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Recovery session ahead of Super Cup | FC Barcelona
The morning after the 7-0 thrashing of Levante, the focus now turns to Wednesday’s Super Cup match. Tata Martino put his players through their paces on Monday morning with the aim of recovering from the previous night’s match and also to prepare the first leg of the Super Cup against Atlético Madrid – Wednesday, kick-off 11 pm in the Vicente Calderón.
Martino makes protecting Messi a priority - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Messi was taken off without being injured after 70 minutes, but with the scoreline at 6-0, something almost unheard of in the Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova eras. He was last substituted uninjured in 2010. "I had already spoken to Messi about it. The season is very long with many games and he is intelligent and understands it is necessary," Martino said.
Valdés: "Starting like that is a clear message" | FC Barcelona
Tata Martino has focussed on improving a number of aspects, including applying pressure in the opposing half. Valdés pointed to the third goal scored by Dani Alves as an example of how the players carried out the manager’s instructions. "We did what the manager wanted. He wanted us to score a goal after winning back the ball and that’s what happened after Messi won back possession".
Barca TV to be broadcast in Asia Pacific - SportsPro Media
Kuala Lumpur-headquartered sports marketing agency Total Sports Asia (TSA) has agreed a deal to distribute FC Barcelona’s official club channel, Barca TV. The agreement was struck between TSA and MediaPro, the Spanish distributor and production company representing Barca TV, and will see TSA become the exclusive distributor of the channel throughout the Asia Pacific region.
Barca strike up metro deal | Football Espana
The Catalans are playing host in the return match next Wednesday at the Camp Nou, but with an 11pm local time kick-off, saw fans facing the prospect of organising alternative travel post-match, with the metro service set to be shut come the end of the game. However, Barca have confirmed that they have reached an agreement with city officials to keep the metro service open later into the night for fans, and that they will subsidise running costs for this.
Sore knee for Khedira - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
The German international was taken off by Los Blancos during the second half of their eventual 2-1 win over Real Betis on Sunday night complaining of discomfort. Reports on Monday are that Khedira is complaining of soreness in his right knee and that he is due to undergo tests to reveal the extent of any injury suffered.
Madrid agree £93m Bale deal? | Football Espana
Reports in recent weeks have been that an official world record offer has been placed and today Sky Sport Italia reporter Gianluca Di Marzio is running the line that a deal has now been agreed. The transfer expert suggests that negotiations for the 24-year-old have accelerated in recent hours and that a deal worth £93m, around €109m, has been agreed.
Villarreal sink Almeria | Sky Sports Football
On-loan striker Rodri scored in either half, either side Sebastian Dubarbier's own goal just after the hour which levelled proceedings, to put Almeria on course for the three points in their Primera Division opener. But Villarreal new boy Dos Santos equalised seven minutes from time before substitute Pereira sealed a dramatic victory for the Yellow Submarine soon after.
Espanyol fight back | Sky Sports Football
Aspas left the Balaidos to head to Liverpool over the summer and Charles was recruited from Almeria to plug the gap. He made an immediate impact, netting a second goal after Alex Lopez had opened the scoring, but the home side could not hold their lead.
Rayo up and running | ESPNFC.com
Rayo Vallecano kicked off the new season with all three points by earning a comfortable 3-0 victory over newly-promoted Elche. New signing Alberto Bueno got the opening goal after 40 minutes, Alberto Perea doubled the lead right on the stroke of half-time with a sensational strike, and Bueno wrapped up the points by adding the third with 16 minutes to go.