Real Madrid Vs. Barcelona

All eyes will be on Luis Suarez on Saturday as the striker makes his Barcelona debut at Real Madrid.
El Clasico between Barca and Real Madrid has always been the biggest event on the Primera Division calendar but Suarez's return from his four-month ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini at last summer's World Cup adds extra spice to an already highly-anticipated encounter.
Luis Enrique now has a decision to make as to whether he starts his marquee signing on the bench or goes with a three-pronged attack with Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi.
But the Barca coach has confirmed that Suarez will feature.

"Today I cannot play this game but you will have assurance he will play minutes," he told Spanish media at his pre-match press conference. "How many? I do not know."It's an important occasion for him and he will have minutes."

The head coach is highly unlikely to split the Argentinian and the Brazilian, who have scored 13 goals between them in the last five games and opposite number Carlo Ancelotti is refusing to get distracted by Suarez's potential debut.
When asked by Spanish radio station Cadena SER if he had a particular plan for facing the former Liverpool man, Ancelotti simply replied: "No, I do not know who will play on Saturday."
While Suarez is in line to play his first El Clasico, Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta is a veteran of such affairs and will make his 30th appearance in the fixture at the Bernabeu.
The Spain international will be the man expected to supply the service to his three prolific team-mates and he admits the entire squad is excited about Suarez's availability.
"He's happy to be available and the rest of us are happy about it too," he told a press conference. "We hope he performs as well as he has always done."
Away from the Luis Suarez show, Messi is on the brink of making Primera Division history as he sits just one goal behind Telmo Zarra's record of 251.
The Bernabeu would be the perfect place for the 27-year-old to break the record and Iniesta would be delighted to see him do it, if only because a Messi brace would mean things were going well in the game.
"I just want to see him get past the record, that'd be a good sign for us and mean we are in with a chance of winning," he said.
Barca currently sit at the top of the table, four points clear of Real who are third, and Iniesta is not losing focus on the task at hand amid all the hype surrounding the occasion.
"We will be going there with the intention of winning," he said. "It'd be a big mistake to think that we've got a four-point lead and even if we lose we'll still be top.
"We're just thinking about playing well, winning and stretching our lead in the table, which would be important, but not decisive at this stage of the season."
Luis Enrique has Sergio Busquests back in full training but he has not yet been given the all-clear by the medical staff to play.
James Rodriguez is set to play in his first El Clasico after starring against Liverpool in midweek and he has hailed the spirit in the camp ahead of the crunch clash.
"It will be a tough and complicated match," he told www.realmadrid.com.
"I want to approach it calmly, responsibly and also really be up for it, in order to help the team get the win.
"I'm in good form as is the whole squad. We have a strong group of players and are united, mentally speaking."
Rodriguez is set to keep his place with Isco being the man likely to drop out, with the potential return of Gareth Bale after Ancelotti admitted: "When well, Bale plays."
Ancelotti also revealed that Pepe is a doubt with a knock, but Sergio Ramos is in line to return, while Dani Carvajal could also take the place of Alvaro Arbeloa.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 13 career goals against Barcelona, will be looking to continue his run of having scored in every league game this season with 15 goals in seven games.

By AOL.

La Liga Competiveness

With scores of 8-2 (Real Madrid/ Deportivo) and  5-0 (Barcelona/ Levante), is the La Liga getting weaker or the stronger teams just get more stronger? With Real Madrid and Barcelona winning at least one title every decade, just how many trophies do the teams want?

