Real Madrid at cusp of matching LALIGA EA SPORTS history in ELCLASICO

c/o LALIGA

This upcoming EL CLASICO on Sunday morning could be a historic one, especially for Real Madrid.

Los Blancos is currently on a 42-match unbeaten streak, one that is now over thirteen months long. Since their 3-1 defeat to Atlético de Madrid at the Metropolitano last September 24, 2023, Real Madrid has won 31 matches and drawn eleven times.

The current record belongs to FC Barcelona at 43 matches, setting the record back in 2017 to 2018.

Aside from this current streak, they also have an impressive unbeaten run at the Santiago Bernabéu. The current champions of Europe haven't lost at their iconic home since April 8, 2023, when Villarreal CF defeated Real Madrid, 3-2, a loss that extinguished its title hopes that season.

Since that defeat, they have had 39 matches at the recently-renovated building, 29 of which in LALIGA EASPORTS. Out of that 29, Real Madrid has won 25 matches, and drawn four times.

It is an interesting puzzle that Hansi Flick will have to figure out, as FC Barcelona seeks to retain their lead in the Spanish top-flight. A win by Real Madrid would move them atop the table with the trusty head-to-head tiebreaker in their favor.

Riyadh Season officially joins LALIGA as a sponsor

Riyadh Season, represented by the CEO of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), Engineer Faisal Bafarat, signed a partnership agreement with LALIGA, the Spanish football league, today (Tuesday). The agreement was signed by LALIGA President Javier Tebas, marking a three-season partnership that positions Riyadh Season as the official sponsor of one of the world’s strongest football leagues.

This partnership represents a new milestone in Riyadh Season’s journey toward global recognition, as the season aims to offer exceptional events that place Saudi Arabia at the forefront of global entertainment destinations, supported by the generous backing of the Kingdom’s leadership for the entertainment sector and other industries.

In a statement, Javier Tebas, President of LALIGA, highlighted the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia to LALIGA, noting the immense passion that Saudi football fans have for the Spanish league. He added that LALIGA is committed to fostering the growth of the sports and entertainment industry in the Kingdom by supporting distinguished initiatives like Riyadh Season.

David Villa, LALIGA Ambassador, also expressed his confidence that the partnership with Saudi Arabia would open new avenues for collaboration. He emphasized that football in the Kingdom has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, making it an ideal partner.

This partnership, which reflects Riyadh Season’s global presence, aims to organize promotional activities for both brands and implement joint initiatives targeting football fans and visitors to Riyadh Season, further enhancing the season’s appeal as a global destination.

Vini Jr. and Jude Bellingham: The blossoming friendship and future of Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham has needed no adaptation time after joining Real Madrid in the summer. The England international has taken LALIGA EA SPORTS by storm, having already scored eight goals in nine games. Bellingham has also recorded three assists across all competitions, two of which served for Vini Jr. to get his name on the scoresheet. The connection between the two men is blossoming on and off the pitch, but everything started way before Bellingham penned his Real Madrid contract.

Convincing Bellingham to join Real Madrid

When it became clear that Bellingham would be leaving Borussia Dortmund, several European powerhouses approached the midfielder in their bid to acquire his services. Despite having received more lucrative offers from other teams, Bellingham decided to move Los Blancos and explained the reasoning behind his decision in his presentation. “Money’s not a big thing for me,” he noted. “I don’t think about money when I make these kinds of decisions. I play for the love of the game. I loved the feeling I got from the club. I told them straight away what I felt about the club. It’s not the case that the other teams were bad or not good, but Real Madrid is the greatest.” 

Real Madrid directors had presented the Englishman with an attractive sporting project, but Vini Jr. also operated behind the scenes, messaging the Englishman relentlessly in his bid to convince him that Los Blancos would be the best option. “I wanted Bellingham at Real Madrid,” the Brazilian forward declared earlier this month. “I sent a lot of messages to Jude last year. I was texting him almost every day and telling him to come to Madrid.”

Their connection on the pitch

Following Karim Benzema’s departure, coach Carlo Ancelotti has opted for a 4-4-2 diamond formation, with Bellingham in a playmaking role behind the two forwards. The 20-year-old midfielder often drops to the left, where he combines smoothly with Vini Jr. , offering spectacle for fans and causing havoc to opposition defences. “What we ask of Vini is that he looks for the position he is best at, and Bellingham adapts to that,” Ancelotti explained after Real Madrid’s 3-2 win over Napoli, where Bellingham set up his teammate for Los Blancos’ first goal. “They combined well, they offer a lot of creativity. Having both of them on the left flank creates a lot of danger.” 

Bellingham also scored an extraordinary goal in that same game and headed to the corner to make his trademark open-hand celebration. Vini Jr. ran to celebrate with his teammate, kneeled down in front of him and pretended that he was taking a photo of the England international. “He is incredible,” the Brazilian later said. “He was born to play for Real Madrid and to mark an era in the biggest team in the world. Hopefully ours will be a connection for many years to come because we are going to play together here for a long time. I’m delighted with him. He is one of the best players at a young age. We are all happy and the fans are really enjoying it.”

