Barcelona won their 21st La Liga title and third in a row after a 1 – 1 draw at Levante on Wednesday with two games to spare in the season.

Barcelona needed just a point to retain the title and they duly obliged to become the first side to win three consecutive league titles since 1993 when Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona ’Dream Team’ won the third of their four straight league crowns.

Mali midfielder Seydo Keita headed in a 27th minute opener for Barcelona only for Ecuadorian striker Felipe Caicedo to equalise on 40 minutes, but it didn’t matter as a draw gave the Catalan side the title.

“It’s always a nice feeling to win the title and the fans really deserve this,” said midfielder Xavi.

“I imagine we’re going to celebrate this title win with them tonight in the streets of Barcelona.” Barcelona stand six points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid and they lift the title courtesy of their superior head to head record over their rivals.

(more…)

Bitter Spanish rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid clashed in Jose Mourinho’s first Clasico last night at Camp Nou, but it was Barca that came out on top in spectacular fasion as they drubbed Real 5 – 0.

Spanish World Cup winners Xavi and Pedro Rodriguez put Barcelona into a two-goal lead after just 17 minutes and David Villa marked his first Clasico with a brace inside two minutes (54 min, 56) before Jeffren added a late fifth as Mourinho stomached an unforgettable first defeat in charge of Real.

“It was an important win by a big margin and it puts us top two points above Real in the table which is what we wanted,” said Villa. “However, it is only November and there are lots of games left and we have to keep on winning.”

For Barcelona it was a fifth successive Clasico win over their arch rivals as coach Pep Guardiola maintained his 100 percent record in the fixture and exacted revenge over Mourinho, whose Inter Milan side defeated Barcelona in last season’s Champions League semifinals.

(more…)

Despite wearing his new Nike Safari boots Cristiano Ronaldo did not have his best Real Madrid game in the 2-0 derby win over Atletico last night.

He did however produce a moment of magic by ‘back’ passing the ball to Xabi Alonso. Check this out:

Source: goal.com

It’s been 16 years since Real Madrid gave a 17-year old Raul a chance and he will always be loyal to the club for this, he says after saying his farewells to the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Real captain was a key part of one of the club’s most successful sides ever, winning three Champions League trophies and 16 titles in total, but was only a bit-part player last season and has decided to end his career elsewhere.

“It’s a hard day for me,” he said at a press conference. “I feel like a footballer still and I will keep on playing, but I will always be loyal to Real Madrid. I have tried to give everything in my time here.”

Raul is expected to sign for Bundesliga club Schalke and the striker says the time is right for a new challenge.

“A new period starts today,” he said. “I have been happy at Real Madrid and I will always be willing to help the club in whatever it needs.”

(more…)

Three days after winning the La Liga title Barcelona have snapped up Valencia striker David Villa for €40 million.

After a board meeting at Valencia in the morning, their president Manuel Llorente said they had accepted Barca’s offer for the striker who scored 21 league goals last season to finish his fifth consecutive campaign as the club’s top scorer.

“We have sold David Villa to Barcelona for 40 million euros,” he told a news conference at the Mestalla.

On the international stage, Villa is Spain’s second highest scorer with 36 goals from 55 matches, eight short of Raul’s record, and he will be spearheading Spain’s World Cup campaign in South Africa next month.

(more…)

Log co-leaders Barcelona and Real Madrid will both be missing key players in their Spanish La Liga match tonight.

Madrid will be without Brazil playmaker Kaka, and Barcelona will be missing striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Kaka is still hampered by a groin injury while Ibrahimovic has failed to recover from a calf problem.

Both clubs have 77 points with eight games left to play.

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has called on his team to show no fear as it looks to overturn a three-game losing streak against the defending champions.

(more…)

LA Galaxy midfielder David Beckham will be joining AC Milan on loan again from January 2010 the club confirmed.

Former England captain Beckham had been strongly linked with a second loan spell with the Rossoneri to improve his chances of making Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad.

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani claimed last week an announcement was imminent – and it has been confirmed on the club’s official website on Monday evening.

Beckham moved to the San Siro during Major League Soccer’s off-season last January, initially on a three-month loan deal, but impressed so much his stay was extended until the end of the Serie A campaign.

(more…)