Quiniela - Week 26 - Losing appeal

"We didn't come here to compete for the three points, this match was just a formality", were the words of Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini after his team lost 7-0 to Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. "I only played those three starters (Weligton, Martin Demichelis and Eliseu) because I had no one else to replace them with. Our priority always was our next match against Osasuna, not this one."

GettyImagesManuel Pellegrini virtually surrendered when facing his former side in midweek

The icy relationship between the former and the current Real Madrid coaches is well known, especially after a week loaded with barbs from Mourinho in the direction of Malaga. Therefore, Pellegrini's statements could be directed to provoke the Portuguese coach, who had previously complained about other Primera Division managers because, according to him, they were playing weakened squads against Barcelona.

However, regardless of any personal differences between two specific managers, the current lack of balance in La Liga increasingly generates instances of this 'We Don't Stand A (Expletive) Chance, So Why Try At All' approach from the smaller clubs, and with each of these occurrences the competition loses a bit of appeal. A body like the Spanish FA or Liga de Futbol Profesional should be looking into this matter, and building a more even tournament, but that would be a lot to ask, wouldn't it? Let's start. As usual, it's '1' for a home win, 'X' for a draw and '2' for an away win.

1. Mallorca (10th) - Valencia (3rd): 2

This column's opinion of Mallorca's stunning win against Espanyol in Sarria? A swan song. In the second half of the season, the now depleted Mallorquinistas have earned only seven points in seven matches, scoring just five goals in the process. Even if Valencia arrive on the beautiful island after playing - and losing - a demanding match against Barcelona, the Ches are in the midst of a fantastic streak away from home, with four wins in their last five, including three amazing comebacks. You have to love a '2' here.

2. Barcelona (1st) - Zaragoza (15th): 1

The Fatal Distraction Syndrome could very well apply to this apparently easy home match for Barcelona. Most of their players, staff and fans will understandably be thinking of Barca's upcoming Champions League fixture against Arsenal, and the fact that the Catalans now enjoy a seven-point cushion over arch-rivals Real Madrid only reinforces the possibility of a relaxed Blaugrana display which could see them drop a couple of points at home. On top of that, Gerard Pique keeps publicly explaining how Shakira has nothing to do with his football form, quickly building a classic suspicion of distraction in the dressing room.

That all sounds like a strong case for a draw, until you factor in the aforementioned 'We Don't Stand A (Expletive) Chance' approach, quite likely be applied by Zaragoza on Saturday. The Maños will be missing up to seven players, four of them due to injuries - apparently real, as far as we know - while another three starters picked up their fifth bookings of the season against Athletic, conveniently leaving them out of this match. Do I even need to bother writing '1'?

3. Atletico de Madrid (8th) - Villarreal (4th): 2

A tricky match. In the visitors' corner are Villarreal, who have already proven that they suffer when they play several matches in a row, as is the case now with five in 13 days. They also have a poor away record of late having enjoyed only one win in their last five games. In the hosts' corner, I give you the inimitable Atletico de Madrid. Enough said.

However difficult to predict this match might be, do not dare, dear reader, to miss it if you have the chance. Atletico - Villarreal is becoming a classic in its own right, and given that the former have started to struggle when they play in front of their fed-up faithful, '2' it is.

4. Sporting de Gijon (18th) - Getafe (11th): 1

Getafe president Angel Perez is doing his club no favours. During the past week he's given several interviews in which he insinuated that current boss Michel won't keep his job at the end of the season, even pointing at Luis Enrique, Barcelona B's manager, as an excellent candidate for the position.

We all know what happens in almost any club when it becomes evident that the gaffer has no support from the president, right? Michel will immediately lose control of the dressing room. Factoring in that Sporting desperately need these three points, it's a clear '1' here.

5. Hercules (17th) - Almeria (20th): 1

GettyImagesDavid Trezeguet has impressed by scoring ten goals so far this season

Welcome to the first six-pointer of the week, courtesy of two strong relegation candidates. Hercules boss Esteban Vigo must feel great to be back in Alicante as his team haven't been able to score in the past 953 minutes they've played away. However, Almeria are almost as bad in the visitors' role: with eight points in 13 matches, they're hardly a threat. Time for David Trezeguet to score another cracker and win some breathing space for his coach?

6. Malaga (19th) - Osasuna (16th): 2

The second six-pointer of the week. According to Pellegrini, this is the match his squad really cared about, and not that farce which for some unfathomable reason they were obligated to indulge in on Thursday night at the Bernabeu. The Chilean has now an almost full, rested squad ready to face Osasuna, who didn't have that benefit in their boring, but tense midweek contest against Deportivo.

