Spanish Super Cup first leg and Europa League qualifying as it happened

I thoroughly enjoyed that second half - and I'll be back on Saturday for the second weekend of Premier League action. Join me here won't you?

Nice one.

I've just seen the build-up to that second Real Madrid goal again. It's Andres Iniesta at the heart of it again, he plays it into Lionel Messi who swivels to shoot brilliantly.

Iker Casillas makes the save, and Gerard Pique is lurking inside the six-yard box looking for a tap-in. What on earth is the centre-half playing at there? 3-1 up at home to Real Madrid in the last five minutes, do you need your defenders trying to score a fourth?

Bizarre!

Barcelona are really struggling now as they have to bring on one of the players of the Euros - Jordi Alba - for the final seconds.

Just before that goal Iker Casillas made a stunning save. It was so nearly 4-1 and now it's 3-2, with Real having two away goals. Great second half.

This is sublime football as Barca are so close to a fourth...

Barcelona make a change with six minutes left - they've only got Cesc Fabregas to bring on in place of Xavi. Good luck getting into this midfield Alex Song.

Andres Iniesta is running the show. What a little genius of a player.

We are into the last 15 minutes at the Nou Camp. Here's a thought for you all, if Luka Modric goes to Real Madrid, where on earth is he going to play? The best we can muster in the office is that he will replace Kaka as first change for Mesut Ozil...

Cristian Tello - another La Liga man who has been linked with a loan move to Anfield - comes on for Barcelona.

He looks completely different to the last time I saw him. He's had a skinhead, a load of tattoos and put on about three stone of muscle. He's had quite a summer.

Gerard Pique is off on another stroll down the pitch. This time he ends up on the left wing and puts in a decent cross as well. What a player he is.

Oh brilliant save!

Barcelona have gone up two or three gears in a matter of minutes. This time again it's Dani Alves streaking clear down the right, he cuts inside on to his left foot and bends a low shot toward the far corner which Iker Casillas turns away.

Well this party suddenly got interesting. That's an away goal for Real of course, which could prove useful.

Alexis Sanchez is at it again here. A second penalty appeal, a second no from the referee - but he's still not booked for a dive.

This time he tangles with Alvaro Arbeloa and hits the deck. Sergio Ramos is livid.

Clever play from Sergio Busquets as he nicks the ball through Raul Albiol's legs and gets the big defender booked as he is clattered. The second perios is yet to get going to be honest.

The debate rages - but we should find out soon whether Nuri Sahin is going to be at Anfield or the Emirates this season.

He could even shock us all by nipping somewhere else yet. Arsene Wenger must have other targets in mind to replace Alex Song though - surely?

Brendan Rodgers has also confirmed that Andy Caroll missed out on the Hearts game with a slight niggle.

He said: "Andy was due to start. He had a slight twinge on his hamstring.

"We tried to give him 48 hours, let him travel and he trained yesterday to see how it was.

"It was unfortunate because he has worked well and I know he was desperate to play.

"Hopefully missing the game tonight will allow him to recover for the weekend."

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has just confirmed that he expects to know in the next 24 hours whether or not Real Madrid man Nuri Sahin is joining the club on loan.

Arsenal have been chasing the midfielder all summer but the Turkey international playmaker could be heading to Anfield.

Now then - is this a penalty? Alexis Sanchez takes on Sergio Ramos inside the area and goes to ground - I think he was looking for that one and the referee agrees.

No penalty given, no booking for Sanchez though.

Real Madrid may have rode out the storm here. Barca still look the most likely to score but Real have forced them back. We have seven minutes of the half to go.

A goal is in the air, I tell you. This time it's Pedro who lines up the shot from 20 yards, he nails it left-footed but Iker Casillas is well placed to turn it over the top.

What a ridiculous man Lionel Messi is. How does he do it? There are four defenders on him - right on him - inside the area but he beats them all with a burst of speed and quick feet across the face of the box.

However, his shot is wide of the far post. Wide.

