La Liga
La Liga clubs offer free 2020/21 season tickets to fans
Espanyol and Leganes fans, holding current season tickets, will be handed free passes for the entire 2020-2021 campaign to compensate for missing matches due to the shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the two La Liga clubs said on Tuesday. The Spanish top-flight is set to resume in June after being provisionally suspended in March with 11 rounds of matches remaining but, as in Germany’s Bundesliga, fans cannot attend the games in order to prevent further spread of the virus. It is unclear when fans will be able to return to stadiums, with medical experts saying mass gatherings should be avoided until there is a vaccine, which is unlikely to be available until 2021. With the two teams struggling at the bottom of the standings, it is possible that one or both sides could be playing ...
Javier Tebas: La Liga could return with Sevilla-Betis derby on June 11
La Liga president Javier Tebas is hoping to resume the 2019-20 season on Thursday, June 11 with the Seville derby. Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed on Saturday that the Spanish top flight had been given permission to resume behind closed doors from June 8 following the coronavirus-enforced hiatus in March. Previous reports had suggested the first match would be played on June 12, exactly three months after the suspension started, with Sevilla’s home match against bitter rivals Real Betis said to be the chosen match. While Tebas confirmed the derby to be his desired fixture, he revealed on Sunday that he is hoping to resume a day earlier, with kick-off to be set at 22:00 local time due to the intense heat in Andalusia’s capital. Speaking on the Partidazo show, Tebas said: “The...
Chelsea star may be on his way out as club ramps up interest
Valencia could be set to offer Kepa Arrizabalaga a route out of his Chelsea nightmare. The Spanish stopper arrived at Stamford Bridge with a big reputation, but he has failed to live up to the hype. Arrizabalaga joined Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao for £71 million in 2018 and was tipped to backstop the Blues to glory. However, his erratic performances led to him being dropped by manager Frank Lampard, sparking talk that he will be sold this summer. Chelsea have been linked with numerous goalkeepers over the past few weeks, with Ajax star Andre Onana believed to be their number one target. With Chelsea seemingly willing to offload Arrizabalaga, Spanish media outlet Sport has claimed that Valencia are interested in securing his services. A return to La Liga may appeal to the 25-year-old, part...
‘Keep earning a big amount of money’: Brazilian legend urges player to join Newcastle
Rivaldo has told Betfair that Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale should move to Newcastle United in the summer transfer window. The Brazilian legend, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and the Champions League with AC Milan in 2003, has explained why a switch to Newcastle in the Premier League would suit the former Tottenham Hotspur winger. According to Marca, the Magpies are interested in securing the services of the Wales international winger this summer. The Guardian has reported that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund are set to buy Newcastle from current owner Mike Ashley. Rivaldo, who won La Liga twice with Barcelona, has outlined the reasons why Bale should make a move to St. James’ Park if he gets an offer from the Magpies. Rivaldo told Betfair: “Newcastle should receive...
Casemiro: Football can prove a return to normal is possible
Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro says it is “important” that football can return in Spain and that if it does, it will demonstrate that society can eventually return to normal after the coronavirus pandemic. Football fans had their first top-level live games to watch on Saturday with the return of the Bundesliga and, while the situation around the game was far from normal, the games were a source of entertainment and comfort to plenty. Spanish football is hoping to get the green light to resume as well, with La Liga chief Javier Tebas currently aiming for June 12 as the date when games can go on. “It’s a really significant step, not just for football but for society too, to show people that it is possible,” Casemiro told Real Madrid TV. “It’s not just about playing football, it’s about peop...
Guillem Balague claims reported Newcastle United target will not switch clubs
Well-known football journalist Guillem Balague has written in Sport that Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale will not join Newcastle United in the summer transfer window. According to Marca, Newcastle are interested in signing former Tottenham Hotspur star Bale from Spanish and European giants Madrid this summer. Balague, though, has claimed that the 30-year-old Wales international winger will not move to the Magpies this summer. Balague wrote in Sport: “Financial fair play will prevent Newcastle from becoming a City at the same speed as Manchester because they were able to start the transformation before the economic limits imposed by UEFA and the Premier reached. “Newcastle will be able to spend a net €30 million (£26.82 million) a year. Gareth Bale, one of the footballers who has sounde...
