Football Earth: May 2015

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Atletico Madrid 0-1 Barcelona: Treble is on for Luis Enrique in his first season after Lionel Messi's brilliance clinches La Liga title

Diego Simeone's side frustrated the visiting Catalans for long spells at the Vicente Calderon
Neymar and Lionel Messi were kept quiet as Barcelona knew they needed three points for the title
Diego Godin missed a superb chance with the score goalless just after half-time
But Messi opened the scoring on 65 minutes as Barcelona won the 23rd La Liga title in their history

What a difference a year makes. Three-hundred and sixty-five days ago, Atletico Madrid won La Liga at the Nou Camp and now Barcelona have exacted revenge, winning the Spanish title – their 23rd – by beating the former champions in the Vicente Calderon.

When the goal came, it had to be Lionel Messi, for so many reasons. Because he is the star of this team. Because finding his best form in years has inspired Barcelona to reach two cup finals and win this trophy. Because Cristiano Ronaldo had just scored a few minutes earlier against Espanyol, to jeopardise Barcelona's title chances.

It was a beautiful strike, too. Messi fed the ball into Pedro, in the left-hand side of the area. Pedro knew his job was to cut it back to the Barcelona No 10, and did just that. One touch from Messi, rolling his left foot over the ball left Jose Gimenez lunging at thin air. Another micro-touch to the left, unbalanced Diego Godin and a third and final touch saw the ball nestling in the bottom right corner of Oblak's net.

Luis Enrique is dreaming of the treble, a word he admitted in a press conference that he likes. He is dreaming of emulating Pep Guardiola's achievement in his first season at Barcelona, which would make the Catalans the only team to do it twice. This was a huge stride in the right direction, and now the coach can rest players in the final match of the league season, at home against Deportivo de la Coruna next weekend.

Last season these teams met six times and Barcelona failed to win on any occasion, only scoring three goals. There has been a sea change this term, with Luis Enrique's side racking up eight goals in four matches against the Rojiblancos.

Diego Simeone was sweating at Atletico's Ciudad Deportiva de Majadahonda training complex this week. Partly because of the intense heatwave that has swept across Spain, and partly because working out how to stop Messi, Neymar and Suarez is arguably the hardest task in football at the moment – though he was saved from having to deal with the latter, thanks to a hamstring strain.

Given that his side had the week off, Simeone forced his players to sit through numerous tactical briefings, using videos of their previous three defeats by Barcelona this season to highlight the changes they needed to make to their game-plan. They looked better defensively in this game than in their other three defeats by Barcelona this season, but as Pep Guardiola pointed out, Messi is unstoppable.

Barcelona knew that with three points, the league was theirs, but they began the game slowly, preferring to save energy and let Atletico toil. Toiling, however, is found in the Rojiblanco bloodstream and Simeone's men started to enjoy themselves. Clever work by Arda Turan on the left earned his side a corner, from which they nearly opened the scoring. In it came, from Koke, and Gimenez's flicked header towards the far corner was tipped away by Claudio Bravo, straining every sinew to reach the ball.

The Chilean was called into action again when Antoine Griezmann fired in a strike from the right, repelling the forward's effort superbly, not knowing the linesman's flag was raised.

Barcelona began to take the sting out of the game by getting the ball and keeping it to themselves, and created their first opportunity in the 11th minute. Neymar, to Andres Iniesta, to Messi, but his shot was kept out by Jan Oblak. This was the start of a long battle between the Slovene and the Argentine. Messi was denied again when his header from 12 yards was aimed too centrally to trouble the goalkeeper.

The Calderon, usually so loud, was quietened by a long period of Barcelona possession. For a moment the siren of a police car whizzing between the stadium and the Manzanarez River was audible, above the murmur of the fans.

All the better for Barcelona, who continued to move up through the gears, growing in confidence and stature.

Messi fired narrowly over the bar from the edge of the box, before creating a chance for Pedro after a wonderful change of pace in midfield. He hovered like a dragonfly, near the edge of the centre-circle, before hurtling forward, away from two defenders and dangerously near to the area. His eventual through-ball was deflected and Pedro couldn't convert it, but Barcelona were now a distinct threat to the Atletico defence.

If Atletico were a sponge, absorbing Barcelona attacks, the Catalans were determined to wring the water out, and had two penalty shouts before half-time. The first saw Juanfran handle the ball while going in for a challenge with Messi, but he had little time to react. Barcelona were enraged that it hadn't been given, Atletico would have been angrier if it had.