I know I should go for a '1', but this is a pick decided by karma. The Gods of Football will come back to haunt Pellegrini, not because of his somewhat understandable prioritisation of effort, but because of his complete lack of shame about it.

7. Levante (13th) - Espanyol (5th): 1

Are Levante suddenly good? Since the second half of the season kicked in, the Levantinistas - who incidentally enjoy the smallest budget in La Liga - have won five matches, drawn one and lost just one. Compare that to Espanyol, who during the same period have won two and lost a depressing five. Add to that the sensible loss of Joan Verdu, the influential Periquito midfielder, to injury and what is your pick for Monday? I thought so.

8. Athletic de Bilbao (6th) - Sevilla (7th): X

Athletic still are an exciting team to follow as they are physical, motivated and have a bunch of enjoyable players to watch. Amazingly enough, they've lost their past four games in a row, and now face Sevilla in the third six-pointer of the week, as both teams struggle to secure a Europa League spot.

Sevilla have won five times in their past six visits to San Mames, a respectable feat indeed. The sneaky Sevillistas, now a bizarro version of Athletic, aren't fun to watch anymore, but are somehow managing to stay around the top six, and should take advantage of Athletic's poor streak to get one more point in La Catedral.

9. Racing de Santander (12th) - Real Madrid (2nd): 2

Mourinho's press conference after his side destroyed a bunch of players dressed up like Malaga at the Bernabeu would give any half-decent journo enough material to write a book. My personal highlight: "Assuming that the club management aren't happy with my job at the end of the season, it's easy, I'll leave. And then I'll come back here as a rival." As usual, the Portuguese is not lacking in self-esteem.

GettyImagesJose Mourinho has been endlessly quotable ever since dubbing himself the 'Special One' at Chelsea

On Sunday the Mou team visits Ali Syed's Racing, an undefeated team since the Indian millionaire took over the club four matches ago. Despite the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo misses out due to injury, an away win is likely. However, if Racing beat Real Madrid, get ready for one of the most contagious demonstrations of joy ever seen in any La Liga presidential box.

Note: Don't forget to join the 'Munitis and Gio dos Santos should play together at all times' group on Facebook. It only makes sense.

10. Deportivo de La Coruna (14th) - Real Sociedad (9th): 1

At this stage of the tournament, the insightful observer may have concluded that Real Sociedad will end up in mid-table when all is said and done. The donostiarras have wasted several chances to get closer to the top six - their home draw against Levante on Wednesday a relevant example - but are doing enough to avoid getting pulled into trouble. In this case, with four starters likely to sit out due to injury, a more motivated Depor side get the nod.

PS. A quick reminder: you can follow me on Twitter! (@Papamoskis).

Use this easy 'Copy and Paste' summary to write your own Quiniela and share it with us in the 'Comments' section. If you get ten correct results, your name will be mentioned in the following Quiniela column!

1. Mallorca (10th) - Valencia (3rd): 2.
2. Barcelona (1st) - Zaragoza (15th): 1.
3. Atlético de Madrid (8th) - Villarreal (4th): 2.
4. Sporting de Gijón (18th) - Getafe (11th): 1.
5. Hércules (17th) - Almería (20th): 1.
6. Málaga (19th) - Osasuna (16th): 2.
7. Levante (13th) - Espanyol (5th): 1.
8. Athletic de Bilbao (6th) - Sevilla (7th): X.
9. Racing de Santander (12th) - Real Madrid (2nd): 2.
10. Deportivo de La Coruña (14th) - Real Sociedad (9th): 1.

Last week: 3/10 (30%)
Season: 115/230 (50%)

Football Soccer matches reviews and highlights from Fiesta

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The Return of the English Premier League

The Premier League did not disappoint for drama in its first weekend back. The latest Soccer News of this week is that the Big Four all created some intrigue and raised more questions about themselves than a summer of speculation ever could. But the most surprising result of the weekend was certainly Arsenal’s, a 6-1 thrashing of Everton at Goodison Park.

Playing the type of beautiful soccer we knew they were capable of, the Gunners ran riot through the Everton back line and never looked troubled by a side that finished fifth in the league last season. Does it mean that the pundits have badly underestimated Arsenal? Not necessarily. Arsenal’s problems usually come later on, when the long season ravages the squad and weaker sides begin to prey in November and December. Still, Arsene Wenger could not ask for much more to start to the season than a morale-boosting victory like that one. This season, in the Football Betting world, Arsenal's rating has gone down.

After Manchester United edged out Birmingham, 1-0, the questions about how much they will miss Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez followed close behind. But with his first goal of the season, Wayne Rooney showed that he is prepared to shoulder the burden. It may have only been 1-0, but the Reds had a slew of opportunities and are not always known for winning pretty. The way Alex Ferguson saw it, a win was a win. And whether you win 1-0 or 6-1, you get the same three points.

