: Malaga game one of our best away matches of the season
The Brazilian wing-back was very pleased with his side's performance on Sunday, and felt it had been a while since they put in such a strong display on the road

Japanese in Europe: Hiroshi Ibusuki and Mike Havenaar make their debut while Borussia Dortmund's Shinji Kagawa earns assist
Kagawa's assist and Havenaar's league debut set the tone for Japanese players in Europe this season, but several players are still waiting for reported transfers to fully resolve

Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno says that Pepe is a 'good kid'
The 48-year-old admits that the Portuguese could be sanctioned by the club, but asserts that he has been targeted

Real Madrid's Jose Callejon: We can beat Barcelona if we play like this
The Spanish attacker is confident that Madrid can travel to Camp Nou on Wednesday and secure a positive result if they turn in a performance like Sunday's

Jose Mourinho not fazed by jeers from Real Madrid's fans against Athletic Bilbao
The Portuguese coach paid little attention to the whistles he received during Sunday's match and insisted he is focused on doing his job

Official: Granada part company with coach Fabriciano Gonzalez
The Liga strugglers have decided to part company with the 56-year-old following the club's recent poor run in the league

Pep Guardiola: Real Madrid eclipsed Barcelona's sensational first round of matches in La Liga
The Spanish coach admitted that the Santiago Bernabeu club were the better side in the first half of the season and heaped praise on Messi's current form

Barcelona's Lionel Messi after Malaga triumph: There is a lot left; we will keep pushing
The Argentine star has refused to write off Barca's chances in La Liga, while insisting that his side will be ready to host Madrid in Wednesday's Clasico

Valencia's Unai Emery: Draw against Osasuna was the right result
The Mestalla side were held to a 1-1 result in Sunday's La Liga encounter, but their coach felt that the game's outcome was a fair reflection of the events of the 90 minutes

Official: Sevilla sign Baba Diawara from Maritimo
The Primera Division outfit have announced the capture of the Senegalese striker, only one day after his previous club had stressed that no agreement had been reached

Iker Casillas set to make 600th official Real Madrid appearance against Athletic Bilbao
The experienced shot-stopper and World Cup winner will become one of only six players who have reached six full centuries of competitive games for the Santiago Bernabeu outfit

Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho in reported training ground dispute with Sergio Ramos & Iker Casillas following Barcelona loss
"You wouldn't know about switching marking responsibilities on the pitch because you were never a player," the defender allegedly said after being blamed for Carles Puyol's goal

Sevilla's Marcelino accepts draw with Betis in derby
Both coaches have spoke of their contentment at earning a share of the spoils for their respective teams, as a point a piece was to be the final outcome at the Benito Villamarin

Barcelona doctor says Lionel Messi still bears marks on his hand from Pepe stamp
The champions' medical guru claims the stamp inflicted on the Argentine's hand is still visible, while adding that Andreu Fontas' season is over, after he underwent knee surgery

Chelsea's Oriol Romeu: My situation is not comparable to that of Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas
The 20-year-old has asked for people not to compare his career with the former Arsenal man and claims he is not looking to rejoin the Catalan giants any time soon

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema: We need to target Barcelona's fragility on set pieces
The former Olympique Lyonnais man has stated his side should target the Catalan club on corners and free kicks when the teams meet again this week in the Copa del Rey

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola dismisses criticism of Sergio Busquets by Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho
The 41-year-old refused to be drawn into another war of words with his Madrid rival over the incident involving Pepe and Lionel Messi, choosing to focus on the game versus Malaga

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho defends Pepe after Clasico stamp on Lionel Messi and hits out at Barcelona's Sergio Busquets
The Portuguese trainer has backed his under-fire defender and claims no-one questioned the Camp Nou midfielder over the alleged racist remarks he made against Marcelo last season

Barcelona's Seydou Keita: I don't speak much to Pep Guardiola but I have his respect
The Mali international has admitted to being a quiet person and not speaking with the trainer, but feels that his actions on the field have allowed his boss to trust him

 

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Mourinho hits back at jeering Real fans

23 January 2012

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Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said he is not worried by the jeers from fans in the 4-1 victory against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.Mourinho received whistles from the Santiago Bernabeu crowd during the match as the fans presumably protested against the club's inability to overcome Barcelona in direct confrontation.

"There is no problem, it did not happen to me at Porto, Chelsea or Inter, but there is always a first time for everything," Mourinho told a news conference."Here, (Zinedine) Zidane received whistles, just like Ronaldo and Cristiano Ronaldo. Why could not I receive whistles?""Zidane, Ronaldo and Cristiano responded with their goals. I will try to respond with my work."

Mourinho then stressed there is no reason for crisis talk at the club, despite Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-finals."This is the first time that I am five points clear at the top," he said."We passed the group stage in the Champions League and we still have one match to play in the Copa del Rey."

"If we are beaten, it will not be by Alcorcon but by Barcelona and I do my job."Meanwhile, Real striker Jose Callejon was happy with his side's display at the Santiago Bernabeu.The 24-year-old came on as a late substitute and scored Madrid's last goal.Callejon believes it is possible to defeat Barcelona in the second leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on Wednesday, despite their 2-1 deficit.

"We reacted to their goal the way we had to," he said."We played good football to get this victory. I came on and I used my freshness to score the goal. I got a wonderful pass.""Now we have to think about the Copa del Rey match as something very important. It will be very hard but we can win if we play like this."

 

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Manchester City close in on ground-breaking appointment of Barcelona executive dream team
Former Barca duo Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain are being considered for chief executive and director of football roles at Etihad Stadium in shock move

Jose Mourinho ahead of Barcelona clash: I don't provoke clans & I have the support of the Real Madrid board
The 48-year-old was in a defiant mood during his pre-match press conference, where he also revealed under-fire Pepe would start if fit to do so and fired a warning to his critics

Jose Mourinho, you are not alone – Ronaldinho, Ronaldo & the other Real Madrid & Barcelona legends who have been booed by their own fans
The Portuguese coach was whistled during his side's 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday following Madrid's latest Clasico disappointment on Wednesday. But he's in good company

Barcelona & Inter legend Luis Suarez: I think Jose Mourinho is planning Real Madrid exit
The former Inter player feels the Portuguese coach's behaviour is similar to what he did before leaving the Nerazzurri, and feels he is on his way out of the Spanish capital

Barcelona's Andres Iniesta: We will have to put in a perfect performance against Real Madrid
The Spain international has stated that the Champions League holders can not afford to lose focus ahead of Wednesday's cup game versus their bitter rivals

Not yet the next Zidane: 'Clasico flop' Mesut Ozil must perform against Barcelona if he is to become a Real Madrid legend
Many Bernabeu stars have under-performed against the Catalans, but the German has in particular disappointed.

