It is Friday, which means it is time to prepare for non-stop action from Spain with La Liga back in the fray.� After an intense week of World Cup qualifying playoffs, the focus turns back to the domestic responsibilities.

The times listed are Eastern Standard Time (EST) and include the pregame pleasantries, although sometimes the matches on the DIRECTV La Liga specific channels may not go to match coverage until right before kickoff.

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From morning soccer action in England, to evening soccer action in Mexico, Saturday's slate of soccer has something for everybody on this Halloween Day.

Arsenal-Tottenham kicks off today's activities in a highly-anticipated battle on ESPN2 (8:30am). MLS fans will get a taste of playoff soccer later in the day when the Columbus Crew face Real Salt Lake.

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From morning soccer action in England, to evening soccer action in Mexico, Saturday's slate of soccer has something for everybody on this Halloween Day.

Arsenal-Tottenham kicks off today's activities in a highly-anticipated battle on ESPN2 (8:30am). MLS fans will get a taste of playoff soccer later in the day when the Columbus Crew face Real Salt Lake.

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Andy Brassell, or ‘the Top Brass' to regular World Football Phone In listeners, is a freelance football journalist, with a knowledge of European football that matches Tim ‘Vickapedia' Vickery's knowledge of all things South American.

Not only is he an expert on France, Portugal, Germany, England and Spain, but he also knows his stuff on the Russian league.

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Sevilla has been among the world's best this year and will likely overcome their frustrating loss last week by beating Espanyol 2-0.� Atletico Madrid has had a tough start to the year and has been among the league's biggest disappointments.� Mallorca on the other hand has been a nice surprise this year and is among the teams that make up the top half of the league table.

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24/10/2009Atletico Madrid - Maiorca ore 18.00Sporting Gijon - Real Madrid ore 20.00Siviglia - Espanyol ore 22.0025/10/2009Valladolid - Deportivo La Coruna ore 17.00Getafe - Athletic Bilbao ore 17.00Racing Santander - Osasuna ore 17.00Tenerife - Xerez ore 17.00Villarreal - Malaga ore 17.00Almeria - Valencia ore 19. Click to continue reading...

Sporting Gijon-Real Madrid

Sporting has been one of the hottest clubs of late with consecutive wins over Athletic Bilbao and Mallorca.� Miguel de las Cuevas has scored four goals in the last two games, so he looks to continue his streak against one of Spain's toughest defenses in Madrid.

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(video highlights di Valencia-Barcellona)
I risultati di calcio della Liga:
Deportivo La Coruna-Siviglia 1-0
38' Rodriguez
Real Madrid-Valladolid 4-2
14', 18' Raul (R), 29' Nauzet (V), 45' Marcelo (R), 53' Marquitos (V), 79' Higuain (R)
Valencia-Barcellona 0-0
Espanyol-Tenerife 2-1
11' e 60' Alonso (E), 15' Alfaro (T)
Malaga-Almeria 1-2
39' Cisma (A), 41' Soriano (M), 68' Edinho (A)
Maiorca-Getafe 3-1
31' Álvarez (M), 53' e 70' Aduriz (M), 79' Albín (G)
Real Saragozza-Racing 2-2
22' Pavon (S), 33' Arizmendi (S), 81' Tchite (R), 86' Serrano (R)
Xerez-Villarreal 2-1
18' Pires (V), 42' Bermejo (X), 80' Antonito (X)
Athletic Bilbao-Sporting Gijon 1-2
65', 76' De Las Cuevas, 81' Toquero
Osasuna-Atletic Madrid 3-0
4',25' Pandiani, 29' Aranda
CLASSIFICA - Barcellona 19, Real Madrid 18, Siviglia 15, Deportivo La Coruna 15, Maiorca 13, Valencia 12, Espanyol 11, Sporting 11, Athletic 10, Osasuna 10, Almeria 9, Getafe 9, Real Saragozza 8, Atletico Madrid 6, Tenerife 6, Racing 6, Xerez 5, Real Valladolid 5, Malaga 4, Villarreal 3. Click to continue reading...

