Xavi, Casillas clinch top Spanish award

The first leg of the Spanish Super Cup between Valencia and Real Madrid ended in a 3-2 victory to the home team.

Van Nistelrooy had put the Galacticos in the lead after thirteen minutes and Real would hold on to that lead until the ninth minute of the second half when Mata levelled the score.

Not much later, Euro 2008 top scorer David Villa made it 2-1 to Valencia but Van Nistelrooy replied by netting for 2-2 in the 67th minute.

The winning goal went to the Bats though, as winger Vicente scored in the 80th minute to make it 3-2.

The two teams will meet again for the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu stadium on August 23rd.

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Competition: La Liga

Market: Atletico Madrid to beat Malaga

Odds:

La Liga continues this weekend for yet another massive round of games that will only bring more goals and moments of excitement. The league table has remained incredibly tight meaning that a win can quite often see a side rise a number of places, and with this in mind, Atletico Madrid travel to play Malaga on Saturday.

Malaga have been awful this season and they are in huge danger of being relegated to the second-division. After 22 games they have won three, drawn four and lost 15 times, while they have only managed to score 14 goals, whilst conceding 35 times. In their last five they have managed to draw twice, but they have lost their other three games, meaning they are on just…

Anderlecht striker Lukas Teodorczyk is believed to be a long-standing transfer target for La Liga side Sevilla.

The 26-year-old Polish forward joined Anderlecht in the 2016/17 season during which he bagged 22 goals in 38 Jupiler League appearances for the Belgium giants.

Polish international continued his flying form this season as well, having scored four goals in 20 league appearances which were more than enough to attract interest from Rojiblancos.

Spanish club even tried to buy him this January but failed to match the asking price set by the Belgian club.

And according to Estadio Deportivo Sevilla are ready to return for the striker who is being flattered by Sevilla interest.

“Sevilla’s interest in me is great news.”, he commented but r…

Torino will fight to keep winger Alessio Cerci at the club, .

The Italy international, who was part of Cesare Prandelli’s squad for this summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil, has gained attention from a number of Premier League clubs following a fine 2013/14 Serie A campaign.

Arsenal, Everton and Manchester United have all been linked with the 26 year old who is valued at around £15m, though they face an uphill battle to secure his services.

Cerci moved from Fiorentin to Torino in the summer of 2012 having begun his career with Roma, while he has also had loan spells with Brescai, Pisa and Atlanta.

Last season, his thirteen goals in thirty-seven appearances helped his side to a seventh place finish in the Italian top flight.

Parma’s fa…

New York Red Bulls picked up their first win of the MLS season with a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.

The Red Bulls went into the game on the back of two defeats and two draws but they picked up maximum points for the first time courtesy of goals from Dax McCarthy and Thierry Henry.

McCarthy opened the scoring 10 minutes into the second half before Conor Casey restored parity for the visitors just eight minutes later.

Substitute Henry, who went wide with a spectacular bicycle kick in the 76th minute, re-asserted his side s dominance in the 81st minute, controlling a short cross from Peguy Luyindula and finishing his first goal of the season.

Leaders Montreal Impact dropped points for the first time in a 2-0 loss to Sporting Kansas Cit…

Antonio Conte says Tottenham would be foolish to spend big in the transfer market and will use common sense.

Spurs have made six signings during the window, landing Richarlison, Yves Bissouma, Ivan Perisic, Djed Spence, Clement Lenglet and Fraser Forster.

The London club have also been linked with Roma attacking midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo and Barcelona forward Memphis Depay, while teenage wing-back Destiny Udogie is expected to arrive form Udinese and return to the Serie A club on loan.

They are also reportedly set to trigger a £41million release clause to make centre-back Cristian Romero s loan move from Atalanta permanent.

Tottenham head coach Conte has vowed there is no chance the club will be reckless before the transfer window closes on Septembe…

Arsenal are set to complete the signings of Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht and Nuno Tavares from Benfica, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The services of the 21-year-old Anderlecht midfielder should cost the Gunners 17.5 million straight up, with various add-ons to come on top of that amount. The only thing left to sort out at this point is the percentage of any future sale the Belgian side would be entitled to.  With Dani Ceballos already gone back to Real Madrid and Granit Xhaka likely to join AS Roma, there should be room enough for Lokonga in the midfield department at the Emirates.

As for Tavares, also 21, Arsenal will be paying Benfica around €8m plus add-ons. His role will be to provide manager Mikel Arteta with a decent option to cover for Kieran Tierney …

Christophe Berra scored a late winner as Scotland prepared for a crucial Euro 2016 qualifier with a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland at Hampden Park on Wednesday.

Both teams have performed well in qualification so far; Scotland sit third in Group D with seven points going into Sunday s clash with Gibraltar while Northern Ireland are second in Group F with three wins from four ahead of a home game against Finland.

It was the hosts who eventually claimed a deserved triumph in Glasgow, edging a contest that provided little in terms of entertainment.

Manchester United s Jonny Evans captained Northern Ireland in his first appearance since receiving a six-match ban for spitting at Newcastle United s Papiss Cisse and it was his defence that received the sterner test as S…

Alou Diarra has taken a swipe at West Ham s style of football during his spell at Upton Park.

Under Sam Allardyce, Diarra had two seasons at West Ham, although half of the second of those was spent on loan at Rennes.

Diarra made just six Premier League appearances for West Ham, before being released at the end of the 2013-14 campaign.

Now at Charlton Athletic, Diarra has spoken of his unhappy time at Upton Park.

My first experience in England was frustrating because I didn t play many games at West Ham, he told Charlton s matchday programme.

I did well in training but it just wasn t football. They played a lot of long balls but for me that is too easy. I ve always played hard stuff. I like to get into position with pressure.

If you…

England went to Seville last night to take on the might of the European Champions Spain.

Fabio Capello went into the game without the injured Steve Gerrard and Wayne Rooney and Spain had to take to the field without Carles Puyol who suffered a thigh injury at the weekend. Other than that, both managers had a pretty full squad to choose from for what was billed as a friendly, but meant a lot more than that to both countries.

Confidence

Confidence in Spain was sky high after their glorious victory at Euro 2008 and confidence in England was pretty high as well after an unbeaten start to their World Cup qualifying campaign and an excellent win in Germany.

So, who’s confidence was justified and who’s was misplaced?

We…