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Levante vs Barcelona: I’m not resting players for Chelsea match – Pep Guardiola
Being four points behind leaders Real Madrid, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola believes his team’s situation in La Liga is delicate enough to take the Levante match as seriously as possible.
At this point, it is vital for the Catalans to extend their tally game by game, if they are to keep the pressure on Los Blancos. This simply means that they are compelled to make extra efforts in the remainder of their league campaign so as to stay in contention for La Liga title.But unfavourably, Barcelona are met with such a demanding task at a wrong moment in their season. In fact, between April 18 and April 24, Barca will be playing twice against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League semis and once against Real Madrid in La Liga’s last Clasico in the on-going term.
Surely, physical form and behaviour are two factors that will partly determine whether the Catalans will come out of their “tough 6 days” on a positive note. Under normal circumstances, it would have been fair enough for Pep Guardiola to rest some of his players against fifth place Levante.
Real Madrid vs Levante Preview
In the very last fixture of La Liga’s Matchday 22, Real Madrid and Levante will lock horns. The Spanish giants could be only 4 points above Barcelona by then.
Team News
Angel di Maria, despite being a doubt, is poised to find back his place in Real Madrid’s starting XI. The Argentine is expected to partner with Mesut Özil and Cristiano Ronaldo in the 3-man line that will play behind the lone striker. With Khedira not fully fit, Esteban Granero might join Xabi Alonso in midfield. Khedira and Granero could share the playing time through substitution.
For Levante, Navas, Juanlu and Barkero are most definitely out through injury. Juanfran’s presence isn’t confirmed as Koné might have to lead his team’s attack. Xavi Torres is suspended and won’t play but winger Valdo should be available after recovering from a long term injury.
Barcelona vs Levante Preview
Barcelona have to close the gap on Real Madrid, but they face a tough task. Levante come to the Camp Nou with good reasons to spoil the Catalans’ plans.
Barcelona occupy the second position with 31 points, but they have played a game more than leaders Real Madrid. In midweek, they thrashed Rayo Vallecano 4-0, but they still sit three points behind their arch-rivals.They have a big game ahead of them, as they face Real Madrid in El Clasico on December 10. But Coach Pep Guardiola prefers to focus on his match against Levante. His club’s official website quoted him saying:
“The most important match is always the next one, against Levante.
“When you are behind, you must have the ambition of trying to catch the leader. It's normal.”
Levante vs Real Madrid Report
On a miserable night for Madridistas, Real Madrid got shocked at the Ciudade de Valencia by home team Levante. A solitary goal by Arouna Koné proved to be the difference.
Kaka was offered a starting XI place whereas Cristiano Ronaldo started from the bench. In reply to the controversial “I’m handsome, rich and talented” comment he made recently, the Portuguese was greeted by the home crowd with a banner reading, “We're ugly, poor and not very good!” Unfortunately for Cristiano Ronaldo, Levante supporters indeed got the last laugh.In the early stages of the game, Real Madrid looked aggressive in attack. They even thought they had scored after 9 minutes before the referee saved Levante by ruling the goal out for offside. Benzema came very close to breaking the deadlock midway through the first half as Kaka and Coentrao looked lively.
Levante vs Real Madrid Preview
Can anyone see Real Madrid winning against Levante at the Ciudad de Valencia to record their third consecutive victory in La Liga?
Barcelona’s emphatic victory over Osasuna shows that Real Madrid can expect another tiring hunt throughout the season for La Liga title. The ‘Special One’ is already up for harder times to come as he explained on Saturday:“It's not possible to take all points in easy league championships, and even less in hard championships like ours. We will drop points. It is one thing to drop points because your opponent played very well and another because you played badly. You have to feel disappointed in the latter scenario.”
Predicting a shocking defeat for Los Blancos on Sunday may come across too daring. However, the possibilities of witnessing an all-square match don’t seem totally closed and Jose Mourinho knows it.
Mourinho Anticipates Cup Glory Failure Again For Real Madrid This Year
Jose Mourinho has reminded Real Madrid fans that success doesn’t come overnight. The Special One has set his target on developing his team through time.
A few weeks ago, rumours suggested that Jose Mourinho may quit Real Madrid in the summer following his reported sour relationship with Jorge Valdano. However, the Special One has claimed that even the failure of clinching silverware this season won’t see him gone from the Santiago Bernabeu. Jose Mourinho has reiterated his ambition to offer success to Real Madrid again and he views next term as a better opportunity to do so. Mourinho recently spoke to Marca, only to create assumptions over his belief in cup glory with Los Blancos this year.
“To finish the season without any titles would be a painful blow – especially for the fans, who are accustomed to great victories. But we are always adapting to the circumstances and fact, he declared.