An impressive 1-0 win by Deportivo La Coruña over Sevilla on Saturday raises Depor to a tie of third place with Sevilla at fifteen points, four points behind league leaders FC Barcelona.� Los blanquiazules have won five of their first seven matches this season, and their only two losses came at the hands of Espanyol 2-3 and Real Madrid 2-3.

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Valencia-Barcelona

Valencia is among the few clubs that stands a chance against the treble winning giants, but with David Villa an unlikely starter the road to victory just got a lot tougher.� Valencia currently sits in fifth place and Barcelona of course is undefeated, so it is tough to vote against Messi, Ibs, Henry & Co.

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After sitting out on the sidelines for a long time, because of a suspect ankle injury, which he suffered in the opening clash of this years CONCACAF Gold Cup, young Arsenal hotshot Carlos Vela is preparing himself with his national teammates for the World Cup Qualifier against El Salvador tonight at the Estadio Azteca.

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AP Photo/Alberto Saiz

The Spanish Football Federation held the King's Cup final 32 drawing in Madrid with Barcelona being matched up against Segunda B side Cultural Leonesa. Barcelona will defend their King's Cup title on the road with first leg will be played at Reina de León stadium on October 28, the return leg at the Camp Nou will take place on November 10.

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The fifth week of La Liga action would bring some of the best storylines and most thrilling drama.� Only one match was decided by more then one goal easily making this week the best so far this season.� One unbeaten team remains as one more powerhouse has� fallen.� Who was it?� Let's starts this weeks review.

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So much of the focus for the opening of the 2009/2010 season of football has been on the Premier League that it's about time we pay respect and focus on how ESPN's TV ratings are doing for its coverage of La Liga.

Here are the Nielsen Ratings thus far for La Liga games shown between August 31 and September 22, 2009:

1. Barcelona v Sporting Gijon, ESPN, Monday, Aug.

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After the first full month of La Liga football the Yank is a mediocre 19-12 with his weekly picks.� Thanks to Real Madrid and Barcelona I am over the .500 percent curve, but unfortunately Barca does not play this weekend and Real Madrid has the toughest match of the week� against Sevilla.� So in other words the picks just got a lot harder.

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Here we go:

• Chelsea ban all but guarantees loaned Di Santo's return to the Blues.
  
• Selling Gary Cahill is suicide for Bolton.
  
• Wigan deal out for Mbami?
  
• Kanu to Australia?
  
• Fulham to save Nigel Reo-Coker from the Aston Villa doghouse?
  
• Xerez is looking at some Carlos Vela.

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Morning, hope your weekend was a good one. An Arsenal win always helps. A birthday also helps. Helps you lie around all day Sunday going 'Bleurgh' after too much Havana Club the night before, but I'm not complaining.

Mostly because today is Monday. Tomorrow night sees the second Champions League group stage game with a home tie against Olymiacos.

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As we head towards October, at the end of the week at hand, the weather in the northern hemisphere gets cooler but the coaching seats hotter. No longer can underperforming look to early season disconnects, jitters, weakened legs and evolving squads as substitutes for results. So while we head towards firing season, a look at [. Click to continue reading...

Real Madrid's Kaka has been one of the most significant additions to the clubs lineup. His near $110 million newly inked contract proves that he is one of the top stars in the game. But we already knew that right.

Kaka - SEPTEMBER 20, 2009 - Football : Spanish 'Liga Espanola' match between Real Madrid 5-0 Xerez at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid, Spain.

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Time to move on?

Arsenal striker Carlos Vela is a shock January transfer window target of Spanish basement boys Xerez.

Vela has failed to command a place in the Gunners starting XI since joining in 2005 and the Mexico forward is eager for first team football to aid his country's World Cup challenge.

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It's been a stellar start so far for the Yank picking games in La Liga, but at least I'm over 50% of my total picks with a 15-9 total record after three weeks.� This weekend, much like every weekend, brings forth a batch of tough matches.� Some of the best squads will face off and a few of the worst as well.

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26/09/2009Real Madrid - Tenerife ore 18.00Athletic Bilbao - Siviglia ore 18.00Malaga - Barcellona ore 20.00Valencia - Atletico Madrid ore 22.0027/09/2009Osasuna - Sporting Gijon ore 17.00Espanyol - Xerez ore 17.00Maiorca - Valladolid ore 17.00Almeria - Racing Santander ore 17.00Real Saragozza - Getafe ore 19. Click to continue reading...

