A thread to discuss the 2008/09 La Liga Season.

Here we'll keep up-to-date with Fixtures, Team News, Results and Match Reports.

First Weekend's Fixtures

Games played over wkend of 30/31 August

Numancia - Barca
Espanyol - Valladolid
Deportivo - Real Madrid
Athletic - Almeria
Racing - Sevilla
Malaga - Atletico
Valencia - Mallorca
Betis - Recreativo
Osasuna - Villarreal
Sporting - Getafe

Who will be in the running for the league this season? Will it just be another Real-Barca tussle?

Will Sevilla and Valencia improve on last seasons efforts?

Can Athletico Madrid improve on a top 4 finish?

Who are the relegation battlers?

When does it all kick off seba?

Sorry.

Have added that info to my original post.

Does anyone know the number of Daniel Alves for Barcelona?

Checked the official site and the new players haven't been issued numbers yet. Should happen in the next few days, so i'll check back and let you know.

Cheers.

Thanks a bunch!

Something tels me Sergio Aguero will be a massive hit this year

Well it wasn't really Real-Barca last season tbf

As he will be every other year for the rest of his career!

Wonder if David Villa, Silva, Diego Milito etc. will still be in the league come September. They'd be a big loss.

hard to say, clubs are losing money hand over fist in Spain, players not being paid etc, etc.
It could all make for a bad year in Spanish football , Euro's aside.

I've heard Ronaldinho is number 80 for AC Milan. Is that correct anyone??

Correct indeed. My signature proves it

Dani Alves has been given the # 20 shirt formerly worn by Deco [now with Chelsea]

La Liga 2008/09 overview

Courtesy of wikipedia.

For your perusal...

I'm watching Valencia vs Mallorca. Mallorca started well and had an indirect free kick just outside the six yard area for a supposed back-pass, which i thought the ref got wrong. Ruben Baraja was substituted midway through the first half with an injury, sad to see, on came Fernandes who did well up until now. A smart run and outside of the boot pass by Silva found Mata who crossed well for Villa who headed home after the ball ricochet'd off a Mallorca defender.

The second goal was a piece of work from Villa who cut in from the left made space and shot, ball rebounded out and Mata headed home. 2-0 to Valencia at halftime and a really good start by them.

Vicente [coming on for Silva] has made it 3-0 to Los Che latching onto a good cross and scoring with ease. He blasted one just over -on the volley- a few minutes earlier and has looked hungry for goals since coming on. I must say Valencia have some lovely attacking players. Villa, Silva, Mata [new youngster to watch out for], Vicente and Joaquin..there defense just needs to play well and they'll do well this season.

Final score 3-0 to Valencia. Excellent start for them.

Earlier on Espanyol won 1-0 against Valladolid. The goal coming from Luis Garcia who worked his magik inside the area and curled it into the bottom corner of the far post.

Results for Sun 31 Aug 08

Osasuna 1-1 Villarreal
Sporting Gijon 1-2 Getafe
Atletico Madrid 4-0 Malaga
Athletic Bilbao 1-3 Almeria
Numancia 1-0 FC Barcelona
Racing Santander 1-1 Sevilla
Real Betis 0-1 Recreativo Huelva
Deportivo La Coruna 2-1 Real Madrid

FCB lost away to newcomers Numancia despite having more than 70% possession. Real Madrid also lost against a plucky Depor side. Atletico looked smooth and trounced Malaga with a brace from Forlan. Heitinga on the scoresheet for his new club aswell also former Reds player Sinama-Pongolle.

I've adopted Racing Santander as my Spanish side - so a draw at home to Sevilla is a useful point and something they can build on. Poor starts for both Real and Barca, lets hope the likes of Valencia and Sevilla can be more involved in the title race this year

Fixtures for Sunday 14 Sept 08

Almeria vs Valencia
Mallorca vs Osasuna
Getafe vs Real Betis
Real Madrid vs Numancia
Malaga vs Athletic Bilbao
Sevilla FC vs Sporting Gijon
Valladolid vs Atletico Madrid
Recreativo Huelva vs Espanyol
Barcelona vs Racing Santander
Villarreal vs Deportivo La Coruna

Numancia travel to the Santiago Bernabau on a high after defeating Barca while Real need a win after their opening day loss to Depor. Villarreal vs Deportivo should be some game.

