17 August 2011 - Barça Gets Off To A Super Start

On 17 August 2011, Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-2 to take their 10th Supercopa de España (and the first one over their Clásico rivals).

The competition, which kicks off the Spanish season, pits the reigning La Liga champions against the Copa del Rey holders in a two-legged series, home and away. Real Madrid and Barcelona had met there four teams previously, in 1988, 1990, 1993, and 1997, with Real Madrid claiming the honors each time. But Barça had the recent edge, carrying a six-match unbeaten streak against Madrid in the league (with five wins), as well as eliminating them in the previous season's Champions League. (Madrid, however, had beaten Barcelona in the 2011 Copa del Rey Final).

The two teams met at the Bernabéu on 14 August for the first leg, where they drew 2-2, then reconvened at Camp Nou three days later. There, Andres Iniésta opened the scoring in the 15th minute after an incisive through pass by Lionel Messi left him one-on-one with keeper Iker Casillas, who fell victim to a chip. Cristiano Ronaldo equalized from short range five minutes later, but Messi restored the lead just before the break.

Real Madrid drew level again in the second half through an 82nd-minute goal from striker Karim Benzema, but Messi had the last word with the match-winner in the 88th minute.

That season, Real Madrid went on to win the league, while Barcelona won the Copa del Rey, setting up another Supercopa meeting in 2012.

3 March 2011 - Pellegrini's Unwelcome Return

On 3 March 2011, Real Madrid welcomed their former manager back to the Bernabeu by crushing his new team 7-0.

The manager in question was Manuel Pellegrini, who had taken charge of Real Madrid in June 2009 for their second Galacticos period that saw them acquire Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, and Karim Benzema for an approximate total of £200M in transfer fees. But after only one season--in which they finished as league runners-up to Barcelona--the club sacked Pellegrini in order to hire José Mourinho.

In November 2010, Pellegrini signed a three-year deal to manage Málaga. They had already lost to Real Madrid in the league the previous month, so the game in March was his first time facing his former employers.

It was a rout. Two of Pellegrini's signings scored a total of five goals (three from Ronaldo and two from Benzema), while Ángel di María and and Marcelo added goals of their own to stretch the margin to 7-0. When the final whistle blew, Málaga were down to nine men, with one ejected and one injured after Pellegrini had made all three substitutions.

Although the loss sent them down to 19th place, things did get better for the club. They finished the season in eleventh, followed by a fourth-place finish the following season.

3 March 2011 - Pellegrini's Unwelcome Return

On 3 March 2011, Real Madrid welcomed their former manager back to the Bernabeu by crushing his new team 7-0.

The manager in question was Manuel Pellegrini, who had taken charge of Real Madrid in June 2009 for their second Galacticos period that saw them acquire Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, and Karim Benzema for an approximate total of £200M in transfer fees. But after only one season--in which they finished as league runners-up to Barcelona--the club sacked Pellegrini in order to hire José Mourinho.

In November 2010, Pellegrini signed a three-year deal to manage Málaga. They had already lost to Real Madrid in the league the previous month, so the game in March was his first time facing his former employers.

It was a rout. Two of Pellegrini's signings scored a total of five goals (three from Ronaldo and two from Benzema), while Ángel di María and and Marcelo added goals of their own to stretch the margin to 7-0. When the final whistle blew, Málaga were down to nine men, with one ejected and one injured after Pellegrini had made all three substitutions.

Although the loss sent them down to 19th place, things did get better for the club as they finished the season in eleventh.

7 October 2007 - Rumors Of Lyon's Death Were Slightly Exaggerated

On 7 October 2007, Lyon defeated Bordeaux, 1-3, at Bordeaux's Stade Chaban Delmas. The win put Lyon on top of the Ligue 1 table.

Lyon were the reigning Ligue 1 champions, but had stumbled to start the season with away losses to Toulouse and Lorient in the league, as well as two 3-0 losses to Barcelona and Rangers in the UEFA Champions League. Nevertheless, they were still sitting in second place when they visited fourth-place Bordeaux. The Girondins had been tipped as challengers for the league, but the match proved that Lyon were not ready to relinquish their title ambitions.

