Betting Guide [SOCCER – Asian Handicap]: La Liga 2012-13 Rayo Vallecano vs. Real Madrid

Match Date: September 25, 2012 (Tuesday)
Match Time: 2:00 am (+08:00 GMT)
Venue: Estadio Del Rayo Vallecano (HOME: Rayo Vallecano)

HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON (Last Five Matches)
2011-12 La Liga (February 26, 2012)
Rayo Vallecano	0-1	Real Madrid
2011-12 La Liga (September 29, 2011)
Rayo Vallecano	2-6	Real Madrid
2002-03 La Liga (April 5, 2003)
Rayo Vallecano	1-3	Real Madrid
2002-03 La Liga (November 9, 2002)
Rayo Vallecano	2-3	Real Madrid
2001-02 La Liga (April 6, 2002)
Rayo Vallecano	1-3	Real Madrid

Rayo Vallecano will host their prominent city rivals Real Madrid on Tuesday, September 25. Madrid won all of their last five matches, with the last two fought during Vallecano’s return to La Liga.

12BET Asian Handicap: 1.5 for Rayo Vallecano

Rayo Vallecano has a handicap of 1.5 at 12BET.com, since they are playign against tough oponnent Real Madrid. They have never beaten their stronger capital rivals in their last five matches, therefore making this fixture a great challenge for them if they are aiming for a win. Check the betting guide tables below before you make your bet.

EXAMPLE 1: BET MYR 100 ON RAYO VALLECANO

REAL GAME RESULT	RESULT WITH HANDICAP	HOME (Rayo Vallecano)	AWAY (Real Madrid)	COMMENTS:
HEADSTART	HEADSTART	1.5	0	Rayo Vallecano has a 1.5-goal handicap
0-0, 1-1, 2-2 (ALL DRAWS)	1.5-0, 2.5-1, 3.5-2 (+1.5 for HOME)	+100%	-100%	Rayo Vallecano “wins” by 1. 5 goals, WIN MYR 229.00
1-0	2.5-0	+100%	-100%	Rayo Vallecano “wins” by 1. 5 goals, WIN MYR 229.00
0-1	1.5-1	+100%	-100%	Rayo Vallecano “wins” by 0. 5 goals, WIN MYR 229.00
0-2	1.5-2	-100%	+100%	Real Madrid “wins” by 0. 5 goals, LOSE MYR 100.00
1-3	2.5-3	-100%	+100%	Real Madrid “wins” by 0. 5 goals, LOSE MYR 100.00

EXAMPLE 2: BET MYR 100 ON REAL MADRID

REAL GAME RESULT	RESULT WITH HANDICAP	HOME (Rayo Vallecano)	AWAY (Real Madrid)	COMMENTS:
HEADSTART	HEADSTART	1.5	0	Rayo Vallecano has a 1.5-goal handicap
0-0, 1-1, 2-2 (ALL DRAWS)	1.5-0, 2.5-1, 3.5-2 (+1.5 for HOME)	+100%	-100%	Rayo Vallecano “wins” by 1. 5 goals, LOSE MYR 100.00
1-0	2.5-0	+100%	-100%	Rayo Vallecano “wins” by 1. 5 goals, LOSE MYR 100.00
0-1	1.5-1	+100%	-100%	Rayo Vallecano “wins” by 0. 5 goals, LOSE MYR 100.00
0-2	1.5-2	-100%	+100%	Real Madrid “wins” by 0. 5 goals, WIN MYR 171.00
1-3	2.5-3	-100%	+100%	Real Madrid “wins” by 0. 5 goals, WIN MYR 171.00

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Photo credits:

Rayo Vallecano vs. Real Madrid [Photograph]. (2012). Retrieved 24 September 2012, from < http://www.sundul.com/review/prediksi-rayo-vallecano-vs-real-madrid-2012-2013/#axzz27LkR6iHV >

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Ashley Cole produces late Chelsea winner vs. Stoke

LONDON (AP) — Ashley Cole produced a late Chelsea winner against Stoke by scoring his first goal in two years on Saturday, and Southampton collected its first points of the season with a victory at Aston Villa.

With Chelsea facing a second consecutive scoreless stalemate, Cole lifted the ball over Asmir Begovic in the 85th minute to secure a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea has a three-point lead at the top of the league over Everton, which won 3-0 at Swansea, and West Bromwich Albion, which beat Reading 1-0.

