Barcelona Narrowly Avoids Historic Collapse to Capture La Liga

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Like so many others before, Matchday 38 ended in familiar fashion.

The Big-3 of Spain trouncing the opposition with a combined aggregate of 7-0. Only this time, the results meant a whole lot more.

Barcelona are champions of Spain once again, their 24th title overall. 

For the sixth time in eight years, the Liga trophy will make its way to the cava soaked party in Plaza Catalunya. Luis Suarez again netted a hat-trick, his 6th of the season, more than any other player in Europe’s Top-5 leagues. He finishes the league year with 40 goals, the most scored ever in La Liga by a man not named Messi or Ronaldo.

In retrospect, it seemed so easy, but the end of this season was a different story. A victory would guarantee Barcelona a title that most had thought was already secure six weeks ago. But, with the slightest slip, a Real Madrid team many had left for dead after the first month of the season, would win the title.

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

An Odd Clasico

Could this be Cristiano Ronaldo's final Clasico?

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Sitting here, just a mere three days from one of the world’s biggest games, and something feels off.

That burning sensation of anticipation at the depths of my core? Gone.

Getting my jersey ironed and ready? Too lazy.  (Ed. Note- You iron your jersey? That's commitment)

Prepping my sangria and spirits list? Ok, well that’s still alive and well.

Is It Time for Real Madrid to Sell Cristiano Ronaldo?

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Fresh off another comprehensive defeat at the hands of cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo begrudgingly stepped into the mixed zone, armed with some razor sharp commentsfor the unsuspecting reporters.

"It annoys me that they say that Cristiano has dropped his level, and that is why Madrid have dropped their level," Ronaldo said, with third-person usage that would make Floyd Mayweather Jr. proud. "If they were all at my level, we would be first."

Ronaldo later clarified that he had been referring to the side's injury issues this season, and that in singling out Mateo Kovacic, Jese and Lucas Vazquez, he was merely referring to the absence of key players from several games this season.

"I don't know if it is for bad preparation at the start of the season, but we are having many injuries and that is hurting us," Ronaldo said. "I don't want to knock anyone, no teammate, but when the best are missing... I like to play with [Gareth] Bale, [Karim] Benzema and Marcelo. I don't want to say that Jese, Lucas [Vazquez] or [Mateo] Kovacic are not good players -- they are very good -- but ... to win a competition, you need to have your best players."

Making excuses, or refreshing honesty?

That’s for you to decide.

What is not up for debate, is that any sliver of hope for a Real Madrid title suffered a slow and arduous death Saturday.

Your Champions League Round of 16 Primer

Can anyone unseat reigning champion Barcelona?

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

Ed. Note- For this very special Champions League preview, our resident soccer guru Justin is enlisting the help of his buddy Jandro. The two of them will take you through each first round pairing of Europe's most prestigious club tournament, breaking down matchups, players to watch, and giving predictions.

Enjoy!

Paris St. Germain vs. Chelsea 

1st leg: 2/16 2:45 PM. 2nd leg: 3/9 2:45 PM

Overview

A season ago, this may have been the headliner for many in this stage of the competition, but Chelsea have had a disastrous league campaign that resulted in the sacking of Jose Mourinho.

Still, not all hope is lost. You may recall what happened the last time this was the case -- Chelsea won the Champions League, with an interim manager, nonetheless. The blues are coming off a 5-1 win over Newcastle with renewed confidence, and an unbeaten run of 12 games under interim boss Guus Hiddink. Diego Costa has regained his scoring boots and Pedro has come back to life with a brace over the weekend.

After Munich, Where Will Star Manager Pep Guardiola Land?

By Justin Sherman (@JShermanOfficial)

After months of speculation regarding Pep Guardiola’s future, following his reluctance to sign a contract extension with German powerhouse Bayern Munich, the inevitable was announced a few weeks back -- Guardiola is gone.

Despite two-and-a-half extremely successful years in Bavaria, that included back-to-back Bundesliga titles and one German cup, the Spaniard has decided to end a marriage that seemed destined to be short lived from the start.

Who knows, maybe things would have been different with a Champions League triumph or two. After all, Guardiola’s appointment was completely centered around conquering Europe, since Bayern had been facing little opposition on the domestic front lately. However, he failed to add to the two Champions League trophies he won while in charge of Barcelona, having reached the semifinals for the past two seasons, before losing in embarrassing fashion.

There have also been disagreements with the Bayern medical staff, which led to a parting of the ways with the highly regarded team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt last season, along with three other members of staff. Despite this, Guardiola will finish the season with Bayern, again leading the Bundesliga table, and again entering the Champions League as a prohibitive favorite.

Guardiola has made his intentions for next season clear: It's a job in the English Premier League, or nothing.

