Spanish footy update!

[Heston Bee]

Not wanting to be upstaged by the Italian update of course...

Real Mallorca are here in England for a short pre-season tour, the only London club they're playing is Fulham, on 10th August. Apparently tickets are £20 Mallorca midfielder, Eto'o is in trouble after walking out on training after his new boss refused to let him train in tracksuit bottoms.
Liverpool play Valencia the day before and tickets are only £15.

Anyway...
Perpetual minnows Villareal have gone bonkers and announced that they've decided to compete with La Liga's big boys. They've recently signed Jose Mari and Coloccini from AC Milan (both played last season at Atletico Madrid) and Sonny Anderson from Lyon.

New Barca boss Frank Rijkjaard has completed the most bizarre loan deal of the season, sending one of last season's stars, Rochmeback on a 3 year loan deal to Sporting Lisbon. Riquelme is likely to return to his native Argentina, after failing to live up to the hype.

Racing Santander are looking forward to season 2004/05 having already screwed up this season before it officially starts by going out of the Inter-two-bob cup to some unknown side from, er, somewhere, in true European-Chelsea style.

Celta Vigo won't be allowed to play at home in the Champions League as their council, somewhat meanly!, won't pay the necessary £120,000 to improve their ground.

And...Real Madrid have signed David Beckham.
Should make the Madrid derby interesting as Atletico Madrid have resigned Diego Simeone...

 

[Mr Tree]

Racing Santander are looking forward to season 2004/05 having already screwed up this season before it officially starts by going out of the Inter-two-bob cup to some unknown side from, er, somewhere, in true European-Chelsea style.

ahem, that'd be the mighty Slovan Liberec, UEFA Cup quarter-finalists in 2002

(i have a good friend from Liberec and won't accept Slovan-baiting kindly :mad1: )

 

[Heston Bee]

Who?!

Fixtures to look out for in the first half of the season:
31/8: Day 1
Real v Betis

3/9: Day 2
Barca v Sevilla

28/9: Day 5
Atleti v Barca
Valencia v Real

5/10: Day 6
Barca v Valencia

19/10: Day 7
Barca v Deportivo
Celta v Real
Sevilla v Betis

2/11: Day 10
Betis v Atleti
Malaga v Sevilla

9/11: Day 11
Barca v Betis
Sevilla v Real

3/12: Day 14
Real v Atleti
Real Sociedad v Valencia

7/12: Day 15
Barca v Real

14/12: Day 16
Malaga v Mallorca
Betis v Valencia
Espanyol v Barca

 

[Mr Tree]

Who?!

won the Czech League in 2002, beat Ipswich last year in the UEFA Cup...

lost 2-1 to Schalke in Gelsenkirchen in the Intertoto semi-final first leg, but are formidable at home, Forza Slovan!

 

[Speedo]

Fixtures to look out for in the first half of the season:
[

14/12: Day 16

Espanyol v Barca [/B]

C'mon Espanol, por siempre Brigadas Blanquiazules!!

 

[Heston Bee]

Clearly feeling that there's not enough going on in the close season - the Spanish football authorities, in conjunction with certain clubs and TV companies have managed to upset just about everyone about TV rights, packages and payments (does this sound familiar?)

Due to an unfair distribution of income between teams from the original proposed TV deal, many teams broke off from the deal - some have now signed up their own deals with individual companies leaving the rest with no deals at all. What does it all mean? That many of the affected clubs (the majority from the top two divisions) are prepared to boycott the first round of games on 30th Aug, and perhaps others. So no-one knows when the league will officially start!

Only in Spain...and perhaps Italy...

 

[Mr Tree]

won the Czech League in 2002, beat Ipswich last year in the UEFA Cup...

lost 2-1 to Schalke in Gelsenkirchen in the Intertoto semi-final first leg, but are formidable at home, Forza Slovan!

drew 0-0 in the 2nd leg "concentrating on the league" then, this season...

 

[Heston Bee]

In true innovative style, Atletico Madrid have announced shirt sponsorship with Columbia Tristar pictures.
This means every month the club will wear a different film title on its shirts. I'm sure the players can't wait for Charlie's Angels.

