La Liga

Subterms

    More stories

    • 250 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Antoine Griezmann hooked after just 58 minutes of Atletico Madrid return – and he won’t want to see his stats

      by

      ANTOINE GRIEZMANN lasted just 58 minutes on his return to Atletico Madrid.And the striker’s stats from his second debut do not make for pleasant viewing.
      Antoine Griezmann had a horror second debut for Atletico Madrid as he was subbed before the hour markCredit: AP
      Griezmann, 30, returned to the Wanda Metropolitano on deadline day after Barcelona agreed to a loan deal.
      The deal will be made permanent for £34million next summer should Griezmann play in 50 per cent of matches he’s eligible for.
      And Atletico fans will be hoping Griezmann can add to the 133 goals from his first spell, while also helping to deliver another LaLiga title.
      However, judging by today’s performance in the 2-1 win against Espanyol, the France international may need some time to adjust to his ‘new’ surroundings.
      Espanyol took the lead in the 40th minute thanks to Raul de Tomas’ strike.
      And Atletico needed two goals in the last ten minutes from Yannick Carrasco and Thomas Lemar to secure victory.

      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      Lasting just 58 minutes as strike partner to Luis Suarez before being hooked, Squawka reports Griezmann only had two shots all game – with neither one on target.
      The forward also failed to complete zero of his take-ons, and created just three chances.
      Griezmann’s passing wasn’t much better, completing just 24 while recording an accuracy of 71 per cent.
      And fans were quick to pass judgement online.
      One tweeted: “Griezmann and Suarez starting? Never again. Felix added so much more than Griezmann, he was basically non existent.”

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

      Another said: “The team is way more fluid without Griezmann and Suarez. The whole team play is more effective now than when he was there before.”
      One noted: “Everyone looked more comfortable with Griezmann off the pitch.”
      Another added: “Thought Griezmann would be better back at Atleti, but he’s really bad.”
      Antoine Griezmann ditches ponytail for his old look as he returns to Atletico Madrid More

    • 250 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Bale pictured limping and with strapping on leg after picking up injury in training – and could miss Wales qualifiers

      by

      GARETH BALE has been pictured limping onto Real Madrid’s team bus with strapping around his right leg after training at the Bernabeu.The Wales international couldn’t bend his leg as he made his way up the buses steps.
      Bale gingerly hopped up the buses stepsCredit: ESPN
      The Welsh star had white strapping aroung his hamstringCredit: ESPN
      He kept his right leg dead straight, trying to not agitate the injury.
      Bale’s fresh injury setback rules him out of Real’s LaLiga clash against Celta Vigo on Sunday.
      And if the injury keeps the 32-year-old out of action for a month or more, he could miss seven crucial games for Real – including two Champions League fixtures.
      He most certainly won’t be fit enough to feature for Wales in the October international break either.
      Wales play the Czech Republic on October 8, a crucial World Cup qualifier, followed by Estonia on October 11.

      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      The setback is a shame for Bale, who had started all three of Real’s opening LaLiga fixtures.
      And he even got himself a goal in the 3-3 draw with Levante.
      Carlo Ancelotti will now be forced into a reshuffle.

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

      Gareth Bale and Real Madrid teammates work up a sweat in the gym More

    • 200 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Barcelona’s ‘new Messi’ Ansu Fati offered to Man City and other European giants in shock transfer

      by

      BARCELONA wonderkid Ansu Fati is reportedly being offered to several European giants, including Manchester City.It’s believed the player’s agent is in contact with several clubs to try and force Barca to offer their new No10 an improved contract.
      Barcelona star Ansu Fati might be up for grabs next summerCredit: Getty
      According to Spanish outlet ElNacional.cat, Fati’s agent Jorge Mendes wants Barcelona to give the 18-year-old a new deal.
      Fati has just one year remaining on his existing Barca contract and Mendes, who also represents Cristiano Ronaldo, wants his future resolved.
      Mendes is reportedly offering the forward to clubs around Europe to ‘scare’ the Catalan giants into giving him an extension on improved terms.
      City are thought to be one of those teams but manager Pep Guardiola is reluctant to take Barca’s best prospect from the cash-strapped club.
      The Catalan giants, who were forced to release Lionel Messi in the summer, are thought to be £1BILLION in debt after severe mismanagement.
      Guardiola has reportedly asked City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain not to enter negotiations with Mendes to help Barca.

