Primera Division 2009-2010 Thread

**deangel9** · 25-08-2009 21:24

Pires likes Real’s new players

The Primera Liga is set to kick-off this weekend with Barca and Real appearing to establish a two-horse race based on their summer signings alone.

However, Villarreal are hoping to sneak in and break the race wide open, although Pires admits it will be a challenge.

"I believe the best is still Barcelona, but I like Real Madrid's new players," he told EFE.

"In Spain, we always talk about Madrid and Barca for the title and that is normal because they are the two teams with the most history."

"But I think this season there's going to be a real battle. We are going to see a great La Liga and teams like Sevilla, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal will be fighting for the title," he added.

The veteran winger may be 35-year-old, but he is keen on playing yet another grueling season in La Liga.

"Personally, I am well-prepared for the long season ahead. I know that each year will be more difficult because I will soon turn 36. But if I feel good mentally, then the body will be fine," he explained.

"For me, I like to play several games a week because it will help maintain your physical levels throughout the season."

"Besides, that's what we like to do as footballers."

**deangel9** · 26-08-2009 08:08

Sneijder hoping for Madrid stay

Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder is hopeful he will still be at the Bernabeu when the transfer window closes next week.

The 25-year-old will struggle for a place in the starting line-up this season following Real's summer spending spree, and was reported to be on his way to Serie A champions Inter Milan.

But Sneijder appears to have turned his back on Italy, and has instead reiterated his intention to fight for a place under Real coach Manuel Pellegrini.

"I still think Real Madrid are the best club in the world to play for, even if perhaps they want to sell me," the Holland international told Sportweek.nl.

"I won't leave the club unless I'm asked to. If I'm still here on September 1, they can't sell me and then I know I'll be a part of the coach's plans."

**deangel9** · 26-08-2009 12:22

Ronaldo: I have nothing to prove

Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to impress in pre-season friendlies for Real Madrid but reveals he is not worried.

Speaking to AS, Ronaldo said: "I don't worry about my form. The only important thing is that Madrid win. I am calm, working hard and I am with a fantastic group."

The Portuguese international believes that he has "nothing to prove".

With his astronomical £80 million price tag, critics have been quick to lambast the winger on his poor performances.

"I don't worry about my form. The only important thing is that Madrid win. I am calm, working hard and I am with a fantastic group," Ronaldo said.

With the new season to the Primera Liga set to kick-off, the Neo-Galacticos will come under scrutiny once again as they prepare to dethrone treble champions Barcelona.

Ronaldo, however, insists his team is unnerved by the daunting task ahead.

"We don't think about Barcelona. We must do a good job all year and see how far we get. We have no pressure," he declared.

**deangel9** · 28-08-2009 16:03

Ronaldo: I just might not play

The Portugal international is, nevertheless, just one of a whole host of new arrivals at the Bernabeu, with his fee just part of the staggering £225million spent by Real president Florentino Perez.

With high profile signings such as Kaka and Xabi Alonso, Ronaldo is aware that, despite his standing in the world game, he must consistently weave his magic to be assured of making coach Manuel Pellegrini's first eleven.

"I don't think I will have a more important role in the team than others," he told The Sun.

"I don't think the coach looks at who are the most expensive players.

"He only thinks about putting the best team together and, hopefully, I can be a part of that.

"I know I am not guaranteed a regular spot on the team and if I don't play at my highest level, I will be on the bench.

"I know that in a club like Real Madrid there is not much time for finding your form or else there are a lot of class players waiting to take your spot.

"That pressure can only help me give my very best in every game."

A day after the Champions League group stage draw, Ronaldo has reiterated his desire to make up for last season's final heartbreak at the hands of Barcelona when he was still a United player.

However, the former Old Trafford favourite also has the Primera Liga title in his sights.

"I want to win both the Primera Liga and the Champions League, win everything. Why choose one?

"I have won the Champions League with Manchester United and I still believe that it is the biggest tournament there is to win in all club competitions.

