Messi to Ronaldo Part II

Last time I blogged about the untouchables in El Clasico Cristiano Ronaldo came out on top after clinching a goal for Real Madrid. But tonight with an emphatic hat-trick Barcelona’s Lionel Messi clinched a season changing 4-3 win for his side as they beat their rivals at the Santiego Bernabeu Stadium.

Barcelona are now just one point behind leaders Atletico Madrid and second placed Real leaving the La Liga title wide open.

Andres Iniesta shot into the top corner before Karim Benzema’s header put Real ahead. Messi levelled the tie soon after but Ronaldo put Real back ahead from the penalty spot.

After Sergio Ramos was sent off, Messi won the game with two penalties.

The Argentine footballer seemed more hungry for the win than Ronaldo tonight as he pulled his team back into the game when his left footed shot soared into the right corner.

After Ronaldo’s previous honours in January when he won the FIFA player of year  award for the best footballer on the planet – the first ever Portuguese to win the award twice plaudits have been questioning Messi’s greatness. Tonight he seemed determined to show who was the best on the pitch and his two lessons on how to take a flawless penalty made his case.

With the two sides poised to meet each other again in the Copa Del Rey tie in April neutrals like Lollipop and I will be hoping for more of the same.

There did not seem to be any game plan tonight. Instead it was just two teams playing hasty attacking football and after Sergio Ramos was sent off after fouling Neymar in the penalty box Barca looked to the top El Clasico scorer to gift them three points.

The English Premier League is deemed as the best in the world but La Liga is showing viewers world-class players and with Atletico Madrid recording a comfortable away win against 10-man Real Betis to go top the title is far from decided.

La Liga can’t be decided by goal difference, one of the Spanish sides must win by at least a point or head to head wins so both Barca and Real need their star players more than ever.

Ronaldo has been going from strength to strength, leading this season’s scoring charts in both La Liga and the Champions League as well as almost single-handedly securing Portugal’s place in the World Cup finals against Sweden.

But even during a disrupted season for Messi in which he has missed more than two months of action due to a series of hamstring injuries, he has still managed 33 goals in all competitions and boasts a La Liga goals-per-minute record (one every 89 minutes) .

Yet again Lollipop and I are at odds to decide who is the most gifted footballer. Messi will clearly be the happiest out of the two tonight as his side are still firmly in the title race.

However with just nine games to go in this memorable season who knows who will come out victorious. Messi, Ronaldo or Atletico Madrid?

 

Would you like a Tour Lollipop?

Amongst Manchester’s finest footballers, Tom Cleverley, Phil Jones and Ben Amos Lollipop and I also attended one of Canadian rapper Drake’s two sold out shows at the Manchester Arena.

Drake last performed in our city in 2012 for his Club Paradise Tour which was the most successful hip-hop tour of 2012, grossing over $42 million worldwide.

But after last nights performance this tour could be even bigger for the Started from the Bottom star.

After making an extravagant entrance on stage by rising up from a raised circular platform Drake kicked off with Tuscan Leather from his third studio album Nothing Was the Same.

Dressed in all white the rapper boasted, “I’m just as famous as my mentor, but that’s still the boss, don’t get sent for,” and judging by the sold out second show and screaming fans who could argue with him.

US Rapper Lil’Wayne signed him to Young Money Entertainment in 2009 and since then Drake has won a Grammy award for best rap album Take Care and has sold over 5 million albums worldwide.

The rapper even attempted to emulate a Godly presence as light and smoke surrounded him in his all white attire.

Fellow Canadian and record artist the Weeknd came back on stage after his eery yet scintillating smooth warm up performance to sing Crew Love with Drake.

The rapper thanked the Weeknd who has clearly made his mark on Manchester after he performed last year at the Apollo Theatre.

Drake then sprung into tracks from his latest album Wu Tang Forever, Own it and Pound Cake (feat Jay-Z). He showcased his vocal talents to the crowd  with “Too Much” and sang, “Manchester you stood by me like I knew you would” as the track merged into a cover of on-off Girlfriend Rihanna’s Stay

The show turned into a commercial for his number one album Nothing was the Same as Drake sang single Hold on, we’re going Home and Worst Behaviour.

His earlier work that sprung him to this worldwide platform was left in the shadows for die-hard Drake fans to cling on to. During a quick wardrobe change his DJ reminisced on tracks like Best you Ever Had and Successful. Headlines was the only track he performed from his previous albums.

The rapper however made the most of the Manchester crowd and the arena as a giant metal circular construction descended on his fans. Drake strolled around the contraption peaking at his crazed fans and singing “I see all y’all.”

He then burst back into life on stage with his first single from his newest album Started from the Bottom. Fireworks and smoke splayed the arena for the big “OVO” finale.

Drake claimed he could have gone on all night with his hit singles and after just five years of being in the industry he certainly could have.

Last name ever, first name greatest was definitely on the Canadian’s mind throughout the concert as he aimed to top his earlier performances in Manchester.

Lollipop and I were entertained, But what do you think? Would you Like another Tour?

Could this be the first of many Lollipop?

Manchester City may have their first trophy of the season after an emphatic comeback against Sunderland that ended 3-1 but there are testing ties ahead for the Premier League title contenders.

After Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri scored 2 goals in just one minute against a stunned Sunderland in the Capital One Cup final at Wembley, City boss Manuel Pellegrini must feel his team are invincible. The 2012 Premier League Champs are still title contenders with a precious two games in hand. The FA Cup and the Champions League trophy are also within their grasp so can the Blue side of Manchester take all four trophies this season Lollipop?

First they will have to face a Championship side that shattered their hopes of winning the FA cup last season after a shock 1 nil result at Wembley. Wigan may not be a top Premier league side but they proved last year that favouritism means nothing in this competition.

Their 1 nil victory against Manchester City cost the side’s only chance of silverware in 2013 and former boss Roberto Mancini his job.

City will be hoping to prove a point against Wigan at the Etihad but any mistakes like the ones made today against Sunderland wont go unpunished.

The trophy that all the top teams in Europe are playing for looks far out of Pellegrini’s reach after a heart-wrenching 2 nil defeat to Barcelona at home.

Lionel Messi broke the deadlock from the spot in the 54th minute after he was fouled by City defender Martin Demichelis, who was also sent off for a challenge. Dani Alves delivered the decisive blow when he slid a cool finish under City keeper Joe Hart in the final minute.

Barcelona’s share of possession was 68.4% in the first leg – a stat that can not be repeated if City aims to win on March 12 at the Nou Camp.

The Blues have already shown their defiance in this competition when in the group stages they were defeated 3 -1 at home to Bayern Munich but rebounded with a 3-2 victory in the second leg.

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino said “City are almost at the same level – the only difference is that we scored twice.”

Last week City did not seem to be on the same level as a generic Barcelona side but they will have nothing to lose at the Nou Camp. There will be no expectations and this could work in Pellegrini’s favour during his quest to do the impossible.

Chelsea are now favourites to win the Premier League title after opening a four point gap at the top of the table with City trailing in fourth place.

The blues may have two games in hand but they are yet to play rivals Manchester United, Arsenal and top goal scorers Liverpool away.

Win all their next Premier League matches and they will be champions. Lose and Pellegrini could be facing a smug Jose Mourinho yet again.

So Lollipop has played down City’s hopes of winning another trophy but what does she know. For now this is Pellegrini’s first trophy in English football and it could be the first of many as long as no one else tries to spoil the celebrations.