Friendly Fixtures 2005/2006

Although clubs have a busy calendar once the league and other competitions commence, there will be several friendly matches whenever time allows. We set out below details of those games which have come to our attention. Please bear in mind that all dates are provisional and are subject to change at short notice. Matches already played in red, games pending in blue, changes since our last update in bold. For last summer's pre-season games see separate section. (02.01.06)

30 Aug and 3 Sep Cádiz friendly games
Have arranged two more friendly matches away from home against regional opposition, 30/08: Chipiona (Troféo Nono Gutiérrez) W 0-2 (Benjamín, Mirosalvjevic), 03/09: Rota, W 2-9 (Acuña 3, Manolo Pérez 2, Benjamín 2, Bezares, Pavoni).
31 Aug Cultural Guarnizo 0 - Racing Santander 4
Testimonial match for Paco Gento, who won six European Cup medals with Real Madrid in and around the 1960s. Racing won 0-4, Antoñito opening the scoring on his debut and Raúl, Juanjo and Jonathan completing the scoreline.
1 Sep Blanes 1 - Espanyol 2
Espanyol finally won a game! Played local side from popular holiday resort. Goals from Jonathan and Yagüe, Luis García made his debut.
1 and 6 Sep Getafe friendly matches
01/09: Toledo 0 - Getafe 4. Target practice for Schuster's lesser used players against lower division opposition. Pachón and Craioveanu scored two goals each.
06/09: Alcorcón 2 - Getafe 3. Puchero Trophy. Getafe won against their neighbours with goals from Riki, Pachón and Cotelo.
2 Sep Saint Etienne 2 - Barcelona 1
Played a friendly against the French side as part of the 30th anniversary of their appearance in the European Cup final (which they lost to Bayern Munich). Barça were missing many their internationals though, and lost 2-1 (Sable, Edmilson OG / Ronaldinho).
2 Sep Costa del Sol trophy in Málaga
Competition took place again, although format changed from triangular tournament to a straight one-off game which was played after the league season has started. Invited English side Newcastle this year, although they turned up with a weakened side as many players on international duty. Málaga won 2-0 with goals from Hidalgo (penalty after Lee Clarke fouled Edgar) and Pablo Couñago in the last quarter of an hour.
2 Sep Gondomar 0 - Celta 7
Name sounds like something out of Lord of the Rings! Played friendly against local regional side as a testimonial for their ex player Hermida, who scored over 100 goals in ten years or so from 1945 onwards. Won 0-7, with goals from Isaac (2), Jorge (2), Perera (2) and Silva.
6 Sep Sevilla centenary game vs Brazil
Signed up Brazil for their centenary presentation on 6th September, with all the big names taking part except for Ronaldo, who was injured. Drew 1-1, Kanouté giving the Andalusians the lead and Pablo Alfaro putting through his own net near the end for the final scoreline.
6 Sep Vecindario v Deportivo La Coruña
Arranged another friendly during the international break against the side from Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. Won 1-3, with goals from Rubén Castro, Héctor and new signing Taborda.
6 Sep Rayo Vallecano 1 - Real Madrid 2
Match to give a run out to the players who didn't go on international duty, including Woodgate in the back four with Diogo, Pavón and Bravo. Both Madrid's goals from B team striker Barral, with Arregui replying for Rayo.
6 Oct Rayo Vallecano 2 - Real Madrid 3
Played Rayo again in another friendly during international week. Madrid won with goals from De la Red, Guti and Oscar.
11 Oct City of Zaragoza trohy
Zaragoza won their own City of Zaragoza (Carlos Lapetra) trophy on a penalty shoot out after drawing 2-2 with a depleted Real Madrid. Woodgate put through his own net again, but goals from Helguera and B team striker Barral turned the scoreline around before Generelo made it all square after 90 minutes. Guti, De la Red and Tebar all missed their penalties though and Zaragoza won 3-1 on the shoot out.
11 Oct Alavés 2 - Real Sociedad 1
Match played between the two first division sides at at the new ground of S.D. Beasain to celebrate the Basque regional club's centenary year. Bodipo and Mena scored for Alavés, with Uranga replying for Real.
15 Nov Catalonia Cup (semi-finals)
Barça and Espanyol entered at this stage and played Nàstic and Lleida who won through the previous stages. Semi-finals took place at Girona's Montilivi stadium, results as follows:
Lleida 1 (Unai) - Espanyol 4 (Jonathan 2, Jofre, Velamazán);
Nàstic 0 - Barcelona 6 (Deco, Larsson (2), Maxi López (2, 1 Pen), Verdú).

