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Becks Believes in Comeback

David Beckham is convinced Real Madrid have the players needed to pull off a Champions League great escape at Highbury.

 

Arsenal took a massive step towards the last eight of Europe's premier tournament with a 1-0 win at the Bernabeu.

 

A breathtaking solo effort by Frenchman Thierry Henry gave Arsenal the edge for the return leg in a fortnight.

 

The England skipper knows the Spanish giants have it all to do, but believes a quarter-final place is possible for the galacticos.

 

"It's going to be hard. I have played at Highbury a number of times and I know how difficult it is to play there," Beckham told Sky Sports News.

 

"But it's possible - we've got the players. If we get one goal and then two, we're through, but we have made it very hard for ourselves."

 

The 30-year-old admitted Arsenal were worthy winners, but felt his side failed to match the improved standards they have set in recent weeks.

 

"After five minutes you could tell it was a different performance to what it has been for the last two or three months.

 

"It's disappointing because it was a huge game."

 

Being underdogs allowed Arsene Wenger's side to relax, according to Beckham, who added: "They enjoyed the game, they passed the ball well.

 

"When they have got players like Thierry up front, they are going to capitalise on mistakes and our whole team didn't perform."

 

Beckham himself missed Real's best opportunity of the game when he was through on goal with only Jens Lehmann to beat so he will be doubly determined to make amends in the make-or-break return leg at Highbury.

posted by: lblog at 19:21 | link | comments |

Woody Injury Being Evaluated

posted by: lblog at 19:19 | link | comments |

Real Madrid is new No. 1 in soccer $$$

Real Madrid has knocked off Manchester United as the world's richest soccer club.

Madrid overtook the Red Devils for the first time at the top of the "Football Money League," an independent report released Thursday by the Deloitte accounting firm.

United had been ranked No. 1 since the report began nine seasons ago. Deloitte only uses revenue as its ranking and not the wealth of individual club owners.

Real Madrid increased its revenue by 17 percent to $328 million for the 2004-05 season despite going a second straight year without a major trophy. United earned $293 million in the same period.

AC Milan was third with $279 million, followed by Italian champion Juventus with $273 million and English champion Chelsea at $263 million.

"The mainstay of Real's revenue growth is not match-day revenues, as we have seen in many of the UK clubs, or broadcasting revenue, as we have seen - and continue to see - in Italy, but strong progress in realizing their commercial potential," the report said.

In another set or rankings, the United States moved up one place and into a three-way tie for sixth in FIFA's national listings, matching the highest spot the Americans have held.

Brazil maintained the top spot it has held since July 2002, a month after it won its record fifth World Cup. The Czech Republic remained second, followed by the Netherlands, Argentina and France.

The United States shared No. 6 with Mexico and Spain.

posted by: lblog at 18:48 | link | comments |

FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid

Spain's biggest rivalry pits two of the best squads in Europe, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, against each other in La Liga's version of the Red Sox and Yankees. Real Madrid is one of the most loaded squads in the history of club soccer, featuring Beckham, Zidane, Ronaldo, Raul, Roberto Carlos... the list goes on. Barcelona is also stacked with talent, including the incomparable Ronaldinho.

More than a showcase of high-priced talent, though, the Superclassico pits a pair of cities that share a historical beef. Here's a tidbit about the rivalry from Expertfootball.com:
"Known as Superclassico or El Derby Espanol, the Barca versus Real match attracts immense attention across Spain as well as Europe. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a morally and ethnically independent region with its own distinct dialect. Spanish dictator Franco repressed the regions' autonomous predisposition until his death in 1975. Fans and ultras take this derby with consideration extending far beyond the football pitch."

In this particular rivalry Doug Perry and Jon Miller battled it out in a grueling game configured to deal with a tie score. We set the match to over-time rules. In the first few minutes of overtime play Perry streaked up the left side-line in a breakaway maneuver. His winger lobbed a high pass to the goal box where a swift forward booted it in past a confused keeper. Perry's aggressive attack surprised and shocked an overly confident Miller, who two days later still shivers in embarrassment after such a devastating loss. This win will certainly go down in history at IGN as the breaking of happy-boy Miller. Will he ever recover?

posted by: lblog at 19:38 | link | comments |