The Barcelona-Osasuna game was stunningly boring. Messi is obviously a once-in-a-generation genius, but this isn't proper football, it's watching someone else play an arcade machine.

Bilbao got revenge for the Europa League final, beating Atletico by the same score. That should keep Bielsa in the job for another month.

Very easy victory, 3-0 to Sevilla, and thoughts now on the Cup semifinal

Oh, and there was the Gaelic Football exhibition during half time, and the guest announcer said a few phrases in Irish. There were a few comments along the lines of ¿Pero qué coño es esto? Si somos españoles... from people near me in the Gol Norte, but I would gauge that to have been outweighed by the applause the Gaelic players got when they finished. Not sure how many Irish people were actually in the stadium, mind you.

Anyway, tonight it's just like rolling back the years on a Fútbol Español thread, as I find myself in Spain with 6 cans of Mercadona's finest, about to watch a match...

...And in true AS style, my 12X for the lineups would be

Adán-Pinto X
Essien-Dani Alves 2
Arbeloa-Jordi Alba X
Carvalho-Puyol 1
Varane-Piqué 2
Modric-Xavi 2
Xabi Alonso-Busquets X
Khedira-Fàbregas X
Özil-Pedro 1
Cristiano-Iniesta X
Benzema-Messi 2
Banquillo-Banquillo 2
Bloque-Bloque 2
Entrenador-Entrenador 1

Feeding that data into the Lodzubelieveit supercomputer gives a prediction of 0-1 for this evening...

This is the most low-key build-up to a clasico that I can remember. Several people I encountered today didn't even know it was on.

Apparently this is the first one not to feature either Casillas or Valdes since the Champions League semi-final in May 2002.

0-0 at half time, and both have had a couple of chances, most notably one from Xavi. Varane looks an excellent defender, very accomplished. Don't know what Fàbregas is doing there, though; it'd be much better for him to take something of a step down from Barcelona and be the team leader somewhere rather than being massively overshadowed at FCB.

Lodzubelieveit wrote:


Surely Vilanova has been more impressive in seamlessly filling Guardiola's shoes?

Lodzubelieveit wrote:


ahem

Haha, Cesc puts FCB ahead, who have seemed much calmer since the re-start.

Another excellent, calm interception from Varane with Fàbregas through on goal.

Messi's passing is leaving a lot to be desired and he seems to be taking a lot of time to get back onside. Something catching up with him?

Higuaín coming on, which should be good for them...he's simply better than Benzema for my money...

Varane does it again with a last-ditch perfectly timed challenge on Messi. Top class defending once more.

And he scores! This guy is the man!

Varane scores.

Quite the coming-out party.

Before people start crowning Varane as the greatest young defender on the planet, it should be noted that he played in each of Madrid's CL games against Borussia Dortmund and was distinctly ropey in both.

Scrappy old first half in the other semifinal, Atleti-Sevilla. SFC have competed quite well, but not much spark going forward from Navas or Rakitic yet. Kondogbia looking OK in midfield again.

Flurry of red card, handball and penalty nonsense. SFC not at their best tonight, but the 2-1 is recuperable in the second leg. Beto looked a decent goalkeeper on his debut.

Another reasonably easy win yesterday at the RSP, 2-1 v Rayo. Sevilla seem to have found something of a shape and settled team with the arrival of Unai Emery. There's a good block of four in defence and midfield with Spahic, Fazio, Kondogbia and Medel.

Yesterday was Italy day in the stadium. We had the national anthem before the match and (extremely loud) O Sole Mio by an opera singer at half time.

Depor appoint their third coach of the season. Domingo Paciencia has resigned after 40plus days with Fernando Vasquez (who he?) taking over.

Hes not managed at club level for about eight years and then was manager of local rivals Celta Vigo. Hes La Coruna born so that may buy him a bit of time to rearrange the deckchairs.

Theyll not come back up as quickly this time.