Tag: Atlético Madrid

LaLiga: Real Madrid’s hidden advantage vs. Barca, Atletico’s second-best player, fairytale Mallorca’s test
24Oct By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

LaLiga: Real Madrid’s hidden advantage vs. Barca, Atletico’s second-best player, fairytale Mallorca’s test

The Mallorca fairytale faces a big test Mallorca aren't usually in the hunt for European places in La Liga, as they are traditionally a smaller club that spends its time trying to play spoiler to the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, bouncing in between the first and second divisions. Already, Mallorca made an impression on an international scale this season by nicking a point off Real Madrid on Matchday 1, spoiling Kylian Mbappe's long-awaited debut in the process. In addition to the draw with the reigning champions of Spain and Europe, Mallorca own quality wins over usual European hopefuls Real Betis and Real Sociedad. So after 10 Matchdays in La Liga, Mallorca sit sixth in the table with 17 points, tied on points with Athletic Club in fifth. This coming Monday, Mallorca will...
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2024/25 Champions League Predictions for Matchday 2
30Sep By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Champions League, Features

2024/25 Champions League Predictions for Matchday 2

Arsenal vs. PSG PSG don't feel like a legitimate Champions League threat in an era without Kylian Mbappe, who seemed to be the only reason why the Parisians were threats to reach the semifinals after Neymar was fully washed on the beach like a sullen hermit crab without a shell. Joao Neves gives PSG reason for optimism, but when your standout attacking player is Ousmane Dembele heading into the year 2025, you don't really stand much of a chance against a Premier League title contender. Arsenal have their own problems after a surprisingly complacent summer transfer window from an attacking perspective, but, then again, you don't need much more than Bukayo Saka and the Champions League version of Gabriel Jesus to dismantle PSG's defense. Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 PSG Aston Villa vs....
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Real Madrid have by far the biggest salary limit in LaLiga despite Barcelona doubling theirs
12Sep By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

Real Madrid have by far the biggest salary limit in LaLiga despite Barcelona doubling theirs

Real Madrid won LaLiga handily last season and were Champions League winners under Carlo Ancelotti for a second time in three seasons, benefiting greatly from the summer acquisitions of Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler, alongside Brahim Diaz's return from loan. This past summer, Real Madrid got even stronger, too, welcoming Kylian Mbappe as a free transfer and Palmeiras prospect Endrick to further load up their vaunted attack. Now, LaLiga have released the new official salary limits, and Real Madrid are, once again, at the top of the list of spending power, based on their success and revenue generated. That is no surprise, but what may be surprising to some fans is just how much more spending power Real Madrid have above the other LaLiga clubs. The rich are about to get richer. R...
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Aston Villa negotiating to sign 20-year-old attacking phenom
23Aug By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Features, Premier League

Aston Villa negotiating to sign 20-year-old attacking phenom

Aston Villa have been one of the most proactive teams in the summer transfer window this year, as they are not content with coming in fourth last season in the Premier League; the Lions want even more. With their Champions League debut on the horizon, Aston Villa are looking to stack up their roster, and their early returns are positive following a nifty 2-1 win over an improved West Ham side. New blockbuster signing Amadou Onana looks like a star, and Aston Villa have high hopes for talents Jaden Philogene, Ian Maatsen, and Cameron Archer. Yet Villa still want to fortify their attack with more U23 standouts who can develop into potential world-class superstars for a perennial Champions League outfit. The club's latest transfer target is Samu Omorodion, whose shock blockbuster tra...
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LaLiga Predictions: Barcelona vs. Athletic Club; Real Madrid vs. Valladolid; Atletico Madrid vs. Girona
22Aug By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

LaLiga Predictions: Barcelona vs. Athletic Club; Real Madrid vs. Valladolid; Atletico Madrid vs. Girona

Will Girona or Atletico Madrid gain a key advantage in their bid to spoil Real Madrid's title defense? Can Real Madrid themselves get back on track against Real Valladolid after a poor showing against another underdog LaLiga side last week in Mallorca? And will Barcelona register another big win, taking down the man who snubbed them this summer, Nico Williams and his Athletic Club teammates? Here are predictions for this weekend's LaLiga fixtures. Atletico Madrid vs. Girona Neither Real Madrid nor Barcelona will have the biggest game of the weekend, as that contest will be fought on Sunday night to close the weekend between possible title contenders Atletico Madrid and Girona. Atletico Madrid impressed in the 2022/23 season and were champions two years prior to that, while Girona w...
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UCL Quarterfinal Predictions: Real Madrid Humbled Again; Arsenal Fairytale Begins; Barça Statement
15Mar By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Champions League, Features, LaLiga, Premier League