      BETTING SPECIAL GET RONALDO TO SCORE AGAINST NEWCASTLE ANYTIME AT 30/1 OR FIRST AT 50/1
      But that won’t stop other big clubs from sneaking in and signing one of the hottest prospects in Europe, if the rumours are to be believed.
      Fati is widely regarded as the future of Barcelona and was recently given Messi’s famous No10 shirt by the club.
      The teenager broke into the team in August 2019 and went on to score seven goals in 24 LaLiga appearances during the 2019-20 campaign.
      Fati was subsequently handed his international debut by Spain manager Luis Enrique, picking up four senior caps to date.
      But a serious knee injury has kept him out of action since last November and it’s unclear when he will make his Barca return.
      Barcelona hand Ansu Fati Lionel Messi’s iconic No10 shirt More

    • 225 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Chelsea ‘will only relaunch Jules Kounde transfer bid in January if Sevilla slash asking price by almost HALF’

      by

      CHELSEA will reportedly only reignite their interest in Jules Kounde during the winter transfer window if Sevilla slash their demands for the defender.The Blues were keen to snap up the centre-back in the summer, but were reluctant to activate his £68million release clause.
      Chelsea failed in their quest to sign Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde in the summerCredit: Getty
      Both clubs were close to agreeing a £43m deal for the Frenchman, only for the LaLiga side to bump up their asking price following Kurt Zouma’s switch to West Ham.
      The failed transfer is said to have left Kounde furious with the Sevilla board after he had agreed personal terms with the West London outfit.
      But the 22-year-old could still get his move to Chelsea in January, but ESPN state that will only happen if the Spanish outfit lower their demands.
      They have claimed that Chelsea are only prepared to still pay £43m.
      Should Sevilla be willing to revive negotiations, then the Champions League holders won’t hesitate in making a swoop for the ex-Bordeaux ace.
      Speaking of Chelsea’s failed move for Kounde, Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui confirmed that the Premier League giants didn’t offer a sufficient amount of money.

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

      He told Diario de Sevilla: “Kounde in the end has stayed because the club has decided that it was the right thing to do based on the evaluation of the offers they may have had.
      “For me, as a coach, that Jules stays is positive.
      “With the evolution he has had in these two years, it is positive, without any doubt.”

      Before adding: “We trust that he’ll continue to grow with us and, above all, perform, which is the most important thing.”
      Chelsea reportedly are also looking to prise French starlet Aurelien Tchouameni away from Monaco.
      However Juventus are believed to be in pole position to sign the midfielder following his standout performances in Ligue 1 and on the international stage.

      Saul Niguez impresses in training with Chelsea More

    • 250 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      LaLiga chief says PSG only ‘league of legends because of their players’ age’ after signing Messi, 34, and Ramos, 35

      by

      LALIGA’S president has blasted mega-spenders PSG as “the enemy” and “as dangerous as the Super League” after they signed veteran greats Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos.Javier Tebas derided the French giants as the “league of legends” due to the duo’s age.
      Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi were long-term rivals in LaLiga but their arrival at PSG has sparked criticism from the Spanish league chiefCredit: Splash
      PSG are paying 34-year-old Barcelona icon Messi £53million a year, while ex-Real Madrid defender Ramos, 35, will receive more than £10m a season.
      But former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has also brought in two 22-year-olds, Inter Milan wing-back Achraf Hakimi and AC Milan’s Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
      And PSG’S fifth famed recruit of the summer is ‘only’ 30, Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.
      But Tebas is scathing of the Parisians’ open cheque book policy, particularly their pouncing on Messi and Ramos.
      He told a press conference: “PSG looks like the league of legends given the age of some players.
      “‘LaLiga has young players like Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid). The problem of PSG, we will solve it. 

      “What PSG are doing is as dangerous as the Super League.”
      Tebas also promised to “work against club states” like PSG, whose owners Qatar Sports Investments pump in huge sums.
      He added: “We will continue to grow despite the departure of Messi. 