"But I have always admired the Spanish league and dream of winning it one day. When I retire I want to look back and say that I have won both English and Spanish titles, the Champions League and hopefully more international titles."

Real face Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday in their opening game of the new Spanish season.

**beavis** · 31-08-2009 17:35

Van der Vaart stays at Madrid

Rafael van der Vaart will not leave Real Madrid this summer.

The Dutch international was on the nominee for a transfer all summer but this weekend he heard he can stay with Madrid.

The 26-year-old midfielder was told by his coach Manuel Pellegrini and directors Jorge Valdano and Jose Angel Sanchez that he gets a new chance because of the departure of several players.

For example, last week Madrid sold 2 other Dutch internationals Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben to Inter Milano and Bayern Munich.

Van der Vaart received 2 interesting offers from Premier League clubs but after last weekend's conversation he decided to fight for his chances in the Spanish capital.

**beavis** · 01-09-2009 10:07

Primera Division - Etapa 1

29.08.2009 Real Madrid 3 - 2 Deportivo La Coruna REZUMAT

29.08.2009 Zaragoza 1 - 0 Tenerife

30.08.2009 Athletic Bilbao 1 - 0 Espanyol REZUMAT

30.08.2009 Mallorca 2 - 0 Xerez

30.08.2009 Osasuna 1 - 1 Villarreal

30.08.2009 Racing 1 - 4 Getafe

30.08.2009 Malaga 3 - 0 Atletico Madrid REZUMAT

30.08.2009 Valencia 2 - 0 FC Sevilla REZUMAT

30.08.2009 Almeria 0 - 0 Valladolid

31.08.2009 FC Barcelona 3 - 0 Sporting Gijon REZUMAT

REAL MADRID vs DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA pictures

**deangel9** · 01-09-2009 13:31

Ibra thanks teammates for goal

The Swede scored in the 3-0 win over Sporting Gijon.

Ibrahimovic joined Barca in July in a deal that saw the Catalan giants give Inter Milan 46million euros plus striker Samuel Eto'o (valued at 20million euros) in exchange for the Sweden international, but it took a while for the new boy to break his duck for the treble winners.

A hand injury meant he had to wait until the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Manchester City a fortnight ago to make his Barca debut, but he he was unable to score in either that match, or the subsequent games against Athletic Bilbao and Shakhtar Donetsk.

His performances in those outings had not been particularly memorable either, but the tall hitman has now at least chalked up his first goal for club after heading home late on in the last night's win over Sporting.

After the match Ibrahimovic wanted to pay tribute to his team-mates, saying: "They are helping me a lot. I don't feel at 100% yet but I'm happy because I played 90 minutes and bit by bit I'm getting my fitness up."

Barca coach Pep Guardiola added: "I'm pleased that he scored. He played the 90 minutes and that's a good sign, I'm happy with his work.

"Sooner or later he will do very well. He's still in the process of adapting, and little by little he will get there."

Barca midfielder Xavi was also pleased to see the big-money import get off the mark, adding on his club's website: "Ibra is a goalscorer and he likes to score. It's his first goal with Barca and we are happy for him because he is working very hard."

**beavis** · 01-09-2009 16:41

Bojan to miss 2-3 weeks with hamstring injury

FC Barcelona striker Bojan Krkic was key in the 3-0 win over Sporting Gijon scoring his first goal of the 2009-2010 season but unfortunately suffered an injury late in the match.

Bojan was injured in the 80th minute when he was going for the ball and lost his footing. Immediately following the match Bojan underwent a medical and it was discovered that he had suffered a muscle tear and will need to be sidelined for 15 to 20 days. The team will be off for the international break before their second Primera match on 13 September against Getafe.

In other injury news defensive back Maxwell was also substituted after suffering an injury in the 57th minute of the match. Medical results after the match showed that Maxwell had not suffered any damage and would be able to return to the team after a few days rest.

