Valencia- FC Barcelona: Three straight wins ahead of international break | FC Barcelona
Messi’s first half hat trick, together with another match saving performance form Valdes and the team’s defensive stability in the second half were key to the win. Messi had set up the game with three first half goals, before Valencia pulled two back just before the break and then put the pressure on Barça in the second half, as Martino’s side were forced to show their defensive skills.
Valdés: "Winning is even sweeter when you help the team" | FC Barcelona
The FC Barcelona keeper was one of the standout players this evening in Mestalla and he was key in Barça’s 2-3 victory against Valencia. Despite conceding two goals, he didn’t hide his pleasure with how well he’s been playing since the start of the season. "Personally I’m very pleased," he said before adding that "if you help the team win, you feel even better."
Leo Messi scores his 23rd league hat trick for Barça | FC Barcelona
Barça’s No10 terrorised Mestalla once again, a stadium that’s hosted six of the Argentine’s goals in La Liga. This Sunday Leo Messi scored three and took his hat-trick tally up to 23 as a Barça player (he’s scored 26 hat tricks as a professional footballer, the remaining three are for Argentina).
Sergio Busquets finishes the match against Valencia with thigh pain | FC Barcelona
Sergio Busquets finished the match against Valencia in pain. The Catalan player sustained a knock to his right thigh and he’ll undergo additional tests on Monday to determine the exact extent of his possible injury.
Valdés, Piqué and Mascherano ever present so far | FC Barcelona
hree other managers began their tenure at the Club with three wins: Rexach, with nine goals scored and none conceded, César, with 11 scored and three conceded and Venables, with eight scored and none conceded.
Tata Martino: "We saw Barça's best form" | FC Barcelona
Tata Martino’s Barça come into the first international break of the season with a perfect record in La Liga after three matches. After Levante and Malaga, the Blaugrana took on Valencia at Mestalla and won 2 to 3 in a thrilling match. After the game, the team’s manager said, "because of where we played, the hierarchy of the team we played against and because of how we played, this was the best competitive form we’ve shown."
League campaign takes a break for internationals | FC Barcelona
Just three matches into a thrilling La Liga season, the league programme goes on hold for the first international break of the season. For Barça, it means that training this week will be limited to Wednesday through Saturday – all sessions at 10 am in the Ciutat Esportiva – while Monday, Tuesday and Sunday are free.
La Liga provides a weekend to savour as the steak fights back | Sid Lowe | Football | theguardian.com
Well, almost everything. Bale didn't play this weekend. Nor did Kaká, Mesut Ozil or even Ander Herrera. But Isco did and so did Helder Postiga, Xabi Prieto and Cesc Fábregas, Javier Aquino, Kevin Gameiro and David Villa. Víctor Valdés, Thibault Courtois and Diego Alves played. And as for Leo Messi and Luka Modric: boy, oh boy, did they play. Villarreal played on Saturday and Sunday, in August and September.
Factbox - Evolution of world record transfer deals since 1893 - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Following Gareth Bales's world record transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid for 100 million euros, these are the major world record transfer deals based on pounds sterling since Willie Groves of Scotland became the first 100 pounds player when he moved from West Bromwich Albion to Aston Villa in 1893
Gareth Bale addresses Real Madrid fans after sealing world-record move | Sky Sports
The Wales international signed a six-year contract at the stadium hours after a successful medical examination in the Spanish capital. And Bale, whose £85.3m transfer from Tottenham makes him the world's most expensive player, addressed fans in both English and Spanish after an introduction from Real president Florentino Perez.
He's no Beckham or Ronaldo - why Gareth Bale will struggle to pay back Real Madrid his €100m transfer fee - Goal.com
What the Welshman can achieve at the Santiago Bernabeu is largely irrelevant in reference to his staggering valuation. David Beckham, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo were all Ballon d’Or collectors and Champions League winners before arriving in Spain. Bale is none of those things, yet as far as Madrid are concerned he represents the zeitgeist. The current face of the Premier League.
Bale to be measured against Ronaldo and Neymar - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
As if that were not enough, the name of David Beckham will also be thrown into the mix as the 24-year-old Welshman arrives 10 years after the former England captain and marketing machine left the Premier League for La Liga. Bale lands at the Bernabeu with a hefty 100 million euro (£85m) price tag and the need to impress one of the most demanding audiences in the world every time he steps out on to the pitch.
Ozil due for Arsenal medical as £40m deal edges closer - Goal.com
Mesut Ozil is undergoing an Arsenal medical in Germany after agreeing personal terms with the club, Goal can reveal. The Gunners have agreed a €47 million fee with Real Madrid for the Germany international and are confident of completing the deal before Monday night’s 11pm transfer deadline.
Deadline day: Kaka agrees to return to AC Milan from Real Madrid | Sky Sports
Kaka returns to Milan, where he enjoyed the best football of his career, after leaving for the Bernabeu four years ago on a deal of around £56m. The 31-year-old has agreed a two-year contract with the Rossonero following lengthy discussions over the weekend. Kaka endured a frustrating time in Madrid where he spent several spells on the sidelines due to injury.
Sevilla confirm Cheryshev loan - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
The attacking winger spent preseason with Los Blancos’ first team and was reportedly in line to be used by Carlo Ancelotti as a provisional left-back for the new term. However, on from the Italian confirming Fabio Coentrao’s decision to stay with the team and increasing speculation that Cheryshev was after regular first team action in an attacking role, Sevilla has swooped.
Isco at the double to beat Bilbao | ESPNFC.com
Midfielder Isco Alarcon opened the scoring in the 26th minute, while Ronaldo headed in a free-kick just before half-time. Isco then struck again midway through the second half, while Ibai Gomez scored a consolation goal for the visitors, who never really got into the game. Although Isco and Ronaldo got on the scoresheet, it was former Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric who took the plaudits from the home fans after a man-of-the-match performance.
Stalemate at Espanyol | ESPNFC.com
Real Betis picked up their first point of the new Primera Division season after holding Espanyol to a goalless draw at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat. Espanyol had the better of the few decent chances on offer but Betis survived to open their account for the campaign following 2-1 defeats to Real Madrid and Celta Vigo in their opening two matches.
Atletico take the victory | Sky Sports Football
David Villa and Koke scored either side of half-time to give Diego Simeone's side a two-goal lead, which was reduced by a late strike by Xabi Prieto. Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois then had to make two stunning saves in the final moments of the game to preserve all three points.
Defender Martin Demichelis signs for Manchester City | Sky Sports
Manchester City have confirmed the capture of Argentine defender Martin Demichelis from Atletico Madrid. 32-year-old Demichelis, who has been capped 37 times by Argentina, has penned a two-year deal with City and is reunited with Manuel Pellegrini who was his manager at both River Plate and Malaga.
Getafe pick up Lisandro Lopez - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Benfica only signed the recently-turned 24-year-old this summer from Arsenal de Sarandi in a €5m deal. However, they have agreed to send him out to the Spanish capital on a one-year loan, as confirmed by Getafe in a brief statement on their website.