First Division - Day 14

VIDEO HIGHLIGHT OF REAL MADRID 3-RACING 1 & ESPANYOL 1-FC BARCELONA 1 (2007)
If you missed the goals & the highlights of Real Madrid-Racing & Espanyol-Barça here you are, as it worth the watch to see Real Madrid, Raul, Messi& company who are in brilliant form. Enjoy!

REAL MADRID 3-RACING 1



Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Pepe, Marcelo; Baptista, Diarra (Gago 70'), Sneijder (Saviola 83'); Robinho (Robben 74'), Raúl, Van Nistelrooy. 4-3-3.
Racing: Toño; Sergio Sánchez (Moratón 62'), Garay, Oriol, Luis Fernández; Jorge López, Duscher, Colsa (Jordi 78'), Oscar Serrano; Smolarek (Tchite 71'), Munitis. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Madrid: Baptista, Sneijder for Guti, Gago / Racing: Sergio Sánchez, Smolarek for Pinillos, Tchite.

Goals: 1-0. 03. Raúl. Ran on to Van Nistelrooy through ball and shot low past Toño.
2-0. 10. Sergio Sánchez (own goal). Turned Sneijder cross in from close up.
3-0. 69. Raúl. Curled free kick through middle of defensive wall into net.
3-1. 72. Munitis. Got on end of Tchité's cross to turn shot wide of Casillas.

Real Madrid extended their lead at the top to four points pending Villarreal's game on Sunday after beating Racing Santander 3-1, their fifteenth win in a row at home. Within ten minutes Bernd Schuster's side were two up, Raúl running on to Van Nistelrooy's through ball to open the scoring in the third minute. And after Casillas saved from Scolari at the other end, ex Castilla defender Sergio Sánchez turned Sneijder's cross into his own net to make it two.
Having only let in nine goals all season Racing were not used to that, and they fought back with Duscher bringing a good save out of Casillas and Smolarek firing a shot against the post. Garay had to head a lob from Raúl off the line though with the keeper beaten, and early in the second half Robinho was unlucky to have a penalty appeal turned down after he was brought down by Colsa.
Midway through the second half Raúl though got his second of the night with a free kick which found it's way through an opening in the defensive wall, and the game was beyond the Cantabrians' reach. Munitis got one back against his old club a couple of minutes later after Tchité set him up, but Van Nistelrooy and Robben could both have increased the lead later on. Racing had been beaten for the first time in nine games, but with a four points gap over the rest, at least they will be sure of ending the weekend in seventh spot.

ESPANYOL 1-FC BARCELONA 1





Espanyol: Kameni; Zabaleta, Torrejón, Jarque, Clemente; Valdo (Corominas 64'), Moisés Hurtado, Angel, Riera (Moha 89'); Luis García (Jonathan Soriano 79'), Tamudo. 4-4-2.

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Puyol (Zambrotta 70'), Márquez, Milito, Abidal; Xavi, Touré Yayá, Gudjohnsen (Ezquerro 72'); Messi, Bojan (Ronaldinho 64'), Iniesta. 4-3-3.

Team changes: Espanyol: Zabaleta for Lacruz/ Barça: Márquez, Bojan for Zambrotta, Henry.
Goals: 0-1. 06. Iniesta.Turned shot past Kameni on far post after Messi laid ball across.
1-1. 68. Corominas. Got on end of Riera's cross to stab ball wide of Valdés.

