Sporting Gijon 1 - 6 Barcelona
By far Barça's best performance of the season saw them utterly stun Sporting with a thrilling win at El Molinón...
Barcelona came into the match with just one point from their opening two league matches, and they were desperate to kick start their campaign with a solid victory. There were brief glimpses of class in the 3-1 Champions League victory over Sporting in midweek, giving Pep Guardiola a degree of optimism that his players were beginning to find their stride.
Sporting, despite losing their opening two matches, have been slightly unlucky to do so, and fought valiantly in Seville on La Liga matchday two, before eventually succumbing to a 4-3 defeat.
Sporting started with the divisions’ top scorer Bilic up front on his own, while midfielder Sergio Busquets surprisingly kept his place for the Blaugrana ahead of Bojan. Thierry Henry missed out due to a throat infection, so Eto’o once more spearheaded the attack.
First Half
Barcelona began brightly, with Xavi (2’) bringing out a smart save from Sanchez, with the big keeper saving low at his near post with Eto’o lurking in the vicinity.
Bilic caused Abidal some brief concern early on, while at the other end Messi (12’) carved himself a glimpse of an opportunity, but Sanchez dealt with his effort from twenty yards comfortably.
The home fans then became incensed as Bilic (17’) went down heavily under a challenge from Busquets. Replays show Busquets clearly took the ball, and after some gesturing and eventually hobbling from the field, he unsurprisingly returned moments later moving freely.
To give some idea of the gulf in quality, Barca has spent around 90m Euros this summer, to Gijon’s mere 100,000. But for all the away sides’ early dominance of possession and slick interplay, Sporting did not become unnerved and stuck staunchly to their task of keeping their illustrious opponents at bay.
Then Barca raised the tempo.
Messi began marauding around with his usual menacing nature. He skipped past two defenders in the box but dragged his shot across goal. Still, he was moving through the gears and represented Barcelona’s purposeful opening.
This was highlighted moments later as the Argentinean scooped it wide to Iniesta, who’s beautiful first touch took the ball into his stride, but his shot was deflected inches wide for a corner. As the corner count mounted, it appeared to be a matter of time, and minutes later the deadlock was broken. Iniesta turned Sastre inside out before chipping the ball to a completely unmarked Xavi (27’), who nodded home from eight yards. It was too easy – and no more than Barcelona deserved.
Victor Valdes had become a spectator as the Catalan side camped in the home sides half. They smelled blood, and knew a second goal would end this match as a contest. It wasn’t long in coming. Xavi swung in yet another corner, Puyol leapt to head goalwards, and Eto’o (33’) used all of his striking instincts to nod home from underneath the crossbar. 2-0 after thirty three minutes, and the aforementioned gulf in quality was plain to see. Barca had turned a potentially tricky away fixture into a procession before half time.
Sporting enjoyed a spell of possession before half-time, but only because they were given time to do so by Barcelona. They did briefly rally when Diego Castro went down under a challenge from Marquez, but only a corner was given. Barca regained control, and but for a poor touch by Iniesta (44’) after he was played in by Messi, it would have been three. Half-time and no-one in El Molinon could argue with the scoreline.
Second Half
The second half began as the first had ended - Messi on the move. He skipped down the left, but seeing no support in the centre, jinked inside two, three, four then five defenders before striking a shot which deflected for a corner. Xavi swung the ball in, and the unfortunate Jorge (47’), headed past his own goalkeeper. 3-0 to the Blaugrana.
Game over? It should have been. But only minutes later, Gijon breathed new life into the contest as new signing Maldonado (50’) notched his first goal for the club. Bilic barged the ball into his path, and he slotted past Valdes from ten yards. The home fans went wild, and Barca once again showed their defensive frailties. You felt at this stage that a period of concerted pressure could give Puyol et al some serious problems.
But all hopes were extinguished soon after, as Gerard (56’) lunged in on Messi who had been clear on goal. A straight red card, and Gijon, who struggled to get near Barcelona with their full complement, now had to do it with ten men.
The match was over as a contest, with Gijon reshuffling to cope with the red card, and Barca happy to spray the ball around. Eto’o and Kieta had half chances, before Iniesta and that man Messi produced a picture-book fourth goal. The little Argentinean flicked a delicate pass through the Gijon defence and Iniesta (69’) burst through to dink the ball past the helpless Sanchez. Against ten men or not, some of Barcelona’s play was simply sublime and this was the goal that represented a real return of the understanding and awareness the players had showed so often under Frank Rijkaard.
You had to feel a little sorry for Sporting Gijon, and particularly for their fantastic supporters who continued to cheer on their side even as their opponents struck home goal after goal. They were a true credit to their club. The problem was that the Catalan side were always going to regain their rhythm at some point this season, and it was simply a case of who would be on the receiving end. Tonight, they clicked, and with Lionel Messi in this kind of imperious form, very few defences in the world will get anywhere near him. And five minutes from the end he got the goal his play deserved. Iniesta, who was also excellent tonight, crossed from the left, and the deflection on the cross took the ball into Messi’s(85’) path and he volleyed home from six yards.
But he wasn’t finished yet. Four minutes later Xavi chipped it to the penalty spot and Messi (89’) headed home powerfully. Both he and Barcelona were simply fantastic, and the rest of La Liga should take note of this master-class in attacking football. Barca are back.