Photo: AP Wigan's Ryo Miyaichi, right, keeps the ball from Fulham's Hugo Rodallega during their English Premier League soccer match at The DW Stadium, Wigan, England, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012.

Southampton climbed off the bottom by coming from behind to beat Aston Villa 4-1, while Fulham won 2-1 at Wigan, and West Ham drew 1-1 with Sunderland. The glamorous fixtures of the weekend come on Sunday when Manchester United visits Liverpool and champion Manchester City hosts Arsenal.

But it will be Chelsea ending the weekend at the summit after being rescued by its left back. Cole hadn't scored since May 2010 until he connected with Juan Mata's back-heel and beat Begovic from close range after 85 minutes of dogged Stoke defending.


 
"You have a game plan and you need to be patient and you need to find solutions to break them down ... it is very difficult," Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo said. "(Cole is) an unexpected goal scorer but we seem to have our full backs in very advanced positions these days."
Southampton had endured four straight losses since gaining promotion back to the Premier League and the south-coast side conceded its 15th goal of the season when Darren Bent put Villa ahead in the 36th.

But Southampton turned on the style in the second half after Rickie Lambert lashed in a leveler in the 58th. Southampton went in front five minutes later when defender Nathaniel Clyne slotted the ball past goalkeeper Brad Guzan from close range, and Jason Puncheon extended the lead with a strike from the edge of the six-yard box that deflected off Ciaran Clark before landing in the net.

After setting up Puncheon's goal, Lambert was on the scoresheet again with a 90th-minute penalty after Guzan brought down Emmanuel Mayuka. "We've been desperate to get some points on the board," Lambert said. "Today is everything we believed we could do and it came to fruition. At half time (manager) Nigel Adkins told us certain things were unacceptable ... but we still believed we could win the game and we managed to do it."

That was rarely in doubt for Everton at Swansea, with Victor Anichebe and Kevin Mirallas scoring before the break and Marouane Fellaini heading in a late third after the hosts had Nathan Dyer sent off early in the second half.

West Brom is only behind second-place Everton on goal difference after Romelu Lukaku netted a second-half winner that sent Reading to the bottom of the standings. "The players have been successful in the past and they will be again," Reading manager Brian McDermott said. "I know they are better than they are showing at the moment."

At Wigan, Hugo Rodallega headed in his first goal for Fulham against his former club and Damien Duff struck into the top left corner of the net for the London side. Arouna Kone pulled one back for the hosts in injury time.

"I knew Rodallega would be very eager and motivated to do something nice, to score his goal and that was exactly what he did," Fulham manager Martin Jol said. At West Ham, Steven Fletcher scored his fourth goal in three matches for Sunderland after connecting with Sebastian Larsson's cross in the 9th, but Kevin Nolan volleyed in an equalizer in stoppage time.

"I thought from the start to finish we were the dominant side and created far more chances," West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said. "Because we didn't capitalize by having enough players showing a clinical finish we have ended up having to be satisfied with a draw."

article source: http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1580496-ashley-cole-produces-late-chelsea-winner-vs-stoke.html#.1266-stage-set1-3


 

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David Luiz signs new 5-year contract with Chelsea

LONDON (AP) — Chelsea defender David Luiz has signed a new five-year deal with the European champions.

Photo: AP Chelsea's David Luiz laughs during a training session at the Stamford Bridge stadium, London, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012. Chelsea will face Juventus in a Champions League group E soccer match at the Stamford Bridge stadium, London, Wednesday.

The Brazil international's contract was signed after Saturday's 1-0 victory over Stoke despite having almost four years remaining on his existing deal. The 25-year-old Luiz joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2011, and says "I look forward to winning more trophies here."

article source:  http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1580688-david-luiz-signs-5-year-contract-with-chelsea.html#.1266-stage-set1-2

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United beats Liverpool as City is held by Arsenal

LONDON (AP) — Robin van Persie ended Manchester United's five-year wait for a win at Liverpool on Sunday, and Arsenal maintained its unbeaten start to the Premier League season with a draw at Manchester City.