Barcelona are knocking on the door here now. Dani Alves is looking particularly threatening down the right but Real are defending diligently.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers after the 1-0 win at Hearts: "First and foremost it was a win which is important in a Euro game. Certainly coming here, where the crowd were excellent, the players were excellent. Second half the management of the game was better from us. It was good win and a difficult match for us. It was a really good game.

"Raheem Sterling is 17. Tactically he is improving all the time. When he has the ball he is really exciting. He showed some great moments. He arrived in some good areas and is a real threat for us."

Lionel Messi should score. Not often you can say that, maybe he is getting his early season rust out of the way.

Dani Alves is free on the right and picks out his number 10 in space just inside the area. Messi draws back that wand of a left peg but his shot is a foot wide of the near post. He looks a bit embarrassed that that didn't go in. Raise your game Leo my son.

Lionel Messi is the meat in a very meaty sandwich here. Fabio Coentrao stops him dead with a very strong tackle - he gets the ball - but then three Real Madrid men land on top of him. Ouch.

Gerard Pique lumbers up the field to join in the attack and cracks his shot wide from 30 yards. He's no Gary Cahill. Barca on top now though.

Barcelona were looking, dare I say it, almost pedestrian in the opening 10 minutes but all it takes is one genius pass from Andres Iniesta and they cut through the heart of Real Madrid. Great defending in the end gets it clear but Iniesta is then played in again by another gem of a ball from Sergio Busquets. Amazingly Iniesta can't deliver the cross but Barca have been sparked into life.

To the Nou Camp then, where Jose Mourinho is getting his first glimpse of new Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova.

Mourinho jabbed then-Barcelona assistant Vilanova in the eye in last year's Spanish Super Cup - let's not have a repeat of that again eh boys?

Real have started well with Karim Benzema almost stealing in at the back post in the brightest opening so far.

So advantage to both away sides after the first legs of these ties. Liverpool probably had the edge in the end, with Raheem Sterling an impressive performer.

Callum Paterson has another dig for Hearts, his shot is beautifully struck again but it is always curling wide of the top corner.

Great save from Pepe Reina this time. This was not an easy stop, he flings himself to his left to claw out a stinging drive from Callum Paterson. So nearly a late equaliser.

Big chance for Hearts!

Ryan McGowan again causes some damage down the right, he puts in a dangerous cross which Jamie Carragher doesn't really deal with and it falls for substitute Andrew Driver. The winger has to swivel to get his shot away and he doesn't catch it cleanly. Easy save for Pepe Reina.

That Liverpool goal seems to have cured Charlie Adam as well, who is haring around the pitch now.

Raheem Sterling goes for an audacious goal from the edge of the box but his shot drifts over the top. His performance is a huge plus for Brendan Rodgers.

Harsh on Andy Webster that - but it was a truly great cross from Martin Kelly.

Stewart Downing puts in a good cross from the left but worryingly for the Reds Charlie Adam appears to have picked up a problem in making the pass out wide. He holds his left leg and looks at the bench.

Hearts come forward down their right - perhaps testing Stewart Downing out as an emergency left-back - and Ryan McGowan gets to the byeline with a storming run but his cross is overhit.

Coming up soon - Barcelona v Real Madrid. I'll bring you the teams as soon as we get them.

Back in Scotland and it's all gone a bit scrappy.

So a former Liverpool man finds the net at Motherwell as the current Reds look in vain for a goal of their own.

You'll all be pleased to know that Stewart Downing is warming up.

Motherwell are hanging on a bit.

Goalkeeper Darren Randolph races from his goal-line to deny Theofanis Gekas after the Greek had collected Juanlu's deft pass at the edge of the box and quickly unleashed his shot.

Raheem Sterling is almost in again. He's started this half on fire - and here comes Charlie Adam with a shot.

He moves the ball smartly on to his right foot and shoots just wide from 25 yards. Liverpool looking good here.

It's a sign of the pressures of managing a big club these days that people are even having this discussion. Brendan Rodgers would do well to never read the internet again.

