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Barcelona vs Real Madrid & 8 hot quotes that could put Messi & co on fire
Three-time footballer of the year Lionel Messi is being targeted in a way or another ahead of Wednesday’s huge Clasico a the Camp Nou. What effect will these pre-match quotes have on Messi and the rest of Barcelona’s invincible squad?
1) Karim Benzema to AS
According to Benzema, the mighty Catalans of Barcelona have a weakness. What is it?
“We have to be much more efficient when trying to score goals from set pieces because I think that is one of the parts of their game which is more fragile. In dog fights, they are not strong, we must seize the opportunity.”
Barcelona vs Real Madrid Preview
What the public must remember is that a 1-0 victory won’t be enough for Real Madrid to progress into the semifinals of the Spanish cup. The competition’s titleholders have to turn the tables around as they carry the wounds of a 2-1 deficit.Barcelona are favorites to finish off Real Madrid. The Camp Nou stadium is where they lifted the 2011 Spanish Supercopa trophy last summer. It is also where they recorded a historic and humiliating 5-0 triumph over Real Madrid en route to the 2010/11 Spanish La Liga title.
The Catalans virtually have one foot in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey. Many even think that Barca are already through to the next stage; they view the second leg on Wednesday night as nothing but a 90-minute period for Barcelona to make their semifinal qualification official.
Pepe-Messi controversy: Rooney slams “idiot” Pepe as incident rocks the media
It is natural for the Portguese defender to have issues concerning his discipline on the pitch. At the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, he was involved in an ugly incident which apparently went unseen by the match’s officials.
Pepe was captured stamping on Lionel Messi’s hand. The Real Madrid defender escaped punishment but his behavior evidently drew reaction from El Clasico spectators. Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere instantly posted the following message on his Twitter account:
“Poor from Pepe!”
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney also wrote:
“Pepe. What an idiot. Sometimes people wind u up.”
Real Madrid vs Barcelona Report
REAL MADRID AND BARCELONA'S TEAM LINEUPJose Mourinho stunned the public with a risky 4-3-3 lineup which had Altintop at right-back and Pepe in midfield. Interestingly, Mourinho responded to the fans’ desire of starting with the Benzema-Higuain duo. Carvalho made a surprise comeback in Real Madrid’s first XI.
Attacking-minded midfielders Kaka and Mesut Özil started El Clasico from the bench. Callejon received a call-up while Angel di Maria didn’t make the cut based on fitness worries. Pepe was supposed to lead Real Madrid’s planned approach from the midfield. Instead, the Portuguese defender eventually destroyed his team’s chances of winning as Barcelona carried the day yet again.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Players to watch and El Clasico comparisons
Yes, both Real Madrid and Barcelona have their strengths and weaknesses. Thus, when it comes to naming the true favourites, it is largely a matter of management.
Certainly, trying to determine who has the best players only raises issues of personal taste. It is not wrong however to assess both teams’ positives and weight their advantages along with their expectations. This puts into question the form and aim of each key player in El Clasico.
All 22 active players on the field after the referee’s opening whistle will surely be ready to put on a good show for a million reasons. But then, each player will be having his challenges; and one could identify these challenges as the results of both teams’ close standards - which eventually increases the excitement ahead of El Clasico in the Spanish capital.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Iniesta & Abidal Back, Madrid Without Pepe & Ramos
Barcelona Team News
The Blaugrana welcome back Andres Iniesta who missed out on the first leg of this UEFA Champions League semi-final tie due to injury. But the big info is that Eric Abidal is set to make his first appearance on Barcelona’s bench as Pep Guardiola confirmed during Monday’s press conference:
“We have a guy who’s had cancer and who is now back with us. Medically, he is perfectly okay. He has lost weight and he’s not ready to play a full match yet.
“However, when the fans will come along, they will see him on the bench and they’ll give him a great reception. We are all very happy about that.”
Copa Del Rey 2011 - Clasico Recap and Copa Preview from GolTV's Ray Hudson and Phil Schoen
El Clásico: April 16, 2011
1.) Were you surprised by the outcome of the Clásico? Why or why not?
RH: Given the implications of this first of 4 Clásicos, I wasn’t surprised at the final scoreline. Real Madrid simply had to play a more conservative game than they did in the corresponding fixture where they tried to beat Barca at their own game and failed miserably, while Barca seemed to be playing at a less frenetic place knowing that their league championship quest has the security of an 8 point lead.
A lot of people had predicted a draw or a one goal difference and the game played out that way, a very close, well-contested game with both sides weary of each others strengths and both coaches did a good job nullifying the others potency in front of goal.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid Clasico 2011: Is It OK If Real Madrid Kill Barca’s Style?
Defending is certainly an art but the average football fan will tell you that stylish football is about making accurate passes and attacking. Barcelona follow more the latter, and whereas some insist that their game is boring, others can’t see how soccer could be played better than the Catalans do.
“A result is not honourable if it’s not achieved through beauty”; this is apparently what many people think including the controversial Johan Cruyff. The Dutch legend has been the voice of many die-hard Barcelona supporters with these post-Clasico comments:
Liverpool Vs Sporting Braga: Reina Is The Best Goalkeeper In The World, says Dalglish
Liverpool will need to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit when they host Braga tonight and they will certainly need a clean sheet from Pepe Reina to boosts their chances. Nonetheless, Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has heaped praises on Reina by calling him "one of, if not the best goalkeeper"."In my opinion Pepe Reina is one of, if not the, best keeper in the world,'' Dalglish said.
"I know he doesn't get in his national side, but if it's my opinion you're asking for that would be my shout. He has been fantastic for this football club and is a great asset to us. That is reflected in that if Stevie (Gerrard) or Carra (Jamie Carragher) are not playing, he is our captain.''
Liverpool Not Losing Pepe Reina To Manchester United – Kenny Dalglish
Earlier this week, Pepe Reina made his intentions very clear as he spoke to Spanish radio station Onda – according to English news source The Sun. Responding to Manchester United’s issue with Van der Sar who is expected to hang up his gloves at Old Trafford, the Liverpool goalkeeper was quoted as saying:“Yes, well, Van der Sar will end his playing days in the summer so... of course, they [Manchester United] are looking. I can't do anything, and I can't say anything logically, as I have a contract with Liverpool.
“Of course, everyone likes to fight for titles and to be in a team that does that. We [Liverpool] always fought to be in the Champions League and tried to win the title.
Liverpool FC Close To Losing Pepe Reina To Manchester United
Liverpool have already lost Fernando Torres to Premier League archrivals Chelsea, but the Reds are not concerned by the striker’s departure, as new comers Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll have already popped up as promising players. Now, the radar of rivals Manchester United have been placed on goalie Pepe Reina, and this could be an unpleasant news for the Reds.Reina has been a regular starter for Liverpool since 2005, but surprisingly, he did not show as much loyalty as he was expected to, when he was asked about the transfer rumours currently surrounding him. According to The Sun, Reina told Spanish radio station Onda Cero: