Copa Del Rey 2010 2011 "El Derbi Madrileño"Real Madrid Atletico Madrid

copa del rey 2010/11
quarterfinals 
First and Second Leg

The Copa del Rey may not always take top billing for Real Madrid, but Jose Mourinho indicated from the beginning of the competition that he intends to win this crown. If the Portuguese was having any second thoughts about deploying a strong side in the tournament, a derby fixture against Atletico Madrid will compel him to focus firmly on Thursday evening’s quarter-final first leg encounter. Los Blancos remain on the coattails of Barcelona in the Primera Division, and even a difficult encounter against Villarreal on Sunday evening could not break their momentum. There may have been a good deal of controversy involved, but there could be little doubting the importance of Madrid’s 4-2 success, during which they twice had to recover from behind.

A storm is brewing at the Vicente Calderon, where Atletico Madrid are perceived to be under performing in the Primera Division. Under pressure coach Quique Sanchez Flores was left frustrated by Monday night’s 4-1 humbling against Hercules in Alicante. From the outset, los Colchoneros were second best, and Jose Antonio Reyes’ late goal was scant consolation on a bleak evening for the capital side.
“I believe my players can do big things... I am confident in them,” Flores told the press prior to Thursday’s encounter against Real Madrid, retaining great faith in his side. “All these years we have not won at Real Madrid can act as a stimulus.” After a great start to the season, Atleti are rather coming apart at the seams. Only two wins have been gleamed from their last six Primera Division encounters, of which four were played against sides in the bottom half of the table. During this period, they’ve also been embarrassingly eliminated from the Europa League.

P.L. 2010 2011 Blackpool Liverpool on MiamiGunners Match Of The Week

week 19 (rescheduled)

12th january 2011: 
blackpool v. liverpool

The latter days of Roy Hodgson’s bitter reign on Merseyside saw him lose the fans completely, as the club’s supporters roundly chanted for his head by calling for the appointment of the legendary Kenny Dalglish.
One could very well argue that the results may not have been a true reflection of the former Fulham manager’s capability, as he was unable to mould the squad to his liking by flexing some muscle in the transfer window. But the Merseysiders have parted ways with the 63-year-old now, and have given the fans what they wanted - King Kenny.Dalglish’s return to management after a decade-long hiatus began in poor fashion as a controversial penalty coupled with the sending off of his skipper Steven Gerrard ended in a defeat to bitter rivals Manchester United - which in turn meant that the Reds were knocked out of the FA Cup.
However, the feel good factor around the club will have trickled down into the squad as well, and could in turn translate into a positive performance on the pitch...

Championnat de France 1987 1988 Matra Racing PSG

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Primera Division 2010 2011 Real Madrid Villareal

week 18 9th january 2011: 

real madrid v. villarreal

Undoubtedly, the game of the weekend, Jornada 18 pits Real Madrid against Villarreal, the 2 former sides of Pellegrini. Villarreal have returned to their attacking best, the same form which made them a force to be reckoned with under Senor Pellegrini. The prime example of this was the 4-2 humdinger against Valencia which was played out at El Madrigal.

This Villarreal is made of some stern stuff and showed tremendous mental strength to come back from 2-0 down and win 4-2 to advance to the next round in Copa del Rey.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, were humbled by Levante. Although the match consisted of mainly substitutes, it showed a worrying trait of this Real Madrid side that the substitutes are not good enough to handle even the La Liga strugglers.

Earlier this season, Villarreal were universally praised for daring to take the game to Barcelona and losing only because Barcelona had a team which can play ‘blindfolded’.

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Liga 2010 2011 Real Sociedad Sevilla

8th january 2011 

The Andalucian visitors have started the new year on a high and will attempt to carry the momentum in the Basque country too...

With 23 points from 17 matches, Sevilla are four points off a Europa League slot and a further four behind Valencia, who occupy the final Champions League berth. The Rojiblancos' away form, though, is rather disappointing as of the eight matches on the road, they have won just three and lhave ost five.

However, striker Luis Fabiano believes that Sevilla are returning to their best and enthuses, "We had a bad run but now we are winning, there's still a lot of work to do and we have to improve many things, but Sevilla are returning little by little."

venue: anoeta, donostia-san sebastián, país vasco (spain)

Fa Cup 2010 2011 Stevenage Newcastle united on MiamiGunners Match Of The Week

third round proper 8th january 2011: 
stevenage v. newcastle united

When the FA Cup third-round draw was made, the whoops of delight emanating from Stevenage could be heard almost as clearly as the sighs of disappointment from Tyneside. Thirteen years after non-league Stevenage Borough made global headlines by holding Newcastle to a fourth-round draw, before suffering a 2-1 defeat in the replay at St James' Park, Graham Westley's League Two side were given a chance to upset the Magpies again.

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P.L. 2010 2011 Newcastle West Ham on MiamiGunners Match Of The Week

week 22

5th january 2011: 

newcastle united v. west ham united

Newcastle will be looking to cement their place in the top half of the table with a home win, and three points could see them move up to eighth place in the table and pushing for a Europa League spot. However, results going against them could see them drop as low as 13th in the table.

West Ham have finally hit a good vein of form with two wins and two draws from their last four games which has seen Avram Grant save his job, at least for now, by steering the club away from the bottom of the table up to 16th. Another win for the Hammers could see them further improve their position to 13th in the table, however if teams below them manage to pick up points it could be a return to the foot of the table for the Irons.
Newcastle won the reverse fixture at Upton Park earlier in the season 2-1 with goals from Kevin Nolan and Carroll as West Ham scored with their only shot on target of the game through Carlton Cole.

P.L. 2010 2011 Wolverhampton Chelsea on MiamiGunners Match Of The Week

week 22 5th january 2011: 

wolverhampton wanderers v. chelsea

Another crucial game for Chelsea following the disappointment of Sunday when they trailed 2-1 to Villa, led 3-2 then were held to a 3-3 stalemate by an added time goal from Ciaran Clark.  Chelsea have 10 fewer points than they did after 20 games last season and have won just one of their last eight games in the Premier League.

Chelsea have not lost at Molineux since January 1983 in the old Second Division. Their last defeat there in the top division was in March 1975 – when they were hammered 7-1.

Wolves, after the famous victory at Anfield, returned to type with a 2-0 defeat at West Ham on Saturday, a result that sent them back to the foot of the Premier League.

Mick McCarthy, the Wolves manager, cannot use Michael Mancienne, on loan from Chelsea, but unlikely to be fit anyway.