This is the first of two consecutive weeks in which we expect the rankings to go through some massive changes. Don't be scared, it happens every year. After the completion of five match days in each league, the previous season's numbers are dropped from the calculations. Recall, last week, we saw the changes happen in Ligue Un.

Johann Cruyff in his weekly posting in "El Periodico" opines that Barça must score early and often before matches become a slog of constant fouling from the opposition. He predicts a tough season for the Barça boys if they get in the habit of playing in low-scoring matches. Had Barça finished more of their chances in the Atletico Madrid match, Messi would have been on the bench as time dwindled down.

Liverpool will begin their long build-up to the first Super League season with a visit to Atlético Madrid for a friendly on Saturday that will further strengthen the relationship between Anfield and the Estadio Vicente Calderón.
The men's teams have met several times during the past two seasons, with Liverpool having also signed Fernando Torres and Maxi Rodríguez from the Spanish club.

This coming weekend Liverpool will travel to Old Trafford giving Fernando Torres a chance to relive arguably his finest hour in a Liverpool shirt. In March 2008 Liverpool travelled along the M62 take on Alex Ferguson's men knowing a win was vital to keep them in the title race. Enter Fernando Torres who raised his game to United defender to give Nemanja Vidic a torrid afternoon.

I saw a chart somewhere about the Big Four in the English Premier League and it started me thinking about putting it in historical perspective. But how, you ask? I decided to take a look at the best leagues in Europe and how often a handful of clubs have been able to dominate a domestic league title for an extended period of time.

Arzak, a world-renowned restaurant in San Sebastián, fuses traditional Basque cuisine with modern flavors and philosophies.

For the first time this season, the Spanish teams participating in European competitions will have to adjust to the quick turnaround from the midweek European fixtures to the weekend matches in La Liga.

17.09.2010 - Calígula - No en vano Florentino Pérez (Real Madrid) está enamorado y Mourinho la considera por sobre el Mundial. Empezó la 56º edición y se esperan aumentos en los premios.
La UEFA distribuyó en la última temporada de Champions League (2009-2010) un global de € 746,4 millones entre los 32 (equipos) participantes y para este año (de acuerdo a los aumentos anuales) se calcula que la bolsa supera los € 800 millones (merchandising + premios por resultados), más de u$s 1000 millones.

Two first half goals is enough to hold off Atlético Madrid at Vicente Calderon and ends a three league match losing streak at the stadium. read more...
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19.09.2010 - Calígula - Con goles de Messi (´13) y Piqué (´32), Barcelona venció a Atlético Madrid (1-2) (Raúl García ´25) en el Vicente Calderón, le quitó el invicto y volvió al lote puntero.
En tiempo recuperado (90+2), una dura entrada del checo Ujfalusi (AM) sobre Messi le valió la expulsión mientras que Lio era retirado en camilla.

Ever since Lionel Messi I have been waiting for him to get injured by some cynical player who would rather destroy him and let the little magician pass by him. With his small size, I really feared that Lionel Messi's career would end there. Fortunately, Messi has proven more robust than I thought, but also, referees are much more protective against wild tackles than they were in the 1980s for

La Tomatina Festival is held annually on the last Wednesday of August outside of Valencia in the town of Buñol.

La Liga provides its supporters and spectators with its first midweek round of the season, and through three rounds of this long campaign, the table has already sorted itself out in terms of the apparent three tiers in La Primera División.

Lots of action this week involving WCR Top 25 Clubs. Every single one of them are in action this weekend and the vast majority of them are in action at midweek as well. In Germany, Italy and Spain the midweek matches are domestic league matches. England, Scotland, France, Russia and the Netherlands are having midweek cup matches.

Spanish car maker SEAT began its sponsorship of this historic European competition last season, when Atlético Madrid broke Fulham fans' hearts with a late winner. Already deemed a resounding success SEAT is looking to develop the partnership further as Matchday 2 is just around the corner.

Depor could definitely use their former left back Filipe Luís Kasmirski at this dire moment.

Flashback ten years ago to the year 2000. La Liga rose to the top spot of the UEFA coefficient rankings for the first time since 1966. The final of the UEFA Champions League featured two Spanish teams with Real Madrid defeating Valencia 3-0 at the Stade de France.

Arqueros:
Romero, Sergio (AZ Alkmaar – Holanda)
Andújar, Mariano (Catania – Italia)
Ustari, Oscar (Getafe - España)
Defensores:
Milito, Gabriel (Barcelona – España)
Zanetti, Javier (Inter – Italia)
Samuel, Walter (Inter - Italia)
Burdisso, Nicolás (Roma – Italia)
Zabaleta, Pablo (Manchester City – Inglaterra)
Demichelis, Martín (Bayern Munich – Alemania)
Heinze, Gabriel (Olympique Marsella - Francia)
Volantes:
Di María, Ángel (Real Madrid – España)
Gago, Fernando (Real Madrid – España)
Mascherano, Javier (Barcelona – España)
Cambiasso, Esteban (Inter - Italia)
Sosa, José (Nápoli – Italia)
Bolatti, Mario (Fiorentina – Italia)
Pastore, Javier (Palermo – Italia)
Gaitán, Nicolás (Benfica – Portugal)
D'Alessandro, Andrés (Inter – Brasil)
Delanteros:
Higuaín, Gonzalo (Real Madrid – España)
Messi, Lionel (Barcelona – España)
Agüero, Sergio (Atlético Madrid – España)
Milito, Diego (Inter – Italia)
Lavezzi, Ezequiel (Nápoli – Italia)
Tevez, Carlos (Manchester City - Inglaterra)

Soccerlens and RedRants blogger and Manchester United superfan Eddie Griffin will be bringing you live coverage of the United v Valencia game tonight you can follow the action live below:

Manchester United v Valencia Live Blog
Live Match Blog: Manchester United vs. Valencia (UEFA Champions League)

Watch Manchester United vs Valencia Live Online

You can watch Valencia take on Manchester United live online as well as all other Champions League matches, plus hundreds of football games from around the world.