It was said that Monday night's game at Camp Nou - hyped like few other domestic league ties in the history of the game - would settle two raging debates: who are the best team in the world, and who is the best player in the world? If this solitary match could be said to be decisive in that regard, then the judgement was emphatic. It left no room whatsoever for argument.

Barcelona, conducted magisterially by Xavi and Andres Iniesta - the Lennon and McCartney of midfield double acts - and led on the frontline by the clinical talents of Lionel Messi and David Villa, ran riot against Real, inflicting a career-worst defeat on Jose Mourinho - the man recruited by Real this summer to break down Barca's domestic hegemony after he ended their European supremacy at Inter Milan.

And, while there was no goal from Messi, his first failure to score in 11 games for his club, the Barca star still produced a masterclass in incisive possession football, supplying two wonderful assists for both of Villa's second-half goals. As his erstwhile competitor for the title of the world's most best player, Cristiano Ronaldo, postured pointlessly, indulged in stepovers and became embroiled in a spat with Pep Guardiola, Messi, in his usual understated style, did what he does best: tear teams apart.

In fact, on this evidence, Ronaldo is not the best player on the globe. Nor is he the second or third. In Messi, Iniesta and Xavi, Barcelona possess three players who will be among the all-time greats when the history books are written. Watching them combine in such intuitive and mesmeric style is a treat.

But prior to kick-off, comparisons between the two sides were legitimate. Just one point separated leaders Real from Barca in the table prior to kick-off, and only three separated them at the end of last season when Real secured 96 points, only to be surpassed by Barca with 99. However, these are two clubs divided by geography, politics and culture. Hatred festers in this corner of Iberia for the Madridistas, and the feeling is mutual.

A divide is also evident in the way the two teams have been constructed. Notable exceptions such as David Villa aside, Barca have turned inwards to the academy graduates supplied by La Masia, while Real have instead relied on the chequebook of Florentino Perez. The fact that the final coup de grace was a cross from Bojan, converted by Jeffren - two more acolytes of a finely-honed youth system and philosophy - will only have further underlined that at this juncture in the story of one of football's great rivalries, Barca are on the right side of history. The school defeated the bank.

Real played their part, but not in the way they had intended. Mourinho had said in the build-up to Monday's much-anticipated encounter that "we have to give the world a super game", and his team selection certainly contributed to a spectacle. Picking Karim Benzema ahead of Lass Diarra in place of the injured Gonzalo Higuain was a positive move - discarding suggestions that, as he had done at Inter, Mourinho's intent, in his own vernacular, would be to park the bus - but it left Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso exposed and utterly dominated by Sergio Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta.

This was a rout of embarrassing proportions, giving Barcelona extra reason to celebrate their 111th anniversary. Remarkably, it is arguably not even the side's most emphatic victory over Real during Guardiola's time at the club - that honour falls to a 6-2 hammering at the Bernabeu en route to the Treble in 2009.

But the appointment of Mourinho was supposed to safeguard against a repetition. Secured at some cost from Inter over the summer, having succeeded Guardiola in winning the Treble, Mourinho was the tormentor of Barca, the man who asphyxiated them in the Champions League semi-final last season.

But in the face of a Barcelona side that plays some of the finest football ever seen, and that possesses technicians of the ability of Messi, Iniesta and Xavi, even he is rendered impotent it seems.

Of course, Mourinho has never been known as the Special One in Catalunya - instead his nickname is El Traductor (The Translator) - a derogatory title designed to denigrate his role at the club when acting as an assistant to Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal. On Monday night, as Real were submerged by a Blaugrana flood, Mourinho, Ronaldo and his team looked very ordinary indeed.

Article Source: ESPN Soccernet

This is opening match of Spanish La Liga 09/10. Real Madrid getting stronger with the Galacticos line-up. Do you think they will have a good run this season after spending so much?

This is masterclass football by Barca. Ibrahimovic also scoring his first goal in La Liga. VIVA BARCA!!!

It has been 3 days I am not writing here and a lot of football action happen especially in top league in Europe.

English Premier League
Man Utd beat West Ham 4-1 and last night Chelsea beat Newcastle 2-0 to take the title decider to the final day. On the final day Man Utd will face Wigan who defeat Aston Villa recently and Chelsea will face Bolton. Chelsea will become the winner on the final day if they level the point and win with big goal margin.

