ESPANYOL v CELTA VIGO TICKETS: Sunday, Septembe 17, 2006. HERE VIGO AGAIN
September 26, 2006 on 3:44 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsDespite installing Ernesto Valverde as coach and bolstering the squad, Espanyol have made a torrid start to the season and are already sitting in the bottom three.
That may not be too much to panic about with just two games of the season gone, but traditionally if los Periquitos start off badly then they struggle throughout the campaign. Losing to local rivals Barca in the Spanish Super Cup before the season has really started was a blow, but being defeated in their opening league encounter at home to Gimnastic was a disaster. Things were never going to be easy when they travelled to Real Zaragoza last weekend, despite the boost of gaining a bit of revenge by beating Barca in the Copa Catalunya.
Adorning their new pink and black away kit, Valverde’s team struggled without the inluential Ivan De la Pena in midfield and were soundly beaten 3-0.
The visit of Celta represents a chance for the Montjui’c-based side to kickstart things and ensure that the omens do not become reality.
While home advantage should play a part, the visitors for the game on Sunday have already chalked up a win on their travels as Celta went to Nastic last Sunday and won 2-1.
Even in their first match, a 3-2 defeat at home to Barca, Vazquez’s side showed signs that they would be a force to be reckoned with this season. If Espanyol are to turn things around, then they will have to ensure that the strikers are given the supply they need as chances against Zaragoza were few and far between. Prediction: Espanyol 2-1 Celta Vigo
Who are RC Celta Vigo?
Real Club Celta de Vigo came into existence came into existence when Sporting Vigo and Fortuna Vigo obivouly decided it would be better if they formed one club in 1923.
Despite long spells in the Spanish top flight, the Galician side have never won a major pot, despite a few close calls. Before Vfctor Fernandez took over in 1998, their main achievement was finishing six and qualifying for the UEFA Cup in 1970-71, where they promptly dumped out in the first round by Aberdeen., The arrival of Fernandez as coach heralded a qualified for Europe in all four seasons he was After one year under Miguel Angel Lotina they Segunda A, but bounced straight back up and time around under Fernando Vazquez.
ESPANYOL v ARTMEDIA TICKETS: Thursday, September 28, 2006: Euro Media Circus
September 26, 2006 on 3:30 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsAt the end of the 2004-05 campaign, Espanyol qualified for the UEFA Cup, after chasing a Champions League spot for the final weeks of the campaign, and the achievement was deemed a great success.
While making into Europe is a boost to every club’s moral, the fact that the draw for the group stage failed to spark the imagination and left the squad stretched thin.
The midweek exhertions soon began to take their toll on the league performances and Espanyol’s poor run, after a promising start, was down to the fact that the squad was just not big enough to cope. One highlight did come fomr playing in midweek, however, as los Periquitos progressed to the Copa del Rey final and won the trophy to see them qualify for the UEFA Cup for the second consecutive season. This time the preparation may be better as the squad appears to have a little more depth, but to make into the groups, where the money is earned, Ernesto Valverde’s team have to overcome Slovakian hopefuls, FC Artmedia. The Bratislava-based club have not set their own league alight in the early stages this term and have a record of three wins, two draws and three defeats to their name as they sit in seventh place in the 12-team top flight. Last season, the Slovak club may have played in the Champions League, but the current side look a long way from achieving that again. Having played the first leg away, Espanyol will be hoping to have set themselves with a real chance of winning this game.
Knockout football is always entertaining anyway, and this should be no different.
BARCELONA v VALENCIA TICKETS. Sunday, September 24: Barça must stop Villa
September 26, 2006 on 3:25 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsFC Barcelona have denied the few critics that thought they may slip up this term by producing even more scintilating football and proving that very little has changed at Camp Nou.
After an arduous pre-season, Sports Matter did wonder if burn-out may become a factor, but coach Frank Rijkaard has dispelled any worries on that front by carefully rotating his squad to ensure that any tired legs are
given a rest.
With no injuries and a stronger playing staff then in recent seasons, yes even stronger than last term, the Dutchman can well afford to leave even his star names on the bench if he believes that they need it.
Such are his man-management skills that you will here few, if any, complaints from the players omitted from the team, just as Carles Puyol stated that he totally understood being left out of the team that beat Osasuna 3-0 last weekend.
The harmony and unity within the squad is the key to the success that Barca are currently enjoying and, perhaps, until it is all over people will not appreciate just how good Rijkaard is at keeping everyone happy.
Levski Sofia were a breath of fresh air in midweek as they arrived at Camp Nou ready to play openly and actually talked about going out to win.
The downside to their approach was the fact that they proved that attempting to play Barca at their own game simply ends in defeat and the 5-0 victory for the home side could well persuade visiting coaches to stay with the tried and tested method of shutting up shop at the back.
While the talk of Barca’s domination, and predictions about who can stop them, continue in the media, Valencia have also begun the season with two victories as they defeated Betis on the opening day and then upset Atletico by winning 1-0 at Vicente Calderon last Sunday. Los Che have always been a thorn in Barca’s side, but the days of Claudio ‘Piojo’ Lopez and Gaizka Mendieta running riot have gone, but even the new team appear to be able to cope with the Blaugrana.
Lastr season David Villa netted twice in Camp Nou to earn his side a 2-2 draw, while in Mestalla the home side won thanks to a goal from, yes, Villa. Maybe the former Zaragoza striker could be the new Piojo, but he will have to be at his best to repeat the trick again this time.
