Real Mallorca Update

Ibagaza in Mallorca Return

Wednesday Aug 30 2006 09:06

Real Mallorca have re-signed Argentinian midfielder Ariel Ibagaza from Atletico Madrid.

The 29-year-old spent five years at Estadio Son Moix before moving to Atletico in 2003 and helped the islanders to win the Copa del Rey in his final season at the club.

Ibagaza was a regular for much of his time in the capital and only signed a new two-year contract in March.

However, Atletico coach Javier Aguirre's summer spending spree saw Ibagaza drop out of the first-team plans and persuaded him to accept the offer of a 12-month deal with his former club.

Argentine midfielder Ibagaza to rejoin Mallorca

Argentine midfielder Ibagaza to rejoin Mallorca

(Reuters) - Argentine midfielder Ariel Ibagaza will sign a one-year deal with his former club Real Mallorca after agreeing to leave Atletico Madrid.

Mallorca said on their Web site that the 29-year-old playmaker would be presented to the media on Tuesday after undergoing a medical with the club.

Ibagaza joined Atletico from Mallorca in 2003 and signed a two-year contract extension with the club in March this year, but new coach Javier Aguirre has made it clear that the Argentine does not figure in his plans.

The pint-sized midfielder enjoyed the most successful period of his career in his first spell with the islanders between 1998 and 2003, helping them to two third-place finishes in the league and victory in the King's Cup.

Atletico are trying to close deals to sign Portugal midfielder Maniche from Dynamo Moscow and Spain forward Jose Antonio Reyes from Arsenal before the transfer deadline expires on Thursday

La Liga

29th August

ATHLETIC BILBAO 1 REAL SOCIEDAD 1: Sociedad ended their five-season losing streak at San Mames after midfielder Mikel Aranburu fired a Xabi Prieto cross to the roof of the net to score an 87th-minute equaliser.

Atletico Madrid's Pablo Ibanez continues despite a bloodied nose. His gutsy showing helped to inspire Atletico to a 1-0 away win against Racing Santander. -- REUTERS

Bilbao had taken the lead in controversial circumstances when striker Aritz Aduriz scored from the spot after the referee awarded a fiercely-contested penalty 11 minutes from halftime.

DEPORTIVO CORUNA 3 REAL ZARAGOZA 2: Depor came back from an early strike from Zaragoza striker Diego Milito to take a 2-1 lead with a close-range goal by Juan Rodriguez and a Sergio penalty.

Zaragoza were reduced to 10 men when Juanfran picked up a second booking 20 minutes from time and Depor striker Angel Arizmendi took advantage to slide in unmarked at the far post and make it 3-1 soon after.

Brazilian striker Ewerthon made for an exciting finish when he snapped home Zaragoza's second but Depor held out for a memorable win.

OSASUNA 0 GETAFE 2: Getafe completed a miserable week for Osasuna who missed out on a place in the Champions League when they lost to Hamburg SV on the away goals rule on Tuesday.

Swiss midfielder Fabio Celestini put Bernd Schuster's side in front early in the second half when he squeezed a dipping shot past goalkeeper Ricardo and new boy Nacho rifled home to make it 2-0 12 minutes later.

RACING SANTANDER 0 ATLETICO MADRID 1: Atletico have spent over 40 million euros ($80m) on new recruits during the close season but it was club talisman Fernando Torres who secured this win when he netted at the second attempt in the 12th minute.

New signing Yourkas Seitaridis will want to forget his first Primera Liga match after he was sent off just before the break for a reckless tackle from behind on Racing midfielder Felipe Melo.

But Racing failed to make the numerical advantage count and Atletico survived to take the three points by the narrowest of margins at the Estadio El Sardinero.

It was a good start under new Atletico coach Javier Aguirre with hopes high that the club can be competitive this season.

Torres gave Atletico a dream start when he opened the scoring to continue the good form he showed in the World Cup where he scored three goals.

The Spain international finished from close range after the ball fell invitingly in his path.

