Real Madrid and Barcelona get clasico dates in new La Liga fixtures

Google Image: El Clasico

Fixtures for the Spanish Primera Division 2015/2016 season were released on Tuesday, with the El Clasico matches scheduled for Week 12 and 31 of the new season.

Barcelona will visit the Santiago Bernabeu to play Real Madrid on November 8th, and the Whites will travel to the Nou Camp for the return leg on 3rd April 2016.

Last season Madrid beat Barca 3-1 at the Bernabeu, while Barcelona won 2-1 at home on their way to winning La Liga.

In the season opener, Luis Enrique tutored side will begin their title defence away to Athletic Bilbao as Madrid travel to newly-promoted Sporting Gijon.

The new La Liga campaign will start on the weekend of the 22/23 August and finish on 14/15 May. On the final day of the season, Barcelona will host Granada, while Real Madrid finish the campaign against La Coruna.

Cristiano Ronaldo gets two match ban following red card against Cordoba

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been banned for two games and will now miss league games against Real Sociedad and Sevilla as a result of the red card he picked up in Saturday's game.

Ronaldo was red carded in the match against Cordoba with his side having to struggle to win 2-1 with 10-men

Frustrated Ronaldo didn't make much impact in the match and he lashed out his hand at Jose Crespo, which the referee missed, and then minutes later kick out at Edimar, for which he was sent off.

"I apologise to everyone and especially to Edimar for my thoughtless act in today's game'', - Ronaldo said in an apology after the match.

Ike Uche signs contract extension at Villareal

Twitter/@Ikeuche9

Nigerian striker Ike Uche has extended his stay at Villareal for another two years which will keep him at the Spanish club until 2017.

The former Real Zaragoza and Getafe player shared on his Twitter account on Thursday, ''Proud to defend this jersey until 2017! Thanks to @VillarrealCF club, fans, teammates and staff! God bless you all!''

Congrats Ike Uche.

Victor Valdez Is The Best Goalkeeper, Casillas Ranks 20th In La Liga History - Report

Former Barcelona goalie has been named the best in the history of the Spanish la liga.

According to a recent research carried out by the Centre for Research of Football History and Spanish Statistics (CIHEFE), analyzed keepers since 1928, Dailymail Sport report.

Google Image/ Valdez

He beat Thibuat Courtois (Athletico Madrid), Francisco Liano (Racing, Sport and Sporting), Roberto Rodriguez, ''Rodri'' (Atletico Madrid and Celta) and Mariano Garcia Remon (Real Madrid).

Despite winning 160 caps for Spain, compared to Valdes' meagre 20, Real Madrid's Casillas is ranked way down the list in 20th place.

Meanwhile, Santiago Cañizares was eighth, Luis Maria Arconada 13th and Andoni Zubizarreta 17th. The report detailed 790 players and concluded Valdes was the ‘ideal prototype’ for a goalkeeper.

See full report here 

Do you agree?

Ike Uche flaunts his new Adidas Predator Instinct boot (PHOTO)

Twitter/@Ikeuche9

Villareal striker Ike Uche poses with his new boot and shares with his fans on social media, he said on twitter ''My new shoes #PredatorInstinct, thanks @adidas_ES!''

Reports have it that the Nigerian has been invited by reinstated Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi for the final two games of AFCON qualifiers against South Africa and Congo

Throw Back: Who remembers Samuel Eto'o stint with Real Madrid? (PHOTO)

Google Image

Samuel Eto'o is a Cameroonian currently plying his trade in the English Premier League with Everton  FC where he joined on free transfer from Chelsea.

Eto'o is enjoying his spell with Everton having scored four goals in Eight games so far, and the club is considering an extension for the African star.

The striker spent a season with Real Madrid Castilla (Youth Team) before he was loaned to Leganes, Espanol and Marlloca before being transfer to Mallorca, and then the success list gets full

Real Madrid expose Barcelona in 3-1 El Clasico win

Real Madrid came from a goal down to beat Barcelona 3-1 in the first El Clasico of the season in the La Liga which saw former Liverpool striker debut for his new side in the league.

Neymar put the visitors ahead in the 3rd minute of the match while it took a Cristiano Ronaldo 35th minute Penalty kick for Madrid to come back into the game after Gerard Pique caught the ball in an attempt to stop a Marcelo pass.

The home side came all attacking in the second half with Pepe scoring a header to put Madrid ahead before Karim Benzema increased the tally in the 61st minute of the match.

The win places the Whites (21pts) just a point behind Barcelona (22pts) after 8 games into the L Liga season.

