Depleted Barça scrape by Sporting

Depleted Barça scrape by Sporting


Barcelona climbed to the top of the La Liga standings after scraping past bottom club Sporting Gijon tonight to pick up a 1-0 win, their first victory away this season.

Pep Guardiola's side had drawn 2-2 at both Real Sociedad and Valencia in their previous two away matches in La Liga, but they returned from Asturias with all three points tonight thanks to Adriano's solitary early strike.

Barça are now level on 14 points with surprise package Levante at the summit, while Sporting continue to struggle at the foot of the table after suffering their fifth defeat in six games.

The Catalan side had netted 22 times in their opening five league games and also thrashed BATE Borisov 5-0 in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, but the European and Spanish champions found it tough to create many chances against a battling Sporting side.

Another big-scoring night had initially looked on the cards when Adriano put the visitors ahead after just 12 minutes, the Brazilian slotting in after Xavi's 25-yard shot had come back off the inside of the post.

However, the expected goal deluge did not arrive as Sporting made it tough for their illustrious visitors, who were missing the attacking threats of Andres Iniesta, Alexis Sanchez, Cesc Fabregas and Ibrahim Afellay due to injuries.

Soon after Adriano had put Barça ahead, the Catalan side almost doubled their lead when Thiago found David Villa in the area, but the former Sporting striker saw his effort parried away by Juan Pablo Colinas.

Barcelona would not come any closer to increasing their lead in the remainder of the match, although they had few concerns at the back either. Sporting twice threatened before the break, but neither Oscar Trejo or Nacho Cases were able to beat Barça goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

The second half continued in similar fashion, with chances few and far between at either end, although Colinas was called on to deny Lionel Messi in the 76th minute as the Argentinian looked for his ninth league goal of the campaign.

Colinas was also tested ten minutes later by Messi's 25-yard thunderbolt and it looked as though Barça had grabbed their second goal when Seydou Keita tapped in the loose ball after Colinas had spilled the shot. However, Dani Alves, who had latched onto the rebound and played it inside for Keita to roll into an empty net, had been offside.

Arsenal, Barça agree on Fabregas sale

Arsenal, Barça agree on Fabregas sale
(
Arsenal announced tonight they have reached an agreement in principle with Barcelona over the sale of Cesc Fabregas.

The midfielder, who joined the Gunners from Barcelona as a 16-year-old in 2003, will now agree personal terms and undergo a medical tomorrow before sealing his return to the Nou Camp.

"Initial agreement between Arsenal and FC Barcelona for the transfer of Cesc [Fabregas] with the signing of contracts and medical to take place on Monday," said a Barcelona club statement.
We thank Cesc for his contribution at Arsenal and wish him future success.
Arsene Wenger, Arsenal manager

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told the club's official website: "We have been clear that we didn't want Cesc [Fabregas] to leave and that remains the case.

"However, we understand Cesc's desire to move to his home town club and have now accepted an offer from Barcelona. We thank Cesc for his contribution at Arsenal and wish him future success."

A deal for the 24-year-old looked imminent when he was omitted from the Arsenal squad for yesterday evening's match at Newcastle.

Fabregas, who has won 58 caps for Spain, winning the UEFA EURO 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, made 303 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 57 goals. He was named the club's captain in November 2008.

Big names held in Copa del Rey

Big names held in Copa del Rey


Barcelona were held to a goalless draw at home by Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 tie. Elsewhere in Spain, the local derby between Valencia and Villarreal also finished 0-0. The only one of the three cup ties played in Spain tonight to produce any goals was the clash between Segunda Division Cordoba and top-flight Deportivo La Coruna, who shared a 1-1 draw.

The match at the Nou Camp pitted the two most successful sides in Copa del Rey history against each other - Barça having 25 crowns to Athletic's 23 - and was a repeat of the 2009 final which the Catalan side won 4-1. Barcelona went into the encounter averaging more than four goals a game in winning their last ten successive fixtures, but they could not find even one breakthrough tonight despite playing most of their star names, with Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Pedro Rodriguez starting and David Villa and Lionel Messi appearing as second-half substitutes.

Pep Guardiola's men dominated but Bojan Krkic and Iniesta were both denied by Athletic goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz in the first half before Xavi volleyed a decent opening after the break and Villa had an effort ruled out. Gerard Pique then had a great chance right at the end to earn his side a narrow advantage to take to San Mames when Messi picked out his run into the box, but the Spain international volleyed wide with his less-favoured left foot and Athletic were able to congratulate themselves on a job well done.

Villarreal, Depor held at home
Further down the east coast of Spain at the Mestalla, hosts Valencia will also feel they should have built some sort of lead for their return leg against neighbours Villarreal. Unai Emery's side had the Yellow Submarine on the back foot for much of the game but Aritz Aduriz, Pablo Hernandez, Juan Manuel Mata - who hit the post - and Ricardo Costa failed to make the most of the chances that fell their way.

Villarreal, who are five points and one spot above fourth-placed Valencia in La Liga, had a few opportunities of their own, including a decent opening late on for Nilmar, who was denied by home custodian Vicente Guaita when clean through.

In tonight's other match, Cordoba - one of only two remaining non-top flight club left along with Real Betis - played out a 1-1 draw with Depor in testing conditions at a rain-drenched Estadio El Arcangel.

Depor took the lead with a 17th-minute penalty when Riki, who was adjudged to have been brought down by Cordoba goalkeeper Alberto Garcia, sent the home custodian the wrong way from the spot. However, Cordoba drew level 20 minutes from time when Depor goalkeeper Manu made a mess of trying to punch clear a Jonathan Sesma free-kick, allowing Pepe Diaz to tap the ball in at the near post.

The remaining five last-16 first legs will be played on Wednesday, with the return legs scheduled for the first week of 2010.

Big names held in Copa del Rey

Big names held in Copa del Rey


Barcelona were held to a goalless draw at home by Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 tie. Elsewhere in Spain, the local derby between Valencia and Villarreal also finished 0-0. The only one of the three cup ties played in Spain tonight to produce any goals was the clash between Segunda Division Cordoba and top-flight Deportivo La Coruna, who shared a 1-1 draw.