Van Persie converted a late penalty kick to clinch a 2-1 victory at Anfield after both teams had paid tribute to the victims of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster before the game. United was a man up from the 39th minute when Jonjo Shelvey was sent off, but Steven Gerrard managed to give Liverpool the lead with a volley at the start of the second half — only for Rafael da Silva to equalize.

Photo: AP Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, left, celebrates scoring against Manchester United during their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday Sept. 23, 2012.

 And Van Persie's winner prolonged Liverpool's worst start to a season in more than a century, while lifting United to second. City is three points further back after Joleon Lescott headed the champions ahead in the first half, but then failed to clear a late corner, allowing Laurent Koscielny to recover a 1-1 draw for Arsenal.

Also Sunday, Jermain Defoe's winner gave Tottenham a 2-1 win against Queens Park Rangers and Demba Ba gave Newcastle a 1-0 victory over Norwich. The day's action began with an emotionally charged meeting of English football's fiercest rivals as Liverpool played at Anfield for the first time since the release of a report into the Hillsborough tragedy that exposed the police cover-up and exonerated Reds fans.

In a show of unity before kickoff, Liverpool and United players wore tracksuit tops featuring the number 96 — the amount of Reds fans crushed to death 23 years ago. Luis Suarez even shook hands with Patrick Evra, with no repeat of the snub that followed the Liverpool striker being banned for racially abusing the United defender in the Anfield fixture last October.

But by the end of the game there had been chants from a small number of Liverpool fans about the 1958 Munich disaster which killed eight United players. And, despite pre-match appeals from manager Alex Ferguson, there were taunts from United fans directed at the home support.

The usual hostilities had started to rage after Shelvey was sent off for launching himself at Jonny Evans, who Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers felt should also have been dismissed. "I think both players' feet are off the floor," he said.

There was also a heated exchange of words between Shelvey and Ferguson, who later said: "He was trying to blame me." There was an apology — of sorts — from Shelvey later. "I have also apologised to sir Alex, just where I come from people don't grass people up to get someone sent off," Shelvey wrote on Twitter.

Gerrard put Liverpool in front within 50 seconds of the second half, after smoothly bringing the ball down with his chest before volleying into the net. But within five minutes, Shinji Kagawa fed Rafael to curl the ball beyond goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

And with 10 minutes to go, United winger Antonio Valencia was brought down by Glen Johnson in the penalty area, and Van Persie netted despite Reina getting a touch to the spot kick. "With the occasion and the emotions involved, we just wanted to come here, get the job done and get out with the three points," Ferguson said. "We have done that so we are well pleased. You can get really involved and sometimes the emotion of the occasion can affect you."

At City, David Silva's corner was headed past goalkeeper Vito Mannone, playing in place of the injured Wojciech Szczesny, five minutes before halftime by Lescott. Santi Cazorla had only just given City goalkeeper Joe Hart his first meaningful save to make when he took the corner that Lescott diverted to Koscielny, who blasted in the leveler in the 82nd.

"I don't know if we lost our concentration but it's strange," City manager Roberto Mancini said. "We had the game under control." At White Hart Lane, former Tottenham striker Bobby Zamora gave QPR a halftime lead, but Alejandro Faurlin's own goal on the hour handed the initiative to the hosts.

Inside a minute, Defoe tapped in eighth-place Tottenham's winner. Tottenham is level on points with Newcastle, which relied on Ba's third goal in two games to ensure Norwich is still yet to win this season.

article source:  http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1581660-united-beats-liverpool-city-held-arsenal.html#.1258-stage-set1-2

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Celtic, Benfica scoreless in Champs League opener

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Celtic returned to the Champions League after a four-year absence with a lackluster 0-0 draw at home to Benfica on Wednesday.

In a Group G match of few clear-cut chances at Parkhead, the Portuguese visitors had the better of them with Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster producing great saves to deny Rodrigo and Ezequiel Garay. The Scottish champions failed to muster a decent chance but at least proved hard to break down, giving them some hope of qualifying from a group that is set to be dominated by competition favorite Barcelona.

Photo: AP Celtic's Victor Wanyama, center, vies for the ball with Benfica's Eduardo Salvio, right, and Nemanja Matic during their Champions League Group G soccer match at Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Wednesday Sept. 19, 2012.

