RSSEspanyol Related Content
Real Madrid too steady for Barcelona with 13 weeks to go in La Liga
La Liga champions Barcelona provided another great performance on Saturday night. The match saw midfielder Andres Iniesta net his first league goal of the season. David Barral equalized early in the second half for Sporting Gijon but Barcelona stole the show during the last 15 minutes of the game.
Seydou Keita put his side in front for the second time on the night with a terrific curling shot. Xavi ensured Barca’s victory with a goal in the 88th minute. With that win, Barcelona temporarily closed the gap to 7 points against foes Real Madrid.
“I’m very pleased because it was very important to win. We were ten points down so the league would have been lost [if Barca had not won],” Seydou Keita told news source Sport after the Gijon win.
Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry takes its toll in 2011/12 La Liga race: No more rest for the Catalans
A 100% record in La Liga was probably not FC Barcelona’s aim at the start of the season; but in view of Real Madrid’s solidification, they are advised to go for perfection.Yes, Barcelona have been trying to give their fans the very best. Surely, never did they allow themselves to get carried away by complaisance; but in contrast, their results in La Liga have not always been positive.
Failing to accomplish missions or dropping points are things that can happen from time to time. Yet, mistakes seem to get massive exposure when they come at an unexpected moment.
Barcelona refuse to moan about denied penalty in 1-1 draw away to Espanyol
On Sunday night, Barcelona secured nothing more than a draw away to Espanyol in the Catalan derby. The eventful match saw the visitors hit the net thrice. However, two of their three strikes got rightfully disallowed—the first one for Messi’s handball in the buildup, the second one for offside.Cesc Fabregas gave Barcelona a first-half lead but Alvaro’s equalizer ended the game 1-1. Very late on, though, the Blaugrana could have stolen all three points. Raul Rodriguez handled the ball in the penalty box, but the match officials weren’t interested in awarding a spot kick.
“There is a referee for that, and if he has not seen it, it's not a penalty,” President Sandro Rosell told Canal Plus when asked to comment on this crucial incident.
Espanyol vs Barcelona Report
Los Cules wasted no time in imposing themselves through their usual passing game. Espanyol however fired first, with Joan Verdu twice testing the Barca defence in a single intense moment. At their turn, the hosts attempted to keep possession and control the game; but they suffered a scare on 13 minutes when Messi set up Fabregas for the opener - only to see the referee rule out the goal for handball. It was eventually a yellow card for Messi, but Barcelona quickly responded with a clean goal on 16 minutes, again from Cesc Fabregas.
A powerful header from the Spaniard following an assist from Dani Alves was enough to give the visitors the lead; yet, Alvarez could blame himself for bad goalkeeping. Both sides afterward tried to pressure each other; but somehow, it was the FIFA Club World Cup winners who seemed to be on top of the game.
Espanyol vs Barcelona Preview
After being named the best club coach in the world for the second consecutive time, Pep Guardiola can aim for another achievement against his city rivals. According to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics, Guardiola received 201 points in the survey, while Jose Mourinho came second with 112 points and Sir Alex Ferguson came third with 107 points.But this weekend, Guardiola can prove why he is the best in the business, with what could be a historic triumph against Espanyol. Indeed, if ever Real Madrid were to lose their game against Granada on Saturday evening, then Barcelona could steal the pole position and lead the table on goal difference for as long as they can.
Espanyol vs Real Madrid Report
Cristiano Ronaldo was on fire in attack. Even though team mate Gonzalo Higuain stole the headlines with his first hat-trick of the season, Ronaldo’s performance couldn’t be overlooked. The Portuguese, who was involved in several offensive moves, provided the assist for Higuain’s opener. At some point in the game, Real Madrid also had a clear penalty appeal turned down; Ronaldo’s chip in the box hit the arm of an Espanyol defender but the referee waved play on.
At the other end of the field, Iker Casillas also got tested by Sergio Garcia. But the Spanish goalkeeper produced a great save to keep his line clean ahead of the half-time whistle. Higuain doubled his tally inside the 66th minute.
Espanyol vs Real Madrid Preview
What people should remember ahead of Espanyol vs Real Madrid is that Los Blancos have conceded only one goal away from home in La Liga this season. However, it came in the worst circumstances—in a 1-0 defeat at Levante. On match-day 4, Racing Santander couldn’t trouble Real Madrid’s defensive line. But the Castellans couldn’t do so well at the other either as the game ended in a 0-0 draw.
One has to go back to the very first match-day of the 2011/12 Spanish Primera Division to re-live Real Madrid’s only away win in the campaign thus far. In truth, since trouncing Zaragoza 6-0 in late August, Jose Mourinho’s men haven’t triumphed in a stadium other than the Santiago Bernabeu on the domestic front.
Barcelona Wants To Lay Hands On La Liga's Title At The Camp Nou Against Espanyol
Barcelona's dual chase both for the Spanish title and the Champions League has borne fruits, successfully reaching the final stage of Europe's most coveted title. Barcelona leads La Liga with 88 points, and could virtually become the champion if Real Madrid does not defeat Sevilla on Saturday at the Sanchez Pizjuan.The influence of Lionel Messi in Barcelona's scheme is indubitable: The Argentinean is both La Liga's top scorer and assist leader, with 31 goals and 18 assists. But Lionel Messi is not Guardiola's key to success, but the organicity of the Cule squad,
Javier Mascherano and Sergio Busquets have both proven great determination and comfort playing in the back line, something that might not be necessary now that Eric Abidal and Carles Puyol have recovered their form. Guardiola might choose not to risk the Spanish international defender unnecessarily.