The match at the Nou Camp pitted the two most successful sides in Copa del Rey history against each other - Barça having 25 crowns to Athletic's 23 - and was a repeat of the 2009 final which the Catalan side won 4-1. Barcelona went into the encounter averaging more than four goals a game in winning their last ten successive fixtures, but they could not find even one breakthrough tonight despite playing most of their star names, with Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Pedro Rodriguez starting and David Villa and Lionel Messi appearing as second-half substitutes.

Pep Guardiola's men dominated but Bojan Krkic and Iniesta were both denied by Athletic goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz in the first half before Xavi volleyed a decent opening after the break and Villa had an effort ruled out. Gerard Pique then had a great chance right at the end to earn his side a narrow advantage to take to San Mames when Messi picked out his run into the box, but the Spain international volleyed wide with his less-favoured left foot and Athletic were able to congratulate themselves on a job well done.

Villarreal, Depor held at home
Further down the east coast of Spain at the Mestalla, hosts Valencia will also feel they should have built some sort of lead for their return leg against neighbours Villarreal. Unai Emery's side had the Yellow Submarine on the back foot for much of the game but Aritz Aduriz, Pablo Hernandez, Juan Manuel Mata - who hit the post - and Ricardo Costa failed to make the most of the chances that fell their way.

Villarreal, who are five points and one spot above fourth-placed Valencia in La Liga, had a few opportunities of their own, including a decent opening late on for Nilmar, who was denied by home custodian Vicente Guaita when clean through.

In tonight's other match, Cordoba - one of only two remaining non-top flight club left along with Real Betis - played out a 1-1 draw with Depor in testing conditions at a rain-drenched Estadio El Arcangel.

Depor took the lead with a 17th-minute penalty when Riki, who was adjudged to have been brought down by Cordoba goalkeeper Alberto Garcia, sent the home custodian the wrong way from the spot. However, Cordoba drew level 20 minutes from time when Depor goalkeeper Manu made a mess of trying to punch clear a Jonathan Sesma free-kick, allowing Pepe Diaz to tap the ball in at the near post.

The remaining five last-16 first legs will be played on Wednesday, with the return legs scheduled for the first week of 2010.

Menezes contiDaniel Alves' rnues perfect Brazil star

Menezes contiDaniel Alves' rnues perfect Brazil start


emarkable volley helped Brazil secure a combative 2-0 victory over Ukraine, continuing Mano Menezes' 100 per cent start as coach.

The Barcelona full-back's superbly struck volley - reminiscent of Marco van Basten's strike in UEFA EURO 1988 - set the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ hosts on their way at Pride Park, before Alexandre Pato extended their advantage after the break.

Despite a gutsy performance from Ukraine, A Selecao showed greater strength at the back and flair going forward to extend their winning run under Menezes to three matches. Brazil were missing several star names for the friendly international that was watched by a mere 13,088 in Derby, despite being the first senior international fixture at Pride Park since England played Mexico in 2001.

Those that turned up in search of a Ukraine victory had their hopes dashed prior to kick-off after captain and talisman Andriy Shevchenko was ruled out with a thigh injury. Brazil, meanwhile, deployed an all European-based starting XI, with the likes of Robinho, Pato and Alves providing the backbone in a relatively inexperienced squad.

They dominated the opening exchanges on a bitter night in Derbyshire, although it was Ukraine who came closest to breaking the deadlock. Oleksandr Aliev's thunderous 30-yard free-kick threatened to deceive Victor, but the Gremio goalkeeper managed to block the 13th minute shot with his face.

However, the Brazilians soon turned on the style. AC Milan team-mates Pato and Robinho produced some precise interplay in the middle of the park, before the latter whipped in a superb cross to Alves at the back post. He met the cross with a crashing volley that flew across the goal and nestled in at the far post, taking a slight deflection on the way.

And Menezes' side came close to doubling their advantage ten minutes later. Pato's blend of strength and stepovers helped him wriggle free in the 18-yard box, only for the post to deny the striker and Carlos Eduardo to blaze over the rebound.

As half-time approached, Ukraine looked resurgent and thought they had equalised on the stroke of half-time, only for Aliev's strike to be ruled out for an earlier infringement. The Eastern Europeans continued to press after the break and substitute Ihor Khudobyak saw a 50th minute drive rebound back off the post.

However, Yuriy Kalitvintsev's side failed to capitalise on their pressure and Brazil's extra skill and nous eventually paid dividends in the 64th minute. Eduardo made amends for his earlier miss by providing a super cross for Pato, who turned on a sixpence to net a 64th minute winner to help the five-time world champions to a comfortable victory.

UEFA Champions League review

UEFA Champions League review
(FIFA.com) Tuesday 6 April 2010
Print
Email my friend
Share

Barcelona and Inter Milan will face each other in the last four of the UEFA Champions League after completing aggregate victories in Tuesday evening’s two quarter-finals. The Italians followed up their 1-0 first-leg win over CSKA Moscow by repeating the scoreline in the Russian capital, while the Catalans saw off Arsenal 4-1, with all their goals coming from an inspired Lionel Messi.

The Argentinian was unquestionably the star of the evening at the Camp Nou, continuing his recent excellent form and killing off whatever hopes the visitors had of a shock result. Inter’s matchwinner was Wesley Sneijder, whose fiercely struck free-kick was enough to end CSKA’s aspirations.

The final two quarter-final ties come to a conclusion on Wednesday night, with Bordeaux taking on Lyon and Manchester United entertaining Bayern Munich. The two winners will contest the other semi-final.

The results

CSKA Moscow 0-1 Inter Milan (Inter Milan win 2-0 on aggregate)
Goal: Wesley Sneijder 6

Barcelona 4-1 Arsenal (Barcelona win 6-3 on aggregate)
Goals: Lionel Messi 21, 37, 42, 88 (Barcelona); Nicklas Bendtner 18 (Arsenal)

Goal of the night
Barcelona 3-1 Arsenal (Lionel Messi, 42')
Seydou Keita’s astute header on the halfway line set Lionel Messi scampering away from the Arsenal defence. Keeping the ball under close control as he bore down on the Gunners goal, the diminutive Argentinian looked up to see Manuel Almunia advancing off his line before impishly dinking the ball over the keeper’s head to complete a quite magnificent first-half hat-trick.