"I think Benfica went into the game heavy favourites but I don't think you could call the game tonight," Celtic manager Neil Lennon said. "I think a draw was probably a fair result. "It shows that we have a bit of depth to the squad and can compete at this level."

Celtic's domestic form has been dire by its standards, slumping to fifth place in the defense of its Scottish league title after winning just two of its opening five matches. Benfica, quarterfinalist last season and a two-time European champion in the 1960s, would therefore have fancied its chances of grabbing an early away win but opportunities were hard to come by.

"Celtic are a hard team who play very aggressive football with high balls, but defensively we were very good and victory would have been deserved," Benfica coach Jorge Jesus said. No goalkeeper had to make a save until the 32nd minute — when Forster blocked Rodrigo's shot — and the match continued in a similar vein after the break, with Benfica's technically gifted midfielders finding little space.

Nicolas Gaitan's goalbound shot was blocked before Garay saw his header from a corner well saved by Forster. "We were committed and played with real zest and no fear against a class side," Lennon said. "There were 10 guys out there making their Champions League debut against a very experienced Champions League side so I am very proud of them."

Second place is seemingly all that is on offer in the group, even though Barcelona needed two late goals to win 3-2 at home Spartak Moscow on Wednesday.

 article source:http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1573796-celtic-benfica-scoreless-champs-league-opener.html#.1258-stage-set1-3

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Alves: Real have no respect for Kaka

Barcelona's Dani Alves has condemned Real Madrid's treatment of compatriot Kaka.

By ESPNSTAR.com staff

Despite stirring up a flurry of excitement from supporters when he signed for Real Madrid in 2009, Kaka has struggled to break into the club's starting eleven for the past three years. The midfielder was strongly linked with a move to former side AC Milan in the summer, but his wages proved too large a stumbling block for the Serie A side.

Kaka has not featured in any of Los Blancos' matches this season, and Alves believes it is only a matter of time before the lack of playing opportunities destroys his compatriot's morale.

"If I were Kaka, I would have left Real Madrid a long time ago," he said to Esporte Interactivo.

"Because in my life, I love playing football, and if you take away from me what I love, I lose my sense of life."

The right back also revealed that it upset him to see a former World Player of the Year treated with such little respect.

"I am sad because I admire Kaka and I would not like to live through what is happening to him," Alves stated.

"He made it to where very few have - the best in the world, and now he has no respect from their owners. I think he would not be going through this situation at Barcelona."

Both Barcelona and Real Madrid return to domestic action this weekend, with the Catalans welcoming Grananda, while Real travel to Rayo Vallecano.

article source:  http://www.espnstar.com/football/primera-liga/news/detail/item858314/Alves:-Real-have-no-respect-for-Kaka/

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP F - G RESULTS | FC BARCELONA - VALENCIA CF

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Group matches continued tonight with Spanish Football Teams playing in Group G & F respectively. Here are the final results & the scorers.

Tello

FC BARCELONA hosted their Group G "mates" Russian Club SPARTAK MOSCOW Coached by ex-Valencia & Spanish Coach Unai Emery. The final result was 3 - 2 & the match had some coincidences to the Real Madrid match yesterday with comeback.  Barça can be said to have deserved the victory as they played better but went through some nervous & suffering moments as the Russian were at one stage leading in the scoreline.

The opener came via TELLO for Barcelona in the 13th min. The young player put in a great performance tonight & was applauded when taken off for Villa around the 70th min. Moscow equalized with a DANI ALVES own goal in the 28th min.

Then the surprise in the 59th min when Spartak went ahead with a goal from ROMULO, however ( once again ) MESSI came to the rescue with two goals - 71st min & 80th min - to secure things & the three points

Bad news of the night was the injury to Barça defender Gerard Pique in the 11th min, the player may miss the Liga "Clasico" match against Real Madrid coming up soon.

Bayern Munich scores

BAYERN MUNICH defeated an absent VALENCIA CF 2 - 1 in theirGroup F clash. The Germans dominanted most of the game & scored two goals via SCHWEINSTEIGER in the 38th min & KROSS in the 76th min with a lovely goal.  Valencia managed a consolation goal in the end via VALDEZ in the 91st min.

Valencia CF avoided a penalty when goalie Alves stopped Mandzukic in the 93rd min.

