Category: LA Liga

Spanish football league updates

Marcelo becomes most decorated player in Real Madrid history after La Liga title triumph

Marcelo Vieira da Silva Júnior

The veteran full-back has earned a staggering 24 major honours with the Blancos – more than any player in the club’s illustrious history.

Marcelo has made Real Madrid history by becoming the most decorated player in the illustrious history of the Spanish giants.

Madrid sealed the 2021-22 Liga title on Saturday with four games to spare with a 4-0 victory over Espanyol, and it set a personal milestone for the veteran Brazilian too.

It was the 24th major trophy Marcelo has won with Madrid, more than any player previously for the club.

The Liga title Madrid won on Saturday was the 35th in their history. More than one-sixth of their league titles have been earned by squads featuring Marcelo.

This was his sixth Spanish league crown, following titles earned in 2007, 2008, 2012, 2017 and 2020.

Marcelo has also won four FIFA Club World Cups, four Champions Leagues, two titles in the Copa del Rey, five Spanish Super Cups and three UEFA Super Cups.

Marcelo in 2021-22
The 33-year-old joined Madrid from Brazilian club Fluminense in 2007 and has been a key figure at the club ever since with 544 appearances in all competitions.

Though he has featured less frequently this season, Marcelo often wears the captain’s armband when he takes the field and is still a hugely influential figure in the dressing room at Santiago Bernabeu.

He has played 16 games for Madrid in all competitions in 2021-22, including 10 in La Liga. He played 90 minutes against Espanyol on Saturday – only the second time he has done so in the league this season.

Lopetegui full of praise for Barcelona ahead of crunch La Liga clash

Sevilla Manager, Julen Lopetegui

Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui has been full of praise for Barcelona ahead of Sunday’s La Liga clash against the Catalans at the Camp Nou.

The coach spoke about Xavi’s team ahead of the match and made it clear how impressed he’s been by the team’s recent form.

“We’re going into this match with ambition and excitement, and we’re keen to face the most in-form side in not just Spain, but I’d say in Europe, based on their style of play, squad, run of form and performances. They’re one of the most important sides you can face,” he said.

“Every match in LaLiga is complicated, but this time we’ve got the difficulty of facing an in-form team, who aren’t just winning matches comfortably, they’re playing well and putting in top performances.

“This must motivate us to achieve an aim that really excites us, and that’s playing well at the Camp Nou and beating an extraordinary rival despite the difficulties. That’s the intention we’re going there with, we’re aware of how tough it is but we’ve got that excitement that must drive us”.

Source | Sevilla (https://sevillafc.es/en/actual/news/lopetegui-press-conference-barcelona-a-2122)

Barcelona are the form side heading into the match. Xavi’s team are unbeaten in their last 13 La Liga matches, while Sevilla have drawn their last four in a row in the Spanish top flight.