Barcelona's Sandro Rosell calls on RFEF to follow FA's example and punish Real Madrid's Pepe
The Blaugrana chief says that the Portuguese defender should be subject to reprimand like Balotelli as the City striker is facing a four-game ban for a similar action

RFEF to rule on Real Madrid defender Pepe's stamp on Barcelona's Lionel Messi on Wednesday
The Spanish federation will address the defender's controversial action later this week and the Portugal international could yet miss the Clasico on Wednesday night

Former Barcelona defender Juliano Belletti: Ronaldinho was better than Lionel Messi
The retired full-back believes that his compatriot outclassed the diminutive Argentine and says his Blaugrana squad topped that of Guardiola's current winning side

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos: No fracture in the dressing room
The 25-year-old defender has insisted that the dressing room remains as united as ever, despite reports of a growing tension between Spanish and Portuguese players

Sao Paulo close in on Villarreal's Nilmar - report
Negotiations for the 27-year-old are reportedly at an advanced stage and the Brazilian striker appears set to return to his homeland after a disappointing few months

Barcelona's Victor Valdes admits away win over Malaga was vital for morale
The Catalans have dropped some points on the road this season and that is why their first-choice goalkeeper feels that their triumph at La Rosaleda was so significant

Alvaro Arbeloa insists he will back Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho 'until the death'
The former Liverpool defender feels that the criticism that the Blancos boss is getting from supporters is unfair and also claims that there are no divisions within the squad

Marcelo insists there is no division within Real Madrid squad
It has been reported that the Blancos camp is currently split into two but their Brazilian full-back insists that the players remain as united as ever

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo moves level with Trans Narva star Aleksandrs Cekulajevs in the race for the Golden Shoe
The Portuguese netted two penalties as his team swept Athletic Bilbao aside to move to the summit of the rankings, with Lionel Messi hot on his heels

Andres Iniesta equals Pep Guardiola appearance total for Barcelona
The attacking midfielder has now featured exactly as many times for the Champions League holders as his coach, and is likely to overtake the 41-year-old against Real Madrid

 

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Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo moves level with Trans Narva star Aleksandrs Cekulajevs in the race for the Golden Shoe

The Portuguese netted two penalties as his team swept Athletic Bilbao aside to move to the summit of the rankings, with Lionel Messi hot on his heels

Jan 23, 2012 1:00:00 PM

By Enis Koylu

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Two penalties in Real Madrid's 4-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao saw Cristiano Ronaldo draw level with Trans Narva star Aleksandrs Cekalujevs in the race for the Golden Shoe.

The Latvian, plying his trade in the Estonian league, has scored an incredible 46 goals this season, and led the table until the Portuguese star's double.

A Lionel Messi hat-trick in Barcelona's thrashing of Malaga ensured that the Argentine remained hot on the heels of his nemesis, and saw the 24-year-old pull away from Robin van Persie, who managed a solitary strike in Arsenal's 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United.

CSKA Moscow's Ivorian striker Seydou Doumbia finished the Russian season with 24 goals, and currently sits in fifth place, while Trabzonspor's Burak Yilmaz scored his 22nd goal during his side's shock defeat to Karabukspor.

Bundesliga duo Mario Gomez and Klaas Jan Huntelaar have taken their battle for the domestic Golden Boot to the European stage, and the Bayern Munich man sits two points ahead of his Schalke counterpart, with the Dutchman level on points with Newcastle's Demba Ba.

Manchester City's big money signing Sergio Aguero is in 10th place courtesy of 14 goals to date in his debut Premier League season.

Rank	Player	Country	Club	League	Weight	Goals	Points
1	A Cekulajevs	LAT	Trans Narva	EST	1	46	46
	C. Ronaldo	POR	Real Madrid	ESP	2	23	46
3	L. Messi	ARG	Barcelona	ESP	2	22	44
4	R. v Persie	NED	Arsenal	ENG	2	19	38
5	S. Doumbia	CIV	CSKA	RUS	1.5	24	36
6	B. Yilmaz	TUR	Trabzonspor	TUR	1.5	22	33
7	M. Gomez	GER	Bayern	GER	2	16	32
8	Demba Ba	SEN	Newcastle	ENG	2	15	30
	K. Huntelaar	NED	Schalke	GER	2	15	30
10	S. Aguero	ARG	Man City	ENG	2	14	28

<tbody>
</tbody>

* = league season finished

History & How It Works

In 1967-68, French football magazine L'Equipe opted to hand out an award to the top goalscorer in all European leagues for his good performances during the season. Between 1968 and 1991, high profile names such as Eusebio, Gerd Muller, Ian Rush and Marco van Basten won the coveted trophy.

However, the gap between big and small leagues started to grow in the early 90's andL'Equipe decided to make the competition unofficial after the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) issued a protest in 1991. Darko Pancev won the award that season with 34 goals, but the CFA claimed that a player had scored 40 goals in Cyprus that term.

Adidas, sponsor of the awards, still handed out the trophy until 1996 before European Sports Magazine (with L'Equipe as a member) decided to make the title official again. ESM divided all European leagues in three groups according to strength, and attached to each group a quotient by which the number of goals is multiplied to obtain the player's rating. The European Golden Shoe was thus no longer necessarily handed to the top goalscorer, but to the player with the most points.

The weightings are determined by the league's ranking on the UEFA coefficients, which in turn depend on the results of each league's clubs in European competition over the previous five seasons. Goals scored in the top five leagues according to the UEFA coefficients are multiplied by a factor of two, and goals scored in the leagues ranked six to 21 are multiplied by 1.5. Goals in all other leagues are all worth one single point.

