All Javier Mascherano posts on WhoScored.com Articles RSS

Player Focus: Mascherano Must Overcome Kroos in Sunday's Midfield Battle

by
Player Focus: Mascherano Must Overcome Kroos in Sunday's Midfield Battle It is strange to think that in six games at the 2014 World Cup Argentina have scored just 8 goals, 1 of which was a Sead Kolasinac own goal. Boasting Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero and Gonzalo Higuaín - 3 players who netted a combined 292 league goals since the 2010 World Cup - many expecte...

Match Focus: 5 Talking Points from Argentina's Stalemate with the Netherlands

by
Match Focus: 5 Talking Points from Argentina's Stalemate with the Netherlands The second of the semi-finals was never going to live up to the standards set by the first, but it was not excessive to expect something mildly more exciting than the dire goalless draw and ensuing penalty shootout victory for Argentina over the Netherlands. Nonetheless, with a World Cup Final set u...

La Liga Team of the Season at the Halfway Stage

by
La Liga Team of the Season at the Halfway Stage After a well-earned winter break, teams from the Serie A and La Liga are readying themselves for action again this weekend so we take the chance to analyse each of the league's best XIs of the season thus far, starting in Spain.It will come as no surprise to learn that the best possible side accordi...

Why Guardiola May Opt for a 3-man Backline in El Clásico

by
Why Guardiola May Opt for a 3-man Backline in El Clásico There is a lot of speculation surrounding Barcelona’s defensive system, and whether Guardiola would dare to line-up in the Clásico with three defenders at the back. Considering the fact that Real Madrid have scored 49 La Liga goals this season and are deadly on fast breaks, it is hard t...

Barca On their Way to Wembley

by
Barca On their Way to Wembley OverviewPlenty controversy still hung over this fixture following last week’s ill-tempered Bernabéu clash, as Madrid looked to overcome a two-goal deficit at the home of their arch-rivals. Barcelona welcomed back Andres Iniesta in their only change from the first leg, as the visitors ha...

Barcelona and Messi Deliver Again

by
Barcelona and Messi Deliver Again OverviewIt took 75 minutes for this year's 4th El Clasico to produce a spark of excitement. Before Messi's instinctive tap-in which gave Barcelona a 1-0 lead, Pinto (Barcelona's reserve keeper), Pepe, and Mourinho had all been sent off. Also there were yellow cards for Arbeloa, Ramos (suspended for ...