REAL SPORTING DE GIJÓN 1-6 FC BARCELONA
0-1 Xavi 26'
0-2 Eto'o 32'
0-3 Jorge (og) 47'
1-3 Maldonado 50'
1-4 Iniesta 69'
1-5 Messi 85'
1-6 Messi 89'
Sporting (4-5-1): Sanchez; Sastre, Camara, Jorge, Canella; Matabuena (Michel 45’), Gerard, Diego Castro, Maldonado (Kike Mateo 62’), Carmello; Bilic (David Barral 58’)
Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes; Dani Alves, Puyol, Marquez, Abidal; Busquets (Caceres 81’), Xavi, Kieta (Gudjohnsen 71’); Iniesta, Messi, Eto’o (Bojan 68’)
Booked: Camara (7’), Carmelo (40’)
Sent Off: Gerard (56’)
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Goals Galore In Gijón For Barcelona
La Liga Preview: Barcelona - Racing
Barcelona (15th, 0pts) v Racing Santander (10th, 1pt)
20:00 CET - Saturday, September 13, 2008
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Whether the international break was a blessing for Barcelona after their opening day defeat against Numancia or prolonged the inquisition into why they lost will matter little as the team will be expected to start their season this weekend when Racing Santander visit Camp Nou.
Life for the Blaugrana is never without pressure and the fact that they were beaten in Los Parajitos gave the critics and the philosophers of the game time to say everything that they wanted as the World Cup qualifiers took priority almost as soon as the final whistles blew around the country two weeks ago.
Barça had such a convincing pre-season that losing to Numancia was seen as even more of a shock than the fact they lost to a newly-promoted team who had never beaten them before and were only starting out on only their fourth ever campaign in the Spanish top flight.
Pep Guardiola's team of superstars looked bereft of ideas and enthusiasm as they came up against a wall of defenders and once the hosts had taken the lead it rarely looked likely that the Blaugrana were going to reproduce the goal gluts that had been so evident in Scotland and the United States.
Warning signs were there as only days before Barça were beaten by Wisla Kraków, but many chose to ignore that as the visitors in Poland had won the first game by four goals and a lack of inspiration was blamed. That excuse could not be used against Numanica, but luckily for Barcleona both those games now seem like distant history.
Madrid Reverse
Many pundits and fans think that losing the opening game could have been the wake-up call that Guardiola and his players required after receiving so much praise in the build-up and things were certainly eased when Real Madrid were beaten by Deportivo La Coruña later the same evening.
This Saturday however, there will be no excuses should Racing take anything other than a sound beating back to Cantabria with them as the new era that is required to start at the club has to kick into gear in style or risk seeing confidence plummet.
While Racing have had only two players away on international duty, Guardiola has been left with just five first-team players to train and prepare with and has just one training session on Friday evening and one on Saturday morning to prepare his squad.
That should still be enough time given that the length of pre-season was longer than normal and that the club have not lost their opening home league fixture for 20 seasons, with Sevilla being the last side to record a victory in 1987-88.
The new additions have had time to settle in with Seydou Keita, Dani Alves, Gerard Piqué and Martín Cáceres all joining prior to the start of pre-season and Aliaksandr Hleb joining with enough time to play in some of the warm-up matches.
Guardiola accepted the blame for the defeat against Numancia as he stated that most of the players did not pick up his instructions well enough, but there will be little doubt about their roles before the second game.
Racing Times
With the new coach earning nothing but praise from his players, the squad will be keen to take the pressure off the former Barça playmaker and prove that it was their lack of ideas and creativity and not his inability to communicate that hampered them in Los Parajitos.
Changes have been rife at Racing too with coach Marcelino deciding to drop down a division and take over at Real Zaragoza despite leading the Cantabrian outfit into Europe for the first time in their history during his first campaign in charge.
Four players left when their loan deals ran out and six others have gone, although none can be considered to have been keys to the club's success last term. Only Aldo Duscher's departure to Sevilla and, arguably, Jorge López's transfer to Real Zaragoza, won any headlines.
Perhaps one of the best pieces of business that the modest club did do was to sell their star defender, Ezequiel Garay to Real Madrid and then borrow him back for a campaign while they look for his replacement.
The Argentinian centre-back was due to join Barça and only this week accusations about why the deal did not go through have been made publicly by various officials from both sides and makes his arrival at Camp Nou all the more interesting.
RECENT FORM
Barcelona
31/08 A 0-1 Numancia
27/08 A 0-1 Wisla Kraków
16/08 H 2-1 Boca Juniors
13/08 H 4-0 Wisla Kraków
06/08 A 6-2 New York Red Bulls
04/08 A 5-2 Guadalajara
Racing Santander
31/08 H 1-1 Sevilla
24/08 A 2-1 San Fernando
23/08 A 2-1 Xerez
19/08 A 1-1 Eibar
16/08 A 1-2 Osasuna
05/08 A 3-2 Olympiakos
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona
Guardiola has called up 20 players for the game with only Rafa Márquez and Martín Cáceres being left out after their long trips. Albert Jorquera and Gaby Milito are both still out injured. Lionel Messi only returned on Friday morning, but he trained in the evening and stated that he was ready and raring to go.