The other was an intriguing situation, where Dani Alves' shirt was pulled just outside the box, by Godin. The Brazilian defender went down theatrically, falling inside the area.

Referee Undiano Mallenco awarded a free kick, but also booked Alves for diving, and then Godin for complaining vehemently into his face. Tensions rose, there was some pushing and shoving, and when Messi eventually took the free kick his effort beat Oblak but flicked off the top of the crossbar.

After Messi struck, Atletico were a little subdued, despite throwing on Croatian tornado Mario Mandzukic for the ineffective Fernando Torres. Barcelona should have scored again soon afterwards, when Ivan Rakitic burst forward in his usual jet-pack fashion, feeding Messi, who in turn coaxed a ball through to Neymar, who was left with what should have been a simple finish.

You could already see the route it was going to take, steered round Oblak and into the far corner. But Neymar, perhaps feeling the pressure of the situation, decided to aim for the near post and blazed the ball over the bar. It did not matter. Neither did the fact that Pedro's effort from distance flew millimetres wide of Oblak's top-right corner. What did, was that Bravo was alert to make a smart stop from a Guilherme Siqueira drive, late on.

Atletico president Enrique Cerezo remembered that last season, Barcelona supporters applauded them off the field, despite Godin's header denying Barcelona the title. 'We have fantastic memories of winning La Liga last season at Camp Nou and the treatment we received from the fans of Barca,' said Cerezo. 'So if Barca win La Liga today, I hope we can celebrate with them.'

There was more of a mixed reception, with the bad blood that has shot up between these sides in recent meeting – red cards, Arda Turan throwing his boot at the linesman, Neymar aggravating Atletico fans with his flicks and tricks – with some choosing to applaud the new league champions, others opting to hurl abuse.

But in the end, Messi's 54th goal in 54 games this season in all competitions made the difference – not to mention his 30 assists – with Barcelona supporters now looking forward to welcoming the team home next week, with two finals to follow.

They will be spilling out of the bars and dancing around the Canaletes fountain, which is shrouded in legend, which sits at the top of Las Ramblas, as they have done since the 1930s, when the club wins a trophy. If all goes to plan, they will be doing it twice more, too.

Alvaro Morata cancels out Cristiano Ronaldo penalty to haunt former club and send Serie A giants into Champions League final against Barcelona

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with a penalty in the 23rd minute after James Rodriguez was fouled

Former Monaco midfielder Rodriguez booked for diving after going to ground easily inside Juventus' box

Former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata equalised for Juventus 12 minutes into the second period

Gareth Bale missed three chances to win the game for Real Madrid after Morata's equaliser at the Bernabeu

Juventus will face Barcelona in the Champions League final in Berlin on June 6

Local boy makes good. Not that they will be celebrating it in Madrid. Alvaro Morata didn’t celebrate his moment of glory, either. Maybe he wants to come back here and live one day.

Morata was the one they let go. The kid from the youth team who couldn’t quite cut it among the ranks of the beautiful people. He got as far as last year’s Champions League final, playing 10 minutes as a substitute for Karim Benzema, but no further. Real Madrid sold him to Juventus in the summer — and he returned to scold them in the most hurtful way possible. He knocked them out of the Champions League. At their place; 33 minutes short of the final.

There will be no el clasico in Berlin. Barcelona await but Juventus were worthy winners over two legs. They got a vital victory at home, and a vital goal away. Real Madrid are left ruing mistakes — some on the night, such as the chances missed by Gareth Bale, others in the planning department, such as not addressing the decline of goalkeeper Iker Casillas sooner. He had two chances to stop the equalising goal and failed both times.

The first mistake was punching out a high ball when he could, perhaps, have gathered. From there it was recycled, pumped in and headed across goal by Paul Pogba, putting in a heroic shift, half-fit and tiring, on his return from injury. He rose above Sergio Ramos, and the loose ball fell to Morata.

Scorer of Juve’s first in the home leg, here was an even bigger opportunity for retribution — and it is fair to say he rose to the occasion. Chesting the ball down, he struck his shot into the turf, skidding up and over Casillas, who got something on it but not enough. There was power in the shot but it was straight at him really.

