Pre-season fixtures

Virtually all La Liga sides have returned from their summer break, with many playing their first pre-season matches this weekend against lower division teams. Villarreal stuck no less than twelve past Navaleta, Mallorca scored eight at Rosenheim, Athletic seven at San Roque de Lepe, Espanyol five at Perelada, and Sevilla and Recre both got four in their respective games at San Fernando and Cartaya. Atlético Madrid have a tricky Champions League qualifier coming up though (they will not be seeded), and are therefore taking things a bit more seriously, Heitinga and Forlán getting their first goals of their Mexican tour in a 2-2 draw at Tigres de Monterrey. (20.07.08)