This measure has prevented players from the so called weaker leagues from winning the European Golden Shoe, since a goal scored in, for example, Armenia, Estonia or Azerbaijan carries less weight than a goal scored in Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga or the Premier League.

Players such as Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Forlan and Lionel Messi have won the European Golden Shoe in the past few seasons.

 

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'Victims' Barcelona demanding justice over Pepe's allegedly deliberate stamp on Lionel Messi
The Catalans insist that they remain focused on Wednesday night's second leg but are still upset that the Portuguese defender has not been disciplined over the incident

Breaking: Real Madrid's Pepe escapes punishment over alleged stamp on Barcelona's Lionel Messi
The Spanish football federation's (RFEF) Competition Committee will take no action over the incident because there was no mention of it in the referee's report

Tottenham's Giovani dos Santos set for Villarreal switch 'by the weekend'
Jose Manuel Llaneza says he expects the Mexican to sign for the La Liga side in the coming days as the 22-year-old looks to end his unhappy stay at White Hart Lane

Pepe included in Real Madrid squad to face Barcelona
The Portugal international has made the roster for Wednesday evening´s Copa del Rey clash versus the Catalans at Camp Nou, despite his actions in the first leg

Esteban Granero will not leave Real Madrid for Liverpool, says management
The Spanish midfielder has caught the attention of the Premier League outfit, but according the player's representatives, the former Getafe man is going nowhere

Real Madrid are ready to do the impossible versus Barcelona, says Sergio Ramos
The Spain international will not underestimate the difficulty in advancing past the Catalan club in the cup, yet feels a place in the semi-finals is a possibility

Javier Mascherano: Barcelona have the measure of Real Madrid
The Argentine midfielder believes the Catalans have the psychological edge ahead of Wednesday night's Clasico clash - as well as the world's best player, Messi, on their side

Iker Casillas: Real Madrid players will fight till the death against Barcelona
The Spanish No.1 is looking forward to Wednesday's Copa del Rey encounter, and has stressed that Los Blancos will give everything to progress to the semi-finals

Sevilla's Martin Caceres poised to sign for Juventus - report
The Uruguayan defender is allegedly close to a return to the Bianconeri despite establishing himself as a key member of the Liga outfit since his arrival

Barcelona's Pep Guardiola tells fans to leave Real Madrid's Pepe alone in Copa del Rey Clasico
The 41-year-old has advised the Catalan faithful against giving the Portuguese defender a hostile reception, while stressing he is aiming for victory in Wednesday's encounter

Brazil legend Pele: My Santos team could have dominated the world like Pep Guardiola's Barcelona
The often-controversial South American has claimed his former team could have achieved the same stellar success as the current Blaugrana side, and hailed Lionel Messi's talent

Agent claims Villarreal owe Nilmar three months' wages
The player's representative claims that the Yellow Submarine are desperate to offload the striker to Sao Paulo because they are currently struggling to pay salaries

Sergio Ramos calls for end to Real Madrid 'mole' talk as Iker Casillas is accused of leaking his team-mate's argument with Jose Mourinho
The defender was reportedly involved in a training ground bust-up with his coach ahead of Sunday's game against Athletic Bilbao, with the goalkeeper accused of filtering the story

Jose Manuel Pinto pens new deal with Barcelona
Victor Valdes' understudy has only made 11 league appearances for the Catalans since arriving from Celta four years ago but he was only too happy to extend his stay at Camp Nou

Former Barcelona coach Carles Rexach feels Pepe should stay at home to avoid a repeat of Luis Figo's Camp Nou reception
The 65-year-old Spaniard feels the current climate in Catalunya is akin to that of 2002 when the Portuguese winger had numerous objects thrown at him - including a pig's head

 

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Breaking: Real Madrid's Pepe escapes punishment over alleged stamp on Barcelona's Lionel Messi

The Spanish football federation's (RFEF) Competition Committee will take no action over the incident because there was no mention of it in the referee's report

Jan 25, 2012 2:04:00 PM

By Mark Doyle

​

Real Madrid defender Pepe has escaped sanction over his allegedly deliberate stamp onBarcelona's Lionel Messi during last week's Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Portugal international appeared to intentionally tread on his rival's hand during the second half of the Copa del Rey clash in the Spanish capital.

The incident was caught on camera and Pepe's actions were widely condemned within the footballing community, even though he maintained that the contact had been purely accidental.

The Spanish football federation's (RFEF) Competition Committee has now revealed that they will take no action against the player because there was no mention of the incident within the referee's report.

Consequently, Pepe, having already been included in the Madrid squad to face Barca on Wednesday night, is now free to play in the second leg of the quarter-final tie at Camp Nou.

However, that might not be the end of the affair because, according to La Jornada, a Barca socio, Stefan Froreich, has filed a legal complaint against Pepe in a Barcelona court.

The paper claims that the German, who lives in Catalunya, has accused the centre-half of causing criminal harm under Article 147 of the Penal Code.

 

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Brazil legend Pele: My Santos team could have dominated the world like Pep Guardiola's Barcelona

The often-controversial South American has claimed his former team could have achieved the same stellar success as the current Blaugrana side, and hailed Lionel Messi's talent

Jan 24, 2012 8:12:00 PM

By Luis Mira

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Brazil legend Pele has drawn parallels between the Santos team in which he played and Pep Guardiola's Barcelona squad.

The 71-year-old took part in Santos' most successful team, helping the club win two Copa Libertadores titles and two Intercontinental Cups, among other trophies.

After watching Barca win five titles in 2011, Pele noted that his Santos team could have done the same thing as Guardiola's men and 'dominated' football during the 1960s.​

"There was a time, 15 or 20 years ago, where the game was more defensive," he told France Football. "But the technique remains the same.

"We are talking about Barca's current team, but we do not remember that Santos, during the 60s, had a fantastic team which could have dominated the world under similar circumstances."

Pele then rejected comparisons between himself and Lionel Messi but stressed he is a big fan of the diminutive Argentine.

