La Liga 08-09 Preview
Our brainy chums at chickendinner are backing Los Blancos

Once the sangria induced hangovers have cleared and the memory of Luis Aragones’ bumps torment is hazy, Spain’s footballing fraternity will have to stop basking in their Euro 2008 glory and look forward to kicking lumps out of each other in the new La Liga season. Because they care so much, here’s chickendinner’s guide to just about everything that’s going to happen in the sun-drenched nation…
» Real Madrid have secured successive La Liga titles but not since 1990-1994 (Barcelona) have any Primera Liga side managed to retain the championship three years in a row. However, the last time Real Madrid won consecutive league titles, they went on to win five in succession - 1985-1990.
» Celta Vigo finished sixth in 2005/06 and were relegated the very next season. Real Zaragoza ended the 2006/07 season in sixth position and also found themselves relegated a year later. That spells bad news for Racing Santander who were this year’s sixth placed side.
» In four of the past five seasons, the side that finished fourth in La Liga went on to struggle in the next campaign, finishing tenth or lower and on one occasion being relegated. Atletico Madrid may be in for a long season.
» Only two of the last ten runners up in La Liga have gone on to secure the title the following season - Villarreal were last year’s unlucky losers.
» In the last ten seasons, only one side has ever finished third and secured the league title in their next campaign. On six occasions

Tags: Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Celta Vigo, Euro 2008, La Liga, Los Blancos, Luis Aragonés, Malaga CF, Numancia, Racing Santander, Real Madrid, Real Zaragoza, Spain, Sporting de Gijon, Villarreal
Posted: July 3rd, 2008 by Ryan Bailey
Link Dump
Also appearing on a computer near you…

It looks like Francesco Totti is having a torrid time during the summer break [spotted at Kickette]
Why Real Madrid will win La Liga again
[chickendinner]
Stupid man misses marathon world record by stopping 0.3 miles short
[WithLeather]
Video: Fernando Torres scoring at 12 years old
[Pies]
Lewis Hamilton voted F1’s top Playboy ever
[Grid Crasher]
Bon Jovi ruin the pitch at the City of Manchester Stadium
[SportsbyBrooks]
Tags: City of Manchester Stadium, Fernando Torres, Francesco Totti, La Liga, Manchester City, Marathon, Real Madrid, UEFA Cup
Posted: July 2nd, 2008 by Ryan Bailey
Soccernomics
Catalan powerhouse saves fortune by being useless

Take a long intrusive look at the losing Chelsea/ Man United fans on Thursday morning, and you’ll notice a deadness behind the eyes. That’s because they have spent the whole evening shouting into a pillow, weeping until their brains can no longer process emotions like “despair” or “overwhelming sadness”, and have instead been left with “numbness” - they are just an empty shell. Even the cheerful people of Cardiff probably spent most of Sunday morning repeatedly punching one another in the nose and yelling in Welsh.
No such self-pity, however, over in sunny Spain

Tags: Chelsea, FC Barcelona, La Liga, man united, silver lining
Posted: May 19th, 2008 by Josh Burt
In case you missed it
See Los Blancos drink Barca’s milkshake right here
What’s more humiliating than having to give your fiercest rivals the guard of honour as they walk onto the pitch? How about losing 4-1 to them straight afterwards. That’s what happened to the wayward Catalonians last night, who were thoroughly humbled by the new La Liga champs. Let’s hope you all followed chickendinner’s astute advice and made good from Barca’s demise.
[Video: 101 Great Goals vis Pies]
Tags: Barcelona, El clasico, Guard of Honour, La Liga, Real Madrid
Posted: May 8th, 2008 by Ryan Bailey
Recommended Viewing
The best sports on the telebox tonight

After graciously falling out of this year’s Champions League, Ronaldinho-less Barca must now concentrate their energies on taking second place in La Liga from Villarreal. Tonight, they are 9/4 underdogs in their visit to runaway title contenders Real Madrid - but in the past five seasons, El clásico has been won by the away side four times, and there’s been a shedload of goals too.
Check out the best odds on the match right here.
Indian Premier League Cricket
Mumbai Indians/ Rajasthan Royals (Setanta Sports 1, 3.30pm)
La Liga
Recreativo/ Villarreal (Sky Sports 1, 7pm)
Real Madrid/ Barcelona (Sky Sports 1, 9pm)
Scottish Premier League
Rangers/ Motherwell (Setanta Sports 1, 7.45pm)
French Cup Semi-final
Lyon/ Sedan (Setanta Sports 2, 8pm)
Tags: Barcelona, Best Odds, El clasico, Football Betting, La Liga, oddschicken, Real Madrid, Ronaldinho, Spain, Villarreal
Posted: May 7th, 2008 by Ryan Bailey
Recommended Viewing
The best sports on the telebox this weekend

Kevin Keegan’s latest stint at Newcastle will undoubtedly be the highlight of a packed weekend for armchair sportsfans – will his rejuvenated side be able to get the better of Bolton? Check out our preview here, then place your

Tags: Australian Open, Blue Square Premier, Championship, Charlton, Everton, Exeter City, Getafe, Hearts, Hibernian, La Liga, Manchester City, Oxford Utd, Scottish Premier League, Sevilla, Sheffield Utd, Sheffield Wednesday, Snooker, Television, Tennis, Valencia, Villareal, Watford, West Ham, Wigan
Posted: January 18th, 2008 by Ryan Bailey
Recommended Viewing
The best sports programming on the telebox this weekend

The week after Chelsea lost Mourinho, they were charged with the task of getting a result at old Trafford in a televised game. Big Sam-less Newcastle now face exactly the same situation, but will they suffer the same

Tags: Barcelona, Championship, Cricket, Hull City, La Liga, Manchester Utd, Maritimo, Murcia, Newcastle, Newcastle Utd, Old Trafford, Pacos Ferreira, Portuguese Liga, Premier League, South Africa, Television, WBA, West Indies
Posted: January 11th, 2008 by Ryan Bailey
Recommended Viewing
The best sports programming this weekend

It’s that unmistakable time of year when Christmas decorations come down and minnow clubs up and down the land build up a huge sense of false expectation. This morning’s Sun backs Southern League Division One side Chasetown with a back page and double-page spread, but will support from the country’s most-loved red top be enough to overcome Cardiff? See how they fare in Saturday’s Match of the Day, and catch

Tags: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Atlanta, ATP Qatar Open Final, Australia, Barcelona, Bath, Buffalo, Burnley, Cricket, FA Cup, Gloucester, Harlequins, India, La Liga, Leicester Guinness, Liverpool, Luton Town, Mallorca, Manchester Utd, Newcastle Utd, NHL, Real Betis, Real Madrid, Real Zaragoza, Rugby Union, Sevilla, Stoke City, Television, Tennis
Posted: January 4th, 2008 by Ryan Bailey
The best programming on the telebox this weekend

Need something to watch that sour post-Euro 2008 qualifying taste out of your mouth? How about a bumper weekend of sport, featuring a main course of good ol’ foreign people playing football, with lashings of tough men with deformed ears on the side? Dig in…
FRIDAY
Rugby Union
Worcester/ Sale (Sky Sports 1, 8pm)
SATURDAY
Premier League
Newcastle Utd/ Liver

Tags: La Liga, Pool, Premier League, Rugby Union, Television, TV
Posted: November 23rd, 2007 by Ryan Bailey