Transfers:

Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina to Napoli)

Gamberini will play in UEFA Europe League after he has signed for Napoli, one of the biggest clubs in Italy. The central defender was at a great level during last season with Fiorentina, where he played 29 games and scored a goal. His strength in defense has given him the chance to take a step forward in his career, which will give him the chance to fight for a Champions League spot. Playing in Europe with Napoli will maybe give him the chance to play back with Italian national team, where he already has played 8 games.

Fiorenitina has sold Gamberini in an operation where midfield Behrami is also going to the Neapolitan team. According to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, Napoles has paid € 8,5 millions for both players.

Valon Behrami (Fiorentina to Napoli)

Swedish right wing midfield has packed again and moved to Napoli, after playing in Lugano, Genoa, Hellas Verona, Lazio, West Ham and Fiorentina. At 27 years old he starts a new challenge in the Coppa Italia holders Napoli. Now the question is will he be able to stay for a longer time than on the other teams that he has played for. Behrami is moving to the south Italian team with his fellow Gamberini, both moving from Fiorentina. Napoli has paid € 8,5 millions for the two players. It seems like Napoli has bought him to play in the center midfield instead of in his natural wing position.

Glenn Loovens (Celtic to Zaragoza)

Former Celtic Glasgow defense has moved to Spanish La Liga, where he will defend Real Zaragoza’s colors, a team that stayed during the entire last season on relegation positions, but saved themselves in the last date of the league. The Dutch, age 27, is moving to Spain in a no cost operation, since his contract ended up with the Scottish team. He has signed for two seasons, but there is a chance of staying a third one if he accomplishes some objectives. Loovens won two Scottish leagues and one Cup, and now will play in a more competitive league, where the target will be to save Zaragoza from relegation to the Second Division.

Rumours:

Micah Richards (Manchester City to Madrid)

Real Madrid is looking for a right wing defense. The first choice was Maicon, but negotiations have recently stopped. Spanish League winners have a new name in their list: Micah Richards, who can play in both wing and center positions in defense. It seems that City is asking for €10 millions, same as Inter for Maicon. The difference is that Richards is seven years younger and can play in more positions, so the British player’s name has been underlined in Madrid list of possibilities.

Robinho (Milan to Santos)

Santos intends to begin negotiations with Italian AC Milan to recruit the player Robinho de Souza, who according to sources cited today Brasilian site Globoesporte expressed interest in returning to Brazil.

According to Globoesporte, Santos is willing to pay €4 millions for the striker as well as a loan of the international goalkeeper Rafael Cabral Barbosa. If the operation went well, Robinho will be going back to the team where he started playing professionally.

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Atletico Madrid sealed their second Europa League trophy in three years, as they saw off rivals Athletic Club 3-0 on an entertaining night in Bucharest. Two goals from star man Falcao gave Atletico an untouchable first-half lead, before a late piece of magic from Diego finished the game off for the 5th side in La Liga.

It was all set up to be a carnival of beautiful soccer, from two teams who have impressed the continent throughout the tournament. The Bucharest crowd didn’t have to wait long to be impressed: little over five minutes passed before star striker Falcao cut inside, and hurled a stunning left-footed effort into the corner, to put Atletico Madrid 1-0 up.

The game didn’t quite come to life, as many would have expected after that early goal. Athletic Club looked uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings, but the Basque side started to play their trademark soccer as the first-half went on, and they were creating chances because of it, but Fernando Llorente couldn’t find his shots, as he sliced an effort just wide of the posts.

The people’s favorite, Athletic Club began to get on top, and were pushing Atletico back into their own area consistently. Iker Muniain threatened with a long-range effort, which Courtois could only push away. But for all their mastery, Athletic were the masters of their own downfall. Amorebieta failed to clear the ball away, and when it finally found its way to Falcao, the Colombian striker made no mistake, as he turned the defenders inside out and smashed Atletico into a two-goal lead.

