Sports Betting Tips and Game Handicapping Picks » Barcelona

Champions League Final: Man-U V Barca

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 25 May 2009 08:39:52 +0000

Barcelona FC clashing against Manchester United in the final of the UEFA Champions League was something that everyone was dreaming about.

Manchester United advanced to the 2009 UEFA Champions League final in Rome after convincingly beating Arsenal 4-1 on aggregate. The Red Devils had to wait 24 hours after triumphing at the Emirates to know who will be their opponents come May 27 at the Stadio Olimpico.

And with all the controversy one could ever think of, it was revealed to be Pep Guardiola’s Catalan Giants FC Barcelona, after the Blaugrana controversially ousted Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Barcelona and Manchester United are two clubs from two different countries with a completely different culture all together. However, history shows that as much as they have dissimilarities, they also have similarities, which give this UEFA Champions League final a real flavor of glamor and style.

This will be a battle between the young and the old, the inexperienced one and the wise one, the great warrior and the new combatant.

Barcelona’s 38-year-old coach Pep Guardiola is the new ‘kid’ on the block. The former Barcelona captain jumped a big step from being the manager of the club’s reserve team to coaching the senior side at a time when the Catalans were desperately searching for some fire in the pot.

On the other hand, Man-U’s Sir Alex Ferguson, 67, is Europe’s most experienced manager after winning everything there is to win with Manchester United. Last year, the Red Devils beat Barcelona, managed by Frank Rikjaard at the time, as they marched into the final where they ultimately beat Chelsea to clinch the trophy in style.

Ferguson has been with the Red Devils for more than 20 years now, but his desire to achieve success and break records has pushed him all the way to yet an impressive campaign this season as well.

This Manchester United - FC Barcelona fixture for the Champions League title is definitely a clash that will determine who the best player is between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. This hot debate has long been running but it might come to an end on May 27, when Europe’s two best clubs meet each other in Rome.

Lionel Messi has shown his best form for...

Ronaldinho joins AC Milan

Jeffdstuff — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:38:08 +0000

Former Barcelona FC Star Ronaldinho is now a member of Italian football giants AC Milan.

You read it people, Ronaldinho won’t be playing for Manchester City in the coming 2008-09 English Premier League season but instead, will play in the San Siro to join AC Milan in the Italian Serie A.

After spending his last years in the Spanish league dealing with numerous injuries, the (now) former Barcelona superstar, Ronaldinho, is hoping he’ll have a fresh start in the Italian league as he tries to help AC Milan bring the title home to the San Siro.

Ronaldinho, together with another Brazilian footballer, the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year Kaka, will form some kind of combination in AC Milan. Their success, of course, remains to be seen.

For now, the Italian football giants are excited to introduce their newly acquired star. Thursday was the day when they formally introduced the Brazilian football icon to the excited AC Milan fans.

Ronaldinho is happy about the transfer of course. After he realized that he is no longer welcomed in Barcelona, why wouldn’t he?

‘’I can confirm that I strongly wanted to join AC Milan,'’ Ronaldinho said. ‘’It’s true. Many things have happened but in the end I have become a Rossonero player. I am happy to find so many Brazilians but also all the champions that wear the Rossoneri colours.'’

‘’I am really happy. After many years I am here. I am delighted to have arrived to AC Milan and I hope to be able to give a lot of joy to everyone.'’

How can Manchester City compete with...

Barcelona FC: Favorites To Win Spanish Primera Liga Championships

Jeffdstuff — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 11:37:58 +0000

Oddsmakers are saying that Spanish Primera Liga giants Barcelona FC are the favorites to win the La Liga Championships this upcoming 2007-08 season. Barcelona is being given 4/5 odds as compared to 3/2 odds for current La Liga Champions Real Madrid. There are a number of things to consider why the odds are favoring Barcelona [...]

Real Madrid, Barcelona, go for La Liga title Sunday

Jeffdstuff — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 09:18:32 +0000

Barcelona needs a win on Sunday AND a loss by Real Madrid. Real Madrid only needs to win to guarantee them the La Liga championship. The battle for the 2007 Spanish La Liga championship has come down to this huge fixture between Real Madrid and Real Mallorca on Sunday. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are [...]

Brazil selects initial 34 for Copa America tournament

Jeffdstuff — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 09:44:15 +0000

The 2007 Copa America tournament is only a couple of weeks away. Real Madrid striker Robinho will join AS Roma goalkeeper Doni and midfielder Diego of Werder Bremen in the ”magic 34” Brazil selected in preparation for the 2007 Copa America in Valenzuela. As expected, Brazilian football icons Ronaldinho of FC Barcelona and Kaka of [...]

Valencia, Real Madrid set sights on Spanish League and Champions League title

Jeffdstuff — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 06:06:11 +0000

With identical records in La Liga, Real Madrid and Valencia are tied for third position and fighting for a leg up to qualify for the Champions League in 2007-2008. Though conceding most of the headlines to Barcelona and Sevilla as of late, both Madrid and Valencia still have their sights set on the Spanish League [...]

Zinedine Zidane could join the MLS soon

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 08:50:04 +0000

Zinedine Zidane, was the guy who cost France the 2006 FIFA World Cup title. He was also the same guy who gave Italian Marco Materazzi, a vicious head butt that ultimately ended his stint at the 2006 FIFA World Cup final. Well, Zinedine Zidane made the soccer headlines again and apparently, the French phenom is [...]

Primera Liga Odds: Tough January fixture for Barcelona

Jeffdstuff — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 01:13:34 +0000

Barcelona should be well rested after the Christmas break. Given their January fixture list, they need to be. Resuming their Primera Liga campaign three points behind leaders Sevilla but with a game in hand, the Catalans face seven games before the end of the month, starting with a tough trip to Getafe on Sunday. They [...]

3 club race for Spanish Primera Liga title?

Jeffdstuff — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 00:07:29 +0000

It’s halftime in the Spanish Primera Liga season, and the title race has come down to three clubs. Sevilla may be the “winter champion” going into the two-week winter break, but second-placed Barcelona may well have the broadest smile, while Real Madrid offers only an envious grimace from third. Sevilla ensured itself happy holidays with [...]

Champions League Odds: Barcelona faces a must-win situation at Levski Sofia

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 07:53:03 +0000

OK, we all know that reigning champ FC Barcelona faces a must-win situation at Levski Sofia in the Champions League as it battles with Werder Bremen for the second spot in Group A on Wednesday. A draw or defeat combined with a Bremen home win against Chelsea would make Barcelona the first defending champion to [...]