Raheem Sterling looks a prospect though. He is almost in on goal again after a clever give-and-go but Hearts keeper Jamie MacDonald is out quickly to smother him.

Raheem Sterling does beat his man on this occasion, driving with purpose into the box and almost winning a penalty - but it's a corner instead. Good defending in the end.

Usain Bolt by the way - won his 200m in 19.58 seconds. I was just saying in the office that he looked slow. I suppose when you can run 19.19 then that is pretty sluggish...

The second half at Hearts has started at a more sedate pace than the first 45 minutes, with Liverpool bossing the game in the early stages.

Poor Stewart Downing...

I reckon Usain Bolt would have scored that chance for Liverpool...

Meanwhile, there's been a sensational run from Yohan Blake in the Diamond League athletics meeting in Lausanne. The Jamaican ran the 100m in the third fastest time ever - a staggering 9.69 seconds - and next up is his great pal and rival Usain Bolt in the 200m. What will he do in response? You can watch the race live on the BBC website if you're in the UK.

Hearts want a penalty as the ball strikes Jamie Carragher - it looks close to his arms but on second viewing it hit Carragher on his back. An uncomfortable moment for the veteran though.

Liverpool then break well and Charlie Adam puts a ball fizzing across the face of goal - excellent defending from Hearts again.

Over in Motherwell, Levante's Nikolaos Karabelas limps off towards the end of the half after a thumping 50-50 challenge with Well's Adam Cummins left him in agony on the turf. Nabil El Zhar - once of Liverpool -is his replacement.

David Templeton cracks a shot over the top as Hearts put together a good move. With five minutes of the half remaining it's looking like a goalless 45 minutes though...

Very good point Dave. I saw a lot of Swansea in the Championship and League One where they were already building that shape and way of playing.

Anyway, back in Scotland and it's Liverpool who are on top now as the half comes to an end. Fabio Borini looks a threat and is almost in on goal again but is flagged offside.

Oh and this is an even better move!

Jordan Henderson has space down the right and whips in a telling early cross, again Fabio Borini makes the sharp run to arrive unmarked but he can't quite connect with his attempted volley.

That's twice in a few minutes that Liverpool have picked their way through. Perhaps Hearts are tiring from that manic opening.

Nice move from Liverpool this time as Jonjo Shelvey picks a fine pass through the Hearts defence, Fabio Borini makes a clever angled run to get on the end of it but he is tracked well by Darren Barr who makes the block.

Liverpool's 17-year-old Raheem Sterling has come into the game in the last few minutes. He looks full of pace and trickery but there's been no end product as yet.

Hearts have got Liverpool on the back foot here. This time it's Ryan McGowan who goes on a rampaging run into the area but Martin Kelly manages to get across and clear with a great last-ditch tackle. Get that wrong and it was penalty time.

Charlie Adam is not a favourite of the Hearts crowd here - he's not exactly flavour of the month with some of you lot either - but he has been busy in this opening period.

A bright run through the middle is ended by Darren Barr's foul.

Over at Fir Park, and despite Motherwell's bright start, it is Levante who have the first shot on target.

A piercing drive by Michel from 20 yards sees Darren Randolph punch clear.

How long can Hearts keep this pressure up? It's superb stuff so far, every time Charlie Adam or Jordan Henderson try and get on the ball in midfield they are crowded out instantly.

David Templeton is the latest Hearts player to threaten, driving in on goal from the left flank and sending in a rising shot which clears the bar. This is a really fine start from the Scottish side.

Brendan Rodgers has not quite got Liverpool playing out from the back like Swansea just yet. That's twice already they have cleared their lines with an almighty thump downfield.

Hearts are playing at a great intensity though. They are well up for this.

Lovely skill from Mehdi Taouil sees him drift clear of Jack Robinson, and Arvydas Novikovas lines up the rising drive from 30 yards which has Pepe Reina struggling and the goalkeeper has to tip it over. Good start from Hearts.