Squad: Valdés, Pinto, Puyol, Alves, Piqué, Abidal, Sylvinho, Touré Yaya, Busquets, Keita, Gudjohnsen, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Víctor Sánchez, Henry, Bojan, Hleb, Eto'o, Messi.
Racing Santander
Juan Ramón López Muñiz named his squad after the team's last training session before they departed for Barcelona on Friday morning and has included 18 players in the trip.
Squad: Toño, Coltorti, Pinillos, Oriol, Marcano, Laucen, Colsa, Gonçalves, Pereira, Munitis, Tchité, Serrano, Cristian, Juanjo, Garay, Luccin, Valera, Edu Bedía.
PREDICTION
The so-called bad luck in front of goal that Guardiola and the players all complained about two weeks ago cannot happen again in this encounter or Barça could be considered to be in a mini-crisis after just a couple of games into the new season. Racing will come to defend, but they are an unknown quantity and that could be factor. With the crowd behind them, although many regulars are away for the bridge weekend, will give the team a lift and it is all set up for them to net a few if they can open their account early on.
Barcelona 4 - 1 Racing Santander
Lucas Brown, Goal.com
No Grudges Against Robinho - Casillas
Spain’s goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas says that he does not hold any resentment towards Robinho after the Brazilian superstar decided to leave Real Madrid.
Robinho caused quite a ruckus at the Real Madrid camp during the summer when he made his now infamous public pleas to leave the Santiago Bernabéu.
He was eventually allowed to leave to sign for
“It is not something I am pre-occupied with because it’s all in the past. Every player decides on their own future and Robinho has chosen to leave Real Madrid,” the Spanish international captain revealed during La Selección’s press conference.
“I am grateful for what he has done for the team and I wish him all the best in
Casillas was then asked if Robinho’s exit coupled with the club’s failure to sign their intended targets, such as the player who was sitting next to him in the press call, David Villa, has disrupted the squad dynamics.
“I don’t think it has changed anything. And I do not believe that these players said no to Real Madrid.
“They all want to come but obviously, there are negotiations and it is necessary to come to an agreement first,” he theorized.
Real
Bojan Debut Not A Priority
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has played down the importance of young Bojan Krkic’s debut this Saturday in their opening World Cup qualifiers and declared that the team’s interest will come first.
Questions have been raised about del Bosque’s starting XI for his very first competitive outing with the national team. The injuries to attackers Fernando Torres and David Silva have opened the door for other players to make their mark and one of them is Bojan.
The recently turned 18 year old made the La Roja squad in the friendly against
The Spanish press are now interested if the teenager will get a glimpse of first team action this Saturday against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the World Cup qualifiers, but del Bosque was not too concerned about that.
“Bojan is just one of the 19 players that we have and we will use him if we need to. But whether or not he makes his debut is not a priority question,” revealed the 57 year during the team’s press conference.
Del Bosque acknowledged that the nation will head into the qualifiers with a big target on their backs as European champions, but he assured that he is well equipped to handle the situation.
“I am accustomed to the pressure. The team that I coached before was a team that everyone wanted to beat,” he remarked slyly, referring to his former club, Real Madrid.
“But we are our biggest enemy. We are conscious of what we have achieved in the past but the future starts tomorrow against
“It will be a long campaign but we have very little margin for error. We have to apply ourselves from the first minute,” he concluded.
KS LeongSpanish Debate: Are Raúl's Spain Days Over?
Ewan Macdonald asks if Raúl is destined never to pull on the red shirt of España again in light of his being left out of yet another international squad...
Raúl used to wear the Spanish captain's armband on international nights for La Furia Roja. Now he no doubt wears a silk robe as he sits in his plus living room watching the games from afar.It's quite a come-down for a man still revered by many fans of the national side as a hero, but it's one that could prove irreversible after new boss Vicente del Bosque yet again left him out of the squad.
The initial pool of players called up for the impending World Cup qualifiers with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Armenia was, unsurprisingly, without Raúl. Having missed out on Euro 2008, those players who did bring continental success to the Iberian peninsula were naturally (and quite correctly) favoured. But when Fernando Torres withdrew due to injury the door seemed open for Raúl.
Instead, though, Bojan Krkic - already a member of the international squad, but one robbed of a debut due to injury - was called up as Del Bosque put his faith in the youth. Raúl was sidelined yet again.
Grim Ending
This means that the Madrid boy's last appearance in a red shirt came against Northern Ireland way back in 2006. As if one needs reminding, this was that game at Winsdor Park - a nadir for the modern Spanish side as they lost out 3-2 to a David Healy hat-trick.
He may have played all 90 minutes, but his card was marked as an international under Luis Aragonés. Never again would he play under the 'Wise Man of Hortaleza', and what's more, he was barely even under consideration.
At the time - late 2006, early 2007 - it in fact seemed to be the right decision as Raúl's domestic form took a dip. But thousands of 'Raúlistas' across Spain disputed the manager's choice - on one notable occasion some months later, a television personality donned a Raúl masked and heckled Aragonés until the manager responded with some choice shouts of his own. Yet it stood.
In the end Spain finished their Euro 2008 qualification campaign in strong fashion, but Raúl was beginning to hit top form at home, too. Madrid marched to the 2007-08 title with the captain front and centre of their efforts, and the call was renewed for him to return to the squad.
Comeback?
