We get to welcome the Basques back into La Liga in the first match of the new season. Heading into San Sebastian is not easy, but it isn’t quite as bad as heading to San Mames in Bilbao, so hopefully we can come out with three points to start off the season properly. If you remember, Villarreal waited until their eighth match of the season last year to record three points, and by that point, had effectively missed out on qualifying for European competition based on points.

This will be the first match in a stretch of winnable, must-win matches. The first ten matches of the season are more than manageable, and even just a decent run of form should put the club around 22 or 24 points. All of the first ten are winnable. The problem is that the harder matches all come bundled in the last eight matches of each of the season’s two halves. We can’t bundle our way through any of the first few matches and expect to make up points on the back end, because it simply won’t happen.

Real Sociedad is making its return after a heartbreaking relegation following the 2006-2007 year. Real Sociedad is one of those teams that needs to be in the top flight, and it is good that they are back. They could be dangerous up front, having picked up our own Joseba Llorente, along with long-time Parakeet Raul Tamudo. They also have Chile’s reliable Claudio Bravo in at keeper (reliable, that is, if you ignore their match against Spain at the World Cup when you could find him at the touchline teeing the ball up for David Villa…).

For the match, Garrido has called up the following:

Keepers: Diego López and Juan Carlos.
Defenders: Capdevila, Gonzalo, Musacchio, Marchena, Mario and Ángel.
Midfielders: Cani, Santi Cazorla, Borja Valero, Matilla, Bruno and Marcos Senna.
Forwards: Rossi, Nilmar, Jefferson Montero and Marco Ruben.

Predicted Lineup:

Diego Lopez
Angel – Musacchio – Marchena – Capdevila
Senna – Bruno
Cazorla – Valero – Cani
Rossi

Prediction: This is the perfect opportunity to make a statement away from home. Rossi and Nilmar have both been playing well in the preseason, and I expect both of them to get off the mark tomorrow. A 0-2 win should be a great way to start the season.

Sorry to keep this short, but it is late, and I have to be up early tomorrow. ENDAVANT VILLARREAL!

UPDATE: Villarreal has drawn Belgian side Club Brugge K.V. (watch out for Croatian midfielder Ivan Perisic), Croatian champions NK Dinamo Zagreb, and Greek runners-up PAOK F.C. (who eliminated Fenerbahce) in Group D of the Europa League (h/t to capercat). I’m most concerned about PAOK from Thessaloniki, who have quality and experience in Pablo Garcia, Muslimovic, and Salpigidis, not to mention the rabid Greek home support. But we should aim to win the group and go through comfortably.

The B team gets underway today in Valladolid. As manager Javi Gracia says, the Segunda A is a very tight league, so the details make the difference.

Here is the squad for this season’s curtain-raiser:

GKs: Vicente Flor and Diego Mariño.
Ds: Mano, Héctor, Carlos Tomás, Dorian Dervite, Jaume Costa, Ángel Ortega and Diego Jiménez.
MFs: Marcos Gullón, Natxo Insa, Nico, Hernán Pérez, Facundo Coria and Torres.
Fs: Airam, Iago Falqué and Joselu.

Missing out are Kiko and Mario, who started yesterday’s Europa League match in Belarus. I wouldn’t expect them to play much for Javi Gracia. Injured are striker Gerard Bordas, Brazilian midfielder Tiago Dutra, and defender Joan Truyols. Endavant!

In call-up news, Santi Cazorla is the only non-World Cup winner selected by Vicente del Bosque for Spain’s Euro 2012 qualifier in Liechtenstein and friendly in Argentina. Well deserved. That also means Joan Capdevila and Carlos Marchena continue with La Furia Roja. But no Bruno Soriano, though he’ll get more chances.

Another year, another B teamer with his South American selection. Now it’s Hernán Pérez, traveling to Japan and China with the Paraguayan national team. Congrats.

I wonder if Belarus is nice in August…the forecast for Thursday says sunny and mid-60s. As maddi noted, better to play there now than in winter proper.

