El Clásico. Spanish Super Cup. 2nd Leg 10pm BST tonight.

Should be a good one. Sky's programme starts at 20:55 BST I believe. SS1.

Scott Minto is presenting. Mark Bolton was let go I think, bloody idiots.

Quote:

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Football presenter Mark Bolton is to leave Sky Sports

Writing on his @BoltonMark Twitter page, he said: "After sixyears, the season just past will be my final one presenting Spanish football for Sky Sports. My current Sky contract expires in August and I will not be renewing it.

"Spanish football enjoys greater popularity now than ever and whilst sad to leave a product for which I have great affection, I am proud to have played a significant role in its development over the past few years. I am grateful to Sky Sports for their support in allowing me to do so.

He has also said on twitter: "I did not want to leave Sky Sports. They did not want to renew my contract. Ask them why."

"Having expressed a long-felt desire to take on new challenges, I have concluded these will be more successfully pursued outside of Sky Sports. I wish the team every success," he said.

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Sky :doh:

Real Madrid: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Carvalho, Marcelo, Alonso, Khedira, Di Maria, Oezil, Ronaldo, Benzema.

Barcelona: Valdes, Dani Alves, Mascherano, Abidal, Adriano, Thiago, Keita, Iniesta, Messi, David Villa, Sanchez.

Benzema header, what a save by Valdes. I thought that was in.

Real started well here.

Good save from Valdes.

Bit gutted i can only see up to half time

1-0 Oezil! Brilliant play by Benzema.

OZILLLLLLLLl

Ronaldo shot, Valdes had his nearpost well covered, as you'd hope from a goalkeeper.

Barca. :lol: Hoof the ball.

Mascherano.

:haha:

Khedira grazes Abidal's head with his boot.

Pelanty not given against Abidal, it probably wasn't deliberate handball. Bit clumsy though.

Khedira booked.

This game is showing that they actually need Cesc, cause if Xavi gets hurt, they don't have anyone that control the game like Xavi. Iniesta aint nowhere near that player.

1-1

1-1 David Villa, what a goal!

Messi. :bow:

What a goal

Apparently, his eye for goal would make a cyclops jealous.

Ray Hudson is a genius.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Darth Vela

Ray Hudson

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:bow::bow:

What the hell were Barca doing there? :lol:

1-2 Messi. He is incredible.

Thank god im only watching the first half

Good god.

Real must be feeling awful, dominate for 45 minutes but still 2-1 down.

Benzema and Pepe:haha::haha:

1-2 half time, Real Madrid have been much better, yet they are losing.

Sanchez is a bit shit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ach

Sanchez is a bit shit.

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Messi probably makes up for that.

How's Thiago playing so far? Showing his Cesc-benching form?

I'd give him a few weeks to settle in rather than judging him on his first El Clasico but yeah, he's been pretty poor.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Master Splinter

How's Thiago playing so far? Showing his Cesc-benching form?

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Been shit along with his fellow CM's.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Master Splinter

Messi probably makes up for that.

How's Thiago playing so far? Showing his Cesc-benching form?

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Safe to say, not. No Xavi and Busquets (twat) in their midfield and no Pique at the back has left them decidedly directionless.

Reports that Cesc could play in the 2nd leg of this.

Would like to see that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marc Overmars

Reports that Cesc could play in the 2nd leg of this.

Would like to see that.

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You're normally not allowed to play in the second leg of a tie if you weren't eligible for the first but then, I guess this is still pre-season really.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ach

Thank god im only watching the first half

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How comes

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marc Overmars

Reports that Cesc could play in the 2nd leg of this.

Would like to see that.

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Hmm, tasty debut alright.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marc Overmars

Reports that Cesc could play in the 2nd leg of this.

Would like to see that.

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Why not he'll be on the bench not long after, all it is just to say we got him thats all.

Pretty good play by Sanchez there.

Marcelo:lol:

Amazing control from Messi there. :blink:

Thiago is more involved now. Makes you sick.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Charlie the Gooner

Why not he'll be on the bench not long after, all it is just to say we got him thats all.

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Fabregas won't be sitting on any bench, wait and see. Plus this move will see him become a starter in the national team. I always got the impression he was being deliberately overlooked because he was outside the fold. That will all end now and within a year he'll be one of the major world superstars in world football. He's a top, top quality player and it's an almost incalculably massive blow for our club we've lost him. It makes us look so small time. It's impossible to replace him like for like as there are no players in the world as good as him who are available. So we can only hope Wenger spends the ludicrously tiny transfer fee we got for him in other areas that we most certainly can improve. He probably won't though. We can all be angry at Fabregas for the way he's behaved, the anger is more than justified because in the cold light of day he fucked us over. Not by leaving, but by failing to give 100% while wearing the captain's armband over the last two years. You'll see that change in a big way now he's moved to Spain. No point pretending he's not a great player because he just is.