Lyon opened the scoring in the 5th minute when Brazilian defender Anderson Cléber Beraldo headed home from a trademark Juninho free kick. French striker Karim Benzema added to the lead in the 23rd minute, then another Juninho free kick in the 60th minute led to a goal from Swedish midfielder Kim Källström. Bordeaux's Brazilian striker Jussiê pulled one back in the 83rd minute, but the Girondins could not create another and the match ended 3-1 to Lyon.

Lyon finished the season at the top of the table to claim their seventh consecutive title, four points ahead of second-place Bordeaux. The match was Bordeaux's last home defeat and they went on to claim the Ligue 1 title at the end of the 2008-09 season.

17 August 2011 - Barça Gets Off To A Super Start

On 17 August 2011, Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-2 to take their 10th Supercopa de España (and the first one over their Clásico rivals).

The competition, which kicks off the Spanish season, pits the reigning La Liga champions against the Copa del Rey holders in a two-legged series, home and away. Real Madrid and Barcelona had met there four teams previously, in 1988, 1990, 1993, and 1997, with Real Madrid claiming the honors each time. But Barça had the recent edge, carrying a six-match unbeaten streak against Madrid in the league (with five wins), as well as eliminating them in the previous season's Champions League. (Madrid, however, had beaten Barcelona in the 2011 Copa del Rey Final).

The two teams met at the Bernabéu on 14 August for the first leg, where they drew 2-2, then reconvened at Camp Nou three days later. There, Andres Iniésta opened the scoring in the 15th minute after an incisive through pass by Lionel Messi left him one-on-one with keeper Iker Casillas, who fell victim to a chip. Cristiano Ronaldo equalized from short range five minutes later, but Messi restored the lead just before the break.

Real Madrid drew level again in the second half through an 82nd-minute goal from striker Karim Benzema, but Messi had the last word with the match-winner in the 88th minute.

That season, Real Madrid went on to win the league, while Barcelona won the Copa del Rey, setting up another Supercopa meeting in 2012.

3 March 2011 - Pellegrini's Unwelcome Return

On 3 March 2011, Real Madrid welcomed their former manager back to the Bernabeu by crushing his new team 7-0.

The manager in question was Manuel Pellegrini, who had taken charge of Real Madrid in June 2009 for their second Galacticos period that saw them acquire Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, and Karim Benzema for an approximate total of £200M in transfer fees. But after only one season--in which they finished as league runners-up to Barcelona--the club sacked Pellegrini in order to hire José Mourinho.

In November 2010, Pellegrini signed a three-year deal to manage Málaga. They had already lost to Real Madrid in the league the previous month, so the game in March was his first time facing his former employers.

It was a rout. Two of Pellegrini's signings scored a total of five goals (three from Ronaldo and two from Benzema), while Ángel di María and and Marcelo added goals of their own to stretch the margin to 7-0. When the final whistle blew, Málaga were down to nine men, with one ejected and one injured after Pellegrini had made all three substitutions.

Although the loss sent them down to 19th place, things did get better for the club. They finished the season in eleventh, and are currently sitting in sixth this season.

7 October 2007 - Rumors Of Lyon's Death Were Slightly Exaggerated

On 7 October 2007, Lyon defeated Bordeaux, 1-3, at Bordeaux's Stade Chaban Delmas. The win put Lyon on top of the Ligue 1 table.

Lyon were the reigning Ligue 1 champions, but had stumbled to start the season with away losses to Toulouse and Lorient in the league, as well as two 3-0 losses to Barcelona and Rangers in the UEFA Champions League. Nevertheless, they were still sitting in second place when they visited fourth-place Bordeaux. The Girondins had been tipped as challengers for the league, but the match proved that Lyon were not ready to relinquish their title ambitions.

Lyon opened the scoring in the 5th minute when Brazilian defender Anderson Cléber Beraldo headed home from a trademark Juninho free kick. French striker Karim Benzema added to the lead in the 23rd minute, then another Juninho free kick in the 60th minute led to a goal from Swedish midfielder Kim Källström. Bordeaux's Brazilian striker Jussiê pulled one back in the 83rd minute, but the Girondins could not create another and the match ended 3-1 to Lyon.

Lyon finished the season at the top of the table to claim their seventh consecutive title, four points ahead of second-place Bordeaux. The match was Bordeaux's last home defeat and they went on to claim the Ligue 1 title at the end of the 2008-09 season.