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Archive for November, 2008

Reign from Spain’s club teams, too

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Just a few months after Euro 2008, it is not just the Spanish national team that is flying high at the top of European soccer. Spain's leading club teams are also exerting their dominance in European competition, cutting a swathe of destruction through the group stages of the Champions League and UEFA Cup.

With one matchday still remaining in Champions League group action, all four La Liga clubs have qualified for the last 16. Barcelona leads the way with 13 points and looks in devastating form, while Villarreal's dropped points include a pair of 0-0 draws with Manchester United. Likewise, Atletico Madrid is unbeaten, having won three games and drawn twice with Liverpool, while Real Madrid's only defeats came against Juventus.

Combined, the four Spanish teams have accumulated 42 points, with the English Premier League's representatives amassing 39 and Serie A's quartet 31.

In UEFA Cup action on Thursday, it was another impressive night for the Spaniards as Deportivo La Coruna breezed past Feyenoord 3-0 and Valencia hammered Rosenborg 4-0 in Norway. Spain's third UEFA Cup team, Sevilla, had a bye week but, like Deportivo and Valenica, is strongly poised to qualify for the last 32.

So is the recent Spanish club success a byproduct of the overall level of confidence coursing through Spanish soccer? Do the performances this season indicate that La Liga is edging ahead of the EPL in terms of quality? Or is it a temporary situation?

Share your thoughts below.

Five big questions for Kansas City

A look at the big questions surrounding the Kansas City Wizards for the 2008 season and looking ahead to the 2009 campaign.

Once down, Wizards rose to task

Left for dead. That is what the Kansas City Wizards were on June 14, 11 games into their 2008 MLS season. But Kansas City would rise like the famed phoenix by season's end. And now, the club is pulsing, and the vital signs are good for the future.

Dynamo get happy end to ‘08 after all

In 2006 and 2007, the Houston Dynamo's last match of the season featured incredible drama, a huge comeback and a confetti-filled celebration at midfield in stadiums in Frisco, Texas and Washington, D.C.

Ching leads Dynamo past Firpo

It doesn't exactly make up for a loss in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs, but the Houston Dynamo's 1-0 win against CD Luis Angel Firpo Wednesday night at Robertson Stadium will help ease the pain of what is sure to be a long winter.

Hoops pass through draft unscathed

At least in the eyes of FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman, two players were left unprotected for Wednesday afternoon's expansion draft with a good chance of being picked by Seattle Sounders FC: goalkeeper Ray Burse and defender Aaron Pitchkolan.

Red Bulls bring Petke back into fold

The New York Red Bulls replaced one beloved longtime central defender with another on Wednesday, signing Mike Petke hours after losing Jeff Parke in the Seattle Sounders FC expansion draft.

Jarrod Smith selected in Expansion Draft

Major League Soccer held its 2008 Expansion Draft for Seattle Sounders FC on Wednesday, with the team selecting 10 players that will assist them in putting together a roster for their first season of play beginning in March 2009. Among their selections was Toronto FC midfielder/forward Jarrod Smith.

Weekly Update: Storybook ending

The 2008 edition of the Columbus Crew earned its first-ever MLS Cup Championship last Sunday, Nov. 23, defeating the New York Red Bulls, 3-1, in front of a crowd of 27,000 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Final Pub Crawl of 2008

Come out and meet some of your favourite Toronto FC players at our final pub crawl of 2008 on Thursday night (Nov 27th). This week's location is in downtown Toronto at Jack Astor's on John Street, just north of Adelaide.