Espanyol thrash Atletico Madrid

Joan Verdu scored twice in the opening seven minutes as Espanyol ended their five game winless run in the Primera Division with a dominant display in a 4-2 victory over Atletico Madrid.

The midfielder fired past Thibaut Courtois from 30 yards in the fifth minute before he raced into the area and struck his second two minutes later.






Romaric scored Espanyol's third before Radamel Falcao pulled one back for the visitors just after half an hour in a dramatic opening period.

Sergio Garcia added the home side's fourth in the 54th minute before Arda Turan volleyed Atletico's second from just outside of the area with seven minutes left on the clock.

Espanyol moved up into eighth place in the table with the win, while Atletico fell to 10th.

Espanyol dominated the match and Verdu got them off to a flying start with two goals in two minutes, both with powerful strikes.

Having taken control in the game early on, Espanyol continued to press and Garcia tested Courtois again with shot from the centre of the area before Romaric netted the third in the 19th minute.

Romaric linked up with Garcia, who played him in with a great ball from the left wing, allowing the midfielder to fire home from 12 yards.

Falcao gave the visitors a lifeline in the 32nd minute when he headed Eduardo Salvio's cross past Espanyol keeper Cristian Alvarez from close range. But any hopes of a comeback proved shortlived.

After the break, Garcia increased the home side's lead from close range before Thievy Koulossa almost scored Espanyol's fifth, only for Atletico keeper Courtois to tip the ball round the post.

Garcia fired a volley wide from close range before Koulossa forced another save from Courtois as the home side continued to bombard Atletico's goal.

Courtois did well to deny substitute Cristian Gomez in the 67th minute after Hector Moreno had a chance cleared off the line by Atletico defender Joao Miranda.

Atletico scored through Turan, who fired home a superb volley from 20 yards, but it was too late for the visitors to mount a comeback.

Source:http://www.livesportonline.org/Football_news/news_details/Espanyol_thrash_Atletico_Madrid/6023/5/

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NEYMAR - BARCELONA ARE THE BEST

Santos forward Neymar has described Barcelona as 'the best club in the world'.

Santos forward Neymar has described Barcelona as "the best club in the world".
The Brazil international was speaking on Monday ahead of his side's clash with Kashiwa Reysol in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup in Toyota, Japan on Wednesday.
Neymar could feature against Barca at the weekend in the final of the competition should the Spanish and European champions defeat Al Sadd in the other semi on Thursday.
"Barcelona are the best club in the world," he said. "If I have the opportunity to play them, I will be very happy and will try to win the game."
The 19-year-old has often been compared with Barca forward Lionel Messi and he is pleased to be adjudged to have as much potential as the Argentina international.
"To be compared with Messi makes me very proud and I'm very pleased to have this comparison," enthused Neymar.
"I'm very happy to have this opportunity to play at the Club World Cup and very happy to have the chance to be a new name in the history of Santos. It's an honour for me."

Source: http://www.football365.com/transfer-centre/7373033/NEYMAR-BARCELONA-ARE-THE-BEST

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Ahead of El Clasico match

The game is certainly not going to be easy for Barca though the status of the host.
And one thing I was curious about the match, not who wins, not how the score ..
But what the strategy will be applied by a "The Special One" face Barca later.

Are strategies such as Inter last season just play it safe given the current position is still above madrid, so the score of the series is not hard for them?
Or dare to play attacking

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Ronaldo: Still Long Way to champion

Real Madrid midfielder, Cristiano Ronaldo, said the team wants to be the best in the various arena. However, he says, his team is still too early to talk about probabilities, especially in the Liga BBVA.

"The road is still long. We did not think had won La Liga. We want to win everything. Perhaps, the current Madrid squad is the best since I became a part of this team. However, we have to win a trophy to reinforce it," said Ronaldo.

"Real is always a favorite champions (Champions League), but we also know it is very difficult. However, I think we can win it," he added.

Madrid has waded 13 League BBVA and master standings with 34 points. They are six points ahead of nearest rival, Barcelona.

Difference in points is still going to change, since both sides have not met. The first meeting will be held at the Santiago Bernabeu, 10 December, and a second meeting at the Camp Nou, on April 22, 2012.

For the Champions League, Real Madrid has waded five of six games and master the Group D standings with 15 points, or seven points ahead of Ajax Amsterdam in second place. In the last match, they will be against Ajax in the Amsterdam Arena, 7 December..

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