Espanyol and Barcelona drew 1-1 in a hard fought derby, which was made all the more interesting by the fact that they started the weekend in fourth and third spots respectively. Relations between the two Barcelona based clubs have not been so good recently, and the two presidents Daniel Sánchez Llibre and Joan Laporta ignored each other as they sat together in the directors' box.
Handbags at six paces aside though, the players got on with the game, and Iniesta gave Frank Rijkaard's side an early lead after a good run by Messi down the right wing. The visitors could have gone further ahead before the break, Messi shooting just wide and Xavi firing a free kick against the bar, Bojan (replacing the out of form Ronaldinho in the starting line up) heading the rebound against the bar on the follow up. And Kameni had to be at his best to keep out Messi again before the half time whistle.
Espanyol's only reply had been a shot from Riera over the top, but Jarque went close with a shot on the turn soon after the restart. Rijkaard finally brought on Ronaldinho, but it was local substitute Corominas who made the difference, getting on the end of Riera's cross to equalise within three minutes of making his appearance.
After that it was up to Kameni to keep the scores level, the local keeper stopping a free kick and a header from Ronaldinho and a late effort from Messi. Valdés also had to be on his toes to keep out an injury time shot from Jonathan, and seconds later it was all over. Sánchez Llibre and Laporta exchanged a brief handshake and that was that. Honours had been shared.

Almería 1 - Sevilla 0

Almería: Diego Alves; López Rekarte, Carlos García, Pulido, Mané (Acasiete 61'); Juanma Ortíz, Soriano (Corona 53'), Felipe Melo, Crusat; Kalu Uche (Natalio 77'), Negredo. 4-4-2.
Sevilla: Palop; Daniel Alves, Mosquera, Fazio, Crespo; Poulsen, Martí; Jesús Navas (Chevantón 91'), Renato (Keita 56'), Diego Capel; Kanouté. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Almería: Diego Alves for Cobeño / Sevilla: Daniel Alves, Mosquera, Crespo, Martí, Renato for Hinkel, Dragutinovic, Adriano, Keita, Luis Fabiano.
Goals: 1-0. 87. Acasiete. Ran in to head Corona's wide free kick down past Palop.

Sevilla were brought down to earth after their Champions League win over Arsenal midweek, a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Almería leaving them below their opponents down in the bottom half of the table. The hero of the night was local keeper Diego Alves, in the side for the first time in the league as Cobeño was not allowed to play under his loan contract, and he made important saves from Navas and Kanouté before the break and Diego Capel (a local boy from Almería) after the restart.
The turning point of the game came though when his namesake Daniel Alves was sent off for a second bookable offence in the first minute of the second half. Almería took advantage, Kalu Uche bringing a good save out of Palop and heading another chance just wide, and with three minutes to go Acasiete ran in to stoop low and head Corona's free kick into the net. Almería had beaten their regional neighbours, and they are currently the highest ranked of the Andalusian sides in the table.

KAKA - FRANCE FOOTBALL OFFICIAL "GOLDEN BALL" 2007 AWARD WINNER

SFS picked up the news on the 25th Nov & announced that AC MILANstar KAKA had won the France Football "Golden Ball" Award, as theBest Football Player in the World for 2007. Now its OFFICIAL withKaka picking up 444votes with 2º place going to Cristian Ronaldo(Man Utd) with 277votes & 3º place going to Spanish based Argentinesensation Messi ( Fc Barcelona ) with 255votes.The highest placed Spaniard is Arsenal midfielder CESC FABREGASwith 8th place & 27votes, a great achievement for such a young playerwho can only get better with time.SFS wishes to congratulate the winner & rest of place getters.

