Biased or Unbiased?

     As this is my last blog posting, I will end it with a surprise. All semester long I have presented both Real Madrid and Barcelona as equals and tried to make them seem as equal as possible. Nevertheless, the blog is called Real Madrid VS. Barcelona! So who is the winner?? Undoubtably Barcelona is the better team by miles and miles. After beating Madrid 5-0, Barcelona was crowned the best team in the world.
     But, who is my team? which team do I support on a daily basis? Since the young age of 8, I have been an ardent Real Madrid fan. Believe me, it's difficult being always behind Barcelona in the statistics. I have faith in my team and I never lose that faith. I watch all of their games hoping for their wins and I watch all Barcelona's hoping with hate for a loss. Was i biased? or was I not?

Messi! Messi! Messi!

     Last Tuesday, the gala of the best football players joined in an event of astounding results which left many sad-faced and discontent, while pleasing others to indescribable levels. The nominees for 2010 best player of the year was a close battle between three Barcelona players Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi. Messi having won the award last year was the least favorite. Xavi and Iniesta had both won the World Cup and were clearly the front runners in the competition. Shockingly, Messi took the prize right out of Spain's hands who were expecting the victory. Just as Spain thought Pep Guardiola was going to take the prize for best coach of 2010, Jose Mourihno won. Spain was left empty-handed. 

Copa del Rey

     Any club team's ultimate success would be to win the Champions League, a tournament with all the best clubs in Europe, the country's individual league, and the country's individual cup. The main difference between the cup and the league is the process of selecting the winner. In the league, the winner is chosen from a system of points after every team has played each other twice. In the cup, teams are eliminated one by one, head to head.
     This year, Barcelona and Real Madrid seem to be matched-up by destiny. In all three competitions, they are the favorite teams, and potentially could be disputed between these two teams. They could end up playing in the finals for both the Champions League and the cup, La Copa del Rey (the King's Cup). With this stringent schedule, a regular team will play up to two games a week traveling all over Europe and their individual countries. Barcelona won all three tournaments two years ago. Jose Mourihno, Madrid's head coach, won all three competitions last year with Inter de Milan.

Higuaín Out Two More Months

     Gonzalo Higuaín, Real Madrid striker, played his last game November 20, after receiving a hard hit to his knee which at first seemed to be a minor injury; however, medics confirmed in December that the Argentine forward would not be able to play for two months until January with intense therapy and a slow recuperation.
     Giving Karim Benzema an opportunity to shine through Higuaín's absence, the club has not been satisfied with Benzema's performance and yearns to have Higuaín back in the starting position, but his ominous injury would prove to be more serious than first expected.
     After the holidays, Higuaín returned to Real Madrid's medical ward which issued devastating news: his injury would require knee surgery meaning his expected return to the soccer pitch would be delayed even further. As of today, Real Madrid has confirmed that Higuaín will receive knee surgery in Chicago and be subject to recuperation for two more months. Until then, Benzema will have to prove he is worthy of stealing the lead striker position from Gonzalo Higuaín.

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