Pre-season friendlies

[Thunder_PT]

Probably this won't be televised anywhere, but apparently Porto will play a friendly against Villarreal today at 22:30 CET--given that both have big CL Playoff Round matchups coming, this would be a great one to see.

Indeed, and a special friendly because it's FC Porto's team presentation. In Portugal it's a tradition to present the team to their supporters before the start of the season. They put in a bit of a show before (like an opening ceremony of sorts), call the players one by one (sometimes they keep a signing "secret" to surprise the supporters here, but it's more and more difficult these days as the press knows everything) and then there's a friendly match (where they usually play each half with a different kit, also to present them to the fans). These are usually sold out.

FC Porto 1-0 Villarreal
André Silva

[AlanK]

Good game today offered by ESPN Deportes here in the USA--very little on offer throughout the preseason of non-ICC games

18:45 Borussia Dortmund-Athletic Club (Bilbao)

Borussia D. 0, Athletic 1 at the half. Fairly entertaining first half. At 4', Aubameyang, apparently offside, hits the post. Borussia D. controls early. At 20', Susaeta scores after a giveaway--0-1. Athletic controls for awhile; at 24', Iñaki Williams misses; at 25', Aduriz misses one-on-one with the goalie. Toward the end of the half, Borussia D. has a few chances. At 38', Iraizoz makes an excellent save from Schurrle. At 42', a sliding San José cuts a cross with his leg, but the ball comes up and hits his hand. Penalty whistled; Aubameyang takes it and Iraizoz does very well to save At 43', Borussia D. shoulda scored, as Pulisic (?) hits the post after a giveaway.

Final score: Borussia D. 0, Athletic 1 Wholesale changes in the second half. Athletic had two chances at 53'. Lots of "early season" errors by both teams. Borussia D. doesn't create too much in the half; fairly comfortable win for Athletic.

[AlanK]

Trofeo Gamper: Barça 3, Sampdoria 2 in the Camp Nou on Wednesday. It's worth a look at Barça's first goal--great assist via chilena by Messi, and their third goal--free kick by Messi. See to appreciate on fcbarcelona.com (you have to join as a Barça fan, but it's free).

[AlanK]

Trofeo Ramón de Carranza this tournament in Cádiz used to be the most important summer tournament in Spain, but it's gone way downhill since the days when I attended games like Benfica-Peñarol (Final, 1971) and Athletic Club (Bilbao)-Bayern Munich (semifinal, 1972).

On offer this year:

Friday, 12 August: semifinals--Cádiz-Atlético Madrid (18:30); Málaga-Nigeria All-Stars (21:30)

Sat., 13 August: consolation (18:30); Final (21:30)

Cádiz 1, Atleti 1 Carrasco gives Atleti the early lead at 13'. David Sánchez ties for Cádiz at 90'; Cádiz advances to the Final on penalty kicks.

Málaga 4, Nigeria All Stars 1 Málaga is the other finalist, thanks to goals by Kuzmanovic, two by Sandro Ramírez, and En-Nesyri.

Consolation game: Atlético 2, Nigeria All Stars 1

Final: Málaga 2, Cádiz 1 Málaga's first win in this tournament comes on goal by Charles at 51' and En-Nesyri at 74'; Aitor cut the margin at 88'.

[Thunder_PT]

Karius, still concussed?

Start at 4:55:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCkQCdyrz8c

[dnina10]

Karius, still concussed?

Start at 4:55:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCkQCdyrz8c

That was much more difficult to save. The man literally blasted it at him from about 20 yards out. That wasn't nearly as straightforward as you make it seem (and this is coming from someone who despises Liverpool).

[Thunder_PT]

Karius, still concussed?

Start at 4:55:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCkQCdyrz8c

That was much more difficult to save. The man literally blasted it at him from about 20 yards out. That wasn't nearly as straightforward as you make it seem (and this is coming from someone who despises Liverpool).

Come on, a set piece shot practically at his initial position, he tries to catch the ball and ends up letting it escape towards the danger zone. I wasn't necessarily saying it was the same level of blunder as the CL final ones, but definitely a mistake. A keeper of a top club should be catching that or, at least, defend the ball to the side or corner.

[EarlofBug]

Champions Cup 2018

Bayern beat PSG in the so called "Champions Cup", although it seems that Bayern played with a much better roster, and PSG gave rest to their importnat players.
It's weird to see Tuchel at PSG.

[FR-Rinaldo]

Fenerbahce - Feyenoord 3-3

7. Elmas 1-0
14. Giuliano 2-0 (p)
18. Valbuena 3-0
87. Berghuis 3-1
90. Toornstra 3-2
90. Berghuis 3-3 (p)

[BurningStorm]

Wolfsburg - Nice 8-1

[AlanK]

Trofeo Gamper--Barça's "Presentation to the Fans" held yearly in the Camp Nou

Barça 2, Arsenal 1

98,812 on hand in the Camp Nou.

Scoring: Aubameyang, from the edge of the area at 36'--0-1. Maitland-Niles, own goal at 69', as his backpass beats his goalie, Leno--1-1. Luis Suárez at 90'--think replay of Neymar to Sergi Roberto's volley to beat PSG in 2017--not as spectacular, but just as effective: this time the assist was by Sergi Roberto, and Suárez volleyed home--2-1. Frenkie de Jong was voted MVP of the game.

[AlanK]

In Michigan, Nápoles-Barça filled only 60,043 out of 110,000 or so seats, but whatta show in the second half by Barça after a scoreless first half--two by Suárez and one each by Griezmann and Dembélé make it 0-4 at 63'. Valverde made no changes up to 67', when he made five changes. The starting lineup of Ter Stegen; Alba, PIqué, Lenglet, Semedo; Aleñà, De Jong, Sergi Roberto; Griezmann, Suárez, and Dembélé will probably provide most of the starters on Friday in Bilbao. Suggestion seems to be that Messi won't be ready.

And 0-4 is the final.