<p>It’s not every day that a Premier League Golden Boot winner, a European champion, and a FIFA World Cup bronze medalist link up in Saudi Arabia at a club named Al-Qadsiah.</p>



<p>Three weeks ago, former <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/arsenal-tv-schedule/">Arsenal</a> striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang signed a two-year contract with Al-Qadsiah FC. The Gabonese international joins Spain’s Nacho Fernández and Belgium’s Koen Casteels as the newly promoted club’s marquee signings for the upcoming season.</p>



<p>Just 14 months ago, the club from Khobar wrapped up a dismal campaign in Saudi Arabia’s second tier that included two-seven game winless runs and three different managers. This is the story of Al-Qadsiah’s journey to earn a place among the giants of the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/saudi-pro-league-tv-schedule/">Saudi Pro League</a>. </p>



<h2>The takeover of Al-Qadsiah</h2>



<p>On June 5, 2023, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Sport <a href="https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/saudi-pro-league-pif-al-nassr-hilal-ittihad-ahli-takeover-privatisation-aramco-neom/?zephr_sso_ott=xSdvk1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced</a> the acquisition of eight soccer clubs by various state-backed entities. The group believed that new financial flows would allow the Middle Eastern country to compete on soccer’s global stage. One of those clubs was Al-Qadsiah, which was bought by oil company Aramco. Although a fraction of the company trades publicly on the stock exchange Tadawul, a combined 98% of the petroleum and gas giant is owned directly by the Saudi government and the PIF, the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund. </p>



<p>Al-Qadsiah was struggling. The club had just finished 11th in the First Division League, the Saudi second tier. Just 10 players were under contract for the upcoming season. They struggled to keep a manager under contract. Between 2013 and 2023, only two men, Jameel Qassem and Yousef Al Mannai, had held their jobs for more than seven months. </p>



<p>The Aramco purchase seemed to offer <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/07/saudi-aramco-upholds-dividend-despite-drop-in-first-quarter-profits.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">promises of a better future</a>. With free cash flows in the billions, the oil company had the means to rebuild Al-Qadsiah from the ground up. Their first order of business was to put someone on the touchline: former Liverpool striker <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/robbie-fowler-discusses-management-liverpool-and-being-referred-to-as-god-20140725-CMS-111339.html">Robbie Fowler</a>. The Toxteth native began his coaching career as a player-manager at Thai club Muangthong United. Following a spell with his old club’s academy, Fowler spent time with Australia’s Brisbane Roar and India’s East Bengal. He was working part-time with League One side Oxford United when Al-Qadsiah called in June 2023. Anxious to get his career back on track, Fowler accepted the position. </p>



<h2>The revamp</h2>



<p>Immediately, Al-Qadsiah hit the transfer market. Fowler’s goal was to win promotion. With Aramco footing the bill, money was no object. Former Sunderland captain Max Power rejected a new contract at Wigan Athletic, along with other offers in the Championship, to join Fowler’s squad. Senegal’s Mbaye Diagne came on board after a 23-goal season with Fatih Karagümrük in the Turkish Süper Lig. Goalkeeper Joel Robles left Leeds United for the promise of more game time in the Middle East. Despite the best efforts of Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr to retain Álvaro González, the Spanish center-back left on a free transfer to strengthen Al-Qadsiah’s back line. </p>



<p>Two weeks later, three more signings arrived at the club. With more than 250 combined appearances for Al-Hilal, the attacking duo of Andre Carrillo and Luciano Vietto provided much-needed familiarity with the Saudi style of play. After nine years at 1. FSV Mainz 05, former German U-20 international Alexander Hack departed the Bundesliga side to play abroad for the first time in his professional career. </p>



<p>The first transfer window under Aramco was Al-Qadsiah’s busiest in four years. The club signed 16 new players and promoted five others from the under-23 team. Despite beginning the summer unable to field an 11-man squad, they now had the resources to make a convincing run at the First Division title.</p>



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has become  manager of Saudi Arabian second-tier side Al-Qadsiah 🇸🇦" width="500" height="375" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H9jVK0pguvs?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<h2>The campaign</h2>



<p>Al-Qadsiah opened the 2023-24 season against Al-Adalah, a team that had just returned to the second tier following relegation from the Pro League. The debuting Max Power captained a side that featured eight new signings and three returning players. The home side got off to a flying start, going 1-0 up inside of three minutes courtesy of wingback Taher Wadi. Al-Adalah equalized a half hour later through Togolese international Samsondin Ouro, but 31-year-old Mohammed Al-Saiari’s goal on the other side of halftime secured a 2-1 victory for Al-Qadsiah. </p>



<p>Under Fowler, Al-Qadsiah played with a clear identity. After <a href="https://www.coachesvoice.com/cv/robbie-fowler-liverpool-coach-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">experimenting at his previous clubs</a>, the Englishman had settled on dictating the pace of play with a “possession-based” 3-5-2. A compact defense forced the opposition out wide into overloads. Quick combinations between the attacking midfielders and strikers provided the threat going forward. The finished product was a side that scored 10 goals and conceded just three in their first eight league games. </p>



<p>Then, despite an unbeaten start to the season, Al-Qadsiah sacked Fowler. Just six days ahead of a clash with league leaders Al-Orobah, the club elected to dismiss the Liverpudlian. Although quiet at the time, Fowler later <a href="https://www.sportbible.com/football/football-news/robbie-fowler-al-qadsiah-sacked-liverpool-102097-20231222" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cited</a> sporting director Carlos Antón’s desire to adopt a “Spanish model” as the reason for the move. Not coincidentally, Al-Qadsiah immediately hired former Spanish international Míchel as the new manager. The long-time Real Madrid midfielder had nearly 20 years of experience at the senior level with spells at Granada, Málaga, and Marseille. After being forced out mid-season at Olympiacos, Míchel was keen to turn things around in Saudi Arabia.</p>



<h2>The evolution</h2>



<p>With little time to prepare, Al-Qadsiah lost to Al-Orobah in Míchel’s first match in charge. After playing the entire season with three defenders, the Spaniard’s side looked uncomfortable building out of a back four. Carrillo struggled to get on the ball in his new position on the wing. The strike partnership of Diagne and Vietto lacked composure in front of goal. As a whole, the squad failed to display the same poise and confidence they had under Fowler.</p>



