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Spain: Alaves president tips Barcelona upset [Thu Aug 25th, 2005]
Eccentric Alaves president Dimitri Piterman is convinced his team can beat champions Barcelona in their opening Primera Liga match this weekend.
Piterman, who likes to take a major role in team affairs, sacked coach Rafa Montfort in pre-season and replaced him with Chuchi Cos.
However, Piterman remains extremely bullish about his team's chances as he prepares to take his usual seat in the dug-out against the champions.
"Alaves have got better players than Barcelona. The differences between professionals at the top level is very small and although they may have Ronaldinho and (Samuel) Eto'o, I have got Nene and (Rodolfo) Bodipo," said Piterman.
"I really think that player by player we are better than Barca."
Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has a full side at his disposal and while they have looked fluid and effective in pre-season - he is still urging caution.
"We are starting a new season and once again we are starting from scratch, but we are full of confidence and feel a sense of responsibility," he said.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid also travel to play newly-promoted side Cadiz.
Despite Madrid's 5-0 over an MLS All-star XI, their pre-season form has been erratic and raised concerns about who should play left midfield.
Julio Cesar Baptista looks likely to start in that position, while the others big question is whether Robinho, who arrives in town on Friday, or Michael Owen - if he is still at the club by Sunday - will take any part in the game.
Apart from Baptista, however, the Madrid side is likely to have a familiar look to it with Iker Casillas in goal, Michel Salgado and Roberto Carlos as full backs with Francisco Pavon and Ivan Helguera in midfield.
Real have Thomas Gravesen, Baptista, David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Raul and Ronaldo in attack.
Meanwhile, there will be conflicting emotions in Valencia's Mestalla stadium as the home side take on Betis.
Betis have qualified for a first-ever place in the UEFA Champions League, while Valencia missed out on a place in the UEFA Cup after only drawing 0-0 against Hamburg.
The visitors appear to have hit the ground running this season, while Valencia are still struggling to adapt to their new coach Quique Sanchez Flores and the new faces in their squad.
Villarreal will have little time to celebrate their Champions League qualification against Everton, before visiting an Osasuna team who look weaker than they did last season.
There will be high hopes in the Vicente Calderon stadium as a new-look Atletico Madrid entertain Zaragoza. Carlos Bianchi's side have brought in Mateja Kezman and Martin Petrov among others and will aim for a positive start to the season.
"This team is totally prepared to compete," said Atletico defender Antonio Lopez.
There will be a tense Basque derby in San Mames as Athletic Bilbao take on Real Sociedad, with the case of defender Iban Zubiaurre souring the atmosphere between clubs.
Athletic presented Zubiaurre as a new signing at the start of July, but a contract dispute with Real, who say he had no right to move, has so far prevented the player from making the move.
"My relationship with (Athletic coach) Jose Luis Mendilibar is over. I admire him as a coach, but it's best not to comment about what he says," said Real coach Jose Maria Amorrortu.
Elsewhere, new Sevilla coach Juande Ramos makes his home debut against Racing Santander and will have Frederic Kanoute on the subs' bench, while new Getafe coach Bernd Schuster faces a difficult debut away to Espanyol.
Mallorca and Deportivo will hope to put last season's disappointments behind them in Son Moix, while former Malaga striker Joao Baiano kicks off the season against his former club when Celta return to the Primera.
PA Sport
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