The key moments
Closing down the space: Needing to score to get back into the tie, Arsenal pressed high up the pitch in the early stages, exerting pressure on Barcelona’s replacement central-defensive pairing of Rafael Marquez and Gabriel Milito. The Londoners’ tactic paid off after 18 minutes when Abou Diaby stole possession from Milito before releasing the speedy Theo Walcott on the right. The winger squared for the waiting Nicklas Bendtner, who stabbed the ball past Victor Valdes at the second attempt to silence the Camp Nou.

Make way for Lionel: Barcelona fans barely had time to worry about their heroes falling behind. Within three minutes the hosts were level, that little man Messi restoring parity with a stunning strike. Playing an involuntary one-two off the leg of Mikael Silvestre, the Argentinian unleashed an unstoppable drive from the edge of the penalty area and past the helpless Almunia.

The Barcelona machine then clicked into gear. Released by Messi, Eric Abidal surged into the box, his low centre eventually falling to Pedro, who teed up the incoming Messi for his second of the evening. Goal number three provided a sublime illustration of the technical skills at the disposal of the young magician, who rounded off his virtuoso performance by driving the ball between Almunia’s legs with just two minutes remaining.

Wisely conserving their energies throughout most of the second half, Barcelona will now turn their attention to Saturday’s Liga showdown with Real Madrid. Los Azulgranas will hope to have Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Zlatan Ibrahimovic back in action for the potential title decider along with Andres Iniesta, who came on against the Londoners with five minutes remaining.

Gone in 360 seconds: The suspense lasted all of six minutes on the artificial turf of Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium. That was the time that had elapsed when Wesley Sneijder stepped up to strike a fierce free-kick through a disorganised CSKA wall and past the startled Igor Akinfeev. The remaining 84 minutes were largely a formality for the experienced Italians, who proved resolute in defence and threatening up front, with coach Jose Mourinho selecting four attacking players in all.

A further illustration of I Nerazzuri’s superiority was the fact that Akinfeev was the home side’s outstanding performer on the night, thwarting Diego Milito on two occasions. His efforts would prove in vain, however, as the Milan giants eased through.

FIFA World Cup™ contenders
If Lionel Messi reproduces his current Barcelona form with Argentina in South Africa, La Albiceleste will have every chance of becoming world champions for the third time. European champions Spain will have the ever-reliable Xavi setting the tempo for them in the summer, and the midfield linchpin turned in two typically polished displays against Arsenal in the quarter-finals, completing well over 200 passes in the tie overall.

Ploughing a lone furrow up front for the Gunners, Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner stuck to his task gamely, putting his side ahead on aggregate, the prelude to Messi’s one-man show.

After William Gallas’s first-leg injury, the watching France coach Raymond Domenech has yet more selection concerns after seeing another of his defenders, Eric Abidal, limp off.

Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder was in peerless form as Inter Milan disposed of CSKA Moscow with a minimum of fuss, raising Netherlands’ hopes of a successful campaign at South Africa 2010. Meanwhile, Serbian team-mate Dejan Stankovic played his part, as did the Argentinian trio of Diego Milito, Esteban Cambiasso and the ageless Javier Zanetti, all of them mainstays of a solid and tactically disciplined unit.

Coming up

Wednesday 7 April, quarter-final second legs
Manchester United-Bayern Munich (Bayern lead 2-1 on aggregate)
Bordeaux-Lyon (Lyon lead 3-1 on aggregate)

Have your say
Can Lionel Messi go on and eclipse the great Diego Maradona?

*AA*Kaka ready to return

Kaka ready to return
(PA) Monday 28 December 2009
Print
Email my friend
Share

Real Madrid returned to training today with playmaker Kaka fit and raring to go.

The Brazilian has been sidelined with a pelvis injury since the defeat away to Barcelona at the end of November.

But Kaka is confident he will be fully fit for Sunday's match against Osasuna.

"I am totally cured," he said. "I am good, I don't have any more pain in the pubis.

"I hope to work with the group at my top this week and get myself good physically."

Real have won all four of their matches in Kaka's absence.

Barça seal knockout spot

Barça seal knockout spot

(AFP) Wednesday 9 December 2009
Print
Email my friend
Share

Reigning champions Barcelona clinched a place in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage with a 2-1 win over hosts Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday, Lionel Messi netting an 86th-minute goal to secure top spot in their group. Forward Artem Milevsky fired Kiev into an early lead, but Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez levelled 12 minutes before the break.

"It was a match of unique importance for us and I'm happy that all my players showed true understanding of that fact," Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola said. "We did our best to take our group's top spot and I'm happy we finished in pole position. It was really hard but our next matches will definitely be even tougher. But we are all ready for it."

Dynamo, who desperately needed to win to continue their campaign, got off to a flying start through Milevsky, who beat Victor Valdes with a close-range header from Andrei Shevchenko's well-struck free-kick in the second minute. The Spanish champions, who were seeking to hold off the challenge for first place from fellow qualifiers Inter Milan, replied positively, pinning the hosts back in an attempt to level but to no immediate avail as Dynamo defended in numbers while relying on rare counter-attacks.
It was a match of unique importance for us and I'm happy that all my players showed true understanding of that fact
Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola.

In the 13th minute, newly-crowned Ballon D'Or winner Messi missed a clear chance to level, when he received the ball after Dynamo goalkeeper Olexander Shovkovsky's mix-up and rushed into the hosts' box. However, Shovkovsky managed to correct his error, parrying the Argentinian forward's shot. Barça kept on probing, keeping Shovkovsky busy, and they pulled level in the 33rd minute, when Xavi redirected Eric Abidal's left-handed cross into the net from close range.