<p>In their next two games, Al-Qadsiah needed a 96th-minute goal to defeat mid-table Al-Arabi and a 95th-minute equalizer to rescue a point against Jeddah FC. Now sitting in third, Míchel changed his 4-4-2 for a 4-2-3-1, with Vietto underneath Diagne as the central attacking midfielder. The effect of the tactical shift was immediate, with the duo combining for 12 goals in their next six matches. At the midway point of the season, Al-Qadsiah had secured 40 points from a possible 51 and built an eight-point cushion at the top of the table. </p>



<p>Míchel’s men flew through the rest of their fixtures largely without incident. After failing to score in the first three matches after the winter break, Al-Qadsiah won five in a row to stretch their lead to nine points. Then, they bounced back from consecutive losses to the second-and third-place teams to finish the season on a seven-match unbeaten streak. </p>



<p>Al-Qadsiah secured promotion with three games to spare following a 2-2 draw away to Ohod Club. Then, they locked up their first title win in nine years with a 4-2 win over Al-Najma at home in the Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Stadium. The summer signings proved to be the difference. Robles recorded 15 clean sheets in 33 games. Diagne topped the First Division scoring charts with a career-high 26 goals. Vietto added 17 of his own — good for second place — and recorded a league-high 10 assists. Carrillo notched seven goal contributions, and Hack led all defenders with more than 2,000 minutes played. </p>



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<h2>The overhaul</h2>



<p>Al-Qadsiah finished the 2023-24 season with 73 points and more than twice as many wins (22) as they managed the season before (10). As convincing a performance as that was, the Pro League is a different beast. The Khobar club was immediately relegated just a season after they last won promotion to the top flight in 2019-20. Given the recent influx of elite talent, the level of competition in the Pro League is even higher than it was back then. With Aramco more than willing to finance more signings, Al-Qadsiah opted to shake up the squad for the second consecutive summer.</p>



<p>Mbaye Diagne’s contract was terminated by mutual consent to facilitate a move to First Division side Neom SC, where he will <a href="https://wiwsport.com/2024/07/14/mercato-mbaye-diagne-rejoint-neom-sc-d2-saoudienne-et-touche-le-jackpot/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly</a> earn an annual salary of $7.5 million. Al-Qadsiah also elected not to renew the contracts of Luciano Vietto, Álvaro González, or January signing Kévin Rodrigues. The departures of Faris Abdi (free transfer to Al-Fayha) and Taher Wadi (loaned to Al-Diriyah) further depleted the club’s defensive options. When the transfer window opened, Al-Qadsiah had holes to fill everywhere on the pitch. </p>



<p>First, the club beat out AS Roma for the signature of Uruguayan international Nahitan Nández on a free transfer from Serie A club Cagliari. Then, in the middle of the UEFA European Championship, Al-Qadsiah <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/belgium-keeper-casteels-joins-al-qadsiah-free-transfer-2024-06-10/#:~:text=June%2010%20(Reuters)%20%2D%20Belgium,title%2C%20said%20on%20social%20media." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced</a> the signing of goalkeeper Koen Casteels from VfL Wolfsburg to a three-year contract. The 2018 World Cup bronze medalist established himself as Belgium’s No. 1 this summer after manager Domenico Tedesco failed to call up Thibaut Courtois. Two weeks later, Nacho Fernández signed with the Saudi club after 23 years with Real Madrid. The defender won 26 trophies with the La Liga outfit and was a part of the Spain side that defeated England in the Euro final last month.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome to Khobar! <a href="https://twitter.com/nachofi1990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nachofi1990</a> 🇸🇦❤️<br>Our spanish star has arrived to his new home 😍<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Alqadsiah?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Alqadsiah</a> <a href="https://t.co/uu2lmqv2uI">pic.twitter.com/uu2lmqv2uI</a></p>— AlQadsiah Saudi Club (@AlQadsiahEN) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlQadsiahEN/status/1820643433284858052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2024</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Next, Al-Qadsiah shelled out almost $15 million for six-time Liga MX champion Julián Quiñones. Born in Colombia, the 27-year-old Mexican international scored 23 goals in all competitions for Club América. </p>



<p>He will line up alongside arguably the Saudi club’s most recognizable signing to date, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The former Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona striker rediscovered his form at Marseille last season with 30 goals in 51 games. Together, Quiñones and Aubameyang will hope to match, or better, the goal production of the departed Diagne and Vietto. </p>



<p>Al-Qadsiah still has a handful of uncertainties in the squad to address before their first league match on August 23. The <a href="https://arriyadiyah.com/845649/القادسية-يخالص-روبلز" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent departure</a> of Joel Robles, rumored to be moving to Portugal’s Estoril, may prompt the signing of a new goalkeeper to deputize Casteels. Max Power’s contract has yet to be renewed, but his replacement, Boca Juniors youngster Ezequiel Fernández, is reportedly <a href="https://x.com/CLMerlo/status/1818428054290485720" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">close</a> to joining the Saudi side. The Argentinian midfielder’s arrival would be a big boost for Al-Qadsiah after losing out on Álvaro Morata, Lamine Camara and Youssef En-Nesyri in recent weeks.</p>



<h2>The future of Al-Qadsiah</h2>



<p>The resurgence of Al-Qadsiah is only just beginning. On July 31, the Saudi Press Agency <a href="https://www.barrons.com/news/fifteen-stadiums-five-cities-in-saudi-2034-world-cup-bid-43bb1f88" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced</a> that a new stadium in Khobar will serve as one of 15 venues for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The <a href="https://www.argaam.com/en/article/articledetail/id/1744524#:~:text=The%20new%20stadium%2C%20which%20will,Kingdom%20will%20host%20in%202027." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">47,000-seat project</a> is the result of a partnership between club owners Aramco and real estate company ROSHN. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🇸🇦🏟️ Saudi Arabia announces the construction of a new stadium called Aramco Stadium:<br><br>▫️ The stadium will build by <a href="https://twitter.com/saudi_aramco?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@saudi_aramco</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/Roshnksa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Roshnksa</a> <br>▫️ The stadium is located in Al Khobar<br>▫️Stadium capacity: 47,000 fans<br>▫️ It will be the main headquarters of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AlQadsiah?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AlQadsiah</a> and will host the… <a href="https://t.co/jirmRDVDjT">pic.twitter.com/jirmRDVDjT</a></p>— All About SPL 🔔 🇸🇦 (@Saudifutbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saudifutbol/status/1818664804049207303?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2024</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Once completed, “Aramco Stadium” will serve as Al-Qadsiah’s new home. Designed like a whirlpool, the venue is an apt symbol for the club’s past year. Without Aramco, it’s possible that Al-Qadsiah could still be struggling for breath in the First Division. The oil company’s financial support transformed a mediocre side into an excellent one. </p>



<p>It will take a Herculean effort to dethrone the preeminent Saudi sides. Last season, Neymar’s Al-Hilal won 31 of their 34 games to clinch their sixth Pro League title in the last eight years. The Riyadh-based club finished 12 points ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr &amp; 31 points ahead of Roberto Firmino’s Al-Ahli. </p>



<p>To challenge the champions, Al-Qadsiah will need to be perfect. With abundant momentum on their side, they just might be capable of pulling off the impossible. </p>


Al-Qadsiah's journey to becoming a Saudi Pro League giant

The story behind Al-Qadsiah, the Saudi Arabian club where Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nacho, and Koen Casteels set to link up this season.

