Here we go; the players have been signed and the strips presented. La Liga is about to start, football once more. For those of us for whom the end of the spring and the beginning of the summer is a long slow time next weekend is the wonder date. The times for the first round are below.

Game	Date		UK	local (CET)
Espanyol x Granada	20-Aug		17.00	1800
Levante x Zaragoza	20-Aug		17.00	1800
Villarreal x Sporting	20-Aug		19.00	2000
Osasuna x Valencia	20-Aug		21.00	2200
Rayo Vallecano x Mallorca	21-Aug		11.00	Noon
Racing x Getafe	21-Aug		15.00	1600
Real Madrid x Athletic	21-Aug		17.00	1800
Málaga x Barcelona	21-Aug		19.00	2000
Betis x Sevilla	21-Aug		21.00	2200
Real Sociedad x Atlético	22-Aug		20.00	2100

Major changes from last year.

1. No 5pm (local) kick-offs on Sunday.
2. 9 different kick-off times
3. The noon kick-off is geared at the Asian markets, they tried a game last season at this hour, Mallorca x Villarreal. Probably the wrong game in the wrong town at the wrong time. Fans and players alike seemed to have played through that game, hung over. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid have been promised that they will not play at this time at home.

many thanks to forza football for the info.

The two big clubs gear up to play each other again

For the forth time in nineteen days FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will play each other again tomorrow. The two clubs will meet for the second game in the UEFA Champions league semi final tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 19.45 UK time.

Results for La Liga and Liga Adelante

La Liga Round 34

 

30 April &  1 May

Results

Levante	0-0	Sporting
Racing	2-0	Mallorca
Málaga	3-1	Hércules
Almería	0-1	Sevilla
Villarreal	2-1	Getafe
Osasuna	1-0	Valencia
Espanyol	21:00 - 02/05/2011	Athletic
R. Madrid	2-3	Zaragoza
R. Sociedad	2-1	Barcelona
Deportivo	0-1	Atlético

Liga Adelante

Resultados

Girona	1-3	Rayo
Granada	2-1	Tenerife
Valladolid	2-1	Barcelona B
Salamanca	5-4	Elche
Recreativo	2-1	Córdoba
Betis	4-1	Numancia
Albacete	1-2	Cartagena
Ponferradina	1-2	Xerez
Las Palmas	1-1	Celta
Alcorcón	0-1	Huesca
Villarreal B	0-2	Gimnástic

Champions League semi-final. Real Madrid 0-2 FC Barcelona

Many would say football won last night when the defence put up by Real trainer Jose Mourinho seemed to be half the team. With less then 30% of possession Real Madrid hoped for a counter attack to give them a goal as they had in last weeks king's cup.
The two goals were scored by Leonardo Messi in the 76th and 86th minute after Real Madrid were left with 10 players on the field. Portugese player Pepe was sent off with a direct red card in the 60th minute.
Other sendings off were Pinto, FC Barcelona's second keeper after a fight in the corridor a the end of the first half. And Mourinho after Pepe was sent off.
Mourinho made various comments after the game which FC Barcelona are studying to see if they are going to complain to UEFA.

Champions League semi-final.

Although last night Manchester United managed a clear win (0-2) against Shalke 04 it is not so clear who would win tonight. In the last three games FC Barcelona and Real Madrid have player the results have been 5-0 for the home game for FCB  then the second game in the league was a 1-1 draw in the Bernabeu followed last Wednesday by the Kings cup final which Real Madrid won 1-0 in Valencia.

La Liga Round 33 Results and classification

Results of round 33

Valencia	3	Real Madrid	6
Barcelona	2	Osasuna	0
Athletic	2	R. Sociedad	1
Hércules	1	Deportivo	0
Sporting	1	Espanyol	0
Mallorca	2	Getafe	0
Racing	1	Málaga	2
Atlético	4	Levante	1
Sevilla	3	Villarreal	2
Zaragoza	1	Almería	0

                                       Points table                      

Team	Points
Barcelona	88
Real Madrid	80
Valencia	63
Villarreal	57
Athletic	51
Sevilla	49
Atlético	49
Espanyol	45
Mallorca	42
Levante	42
Sporting	41
R. Sociedad	38
Deportivo	38
Getafe	37
Racing	37
Málaga	36
Zaragoza	36
Osasuna	35
Hércules	33
Almería	26