Saturday had been a peaceful affair. Only light training in the morning for the players and all accounted for. Pjanic looked sheepish but defiant and Lopez apologised for just about everything. I think we all knew we had a problem on our hands with that one.
Roig kept out of the way and news that he was away on business until Tuesday was met with smiles all round. Although I'm sure a defeat tomorrow and he will be home early!
Saturday night was spent at the movies - couldn't understand a damn word.
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Saturday 22nd September 2007
Sevilla 2 Barcelona 1
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Sunday morning and the team gathered at the ground to get the bus to the airport once again. The rain came down, part of my selling Spain to Lucy had been the promise of sunshine...but instead this rain just never stopped.
We touched down in the north of Spain around lunchtime and set up at a hotel 3 miles south of the Estadio El Sardinero.
The players assembled and the line up was revealed.....
"Ok, Lopez, goalkeeper" for the first time he looked surprised at this.
"Josemi, Godin, Cygan, Capdevila - that's the back 4"
No comments so far.
"Senna in the middle, next to Senna is Francisco Duran" that prompted a bit of a reaction from Cani and Cazorla.
"Pires right wing, Mati, left...Nihat you play just behind Rossi"
Franco looked a bit upset and Pjanic stared at the floor.
As the minutes ticked by the team relaxed and got themselves in the right frame of mind. 3 miles away in the stadium the noise grew along with the expectation.
Racing Santander will count themselves a little lucky at securing a draw agaist fellow makeweights Villareal.
Despite leading twice, the home side never looked comfortable and considering they were reduced to 10 men they will have been happy to walk away with a point.
The early stages were dominated by the yellows and only the home keeper kept efforts by Nihat and Rossi out. But to the surprise of many it was Racing who took the lead in the driving rain. taking advantage of a poor clearence, Argentine Duscher unleashed a fizzing shot that beat a slow to re-act Lopez.
6 minutes later and the scores were rightly level. Garay guilty of a sgirt pull on Rossi gave Fernandez the perfect chance to show what he can do from a dead ball situation, bending it expertly over the wall and into the net.
Fernandez openes his seasons account with a stunning free kick (43 mins)
The second half proved equally exciting and yet again against the run of play the home side re-took the lead. Smolarek rounding off a fine Racing move, sweeping the ball home from 8 yards. The goal stood despite the fierce protests from the Villareal players.
Conditions did not aid the timing of tackles and Munitis can count himself a little unlucky when he picked up his second yellow on the hour.
Inspired the Yellow submarines took charge of the game, Franco replaced the nervous Rossi and young Barca starlet Gai Assulin also joined the fray on 62 minutes.
Heavy pressure forced a corner in which Matias Fernandez delivered into the penalty area. reactions all round were slow with the exception of central defender Fuentes who met it with power.
Racing did everything they could to keep Villareal at bay and the final whistle must have sounded like music to thier ears. Rookie manager Mills will be releived to have seen the Villareal fans applauding the team from the field. they had shown encouraging spirit for 90 minutes.
(man of the match - Matias Fernandez)
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Sunday 23rd September 2007
Ath. madrid 1 Valencia 1
Athletic 2 Almeria 0
Espanyol 2 Deportivo 1
Levante 0 Betis 0
Murcia 3 Getafe 1
Recreativo 1 Zaragoza 1
Valladolid 1 Osasuna 0
Mallorca 0 Real Madrid 0
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