Chance for Hearts as Jamie Carragher undercooks a backpass and Pepe Reina has to be alert to scramble out of his area and make the clearance.

Liverpool then threaten for the first time as Charlie Adam carries the ball 30 yards and drills in a low shot which Jamie MacDonald parries away.

Liverpool are knocking it about nicely at the back but Hearts are pressuring them well.

We are into the dying minutes in Greece, but here's the first glimpse of Adam Campbell. He has certainly got bags of pace as he streaks clear of the covering defence but a slightly heavy touch lets him down.

Liverpool have lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Raheem Sterling on the left, Fabio Borini through the middle and Jordan Henderson on the right.

In Edinburgh, there's a thundering atmosphere awaiting Hearts v Liverpool. The players are making their way out on to the pitch now.

Big chance for Atromitos.

Konstantinos Giannoulis cuts in from the left, it all opens up for him but he shoots wide.

That should really have been 2-1 to the Greeks.

So what can we expect from this 17-year-old Adam Campbell then? He's got a baptism of fire here, leading the line alone in a European away game.

Papiss Cisse looks a real threat every time he gets on the ball.

After more good work from Gabriel Obertan, Cisse pulls off a sharp backheel to find Romain Amalfitano but Charles Itandje makes the save again.

Jonas Gutierrez will not be providing any ammo out wide - he's slotted into a deep role in the centre of midfield.

If you've got Papiss Cisse on the pitch, there's always the chance of a goal, and the Newcastle man almost puts his side in front.

A deep cross from Gabriel Obertan picks him out at the back stick, he tries to round Charles Itandje but the goalkeeper reacts well to keep him out. That's more like it from Newcastle though.

That is an incredible effort from Javier Zanetti - he's 39 now and still no signs of slowing down. What a goal he scored against England in World Cup 1998. Brilliant player.

The home side have made a double change, with Da Silva Chumbinho replacing Nikola Beljic and Anastasios Karamanos coming on for Njazi Kuqi.

Gabriel Obertan has a decent chance for Newcastle but his shot is deflected over the top of the bar. We are into the last half hour in Greece.

A lot is expected from Liverpool's promising left-footed winger Raheem Sterling. The 17-year-old arrived at Anfield from QPR in February 2010 and is one of the brightest prospects to develop at Liverpool's youth academy.

He scored a lovely goal in pre-season against Bayer Leverkusen and played against Gomel in the last round of the Europa League. So, let's see what all the fuss is about.

It's a poor old game in Athens. Konstantinos Giannoulis has the latest effort on the Newcastle goal but it barely reaches Steve Harper.

Looks like both sides are happy with a 1-1 draw at the minute.

A bit of transfer news coming through for you - Wigan have confirmed they have accepted a bid from Chelsea for Victor Moses.

Is that a good move for young Victor? I'm not sure he'll be getting much game time at the Bridge.

Even the likes of Inter Milan have been called into action tonight - they take on FC Vaslui for a place in the group stage.

Wesley Sneijder, Esteban Cambiasso and co will love this trip to Romania.

Njazi Kuqi has another half chance for Atromitos but his shot is always rising and ends up in the crowd behind the goal.

Papiss Cisse was bordering on the anonymous in that first half but he creates an early sight of goal for Newcastle in the second period.

Cisse bursts away from his marker and puts in a cross, but Sylvain Marveaux can only put in a weak header which is easily saved.

Newcastle will host the Greeks next week in the second leg of this play-off round tie, and the winners will then be in the draw for the Group Stage in Monaco next Friday.

So not the greatest of halves from Newcastle, but they do have an away goal to their names thanks to that strike from Ryan Taylor.

I think Alan Pardew would take a 1-1 right now, especially with that big game against Chelsea looming on Saturday evening.

Newcastle's best route to goal at the minute seems to be through Ryan Taylor's long throws. Where's Rory Delap when you need him? Taylor hurls another effort into the heart of the area, Atromitos struggle to deal with it and Dan Gosling attemps an ambitious overhead kick which goes way over the top. Almost half-time in Athens.

