“Previously unseen photos of Brazil’s 1966 World Cup squad relaxing in a rural Cheshire hotel are to go on show. An exhibition is being held at the Lymm Hotel where the world’s most glamorous football team was based for the tournament, 50 years ago. It includes images of football greats Pele and Garrincha and their team-mates at ease in the hotel grounds.” BBC
“Arsenal’s clash with Barcelona has been billed as another contest between two sides in a continual series, but it’s actually been half a decade since the sides previously met. It was so long ago that Cesc Fabregas was still with Arsenal — never mind him joining Barcelona, being turned down by Arsene Wenger when he wanted to return to England and then winning the Premier League with Chelsea.” ESPN – Michael Cox (Video)
“After witnessing the drama which unfolded from the last two ties that occurred between these two sides in the knockout rounds, this fixture was highly anticipated by many neutrals as well as both sets of fans. And it did not disappoint. Laurent Blanc’s men came into the game as slight favourites, on the back of their frankly ridiculous form in their domestic league (24 points ahead of second placed Monaco) and the firepower of Zlatan Ibrahimović and Edinson Cavani. Judging also by Chelsea’s dire form in the league, PSG looked the most likely victors at the Parc des Princes. However, Chelsea had been experiencing a mini-revival following the re-introduction of Guus Hiddink in the hot seat.” Outside of the Boot
“What does it take to get one to watch a football league? Apparently quite a lot. Despite being one of two countries that borders my home country of the United States this intrepid reporter is finally getting into Mexican soccer. It might seem like I might be getting into Mexican soccer a bit late. After all, Mexican soccer matches have been shown on Spanish language television and radio for decades in the United States and Mexican soccer players have made their impact on local club teams such as former Los Angeles Galaxy and Chicago Fire goalkeeper Jorge Campos and former Chicago Fire Cuauhtémoc Blanco. Although many young goalkeepers in the United States tried to emulate Campos by wearing fuchsia jerseys (may those pictures never get out) and make endeavors on the attack, very few became followers of Liga MX to the extent they do with other foreign leagues.” backpagefootball (Video)
“Often when Barcelona play teams, their respective position in the table means very little. Already this season we’ve seen teams who are rooted towards the bottom go out and play toe to toe with Barça and in the opening exchanges of this game, that was the case.” Barca Blaugranes
“Tottenham have the best defensive record in the Premier League. It’s not a sentence we’re used to hearing. Not since 1951 have Spurs finished a campaign with the best defensive record of the division they’ve been in. It’s not the Spurs way. They’re supposed to be about moments of occasional attacking genius set against a background of general flakiness. Not any more.” Guardian – Jonathan Wilson
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