However, he did not. Having been overheard telling Luis at a party that he would be at Euro 2008 come hell or high water, the country's top goalscorer later convened a press conference - with Aragonés by his side, amazingly enough - asking the press to leave the issue alone "for the good of Spain."
This was a fairly magnamonious gesture, but one that also highlighted the futility of his attempting to get back into the squad. Aragonés did not trust him - whether this was for on-pitch or off-pitch reasons was never entirely made clear - and despite the call of many to include the resurgent blanco in the Euro 2008 squad, he stayed at home. (Incidentally, virtually all of Goal.com's Spanish team backed Raúl for Euro 2008.)
Undaunted, Spain went on to win the tournament in quite spectacular fashion, Raúl no doubt looking wistfully on. But with Aragonés leaving and his former Madrid coach coming into the hotseat, a comeback may have been on the cards.
Del Bosque
Yet it has not be. There has been no reunion for the coach and his player: Del Bosque, who has done admirably well to keep the tabloids at bay in this issue, has stated that form and form alone dictates call-ups. Raúl, dipping back to 2006 levels of performance, simply hasn't got what it takes, sayeth del Bosque.
And this is key. Aragonés occasionally raised the form issue, but more often than not his smirking demeanour suggested that there were other factors at play. Were there? It's certainly possible. Talk of a small 'mafia' running the dressing room on international meetings probably had a hint of truth to it. But Aragonés wouldn't either confirm or deny such issues. He allowed gossip to rule the airwaves and influence his selection. The sensible thing to do would have been to deny everything and say that Raúl didn't fit his tactics, or his form wasn't quite up to it. Del Bosque has done this, and as such the silence in the press is golden.
In this way Spain have dodged a Beckham-esque bullet. Fabio Capello's early tenure in charge of England has been dogged by speculation over the former Madrid man - will he play, won't he? Will he be the captain, won't he? It's clear to see that such concerns have distracted manager, player, and squad alike when there are far more pressing issues - such as winning matches - to attend to. Admittedly Capello's situation is a little different: England are at a time of transition, while Spain are on a winning streak; Beckham, too, was inches away from his 100th cap while Raúl has already passed the century mark. But overall del Bosque has done well to turn the focus away from Raúl - and to his immense credit, so has the man himself.
That's right: it's now all about form, at least publicly. No matter what's going on behind the scenes, del Bosque has started the public discourse on his terms, and now he's mostly being left alone to complete the job that he was appointed for.
Let's put it this way. If he doesn't play again it is for the good of the Spanish national side. If he does, it's for the good of the Spanish national side. That, surely, is how it should be. Aragonés will be remembered as a winner, but this is one lesson that he didn't quite pick up.
Ewan Macdonald, Goal.com
What do you think? Has Raúl earned a shot at the current squad? If not, do you think he can ever fight his way back into contention? Let us know your thoughts.
Seguir leyendo...
Official: Manchester City Sign Robinho
Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has confirmed that the club have sold Robinho to Manchester City and that they may try to make a big signing in January...
Chelsea have been chasing the Brazilian for a number of weeks now, with new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari having made it clear that the Real Madrid star, along with Deco, were his two transfer targets upon being appointed as Blues boss.The 24-year-old finished the season happy with the Spanish champions, but became unsettled when murmurs in the press emerged that he could be used as a makeweight in Madrid's pursuit of Manchester United ace Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, as that move collapsed, Robinho remained open to leaving Madrid, despite their best efforts to keep the player. Coach Bernd Schuster is thought to have always wanted the former Santos star to stay at the club, but higher-ups within the club were willing to let him leave if Cristiano Ronaldo were to arrive.
Chelsea have pursued Robinho very much in the same manner that Madrid chased Ronaldo earlier in the summer, and despite Madrid's disappointment with the Blues' behaviour, the player himself has remained adamant that he wants to leave the club, even arranging a press conference on Sunday to push for a move to Chelsea.
Madrid have remained adamant that no players would be leaving or arriving in the remaining days of the transfer window, but now appear to have changed their tune as City, who were taken over by Abu Dhabi Group for Development and Investment today, now have even more money than they did under Thaksin Shinawatra, who sold the club today after just over a year in charge. The Citizens will now sign Robinho for a reported British record transfer fee of €42 million - despite missing out on Dimitar Berbatov to rivals Manchester United - and offer the forward a staggering €6 million per year, after tax.
"We have sold Robinho for reasons of human nature," Calderon told Canal Veo TV. "The fact is that we have accepted an offer for Manchester City, and that he is not going for sporting reasons.
"I can't rule out a new signing in December, now that [without Robinho] we have a free slot. But right now there's nobody in the market that we can move for."
The club have also officially announced the deal on their official website: "Real Madrid Football Club has finally decided this evening to transfer their player, Robson da Souza 'Robinho', to Manchester City."
Tears
It is being reported that Robinho was in tears at the thought of not being allowed to leave the club and threatened to go to Brazil and not return until he was sold.
"Manchester City have made a dramatic late deadline-day swoop for Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Robinho," read a statement on City's website.
"The deal to bring the 24-year-old was completed shortly before the midnight cut-off point, and he has signed a four-year contract."
One of the best in the world
City boss Mark Hughes could not hide his delight after a successful summer during his first few months at the club. “I am absolutely delighted to get the opportunity to work with such an incredible talent like Robinho," he told the club's website.