Newcastle still pushing for an equaliser but have been poor so far. Atromitos are next to threaten as captain Giannis Skondras shoots from long range but it's an easy save for Steve Harper.

Charles Itandje is called into action for the first time, but he is alert and able to get down to save a long-range free-kick from Ryan Taylor with his feet. Can Newcastle find a way back into this game?

More pressure from Newcastle earns a corner and Sylvain Marveaux delivers a fine ball in, but again it's good defending as Sokratis Fitanidis gets the ball clear.

That goal has kicked Newcastle into life as they create two half chances.

First, Gabriel Obertan shows real pace to escape down the right and he puts in a dangerous cross which the Greek side manage to hack away.

Then Ryan Taylor hurls in the following throw-in and Mike Williamson looks to steer a dangerous header on goal but again the hosts get it away.

This is better from Newcastle, who have had a good five minutes or so.

James Tavernier overlaps down the right and puts in a dangerous cross which should have been pouched by Charles Itandje - but the former Liverpool keeper makes a hash of it and almost drops it straight to Papiss Cisse.

The keeper manages to smuggle it away for a corner but that will offer plenty of encouragement to the Magpies.

Dan Gosling has made a bright start for the Magpies, and after some neat play in midfield he shanks a 25-yard drive wide of goal. Neither side have hit the target yet.

Atromitos finished fourth in the Greek Super League last season by the way - behind Olympiakos, Panathinaikos and PAOK.

They did only score 32 times in their 30 league games though so maybe we are in for a stalemate here.

It's another chance for Atromitos.

This time it's Walter Iglesias who has a dig from 25 yards but the ball is always rising and does not trouble Steve Harper in the Newcastle goal.

Papiss Cisse is operating as a lone striker for Newcastle, with former Everton man Dan Gosling trying to get close to him whenever possible. It's a cagey start in Greece.

Chance in Athens - and it comes for the hosts!

Elini Dimoutsos crosses from the left and Njazi Kuqi is there but steers a volley wide. Shefki would have bagged that one...

In exactly 48 hours' time, Newcastle will be taking on Chelsea. This is what you call a quick turnaround.

You lot are very sharp this evening, we've been bombarded by literally three Tweets to tell us that Sammy Ameobi is indeed carrying an injury.

And yes to those who asked - the Charles Itandje between the sticks for Atromitos is the former Liverpool man.

Apparently it is 39 degrees in Athens. A scorcher of an evening awaits...

Teenage striker Adam Campbell is on the bench for Newcastle and if he comes on he will be the club's youngest ever player in Europe at the age of 17 years and 236 days.

He will take the record currently held by Andy Carroll. Whatever happened to him?

So tonight's game is a chance for the likes of James Tavernier and Sylvain Marveaux to impress for Newcastle, who have named a stronger side than we were expecting.

For those of you watching in black and white text, by the way, Newcastle are wearing their maroon kit this evening.

But the teams are in from Athens, so let's see who Alan Pardew has picked:

Later on we have a battle of Britain as Liverpool travel to take on Hearts, whiel Motherwell host Levante.

And if all that wasn't enough for you, there's a nice cherry on top of the evening's action when Barcelona and Real Madrid contest the first El Clasico of the campaign in the Super Cup. Magic.

Yep it's off to Greece first up, where Newcastle take on Atromitos at 18:00 BST.

Alan Pardew has left a raft of first-team players at home, so it's a chance for some fringe players to stake their claims for a spot.

What do we know about Atromitos? Er, they play in Greece, they've got the younger brother of Shefki Kuqi up front - Njazi Kuqi - and Walter Iglesias in midfield.

Sadly not the younger brother of Enrique...

The football season may be less than a fortnight old - but we are already into European action.

Tonight Newcastle, Liverpool, Hearts and Motherwell begin the long journey toward a potential Europa League final place in Amsterdam next May.

As the two Manchester sides proved last season, reaching that final will not be easy. But every journey starts somewhere, and ours begins in Athens this evening.

Let's go...