Gabriel Milito, on the other hand, has not been seen with the rest of the Blaugrana squad during week's training and it appears like he won't be given many chances to make it into the starting eleven. Brazilian wingers Maxwell and Adriano are ruled out due to injuries.
"People believe the Liga is already won, but it's not. We want to close the deal the sooner the better" said Barcelona's defender Carles Puyol.
Milan Set to Sign Espanyol Youngster Didac Vilà
Adriano Galliani had already admitted earlier today that the left-back they were searching for "played abroad and was eligible to play in the Champions League," the former revelation ruling out Genoa's Domenico Criscito. It is a notable volte-face as Genoa owner Enrico Preziosi claimed that "Galliani was consistently calling" to inquire about Criscito.
Guardiola Turns Focus On Espanyol vs Barcelona Derby After Champions League Draw
The Champions League draw event is over and the Catalans know their fate. They will have to face Arsenal in the Round of 16 of the tournament. But the time for the two-legged tie is far away as the meetings have been set to occur in February and March.
Now coach Pep Guardiola prefers not to be carried away by Champions League football yet. On Saturday, Barcelona will play away to Espanyol and the ex-Blaugrana captain is focused on this match. Pep Guardiola is aware of the potential of his opposite number, Mauricio Pochettino.
The Espanyol boss has inspired his team to enjoy a good campaign so far in La Liga and Barca’s Guardiola has avowed his admiration for him. It seems as if Pep Guardiola hasn’t forgotten how tough Espanyol could be on Saturday night.
Espanyol vs Barcelona: How Can Espanyol Keep Their 100% Home Record vs Barcelona?
A Look At Espanyol’s Home Record In La Liga
They’ve played 7 games in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat and they’ve won them all – conceding only twice, remarkably. So if Espanyol’s goal scoring record isn’t that strong as they’ve scored only 12 times, at least their defense on home soil is what has been rescuing the team since the start of this season.
Getafe, Osasuna and Hercules are 3 teams, to name a few, that endured defeat to Espanyol in Catalonia earlier in the campaign. Actually, Barcelona will be the first side among those ranked above the Blanquiblaus in La Liga’s table to play in the Estadi Cornellà-Prat this season. After losing heavily away to Real Madrid in September, it will be interesting to see how Espanyol will react against the Catalans.
Espanyol vs Barcelona Will Be Barca’s Toughest Battle So Far – Pedro Rodriguez
Barcelona have regained their inexorable power after surprisingly losing to Hercules earlier in the season. They trashed Sevilla and Real Madrid in La Liga and now they are about to affront Espanyol as the campaign continues. Despite the away factor, Barcelona are still very much favorites to record 3 more points which could see them create a 5-point lead at the top of the table before Real Madrid will host Sevilla on Sunday.
However, Pedro has advised his team mates to keep avoiding complacency as local rivals Espanyol appear as tough challengers. Barcelona’s official website quoted the young Spaniard as saying:
Real Madrid vs Espanyol Preview
When you look at Espanyol’s statistics in La Liga this season, you find great inconsistency. The very fact that they were thrashed 4-0 at El Madrigal against Villarreal on match-day two of the competition reveals the enormous difference between Espanyol’s home and away form. Things are remarkably incomparable at the Cornella – El Prat where they kicked off their La Liga season with a 3-1 victory over Getafe. Almeria also went down 1-0 at that venue against Espanyol last weekend. So out of three matches, Barcelona’s local rivals have picked up six points, scored four but conceded five.
Last season, when Espanyol could only finish eleventh in the standings, they lost as much as twelve matches out their nineteen away fixtures. There’s definitely much room for improvement, but will the Santiago Bernabeu offer space for progress?
Espanyol vs Barcelona – La Liga Match Preview
Espanyol, Barcelona – The last meeting
Barcelona hosted Espanyol at home on December 12 at the end of 2009. This is was the giant’s last league game of the year since they had to travel to the Middle East to contest for the FIFA Club World Cup honor.
Espanyol were determined to triumph in a game that marked the first professional Catalan derby of the season, but Barca showed resistance in their defense. Within the first 45 minutes, Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez somehow went down inside the danger box, and with the referee giving the favor to the home side, Pep Guardiola’s side were given a penalty.
Real Madrid vs Espanyol – La Liga Match Preview
Real Madrid – another three points?
Are the Spanish giants going to pick up another three points at home?
Well, a Madrid fan will scream, ‘they better!’
Like it happened last Sunday, Real Madrid might enter this weekend’s fixture eight points behind Barcelona.
The gap between the two teams is of five points currently, but the Catalans could widen it even more if they beat Getafe earlier.
Prospect: not defeating Espanyol might let Los Blancos concede the end of their La Liga title hunt.
Fact: not defeating Espanyol will let Los Blancos end their 100% record at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga this season.
FC Barcelona vs Espanyol – La Liga Match Preview
FC Barcelona to go in the clash without Lionel Messi
Barcelona currently have a 5-point lead at the top of the La Liga table with an additional game, but things could go less smoothly for them as a reason of their match this Saturday at the Camp Nou.
Fortunately for them, archrivals Real Madrid also have a strong challenge ahead of them against Valencia this weekend, and the Blaugrana can only wish the worst for their league contenders; should they take advantage of the Barcelona vs Espanyol game.
Espanyol v Real Madrid La Liga Match Preview
In today’s match preview, we look ahead to both team’s chances and single out some important factors.
Real Madrid’s all-star team expected to march on
Two weeks ago, Los Blancos had to strive to clinch all three points. Despite profiting from the home...