Here we go again! Week 1 Espanyol v Real Valladolid La Liga Kick off. Interesting to see if the wonder kid Sergio Asenjo (Valladolid goalie) keeps on with outstanding performances as last season. Espanyol might be in the run of UEFA sports but might also well struggle and fight to avoid the relegation. Valladolid's tartget is to have a placid season avoiding the relegation. Valencia v Real Mallorca Valencia is a team built to be in the run for La Liga... but its internal problems may drop them to low position as last season. Without Guiza, Ibagaza, Jonás and Navarro (four key players) Mallorca might face problems during the season. Athletic de Bilbao v Almería Athletic was the positive note last season. Their no non-basque-blooded policy has closed their chance the last 25 years, yet they finished as runners-up not so long ago. Let's see if the new academy players do the job... They have just sold Aduriz, a huge lost for them. Almería might struggle this year. New coach, no new big names Atlético de Madrid v Málaga Atlético is that type of team that you can expect the best and the worse within just a week. If they're on tune, they will be a strong contender for La Liga, but might well lose their chances to get even a UEFA spot if they lose the path as they use to do... Málaga is with Numancia, the clear favourite for the relegation Real Betis v Recreativo de Huelva Two teams that you can't safely say which role they will play this season. They're in the bunch of teams (most of La Liga) that might be in the run for Europe or in the relegation zone. Sporting de Gijón v Getafe Glad to see Sporting back on business after 10 years, a hard job ahead for them due their financial problems, but they have a good chance to stay up. New coach, new players, but Getafe will stay up there in the run for Europe. Excellent job of his chairman. Racing de Santander v Sevilla Racing was one of last season surprises, getting his first apparence in Europe. This season will be hard for them, and it's not clear their roster can compete in both competitions with enough chances. Barcelona aside, Sevilla has been the team that has shown better spectacle during the pre-season. Keep an eye on them, they might be in the run again. Numancia v Barcelona With just €4.5m budget, Numancia is the clear favorite to get relegated... if they stay up, it would be a miracle. That said, every game at Los Pajaritos (small pitch, cold place, tough defence) is a pain in the ass for everyone... Barcelona is the strong favorite for the title. Good new signings in their weakest spots, getting rid of the problems and maintaining the style Osasuna v Villarreal Interesting match. Osasuna ain't an easy team to play, specially away, probably the hottest away fixture for almost everyone. I always get the feeling they underachieve. Villarreal is the current runner-up. They have signed just 5 players... but all quality: Ibagaza (Mallorca), Edmilson (Barcelona), Llorente (Valladolid), Flores (River Plate Uruguay), Altidore (New York Red Bulls) keeping the important ones bar Martín Cáceres. It will be interesting to see if they can compete in two competitions as La Liga and Cl at the same time. A team that is built to be in the run for everything, playing quality football. Deportivo de La Coruña v Real Madrid Depor is in a rebuild process without money... relying in young guys. Yet they made a UEFA spot last season, and they might well continue in that role. Real is struggling in La Coruña since 1991 (or so) They are the holders now, but not the favorite. They have just signed Van der Vaart and Schuster ain't happy of the situation. Robinho wants to go and might create problems in the dressing room. Too aged team in the forward positions with no clear replacement for Van Nistelrooy. Anyway noone might rule out of the run of everything
Espanyol 1-0 Valladolid 1-0 Luis García 46' Valencia 3-0 Mallorca 1-0 Villa 34' 2-0 Mata 37' 3-0 Vicente 81' Pretty interesting game at Mestalla. Valencia looked sharp at might have scored a bunch
Mata's a gun, Madrid must be shooting themselves let's see how long vicente can play before being injured again..
3-0 flattered them a bit though, Mallorca had some chances especially in the first half. At least their defense was solid enough, last season they were absolutely woeful at the back.
