We may as well award the prize now and save the energy producing this section! Valencia's Santiago Cañizares has made the trophy his during the last two seasons, and he is already out in front after the first two days. Only Valladolid's Bizzarri is keeping up with him, and with Valencia's defence looking as strong as ever it already seems a foregone conclusion already. Real Madrid's Casillas could prove us wrong, but he and Betis keeper Toni Prats will have to wait until a later date after their Saturday night match was abandoned due to floodlight failure.

The first changes have already been made to the teamsheets, with Depor's Molina and Espanyol's Sergio picking up injuries last week and being replaced in their respective starting line ups by Juanmi and Argensó. Villarreal's caretaker manager Paquito brought back López Vallejo for Reina, although it remains to be seen which of the two new boss Benito Floro will go for. (17.09.02)