Athletic Bilbao-Sevilla

Athletic Bilbao has been the surprise team of the first three weeks with a perfect 3-0 record.� The club has only� won each match by a single goal, but they will take wins� however they� can get� them.� Bilbao has defeated� two mediocre clubs in Espanyol and Xerez, but they did beat Villareal last weekend.

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Although it is early, the league is already tight up top and no one will catch Real Madrid and Barcelona. Both sides were once again convincing as the Catalans gave a clinic in Santander, while the Merengues deep sixed the Yellow Submarine in Castellón.

Lionel Messi earned a brace while Cristiano Ronaldo led the pace of his team and neither were able to be stopped.

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Matches:
Atletico Madrid v Almeria
Espanyol v Malaga
Real Valladolid v Osasuna
Villarreal v Real Madrid
Xerez v Deportivo Coruna
Tenerife v Athletic Bilbao
Getafe v Valencia
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[caption id="attachment_1376" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Guti is going to have to get used to warming the bench no matter how hard and long he ponders about this after giving good performances."][/caption] Looking at Guti's performance in the previous match against Xerez and also taking into consideration the past 3 seasons, from Capello . Click to continue reading...

Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy returned after a long spell on the sidelines to provide an assist and score another in his side's emphatic 5-0 victory over La Liga minnows Xerez. While the focus of the game initially� remained on another former Manchester United star, Cristiano Ronaldo who scored twice to make it six goals in his four appearances it was his Dutch teammate who eventually� created most of the headlines.

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Real Madrid 5-0 Xerez
1-0 Ronaldo, 1′
2-0 Ronaldo, 75′
3-0 Guti, 78′
4-0 Benzema, 82′
5-0 Van Nistelrooy, 89′

Real Madrid moved to the top of the table Sunday, ahead of Barcelona on goal differential, after a 5-0 rout of Xerez that was a more difficult affair than the final score might indicate.

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(video gol, 1-0. Ronaldo)
(video gol, 2-0. Ronaldo)
(video gol, 3-0. Guti)
(video gol, 4-0. Benzema)
(video gol, 5-0. Van Nilsterooy)
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Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo notched a brace to lead Real Madrid to a 5-0 win over La Liga newcomers Xerez at the Bernabeu yesterday. Ronaldo's first goal came in the opening minute from a neat run followed by a powerful low shot. However, Xerez performed well for the next 74 minutes of the game to ensure that the [. Click to continue reading...

Spain
It took a couple game, but Cristiano Ronaldo is now in top form. He scored inside a minute and added a second in a 5-0 win against Xerez. And Real Madrid is scoring goals in bunches (who needs defense when you're scoring five goals a game, right?).
Italy
Big injury news in Serie A, Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro (remember when he was on top of the world? Click to continue reading...

Pictures of famous Athletic Bilbao players at San Mamés. Photo courtesy of Nicholas McGowan.

Athletic Bilbao would have no problems with the proposed UEFA plan of mandating eight homegrown players in the squad of eighteen for every match or the theoretical 6 + 5 rule, where six players of the starting eleven would have to be eligible for the national team of their club's country.

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Hardly a flattering pose from Benzema BonBon, The Children's Party Entertainer, but the Madrid-Xerez match up yesterday was full of it!� Los Blancos pulled off a 5-0 win thanks to other goals from van Nistelrooy, Greaseano, Guti. It wasn't a "five star" performance but Kaka's hair needs to visit the salon ahora por favor.

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Video Info:
20.09.2009 - Liga BBVA:
Real Madrid - Xerez 5:0

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Five games scheduled today to finish off Round 3 of "La Liga" withReal Madrid taking the top of the ladder after defeating Xerez, alongwith Athletic de Bilbao, Valladolid & Almeria grabbing their 3 points.REAL MADRID started their game against bottom side XEREZ like this thanks to CRISTIANO RONALDO (See video):47 seconds & it seemed it would be a "white-wash" ( never bettersaid) but it went to Click to continue reading...