Intertoto Cup, second round, first leg

No sooner has the old season finished than the new one begins. Just one week after the last issues were decided from the 2004/5 campaign, Deportivo La Coruña and Athletic Bilbao kicked off in this season's Intertoto Cup.

Joaquín Caparrós got off to a good start at Deportivo, his side running out 3-0 winners over Buducnost. The newly appointed coach gave a first start to new signing De Guzman in a line up which was otherwise very similar to the one used by Irureta, and within five minutes they took the lead, Xisco finishing off after the keeper failed to hold on to a long shot from Sergio. It was not until the last ten minutes though that they were able to wrap things up, Sergio getting the second from a free kick and Héctor heading the third a few minutes later.

Athletic Bilbao were also under new management, but they were not so fortunate, falling to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Cluj. With the club getting a late invitation to the competition Medilibar had to make do with a side packed with youngsters, and they went behind ten minutes before the break when Tilinca headed in Panin's cross. Half time substitute Javi González could have got the vital away goal after the restart had the keeper not saved his penalty kick, but they struggled late on and were lucky not lose by a bigger margin in the end. (02.07.05)