For thoses who enjoy the stats & history of the Award, see below the past winner, second & third placed, since it all started.
YR- WINNER- SECOND- THIRD--- ------- ------- -------
07 Kaká (Milan) C.Ronaldo (Manchester)Messi (Barcelona)
06 Cannavaro (Madrid) Buffon (Juventus) Henry (Arsenal)
05 Ronaldinho (Barca) Lampard (Chelsea) Gerrard (Liverpool)
04 Shevchenko (Milan) Deco (Barcelona) Ronaldinho (Barca)
03 Nedved (Juventus) Henry (Arsenal) Maldini (Milan)
02 Ronaldo (Madrid) R. Carlos (Madrid) Kahn (B. Múnich)
01 Owen (Liverpool) Raúl (Real Madrid) Kahn (B. Múnich)
00 Figo (R.Madrid) Zidane (Juventus) Shevtchenko (Milan)
99 Rivaldo (Barcelona) Beckham (Manchester) Shevtchenko (Milan)
98 Zidane (Juventus) Suker (Real Madrid) Ronaldo (Inter)
97 Ronaldo (Inter) Mijatovic (Madrid) Zidane (Juventus)
96 Sammer (B. Dormund) Ronaldo (Barcelona) Shearer (Newcastle)
95 Weah (Milan) Klinsmann (Tott.) Litmanen (Ajax)
94 Stoichkov (Barca) Baggio (Juventus) P. Maldini (Milan)
93 Baggio (Juventus) Bergkamp (Ajax) Cantona (Leeds)
92 Van Basten (Milan) Stoichkov (Barca) Bergkamp (Ajax)
91 Papin (Marsella) Matthaus (Inter) Savicevic (E. Roja)
90 Matthaus (Inter) Schillaci (Juventus) Brehme (Inter)
89 Van Basten (Milan) Baresi (Milan) Rijkaard (Milan)
88 Van Basten (Milan) Gullit (Milan) Rijkaard (Milan)
87 Gullit (Milan) Futre (At. Madrid) Butragueño (Madrid)
86 Belanov (Din. Kiev) Lineker (Barcelona) Butragueño (Madrid)
85 Platini (Juventus) Elkjaer (Verona) Schuster (Barca)
84 Platini (Juventus) Tigana (Burdeos) Elkjaer (Verona)
83 Platini (Juventus) Dalglish (Liverpool) Simonssen (Vejle)
82 Rossi (Juventus) Giresse (Burdeos) Boniek (Juventus)
81 Rummenigge (Múnich) Breitner (Múnich) Schuster (Barca)
80 Rummenigge (Múnich) Schuster (Colonia) Platini (S.Etienne)
79 Keegan (Hamburgo) Rummenigge (Múnich) Krol (Ajax)
78 Keegan (Hamburgo) Krankl (Barcelona) Resembrick(Ander.)
77 Simonssen (Moench) Keegan (Hamburgo) Platini (Nancy)
76 Beckenbauer (Múnich) Resembrick (Ander.) Viktor (D. Praga)
75 Blohkine (Kiev) Beckenbauer (Múnich) Deyna (Varsovia)
74 Cruyff (Barcelona) Beckenbauer (Múnich) Deyna (Varsovia)
73 Cruyff (Ajax) Zoff (Juventus) Müller (Múnich)
72 Beckenbauer (Múnich) Müller (Múnich) Nezter (Moencheng.)
71 Cruyff (Ajax) Mazzola (Inter) Best (Manchester)
70 Müller (Múnich) Moore (West Ham) Riva (Cagliari)
69 Rivera (Milan) Riva (Cagliari) Müller (Múnich)
68 Best (Manchester) Charlton (Manch.) Dzajic (Estr. Roja)
67 Albert (Ferencv.) Charlton (Manch.) Johnstone (Celtic)
66 Charlton (Manches.) Eusebio (Benfica) Beckenbauer(Múnich)
65 Eusebio (Benfica) Facchetti (Inter) Suárez (Inter)
64 Law (Manchester) Suárez (Inter) Amancio (Madrid)
63 Yaschin (D. Moscú) Rivera (Milan) Greaves (Tottenham)
62 Masopust (D. Praga) Eusebio (Benfica) Schellinger(Col.)
61 Sívori (Juventus) Suárez (Barcelona) Haynes (Fulham)
60 Suárez (Barcelona) Puskas (Real Madrid) Seeler (Hamburgo)
59 Di Stéfano (Madrid) Kopa (Stade Reims) Charles (Juventus)
58 Kopa (Madrid) Rahn (Essen) Fontaine (Reims)
57 Di Stéfano (Madrid) Wright (Wolverham.) Kopa (Madrid)56 Matthews (Blackpool) Di Stéfano (Madrid) Kopa (Stade Reims)

Champions League, day 5

Barcelona and Sevilla are both through to the knock out stage after the opening day of round five. Barcelona drew 2-2 at Olympique Lyon to ensure top spot in group E, and Sevilla also head up group H after beating Arsenal 3-1.


