http://blogs.independent.co.uk| Blogs from the Independent newspaper - news, views and features from the world's most free-thinking newspaper| Sun, 19 May 2013 12:36:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2| en hourly 1 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/10/24/are-atletico-madrid-serious-title-contenders-this-season/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/10/24/are-atletico-madrid-serious-title-contenders-this-season/#comments Wed, 24 Oct 2012 00:02:01 +0000 Nicholas Rigg http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=29348 There is a belief, albeit a somewhat guarded one at this stage of the season, that the Mattress Makers, as Atletico are fondly known, can do something a little bit special this season. ]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/10/24/are-atletico-madrid-serious-title-contenders-this-season/feed/ 3 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/10/06/cristiano-ronaldo-chasing-a-hat-trick-of-hat-tricks-will-be-relishing-taking-on-depleted-barcelona-in-el-clasico/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/10/06/cristiano-ronaldo-chasing-a-hat-trick-of-hat-tricks-will-be-relishing-taking-on-depleted-barcelona-in-el-clasico/#comments Sat, 06 Oct 2012 00:02:56 +0000 Nicholas Rigg http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=28969 Drop everything you're doing at 6.50pm on Sunday. Barcelona welcome, or should that simply be host, old foes Real Madrid at the Camp Nou in the first Clasico meeting of the Liga season.]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/10/06/cristiano-ronaldo-chasing-a-hat-trick-of-hat-tricks-will-be-relishing-taking-on-depleted-barcelona-in-el-clasico/feed/ 8 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/09/28/what-went-wrong-at-athletic-bilbao/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/09/28/what-went-wrong-at-athletic-bilbao/#comments Fri, 28 Sep 2012 14:27:34 +0000 Nicholas Rigg http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=28760 Millions were wowed by their skills, determination, relentless pressure and high-speed football as Marcelo Bielsa's men out-played and embarrassed Manchester United over two legs in the Europa League last season. ]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/09/28/what-went-wrong-at-athletic-bilbao/feed/ 3 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/05/24/barcelona-v-athletico-bilbao-final-ensures-the-kings-cup-has-got-its-magic-back/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/05/24/barcelona-v-athletico-bilbao-final-ensures-the-kings-cup-has-got-its-magic-back/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 03:01:33 +0000 Nicholas Rigg http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=24554 In Spain there's still the small matter of the Copa del Rey final to be played this Friday at Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon Stadium. Barcelona against Athletic Bilbao. ]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/05/24/barcelona-v-athletico-bilbao-final-ensures-the-kings-cup-has-got-its-magic-back/feed/ 4 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/05/03/fiesta-time-at-cibeles-as-real-madrid-lift-their-32nd-la-liga-title/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/05/03/fiesta-time-at-cibeles-as-real-madrid-lift-their-32nd-la-liga-title/#comments Thu, 03 May 2012 12:04:38 +0000 Nicholas Rigg http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=23833 Madrid are on-course to smash all kinds of league records with two games to go. They've already secured the highest number of away wins in a season with 15 and counting, most league goals scored in a season with 115 and counting and levelled the most away league goals scored with 49, another record they should beat with one away game to come at Granada.]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/05/03/fiesta-time-at-cibeles-as-real-madrid-lift-their-32nd-la-liga-title/feed/ 2 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/04/17/the-yellow-submarines-of-villarreal-navigate-stormy-waters/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/04/17/the-yellow-submarines-of-villarreal-navigate-stormy-waters/#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:22:01 +0000 Nicholas Rigg http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=23273 Villarreal have long been everybody's 'second club' in La Liga. A relatively small club for the top-flight of Spanish football, who've been punching above their weight for a while now.]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/04/17/the-yellow-submarines-of-villarreal-navigate-stormy-waters/feed/ 0 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/04/03/eric-abidal-looks-for-a-repeat-of-heart-warming-recovery-as-football-family-comes-together-again/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/04/03/eric-abidal-looks-for-a-repeat-of-heart-warming-recovery-as-football-family-comes-together-again/#comments Mon, 02 Apr 2012 23:03:31 +0000 Nicholas Rigg http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=22915 Former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly famously once said "football isn't a matter of life and death, it's much more important than that."]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/04/03/eric-abidal-looks-for-a-repeat-of-heart-warming-recovery-as-football-family-comes-together-again/feed/ 3 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/03/23/lionel-messi-more-than-just-a-player/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/03/23/lionel-messi-more-than-just-a-player/#comments Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:03:52 +0000 Nicholas Rigg http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=22598 Messi's treble against Granada, every goal a special one (when are they not?), saw him pass Cesar Rodriguez as Barca's top-scorer.]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/03/23/lionel-messi-more-than-just-a-player/feed/ 16 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/03/12/marcelo-bielsa-shows-theres-method-to-his-madness-at-bilbao/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/03/12/marcelo-bielsa-shows-theres-method-to-his-madness-at-bilbao/#comments Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:35:05 +0000 Nicholas Rigg http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=22287 Athletic Bilbao and manager Marcelo Bielsa are the flavour of the month. Looking good for a Champions League place in La Liga, in the final of the Copa del Rey and with a 3-2 lead over Manchester United going into the second leg of their last-16 Europa League tie. ]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/03/12/marcelo-bielsa-shows-theres-method-to-his-madness-at-bilbao/feed/ 6 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/02/21/real-madrid-and-barcelona-continue-to-dominate-la-liga-what-next-for-the-rest/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/02/21/real-madrid-and-barcelona-continue-to-dominate-la-liga-what-next-for-the-rest/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:19:19 +0000 Nicholas Rigg http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=21702 Barcelona's thumping 5-1 victory over Valencia at the Camp Nou on Sunday night supported many people's belief that La Liga is fast becoming a two-horse race. Fast becoming, or already is? Probably the latter.]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/02/21/real-madrid-and-barcelona-continue-to-dominate-la-liga-what-next-for-the-rest/feed/ 8 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/02/14/financial-strife-fails-to-dim-smiles-at-high-flying-rayo-vallecano/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/02/14/financial-strife-fails-to-dim-smiles-at-high-flying-rayo-vallecano/#comments Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:28:24 +0000 Nicholas Rigg http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=21342 This is a club that, despite all it's off-the-field financial problems, is currently flourishing in La Liga, and is fast becoming most Spanish football fans' 'second side'. ]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/02/14/financial-strife-fails-to-dim-smiles-at-high-flying-rayo-vallecano/feed/ 1 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/02/07/atletico-tailor-making-chelsea-goalkeeper-for-the-top/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/02/07/atletico-tailor-making-chelsea-goalkeeper-for-the-top/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:46:04 +0000 Nicholas Rigg http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=21116 Chelsea fans can be forgiven for forgetting they have one of La Liga's best goalkeepers on their books.]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/02/07/atletico-tailor-making-chelsea-goalkeeper-for-the-top/feed/ 0