One imagines David de Gea would have fancied his chances; Hugo Lloris, too. Morata did the respectful non-celebration — although how about respecting the folks who have travelled from Turin — and his team-mates clung to their draw.

What should have been a historic occasion for Madrid ended in crushing disappointment. Champions of Europe last season, they are still living off that success. Their only triumphs this season have been spin-offs from the last — the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup. That doesn’t keep managers in employment around these parts.

Before the game, the fans unfurled a reminder of a glorious past: a giant banner depicting the hero of those early European Cup triumphs, Alfredo di Stefano. Maybe one day they will do the same for Cristiano Ronaldo. It was Di Stefano’s record he equalled, with his 307th goal for the club, scored from the penalty spot to give Madrid a first-half lead.

James Rodriguez’s fall looked soft — and his case wasn’t helped by the fact he was booked for diving soon after — but there was a definite foul by Giorgio Chiellini and referee Jonas Eriksson was right to point to the spot. Ronaldo stepped up, took his usual sideways step and found the back of the net. He now has 10 goals in Champions League semi-finals, twice as many as the next highest scorer. Records like that are the reason they love him here.

Yet if that confidence was the best of Ronaldo, the final whistle brought the worst. He flounced from the field, leaving behind 10 desolate team-mates, as if he somehow felt the hurt of defeat more keenly. It was nonsense, of course. Ronaldo (below) pretty much disappeared in the final 30 minutes of the game when the best of Madrid’s chances fell to Bale. Sadly, they may have succeeded only in adding to his woes.

Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett cannot argue that the rest of the team did not pass to his man in the second half. Time and again they picked him out in the desperate search for a winner, time and again he made them rue that choice.

In the first half he was starved of the ball, but did well with what little he did see; in the second he saw plenty, but to no effect. He missed chances — several very good ones — and ran the ball out of play to general derision. There were whistles, and some boos. It is pointless pretending that this season may not bring change.

One cannot imagine coach Carlo Ancelotti remaining, after falling short in La Liga, too, and he is Bale’s biggest champion. The player could have been the hero, but instead gave his critics further ammunition. Had one of his chances gone in, the tie would have gone to extra-time. Had two made it, he would have been the match- winner. But none? He may have to read the local newspapers through his fingers again.

Full credit to Bale for getting into scoring positions. It was more than Ronaldo did at a crucial stage in the game. Frustratingly for all those who feel he has had a raw deal this season, he could not make his presence felt.

Just five minutes after Juventus’s equaliser, he met a Marcelo cross at the near post with a volley which flew wide. Next was a header from a lovely cross by Ronaldo, who took a team-mate’s error well, as usual, and then another header from a corner. He tried a shot from range after that but it truly wasn’t his night. At least two of those should have found the target and by the time he overran a ball cutting into the penalty area, the jeers had begun. He won’t get another chance to win the crowd over before next season and that is one long, hot summer.

Sometimes, looking at what Bale brings to Real Madrid’s attack, it is hard to understand why his team-mates do not use him more. He would certainly be less anxious if he was involved regularly. In the first half only Casillas had fewer touches for Madrid — yet Bale’s brief involvements were invariably positive.

A ferocious tackle in the right-back position, a cracking diagonal pass from deep to set up a chance for Ronaldo, a fierce shot from 30 yards that forced an excellent save from Gianluigi Buffon. It made one wonder what he could achieve if he had more touches than Sergio Ramos at centre half.

Bale got Madrid’s ball rolling after just 37 seconds with a header from a Marcelo cross and the first half was dominated by Madrid attacks, even after Ronaldo’s penalty had given them an aggregate lead on away goals. Karim Benzema had several chances, so too Ronaldo, and Isco struck a lovely chip that travelled just wide.

Yet the sight of Juventus out early in the second half, waiting in formation for Madrid to emerge, spoke of a team that was ready for business. Certainly, coach Massimiliano Allegri is too smart to attempt to play Barcelona at their own game on June 6.

It should be an intriguing encounter for Luis Suarez, too, up against two figures from his notorious past, Patrice Evra and Chiellini. He’s a changed man these days, of course — but considering the shortcomings of Italian club football of late, Juventus are much changed, too.

Thomas Muller hits second-leg winner but Neymar's magic double leaves Pep Guardiola's Bavarians too much to do

Thomas Muller collected the ball just outside the area, sized up the angle and curled a quite beautiful shot into the bottom corner. The Allianz Arena roared its approval. And then they remembered: just another three needed. In 15 minutes. Oh dear.