UCL Quarterfinal Predictions: Real Madrid Humbled Again; Arsenal Fairytale Begins; Barça Statement

The matches for the 2023/24 Champions League quarterfinal round have been set. Here is an early look at which teams could advance and which teams will be heading home in this year's UCL. Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich Arsenal's Best Player How could it be anyone other than Bukayo Saka. The 22-year-old right winger is a Ballon d'Or-level talent and one of the most consistent footballers on the planet despite his young age. Even in the Champions League, Saka is colossal, recording three goals and four assists so far in the current campaign, showing he can more than step up to meet the challenge of the highest level of European football. Bayern's Best Player A familiar face to the Arsenal faithful, former Tottenham rival Harry Kane is having a special, potentially record-breaking season fo...
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LaLiga Player Rankings: Griezmann tops Real Madrid stars, Barça’s midfield shines, all hail Girona
27Nov By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

LaLiga Player Rankings: Griezmann tops Real Madrid stars, Barça’s midfield shines, all hail Girona

As November begins to draw to a close and the halfway point of the 2023/24 LaLiga season creeps up on us, it's time to take stock of the best performances of the campaign thus far, specifically, the individuals contributing to a season that has somehow been even more thrilling than last year's unpredictable campaign. Though the Premier League continues to draw the most eyeballs - and money - Spanish football has returned to the top in terms of excitement and quality of play on the pitch. There's a tight title race, a captivating top-four race, and intriguing relegation battle, and a host of mid-table teams worth rooting. Who are the best individuals in LaLiga right now? Let's rank the top 10, basing it on their overall quality - not just performances in the current season. 10. Br...
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Ranking the 10 best Spanish footballers since 2000
11Nov By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

Ranking the 10 best Spanish footballers since 2000

The Spanish national team was the most dominant side in world football from 2008 to 2012. In that time span, they won the European Championship twice and the World Cup once, proving just about impossible to beat behind a Tiki-Taka style of play that was perfected by Pep Guardiola in Barcelona. It is, therefore, unsurprising that when looking back at the best Spanish footballers of the century thus far, many of those players were key cogs in the Blaugrana wheel. Of course, when Spanish footballers are discussed, you had best believe there are plenty of rival Real Madrid players represented. These two historic clubs will unsurprisingly dominate the list of the 10 best Spanish footballers since the year 2000, but if you look closely, you'll find two players who were superstars without spen...
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The 10 best young players in LaLiga this season: Gavi, Kubo shine alongside Real Madrid duo
23Oct By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

The 10 best young players in LaLiga this season: Gavi, Kubo shine alongside Real Madrid duo

Who are the best young players in LaLiga right now in the 2023/24 season? We analyze the stars from Real Madrid, Barcelona, and even Granada. LaLiga needs to receive more recognition for being loaded with great young footballers. The Spanish top flight has quietly resumed its place as the most entertaining league in the world - a distinction it lost for a few seasons. But even without megastars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, LaLiga is delivering the drama with a real title race and plenty of drama elsewhere in the table. It is also delivering great young footballers from powerhouses like Real Madrid and Barcelona to less mainstream clubs like Girona and Granada. Let's take a look at the 10 best young players of the 2023/24 LaLiga season so far, using the age of 23 as our c...
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Ranking the 10 best forwards in men’s football right now in 2023
29Jun By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Features

Ranking the 10 best forwards in men’s football right now in 2023

No players are more coveted in world football than the forwards who score the goals, take the defense on, and create the chances that win matches. Every elite club needs an elite forward - and really two - in order to compete at the highest level and truly be an elite team at the Champions League level. So let's take a look at the 10 best forwards in the game, focusing on strikers and wingers whose primary job is to score the goals and create the assists that win their teams' matches. Many of these players are strikers and inverted wingers, because those are the positions that make the biggest difference on the score line in the modern game. 10. Christopher Nkunku Christopher Nkunku will head to Chelsea for the 2023/24 season after being the best Bundesliga player over the last three ...
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