Vini Jr. and Bellingham’s social media jokes

The two youngsters have also gelled off the pitch, something made clear from their hilarious exchanges on social media. After scoring in Real Madrid’s 4-0 home victory over CA Osasuna, Vini Jr. performed his favourite dancing celebration along with Eduardo Camavinga. The moment was captured by photographers and Bellingham didn’t hesitate to tease his teammates when the image was shared on social media, jokingly criticising their dancing skills. Both Vini Jr. and Camavinga invited their teammate to join them next time they celebrate a goal, with Bellingham publicly accepting the challenge.  

Even if Bellingham isn’t convinced by the dancing skills, he does believe Vinícius is the best footballer on the planet “He is probably the best in the world for me,” Bellingham stressed earlier this month. “He’s one of the most talented players I’ve ever played with.” While Real Madrid fans can’t wait to see the two prodigies showing off their dancing moves after further goals, Vini Jr.and Bellingham are working on polishing their partnership on the pitch, keen to cement themselves as the best attacking duo in European football.

Two major names set to make El Clasico debut

FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will meet this Saturday in ElClasico, which will be the 255th meeting of these two clubs in official competition, with the head-to-head record so finely balanced. Real Madrid have won 102 encounters, FC Barcelona 100 and in the remaining 52 they have drawn. This is a historic rivalry that goes back more than 100 years and that will be experienced, for the first time, by the talented summer signings like João Félix, Jude Bellingham, Kepa Arrizabalaga and João Cancelo.

Without forgetting the impressive start to the season of Girona FC, the main prize at stake in this game is the potential to finish the matchday as the leader of LALIGA EA SPORTS. That only adds to the usual tension that comes with this match. On this occasion, it’ll be taking place in a new setting, at the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc, given that Los Azulgrana’s usual home ground, the Spotify Camp Nou, is currently being redeveloped. As such, this rivalry will move to a new stadium, similar to what occurred when the match was played at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano during the Covid pandemic.   

Both teams have made a strong start to the season, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side taking 25 points and Xavi Hernandez’s charges collecting 24 in the 10 games played so far. The capital city side come into the clash on the back of a draw against Sevilla FC, while the Catalan outfit managed to overcome Athletic Club in the final minutes in another thrilling game last matchday.

Barça have yet to lose at their new stadium and have won all five LALIGA EA SPORTS matches they have played at Montjuïc, living up to the nickname of this being a magic mountain. Los Blancos will be keen to break that streak and get back to winning ways at their opponents’ stadium. Last season, Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat in the away ElClasico in league play, but they had won 2-1 and 3-1 respectively when visiting FC Barcelona in 2021/22 and 2020/21.

In terms of absentees, Xavi will be without the injured Frenkie de Jong and Jules Koundé, while Real Madrid have been without Thibaut Courtois and Éder Militão all season due to serious knee injuries. Although those are significant losses for both coaches in ElClasico, these players can be replaced by other top talents.

Real Madrid have the competition’s top scorer, in England’s Jude Bellingham, who has scored eight goals to start the season and who will go up against last season’s Pichichi, Robert Lewandowski, who has already netted five this term. Those two world-class stars will be joined by others such as Vinícius, João Félix, Rodrygo and Ferran Torres, all of whom will be targeting a goal in ElClasico.

Between the posts, they’ll face two giants, in Marc-André ter Stegen and Kepa Arrizabalaga. Meanwhile, the defensive lines will be marshalled by Ronald Araújo and Antonio Rüdiger. There is also so much talent in the midfield, where Gavi, Eduardo Camavinga, İlkay Gündoğan, Fede Valverde and co. will get to work. On top of that, this fixture brings together two top coaches, who boast the brains and experience to succeed in this type of top-level scenario. This is ElClasico, with new faces but with all the importance and weight of the history of both these shirts.

New song to mark upcoming LaLiga season

Colombian singer/songwriter Camilo remixed a song of his for the upcoming La Liga campaign.

With the 2021/22 LaLiga Santander and LaLiga Smartbank season set to start on August 13, Colombian singer-songwriter Camilo remixed his song KESI to be the league's official song, infused with football references. A Latin GRAMMY winner and a GRAMMY-nominated artist, he is also one of most-followed artists on social media, with over 25 million followers on Tiktok, 22 million on Instagram, and has six million views on his YouTube action.

The remix highlights the similarities football and music have in generating passion. Football is capable of moving people, just like music, and they are powerful tools for triggering all kinds of emotions. Fusing the two of them magnifies that further.

Camilo shared his feelings being a part of this season: "It’s a dream come true for me to be involved in the LaLiga song for the 2021/22 season. This is the first tour of my life and the first concerts have been in Spain, a country that has really made me feel at home." He adds that, "music and football are one; the passion of singing a song and celebrating a goal go beyond the rational. It makes you connect with the here and now and completely forget everything else. It’s a magical moment."

The upcoming season is significant with fans being allowed back into stadiums for the first time since the eruption of the pandemic. To continue to get things moving, LaLiga is also setting up a new campaign, called #PlayLaLigaSantander. The hashtag reiterates the commitment it has to reaching and engaging with a younger audience through the power of music and football, doing so by incorporating entertainment, technology, and emotion.

LaLiga Global Brand Director Eva Lopez shares, "Thanks to LaLiga’s efforts to adopt its content, Fans under the age of 24 have grown by 10% in Spain since 2017. Fans are finally returning to stadiums in Spain and this season we were in no doubt thot Camilo was the artist who could best help LaLiga get this emotion across to the public." She adds, "Our objective is to unite fans around the heartbeat of football, and now through music as well."