Olympique Lyon 2 - Barcelona 2

Lyon: Vercoutre; Reveillere, Squillaci, Anderson, Grosso; Fabio Santos (Kallstrom 68'), Toulalan, Juninho; Govou, Fred (Keita 60'), Ben Arfa (Remy 82'). 4-3-3. Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Zambrotta (Márquez 82'), Puyol, Milito, Abidal; Xavi, Touré Yayá, Gudjohnsen; Messi, Bojan, Iniesta (Ronaldinho 71'). 4-3-3.

Goals: 0-1. 03. Iniesta. Connected with Bojan cross to strike angled shot across keeper.
1-1. 07. Juninho. Free kick from wide out which bounced across Valdés into net.
1-2. 58. Messi (penalty). After Messi himself tripped by Juninho inside area.
2-2. 80. Juninho (penalty). After Abidal barged over Keita on left side of area.

Sevilla 3 - Arsenal 1

Sevilla: Palop; Alves, Fazio, Dragutinovic, Crespo (Mosquera 64'); Jesús Navas, Poulsen, Keita, Adriano (Martí 90'); Luis Fabiano (Kerzhakov 75'), Kanouté. 4-4-2.
Arsenal: Almunia; Hoyte (Sagna 66'), Touré, Senderos, Traoré; Gilberto; Eboué (Walcott 78'), Cesc Fábregas (Rosicky 56'), Denilson, Eduardo; Bendtner. 4-1-4-1.

Goals: 0-1. 11. Eduardo. Controlled Bentner pass on chest and drove shot past Palop. .
1-1. 24. Keita. Fired shot back past Almunia after Navas cross not cleared.
2-1. 34. Luis Fabiano. Got on the end of Alves free kick to head wide of keeper.
3-1. 89. Kanouté (penalty). After Kanouté himself brought dowm by Touré.

EURO 2008: SPAIN 1 - NTH.IRELAND 0. SPAIN QUALIFIES GROUP WINNER

It was rough , hard & difficult but finally SPAIN goes through & qualifies for Euro 2008 as group winner after defeating tonightNTH.IRELAND 1-0. Here is the VIDEO of the winning goal thanks to XAVI HERNANDEZ of Fc Barcelona.

1-0 Spain vs. Northern Ireland EURO 2008 Q
Uploaded by 90tsunni

NO CRISIS AT NOU CAMP - BOJAN

Barcelona prodigy Bojan Krkic has dismissed suggestions that the Catalan giants are in crisis or that coach Frank Rijkaard is living on borrowed time at the Nou Camp.
Barca have hit the headlines recently due to their dire away form this season, which has seen them win just three of their nine competitive matches on their travels.
However, as 17-year-old Bojan is quick to point out, Barca are still in fine fettle both domestically and in Europe thanks to an enviable home record of eight wins from eight.
"I would not talk of crisis because we are first in our Champions League group, in the league we are very few points from first place and at home we are showing that we are unstoppable," said Bojan, who does admit that their away performances need to be looked at, though.
"There are small details which we need to find solutions to because we cannot lose so many points away from home, but we have plenty of time to improve," he added.
Coach Rijkaard has also come in for criticism this season, even though his side are currently third in La Liga, just four points behind arch rivals Real Madrid after 12 rounds of action.
There has even been media speculation in Spain that Rijkaard has until Christmas to improve things or risk being sacked, with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho being tipped as a possible replacement for the Dutchman.
Bojan does not believe there is any substance in those reports though, and he believes Rijkaard will be at the club for a long time to come yet.
"It cannot be true when they say that he could be fired because he has done a lot for Barca," the Spain Under-21 international said in Marca.
"He has been a coach who has brought the dreams back to this club. As well as that, it cannot be said that we are going through a bad patch because the team is well. I think that Rijkaard is going to continue at Barca for many years."

