Guardiola: Xavi can reach 700

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola believes that playmaker Xavi could go on to reach 700 games for the club after the Spanish midfielder equalled the club's all-time appearance record in the 2-1 win over Levante on Sunday.

Xavi made his 549th outing in the famous shirt to draw level with legendary centre-half Migueli and, at 30, the midfielder is set to go on and set a new benchmark for future generations to beat. "We wanted to win this game for him (Xavi)," said Guardiola. "I played for many years here and reached 300 games which seemed a lot. If his tendons hold out I think he could reach 700 games."

Xavi, who came through the Barcelona youth system and made his debut back in 1998, refused to talk about future targets and believes one of his current team-mates will go on to break his record. "I hope to continue here for many more years winning trophies," said Xavi. "Behind me (in the appearance list) are Victor (Valdes), (Andres) Iniesta and (Carles) Puyol.

Victor (Valdes) and Andres (Iniesta) are still young (Valdes is 28 and Iniesta is 26) and I'm sure they can beat me, however, Carles (Puyol) is two years older than me, so it's not so easy for him. The most important thing is that Barcelona count on players that are proud to pull on the shirt."

Xavi received a tribute after the game and admitted it came as a surprise. "I wasn't expecting it. They didn't tell me a thing," said Xavi. "When I'm not in control of a situation, I get nervous. I felt very much the focus of people's attention.

"People are enjoying Barcelona. We have won titles and we'll try to win more, but I have also suffered bad times. You can't put a price on being loved so much in your own home. I have also been criticised, but I always wanted to triumph here."

Xavi has collected every major piece of silverware with Barcelona in his 12 seasons at the club, lifting five Spanish league titles (1999, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010), the 2009 Copa del Rey and two UEFA Champions League crowns in 2006 and 2009.

With Spain, Xavi has won the 2008 UEFA European Championships and the FIFA 2010 World Cup, and is one of the three players shortlisted for the 2010 FIFA Ballon D'Or along with Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta.

SPANISH FOOTBALL - SPANISH LEAGUE - LIGA 2010 - 2011 | ROUND 21 | MONDAY GAMES RESULTS

Hi guys! Firstly excuse me for the late post & the very brief summary of yesterdays Spanish League - Liga Round 21 matches. I was travelling to the North of Spain & got in very late, plus I did not see the games live except I followed from the radio which gave me some idea of events.



Ozil scores for Real Madrid

Here are the results:

Getafe 2 (Parejo, Albin) Real Madrid 3 (C Ronaldo, Ozil,

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SPANISH FOOTBALL | 2010 - 2011 SPANISH LEAGUE - LA LIGA | ROUND 21 | SUNDAY NIGHT RESULTS

SPANISH FOOTBALL was back in action for 2011 after the Christmas & New Year break with five games scheduled as part of the Spanish League - Liga. Here is a brief summary of tonights Round 21 games with their results & the scorers. 



Pedro scores thanks to Alves pass

FC BARCELONA hosted LEVANTE without key players Puyol (injured), Pique (suspended) & Messi ( on leave) & had to reorganize the

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Alona Volodymyrivna Bondarenko (Ukrainian: Альона Володимирівна Бондаренко, born 13 August 1984 in Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian SSR) is a Ukrainian tennis player. She has a younger sister Kateryna Bondarenko who also plays on the Tour. She formerly paired with her older sister Valeria in doubles. She is currently ranked 31 in singles and 39 in doubles by the WTA.

Her career high singles ranking was Number 19, achieved on 14 April 2008.

She defeated former World no.1 Jelena Jankovic in the third round of the 2010 Australian Open.

She won the 2008 Australian Open women's doubles tournament with sister Kateryna, beating Victoria Azarenka and Shahar Pe'er in the finals.

ATLETICO DE MADRID | NEW "LOOK" UNIFORM DESIGN SEASON 2011 - 2012

Hi guys, Happy 2011 to all.


Seen this piece of news in Spanish Sports daily "As" whom in turn picked it up from Dutch website "footballshirtculture.com", the later specialized in the following news items. The multi-national that sponsors the ATLETICO DE MADRID uniform ( along with Arsenal, FC Barcelona...etc) has designed, proposed to the Club & apparently been accepted the "new-look" uniform

SPANISH FOOTBALL SPORTS BLOG WISHES A HAPPY 2011 TO EVERYONE

To all the readers & visitors of Spanish Football Sports Blog, thank you for your support during 2010. My views, manners & ways may not serve & be in accord with everyone but at least I try to keep many people in far away shores & who can´t read Spanish up to date with all the Big Spanish Football & Sports news.

Will keep the stories coming in during 2011 & with your support it will be better. I

SPAIN | 2010 THE BIGGEST HISTORICAL YEAR IN SPANISH SPORTS

2010 has been a spectacular year for SPANISH SPORTS. There has been many moments with great & grand victories in team & individual competitions. For Spanish Football Sports Blog there has been three magical moments that comes immediately to mind: in Football the FIFA World Cup victory & World Championship in South Africa, in Tennis Rafael Nadal with his 3 Grand Slam victories (French, Wimbledon &

ACB SPANISH BASKETBALL | REGAL BARCELONA 95 - REAL MADRID 75

Big night of ACB SPANISH BASKETBALL action with REAL MADRID travelling to BARCELONA for the big Spanish Basketball Derby. Real Madrid went into this game as ACB Table leader & full of confidence to attempt to win in a traditional doom stadium & thus find revenge for past defeats.