Al-Qadsiah's journey to becoming a Saudi Pro League giant - World Soccer Talk

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<p>Real Madrid and a certain Catalan team often face off for the title of La Liga, as any Spanish soccer fan worth their salt will tell you. However, the squad hailing from northeastern Spain is not Barcelona this season.</p>



<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/why-girona-is-the-best-story-in-europe-this-season-20240116-WST-483659.html">Girona</a> has unexpectedly emerged as Madrid’s main rival for the crown, even though they are only in their fourth season of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/la-liga-tv-schedule/">La Liga</a> play. As a result of their remarkable run of good fortune, they are now just two points below Los Blancos in second place on the table.</p>



<p>The Gironistes have been around since 1930 and play their soccer in the small Estadi Montilivi. It has a capacity of 14,000 and is located on the outskirts of a city with a population of barely 100,000.</p>



<p>They have spent most of their existence playing in the Spanish third division or below. It wasn’t until 2008, after a 49-year hiatus, that the club made a triumphant return to the second level.</p>



<p>Girona briefly competed in Spain’s top division after earning promotion in 2017. However, they quickly returned to the lower division. Nevertheless, the squad is here to stay this time around.</p>



<p>Michel’s players got off to strong starts this year, thus many have drawn parallels to Leicester City’s historic Premier League winning campaign. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a> and Girona are leading by 10 and eight points, respectively, from <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/atletico-madrid-tv-schedule/">Atletico Madrid</a> and B<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">arca</a>.</p>



<p>So far this season, it seems like there will be only two teams competing for first and second place.</p>



<h2>Liverpool and Bayern already watching Michel closely</h2>



<p>Several factors may contribute to the success of Girona, but one of the most important is the manager leading the squad, Michel. Even though Girona’s improvement has been obvious to everyone, no one anticipated the immense jump the squad made this season.</p>



<p>Moreover, Michel has been executing it with sophistication. Consequently, several teams are monitoring his position in Spain.</p>



<p>Both <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/bayern-munich-tv-schedule/">Bayern Munich</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/liverpool-tv-schedule/">Liverpool</a> see Michel as a backup option, according to <a href="https://okdiario.com/noticias/girona-futbol-club/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Okdiario</a>. However, Xabi Alonso, coach of Bayer Leverkusen, is their first option for the summer.</p>



<p>At Liverpool, they consider Xabi the perfect choice to replace Jurgen Klopp, who is leaving the club. The German champions, meanwhile, are thinking about using the Spaniard to replace Thomas Tuchel. If Xabi turns down one or both clubs, they will try to get his compatriot.</p>



<h2>Barcelona could also join the race</h2>



<p>The Girona faithful are certain, nevertheless, that Michel will remain in Catalonia for the next season. This year, he made it plain that he wants to lead Girona in the UEFA Champions League next season. Especially since the team showed they can challenge for the championship.</p>



<p>Michel is under contract with Girona until 2026. However, it has been stated that Barcelona also considers the coach’s achievements this season quite outstanding. Reports from <a href="https://www.sport.es/en/news/barca/michel-liked-a-lot-at-barcelona-as-an-option-for-the-future-87510494" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SPORT</a> indicate that Barca considers him a popular figure at the Camp Nou and a potential manager in the future.</p>



<p>“I am focused on Girona. Xavi is the person who knows FC Barcelona best. I have a contract until 2026, so nada. Xavi is Barca,” Michel said last weekend.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em>.</p>


Turning heads: 3 top European clubs eye Girona boss Michel

Girona's success has made Europe's biggest clubs, including Liverpool and Bayern Munich, inquiring about the side's manager, Michel.

<p>The season Girona is putting together in LaLiga has the potential to be the biggest story in the history of the Spanish top flight. After 20 games, the club in the northeast of Spain leads the league. Girona only made its first appearance in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/la-liga-tv-schedule/">LaLiga</a> six years ago. After finishing 10th in the 2022/23 campaign, Girona has emerged into the class of elites in Spain. The club leads the league after 20 games with just one loss.</p>



<p>That is something its ownership group is used to. In August 2017, City Football Group, or CFG, purchased 44% of Girona to add a Spanish side to its impressive portfolio of clubs. The jewel in the crown of those clubs is <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/the-history-of-manchester-united-vs-manchester-city-gary-james-interview-video-20130406-CMS-52551.html">Manchester City</a>, which has had no shortage of success in England and now Europe. CFG applied that success to Girona, but it did so without the extravagant spending Manchester City experienced when its takeover happened in 2008.</p>



<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/barcelona-ailing-opens-the-door-for-girona-to-succeed-in-laliga-20231212-WST-476627.html">What Girona has been able to do</a> is far more organic, and it is indicative of sustainable growth in LaLiga. Girona is set up for the future to make it successful without the dependency on City Football Group. Here is how the Spanish side joined the upper class of clubs in Spain.</p>



<h2>The proper appointments on and off the field</h2>



<p>When CFG took over just shy of 50% of the club in 2017, Pere Guardiola became the brains for the Spanish side. Pere Guardiola is the brother of City manager Pep Guardiola. Pere made a name for himself in the soccer world as an agent traditionally representing Portuguese and Spanish players. Some of his more notable clients include Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta, both of whom had immense success with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">FC Barcelona</a>.</p>



<p>His time as an agent built up the clientele and knowledge base to have a deep understanding of the Spanish soccer scene. Pep Guardiola has always had a knack for identifying talent in players. Perhaps some of that rubbed off on Pere during his spell as an agent. He maintains that position as an agent working with Sports Entertainment Group. His connections there contributed to some of Girona’s recent signings. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/16050558/Michel-Girona-1-1200x670-1200x670.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-483676" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure>



