week 33, 5 fixtures remaining: Code: MGA 0-2 DEP ESP 0-0 OSA ATH 0-0 VAD REC 0-0 RMA ATM 0-1 ALA Code: 1. Deportivo 66 2. R. Madrid 65 3. R. Sociedad* 63 4. Celta* 53 5. Valencia* 53 6. Athletic 45 7. Mallorca* 44 8. Barcelona* 43 9. Málaga 43 10. Betis* 43 11. Sevilla* 42 12. Atlético 41 13. Valladolid 40 14. Racing* 40 15. Espanyol 38 16. Villarreal* 37 17. Osasuna 34 18. Recreativo 34 19. Alavés 34 20. Rayo* 27 Tomorrow the other 5 matches to complete the fixture: Code: CEL RAC Sunday 18:00 MAL RSO Sunday 18:00 RAY BET Sunday 19:00 VAL VIL Sunday 20:00 SEV BAR Sunday 21:00
Depor go tops! Deportivo La Coruna are the new league leaders after they fought hard to take advantage of Real Madrid's slip and chalk up a 2-0 victory at Malaga. The Galicians' goals came from unexpected sources as Donato and Lionel Scaloni found the net as their hosts concentrated all their efforts on thwarting Roy Makaay. Pablo Contreras was beaten after just five minutes, but Victor's effort was ruled out for offside. But the home team did not heed the warning and eight minutes later Donato stole forward at a corner to head the ball home for his second goal of the season. The goal lifted the home side, who were battling to move into the last available Uefa Cup spot and Manu fired the ball against an upright soon after. Nourredine Naybet, Mauro Silva and Romero all earned bookings before the break as Depor decided to defend with force. Mixed with an offside trap, the visitors' tactics drew the wrath of the home crowd. On numerous occasions, the referee's assistant was called upon and some his decisions looked to be slightly generous towards the Galicians. Dely Valdes had a good chance for Malaga after the break before being withdrawn, while Makaay had Depor's second goal ruled out for offside. But the Riazor side were assured of top spot in the final minute when Scaloni broke clear of Malaga's back line and slot the ball under the approaching keeper.
Madrid now second :'( I can't believe El Madrid are now second in the League after holding he No# 1 spot for so long And seems like they will be knocked down to third place since Real Sociedad are leading 2-0 against Mallorca thanx to De Pedro & Karpin. And still only in the first half. Depor now hold the No#1 spot for the first time this season.
Weekend Results (R) Real Sociedad beat Mallorca 3-1 on the road. An impressive result. Madrid certainly has been saving themselves for the two Champion's Legaue semifinals and Deportivo and Real Sociedad have taken advantage of their misattention and made up the 4 point lead Madrid had two weeks ago. Five matches to go and only a point separating the three teams. Plus all three are playing basically the same opponents down the stretch (including Valencia and Celta) so it will be an exciting finish. No way can any of the three be discounted as champions.
Barcelona didnt take advantage of the results and just tied a ferocious Sevilla Standings: Code: 1. Deportivo 66 2. R. Sociedad 66 3. R. Madrid 65 4. Celta 54 5. Valencia 53 6. Athletic 45 7. Barcelona 44 8. Betis 44 9. Mallorca 44 10. Málaga 43 11. Sevilla 43 12. Atlético 41 13. Racing 41 14. Valladolid 40 15. Villarreal 40 16. Espanyol 38 17. Osasuna 34 18. Recreativo 34 19. Alavés 34 20. Rayo 28
And my Yellow Submarine fighting! They fought really hard vs Valencia reigning champs, they're going down, we're going up!
Re: Madrid now second :'( And to think that Betis was one point ahead of Depor at the end of the first half of the season. Talk about throwing in the towel this half of season. Somethings never change at Heliopolis! :>( Saludos y viva er beti manque lopera! Pichi
It is going to be a tragedy if Depor lets Irureta go after he brings them their only two titles. If Depor hadn't had so much badluck with injuries they would have been impressive this year on all stages.
Makes you wonder if Irureta would be a good choice for la seleccion. He certainly has proven himself as a club manager on the level of Luis Aragones, even Cruyff. His success and ability to keep Depor in the top 4 for the past 5 years or so. I'd like to see what he could do with Spain in Euro 2004 or WC 2006.
