SSN Guy: We now join Matt Wells at the Camp Nou for Barcelona vs current Liga BBVA champions Atlético Madrid.
MW: Hello viewers, welcome to Camp Nou in Barcelona for the opening game of the Liga BBVA season. Today it's Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid
MW: We now head down to Geoff Shreeves who is speaking to Atlético manager Míchel down in the tunnels. Hello Geoff.
GS: Hello Matt, we are here with Atlético Madrid manager Míchel
M: Hello
GS: So, Míchel, the last time we spoke you were getting prepared for one of the biggest games in Atlético's history, we stand here today on the first day of the defence of the trophy, are you having the same feelings as that day?
M: What a day that was! But no, this is just a test for my team, a chance to see what other teams have become over the break but of course we would love to win.
GS: Barcelona came a poor 7th last year, are you confident you can prove why they came in that place today?
M: Of course it was a shock and yes as I said before we would like to win.
GS: Thank you Míchel
M: Thank you.
MW: The line-ups are in, we head over to our commentary team of Moe Lester and Yolo Swaggins.
ML: Hello Matt, here are the teams for today's game:
YS: Jesus Moe! The games started!
ML: What?! Woah! It has!
YS: Iniesta passes it to Messi to start the game off for Barca, given back to Bartra, Dani Alves...
2 mins ML: Alves with the throw, Iniesta plays it back, crossed in, headed away by Domínguez, David Villa now, Alex Song tackles, Javier Mascherano now, Montoya out right, Umtiti misses the tackle and it's Dani Alves now, cuts inside... Still going... Tackled but it's gone to Albaaaaaaa!!! Saved!!! Iniestaaaaaaaa!!! 1-0 Barca!!!
44 mins YS: Villa has a free-kick in a decent area... Crosses in... Penalty! Song has brought down Alderweireld in the box! Villa runs up now... GOAL!!! 1-1!!!
HT: Barcelona 1 - 1 Atlético Madrid
66 mins ML: Valdes with the goal kick, Iniesta nods it on to Messi! Messi goes left with the ball, crosses it in... Iniesta! Saved! Dani Alves! Penalty Barca! Umtiti brings down Alves inside the box! Here's Messi... Goal! 2-1 Barca!
84 mins YS: Valdés has a free-kick inside his own box, long to Alves who nods it down to Mascherano, Montoya, pass cut out by Koke, Alves wins it back, gives it to Montoya, Xavi, Iniesta, Montoya, Alves, cuts inside now, Messi!! Goal! Barca surely can't be caught now!
89 mins ML: Xavi with a free-kick, short to Alves, Montoya goes past Rodrigo, crossed in.. Headed away by Alderweireld, Alves nods it down to Cuenca, ter Stegen saves... Messi scores!!! But it's offside!
Atlético Madrid star Rodrigo has publicly said he wants to leave Atlético Madrid almost a year since he joined the Madrid side. The Spanish striker made this statement a few hours after playing in Atlético's Spanish Cup tie against Gimnástica which they drew 1-1 with Robert Lewandowski getting Atlético's goal. Rodrigo has revealed his preferred destination is back to Portugal, after spending 3 years at Portuguese side SL Benfica before making a £20,000,000 move to Spain to play for reigning Spanish champions Atlético Madrid. Rodrigo claimed he felt much more comfortable at Benfica as there was no big price tag to put pressure on him unlike his move to Madrid where many people will say he has flopped as he has scored 6 goals in 19 appearances for The Mattress-Makers since his move in January, 7 months ago. Rodrigo's career started at Celta Vigo as a youth player and then moved onto Real Madrid"C" team for £275K where he scored 1 goal in 4 appearances. He was then moved up to Castilla where he really made his name with 5 goals in 18 appearances as a 19 year old which earned him a move to Portuguese giants SL Benfica where he was immediately loaned out to then Premier League side Bolton Wanderers where he made 17 appearances with 1 goal and then broke into Benfica's first team, making 22 appearances and scoring 9 goals. Rodrigo then spent half a season with Benfica scoring 8 goals in 15 appearances which impressed Atlético Madrid scouts and then their At. Madrid's manager Míchel snapped him up for £20M calling him 'the next big thing' in the welcoming press conference. Rodrigo hasn't had much game time at Atlético since arriving making 19 appearances and scoring 6 goals in total and now finds himself a wanting a move away from the Spanish capital.
Former want-away striker Rodrigo has signed a new 5 year deal reportedly worth £32,000,000 altogether. Previously Rodrigo was on £80,000 a week and wanting away, complaining that Benfica was his proper home. But now the Brazilian born striker has agreed a new deal earning £50,000 more a week than his previous deal. Atlético Madrid fans are actually disappointed with Míchel's judgement on this deal, saying that he shouldn't be paying someone who wanted to move so much money but others reckon Rodrigo will keep on scoring goals and will only get better at the raw age of 22. Many fans against handing Rodrigo a new contract have used David Villa as an example of loyal, he was Liga BBVA's top scorer last season and Player of the Season and still took a wage cut from £120,000 to £90,000 at the start of this season. Atlético Madrid manager Míchel has defended his decision saying "Rodrigo is a huge player for us, he is well worth the wages we are prepared to pay him. He is only 22 years old and has a whole career ahead of him. I'm sure all Atlético fans agree with me when I say he is extremely entertaining to watch and there aren't many better strikers in the world that are better than him in my opinion"