**deangel9** · 01-09-2009 21:45

Guardiola happy with Barca start

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola praised the efforts of his team as they ran out easy winners over Sporting Gijon.

Defending champions Barca saw off Sporting Gijon 3-0 in their first Primera Liga encounter of the 2009-10 campaign in front of an appreciative Nou Camp crowd.

A late goal from new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic topped off an easy victory for the home side after Bojan Krkic and Seydou Keita had given them a 2-0 half-time lead.

Speaking to Sport Guardiola reflected "We can play better, and worse.

"I cannot criticise my team because they have worked hard."

Guardiola lamented injuries to Maxwell and goalscorer Bojan, who is set for a short spell on the sidelines after receiving a late knock.

"Maxwell's is a minor thing but Bojan will be out for 15-20 days which is bad news," the boss confirmed, before saying he has sufficient cover in his squad for injuries.

"We have a small squad but we know if someone is injured there is someone waiting to play."

**beavis** · 03-09-2009 10:24

Bwin wins La Liga online broadcasting rights

Online gambling company Bwin has secured the internet broadcasting rights for the top 2 divisions of Spanish football.

The company will screen the Primera and Segunda Divisions of La Liga for the next 3 years. Bwin has a similar partnership in place with Germany's Bundesliga.

"Bwin has become one of the leading live sports broadcasters", said the company's co-chief executive Manfred Bodner. "Like no other web platform, bwin.com offers an unprecedented choice of different sports, ranging from football to roller hockey. We are at the leading edge of the market and continue to expand our line-up, as we've done now with the Primera Division games."

Bwin will show La Liga games in more than 30 European countries including Germany and Austria and for 50 other countries worldwide.

The deal is thought to be worth in the region of $4 million per year, though that is almost certain to include significant revenue-sharing factors.

**beavis** · 03-09-2009 12:35

Valencia frustrated by players

Cash-strapped Valencia revealed they were frustrated in their bid to raise funds by fringe players who refused to leave the club.

Crippling debts meant Los Che had to sell star defender Raul Albiol, while Curro Torres, Fernando Morientes, Edu and Miguel Angel Angulo also left.

But Ever Banega, Miguel and Nikola Zigic are all big earners who are out of favour at Mestalla that all insisted on staying.

"There were opportunities, but the market closed too soon, there have been very few sales and many more loans, this makes it harder to find players an exit", sporting director Fernando Gomez told Marca.

"Miguel and Zigic had offers, but Nikola did not want to leave, like Banega who wanted to stay here instead of joining Everton. The offers for Miguel came too late and he preferred to stay."

**beavis** · 04-09-2009 10:08

Messi îşi va prelungi contractul cu Barca

Noul acord va fi scadent în 2016, când atacantul argentinian va avea 29 de ani. Clauza de reziliere e de un sfert de miliard de euro.

FC Barcelona caută să-şi protejeze viitorul. Prima ţintă: blindarea bijuteriei sale, Lionel Messi. Oficialii blaugrana s-au pus pe treabă şi i-au prezentat tatălui atacantului argentinian, totodată impresarul lui, oferta de prelungire a contractului. Cu 1.5 milioane de euro peste cel actual, salariul propus se ridică la 10 milioane de euro, ştachetă la care nu se mai află decât Ibrahimovic. Suma e netă, ceea ce presupune că brută creşte la circa 19 milioane.

Durata-i la fel de însemnată, noua înţelegere urmând să expire în 2016. Ba a apărut şi ideea unui sezon în plus, deoarece şefii de pe Camp Nou sunt convinşi că Lionel, acum cel mai bun fotbalist din lume, va continua să progreseze şi nu-şi va scădea randamentul. Special pentru a se echivala vârfurile, şi clauza de reziliere e similară celei a lui Zlatan, de 250 de milioane de euro. Cea veche se ridica la 150 de milioane, dar s-a apreciat că Florentino Perez, preşedintele Realului, ar plăti-o dacă a dat 96 de milioane de euro pe Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi, la rândul său, mereu a lăsat clar de înţeles că vrea să rămână pe viaţă la Barca. "Ador această echipă, acest oraş. Dacă familia mea e fericită aici şi eu sunt." Tatăl său, Jorge, tocmai a zis: "Nu există loc mai potrivit pentru noi decât Barcelona".

