Real Madrid Crushes Atletico’s Dream… Again

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

My pint glass of Sam Adams has seen its last drop, and what little is left of my voice was used to call out of work on account of “food poisoning.”

Yes, one of the strangest seasons in club soccer history came to a thrilling and unpredictable end yesterday evening.

Your Champions League Final Primer

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial) and Alejandro Vargas (@callmejandro)

It took nine long months to get here, but finally, we’ve arrived -- the final.

These are two sides many pundits didn’t think would get to this point, but nonetheless, have persevered through injuries and overcome superior talent. Only a mere 7.2 miles, or 20 minutes down the M-30, separates the Santiago Bernabeu and Vicente Calderon. This season's final will be the seventh time the Champions League has seen a final pairing replayed, but it is the fourth time this has happened within three years of the initial match.

Hostilities will be high (Here's to hoping my family doesn’t kill each other) and the stakes even higher.

Who will claim club soccer’s ultimate prize, Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid?

We examine below….

Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid / May 28th at 2:45 PM on Fox / Milan, Italy

Overview

For the second time in three years, the UEFA Champions League final will be a distinctly local affair as Real Madrid take on city rivals Atlético Madrid in Milan. Two years ago the teams met in Lisbon, marking the first final involving clubs from the same city in European Cup history. 

Your Champions League Semifinal Primer

Can Ronaldo carry Real Madrid to a Champions League title?

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial) and Alejandro Vargas (@callmejandro)

The UEFA Champions League quarterfinals saw two huge upsets as Barcelona and PSG crashed out of the tournament, setting the stage for a fascinating, yet unpredictable round. The draw kept apart the two teams from Madrid, and denied Pep Guardiola the opportunity to face his club for next season, Manchester City, at least until a potential final.  

Who will be able to fight off their nerves and progress to the final in Milan? Alejandro and myself examine… 

Atletico Madrid vs. Bayern Munich / 1st leg April 27th 2:45 PM in Madrid/ 2nd leg May 3rd 2:45PM in Munich.

Overview

League standing: Bayern Munich 1st, ahead by 7 points. Atletico Madrid 2nd, even on points with 1st.

Diego Simeone's Atlético have reached the last four for the second time in three years, while Bayern are appearing at this stage for the fifth season in a row. This is Atlético's fifth European Cup semifinal appearance, and their record is a respectable 2-2. The Spanish side have not lost at home in a European Cup semifinal and are unbeaten in their last five home matches against German clubs. Bayern have won only two of their last 12 trips to Spain, and have not won any of their last seven knockout games away from home.

Did you know?

Simeone and Guardiola were regular opponents as players, playing in ten club matches when Simeone was with Atlético and Sevilla FC, and Guardiola was at Barcelona. Simeone recorded three wins to Guardiola's four, although the Argentinian did come out on top in the 1996 Copa del Rey final, with Atlético winning 1-0 after extra time.

Probable Starting XI

Atlético Madrid: GK Jan Oblak RB Juanfran CB Jose Gimenez CB Stefan Savic M Saul M Gabi LW Yannick Carrasco RW Koke F Antoine Griezmann F Fernando Torres

Bayern Munich: GK Manuel Neuer RB Philipp Lahm CB Medhi Benatia CB Javi Martinez LB David Alaba M Arturo Vidal M Thiago M Douglas Costa M Mario Gotze F Thomas Muller F Robert Lewandowski

The La Liga Title Race is Officially On

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

It took only seven months to get here, but we did it -- We finally have a title race.

On behalf of soccer fans everywhere, thank you.

1st place and 2nd place are separated by 6 points or more in all of Europe’s Top-5 leagues, except one: Spain's La Liga.

Your Champions League Quarterfinals Primer

Antoine Griezmann and Atletico will look to replicate their 14’ UCL triumph over Barcelona.

 By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial) and Alejandro Vargas (@callmejandro)

We have finally reached the meat and potatoes portion of the Champions League, where true contenders reveal themselves. This round sees familiar heavyweights crossing paths, while relative newcomers look to pull off titanic upsets. Without further ado let's take a look at the matchups. 

Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid / 1st leg April 5th 2:45 PM/ 2nd leg April 13th 2:45 PM

Overview

These sides' only previous European tie came at the same stage of the 2013/14 competition, when Atlético became the only team to prevent Barça from reaching the semi-finals in the past eight seasons, and one of only three clubs to have eliminated them in a Champions League quarterfinal, along with Paris Saint-Germain in 1994/95 and Juventus in 2002/03. Barcelona have absolutely dominated this matchup of late, with Atletico’s Diego Simeone now a putrid W1, D5, L9 against his club's Catalan rivals.

Players to watch

La Liga Week in Review: 12/4

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Ed. Note- Our soccer correspondent Justin Sherman is doing double-duty today, with articles on Leicester City's underdog run, and his weekly La Liga recap. You can check out his story on Leicester here, and find out who is rising and who is falling in Spanish soccer below.

 
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Aritz Aduriz (Athletic Bilbao) 

At the age of 34 most strikers are slowly edging towards the twilight of their careers. Their experience, leadership, and positioning are characteristics that are most looked upon when determining the outcome of matches.

Just don’t tell that to Aritz Aduriz.

La Liga Week in Review: 11/12

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

One of the most entertaining match days of the season saw Real Madrid drop their first game of the year, Barcelona rise to the top of the table, and incredible goals all across the league. Who’s rising and falling in La Liga: Find out below

La Liga Week in Review 11/5

Barcelona’s players did more than just scare their opponents Saturday night.