This was an excellent game if you forgot about the scoreline. The real scoreline that is. Not the one on the night. Bayern Munich went ahead, Barcelona rallied and took the lead, Munich equalised, Munich won. End to end stuff.

In reality, nothing happened. Munich started the game needing three goals to take it to extra time, and ended the game needing three to progress. The closest they got was an eight minute spell in the first half when two goals were needed to force the additional 30 minutes. For 15 minutes of the match they were four short, for 30 minutes they trailed by five. It was one of those illusory matches, like the one that Roman Abramovich fell in love with, between Real Madrid and Manchester United in 2003. That was exhibition stuff, too. End to end, because United were never really close on aggregate.

Equally, Munich’s fans left this game happy. They salvaged some pride, put up a good show – but, in truth, didn’t lay a glove on Barcelona. The early goal only made the Catalans angry. They wrapped the tie up 23 minutes later and, from there, it was academic.

By the time Muller hit his winner the odd fan was already on the way home. It gets busy on the A9 near the stadium and everyone knew where this was heading anyway. Bayern Munich put back in their box at the semi-final stage, once again. This wasn’t as chastening as last year’s Spanish lesson from Real Madrid but only because there was less on it to begin with. Madrid came here shielding a single goal lead, Barcelona had the tie as good as won. ‘One city, one dream,’ read the large display around the ground, but within 30 minutes what had unfolded was a waking nightmare.

The widespread wisdom was that Munich needed an early goal but with hindsight nothing could have been further from the truth. One just after half-time, and it would have been interesting to see how Barcelona would have seen out the last 40 minutes – particularly with Luis Suarez off with a hamstring injury. Yet scoring after seven minutes meant the teams had all the time in the world to trade blows. By scoring early, Munich merely annoyed a superior team.

The problem is, Barcelona are simply better at the football Munich wish to play. A spoiling team might get a lucky break from a set-piece – their one vulnerability – but take them on at football and it only plays to their strengths. So Munich rather sweetly blundered in after seven minutes from a Xabi Alonso corner and paid the price. Medhi Benatia rose unmarked and was allowed a free header which Marc-Andre ter Stegen could not keep out. The Allianz Arena went bananas.

Here it was unfolding before their eyes – the greatest comeback in Champions League history. That dream didn’t last long.

Eight minutes, give or take the odd second. It was a beautiful riposte. Lionel Messi slid a lovely pass into the path of Suarez who burst through a leaden back line and drew Manuel Neuer before squaring the ball for Neymar to tap into an empty net. It would have looked good in meme form on the computer screen. In the flesh it was quite marvellous. There were Munich chances after that, quite a few of them, but in the 30th minute Barcelona settled it.

It was a goal that owed something to Wimbledon, and more to the Royal Ballet. Ter Stegen struck a big kick from his hands for Suarez to chase, which he did with considerably more vim than those around him. Veering wide to the right, he delayed his cross until Neymar had got the space he needed in the middle, and then picked him out, perfectly. Neymar chested the ball down and also waited for the right moment before finishing smartly past Neuer. With Messi he now forms the most prolific Champions League scoring partnership since Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for Manchester United in 2001-02.

Could it have been different? Well, yes, had Munich taken every chance presented them. Ter Stegen was excellent in keeping them at bay in the first half: a Muller header after 19 minutes, a Robert Lewandowski shot after 27. Muller should have done much better in the 29th minute, Lewandowski after 40, both chances set up by Thiago Alcantara.

In the second half, Lewandowski made amends, of sorts, with arguably the goal of the night. Receiving the ball to feet, he got the jump on Javier Mascherano, switched it from his left to his right and curled it sweetly into the corner of the net.

On many other European occasions in Bavaria, it would have been a goal that told of future glory. Here it was a footnote, a trifle, an irrelevance. Wasted, in many ways. To their credit, Munich kept probing but it was more through memory than belief.

The best thing about having the finest technical footballers in the world is that it allows a team to do outrageous things. Like the moment midway through the first half when Barcelona had a free-kick 40 yards from Munich’s goal and, instead of sending everyone up and putting it in the mixer, Messi side-footed a short pass to Suarez who had four opponents around him. Stuff like this happens all the time. Players take the initiative, demand the ball no matter the circumstances. Wonderful angles result, players get sucked into a Barcelona black hole, moved out of position so deftly it is as if they are on strings pulled from above.