LaLiga ready for its 90th season

The twenty teams in the Spanish top flight.

This weekend marks the start of the 2020/21 LaLiga Santander campaign, its 90th overall.

Fresh from the longest season in league history, one made possible due to the ongoing pandemic, LaLiga promises to remain as exciting and spectacular as ever, with some of the best and brightest teams and players on full display at some of the world's best stadia.

The league is taking an entertainment approach to this season, comparing itself to a long mini-series, with 38 episodes filled with tension and passion. See for yourself with this teaser.

On September 7, to commemorate the start of the upcoming campaign, LaLiga held a kickoff event, which provided viewers what to expect for this season, including the latest technological and audiovisual innovations. Gracing the activities were LaLiga president Javier Tebas, league Icons Iker Casillas and Andrés Iniesta, as well as league Ambassadors, Fernando Sanz, Fernando Morientes, Samuel Eto'o, Diego Forlán, Gaizka Mendieta, and Luis Garcia.

Aside from this, the league also had activations all over the world and in the different social media platforms for the upcoming season. Numerous influencers tried out the different filters and challenges that are available on their respective social media, while in certain locations, festivals took place, done in partnership with PUMA, which will display a giant replica of the match ball to be used this campaign.

Fixtures this weekend sees Eibar and Celta Vigo open festivities tonight at 10pm, followed by Granada and Athletic Club at 1230am and Cadiz and Osasuna at 3am. As for Sunday night, Deportivo Alaves vs Real Betis start things at 8pm, followed by Real Valladolid and Real Sociedad at 10pm, Villareal and Huesca follow at 1230am, then capping things with Valencia and Levante at 3am.

Due to their participation in the tweaked campaigns in Europe this past season, league champions Real Madrid and newly-minted UEFA Europa League champions Sevilla get their seasons underway a little bit later than their fellow league counterparts. And after a little bit of drama, Lionel Messi ended speculation by announcing his return to FC Barcelona for the upcoming season.

PUMA's Accelerate and Adrenalina designated as official LaLiga match balls

The official LaLiga match balls for the 2020/21 season

In the run-up to the upcoming 2020/21 LaLiga Season, the league and PUMA unveiled the official match footballs to be used both in LaLiga Santander and LaLiga SmartBank.

The league will be using two footballs: the Accelerate, which comes in the traditional white color and is the primary ball for the season, and the Adrenalina, which comes in the lemon tonic fluo yellow and is to be used for key fixtures.

In crafting both footballs, PUMA centers on the ball acting as the heart of LaLiga. With the league able to extract a fan's feelings and emotions, allowing them to feel every touch, every pass, and every goal. That way, it invigorates them every match, putting themselves on the edge of their seat. As such, the ball accelerates the fans' heartbeats with the action on the pitch, producing adrenaline corresponding to the passion they possess.

The continued evolution of football also equates to the continued growth of the skill, technique, and talent needed to play at a top level, and as such, the heart of LaLiga will beat faster than ever as it enters the next level. 

Accelerate

For most of the season, the Accelerate match ball is set to be used. It is a traditional white ball that has integrated the colors of the LaLiga logo onto its design, with custom acceleration graphics allowing it to showcase the explosive speed of the ball whenever it moves. The ball's design enables it to adapt to the precise and fast-paced action of the league and symbolizes how the games accelerates the fans' heart rates.

As for the Adrenalina, it is to be used for decisive matches throughout the season, including derbies and the biggest matchup in the league, El Clásico. The ball comes in an eye-catching lemon tonic fluo yellow hue, and features electrifying patterns that signify the nerves in one's body as it reflects an increased heartbeat, which forces the body to produce adrenaline, whether on the field for the players or on the stands for the fans.

Adrenalina

Both the Accelerate and Adrenalina are FIFA-quality approved, guaranteeing the highest level of performance. Beneath their respective facades lie a state-of-the-art design, integrating PUMA's latest technology. The footballs are high-frequency molded, ensuring excellent shape retention, durability, and reduced water absorption. It uses a unique eight-panel configuration, which reduces the number of seams that leads to larger panels for better connection with the ball. A 3D textural 1.2mm PU surface is integrated for improved aerodynamics, as well as increased resistance to abrasion and wear, resulting in greater durability. In addition, a newly developed POE foam has been added to improve touch by increasing sensitivity, providing a firmer touch, improved rebound consistency and explosive power. Both color combinations offer excellent visibility of trajectory and explosive speed.

The elements behind Real Madrid's historic Youth League triumph

La Cantera with the latest historical achievement for Real Madrid

Although they fell short in the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid made history last month, claiming their first-ever UEFA Youth League title with a 3-2 win over Benfica in Nyon.

In the process, the title puts credence to the claim that the Spanish giants have the best U-19 side in the continent.

It was the first major title for Raul as a manager, and surely there are more trophies to be had for the Spanish legend, but to reach this moment, he needed quality talent, and here are five examples of such standouts.

Luis López: Most notable for his penalty save in the final, his technical acumen as a keeper is something worth eyeing for both club and country. Senior manager Zinedine Zidane thought he was good enough for a call-up to the main squad. Luis' intelligence and leadership is vital not only in providing a sense of tranquility but also with providing motivation when necessary.