100 goal-mark in Spain excites Nigeria striker Ike Uche

Nigeria international Ike Uche has expressed joy over his new goalscoring record after he struck twice to reach a total of 100 goals in his 12-year spell in Spain.

Twitter/@Ikeuche9

The Villarreal striker scored twice to ensure his side defeated Alemeria  in weekend's La Liga match in which they won 2-0.

He shared on his Twitter account "Great game last night, very proud to have scored my 100th goal in Spain. Just want to thank everyone for the support.

Of course it's worth celebrating, congrats IKE.

Luis Suarez reveals he's dazed by Barcelona Academy facilities

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has revealed that the facilities at Barcelona FC are amazing and he wished he grew up with such.

Twitter/@FCBarcelona

Speaking with the club's Magazine, the Uruguay striker waiting to make his official La liga debut, said " I’m impressed and amazed by the facilities, the spaces they have to develop the children in everything, in their studies, their diet and their schedules.

“I was surprised by everything, above all the way the children they have are. I wish I had had the opportunity to develop in this way.”

The former Liverpool goal-machine will make his debut on October 25 when the Catalans travel to Santiago Bernabeu for the first El Clasico this season against Real Madrid.

Ike Uche in match-fixing mess

Super Eagles striker, Ike Uche is one of the four names fingered for match-fixing in Spain. 

According to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, Uche’s club then Real Zaragoza beat Levante 2-1 on the final day of the 2010/11 season to avoid relegation, while Levante and Deportivo La Coruna were demoted as a result.

Atletico Madrid captain, Gabi, who scored Zara- goza’s two goals on that fateful day, confessed to a judge yesterday he was aware the match was fixed.

“I just did what the club asked me to do,” the 29-year-old midfield er simply said in court, according to El Mundo.

It was suspected that Levante players were paid to lose the match. And the spotlight of this trial had fallen on Agapi- to Iglesias, the then owner of Zaragoza, Leonardo Ponzio, Leo Franco and Uche, according to El Mundo.

United to cough out £140m if they must have Cristiano Ronaldo back

Following recent reports of Manchester United wanting to have their former player Cristiano Ronaldo back, it has been revealed that it would cost the English club side over £140m to lure him back.

Dailymail UK reports that Ronaldo’s advisors have been asking for incredible wages of £20m a year, which will see the forward earn up to £385,000 a week.

The Portuguese captain left United for Real Madrid in 2009, for a world record fee of £80m. But it is understood that Ronaldo, who turns 30 next year, no longer enjoying his stay in Spain and want to move back to England.

Madrid president Florentino Perez is expected to demand a transfer fee around 60m for the player who has scored 264 goals for the La Liga giants.

United took a giant step bringing on Angel Di Maria from Madrid this summer in a deal worth more than £120m.

At last! Suarez starts Barca training on friday, to be unveiled publicly next week

After being cleared for ''training , promotional activities and administrative matters, Luis Suarez is set to resume training on Friday, 15th August with the Barcelona squad and also to be unveiled to the public on Monday next week.

 

According to a statement on the club's website shortly after the verdict on the player by the Court of Arbitration for Sports which reads: ''Following the announcement of the verdict by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the appeal against the sanction imposed on Luis Suarez by FIFA, FC Barcelona hereby announces that the player will join the first team’s training session scheduled for tomorrow Friday in the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.

 

''Likewise, the public presentation of Suarez as a new FC Barcelona player will be held on Monday at the Camp Nou, on occasion of the Joan Gamper Trophy match [with Leon].''

 

The former Liverpool goal-poacher was suspended for four-months for biting Italian defender Chiellini during a World Cup match. 

Hands Off: PSG President says Di Maria is too expensive

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, has made it clear that the club will not pursue a move for Real Madrid’s Angel Di Maria, because he is too expensive.

The Argentina international has been heavily linked with a move to Paris, after James Rodriguez arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.

But Al-Khelaifa says he will not be coming to PSG.

“As for Di Maria, it is true that we have held talk with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez,” Al-Khelaifi said at a press conference where new signing David Luiz was being unveiled.

“But he is too expensive for us. We have stopped negotiations.”

Hala Madrid: Benzema signs contract extension to remain at Real Madrid for the next five Seasons

France forward Karim Benzema has committed his future to Real Madrid after he extended his contract which keeps him at the club untill 2019.

His signature however debunks every speculation of the player's potential move away from the club as suggested by many transfer rumours in recent times.