Pep Guardiola alternated between three and four at the back as he had at the Nou Camp but neither made much difference. Perhaps he should try another number. Eight, or ten. It is pointless trying to play Barcelona as equals and maybe that was Guardiola’s vanity peeking through. He couldn’t bear to try to throw a blanket over his old team, so he went toe to toe.

Even chasing five at one stage, the home fans still sang, waved their flags and bounced on demand, but it had rather a hollow ring. Barcelona sliced through them with surgical precision when it mattered, incisive, insightful, working furiously when the occasion demanded. In the last 12 minutes of the first leg and for a quarter of an hour of the first half here they simply swept Munich from the board.

It was more than enough, no matter the noise and fury of the locals. If the Spanish strike holds, this could be Barcelona’s last game for 25 days. It’s fair to say they’ll be missed.

Real Madrid 2-2 Valencia: Barça close to title after frantic draw in Madrid

by Thore Haugstad | Posted on Saturday, May 9th, 2015

http://www.insidespanishfootball.com/156077/real-madrid-2-2-valencia-barca-close-title-frantic-draw-madrid/

Real Madrid have most likely handed the La Liga crown to Barcelona after drawing 2-2 with Valencia. The hosts suffered a nightmarish first half, losing Toni Kroos to injury, hitting the woodwork thrice, and conceding goals to Paco Alcácer and Javi Fuego. Second-half goals from Pepe and Isco set up a frantic finale, but Valencia held firm. Barcelona now have to take three points from their two remaining games, at Atlético Madrid and at home to Deportivo La Coruña, to seal the title.

The importance of this fixture could hardly be overstated. Madrid knew Barça had beaten Real Sociedad 2-0 earlier in the afternoon, a result that meant victory was needed to keep the gap to the league leaders at two points. Valencia were four points behind third-placed Atlético Madrid and three points ahead of fifth-placed Sevilla, in the battle for the top-four Champions League spots.

Carlo Ancelotti put Javier Hernández up front and shifted Sergio Ramos back into defence next to Pepe, terminating the much-debated central-midfield experiment. If that seemed auspicious for the hosts, then so did the statistics. Despite the midweek defeat in Turin, Madrid could draw confidence from a run of nine straight league victories, while Valencia had won just one of their last five encounters on the road.

In the opening, however, the reality could not have been more different. A warning sign came 20 seconds in, when André Gomes tested Iker Casillas. Ten minutes later, Valencia should have been ahead. Gomes pushed over Pepe in an aerial challenge for a long goal kick, the Portuguese claiming a free-kick. It was not given, and the ball bounced through to Alcácer who squandered a fat chance by lobbing over.

As the game settled Madrid started to press, and chances arrived. They were not small. The lively Gareth Bale opened the show by smacking a free-kick into the upright. Next, the Welshman served up a corner for Cristiano Ronaldo, whose header hit the bar. That was not all. On 20 minutes, Valencia countered: José Gayá swept in a sumptuous cross that Alcácer poked home, despite the best efforts of Iker Casillas. 1-0.

With the Bernabéu shocked, Ronaldo tried to respond with a bicycle kick, which was blocked. Then Valencia returned once more. A free-kick by Dani Parejo was flicked in with ease by Fuego as Madrid’s marking collapsed. Ancelotti’s men now needed three goals to have a realistic chance of catching Barça. In addition, Kroos had limped off with an injury.

Madrid were never going to give up easily. Bale unleashed a 30-yard drive towards the top corner that Alves saved magnificently. The winger then combined with Hernández, only for the Mexican’s placed finish to roll into the post. Just before the break, it looked like hope had emerged. Bale was involved again, falling inside the area after a push by Gayá. The penalty was awarded, but Alves, the spot-kick specialist, saved from Ronaldo, capping off a grim 45 minutes for the hosts.

This was a crisis situation for Ancelotti, and the Italian responded emphatically. Two changes were made – Marcelo and Dani Carvajal replaced Fábio Coentrão and Álvaro Arbeloa respectively – as Madrid went all out to score. The tempo increased immediately. Eleven minutes in, the pressure paid off. James Rodríguez swung in a corner that Pepe headed home powerfully, igniting hopes of a second-half comeback.