"I have said that in order to compete with the best teams in the Premier League we have to be in the market for players of this calibre, and Robinho is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world.
“I am really looking forward to introducing him to the rest of the squad, and to the City fans at the earliest opportunity. This is a real statement of intent as to the ambitions of Manchester City Football Club.”
Sulmaan Ahmad, Goal.com Seguir leyendo...
Madrid Made Agüero Move Last Week
Real Madrid saw a cheeky bid for Sergio Agüero turned down by neighbours Atlético de Madrid for Sergio Agüero last week as they look to make one more signing before the transfer window closes.
Los Merengues' quest to add another star name to their ranks this summer reached desperate measures when they made an enuiry about the Argentinian, according to Sport.Aüero has vowed never to play for Madrid due to their rivalry with Atlético and he is said to have been pleased that the club did not even entertain the offer.
The report states that Madrid were told that the player was not for sale by Atleti president Enrique Cerezo and announced that they could match his buy.out clause of €55m.
That is unlikely given Agüero's reluctance to move and Madrid not wanting to become embroiled in another transfer saga after a summer of failed attempts to sign new players.
Robinho added to the sense of a things having gone wrong at the club this summer due to the focus placed on chasing Cristiano Ronaldo when he stated that he wants to leave at a press conference.
Madrid now want to sell him to Chelsea after signing a replacement and they reported to be making enquiries about players with Valencia's Joaquín still very much on the agenda.
David Villa signed a new contract with Valencia as Madrid made their interest in him known and even news that Bernd Schuster still think he could join will not see a move go through.
Lucas Brown, Goal.com Seguir leyendo...
Joaquín Rejected Big Move
Valencia winger Joaquín will remain at the Mestalla at least for the remainder of the year after rejecting a last minute offer to move abroad.
Joaquín’s immediate future will remain in the white of
Madrid-based sports daily Marca has speculated that one of those clubs may have been either Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan (who has since snapped up Ricardo Quaresma) or Juande Ramos’ Tottenham Hotspur.
The player’s agent has already contacted the
Defiant Deportivo Stun Madrid
Deportivo 2 - 1 Real Madrid
Real Madrid's problems continued on the pitch as they were beaten in the opening game of the new season in Riazor by Depor after a troubled few days off the pitch had seen the club in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
In a week that has seen the Robinho saga reach new heights after the player stated publicly that he wanted to leave and join Chelsea, Madrid were unable to earn themselves some good press by chalking up a morale-boosting win.
Instead they will see more questions being asked about what is going on at the club after losing to a Deportivo side that looked refreshed and determined to make an impression at the start of the new campaign.
Having spent the early part of the summer focussed on prising Cristiano Ronaldo away from Manchester United without success, Madrid required some good news with recent reports suggesting that they were becoming desperate in the search for new signings.
David Villa and Santi Cazorla have both said no and now Robinho has caused even more uproar by making his disillusionment at the club clear only weeks after claiming that he wanted to stay and help the club win many trophies.
A convincing performance and a win were required to stop any critics from voicing their opinions, but Madrid could be in for a tough week after they were beaten in Galicia by a Depor side that look set to put the last few seasons behind them.
Miguel Ángel Lotina's players qualified for the UEFA Cup while the majority of teams were playing pre-season friendlies and it clearly did them not harm as they looked fresh and competitive in front of an enthsuiastic home crowd.
It has been several seasons since there has been much for the Depor fans to truly shout about after their slide from grace has seen them flirt with relegation more often than they have been close to the top four.
But throughout all that time, the team have still managed to maintain their form and receive an annual boost when Madrid visit and this year was no different.
Madrid did not play badly, but they were missing that spark which they have spent the last few weeks looking to sign and only Arjen Robben offerd any serious pace going forward early on.
In the opening two minutes however, Deportivo gave an indication of what they coulkd do when Mista met Pablo Álvarez's low cross and lifted the ball up and on to Iker Casillas' crossbar.
Moments later Robben set off on a mazy run which ended with him going down in the area and being accused of looking for a penalty by the unimpressed home team's defenders.
Having played in Split against Hajduk in midweek, Depor could have bene forgiven for having tired legs, but there was no signs of fatigue as they closed down well and hassled Madrid throughout.
In the 27th minute the breakthrough came when Andrés Guardado picked up a short corner and his cross picked out Mista who was then able to head the ball downward in to the corner of the net.
Casillas remained stationary in a game where he did not look to be at his best, while Gabriel Heinze clearly stepped away from the scorer just before the centre came over.
Before the break Madrid did have chances with the first seeing Daniel Aranzubia save from Robben with his legs before Marcelo almost scored from distance when his cross-cum-shot clipped the top of the bar.
Whatever Bernd Schuster said at the break had the desired effect as his side drew level within two minutes of the restart when Van Nistelrooy struck a first time effort past Aranzubia.
The home side could well have opted to sat back and try and stay calm with Madrid looking set to take the upper hand, but nothing was further from Deportivo players' minds.
Instead, in the 52nd minute a corner once again exposed Madrid's defensive frailties in the air as Lopo rose unmarked to flick the ball into the far corner of the net.
That may have been the end of the scoring, but it was not the end of the chances with Mahamadou Diarrá testing Aranzbuia but that was the best chance the Madrid could produce as they went in search of an equaliser.