Ronaldo bows out of clash of the titans

Cristiano Ronaldo came to the World Cup as part of a holy trinity of world superstars alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar but he is leaving the party early after Portugal crashed out.
In bowing out he continues the curse of the Ballon D'Or winner never picking up the World Cup the same year.
Ronaldo, who has had a quiet tournament by his own dizzying standards, finally scored his first goal on Thursday -- the winner against Ghana in Brasilia -- but it was too little too late.
Portugal -- hammered 4-0 in their opener against Germany -- needed to win handsomely and hope the result in the other Group G fixture between Germany and the United States went their way.
But in the end a 2-1 win was not enough and the two sides playing in Recife went through.
Despite at last breaking his duck in Brazil the Real Madrid star missed a succession of chances that could have given his team the sizeable win they needed to make the last 16.
Towards the end of the match he kicked the air in frustration as yet another attack foundered with his team still clinging to an unlikely dream of qualifying for the knockouts.
Ronaldo, who only last month helped his Spanish club side win a 10th Champions League trophy, cut a disconsolate figure after the game, saying his side had deserved more.
"The match today was a match we tried to win and we did win," said Ronaldo, who was named man of the match.
"We created many opportunities but we could not finish them all," said the 29-year-old, wearing strapping around his right knee and moving gingerly.
"We knew it was complicated but what's left at the end shows that it was possible considering the number of opportunities we created," he added.
"We deserved more but that's how football is. We can hold our heads up high. We tried our best but couldn't do it."
The former Manchester United player has been the focus of much attention about how fit he was with endless speculation over his left knee.
Feted by huge crowds in Brazil -- even when training -- he arrived in Brazil as the alpha male of world football after finally wresting the Ballon d'Or from the hands of his Argentine rival Messi.
But his side, ranked fourth in the world, suffered a disastrous start, demolished 4-0 by Germany in their Group G opener.
Next came a 2-2 draw against the United States, with Ronaldo providing the cross that led to the equaliser in the final seconds -- a goal that kept Portugal in the competition.
And whereas Messi and fellow Barca star Neymar have benefited from strong players around them, Ronaldo has suffered from some sub-par performances from his team-mates.
Portugal coach Paulo Bento refused to pin the blame on his star player, who helped the team reach the semi-finals of Euro 2012, for his misses.
"No, I don't think it's fair," said Bento, who prior to the finals signed an extension to his contract taking him up to 2016.
"I don't think we should now make those things individual. We made a set of mistakes in the tournament during three different matches."
Taking responsibility for the failure, Bento said the defeat to Germany had hit his side hard psychologically and left them with a mountain to climb.
He said it was not right to criticise a player who is usually so effective in front of goal for his missed chances in the Estadio Nacional.
Bento acknowledged that Ronaldo had received physical therapy in the run-up to the World Cup but said he was only called in when 100 percent fit.

Italy's Super Mario sinks England

Mario Balotelli scored the winner as Italy beat England 2-1 in their World Cup duel in the Amazon on Saturday as Costa Rica provided a major shock with an upset win over Uruguay.
AC Milan striker Balotelli nodded past former Manchester City team-mate Joe Hart on 50 minutes to decide the tense Group D encounter at Manaus's sweltering Amazonia Arena.
Italy's Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio had fired the Azzurri into a deserved lead on 35 minutes, rifling home a low shot from outside the area after a well-worked corner routine wrong-footed the English defence.
England struck back with a fine goal on the counter-attack. Raheem Sterling released Wayne Rooney down the left and the Manchester United star's cross was buried by Daniel Sturridge.
The Italian victory leaves Cesare Prandelli's side in pole qualifying position from Group D.
The only blot on a satisfying day for Italy was the absence of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who was ruled out of the England match hours before kick-off with a twisted ankle.
England now face Uruguay in Sao Paulo next Thursday with the loser of that contest facing almost certain elimination.
"It's disappointing, we put so much effort into it," said England captain Steven Gerrard after.
"Italy were a very good team tonight and we fell a bit short. But we're still very much alive in this group," he added.

