***European Soccer Thread***

[Street Novelist]

UEFA Suspend Thiago Motta For Champions League Final

 

Motta earned a straight red in the second leg of the Barca/Inter series when he pushed Sergio Busquets in his face, forcing him to the ground.

[RussianHuskerKCMO]

Btw ManU is coming to KC in July for an exhibition game against KC Wizards

[Street Novelist]

Barcelona/Sevilla Pre-Game Notes

 

ESPN: "Guardiola is sweating on the fitness of defender Gerard Pique, who is carrying a knock and is doubtful.

 

Eric Abidal is fit again, but Andres Iniesta remains sidelined.

 

While Barca fight for the league title, Sevilla continue to compete for the last Champions League place.

 

The Andalusians are currently fourth, one point ahead of fifth-placed Mallorca, but defeat against Barcelona could seriously damage the team's Champions League ambitions.

 

A win, though, would make Sevilla big favourites to claim the last spot giving access to Europe's premier club competition."

[Street Novelist]

Real Madrid/Athletic Bilbao Pre-Game Notes

 

ESPN: "Madrid cannot afford anything other than a victory against their Basque opponents, but recent history suggests that is well within their capabilities.

 

Pellegrini's men have won 17 of 18 games at the Bernabeu this season, and nine of their past 10 home meetings with Athletic...

 

Madrid will again have to do without record goalscorer and capital Raul though, while Rafael van der Vaart and Pepe are also injured still. Pellegrini does, however, have midfielder Lassana Diarra and defender Marcelo available again after injury and suspension, respectively."

[Street Novelist]

Barcelona Beat Sevilla 3-2 In a Thriller

 

Barcelona completely dominated the first half, scoring 2 goals. Sevilla could not keep up with Barcelona and were fouling everyone in sight, committing 23 of them in total. Bojan once again started instead of Ibrahimovic. Guardiola is clearing sending a message.

 

The game started fast as Messi scored in just the 5th minute when Maxwell lofted him a ball over the head of several defenders. Messi did a great job of chesting the ball, spinning around, and firing past the keeper. In the 26 minute, Fazio twisted his ankle badly while trying to guard Messi (he had to be replaced). In the 28th minute, Bojan netted one from another great pass from Xavi. In the 30th minute, Fabiano earned a yellow card for a nasty foul on Busquets. He got beat up all day long. In the 41st minute, Valdes made a brilliant save to deny Fabiano at point blank range. Valdes celebrated like he had just single-handedly won the game.

 

In the 56th minute, Konko earned a second yellow when he intentionally pulled Bojan downed by his jersey, resulting in an immediate ejection. In the 62nd minute, Messi's shot was blocked but Pedro scored off the deflection.

 

Sevilla then scored 2 goals in a period of just 3 minutes! In the 69th minute, Fabiano setup Kanouté with a through ball who smashed it into the bottom left corner. In the 71st minute, Sevilla took a quick free kick and Fabiano blasted it in. Barcelona was caught napping! The fans were going wild at this point as it had been all Barcelona.

 

In the 70th minute, a brilliant curling kick from Bojan was denied by the keeper. It should have been Barca's 4th goal. Again, in the 90th minute, Bojan missed a wide open shot when Alves sent a cross into the box from the right but Bojan blasted it over the crossbar.

[Street Novelist]

Full Highlights From Barcelona/Sevilla

 

[Street Novelist]

Real Madrid Destroy Athletic Bilbao 5-1

 

[Street Novelist]

Chelsea Annihilate Wigan 8-0, Win Premier League

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPnQ5Pvsmpw

[Street Novelist]

Manchester United Put Away Stoke 4-0

 

Goal 1:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xd8s0j_man-utd-1-0-stoke-matchhighlight-co_sport

 

Goal 2:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xd8s34_man-utd-2-0-stoke-matchhighlight-co_sport

 

Goal 3:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xd8sil_man-utd-3-0-stoke-matchhighlight-co_sport

 

Goal 4:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xd8sw1_man-utd-4-0-stoke-matchhighlight-co_sport

[Street Novelist]

Inter Beat Chievo In a Thriller 4-3

 

[Street Novelist]

Roma Come Back To Beat Cagliari 2-1

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEkjXN-seWs

[Street Novelist]

Games slated this week:

 

Wednesday

11:45 Europa League Final Fulham/Atletico Madrid

 

Sunday

6:00 Inter/Siena Fox Soccer Channel

6:00 Roma/Chievo Fox Soccer Plus

10:00 Barcelona/Valladolid ESPN 2

10:00 Real Madrid/Malaga Goltv

[Street Novelist]

Spain Names 30-Man Provisional Roster

 

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has named his provisional 30-man squad for this summer's World Cup in South Africa. Spain’s final list of 23 will be made known on May 19.

 

Goalkeepers

 

Iker Casillas Real Madrid

David De Gea Atletico Madrid

Diego Lopez Villareal

Pepe Reina Liverpool

Víctor Valdes Barcelona

 

Defenders

 

Raul Albiol Real Madrid

Alvaro Arbeloa Real Madrid

Cesar Azpilicueta Osasuna

Joan Capdevila Villarreal

Carlos Marchena Valencia

Gerard Pique Barcelona

Carles Puyol Barcelona

Sergio Ramos Real Madrid

 

Midfielders

 

Xabi Alonso Real Madrid

Sergio Busquets Barcelona

Cesc Fabregas Arsenal

Andres Iniesta Barcelona

Javi Martinez Athletic Bilbao

Marcos Senna Villarreal

David Silva Valencia

Xavi Barcelona

Santi Cazorla Villarreal

Jesus Navas Sevilla

Juan Mata Valencia

 

Forwards

 

Pedro Barcelona

Daniel Guiza Fenerbache

Fernando Llorente Athletic Bilbao

Alvaro Negredo Sevilla

Fernando Torres Liverpool

David Villa Valencia

[Street Novelist]

If I were del Bosque, and Torres, Iniesta, Fabregas and anyone who is currently harboring an injury fully recover, I would cut these people to satisfy the 23 man requirement: David De Gea, Diego Lopez, Cesar Azpilicueta, Joan Capdevila, Alvaro Negredo, Jesus Navas and Javi Martinez.

 

Who would you exclude to cut the list down to 23?

[Street Novelist]

4-4-2

 

--- Casillas ---

 

--- Ramos Pique Puyol Arbeloa/Marchena ---

 

--- Xavi Alonso Fabregas Iniesta ---

 

--- Torres Villa/Pedro ---