Levante vs Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo Out, Real Madrid Still Vow To Be Serious
No Cristiano Ronaldo tonight for the Levante vs Real Madrid Copa del Rey match. The superstar winger has been rested by Jose Mourinho alongside a few other big names.
A fortnight ago, Cristiano Ronaldo scored thrice as Real Madrid destroyed Levante 8-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Portuguese’s feat matched Karim Benzema’s achievement in that encounter as Mesut Özil and Pedro Leon got the remaining goals.On Thursday night, only Benzema and Pedro Leon among the first leg’s four different goal scorers will feature in the Levante vs Real Madrid game. Knowing that Los Blancos have a crucial meeting against Villarreal in La Liga this weekend, Jose Mourinho rather opted to leave out some of his top guns such as Cristiano Ronaldo who is said to be suffering from a light flu anyway.
Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuain To Undergo Surgery In The USA On Tuesday
Real Madrid’s injured striker Gonzalo Higuain is set to undergo surgery in the USA. The Argentine forward could miss two to three months of action following his upcoming operation.
At first, Gonzalo Higuain’s back injury was reported to be severe enough to end the player’s season. But other info from Spain emerging on Wednesday claimed that Real Madrid's declaration was an exaggeration of the case as the goal poacher might miss “only” 8 weeks of action.Finally, Real Madrid’s official website reported on Thursday that Higuain’s back operation will take place on Tuesday next week at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. The man behind the knife will be Richard G. Fessler, MD – an internationally well-known professor of neurological surgery.
Barcelona vs Levante: No Levante Gaffe To Kick-Start 2011 – Barca’s Guardiola
Winter holidays are over in La Liga and league leaders Barcelona have a tricky task at home to struggling side Levante. Pep Guardiola wants his team to kick-start 2011 on a high by avoiding complacency.
“2010 was a great year. We hope that this one will be great as well and that the people will feel happy,” the Barcelona boss told reporters ahead of his team’s first encounter in 2011.The defending La Liga champions could open a five-point lead at the top of the standings above closest rivals Real Madrid. On paper, the Catalans are largely the favourites to come on top in the Barcelona vs Levante match. However, Coach Guardiola has reminded his squad not to lean on such analysis.
“After holidays, there is always a risk. I can remember how it was in previous years against Mallorca and Villarreal.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid Set To Close 2010 With Levante Win
Real Madrid play Levante in the Copa del Rey’s Last 16 stage to close the year 2010. Los Blancos want the result to be a fantastic one.
Winning the first leg of this tie with a convincing result will offer Real Madrid some well-deserved piece of mind going into the winter break. Apart from their thumping 5-0 defeat away to Barcelona in La Liga, the Spanish giants have not lost a match this season. Now assistant coach Aitor Karanka is looking forward to Wednesday night’s Real Madrid vs Levante match.“We’ve got a lot of hope for the Copa del Rey,” Karanka said according to Real Madrid’s official website.
“Our aim is to play against Levante and to close out the tie if we can do so. But I don’t want to talk about officiating.
Cristiano Ready For Real Madrid vs Levante As Blancos Eye Copa Del Rey Success
Cristiano Ronaldo has finally been included in Jose Mourinho’s roster ahead of Real Madrid vs Levante. The Copa del Rey represents a lot to Los Blancos as this particular trophy has been missing from their cabinet since 1993.
It was reported earlier yesterday that Cristiano Ronaldo was set not to feature in tonight’s match due to fever. The Real Madrid superstar even had to quit training to be kept aside from the rest of his mates so as not to spread the disease in the camp.
However, Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has now included the player in his 20-man list. This explains that Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of appearing in each domestic match for Los Blancos this season won’t be broken - that is if he doesn't seat on the bench throughout the game.
Besides Ronaldo’s inclusion in the roster to face Levante, there is also Xabi Alonso and Marcelo’s return to the squad. The duo had to miss Real Madrid’s latest encounter (which was a La Liga fixture against Sevilla) through suspension. Carvalho, who was red-carded last weekend, has been named as well for tonight's match.
No Cristiano Ronaldo For Real Madrid vs Levante Copa Del Rey Match
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to miss his first domestic match for Los Blancos this season. The star winger has been ruled out of Wednesday’s Real Madrid vs Levante match in the Copa del Rey.
Reports indicate that Cristiano Ronaldo has contracted fever and thus needs time to recover. The player was involved in Real Madrid’s training session on Tuesday morning but he eventually had to be withdrawn after complaining of illness. The club’s doctors have opted to have Cristiano Ronaldo staying away from his Real Madrid team mates so as to prevent the entire squad from suffering from the spreading of the disease. The exclusion of Ronaldo means that Jose Mourinho will have to deal without the play maker.
But the Portuguese coach should have other key players available for tomorrow’s Copa del Rey fixture against Levante.