After the interval the guests still looked more dominant, although in the 54th minute Dynamo had another chance for a goal, Milevsky failing to score his second of the match in sending a close-range header just wide from Shevchenko's free-kick out on the left. Barcelona then seized their moment as Messi fired home a precise free-kick with four minutes to go, dashing Kiev's hopes of further progress.

"We were trying to play our best in all of our group matches and, of course, were hoping to move into the last 16," Dynamo manager Valery Gazzaev said. "Unfortunately we lacked skills, experience and luck to go through."

Toure: Pressure is good for us+

Toure: Pressure is good for us
(FIFA.com) Monday 30 November 2009

When Yaya Toure joined Barcelona, commentators often referred to him simply as “Kolo’s younger brother”. Though clearly in his elder sibling's shadow at the outset, there was always the question of just how long it would take Yaya to make a name for himself.

He soon provided the answer through his impressive performances. He now enjoys his football at Camp Nou and for Côte d’Ivoire, whom he helped qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. FIFA.com caught up with Toure to discuss the secret behind the Ivorians' success, his own personal journey and next year's world finals.

FIFA.com: Yaya, qualifying for a second successive FIFA World Cup must feel like a big achievement for Côte d’Ivoire. What does this mean to you and your country?
Yaya Toure: This is a very big moment for us and the people back home. This World Cup is special for all of Africa. We are the first generation of players in Africa to play the World Cup on our own continent. We are excited, we are glad to be part of this African World Cup. I don’t have guarantees on how things will play out, but I know that we will give our best. We have learned a lot, we have seen our mistakes in previous tournaments. That doesn’t mean we won’t make mistakes again, but we can’t repeat the old mistakes. That means we are progressing, we are going towards a good direction - that is good for Ivorian football.

Côte d’Ivoire played quality football during the qualifiers and you scored the most goals. What has been the secret behind your success?
The qualifiers were not easy, all the teams wanted to come to this World Cup. The key for us is that we have been very consistent lately. We had to work harder in all the games we played. For example, Burkina Faso are fighters and Malawi is a very unpredictable team. It’s not easy playing in African qualifiers, with all the travelling that is involved, especially for the European-based players among us.
People see us as the best team in Africa. I don’t really want to say we will win the World Cup, but our intentions obviously are to win the competition.
Côte d’Ivoire's Kolo Toure

Côte d’Ivoire are now among the favourites at South Africa 2010. Do you think you will be able to handle the pressure and live up to expectations?
(Laughs) People see us as the best team in Africa, that is pressure on its own. I don’t really want to say we will win the World Cup, but our intentions obviously are to win the competition. But I think we should take it one step at a time, we shouldn’t think ahead of ourselves. The media will always have its favourites, we don’t have to base our thinking and our belief on that. We know what we can do, we know what we can achieve. We have been gelling well as a team, we are now playing as a collective. In 2006, we had the hunger, but we lacked experience. Another thing is, we were given a tough group. We don’t know who will be our opponents this time around, but I guess that is something we cannot control. We will have to play against whomever our opponents turn out to be.

Besides Côte d’Ivoire, which other African country has impressed you so far?
Ghana, definitely Ghana. They are a good team and they play with so much intensity. I think they are also going to surprise a lot of people at the World Cup. I also rate Cameroon; historically, they have always been a good side.

How do you think African countries will fare at next year’s FIFA World Cup?
African teams know what is expected. They are aware of the expectations on their shoulders. African teams have matured a lot, they no longer want to go to competitions to make numbers; they are there to make a mark for themselves, they want to make an impression. And, if you look at the African teams now, the difference between them and European teams is no longer vast. This will make the competition tighter and more interesting. In the past, African teams were taken for granted in big tournaments, but this time it’s going to be different. The hunger is there and African teams now have realised that there is a lot at stake.

Just how influential is your older brother, Kolo, in your career?
Like any big brother, he is always looking out for me (laughs). When I joined Barcelona, he told me that it wasn’t going to be easy, but he encouraged me to work hard. He is a very disciplined person who taught me a lot about being level-headed. He has achieved a lot in his career, so I respect him a lot. I listen to his advice all the time.

You have been at Barcelona for almost two years. What is your assessment of the time spent at Camp Nou?
The first day you walk into the Barcelona dressing room, you are anxious and a bit intimidated. I wouldn’t lie and say I wasn’t nervous. But after some time, you have to tell yourself that you are there to do a job. You have to forget about other distractions and think of the bigger picture. For me, it wasn’t easy to adjust at first, but I quickly realised that I had (to) get used to the way things were done at the team and in the city.

Do you think you are now a complete player?
No, not at all. I can be better than this. The most important thing for me when I arrived in Spain was to break into the Barcelona first team. Then from there, one can only improve. You have to look at some of the African players who started a bit slow in Europe, but once they settled in the environment, they blossomed.

Going back to Côte d’Ivoire, just how important is Didier Drogba to the team?
Drogba is our leader and he leads by example. He is so dedicated to this team, and we are learning a lot from a guy like him. He doesn’t just talk, he goes into the field and produces the goods. With the national team, we are not concerned about individual achievements. For us, the team is more important.

You have been to South Africa a few times. What are your impressions?
It’s a beautiful country, and one of the best countries in Africa. Their biggest advantage is that they have the infrastructure. I think they will host a great World Cup. As an African, I have to give a fellow African country my 100 per cent support to succeed.

European Leagues preview

European Leagues preview
(FIFA.com) Friday 27 November 2009
Print
Email my friend
Share

Two titanic clashes bristling with rivalry and prestige in Spain and England stand out from the rest of the weekend programme around Europe. Barcelona and Real Madrid go head-to-head in La Liga, while Premier League leaders Chelsea travel to the north of London for the showdown with Arsenal.

The top three in Germany face stern tests of their championship credentials. In France, high-flying Auxerre visit the capital, with the all-Genoa derby top of the Italian bill of fare. FIFA.com previews the weekend action around the continent.