It took Chelsea until the second minute of stoppage time to sneak past Hull 2-1 and it left people still wondering what to make of this team. How long will it take new manager Carlo Ancelotti to really get used to the Premier League? And is this a team that is well enough put together to last the full season?

But perhaps the most shocking result of the weekend was Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat against Tottenham. Liverpool made very few changes to its squad over the summer — the most notable being the offloading of Xabi Alonso — and it could soon come back to bite them. Impressively or not, the rest of the Big Four all did what was required in the first week. Liverpool really can’t afford to start by spotting them all a three-point lead in a season that promises to be highly competitive at the top.

Another result worth noting was Wigan’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, not so much for Wigan’s accomplishment, but rather for a return of harsh reality to Martin O’Neill’s squad. Villa sat in fourth place for much of last season, hoping to edge Arsenal out of the top four, but faded badly down the stretch. Have they still not broken out of that slump?

The beauty of the season’s returning is that we only have to wait until next weekend for the next set of answers but still I can enjoy Fantasy Football for more coming days.

Man United stars to miss Champions League match

Owen Hargreaves and Gary Neville have been left out of Manchester United's squad for their crucial Champions League clash against Aalborg on Tuesday.

England midfielder Hargreaves is struggling with a knee injury that has bothered him since his arrival from Bayern Munich last season and has been left at home for more treatment.

United captain Neville seemed to come through Saturday's win over Bolton unscathed after almost 18 months on the sidelines following major ankle surgery and several other injuries.

His absence from the trip to Denmark is yet to be explained by United and Wes Brown is likely to deputise at right-back.

Ferguson's side need a win on Tuesday after drawing their opening match against Villarreal and Dimitar Berbatov, Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are vying for the striking positions.

UK minister supports knighthood for Giggs

A British minister and senior opposition politician threw their weight behind a campaign to secure a knighthood for Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs on Monday.

Their backing for the honour - which would mean the 35-year-old would become Sir Ryan - lends weight to an internet campaign launched in recent days by political blogger Tim Montgomerie.

“Ryan Giggs, as well as an outstanding record on the pitch, has a proud record of voluntary work off the pitch, including with young players in Salford,” said local government minister Hazel Blears, whose Salford constituency borders the northwestern English city of Manchester.

“He is a positive role model in so many ways that he deserves the recognition of a knighthood.”

Opposition Conservative Party home affairs spokesman Chris Grayling, a self-confessed Manchester United fan, chimed in, describing Giggs as “the outstanding British footballer of the last generation”.

“His achievements deserve to be recognised with a knighthood.”

As part of the internet petition, which he launched through unofficial Manchester United fansite www.mustbered.com, Montgomerie has listed 11 reasons why Giggs should be knighted, ranging from his footballing accomplishments to his charity work.

Giggs was on Sunday evening named the English Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year for the first time, despite starting just 12 league games this season.

The Welsh midfielder, who could win his 11th league title with United this campaign, had twice won the Young Player of the Year award but can now add the ultimate mark of esteem from his fellow professionals to his long list of prizes.

Hot And Not Hot Soccer Players

At half-time on Saturday Manchester United looked anything but a ‘Hot team’. At 2-0 down it looked very much as though they were going to do all they could to hand the title to Liverpool.

In the second half they looked every inch a ‘Hot team’. OK, Howard Webb the referee was probably their star man, but the other eleven weren’t bad either!

# Not Hot team
They might just about be safe but Sunderland look like a very average side at the moment. To lose at West Brom has been pretty difficult to do this season. To be thrashed 3-0 had looked all but impossible. Despite that, Sunderland managed to do it with ease.

Their front pairing of Cisse and Jones were totally toothless and at the back, they were woeful. I think they are very lucky that at least three teams can’t seem to buy a point at the moment and they are all behind them.

# Hot keeper
A special mention should go to Paul Robinson who has been in the wilderness for a few seasons but performed brilliantly for Blackburn yesterday.

Over the past few weeks I have been pretty critical of Chelsea’s Petr Cech. I haven’t been alone in that as he has come under increasing criticism for his shaky looking performances.

On Saturday, he kept a clean sheet that enabled Chelsea to pick up a tough three points and he included a penalty save in his performance.

I have never doubted that he is a fine keeper but now perhaps he can kick on from here and show us all just how good he is.

# Not Hot keeper
It’s not right to kick people when they’re down, but the question has to be asked as to whether Middlesbrough keeper Brad Jones has the necessary quality to play at this level.

He made some good saves at The Emirates yesterday but when his team really needed him he came flying out of his goal and handed the second and decisive goal to Arsenal.

It doesn’t matter how many saves a keeper makes, he will always be judged on his mistakes. Jones makes too many.