<p>None of those are as important as the appointment of Michel as the manager of the club. The Spanish boss was successful in getting clubs into LaLiga. In his first full seasons with Rayo Vallecano, Huesca and then Girona, the clubs earned promotion to the Spanish top flight. However, those clubs instantly fell to the Segunda. Girona has been a different tale. The Catalan club finished 10th in its return to the top flight. </p>



<p>Michel’s tactics led to a free-flowing and fearless style of play that Girona still exhibits today. In the 2022/23 campaign, Girona scored 58 goals in that season. Only four clubs, including <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a>, Barcelona and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/atletico-madrid-tv-schedule/">Atletico Madrid</a>, scored more goals. Subsequently, Girona’s big flaw was defending. Girona was top five in goals scored, but it was bottom five in goals against with 55 concessions.</p>



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<h2>Combining young signings with experienced players</h2>



<p>To combat the leaky defense, Girona made several key signings in both seasons that have developed into a far more resolute defensive side. By no means is Girona perfect defensively, but it is a massive step in the right direction to go along with the consistent goal-scoring abilities up top.</p>



<p>Eric Garcia and Daley Blind joined from Barcelona and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/bayern-munich-tv-schedule/">Bayern Munich</a>, respectively, on loan. The pair has been a mainstay at center-back in Michel’s side.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/16050559/Blind-GIrona-1200x670-1200x670.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-483675" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure>



<p>To their left is Miguel Gutiérrez. Girona signed Gutiérrez from Real Madrid ahead of the 2022/23 campaign. The 21-year-old played in 34 LaLiga games last season. It was not an overtly strong showing in those games, but it was invaluable experience after a total of 10 appearances in two seasons with Real Madrid. This year, Gutierrez has started 19 of Girona’s 20 games. He has been a remarkably consistent presence in his left-back spot with several standout performances.</p>



<p>On the other side of Girona’s defense is Yan Couto. Couto presents the benefits of being part of the City Football Group. Girona cannot rival the pockets of Barcelona and Real Madrid. However, being in the same group as Manchester City allows for easy loans for players between clubs in the same organization. Yan Couto is still under contract with Manchester City. However, he spent last season and the current campaign on loan from City. The 21-year-old has made 19 appearances on loan this season, and he has provided six assists from his left-back spot.</p>



<h2>LaLiga success is not the end-all for Girona</h2>



<p>There are concerns, though, that the links with Manchester City put a cap on what Girona is able to accomplish. Domestic success is one thing, and there are no other City Football Group teams in Spain. Therefore, Girona can finish as high as possible, and that could even be the title this season.</p>



<p>Yet, there is a situation in UEFA’s regulations that two teams with the same majority owner cannot compete in the same competition. The rule prevents a monopoly on European soccer. Also, if the two drew against one another at any stage of the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">UEFA Champions League</a>, ownership would prioritize Manchester City, as it is always a favorite to win the Champions League.</p>



<p>However, Girona does not have a majority owner. City Football Group only owns 47% of Girona. Even though it owns Manchester City entirely, the ownership of Girona does not go against UEFA’s current rules. Therefore, Girona would be allowed to play in next season’s UEFA Champions League if it maintains a top-four standing in the Spanish top flight. In 2023, the club earned its <a href="https://www.football-espana.net/2023/05/15/girona-uefa-licence-2023-24-manchester-city" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UEFA license</a> to officially open that door.</p>



<p>That remains the goal for Girona. Winning LaLiga may be too lofty of a dream this season. Girona has thrived in its third full season under Michel to maintain pace with Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti’s side holds a game in hand, though, and Real Madrid dominated when it played Girona earlier this season. Still, there is no stopping Girona from qualifying for the UEFA Champions League next season.</p>



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<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>


Why Girona is the best story in Europe this season

The season Girona is putting together in LaLiga has the potential to be the biggest story in the history of the Spanish top flight.

main

<p>Newcastle is reportedly already looking at coaching alternatives should they soon part ways with Eddie Howe. According to reports in Spain, Newcastle is eyeing a LaLiga manager as a possible replacement.</p>



<p>The former Bournemouth manager was previously thought to have one of the safest jobs in England. After all, the coach led the club to a top-four finish in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a> standings last season. As a result, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/newcastle-united-tv-schedule/">Newcastle</a> qualified for the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">UEFA Champions League</a> for the first time in twenty years.</p>



<p>Despite the recent relative success, Howe’s team has struggled throughout the current campaign. The Magpies currently sit ninth in the top-flight table, just one point ahead of Chelsea. Since controversially beating Arsenal on November 4th, Newcastle has managed to win just three of their last 13 total matches.</p>



<p>While the club has undoubtedly stumbled in recent months, they have also dealt with fairly significant <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/wilson-botman-injury-updates-compound-crisis-at-newcastle-20231116-WST-470508.html">injury issues</a>. Newcastle has regularly been without up to 10 senior players at times this season. This includes several setbacks to key players such as Callum Wilson, Alexander Isak, Sven Botman, and Harvey Barnes.</p>



<h2>Girona has been the surprise of European soccer this season</h2>



<p>With the Saudi ownership seemingly growing impatient, reports are beginning to surface regarding a possible managerial change. <em><a href="https://www.marca.com/futbol/girona/2024/01/03/65955e2f22601d81778b45a2.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marca</a></em> is claiming that the Magpies brass has eyes on <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/girona-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Girona</a> manager Míchel. The Spaniard has done an incredible job with his current club since arriving in 2021.</p>



<p>Girona earned promotion to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/la-liga-tv-schedule/">LaLiga</a> in Míchel’s first season at the helm. Although the Red and Whites were picked by many to struggle back in the top flight, the club managed to finish middle of the pack in 2022/23. Remaining in LaLiga was a goal for the team, but practically no one expected Girona to continue to progress in the current campaign.</p>



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<p>Massive clubs such as <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a> typically fight for the Spanish title every season. Nevertheless, Girona has been inside the top three of the table since August. The club has even led the league for five different matchweeks as well. Interestingly enough, Girona is currently co-owned by Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi group.</p>



<h2>Newcastle and LaLiga connection: LaLiga manager Míchel will have plenty of suitors if he decides to leave his current club</h2>



<p>The aforementioned news outlet claims that Newcastle is “looking very seriously” at Míchel. However, the Magpies are far from the only team to want the Spanish manager. In fact, <a href="https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Barca</a> has previously been linked with a potential move for Míchel as well. Current head coach Xavi has the Catalan club sitting fourth in the LaLiga table at the moment.</p>