Miguel Gutiérrez: He might be the next great fullback from La Fabrica, and like López, earned a main squad call-up from Zizou when depth in the defense became a slight issue during the LaLiga restart. He played in all ten Youth League matches, scoring four times, including the quarters, semis, and final. Miguel may have a knack for scoring, but his main calling card is his defense and leadership, having served as the team captain on occassion, and like his first team counterpart Sergio Ramos, he can take and make penalties.

Pablo Ramón: Pablo and Miguel are the only players in the squad who figured in all ten Youth League matches, forming a defensive partnership. His ability to win his one-on-one matchup as well as his capability to bring the ball from the back line was one of the reasons he was acquired last year from RCD Mallorca. He is expected to play a key role for Real Madrid Castilla next season.

Antonio Blanco: The midfielder served as the heart of the offense for Raul, whether winning the ball back or starting attacks, as he loves getting his teammates into ideal situations. He already has a season under his belt at Castilla and big things are expected from him in the upcoming campaign.

Sergio Arribas: The playmaker made his mark during the quarterfinals against Inter, serving up a couple of assists and drawing up a penalty for a 3-0 victory. Opponents had difficulty dealing with his knack of creating chances, whether for himself or for his teammates. Raul will gladly take advantage of these skills when Sergio is expected to join Castilla this coming season.

Revisiting 2014 for Ivan Rakitic

Ivan Rakitic the last time he played for Sevilla

After six seasons with FC Barcelona, where he won thirteen titles (4 in LaLiga Santander, 4 Copa del Rey, 2 Spanish Super Cup, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 FIFA Club World Cup), he decided on September 1 to rejoin Sevilla FC, where he won his first major title, the UEFA Europa League.  

Back in 2014, Atletico Madrid sprung a surprise on everybody in LaLiga by ending their 18-year league title drought, with city rivals Real Madrid dispatching Barcelona in the Copa del Rey. That year also featured both teams in the UEFA Champions League Final, where a dramatic Sergio Ramos goal in the 93rd minute helped seal "La Decima" in Lisbon.

In 2014, France Football and FIFA jointly gave the FIFA Ballon d'Or to Cristiano Ronaldo for his efforts that season. Both organizations since have gone on their separate ways, with the latter establishing The Best to recognize outstanding player achievements in the sport.

One thing the Croat will recognize is that he will arrive to a squad that won the UEFA Europa League, six years on. And he will have the chance to help the Andalucian side reach even greater heights when the league resumes play this month and in the upcoming UEFA Champions League.

On how Real Madrid clinched LaLiga

Real Madrid celebrating another title. Photo c/o LaLiga

Earlier this week, Real Madrid clinched their 34th league title, doing so with a 2-1 victory over Villarreal. But the road to clinching #34Ligas can be distilled to about five things.

• Zidane’s positivity

They say it starts with the manager. Zinedine Zidane is now a double LaLiga winner as well as three-time Champions League trophy-holder. The former French international not only is an excellent tactician and man-manager, but also has a knack to generate and maintain a positive mindset in the locker room.

Fresh from a season where they finished nineteen points behind FC Barcelona, and an imperfect summer transfer window, Zizou remained optimistic for the season ahead, keeping it in place even with the campaign being interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

• The focus after the COVID-19 break

Since the restart, Real Madrid has yet to lose a game, winning all ten matches with one more matchup remaining in the schedule.

Against SD Eibar to re-open their season, German international Toni Kroos kicked off scoring a couple of minutes in, highlighting a focus which would reflect in their subsequent games.

Real Madrid never trailed at any point during the restart, with Zidane maintaining a quality rotation of players in this frenetic pace to finish the season before the UEFA-mandated deadline for the conclusion of leagues across Europe. On-field lapses of judgement from the players were kept at a minimum, and came during situations that they could have afforded to. According to Zizou, the restart is akin to a format like that of a World Cup.

With the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu already underway with its upgrades, matches were played at the Alfredo di Stefano training ground, and with fans not being allowed during the resumption of the season,  there was not much of a transition necessary.

• Defensive strength with the ‘Fantastic Four’: Courtois-Ramos-Varane-Casemiro

Defense wins championships, a motto that holds true not just on the basketball court, but on the football field as well.

Real Madrid allowed just 23 goals with one game remaining, the fewest in La Liga Santander, which can be attributed to two stretches, one back in autumn where they pulled off seven clean sheets in eight games, and this current stretch, where they only conceded four goals and Belgian international Thibaut Courtois going over a season-best five hundred minutes without conceding a goal. Courtois is the last line of defense of a rock-solid spine, with the centre-back duo of team captain Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, as well as holding midfielder Casemiro forming a so-called "Fantastic Four."

In addition, an emphasis on effort, whether on and off the ball, also helped with the improvement on the defensive end. Zidane has even benched certain players whom he feels fell short on that particular instance.

• Benzema’s oustanding 21 goals, along with a record 21 different goalscorers

The sport of football is basically distilled into how a team will be able to score. Real Madrid managed a two-pronged approach to that objective, netting themselves 68 goals in 37 matches, second-best in the league behind FC Barcelona's 81 matches.

First, they have a multitude of players with the ability of putting the ball at the back of the net. Out of the 26 players who managed to get pitch time this season, 21 of those managed to get themselves on the scoresheet, which is a record. Among those who have netted a goal this season are Marco Asensio, who would have missed the season if not for the pandemic-caused break, as well as Ferland Mendy, who scored his first-ever LaLiga goal against Granada CF earlier this week.

