Real Zaragoza’s 3-1 defeat to Valencia on Sunday was relatively uneventful, largely because Jermaine Pennant was injured and therefore unable to stink up the pitch with his special brand of ‘football’. However, history was made on the 85th minute, when Zaragoza coach Marcelino brought on 20-year-old Alex Sanchez - La Liga’s (and, as far as we know, all of European football’s) first one-handed footballer.
Born without a right mitt, Alex was was handed a first team debut after bagging 12 goals in 10 games for Zaragoza’s reserve squad. There was no fairytale ending to his first senior appearance though - in the 15 minutes he was on the pitch, he flubbed a rubbish attempt to win a penalty and was booked for diving.
La Liga side enlists the services of a bear. An actual bear.
There’s an old saying among Spanish football teams: if you want to defeat Valencia, hire a circus bear to be your mascot.
Real Valladolid took this old adage very literally during a training session last Friday, but unfortunately things didn’t quite work out for the Castilian side, who lost 4-2 to Los Che on Sunday.
Which division would triumph in an MLS All-Stars style match?
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The Spoiler was surprised by the results of yesterday’s poll, where 76% of you disagreed with Cristiano Ronaldo’s claim that La Liga was stronger than the Premier League.
That poll took into account a number of factors: for example the difference between the best and worst teams, entertainment value and European success. Today, we want to focus on which is the better league in terms of galacticos.
Let us know which of the two teams we’ve created to represent each league is stronger - and if you disagree with our line-ups tell us who you would pick instead - with a vote and comment below:
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
David Villa to Manchester United The Daily Mirror are reporting that Sir Alex Ferguson wants Valencia striker David Villa “above all other options” to replace Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez and claim that he is willing to match whatever Barcelona offer for the Spanish international.
The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Villa is reluctant to test himself abroad and said recently: ”Next season I will play in Spain because it is the league that is best for me. I will not go abroad.” If he leaves the Mestalla this summer, it will almost certainly be for either Barcelona or Real Madrid.
Samuel Eto’o to Manchester City
Barcelona’s attempts to sign Villa are good news for Manchester City, with the Telegraph claiming that Pep Guardiola will let Samuel Eto’o go if the Spain