According to an official statement released on the club's website which reads: ''Real Madrid would like to announce the extension of Karim Benzema's contract with the club until 30, June 2019 to include the next five seasons.''

Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham were reported to be among the English Premier League teams chasing the 26-year old striker who scored 24 goals in 51 appearances for Real Madrid last season.

Ochoa moves to Malaga

Malaga have completed the signing of 29-year old Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa from French side Ajaccio on a three-year contract.

 His impressive performances at the World Cup in Brazil put him in the market and has opted for a new challenge in La Liga.

''Malaga Club de Futbol has reached an agreement to sign one of the best goalkeepers from the recent World Cup in Brazil, Guillermo Ochoa,'' read a statement on the club’s official website.

''He will wear the Blue and Whites’ shirt for the next three seasons. Ochoa has successfully passed the routine medical checks.

''I will return 100 percent fit'' - Neymar

Barcelona forward, Neymar has revealed that he will be joining the rest of the team in no time as he continues to recover from the injury that ended his world cup.

Report on the club website says that the 22-year-old expects to be back in action soon, having initially been expected to miss four to six weeks after suffering the injury on July 4.

Neymar Jr is in Japan taking part in a series of promotional events. Talking to the Japanese media, he was very optimistic about his physical shape at the start of his preseason:  ''I am recovering from the injury day by day. I’ll be coming back to Barcelona 100%  fit"

Neymar Jr will return to work with FC Barcelona on the 5 August, and he expects to be fit enough to play in the Joan Gamper Trophy match. 

"I want to have a really good season and I'm looking forward to helping my teammates to get some good results.''

Fateful Day: August 8 is Luis Suarez' last chance to reduce his four months ban for biting

Reports have it that Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been told August 8 is the confirmed date when he will learn his fate over the four month ban imposed by FIFA.

The Uruguayan, who bit the Italian defender during the World Cup group stage last month, signed for Barcelona from Liverpool after the incident, but is banned until the end of October.

Dailymail.co.uk reports that the tribunal has been called for this date by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, and will represent Suarez's last chance to reduce the ban.

Under the conditions of the ban, Suarez cannot partake in any footballing activity for another three months, including training and being unveiled as Barcelona's record signing.

Gerrard told Suarez he's too good for Arsenal. Big Mouth?

Liverpool Captain Steven Gerrard has finally revealed how he succeeded in making his former colleague Luis Suarez stay at Anfield last season in the face of suitors for the striker.

Amongst the big clubs that came for the player was Arsenal, with a £40m on the table but the Reds refused to let go of their star player.

The Uruguay striker remained at the club, bagged the highest goal scorer and several other individual awards but left for Barcelona for a £75m which Gerrard admits is a blow to the team.

Gerrard - ''You know what I think of him, I love him to bits and I’m his number one fan as a player, I spoke to him before he went, and he was so thankful to the club for all the times they stuck by him.

''His dream all along, from the first day he came, was to play for Real Madrid or Barcelona.

''Last summer, when he was out in the cold and training on his own, that’s the conversation I had with him. I said, ‘Don’t go to Arsenal.''

''With all due respect to them, I said to him that he was too good for Arsenal. I said, ‘If you score 30 goals for us and win the PFA Player of the Year, the press Player of the Year' – and believe it or not I knew he was going to win them – ‘they will come back for you.''

"You can't begrudge him his dream, leaving for Barca," Gerrard added.

"But I'd have been disappointed if he had left for Arsenal."

Official: Rodriguez joins Real Madrid

An update on the signing of Colombia and Monaco midfielder, James Rodriguez by Real Madrid reveals that the Spanish club and the Lig 1 side have reached an agreement and the player has already passed his medical.

According to an official statement on the Madrid website, "Real Madrid C.F have reached an agreement with AS Mónaco FC to buy James Rodríguez, who will join the club for the next six seasons.

"The player will be presented today, Tuesday 22 July, at 20:00 CET, in the Santiago Bernabéu's presidential box.

"Following that, James Rodríguez will take his first steps on the Santiago Bernabéu's pitch wearing the Real Madrid jersey and will then answer questions from the media outlets in attendance in the press room." The statement reads.
 

Morata injures Knee in first training at Juventus

Former Real Madrid forward Alavaro Morata has been reported to have picked up a knee injury during a training session at his new club Juventus in Italy.

According to the club website "Spanish forward Alvaro Morata sustained a sprained left knee in this afternoon’s training session. His condition will be assessed tomorrow."

The 21-year old joined Juventus for a fee of €20million last weekend but his new adventure seems to have suffered a set back as the intensity of the injury is yet to be ascertained.