RECREATIVO HUELVA 1 REAL MALLORCA 1: Mallorca looked to have won the game when Venezuelan striker Juan Arango smashed in a spectacular volley from a fine cross from Bosko Jankovic four minutes from time.

But Recreativo, back in the top flight for only the third time in their history, scrambled a last-gasp equaliser when midfielder Santi Cazorla's fierce shot spun off the hands of goalkeeper Toni Prats and into the net deep into injury time.

ESPANYOL 0 GIMNASTIC TARRAGONA 1: Gimnastic celebrated their return to the top flight after a 56-year absence with three points.

Former Mallorca midfielder Alejandro Campano grabbed the match-winner six minutes after the break when he controlled a clever lofted pass from Abel Buades and steered the ball past Carlos Kameni.

Poor Espanyol. This opening-match defeat will bring back bad memories for their die-hard fans who will probably start fearing a repeat of last year's relegation dogfight.

VALENCIA 2 REAL BETIS 1: Striker Fernando Morientes celebrated his return to the Primera Liga when he smashed in from 15m after some great work by ex-Arsenal star Edu to put Valencia ahead after 33 minutes.

Betis forward Xisco equalised against his former side early in the second half but centre-back Raul Albiol secured victory for Valencia when he clipped in after a corner eight minutes later.

Who really believes standards are rising?

Who really believes standards are rising?

Daily Mail Comment
25th August 2006

As predictable as Stalin's annual boasts of record grain harvests in his famine-stricken Soviet Union comes another record-breaking set of GCSE results.

Now let us say one thing loud and clear: thousands of bright teenagers studied hard for their exams this year, and richly deserve the top grades they scored. The Mail congratulates them heartily.

Many would have scored top grades 30 years ago and nothing is more irritating for them than to be told by cynical adults: 'Ah, yes, but exams are so much easier now than they were then.'

But is there really anyone left who seriously believes standards have been rising relentlessly under this Government?

Or that all 19 per cent who achieved As and A*s yesterday would have performed equally well in the days before 'modules' and subjects such as media studies? Or that fewer than two per cent of candidates deserved to be marked as failures?

Employers don't believe it. They complain they have to give remedial lessons in the most basic English and maths to school-leavers - even to some who have strings of good GCSE grades.

Only yesterday, it emerged that no fewer than four in 10 primary school leavers are failing to master the three Rs.

Now that is a national scandal. And how convenient that these figures were released on a day when attention was focused on the GCSE 'triumph'.

Yet Ministers go on mouthing their lies about ever-rising standards. Meanwhile, they drop the requirement that pupils should study modern languages - not because there is no longer any need for them in this multilingual world, mind, but because such tough subjects make it difficult to massage the statistics.

New Labour, elected on a promise that education would be its top three priorities, has betrayed an entire generation. It has betrayed high achievers, by failing to stretch them or allow them to show their true worth. It has betrayed slow learners, by failing to equip them with the basic skills they need to get by in life.

And hasn't it also betrayed our country, by failing to produce the educated workforce on which our future depends?

Daily Mail...Readers reaction...

Here's what readers have had to say so far.

Here we go, the annual 'things were better in my day' festival. What is wrong with this country where we can't acknowledge the results these kids get.
I often read on these pages how kids are disinterested, anti social - and do you blame them? Even when they put the effort in, stay at school, study hard and get the results they are swamped with accusations that it was easy and their results are worthless. They are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Like all education systems ours can be improved but we can at least congratulate and encourage these students of today who make the effort.

- Graeme, Edinburgh

The main problem facing would-be employers of these school leavers is, how on earth do you differentiate between them if they ALL get top marks. Surely the purpose of exams is to discriminate between those that can, those that might and those that haven't a cat in hell's chance. Oh dear, discriminate? That's not allowed, is it?

- Mike Randall, Worcester, England

No one has to be brain of Britain to know why more young people scored higher exam results 30 years ago. It is not all down to the quality of teaching staff.

- Margaret, Birmingham