Sports Betting Tips and Game Handicapping Picks » Spanish Primera Liga

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...

David Beckham debuts for AC Milan

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:39:17 +0000

This ''David Beckham debut'' sure was better than the last one.

After making his highly anticipated debut with the Los Angeles Galaxy nearly two years ago, David Beckham was in the middle of yet another debut for an international football team and this time, he was with AC Milan, surprising football fans on how his ‘’new debut'’ turned out this time around.

You see, the last time David Beckham made his debut for a football team, it was with the Los Angeles Galaxy, fresh from his transfer from Real Madrid to the MLS. That one was more of a cameo appearance than a full-time playing appearance really, as Becks only played for 21 minutes as the L.A. Galaxy lost to D.C. United, 1-nil.

This time though, David Beckham was on the pitch for 89 minutes with AC Milan. He was solid too as he came up with probably one of the best performances he’s ever had since leaving Real Madrid for California.

AC Milan ended up with a 2-2 draw against AS Roma.

Beckham sure was fantastic. Although it does not compare with the performances he once had early in his career with Manchester United and Real Madrid, he was solid nevertheless. Hell, the guy was so good that he elicited boos from the AS Roma crowd as he exited the pitch in the 89th minute.

‘’I felt good in the game, very strong and I enjoyed it,'’ Beckham said. ‘’I enjoyed playing with these players and in this city.'’

AC Milan head coach Carlo Ancelotti initially said it would be difficult to start the former Man-U and Real Madrid star since the guy was inactive for the last two months. STILL, he had him lining up in his traditional spot on the right wing, leaving Mathieu Flamini and Massimo Ambrosini on the bench to...

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...

Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid?

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 03:33:15 +0000

Cristiano Ronaldo is on the brink of becoming the world’s most expensive player if he decides to take on Real Madrid’s generous offer.

Now that Cristiano Ronaldo’s stint in the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship is over after Portugal lost to Germany, he is now looking into a possible move from Old Trafford and the defending Champions League champions Manchester United, to Real Madrid and the Spanish Premiere League.

After failing to lead Portugal deeper into the Euro 2008 tournament, it seems that didn’t hurt his market value so to speak. Real Madrid still wants to land the fiery Portugese striker and after he captured both the English Premiership and the UEFA Champions League titles with Manchester United, Real Madrid is STILL willing to make him the highest paid football player in the world.

Zinedine Zidane, still the highest paid footballer after moving from Juventus to Real Madrid, agrees with his former club. He believes that Cristiano Ronaldo is worthy to break his own record breaking fee and the Portugese’s 3-2 loss to Germany should not slow down his bandwagon.

‘’He has had a great season, a league and Champions League winner, and I think the fact that he and Portugal got knocked out at the quarter-finals doesn’t mean anything because they were up against a great Germany team,'’ retired Zinedine Zidane said.

‘’It doesn’t say anything about the merits during the year. He is not scared of his new Real Madrid engagement and every time they wanted good players they got them. Now it depends on his personal plans, if he wants to...''

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 [...]

Manchester United: Is a Repeat Possible?

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 10:36:45 +0000

After winning last season’s English Premier League Title, Manchester United are dead set on defending their crown, and manager Sir Alex Ferguson confesses that the Red Devils are gunning and ready. They’ve acquired 4 promising signings over the European summer. There’s midfielder Owen Hargreaves coming over from Bayern Munich. There’s Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez who [...]

Chelsea will play second fiddle to David Beckham

Jeffdstuff — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 12:00:43 +0000

Chelsea, one of the most popular teams in all of soccer, agrees to play second fiddle to David Beckham. Chelsea FC, the same team that became the 2007 FA Cup champions, and the same team that ruled the English Premiership for two years before Manchester United won this year’s Premiership title, agreed to let David [...]

2007 Copa America Final between Brazil and Argentina

Jeffdstuff — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 08:40:37 +0000

Brazil beat Uruguay while Argentina ran over Mexico to get to the championship game of the 2007 Copa America tournament. For Brazil, the struggles continue but like most of their matches in the 2007 Copa America tournament, they managed to find a way to survive. The Brazilian side BARELY made it to the Copa America [...]

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 [...]