The star of the show, Falcao may have been lucky to stay on the pitch shortly after his opener, when he planted his foot into Iraizoz’s groin. Whether it was intentional is open to interpretation. The first half fizzled out without any further drama though, and Athletic needed quite a response. Marcelo Bielsa was determined to get that reaction by bringing on Gomez and Perez for the second half, and he almost got it, when Muniain’s low cross was deflected behind by Miranda.

The match was as fast-paced and all action, as it had been before the break, with Atletico relatively happy to sit on their two-goal lead to soak up the pressure from their Spanish rivals. The trailing side was pressing hard, but couldn’t break down a stubborn defense, with Diego Godin at the heart of  keeping Atletico’s two-goal lead intact. Athletic Club seemed to struggle with the pressure of a final cup, and were a world away from the carefree team everybody saw playing Manchester United off the pitch a few months ago.

But the team sitting 9th in La Liga wouldn’t give up. Fernando Llorente had an effort blocked before Gomez blazed over, and they came forward again. Some great work by Muniain this time ended in De Marcos smashing the ball over the bar, as Marcelo Bielsa grew increasingly frustrated on the touchline. Still Bilbao didn’t give up, though Susaeta came close, as his on-target effort was deflected agonizingly wide of the post.

It was a game that felt as if one goal would spark a sensational comeback. Llorente was once again denied by a stubborn Atletico defense, before Susaeta was denied this time by Courtois, before Falcao almost completed his hat trick,with a deflected effort onto the post, as the game became increasingly open. But with five minutes to, another individual moment of brilliance wrapped things up for Atletico Madrid, when Diego dribbled through the defense and found the far corner, and at least one European trophy would be going back to Madrid.

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Barcelona beat Sevilla 2-0 at Sanchez Pizjuan and reduced the difference between themselves and the league leader Read Madrid to eight points as they drew against Malaga at Santiago Bernabeu. Before kick-off both teams were wearing t-shirts in support of Barcelona left back Eric Abidal, who is waiting for a liver transplant.

First Half

Guardiola’s players gave a clinic on ball possession in the first half hour. Xavi and Iniesta were the main architects for Barcelona. Pedro warned Seville with a shot from the centre of the area which Palop tipped away the goal. Xavi put forward the Catalans in the 17th minute with an excellent free-kick despite Palop’s best efforts to keep it out. This goal was his ninth liga goal, the most in Xavi’s career.

Messi played a one-two with Iniesta seven minutes later, when he nutmegged a Sevilla defender and chipped Palop. The Argentine made his 31st league goal and his 51st of the season. Manu del Moral had his chance to reduce the difference with a header but the ball went against the crossbar.

Pedro had two chances to score before the break, but his shot went away from the goal and Palop saved the second one. The hosts took advantage of poor defending from Gerard Pique and Kanoute had a clear chance to score, but Adriano came behind to prevent the danger. In the last minute, Fabregas shot from point-blank range but veteran Palop blocked it.

Second Half

Barcelona lost the control of the match in the first fifteen minutes, but the Andalusians continued failing their opportunities. Navas, who was the best player for the hosts, whipped an nice delivery towards the back post but Manul del Moral spoiled his assistance. Messi’s magic appeared in the 73th minute with a millimetric pass to Iniesta in a one-on-one with Palop. The Spanish international managed to fake out Palop who was unguarded, but his shot went wide of the post.

Sevilla created two more opportunities with the connection between Navas and Manu del Moral, but both were saved by the visiting goalkeeper Valdez. Chilean Alexis Sanchez had the third goal in his boots in a one-on-one with Palop after a counterattack, but the goalkeeper made a save with his feet — like handball keeper. Messi was disallowed his second goal by the referee for offside in the 89th minute.

After the match Guardiloa said in the press conference, despite Barcelona’s win: “Forget the liga, we are not going to win.”

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Second-placed Barcelona won 2-1 at Vicente Calderon over Atletico Madrid in Sunday’s match. The Liga champions keeps the 10 points distance to the leading team, Real Madrid. The `blancos´ won over their neighbors in Vallecas 1-0 thanks to a clever Cristiano Ronaldo backhell.

