Graham Hunter
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Sevilla party will have to be extended if cup is secured this time
I reckon that few of us who’ve holidayed on Spain’s Costa del Sol would place Marbella in the category of resorts which are “a quiet haven of restraint away from the madness”.
Graham Hunter: Sorry sight for hero as goodbye seems to be the hardest word
Sport is beautiful, but sport is cruel. To some extent it’s the law of the jungle – you survive, and emerge, if you’re the fittest, the toughest, the nastiest. The “best” doesn’t always cut it. And, eventually, everyone gets gobbled up.
Graham Hunter: Ronaldo’s Turin goal something to adore – even Juve fans agree
Everybody’s talking about the beautiful thing which happened in Turin this week – Ronaldo’s goal.
Graham Hunter: Large questions being asked but Messi can still hold on to dream
Almost as iconic this week as the sight of Spain’s sixth goal fizzing past Willy Caballero to complete Isco’s hat-trick against the 2014 World Cup finalists was Leo Messi demonstrating that the pain of it all was too much.
Graham Hunter: Barcelona’s Gomes needs support after admitting to his problem with pressure
Messi would vomit. Per Mertesacker would urgently visit the loo dozens of time a day before a match.
Graham Hunter: Give awards to natural goalscorers who are the shape of Wissam
Sometimes stats just don’t matter.
Graham Hunter: The Spanish high life is not always as green on other side
Not many weeks go by without someone asking for my help in order to come and work in Spain.
Atleti can bring title race to life and I will toast them if they do
The smug, obese man sat there sweating profusely.
Graham Hunter: Messi can turn it off and turn it on again … look out when it’s on
As I was on my way to the Jose Mourinho press conference in Sevilla my mobile phone rang and I got a nice wee adrenaline buzz from the fact that it was one of my all-time favourite players.
Graham Hunter: There are two Ronnies: One’s a rare ‘bug’ and the other a raging bull
In Spain there are many who call Cristiano Ronaldo “El Bicho”.
Graham Hunter: Football fans? They’re all hypocrites. What do you mean like me!
As a feisty, some have said chippy, Scot I can freely admit that, much though I love my adopted country, there are dozens of people around Spain who to this day don’t know how close I came to chinning them when i first arrived to live here all those years ago.
Graham Hunter: Leganes living the dream after festive cracker of a bail-out
Basically, it’s the Christmas miracle which keeps on giving.
Graham Hunter: Real Madrid’s defeat to Leganés was like Goliath losing to David’s girlfriend
It goes without saying that were Madrid coached by anyone other than, say, Florentino Perez’s son then he’d be in the dole queue this morning.
Graham Hunter: Beating Atlético was best birthday present Sevilla could imagine
Sevilla FC turned 128 on Thursday. So if you want to sing Happy Birthday in Spanish to the same tune we use in the UK and send it to them, go right ahead: “Cumpleaños feliz, cumpleaños feliz ...”
Graham Hunter: Ronaldinho was like rock ’n’ roll hero but his timing went awry
On the face of it, Ronaldinho conjured up the timing of a true showman when he chose to announce his retirement just as Coutinho arrived at Barcelona.
Graham Hunter: Real Madrid on slide but can Zidane open door to escape route?
It has always intrigued me greatly that football, like ordinary life, has “sliding doors” moments.
Graham Hunter: Logic has no bearing on Coutinho Sudoku that needs a solution
On the face of it, the Coutinho operation should be nice and simple for FC Barcelona.
Graham Hunter: Real Madrid are kings – but Barca regularly pull their pants down
Sometimes you really need to understand the context in order to appreciate things properly.
Graham Hunter: How to stop Messi is Clasico’s fascinating conundrum for Madrid
It was perfect timing, just ahead of Madrid hosting Barça tomorrow lunchtime at their magnificent Santiago Bernabéu stadium ...
Graham Hunter: Can Sevilla topple the mighty Red Devils in Spain? No way, Jose!
Alex Ferguson’s arrival at Old Trafford in November 1986 saw a gradual flood of fans flying from Aberdeen to Manchester every couple of weeks for United’s home games.
Graham Hunter: Mascherano working behind the scenes in bid to help Argentina
In theory this is the time when the Little Boss must come to Barcelona’s rescue. Again.
Graham Hunter: One for all and all for fun was Spain’s way, but England learning
Read Graham Hunter's latest column here.
Graham Hunter: Barca know what’s at stake as they take on Marcelino’s Valencia
You only needed to take a look at the Barcelona bench away to Juventus to understand how much Valencia have got under the skin of La Liga’s leaders.
Graham Hunter: Sofa? Lampshade? Even I have no Ikea if Messi will stay or go
Since I moved to Spain I’ve been witness to some properly remarkable events while covering the greatest football the world’s ever seen.
Graham Hunter: It’s not the same Aviemore … delight at seeing the Auld Enemy gubbed seems a thing of the past now
It’s my adopted country, their football has given me almost unparalleled joy over the years, my kids have grown up here and I do love most things about Spain
Graham Hunter: Here come the English as Spanish clubs look lost … or is it a blip?
Well, there’s a very strong chance that we’ve just suffered the weakest week of European football by Spanish clubs since I moved over to Iberia 15 years ago in my single-handed bid to make La Liga’s clubs Uefa-dominant.
Graham Hunter: Lineker! Up your game on Karim before you make a nada mistake
Without a hint of vindictiveness or nastiness I’m obliged to tell you that when Gary Lineker opined on Karim Benzema the other night he was talking absolute, unadorned, ill-informed garbage.
Graham Hunter: ‘Young England’ can boost Premier League quality
You’d need to be obtuse beyond belief not to notice that something exciting is happening in English football. And, no, it’s not the return of the Premier League.
Graham Hunter: Your country needs YOU – so just think how Messi must feel
Apologies in advance but I’m going to put you under pressure this beautiful Friday.
Graham Hunter: Pique a side as tears and passions run high in electoral match-up
I promise, scout’s honour, that this will be one of the very few occasions when the dirty word “politics” scars the sports pages of the Evening Express.