Are the French coming?
sidelineviews.blogspot.com 12/21/2007 — Lyon is probably the most well-known and successful French team of all time. But is that enough for the U.S.? Do they draw fans here? Anyway, a source (an agent working for the club) told me that he was negotiating to bring the team to Los Angeles for ...

El Clasico: Barcelona vs Real Madrid
soccernetlive.com 12/22/2007 — The mother of all football clashes: Barcelona against Real Madrid. El Clasico, as it is known in the Spanish press. Adding to the significance of this sold-out match at the Nou Camp is the fact that both Real Madrid and Barcelona, two most successful teams in Spain, are currently first and second in the Primera Liga.

ESPN: Ronaldinho benched for Sunday night 'clasico'
soccernet.espn.go.com 12/23/2007 — Barcelona's Brazilian talisman Ronaldinho is set to start on the bench for the super-charged 'clasico' with bitter rivals Real Madrid. --- The Catalan giants will be without the injured Lionel Messi for the top-of-the-table showdown, and coach Frank Rijkaard also looks set to leave out Ronaldinho on the bench after the pair exchanged strong words in training yesterday...

Liveblog: Barcelona v Real Madrid - El Clasico!!!
real.theoffside.com 12/24/2007 — Hala Madrid! Good news, Madridistas! Your humble liveblogger is on the case for this monumental clash between La Liga titans Barcelona and our beloved Real Madrid. In the UK, the match will be broadcast at 6pm GMT on Sky Sports 3 for the first half ...

Bleacher Report Best Of 2007: The David Beckham Story
bleacherreport.com 12/24/2007 — Stunning pundits across Europe, Beckham declared via a news conference in January 2007 that he would join the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer (MLS) after his contract with Real Madrid expired at the end of June. Among those stunned by the decision was Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello.

Roberto Carlos backs Beckham as Capello's skipper (AFP) — Yahoo! Sports - World Soccer News 12/23/2007
David Beckham's former Real Madrid teammate Roberto Carlos believes new England coach Fabio Capello will name the midfielder as the national captain.

La Liga Roundup, Dec. 23 — FOXSports.com News for FOX SOCCER 12/23/2007
La Liga Roundup: Luis Garcia scored the winner in the 85th minute to rally Espanyol to a 2-1 win over nine-man Atletico Madrid.

Schuster plays down title talk after 'clasico' win (Reuters) — Yahoo! Sports - World Soccer News 12/23/2007
Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster played down the significance of his side's commanding lead at the top of the Primera Liga after they beat arch-rivals Barcelona 1-0 in the Nou Camp on Sunday.

The nightmare before Christmas for Ronaldinho, Rijkaard (Reuters) — Yahoo! Sports - World Soccer News 12/24/2007
Barcelona's Frank Rijkaard and Ronaldinho were in the media's crosshairs on Monday after Real Madrid's psychologically crushing 1-0 victory at the Nou Camp sent them seven points clear in the Primera Liga.

Offseason moves help Madrid stay top — FOXSports.com News for FOX SOCCER 12/24/2007
Real Madrid justified its offseason moves after going seven points clear of Barcelona ahead of the winter break.