 By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

It was another bizarre week in La Liga, as headlines made off the pitch again took center stage. Who’s rising and who’s falling? Find out below.

 
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Alen Halilovic (Sporting Gijon) 

For newly promoted sides, the talent gap between themselves and the heavyweights of the league can be astronomical. Homegrown talent can only get you so far, and with transfer budgets so low, loans are vital to survival. Strapped with huge potential, Alen Halilovic is just the latest Croatian sensation to hit world football.

At the tender age of 19, Barcelona decided it was time to increase the competition level needed for a player's progression.  Instead of having him featured in Barcelona’s second division B side, they decided to loan him out to the highest bidder. In stepped Sporting, and the return couldn’t have been better.

He has started eight games for his new side, scoring twice, while assisting three directly for his team-mates. His strike over the weekend gave Sporting a 1-0 win over Malaga, securing three precious points for the Asturians. If he can continue to develop, Halilovic could have a real chance at first team football with Barcelona next season.

La Liga Week in Review 10/30

Yannick Carrasco stole the show for Atletico in their win against Valencia.

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

This week in La Liga saw title favorites Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico separate themselves from the pack. Who’s rising and who’s falling in Spanish soccer? Find out below.     
 

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 Keylor Navas (Real Madrid) 

Forget the resume, wage, or trophy cabinet. No goalkeeper is playing better in all of world football than Keylor Navas. Forced into the starter's role after the disastrous David de Gea transfer fiasco, Navas has Madridistas seeing Iker Casillas reincarnated.

According to Spanish sports daily AS, Navas has conceded only three goals through nine league games, 12 games in total. He has faced 113 shots, more than any goalkeeper at the top of Europe’s big five leagues.

This weekend he did it again when the two final unbeaten teams in Spain met. Real jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before more crisis struck for Celta. They went down to ten men in the 56th minute and it appeared the game was all but over. Instead, Celta turned up the pressure, sending shot after shot that would've beaten almost any other keeper.

Not this game, or this season.

Navas put on an absolute show, leaving players and fans in disbelief. Only Nolito ended up beating him with a cracker of a shot into the top corner. At the final whistle the score was 2-1, and Real Madrid sat atop the standings.

La Liga Week in Review 10/21

With Lionel Messi out, Neymar has stepped his game up for Barcelona.

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

It was a wild week in Spanish soccer's top classification, with some megastars soaring and others falling back to Earth. Who's rising and who's falling in La Liga?

Find out below.  
    
 
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Neymar (Barcelona) 

When Leo Messi and his boat load of goals went down via injury, the team as a whole was asked to pick up the slack. Taking it to heart, Neymar has pretty much done it all by himself.

With Barcelona’s defense struggling again against Rayo Vallecano, and a 1-0 deficit to climb out of, Neymar transformed into his Brazilian national side version. During the next 48 minutes, Neymar would go on to score four goals, effectively ending any hope of a heroic upset.

La Liga Week in Review 10/7

Real Madrid Goalkeeper Keylor Navas stretches to deny Griezmann's penalty kick.

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Each week of the La Liga season, soccer correspondent Justin Sherman will be bringing you a review of Spain's top fùtbol league. Who's rising and who's falling? Find out below.

La Liga Week in Review: 9/22

Fernando Torres celebrates after his goal in a 2-0 win at Eibar.

 By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Who's rising and who's falling in Spain's largest soccer classification? Find out below.

 
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Keylor Navas (Real Madrid)

How’s this for a story? You’re the starting goalkeeper for perennial doormat Levante, yet you played so well that you were awarded La Liga’s goalkeeper of the season award. As a result, you attract the attention of one of the world's biggest clubs in Real Madrid, who then sign you for 10 million Euros. Once there, you’re buried on the bench behind club legend Iker Casillas, subsequently only appearing in a grand total of 11 games.

La Liga Week in Review: 9/2

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

It was a bounce back week for Welshman Gareth Bale, and a week of (relative) struggles for the world's two top players.

Here's who is rising, and who is falling, in the top tier of Spanish soccer.

La Liga Week in Review: 8/25

Antoine Griezmann celebrates with teammates after a free-kick goal.

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

The sound of a singular whistle was heard all across Spain this weekend as each top-flight soccer side played the first of its 38 grueling La Liga matches.

Fans of newly promoted sides celebrated with boots of wine and cold Mahou, while supporters of prohibitive favorites will be looking for their nearest nail salon after games of utter suspense.

Here are my takeaways from an exciting first week in La Liga.

Your Spanish Soccer Primer: ¡Viva La Liga!

Widely thought of as the world's two best footballers, Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Barcelona's Lionel Messi (right) will likely continue their rivalry at the top of La Liga this year.

Ed. Note- SuiteSports would like to welcome our newest contributor, Mr. Justin Sherman. Justin is an avid fan of the beautiful game, and will be bringing you top-flight analysis of all the world's best league's throughout the upcoming season. So yeah, follow the dude on Twitter and come back for more soccer (er, football) goodness.
-Joe

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

There’s an old saying that only two things in life are guaranteed; Death and taxes.

However, I think we need to add a third to the list, and that is constant soccer. Do these guys ever get a break? Seriously, it seems like just yesterday Barcelona were hoisting their fifth UCL trophy into the starry night in Berlin. Between Copa America and club friendlies, we’ve been soccer deprived for about a whole week this calendar year.

So, gentlemen, wash that champagne out of your hair and toss out the confetti, because new hopes and campaigns are upon us. With that, we preview the 86th season in Spain’s top flight- La Liga.