First Half

Guardiola´s players controlled the possession of the ball, making passes during the first 40 minutes. But their speed circulation was not quick enough to break the spider web strategy built by Cholo Simeone who had his players chasing Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas and Busquest.

Xavi warned Atletico with a tricky shot close to the left post of the Belgian Curtois in the second minute. Five minutes later, Messi was disallowed a goal by referee Perez Lasa who claimed that the Argentina used his hand to help control the ball.

Barcelona had their first chance with a curling free-kick by Xavi in front of the box in the twentieth minute, but Curtois made a good save. In a raid by Dani Alves, he managed to connect with Messi in goal centre, attracting three Altetico players, and lay the ball for Cesc Fabregas who assisted Alves’ goal inside the goal in the thirty-sixth minute.

Simeone took charge, stripping out the corset of their players, but Atletico Madrid was struggling to control the ball and they only could feed Colombia striker Falcao with long crosses, challenged by Mascherarno and Puyol.

Second Half

Atletico improved after the break and Simeone put forward the lines to press Barcelona’s possession. A Gabi corner curled into the box to be met after few rejections by Falcao who volleyed home from close range.

Barcelona seemed nervous and imprecise, loosing control of the ball after the draw. Atletico kept pressing up higher and won the ball in Barcelona’s territory. Falcao had a change in front of Valdez but it was offside in the thirteenth minute. Alexis replied by heading the ball close to the angle after good delivery from Dani Alves.

Moments later, Falcao had his chance to score a second time, but Valdes made a great save. Nine minutes before the end, the genius of Messi appeared and the Argentina made a free kick on the left edge of the area as Atletico’s players were preparing their wall. However, Messi did not ask for wall and surprised Curtois with an excellent shot into the far corner of the net.

Barcelona suffered the last minutes with Atletico throwing all players forward. Vales was the game’s hero, saving the victory on two occasions: once against a close range shot from Juanfran inside the small box; and once against a long range shot from Gabi outside the box. There was also a clear hand-ball (penalty) by Barça player Busquets in the Atletico area later which was not called.

Barcelona is still chasing Real Madrid, while Atletico’s impressive seven games unbeaten with Simeone as manager ends.

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An exciting and one-sided match at the Santiago Bernabeu ended in a 4-0 victory for Real Madrid over visiting Lyon, extending their lead at the top of the group to five points. With two previous wins under their belt, Madrid will now feel that qualification to the knockout stages is fairly assured, although they will be sure to not take anything for granted in the reverse fixture against Lyon at the Stade Gerland.

Lyon meanwhile will now have their hands full contending with the threat of Ajax for the runner-up position, who triumphed over Dinamo Zagreb and now sit above the French side on goal difference. Real Madrid got off to the perfect start when Cristiano Ronaldo flicked on Mesut Ozil’s corner, finding Karim Benzema at the far post for the Frenchman to simply tap in and give his side the lead.

Madrid seemed to grow visibly in confidence with the goal, and were soon dominating both possession and tempo as they searched for a way to extend their lead. Although they were now in complete control of the game, Madrid had to wait until the beginning of the second half for their next goal, Benzema picking up on a defensive slip, and gaining possession of the ball before slipping it across to the onrushing Sami Khedeira who fired home from 12 yards out.

Things then went from bad to worse for Lyon, as Madrid collected their third goal when Ozil’s low cross was turned into the back of the net by goalkeeper Hugo Loris, confirming victory to all but the most cautious of Madrid fans.

Not content with having helped keep a clean sheet for his side, defender Sergio Ramos then stepped up with Madrid’s fourth and final goal, as he was given far too much time on the ball following a corner from Kaka, and could take his time before hitting the ball into the back of the net.

Manager Jose Mourinho will be extremely happy with his team’s performance and will be confident that they can remain unbeaten in their three remaining group games, ensuring they face an easier draw come the knockout stages.

Ajax’s victory over Zagreb does not bode well for Lyon, as they now drop to third place in the group, and they will be targeting their upcoming fixture against the Dutch side as a must win if they are to progress to the next round of the competition.

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