Real Mierda players have been moaning about their lack of decent pre-season training following the media circus that followed them all over the Far East. And Mr Makalele has decided that he's had enough of being treated as an underpaid water-carrier, earning around 1/3 of the likes of Figo and Zidane. So, in the time honoured style of all great professionals he refused to play or train.

Still to be resolved: When the league will actually start! rofl Seeing as clubs, the FA, and TV companies can't get their acts together there still exists a possibility of a strike by some clubs on the first day of the season...

 

[Heston Bee]

The poorest 8 Primera liga clubs and all the clubs from the La Segunda voted today not to play on the scheduled opening day of the season (31st August) due to complications with tv revenue.
The G31 clubs (including Real Betis) are holding out for more money from the collective tv payout, they want 93million euros, and have only been offered 85.

The G12 clubs don't really care seeing as they already have their own deals in place, however they're not going to be able to play without the other teams!
Given that this is going to be quite a condensed season because of the late start and early finish, this may well cause some problems with the fixtures - especially as the G30 clubs haven't ruled out further boycotts!

The Italians and Spanish eh?

 

[Luton Bee]

Deportivo joined Chelsea in Champions League third qualifying round action last night and scraped through with a 1-0 aggregate victory over Rosenborg, Albert Luque scoring the decisive goal after 15 minutes at the Riazor. This will be the 4th consecutive year Deportivo have participated in the Champions league proper.

Forza Depor!!!

 

[Heston Bee]

Celta Vigo got through too, would've been interesting to see them and Deportivo in the same group!

La Liga should kick off tomorrow as all the tv rights wrangling managed to get sorted out this week, with the clubs getting the deal they wanted.

Atleti for the title! Tenerife to finish in mid-table obscurity (again) and Real Madrid to win nothing at all (please).
Ale forza Atleti ale!

 

[Heston Bee]

Quite a predictable start to the La Liga's first fixtures. Real, Depor and Barca won, Atleti lost - typical start after a promising pre-season!
Unexpected results: Valencia drew at home 1-1 with Valladolid and newcomers Murcia drew 1-1 at Celta de Vigo.
Of course just about the whole of La Liga's news played second fiddle to El Beckham's debut and goal (and the streaker who ran across the pitch in the second half with "The Real Golden Balls" written across his stomach. lol

Second round of games are tomorrow night, Barca v Sevilla kicks off at 00:05. Yes, 5 past midnight! New Barca coach, Frank Rijkjaard, didn't want to lose half his squad to international call ups, or something...

 

[The H]

righto.

Anyone know how/where to book tickets for La Liga games.

21 Sept: Malaga vs Real Madrid.

 

[Jimbee]

righto.

Anyone know how/where to book tickets for La Liga games.

21 Sept: Malaga vs Real Madrid.

No hope!

 

[The H]

No hope!

and Bob Hope's dead...

 

[Heston Bee]

There are a couple of online places but they charge absolutely exorbitant fees for tickets.
The best bet with all tickets is to buy them out in Spain. Generally for Sunday fixtures tickets go on sale at the ground the Wednesday before hand. I would imagine for Real's visit that tickets would be on sale about 7 days beforehand though.

I think there's a place in Marbella where you can get tickets for Malaga if you're going to be anywhere near there about 2 days before the game.
There're probably about 2-3 games in a season where Malaga sell out, and Real is one.

Have a look at the following for different sections of the ground, so you know where you might want to buy tickets for. Tickets behind one of the goals (I forget which one) is normally where the Ultras sit - you might want to avoid it!
http://www.malagacf.es/estadio/accesos.php

 

[Wise old Bee]

I saw CD Tenerife with a lot of young local players beat Alaves on the first day of the season and was surprised at the number of English supporters there. Although we were in with the locals the "Armada Sur" made a decent noise throughout. With so many cheap flights about nowadays it is almost cheaper to see a game in Spain than to travel to northern England so we are planning a few trips to see Tenerife on the mainland. There are three Madrid sides in the division, Getafe, Leganes and Rayo Vallecano not to mention Terrassa in Barcelona and games near Alicante and Valencia. Tenerife are the only team that come anywhere near to being my "other team" and if I have to face the prospect of choosing between them and BFC should we ever meet in the Champions Leage, well, I'll just have to agonise over it won't I.
A pre-season friendly for Brentford at the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez would be nice in the meantime.

