Sportblog + European football

Monday 22 February 2010
Cristiano Ronaldo smites Villarreal to become the new God of Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo was deified by the Spanish press after his starring role in Real Madrid's 6-2 win over Villarreal. Photograph: Sergio Perez/Reuters

Sid Lowe: If Kaká belongs to Jesus, you could be forgiven for believing that the rest of Real Madrid's players now belong to Ronaldo Continue reading...

Posted by Sid Lowe 14.36 GMT
Edy Reja's open-door policy buys him time at Lazio

Edy Reja has asked Lazio fans not to judge him until he has been there for a month. Photograph: Luca Bruno/AP

Paolo Bandini: Lazio's new manager has had an impact at Lazio, but he still needs to solve the Mauro Zárate conundrum
Continue reading...

Posted by Paolo Bandini 12.58 GMT
Lukas Podolski finds little to laugh about at comedy Cologne

Lukas Podolski has scored only once for Cologne this season, against Schalke in September. Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP

Raphael Honigstein: Germany's $10m striker started the season insisting he 'had nothing to prove' but has little to show for himself so far Continue reading...

Posted by Raphael Honigstein 12.44 GMT
Monday 15 February 2010
Cesare Prandelli must ring the changes to quell Fiorentina dissenters

Cesare Prandelli has been discussed as a potential successor to Marcello Lippi as Italy coach or Alberto Zaccheroni at Juventus. Photograph: Marco Bucco/Reuters

Paolo Bandini: For the first time since the manager took charge in 2005 there is a creeping sense that things are going backwards at Fiorentina Continue reading...

Posted by Paolo Bandini 14.13 GMT
Thursday 11 February 2010
Pedro the latest prodigy from Barcelona's famed academy

The Barcelona forward Pedro celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Sporting Gijón last month. Photograph: Eloy Alonso/Reuters

Amy Lawrence: Fans at Wembley last summer thought Barcelona had sent a second-rate side. In fact they witnessed the arrival of a new star Continue reading...

Posted by Amy Lawrence 15.35 GMT
Monday 8 February 2010
Christian Maggio's red card spoils Walter Mazzarri's Napoli record

Udinese striker Antonio Di Natale, left, celebrates scoring against Napoli with the excitable Gaetano d'Agostino. Photograph: Stefano Lancia/EPA

Paolo Bandini: The right wing's unnecessary sending off was the turning point as the Partenopei fell to a 3-1 defeat at Udinese Continue reading...

Posted by Paolo Bandini 17.39 GMT
Valencia grateful for the awe-inspiring improvement of Ever Banega

Valencia's Ever Banega during his side's game against Valladolid, in which he scored one goal and created the other. Photograph: Heino Kalis/Reuters

Sid Lowe: In the summer they tried to give him away, but the Argentinian is now regarded among Los Ches' best players Continue reading...

Posted by Sid Lowe 14.48 GMT
Germany start search for a new coach as Löw contract talks break down

The Germany coach, Joachim Löw, right, arrives at Sunday's Euro 2012 draw in Warsaw with his occasionally unpopular right-hand man, Oliver Bierhoff. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Raphael Honigstein: Botched negotiations and leaks to the media appear to have signalled the end of Joachim Löw's tenure Continue reading...

Posted by Raphael Honigstein 13.12 GMT
Monday 1 February 2010
How 'the heel of God' broke Deportivo's curse on Real Madrid

Guti celebrates Benzema's goal. Photograph: Lalo R Villar/AP

Sid Lowe: Having not beaten Depor in La Coruña since 1991, it took something special to help Madrid get the better of the meigas Continue reading...

Posted by Sid Lowe 13.48 GMT
Zaccheroni left clutching for positives as Juventus fluff their lines again

Alberto Zaccheroni looks on during the draw with Lazio. Photograph: Tony Gentile/Reuters

Paolo Bandini: Time may be a luxury the new man in charge at the Stadio Olimpoco just does not have after Ciro Ferrara's departure Continue reading...

Posted by Paolo Bandini 13.27 GMT
Appetite for self-destruction leaves Werder Bremen's season on the brink

Raul Bobadilla is congratulated during the win against Werder Bremen. Photograph: Juergen Schwarz/AFP/Getty Images

Raphael Honigstein: In a league that is now more competitive for European spots, the margin of error for Thomas Schaaf has become much smaller Continue reading...

Posted by Raphael Honigstein 11.52 GMT
Monday 25 January 2010
Football Weekly: Robinho packs his bags and Rooney runs riot

Podcast: Plus: an FA Cup round-up; the Milan derby; Ricardo Fuller's earrings; and England's World Cup opponents Algeria continue their good form in Africa

Posted by James Richardson, Ben Green, Barney Ronay, Barry Glendenning, Sean Ingle, Jonathan Wilson, Fernando Duarte, Sid Lowe 17.01 GMT
Monday 18 January 2010
Football Weekly: The tussle for the title and the fight for fourth

Podcast: Charles N'Zogbia for England?; Cristiano Ronaldo's pants; Nottingham Forest set the Championship on fire; and who would win a fight between a Jedi and the Karate Kid?

Posted by James Richardson, Ben Green, Barry Glendenning, John Ashdown, Barney Ronay, Sid Lowe, Jonathan Wilson, Paolo Bandini 16.54 GMT
Eintracht Frankfurt enter 'taboo zone' and keep punching above their weight

Eintracht's Marco Russ celebrates his goal. Photograph: Thomas Bohlen/Reuters

Raphael Honigstein: By achieving results much better than the quality of his squad warrants, Michael Skibbe's ambitious outlook has been validated Continue reading...

Posted by Raphael Honigstein 14.02 GMT
Luca Toni begins to repay Totti's faith as Roma eye Champions League berth

Luca Toni celebrates in trademark fashion. Photograph: Roberto Tedeschi/EPA

Paolo Bandini: Working out how best to combine his forwards may prove a headache for Claudio Ranieri, but he's unlikely to be complaining Continue reading...

Posted by Paolo Bandini 12.32 GMT