Van Persie, Robben star as Dutch hand Spain record mauling

Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben both scored twice as the Netherlands avenged their 2010 World Cup final defeat by routing holders Spain 5-1 on Friday in a record-breaking humiliation.
As well as it being the worst ever-mauling inflicted at a World Cup on the reigning champions, it was the worst defeat suffered by Spain in more than half a century, coming 51 years after a 6-2 defeat to Scotland in 1963.
Manchester United striker Van Persie produced a stunning first-half header and slotted home the Netherlands' fourth.
"We never stopped going and in my opinion it could have been six, seven or eight goals," said man-of-the-match Van Persie.
"But I've been here before, this is my fifth tournament and it's just one win and three points, now we have to focus on our next game, against Australia."
Not to be outdone, Bayern Munich star Robben scored two second-half goals with Stefan De Vrij compounding the misery for Vicente del Bosque's world and European champions.
Veteran midfielder Xabi Alonso gave the Spanish a first-half lead when he drilled home a highly contentious penalty after Brazilian-born striker Diego Costa, who was jeered constantly by local fans, went down in the box despite not appearing to have been touched.
But Van Persie's diving header 90 seconds from the break put the Dutch level before the Oranje ran wild in the second half.
The Dutch triumvirate of Robben, Van Persie and Wesley Sneijder caused the Spanish defence all manner of problems, but it was Daley Blind's superb long passes which created their two opening goals.
"I feel really bad, very upset and very disappointed, but I have enough courage to understand this defeat," said Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque.
Spain conceded two goals at the last World Cup and three in their qualifying campaign for Brazil 2014, leaving Del Bosque at a loss to explain the five-goal mauling.
"I can't find the words to explain that, we are normally solid in defence, but today we were very weak," said Del Bosque.
"You have to acknowledge the performances of Van Persie and Robben."
- 'Dutch can improve still' -
Spain went ahead when Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli judged Costa had been fouled by De Vrij and Alonso drilled the 27th-minute penalty past Netherlands goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.
Soon after, David Silva squandered a great chance to put the world champions 2-0 up when Cillessen managed to get a glove to the Manchester City star's chipped shot.
Van Persie levelled on 44 minutes when Daley Blind's pin-point pass from the left wing found the Manchester United star in space to loop his header over the stranded Iker Casillas.
Holland took control soon after the break when Van Persie turned provider with a superb pass to Robben in the area.
The winger got the better of both Spain centre-backs Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos to fire the Oranje into a 2-1 lead on 53 minutes.
Van Persie then rattled the crossbar with an hour gone before De Vrij grabbed Holland's third on 64 minutes when he bundled home at the back post.
Spain looked to have pulled a goal back when Silva stabbed home a Cillessen spill with 67 minutes gone, but he was shown to be offside.
Van Persie claimed his second and the Netherlands' fourth when he beat Casillas to a loose ball and, aided by a helpful bounce, he tapped home on 72 minutes.
The Dutch delight was clear as Van Persie handed the captain's armband to Robben in the dying stages when the striker was replaced.
Robben, who could have finished with a hat-trick, netted his second on 80 minutes by again dancing around Spanish defenders to claim his team's fifth goal of a stunning night.
Dutch coach Louis van Gaal said his side can improve further still under his new 4-3-3 system clicked.
"Without a shadow of a doubt we can (improve)," said the future Manchester United manager.
"You could see in the last 20 minutes when we started to play the ball around with confidence.
"A result like that gives players confidence and I expect us to play better."

Brazil 3, Croatia 1: World Cup match report

Neymar rescued a nervy Brazil in the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, scoring two goals in a 3-1 comeback win over Croatia.
An own goal by Marcelo gave the Croatians a shocking 1-0 lead early on, but Neymar evened the score in the first half and scored the winner from the penalty spot in the 71st minute. Oscar added an insurance marker in injury time to cap an excellent performance of his own.
Key play
A frantic Brazil threw men forward after Marcelo’s unlucky own goal in the 11th minute, and finally gained the lead 20 minutes from time, when Neymar scored his second goal of the match from the penalty spot.
Croatia has a right to feel hard done by. It was a dubious call from Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura. Croatian defender Dejan Lovren was jostling with Brazil’s Fred when the latter seemed to fall of his own accord. But Nishimura pointed to the spot, gave Lovren the card, and Neymar cooly blasted the ball past Stipe Pletikosa for the match-winner.
Man of the match
Neymar. The man with the most pressure on his shoulders at the World Cup delivered when his country needed him the most, and that means good things for the hosts.
It was a good day for…
Oscar. It was a magnificent performance by the Brazil midfielder, who nearly overshadowed Neymar. He set up Neymar’s first goal, regularly barreled his way through several Croatian defenders at a time, and scored a deserved insurance marker.
It was a bad day for…
Marcelo. The Brazilian defender has the dubious distinction of scoring Brazil’s first own goal ever at the World Cup. You read that right. Ever.