Spanish club ‘confident’ that Chelsea player will sign this summer
Ethan Ampadu could be on his way out of Chelsea on a permanent basis this summer. The midfielder has had a frustrating loan spell at RB Leipzig this term, making just seven appearances for the German club. He had previously looked to be one of Chelsea’s most promising youngsters, but has failed to establish himself at Leipzig. However, TodoFichajes has claimed that the 19-year-old’s progress has been closely followed by Sevilla and they are ready to make a move. The club’s director of football, Monchi, has been tracking Ampadu and is keen to secure his services during the next transfer window. Many pundits have argued that Ampadu’s decision to move to Germany has backfired, but the Wales international believes that viewpoint is unfair. In a recent interview with The Athletic, Ampadu said t...
Arsenal loanee gives his honest take on reported Newcastle United target
Arsenal loanee Daniel Ceballos has praised reported Everton and Newcastle United target Gareth Bale, as quoted in Football.London. Ceballos, who joined Arsenal on loan from Spanish and European giants Madrid in the summer of 2019, has said that Bale has given a lot to Los Blancos. According to Marca, Newcastle are interested in singing the former Tottenham Hotspur winger, while 90min.com has claimed of interest in the 30-year-old Wales international from Everton. Football.London quotes Ceballos as saying about Bale: “[The Premier League] is a league that suits him quite well, but he’s an important player for Real Madrid. “Let’s not forget everything he has given the club. Whoever does not trust him has to put on the Champions League finals. He has given enough to the club.” Leaving Real Ma...
Real Madrid star set to shun a move to Chelsea
Real Madrid star Lucas Vazquez is set to snub a move to Chelsea as he aimed to remain at Santiago Bernabeu despite lack of regular action under the guidance of Zinedine Zidane. The 28-year-old star has struggled for regular action this season having just started just six La Liga matches and contributing to just three goals in all competitions. Chelsea is keen on signing the former Real Madrid academy product and the winger is also keen on a move to Premier League and Real Madrid has made him available for transfer this summer. However, the report in Mundo Deportivo, the attacker could stay in Madrid this summer. The report claims that Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane is an admirer of the club’s academy product, who has made over 200 appearances for his current side in all competitions. Vaz...
Report: Big Arsenal transfer hits the rocks – pundit ‘unsure’ that selling club want makeweight
Arsenal’s hopes of using Alexandre Lacazette as a makeweight in a deal to sign Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid appear to have hit a stumbling block. The La Liga club are believed to be willing to sell the midfielder, but their current financial situation leaves them favouring a straight cash deal. Atletico had been linked with Lacazette, sparking talk that he could be used as a makeweight in the Gunners’ bid to secure Partey’s services. However, Spanish football expert Graham Hunter believes that Arsenal will need to meet Partey’s £43.5 million release clause in order to sign the player. “Atleti are currently outside of the top four only by a point, but to not get into the Champions League next season would be very debilitating for the club financially,” he told Sky Sports. “There’s a n...
La Liga congratulates Bundesliga ahead football league return
The Spanish La Liga has congratulated Germany’s Bundesliga for announcing its imminent return as Spain’s top-flight stepped up its own comeback preparations. The Bundesliga was given the green light to resume later this month when chancellor Angela Merkel made the announcement during a news conference on Wednesday. Strict testing and matchday procedures will be put in place by the German government, with football seemingly set to resume on May 15 having been paused in mid-March. LaLiga outlined its own plan for a staggered return to training on Monday, with teams set to begin individual work this week before gradually moving to group sessions, the ultimate aim being to re-commence the 2019-20 season in June. Spanish clubs began testing players for COVID-19 on Tuesday and LaLiga sees the Bu...
