Graham Hunter – Page 4 – Football Scout

Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann can prove his status by delivering Europa League

On the wall of Antoine Griezmann’s beautiful villa in the exclusive Madrid suburb of La Finca, there are two David Beckham shirts: one bearing the crest of Paris Saint-Germain and the other in the colours of LA Galaxy.

The London-born midfielder who became a legend for Manchester United — leaving home young, coping with the fight that a southerner had to show to be accepted in the gritty north, letting his talent speak more loudly than his words — was, and remains, Griezmann’s primary hero.

The…

Andres Iniesta’s Barcelona status is a triumph of ability and perseverance

Shaka Hislop hails Andres Iniesta’s impact on football and Barcelona as he prepares to leave the Blaugrana after 22 years.

The adjectives to describe Andres Iniesta’s 22-year career with Barcelona are endless as he announces he’ll leave the club at the end of the season.

As Andres Iniesta prepares for his 38th and final El Clasico, take a look back at his impact on Spain’s biggest derby.

The guys respond to your tweets about incredible midfield combinations, big losses for Barcelona and Unai Emery’s future.
Like so many others, I’m nostalgically sad that we are reaching the end of Andres Iniesta’s time in La Liga. “Don Andres” has a maximum of two more Blaugrana performances to come, including what is sure to be an emotional send off against Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou on May 20.
The scale and sincerity of his eulogies toward him has been impressive but it occurred that there are several things that, because of his elegant brilliance, because of his achievements and because his name is stamped upon…

Barcelona and Real Madrid serve up another <em>Clasico</em> feast

The ESPN FC crew delve into the controversial decisions in El Clasico that saw the derby end in a 2-2 draw.

Barcelona and Real Madrid battled to a 2-2 draw in a Clasico that saw tempers flare and Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale score brill…

Real Madrid-Bayern Munich tie defined not by mistakes but by beauty and bravery

Real Madrid are one match away from lifting the Champions League trophy for a third consecutive year and a fourth time in five years.

Real Madrid are through to their third straight Champions League final, but the FC crew explain how Bayern Munich gave away the trip to Kiev.

Relive the best from another big night at the Santiago Bernabeu, as Real Madrid prevailed over Bayern to reach the Champions League final again.

Sven Ulreich’s second-half slip gifted Real Madrid a vital goal on their way to qualifying for another Champions League final.

MADRID — If you hear anyone trying to tell you that this wasn’t absolute sublime-quality, five-star, technically exquisite football, then shun them.

If you read or listen to someone droning on about how this Champions League semifinal between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid was decided only by mistakes, that there were too many errors to make this a classic, too many errors to suggest that Madrid can possibly be a threat to either Roma or Liverpool in the final, then either blow them a giant raspberry…

Real Madrid have suffered at home, but they’ve learned how to win anyway

Last week, not long after his and his team’s mammoth achievement of a third consecutive win in Munich against Bayern, Sergio Ramos used his social media account to post: “Saber sufrir. Saber ganar. Saber ser Real Madrid. Quedan 90”.

He showed his forearm to the camera lens, covered wrist to elbow in elaborate tattoos that are hard to make sense of unless you are in Sergio’s inner-inner circle.

However his words not only had direct, simple translations — they were bang on the money.

“Know…

Jupp Heynckes can say ‘<i>adios</i>’ to Spanish football when Bayern face Madrid

The Heynckes heart won’t be divided — not one iota.

But Josef, to his family, Jupp to the rest of the admiring football world, will have to ruthlessly end a love affair with Spain and Spanish football if he’s to finally lower the curtain fittingly on what has been his exceedingly brilliant career.

One way or another, his career and Real Madrid’s well-being have so often been intertwined that it’s both poetic and mischievous of fate to pit Bayern Munich against Los Blancos, out of all the…

Will Spain produce an Andres Iniesta, Fernando Torres or Xabi Prieto again?

Fernando Torres has announced he will be leaving his boyhood club Atletico Madrid at the end of the season.

The guys respond to your tweets about the Premier League manager of the year, Andres Iniesta and whether they’d take Mohamed Salah or Neymar.

You may brand me a pessimist if you wish but with Fernando Torres and Xabi Prieto announcing that these will be their last weeks with the clubs that they love, and Andres Iniesta likely to follow suit, then even though it’s barely spring I fear a Spanish winter coming on.

These are three all-time greats, not only of their clubs but of La Liga, and of modern European football. Without them, Spain’s Primera Division wouldn’t have become as successful, attractive, well-known, marketable or beautiful…

Barcelona’s players and coach have no answer to deserving Roma

ESPN FC’s Gab Marcotti explains why Roma’s comeback is one of their greatest moments in Europe, while the FC crew delve into where things went wrong for Barcelona.

Roma came back from a 4-1 first-leg deficit to defeat Barcelona on away goals as they advance to the Champions League semifinals.

Roma came back from a 4-1 first-leg deficit to defeat Barcelona on away goals as they advance to the Champions League semifinals.
For anyone mourning Barcelona’s limp, uncompetitive exit from the Champions League at the quarterfinal stage against Roma, there is some bitter consolation: There was no doubt whatsoever, across two matches, that the more deserving side went through.
There will be many who argue that the elimination was due to the “Barca disease” which is that, unless they actually win the competition, then it’s normally this stage that does for them; since 2014 they’ve wilted four times in the last eight.
What…

It’s clear that Ivan Rakitic is the future for Barcelona’s key midfield role

The final score flattered Barcelona in the end. The FC panel break down how big of a concern are Barcelona’s underwhelming performances in the Champions League.

This week’s In Case You Missed It features Paul Pogba putting Manchester City’s title celebrations on hold, another Lionel Messi masterclass and more.

Check out the best goals from the weekend in La Liga, including Cristiano Ronaldo’s opener in the Madrid derby.

In a season that sees Lionel Messi mounting a brutal challenge to seal his fifth Ballon d’Or, it tells you a lot that Ivan Rakitic is already firm competition to his teammate for Barça’s player of the year award.

That Barca are in contention to win a second treble in three years owes a lot to the Croatia midfielder, who has proved not only his stamina but his intelligence, leadership, and constant hunger for success this season. It’s his best since signing for Barcelona in 2014. But that all…

Madrid’s UCL dominance deserves more respect, despite superpower status

Already I can imagine fans of hundreds of smaller clubs all around the world getting out the smallest violins in history to sarcastically mimic a song of sympathy, but ahead of the Spanish, European and world champions facing Juventus this week, my argument is that Real Madrid don’t get enough respect.

“Boo-hoo, cry me a river.” I know, I know.

So many who have to suffer relegation battles, dream of a trophy every eight years — rather than the eight Madrid have lifted since Zinedine Zidane…

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