There was some concerns for Depor when substitute Riki pulled up clutching the back of his leg before stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury.
But that will not spoil what was a great start to the season for the hosts, while Madrid will have to regroup before they play again in two weeks and hope that they can start winning headlines for the right reasons soon.
Lucas Brown, Goal.com
Robinho Transfer Saved By Drogba?
El Mundo Deportivo reports that Robinho's move to Chelsea from Real Madrid could yet be back on the agenda after it hit the rocks. Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón is apparently willing to accept €25m plus Didier Drogba for the winger...
With reports this morning indicating that Robinho's move to London had broken down due to Madrid's failure to find a suitable replacement, MD proposes a solution that could already be in the works.With Madrid short on forward options but with plenty of wide talent, it could be the case that they seek a striker instead of a winger to compensate for the loss of the Brazilian.
Thus Didier Drogba, who had earlier entertained the notion of a move away from Stamford Bridge, could be on his way to the Spanish capital.
It is thought that Madrid will put to Chelsea the idea of the Blues' paying €25m and the Ivorian in exchange for Robinho, whom they annoucned was a major target on Wednesday.
Indeed, MD is confident that, even should Drogba stay put, Robinho will still make it to the Bridge before the transfer window slams shut after the weekend.
Drogba, 30, may provide competition to Ruud van Nistelrooy and Raúl in what would be an "old but gold" forward line.
Meanwhile Robinho is highly regarded by Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, as well as chief executive Peter Kenyon and midfielder Frank Lampard.
Steve Michaels, Goal.com Seguir leyendo...
Robinho Out, Huntelaar And Capel In
Real Madrid have agreed to sell Robinho to Chelsea for €35m and will spend the transfer fee on signing Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Diego Capel before the transfer window closes.
Robinho's transfer will be made official later this week, while Madrid will lodge bids for both Huntelaar and Capel as quickly as possible in order to open talks.
Negotiations with Sevilla will be swift as Madrid's offer of €15m matches Capel's buy-out clause and all that will have to be decided is whether or not the player wants to move.
The 20-year-old has stated in the past that the only club that he would leave the Andalucian outfit for is Madrid and now that will be tested with an official offer.
Huntelaar has been linked with several clubs, but Schuster's insistence that he have another striker before the start of the new campaign has pushed the board to make their move now.
Valencia are refusing to accept any offer for David Villa, so Madrid will press for the Ajax striker to join them in the next few days in a move which will delight the German trainer.
An initial offer of around €25m should see the Dutch club willing to open talks and the Bernabéu outfit will hope that the Netherlands contingent already in their ranks will help smooth the deal through.
Schuster has been keen to sort out the Robinho saga and add to his squad after becoming infuriated that the club's summer became focussed solely on the unsuccessful chase for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Lucas Brown, Goal.com
Dimas Relishing Barcelona Visit
Dimas Delgado is relishing the prospect of making his league debut for Numancia at the weekend against his former club Barcelona in Los Parajitos.
The Catalan midfielder was expected to push for a first team place with the Blaugrana this season, but instead chose to leave the club where he rose through the youth ranks.Numancia's promise of regular first team football was too difficult to resist and Dimas wants to prove himself because Barça do have a buy-back clause.
On Sunday, he plays in his first official game for the Soria outfit and thinks that coming up against several of his former team-mates in the Barcleona team will make it a special occasion.
"It gives added motivation," he said, before stating that he hopes his former Barça B coach, Pep Guardiola, succeeds at the helm.
"If there someone qualified to coach Barça then that is Pep Guardiola because he knows the club inside out."
Finally, Dimas stated that the visitors will not find it easy at the weekend because Numancia's modest stadium will be full and the fans will create a lot of noise.
"It will be very important for us to achieve a result and Barça may not be comfortable because of the atmosphere that will be created," he added.
Lucas Brown, Goal.com Seguir leyendo...
Kanouté: There Have Been No Bids From Tottenham
Frédéric Kanouté has dismissed reports linking him with a return to Tottenham Hotspur to work with Juande Ramos once again and is instead intent on helping Sevilla cause a surprise.
The Mali international is just one name that the Premier League side has been associated with as they search for a new striker, but they have not made any bid to Sevilla.Ramos bought Kanouté from Tottenham when he was in charge of Sevilla and could be tempted to re-sign him, but the player has insisted that nothing has been done.
"I can assure you that there has been no offers," he told AS.
Kanouté is looking forward to the start of the new campaign in Spain and believes that Sevilla have a very god squad that can upset the hierarchy in la Primera.
"We may not be the favourites for the league but I think that we can cause Real Madrid and Barcelona a surprise," he continued.
"I think this Sevilla squad is stronger than it has been in previous seasons and we always want to beat the teams that are going for the title."
It is exactly one year since Antonio Puerta died and left the city of Sevilla and Spanish football in shock and Kanouté admits that he has been remembering his friend.
"Antonio has never stopped being special to us and always will be, but on a day like this you do think about him even more," he added.
Lucas Brown, Goal.com Seguir leyendo...
Sóbis Silent About Future
Brazilian forward Rafael Sobis has returned to Andalucia to begin training with his club, Real Betis, although his future remains in a cloud.
