EL CLASICO 2015

This game has become even more important because of what’s at stake. Barcelona could almost clinch another La Liga title if they come out on top. Real Madrid would take over if they manage to beat Barcelona on the road.

Some of the most highly-rated players take part in this show. Gareth Bale is the player that holds the record as the most expensive footballer. Then you have Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi who lead Goal.com’s Rich List. If you combine both squads, the starting XI on display is worth around €930m, with substitutions it goes over €1 billion.

El Clasico features some of football's most expensive players

People from around 100 countries are expected to tune into the game. Broadcasters are able to reach out to 500 million fans around the globe. Bein Sports en Español viewership reached 1,009,000 at its peak during the most recent edition of this confrontation.

100 cameras are set up around the stadium to give fans every angle of the action

Picture Mocking FIFA's 2022 World Cup Bid In Qatar Goes Viral

Lionel Messi Comments on 2014 Struggles, Barcelona's Success in 2015

Lionel Messi has acknowledged the "challenge" of overcoming last year's woes with Barcelona, suggesting both he and the team are improving as 2015 rolls on.

The Argentinian struggled with injury problems at the start of 2014 and failed to consistently replicate his terrific form of years gone by, highlighted by Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo securing the Ballon d'Or for a second consecutive season.

However, Messi is positive after finding his lethal touch once more, telling Mundo Leo (h/t AS, via Football Espana):

"The truth is that I wanted to start this year as well as possible. I knew it hadn’t been a great year, where I had a lot of problems on and off the pitch. It was a challenge to change the whole image I had projected last season. And to get it back what it was in previous years. That was my goal and that’s how I wanted to start the season."

New Chelsea Signing Juan Cuadrado Was a Massive Manchester United Fan as a Boy

Rivas is quoted by the paper
"When he was with us he was a big fan of Manchester United.

At that time, around the year 2000, they had a fantastic team, they were the best team in the world and they were very popular in Colombia.

Playing for Manchester himself, it naturally was close to his heart. He dreamed of playing for them—maybe he still does! as saying:"

On this day in 1958, 23 people lost their lives in the Munich Air disaster. The sporting world has paid respect. RIP!

Fifty seven years ago today, flying back from a European Cup tie against Red Star Belgrade, the plane carrying Manchester United's Busby Babes stopped to refuel in Munich. It would never leave Germany. Twenty three of the passengers, including eight journalists, the plane's captain, a travel agent, three members of the club staff and eight of the Babes, would never see their families again, as the plane tried and failed to make it's way off the snow ridden Munich runway.
The Munich Air Disaster is not only embedded forever in Manchester United's history, but in the history of the city itself and football around the world, as fans from around the globe put rivalries aside to pay tribute to one of the most beloved and cherished teams English football has ever had the priviledge of calling its own.

A Very Happy Birthday to Cristiano Ronaldo Neymar Jr. Carlos Tevez Adnan Januzaj

A Very Happy Birthday to Cristiano Ronaldo [30], Carlos Tevez [30] Neymar Jr. [23] and Adnan Januzaj [20]

Neymar Jr., Leo Messi, Luis Suarez and the stars of FC Barcelona as you've never seen them before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XeZm-Znkpc

Neymar showing off his skills with a bottle of sun cream? Check.

Lionel Messi as a supreme karate master? 

Luis Suarez as a cowboy? 

Some Beach Boys? 

The new Qatar Airways advertisement, featuring the stars of Barcelona, has landed. While undoubtedly silly, it is all kinds of fun. 

Super Saturday

Brace yourself for the Super Saturday.
Credit: SportsKeeda

Adidas have unveiled the match ball for the 2015 UEFA Champions League in Berlin!

Adidas have unveiled the match ball for the 2015 UEFA Champions League in Berlin!

Can you spot the Grizzly Bear on the ball?

FC Barcelona Show off Ridiculously Good Lionel Messi Finish

Most goalkeepers only have to face Lionel Messi a couple of times a season, but you have to feel sorry for the poor men who have to try and stop him every day in training. 

"Are you a cameraman or a journalist"? Be careful when you ask PSG - Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic a question.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nkPDWJiovA

Note to journalists: Be careful what you ask Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Paris Saint-Germain striker was unhappy with a question a camera-holding journalist asked him after PSG's win over Rennes on Friday night. 

"Are you a journalist or a camera guy?" asked Zlatan sarcastically before going on to describe the reporter as "low-budget."

The journalist asked Zlatan about his relationship with team-mate EdinsonCavani. We suspect this was not the answer he was looking for. 

[YouTube h/t Sportskeeda]

Frank Lampard Returns to Stamford Bridge to Mixed Fan Emotions

Longtime Chelsea man Frank Lampard returned to Stamford Bridge during Saturday's pivotal Premier League clash, but as a member of Manchester City. 

While the Englishman started the match on the bench, there were clearly mixed emotions on his return. 

One Chelsea fan clearly was not OK with Lampard's decision to wear a different hue of blue than Chelsea's. 

Paris Saint-Germain's Zlatan Ibrahimovic Makes the Referee Come to Him

During PSG's Ligue 1 win over Rennes on Friday night, the referee called Zlatanover but the Swedish striker was unamused. 

Ibrahimovic instead stood motionless and let the referee come to him. 

FT: Atlético de Madrid 2-3 FC Barcelona.

The Catalans defeat Atletico for the third time in 2015 as Neymar Jr.scores two sensational goals to help Barcelona advance 4-2 on aggregate in the Copa del Rey.

A goal worth to succeed James Rodriguez Oficial as the FIFA Puskas Award winner?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGjwm6Yvfrg

In the early stages of 2015, we haven't seen anything as good as the above goal, which was scored by Victor Curto in the Belgian Second Division. 

The Spanish striker for K.A.S. Eupen connected as sweet as peach with a volley direct from a corner against RC Mechelen. The ball flew into the top corner past the keeper.

Neymar Jr.: Hypervenom Liquid Diamond Unboxing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGhgzXlHx7I

According to Max Blau, vice president of Nike Football Footwear, there's a really good reason to combine diamonds with water:

We take inspiration from Neymar Jr.’s play and personality. He attacks the defence with a style so fluid, it reminded us of water flowing between rocks. That’s when we started shifting our thoughts from incorporating a nod to diamonds, to creating a liquid diamond aesthetic for the entire upper.

Old Scool Robben.

Watch the goal here;http://t.co/5KZ90uYQJJ

Robben, who turned 31, scored his second goal in the most predictable fashion – cutting in from the right while skipping past two defenders and then eventually launching a powerful, well-placed shot from just 20-yards-out. A routine that he is known for, but clearly no one has an answer for that.

Race for Ballon d'or 2015 so far.

Happy Birthday Xavi Hernandez

El Maestro turns 35 today.

Super Saturday

Blackburn 3-1 Swansea.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Leicester City.

Chelsea 2-4 Bradford City.

Manchester City 0-2 Middlesborough.

Southampton 2-3 Crystal Palace. 

Barcelona 6-0 Elche.

Real Madrid 2-1 Cordoba.

Ronaldo sent off in Real Madrid's clash with Cordoba.