Results for Saturday 13 Sept 08
Valladolid 2-1 Atletico Madrid
Sevilla FC 4-3 Sporting Gijon
Barcelona 1-1 Racing Santander

Results for Sunday 14 Sept 08
Almeria 2-2 Valencia
Mallorca 1-1 Osasuna
Getafe 0-0 Real Betis
Real Madrid 4-3 Numancia
Malaga 0-0 Athletic Bilbao
Recreativo Huelva 0-1 Espanyol
Villarreal 1-0 Deportivo La Coruna

Barcelona fail to finish off a team again and pay the price, drawing at home to Santander. Sevilla and Real Madrid both involved in seven goal thrillers while Valencia have to come from behind to draw with Almeria. Have to say Numancia are looking sharp in their first season in La Liga. They beat Barca on the opening day and caused the Galacticos quite a bit of trouble last night.

La Liga Standings - 15 September 2008

Espanyol starting strongly and Valencia putting behind them the troubles of last season with results which sees them up second. Barca languishing without a victory...

Results for Saturday 20 Sep 2008
Espanyol 1-1 Getafe
Atletico Madrid 4-0 Recreativo Huelva

Kun on the scoresheet again, so to comeback kid Maniche and Sinama Pongolle grabbing a brace to complete the rout. Atletico looking sharp.

Results for Sunday 21 Sep 2008
Almeria 1-0 Malaga
Valencia 1-0 Osasuna
Numancia 1-2 Villarreal
Real Betis 0-0 Sevilla FC
Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Valladolid
Sporting Gijon 1-6 FC Barcelona
Deportivo La Coruna 0-0 Mallorca
Racing Santander 0-2 Real Madrid

I dare say, this Valencia look determined and this victory sees them at the top of La Liga. Real Madrid leave it late to win away at Santander. Barcelona record their first victory in the league with a thrashing of Gijon.

La Liga Standings - 22 September 2008

Results for Wednesday 24 Sept 2008
Sevilla FC 2-0 Espanyol
Barcelona 3-2 Real Betis
Getafe 1-2 Atletico Madrid
Villarreal 2-0 Racing Santander
Real Madrid 7-1 Sporting Gijon
Osasuna 0-0 Deportivo La Coruna

Sam Eto'o grabbing a brace and Gudjohnsen securing the three points for the rejuvenated Barca. Real Madrid run riot at home to newcomers Gijon with VDV grabbing a hattrick and Raul doing the double. Sinama-Pongolle scoring his third in three games for Atletico Madrid to help them to victory.

Fixtures for Thursday 25 Sept 2008
Malaga vs Valencia
Mallorca vs Numancia
Valladolid vs Almeria
Recreativo Huelva vs Athletic Bilbao

Results from Thursday 25 Sept 2008
Malaga 0-2 Valencia
Mallorca 2-0 Numancia
Valladolid 2-0 Almeria
Recreativo Huelva 1-1 Athletic Bilbao

Watched Valencia and they missed a number of chances before Villa finally broke the deadlock with 20mins to play, he then got his second at the end. Valencia aren't playing that well, but they find themselves joint top of La Liga thus far, which is excellent.

La Liga Standings - 26 September 2008

Valencia 4games 10pts
Villarreal 4games 10pts
Real Madrid 4games 9pts
Atletico Madrid 4games 9pts
Sevilla 4games 8pts
Barca 4games 7pts

3points seperate the top six after the first four games.

La Liga Top Scorers - 26 September 2008

Rafael VDV 4goals
Sinama-Pongolle 4goals

Bilic 3goals
Eto'o 3goals
Messi 3goals
Negredo 3goals

Yoh, what a comeback...thought Henry was a bit anonymous, bt his hard work paid off right at the end. Eto'o penalty win at the end was a tad questionable, but Barca fought back hard and deserved the derby win at the end. Fantastic.

Results from Saturday 27 Sept '08
Espanyol 1-2 FC Barcelona
Sporting Gijon 0-1 Villarreal
Real Betis 1-2 Real Madrid

ex-MUFC players on the scoresheet last night, Ruud and Rossi scoring the winners for their respective teams.

Big game's tonight Valencia vs Deportivo and Atletico vs Sevilla.