Second division - day 13

Second placed Numancia lost a bit of ground on Málaga after a 0-0 draw at Cádiz on Sunday evening, and they ended the weekend three points behind the leaders. Fifth placed Elche also failed to close up on the top three after losing 3-1 at Salamanca, a second minute goal from Michel overturned by a Quique Martín penalty and strikes from Jorge Alonso and David Rodríguez in the last half hour of the match. Celta moved to within a point of David Vidal's side after beating Hércules 0-1, Jesús Perera getting the only goal three minutes after the restart.
Córdoba dropped to seventh after drawing 1-1 with Poli Ejido, a controversial goal from Castell in the fourth minute of injury time cancelling out Arteaga's earlier strike. Tenerife climbed back into the top half of the table after a comfortable 3-1 win over struggling Xerez, moving ahead of Eibar and Castellón who could only draw 0-0. And Alavés distanced themselves from the drop zone after a 3-1 win over Las Palmas, who are now firmly anchored to the foot of the table. (18.11.07)
Four matches in the second division on Saturday, with Málaga consolidating their place at the top after coming from behind to beat Racing Ferrol 4-2. The Galicians were two up at the break thanks to a Gaitán own goal and a strike from Pereira, but two from Hidalgo after the restart levelled the scores, and Gerardo and Peragón wrapped things up later on. Sporting Gijón move back up to third after beating last week's incumbent Sevilla Atlético 1-3. A Lolo own goal and a shot from Kike Mateo gave the Asturians a two goal lead by half time, and although David Prieto got one back for the locals, Barral finished them off near the end.
The game between Gimnàstic and Real Sociedad, two of the sides relegated last season, ended in a 1-1 draw. Delibasic put the Basque side ahead midway through the first half, but they had Víctor López sent off before half time and the Catalans took advantage to equalise through Dani Tortolero with ten minutes to go. Meanwhile Albacete's nightmare season continued with a 1-0 defeat at Granada 74, and the Manchegans sink further down in the drop zone. Borja Criado got the only goal for the home side in the eightieth minute. (17.11.07)

Qualifying group F - Spain 3 - Sweden 0

Spain: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Marchena, Puyol, Capdevila; Albelda; Iniesta (Joaquín 52'), Xavi, Cesc, David Silva (Riera 66'); David Villa (Tamudo 52'). 4-1-4-1.

Sweden: Isaksson; Nilsson, Mellberg, Hansson, Edman; Wilhelmsson (Bakircioglü 79'), Andersson (Källström 46'), Svensson, Ljungberg; Ibrahimovic, Rosenberg (Allback 59'). 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 14. Capdevila. Turned ball into net after Cesc headed on Xavi's corner.
2-0. 39. Iniesta. Got on end of Capdevila cross to shoot into roof of net.
3-0. 65. Ramos. Poked ball back past Isaksson after Capdevila shot blocked.
Spain have qualified for the Euro 2008 finals after beating Sweden 3-0, a result which takes them above their opponents to the top of group F. As with the last game against Denmark, Luis Aragonés opted to line up with his three play-makers Cesc, Iniesta and Xavi in the line up, with Puyol and Villa coming in to strengthen the side. And within a quarter of an hour they were ahead, Capdevila turning the ball past Isaksson after Cesc headed on Xavi's corner for his first goal with "La Selección".

Villa hit the post with a free kick and Sergio Ramos fired a shot over the top as Spain continued to dominate, and with six minutes to go to the break Iniesta latched on to Capdevila's pass to score his team's second. Ibrahimovic got the ball in the net after hitting the post only to see the strike ruled out for offside, but Xavi and Cesc both went close before Ramos wrapped things up after another Xavi corner, firing the ball back in to the net after Wilhelmsson blocked Capdevila's shot.

The news that Northern Ireland and Denmark were drawing had meant that both Spain and Sweden were qualified for a short while, but Ireland's eventual victory changed the situation, and Spain needed to win to avoid any possible upset against the Irish in Las Palmas next Wednesday. Just to make sure they continued to push forward, Riera coming on and almost immediately hitting the side netting, and Joaquín and Xavi both bringing saves out of Isaksson.

Casillas was finally put under some pressure as Sweden tried for a consolation, but the Scandinavians' best chance came from a Källström free kick which deflected off the defensive wall over the top. They now need a point against Latvia in their last match to go through, but Spain can start to celebrate knowing that their place in Austria / Switzerland is assured.