<p>Spanish coaches are currently performing well overall in the Premier League. Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola, Unai Emery, and Andoni Iraola all have their teams in positive positions so far this season. Newcastle could hope that the Spanish trend continues if they do make a serious move for Míchel.</p>



<p>The Magpies, however, may have to move quickly if they want to grab the Spanish coach. Míchel will undoubtedly be one of the top managerial candidates this summer, assuming he remains with Girona for the remainder of the season.</p>



<p>Newcastle next faces rivals <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/sunderland-tv-schedule/">Sunderland</a> in the FA Cup on Saturday, January 6th. However, the Magpies then resume Premier League play with tough back-to-back fixtures to finish out the month. They first host <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/the-history-of-manchester-united-vs-manchester-city-gary-james-interview-video-20130406-CMS-52551.html">Manchester City</a> before traveling to face Emery’s <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/aston-villa-tv-schedule/">Aston Villa</a> side. January could prove to be a pivotal month for Howe at Newcastle.</p>



<p><em>Photo: IMAGO / NurPhoto</em>.</p>


Newcastle eyes LaLiga manager as Eddie Howe replacement

Premier League side Newcastle United is reportedly interested in a manager from LaLiga to replace Eddie Howe.

Newcastle eyes LaLiga manager as Eddie Howe replacement - World Soccer Talk

<p><a href="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/6/files/2010/05/FC-Barcelona-Campions.jpg"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3404" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/6/files/2010/05/FC-Barcelona-Campions.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="364"></figure></div></a>Once Lionel Messi scored his club record-tying 34th goal of the season in the 76th minute to increase the lead to 4-0, the 98,772 <em>Culés</em> at the Camp Nou, save for a few hundred Real Valladolid die-hards, began to chant the song that every team wants to hear at the end of the season, “Campeones, campeones, ¡Olé, olé, olé!”&nbsp; For the final fifteen minutes, the procession commenced on the pitch.</p>
<p>Bojan Krkic came out for Thierry Henry, likely Henry’s final appearance for Barcelona because of his increasingly diminished role with Pedro Rodríguez and Bojan ahead of him in the pecking order.</p>
<p>Dani Alves departed in the 80th minute for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a player who epitomizes the cliché that there are two halves of a season.&nbsp; Despite Ibrahimovic’s struggles in the last three months, the supporters gave Ibrahimovic a nice round of applause.</p>
<p>The heartiest plaudits, however, rained down on Pedro when Pep Guardiola took him out in the 86th minute for Andrés Iniesta.&nbsp; An infrequent contributor last season, Pedro rose to the occasion nearly every time Guardiola called his name this season, and after fifty-one appearances and twenty-three goals in all competitions, Pedro made himself a fixture as one of the starting three forwards for FC Barcelona.</p>
<p>Referee Miguel Ángel Pérez Lasa whistled for fulltime at the ninety-minute mark, and Barcelona won its fourth La Liga crown in six years and their twentieth overall.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Despite the 4-0 scoreline, Valladolid accounted well for themselves and displayed the aggression on both ends of the pitch early that Javier Clemente-led teams always show.&nbsp; Ever the entertaining yet obstinate manager during press conferences, Clemente verbalized the fighting spirit that Valladolid would have against Barcelona with colorful imagery:</p>
<blockquote><p>“We will not go like lambs to the slaughter.&nbsp; I would rather be a bull, which gives its all and dies angrily.&nbsp; Let us see whether we will die or not, but if we do, we will do it with our boots on.&nbsp; We have nothing left to fear.&nbsp; We must go there bravely.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Nearly invoking the spirit of Franklin Delano Roosevelt with his impassioned plea, Clemente sought the desire, will, and all of those wonderful intangibles from his players that would be necessary to achieve any sort of positive result against Barcelona.</p>
<p>In a bizarre twist of fate, Mr. Clemente, one of the most hated enemies of Real Madrid, could have aided Madrid’s faint hopes of winning La Liga if Valladolid could prevent Barcelona from earning the three points.&nbsp; Real Madrid had to beat Málaga and pray for Barça not to win in order to secure their 32nd championship.</p>
<p>Besides winning two La Liga crowns in 1983 and 1984 with Athletic Bilbao on the last day of both seasons with Real finishing second both seasons, he had a reputation of excluding Real Madrid players in favor of Basque players during his tenure as Spanish national team manager in the 1990s.&nbsp; No one player felt this cold shoulder more than Real Madrid legend and current Getafe manager Míchel.</p>
<p>Míchel was part of the illustrious <em>Quinta del Buitre</em> quintet of homegrown players for Real Madrid in the 1980s and early 1990s that won two UEFA Cups and five consecutive domestic titles, and Míchel made himself a fixture on the Spanish national team.&nbsp; He earned sixty-six caps to his name when Clemente became Spain’s manager in 1992, and despite his continued excellent play with <em>Los Blancos </em>in the prime of his career, Clemente never called him up for Spain.&nbsp; At a young twenty-nine years, his international career ended prematurely.</p>
<p>Clemente favored Barcelona right wing Ion Andoni Goikoetxea over Míchel, and while Goikoetxea featured the hard-working and industrious characteristics that Clemente loved and coveted, he did not have nearly the skill or creativity that Míchel brought to the table.&nbsp; In defense of Goikoetxea, he did win the <em>Don Balón</em> award for Spanish player of the year in 1991 and was a significant member of Johan Cruijff’s <em>Dream Team</em> that won four consecutive La Liga crowns and the 1992 European Cup over Sampdoria, but for Clemente to leave Míchel completely off Spain’s squad and not even grant him a seat on the substitute’s bench stung Míchel and continues to sting him to this day.</p>
<p>Despite the history, the Madridistas would instantly forgive Javier Clemente Lázaro if he prevented the Barcelona machine from rolling to one last victory.</p>
<p>The “thank you” letters from Real Madrid, however, nearly needed to be written for Víctor Valdés, as his penchant to show his footballing skills virtually handed Valladolid the opening goal in the fourth minute.</p>
<p>Receiving a simple back pass from Gerard Piqué, Valdés’ first touch on the ball got away from him, and eying this unexpected opportunity, Valladolid left back Antonio Barragán pounced on the ball.&nbsp; Valdés tried to recover from his error by clearing it to safety, but Barragán deflected his clearance as he slid in to tackle the ball away from Valdés, and the ball fell right into the path of Manucho just inside the top of the penalty box.&nbsp; Whether Manucho felt he needed merely to guide it toward the empty net or the bounce prevented him from striking the ball cleanly, he hit the ball with his shin, but it was heading to the back of the net.</p>
<p>Because Manucho’s did not crack his shot with the greatest conviction, there was a slight chance that a Barcelona defender could knock his shot away from goal, and who other than the captain and defensive stalwart, Carles Puyol, to race into the box and commit to a diving clearance that sent the ball to the touchline.</p>
<p>When Luís Prieto deviated an innocuous Pedro cross into his own net in the 27th minute to gift Barça the 1-0 lead, the title was destined to be retained by the Catalunyans for another season.&nbsp; Valladolid could not get into the game as Barcelona played their possession style, and the “plan” that Clemente championed and rightly refused to reveal prior to the match failed miserably.</p>