Will players of Indian descent start cracking rosters in North American pro sports?

When Jaskaran Dhillon was drafted in the third round by the Toronto Argonauts last month, he was deluged by ethnic media outlets in Vancouver celebrating the occasion since players of Indian descent are rare in the CFL.
On Wednesday, Sim Bhullar, a 7-foot-5 centre, worked out for his hometown Raptors, also attracting a media horde. He’s a 21-year-old who can dunk while standing on his tip-toes.
And last month, the movie Million Dollar Arm came out, based on the story of an agent who went to India in 2008 to recruit two talented cricket players with the hope of developing them into major league pitchers.
Even if their pro dreams die, these athletes are the leading edge of what some hope will one day be a wave of athletes with Indian backgrounds filling roster spots on North American pro sports teams.
The Toronto-born Bhullar, whose family is from the state of Punjab, hopes to be the first Indo-Canadian ever drafted into the NBA on June 26. He left New Mexico State following his sophomore year where he was voted Western Athletic Conference tournament MVP in leading the Aggies to the championship.
The interest in the Indian and the Punjab communities in Canada was so big for his Raptors workout, local ethnic media showed up excitedly at the Air Canada Centre to interview Bhullar. His college games were covered in Toronto’s Punjabi newspaper, Parvasi.
Bhullar said he hopes he can do for India what Yao Ming did for basketball in China, where the game became even more popular with kids and consumers in the world’s largest economy.
“Hopefully if I can make it and get to the next level, I can really go back there and impact the community,” Bhullar said. “I want to give back to the community out there. Especially growing up being a little kid, I always wanted to one of the NBA players to come to my community.
“I really want to be a role model for the kids and just open their eyes and know they can do anything they want. Anything they put their mind to.”
Bhullar said he doesn’t feel any pressure carrying the flag for India and wants to be a role model for others.
He’s used to such talk. In 2011, the New York Times wrote that Bhullar was poised to become the world’s first prominent men’s basketball player of Indian descent.
“There’s not really any pressure for me,” he said. “I had it for this long this far.”
He said there are more players in India with basketball talent, but they are lacking a place to showcase their skills.
Bhullar wants to make a difference in that area.
Bhullar said basketball courts are being built across the country and many more are picking up the game.
“It’s more pride,” he said. “I just want to be the best I can be and inspire some young guys. It really helps our community take a step forward. It brings a positive light to our community.
Dhillon, at 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, can also trace his family roots to the Punjab area.
Dhillon felt family pressure to play soccer growing up in B.C., but he didn’t really like it. He fell in love with the gridiron game watching the NFL and the Denver Broncos became his favourite team.
Rupan Bal, of Punjab-based PTC (PTCnetwork.ca) that broadcasts out of Toronto, grew up playing basketball in India and cautions that developing more talent will take time.
He played high school basketball in Amritsar, and the only reason he played was that it was a Canadian-oriented school. He started playing basketball in Grade 5, but “it was not really that great.”
He said the national basketball program is on a par with high school basketball in Canada.
Social media is also responsible for raising the profile of emerging stars like Bhullar in the Punjab community.
“In Canada, in every Punjabi community, he (Bhullar) is really popular because of his height and the fact that he is the first one to make it to the NBA draft,” Bal said. “People want to take pictures wherever he walks.”
Bal added that he thinks there is pressure on Bhullar to do well in basketball because of his heritage.
“As Punjabi Canadians, we are looking for someone from our community to break the barrier and bring two generations together. What happens is the generation from my parent’s era didn’t really support sports. They don’t believe in sports. Studies is the only option. So someone breaking through this, they will visualize a new picture.”