Rafael Sóbis has touched down in
However, the 23 year old’s future at the Ruiz de Lopera is uncertain, with coach Paco Chaparro stating that he does not see the forward fitting into his game plan for the upcoming campaign, but club owner Manuel Ruiz de Lopera insisting that he will remain with the verdiblancos.
According to Marca, Sóbis himself has declined to comment on his future, instead declaring that he is happy to let Betis make the first move before deciding on a possible departure.
Speaking about his
Nine-Man Madrid Maul Valencia
Real Madrid 4-2 Valencia (agg. 6-5)
An excellent second half showing from nine-man Real Madrid saw the blancos run out 4-2 winners over a Valencia side that lost its defensive shape in the second period...
After going 1-0 down in the first period and having a man sent off, a lacklustre Real Madrid side seemed to be dead and buried. However a fantastic turnaround in the second half, culminating in two goals for a side that was by then down to nine men, saw the Supercopa head from Seville to the capital. Valencia will rue throwing away a 4-2 aggregate lead to a depleted side, meanwhile, but overall they cannot complain too much, given that their defence once again toiled.Madrid lined up without Robinho, the excellent but somewhat wasteful Arjen Robben playing the early stages of the game on the left of the attacking midfield. Guti and Rafael van der Vaart completed the trio that supported the two strikers, while Mamadou Diarrà played ahead of a back line that welcomed Pepe back to the line-up. Valencia "danced with those that brung them," fielding the side that managed the 3-2 win in the first leg, focused around the double pivot of David Albelda and Rubén Baraja.
First Half
In the earliest stages there was little to separate the two sides. Van der Vaart's fine long-range effort five minutes in tested Hildebrand, while Joaquín got on the end of a Miguel cross to test Casillas, but overall the 'keepers weren't troubled overmuch in the opening 20 minutes. Raúl, in fact, spurned a one-on-one after pouncing on a rebound from a Van Nistelrooy effort, but inexplicably blasted wide - his blushes were spared slightly by the fact that he was offside anyway.
Madrid moved Robben over to the right flank to test Moretti and Alexis, but in fact Valencia were having a fairly easy time of it at the back. Hildebrand was dealing admirably with the crosses, and few central plays of note developed.
Still, Valencia then opened the scoring with virtually their first shot on goal. Striding forward with confidence, David Silva carved out a small gap between the defenders on the edge of the box and drilled a low shot into the far corner. Casillas, unsighted, didn't even move as the ball trundled past him. Valencia were 4-2 up on aggregate.
Things went from bad to worse for Madrid as Rafael van der Vaart saw red. A terrible challenge on Mata - two-footed, studs-up, and with plenty of follow-through - saw the Dutchman shown a straight red card. This could potentially see him out of next week's Liga opener at Deportivo next Sunday, but coach Schuster was more concerned about this Sunday as the teams went in for half time.
Second Half
He needn't have worried too much, for what was to follow was nothing short of incredible.
Still, at that time he didn't know it. Making no changes, his side came out on the offensive, Valencia sitting back somewhat.
Two minutes after the break this was to cost them as, sustaining a period of pressure, they were to concede a penalty. Raul Albiol, jumping to meet a Ruud van Nistelrooy effort at the far post after a cross, hit the ball with his upper arm. For some reason he was spared the red card, but Hildebrand was not spared having to lift the ball out of the net as Ruud slammed the ball home.
Then came the changes. Vicente was on for Mata, and in a true signal of intent Drenthe came on for Torres to add some more attacking spark to a depleted left side. Indeed, with Van der Vaart off and Robben on the right, all the invention was coming down the opposite flank - and how. Robben, although lacking a final ball at times, had the Valencia double pivot and left-sided defence wrapped around his finger.
Nonetheless his task was made much harder when Ruud van Nistelrooy, already booked, went in hard and late on Ruben Baraja, earning himself a red card. Nine-man Madrid still needed to score, and suddenly it seemed that much harder.
Just five minutes later, though, Valencia's timidity again cost them as Sergio Ramos managed that vital strike. After a goalmouth scramble the full-back turned it in at the far post; much deliberation from referee Iturralde González followed, but eventually - to Valencia's displeasure - the goal was ruled onside.
Valencia coach Emery rolled the dice and brought on Morientes for Albiol as he needed a goal, but five minutes from time the game was to fall even further into Madrid's domain. Rubén de la Red, scarcely on the pitch ten minutes, seized the ball in midfield and ran forward from the centre circle until side-footing the ball goalwards from 25 yards. His looping, placed effort foxed Hildebrand, who could only palm it feebly into his own net.
As if to add insult to injury the nine men added a fourth. Alexis played a ludicrously short backpass to Hildebrand and, beating the 'keeper for pace, substitute Gonzalo Higuaín was able to score from a narrow angle.
Morientes pulled one back at his own stomping ground after a Villa assist in the dying seconds, but it wasn't enough. Madrid had done it.
As the players celebrated on the sidelines, one face was notably absent: that of Robinho. The Brazilian was very much off on his own, signifying that his future is more uncertain than ever. Nonetheless this seemed to be almost forgotten as Madrid gained yet another piece of silverware and Robben put in another jaw-dropping, if slightly frustrating performance. For Valencia, meanwhile, this must be a lesson learned. Los Che arguably sat back too much in the second period and invited pressure - their wingers barely saw the ball as hoofed clearances became order of the day - and coach Emery will no doubt have to think long and hard about how to adjust his side before the Liga fixture at home to Mallorca on Saturday.
