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!

UPDATE: A great result for Villarreal, as they went into north London and stole the show from Champions League-bound Tottenham with a 1-4 victory. Giuseppe Rossi stole the show for the Yellow Submarine with three goals, but as you can see in the comments, the likes of Borja Valero, Jefferson Montero, and Marco Ruben in the second half really gave us something to get excited about.

As Harry Redknapp said after the match, “They’re a great side, I was very impressed with them. We had a good squad out, but they were sharp. They were different class.”

Here are your highlights for those of you like me who did not get to see the match:

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After two successful friendlies against Irish opposition, Villarreal faces its first real test of the preseason on Thursday evening at White Hart Lane. With the Europa League playoff on the horizon, it’s time for new signing Borja Valero to strut his stuff, among others.

Tottenham Hotspur has qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 1962. Congratulations. And the club just returned from two matches in New York City against New York Red Bulls (win) and Sporting Lisbon (draw). If the EPL weren’t so overrun by money, then Tottenham’s success might have been a bigger story. Similar to a smaller Spanish club that we all know and love?

Tottenham has some nice players, including the Croatian trio of Vedran Corluka, Nico Kranjcar, and Luka Modric, along with previously rumored Villarreal targets Adel Taarabt and Roman Pavlyuchenko. And shockingly for an EPL team, they have some talented young Brits: Tom Huddlestone, Jermaine Jenas, and Aaron Lennon. Should be a fun match, though both clubs have an eye on European competition.

Those of you able to watch at 3 pm Eastern Time (airing live in Spain on GolTV), please leave your comments and reactions in the thread. Hope to hear a lot about Montero.

Today is the big day. A quick recap of the medal round to date:

Uruguay 2-3 Netherlands: A five-goal thriller; who knew there would be another? The Dutch class shone through, along with the absences of Lodeiro, Lugano, and Suarez. Another all-European final, despite the South American quarterfinal quartet. Wonderful for tiny Uruguay (3.5 million people) to return to its place in world football.

Germany 0-1 Spain: Another dominating performance by La Furia Roja, despite only 51% possession. More credit is due to Paraguay and Switzerland based on the Spaniards’ other performances. Germany never got going and had but one good chance in this match, the tame volley by Toni Kroos saved by Casillas.

Uruguay 2-3 Germany: Another third-place finish for Die Mannschaft. Can you comprehend their disappointment? Just wait for the evolution of this team in Brazil 2014. Unbelievable that Uruguay scored 4 goals in the medal round and finished 4th. Forlan hitting the bar was a tough end to a great tournament for the celeste.

Villarreal watch: Diego Godin played all 90 minutes in both of Uruguay’s 3-2 defeats. He was at fault for a goal or two, not surprisingly based on his form. Joan Capdevila played all 90 minutes in Spain’s semifinal victory and should start in La Gran Final. First time that a Villarreal player has been on the biggest stage in world sport. Buena suerte, Joan.

A positional breakdown of Netherlands – Spain:

Goalkeeper: Edge, Spain. Saint Iker is an experienced keeper and seems back on form per his performance against Paraguay. Stekelenburg is solid but lacks big-match experience, along with exhibiting a little uncertainty against Forlan due to the Jabulani.

Defense: Slight edge, Netherlands. I still have questions about the Spanish central defense pairing. Familiarity is nice, but they are short and give up a lot of corners. The Dutch are a solid unit, but the edge is minimal. And Capdevila is the man.

Midfield: Slight edge, Netherlands. Incredibly, the Dutch have more depth and quality at this position. Xavi and Iniesta are countered by Sneijder and Van der Vaart, while Van Bommel is a better hard man than Busquets and Robben out wide is unmatched. Fabregas on the bench is nice, but del Bosque wishes that he had Cazorla.

Strikers: Edge, Spain. As a nominal Liverpool supporter, I have a lot of admiration for Dirk Kuijt. Not so much for Robin van Persie, but they are adequate. Problem is that David Villa and a half-strength Fernando Torres are much better. El Guaje is on a roll, and I am convinced that he will score. And Llorente is a nice option to milk the clock.

Prediction: 2-1 to Spain. Either way, one side wins its first World Cup. Enjoy the match!

The return of Group E means that I am watching only one full match today. Can Australia put Group D on level terms going into the final matchday?

Netherlands 1-0 Japan: If Japan are to stand a chance, they will need a one-man show from talented midfielder Keisuke Honda. But the Dutch should be too much in the end, and that’s with Arjen Robben on the bench.

Ghana 1-1 Australia: Intriguing matchup in a group blown wide open. Expect the Socceroos to score, but Ghana may be able to gash the Australian defense like the Germans did. Fingers crossed that both Oceania sides make the last 16.

Cameroon 1-2 Denmark: Loser goes home. The Samuel Eto’o saga continues. The Danes are tough, so expect Africa to lose another knockout stage possibility. Can Nicklas Bendtner play and, if he does, get out of his own way to score?

Villarreal watch: Jozy Altidore didn’t do much in the first half against Slovenia, but his knockdown put the ball on a platter for Michael Bradley to bang in the equalizer. He’s the USA’s best threat going forward and has learned from his time in the EPL. Could he be the fifth striker in the rotation if Garrido sticks with a 4-3-3 (Altidore, Montero, Nilmar, Rossi, and Ruben)? But the club may cash in on his play, at least with a loan deal.

And Villarreal B close out the season at home to Salamanca at 12 noon Eastern time.  All of the matches are taking place simultaneously, so don’t expect a stream. The squad:

Four C teamers selected: Fran García, Joselu, Nico, and Óscar Prats. Montero, Musacchio, and Ruben already are on vacation, while Mario and Robert Flores are injured.

Groups C and D on today’s docket. Huge games for the USA and our potential last 16 opponent Germany:

Germany 0-1 Serbia: The question is not whether the Germans will play worse, but by how much. Watch for Werder Bremen’s future superstar Mezut Ozil, a nationalized Turk, pulling the strings in the midfield. It’s a must-win for the Serbians, who shot themselves in the foot against Ghana and now face Die Mannschaft in full flight.

Slovenia 2-2 USA: This is the sort of match that troubles the USA. We’ve had recent success against Brazil, England, and Spain, but counterattacking sides Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, and El Salvador have caused problems. A draw would be OK; a loss devastating. Slovenia rode its luck to beat Algeria; will history repeat itself?

England 0-0 Algeria: The Brits are peeved after demonstrating that football is a team sport played on the pitch, not a collection of individuals on paper. Look for Peter Crouch to continue his goal glut against weaker opposition, but who will partner Rooney in the knockout stages? And let’s not get started on Robert Green in goal. Good luck, Algeria.