From typicallyspanish.com
Poor night for Spanish clubs in UEFA last night
By h.b.
Feb 22, 2008 - 8:43 AM
Disaster for Athético Madrid at home in the Ramón Calderón against Bolton. The Spaniards were unable to score and are now out of the UEFA cup after the goalless draw. In the second half the local side was unable to create a single occasion for a goal. Having scored in the first leg they only needed to score once last night.
The British press is making much of what they consider to be harsh policing at the game.
Villarreal reacted late against Zénit San Petersburg and go out of the competition despite winning 2-1 on the night in the second leg of their UEFA game
Better news for Getafe which overcame AEK with a 3-0 win at home and who now face Benfica in the next round of the UEFA.
Esteban Granero was the man of the match, scoring one goal and setting up another.
Meanwhile the Real Madrid captain Raul has made peace with the national trainer Luis Aragonés. The two held a joint press conference yesterday after 17 months of a row between them during which time Raul has never been called to play for Spain.
The two said they were now only thinking of the future, but after the meeting Raul said he thought it unlikely that he would be playing in the European Cup.
Aragonés in typical blunt style said ‘I don’t drop my trousers for anyone, not even when I take my belt off in an airport’.
And in a statement on the Valencia Club Website says that David Albelda has obliged the club to go to court. The ex Captain of the side has been sidelined since the arrival of the new manager and attempts to reach an amicable agreement over his contract have now, it seems, failed.
And in other sports, the headlines:
Meanwhile Fernando Alonso was ninth in practice at the Montmeló circuit in Barcelona yesterday, but it was a better day with improved times for the R28 vehicle.
Rafa Nadal has been knocked out of the Rotterdam Open in the second round. The Spaniard was beaten by Andrea Seppi – 3-6, 6-3 and 6-4.