"Messi is a fantastic player," he added. "It is true happiness to watch him on the field.

"I have a lot of respect for Messi, just like I had for [Johan] Cruyff, [Franz] Beckenbauer or [Michel] Platini.

"But every one of them has their own personality. I do not even want to compare Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo because they have different styles."

 

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Sevilla confirm Martin Caceres will join Juventus
The Primera Division club have announced that the defender is in Turin and will sign on the dotted line for the Bianconeri after undergoing a medical with the Italian outfit

Real Madrid's Alvaro Arbeloa: We could easily have beaten Barcelona
The full-back feels that the Blancos could have come out victorious on Wednesday, and added that the referee was too harsh on them after their cup exit

Barcelona's Xavi: Real Madrid are a superb team but we won the tie
The Spain international was delighted with his side's 4-3 aggregate win, but admitted that the Blancos put up a good fight at Camp Nou on Wednesday evening

Pepe: Real Madrid were very superior to Barcelona in Copa del Rey Clasico
The Portugal international believes Madrid turned in a great display at Camp Nou and insists that both the players and the fans have reason to rejoice

Real Madrid's Iker Casillas admits to insulting referee in wake of Copa del Rey defeat to Barcelona
The Spaniard confessed he told Fernando Teixeira that he was free to go out and party to celebrate Pep Guardiola's side's progression in the Spanish cup

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho after Barcelona clash: I heard in the changing room that it was impossible to win at Camp Nou
The Portuguese refused to comment on the refereeing performance and hinted that his team did not feel they could triumph at the Camp Nou

Barcelona's Pep Guardiola: We were better than Real Madrid over 180 minutes
The 41-year-old trainer believes his team deserve their place in the semi-final of the cup, and was also keen to play down the Blancos' second-half comeback at Camp Nou

Barcelona's Daniel Alves: We knew we had to suffer until the end against Real Madrid
The Brazilian defender admitted that Jose Mourinho's men put on a great display against his side, but asserted that Los Blancos lack fair play in their game

'Football did not want to reward Real Madrid' - Emilio Butragueno after Copa del Rey exit to Barcelona
Los Blancos figure praises coach Jose Mourinho's tactics despite Copa del Rey knockout at the hands of Barcelona, but believes fate conspired against the team

Real Madrid target Rodrigo does not want to leave Benfica, claims father
The promising striker has been linked with a return to the Spanish capital club, but the player's dad has ruled out a transfer before the end of this season's campaign

Juventus set to seal deal for Sevilla defender Martin Caceres - report
The Old Lady have agreed to pay €1.5 million to take the Uruguay international on loan for the remainder of the season before purchasing the player outright for €8m in the summer

Reported Barcelona target Neymar: I don't regret staying at Santos
The highly-rated teenage forward has been linked with the world, European and Spanish champions in recent months but he is set to remain in Brazil until after the 2014 World Cup

Wolfsburg's Felix Magath & Diego both open to making amends after falling-out
The former Schalke boss says he bears no resentment towards the Brazilian, who has also admitted that he wouldn't be adverse to making up

Bernd Schuster: Real Madrid have no problems - other than Barcelona
The former Blancos boss is playing down the significance of reports of dressing room unrest at the Santiago Bernabeu and believes coach Jose Mourinho is going nowhere

 

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Thursday 26th January 2012

Iniesta, Sanchez injury blows for Barca

Barcelona paid a price for qualification to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey after losing both Andres Iniesta and Alexis Sanchez in Wednesday's clash with Real Madrid.

Spain midfielder Iniesta limped off in the 29th minute and examinations revealed he had a torn muscle in his left leg.

Further tests will be held on Thursday to determine the extent of the injury and an estimation of the player's recovery time.

Alexis was substituted 11 minutes from full-time with a shoulder injury and is expected to miss between one to two weeks.

The game at Camp Nou finished 2-2 with Barca going through 4-3 on aggregate.
​

 

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Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho after Barcelona clash: I heard in the changing room that it was impossible to win at Camp Nou

The Portuguese refused to comment on the refereeing performance and hinted that his team did not feel they could triumph at the Camp Nou

Jan 26, 2012 12:30:00 AM

By Enis Koylu

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho claimed after his side's Copa del Rey elimination to Barcelona that his team were never likely to be allowed to triumph at Camp Nou, claiming his players had deemed such an outcome 'impossible'.

Mourinho's men came back from a two-goal deficit at Camp Nou to draw 2-2 on the night, but were eliminated courtesy of their 2-1 defeat at the Bernabeu in the first leg.

Speaking in the wake of his side's 4-3 aggregate exit, the Portuguese hinted that his team went into the game expecting to go out of the competition, likely alluding to refereeing decisions.

"I heard in the changing room that it is impossible to win here," he told the media after the match, and when pressed for a reason why the players had thought in such a way, he added: "Just ask them."

Sergio Ramos had a goal chalked off for a push on Dani Alves and went on to pick up a second booking in the dying minutes of the tie, but Mourinho refused to be drawn into criticising the match officials.

"I will not speak about the referee. We came with the hope of getting through. We knew it was very difficult, but we came with the hope of achieving it." he affirmed.

However, the Blancos boss went on to say that he had become used to suffering similar blows during clashes against Barcelona in his career, concluding: "I played here with Chelsea, with Inter, and with Real Madrid in the Champions League. This is a familiar situation to me."

Barcelona will face the winner of tomorrow's clash between Valencia and Levante in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.