Results for Sunday 28 Sept '08
Malaga 2-1 Valladolid
Numancia 0-0 Osasuna
Athletic Bilbao 0-1 Getafe
Atletico Madrid 0-1 Sevilla
Racing Santander 1-2 Mallorca
Almeria 1-0 Recreativo Huelva
Valencia 4-2 Deportivo La Coruna


A sweet goal from Casquero handed Getafe victory at Bibao. Valencia came from behind to smash Depor with a brace from Villa and a goal a piece from Mata and Joaquin- who had a special day at the office. Atletico are currently a goal down to Sevilla with Luis Fabiano the goalscorer. 30minutes left in this encounter. Sevilla recorded a victory.

La Liga Standings - 28 September '08
Valencia top the table with Villarreal second by virtue of goal-difference. Real Madrid and FCB are third and fourth respectively.

Top Scorers List

Results for Saturday 4 October '08
Villarreal 2-1 Real Betis
Barcelona 6-1 Atletico Madrid

Results for Sunday 5 October '08
Getafe 2-2 Almeria
Valladolid 0-1 Valencia
Real Madrid 2-2 Espanyol
Mallorca 0-2 Sporting Gijon
Sevilla FC 4-0 Athletic Bilbao
Recreativo Huelva 0-4 Malaga
Osasuna 0-1 Racing Santander
Deportivo La Coruna 1-0 Numancia

Villarreal left it late when they came from behind to beat Betis. Barca totally annihilated Atletico with Eto'o scoring a brace, Messi running the show and getting one and Henry scoring a sweet goal aswell. Mention must be made of Xavi who was the commander in the FCB engine-room. Total football.
Valencia eeked out another hard-fought away win to keep their spot at the top of La Liga. I'm really pleased for their sake as they turn last season's shit around.
Mallorca are having a dismal season losing this time to Gijon. Sevilla trounce Bilbao while Depor win at home.
Real Madrid drew 2-2 with Raul grabbing a brace for them levelling things up as the sides went into the break.

La Liga Standings

La Liga Top Scorers
Villa with six, Eto'o up to second spot with five...Messi on five aswell.

Results for Saturday 18 Oct '08
Espanyol 0-0 Villarreal
Atletico Madrid 1-2 Real Madrid

The Madrid derby had all the feisty treats and action to make it the exciting encounter it was meant to be. The ref got it a bit wrong though, i thought the Ruud sending off was harsh, but anyway. Simao thought he had grabbed a share of the spoils scoring in injury time, however the talented Higuain gave Real all three points minutes later.

Results for Sunday 19 Oct '08
Malaga 2-1 Getafe
Almeria 0-1 Sevilla FC
Valencia 4-0 Numancia
Real Betis 3-0 Mallorca
Sporting Gijon 2-1 Osasuna
Athletic Bilbao 0-1 Barcelona
Valladolid 1-1 Recreativo Huelva
Racing Santander 0-0 Deportivo La Coruna

Valencia are doing the stuff this season. Another impressive victory which keeps them at the summit. Villa getting on the scoresheet again. Mata is the freakin sweetest and nice to see Vicente in there aswell. Eto'o form continues as he grabs the winner in another away win for FCB. They seem to be getting it right and its paying off. Barca old-boy Ezquerro on the scoresheet at Osasuna, but that couldn't save them. A goal from Adriano gets Sevilla an important away win to see them hold second spot.

La Liga Standings - 20 October '08

Things tight at present with the top five places seperated by just 3pts.

La Liga Top Scorers - 20 October '08

Villa leading the pack. Eto'o in second with 5x goals joined by Messi and Negredo [Almeria]

Results for Saturday 25 Oct '08
Osasuna 0-2 Real Betis
Barcelona 5-0 Almeria

Barca romped to a 5-0 lead inside 40mins then just played out the rest without too much effort. They're in super-hot form at the moment and the gameplay is quite devastating.

Results for Sunday 26 Oct '08
Getafe 1-0 Valladolid
Sevilla FC 0-1 Malaga
Mallorca 3-0 Espanyol
Villarreal 4-4 Atletico Madrid
Real Madrid 3-2 Athletic Bilbao
Recreativo Huelva 1-1 Valencia
Numancia 2-1 Racing Santander
Deportivo La Coruna 0-3 Sporting Gijon

Sevilla lose at home to a spirited Malaga side. Villarreal and Atletico share eight goals between them with Rossi and Forlan [former MUFC lads] on the scoresheet for their respective sides, while Simao Sibrosa continues his hot form with a brace. Real Madrid's victory sees them back up their as Valencia are held away to Recreativo.
Depor are looking shoddy this season and get hammered at home by Sporting Gijon.