Final to be played between Espanyol and Barcelona. Date and venue still to be decided.
29 Nov Barcelona vs "The Peace Team"
Match between Barcelona and a combined side from Israel and Palestine as part of the peace process in the region. Barça fielded all their stars in two virtually different sides (one in each half) in a match which was televised around the globe and was attended by 32,000 fans, plus Sean Connery who took the honorary kick off. Rijkaard was in bed with flu, but his team ran out 2-1 winners with goals from Deco and Maxi López. Abas Suan replied for the visitors later on.
14 Dec Al Hilal 2 - Valencia 1
Were offered around €600,000 to play friendly game against Saudi Arabian champions. A crowd of 65,000 turned up at the King Fahd International stadium to see their side win with goals from Al Qhatani and Aljaman. Regueiro pulled one back for the Chés later on.
26-29 Dec Regional matches
As usual the regional sides will be playing friendly games against international opposition during the Xmas break. Not much news as yet as to whom will be playing, but Catalonia will be organizing a game, possibly against Paraguay on 28th Dec, and the Basque country will almost certainly have a fixture. Galicia will also be playing for the first time, probably against Uruguay on 29 Dec in Compostela. (13.10.05)
The Murcia region announced they will also be playing a match this winter. Camacho will be their manager against opponents as yet unknown. Andalusia will be playing China on 28th December at a venue to be decided. They have played eight times in the past and are still unbeaten. (25.10.05)
Catalonia will now be playing Cameroon during the winter break and not Paraguay. (04.11.05)
Now it appears that the Basque country will be playing Cameroon on 28 Dec, and Catalonia have been left without opposition. They expect to name new opponents shortly. (15.11.05)
Paraguay will be Catalonia's opponents in the end after Cameroon confirmed they will be playing Basconia. (05.12.05)

Results and reports as below:

