Last Week in Las Ligas

OLIVER (in bold, because linking 18 videos is just so bold that I have no choice but put his coverage in bold.)  

Well this weekend coming up is the big oneChelsea and Liverpool fight it out at 5pm (eastern) on Saturday and Manchester United get it on with Arsenal at 8pm (eastern) on Sunday in a battle of the big guns

However last week all the teams were back in premiership action

Here’s the results and some action

Saturday

Charlton 1-3 Middlesbrough http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xzbh8_charlton-vs-middlesbrough-goals

Chelsea 4-0 Wigan http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xzca0_chelsea-vs-wigan

Watford 0-3 Liverpool http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs3ihebboCw&eurl

Blackburn 0-2 Arsenal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjz2kbaCq9Y&eurl=

Manchester United 3-1 Aston Villa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf1aT2JUCz4&eurl=

Bolton 0-0 Manchester City http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xzbqm_bolton-vs-man-city-extended-highlig

Sheffield United 1-1 Portsmouth http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xzbip_sheff-utd-vs-portsmouth-goals

West Ham 3-3 Fulham http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uca2oDd1mYM&eurl=

Sunday

Tottenham 2-3 Newcastle http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xzhw3_tottenham-vs-newcastle-goals

Everton 1-1 Reading http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xzgfm_everton-vs-reading-goals

Couple of premiership clubs in cup action too –

Newcastle 1-5 Birmingham http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x109ch_newcastle-1-5-birmingham (Larsson, Bendtner and Muamba are all Arsenal under 21 players on loan at Birmingham!)

Middlesbrough 4-3 Hull http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x101g8_middlesbrough-vs-hull

Manchester City 2-1 http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x100vz_man-city-vs-sheff-wed-goals

Tottenham 4-0 Cardiff http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x109w5_tottenham-4-0-cardiff-fa-cup

Fulham 4-3 Leicester http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x109ul_fulham-4-3-leicester-fa-cup


Transfer News

Not too much at the moment- the rumours continue to sizzle but not really cooking as of yet

It has been confirmed and then unconfirmed that Manchester United have won the race for 17 year old wonderkid Gareth Bale however Southampton claim he is staying unless the Premiership leaders cough up $20 + million a serious amount for a kid –

As far as confirmed transfers this week-

Lauren has signed for Portsmouth joining the host of ex Arsenal players already there (Kanu, Sol Campbell) also Clint Dempsey of the MLS was confirmed as a new signing at Fulham for around $4 million – not much else though- watch this space


Interview of the week

One of the reasons he really cracks me up- Jose Mourinho accusing a BBC reporter of hating Germans (Michael Ballack)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaxDuGF6zGk&eurl=

Goal of the week

Henry!!!!- back in style! just like I said-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH0W9aEiaHU

Performance of the week

Newcastle twosome of Shay Given and Obafemi Martins- as the keeper stopped Spurs getting a lot more than two and Martin’s scored AGAIN and looked really dangerous- Martins has certainly been one of the best players in the league this year so far and has quietened any doubters while Givens as usual is having a good season

POI

Mix of Clint Dempsey and Brian McBride Fulham FC’s two Yanks- Personally I love McBride-hard working, tough forward- not seen much of Dempsey – anyone know if he’s any good? I hear he’s pretty decent- over to you Jake…..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id7tklBD2Gk (That was nice of you to include that – Jake)

And Dempsey is nasty. And a rapper! (R.I.P. Big Hawk.)

Spain:

Atlético Madrid 3 Celta Vigo 1

Finally a performance that shows Torres’ potential.

Valencia 3  Levante 0

Los Che are baaaaack.

Real Madrid 1  Zaragoza 0

La Liga Loca:

It wasn’t a mind blowing performance from Real that sent their fans home whistling a happy tune and skipping down the street like Gene Kelly, but it was ‘correct’ as the Spanish might say. The lucky break of Raul limping off in the first half lead to lively a midfield of Diarra, Gago, Robinho and Reyes – exactly the one La Liga Loca recommended last week (smug grin). Out of this quartet, Gago impressed the most. The overpriced Argentinean wanted the ball at every opportunity and was in constant movement – something lacking from the Real team, for most of the season.Up front, Higuain looks like he could be fairly handy, although perhaps no better than Soldado, Real’s on loan striker currently banging them in Osasuna. Thanks to Barca and Sevilla both slipping up, Real are still in the title chase, a miracle in itself. How long can they can stay in it once their clear out has run its course, is the big question.

Espanyol 3 Barcelona 1  

Sid Lowe

“It was just before half-past eleven on Saturday night when the commentator let out a cry of delight: “¡Tamudo!” he screamed, “¡eres cojonudo!” (Tamudo, you’re the bollocks!).”

By the way, check out the ridiculous Tamudo goal Sid linked to in his column. Also of import: It’s been over a year since I departed Spain, and I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to see the word “COJONUDO” in a column about football. Damn, that brought back memories.

Osasuna 5 Betis 1

Racing 1 Real Sociedad 0

A 12 second highlight! Gotta love that egalatarian coverage…You’re peasants, RACING, peasants!

Mallorca 2 Sevilla 1

Sevilla continue to slip.

Villareal 1 Athletic Bilbao 0

Recreativo 1 Deportivo 1

Getafe 3 Nastic 1