 

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Andoni Zubizarreta does not know if Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola will extend his contract
The former Spain midfielder's current deal expires at the end of the season but although the club are desperate for him to remain at Camp Nou, he has kept quiet

Juventus confirm Sevilla's Martin Caceres undergoing medical
The Uruguayan defender is on the verge of joining the Bianconeri after they have announced on their official website that he will undergo physical tests on Friday

Spokesperson of Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho slams Barcelona's Dani Alves: 'A donkey with small ears & glasses is still a donkey'
The Portuguese coach's spokesperson has hit out at the Brazilian defender, comparing him to a donkey, and feels referees are always in favour of the Catalan outfit

Andoni Zubizarreta: Isaac Cuenca will soon sign a new deal with Barcelona
The young attacker has an expiring contract at Camp Nou, but is expected to ink an extension in the next few weeks after breaking into the first-team this season

Barcelona's Lionel Messi admits anguish over accusations of lack of passion for Argentina
The 24-year-old forward, who has spent half of his life living in Spain, insists that he loves his country and gives his all every time he lines up for the national team

Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas: I have to improve a lot
The Spain international feels he still has plenty of room for improvement, and added that he currently struggles in a more withdrawn role for the Catalan giants

Unai Emery: Valencia can beat Barcelona in Copa del Rey semi-finals
The Spanish coach believes that his team are more motivated than the Catalan club and insists his side are not built around regular starters

Sevilla priced out of a move for Tottenham forward Giovani dos Santos
The 22-year-old looks set to move away from White Hart Lane this month but won't be moving to the Spanish side as their club president rules out €6.5m transfer

'If they need me, I will board a plane and go there' - Boca Juniors' Juan Roman Riquelme open to Villarreal return
The 33-year-old midfielder has opened the door to a move back to Spain to give a helping hand to his former club, who have made a dismal start to the season

Barcelona star Andres Iniesta ruled out for three weeks with hamstring tear
The midfielder suffered the injury during Wednesday night's clash against Real Madrid and is now set to miss the first leg of the Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos hits out at Barcelona's Sergio Busquets and reveals club will appeal his second yellow card in Wednesday's Clasico
The Spain defender has been left enraged by his red card during the closing stages of the game at Camp Nou, believing that his international colleague was guilty of play-acting

 

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Spokesperson of Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho slams Barcelona's Dani Alves: 'A donkey with small ears & glasses is still a donkey'

The Portuguese coach's spokesperson has hit out at the Brazilian defender, comparing him to a donkey, and feels referees are always in favour of the Catalan outfit

Jan 27, 2012 11:20:00 AM

Eladio Parames, the spokesman of Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, has hit out at Barcelonadefender Dani Alves in the wake of last Wednesday's 2-2 Copa del Rey quarter-final draw at Camp Nou - with the Catalans winning 4-3 on aggregate.

Parames also voiced his dismay with the standard of refereeing in Spain, and stated his belief that Barcelona have the backing of the match officials if they are struggling in a game.

"What's changed since he [Dani Alves] came to Spain. He's undergone surgery on his ears, they've become smaller. And he's wearing glasses like an intellectual. However, a donkey with small ears and glasses is not all of a sudden a doctor, he's still a donkey," Parames said on Twitter.

"I've already said it before. When Barcelona play well, they're winning. If their opponents play better than them, the referee will help them to win."

Parames than went on to reveal what Jose Mourinho said to referee Teixeira Vitienes in the parking area after Wednesday's game.

"You have no respect for professionals. You're going to smoke a cigar now and have a good laugh, you b*****d," Mourinho said, according to his spokesman.

 

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La Liga wrap: Real cement top spot

29 January 2012

​

Real Madrid moved further ahead at the top of La Liga after they beat Real Zaragoza 3-1 and second-placed Barcelona drew on Saturday.Real's lead has now grown to seven points following Barcelona's latest setback, with Jose Mourinho's men having won 15 of their last 16 league matches.

The 15th in that streak was at the Santiago Bernabeu where Real had to take the three points.Lafita's goal on 12 minutes gave the bottom-placed side some hope but Kaka responded 13 minutes before half-time to level proceedings.Cristiano Ronaldo's 24th goal of the season put Real in front just after the break and the result was secured when Mezut Oezil scored on 56 minutes.V

illarreal's form this season has been nothing short of shocking and with just one win from their last seven matches, Barcelona were expected to win easily.But Pep Guardiola's men struggled on the road, with a goalless draw at El Madrigal making it even tougher for Barca to catch their rivals.

A Fernando Llorente hat-trick helped Athletic Bilbao to a 3-2 win at Rayo Vallecano. Michu gave the losers an 11th-minute lead before Llorente struck on 17 and 23 minutes to give the visitors the lead. Alejandro Arribas hit back just four minutes later in an exciting start but his goal would be in vain as Llorente scored the winner with 22 minutes to play.

Also on Saturday, Espanyol defeated a 10-man Mallorca outfit 1-0.Manchester City loanee Vladimir Weiss scored the game's only goal after 18 minutes, with Mallorca goalkeeper Dudo Aouate given a red card just after half-time.

 

[Llorente]

Barcelona's Pep Guardiola refuses to blame squad despite goalless draw with Villarreal
The Blaugrana boss opted to praise his team for a hard working display on the night, and dismissed suggestions they were fatigued from their Copa del Rey victory over Real Madrid

Dani Alves admits Barcelona are 'lacking balance' following Villarreal draw
The Brazilian full-back is aware Barca are struggling to match the dizzying heights they set for themselves last season after drawing a blank at El Madrigal

Esteban Granero wants Real Madrid to press on after win over Zaragoza
The former Getafe man is happy at seeing the table toppers bounce back from an uncertain start against the Aragon club, and now hopes they can continue playing positive football

Frederic Kanoute's agency confirms that he will stay with Sevilla until the end of the season
The African striker has been linked with a move away from the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, but the forward's representative has insisted that he has no wish to depart in January

Aitor Karanka responds to Barcelona's Xavi: Real Madrid are not used to losing
The assistant to Mourinho gave little importance to the midfielder's remarks, while insisting his side had a great match at Camp Nou in midweek

Betis' Pepe Mel: Deal for Real Madrid's Esteban Granero has fallen through after Sami Khedira's injury
The Spanish coach revealed his side were close to landing the midfielder, only to be deterred by his recent growth in Jose Mourinho's squad

Barcelona star Xavi claims Real Madrid are sore losers
The midfielder has taken exception to some of the comments made by los Blancos after the Clasico, including Sergio Ramos' claim that Sergio Busquets got him sent off

Isaac Cuenca agrees contract extension with Barcelona
The highly-rated forward had reportedly attracted the interest of a number of top European clubs but he will officially commit his future to the Catalans next week