Urmează Iniesta
Messi este doar primul pe lista prelungirilor. După ce argentinianul va semna, probabil săptămâna viitoare, după revenirea de la naţională, Barca va demara tratativele şi cu Andres Iniesta, aflat pe Camp Nou încă din 1996. Şi el considerat crucial în planurile de viitor ale echipei, mijlocaşul de 25 de ani ar urma să parafeze un nou acord tot până în 2016, cu o clauză de reziliere de 200 de milioane de euro. Salariul i-ar creşte de la 5 la 8 milioane de euro.

Puyol în suspans
Alt jucător crescut de Barca, căpitanul Puyol, are situaţia incertă. Carles îşi termină contractul în 2010 şi ezită să-l înnoiască. Un motiv: oferta prevede o micşorare salarială de la 6 la 5 milioane de euro. Fundaşul de 31 de ani ar accepta scăderea, dar intervine cealaltă cauză: va semna doar dacă i se garantează că va fi titular. Lucru nesigur: Guardiola ar miza pe Marquez şi Pique, cu Chygrynskiy primă variantă. Abia ultimul, Puyol e dorit de AC Milan, Chelsea şi Manchester City.

**deangel9** · 05-09-2009 16:58

Pique: I want Fabregas at Barca

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has revealed that he wants Arsenal midfielder to join the Catalan giants next summer.

Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain has already gone on record to admit that the reigning Spanish and European champions would benefit greatly from having Fabregas, who headed to Arsenal from Barca in 2003, in their ranks.

Speculation about Fabregas' possible return to the Nou Camp has been rife in recent weeks, incessant gossip that has infuriated Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

However, despite Fabregas claiming that he is more than happy to stay in north London, Pique believes the Arsenal captain would be an ideal addition to a midfield that already contains the likes of Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

"The arrival of Cesc Fabregas at Barcelona next season would be very positive," the former Manchester United player told Onda Cero Radio.

"I am a lover of the game and with Cesc playing in our midfield we would be even more of a world-class side."

**beavis** · 06-09-2009 19:56

Ruud van Nistelrooy to return against FC Zurich

Van Nistelrooy could make his long awaited return to competitive football against FC Zurich.

The Dutch forward has been out of action for 306 days, since picking up an injury in Real Madrid's 2-0 loss at home to Juventus in Champions League last season.

According to AS, Van Nistelrooy will sit out this weekend's trip to Espanyol, but is all set to be named in the squad for the match against FC Zurich in the Champions League opener on 15 September. He has already played with the senior team this season when he featured for 14 minutes in against Rosenborg in the Trofeo Santiago Bernabeu in pre-season.

Should Van Nistelrooy be included in the squad, Real Madrid will have the 2 highest scorers in Europe's premier club competition for the game; the Dutchman has 60 goals, while Raul has 64.

**deangel9** · 07-09-2009 11:10

Baptista added to Barca's shortlist

Roma's Julio Baptista is believed to be the next defensive midfielder on Barcelona's shortlist.

According to Corriere dello Sport, speculation is rife that the Brazilian will be leaving Roma in January.

Barcelona are on a lookout for midfielders as Yaya Toure and Seydou Keita will not be available for selection at the start of next year because of the African Nations Cup.

Baptista was close to joining the reigning Italian champions Inter in the summer, however following the failure of that deal, this would certainly be an option worth considering for the former Real Madrid and Arsenal player.

**deangel9** · 08-09-2009 12:07

Robinho: I like Barcelona

Robinho has stated that he would "love to play for a team like Barcelona" and would find it difficult to decline a chance to play for them.

