La Liga: Valencia hands Barcelona a rare home loss

February 2, 2014

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“Barcelona stumbled to a 3-2 home loss against Valencia on Saturday, giving Atletico Madrid a chance to move into sole possession of first place in the Spanish league. Barcelona’s decision not to sign a defender during the January transfer window may have backfired after Valencia took advantage of a lethargic, uninspired effort by its hosts at the Camp Nou, where former Spain coach Luis Aragones – who previously coached the Catalans – was honored after his death on Saturday. Barcelona led through Alexis Sanchez’s eighth-minute goal but Dani Parejo equalized for Valencia before the break.” SI

La Liga: FC Barcelona 2-3 Valencia CF: Match Review
“After a great start to the game that saw Alexis Sanchez lead Barcelona to a quick advantage, Barcelona were left frustrated by an incredibly efficient Valencia side that scored on three of their four shots on goal. Dani Parejo, Pablo Piatti and Paco Alcácer scored for the visitors, while Barcelona were only able to reply through a converted penalty by Lionel Messi.” Barca Blaugranes

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Does Wondolowski have a realistic shot at Brazil?

February 2, 2014

“Even before the final whistle sounded, it was the question on everybody’s mind. Can striker Chris Wondolowski, who scored both goals for the U.S. national team in Saturday’s 2-0 friendly win here against South Korea, somehow grab one of the final spots on the Americans’ World Cup roster when coach Jurgen Klinsmann names his 23-man squad in May? The answer may actually lie in another question: Will Klinsmann take four forwards to this summer’s tournament in Brazil?” ESPN

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Three Things: West Brom vs. Liverpool

February 2, 2014

” Liverpool’s progress for a top-four finish was stalled after a 1-1 draw at West Brom. Here are three thoughts from Sunday’s early Premier League clash … Fourth place was Liverpool’s for the taking. They were set to go four points clear of fifth-placed Everton and nine ahead of their slumping rivals Manchester United. Then Kolo Toure intervened haplessly, gifting Victor Anichebe a goal, and they were dragged back toward the pack. If Liverpool lose to Arsenal on Saturday, they could end next weekend in fifth place, which carries the gloomy promise of a place in the Europa League.” ESPN

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Five big problems at Hamburg

February 2, 2014

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“Another match, another defeat. And that’s an experience that HSV fans have experienced eleven times this season, eleven times in nineteen matches, which is form worthy of relegation. And that’s more or less where HSV find themselves, in 16th place and in a playoff relegation spot, just four points ahead of bottom side Eintracht Braunschweig and two in front of Nürnberg, who could go above them if they win in Berlin against Hertha tomorrow. The sacking of Thorsten Fink and the appointment of Bert van Marwijk seemed to have triggered some sort of response from the players with some encouraging performances and results but it’s five straight defeats for HSV now and they are in free fall towards the 2. Bundesliga. So, what exactly needs changing at HSV?” Bundesliga Fanatic

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Transfer window: The winners, the losers – and the rest

February 2, 2014

“After another transfer window of wheeler-dealing, BBC Sport’s chief football writer Phil McNulty analyses the winners and losers as the Premier League clubs brace themselves for the season run-in…” BBC

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Naming It Right

February 2, 2014

“In a Facebook discussion a while ago, Markus Hesselmann, online editor of Der Tagesspiegel, a newspaper based in Berlin discussed the names of English football clubs in German media. Hesselmann argued that some over-correct people often reminded others that it is not Arsenal London but only Arsenal. While the correctionists do have a point in this case, it is important to remember that there might be people unfortunate enough to not know where this mysteriously called football club ‘Arsenal’ might be located. There are several ways to find out: asking some one around, google it or watching German television. Most often than not, Arsenal becomes Arsenal London. Hesselmann has a point as he later in the discussion thread stated that a journalist’s task is also to educate, without the journalist becoming an educator or teacher.” Do not mention the war

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