Expect a radically different starting XI from last Thursday’s 5-0 romp at El Madrigal. Older players like Capdevila and Senna will be rested. If the B team’s campaign did not open on Friday in Valladolid, a few more mainstays could have stayed in Spain. Jozy Altidore featured at the World Cup, but with Nilmar (likely) and Rossi (definitely) on the bench, he should pair with a healthy Marco Ruben in a 4-4-2 alignment.

I’m looking forward to the first European action for a number of last season’s B team players, including Cristóbal, Joan Oriol, Juan Carlos, and Matilla. I don’t see Catalá and Kiko pairing in central defense, and with Senna resting, either Borja or Bruno has to feature. So at least two regulars should start, if not finish, the match.

Garrido’s predicted starting XI: 4-4-2

Juan Carlos

Joan Oriol           Musacchio           Catalá                   Mario

Cristóbal              Bruno                  Matilla                Montero

Ruben                 Altidore

Prediction: 1-2 to Villarreal. Goals by Matilla and Ruben. ¡Endavant!

It’s not quite the £30 million prize for finishing in 4th place in a major European league, but the Europa League playoff is a financially lucrative tie to Villarreal CF (if not the matches themselves). Hope the weather holds out and that fans come to the first official match of the season at El Madrigal. I doubt our rather unknown opponents from the Transmash region will be a big draw, but the show must go on.

With the return leg only three days before the La Liga opener at the Anoeta, Juan Carlos Garrido would like to take a sizable advantage to Belarus and thereby rest some key players. Expect a strong starting XI on Thursday, similar to the squad that started Saturday’s tune-up against Segunda B side Alzira. No Marco Ruben, but Jozy Altidore and Gonzalo Rodríguez are set to keep their squad numbers.

After the infamous 2006 defeat to Slovenia’s NK Maribor that knocked Villarreal out of the Intertoto Cup and Europe altogether, the club is on notice not to underestimate inferior (on paper) opposition. I think this tie will proceed more along the lines of last season’s 1-3, 6-1 drubbings of Dutch side NAC Breda at the same stage.

Expected starting XI: 4-4-2

Diego López

Capdevila            Musacchio          Marchena           Ángel López

Cazorla                 Bruno                    Senna                   Cani

Nilmar                   Rossi

Prediction: 5-1 to Villarreal. Goals by Cazorla (2), Rossi (2), and Cani. ¡Endavant!

UPDATE 2: Villarreal has won the XI Trofeo de la Cerámica 6-5 on penalties.

UPDATE: Jozy’s goal to tie the match at 2.

Much-beloved striker Nihat Kahveci returns to El Madrigal today as Villarreal takes on Besiktas in the XI Trofeo de la Cerámica. Besiktas will bring a number of big names in addition to Nihat, such as manager Bernd Schuster, midfielder Guti, and forward Ricardo Quaresma.

Bringing Nihat back will be a special day for everyone. He was a fan favorite at the club and left on amicable terms. He played three years at Villarreal, with the 2007-2008 term being his best. That year, in 34 appearances, he scored 18 goals. Injuries slowed him down the following year, and he was transferred back to his original club Besiktas prior to the 2009-2010 season. He regained a bit of his form back in Turkey, scoring three goals in 18 appearances.

Jozy Altidore was briefly linked up with Besiktas earlier this summer, and Turkey still seems a likely destination. He was assigned #12 this week, but the quality of his performance and the impression he leaves, if he enters the match, could be suggestive of whether or not he ends up heading to Turkey before the end of the month, whether with Besiktas or another team.

Something you should know before the match starts: Besiktas Jimnastik Kulübü apparently means Besiktas Gymnastic Club in Turkish. Please correct me if I am wrong on that – it is Wikipedia-sourced. I know Besiktas is a great team, but there is something less than intimidating about a club that was formed for purposes of gymnastics….