26 Dec Navarra 1 - China 0
Navarra kept up their winning record with a single goal victory against China. This was the Basque side's third game in their history, and a strike by Osasuna's Muñoz following a cross by De Carlos midway through the second half was enough for the win. It could have been more though, Txiki missing a first half penalty in the newly named Reyno de Navarra stadium, home of Osasuna.
Team: López Vallejo; Cruchaga, Miguel Flaño, Lusarreta; Txiki, Raúl García, Orbaiz, Gurpegui; Fran Moreno, De Carlos. Also played: Elía, Javier Flaño, Josetxo, Lacruz, Nagore, Palacios, Muñoz, Ismael, Lezaun.
28 Dec Andalusia 4 - China 1
China were easy rivals for Andalusia in the Ramón de Carranza stadium in Cádiz. Diego Tristán and Jesús Navas put them two up in four minutes, and although Li Yi pulled one back after the break, Antoñito restored the two goal cushion after Bodipo was fouled. Marchena wrapped things up with a fourth later on.
Team: Pinto; Juanma, Mendoza, Sergio Ramos, Raúl López; Joaquín, Arzu, Marchena, Jesús Navas; Güiza, Diego Tristán. Also played: Luque, Melli, David Prieto, Antonio Puerta, Bezares, Benítez, Francis, Bodipo, Antoñito.
28 Dec Catalonia 1 - Paraguay 1
A disappointing result for Catalonia in front of a smaller than usual (30,000) crowd in the Nou Camp. Visiting keeper Gómez saved a Sergio García penalty in the first half, but Espanyol's Jonathan gave the Catalans the lead before Dante López headed the equaliser. Many key players were missing through injury or other commitments, including Puyol, Jarque, Xavi, Luis García, Luque and Tamudo.
Team: Valdés; Curro Torres, Oleguer, Lopo, Capdevila; Corominas, Sergio, Celades, Roger; Pinilla, Sergio García. Also played: Arnau, Damiá, De Quintana, David García, Bruno Saltor, Jordi López, Guardiola, Oscar Serrano, Sellarés, Jonathan.
28 Dec Com. Murciana 1 - Lithuania 1
The Murcia Regional Community played their first ever match under the watchful eye of coach José Antonio Camacho. Toché and Real Madrid B's Javi García both hit the bar in the first half, and García opened the scoring after the keeper saved an Oscar Sánchez penalty. Luksys deprived them of a victory though with a late equaliser.
Team: Juanmi; Juanma, Antonio Robles, Angel Robles, Alcántara; Kike Mateo, Javi García, José María, Oscar Sánchez; Toché, Mista. Also played: Sebas, Emilio, Zamora, Leo, Mariano Sánchez, Pedro León, José García, Olivares, Paco Jurado, Cañadas, Iban Espadas.
28 Dec Com. Valenciana 2 - Colombia 1
The Valencia Regional Community made it three wins out of five games after a late win against Colombia in the Mestalla stadium. Congo had a goal ruled out for the visitors before David Navarro headed in Gavilán's free kick in the ninth minute, but Castrillón levelled the scores a minute later. Espanyol's Juanfran got the winner though five minutes from the end.
Team: Rangel; Varela, Albiol, David Navarro, José Enrique; Moreno, Parri; Rufete, Héctor Font, Gavilán; Juan Sánchez. Also played: Benja, Arzo, Pedro López, Juanfran, Martí, Luis Gil, Xisco.
28 Dec Euskadi 0 - Cameroon 1
Euskadi fell to their first defeat in 15 games and 25 years against a Cameroon side who were missing their star player, Samuel Eto'o. Although premier league players Del Horno, Xabi Alonso and Mendieta could not turn up due to club committments, the Basque side put out a strong line up in the San Mamés stadium. But Cruchaga (one of several who also played for Navarra two days earlier) headed a free kick past his own keeper, and Souleymanou and then Kameni kept them out after that.
Team: Riesgo; Expósito, Cruchaga, Aitor Ocio, López Rekarte; Orbaiz, Mikel Alonso; Etxeberría, Yeste, Gabilondo; Urzaiz. Also played: Armando, Labaka, Barkero, Raúl García, Gurpegui, Xabi Prieto, Julen Guerrero, Uranga, Llorente.
29 Dec Galicia 3 - Uruguay 2
Santiago Compostela. Galicia beat Uruguay 3-2 in their first game for 65 years. Nano headed them into the lead in the ninth minute, and Deus added two more after the break. Their young opponents came back though with strikes from Pereira and Albín in the last ten minutes to set up a nail biting finish.
Team: Diego López, Otero, Rubén, Capi, Cabrejo; Julio Alvarez, Borja, Cabanas, Pablo Alvarez; Nano, Losada. Also played: Dani Mallo, Michel Salgado, Noguerol, Bouzón, Dacosta, Isaac, Juanito, Viqueira, Roberto, Jonathan Aspas, Trashorras, Corredoira, Deus.
30 Dec Jesús Gil testimonial match
Arranged to play a match between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid in the Calderón stadium in memory of ex Atlético president Jesús Gil. Game ended 1-1 with Soldado opening the scoring from Balboa's cross in the first half and Ibagaza making it all square after the break. Real Madrid won 5-6 in the penalty shoot out, with Beckham amongst the scorers before García Calvo missed.
30 Dec Racing Santander 2 - China 0
Cantabria didn't put out a side this year, so arranged this match in the Sardinero to entertain local fans. First half goals from Jonathan Valle and Ayoze settled it.
2 Jan Triangular tournament
Almería beat neighbours Poli Ejido 2-1 in the first game of this new year's day tournament, and then went on to win the trophy with a 1-0 victory against a side made up of players from the "Comarca de Levante" (featuring Sevilla youth international Diego Capel). The game between the Comarca and Ejido ended without goals.
3 Jan Trofeo del Olivo
Annual trophy hosted by second division B side Jaén, usually against first division opposition in summer. This year the game was played in the Christmas break, with World Cup qualifiers Angola as guests. Jaén won 1-0 with a goal at the start of the second half by Javi Moyano.
Angola then went on for an informal match at Málaga, D 1-1 (Gabriel).
TBC Columbia tournament (Trofeo Villa de Madrid)
Were thinking of playing 3 or 4 September, but many internationals away so have left this for a date sometime in the future.
Friendly Fixtures 2004/2005
Friendly Fixtures 2003/2004
Friendly Fixtures 2002/2003
Friendly Fixtures 2001/2002
Friendly Fixtures 2000/2001
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