Good start for once for Atlético... Barcelona lost in Soria (5 games played there... no wins and one lost...) with several chances missed. Real continue his good streat in La Coruña... they don't win there since 1992 Valencia 3-0 Mallorca 1-0 Villa (34') 2-0 Mata (37') 3-0 Vicente (81') Numancia 1-0 Barcelona 1-0 Mario (12') Atlético 4-0 Málaga 1-0 Heitinga (26') 2-0 Forlán (38') 3-0 Forlán, p. (43') 4-0 Sinama Pongolle (80') Athletic 1-3 Almería 0-1 Pellerano (7') 0-2 Negredo (33') 0-3 Ortiz (50') 1-3 Vélez (57') Osasuna 1-1 Villarreal 0-1 (54') 1-1 Nekounam (69') Betis 0-1 Recreativo 0-1 Adrián Colunga (35') Sporting 1-2 Getafe 0-1 Albín (14') 1-1 Diego Castro (35') 1-2 Casquero (86') Racing 1-1 Sevilla 0-1 Luis Fabiano (70') 1-1 Juanjo (75') Deportivo 2-1 R. Madrid 1-0 Mista (26') 1-1 Van Nistelrooy (47') 2-1 Lopo (51') Espanyol 1-0 Valladolid 1-0 Luis García (46') Code: P W D L G A Pts. 1 Atlético 1 1 0 0 4 0 3 2 Valencia 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3 Almería 1 1 0 0 3 1 3 4 Deportivo 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 5 Getafe 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 6 Espanyol 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 7 Numancia 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 8 Recreativo 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 9 Osasuna 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 10 Racing 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 11 Sevilla 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 12 Villarreal 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 13 R. Madrid 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 14 Sporting 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 15 Barcelona 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 16 Betis 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 17 Valladolid 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 18 Athletic 1 0 0 1 1 3 0 19 Mallorca 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 20 Málaga 1 0 0 1 0 4 0
Atleti are going to be big this season, i can feel it. I think they'll break the top 2 lock if they can keep going, Aguero and Forlan will be a massive partnership. Mark my words, Aguero for la liga's best player this season (not sure if he got the award for it last season, but he pretty much was la liga's best player last season as well). Although i hope i'm wrong and Villa gets la liga's best player
Going for Messi to be La Liga's player of the year barring injuries. I think he's just way too good for the whole league.
Yeah, I predict big things from Aguero this season. Is he a certain starter for Argentina at the moment? I get the feeling that Atletico might also be a force in the champions league aswell. They have sensibly reinforced in defence and managed to hold onto their star attacking players. I believe that facing Torres will actually motivate them more. Atletico are almost always the biggest spenders in the transfer market but it's also almost always the wrong choice of players that are bought. But I think this year's and the previous year's transfers have been much wiser.
This was the first time since 1939 that Barcelona and Real Madrid both lost the first day... that year Atlético won the league
Barcelona 1-1 Rácing 1-0 Messi (70') 1-1 Pereira (76') Valladolid 2-1 Atlético de Madrid 1-0 Vivar Dorado (3') 2-0 Baraja (28') 2-1 Agüero (54') Sevilla 4-3 Sporting 0-1. Bilic (17') 0-2. Bilic (20') 1-2. Chevantón (21') 2-2. Kanouté (36') 3-2. Maresca (37') 3-3. Bilic (45') 4-3. Kanouté (59') Barcelona struggle to beat Rácing at home. A strange game where Barcelona shooted no less than 25 times, included a bar and Rácing did it just once... and was a goal. We should have won comfortably the game, but sometimes Toño (Rácing keeper, excellent performance) and other the referee (a clear penalty not given for a foul on Iniesta, plus at least two Rácing players should have been sent off -Rácing display yesterday was specially hard, i'd say violent... Hleb injured for a month at least) didn't allow us a welll deserved win. Anyway, if we play and create chances as yesterday, we won't have any problem to edge the league. Atlético struggle in Valladolid as expected... Valladolid, who was one man down after the 1-0 resisted and stopped Atlético. Valencia's Baraja brother scored a goal. Thrilling game in Sevilla. The just promoted Sporting leaded 0-2 in the first minutes, but Sevilla's reaction was outstanding. Excellent game to watch that could have ended with a much higher score.