The game swung back and forth after that. Madrid were desperate for more, while Valencia took counters to sneak a third. The visitors defended well. Until the finale, there were only a few chances to note: a low Ronaldo free-kick that fizzed wide, and an excellent reflex stop by Alves to stop Sergio Ramos’s header.

Things opened up towards the end, and substitute Álvaro Negredo had two opportunities to settle the contest. In between, Carvajal had a shot saved by Alves. Then came the equaliser. Isco picked up possession outside the box, turned, and fired a sweet 20-yarder inside the near post. However, the final, crucial goal never came.

Barcelona 2-0 Real Sociedad: Neymar and Pedro down David Moyes' men

David Moyes did his best to help out old friend Carlo Ancelotti in the Spanish title race but his team's stubborn resistance was finally broken by Neymar as Barcelona beat Real Sociedad.

With a spectacular finish from Pedro to double Barcelona's advantage they were comfortable winners in the end but they had been anything but comfortable for long periods of the game.

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has nothing on Moyes this week – the former Everton and Manchester United manager's team looked far more solid than the Germans had at the Nou Camp four days earlier.

There was also no hurried change of plan after 15 minutes either as Real Sociedad frustrated throughout the first half and did not concede until the 50-minute mark.

They had 22-year-old Argentine goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli to thank for a large part of the resistance. He was in brilliant form and Moyes deployed the tactic of funnelling Barcelona's attacks in-field where there were plenty of blue and white striped shirts to block, tackle and rob.

When the first goal came it was Neymar who scored it. He has now netted in all six of last games and it was his 50th for the club. Barcelona's front three have scored 112 goals this season. He was mobbed by team-mates relieved at the deadlock being broken after such a difficult first period.

Messi had been the first to try and fail to beat young Rulli with a looping header from just inside the area that the keeper batted away. Then the man, who destroyed Bayern inside three minutes in midweek, set up Neymar and the Brazilian was also foiled by the visiting keeper.

Real were getting tight to their illustrious rivals. Both Alberto De la Bella and Markel Bergara were booked for getting too tight with late challenges and Luis Suarez was thumped from behind by Iñigo Martinez but this time referee Ignacio Iglesias' cards stayed in his pocket.

Barcelona needed a win to stay clear of Real Madrid playing Valencia later on Saturday night and both Dani Alves and Gerard Pique were joining the Barcelona attacks as often as possible.

He was denied by Rulli too as Barcelona continued to lay siege to Real Sociedad's goal. Messi then found Suarez in space at the back post but the former Liverpool striker headed unselfishly across the face of the goal instead of goalwards. The bounced invitingly in front of Xavi and Neymar but perhaps thinking Suarez would go for goal himself, no one reacted and the ball went out of play.

The nerves were starting to creep into Barcelona's play with Rafinha putting the ball straight out for a goalkeeper. And when the half-time whistle went Messi hammered the ball skywards in frustration at a wasted half.

Real walked off tall at the break feeling they had gone toe-to-toe with the best team in Europe at the moment and not conceded. Mikel Gonzalez throwing himself at Rafinha's shot just before the break had summed up the performance. Was it really going to be one of those days?

Bartra almost headed a Xavi corner into the top corner with Barcelona's first chance of the second half but that man Rulli was there again to tip the ball away for another corner.

Both Andres Iniesta and Sergi Busquets were now warming up and Luis Enrique was starting to move around his technical area almost as anxiously as Moyes but on 50 minutes the Camp Nou breathed a huge sigh of relief as Mikel Gonalez flicked on a Messi's diagonal pass and at the far post Neymar ghosted in to put Barca ahead.

It was a credit to Real Sociedad that they had held out for so long but Moyes will not have seen it that way – the Brazilian was unmarked when he beat Rulli. His team were not completely out of it and it was a measure of the threat they still posed that Mascherano was put back into the centre of defence for the substituted Bartra and the Argentine was immediately booked for flying into a tackle on Xabi Prieto.

Moyes threw on Alfredo Finnbogason and Chory Castro and Barça continued to wobble at the back but then came the spectacular second. Suarez, Adriano and Messi linked up and Pedro bicycle kicked the ball over Rulli and just under his crossbar.

Real Sociedad has gone away empty-handed but Moyes had given them another glimpse of the future. It was an example how he can make teams difficult to beat. It had been a very uncomfortable afternoon for Barcelona – for more uncomfortable than the evening they spent putting three past Bayern Munich in midweek.