Yeah, as we've seen with many other coaches (Clemente in Spain, many with other national teams), success domestically doesn't always translate into success with the national side.
And he isn't without his frustrating quirks and seemingly unexplainable decisions. I am not sure he wouldn't get killed in the press as that national coach. But on the whole I don't want to see him leave A Coruña.
He will leave: AÚN DEBE RESOLVER EL FUTURO DE MAKAAY, IRURETA Y DONATO Las renovaciones, una pesadilla para Lendoiro http://www.marca.es/edicion/noticia/0,2458,297473,00.html
Yep. While he's done a good job at El Madrid, I would never want to see Vicente del Bosque as seleccion coach.
Real Sociedad could miss Nihat and Tayfun for the last 2 games of the season if they have to go play for Turkey in the meaningless Confederations Cup LINK
My Spainish is pretty bad but if I am reading this right, this doesn't concern me any more than I was. At this point last year there were talks of Irureta leaving but he signed a one year deal provided he could bring his players in. Then they all got hurt. Perhaps he would like another year to vindicate them. I have heard that Lendoiro is very interested in Porto's coach. Donato, I am fine with him leaving. Makaay could be moved for a ransom. Perhaps overvalued right now, so if it has to be, so be it.
Given that he doesnt weant to sign an extension they have nothing but sell him, and Lendoiro is to blame cuz Makaay wanted to sign one year and a half ago and the president said no, now Makaay wants to leave, who knows maybe Bayern could bag him.
Here's an article from Spanish daily AS saying how Madrid's players have logged far more minutes this year than those of Real Sociedad and Deportivo (even though Deportivo also played plenty of games in Europe this season): http://www.diarioas.es/articulo.htm...9&anchor=dasftbA00&type=Tes&d_date=17/05/2003 This is more sign that Del Bosque has not adequately used his squad this season. There were too many times this season when he forced his stars to play consecutive games in Europe then at home. Other teams have done a better job in giving some of their reserves playing time, especially in league matches against lesser opponents. As a result Madrid heads into the key portion of it's season with tired players which partially explains their recent run of subpar play.
But remember about the injuries in A Coruña, it wasnt a technical decision after all, but the situation (at least regarding Irureta) was forced! I admit it, the sole thought of Madrid getting emptyhanded this season makes me go hummmmmmm!
Remaining fixtures for Deportivo (1st place): 18-05-2003 DEPORTIVO - VALENCIA 25-05-2003 CELTA - DEPORTIVO 01-06-2003 DEPORTIVO - AT. MADRID 15-06-2003 ATH. BILBAO - DEPORTIVO 22-06-2003 DEPORTIVO - ESPANYOL
Reamining fixtures for Real Sociedad (2nd place): 18-05-2003 REAL SOCIEDAD - RECREATIVO 25-05-2003 MÁLAGA - REAL SOCIEDAD 01-06-2003 REAL SOCIEDAD - VALENCIA 15-06-2003 CELTA - REAL SOCIEDAD 22-06-2003 REAL SOCIEDAD - AT. MADRID
Remaining fixtures for Real Madrid (3rd place): 18-05-2003 REAL MADRID - MÁLAGA 25-05-2003 VALENCIA - REAL MADRID 01-06-2003 REAL MADRID - CELTA 15-06-2003 AT. MADRID - REAL MADRID 22-06-2003 REAL MADRID - ATH. BILBAO
table after 34 weeks: 1. R. Sociedad 69 2. R. Madrid 68 3. Deportivo 66 4. Valencia 56 5. Celta 54 6. Athletic 48 7. Mallorca 47 8. Atlético 44 9. Sevilla 44 10. Betis 44 11. Barcelona 44 12. Málaga 43 13. Villarreal 43 14. Valladolid 41 15. Racing 41 16. Espanyol 39 17. Osasuna 37 18. Alavés 34 19. Recreativo 34 20. Rayo 29
Week 35 Rayo - Osasuna Betis - Valladolid Espanyol - Alavés Athletic - Racing Atletico de Madrid- Villareal Celta - Deportivo de la Coruña Valencia - Real Madrid Malaga - Real Sociedad Recreativo - Barcelona Mallorca - Sevilla