Numancia host Barca, Real face Deportivo in season openers

MADRID: Second Division champions Numancia host Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in the opening round of matches of the 2008-09 Primera Liga season, the Spanish Football Federation said on Wednesday. Champions Real Madrid begin their title defence away to Deportivo Coruna and last season’s runners-up Villarreal travel to face Osasuna in the matches on the weekend of Aug 30 and 31. Promoted Numancia have a tough baptism of fire in their return to the top flight with their first three matches against last season’s top three finishers – Real, Villarreal and Barca. “That’s nine points with 11 against 11, and we will be fielding a team of fighters,” Numancia president Francisco Rubio said. The league will stop for the traditional winter break on Dec 21, before resuming on Jan 4 and running to the weekend of May 30-31. Barcelona receive... [read full story]