:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/4504356/129960507.jpg)
No one likes to see this happen to a player, even if he's in a FC Barcelona kit. During the 37th minute of today's Club World Cup match against Al-Sadd, FC Barcelona striker David Villa broke his tibia in an awkward challenge. The video is below, but beware: if you're squeamish, then you might want to skip it...
This also means he could be out for the Euro 2012's for Spain. I hope he has a speedy recovery, because I saw something like this already happen this year with my beloved Seattle Sounders FC and Steve Zakuani, though the challenges between the two were quite different.
According to this site, the 2012-2013 kits have already been leaked online. Go take a look and tell me what you think. It's quite possible they actually could be next term's kits -- or it's a sham.
Striker Karim Benzema has completely surprised his manager, Jose Mourinho.
"At the start of the year, we couldn't imagine Karim would reach the level he's at today," the Portuguese coach told France Football. "But thanks to his hard work, his efforts, his character, he's managed to achieve this new status."
--Goal.com
Graham Hunter over at ESPN.com has decided that Real Madrid might as well call it a season, pack up and wait for the 2012-13 season. If you want to read it, go ahead, but to me, it comes off as the most anti-Real Madrid, Pro-Barcelona piece of so-called writing I have ever seen. Just to show you, here's a a little snip of said article-- personally, my blood is still boiling.
But Real Madrid has hit a ceiling. Recent weeks have seen physical and footballing excellence, no doubt about that. The players deeply enjoy the training atmosphere and push for intensity, the fitness had looked impressive, squad rotation was working and the Madrid defense -- with Alvaro Arbeloa and Sergio Ramos reducing the Pepe stupidity factor -- was certainly more sound.
We've already had Special One TV, while our boss didn't really have anything to do with it, though it is some of the funniest stuff I've seen. Jose Mourinho will be staring in his own animated show called "Mourinho and The Special Ones." The cartoon will feature him and teach youngsters at a football school, where he will help them develop not only as footballers, but into good human beings as well.
Yesterday, media professionals and the like attended the annual Christmas luncheon put on by Real Madrid in the Presidential Suite. President Florintino Perez addressed the crowd and let them all know that one the best things he's done in his tenure as President of Real Madrid is hire Jose Mourinho.
"This year, the team has improved considerably. We were runners-up in La Liga and were the top scorers in the championship. We reached the Champions League semifinals for the first time in eight years. Cristiano Ronaldo won the Golden Boot award and was the all-time greatest top scorer in La Liga; Casillas received the Golden Glove; Mourinho won the FIFA World Football Coach of the Year 2010 award; and we won the Copa del Rey final. It was an historic match in which Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning strike and many regard it as the best final in the tournament's history.
All Madridistas were looking forward to winning the trophy. One of the best decisions I've made as President was to sign Jose Mourinho. Besides his great merits, he's proven to never give up, regardless of the magnitude of the challenge. He stimulates us and makes us stronger."
And now for something completely different: here is the Clasico that we can all get behind: the FC Barcelona WAG's Vs. Real Madrid CF WAG's. Be careful though, as some of this might or might not be safe for work.
Like Bernabeu Bites? Then hit the Like button on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to our podcast on itunes.