He will go into next summer as quite possibly the most sought after coaching free agent in history, and so let's break down his potential landing spots.

La Liga Week in Review 01/16

Garreth shows love to the Bernabeu, and finally receives some back.

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Who's rising and who's falling in the world of Spanish soccer? Find out below.

 
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Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) 

Over the past week, rumors were aplenty that Rafa Benitez’s dismissal deeply angered the Welshman, to the point he was pondering a summertime exit from the Bernabeu.

Under Benitez, Bale was featured in his preferred central role on the pitch. With the change in manager, he was concerned it would result in him returning to the wing. In his first game as manager, Zidane kept the status quo, resulting in Bale possibly having his finest all-around display since joining the club.

Gareth scored three goals in a 5-0 victory over Deportivo de La Coruña, leaving the pitch to a standing ovation from the Real Madrid faithful (hell has frozen over) and departing the stadium with the match ball under his arm, signed by his teammates. It was his second hat-trick in four games and his 10th goal in seven. For good measure, his 7 assists are tops in La Liga as well.

If Bale can keep up this form and Cristiano can regain his shiny scoring boots, Madrid could pose a real (no pun intended) threat for La Liga title in the second half.

La Liga Midseason Awards

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Writer's note: A little over four months ago, I had the pleasure of joining the SuiteSports community as a man with his soccer thoughts and no one to share them with. I had absolutely no experience writing articles (other than my lazy attempts at research papers in college) and even less of an idea of the hard work, research and dedication needed to appear somewhat informed.

From the bottom of my heart, I just wanted to say thank you to Joe and the rest of our great writers for giving me a chance and welcoming me with open arms. Finally, and most importantly, I would like to thank my readers for their continued support and countless feedback. You guys are the reason I do this, and I look forward to bringing you more content in the future. Happy holidays and a wonderful new year to you and your families.

Ok, enough of all that mushy stuff, let’s get to the awards!

Ed. Note- Aw, we're happy to have you too Justin! Now, onward and upward!

Player of the First Half: Neymar (Barcelona)

Coming into this season, Barcelona fans knew that their team's success would be decided by the play of Leo Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. In a late September game against Las Palmas, Catalonia’s collective heart stopped, as Messi crumpled to the ground clutching his knee. Though it wasn’t as serious as initially feared, the Argentine would be on the sideline for 6-8 weeks, leaving the Catalans with a massive void. 

Needing someone to fill it, Neymar stepped up superbly.

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.

White House Down: Real Madrid's Faithful Turn on the President's Box.

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Incompetent. Lacking foresight. Dominated by the people we hate.

These were just some of the words splashed over all of the papers describing a president and the white house he rules with an iron fist.

Only this time, they weren't coming from a Donald Trump rally, or your “patriotic” friend on Facebook cluttering your timeline with impending armageddon.

Barcelona won Saturday's Clasico 4-0, seemingly undressing Real Madrid in the process, leaving their flaws exposed for all of the world to see. From the second the ball was kicked off from the center circle, Barcelona were in control.

A Nation Divided: The Past, Present and Uncertain Future of Barcelona and Real Madrid's Classic Rivalry

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

ri·val·ry
ˈrīvəlrē/
noun
noun: rivalry; plural noun: rivalries
  1. competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field.

Twenty seven miles outside of Madrid in the small pueblo of Yuncos, I woke up, sun shining on my face. On most Saturdays, I would be awoken by the yells of my uncle Juan, “Churros are here chaval!” - but this wasn’t most Saturdays.

Ever since the age of three, my parents made it a mission that I travel to Spain. Three weeks to entire summers were spent under the watchful of eye of my grandmother Eusebia. During the summer months club teams observe their offseason. Because of this, I generally missed out on the games, passion, and legend that was birthed from within them. With my parents wanting me to experience the holidays in Spain, I packed my bags and headed for Madrid, winter be damned.

The date was January 8th, 1994 and it was my first taste of El Clasico - The classic.

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.

Surviving Without Messi

 By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

As fans of sport, and of our favorite teams in particular, we all have experienced the cataclysmic experience of our team's best players being injured. Something as small as a mosquito bite is enough to induce congestive heart failure if any time is missed, and few players in the world can incite more of this reaction than Lionel Messi.

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.

Your Champions League Primer: A European Football Frenzy!

The Champions League Draw. Click to enlarge.

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

The Holy Grail of football tournaments returns today as 32 teams battle it out for a chance to hoist the 73.5cm tall trophy into the Milan sky.

This year's edition sees the return of English heavyweight Manchester United, along with five Spanish clubs, a tournament record for single country. Before previewing the groups, I have added a short explanation of how this particular tournament operates (It’s not rocket science people, though some make it out to be).