The most attractive fixture in the opening weekend of Spain's Primera Liga is tonight's clash between Valencia and Sevilla at the Mestalla. With the battle for the title likely to be between Real Madrid, who opened their league account last night against Deportivo, and Barca who start tomorrow at home to Sporting Gijon, much of today's attention will be focused on the clash between two sides hoping to finish in the top four.
Sevilla finished strongly in third place last season and will be optimistic of success in one of the weaker Champions League groups, while Valencia finished 6th. Los Ches are delighted that they managed to hold on to David Villa and, having raised ?95 million (Dh494m) in a fresh rights issue, financial meltdown is no longer imminent. With an impressive forward line of Villa, Silva, Mata and Joaquin, Unai Emery's side promise much.
Sevilla broke their transfer record in the summer by signing striker Alvaro Negredo from Real Madrid for ?15m. The 24-year-old striker progressed through Real's reserve team before spending the last two seasons at Almeria, where he scored an impressive 32 league goals - almost half Almeria's league tally. Negredo will link up with Freddie Kanoute and Luis Fabiano, the Primera Liga's most productive front pairing.
In tonight's other games, Atletico Madrid travel to Malaga, with their president Enrique Cerezo claiming that in Diego Forlan, Sergio Aguero, Simao and Maxi they have the best forward line on the planet.
At the other end of the pitch, new goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo looks like their most shrewd signing. Having lost key players, Malaga will do hard to repeat last year's 8th place finish.
Perennial survivors Osasuna entertain Villarreal, who lost coach Manuel Pellegrini to Real but have great expectations from their record signing Nilmar, the 25-year-old Brazilian international striker who will team up with Giuseppe Rossi and Joseba Llorente.
Negredo-less Almeria welcome Valladolid, while promoted Xerez will be hoping not to justify their status as relegation favourites as they travel to Mallorca. The Islanders are under new ownership, yet internal struggles continue to undermine the mood.
After progressing in the Europa Cup midweek, Athletic Bilbao host an Espanyol side still recovering from the death of their captain Dani Jarque. Racing Santander, who let eight players got and replaced them with 11 new ones in the summer, welcome Getafe, managed by former Spain international Michel. He is learning to live without last season's key players Granero and Uche, but Getafe should have enough quality to finish mid table.
amitten@thenational.ae
Valencia v Sevilla, KO 9pm , Aljazeera Sport + 2
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
'Of Love & War'
Lynsey Addario, Penguin Press
