Try and watch them away from home, if you are wanting to see them for footballing reasons.

Unless you get tickets for a big game the atmosphere at the Nou Camp and Bernabeu is generally disappointing, full of tourists more interested in getting pictures and people who think they are at the theatre, in terms of attitude and dress.

I've seen games at a dozen or so Spanish grounds, the best experiences in the top division can be found at Athletic, Sevilla, Valencia or Atlético for me, though obviously it depends on your reasons for wanting to go.

Just like at the start of last season the lack of any striking depth means they are trying to rotate because of the internationals and start of the champions league games, and the squad isn't strong enough to cope.


Yep, expecting carnage at the Nou Camp again tonight, though hopefully it won't be as bad as last season.

I was going to Sky+ the game tonight but then i realised we were playing Barca with our defense. It'll be painful watching if we get off to a bad start.

There is no reason why Resino won't play Aguero and Forlan together tonight but i wouldn't be suprised if he played one in each half again.

As shown in the home games between the two over the last couple of years the only chance we'd have to beat Barca is to attack them, and given the players that's the only way Atlético can really play anyway.

Held out for 90 seconds, slightly longer than last year IIRC

First half Barça were something else.
Shame they couldn't have been half as good in the second half, but Messi was brilliant.

Great result for Athletic Bilbao! Champions League here we come!

www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 98,00.html On every level that is wrong, love it when a team like this goes bust.

www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 98,00.html On every level that is wrong, love it when a team like this goes bust.

Was just about to post the same story



[urlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8265563.stm[/url

They were very good, but they didn't have much up against them.

I think Atlético could be a couple of injuries away from a disastrous season, the squad is ridiculously thin on quality and numbers.

Resino doesn't look like he's going to get anything from the players.
If I were a fan I'd be worried about the attitude of the players. Forlan and Agüero looked like they'd rather be somewhere else even before kick off.

How good did Athelti look?

I think Resino is out of his depth to be honest, and in some ways making 4th spot last season might not have been for the best. Unfortunately the board let a bit of player power affect their thinking when it came to sacking Aguirre, and I think they are now reaping what they sowed there, the attitude has been shocking at times in what I have seen this season.

Good to see Athletic doing well, if they can get on a run now and build confidence then they could carry that on when some of the harder games come about - they did play some good stuff at times last season so it maybe shouldn't be that much of a surprise.

I notice Van Nistelrooy scored yesterday, I'd forgotten he existed.

The problem last year was that half an hour of great football would result in nothing and then the opposition would put five or six passes together and score.

To be fair, I could have scored against Xerez in the last 20 mins

Out again!



[urlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8266984.stm[/url

Atletico facing the abyss... again

[urlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philminshull/2009/09/atletico_facing_the_abyss_agai.html[/url

[iThe headlines on Sunday were as merciless as the Catalan club had been on the pitch the night before.

"The champions abused Atletico," commented ABC cruelly. "Barca played, Atletico were the toys," added another newspaper."[/i

It's a reasonable article, apart from a comparison with Newcastle (please), I'd also say the transfer of Juanito was slightly eclipsed by that of Sergio Asenjo - and his clear personal problem with the club because of what happened with Jesus Gil.

Having said that Gil was a , and the sooner his family are out of there the better, a couple of serious injuries, Forlan and/or Aguero wanting out in January and relegation wouldn't be that unthinkable IMO, given how tight the bottom of La Liga tends to be.

The bloke's a bit hit or miss to be honest. As an Atletico fan you could read that article and feel really depressed or come out supporting them even more. Personally can't see them going down as I reckon Xerez and Osasuna will go down along with one from Tenerife, Almeria, Zaragoza and Sporting.
Agree with you about the Newcastle comparison.

It's definitely highly unlikely, but not impossible.

I think a more established manager could have a positive effect on the team, but the main problems at Atletico are still in the boardroom.

I know that. You know that. Half of Madrid knows that. Problem is a certain E. Cerezo doesn't seem to have the faintest.

EDIT - Spoiler, highlight below to see (see PM Catalancs).

=whiteDear me Barça are good!

16 year old wonderkid Iker Muniaín looks likely to be in the starting 11 for Athletic again tomorrow. Looks like he could be something special.

A victory tomorrow will be the best league start in the club's history. And we're talking about a club with tons of history.

Barcelona defender Dani Alves has sent an ominous warning to the rest of La Liga by insisting that despite their flying start to the season the Catalan giants are still looking to improve.

[urlhttp://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/09/09/23/SOCCER_Barcelona_Alves.html[/url

'[iAbel Resino's face was a poem[/i' said the commentator.
Atletico should have had the game sewn up well before Almeria's winner. My old mate Pablo Piati getting both Almeria goals



Espanyol have finally arrested my disgraceful betting form of late. Try and catch the two goals. Ben Sahar scored the first Espanyol goal at the new stadium with a great header. Ivan Alonso's winner was even better.

Defences are standing off Ronaldo like he's a leper. He must think it's Christmas every matchday in La Liga.

Bloody hell, I thought they'd scored again after I closed my stream in disgust after the equaliser! Thankfully not, a draw is bad enough!


No spoilers, same deal as the Barca game last night!

Can't wait to read what Cerezo comes out with.


Try and give me a warning. Post which game is on Sky.