<p>Lionel Messi scored twice and assisted Pedro in the backbreaking second goal, but the man of the match award must go to Touré Yaya, who took on the responsibility of playmaker because of Xavi Hernández’s suspension.&nbsp; After the first fifteen to twenty minutes, where they could not penetrate the Valladolid and resorted to long-distance efforts, Yaya controlled the match from the midfield on both offense and defense.</p>
<p>Nothing encapsulated Touré Yaya’s impact as the conductor more than Barça’s third goal that prevented any thought of a miracle comeback by Valladolid.&nbsp; After receiving a pass from Sergio Busquets, Yaya nutmegged Raúl Rodríguez Navas and then hurdled Henrique Sereno’s sliding challenge as he charged into the box, where his cutback pass from the endline found Messi, and with a wide-open goal, he rolled it in for the 3-0 advantage.&nbsp; Touré Yaya will likely leave in the summer because Busquets has succeeded him as Barça’s holding midfielder, and if this eventually becomes the final appearance for Yaya in a Barcelona uniform, he went out with one of his best performances as a Barça player.</p>
<p>Even though Real Madrid only managed a 1-1 draw with Málaga, the spirit and gusto of the Real players dropped considerably when they found out what was happening at the Camp Nou, so one cannot assume that this result would have occurred if the Barcelona – Valladolid match were much closer.&nbsp; FC Barcelona, however, did not want to have the championship decided on Real Madrid’s result against Málaga, and they merited the La Liga trophy in typical Barça flair in their 4-0 drubbing of Real Valladolid.</p>
<p>Ninety-six points in a season is a ridiculous amount, the most points accumulated in the history of La Liga prior to this season.&nbsp; Unfortunately for Real Madrid, one other team eclipsed that point total in the same season.&nbsp; While the 2009-10 FC Barcelona club did not defend their Champions League trophy, ninety-nine points in the league and a +74 goal difference (98 for and 24 against) are accomplishments that will be on par with any that Barcelona has ever achieved.&nbsp; With all of their young talent under contract for the next several years along with the economic firepower that the club possesses, László Kubala’s five cup season of 1952, Cruijff’s “Total Football” of the 1970s, and Cruijff’s <em>Dream Team</em> of the 1990s could take a backseat to this current Barcelona incarnation.</p>
<p>It also helps that Lionel Messi declared that he could never see himself playing for Real Madrid or at any other club.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><em><strong>Fueras de Juego</strong></em></span></p>
<p><a href="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/6/files/2010/05/Manuel-Pellegrini-Happy.jpg"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3416" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/6/files/2010/05/Manuel-Pellegrini-Happy.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333"></figure></div></a></p>
<p>– Another upheaval in the Bernabéu seems likely as they failed to win any silverware this season.&nbsp; Manuel Pellegrini deserves another season to mold this team, but with José Mourinho possibly available in the summer (although he would employ a more pragmatic style that the Madridistas and the Real boardroom hated when Fabio Capello WON the league in 2006), Real’s failure to advance past the Round of 16 in the Champions League (although the previous seven Real managers did not pass this stage), their debacle against Alcorcón in the Copa del Rey (although Real does not really care about this competition and had not won this since 1993), and second-place in the league to Barcelona (although they amassed an obscene ninety-six points and scored 102 goals), Pellegrini may not get the chance to improve on what any other team would consider a great season.&nbsp; Fabio Capello was right when he compared managing Real Madrid to living in a goldfish bowl.</p>
<p>– Getafe cruised to sixth place and a Europa League berth when they defeated Atlético Madrid’s B-side 0-3 at the Vicente Calderón on Saturday evening.&nbsp; The players and the <em>colchoneros</em> in the stands celebrated their Europa League triumph and looked forward to the Copa del Rey final against Sevilla on Wednesday rather than worry about a league match that did not matter to them, and Getafe could not have been happier to take advantage.</p>
<p>– RCD Mallorca felt the ecstasy and agony of football in a span of a couple of minutes.&nbsp; After dismissing Espanyol 2-0 at the ONO Estadi, they watched the final minutes of the Almería – Sevilla match on the big screen at the stadium.&nbsp; At the time, it was 2-2, and if that result held, Mallorca would be in the Champions League for finishing fourth in the league.&nbsp; In the third minute of stoppage time, however, Sevilla youngster Rodri twisted himself around to score past Esteban Suárez and send Sevilla into the Champions League.&nbsp; The juxtaposition of Mallorca captain Nunes’ despair with the champagne bottle standing right behind him showed how close they were to the bright lights of the top European club competition.</p>
<p>– Racing Santander saved themselves from relegation with a 2-0 victory over a more-than-willing Sporting Gijón, and Barça blasted Valladolid 4-0, but the other three teams in the relegation battle (Xerez, Tenerife, and Málaga) were involved in intense matches where one goal in any of those matches would have ramifications for the others.&nbsp; Xerez needed to beat Osasuna and hope that two other teams involved in the relegation fight would not earn a point.&nbsp; Xerez could only muster a 1-1 draw against Osasuna, so Néstor Gorosito’s reclamation project fell just short of an all-time great escape.</p>
<p>That left two teams for one spot in La Liga.&nbsp; Málaga had the head-to-head tiebreaker over Tenerife, so Tenerife needed to better Málaga’s result for salvation, except for one caveat: if Valladolid, Málaga, and Tenerife were tied on points for 17th place and another season in the top flight, Tenerife would stay in La Liga because they scored more goals than the other two teams amongst matches against them, the fourth tiebreaker.&nbsp; As complicated as that sounds, a Tenerife loss would not necessarily doom them.</p>
<p>Tenerife played as though they were doomed.&nbsp; Tenerife keeper Sergio Aragoneses must have felt like those body-shaped silhouettes at a shooting range because Valencia pelted his goal with shot after shot after shot.&nbsp; Luckily for Aragoneses, David Villa, David Silva, and Juan Mata did not start for Valencia because their clinical finishing would have converted some of the fourteen chances at goal.&nbsp; Miraculously, it was 0-0 late into the match, and Nino flew down the right flank unmarked, heading toward Miguel Ángel Moyà’s goal.&nbsp; Hedwiges Maduro’s incredible speed, however, caught up to Nino in the box, and the opportunity was gone.</p>
<p>Alexis scored in the second minute of stoppage time for Valencia to give Valencia the 1-0 win, but with the other matches falling Tenerife’s way, only a Málaga result against Real Madrid would drop them to the second division.&nbsp; Málaga did the seemingly impossible and got the draw at home to revive their stay in the first division for another season.</p>
<p>– This final weekend of the season became swan songs for three that have served their respective professions to the highest degree: Joseba Etxeberria, Rubén Baraja, and referee Manuel Mejuto González.&nbsp; Mejuto González’s last match will be on Wednesday as the referees the Copa del Rey final, but his La Liga career ended on Saturday in the Athletic Bilbao – Deportivo La Coruña match. &nbsp;Etxeberria and Baraja both won, and both could not contain their emotions, as they were both given heroes’ exits by their clubs.</p>