La Liga: Battle of the giants
Everything else on Matchday 12 in Spain is overshadowed by El Clasico, when Barcelona entertain Real Madrid. The Catalans remain unbeaten in the league this term, but Madrid are top of the pile and aim to stay there despite the seething partisanship they will encounter at Camp Nou. The game should provide a first true pointer as to the relative strength of the league’s dominant two this season.

Madrid also face Barcelona elsewhere, as relegation strugglers Atletico host Espanyol, themselves performing below expectations in tenth place on 13 points. Third-placed Sevilla would favour a draw in El Clasico, as they can make up ground on the front two by beating tail-enders Malaga. Valencia and Mallorca, fourth and sixth respectively, both need the points to stay in touch with the UEFA Champions League qualifying spots.

The question: Can Real travel to Barcelona and hand the champions their first defeat of the campaign?
The big game: Barcelona–Real Madrid, Sunday, 19:00, Camp Nou
The quote: "I’m definitely ready to play in Barcelona. I’m feeling good and I want to play. Now it’s down to the coach whether I start." Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid

Premier League: Showdown in London
The 14th round of matches in the Premier League also includes a standout fixture, as leaders Chelsea make the short trip from west to north London determined to put distance between themselves and third-placed Arsenal. Something has to give when the meanest team Chelsea, with only eight goals against, meet the most prolific, the Gunners, who have scored 36.

Second-placed Manchester United appear to have a relatively simple task when they travel to bottom club Portsmouth. Fifth meet fourth in a battle between two clubs hoping to feature in next season’s Champions League: Aston Villa entertain Tottenham, the form team of the moment in the wake of last week’s 9-1 demolition job on Wigan.

The question: Can Arsenal maintain their perfect home record and make it six wins out of six when leaders Chelsea come calling?
The big game: Arsenal–Chelsea, Sunday, 17:00, Emirates Stadium
The quote: "We look confident, and we're playing with confidence. We've got some tough games coming up, we need to regroup now and make sure we're sharp for Arsenal." John Terry, Chelsea

Bundesliga: Toughies for table-toppers
The top three in the Bundesliga would probably have preferred easier fixtures on Matchday 14. Undefeated leaders Bayer Leverkusen entertain Champions League contenders Stuttgart, whose unimpressive league form sees them a lowly 16th, but who have every chance of making the last 16 in Europe’s elite club competition. Second-placed Werder Bremen, defeated only on opening day, also meet Champions League-class opponents with the visit of eighth-placed Wolfsburg.

Third-placed Schalke travel to mid-table Borussia Monchengladbach, who look a lot more stable now after taking eight points from their last four matches. Hoffenheim and Hamburg in fourth and fifth face intriguing fixtures against Borussia Dortmund (9th) and high-flying Mainz (6th), with all four clubs keen for points to remain there or thereabouts at the top.

The question: Can resurgent Stuttgart inflict a first league defeat of term on Bayer Leverkusen?
The big game: Werder Bremen–Wolfsburg, Saturday, 15:30, Weserstadion
The quote: "We have no reason to be scared. We’re especially strong away from home right now, although you can’t expect us to win all our away games." Heiko Westermann, Schalke

Serie A: Derby time in Genoa
The biggest game on Matchday 14 takes place in Milan, but the edgiest duel sees seventh-placed Genoa take on city rivals Sampdoria, three places above them in the standings. The home team are only four points off Samp and would re-enter contention for a Champions League finish if they win. For their part, Sampdoria need the points to stay within touching distance of top trio Inter, Juventus and AC Milan.

The leaders meet Fiorentina, arguably the surprise package of the campaign to date. The men from Tuscany not only lie a creditable sixth in the table, they sealed a berth in the Champions League first knockout round during the week. Juve visit eighth-placed Cagliari, while Milan take on second-from-bottom Catania.

The question: Can promoted Parma maintain or improve on fifth spot by beating Napoli?
The big game: Inter-Fiorentina, Sunday, 15:00, San Siro
The quote: "I’m delighted about Totti’s hat-trick last weekend, because he’s proved yet again his ability to come back from serious injury." Marcello Lippi, Italy coach

Ligue 1: Depleted Auxerre seek capital gains
In-form Auxerre, French champions back in 1996, currently top the standings on the back of seven straight wins, although Polish marksman Ireneusz Jelen is out of the trip to Paris Saint-Germain with injury. Closest pursuers Bordeaux visit twelfth-placed Nancy, where coach Laurent Blanc will doubtless expect his Girondins side to pick up maximum points. Third-placed Lyon will be chasing the same reward against mid-table Rennes. Eighth-placed Monaco’s meeting with Montpellier, who are fifth but a mere two points off the lead, has been called off due to an outbreak of swine flu at the promoted club.

The question: Can leaders Auxerre make it eight wins on the bounce when they travel to face Paris Saint-Germain?
The big game: Paris Saint-Germain–Auxerre, Saturday, 19:00, Parc des Princes
The quote: "It’s easier for us all when he (Ireneusz Jelen) plays. He’s the driving force behind our play. Without him, we’ll have the same problems we had back in the summer." Jean Fernandez, Auxerre coach

Elsewhere
Bundesliga fans in Austria are licking their lips at the prospect of the nation’s biggest showdown when second-placed RB Salzburg meet leaders Rapid Vienna. The clubs are level on points, so top spot is the prize on offer for the winners on Matchday 17. A draw would benefit third-placed Austria Vienna, provided the men from the capital overcome bottom club Austria Karnten.

Similar excitement is on the cards in Greece. Champions and cup holders Olympiakos are second in the Super League, but entertain leaders Panathinaikos this weekend and can leapfrog their way to the top of the pile with a win.

Ecuador’s Shipyard Derby

Ecuador’s Shipyard Derby
(FIFA.com) Thursday 26 February 2009
Print
Email my friend
Share

"No matter what people say about other games, the biggest derby in Ecuadorian football will always be Barcelona-Emelec." That view, expressed on a fans' forum, is one held by the vast majority of the country's footballing fraternity. As FIFA.com reveals, the Guayaquil clásico is a match like no other in Ecuador, dividing the whole nation and putting its other sporting rivalries firmly in the shade.