Bad night for Valencia which offered bad Football with lots of mistakes that the Germans exploited to secure their three points.

article source:  http://spanishfootballsports.blogspot.hk/

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Chelsea throws away lead, Messi rescues Barcelona

PARIS (AP) — Chelsea opened the defense of its Champions League title by throwing away a commanding lead to draw 2-2 against Italian champion Juventus, while Barcelona needed two late goals from superstar Lionel Messi to win 3-2 against Spartak Moscow.

Brazilian midfielder Oscar marked his first start for Chelsea with two long-range goals, but Arturo Vidal pulled a goal back close to halftime and substitute Fabio Quagliarella equalized late on. "We are disappointed and a little bit deflated to get in a great position to win the game and come away with only a draw," Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo said. "We should have closed the game."

Photo: AP El jugador de Chelsea, Oscar, izquierda, festeja con su compañero Ashley Cole tras anotar un gol contra Juventus en la Liga de Campeones el miércoles, 19 de septiembre de 2012, en Londres.

Oscar scored his first when he received a short pass from Eden Hazard and arrowed in a shot that took a looping deflection off Leonardo Bonucci and flew past goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. His second goal less than two minutes later had no element of luck about it, beating Andrea Pirlo to the ball and executing a flick before curling a delightful effort into the top corner from just outside the area.

"It's great to see we have a player like him in our ranks," Di Matteo said. Shakhtar Donetsk's comfortable 2-0 win against Danish debutant Nordsjaelland took the Ukrainian side top of Group E, with Armenian forward Henrik Mkhitaryan scoring in each half with excellent finishes.

In Group G, four-time champion Barcelona had Messi to thank as the Argentina forward took his season tally to 10 goals in seven games courtesy of a devastating 10-minute spell at Camp Nou. "To talk about Messi is to talk about excellence in football," Spartak coach Unai Emery said. "It is very tough to stop him."

Cristian Tello opened the scoring for Barca in the 14th minute, before Dani Alves' own goal in the 29th and Romulo's strike in the 59th gave the visitors an unexpected advantage. But Messi, who scored 14 goals in last season's campaign, tapped in Tello's pass in the 71st and headed in Alexis Sanchez's cross in the 80th to keep Barcelona undefeated in their last 17 home games in Europe.

Last April, Messi's failure to finish in the semifinal against Chelsea left him distraught and cost Barcelona a place in the final. For a while, Spartak looked like giving him more cause for disappointment, but he dug deep to give Tito Vilanova an enjoyable European debut as Barcelona coach since taking over from Pep Guardiola.

"I think this game will do us good. It is easy to think that since we are Barcelona we will win with ease," said Vilanova, who helped Barcelona win the trophy in 2009 and '11 as Guardiola's assistant. "We were able to come back and win and that shows that the team still has the desire to win."

In the other group match, there was far less excitement as Celtic created little at Parkhead in a 0-0 draw with Benfica. Manchester United made a good start following midfielder Michael Carrick's seventh-minute goal, but failed to impress in a 1-0 win against Galatasaray. Portugal winger Nani missed a second-half penalty as United struggled to get going at Old Trafford.

The Turkish side can consider itself unlucky, hitting the goal-frame three times, having two penalty appeals rejected and forcing a couple of good saves from David de Gea. "I think we expected a tough game. Galatasaray have a lot of experience," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "There was a lack of concentration at times and it's unusual for us to be as frivolous with the ball."

Ferguson was keen to avoid a repeat of last year's embarrassment in which United fielded below-strength teams against reputedly weaker opposition and tumbled out at the group stage, but he still made six changes from Saturday's 4-0 win against Wigan.

Although Shinji Kagawa and Robin van Persie returned to boost the attack, it was Carrick who settled the early nerves. He was tripped by Fernando Muslera as he rounded the Galatasaray goalkeeper, but still slotted the ball into the net while trying to regain his feet.

Ferguson has been rotating his 'keepers this season, but can thank De Gea for a superb double save late on from Burak Yilmaz and Emre Colak. Romanian side CFR Cluj moved top of Group H after winning 2-0 at Braga from two first-half goals by Brazilian midfielder Rafael Bastos, who was once rejected by the Portuguese side.

Bayern Munich, last season's runner-up, missed a late penalty in its 2-1 win against Valencia in Group F. Bayern midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger opened the scoring in the 38th minute and teammate Toni Kroos' powerful long-range strike gave the home side some breathing space.