Spanish Primera Liga
In the Spanish Primera Liga, Real Madrid who defeat Osasuna retaining their trophies for the second consecutive year. Villareal who make good fight this season claiming second spot in the league. For Barcelona, the will end the season without any trophy in hand.

Italian Serie A
Last week game focus on Inter versus AC Milan. The game won by AC Milan and they open the path to UEFA Champions League next season. A goal from Fillippo Inzaghi and Kaka put Milan in front before Julio Cruz struck Kalac nets to make it classic Italian game.

Let's finish the season with enjoyment and EURO 2008 in June will make this year a great year for football.

Highlight all goals from Lionel Messi and Kanoute

by FourFourTwo

1. Kaka (AC Milan/Brazil)
2. Ronaldo (Man Utd/Portugal)
3. Ronaldinho (Barcelona/Brazil)
4. Henry (Barcelona/France)
5. Messi (Barcelona/Argentina)
6. Gerrard (Liverpool/England)
7. Eto'o (Barcelona/Cameroon)
8. Rooney (Man Utd/England)
9. Buffon (Juventus/Italy)
10. Cannavaro (Real Madrid/Italy)

In October issue of FourFourTwo Magazine, they have picks 100 finest footballers for 2006/2007 season. List above is the top 10 footballers. Kaka deserve to be chosen as number one as Ronaldo trailing behind. Top quality performance by Ronaldo and Rooney which instrumenting Man Utd for last season English Premier League is superb. However, both of them unable to help Man Utd for Champions League throphy.

There are four Barcelona players in the top picks, so we should expect how Barca will perform this season. Even though Ronaldinho seems to be faded last season, he might be make a come back this after brilliant performance last week.

Two Italian players is there maybe for their magnificent performance in World Cup 2006, and achievement in club level. Buffon; prove his loyalty to Juventus, and Cannavaro is the Best Player in the last World Cup.

The only African players in the top 10 list is Samuel Eto'o. Still to prove he is the best African players in the recent season.

You'll love this picks? Please vote at FourFourTwo.

Barcelona
Ronaldinho (8)
Ronaldinho (pen 35)
Gnegneri Yaya Toure (72)

Athletic Bilbao
Néstor Susaeta (71)

spanish la liga

This is very confident start of Spanish La Liga from Real Madrid. Two win out of two. After few years empty handed, the Galacticos return to sparks La Liga last season, stole the crown from Barca. I believe they want more this season, especially to be crown as the best club in Europe.

Raul and Van Nilsterooy still one of the best striker partners in Europe. Their individual goal scoring records in European competition has proven themselves as the Real’s predators.

Is Galacticos really returned to its best?

Eurosport - Sun, 02 Sep 22:39:00 2007

Real Madrid hit five past Villarreal on Saturday to make it two wins out of two so far this season while Barcelona scored their first win of the new campaign with a 3-1 victory over Athletic Club.

VILLARREAL 0-5 REAL MADRID

At El Madrigal Real Madrid overcame some stiff first half opposition from Villarreal to ultimately teach their hosts a footballing lesson and run out 5-0 winners.

Summer signing Wesley Sneijder netted twice with Raul, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Guti completing the rout as Real maintained their perfect start to the new campaign.

Raul got the ball rolling after 39 minutes, putting Real ahead in typical fashion. The veteran striker proved he is still at the top of his game by making a run in between two Villarreal defenders to bravely reach a long Sneijder ball ahead of the advancing Sebastian Viera and prod home.

Villarreal reacted well to going behind and should have gone in at the break at least on level terms. Only a last ditch Christoph Metzelder tackle prevented Jon Dahl Tomasson a shooting opportunity on 42 minutes before Iker Casillas saved from Giuseppe Rossi on the stroke of half time.

Villarreal came out of blocks quickly after the break, Tomasson stinging Casillas' fingers seconds after the restart, but some clinical finishing during a two minute spell soon after effectively sealed the victory for Real.

Sneijder bagged his first goal in a Real shirt with a stunning free kick in the 49th minute before Sergio Ramos found Van Nistelrooy with an inch perfect cross to the far post a minute later, the Dutchman applying the clinical final touch.

Sneijder's second came on 73 minutes when he took one touch to control Guti's pass before firing a shot just inside the post with the outside of his right boot. Guti himself then completed the scoring with a shot from the edge of the box with ten minutes remaining.