 

[Heston Bee]

Another Tenerife fan! Wise Old Bee you ought to have brief words with Scratchy. He's an honorary member of the Armada Sur!

Real Madrid managed a 7-2 victory last night, Raul scoring a hat-trick, Beckham giving away a penalty.
Deportivo are looking strong though, straight wins and another last night against a supposedly good Sevilla side in Sevilla.

 

[Heston Bee]

Too much to expect both teams in red & white to win on the same day I suppose.
Still, if I'd been told one of them would lose 3-0 at home I wouldn't have thought it'd be Atletico. :shrug:

 

[scaramanga]

I love David Beckham even if Vicky doesn't.

 

[Mr Tree]

beckham scored again over the weekend

apparently, according to the ceefax letters pages (what entertainment!), all the Beckham-haters have gone quiet after a string of impressive displays by El Spice.

am i missing something?

mind you, Champions League Weekly did a spotlight on Madrid thing, and it said he was a fan favourite blah blah blah. would be interesting to see how a Madrid game - wonder if he's still hoofing the ball (sorry, i forgot, it's a "searching cross-field pass" is it?)

obviously, i won't be offering comment til i've seen him - i'll leave that sorta thing to Sweepy

 

[West Ealing Bee]

beckham scored again over the weekend

apparently, according to the ceefax letters pages (what entertainment!), all the Beckham-haters have gone quiet after a string of impressive displays by El Spice.

am i missing something?

mind you, Champions League Weekly did a spotlight on Madrid thing, and it said he was a fan favourite blah blah blah. would be interesting to see how a Madrid game - wonder if he's still hoofing the ball (sorry, i forgot, it's a "searching cross-field pass" is it?)

obviously, i won't be offering comment til i've seen him - i'll leave that sorta thing to Sweepy

He got injured too apparantly.

I really don't buy this hoofing comment, someone who hoofs doesn't look up first, and doesn't often find the man.

Playing centrally might be making him a better player, especially as Madrid's players allow for less rigidity than other systems.

 

[Mr Tree]

i remember seeing stats saying that beckham covered by far the most distance of any Premiership footballer per 90 minutes, and i think this is the thing that's meant to have endeared him to the madrid crowds, who aren't used to seeing the stars actually put in all the effort to chase back

he's alright i think - he was taken off early after a "fierce tackle" ceefax said, but there's no damage

he looks up, and then hoofs and hopes that giggs will be able to run into whatever area he puts it into. occasionally it comes off, at which point everyone claims he's the past passer in the world ever :shrug:

 

[Heston Bee]

Oi! If you want to inaccurately lambast Senor Beckham then get your own thread. Maricon!

 

[Heston Bee]

How the bloody hell are Tenerife still unbeaten?
This just won't do.

 

[Wise old Bee]

Big test for CD Tenerife on 5 Oct, the big one, away to Las Palmas at their new stadium and I'm only sorry I won't be there for it. Still, a trip to Madrid in January is on the cards for the Getafe game. We are trying to get another game in that weekend but the kick-off times are never announced until a week or so before which doesn't help with the travel arrangements.

On the Beckham front the sports papers over there are full of him and recently a headline called him "El sixto Beatle" Well, as all Bees fans know, our sixties superstar Alan Mansley was the fifth Beatle so it's about time another one came along.

 

[Heston Bee]

 

[Scratchy]

Hmmmm I wonder why those smilies are in this thread today? Well Real got beaten by "old Tenerife" aka Valencia 2-0 last night.

As for Tenerife themselves well Salamanca come to town this evening and you never know by this time tonight we could be top.

Tonight's live Sky game is Athletico v Barcelona.Should be a good one.

 

[Scratchy]

Full time from the Vincente Calderon stadium

rofl

Oh dear.0-0 with Barca having 2 men sent off.Hmm Senor Gil was in the stands tonight.Danger danger for Manzano perhaps?

As for Tenerife well we are still unbeaten after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Salamanca.

