Spain’s top flight contenders continued their pre-season preparations on Saturday with a host of friendly encounters that saw only Atlético, Villarreal, Athletic and Real Betis record wins.

Atlético de Madrid picked up their first pre-season victory as they eased past la Tercera outfit Alcalá 4-0 thanks to goals from Diego Costa, Cléber Santana, John Heitinga and Tomas Ujfalusi.

In Germany, Valencia were involved in an entertaining encounter as they were beaten 4-2 by Borussia Mönchengladbach in a game that saw the four visiting players that helped Spain win Euro 2008, given a standing ovation.

Candaian Rob Friend put the host side ahead and he added their third after Nikola Zigic had levelled for Los Ché and Gal Alberman had restored the Bundesliga team’s lead before the break.

With ten minutes remaining Juanma Mata pulled Valencia to within one goal of earning a draw, but Marko Marin neted a fourth for Mönchengladbach to ensure them of victory.

Joseba Llorente scored the winner in for Villarreal as they beat Real Zaragoza 2-1 in the Trofeo Ciudad de Teruel after Diego Milito levelled Diego Marín’s opener.

In London, Joseba Etxeberria gave Athletic Bilbao a 1-0 win against Charlton Athletic at the Valley in a game that saw Aritz Aduriz sent off with three minutes remaining.

Real Sociedad put their mounting financial problems behind them to proce that they are going to be strong contenders for promotion next term with a 1-0 win over Osasuna thanks to a goal from De Cerio.

Getafe were unable to find the net during a goalless encounter with Bundesliga side Nürnberg in Germany, while goals from Xisco, Juan Vivero and Babic gave Real Betis a 3-1 win against la Tercera side Coria.

Xisco, Juan Vivero and Babic all scored for Real Betis as they beat Tercera Division side Coria, while Segunda B outfit Marino held Sporting Gijón to a goaless draw and Cartagena drew 1-1 with Almería.

Real Madrid were also in action in the Emirates Cup against Hamburg.

Ref From Lucas Brown, Goal.com

Valencia’s vice-president has confirmed that the club would only have a chance of signing Samuel Eto’o if David Villa or David Silva left and they do not want that to happen.

Fernando Gómez Colomer believes that los Ché face a real task to keep hold of both of their star players, but that is their first priority this summer.

After ending the campaign believing that one could leave, the arrival of Juan Villalonga appeared to end that worry, but he has now gone again and a big offer would be difficult to turn down.

“The main challenge is to keep Silva and Villa, because that in reality would be the same as making two big signings,” Gómez Colomer confirmed.

The Mestalla-based outfit have been linked with a big money move to Eto’o, but the director admitted that is only a plan should Villa or Silva go.

“If that were to happen then it would be in August. But it would be virtually impossible unless either Silva or Villa left and we do not want that,” he said.

“Should either go and Eto’o looks liek an impossibility then we would look for a player with similar qualities to his.”

Eto’o was set to leave Barcelona as reports grew when he was still away on holiday, but he has now returned and shown that he is determined to prove himself to new coach Pep Guardiola.

Ref From Lucas Brown, Goal.com