Real Madrid won Copa del Rey final!

First victory over Barcelona since 3 years. First final won by Real since 1993.

What's more Casillas made two crucial saves. And it was Ronaldo, who scored the winning goal in 103'.

For sure it's an evening to remember.

Champions League: Barcelona - Arsenal 3-1, 8 March 2011

One player's bad luck is another's good luck. During the Championship League match Barcelona - Arsenal Wojciech Szczęsny was ruled out by an injury. Manuel Almunia took his place in Arsenal's goal and used his chance well. He made 8 saves. Quite an achivement when one has to face players like Messi and Villa.

Quite surprising how it all happened. Manuel Almunia was ruled out by the injury of an elbow at the very beginning of this season. Łukasz Fabiański took his place and stayed as No. 1 till the fatal injury of an shoulder caused that he is not going to play in this season any more. Wojciech Szczęsny was next in the line and was doing well, but now he is going to face at least six weeks break.

It was said that Almunia might leave Arsenal in the winter transfer window. It was not first time when he seemed to be just one step away from being send away. But he did stay. And if he is going to keep up the good shape I'm not sure if Szczęsny is going to regain the place in the goal easily. So far Almunia had two good performances - in the Championship League against Barcelona and in FA Cup against Manchester United. Both were lost by Arsenal, quite true, but the goalkeeper saved all what he could.

Grand Derbi

Watching Grand Derbi right know. Seems that again the question is not if Real is going to lose against Barcelona. It's rather how high.

It's only 25' and Barca is already leading the game 2:0.

Well, at least there is a lot of Casillas. He has his hands full of work tonight.

Edit: Real was crushed. 5:0 for Barca, and they completely dominated the game. Missed the second half but I don't even regret this too much, really. They whole game almost ended up in a fight in the first half, the second apparently wasn't better, as most of the players were shown a yellow card (including the both goalkeepers) and Serio Ramos was send away with a red one.

Two saves of Victor Valdes (both in the first half I think) and one of Iker Casillas. It was not a game for goalkeepers' fans.

Arsenal - Barca 2:2 31 Mar 2010

What a match! Great to watch for every football fan, but for a goalkeepers fan it was even better. So many stunning saves of Manuel Almunia! Although he was not able to stop Ibrahimovic, who eventually scored two goals for Barcelona, it doesn't changes the fact that thanks to his excellent performance Arsenal didn't lose any goals in the first half.



In the first fifteen minutes of the game he saved two very dangerous shots. It was his evening, no doubt.



He was invincible in the first half. However, at the very beginning of the second Ibrahimovic scored his first goal.





Almunia reacts after a lost goal



According to ESPN stats Manuel Almunia made 8 saves in the game. That's a lot!

On the opposide side of the pitch Valdes made only 1 save. Seemed to be a bit late when Theo Walcott scored the first goal. He also had to face a penalty. Was without a chance to stop it. Fabregas shot was perfect.







Puyol and Bendtner, Valdes in the distance



Theo Walcott scores



Victor Valdes reacts after Puyol is shown a red card





Cesc Fabregas scores a penalty which gives Arsenal a 2:2 draw in the last minutes of the game