Real Madrid beats Atletico Madrid 4-1 to win Champions League final

LISBON, Portugal - Real Madrid broke down Atletico Madrid's resistance in extra time to win the Champions League final 4-1 on Saturday and finally deliver the club's record 10th European title.
Real struck three times in the second period of extra time, through Gareth Bale's header in the 110th minute, Marcelo's shot in the 118th and a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty.
It was an unfairly lopsided score after Atletico was on the brink of victory in regulation time.
Sergio Ramos's headed goal equalized for Real in the third minute of stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes.
Diego Godin put Atletico ahead when his 35th-minute header looped into a Real goal left vacant by captain and veteran goalkeeper Iker Casillas's reckless rush out.

Atletico Madrid win La Liga title after draw at Barca

BARCELONA  - A towering Diego Godin header secured Atletico Madrid a 1-1 draw against Barcelona and a first La Liga title for 18 years in a thrilling climax to the campaign on Saturday.
Barca needed to beat Atletico in a final-day showdown to snatch the title away and Alexis Sanchez gave the hosts hope when he rifled home from an acute angle after 33 minutes at a packed Nou Camp.
But four minutes after the break Godin powered home from a corner and Atletico defended robustly to earn the draw they needed and claim their first championship since 1995-96.
The result prompted Barcelona's Argentine coach Gerardo Martino to announce his resignation after just one season in the job.
"The work and effort of this team is the key and nobody makes any compromises. The team understands this," Atletico coach Diego Simeone told a news conference.
"Today will be one of the most important days in the history of the club. To become champions against Barcelona is a great feeling."
Following the final whistle, the Nou Camp crowd applauded the new champions as they celebrated on the pitch.
"This was something unimaginable at the start of the season but totally deserved," Atletico captain Gabi told Spanish television as his delirious team mates celebrated on the pitch behind him.
"It is a honour to be part of this and to be able to compete with the big clubs.
"We always believed in ourselves, even when we fell behind today," he added.
"Let the fans enjoy this now because they deserve it. We will celebrate this great title now and from Monday we will focus on the Champions League which is the priority now."
Atletico, who contest next Saturday's European showpiece against Real Madrid in Lisbon, finished with 90 points, with Barca second on 87 and Real, also with 87, in third.
It is the first time in 10 years that either Barca or Real Madrid did not win the league and Barca finished without major silverware for the first time in six years.
"We had it within our grasp for 45 minutes but all we can do now is congratulate Atleti," Barca playmaker Andres Iniesta told Spanish TV.
"After we went ahead their goal really hurt us and they are worthy champions," added the Spain international.
"We tried to the very end but today we are left empty-handed. This season is over for us and now we just have to move forward."
Gerard Pique and Neymar were back in the Barca side after injury while the surprise in coach Martino’s lineup was the choice of Cesc Fabregas in midfield ahead of Xavi.
Pique’s return was a boost due to Atletico’s strength in the air and he was soon in the thick of the action as the visitors looked to test the Barca defence. He was booked after just five minutes for a foul on Koke.
The visitors suffered a blow as Diego Costa went off injured after 15 minutes as his hamstring problems continued. Shortly afterwards Arda Turan also limped off.
Needing only to draw, Atletico tried to slow the game down, while the tension meant a scrappy contest only came to life in spurts.
Sanchez was looking the most lively for Barca in the first half and having gone close with a header, he rifled home a shot from a tight angle, beating Thibaut Courtois at his near post.
It would be harsh to blame the Atletico keeper, however, such was the ferocity of the strike.
Atletico came out in determined mood after the restart and once Godin got the equaliser from a Gabi corner they always looked in control.
Messi made some dangerous runs and found the net with an effort that was ruled offside, while Neymar, the marquee signing ahead of the season, also failed to make an impact with the Atletico defence staying rock solid.
After months of speculation about his future, Barcelona coach Martino said he was standing down in the wake of the result.
"I would like to thank the club for putting their confidence in me and I am sorry that I was unable to deliver," the Argentine told a news conference.