"Of course it's always dangerous when it's 1-0. The second goal was very important for us," Schweinsteiger said. Valencia substitute Nelson Valdez set up some late drama with an injury-time header, and there was still time for Bayern forward Mario Mandzukic to miss a penalty on his Champions League debut.

Belarusian champion BATE Borisov won 3-1 at Lille in the other Group F match, stunning Lille through a slick display of counterattacking with former Arsenal midfielder Aleksandr Hleb pulling the strings.

Midfielder Aleksandr Volodko, striker Vitali Rodionov and midfielder Edgar Olekhnovich scored in the first half. Center back Aurelien Chedjou pulled a goal back on the hour mark for the dispirited home side, which failed to progress from the group stage last season.

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La Liga blog: After their impressive victory against Real Madrid, is this a new dawn for Sevilla - or another false one?

Sevilla provided a performance against Real Madrid reminiscent of more prosperous times when they were winning more trophies and arguably playing more exciting football than any other Spanish team

 

The home fans in attendance at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuan came over all nostalgic and gooey eyed on Saturday evening.

Their team, Sevilla, provided a performance against Real Madrid reminiscent of more prosperous times when they were winning more trophies and arguably playing more exciting football than any other Spanish team.

They haven't had too many nights like these in recent years, and when they have it's always proved to have been a false dawn. Was this win over Jose Mourinho's men yet another, or are they on the brink of something special?

A 1-0 victory was enough to topple the mighty Real, and though they were camped in their own area for long periods, Sevilla deserved the three points and fanfare.

They were tenacious, aggressive, tireless and clever. Even Mourinho could not deny them of their moment, applauding their aggression and commitment across the course of the 90 minutes. "They fought for every ball like it was their last," the Portuguese said behind steely eyes while clearly wishing his own team had approached the game in a similar manner.

Don't cry Jose! Even Mourinho was impressed by Sevilla

 

Praise is a rare commodity at Sevilla these days. What made them so good during a spell which included back-to-back UEFA Cup (and Super Cup) triumphs between 2005 and 2007, hasn't been present for some time.

The fearless and frenetic swashbuckling football, a coach in Juande Ramos who let the players express themselves, and a scouting policy the envy of Europe. All those aspects either took a severe downturn, or disappeared altogether (like Ramos).

The ferocious Biris Norte still continued to sing their hearts out, but in between breaths what they were watching wasn't quite the same - their own relationship with the club has eventually deteriorated too.

Since the departure of Ramos they went through coaches thick and fast - and playing staff even quicker. Each new face brought with them hope but ultimately failed, whether it was Manolo Jiménez at the reins or Kofi Romaric in midfield.

Sporting Director Monchi tried to create a new Sevilla, one that was modernised but retained virtues of the old model. He attempted it more than once, bringing in players from Africa, Central Europe and South Americans, all attempts proved unsuccessful.

But the latest man in the hot-seat might just prove to be a wise acquisition. Sevilla are like many teams in Spain restricted by financial inequality: if your name is not Barcelona or Real Madrid you must seek out the hidden gems amongst the scraps.

Michel, the current coach, fits into that mould. There was a running joke in Spain that while he was out of work he was linked with every vacant post: 'favourite for the job is Michel' would appear in almost every article. It was somewhat similar to Alan Curbishley in the English press several years ago.

The architect: Michel is the man the club are hoping will take them back to the top

 

It was Sevilla who took a chance on the former Real Madrid icon though. And the signs are that slowly - with emphasis strongly on slowly - he is getting there. The players have great respect for him, and the work he puts in is considerable.

What he has perhaps lacked is stability within the club though, and with the latest overhaul of players he must find the right blend.

The issue of an identity is key - it's the holy grail for teams operating in this financial smog.

Valencia found one many years ago by implementing a policy of selling their best players to reduce their debt while also managing to maintain a competitive workforce at the same time.

Atlético Madrid are another, rather than with sales, they found an icon in Diego Simeone to restore the honour and meaning behind the badge on their shirt - no longer are they looked upon as a circus act.

Sevilla will be hoping they are next, and if they can maintain the attitude they showed on Saturday evening against Real Madrid, Andalucian eyes won't witness another false dawn.

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