The origins
The two clubs were always destined to be enemies. Barcelona Sporting Club was founded on 1 May 1925 by a group of friends in the heart of the docklands of Guayaquil, the largest port in the country. Almost four years to the day later, and just a matter of blocks away, a well-heeled American ownder of the Empresa de Electricidad de Ecuador (the Ecuador Electric Company) realised his dream by founding Club Sport Emelec.

Strangely, it was not until 22 August 1943 that the two sides faced each other for the first time, in a Guayaquil League match. Sporting their distinctive yellow jerseys, Los Canarios defeated El Eléctrico 4-3, with Pedro Villalta scoring a late winner for Barcelona. It was a match that would forever be remembered as The Derby of the Posts due to the number of times that the Emelec forwards struck the woodwork.

That distant encounter was the first in a long-running rivalry that would grow in intensity as the increasingly prosperous Emelec, taking up residence at a new stadium, collected trophy after trophy, while Barcelona struggled to remain competitive. As mark of its stature, in 1948 the local derby received a name of its own in a preview in the newspaper El Universo, becoming known forever more as El Clásico del Astillero (The Shipyard Derby).

Facts and figures
The inaugural Ecuadorian league championship was held in 1957, with Emelec winning the title and Barcelona finishing second. Due to the competition format, however, the two sides did not face each other in the league until December 1963, when El Eléctrico won 2-0. The two adversaries have now squared off 181 times in all, with Los Canarios prevailing on 58 occasions (scoring 202 goals in the process) and Emelec on 55 (199 goals scored).

Aside from Barcelona's period of dominance in the 1980s, the duo have largely matched each other over the years, as their Copa Libertadores clashes show. In 11 meetings in Latin America's most prestigious club tournament, both have four wins apiece with the other three games ending in draws. Their first meeting in the competition came on 12 February 1967, with Emelec emerging 3-0 winners, although Barcelona have finished Copa runners-up twice, in 1990 and 1998.

The top scorer in the derby overall is Lupo Quinones with 13 (ten for Emelec and three for Barcelona) although Manuel Uquillas leads the way among the one-club men with 11 goals for the Yellows. Goalkeeper Jose Francisco Cevallos has made 52 appearances for Barcelona in the Guayaquil clásico, more than any other player on either side, although the most unusual record is held by Emelec's Francisco Anibal Cibeyra, who scored direct from corner kicks in three consecutive meetings in 1978.

Tales of derbies past
A September 1949 clash played a large part in the derby acquiring national importance. Visitors Barcelona were leading 3-0 when the floodlights failed. After power was restored, the hosts stormed back to record an unlikely 3-3 draw, a result that caused angry Canarios fans to ask the Ecuador Electric Company for explanations for the power cut.

Then, in May 1988, Barcelona organised a four-team tournament to celebrate the opening on their new stadium, El Monumental. The hosts defeated Barcelona of Spain, while Emelec knocked out Penarol, setting up a final between the two.

Emelec striker Ney Raul Aviles takes up the story. "Barcelona were the 1987 league champions and had a good side," he explained. "Emelec had done well in 1986 and 1987 but for much of the 80s the Blues failed to figure among the top teams. Barcelona had their party all organised but there was absolutely no pressure on us and we won 1-0, a victory that gave us the strength to go on and win the title in 1988.″

1990 proved to be a very special year in the history of El Clásico del Astillero, with the two sides facing off in a Copa Libertadores quarter-final second leg on 29 August. Barcelona advanced to the semis after a 1-0 win, only for Emelec to exact terrible revenge just four days later with a 6-0 league triumph, the biggest margin of victory in the fixture to date.

The rivalry today
Although Barcelona have failed to win the title since 1997 and Emelec since 2002 - barren runs that can be explained by the emergence of Liga de Quito, El Nacional and Deportivo Cuenca - the Shipyard Derby remains the biggest attraction in Ecuadorian football. Honours were even between the two in last year's meetings, with two draws and a win apiece, although Los Canarios eased to a 3-0 away victory in the final duel of the year.

The two cross swords again on Sunday, when three vital points will be at stake as well as local pride. Both sides have made poor starts to the league campaign and are rooted at the bottom of the table without a win to their names, Barcelona lying second bottom with three points and Emelec last after three defeats in their opening three outings. Whatever happens, a decisive result at the weekend is sure to make one half of the neighbourhood happy.