READY FOR A NEW SEASON
September 4, 2006 on 2:59 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsRCD Espanyol’s campaign last season was a rollercoaster ride of emotions and, after a summer of change at the club, the new term looks set to be just as exciting.
Nerves were frayed for several weeks as the team were forced to fight to maintain their top flight status, but that was off-set by the success in the Copa del Rey. Victory in the semi of the cup against Deportivo La Coruna set up a tantalising clash with Real Zaragoza in Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium and it was a game that will long be remembered.
Two goals from Luis Garcia allied with strikes from Raul Tamudo and Ferran Corominas gave Espanyol an emphatic 4-1 victory and led to scenes of wild celebrations.
At the end of 2004-05, the team qualified for the UEFA Cup and expectations were high after a top six finish. The European adventure though did put a drain on resources and the dip in league form was linked to the midweek exhertions. At the end of the season coach Miguel Angel Lotina stepped down and was replaced by former Espanyol player Ernesto Valverde. New players also arrived with Jesus Maria Lacruz joining from Athletic, Moha coming from Osasuna, Rufete from Valencia, Jonatas from Flamengo and Juan Velasco from Atletico de Madrid.
It should be another thrilling ride.
BARCELONA v LEVSKI SOFIA Tuesday, September 12, 2006 20:45 Back on the Champions trail
September 4, 2006 on 2:53 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsFC Barcelona will no doubt see the visit of the Bulgarians as their most comfortable outing in the group stages of this season’s Champions League campaign as they begin the defence of the title. The Blaugrana are clear favourites to win the tournament again next spring in Athens, but no club has retained the trophy since the competition changed both its format and name. While Spanish sides have attempted, usually in vain, to defend in numbers and hit Barca on the break, European teams are not as wise to Frank Rijkaard’s tactics as was proven last time out when the Catalan outfit remained undefeated en route to Paris. The players added to the squad this summer all have vast experience in the competition and will be relishing the prospect of helping the club create history, if they can repeat the same form that they showed last time out.
While this may not appear to be the most attractive fixture, the Bulgarians will arrive at Camp Nou with nothing to lose and that is why the home team cannot afford to be complacent. All eyes are on the games against Chelsea, but Levski could be a decisive team in this group as anyone that does not take maximum points from their trip to Bulgaria could become a cropper.
WHO ARE LEVSKI SOFIA?
Levski Sofia are on the crest of a wave as they became the first Bulgarian side to reach the group stage of the Champions League.
Their reward for beating Chievo Verona in the final qualifier has been a draw against Barca, Chelsea and Werder Bremen. To celebrate the club’s acheivement, the squad and coaching staff laid wreaths at the monument to Vasil Levski, after whom the club was named.
The team that Barcelona face in their opening game are leading something of a revival in Bulgarian football as they reached the UEFA Cup quarter finals last season. Their jubilant supporters have been rewarded for their loyalty by being given free admission to a league game.
Levski have won 24 national titles and the cup-25 times and have a bitter rivalry with city rivals CSKA Sofia, who were the government team during the Cold War.
Coach Stanimir Stoilov has brought even further success to the club as he bonded the experience in the squad with a several players from the youth ranks and the team swept to the title last term.
BARCELONA v OSASUNA TICKETS Saturday 9th sept 20′00 h THE FIRST HOME TEST
September 4, 2006 on 2:49 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsFC Barcelona have had a very busy summer and it remains to be seen what effect that will have on the players when the games really begin to come thick and fast during the season ahead.
Frank Rijkaard’s side proved during their opening encounter, against Celta Vigo in Balaidos, that they do have the spirit and, at the moment, the legs to carry on battling to the very end as they claimed all three points with a late goal from Eidur Gudjohnsen. After a relaxing start in Denmark, albeit only a few days after the World Cup Finals had finished, the pre-season campaign really kicked into gear.
A game in Mexico was followed by three in the United States as Barca travelled through various timezones in order to promote themselves to the eager American market. After arriving back in Catalunya on Sunday, August 13, the team then set about playing five matches in 12 days. Spirits were lifted after Espanyol were beaten in the two-legged Spanish Super Cup, befoire Bayern Munich arrived at Camp for a kickabout in the Gamper Trophy. Monaco then called as the Blaugrana succumbed to a well-organised and powerful Sevilla team in the European Super Cup and
then, four days later the league campaign kicked off in Galicia.
New additions were made during the summer with Gudjohnsen being bought as a direct replacement for Henrik Larsson, while Barca took advantage of Juventus’ woes to prise Lilian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta from La Vecchia Signora.
Mark Van Bommel was off-loaded to Bayern and Maxi Lopez was shipped out to find his level during a season-long loan at Mallorca. Not much has been seen of Thuram yet, but it would not be unreasonable to think that he will slot in alongside Carles Puyol in defence with Rafa Marquez moving forward to replace the cumbersome Thiago Motta in midfield.
WHO ARE CA OSASUNA?
The Pamplona-based club’s rise in recent years can be put down to just one man, Javier Aguirre.
After taking his native Mexico to the World Cup Finals in 2002, Aguirre took the reins at El Sadar, now re-named El Reyno de Navarra, and begun to build a solid squad that became renowned for their battling spirit and impressive home form.
At the end of his fourth season in charge, the team qualified for the Champions League qualifiers having finished fourth on the final day, but instead of staying put to enjoy one season in Europe, Aguirre accepted an offer to take over the poisoned chalice of Atletico Madrid coach. Cuco Ziganda was promoted from within and he has made some shrwd signings and vowed not to change much from the Aguirre-era. Unfortunately, the club failed to make it the group stages of the Champions League after losing on away goals against Hamburg .
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