FC BARCELONA IS BACK

 

Image Credit- CNN

Since the 2018-19 season, everything has not been good for the Catalan giants. They went the 2019-20 season trophyless. Furthermore, that season of theirs ended with a humiliating 2-8 defeat against Bayern Munich. However, in the 2020-21 season, FC Barcelona did manage to win Copa Del Rey under the leadership of Lionel Messi. But, in July 2021, FCB suffered a huge blow as Messi left for PSG. 

It is hard to replace great players and impossible to replace the greatest of all time. FC Barcelona for the first time in 17 years were relegated to the Europa League. Furthermore the 2021-22 season they again went trophyless. As a result, pressure was piling upon their manager Xavi. The crisis got deepened in November 2022 as Barcelona once again failed to reach the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League. It appeared that FCB has forgotten how to win crunch games and claim titles.  

But then came the Spanish Super Cup and we saw the old FC Barcelona who used to win games and trophies for fun. Though they won the semi-final on penalties. However, their performance in the final made every Catalan supporter proud. The Catalans just outclassed the Los Blancos in the final. 

In the 33rd minute of the game, Gavi scored the opening goal for Barcelona. Furthermore, just before halftime Robert Lewandowski doubled their lead. Real Madrid was pushed to backfoot. After Half-time break, same carnage continued as Pedri made the lead 3-0 in the 69th minute of the game. The defending champions Real Madrid looked nowhere close to the game. 

In the 93rd minute, Karim Benzema did manage to get a goal back. But, by then it was too late. FC Barcelona won the game 3-1 and were now the winners of the Spanish Super cup. The trophy drought has finally come to an end.

FC Barcelona is back. 

CARABAO CUP AND MANCHESTER CITY

 

Image Credit- Sky Sports Football

What UCL is to Los Blancos, Carabao Cup is to Manchester City. You just cannot defeat City in a Carabao Cup match. From 2017 to 2021 they won it 4 times in a row. As a result, when last year Liverpool lifted the cup, it was hard to believe. It was a shocker. 

This year Manchester City were again on a roll. They knocked out Chelsea and Liverpool without much difficulty. It appeared that they would lift the Carabao cup once again. However, Southampton had some other plans. They did the unthinkable. They knocked out Manchester City from a tournament which is literally theirs.  Furthermore, it is even hard to believe that City defeated big guns with ease and lost to a tier 2 side by a margin 0-2. 

But as we know. This is football. It's the most unpredictable game and that is why we love it. 

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING LEGEND

 

Image Credit- Premier League

At the age of 33, Gareth Bale has announced retirement from both club and international football. The football fans are numb. Afterall Bale is an all-time great player. For the author of this post, Gareth Bale is the greatest British player to play football. Gareth Bale was one of those players who could change the course of the game all on his own.  The sheer pace and physical strength he had made everyone go gaga over him.

No wonder he was bought on a record transfer fee in the summer of 2013 by the Los Blancos. However what happened next is something nothing less of a fairy tale. Bale helped Real win 5 UEFA Champions League titles, 3 La Ligas and 1 Copa Del Rey.  His great run in the 2013-14 Copa Del Rey final will be remembered by every football fan, including Barca fans.

Bale was a player of big occasions. He used to perform when it mattered the most. 2015-16 season was one of his best seasons both with Real Madrid and Welsh National Side. He helped Madrid win UCL and qualified for the semi-finals of the UEFA European Championship with his national side. 

He continued his incredible run in the coming seasons as well. But injuries kept him away from the ground. However, Bale performed his best whenever he stepped onto the pitch. His bicycle kick in the 2018 UCL final was indeed one of the greatest goals of the tournament.  Today Bale has announced his retirement from all forms of football. Real Football fans will miss him. But he will always be there in the memories of the fans.

Happy Retirement Sir. Thank You for Everything. 

THE CRISIS IS DEEPENING

 

In previous posts I have discussed about the downfall of Chelsea F.C in the past few months. However today the crisis has more deepened. Chelsea have been knocked out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. Both has been done by Manchester City. Last night Manchester City smashed Chelsea FC in the third round of the FA Cup to move forward in the tournament. 4-0 is not a small margin. It is embarrassing. 

As a result, it's high time for the people at Chelsea to act or else we might have to face more shame this season. We are currently ranked 10th in the league. It is impossible to win any domestic trophy this season. However, the team has to work hard to ensure that Chelsea qualifies for European football next season. 

Lastly, we are still alive in the UEFA Champions League. Though there are less chances of winning the biggest trophy of club football. But still we need to give blood, toils, tears and sweat. Afterall we are left with nothing right now except disappointment. 

GOODBYE CRIS

 

Image Credit- Sky Sports

On 30th December 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo signed a contract with Saudi Arabia based football club named Al Nassr. The deal is a lucrative deal and will last till 2025. However, with this move the career of Cristiano Ronaldo in European Football has come to an end. It's a sad moment for football fan all over the world. Afterall everyone loved watching him play at the highest level. Be it Lisbon, Manchester, Madrid or Turin, Ronaldo excelled everywhere he played. He has scored nearly 500 goals at the club level which is insane. 

One need not write or say how great Cristiano is. The honors of Cristiano Ronaldo speak for itself. He is the top goal scorer in the history of UEFA Champions League. He has won 5 Ballon D'Ors, 5 UEFA Champions League titles and 7 League Tittles which is a dream for every footballer.  However, 2022 was a year which no Ronaldo fan would like to remember. Afterall their icon went through tough times. 

As a result, everyone was eagerly waiting for their hero's comeback.  But the same did not happen. Cristiano has left the European football. The fans are heartbroken and sad. Afterall they won't be able to see their hero play again on the top level. However, his heroics will always be remembered by his fans. 

Farewell Ronaldo. You will be missed.