Official: Juventus sign Martin Caceres from Sevilla on loan
The Uruguayan, who enjoyed a previous stint with the Bianconeri during the 2009-10 season, is returning to Turin on a temporary basis but with a view to a permanent switch

 

[Llorente]

Jose Mourinho is a better coach than Pep Guardiola, claims Roberto Carlos
The Brazilian feels that La Liga contains the world's two best coaches, but Mourinho's adaptability gives him an edge over the Camp Nou boss

Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho: Barcelona are still in the title race
The Portuguese coach has stressed that La Liga isn't won just yet, and voiced his dismay with the media reporting that Barcelona are too far behind

Manchester City the favourites to land Jose Mourinho after he leaves Real Madrid
Further developments in Spain have led Sportingbet to adjust their market on where Mourinho's next job will be with Manchester City now leading the way

Inter duo Philippe Coutinho & McDonald Mariga set for exits to Espanyol & Parma
The Kenyan spent five months at Real Sociedad and could be on his way to his old club, while the Brazilian youngster will join the Catalan side in search of first team football

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo takes pole position in Golden Shoe race
The Portguese scored in his side's 3-1 win over Real Zaragoza to pull clear of Lionel Messi, who had a frustrating weekend

Sevilla's Frederic Kanoute: Cesc Fabregas did not use racial abuse
The former Mali international was sent off for lashing out at the Spain midfielder during the closing stages of the 0-0 draw between their two clubs at Camp Nou in October

Why Jose Mourinho is leaving ... nothing to chance - Stay or go, exit reports are all part of the plan for the Real Madrid boss
The Portuguese coach is rumoured to be quitting the Santiago Bernabeu in ths summer for a return to the Premier League. But there is more to these reports than meets the eye

Barcelona's Victor Valdes admits: We have no more room for error in La Liga
The Catalans are now seven points behind Real Madrid at the top of the table following Saturday night's disappointing 0-0 draw with Villarreal at El Madrigal

Real Madrid's Kaka given assurances from president Florentino Perez & coach Jose Mourinho over his future
The former Brazil international, who has struggled for form and fitness since arriving in Spain, remains determined to prove his worth at the Santiago Bernabeu

Inter's Coutinho to join Espanyol on loan - report
The teenage Brazilian midfielder has seen little game time at San Siro in recent months and he is now set to spend the second half of the season in Catalunya

Valencia coach Unai Emery: Aerial vulnerability is not our only problem
Los Che have conceded a number of headed goals in recent weeks and their 40-year-old boss is well aware that he has plenty to work on if they are to hold on to third spot

Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Xavi slam 'arrogant' La Liga referees
Unhappy after two dropped points on Saturday, the Barca pair spoke out against allegedly sub-standard match officials in Spain's top league

Real Madrid's Pepe admits Real Zaragoza caused them problems
The Portuguese defender has stressed that it was not easy for the Blancos, and added that the win was extra pleasing because it was in front of their home fans

Barcelona's Carles Puyol: There are no excuses for Villarreal draw
The experienced defender feels that the Catalans should have done better on Saturday, but added that the title race isn't over yet

Barcelona's Pedro ruled out of Valencia Copa del Rey match - report
The Catalan giants may well have to do without the services of the Spain international attacker as it is suggested that he will have to spend some more days on the sidelines

Barcelona's unlucky 13 - how the Catalans' dropped away points are handing the title to Real Madrid
Pep Guardiola's side failed to win on the road for the sixth time in La Liga this season as they only drew at Villarreal on Saturday, leaving them now seven points off the pace

Jose Mourinho set to leave Real Madrid & return to the Premier League in the summer - report
Portuguese tactician is understood to be unhappy with the problems he has faced since his move to the Bernabeu, and is thought to have decided to return to the Premier League

Espanyol close in on Benfica's Joan Capdevila - report
The World Cup-winning left-back appears to be nearing a return to his former club after enduring a frustrating first six months at the Estadio da Luz as second-choice to Emerson

Real Madrid's Aitor Karanka after Zaragoza victory: Mesut Ozil is regaining last season's form
Jose Mourinho's assistant is happy with the German midfielder's recent showings and insists that Nuri Sahin will have a part to play in the second half of the campaign

Lionel Messi insists Barcelona 'never surrender' despite losing ground with Villarreal draw
The diminutive attacker has refused to throw in the towel despite the huge points gap between his side and Real Madrid after the 0-0 result, also criticising the referee

 

[Llorente]

Japanese in Europe: Shinji Kagawa shines with double while Tadanari Lee makes his English debut

The former Cerezo man continued his excellent form for Dortmund, while Tadanari Lee found little to take away from his first match as a Southampton player

Jan 30, 2012 3:15:00 AM

By Gyo Araiwa & Dan Orlowitz

​

Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa set alight the Signal-Iduna-Park with a man-of-the-match performance in the 3-1 win over an uninspired 1899 Hoffenheim on Saturday.

After creating a couple of chances early on it was the 22-year-old Japanese who slotted home the opener after skipper Sebastian Kehl won the ball and passed it to him in minute 16.

Kagawa played a crucial role in the team’s second on the half-hour as his play led to Jakub Blaszczykowski’s cross for Kevin Grosskreutz’s goal.

In the second half Kagawa bagged the champions’ third goal after a back-heel assist by Grosskreutz. The first brace since September 2010 when his double against local rivals Schalke earned him a place in Dortmund’s folklore puts his goal tally to six.

At the lower end of the table, FC Augsburg drew 2-2 against Kaiserslautern. Hajime Hosogai, who once again played the full match for the Southerners, had a hand in his side’s opener when he cleverly created a gap in the wall clearing the path for Marcel de Jong’s goal from a free kick.

[TABLE="class: cms_table_cms_table"]
<tbody>[TR="bgcolor: #FF3322"]
[TD]STAR OF THE WEEKEND
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Shinji Kagawa
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

​

Kagawa had two goals and contributed greatly to a third; he's the clear choice for Japan's best player this weekend.​

[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
In the 65th minute the 25-year-old defensive midfielder recorded his first assist since his arrival in Germany when he put the ball through for the 2-2 equalizer by Stephan Hain who entered the pitch just seconds earlier. Hosogai also impressed with his accurate passing and his aggressiveness, repeatedly forcing his opponents to errors or resorting to fouls.