The end result was a FC (REGAL) BARCELONA demolition job with a 95 - 75 win over Real Madrid that puts Barça sharing

ATLETICO DE MADRID PRESENTS NEW SIGNING ELIAS

Thought our Brazilian readers & global ATLETICO DE MADRID fans may be interested in seeing the new signing ELIAS MENDES from Corinthians with the Atletico shirt on. Although the players is already training with the squad the Club presented their new midfielder to the national media this afternoon. 



Elias presented as Atletico player
One wonders if Elias has a sense of humour when he commented

REAL MADRID | DANI PAREJO TO RETURN NEXT SEASON

DANI PAREJO was literally born, raised & educated at REAL MADRID. A young promise that has risen through all the junior sides of the Spanish National Team the player simply had too many "A" Internationals ahead of him at Madrid. The solution was to transfer the young man to GETAFE with a first buy-back option, to allow their promise to continue playing & gaining experience in the Spanish League.

SPANISH TENNIS | RAFAEL NADAL NAMED SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR BY "L´EQUIPE"

Spanish Sports has had an incredible 2010 & now the individual Spanish Sportsman involved in the various disciplines are being recognized for their efforts. French media network "L´Equipe" ( web, magazine & TV ) has named 24 year old Spanish Tennis player RAFAEL NADAL "Champion of Champions" - "Best Sportsman of the Year" - for 2010. This is in recognition for his three Tennis Grand Slam

FC BARCELONA WINS THE XV FOOTBALL 7 - U/12 - INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

FC Barcelona Champions U -12


FC BARCELONA proclaimed itself Champions of the XV Football 7 International Youth Tournament (12 year olds) after defeating REAL MADRID CF in the FINAL & in the penalty shoot-out. The Tournament was played in the Canary Islands & grouped the finest Youth Clubs from Spain & Europe.




Real Madrid U-12 Runners Up


Real Madrid played better during the 40 mins (two

REAL MADRID - INTER MILAN | KAKA IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE

Did not wish to get into this but the persistent rumours have made it that I would like to inform the global REAL MADRID fans that KAKA is NOT going anywhere fast. Yes, there has been news from Italy that INTER MILAN wanted the Brazilian on loan for the rest of the season & even a transfer was mentioned at some point by some Italian media source. Yes, the rumours are that Inter was sending "spies

VIDEO | BENJAMIN AGUERO MARADONA SHOWS HE HAS FOOTBALL IN HIS DNA

Seeing we are in the Christmas festive season. Here is a human story that is related to Spanish Football & Atletico de Madrid. Argentine star SERGIO AGUERO has placed on his official web site a video of his son BENJAMIN AGUERO MARADONA in action. 



Benjamin with dad Sergio Aguero
As you can see clearly in the video young Benjamin has the DNA of grandfather DIEGO MARADONA & his dads from the

UNITED STATES SPORTS ACADEMY NAMES DAVID VILLA SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

Interesting news from the United States where the US Sports Academy has awarded FC BARCELONA forward & Spanish International DAVID VILLA the "Best Sportsman in the World" for 2010, tipping in second place Spanish Tennis ace RAFAEL NADAL



David Villa
The votes came in via the webs of NBC Sports & USA Today which prized the performance of David Villa during this years World Cup with his goals &

SPANISH FOOTBALL | WINTER TRANSFER MARKET 2011

Back posting after a brief Christmas Break were I hope that you have had some wonderful days of relax, family warmth & lots of presents. The Spanish Football scene is relatively quiet as the Spanish League is enjoying their Xmas Break with news being generated by the rumours of new incorporations as of January 2011 



Affeley presented as new Barça player

The winter “Transfer Market” kicks in

SPANISH CUP 2010 - 2011 | WEDNESDAY NIGHT GAMES RESULTS | BIG SCORES HAT-TRICKS FROM BENZEMA CRISTIANO RONALDO ULLOA

Big night of SPANISH CUP action with the remaining five games scheduled with goals galore, multiple hat-tricks & a grand way for Spanish Soccer to go on its Xmas break. Here are quick summaries of the games, the results & the scorers.



Benzema hat-trick man

REAL MADRID won 8 -  0 LEVANTE to assure its pass to the next stage of the Spanish Cup & calm the waters at the Club after a tense couple

MALAGA FC | BAYERN MUNICH DEFENDER MARTIN DEMICHELIS ON LOAN UNTIL JUNE 2011

Having a look today through Spanish Sports daily "AS" I was taken back to see that BAYERN MUNICH & Argentine International defender MARTIN DEMICHELIS will be a MALAGA player after Christmas. The 30 year old come as a LOAN until the end of June 2011 & then Malaga has a 3M€ option to keep the defender with a buy if they choose to exercise the option.



Demichelis for Bayern Munich

The player is

SPANISH CUP 2010 - 2011 | TUESDAY NIGHT GAMES RESULTS | FC BARCELONA AT BILBAO VALENCIA CF VILLAREAL DEPOR CORDOBA

SPANISH CUP action tonight with three matches that all gave the same result. Here is a quick summary of the away leg games, the results & scorers.



Mata hits the wood-work


VALENCIA held out an "unrecognizable" VILLAREAL & threw everything at them in attack but only managed to finish with a 0 - 0 draw result. Valencia was the better team & even hit the "wood-work" apart from  "suffocating" the