In Spain: La LigaSoccer: A reborn Valencia make the mostdaunting trip in European football to face Real Madrid on Sunday enthused witha swagger and confidence lost over two disastrous seasons. Still one of Spain's biggest clubs in termsof budget and support, Valencia have finished 12th in the past two campaigns. Valencia opened their Primera Liga campaignwith a 1-0 win over Las Palmas last weekend and will be stronger for the tripto Real Madrid's shrine to Soccer known as Santiago Bernabeu. Valencia will need to be at their bestdefensively if they are to have any chance of claiming even a point againstReal Madrid. Madrid haven't failed toscore for 16 months and have made light of Cristiano Ronaldo's absence throughsuspension in the early part of the season, a five game ban for having pushed areferee. Real Madrid certainly has noshortage of great players who can step into any breaches. Barcelona, always a contender, and Real Madrid's chief challengers, continue their slide into mediocrity. Other Sunday Matches in La Liga include Espanyolvs. Leganes and Eibar vs Atletico deBilbao, in the early game, and Getafe vs.Sevilla, in the late time slot. In International Cricket, Australia is working to combatBangladesh spin ahead of their two-Test series which begins today. The Aussieshave not won a Test series on the Indian subcontinent since their 2011 win againstSri Lanka. Their first test in this tourbegins today at the Mirpur Stadium in Dhaka, and their greatest worry is thethreat of Bangladesh's spinners. Theyhave not played a Test in Bangladesh for more than a decade, and their practicetime was scrubbed after flooding in Fatullah, where they planned to work outtheir kinks, and show their stuff. TheAussies have not played a Test in Bangladesh since 2006, and their preparationswere hampered when their only practice game was washed out because of floodingin Fatullah. Australia had been topranked, but have slipped to fourth, and could slip even more if they don'tmanage to win both tests in Bangladesh. English Premier League soccer promises some exciting actiontoday. Chelsea (12) vs. Everton (8) hassome returning players, some who will not make it back from injury for leagueplay. Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregasreturns from suspension but defender Gary Cahill is still banned following hisred card against Burnley on the opening day of the season. Everton have doubtsover both Idrissa Gueye (hamstring) and Sandro Ramirez (heel), and will bewithout Davy Klaassen (foot). Morgan Schneiderlin is suspended and JamesMcCarthy, Ramiro Funes Mori, Yannick Bolasie (all knee), Séamus Coleman (brokenleg) and Ross Barkley (hamstring) are on the sidelines. Last season, Chelsea won both games, andindeed dominates the series 4-1 in their last five games. West Brom (3) vs. Stoke (14). Last season, West Brom took both games over Stoke. As usual, early in the season, both sides areshaking off injuries, returning from nations play, etc. Jonny Evans remains a doubt for West Brombecause of a hamstring injury and he will continue to be assessed. Fellowcentre half Gareth McAuley (thigh) remains out and striker Hal Robson-Kanu isstill suspended. James Morrison will also be checked on after making his returnfrom injury at Accrington. New signing Oliver Burke could be among thesubstitutes. Xherdan Shaqiri remains aninjury concern for Stoke after a hamstring problem forced him off midwaythrough the first half of the home win against Arsenal. Speaking of Arsenal, itis questioned whether they will continue their disastrous slide this season,which can only end in more mediocrity. Their recent loss does not help their case, but things might clarifytoday in their game with Liverpool, never an easy opponent. Last season the teams were 1-1 in their twomeetings, as both games were hard fought, and close. Finally, Tottenham (10) will take on Burnley (13). Tottenham remain hopeful that club-record signing Davinson Sanchez willreceive a work permit in time to feature against Burnley. The Colombiainternational defender joined Spurs from Ajax but may be forced to sit out themeeting at Wembley if his permit is not issued in time. Hopefully, theofficials are not Burnley fans. ErikLamela is still out with an injury. Everyone knows that NCAA Football begins in the United Statesnext weekend, right? Even the timer onthe official NCAA page says "One Week." What this doesn't tell you is that 8 teamshave jumped the gun. In what somecommentators are calling week 0, 4 games are being played this weekend,including today's game at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia (#sydneycup)between #14 Stanford and Rice. Interestingly enough, the game is being held "today" on Sundaythe 27th, but on USA timetables, is listed as taking place on Saturday the28th. Ah the wonders of the internationaldate line. Yesterday and today, in weekend 0 of the NCAA Football season,Oregon State traveled to Colorado State, Portland State to Brigham Young, No.19 South Florida traveled to San JoseState, and, as mentioned, No. 14 Stanford contended with Rice in Sydney. -- Posted By Rex to SR at 8/27/2017 12:56:00 AM -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "omnisport" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/omnisport. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