La Liga Standings

Valencia still top by 1pt. Barca and Real Madrid are joint second, the Catalan's above by virtue of goal-difference.

La Liga Top Scorers List

Eto'o hattrick sees him joint top with Villa on 9x goals each. Messi, Higuain and Negredo all on 5x goals.

Results for Saturday 08 November '08

Real Madrid 4-3 Malaga
FC Barcelona 6-0 Valladolid

Gonzalo Higuain and Samuel Eto'o both scoring four goals for their respective sides. Barca were outstanding though and move back to the summit of La Liga.

Results for Sunday 09 November 08

Getafe 0-3 Valencia
Villarreal 2-1 Almeria
Numancia 2-4 Real Betis
Mallorca 3-3 Athletic Bilbao
Osasuna 0-0 Atletico Madrid
Sevilla 1-0 Recreativo Huelva
Deportivo La Coruna 1-0 Espanyol
Racing Santander 1-0 Sporting Gijon

Valencia win an important game quite comfortably away from home. Quality goal by Fernandes to break the deadlock and then Joaquin, who has been in good form of late, and Vicente chipped in with goals aswell. Giuseppe Rossi and Llorente scored for The Yellow Submarines to give them a home victory. Betis win a six goal thriller by two clear goals with Mehmet Aurelio grabbing a brace. Mallorca and Bilbao share the spoils in another six goal spectacle. Atletico held away from home which dampens their La Liga surge. Fred Kanoute scored the only goal for Sevilla to give them victory.

La Liga Standings - 10 November 2008

FCB at the summit leading second placed Villarreal by a solitary point. Valencia a further point adrift in 3rd joint on 23pts with Real Madrid [in fourth]

La Liga Top Scorers List - 10 November 2008

Sam Eto'o in devastating form on 13x goals.
David Villa 10x goals
Gonzalo Higuain 9x goals
Bilic and Messi 6x goals

Results for Saturday 15 November '08

Valladolid 1-0 Real Madrid
Valencia CF 2-3 Sporting Gijon

Some big scalps in La Liga on Saturday as Madrid lose pace on the top, Canobbio the scorer for Valldolid. Valencia too lost pace on the top with a disapointing home defeat to Sprting Gijon, entertaining match it seemed with a 5 goal classic, will Los Che look back at this game as their downfall to league success? Villa converted a penalty and Mata scored a late goal on 90 minutes, too late for a comeback however. Moran, Barral Castro on the scoresheet for Gijon.

Results for Sunday 16 November 08

HT Scores: Will update at the final whistle
Almeria 1 - 0 Mallorca
Atletico Madrid 2 - 0 Deportivo La Coruna
Espanyol 1 - 1 Numancia
Getafe 0 - 1 Sevilla
Malaga 1 - 2 Villarreal
Real Betis 2 - 0 Racing Santander

Late Kickoff's:
Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna
Recreativo Huelva v FC Barcelona

Results for Sunday 16 November 2008

Getafe 0-2 Sevilla
Malaga 2-2 Villarreal
Almeria 2-1 Mallorca
Espanyol 3-4 Numancia
Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Osasuna
Real Betis 3-1 Racing Santander
Recreativo Huelva 0-2 Barcelona
Atletico Madrid 4-1 Deportivo La Coruna

Good first goal by FCB last night, Dani Alves diguising his free kick and passing it to Messi who blasted home. Second goal saw Keita in the right place, right time to prod home a pass by Eto'o. FCB are the form side across Europe at the moment and they now lead La Liga by 3pts from second placed Villarreal and then there are three sides [Valencia, Real Madrid and Sevilla] a further two points adrift.