Tokoh Liga Spanyol,

Barcelona Bidik Bintang Arsenal
[8 Jan 2009 | No Comment | ]
BARCELONA - Belum puas menguasai klasemen sementara musim ini, Barcelona berniat untuk menambah amunisi barunya ke Nou Camp. Tercatat mantan pemain juniornya Cesc Fabregas dan Robin Van Persie yang akan diboyongnya ke markas anak-anak Catalan.
Berita itu turun dari Goal.com yang mengabarkan, salah satu klub terkaya Eropa itu akan menguras pundi-pundi nya sebesar 50 juta Euro untuk memindahkan duo bintang Arsenal itu ke ranah Spanyol.
Sebelumnya telah banyak kabar beredar tentang kepindahan Fabregas dari Emirates Stadium ke Spanyol, namun menurut gelandang enerjik itu, dia belum cukup berpengalaman untuk meninggalkan Inggris kembali ke …
Liga Inggris, Liga Spanyol, Tokoh »
Pennant Impikan LaLiga
[30 Dec 2008 | No Comment | ]
LIVERPOOL - Bermain di kancah seru Liga Premier Inggris ternyata tidak cukup puas untuk Jermaine Pennant. Dari wawancara yang dipetik beberapa lalu, pemain Internasional ‘Three Lions’ itu rupanya mempunyai mimpi untuk bermain di La Liga Spanyol.
Setelah beberapa waktu pemain 25 tahun itu diisukan bergabung dengan Real Madrid, Pennant ternyata menyimpan ambisi besar untuk bergabung dengan tim kelas Dunia asal Spanyol, Real Madrid. Namun nampaknya impian tinggal impian, pihak Madrid tidak akan mendatangkan Pennant ke Santiago Bernabeu.
Sayap Liverpool itu juga sempat diwawancarai oleh media setempat seperti AS dan Sky Sports tentang …
Liga Inggris, Liga Spanyol, Tokoh »
Barca, Chelsea atau MU, Arshavin?
[16 Dec 2008 | No Comment | ]
RUSIA - Bintang lapangan Zenith St. Petersburg hingga kini masih belum jelas menentukan klub mana yang akan dibelanya tahun depan. Menurutnya, klub yang meliriknya, semua ada klub-klub besar di Eropa, Inggris dan Spanyol khususnya.
Penampilan yang cemerlang di klubnya sekarang, kini menjadi pusat perhatian kalangan pecinta sepakbola dan pelatih tim besar Eropa. Buktinya, dia salah satu pemain yang sukses membawa Zenith juara UEFA 2008 untuk pertama kalinya.
Keinginan Arshavin untuk hengkang dari Zenith di benarkan oleh Manajer Umum klub asal Rusia tersebut. “Kami memberi jalan Arshavin untuk melakukan negosiasi dengan klub lain,” …
Liga Spanyol, Tokoh »
Benzema Ingin Bergabung Dengan Real Madrid
[15 Dec 2008 | No Comment | ]
PRANCIS - Striker muda Olympique Lyonnaise memiliki keinginan untuk bergabung dengan Real Madrid. Saking besarnya hasrat untuk bermain di Santiago Bernabeu, dia berjanji pada Ibunya untuk mewujudkan impian terbesarnya itu.
Pemain yang baru saja menginjak umur 21 itu memang sempat dilirik beberapa klub besar seperti AC Milan dan Chelsea. Bahkan pernah juga dikabarkan, beberapa musim lalu Madrid juga ikut melirik striker timnas Prancis itu.
Seperti yang diberitakan Le Buteur, dia juga ingin meninggalkan Lyon dan ingin segera bergabung bersama Raul cs. “Itu mimpi tersembunyi saya dan mimpi itu akan terwujud sedikit demi …
Liga Spanyol, Tokoh »
Salgado: Madrid Butuh Kembalinya Pemain Yang Cedera
[14 Dec 2008 | No Comment | ]
MADRID - Beberapa jam lalu, Real Madrid ditumbangkan seteru abadinya Barcelona dalam lanjutan La Liga yang dikenal dengan derby ‘el clasico’ di Nou Camp. Kekalahan yang diterima Madrid, menurut bek veteran Michel Salgado, perlunya pemain yang cedera untuk kembali ke lapangan hijau.
Pada laga yang dimenangkan oleh ‘Blaugrana’ kemarin yang hasil akhir 2-0 untuk Barcelona, tentu membuat gap antara kedua klub besar Spanyol itu semakin jauh. Perbedaan mencolok dikeduanya disebabkan beberapa pemain kunci ‘Los Blancos’ mengalami cedera yang cukup panjang.
Sebut saja Ruud Van Nistelrooy yang harus absen sampai akhir musim untuk …
Liga Spanyol, Tokoh »
Xavi: Madrid Tidak Sedang Krisis
[11 Dec 2008 | No Comment | ]
BARCELONA - Pertandingan akbar Spanyol atau yang akrab disebut dengan ‘el-clasico’ yang sebentar lagi akan bergulir. Madrid yang diberitakan beberapa media kalau tim Ibukota itu sedang mengalami krisis. Namun tidak dengan Xavi Hernandez.
Madrid baru saja mengikat kontrak dengan pelatih Juande Ramos. Di pertandingan perdananya, ‘Los Blancos’ sukses menundukkan juara UEFA 2007 Zenith St. Petersburg di Santiago Bernabeu dengan hasil akhir 3-0.
Kesuksesan itu merupakan titik awal dari kebangkitan Madrid yang beberapa pekan ini mengalami masa suram dengan hasil yang tidak memuaskan di beberapa pertandingan terakhir.
Meski banyak media yang mengabarkan bahwa klub …
Liga Spanyol, Prediksi, Tokoh »
Prediksi: El Clasico Akhir Minggu Ini
[9 Dec 2008 | No Comment | ]
JAKARTA - Akhir minggu ini Spanyol akan diramaikan oleh derby Spanyol yang dikenal dengan el clasico. Derby yang mempertemukan dua raksasa Spanyol ini memang salah satu derby terseru di jagad Eropa.
Di kuartal pertama musim ini, el clasico akan berlangsung di Nou Camp. Pertandingan ini diperkirakan akan menjadi ajang habis-habisan kedua klub raksasa Spanyol itu. Pasalnya, Madrid yang kini sedang terpuruk di posisi lima La Liga.
Perbedaan poin dikedua klub tersebut memang sangat mencolok. Madrid yang baru mengumpulkan sembilan poin, sedangkan Barca seperti diatas angin ketika sampai saat ini sudah mengemas 35 …
Liga Champion, Liga Inggris, Liga Spanyol, Tokoh »
Schuster Hengkang, Kini Ramos
[9 Dec 2008 | No Comment | ]
MADRID - Spekulasi tentang masa jabatan Bernd Schuster di Real Madrid terjawab sudah. Resminya Selasa (8/12/2008) pelatih asal Jerman itu sudah tidak lagi menunggangi Real Madrid. Posisi yang ditinggalkan Schuster itu langsung diisi oleh Juande Ramos.
Ramos memiliki pengalaman banyak melatih klub-klub asal Spanyol. Meski sebelum berlabuh di Santiago Bernabeu, dia melatih klub Inggris Tottenham Hotspurs.
Seperti yang diberitakan Goal.com, Ramos menganggap ini –melatih Real Madrid– adalah sebuah impiannya. “Saya berterima kasih untuk Klub (Real Madrid) atas kepercayaan yang telah mereka berikan untuk saya. Saya tertarik dengan prospek melatih di Real Madrid,” …
Liga Spanyol, Prediksi, Tokoh »
Krisis Menghantui Madrid
[8 Dec 2008 | No Comment | ]
JAKARTA - Krisis juara kini menghantui Real Madrid. Pertandingan demi pertandingan Madrid gagal memperoleh poin penuh dan beda poin yang jauh dengan seteru abadinya Barcelona membuat Los Blancos dihinggapi ketakutan gagal juara musim ini.
Kekalahannya ketika melawan Sevilla minggu lalu harus memaksa Madrid memperlebar jarak yang signifikan dengan Barcelona. Terlebih diakhir minggu ini, Madrid bertemu dengan Barcelona di Nou Camp.
Madrid dan Barcelona memiliki selisih yang sangat jauh, sampai dengan minggu ke-14, Mardid baru mengumpulkan sembilan poin. Berbeda jauh dengan Blaugrana yang telah mengumpulkan 35 poin.
Pelatih Bernd Schuster pun pesimis bisa meraih …
Liga Inggris, Liga Italia, Liga Spanyol, Tokoh »
Benitez Berlabuh Di Juventus?
[8 Dec 2008 | One Comment | ]
LIVERPOOL - Pelatih asal Spanyol, Rafael Benitez di isu kan akan berlabuh ke Juventus. Hal ini berdasarkan pada keinginan Benitez yang tidak ingin memperpanjang kontraknya lagi bersama Liverpool.
Seakan tidak mau membuang kesempatan, pihak Juventus pun ikut mengambil peluang ini dengan menyatakan ketertarikannya memakai jasa pelatih berkacamata tersebut. Klub asal Turin, Italia itu juga dikabarkan telah menyiapkan dana yang tidak sedikit untuk menggaji Benitez apabila mantan pelatih Osasuna itu benar-benar mengasuh Del Piero cs.
Selain Juve, Real Madrid juga dikabarkan ikut dalam bursa transfer pelatih berumur 48 tahun tersebut. Perburuan pelatih baru …