 

[Heston Bee]

Boo! Rubbish!
Final pass from Atletico was appalling, and when it was anything approaching good their keeper took it well. What happened to Burgos? I missed the beginning of the second half and returned to find he wasn't there. Misplaced headband at half-time? 1 goal in five games now for Los Colchoneros, quick, sign Mark McCammon.

Considering the ref was throwing cards out like confetti how did Reizeger manage to stay on the pitch? I'm sure that ought to have been a straight red. :scratch: Not that Atleti would've scored even if it'd been a penalty.

Other than that there were some quite unexpected results, Real Sociedad, Real Madrid and Deportivo all losing, whilst Albacete got their first win (and points) of the season, beating Mallorca 2-0 (where's Alex?!)

Tenerife? Pah!
Forza Las Palmas!

 

[Alex]

Other than that there were some quite unexpected results, Real Sociedad, Real Madrid and Deportivo all losing, whilst Albacete got their first win (and points) of the season, beating Mallorca 2-0 (where's Alex?!)

They are saving themselves for their romp at Vincente Calderon on the 19/10

 

[Heston Bee]

What a dreadful badge.
I expect that to be quite an interesting game, seeing as there's been quite an exchange of personnel between the two clubs over the last couple of seasons, and particularly this summer.

I should've mentioned that Real Sociedad lost their first game of the season, 1-0 to fierce Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao, goal in the last 10 mins. Crazy scenes at the Estadion Filipe Serrate.

Any Basque fans amongst us? I would've thought that some of the more, er, crowd involved GPGers might be fans of Sporting Gijon.

 

[Heston Bee]

Where's Luton Bee? Half-expected him to be gloating by now.
Alex, would you mind if Atletico returned half the team and manager to Mallorca?

 

[Wise old Bee]

Another 1-1 for los blanquiazules at Las Palmas, still unbeaten as well. The Tenerife equaliser was a 40 yarder apparently. Sounds like the infuence of Senor Evans has reached the Canaries. Estupendo!

 

[Scratchy]

Another 1-1 for los blanquiazules at Las Palmas, still unbeaten as well. The Tenerife equaliser was a 40 yarder apparently. Sounds like the infuence of Senor Evans has reached the Canaries. Estupendo!

Yeah Tenerife will certainly be happy with this 1-1 draw,especially given that we were down to 10 men for the final few minutes and Las Palmas hit the bar in the final few seconds.I'm sure the Armada Sur folks enjoyed their trip to the new stadium. Tenerife are now 4th after the latest round of results.

Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-1.Beckham was taken off with a dead leg but he should be ok for Saturday's little encounter.Barca are currently losing 1-0 at home to Valencia and going nowhere.

 

[Scratchy]

Barca are currently losing 1-0 at home to Valencia and going nowhere.

And that's how it finished.Valencia should have scored a second before the end.The white hankies came out at the end.

 

[Heston Bee]

Superb goal from Oliveira against Barcelona.
Can't believe the white hankies have come out so early in the season, it's only their first loss!

It's all been kicking off in the Seguna B.

In last week's derby between Merida and Badajoz, Badajoz scored a late winner and the home fans celebrated by stoning the Merida team bus as it left the stadium without any police escort

In the game between Langreo and Real Oviedo, Oviedo's Ultras were on the receiving end of a few thrown bottles. They responded by throwing back large stones and seats they ripped up from the stadium. The game was suspended in the first half as fans ran on to the pitch to fight each other.

Not quite the restrained (dull?) atmosphere of the Bernabeu.

 

[Spender Bee]

First Spanish game I have watched this year, and I was very disappointed. Barca looked poor, Valencia should have won by more. Ronaldinho, he is overrated IMO. Sure he can beat a few people but there doesn't seem to be enough end product. As for Kluivert, bah!

 

[Luton Bee]

Where's Luton Bee?

Hello Heston

Your boys took one hell of a beating although from reading Irueta's comments it could have finished 5-4! It's Depor's best start ever under Irueta, I just wonder how long it will be before Sky notice, and stop this bloody Real Madrid fixation they seem to have!?

 

[Alex]

Alex, would you mind if Atletico returned half the team and manager to Mallorca?

You keep 'em if they are going to do that to you. Still, keeps it interesting for the next game.

