The last weekend of August started with surprises. Biggleswade United, a club chaired by Guillem Balague who competes in the English Ninth Division, announced the signing of Nacho Novo, who at 41 is returning to the pitch after three seasons of inactivity. Another exciting addition was Álvaro Rey to Bolívar, the biggest club in Bolivia. The Sevillian winger, who crosses the pond after ending his contract with Mirandés, will play the Copa Libertadores with the celestial ones.
Spanish leadership in the Polish Second Division
LKS Lodz, recently relegated to the silver category of Polish football, has managed to keep its four Spanish footballers in the squad. A profitable move, as three started and two scored on the opening day of the championship. Both Pirulo and Samu Corral saw the goal in the win (0-4) against Odra Opole.
He did not score, but Joan Román, the protagonist in the victory of Miedz Legnica (3-1) against Sandecja, did attend. The Catalan, formerly of FC Barcelona or Villarreal, gave three assists from which Zapolnik benefited, twice, and Mijuskovic.
Continuing in Poland, although making the leap to the Ekstraklasa (First Division), it is worth highlighting the victory of Jagiellonia in the field of Legia de Warsaw, current champion of the tournament. A triumph that had the participation of two Spanish footballers: Juan Cámara, who started and substituted at half-time, and Jesús Imaz, who played 60 minutes and scored the 0-2 with a fantastic Vaseline.
Also scored, although in the Netherlands, Roger Riera, who started and participated in the defeat of Breda (6-1) against AZ Alkmaar at the start of the country's Second Division. Less joyous was Maccabi Tel Aviv's weekend, which started the season falling 1-2 to a newly promoted Maccabi Petach Tikva. Enric Saborit played the first 56 minutes of the match.
There were no Spaniards on the pitch, but there were on the bench in the final of the Swiss Cup. Luis Suárez and Nacho Torreño, Basel physical trainers, saw the Young Boys rally from the initial 1-0 by Alderete. Nsame and Spielmann, already in 89 ', left FCB without a title.
Who will fight to win a trophy this season is David Caneda's AEK Larnaca, who started the season in top form and defeated APOEL 3-0 on the second day of the Cypriot championship. Six Spaniards started and one of them, Abraham González, saw the goal.
Cazorla's dream debut
On the Asian continent, it is welcome to highlight the fantastic debut of Santi Cazorla with the Al Sadd shirt, the Qatari team led by Xavi Hernández. The Asturian midfielder started the Cup semifinals against Al Ahli and scored the goal that broke the game. Those from Doha, who won 0-2, will meet Marc Muniesa's Al Arabi in the final of the tournament.
From Japan it is impossible not to emphasize a new triumph for the Cerezo Osaka by Miguel Ángel Lotina. Although not without difficulty, the Sakura team beat Yokohama 1-2 with goals from Kiyotake and Bruno Mendes. After 13 games, Lotina's men, assistant Iván Palanco and physical trainer Toni Gil continue in second place in the J-League.
It was also a great weekend for Rafa Benítez, who finally achieved the first victory of the season at the helm of Dalian Pro. After seven days without knowing the victory in the Chinese Super League, the team led by the Spanish coach won 0- 1 to Fellaini's Shandong Luneng, who until then led Group A. The goal was scored by Liangming Lin, who passed through the quarries of Real Madrid and Almería before returning to his native country, where he plays on loan from the Portuguese Gondomar.
In Saudi Arabia, Josep Cifré and Eric Barragán, director of development and director of the academy respectively, celebrated Al Hilal's 16th league title.
Together against racism
Soria and Galán, Spanish captains in the CPL.
Jose Galán
In the midst of the protests against racism that flooded the day in the United States and Canada, we received an image for history: that of two Spaniards captaining their respective teams in a Canadian Premier League match. Ramón Soria wore the bracelet in Edmonton and José Galán did the same in Valor. The victory fell to Galán's side, which helped Valour to reach the play-offs for the CPL title.