Pre-season fixtures

All teams are now back in training, and the first pre-season matches are under way. Barcelona kicked off with a 0-3 win against Denmark's Aarhus, Barça B's 17 year old Mexican Giovani Dos Santos the surprise star of the match. And Real Madrid, still without their three new signings, played their first serious game in Austria, drawing 0-0 with Fulham. There is already some bad news though, Deportivo's Valerón picking up another serious knee injury in just his second game since returning from a six month lay-off. Elsewhere the draw for the third and final qualifying round of the Champions League produced mixed results for Spanish teams, Osasuna having a difficult tie against Hamburg, whereas Valencia should have less problems against the winner of the second round match between Zurich and Salzburg. (29.07.06)