Lodz - did you really pay 165€ for a season ticket at Sabadell? B.t.w. the fourth pic down on the Socios page was taken at the Hermanos Antuña, Mieres. That's supposed to make you get all nostalgic...

Yep, 165EUR was the cost of my season ticket. Impressive stadium-spotting skills from you ant.

Valencia 0-1 Real Madrid at half time in the first leg of the Supercopa. Valencia have been much more threatening in general, without really creating many clear-cut chances. Silva and Villa look sharp, but I've been most impressed with Mata on the left wing, who's been very neat and tidy, and has the beating of Michel Salgado. Most unimpressed with Albelda in midfield, the big dirty old clogger. With Real Madrid, it's been the same story as usual - not really much 'elaboration' in their play, but one good attack, and a clinical Van Nistelrooy finish puts them ahead. Hmm, I'll go for a 1-1 FT prediction.

Yes, I was indeed referring to the team in the photo rather than the photographer's skills. What's the price that in this photo, Navas is only pretending to help lift the trophy?

Well, 3-2 it finishes to Valencia, who gave it their all in the second half and deserved the win. Real Madrid were dreadful, except for Robben's move and Van Nistelrooy's deadly finish. They should be praying that both of those two stay healthy all through the season, because they wouldn't want to have to rely on Robinho and Raul in their place. My man of the match award goes to David Villa, who ran his socks off and got Valencia's second goal. I wonder if Real Madrid buy him during the week, could he play for the other side next Sunday?

There were a few close offside calls during the game. If an attacker's foot is in line with, or even behind, the last defender, but he leans forward so that his torso is 'offside', is the player offside or not? The Telecinco co-commentator was suggesting that, in that situation, the attacker is onside ...

Denmark 0-0 Spain at half time. Quite an open game, and both goalkeepers have had to make a good save. Possibly Denmark shading it, with Rommedahl looking lively down their right wing against Capdevila. OTF favourite Sergio Ramos picked up a yellow card for a dodgy lunge when caught out of position ... I'll go for 0-1 as FT result, as Spain have been looking dangerous when they've countered ...

Ibn Pickthall wrote:

QUOTE:
I'd imagine Lodz was referring to the team in the photo, rather than the photo itself.

I know.

Vaya, vaya - Spain utterly dominate the second half, spraying the ball around with ease - and rack up a very comfortable 3-0 win. Diego Capel came on for his first cap, and was enthusiastic, putting in the cross for the third goal. I'll give my MoM to Xavi for his tidy play and excellently taken goal ...

Quite looking forward to this second leg of the Supercopa tonight. Really and truly, if Valencia have the guts to go out there, hold their shape, and be determined, they shouldn't lose. But, well, teams can crumble a bit in the Bernabeu, even if the home team aren't exactly in great shape. They also have two away goals of course (which I, err, don't know if they count ...), so I'd make Real Madrid slight favourites, all told ...

Well, a very dull first half hour, in which nobody did anything, was livened up by Silva's excellently taken goal out of nothing. Then Van der Vaart tried to take both Mata's knees off in one challenge, and was rightly sent off. Between the team's poor play, the referee and Robinho, the Real Madrid fans don't know who to boo the most. Villa and Heinze seem to have a thing going on, which may entertainingly turn into a punch up second half ... I'll go for the 0-1 scoreline to hold at FT ...

PS Away goals do count

That'll serve me right to be conservative with my HT predictions, as Real Madrid win 4-2 to take the Supercopa, despite going down to nine men, with Van Nistelrooy sent off for two yellows ... Good God, that is a depressing result, as Real Madrid's Spawny Divine Blessing seems to have entered into a third season, no doubt leading to them winning La Liga again. Jeez, that's sad - and Valencia, to be fair, need to take their share of the blame, for not going all out and putting Real Madrid to the sword with a two-man advantage. Why the hell didn't they? Why did they just trot along, thinking the game was won? Haven't they seen any footage of the last two league seasons? ... And on top of that, we'd still be playing extra time if Alexis hadn't just passed the ball to Higuain inside his own penalty area for the fourth goal ...

The more significant result tonight is that Sporting Gijon beat Milan 2-0.

Wisla 0-0 Barcelona after a terribly boring first half ... maybe this ad for the newly-named 'Liga BBVA' and a few Adlerbrau can cheer me up ...

Wisla won 1-0. unbelievable!

A small token of appreciation in Wotyla's memory.

Bob, since you are here, what is the local take on the Boruc story?

Wszystko najlepszego to Wisla for the win! ... Barcelona clearly not trying that hard ...

The biggest news story here today being Real Madrid apparently willing to pay 16m EUR for Santi Cazorla to Villarreal to cover the possible sale of Robinho to Chelsea ... Plus rumours that they may well be about to buy David Villa from Valencia for 50m EUR ...

Big news indeed, but I think the news all Madridistas have been waiting for is that Usain Bolt is a Real Madrid fan: http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=835401