La Liga Standings - 17 November 2008

La Liga Top Scorers List - 17 November 2008

Results for Saturday 7 December 2008
Villarreal 3-3 Getafe
Barcelona 4-0 Valencia
Sporting Gijon 2-5 Atletico Madrid

Results for Sunday 8 December 2008
Numancia 2-1 Almeria
Osasuna 3-3 Valladolid
Real Madrid 3-4 Sevilla
Real Betis 1-1 Espanyol
Mallorca 2-3 Recreativo Huelva
Deportivo La Coruna 2-0 Malaga
Racing Santander 1-1 Athletic Bilbao

Barca rampant last night, an Henry hattrick and the usual mastery of Messi underlining why they're the hottest side around today. Atletico put five past Gijon with Forlan and Aguero grabbing a brace each. Villarreal come from 0-3 down to draw at 3all. Rossi getting the winner with minutes to go.

Valladolid do the same thing today turning around a three-goal deficit.

The [other] game of the weekend ends in favour of the visitors winning by the odd one in seven. Exciting and entertaining stuff. Schuster possibly without a job soon. Not fun!

La Liga Standings - 08 December 2008

Barca lead by 6pts from 2nd placed Villarreal who are a further 2pts ahead of Valencia and Sevilla. Real drop to 5th a crazy 9pts off the Catalan pace.

La Liga Top Scorers - 08 December 2008

eal Madrid CF have appointed former Sevilla FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC manager Juande Ramos as their new coach after parting company with Bernd Schuster in the wake of a run of poor league results in Spain.

Shock replacement
The 54-year-old Ramos has agreed to take charge until the end of the season after Schuster, 48, was fired on the eve of Madrid's UEFA Champions League Group H match against FC Zenit St. Petersburg. "I'd like to thank to the board for entrusting me with the task," said Ramos. "I've come here full of hope; it's a dream for every coach to manage a club like Real Madrid. I was surprised by the speed of all of this. The negotiations have been short but intense. The most important things will be to lift the spirits in the dressing room and to get back on track in the Liga.

'Next six months'
"I'll be here for the next six months and after that we'll see," he added. "If I had started at the beginning of the season it would have been until the end of the season. I am used to working with short contracts as both parties are free to look at things at the end of a certain period. Real Madrid is an institution that is known the world over and one that is always looking to achieve. I've been in football management for 20 years and there is no job higher on the scale than that of Real Madrid. When I was in England I saw Liga matches every weekend and I must have seen six or seven Madrid games; they were always involved in great matches."

Poor run
The 22-times capped former German international midfielder Schuster played for FC Barcelona, Madrid and Club Atlético de Madrid before returning to Spain to coach Xerez CD and later Getafe CF and Los Merengues. He won the title in his first season in charge at the Santiago Bernabéu, having been appointed on 9 July 2007. His departure follows in the wake of Sunday's 4-3 home defeat by Sevilla, a third loss in four Liga games which Madrid fifth in the table. Schuster further undermined his position by claiming it would be "impossible" for his side to beat league leaders FC Barcelona in Saturday's 'clásico'.

'Will to win'
Ramos, twice a UEFA Cup winner with Sevilla, had been without a job since being dismissed by Tottenham on 26 October. Looking ahead to Saturday's trip to Camp Nou, Ramos added: "We'll approach every game with a will to win. Real Madrid have the character and prestige to face any club at any stadium in the world."

Source: UEFA.com

Results for Saturday
Valencia 2-1 Espanyol
FC Barcelona 2-0 Real Madrid

Valencia turn last week's mauling around with a good home victory. Kameni in goal for the visitor's was the difference between this scoresheet and an absolute mauling. Good to see David Silva back from injury.

Results for Sunday
Getafe 4-1 Mallorca
Sevilla 1-0 Villarreal
Malaga 2-0 Numancia
Atletico Madrid 2-0 Real Betis
Almeria 1-1 Racing Santander
Recreativo Huelva 1-0 Osasuna
Athletic Bilbao 3-0 Sporting Gijon
Valladolid 3-0 Deportivo La Coruna

Getafe rampant at home. Sevilla win their clash against fellow big guns Villarreal. Valladolid doing damage over Depor. The late game saw Atletico record a solid victory over Betis. In-form players Maxi and Aguero on the scoresheet.

La Liga Standings - 15.12.08

Barca top by 8pts followed by Valencia and Sevilla level on 30pts, Villarreal a further 1pt back and Atletico in 5th on 27pts...Real Madrid languishing in 6th spot on 26pts a staggering 12points off Barca's pace.

La Liga Top Scorers - 15.12.08

Sam Eto'o 15
David Villa 12
Forlan / Messi / Higuain 10