La Liga Jornada 38 Review: Barcelona Defends Their La Liga Crown

La Liga Jornada 38 Review: Barcelona Defends Their La Liga Crown - World Soccer Talk

<div id="attachment_2984" style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/6/files/2010/03/Athletic-Club-Getafe.jpg"><div><figure class="external-image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2984" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-2984" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/6/files/2010/03/Athletic-Club-Getafe.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332"></figure></div></a><p id="caption-attachment-2984" class="wp-caption-text">Referee Alfonso Pérez Burrull had many situations with which to deal in this match.</p></div>
<p>While Real Madrid and Barcelona run away from the rest of the field in the struggle for the La Liga title, the tussle for the next four European spots is just as fascinating.&nbsp; The mix of teams truly runs the gamut from the usuals to the upstarts.</p>
<p>Sevilla and Valencia continue to be the consistent teams that finish in the top five.&nbsp; Deportivo La Coruña is trying to regain their European pedigree that glittered the Galicians from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s.&nbsp; Athletic Bilbao and Mallorca have ridden the roller coaster in the past decade, from top-ten finishes to relegation scares in other years.&nbsp; Then there is Getafe, the little team from the outskirts of Madrid that has actually competed in European competition more recently than Athletic, Mallorca, or Depor.</p>
<p>In the early Saturday kickoff, Athletic Club and Getafe squared off in San Mamés in a match that included direct consequences to the European race.&nbsp; Unlike most leagues, if clubs are tied on points at the end of the season, the first tiebreaker is the head-to-head record.&nbsp; In the reverse fixture in October, Getafe handled the Basques with little problem 2-0, although that game occurred at a time when Athletic reeled from losing four of their previous six matches.&nbsp; Now that the end-of-season possibilities become much clearer, both of these teams had plenty of incentive to take the three points with Europe in the front of their minds.</p>
<p>This was Getafe’s first match since they received the news that Roberto Soldado would be out of action for a month and a half with a torn meniscus in his right knee.&nbsp; Miku, the striker that Getafe got on a free transfer in January from Valencia, became the natural replacement for Soldado as the lone striker in Getafe’s 4-2-3-1 formation.</p>
<p>Getafe’s back line was a bit of a hodgepodge because right back Miguel Torres filled in as a central defender in place of Cata Díaz, and David Cortés got a rare start at right back.&nbsp; Preparing a makeshift defense to face a fierce three-pronged Athletic attack, especially at San Mamés, was one of the top priorities for Getafe manager Míchel heading into Saturday.</p>
<p>Athletic Club, however, had its regular players ready for selection against Getafe.&nbsp; In their 0-0 draw with Sporting Gijón last weekend, Athletic missed another penalty that cost them points.&nbsp; That time, it was Igor Gabilondo that was denied, and with none of the relevant teams in the European scrap winning last weekend, Athletic threw away two more vital points that would have tied them with Sevilla at fourth place.</p>
<p>When Athletic plays at home, they tend to play more football on the ground than in the air, and they ratchet up their typical physical play.&nbsp; Saturday’s match was no exception, and when Pablo Orbaiz scored in the 14th minute for Athletic, they deserved to be in the lead.&nbsp; Bilbao’s manager Joaquin Caparrós employed his tactics to perfection, as his team pushed around Getafe, and <em>El Geta</em> had no answer.&nbsp; Even though Getafe played with more of the ball, Athletic did not allow them to flow with their usual fluidity.&nbsp; The only way that Getafe could get into the match was through an Athletic mistake, and that mistake transpired in the 32nd minute, when Manu del Moral’ shot/cross somehow sneaked past Gorka Iraizoz to equalize 1-1.</p>
<p>The Getafe attack seemed to have passed, and Manu’s cross from the left flank initially looked harmless, but Bilbao central defender Mikel San José, on loan from Liverpool, decided to let the ball go at the last second towards Iraizoz instead of clearing it, and Iraizoz could not adjust himself in time when he realized the ball was coming toward him.&nbsp; The ball nestled into the side netting, and the shock and frustration from that conceded goal spilled over in the 37th minute when Pablo Orbaiz was sent off with a red card.</p>
<p>After Orbaiz suffered a late challenge from David Cortés, Orbaiz retaliated by viciously kicking David Cortés in the  groin.&nbsp; Cortés received a yellow card for the tackle on Orbaiz, but Orbaiz’s indemnity for the tackle was uncalled for and potentially damaging for Athletic in the long run, as he will likely be suspended for more than one match.</p>
<p>Athletic continued their on-the-edge physical style when Carlos Gurpegui was cautioned for studding Javier Casquero’s ankle late in the first half.</p>
<p>To start the second half, Caparrós made an aggressive and positive substitution by inserting Iker Muniain in place of Gabilondo on the left side of Fernando Llorente.&nbsp; Gabilondo ghosted through the first half, and whether David Cortés gave him fits down the left flank, or he had not recovered from his missed penalty hangover, Caparrós made the right move by giving Muniain a chance to spark his ten-man team.</p>
<p>Muniain did just as he was prescribed, catalyzing an attack that nearly gave Gaizka Toquero a tap-in to give Athletic the 2-1 edge.&nbsp; In the 51st minute, Muniain performed some fancy dribbling to lay it off for Andoni Iraola, and Iraola’s hit his squared ball across the face of goal a shade too hard for Gaizka Toquero to get a toe on it, and it flashed just past the left far post.</p>
<p>With the game opened up completely with only twenty-one players on the pitch, Getafe expectedly had the upper hand, but Athletic endeavored into Getafe’s final third quite often, especially since the inclusion of Iker Muniain.</p>
