“Spanish football teams are shooting for a new goal: To break even. In an effort to tackle reckless spending and rising debts among the 20 La Liga clubs, the country’s top teams will be subjected to financial regulation by a new independent body established by the Spanish government to ensure that teams are living within their means.” (WSJ)

“Javier Clemente squeezed into blue tights, pulled red knickers over the top and slapped a big yellow S on his chest. A quick fiddle with Photoshop and the amazing transformation was complete. Real Valladolid’s manager had, in his own words, gone into the phonebox Scum and come out a Saint; he had, in Athletic Bilbao manager Joaquín Caparrós’s words, gone from whore to nun in five minutes.” (Guardian)

“A question: What defines a league as strong and what classes it as weak? Should a league’s overall strength be measured on the successes of it’s most powerful constituents? Or on the sum total of all parts? If your answer is the former, then based on the 2009/2010 season’s outcome Spain’s La Liga is undoubtedly one of the strongest in world football. If you lean to the latter answer however, then La Liga may be classed as a league in serious structural trouble.” (Just Football)

“Desperation makes for strange bedfellows. And no, we’re not talking about David Cameron and Nick Clegg coming together to find the keys for No. 10 Downing Street after a British general election that left a hung parliament and no outright winner — although there is certainly plenty of politics involved.” (SI)

“After successfully running away with Spain’s league championship this season, turning the title race into a straight shootout between the country’s top two football teams, now Barcelona and Real Madrid could break away from the league altogether. Spain’s two biggest clubs are among the teams calling for the Primera Division to follow the example of rival European leagues and split from Spain’s second tier Segunda Division in a row over television revenue that threatens to create a schism between the country’s leading contenders.” (WSJ)

Francesco Guardi, The Doge of Venice goes to the Salute on 21 November to Commemor
“Barcelona struck a potentially decisive blow in the Primera Division title race by ending Real Madrid’s perfect home record to go three points clear at the summit. Lionel Messi’s 40th goal of the season in all competitions put the reigning Spanish and European champions on the road to victory in ‘El Clasico’, and Pedro Rodriguez completed the scoring 10 minutes after half-time.” (ESPN)

Manuel Pellegrini fears for Real Madrid future after Barcelona defeat
“‘I am not the one responsible for answering that question,’ said the Chilean when asked if he expected to be granted a second season at the Bernabeu by Florentino Perez, the club’s president and the man who appointed the former Villarreal coach. ‘And I am not the one who has to talk about my qualities as a manager.’ After an impressive run of form, Real went in to last night’s clasico – decided by goals either side of half-time from Lionel Messi and Pedro – level on points with the Spanish, European and World champions. Though mathematically they now lie just three points behind, Barcelona’s superior head to head record effectively gives the Catalans a four-point lead.” (Telegraph)

Buoyant Barcelona close in on title
“Deportivo, Espanyol, Xerez, Villarreal, Tenerife, Sevilla, Valladolid – those are the names of the teams that Barcelona have to play in La Liga during the next five weeks. However, to quote the succinct front page of the Spanish sports newspaper As on Sunday: ’21 points remain but the title seems already decided.’ Barcelona’s 2-0 victory at Real Madrid on Saturday returned them to the top of the table and gives them a three-point advantage in their bid to be crowned champions for the second successive season and the 20th time in their history.” (BBC)

Lionel Messi punishes Real Madrid to give Barcelona title lift
“This time Lionel Messi scored only once and it was not a particularly special goal, yet it could prove as significant as the four against Arsenal. The architect of Barcelona’s victory was the peerless Xavi Hernández but it was Messi’s 40th goal of a spectacular season that set Barcelona on the way to victory in the match that was declared the title decider. Real Madrid’s 14-game winning run at the Bernabéu came to an end and the feeling as disappointed fans left early was that so too did their chances of winning the league.” (Guardian)

Ronaldo and Messi duel in El Clasico
“Cristiano Ronaldo has never scored against Barcelona, so tonight would be a good time to start. Having heard the universal acclaim bestowed on Lionel Messi this week, Ronaldo will get the chance to overshadow him and take Real Madrid a giant step closer to winning La Liga in a match that has had the whole of Spain holding its breath and the sport scientists working overtime.” (Independent)

Real Madrid 0-2 FC Barcelona – Recap and Video Highlights
“The El Clasico was renewed once again on Saturday, April 10, 2010 as FC Barcelona traveled to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid. The two teams were tied on points in La Liga with the result of this match likely to determine who will win the title. A win or draw for Barcelona would give them the advantage if the two points are tied on points. Real Madrid led the table on goal difference heading into the match.” (The 90th Minute)

“To listen to the debate and comment over the last week, both here in Spain and elsewhere around the world, you might think that only two players will be on the pitch at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Saturday for the latest edition of El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona.” (BBC)

“There’s never a low-key game when Barcelona faces Real Madrid. This meeting of Spain’s two biggest and most popular clubs, known around the world as El Clásico, is widely considered the fiercest rivalry in soccer. Decades of history, politics and tradition will be at play Saturday, issues of national identity, cultural independence and years of oppression.” (WSJ)