For Barcelona there are now two hurdles left to clear. Next week they face Atletico Madrid, strike pending. And Deportivo come to the Nou Camp for the final game of the season a week later. A run of wins that now totals 28 in 30 matches continues to take them towards the treble.

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace: Blues clinch Premier League title as Eden Hazard heads home after seeing initial penalty saved

By the end of the day, all those in Chelsea blue had what they came for and Roman Abramovich was waving and smiling down from his executive seat.

When you see Abramovich crack his surly Russian visage and display such emotion, you are witnessing a special moment, and here was his fourth Barclays Premier League title in 12 years since buying the club.

It ends a wait of five years and was clinched with three games to spare, thanks to a goal from Eden Hazard, who nodded in the rebound of a poor penalty he had seen saved, just before half-time.

Chelsea had to dig in and defend but Jose Mourinho's team do this so well. They produced another clean sheet and the best team in the land are the champions.

Out came the streamers and that song by Queen. Champagne corks popped and the bubbly was sprayed, scarves were wrapped around heads and players slid across the turf on their bellies. Messages, photographs and videos started to fly from their social media accounts.

The DJ moved onto 'One Step Beyond', a ska anthem of celebration at Stamford Bridge and it all began to sink in: a first Premier League title for many of the squad, including Hazard.

He was an appropriate match-winner on such a day, although his scruffy goal came with accusations that he dived for the penalty and there were uneasy moments when the coronation party seemed about to fall flat.

Mourinho's touchline activities provided a strange side-show. At times he sulked moodily, clearly dissatisfied with the support of the home crowd for his team, while seeming to court the noisy Palace fans in the Shed End.

The Chelsea manager ignored those in the Matthew Harding Stand when they sang his name and then seemed to react angrily when they sang Frank Lampard's.

'It was not a game to enjoy,' said Mourinho, who has been under added stress since his father, Felix, suffered a brain haemorrhage, last week. He dashed to Portugal by private plane after winning at Leicester, returned to the club and made another flying visit home on Friday.

'I was there with him at the most difficult moment, the moment of surgery,' he added. 'After that, everything is under control. He is getting strong and better and I am much more relaxed.'

On Sunday his wife Matilde was in the crowd. She rarely comes to watch but this was a special occasion and Mourinho went straight to her on the final whistle.

Palace made Chelsea sweat for the points, but these players have been injected with the sort of brutal mentality which is the hallmark of Mourinho's teams.

When not playing fluently, they still find a way to win. Rather than snipe and whinge about their style of football, his rivals might prefer to adopt this quality which Chelsea have boasted since he built his first team at the Bridge.

It has been most evident in the title run-in, when Mourinho's small squad was beset by injuries, most notably to top-scorer Diego Costa. Oscar was missing on Sunday and Ramires was taken ill during the warm-up and sent to hospital, which catapulted Juan Cuadrado into the team.

Cuadrado has not found his stride since arriving from Fiorentina in January and he struggled again. He did not make it past half-time. John Obi Mikel replaced him, the first of several defensive shifts from Chelsea.

By the end, Mourinho had six recognised defenders on the pitch protecting the one-goal lead plus midfield enforcers Mikel and Nemanja Matic.

Palace can be flattered. They had performed well, initially offering stubborn resistance which played on frayed nerves inside Stamford Bridge and then threatening on the break until the final seconds of the game.

Goalkeeper Julian Speroni denied Matic and Didier Drogba before Hazard won the penalty, threading a pass to Willian, collecting the return and wriggling into the box from his usual berth, wide on the left.

James McArthur closed him down and tried to pull out of the tackle but Hazard forced the contact. At real-speed, it seemed a penalty and referee Kevin Friend gave it in a flash. On the slow-motion replays, it looked more like Hazard had engineered it.

The Belgian put the ball on the spot and took it himself, but his kick was tame and easily saved by Speroni. It was the first time Hazard had missed from the spot in the Premier League, but this one looped up, straight onto his head.

Hazard seized this second chance. He buried a header inside the post and ran off to soak up the applause while mopping his brow in mock relief.

Palace fans were in no doubt what they thought. Hazard's first touch of the second-half was greeted with a chorus of: 'He's gonna dive in a minute.'