Rijkaard is under immense pressure at Barcelona

Rijkaard is under immense pressure at Barcelona for what is perceived by many to be a pretty poor season so far but he can actually finish the season by winning both the league and champions league.

He has some of the best players in the world in every position apart from goalkeepers as the likes of Gianluca Zambrotta, Eric Abidal, Lilian Thuram, Rafael Marquez, Carlos Puyol and Gabriel Milito are all world class defenders; Yaya Toure, Deco, Iniesta and Xavi are all world class midfielders whilst Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho, Samuel Etoo and Lionel Messi are easily world class performers.

Underneath all of that the likes of Silvinho, Edmilson, Oleguer, Eidur Gudjohnsen Giovani Dos Santos, Bojan Krkic and others would get into most other clubs' 1st team so it is hard to see why they are struggling in their domestic league as he cannot point to injuries with such a huge and quality squad at his disposal.

He has a relatively easy draw like his counterpart at Chelsea in the champions league as Barcelona face Schalke over 2 legs and they should have enough quality to go through. He also had an easy ride in the second round when his team came against Celtic as it could have been worse.

Avram Grant also has world class players in every department as Petr Cech is a world class goal keeper and Carlo Cudicini is as good as almost every other goal keeper in the premiership and champions league.

John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho are world class defenders; Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and Claude Makele are world class defenders and Didier Drogba has few peers in the world in the centre forward position, while Nicholas Anelka is also world class.

Underneath all that Juliano Belletti, Alex, Ashley Cole, Wayne Bridge, Florent Malouda, Claudio Pizarro, Shawn Wright-Phillips, John Mikel Obi, Salomon Kalou and Andriy Shevchenko especially are more than useful.

But he too has had some very strange results with the quality of squad at his disposal with the somewhat lucky result against Arsenal being his only success in big games this season.

The luck of the draw has been very kind to him and his team as in the champions league they are up against in the ¼ finals after having met Olympiakos in the 2nd round.

He can also finish this season with 2 big titles under his belt to silence his critics that say he is not good enough to be the manager of Chelsea. He can win the champions league and Chelsea are just 5 points off the top of the premiership.

2 men with seemingly nothing in common until close inspection are seen to have much more in common than at 1st perceived. Obviously they both cannot win the champions league as they are both in it but they can both easily finish the season with nothing and both get the sack.

Manchester United, Barcelona win in Champions League

Manchester United, Barcelona win in Champions League

By ANDREW DAMPF, AP Sports Writer 5 hours, 42 minutes ago

*
Buzz Up
*
Print

ROME (AP)—Cristiano Ronaldo soared to head in Paul Scholes’ cross in the 39th minute, Wayne Rooney added a second-half goal and Manchester United defeated AS Roma 2-0 Tuesday night in the first leg of the European Champions League quarterfinals.

Ronaldo dashed toward the net and leaped for his seventh Champions League goal of the season, moving ahead of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi at the top of the scoring list. Ronaldo has 36 goals in all competitions this season.

“Ronaldo’s goal changed the game for us, a fantastic header,” United manager Alex Ferguson said. “I thought Roma had some good chances the first 15 minutes of the second half. But there are breaks in a football match and I think they were with us today.”

Rooney added the second goal in the 66th when Roma goalkeeper Alexander Doni couldn’t collect a header from Park Ji-sung. The ball landed at Rooney’s feet for an easy score, his fourth in European competition this season.

“They were lucky on their scoring chances,” Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said. “They have players of very high quality.”

The second leg of the total-goals series is April 8 at Old Trafford, where United routed Roma 7-1 a year ago. Roma hopes injured captain Francesco Totti will return then.

“We can’t take anything for granted, but we definitely feel like we can reach the semifinals,” Ferguson said.

In Tuesday’s other quarterfinal, 17-year-old Bojan Krkic scored in the 12th minute to give Barcelona at 1-0 victory at Germany’s Schalke. Thierry Henry’s shot was fumbled by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, and Henry played the ball back across for Krkic, who tapped it in at the far post.

“We played well on the flanks. We won the ball. We controlled most of the game,” Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard said.

On Wednesday, Liverpool is at Arsenal in a matchup of English clubs and Chelsea is at Turkey’s Fenerbahce.

AP Sports Writer Nesha Starcevic in Gelsenkirchen contributed to this report.


source ;tp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6279862229384810530