Hola! We’re back in Bilbao, and the Basque Boys are here to warm you up for bonfire night tonight. They started season five strongly last week, as they beat Milan to qualify for the champions league, and recorded their first win over Barcelona in two years. Can they keep up the good work?
First up are Merida. Normal service resumes for Guerrero on his return from injury, and by the time they score their Juan and only goal, it’s already over as a contest. Barca’s terrible start continues with a loss to Valencia.
To Europe, where the scouse are in the house. For some reason we’re wearing our away kit at home, but it matters not. It’s a slender win, but three points nonetheless, and Real Madrid draw with Spartak to put us top of the group.
Newly-promoted Salamanca have caused us problems in the past, and they do again early on, but they Pau-let us back in, and Arenaza’s double seals the deal. Guerrero’s latest spell on the sidelines will only be a couple of weeks…
While we’re on the subject of injuries, I know I normally moan about them, but I’m absolutely cock-a-hoop at this one. Hopefully it will de-Real Madrid’s title hopes…
Off to the donkey stable for some cup action. I was cursing their keeper last time, so it’s nice to see him sent off. Karanka converts the pen and it’s plain sailing from there, with no bugs in sight, apart from maybe a few horse flies…
I’m still scarred by memories of last season’s trip to the Riazor, where we were thumped 4-0, but it’s a happy return, and even though Deportivo are 17th, this is still a massive win, especially with ten men for twenty minutes.
Now here’s a surprise. Perhaps I could take parts from Rios and Guerrero, and build one player who’s never injured…
Back to Europe, and Real Madrid. No Alkorta, no Rios, no Guerrero… no problem! I was worried about Bakero’s regen filling in for Rios, but he settles in perfectly, and is named man of the match as we go four points clear.
We take the spoils in the Basque derby once again. It’s a tight affair, with Bengt Andersson at his annoying best. They would have had Maur goals if they didn’t balloon their penalty, but it’s a deserved win for us.
The second leg with the donkeys produces plenty of goals, but thankfully our healthy lead from the first leg helps see us through despite a narrow defeat at the San Mames…
Atletico await in the semis…
Levante are quicker out of the blocks than us, but Arenaza grabs what’s fast becoming a trademark brace to get us off and running, and we don’t look back, as Javi and Lil contribute…
A win against Spartak will see us through, but with one eye on the Real Madrid game at the weekend, I’m in two minds whether to go full-strength, but in the end I do, and it’s job done.
What the f*ck is it with key players getting injured right before big games?!
I might be behind Jupp in the league table, but at least I’m beating him on manager of the month awards!
Now for the big one… We’re full of confidence, so it’s a good time for us to play Real. We go behind, but Abelardo’s red card helps us get back into it, and Etxebe snatches a late equaliser to stop them going five clear.
Real’s next six league games include Valencia, Atletico, Betis and Barca, so I’m hoping that’s where we’ll be able to make up some ground.
Back to the stables for our third meeting with the donkeys this week. We almost manage to buck the trend of conceding goals, but a late penalty puts paid to that. Etxebe is loving life!
The second string get a run-out at Anfield midweek, and Zubizaretta’s regen’s debut is one to forget, as he’s sent off after ten minutes. Three goals later, Galdames also sees red for a foul on Roy Keane – oh the irony…
Our efforts earn us £1m, and a quarter-final with Barca. We could have faced Dinamo Kiev or Benfica but typically they drew each other…
Laslandes returns, but just as he does, Arenaza decides to break some ribs – just f*cking perfect…
The Sevilla game is tricky as expected. They have numerous chances but fail to register a shot on target, and Perez gets what could be a crucial goal in the title race. Real make it two draws in as many games as Atletico hold them.
Speaking of Atletico, we show Real Madrid how it’s done, albeit in the cup. Not conceding an away goal could be massive. Etxebe is certainly making the most of being back in the side, that’s five goals in four games for him!
So there we are, top and unbeaten so far. Real Madrid begin to drop points just as I hoped they would, and they still have Betis and Barca to play before we reach half way. They’ll have the same tough run-in at the end of the season, which could help us massively.
That’s your lot for this week I’m afraid. I hope you’ll return next week to see if we can finish the job against Atletico, and whether we’ve got any chance whatsoever of getting past Barca in the champions league. There will of course also be more league action, can we keep churning out wins to stay top? Adios, amigos!