<p>The game came to a lull until Miguel Torres brought down Markel Susaeta in the box to give Athletic a penalty kick to regain the lead.&nbsp; Torres received a straight red card for a “pull” on the shirt of Susaeta in the box on top of his yellow card he received earlier in the match.&nbsp; There was little to no contact from Torres on Susaeta, but Torres caused the problem when he tried to shepherd the ball back to Getafe goalkeeper Jordi Codina but could not reach Codina before Susaeta got there.</p>
<div id="attachment_3001" style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/6/files/2010/03/Fernando-Llorente-Penalty.jpg"><div><figure class="external-image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3001" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3001" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/6/files/2010/03/Fernando-Llorente-Penalty.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332"></figure></div></a><p id="caption-attachment-3001" class="wp-caption-text">Fernando Llorente squeezed his penalty past Jordi Codina.</p></div>
<p>The penalty responsibility laid upon their talisman Fernando Llorente, and Athletic’s poor three for seven conversion rate from the penalty spot this year could easily have weighed on Llorente’s mind as he stepped up to take the penalty.&nbsp; Maybe that was on his mind, but he did not show it as he stroked the ball into the back of the net.&nbsp; Codina guessed the right way, but Llorente placed it in the corner, where Codina could not get a hand onto it.</p>
<p>The lead did not last long, as Pedro León completely baffled Carlos Gurpegui with a couple of cutbacks in the box, and Gurpegui could only recover enough to partially deflect Pedro León’s shot and fool Iraizoz as it went past him.&nbsp; A 2-2 final that both teams would feel as though they should have earned the full three points.</p>
<p>What a match for referee Alfonso Pérez Burrull to call.&nbsp; A couple of weeks ago, after a horrific performance in the Atlético Madrid – Valencia match, the Liga de Fútbol Profesional (LFP) suspended Pérez Burrull for a couple of matches.&nbsp; Unfortunately known for his high-profile gaffes, Pérez Burrull had to control a match that was on the verge of chaos.&nbsp; The belief is that a strong referee can limit a match from becoming out of control, and while in most cases that is true, the referee can do little if the players have it in their mind to follow through on their cynical ideas.</p>
<p>Athletic Club is one of the hardest teams for referees to call in La Liga because their physical style borders on the line from legal to illegal.&nbsp; Maybe Pérez Burrull could have warned both teams earlier when the challenges flew around with little abandon, but he could not prevent what Pablo Orbaiz did to David Cortés.&nbsp; In addition, the other talking point was the penalty and subsequent red card he brandished to Miguel Torres late in the match.&nbsp; Yes, the contact was minimal, but Torres did prevent Susaeta from a goal-scoring opportunity, and Pérez Burrull had little choice in the matter.</p>
<p>The referee aside, Athletic can only blame itself for surrendering two points to Getafe.&nbsp; <em>Los Azulones</em> are a solid team, but they lacked their top scorer, and Athletic’s supernal home form would suggest a win against Getafe.&nbsp; Luckily, for Athletic, none of the teams with whom they are involved in the competition for Europe strung a series of positive results that would have put Bilbao in a severe uphill climb.&nbsp; Eleven matches remain, and if Athletic can stay disciplined for those upcoming matches, they can easily qualify for Europe due to placement in the league, not because they were the losing team in the Copa del Rey final.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><em><strong>Fueras de Juego</strong></em></span></p>
<p>– Sevilla’s malaise continues as Espanyol thrived on <em>Los Nervionenses</em>‘ impotent performance with an easy 2-0 win.&nbsp; Aside from the match itself, the fans at the Cornellà – El Prat paid a poignant tribute to both teams’ fallen players, Daniel Jarque and Antonio Puerta.&nbsp; All season long, the Espanyol fans all clap in unison during the 21st minute in honor of their previous captain Daniel Jarque, who wore the number 21 and who tragically died in the preseason from a heart attack.&nbsp; If there were any team that would know this pain, it would be Sevilla because in August of 2007, they lost their own player, Antonio Puerta, to a cardiac arrest.&nbsp; When the game reached the 16th minute, the Espanyol fans stood up and clapped for that whole minute in honor of Antonio Puerta, who wore the number 16.</p>
<p>– Three golazos of the week.&nbsp; The golazo for pure technique goes to Felipe Mattioni of Mallorca.&nbsp; Mallorca kept its stellar home form with a 4-1 dismissal of Atlético Madrid, and the exclamation point for the islanders was Felipe Mattioni’s exquisite volley in the 90th minute that astonished Atleti goalkeeper David de Gea.&nbsp; From a curling cross from the left flank, Mattioni side-volleyed a bullet that required perfect timing and technique from twenty-five yards.</p>
<p>– David Silva provided the golazo of the week for pure improvisation as his Valencia team struck an impressive 2-0 victory over an Almería team that could be argued as the third best team in La Liga in the second half of the season.&nbsp; Knocked down on the floor from a Santi Acasiete tackle, Silva still possessed the presence of mind to keep himself involved in the play, and from the seat of his pants, he swept and hooked the ball into goal past a diving Diego Alves.</p>
<p>– In Lionel Messi’s hat-trick in Barcelona’s 2-4 win against a tough Real Zaragoza side when they play at home in La Romareda, his second goal was the golazo of the week for pure determination.&nbsp; Not known for his physical prowess, Messi bullied the ball away from Ander Herrera near the halfway line, and he proceeded to go on a mazy run, skipping past a sliding Jiri Jarošik, then cutting back twice against Matteo Contini, who screwed himself into the ground with the twist and turns that Messi forced them to do, and ultimately shooting across the face of goal and past Roberto to give Barça the 0-2 lead.&nbsp; In contrast to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s glaring misses, Messi’s ingenuity continues to awe.</p>

La Liga Review: Athletic Bilbao Misses An Opportunity To Inch Closer to a Champions League Spot

La Liga Review: Athletic Bilbao Misses An Opportunity To Inch Closer to a Champions League Spot - World Soccer Talk

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