REAL MADRID 4-2 VALENCIA CF
0-1 Silva 32'
1-1 Van Nistelrooy 49' (pen.)
2-1 Sergio Ramos 77'
3-1 De la Red 85'
4-1 Higuaín 88'
4-2 Morientes 90'
Real Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Heinze, Miguel Torres (Drenthe 63); Diarrà; Van der Vaart, Guti (De la Red 78), Robben; Raúl (Higuaín 80), Van Nistelrooy.
Valencia: Hildebrand; Miguel, Alexis, Albiol (Morientes 82), Moretti; Joaquín (Pablo 67), Albelda, Baraja, Mata (Vicente 59); Silva, Villa.
Red Cards: Van der Vaart 39', Van Nistelrooy 72' -
Yellow Cards: Van Nistelrooy 52', Van Nistelrooy 72' - Alexis 78'
Referee: Eduardo Iturralde González
Ewan Macdonald, Goal.com Seguir leyendo...
Messi Delighted Eto'o Is Staying
Lionel Messi was delighted to hear that Samuel Eto'o would be staying at Barcelona and managed to see highlights of Barça's win in midweek when the striker was cheered by fans in Camp Nou.
After being jeered at the end of last season the Cameroonian striker turned the situation around with an impressive display against Wisla and his Argentinian team-mate is delighted.
Before Pep Guardiola announced that Eto'o would certainly be staying, Messi told reporters that he did not want the free-scoring forward to leave the club.
"My message to him is that Samu you are great. I saw the goals he scored and I am very pleased that the people applauded him," he said from the Olympic Games.
"I had reports about the game from my father in Argentina and then from my team-mates by text. I did eventually see the goals on television in the hotel and it appeared that we played very well.
"He is a striker that guarantees you goals every season and he showed that before he joined Barça too. We need a main striker who can do that and the fact that he is our means we do not have to look elsewhere.
"He should forget about the past and not worry about what happened, but he has to ensure they do not happen again. I have never had any problems with Eto'o.
"With all squads you have some players that are better friends with some than others, but what is in important is what happens when you play together."
Messi is enjoying himself in China with the Argentina squad at the Olympics and is pleased that he was allowed to go and play.
"It is impressive and a different tournament that you have to treat as a once in a lifetime experience. Things have happened like finding out that Kobe Bryant wants to meet you and that is incredible," he added.
Lucas Brown, Goal.com
Henry: As Motivated As Ever
Barcelona striker Thierry Henry insists he still has the motivation of when he was 17 as he turns 31.
The striker celebrated his birthday on Sunday and he is hoping to celebrate it by beginning the new season with a flourish and lifting some important trophies come May 2009.
The former Gunner is way past his prime but he insists he still has plenty to offer the Blaugrana cause following their disappointing season last term.
“31? I have been playing for 14 years and I have the same motivation and will to win as I had when I was 17,” Henry told Sport.
“I don’t really want to talk about last year, the only thing I am interested in is the present and to do things well with the new coach and team.
“I don’t have anything to prove, the only thing I want is to help my teammates and to play well for everybody in the side.”
Henry enjoyed a mixed first season at the Balugrana last term. No success, turbelence on and off the pitch and the Rijkaard debacle as well the Laporta motion of censure caused shockwaves at Camp Nou.
However, he seems in top form and he is likely to lead the charge for the La Liga and Champions League alongside Lionel Messi and co.
Salvatore Landolina
Update: Robinho won't become the Blues
Brazil international Robinho will not be making a switch from Madrid to London this season, his agent claimed.
Chelsea have earmarked the Brazilian as one of their main transfer target but have faced stern resistance from Real Madrid who insist Robinho is not for sale.
Reports suggest Chelsea would make one last attempt to persuade Real to do business for a player who has two years left on his contract.
But the player's agent Wagner Ribeiro has shot down Chelsea's hopes of buying the player - at least for this season. Ribeiro would only say the Champions league finalists can reopen negoiations in 12 months' time due to Real's stance.
Joaquín’s Mestalla Future Still Unclear
The speedy 27 year old wide man has found himself in an unusual predicament. Despite reiterating his desire to remain at the Mestalla , despite getting the backing from new coach Unai Emery and despite the club revealing that they are happy with his pre-season form so far, it appears that those three factors are simply not enough to convince the Valencia board to retain him.
The board’s directorial merry-go-round is believed to be the reason behind this dilemma. According to the player’s agent, Eduardo Espejo, one of the club’s many acting chiefs over the last few months, Xabier Azkargorta, had promised that the player’s contract will be renewed.
But now that Fernando Gómez has been installed as the vice-president, Espejo has had to begin negotiations from scratch again and Gómez himself is not too keen on keeping the player around.
“Fernando Gómez feels that he should not be tied to what Azkargorta promised us before. And Gómez has already previously discarded the possibility of giving Joaquín a contract improvement,” Espejo explained to Sport.
“Joaquín’s intention is to stay at Valencia, but until the 30th of August, we will not know his future for certain.”
The latest rumours have linked Premiership side Blackburn Rovers to the former Real Betis winger.
KS Leong