Second, the team rides on Karim Benzema's offensive coattails. The Frenchman scored a team-high 21 goals this season, and has a good shot to claim the Pichichi on the final day of the season. Karim is just two goals behind Lionel Messi and there is an indication that the team will try to get him that particular award.

• A victory in El Clásico to overcome FC Barcelona

Compared to most leagues, LaLiga utilizes a different tiebreaker, using head-to-head matchups as the main factor instead of goal difference.

Before the league went on the pandemic-caused break, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona faced off for their second meeting of the season, with the former securing a 2-0 victory over the latter. Vinicius Junior and Mariano Diaz scored the goals.

Combine that with a goalless draw in their first meeting back in December and it allowed Zidane's side to have a psychological advantage of having the head-to-head tiebreaker in their favor.

Messi reaches 700 goals... and counting

The 700 Club's latest member.

Lionel Messi made history in FC Barcelona's 2-2 draw against Atletico de Madrid, scoring his 700th goal of his career.

It was his 630th goal in 724 games for FC Barcelona, with his first coming against Albacete back in May 1, 2005. 441 of those goals came in 480 games in league play. 114 came in 141 appearances in the UEFA Champions League. 53 came in 75 games in the Copa del Rey. Fourteen came in nineteen games under the Spanish Super Cup, while tacking on five in his five appearances at the FIFA Club World Cup. Lastly, he scored thrice in four European Super Cup finals.

The remaining 70 comes from his 138 caps for Argentina's in international duties. He first scored for the Albiceleste back in March 2006 against Croatia in a friendly. Messi last scored internationally back in November 2019 against Uruguay, also in a friendly.

In compiling seven hundred goals, he also managed to secure 54 hat tricks, and once scored five goals in a single game, against Bayer Leverkusen back in 2011-12. He also lashed a total of 91 goals during 2012, a personal record.

Arguably the best football player of his generation with his ten championships in LaLiga, four Champions League trophies, and six Ballon d'Ors, he already was the all-time leading goalscorer in the Spanish top-flight, surpassing Athletic Club legend Telmo Zarra back in October 2014 with his 252nd goal.

His rival for that designation, Portuguese international and Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo, is the only other member of that exclusive "700 goals" club that is still active. Ronaldo had scored 728 goals in senior football at the time Messi scored his 700th, which includes 99 goals in 164 appearances for Portugal. In addition, 311 of CR7's goals came during his 292 games for Real Madrid in league play.

The other members of the "700 club" are:

Czech-Austrian forward Josef Bican, who scored 805 goals between 1930s-50s.

Brazilian forward Romario, who reportedly scored 772 goals.

Brazilian icon Pelé, who scored 767 goals.

Hungarian forward Ferenc Puskás, who retired with 746 goals in 1966.

German icon Gerd "Der Bomber" Müller, who finished with 735 goals when he retired in 1981.

Having just turned 33 last month, Messi still has enough time to even carve more history and raise his storied accolades even higher.

2019-20 football season set to resume in Spain

Welcome back, futbol.

After being sidelined due to the coronavirus pandemic for three months, Top-flight football in Spain officially resumes on June 11 (12 in Manila). LaLiga is marking the return to action with a special matchup for Matchday 28: the El Gran Derbi between Sevilla FC and Real Betis. The return to play is a collective effort from multiple parties, from the league working with government officials on the proper protocol, followed by a month of training sessions that was gradual in its development.

Until July 19, LaLiga will pack in its 110 remaining matches during this stretch, provided conditions continue to improve in Spain enough for health officials. Kickoff times are at 730pm and 10pm CET, with additional 2pm and 5pm CET kickoffs during weekends. (130am, 4am, 8pm, 11pm in Manila).

There is plenty of storylines to watch for the remainder of the season, with league leaders FC Barcelona trying to fend off Real Madrid for the championship, as the former is just a couple of points ahead of its bitter rivals. Continental play is also looking to be competitive, with two points separating current third placers Sevilla FC and sixth placers Atletico Madrid, with Valencia being three points behind Atleti. At the other end of the table, nine points separate cellar dwellers Espanyol and Valladolid, who is in 15th overall, and one point separates currently safe Celta and Mallorca, who is currently in the relegation zone.

Even though matches are being played in closed-door facilities, the league is exerting efforts to still keep fan involvement a thing.

The league tied up with Electronic Arts to utilize its EASPORTSFIFA audio library to provide authentic stadium sounds to its viewers. It is also conducting multiple global activities to celebrate the return of football this weekend, highlighted by its #BackToWin campaign. Among those activities is the Applause to Infinity, a tribute at the 20th minute to all the victims of the pandemic as well as to all the frontliners and heroes who worked on mitigating the impact of COVID-19 worldwide.

La Liga matches locally can be seen on beIN Sports, so check your cable subscriber for details. Otherwise, the beIN Sports Connect app is one's best friend.

Puma x LaLiga celebrate Spanish football's imminent return

Carlo Dorin

With the imminent resumption of the 2019-20 season about to take place in Spain, LaLiga and its official partner PUMA released a new campaign highlighting the world's eagerness to see top-flight Spanish football return.

