Real Madrid

The official season begins for the new project of Real Madrid 2012/2013. After a spectacular finish to last season dramatically winning the 32nd league title beating the great records of the tournament, the white team returns to the competition in a game at the highest level against what was the third best team in Spain, Valencia (19:00, C + League and Gol T). The Whites kick off their title defense with the same block that gave so much joy to the fans last year and with the highest expectations in all competitions after completing a magnificent preseason: in four games played in the American tour the whites have notched up four victories. The new season which trainers, players and all Madrid fans were waiting for,starts for the best Spanish champions.

José Mourinho begins his third season leading the Real Madrid line-up after he extended his contract with the club. The trainer has conquered the Copa del Rey and the League of records, but principally has formed a winning group with very young players who are able to aspire to everything. "We are the same people, we know each other well and we will try to maintain the quality of play, team spirit and level of ambition. Keeping all of this we will be candidates to win every competition we play to win and to win every time", said the Portuguese before the league debut.

The white team will play for the eighth time in its history against Valencia on the opening day of the championship, and in the seven preceding matches Real Madrid have managed five wins, four of them in the Santiago Bernabeu, and only two losses. In the total balance of matches Real Madrid has managed 58 wins, 10 draws and nine defeats in the 77 games in which they played at home against Valencia CF.

Real Madrid cleans up in the American tour
Real Madrid faces this league opener after completing a brilliant preseason. The white team began their preparation on July 16 in Valdebebas and played two games (against Oviedo with a victory and a defeat against Benfica in the second) before all the internationals playing in the European Cup joined the group dynamics to start the American tour. They worked with great intensity and the team managed four wins in four games in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York and Philadelphia. José Callejón was one of the major players in these games and finished the preseason as the team's top scorer with five goals.

Preseason Matches 2012/2013
	P	W	D	L	W	W
Real Madrid	6	5	0	1	21	9

The Madrid coach has called up 22 players for the first official match of the season to be held in the white stadium, with only Carvalho and Sahin left out. The competition starts after the international players have played friendly matches with their selections, which happened last season on four occasions and after them Real Madrid was always victorious. Moreover, Cristiano Ronaldo and Higuain, who last season scored 46 and 22 goals respectively in the League and have been two of the players who have played for their countries, have managed to score ten goals in their last six games against Valencia in the national championship.

Valencia arrives in the Santiago Bernabeu as one of the three teams which managed to score in the Madrid coliseum last season. Their rival Real Madrid had a great season in which they reached the semifinals of the Europa League, while in the League they came third place since being given the direct ticket to play this year's Champions League. On day 32 they were able to add an important draw against the whites, who despite enjoying many occasions failed to enter the goal well defended by Guaita. In total, they achieved six wins, six draws and seven defeats in the championship away from Mestalla.

League Training Sessions in the Santiago Bernabeu
	P	W	D	L	W	W
Real Madrid	77	58	10	9	180	71
Valencia	77	9	10	58	71	180

The Valencia team starts the new season with many new faces, among which Mauricio Pellegrino stands out above the rest. The former player of Che returns this season to lead the team including Guardado, Jonathan Viera, Joao Pereira, Valdez and the former white player Gago. In seven preparatory games Valencia has managed three wins, three draws and only one defeat. Roberto Soldado, who scored 17 goals last season, will be the great point of reference in the attack of the team for this season.