Thursday, November 30, 2023

The Latest Football News and Opinions From 90 Minutes Online

Spanish La Liga review - Records within reach as Barca and Real break away from the pack

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The 4 goals put past Numancia on Saturday night took Barça's goal tally to 63 in just 20 games, meaning they are now well on course to break the 102 strikes Bobby Robson's Ronaldo spearheaded squad racked up in ‘97.  

 

Forty five of those sixty three (over 71%) have come from Eto'o (19),  Messi (14)  and Henry (12) and the sparkling trio were all over the scoreboard again on Saturday night, with Messi grabbing 2 and an assist. The Camp Nou did endure a goaless first fifty minutes in which Numancia had a goal disallowed, but within the hour they were two up, and 15 minutes later it was 4-1 and game-over. 

Portuguese Liga Sagres review - Stand up… if you’ve bothered to come

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The Liga Sagres struck new low this week as only 514 people showed up for Estrela Amadora’s game with Rio Ave.

 

If a figure like that needs putting into perspective, the lowest ever attendance in England was 469, which happened at a game between Thames and Luton Town in 1930.

 

Although it is somewhat amusing to imagine such a paltry number of people at a top flight game in Western Europe, it’s really quite tragic in that it highlights the appalling shabbiness of the Liga Sagres.

The FA Cup gathers pace and the FA review...

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FA Cup logoThe FA Cup re-claimed the agenda over the weekend with the competition resuming at the fourth round stage. For anyone concerned about the 'romance of the cup’, two non-league clubs had managed to win their way through thus far - Kettering Town and Torquay United - both of the Blue Square Premier (or if you keep forgetting like me, the Conference!).

Italian Serie A review – Mourinho sent-off and Beckham scores

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Saturday evening’s fixture saw Inter dislodged from the top of the table for the first time in three months as Juventus beat Fiorentina in Turin. The 1-0 victory  came courtesy of a Claudio Marchisio goal but was largely thanks to Alessandro Del Piero.  

 

Although simple in execution, the move had the mark of genius as Del Piero cut inside from the left drawing in three defenders and slid a through ball that bisected two more. During 5 seconds on the ball Del Piero had nullified five members of the opposition defense and laid the ball on a plate for Marchisio to slot home. 

THE RESULT: Will Man City finish in the top 4 next season?

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The votes are in and the result was unanimous: almost 90% of you said that you don’t expect Manchester City to qualify for the Champions League by the end of next season.  

 

These are seemingly difficult times for the world’s richest club. They are languishing in the league, Robinho has walked out and the transfer window is yet to be as productive as everyone had expected.  

 

 

The Kaka deal blew up in their faces and in his place the club have paid over the odds for the likes of Craig Bellamy, Wayne Bridge and Nigel De Jong – players no one would call world-beaters.   

 

What you think the future holds at the Middle Eastlands? Will Mark Hughes be in charge for much longer? When, if ever, will they qualify for the Champions League? Will the Sheikhs stick around for the long-haul if success doesn’t come quickly? Let us know what you think…    

More Articles...

  1. The Aston-Filla
  2. The curious case of Mark Goldberg
  3. English Premier League review - Headless horsemen & Matrix glitches
  4. Ronaldo, Kaka, Messi, Torres, Xavi - Say cheese!

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