In England, Tadanari Lee made his debut for Southampton as they drew 1-1 with Millwall in an FA Cup fourth-round clash. The former Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker came on just after the hour, but failed to find many chances as Millwall mounted a stirring second-half comeback and eventually earned a replay with a late goal.

In Holland, Mike Havenaar opened his account with new squad Vitesse when he headed in Renato Ibarra's cross in the 84th minute. The strike was merely a consolation, however, as his team fell 3-1 to PSV.

In Brief...

Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg): Had a solid game in the Wolves’ defensive midfield but gave away the foul which led to his third yellow card of the season as well as to Bayern’s opener in the 2-0 defeat.
Takashi Usami (Bayern Munich): Japan’s prodigy once again found himself outside the squad when his team defeated VfL Wolfsburg 2-0 at home.
Atsuto Uchida (Schalke): Started but didn’t contribute to the Knappen’s 4-1 away win over FC Koln, as he was replaced in half time after a below par performance, also picking up a yellow card.
Kisho Yano (Freiburg): Is surplus to requirements at the Bundesliga’s bottom side which lost 3-1 away to Mainz.
Shinji Okazaki (Stuttgart): Came on after the break but wasn’t able to create danger in the 3-0 home loss against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Gotoku Sakai (Stuttgart): The Swabians’ new signing watched from the stands as his team lost 3-0 against fourth-placed surprise package.
Yuki Otsu (Borussia Monchengladbach): Did not feature in the matchday squad for the Foals’ 3-0 away win over Stuttgart.
Yuto Nagatomo (Inter): Played a respectable 90 minutes but was not a major factor as Inter's eight-game winning streak stopped with a 1-0 loss at Lecce.
Takayuki Morimoto (Novara): Left off roster in 2-0 loss at Palermo.
Maya Yoshida (VVV): Put in a strenuous 90-minute effort but could not help his team in a 4-0 loss to RSK.
Robert Cullen (VVV): Watched his team's 4-0 loss from the bench.
Yoshiaki Takagi (Utrecht): In just his second full appearance of the season, started at left wing and ended the match as a shadow striker. Showed assertiveness but unable to score in 2-0 loss at Heerenveen.
Michihiro Yasuda (Vitesse): Watched his team's 3-1 loss to PSV from the bench.
Hiroshi Ibusuki (Sevilla): Scored for Sevilla Atletico in a third-division match against Real Betis B.
Akihiro Ienaga (Mallorca): Not included in lineup; transfer rumors continue.
Eiji Kawashima (Lierse): Earned the plaudits after keeping a clean-sheet in a 2-0 win away to Westerlo to keep the team's recent fine form.

 

[Llorente]

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo takes pole position in Golden Shoe race

The Portguese scored in his side's 3-1 win over Real Zaragoza to pull clear of Lionel Messi, who had a frustrating weekend

Jan 30, 2012 12:10:00 PM

By Enis Koylu

​

Cristiano Ronaldo's strike five minutes into the second half of Real Madrid's win over Zaragoza was enough for the Portuguese to overtake Trans Narva's goal-hero Aleksandrs Cekulajevs in the race for the golden boot.

Ronaldo's arch-rival Lionel Messi endured a more frustrating weekend, as his Barcelona side limped to a goalless draw against Villarreal.

Robin van Persie's two penalties in Arsenal's FA Cup win over Aston Villa do not count in the race, so the Dutchman remains six points behind the Argentine in fourth.

Seydou Doumbia's continued involvement at the African Cup of Nations has allowed Burak Yilmaz, who netted in Trabzonspor's victories over Eskisehirspor and Ankaragucu, to move into fifth place.

Mario Gomez and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar both scored one goal each, ensuring the Bayern Munich striker remains ahead of his Schalke counterpart.

Demba Ba, another striker on international duty at the African Cup of Nations, has slipped behind Huntelaar, level on points with Olivier Giroud, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lukas Podolski, who were all on the score-sheet for their clubs over the weekend.

Rank	Player	Country	Club	League	Weight	Goals	Points
1	C. Ronaldo	POR	Real Madrid	ESP	2	24	48
2	A Cekulajevs	LVA	Trans Narva	EST	1	46	46
3	L. Messi	ARG	Barcelona	ESP	2	22	44
4	R. v Persie	NED	Arsenal	ENG	2	19	38
5	B. Yilmaz	TUR	Trabzonspor	TUR	1.5	25	37.5
6	S. Doumbia	CIV	CSKA	RUS	1.5	24	36
7	M. Gomez	GER	Bayern	GER	2	17	34
8	K. Huntelaar	NED	Schalke	GER	2	16	32
9	Demba Ba	SEN	Newcastle	ENG	2	15	30
	O. Giroud	FRA	Montpellier	FRA	2	15	30
	Ibrahimovic	SWE	AC Milan	ITA	2	15	30
	L. Podolski	GER	Koln	GER	2	15	30

<tbody>
</tbody>

* = league season finished

History & How It Works

In 1967-68, French football magazine L'Equipe opted to hand out an award to the top goalscorer in all European leagues for his good performances during the season. Between 1968 and 1991, high profile names such as Eusebio, Gerd Muller, Ian Rush and Marco van Basten won the coveted trophy.

However, the gap between big and small leagues started to grow in the early 90's andL'Equipe decided to make the competition unofficial after the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) issued a protest in 1991. Darko Pancev won the award that season with 34 goals, but the CFA claimed that a player had scored 40 goals in Cyprus that term.

Adidas, sponsor of the awards, still handed out the trophy until 1996 before European Sports Magazine (with L'Equipe as a member) decided to make the title official again. ESM divided all European leagues in three groups according to strength, and attached to each group a quotient by which the number of goals is multiplied to obtain the player's rating. The European Golden Shoe was thus no longer necessarily handed to the top goalscorer, but to the player with the most points.

