SPANISH FOOTBALL - LA LIGA 2008/2009 - ROUND 1 RESULTS

August 31, 2008

Spanish Football is BACK! Yesterday two matches were decided &
tonight the rest of the games have been played of Round 1º. Here is
SFS weekly round up of results, scorers & images in a resumed format
for a birds eye view of happenings, with surprises included!

ESPANYOL started proceedings after defeating yesterday
VALLADOLID 1-0 after LUIS GARCIA scored a great goal

in the 48th min. Man to mention here was DE LA PEÑA who

was insrumental in Espanyol´s victory.

VALENCIA CF started well yesterday after defeating a poor
REAL MALLORCA 3- 0 who was without ideas in their play. The
Valencia machine was directed by SILVA who was brilliant &
the goals came from VILLA in the 33rd min, MATA in the 37th
min & VICENTE in the latter part of the game in the 82th min.
Good vibrations at Valencia who needed a good start to shut away

last years “bad Karma”.

ATLETICO DE MADRID brought their home stadium down as

fans enjoyed the “ecstasy” of a great afternoon of Football & a
4-0 victory over MALAGA. Atletico take top position of the League

Ladder & should give them confidence for the start of this long

season.

New Dutch signning HEITINGA scored 1ºst in the 25th min, followed

by two goals by Uruguayian DIEGO FORLAN in the 37th min & the
42th min via a penalty. The last & 4ºth goal came in the 81st min by
PONGOLLE.

Special mention to Atletico midfielder MANICHE who turned on a

great game & steared his side onto the win.

ATHLETIC DE BILBAO were given a lesson at home by ALMERIA

who won 1-3 that angered Bilbao coach Caparros. Athletic was lost

during the whole game & Almeria broke through in the 8th min via
PELLERANO, then via NEGREDO in the 32th min & finally the 3ºrd
via ORTIZ in the 51st min. Athletic managed to get a consolation goal via

VELEZ in the 58th min but that did not help clear away a very bad night

for Bilbao

Big surprise this afternoon, NUMANCIA defeated FC BARCELONA

1-0 with a goal from MARIO in the 12th min. Barça was very unlucky

throughout the game, with Messi hitting the post at the end of the
match, but Barça was “saturated” upfront with their men out of

place or lost. New Coach Guardiola will have to examine this game

a fix the errors, & quickly!

OSASUNA drew 1-1 with VILLAREAL with goals from MARCOS
SENNA from a superb free kick & latter from a penalty by
NEKOUNAM for Osasuna. Well fought game with a just result.

New 1ºDivision side REAL SPORTING DE GIJON experienced

the new “level” with a 1-2 defeat to GETAFE. The latter dominated

with Sporting fighting back to then see how the victory slipped out

of their hands at the end of the game. The goals came thanks to
ALBIN in the 14th min with Sporting drawing via CASTRO in the

35th min, but CASQUERO gave Getafe the victory in the 86th min.

SEVILLA were lucky to draw 1-1 with RACING after Garay for
Racing missed a penalty. LUIS FABIANO put Sevilla in front in the
71st min to see 5 mins later Racing draw via JUANJO. Tough game,

well fought by both teams with good Football overall.

The other BIG surprise was the defeat of last years Liga Champions
REAL MADRID away to DEPORTIVO by 2-1. The 17 year curse
continues as that is the number of years that Real last managed a victory

at the Deportivo ground.

The key to the game was that Deportivo took advantage of Real´s

weakness - set plays - with Deportivo´s two goals coming from headers

from MISTA in the 26th min & LOPO in the 57th min. The only goal
from Real Madrid come from Dutch forward VAN NISTELROOY in
the 47th min that looked like Real would do better, but Deportivo held
out to maintain the lead & consolidate the victory.

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