The Football Lawyer: The pressure of transfer deadline day is incredible

The closing moments before the transfer deadline can make or break a player’s season, and possibly even his career.

By John Blavo | Football, Sport | Wednesday, 9 January 2013 at 3:45 pm

Cristiano Ronaldo, chasing a hat-trick of hat-tricks, will be relishing taking on depleted Barcelona in El Clasico

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.

By Nicholas Rigg | Football, Sport | Saturday, 6 October 2012 at 1:02 am

What do all the goals by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi add up to?

It’s the latest installment of El Clasico this Saturday and with it comes another opportunity to drool over the achievements of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

By Simon Rice | Football, Sport | Friday, 20 April 2012 at 6:14 pm

Messi scores a screamer, but Ronaldo is howling

There is an agonised howl that Cristiano Ronaldo has made his hallmark. You see it whenever a rival, typically a goalkeeper, denies him glory. Last weekend, there’s a good chance that he was howling again in private.

By Musa Okwonga | Sport | Tuesday, 28 February 2012 at 6:01 pm

Why always Ronaldo?

If one player in La Liga could unveil Balotelli’s famous ‘Why Always Me?’ t-shirt this weekend, it may well be Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

By Nicholas Rigg | Sport | Saturday, 14 January 2012 at 12:01 am

Barcelona, Madrid, and Radiohead’s final sigh

So: Barcelona 1, Real Madrid 1. In the immortal words of the C&C Music Factory, this match was one of the things that make you go “Hmmmm”. I can’t help that think that, when football’s historians return to ponder this fixture, their verdict will be a slight frown and a brief stroke of the chin.
It [...]

By Musa Okwonga | Sport | Wednesday, 4 May 2011 at 1:56 pm

Must watch: The brilliance and buffoonery of Cristiano Ronaldo

Whatever else is said about Cristiano Ronaldo, there’s no denying that he’s one hell of a footballer.

The Portugal star was instrumental in demolishing World Champions Spain 4-0 last night. Yet he should have found himself on the scoresheet with what would have been an incredible effort. But it was disallowed when former Manchester United team-mate Nani headed in the goal bound shot from an offside position.

By Simon Rice | Sport | Thursday, 18 November 2010 at 11:43 am

Premier League remains the most exciting

There’s no place like home. Spain offers the riches of Real Madrid and the splendour of Barcelona. While Italy clearly have titans like Internazionale and Milan. And the skill on show at these chapels of European football invites songs of praise from watching hordes. Yet the most exciting, hair-raising drama unfolds on these shores.
La Liga [...]

By Giles Lucas | Sport | Tuesday, 21 September 2010 at 5:49 pm