The weightings are determined by the league's ranking on the UEFA coefficients, which in turn depend on the results of each league's clubs in European competition over the previous five seasons. Goals scored in the top five leagues according to the UEFA coefficients are multiplied by a factor of two, and goals scored in the leagues ranked six to 21 are multiplied by 1.5. Goals in all other leagues are all worth one single point.

This measure has prevented players from so-called weaker leagues from winning the European Golden Shoe, since a goal scored in, for example, Armenia, Estonia or Azerbaijan carries less weight than a goal scored in Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga or the Premier League.

Players such as Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Forlan and Lionel Messi have won the European Golden Shoe in the past few seasons.

 

[Llorente]

Real Madrid's Marcelo doubtful for Getafe clash
The Brazilian wing-back could miss the upcoming La Liga match due to a leg injury he sustained last weekend against Real Zaragoza

Bernd Schuster slams Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho for team selection versus Barcelona
The former Blancos coach has voiced his opinion that the Portuguese boss made huge mistakes with his choices for the first Copa del Rey match against the Catalans

Mallorca's Japanese midfielder Akihiro Ienaga set for Ulsan Hyundai loan - report
The 25-year-old Gamba Osaka midfielder has had his difficulties in Spain this season and could opt for a temporary switch to South Korea

Official: Espanyol sign striker Kalu Uche from Neuchatel
The African forward has agreed to join the Catalan club after the Swiss side's expulsion from the Super League, while Atletico have decided to loan out goalkeeper Joel Robles

Germany's Joachim Low unfazed by 'pure speculation' linking him to replacing Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid
The 51-year-old coach insists that he is not paying attention to gossip that he might take the reins at the Santiago Bernabeu, hailing the Portuguese as the right man for the job

Santos' Neymar will join Barcelona 'sooner or later', says former Brazil international Marinho Peres
The 64-year-old coach, who has strong ties to the Brazilian club, is sure that the talented youngster will move to Camp Nou and stated that negotiations are at an advanced stage

Barcelona's Jose Pinto: We are not giving up on La Liga title yet
The experienced shot shot stopper has stressed that the Catalans still belief in themselves, despite trailing Real Madrid by seven points

 

[Llorente]

Bernd Schuster slams Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho for team selection versus Barcelona

The former Blancos coach has voiced his opinion that the Portuguese boss made huge mistakes with his choices for the first Copa del Rey match against the Catalans

Jan 31, 2012 8:15:00 AM

By Stefan Coerts

​

Bernd Schuster has criticised Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho for his team selection in the first-leg of the Santiago Bernabeu side's Copa del Rey quarter-final against arch-rivalsBarcelona earlier this month.

The former Madrid coach feels that the Portuguese trainer made costly mistakes by including Ricardo Carvalho in his starting XI, and using Pepe in midfield.

"I could hardly believe it when I saw the team selection. No one knows what happened there. I'd really like to know what he [Mourinho] was thinking there.

Giving a player the nod who hadn't played a long time, and using Pepe in midfield. It was weird," Schuster said to Onda Cero.

"I think that we all agree that it was a mess that particular day. No disrespect to anybody, but it really was horrible, or what ever you want to call it.

"It's a real shame that this happened, because Madrid could have eliminated Barcelona there. It's too easy to always complain about the referee."

Real Madrid were beaten 2-1 in the first leg, before being held to a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou in the return, losing 4-3 on aggregate.

 

[Llorente]

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo thankful for fans' support
The Portuguese attacker has expressed his happiness with the affection shown towards him by the Santiago Bernabeu faithful, after being booed by supporters earlier this term

Barcelona still interested in Valencia's Jordi Alba - report
The wing-back is yet to sign a new deal with the Mestalla outfit, and the European champions are hopeful of luring him back to Camp Nou this summer

Valencia coach Unai Emery targets victory over Barcelona
Los Che's head coach is eagerly anticipating the Copa del Rey encounter with the Catalans, and is determined to record a positive result on Wedesnday evening

Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso doubtful for Getafe trip with muscular injury
The Liga leaders have received more disappointing news from the club's infirmary as the Spain international is recovering from a leg strain.

Sporting Gijon part ways with Manolo Preciado after woeful season
The Asturias club are currently tied up in an ongoing relegation battle and have decided that it is time for a change in personnel.

Official: NAC Breda sign Real Sociedad's Jeffrey Sarpong on loan
The Spanish club have shipped the Dutch striker out on loan to the Eredivisie side, while securing the services of Senegalese striker Babacar on a temporary basis.

Official: Zaragoza sign Pablo Alvarez from Catania on loan in six-month deal
The Serie A side see both sides of loan agreements as Alvarez heads to La Liga while 'keeper Juan Carrizo arrives to the Rossazzurri from Lazio.

Atletico Madrid recall Fran Merida from Sporting Braga
The Vicente Calderon club have decided to give the Spanish midfielder another opportunity after he failed to convince coach Leonardo Jardim while at the Portuguese side

Official: Villarreal confirm the signing of Fluminense's Alejandro Martinuccio
The Argentine is set to link up with his new teammates on Thursday and will spend the rest of the season at El Madrigal.

Pep Guardiola responds to Callejon's criticism: Barcelona do not complain about referees
The Spanish coach insists the Catalan giants do not complain about refereeing decisions going against them, also stressing he is yet to make a decision on a new contract.

Real Madrid's Jose Callejon hits out at Messi & Xavi: 'I thought Barca didn't talk about referees'
The 24-year-old feels that the Catalan club are hypocritical in their approach to match officials.

Official: Levante secure Abdel Kader Ghezzal on loan
The Bari striker, who has been capped 27 times by Algeria, had been on a year-long loan to Cesena but he has now moved to La Liga until the end of the season

Official: Aliaksandr Hleb released by Barcelona
The Belarusian midfielder failed to establish himself at Camp Nou following his arrival from Arsenal in 2008 and he now seems set to move to Olympiakos

Barcelona youngster Isaac Cuenca signs contract extension
The 20-year-old will stay at Camp Nou until 2015, and has a buy-out clause of €20 million

Official: Victor Sanchez signs for Espanyol
The former Barcelona man, who can play at the back or in midfield, has been without a club following the financial collapse of Swiss outfit Neuchatel Xamax last week