Villarreal kept their Europa League hopes alive with an incident-packed victory over Lazio in Group G. Robert Pires put the home side in front with less than two minutes gone and Lazio were reduced to 10 men moments later. Ruben Cani made it 2-0 and the game was effectively over when Pires scored his second from the penalty spot after 14 minutes.

Villarreal were also reduced to 10 men after 31 minutes when Gonzalo Rodriguez was dismissed, but Pasquale Foggia blasted the resulting penalty off the bar. (more…)

Hull are ready to rival Fulham in a bid for highly-rated America striker Jozy Altidore.

The 19-year-old is with Spanish club Villarreal and shot to prominence in June with the first goal for in the USA’s 2-0 Confederations Cup semi-final victory over Spain. (more…)

He’s getting murdered left and right by media and fans alike here in the United States while all the talk in Italy is that he should be back playing his club ball in the country he’s representing, but Giuseppe Rossi could very well be on his way to Juventus after confirmation from Sporting Director Alessio Secco that the club might be willing to match Villareal’s asking price.

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55 year old Chilean born Manuel Pellegrini just seems like one of those coaches you’d want to have the opportunity to play for, the type that gives his players the utmost confidence going into matches where they’re probably a bit over matched, but just don’t realize it because of the confidence instilled by the coaching staff.

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Only days before their Tuesday night UEFA Champions League Quarter - Final match up with Premiership side Arsenal, Villareal suffered a double whammy Saturday with Spanish International Santi Cazorla set to miss the rest of the La Liga season after breaking his fibula during their humiliating 3 - nil to UD Almeria.

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Jozy Altidore and Giuseppe Rossi are new buds at Villareal (translation from club website).

“Rossi, who lived his early years in the U.S., and Jozy Altidore, American by birth, form an inseperable duo both on and off the field. The ongoing language barrier has favored Altidore to be supported by Rossi at the moment of integrating into the group. “He’s my best friend. He’s helping me out a lot in the locker room and, besides, we have a lot in common,” Jozy commented…”

Image via ABCNEWS and MCalcio

It’s always great to see a young player’s dreams realized.

But it’s even better when you get to hear what it’s like to land, head to the hospital for a physical, put pen to paper, have lunch with the Prez and then be introduced to the fans from the player in his own words.

Congrats Jozy…