 

[Heston Bee]

First Spanish game I have watched this year, and I was very disappointed. Barca looked poor, Valencia should have won by more. Ronaldinho, he is overrated IMO. Sure he can beat a few people but there doesn't seem to be enough end product. As for Kluivert, bah!

Ronaldinho has been playing well, just not that great in the last couple of games. I don't know if he's been worth all the fuss and money, I still prefer Saviola.

Luton Bee - It's not just Sky, but anyone that reports on La Liga. All the Spanish footy papers do the same thing, half their coverage devoted to Real and half devoted to, er, everyone else.
Only glory-hunting, disillusioned Premiership fans support Real Madrid anyway. Just ask Spender Bee.

 

[Spender Bee]

Only glory-hunting, disillusioned Premiership fans support Real Madrid anyway. Just ask Spender Bee.

 

[Mr Tree]

was Beckham playing this weekend?

even if he wasn't, i bet he was credited with setting up any Madrid goals :laugh:

 

[Heston Bee]

was Beckham playing this weekend?

even if he wasn't, i bet he was credited with setting up any Madrid goals :laugh:

Get over it gimpboy!

He played, and set up Ronaldo's second goal at the weekend before receiving a standing ovation when he was subbed.
Team mates Michel Salgado and Ronaldo were both in the press recently saying it was a great pleasure to have him in the team.

 

[West Ealing Bee]

was Beckham playing this weekend?

even if he wasn't, i bet he was credited with setting up any Madrid goals :laugh:

Decent cross for Ronaldo's goal.

Must have been a fluke

 

[Scratchy]

Tragic

Well there was a tragic end to a night of violence last night in the Copa Del Rey.A Deportivo La Coruna fan died after clashes between hooligans of Depor and local rivals Compostela.

An absolute tragedy.

The other incident of note on that front saw a referee being hit by a missile thrown from the crowd which resulted in the tie between Valencia and Castellon being suspended.

Real Madrid won 3-0 against S.S. Reyes,Barca scraped past Gramanet 1-0.Big shock of the night saw Athletic Bilbao bundled out of the Cup by Torrevalega.

Tenerife are currently drawing 0-0 with Cadiz.
Athletico are currently clinging onto a 3-2 lead against Conquense.

 

[Heston Bee]

Well there was a tragic end to a night of violence last night in the Copa Del Rey.A Deportivo La Coruna fan died after clashes between hooligans of Depor and local rivals Compostela.

The strange thing is, it seems like his killer new him and later gave himself up because of it.
The victim was wearing a Compostela shirt, which obviously made him fair game to the Depor Ultras, "Riazor Blues".
Loads about this in the Spanish press today, and looks like the government are going to try and push through legislation to help enforce tougher penalties on footy violence.

Atleti fans will of course be excused, as they have reason to be continuously angered.
They won though, clung on for a 3-2 victory!

I think Athletic Bilbao went out to a Segunda B side last year too!
Tenerife the bore draw specialists. :yawn:

 

[Scratchy]

Atleti fans will of course be excused, as they have reason to be continuously angered.
They won though, clung on for a 3-2 victory!

Would that be a famous victory sir? rofl


As for us being bore draw specialists well give us a chance.We had only just started the game at that time.Ok so we are drawing 0-0 at the moment but at least it aint 1-1.

 

[Heston Bee]

The strange thing is, it seems like his killer new him and later gave himself up because of it.
The victim was wearing a Compostela shirt, which obviously made him fair game to the Depor Ultras, "Riazor Blues".

Not true entirely...
The victim had gone to help a youngster (wearing a Compostela shirt) who was being beaten by the Riazor Blues. When he intervened he was set upon, and later died. The victim turned out to be a Depor fan too, which is why the assailant gave himself up.

 

[Wise old Bee]

1-0 to Cadiz in the end Scratchy, although it was apparently a dodgy penalty that decided it. A decent 1-1 with top of the table Levante today though. According to the Armada Sur messageboard it was the usual fun and games in Gran Canaria last weekend.

It's when the weather starts to get worse that I start wishing I was back in Santa Cruz. Unlikely to be there few quite a few months now though although it looks like away trips to Rayo Vallecano and Getafe are still on the cards unless they clash with major cup ties or top of the table clashes for BFC.