Barca's Messi to be world's highest-paid footballer

MADRID - Barcelona and Lionel Messi have agreed an improved contract that will reportedly make the four-times World Player of the Year soccer's best-paid player with a net annual salary of $27.4 million.
Barca did not publish details of the deal but Spanish media said Messi, 26, would remain tied to the club until June 2018, as in his previous contract, and could earn around 5 million euros more per season in performance-linked bonuses.
The Argentina captain would also regain control of his image rights, one report said, further boosting the income of a man Forbes magazine estimates is the 10th highest-earning athlete, with annual revenues of $41.2 million including wages and endorsements.
"FC Barcelona has reached an agreement to adjust the terms in the contract binding Leo Messi to the club as a professional first team player," Barca said in a brief statement on Friday.
"The revised and updated contract will be signed over the next few days," they added.
Messi, who had been earning a net 13 million euros per season, will top soccer's earnings list ahead of Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo on 18 million euros and Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Paris St Germain on 14.7 million, sports daily Marca said.
Messi is Barca's all-time leading scorer with 354 goals in 424 official games and news of the deal is a boost for the club before Saturday's La Liga showdown against Atletico Madrid.
"Anything that is good for Messi is good for Barca," coach Gerardo Martino told a news conference on Friday. "It is a very good piece of news for both parties."
Since Messi made his debut in the 2004-05 season, Barca have won 21 titles, including three Champions Leagues and six La Liga crowns.
He joined Barca's academy at the age of 13 after a spell at Newell's Old Boys in his native Rosario.
Messi and his father last year paid 5 million euros to the Spanish authorities as a "corrective payment" after they were accused of filing false tax returns.
The pair, who both denied wrongdoing, allegedly hid more than 4 million euros by filing incomplete returns for the years 2006 to 2009.
The sale of Messi's image rights had been hidden using a complex web of shell companies in Uruguay, Belize, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, the prosecutor's office for tax crimes in Catalonia said.

Real Madrid is reeling, Barcelona smells blood, and Atletico zeroes in

Yesterday, prior to their respective La Liga clashes today, Real Madrid, CF Barcelona, and Atletico de Madrid, put their cards on the table in their three-way fight for the Champions League and La Liga trophies.
Recent results, Real Madrid's 1-1 draw with Valladolid, Barcelona's 2-2 draw with Getafe, and Atletico's 0-2 loss to Levante, have set up a squeaker of a La Liga home stretch.
Real Madrid will play their match away to Celta de Vigo without Pepe, Angel di Maria, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Dani Carvajal, among others. This did not mean they were conceding their mathematical shot at the La Liga title, but that instead, with a pretty strong roster to draw on for domestic play, they were going to focus on the Champions League as the bigger of their year's objectives.
For that final, it is likely Pepe, with a calf tear, will not play. Similarly Xabi Alonso is already out of the final due to accumulated yellow cards. While Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel di Maria are not quite yet recovered from their injuries, both should be ready in two weeks' time.
For that final, it is likely Pepe, with a calf tear, will not play. Similarly Xabi Alonso is already out of the final due to accumulated yellow cards. While Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel di Maria are not quite yet recovered from their injuries, both should be ready in two weeks' time.
Carlo Ancelotti said, at yesterday's press conference in Madrid, that he would "Not risk playing either of them [di Maria and Ronaldo] until they are fit to play at their best."
Meanwhile, Tata Martino was making no bones about the fact that Barcelona have been given a reprieve in what just a couple of weeks ago seemed a year destined for the trash bin by Barca standards. Now, with the La Liga title in play, should they win their last two games, Martino is planning on playing, not resting, his World Cup bound stars in an all-out bid to at least salvage the domestic season.
Martino, at yesterday's pre-game press conference said: "Just a week or so ago, the players were already talking about the future, about next year. I was feeling like I did not deserve my job because we had not won anything during my tenure. Now we have a chance to rewrite that [script]. We will seize it."
Atletico Madrid find themselves at a historic crossroads. In a matter of two weeks they will play three matches that will determine whether their magical year bears fruit or falls agonizingly short of the tantalizing summits they could attain.
If the Colchoneros can win all three matches they would be crowned La Liga and Champions League champions. To accomplish this, they must beat the two strongest Spanish Football teams at a time when they are both vying for titles that have great import for each of them. The Decima has been the Holy Grail for Madrid since before Jose Mourinho was in charge and reaching the finals is what Ancelotti has been gunning for since his arrival. Ronaldo and company see it as their club's marker. At the Camp Nou, Lionel Messi and company do not want to go into the Brazilian summer on a downer and nothing would revive their moribund demeanors of late more than two back-to-back La Liga wins.
Atletico's talisman, Diego Costa, is still fighting for fitness due to a hamstring problem. But Atletico coach Diego Simeone does not have the luxury to chose not to play his star, unless Costa is truly unable, so he will wait until the last possible moment to make his call. "We will have some tests before Sunday's game and we will know then," he said.
So how does Simeone see his team's next two weeks? "There is no pressure, only responsibility. This is a great moment. All of us who work in football want to reach important situations like this one. We need to keep going, without looking ahead and hoping. That is the best way to prepare for this period. Our future and destiny is marked out for us moving forward. We just need to do what we have to do."
According to ESPN's Sid Lowe "There are 243 combinations of results involving the three teams in the final two weeks. In 177 of them, Atletico will be champions; Barcelona emerge victorious in 59 and there are only seven combinations by which Real Madrid can win the title." But it would seem that for Diego, Tata, and Carlo those combinations are reduced to three, two, and one, respectively.