BARCELONA 3-1 ATHLETIC CLUB

A first half brace from Ronaldinho and Yaya Toure's debatable strike gave the hosts their first goals of the season and all three points.

Having drawn their opener last weekend against Racing Santander, Barca seemed intent on making a point that they are still very much contenders for the title this season.

And a blistering first half was testament to that school of thought as Ronaldinho conducted the Barca orchestra and the hosts threatened to run riot in their first game at the Nou Camp this season.

It took the Brazilian just nine minutes to make an impact on the game, blasting the hosts into the lead with a superbly struck free kick from 25 yards out which flew into the top right hand corner.

Ronaldinho very nearly repeated the feat minutes later from an almost identical position but this time his effort went just the wrong side of the bar.

Thierry Henry, making his first start since his summer move from Arsenal, then won the penalty which handed Ronaldinho a chance to convert his second of the night. Hope

Although the decision was harsh on Athletic - keeper Gorka Iraizoz was hit in the face by Henry's trailing leg rather than him actually bringing the striker down - Barca deserved a second, such was their dominance of the opening period.

The argument was of no import to Ronaldinho, who slotted home the spot kick with aplomb.

Ronaldinho could even have finished the half with a hat-trick, but his first time effort at the far post in injury time was well blocked by Iraizoz.

Barca started the second half in a similar vein, Henry seeing a shot cannon back off the woodwork in a second successive game. The Frenchman was eventually replaced by exciting youngster Giovani Dos Santos, who nearly made an immediate impact only to see his measured effort go wide of the mark.

Athletic briefly threatened to get back into the game, Susaeta improving on his earlier near miss from a free kick with a cool finish after a terrible flap from Victor Valdes on 71 minutes.

But Barca responded immediately, although again there was an element of luck to it. Yaya Toure let fly with a thunderbolt which struck the underside of the bar before bouncing out to safety, only for the linesman to belatedly signal he thought the ball had crossed the line. Later television replays were inconclusive to say the least.

Both teams were reduced to ten men as full time approached, Barca's Rafael Marquez receiving his marching orders for a second bookable offence and Athletic's Koikili going for a dangerous hack on Giovani.

ALMERIA 1-2 VALENCIA

Almeria had Valencia against the ropes until two minutes after the restart when Spain striker Fernando Morientes fired in from the edge of the area.

The visitors held the lead until the 63rd when Almeria striker Alvaro Negredo headed in from a corner.

Valencia's Italian defender Emiliano Moretti poked in the winner from a flicked on free kick 10 minutes from time.

ATLETICO MADRID 1-1 MALLORCA

Atletico were held to a 1-1 draw by Mallorca at the Vicente Calderon.

Mallorca broke away to score through striker Daniel Guiza in the 19th minute to leave the Primera Division's second highest spenders struggling until fullback Mariano Pernia struck from the edge of the area in the 77th.

GETAFE 1-1 RECREATIVO

A tight game swung Recre's way when Getafe had midfielder Mario Cotelo sent-off after alleged play-acting from visiting striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle in the 65th minute.

The French striker went on to put Recre ahead on a break in the 85th, but in the final minute Getafe striker Manu del Moral headed an equaliser from a free kick.

REAL BETIS 2-2 ESPANYOL

Real Betis scored two late goals to snatch a 2-2 draw at home to Espanyol.

Luis Garcia turned in Pablo Zabaleta's pull-back in the 33rd minute and then spun to lash in a spectacular second in the 42nd.

Betis finally found a way past Espanyol's Cameroon keeper Carlos Kameni when striker Fernando looped in a header six minutes from time. A minute later, Brazilian striker Rafael Sobis rounded Kameni for the equaliser.

VALLADOLID 2-2 DEPORTIVO

Valladolid battled out an entertaining 2-2 draw at home to Deportivo, who came back from behind twice to earn a point.

Centre back Jose Antonio Garcia Calvo headed Valladolid in front from a corner on the stroke of halftime but Uruguayan striker Sebastian Taborda headed Depor level in the 54th.

A cool touch and finish from the impressive Sisi restored Valladolid's lead in the 72nd, before Depor striker Riki's clever lob ensured parity again in the 78th.

Sevilla's match against Osasuna was postponed to allow Sevilla to play AEK in a postponed Champions League qualifer following the tragic death of wingback Antonio Puerta.

Source: Eurosport