Real Madrid’s 2011 pre-season was the best record since 1987-88. Los Blancos won 7 games, scored 27 goals and conceded 5. In 1987, they won 7 games, scored 36 goals and conceded 12. One very positive stat: Benz scored 8 goals and had 5 assists in 7 games. Start as you mean to go on, young man!
10 members of the first team have been called up for international duty. Iker, Arbeloa, Albiol and Xabi for Spain (vs. Italy); Cristiano, Pepe, Carvalho and Coentrão for Portugal (vs. Luxembourg); Benzema for France (vs. Chile) and Varane for the France U-21 team (in his case, waaaaay under 21! ::sob::). Mesut & Sami weren’t called up by Germany as Jogi Loew thought it would be too much after they had just gotten back from China, Sergio was called up but injured (to be replaced by Nacho Monreal) and Kaka/Marcelo weren’t called up by Brazil…again. These guys are going to be absolutely exhausted by the time the Supercopa comes around on Sunday and then they have the second leg on the 17th with the La Liga season kicking off on the 21st. Poor bebes!
They’ll also be playing Galatasaray for the surrealistic lookin’ Santiago Bernabeu trophy on August 24th. Galatasaray is the first Turkish team to participate in this competition.
The players who are not participating in international duty are getting a couple of days off. They get back to practice on Wednesday to prepare for Sunday’s match via Barca in the first leg of the Supercopa. Gird your loins, it’s gonna be a doozy!
Of Headbands and Heartbreak
watishistacorrespondents
Of Headbands and Heartbreak... 
thanks for the round-up. i’ve missed the pre-season entirely! and wow, benz is off to an impressive start, let’s hope it sticks!
From your lips to god’s ear, as they say!