Saturday saw the team train lightly in preparation for Sunday's game. Many of the players (apart from the injured Senna) must have been confident of retaining thier places so I was ready for a little reaction when we maned the starting eleven.
"Ok, Lopez - goalkeeper, Josemi right back, Fuentes and Godin will play centre defence...Emiliano Insua left back"
I could feel Capdevila's stare burning right into me.
"Midfield is Carzorla on the right" I hear another water bottle being launched by Pires. "Fernandez left, in the middle Josico and...and Bruno"
He looked as surprised as everyone else but with the absence of Senna it made perfect sense.
"Nihat, play just off Franco"
Rossi did his best to hide his dissapointment but must have seen this coming.
"Ok guys, see you in the morning."
I spent the evening watching one of the games on TV wondering if I'd done the right thing making changes.
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Saturday 29th September 2007
Athletic 1 Valencia 1
Racing 1 Barcelona 3
Real Madrid 3 Deportivo 0
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The following morning I joined the squad who seemed to be in up-beat mood. The oppostion had started ok this season but these are the sort of games where 3 points are there for the taking. The bus headed for the airport as the rain fell again.
By the time we arrived at the stadium the players seemed more relaxed than I'd ever seen them before, joking around in the dressing room, trying various tricks with the ball. We went over some of the tactics again but they didn't seem to be that responsive. Ruben meanwhile was looking worried.
"what's up?" I asked him as he tipped his bag upside down.
"It's not here...I've left it back at home"
Turns out that Ruben had taken his small china Virgin Mary to every game and kissed it each time the team scored. He's only ever forgotten it once before and so he was getting a bit worked up.
"listen, it's ok my friend...we will be fine" I said patting him on the shoulder as the players began to assemble in the tunnel.
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Sunday 30th September 2007
Espanyol 1 Osasuna 1
Levante 1 Zaragoza 0
Mallorca 1 Betis 0
Murcia 5 Almeria 2
Recreativo 1 Getafe 2
Sevilla 2 Ath. Madrid 2
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The 2007/08 season continued to throw up surprises in rainy Valladolid tonight. Most had expected Villareal to brush aside the home team but the lacklustre yellows rarely looked like taking anything from the game.
Despite a close opening half hour which saw Nihat clip the bar, the home side began to look the more dangerous. Passing with more assurance they seemed a yard quicker than the visitors and were rewared by Llorente rounding off a fine move with a sweeping shot passed Lopez.
Villareal looked stunned and disorganised but had little time to compose themselves before Llorente struck again.
Llorente celebrates his disputed second goalThe striker had been played through expertly but looked clearly offside as he placed the ball low to Lopez's right. Furious Villareal players ran to the referee's assistant but it was to no avail.
The second half carried on where it left off with 10 minutes of continuous pressure from the home side. Things got worse for the visitors when they lost Cazorla to an ankle injury that will keep him out a month. Changes were made by the Submarines boss and the much criticized Giuseppe Rossi entered the fray on 66 minutes. His impact was almost immediate. Valladolid semed to have lost some focus after the stoppage and Nihat was given space in midfield to play a perfect ball through for Rossi who kept his cool and placed it passed the keeper.
It looked like we had a game on our hands until 2 minutes later Fuentes had a momnet of madness and it was game over. What seemed like a failed attack by the homeside resulted in the centre back with the ball at his feet in his own 6 yard box. For reasons unknown he then chose to dribble his way accross the area, losing control and allowing the impressive Llorente to grab his deserved hattrick and send the home fans into raptures.
Stoppage time saw Miralem Pjanic play a stunning pass through to Rossi who showed great composure to curl the ball over the keeper. The deafening sound of whistles could be heard from 3 sides of the ground as Villareal pushed hard for an unlikely equaliser but the home side held out. The season for each team had taken yet another twist.
Another away day loss for the Yellow SubmarinesThe dressing room afterwards was one of arguments and dissappointmet. Only Rossi seemed to look happy.
As we began to pack up to leave Ruben saw his small china Virgin Mary on the floor.
"bit late now" he said, putting it in his pocket.