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

      “These clubs are as much enemies as the Super League.”
      But PSG General Secretary Victoriano Melero hit back, saying “certain Spanish clubs and your League are facing unsustainable levels of debt after gross mismanagement”.
      Melero added: “The French League did not, like your League, wait until recent years to take actions and put in place strong financial regulations.”
      Watch Lionel Messi’s unstoppable free-kick into top corner just moments before Argentina’s doomed clash vs Brazil More

    • 225 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Antoine Griezmann ditches ponytail for his old look as he returns to Atletico Madrid after flop Barcelona spell

      by

      ANTONE GRIEZMANN left Atletico Madrid as a thoroughbred – and now he’s back he’s proved he won’t be a show pony (tail).The France forward has ditched his famous tied long hair and reinstalled a shorter, student-like style after his deadline-day switch from Barcelona.

      Antoine Griezmann was down on his luck but long on his locks with Barcelona but has had a dramasic hairstyle change for AtleticoCredit: AFP
      It wasn’t a snide parting – as Barca praised the World Cup winner’s professionalism and attitude.
      But it’s impossible to comb over the frustration with Griezmann’s disappointing two years at the Nou Camp.
      And having cost Barcelona £108million, he’s rejoining LaLiga champs Atletico for a season on loan.
      If he plays half their matches he is available for, Atletico will buy him for a snip in the summer – just £34m.
      Otherwise, manager Diego Simeone has the option to extend Griezmann’s temporary stay for a second term.
      With his new haircut, dark shirt and black suit, Griezmann looked more like a fresh-faced office intern than a 30-year-old capped 98 times as he posed for pictures at Atletico’s Wanda Metropolitano Stadium

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET 30/1 ON STERLING TO SCORE OR ASSIST vs POLAND
      But his mature performances for Atletico from 2014-19 made him their star man.
      And as he is far from an out-and-out striker, even his Barca stats are not so dreadful, albeit on wages of £300,000 a week.
      He notched 35 goals and 17 assists in 102 games.
      NO HARD FEELINGS
      And Barcelona president Joan Laporta suggested Griezmann might simply have been ill-suited to their playing style.
      He said: “I think that everyone was expecting more from him, because he gave everything and didn’t have a questionable attitude.
      “We know what kind of player he was and is, he’s a great player. 
      “I think he didn’t fit in our system, but I think he showed a very good attitude. I sent him a message wishing him well, because he’s always had the correct attitude.  
      “In footballing terms he wasn’t the player we needed. 
      “He scored goals – I think the one he scored in last year’s Copa del Rey that we won was very important – but it’s true that he could have given more. But he was under difficult circumstances.”

      Barcelona sell Antoine Griezmann back to Atletico Madrid in £34m transfer… making a loss of £74MILLION in two years More

    • 213 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Chelsea ‘monitoring Jules Kounde’ ahead of January transfer swoop after missing out on Sevilla defender in summer

      by

      CHELSEA are prepared to bid again for Jules Kounde in the hope of finally signing the defender in January, according to reports.Sevilla rejected an approach from the Blues late in the summer transfer window, despite the Premier League side being confident of sealing a deal.
      Jules Kounde remains a Chelsea target following his failed summer switchCredit: Getty
      Having signed a striker in Romelu Lukaku and bolstered his midfield with Saul Niguez’s deadline day move, Thomas Tuchel is said to want a new centre-back as a top priority.
      The sale of Kurt Zouma to West Ham and the end of 36-year-old Thiago Silva’s contract next summer has heightened the need for a new recruit.
      As reported by Evening Standard, Kounde remains a top target and will be tracked by Chelsea over the coming months.
      The France international, 22, has a £68million release clause and is under contract to 2024.
      But he was reportedly furious after he was denied a move to Stamford Bridge by Sevilla.
      The LaLiga side were said to be willing to do a deal for below his release clause but rejected Chelsea’s £42.8m offer.

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET 30/1 ON STERLING TO SCORE OR ASSIST vs POLAND
      Director of football Monchi has claimed that the Prem title challengers were given a deadline to launch their bid, which they missed.
      He said: “It was an important offer, considering the current world where there are so many hardships, but it did not meet our demands, conditions, or quantities.
      “I spoke to the player’s agent some time ago because the more time that passed, the more difficult it would be for him to leave. We put as a deadline the [August] 20th, and we extended that to the 25th.

      “We responded with a counter-offer with a deadline of last Friday night (August 27) and they have not responded.”
      Chelsea also hope to secure the long-term futures of defenders Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
      Discussions over new contracts are underway with the German’s deal expiring in June.

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

      Jules Kounde joins Sevilla in training More