Barça back to winning ways as Madrid meeting ends all square
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- Written by Benjamin Cullen
Real Madrid and Barcelona's simultaneous kick-offs on Saturday meant that if results went Real's way they could move to within 1 point of the Catalan league leaders. The form book was certainly with them, having won their last 10 league games compared with Barcelona's run of 5 fixtures without a win, and then there was the fact that Atlético Madrid hadn't won in the Bernabeu for over 10 years.
Real then, perhaps unsurprisingly, started strongest. Arjen Robben crafted some good opening chances for the home side, only to let himself down with poor selection when it mattered - twice choosing to shoot when Raul and then Marcelino looked to be in better positions (for which the latter was visibly frustrated).
The results of the latest poll are in and they’re pretty interesting. Asked which of the major European leagues is best, 47% of you plumped for La Liga, followed by 39% for the Premier League and just 14% for Serie A.
Hull City’s Geovanni is undoubtedly a quality player. At Barcelona he was earmarked as the natural successor to Rivaldo, and in terms of creativity, trickery and goalscoring ability, there are obvious similarities. 
Thousands of delighted Basque fans flooded onto the pitch to celebrate Athletic Club Bilbao's first cup final in 24 years. The 'Lions' of Bilbao went into the game 2-1 down on aggregate but roared out of the blocks at home last night, instantly asserting their authority on this second leg, and soon finding reward with young Javi Martinez arriving into the box from midfield, as he so often does to effect, and slotting past Palop in the 3rd minute.
Now for an update on the Eredivisie, and a look at how the football giants of the Dutch lowlands have been fairing. To be honest there has been little change in the standings. As the weeks move on AZ Alkmaar continue to exuberate a dominance on Dutch football, which resembes Manchester Utd's current control in the Premiership.