Pardew refused to wade into controversy on Chelsea's day of celebration, but he thought his team deserved a penalty for handball against John Terry as he blocked a fierce drive by Jason Puncheon when the game was goalless.

'They're difficult once they go ahead,' said the Palace boss. 'That's what champions do, they don't let you back in once they take the lead. They've had two defeats all season and they've done the job. That's why this guy earns the money he earns. He wins trophies and he'll win the manner he sees fit for the occasion.'

Chelsea could not find a second to soothe the nerves. Increasingly desperate efforts came in from increasingly ambitious angles but it was Puncheon who came closest to changing the result, with another flashing effort which zipped inches wide.

When Thibaut Courtois blocked the final effort at Wilfried Zaha's feet to preserve the slender lead it seemed like the best way to cross the line: goal conjured by Hazard, followed by a solid display of defensive might.

Chelsea are champions. Worthy champions, it has to be said. More than one step beyond.

Juventus seals fourth consecutive Serie A title

Juventus wrapped up their fourth straight Serie A title after a routine 1-0 win over Sampdoria at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

The Old Lady had been 14 points clear of their nearest rivals Lazio ahead of the game and made sure of the Scudetto thanks to Arturo Vidal's goal.

Vidal was able to head in off the post from a Stephan Lichtsteiner cross on 32 minutes, continuing the Chilean's good run of form for Juventus.

It means the pressure now shifts to Juventus' Champions League semi-final clash against Real Madrid, with coach Massimiliano Allegri having rested some players for Saturday's match against Sampdoria.

It could have proven tricky with hosts Sampdoria themselves chasing a Europa League spot, but Juventus duly clinched their title, rekindling memories of their success in the 1930s when the Bianconeri won five straight league titles.

La Liga: Cristiano Ronaldo nets hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 3-2

Cristiano Ronaldo hit a record-breaking 25th La Liga treble as Real Madrid won a tricky match at Sevilla 3-2 on Saturday.

Barca moved a step closer to their fifth La Liga title in seven years but Real trail them by only two points with three games left in the season.

Champions Atletico Madrid lacked creativity against Athletic Bilbao and were held to a 0-0 draw but remained in the driving seat for third place with a seven-point lead over Valencia who play Eibar on Sunday.

Suarez's prolific form has brought the Uruguayan 17 goals from his last 16 games in all competitions while Messi has 40 goals -- two less than top scorer Ronaldo.

Ronaldo now has the highest number of hat-tricks in La Liga history, one more than Messi.

He headed home an Isco cross after 36 minutes and a minute later Javier Hernandez flicked on a James Rodriguez cross to the Portuguese who beat keeper Sergio Rico from six yards.

Substitute Gareth Bale crossed for a fine header by Ronaldo from a narrow angle to complete his hat-trick after 69 minutes and condemn Sevilla to their first home defeat in 35 matches in all competitions.

Ivan Rakitic volleyed into the roof of the net to give Barca the lead after 42 minutes at Cordoba and Suarez slotted home in first-half stoppage time.

Messi headed in straight after the restart, with further headers from Suarez and Gerard Pique as Barcelona hit their stride.

Messi scored into an open net with 10 minutes to go and Neymar converted a penalty after he was brought down by defender Adrian Gunino.

Barca showed no mercy with Suarez striking again two minutes from time to seal a resounding win.

"Football is a very complex sport. We are on the right road but you have to start again before each game and look to create the play in order to get the results," Barca coach Luis Enrique told reporters.

"The goals from Ivan and Luis have got us going and then in the second half we were very effective in front of goal.

"These were three key points and I am very pleased with the result."

Real were still without Luka Modric and Karim Benzema while Bale was only fit to start the game on the bench.

Sevilla, who held Barcelona to a draw last month, started well and caused problems for the Real defence down the wings with Jose Antonio Reyes in particular a threat.

The Andalusian side though were down to 10 men when Ronaldo pounced for his first two goals as Grzegorz Krychowiak was on the sidelines after a clash of heads with Sergio Ramos.

Sevilla fought back and Carlos Bacca scored a penalty before halftime after Ramos felled Aleix Vidal.

After Ronaldo added his third Vicente Iborra scored from a Vidal cross and although Real had to resort to last-ditch defending they hung on for the victory.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/la-liga-cristiano-ronaldo-nets-hattrick-as-real-madrid-beat-sevilla-32/543407-5-21.html

Football Earth