Manchester City wins Premier League for 2nd time in 3 seasons

Manchester City won the Premier League for the second time in three seasons on Sunday, completing its campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over West Ham that lacked any of the drama of its previous title.
Unlike the stoppage-time comeback required in the 2012 title decider, goals either side of halftime by Samir Nasri and Vincent Kompany provided a more serene end to what had been an exhilarating season.
"You can't repeat what happened last time," City goalkeeper Joe Hart said. "This year, we've really come on strong at the end when we needed to."
Two years ago, City won the title on goal difference ahead of neighbour Manchester United after coming from behind to beat Queens Park Rangers on the final day. Sunday's victory, though, meant Liverpool's 2-1 win over Newcastle at Anfield was meaningless as City finished two points above the Merseyside club.
As soon as the final whistle was blown, thousands of fans flooded onto the Etihad Stadium pitch, setting off blue flares. For a club that has spent so much time in the shadow of United — last year's champion — it was just the fourth time in its 134-year history that fans could celebrate a league title.
Just 15 years ago, City was playing in the third tier of English football, but the club's fortunes were transformed after the influx of Abu Dhabi cash following a 2008 takeover.
Making this victory all the sweeter is the fact that United, which beat City to the title by 11 points last May, ended this campaign in seventh place after imploding in the post-Alex Ferguson era.
Although City spent just 15 days at the summit during a campaign when the lead changed hands 25 times, Manuel Pellegrini's side surged to the top when it mattered most. The 60-year-old Chilean is ending his first season in English football as a double winner, having already won the League Cup victory over Sunderland in March.
However, the league title looked out of reach for City just weeks ago after losing to Liverpool at Anfield. However, Liverpool collapsed toward the end with a loss to Chelsea and a draw at Crystal Palace which meant City only needed a draw at the Etihad to secure the title.
But after an edgy start, Nasri scored with a shot from outside the area in the 39th minute and Vincent Kompany added the second from close range shortly after the break to let fans celebrate for much of the second half.
"Liverpool's game against Chelsea, I think that's the twist of the season," Nasri said.
All City required was a draw, but after an edgy start this energetic and attacking team seized on the opportunity to finish the season in style. Against an uninspiring West Ham, City was in complete control, calmly knocking the ball around the pitch.
However easily City unpicked the West Ham defence, finding a route to goal was proving more difficult. David Silva, so dynamic in this title-winning side, lashed the ball over from distance and Aleksandar Kolarov had a long-range strike tipped over by goalkeeper Adrian.
But the goal that settled nerves in the stands came in the 39th minute, with Yaya Toure teeing up Nasri, who took two touches before curling the shot into the net off the inside of the post.
Although Silva was denied by the woodwork in stoppage time, City's second came just four minutes into the second half. From a corner, the ball bounced off striker Edin Dzeko, and the unmarked Kompany swept in City's 102nd league goal this season from close range.
The captain slid across the pitch in celebration, and the party truly started in the stadium. Unlike the rollercoaster season finale against Queens Park Rangers here two years ago, it was job done for City.
West Ham was never going to spoil these celebrations, and City is at the pinnacle of English football once again. The challenge now is retaining the trophy for the first time, and replicating the electrifying domestic form in Europe to conquer the Champions League.
These title celebrations, though, could be short-lived in the City boardroom, with UEFA on the verge of imposing sanctions on the club for overspending in breach of Financial Fair Play rules.

