La Liga Round: Barcelona Score Eight, Atletico And Real Madrid Keep Up Pressure

Barcelona returned to winning waves in la liga with an emphatic 8-0 win over an hapless Deportivo la Carona on Wednesday night. The Catalans had lost their last three league matches to surrender a comfortable lead at the top of the table. But they were in the mood on Wednesday as four goals from Luis Suarez, and one apiece for Lionel Messi and Neymar was enough for Luis Enrique's side to move up to 78 points in the league with just four matches left to play.

Mean while, Atletico Madrid kept up the pressure as they defeated Bilbao in a tight match. Fernando Torres scored his fifth goal in five matches in the 38th minute to give Diego Simeone's side a slim victory over the Basque side. They stay in second place on 78 points behind Barcelona. The Catalans lead the table on their superior head-to-head advantage.

Real Madrid who are just one point behind on 77 points, overcame the tricky tie against Villarreal 3-0 on the night with Karim Benzema, Luca Modric in amongst the goals for Zidane's side.

With just four matches left in the league, it should go down to the closing weeks of the season.

El Classico: Is Zidane A Genius Or Real Madrid Were Lucky?

by Fotbulnary

One of the biggest matches in club football El classico took place over the weekend at the Nou Camp. It was the second installment of this season's meetings between the two giants of Spanish football. Barcelona alienated Real Madrid 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first meeting in November. It was a defeat that set the tone for Rafael Benitez's eventual dismissal weeks later. Barcelona did not put a foot wrong in the reverse fixture in the Spanish capital.

However, it was a different match on Saturday. Real Madrid came into the match ten points behind their bitter rivals. The Catalans where effectively running away with the title. And since their first meeting in the first stanza of the league, a lot has changed between the two teams. Not least the managerial changes that Real Madrid underwent.

It was Zidane's biggest match since he was made manger in mid season. Real Madrid have had mixed fortunes in away matches in the league since the Frenchman took over. They have been high scorers at home, while they have struggled away from home to score the number of goals they score at home. And defensively, they have not be solid. As goalkeeper Navas have had to pull out some outstanding saves to keep Madrid in several matches. 
Barcelona on the other hand were riding on the crest of a 39 match unbeaten in all competitions that went back to last year. 

The match started with Barcelona all over Real Madrid, as los blancos struggled to move out of their half with Karim Benzema completely isolated upfront cutting a frustrated figure. Still they managed to keep the score at nil-nil going into the half time break despite the presence of Neymar, Messi and Suarez. However, the first yellow card Sergio Ramos picked up in the first half was something that worked against him later.

Gerard Pique evetually gave Barcelona the lead early in the second half after he escaped the attention of Pepe from a corner kick. At that point, it was a well deserved lead from the la liga champions. But Gareth Bale was having a good game, while Benzema had come into the game after a quiet first half. He eventually leveled the scores mid way through the second half.

At this point. it was a case of the next scorer would eventually take home the spoils. Barcelona was the fancied team to score with their front three which have 103 goals within them this season. 

Sergio Ramos was eventually sent off. And he should have been sent off much earlier after series of tackles and elbowing that he should have been cautioned for. With that decision, Barcelona had the momentum but it was Ronaldo who scored the winner late on from a Bale assist.

The sequence of events in the match was hinged on the inclusion of Real Madrid's Brazilian defensive midfielder Casemiro. The midfielder was instrumental to the victory, as he practically prevented either of Messi, Neymar and Suarez from scoring with vital tackles and blocks around the penalty box. It was this decision that made Zidane a genius, and having played his card, some luck had to come in at key moments of the match. However, back in November, Real Benitez succumbed to pressure from fans to be less conservative when he failed to include the Brazilian in midfield. On the day, Barcelona had a free reign in midfield as they ran out ease 4-0 winners.

The victory reinforces the point that an archetypal defensive midfielder is a necessity in an attacking team which have more forward leaning players than  defensive players. it is what brings balance to a team which opens the way for the others to flourish.

The win over Barcelona would certainly strengthen Zidane's position as Real Madrid's manager. And they would essentially be buoyed going into the tie against Wolfsburg. Meanwhile, Barcelona would have to negotiate another difficult tie against Altetico Madrid in the Champions League. 

Zidane replaces Benitez as Real Madrid manager

  

Real Madrid have this Monday sacked Rafael Benitez after just six months in charge. Speculation have been rife for months now that he would not last the first year of his three year contract, following the 2-2 draw with Valencia on Sunday where they led twice, the club scheduled a press conference Monday evening, where his dismissal was announced.

The former Liverpool, Inter, Valencia and Napoli manager's appointment was never a popular one amongst the Madrid fans and some players. He was reported to have ostracised James Rodriguez and Isco from the squad, as they did not feature regularly while his stay lasted.

Despite starting his stint at Madrid with several unbeaten games, he was accused by the fans and media of being too defensive, but he had the positive of being unbeaten and sturdy at the back as his strong points. However, the 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in the first el-Classico of the season at the Santiago Bernabeu did not help his cause, and this further increased the pressure on him, with fans booing his name at the beginning of matches in Madrid anytime it was announced.

Just last week, he accused the media of  targeting him and the club, but in the end the fans ultimately got their way as he has now being shown the way out of the club.

It is another of several managers that Florentino Perez has sacked over the years as president of the club, many had argued that Rafael Benitez was not an improvement on Carlo Ancelotti judging by his style and tactics, little wonder he has lasted just six months at the helm.

He leaves Real Madrid just four points behind league leaders, Atletico Madrid.

With Zidane as the new manager having been promoted from the B team of the club, it remains to be seen whether Florentino Perez got ride of Benitez to assuage the fans, or whether it was a purely sporting decision.

In the end, it is a premature end for yet another manager at the Santiago Bernabeu, with coaches like Fabio Capello, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and now Benitez being coaching casualties at the club.

La Liga Preview: Tough match awaits Barcelona in Madrid

Atletico Madrid host Barcelona at the Vicente Calderon in a top of the table clash tonight. The former have the the best defensive record in la liga . Barca boost the best attack.

So far both sides are level on points with just goal difference separating them after 19 matches, with Real Madrid 5 points behind. The match also marks the return of Lionel Messi to La liga, who has been out for 2 months with a thigh injury. Although he scored two goals in midweek in a cameo against Getafe in the Copa de Rey at the Nou Camp. In his absence, the duo of Fabregas, Alexis Sanchez, Pedro and Neymar have formed a prolific patternship.

Tito Martino, Barca's manager has an interesting decision to make as regards Messi who is not yet match fit. Whether he starts on the bench or from the kick off remains to be known.

Diego Simeone on the other hand has no such headache, as his charges led by the awesome Diego Costa are well into their stride.

It promises to be a fascinating battle between la-liga's top two.