What a display on Thursday at White Hart Lane. U.K. down, Poland to go on the club’s European preseason swing. But as George W. Bush reminded us, don’t forget about them.

Lechia Gdansk has an interesting history, having been associated with Solidarity and counting Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Walesa among its supporters. The club will get a new 44,000-seat ground in preparation for Euro 2012. I am unfamiliar with their players, but expect a grand environment for today’s match.

The game will be aired on Punt Dos in Castellón at 2 pm Eastern Time. I will miss the match, so please leave your comments and reactions in this thread. Endavant Villarreal!

The last jornada of the La Liga season. What a roller-coaster ride. Great to see races for the title (Barca and Real), Champions League (Sevilla and Mallorca), Europa League (Getafe and Villarreal), and survival (Valladolid, Racing, Malaga, Tenerife, and Xerez).

The 19-man squad for tomorrow’s match:

GKs: Diego López and Oliva.
Ds: Javi Venta, Ángel, Gonzalo, Godin, Capdevila, Marcano, and Musacchio.
MFs: Cani, Pires, Cazorla, Bruno, Senna, Ibagaza, Escudero, and Fuster.
Fs: Rossi and Nilmar.

Llorente is suspended due to his red card against Valencia, but Capdevila won his appeal and Godin has shaken off a knock. And Marcano and Musacchio return from injury and suspension, respectively. Looks like a 4-4-2 with Diego Lopez in goal, meaning that Xavi Oliva will not play in La Liga this season. But at least he’s not going down to Segunda B.

In other news, Cani returns to his former ground and is likely to return next season, along with Ibagaza. Good news for two of our better performers this season.

Two scenarios to make Europe:

1. Beat Getafe’s result (away to Atletico) tomorrow afternoon. Unlikely considering that Atletico will play a B team.
2. Hope Sevilla beats Atletico in the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday (here’s why). Decent chance, but Atleti knows how to win big matches (except against Real).

How much is the Europa League worth? Making the knockout rounds was worth around 2.5 million Euros this season (h/t Kenez), and every penny will matter next year. So let’s win one for Roig, Garrido, and the soon-to-be-former players. The match starts at 2 pm Eastern Time, the same time as Atletico-Getafe (on GolTV). Endavant Villarreal!

Enjoy it while you can.  Although this match is most important for purposes of qualifying for Europe, it is also the last home match for many of Villarreal’s long-time stars.  Villarreal will definitely be missing Javi Venta and Robert Pires the next time they line up at El Madrigal.  Add to that the likely loss of Rossi, Nilmar, Diego Lopez, and Diego Godin, as well as possible other defections, and the face of Villarreal will look very different next year.  So what do you say, guys?  A sending away party with a huge victory over Valencia?

After two successive defeats while giving up four goals in each match, Villarreal will be desperate to shore up the back line against Valencia.  Capdevila will be back after his suspension for yellow-card accumulation, and Gonzalo has recovered from a mid-week bout of tonsillitis.  The back line will be without Musacchio, who is suspended following his red card on Tuesday.

The match means everything for Villarreal, as they are even on points, but behind on goal differential to Getafe, who currently reside in sixth place.  Villarreal sits one point ahead of Athletic Bilbao.  Needless to say, the table is tight heading into the final two matches of the season.  Getafe arguably has the easiest remaining schedule, home to Malaga, then away to Atletico Madrid.  Villarreal’s is slightly tougher, with tomorrow’s match followed by a trip to Zaragoza.  Athletic Bilbao easily have the toughest road, with an away trip to Madrid, followed by a visit by Deportivo.  Villarreal simply must take all six points, and hope that Getafe stumbles in one of their two matches.  Who knows, perhaps the leadership of Robert Pires could make the difference?

Valencia really have nothing to play for tomorrow except for derby pride.  They sit on 68 points, eight ahead of fourth-placed Sevilla.  In effect, their season is over except for the celebrating.