# Hot defender
Fulham are the surprise package of this season for me and the star of that package has been centre-half Brede Hangeland. He was outstanding again for Fulham in their 1-0 win over Stoke and hardly put a foot wrong.

# Not Hot defender
Having said that Hangeland hardly put a foot wrong, Sunderland’s Anton Ferdinand hardly put a foot right. The player who looked so good at West Ham and became a regular in the England under twenty-one side has lost his form in an alarming way.

At one stage I thought he might even get better than his illustrious brother (although Rio was in with a shout for this award after his performance on Saturday!) but his career has seriously stalled.

# Hot midfielder
The one player who was not nominated for the PFA Player of the season award who I thought should have been was Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso.

Rafa Benitez wanted to get rid of the Spaniard in the Summer but he must be so glad now that he didn’t.

He was the engine behind Liverpool’s win at Hull, and he scored an excellent goal. He has had a wonderful season and has been one of the best players in the Premier League.

# Not Hot midfielder
I’ve never really liked Jermaine Jenas. I can’t put my finger on why that is, but I just haven’t. I don’t think he’s good enough to justify his place in the Tottenham midfield and in the second half on Saturday he totally disappeared as United overpowered them.

When he needed to stand up and be counted he totally failed to do so.

# Hot striker
Wayne Rooney was outstanding for Manchester United and in any other week he would have won this title. This week however, Robinho not only scored a goal, made a goal and played exceptionally well, but he did it away from the City of Manchester stadium.

For that reason and the fact that he finally showed why the club paid the money for him, I’ll give this week’s title to the Brazilian.

# Not Hot striker
Earlier in the season I thought West Ham had a gem in Di Michele. I’ve now decided that they haven’t. He really was very poor against Chelsea.

Bruce ready to end spending

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has admitted that the expected arrival of John Mensah is likely to be his final piece of transfer business before the window closes.

Bruce is awaiting confirmation that the Ghana defender has been given the green light to make a season-long loan switch from French club Lyon.

He is expecting to the deal to be rubber-stamped next week.

And after bringing the likes of Fraizer Campbell, Darren Bent and Lee Cattermole to Wearside since his own arrival in the hot-seat, Bruce is not anticipating any more new faces.

"Well you can never say never," said Bruce when asked about any further transfer deals.

"I would envisage what we have done is what we are looking at.

"Right down the spine of us now what we have brought in I would be very, very pleased."

WC SOCCER: Birmingham out as possible host city

Birmingham didn't survive the latest round of cuts as a host site for soccer's 2018 or 2022 World Cup. But the Alabama Sports Foundation isn't taking no for an answer. Gene Hallman, the foundation's president, said he hopes Birmingham will be reconsidered, although he acknowledged the chances are slim. Hallman said he wants to push the proposed dome as Birmingham's bid - and the possibility the stadium could exceed 55,000 seats.

"We were surprised that another cut was made this quickly," he said. "If nothing else, a strong effort in the bid process, even if we're not selected, puts us in position to be a base for team training to host ancillary events leading up to the World Cup." The USA Bid Committee cut the field from 38 to 27 cities. By next May, the U.S. will choose 10 sites for its bid to FIFA.

Soccer World Cup trophy

Birmingham held soccer games during the 1996 Olympics at aging Legion Field, but has lately been surpassed in the Southeast. Nashville held a World Cup qualifier in April, staged three Olympic qualifying games in 2008, and had a U.S.-Mexico "friendly" game in 2006. Atlanta, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Miami, Nashville, Orlando and Tampa made Thursday's cut from the Southeast. Joining Birmingham off the list were Cincinnati, Columbus, Ohio, Fayetteville, Ark., Knoxville, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City and San Antonio. Hallman said the USA Bid Committee indicated it was saturated with bids from the Southeast and stressed the importance of tourist attractions for visitors over 30 days during the World Cup.

"I quickly pointed out we've always been U.S. Soccer's choice in the Southeast, and they agreed," Hallman said. "I also pointed out that during Olympic soccer we sold more tickets than Orlando, Miami and Washington combined, and they were aware of that. The oversaturation of Southeast bids should not have been a factor, but evidently it was." The USA Bid Committee initially gauged Birmingham regarding Legion Field, and the Alabama Sports Foundation added the proposed dome as a possibility. Hallman said the committee was intrigued by the dome but dismissed it based on the estimated capacity of approximately 55,000.

"No one knows how big the dome will be," he said. "The world's most viewed sporting event might be a catalyst to make the facility bigger if we can afford it. I think it's plus or minus 10,000 or 15,000 (additional or fewer seats), all depending on what we can afford." BJCC Board Chairman Clyde Echols said the dome is currently designed to seat 57,500 with the ability to expand up to 70,000.