Amistoso:

Fecha:03 - Agosto – 2010

Hora:20:45 h.

Estadio:Tulloch Stadium

Capacidad:7.753 localidades.

Inverness will step up their preparations for their assault on the SPL this week with two games against European clubs. Normally at this time of the year, us Jocks look out the factor 35 and head off to Spanish destinations for our annual holidays, but in a role reversal we will welcome Real Valladolid CF to the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium in what should be an entertaining encounter.

Valladolid is a historic city in North Central Spain with a population around 320,000. The Pucela were founded in 1928. Their ground is the Nuevo Jose Zorrilla which has a capacity of 26,512. They will ply their trade in the second tier of Spanish football this season, having suffered relegation. They finished third bottom in La Liga last season and lost out by one point to Malaga, having lost 16 and won 7 of their 38 games. Valladolid will start their league campaign with a home game against Villareal B on 29^th August.

The Blanquivioleta should present Inverness with a thorough examination of their fitness as a dozen Juanjo’s will be out to impress the locals with typical Spanish flair. Football in Spain has never been healthier with the new World Champions also the holders of the European Championship trophy.

Valladolid’s goalkeeper is just back from World Cup duty. Justo Villar played in all Paraguay’s matches conceding only two goals. A good summer for him, as he captained them to the quarter finals and saved a Xabi Alonso penalty.

As always, relegation has a downside, and Keko and Diego Costa has returned to Atletico Madrid. Borja will be at Getafe, and the Del Horno loan period has ended. On the flip side, there are new arrivals, Brazilian Guilherme is on a one year loan from Almeria, Jorge Alonso arrives from Hercules, Javi Guerra from Levante via Mallorca, Marc Valiente from Sevilla. So like Inverness, the rebuilding has begun and plenty of new faces at Valladolid looking to impress the management.

Inverness will be without a few regulars for this friendly. New captain Richie Foran is just returning to training and last years captain Grant Munro suffered a nasty gash on his foot against Queens Park last weekend which required four stitches. Jonny Hayes is in the same boat as Foran and new signing Chris Innes has tweaked his groin, although this is more a precautionary measure than anything else. So, who will play? Likely candidates will include summer signings Gil Blumenshtein and Frenchman Kenny Gillet. Nick Ross has also impressed in pre-season and should get a run out at some point along with Shane Sutherland. Jonny Tuffey could make his home debut and look for Kevin McCann to continue at right back. Eric Odhiambo will relish this one and our own Spaniard Dani Sanchez will feel right at home amongst the Valladolid players.

Tonight's visitors will be the first foreign team at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium and I would hope a decent crowd will welcome them to Inverness in what should be £10 well spent for an adult or £5 concession.

The second European game will be next Saturday when we take on Royal Antwerp at 3:00pm. These games are like buses, none for ages, then two come along at the same time.