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FC Barcelona v Levante: Sensational!(7-0) | FC Barcelona
What a fantastic start! Tata Martino’s Barça league debut was a masterpiece. A sublime performance. The players followed the roadmap laid down by the Argentine coach during his first few days: possession, moving the ball swiftly, pressure up field and verticality in recovery. Levante was so overwhelmed in the Camp Nou that after just 25 minutes they were already losing 4-0. And 6-0 at halftime.
Gerardo Martino: "I insist that we must recover our pressure" | FC Barcelona
"The concepts that we addressed with the players – which aren’t new, they’ve just been archived – were brought back. Our interior-playing midfielders went deep, we switched up direct play with build-up play, these are good signs despite the fact that this just started. One of the aspects we’ve insisted on the most is pressure. I’m very satisfied," explained Martino in the post-match press conference.
Xavi Hernández: "We've regained the mechanism we had lost" | FC Barcelona
"I’m very happy with the way we’ve started," said Xavi Hernández after the match against Levante. The midfielder highlighted the newly appointed manager’s work in the built-up to the start of the season and he admitted that "we’ve recovered the mechanism we had lost."
Pedro: "This is the right way to do things" | FC Barcelona
Pedro Rodríguez was one of the stars of Barça’s 7-0 win over Levante. In Tata Martino’s first official game in charge of the first team, he scored twice, and said afterwards that "scoring goals gives you confidence … That was the best start we could have hoped for, and even more so at home. We played well and we know that’s the right way to do things".
Record breaking debut against Levante | FC Barcelona
The 7-0 win over Levante was the biggest win on the first weekend of Liga football since 1955. The best league debuts for Barça managers have been: Tata Martino (7-0 in 2013), Ferdinand Daucik (8-2 in 1950) and Joaquim Rifé (6-0 in 1979).
Historic 6-0 at the break | FC Barcelona
Tata Martino’s Barça has started the season in record fashion. In the first 45 minutes of the match against Levante, the first game of the season, the Blaugrana fired for six goals and thus wrote a new page in FC Barcelona history.
Two matches in a tough week | FC Barcelona
Tata Martino’s men will train on Monday and Tuesday with the focus on the game against Atlético on Wednesday (kick-off 11 pm, TV3). Barça will travel to the Calderón stadium for the first leg of the Super Cup, the first official trophy of the season. The players will be back in training on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to prepare the league match against Malaga on Sunday. A non-stop week!
Isco heads Real Madrid to win over Betis - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Carlo Ancelotti was made to wait for victory in his first Liga game as Real Madrid manager, with Isco’s late winner sealing a fiercely contested 2-1 win over Real Betis. Jorge Molina had given Betis an early lead, rewarding their good start, before Karim Benzema restored parity with a powerful near-post finish. But Madrid had to wait until the 85th minute to secure the win, with Isco meeting Marcelo’s header to make it 2-1.
Chicharito rejected Valencia move, says agent - Goal.com
Manchester United striker Chicharito rejected the chance to move to Valencia because he wants to triumph at Old Trafford, according to his agent. The Mexico international found chances somewhat limited last season and rumours in some circles suggested that he could leave the club following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Costa double boosts Atletico | Sky Sports Football
The 24-year-old Brazilian, a reported target for Liverpool this summer, struck in each half before substitute Cristian Rodriguez's superb third in stoppage time. Sevilla more than played their part in an open and entertaining game but had only Diego Perotti's long-range goal in the first half to show for their efforts.
Granada kick off with a victory | Sky Sports Football
In a match between two teams who narrowly avoided the drop last season, the visitors seized the half-time initiative with goals from Youssef El Arabi and Hassan Yebdi. Francisco Punal then replied for Osasuna before Piti missed a penalty for Granada, but Lucas Alcaraz's men held on for an opening win.