Manchester City captain Kompany pleased to see off 'intense' Everton

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has praised his side for their victory over an "intense" Everton at Goodison Park.
Edin Dzeko notched a brace as City secure a gripping 3-2 win to edge ahead of their opponents' local rivals Liverpool on goal difference at the top of the table.
An Everton victory would have left Liverpool well placed to secure a first title for 24 years, leading to suggestions of mixed emotions in the Goodison Park stands on Saturday.
That was certainly not the case on the field as Everton threw everything at City in a thrilling finale, but saw their hopes of Champions League qualification ended.
"It was hard and very intense as well - I was thinking that the Everton players have got a lot of friends at Liverpool," Kompany joked when interviewed by Sky Sports after the match.
"It was tough and we ultimately got a great result."
Sergio Aguero cancelled out Ross Barkley's superb opening strike to set City on their way to ending a run of four straight defeats at Goodison - a streak their captain attributed to Everton's competitive spirit and a lack of luck.
"To be honest we've not had a lot of great results but we’ve never really had took many bad games either," Kompany said.
"It's just one of those places. When we take the lead it’s never finished - they always find a way to make it difficult and they always find a way to score a goal that put them back in the game.
"Today was the same. I thought until the last minute both teams had to keep giving everything they had to keep in the game."
City have passed up a handful chances to take a firm hold on the title race since February's 1-0 home loss to Chelsea, seemingly in the most damaging fashion when they slipped to a 3-2 defeat at Liverpool three weeks ago.Now wins in back-to-back home games against Aston Villa and Chelsea next week will give them a second Premier League crown in three seasons.
But the dramatic manner in which his team clinched glory against struggling QPR in 2012 means Kompany knows nothing can be taken for granted.
He added: "We've had a lot of tough times during the season but I think that we've had a lot of wonderful games.
"The most important thing is to pick up the form at the right time and if we can carry on like this in the next two games, hopefully it should be enough to win those two games. I guess the past will tell us to be careful."

Seattle Seahawks beat Denver Broncos 43-8 to win first Super Bowl title

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Seattle Seahawks have won their first Super Bowl title, crushing the favoured Denver Broncos 43-8.
Linebacker Malcolm Smith returned an interception of Peyton Manning 69 yards for a touchdown late in the first half Sunday, and Percy Harvin returned the opening kickoff of the second half 87 yards for another TD.
The Seahawks led 36-0 before Denver finally scored on the last play of the third quarter.
Manning was 34 of 49 for 280 yards, but most of that came after Seattle had all but put the game away. He was flustered by Seattle's fierce defence for most of the first half, throwing two interceptions. The second fluttered into Smith's hands after Cliff Avril struck the five-time NFL MVP's arm as he was releasing the ball.
Second-year quarterback Russell Wilson was coolly efficient for the Seahawks, throwing for two touchdowns.