For the #LaLigaBouncesBack campaign, a video illustrates a variety of football players passing around the LaLiga official match ball, which is a PUMA design. Among the participating LaLiga ballers are PUMA athletes Marc Bartra (Real Betis) and Suso (Sevilla FC), who will feature in the El Gran Derbi, the most notable matchup on June 11, the day LaLiga Santander resumes action.

Other notable LaLiga players in the video are FC Barcelona's Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann, as well as Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak. Also participating are league ambassadors Diego Forlan, Christian Karembeu, and Fernando Morientes.

The ball passed through eight different countries before arriving back in Spain, a reflection of the global audience LaLiga has secured over the years. Among the places it went are Mexico, Singapore, South Africa, and the United States. LaLiga coincidentally has global offices in those particular locations.

In addition, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines are the other locations the ball went in its circumnavigation. Representing the Philippines in the video is U18 international Carlo Dorin, who is part of the GOM Football Center of Excellence.

The #LaLigaBouncesBack campaign is in conjunction with a separate campaign, the #BackToWin movement LaLiga and Movistar currently in place. The message the video conveys illustrates the importance of the resumption of football not only for the league and its clubs, but also for the millions of fans worldwide who follow the league, as well as those in the wider sports industry.

LaLiga head of revenue, marketing, and international development Óscar Mayo shares, "More than 2.7 billion people in 183 countries watch LaLiga every year. This initiative with PUMA underlines the global nature of our competition and the anticipation that is being felt far beyond Spain as we prepare to return. We want to share this moment with all our followers as well as our partners worldwide."

Fans can watch the video below:

The complete list of participating footballers:

PUMA athletes

Luis Suarez and Antonie Griezmann (FC Barcelona)

Suso (Sevilla FC)

Santi Cazorla (Villarreal CF)

Marc Bartra (Real Betis)

Jan Oblak (Atletico de Madrid)

LaLiga Ambassadors

Diego Forlán

Fernando Morientes

Christian Karembeu

United States

Fafa Picault (FC Dallas)

Juan Pablo Torres (NYCFC)

Mexico

Raúl Gudiño and Oribe Peralta (Guadalajara)

Nico Sanchez and Rogelio Funes Mori (Monterrey)

Australia

Jed Hockins (Freestyle)

Daniel "D10" Cappellaro (Futsal)

Philippines

Carlo Dorin (GOM Football Center of Excellence, U18 International)

Japan

Louis Yamaguchi (Extremadura UD)

Indonesia

Otavio Dutra (Persija Jakarta)

Fachruddin Aryanto (Madura United)

Singapore

Jun Tan (Junpiter Futbol)

Raihan Rahman (Tanjong Pagar United)

Azri Majilan (Freestyle)

Ho Wai Loon (Lion City Sailors)

Darren Teh (Geylang FC)

South Africa

Themba Zwane and Lebogang Maboe (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Thembinkosi Lorch and Zakhele Lepasa (Orlando Pirates)

Mpho Makola (Cape Town City)

Lebogang Manyama (Kaizer Chiefs)

LaLiga releases Phase Three training protocols

Spanish football creeps closer and closer to its return, as the 42 teams comprising LaLiga Santander (top-flight) and LaLiga SmartBank (formerly known as Segunda Division) have stepped up their efforts with regards to training, in compliance to the Phase Three protocols the league devised alongside club health experts, as well as in consultation with the Spanish government and its health authorities.

The league still has eleven matchdays left on its 2019/20 calendar, and is targeting resumption of action by mid-June. In the process, they are slated to take every possible precaution necessary in order to reduce the potential spread of the pandemic within its parameters.

The first two protocol Phases centered on guidelines with regards to preparation and individualized training within club facilities. Phase Three, centers on the introduction of training by groups of up to ten players, in order to get the sides ready when the time comes that it is already safe to restart the season. Aside from that, there are nine other points of emphasis LaLiga wants to highlight in Phase Three:

1. Training in groups of ten

At this third stage of the protocol, players can now take part in group training. Squads are divided into three groups of ten players, which enter the club facilities at minimum 15-minute intervals.  If only two training fields are available, one is split into two, with one group on either side. All players in the group can use the gym at the same time, provided they respect social distancing of at least two metres. During this third stage, a physiotherapist is assigned to each group of ten players.

2. Stay at home as much as possible

At this stage players live in their own residences and are advised to seriously limit the number of times they go anywhere other than the training ground. The biggest chance of contagion lies in trips to shops or any other public places where the environment is less controlled.

3. Personal behaviour

The health habits and social distancing rules learned during confinement remain vital. These include handwashing, taking care never to cough or sneeze without covering the mouth and nose, aiming to touch eyes, nose and mouth as little as possible, and maintaining a distance of at least two metres from team-mates and club staff.

4. Mask and gloves

Players are told to always wear a mask and gloves whenever they leave their homes, including when moving around club facilities or the team hotel. They may remove the mask and gloves during physical exercise.

4. Eating at the training ground

Players who have breakfast, lunch or an evening meal in the club canteen will always do so only in the company of their assigned training group. They each get their own container and personal bag of food and must remain at least two metres from their teammates at all times.

6. Changing rooms
Players are not permitted to use communal changing rooms. They must instead change into their training gear before arriving at club facilities, and shower at home afterwards. Only coaches and technical staff are allowed use of the changing rooms, after training and in case of inclement weather.