The squad for the match:

Keepers: Diego López and Oliva.
Defenders: Javi Venta, Ángel, Capdevila, Godin, Gonzalo and Kiko.
Midfielders: Senna, Bruno, Cani, Cazorla, Ibagaza, Pires and Escudero.
Forwards: Nilmar, Rossi and Llorente.

We have to win this match.  No other options.  Do it for Europe.  Do it for the club (and its bank account!).  Do it for the fans.  Do it for Bobby and Javi.  ENDAVANT!

Another midweek game to get the La Liga campaign done in time for the World Cup. Good to get the Barcelona match out of our system quickly and press on. It’s been a good run since Garrido took the reins, and a Europa League spot still is in our control.

4th-place Mallorca is now 7 points clear, so the Champions League is a bridge too far this year. But remember that we were rock bottom after 7 rounds (what a trayectoria).

The remaining schedules for the 3 teams fighting for one European spot:

• Villarreal (6th, 52 points): @Almeria (13th), Valencia (3rd), @Zaragoza (15th)
• Getafe (7th, 51 points): Sporting (14th), Malaga (17th), @Atletico (10th)
• Athletic (8th, 50 points): Malaga (17th), @Real (2nd), Deportivo (9th)

Getafe took 4 points from Athletic, so they would win that tiebreaker. Villarreal split the season series with both teams, so goal difference would factor in: Villarreal currently is +1, Getafe +6, and Athletic -1.

Looking at the schedules, we must take at least 6 points. In that case, Getafe with 7+ or Athletic with 9 would beat us out. The Malaga matches will be tricky, as the Andalusians are tied with Tenerife for the final relegation spot and will be desperate. And if the title race still is on, Athletic at the Bernabeu should spell defeat. Will our old friends Atletico come through on the final matchday in the other Madrid derby? We shall see.

The squad for today’s match (at 2 pm Eastern Time):

GKs: Diego López and Xavi Oliva.
Ds: Ángel, Godin, Mateo Musacchio, Kiko, Marcano and Javi Venta.
MFs: Marcos Senna, Bruno, Cani, Santi Cazorla, Ibagaza, Pires and David Fuster.
Fs: Nilmar, Llorente and Rossi.

As Kenez noted, Marcano and Kiko come in for Capdevila (suspended) and Gonzalo (flu). This will be the first match Capdevila has missed all season; Marcano is set to start.

This is the toughest of our 3 remaining matches, as we do not play well at the Juegos Mediterraneos. So I would be happy with a 1-1 result, but getting all 3 points would be a huge boost. Endavant Villarreal!

Another eventful week in Vila-real, as maddi has detailed. Juan Carlos Garrido will return next season, while Javi Venta will not. Only 4 matches left in the season, and our heroes are back in the top 6. And as they’re only 4 points behind 4th-place Mallorca, who play in Bilbao on Sunday, the Champions League still beckons. But there’s a lot of work to be done yet…

Meanwhile, in Barcelona, the home team now has lost 4 of its record-breaking 6 titles earned in 2009. Worst of all, they squandered a chance to win a trophy at the Bernabeu and stick another one to Real Madrid. But along came a man named Jose Mourinho…

So La Liga is all that is left for both clubs. Expect a great game of futbol tomorrow at El Madrigal. Barcelona may be a bit tired, but no one wants to rile up a wounded lion.

The 18-man squad for tomorrow’s match:

GKs: Diego López and Xavi Oliva.
Ds: Ángel, Javi Venta, Gonzalo, Mateo Musacchio, Godin and Capdevila.
MFs: Bruno, Marcos Senna, Ibagaza, Cani, Cazorla, Escudero and David Fuster.
Fs: Nilmar, Rossi and Llorente.

Marcano and Pires miss out, while Musacchio remains an A team fixture. At this rate, he may never play in the Segunda again.

I’m not making a prediction on this match, but it’s time for Nilmar to strut his stuff. The match will be aired on GolTV in the US at 4 pm Eastern Time. And don’t forget about the B team’s game against Elche later today (Friday). Endavant Villarreal!