Village Idiot

Barça 0-1 up, Ibrahimovic Set piece goal, that's what I love about getting Zlatan, his size and height gives us an edge we lacked with Eto'o against tall teams like Racing.

Henry really showing his age lately, just tried to lead a swift counterattack and was jaded when he got in the final third.

Xisco's on the bench for Racing.

@Towelie On paper, yes, they gave us big problems last season though (drew 1-1 at home and won 1-2 away). They are a very good physical team, one of the last of that kind that remain in La Liga.

Sevilla up 2-0 against Mallorca (Squillaci and Perotti) Racing Santander - Barça about to start. Iniesta still on the bench, otherwise a full strength starting XI from Guardiola.

Pretty pleased that Barça didn't weasel out and sent the president, DoF and Technical Secretary, as high profile a representation as we can send. The man deserved no less.

Haven't been able to find an English link for this but... http://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2009/09/21/futbol/1253563264.html International referee Massimo Busacca gets suspended for doing what all referees dream of doing.

Milan doesn't seem to have had a particularly brilliant start of the season... does Ronaldinho show any hint that he might recapture his old form? It was such a pity to let his talent go to waste.

After playing 10 minutes (and getting into the scoresheet), Ruud Van Nistelrooy has managed to injury himself for a further 6 weeks.

Well, yes. I assumed they meant to say that his salary was 1000% of what it was before, instead of increase, since 900% it's an awkward figure.

1000% =/ 1000 times. That means he was at 5000 per week.

"with a view to a permanent move". Do you use that one outside transfer-talk?

Extra time has no hard rules, really, the ref does as he wishes: He may well have considered that the goal celebrations were too long and a way of wasting time. To be honest injury time has always been a bit of a joke, and I think we should just stop the clock when the ball goes outside (and allow for the ball to go out of play before signaling the end of a period so a goalscoring chance isn't interrupted).

i never understand why people rates joaquin... very nolan class footbaler. Game finished 2-2, and that's why Valencia won't be challenging this year. On their day, they can beat any team on the planet, but then they go and bottle it at home against a 10-man side that will be battling for relegation this season.

While losing to ManU and Chelsea is understandable, do you have any healthy centrehalf? Looks to me you're a bit fucked at the moment.

Well, that's around the score I expected for this game. Fair enough.

I'm Spanish, Barcelona born and bred. But I have lived in the USA these past 3 years.

Also, Cronaldo's transfer fee it's higher than all La Liga's teams' budgets excepting Barça, Atlético, Valencia and (barely) Sevilla. I say that because the commentator here just mentioned it and it's hardly an "achievement"...

I still find Spanish second flight immensely more watchable than the CCC (I admit to only having watched a few games of the latter though). I admit it's slow and teams have bags of space to do stuff, so probably it's "worse" in an effectiveness sense, but it's nice to watch. EDIT: Regarding their away support, Andalusian teams routinely have the best away fans. Also, travel from Jérez to Madrid is fairly quick, and it's one of the biggest away games of the season for them (there's also Barça, but Barcelona is much farther).

They are considered relegation certainties. Real are going to stuff them really good... Spanish second division is a bit like the CCC. A physical, determined team can beat more talented teams to the title if they find a run of form.

Wikipedia fiends I just googled who was this Borini guy that just came in for Chelsea and his wikipedia entry has already been edited with his sub appearance

I have 3 Spurs players in my fantasy footie, why oh why do I fall for the hype every effin' season

Red INJ or yellow INJ?

Pompey haven't looked nearly as hopeless though. Could have easily took points against Bolton, Birmingham and City... relegation certainties, though.

I don't know if skysports are taking the piss but... 90: There will be three minutes added on, one for each of Everton's goals.