7. Precautions on returning home

When entering their home, players must remove their shoes and take off all outdoor clothes for washing, then carefully remove their gloves and throw them away safely. They should try not to touch anything and shower immediately. Anything brought in from outside, including keys, mobile phone and glasses, should be cleaned with soap and water or alcohol solution.

8. Precautions when leaving the house

When leaving home for any reason other than training, players are advised to wear long sleeves, avoid using public transport and never pay in cash. They are reminded that when visiting a shop, hairdresser, café/terrace or supermarket they could come into close contact with people who may be carriers of COVID-19.

9. Contact club immediately if any potential symptoms appear

Any player who believes they may be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as a high temperature, dry cough, sore throat, headache, difficulty in breathing, or even tiredness, must call their coach immediately. They must stay away from the training facility and instead self-isolate until they receive further instructions.

10. Quarantine/self-isolating protocol

Players who are self-isolating at home are in constant contact with medical staff. They are advised to sleep in separate bedrooms and use separate bathrooms where possible, to not share cutlery or kitchenware, clean all surfaces regularly, and wash clothes, towels and bedding as often as possible.

LaLiga given green light to proceed with Return to Play protocol

Top-flight Spanish football got a major boost, with the Spanish government allowing teams in LaLiga Santander and LaLiga Smartbank to commence with group training sessions comprising of up to ten players.

Such sessions can begin on May 18, just over a couple of months since the season was paused as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision allows teams to train despite whatever protocols their respective local governments have in place.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas made an appearance on Movistar's El Partidazo #BackToWin to help expound on this particular development.

About the CSD (Spain's High Sports Council)'s decision, he shares, "The start of the next phase in LaLiga’s Return to Training protocol is another step towards the restarting of the competition. It will be good to be able to set all training routines on an equal footing. It’s very important that every club have the same chance to be in good shape. It’s not essential, but it’s very important and we’re grateful that it will be like that."

About the likelihood of playing everyday to get through the eleven matchdays still on the schedule, he says, "That’s what I hope. We shouldn’t have any problems playing on Mondays across the eleven rounds of matches we have left to play. I hope for some sense from the Spanish Football Federation on this, because it’s very important for us to be able to give both our national and international broadcasters, and fans across the world, football on as many days as possible to ensure as little disruption as possible."

Aside from the CSD's decision, the weekend was significant for sports as top-flight football finally resumed in Germany. Tebas shared his delight about the Bundesliga resuming play, "I’m very happy, and I’ve congratulated them because they’ve taken a very important step. We’ve worked hard on this together over the past months, we’ve exchanged protocols, ideas… we spoke once or twice every week. I’m very proud of the Bundesliga. It wasn’t easy; they were the first to get up and running and they’re an example to follow."

LaLiga supports societal development via football

With the cononavirus pandemic forcing LaLiga to pause since mid-March, the league has continued its societal development efforts, including some high-profile solidarity actions whilst in quarantine.

Among such efforts is the "LaLiga se juega en casa" (LaLiga is played at home) campaign, which raised 1.2 million euros for the purchase of medical equipment and other key items. Also drawing attention for the league is the LaLiga Santander Fest, a macro charity music concert, as well as the LaLiga Santander Challenge, an eSports tournament that drew over 61 million fans around the world.

LaLiga has also conducted activities that are mainly for those who are affected by the pandemic the most in Spain and the rest of world, including societal and sporting projects for youth development, permanent academies, the establishment of socio-educational schools, social intervention projects and activities. Other additional actions include local scouting projects with high performance visits to Spain, collaborations with national teams, training sessions for coaches and managers, annual Spanish Academies Meetings, and crafting MoUs with national leagues and federations.

As a result of these efforts, LaLiga has been able to run 313 projects across 35 countries since September 2015, with 645 league coaches training two hundred thousand children and twenty thousand coaches and educators. In addition, 284 socio-educational schools have been established, with 32 MoUs crafted with leagues and federations in 26 countries. Such effort open the possibilities of future sporting and social projects down the line.

With the slogan, "We have an obligation to give back to society what society has given us," LaLiga views the values borne out of football as an ideal means of building a better society. With that in mind, the league has utilized its influence and experience to establish means to spread these elements, especially in these current times.

Globe Telecom taps into football fanbase with beIN SPORTS CONNECT

beIN Sports Connect and Globe

Filipino football fans can now address their football fix thanks to a partnership between two major firms.

Multi-platform media company beIN Asia-Pacific recently announced their partnership with Globe Telecom, with the major end result being the introduction of an online streaming player for football called beIN Sports Connect to the Filipino market.

beIN Sports Connect allows Filipino users to have unparalled access to the football leagues beIN Sports has access to for this region, namely the English Premier League, Spain's La Liga, and the UEFA Champions League as well as the UEFA Europa League. It also provides access to other prominent football leagues, like France's Ligue 1, Major League Soccer in the United States, Superliga Argentina, Turkish Süper Lig, and Australia's Hyundai A-League.

beIN Asia-Pacific Managing Director Mike Kerr shares, "The Philippines is one of the oldest football nations in Asia and has a great pool of passionate football fans.  With the launch of beIN SPORTS CONNECT, Filipino fans can finally have the ultimate football experience and enjoy unlimited access to their favourite leagues, teams, and players - all in one destination."