Marca reports that the Brazilian forward is looking to move to the Nou Camp, and quotes like this might mean the end for the former Real Madrid forward at Eastlands.

"It's not easy to say no to a team like Barcelona," he said.

"They are the European champions. It is a beautiful city and I really like Spain."

The 25-year-old hailed Pep Guardiola's men and admitted that he felt flattered to be linked with the reigning Champions League title holders.

He added, "Barcelona are a great team. I am happy that a club like them have noticed me. Who would not want to play for a club alongside Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta, [Lionel] Messi, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic and everyone else."

"I like Barcelona; they are a great team."

**deangel9** · 08-09-2009 16:34

Agent: Fabiano open to Serie A

Luis Fabiano has not ruled out a future move to Serie A despite being let down by AC Milan this summer, according to his agent.

Reports in Italy claim Juventus are keen to lure Fabiano to Turin next June as a replacement for French striker David Trezeguet, who recently announced he will leave the Bianconeri next summer.

"The market closed last week and it seems absurd to talk about transfers now," said Fabiano's agent Jose Fuentes to Corriere dello Sport.

"However, if there is an interest from an Italian club then we will sit down and listen.

"We have not had any direct contact with Juventus so far, but it is an honour that such an important club is interested in Luis."

The Brazil international came close to joining the Rossoneri this summer but the move never materialised with the clubs failing to agree on a transfer fee.

"Fabiano was disappointed when the Milan move collapsed," said Fuentes.

"For now he will not be speaking about the transfer market unless there is something concrete.

"He wants to do well with Sevilla and with the national team.

"Whoever wants him will have to get in contact with Sevilla first and then speak to me."

Fabiano has a £26million release clause and is under contract with Sevilla for a further two seasons.

**deangel9** · 10-09-2009 11:44

Manu: We can beat Barcelona

Getafe striker Manu believes that his side have the ability to beat the Spanish title-holders Barcelona.

Speaking to a press conference ahead of their clash on Saturday, Manu said: "We don't need motivation, it's a game that everyone wants to play.

"We have been working very hard, thinking about this game all week and we have a good chance of winning."

While he has full confidence in his team, the striker knows full well who they are up against.

"They are all very good players. They have played together for over a year and are well prepared but we have our own ideas.

"The fans are excited, which is good to see, it means we're doing well. We've turned the tables around from last year," Manu concluded.

**deangel9** · 14-09-2009 09:11

Toure: Barca is a complete team

Yaya Toure has claimed that Barcelona are a “complete team” and are suited to playing attractive attacking football.

Toure told the media after Barca's 2-0 victory over Getafe that La Blaugrana will attack Inter Milan in their midweek Champions League tie as the team only knows how to play on the offensive.

"Barca is a team that cannot play back. It is a very complete team that should play in possession," said Toure.

Toure conceded that with the majority of the squad playing for their respective national sides, it is difficult to maintain a high level of cohesion playing after an international break.

"Barca is a big team and when there are international call-ups, a lot of players are gone. It is difficult to recover but now we have three days [before Inter]," he added.

**beavis** · 14-09-2009 11:32

Primera Division - Etapa 2

12.09.2009 Getafe 0 - 2 FC Barcelona REZUMAT

12.09.2009 Atletico Madrid 1 - 1 Racing Santander REZUMAT

12.09.2009 Espanyol 0 - 3 Real Madrid REZUMAT

12.09.2009 FC Sevilla 4 - 1 Zaragoza REZUMAT

13.09.2009 Deportivo La Coruna 1 - 0 Malaga

13.09.2009 Villarreal 1 - 1 Mallorca

13.09.2009 Tenerife 2 - 1 Osasuna

13.09.2009 Sporting Gijon 1 - 0 Almeria

13.09.2009 Valladolid 2 - 4 Valencia

13.09.2009 Xerez 0 - 1 Athletic Bilbao