Pro Soccer: March 2015

Thursday, March 26, 2015

INSIDE VIEW: How Camp Nou gets ready for EL CLÁSICO

Find out how our stadium gets ready for an event so important. From keeping the changing rooms ready, to security or welcoming more than 160 media outlets from all over the world, among other preparations.

INSIDE VIEW: F.C. Barcelona - Real Madrid... by fcbarcelona

The importance of a game such as the one we witnessed last weekend is massive. But we aren’t usually aware of all the things that must be carried out so that everything works. And that is because El Clásico can generate so much around it…

In this video, we will show you a chronological timeline of the preparations that were required so that Camp Nou could be ready for everything that was about to happen. The way the stand mosaic prints were distributed to be displayed as the teams jumped into the field, or the amount of people involved in every detail that made everything work out. You don’t get to see these things every day, Barça Fans. Don’t miss it!

Steven Gerrard: Liverpool captain sorry for 38-second red card

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has apologised after being sent off after just 38 seconds in the 2-1 defeat by Manchester United.

The 34-year-old came on as a half-time substitute but was dismissed for stamping on Ander Herrera moments after being tackled by the Spaniard.

Gerrard, who joins LA Galaxy at the end of the season, will miss three games.
"I need to accept it; the decision was right," Gerrard told Sky Sports. "I've let down my team-mates and the fans."

He added: "I take full responsibility. I don't know what caused it. Probably just a reaction to the initial tackle.
"I shouldn't say more about it really. I've just come out here to apologise to the dressing room and supporters."

Having just returned from injury, Gerrard is now likely to miss FA Cup quarter-final replay against Blackburn, and two of eight remaining Premier League games - at Arsenal and at home to Newcastle.
The former England captain announced in January he was leaving Anfield at the end of the season, after joining the Reds aged nine.

"From now until the last kick of the last game of the season, I will be as fully committed to the team as I ever have been and giving everything I have to help Liverpool win games," he said at the time.

Gerrard, who made his Liverpool debut in 1998, led the club to the Champions League title in 2005, and has won a further nine trophies in his career.

Gerrard's first notable act was to make a robust challenge on Mata

Gerrard then appeared to stamp on Herrera after being fouled by the Spaniard

Referee Martin Atkinson sent Gerrard off after just 38 seconds on the pitch

The Liverpool captain is now likely to miss three matches

Lionel Messi and Jose Mourinho revealed as top earners in football

Lionel Messi earned more than €1 million a week last year to make him the world's highest-paid player, a France Football survey has revealed, while Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was the best-paid coach.

The magazine estimated the 27-year-old Messi picked up some €65 million in 2014 between his Barcelona salary, various bonuses and sponsorship revenue.

The Argentina international's new contract, signed only last May, saw him increase his basic annual salary to €36 million before tax, while his revenue from endorsements for companies such as Turkish Airlines and the FIFA console games has increased by €2 million to €28 million-a-year

Messi, who is likely to equal David Beckham's record of finishing top of France Football's list for a sixth time next year, is well clear of La Liga rival Cristiano Ronaldo, despite the Real Madrid star significantly increasing his income over the last 12 months.

Ronaldo 30, added around €15 million to his revenue to take himself to €54 million a year, while Messi's Barcelona teammate Neymar came in third, improving his own revenue from €29 million to €36.5 million.

Nine players have annual earnings of more than €20 million, including Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva, on €27.5 million a year to be Ligue 1's highest-paid player, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic is eighth on €21.5 million.

Manchester United duo Robin van Persie (5th, €25.6 million) and Wayne Rooney (7th, €22.5 million) sit either side of Gareth Bale, who earns €23.8 million.

Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero is the third Premier League player in the top 10, weighing in at €21.2 million in ninth, just ahead of Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski (10th, €20.2 million), with Eden Hazard and Yaya Toure joint 11th on €20 million.

Mourinho, 52, earned €18 million last year to top the poll of managers, putting him €2.5 million ahead of Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Bayern Munich's Pep Guardiola is third with €15.2 million with Premier League pair Arsene Wenger (€11.3 million) and Louis van Gaal (€10 million) completing the top five.

Top 20 players

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona): €65 million
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid): €54 million
3. Neymar (Barcelona): €36.5 million
4. Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain): €27.5 million
5. Robin Van Persie (Manchester United): €25.6 million
6. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid): €23.8 million
7. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United): €22.5 million
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain): €21.5 million
9. Sergie Aguero (Manchester City): €21.2 million
10.Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich): €20.2 million
11. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) and Yaya Toure (Manchester City): €20 million
13. Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao (Manchester United): €18.5 million
15. Iker Casillas (Real Madrid): €17.8 million
16. David Silva (Manchester City) and Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea): €17.3 million
18. David Luiz (Paris Saint-Germain): €17.2 million
19. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid): €17 million
20. Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich): €16.9

Top 20 coaches

1. Jose Mourinho (Chelsea): €18 million
2. Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid): €15.5 million
3. Pep Guardiola (Bayern Munich): €15.2 million
4. Arsene Wenger (Arsenal): €11.3 million
5. Louis Van Gaal (Manchester United): €10 million
6. Fabio Capello (Russia): €9 million
7. Andre Villas-Boas (Zenit Saint-Petersburg): €8.5 million
8. Sven-Goran Eriksson (Shanghai SIPG): €8 million
9. Jurgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund): €7.2 million
10. Laurent Blanc (PSG) and David Moyes (Sociedad): €7 million
12. Rafael Benitez (Napoli): €6.9 million
13. Walter Mazzarri (ex-Inter Milan): €6.8 million
14. Roberto Di Matteo (Schalke 04): €6 million
15. Luciano Spalletti (ex-Zenit) and Luis Enrique (Barcelona): €5.5 million
17. Antonio Conte (Italy): €5.3 million
18. Manuel Pellegrini (Manchester City): €5.2 million
19. Brendan Rodgers (Liverpool): €4.9 million
20. Roberto Mancini (Inter Milan): €4.8 million

Friday, March 20, 2015

League Tables

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Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Results and Fixtures

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La Liga Top Scorers: Lionel Messi now tied with Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo vs Messi

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in Barcelona’s 6-1 demolition of Rayo Vallecano to take his tally on the season to 30 – equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s La Liga leading total for the campaign.

Lionel Messi has scored his 30 goals in 26 appearances, playing three more games than Ronaldo (and 243 additional minutes played); however Ronaldo has boosted his tally with nine penalty goals to Messi’s three. Ronaldo’s recent slump on the field combined with his suspension has allowed Messi to close the gap, scoring 15 goals in his last nine games – including three hat-tricks.

Messi vs Ronaldo - La Liga Goals Scored 2014/15

The result of Ronaldo’s goals from the spot is that his La Liga leading 1.32 goals per 90 average drops to 0.92 when adjusted for non-penalty goal situations, ranking third in the division. Messi is now the only player with at least six goals to have an average greater than 1.0 non-penalty goals per 90 as teammate Neymar separates the two players.

Non-penalty Goals

The below table contains every player with at least six goals in La Liga so far this season, with match winning goals included. Cristiano Ronaldo continues to lead the Primera Division with seven match winners (23.3% of goals have won games for his club) as Mario Mandzukic ranks second in the division on six.