Globe Telecom's Senior Vice President for Content Business, Nikko Acosta adds, "Our collaboration with beIN SPORTS CONNECT will allow us to offer more sports content to our customers who love to be in the middle of the action of some of the best football matches in the different leagues. We look forward to bringing the best of football right to their devices, ready to be enjoyed, whenever."

Once the app is downloaded onto one's device and is properly logged in, users would have access to the three beIN channels available in the county, with the additional ability to access additional LIVE matches with the option to pause or even rewind through them. In addition, one can schedule alert reminders. If one has a Chromecast or AirPlay, the option to whip it from a device onto a smart TV would be available.

For further details, one can check out connect-ph.beinsports.com.

Barcelona vs Eibar this weekend

Messi on a roll for the current La Liga leaders (photo c/o BeIN)

Spanish football on S+A continues this weekend, as FC Barcelona attempts put even more breathing room atop La Liga, as the Catalan giants travel to the Ipurua stadium against Eibar.

Telecast begins this Saturday at 11pm with the kickoff slated at 1115pm.

Barca is toting a seven-point lead over Atletico Madrid after 23 matches, although their last two league matches have resulted in draws. The match also comes just days away from their titanic matchup against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

As for the hosts, their back-to-back victories in league play have gotten them at the cusp of potential continental action next season, with 35 points putting them in seventh place.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN Sports in the past couple of days have shown LIVE Champions League action, with the first leg of Round of 16 play.

Early Wednesday morning, football fans stayed up to see Tottenham snatch a 2-2 draw against Juventus in Turin, while early Thursday morning saw Cristiano Ronaldo make history by scoring his 100th goal for Real Madrid in Champions League play, as he led the defending champions to a 3-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain.

Televised Champions League action resumes next week with the aforementioned Chelsea vs Barcelona matchup as well as another English vs Spanish collision course in the form of Sevilla against Manchester United.

Smorgasborg of Sporting Action on S+A

Lots of stuff on S+A.

This weekend on S+A will be packed with amazing sporting action that different kinds of fans will enjoy.

In the ASEAN Basketball league, Alab Pilipinas travels to Indonesia for their matchup against the CLS Knights. To be shown LIVE starting at 8pm, the lone Filipino squad in the ABL seeks to follow-up its smashing 114-87 victory over Mono Vampire last week.

MMA on S+A kicks off with the first ONE Championship event for the year, ONE: Kings of Courage. Held at the Jakarta Convention Center also on Saturday, it features the crowning of the first ONE Women's Strawweight Champion. Tiffany "No Chill" Teo and Jingnan "The Panda" Xiong will fight it out for the belt in the main event. The card has one Filipino participant, as Rene Catalan goes up against Xuen Peng. Coverage begins at 10pm.

Football fans take their turn on S+A, with Newcastle visiting current Premier League pacesetters Manchester City LIVE at 125am on Sunday. S+A will then show the matchup of Burnley against Manchester United at 330am. If Spanish football is what one prefers, Real Madrid faces Deportivo at 1110pm LIVE on Sunday night.

A potential NBA Western Conference Finals preview is on tap on Sunday morning, as the matchup with the Golden State Warriors traveling to Houston to face the Rockets, LIVE at 930am, with a replay telecast immediately scheduled at 12nn.

Then starting at 3pm, ABS-CBN will be presenting the LIVE airing of the Galaxy Battles: Emerging Worlds DoTA 2 tournament finals. Emanating from the Philippine Arena, the Filipino gaming community will be able to watch noted DoTA 2 teams like OG and TNC engage in tactical warfare. noted TierOne shoutcasters Nico Nazario, Jaz Comoda, and Bianca Yao will be on deck to share their know-how to eSports fans.

Make sure to check out S+A and sports.abs-cbn.com for more details on the different sporting action this weekend.

Liverpool-City highlighting S+A club football coverage this weekend

Embed from Getty Images

Top-notch club football returns on S+A this weekend, highlighted by the much anticipated matchup between Manchester City and Liverpool on Sunday night at 1155pm.

The Reds are seeking to be the first team to defeat the Sky Blues this season, with the chance to move up to as high as second in the Premier League. They are, however, going to attempt to do this without Philippe Coutinho, as the midfielder has since taken his talents to FC Barcelona. Trying to offset his loss is the presence of Dutch international Virgil van Dijk, who score the game-winner in their third round FA Cup match against Merseyside rivals Everton.

Under Pep Guardiola, City has romped all across English football, erecting a fifteen-point lead against rivals Manchester United. They have done so through offensive firepower, with Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero netting 27 out of the 64 goals they have scored this season. Liverpool themselves became one of those witnesses of such outbursts, suffering a 5-0 defeat back in September.

Earlier this morning, S+A showed live La Liga action, with Getafe sending Malaga to their fourth straight league loss. Juan Cala scored the lone goal of the match in the 73rd minute to secure a key victory for the hosts as they get themselves within an earshot of continental play next season. The loss keeps the visitors level on points at the bottom of the league, alongside Las Palmas.

Later tonight, though, S+A will be showing another stellar matchup between two top Spanish sides, as Villarreal visit the Santiago Bernabeu in the Spanish capital to face Real Madrid at 1110pm.

The Yellow Submarine seek to bounce back from a disappointing exit in the Copa del Rey against Leganes, whilst the Galacticos have yet to really impress since being tagged with a 3-0 defeat to rivals FC Barcelona.