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Real Madrid vs Levante Preview
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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.
Getafe vs Real Madrid Preview
Real Madrid have not kept a clean sheet since their 3-0 defeat of Sporting Gijon on December 3. However, the Spanish giants have reliable forwards as this records suggests: Madrid have netted 20 goals in their last 5 games in La Liga to hit an average of 4 goals per match. Their perfect record stretches to more than 450 minutes in La Liga. Impressive.
Meanwhile, Getafe can also be proud of their current form. In the first place, they are on a run of 6 matches without defeat. Their last loss in La Liga dates from December 11 when Sevilla triumphed 3-0. Since then, Getafe have grabbed decent results which include their recent 2-1 win away to Levante.
Why Barcelona should fear potential 2012 Copa del Rey finalists Valencia
One of the major problems at Barca presently is that Pep Guardiola is facing severe squad setbacks. As if it wasn’t enough to lose David Villa to a long-term injury, the manager will have to deal with the absence of Pedro Rodgriguez, Andreu Fontas, Ibrahim Affelay and key man Andres Iniesta. As Barcelona’s injury list grows, it looks like their chances of ending the year successfully on the domestic front are decreasing. For now, let’s not talk about the Catalans’ situation in La Liga where they've lost 13 points in 10 matches away from home. In the Copa del Rey, Barcelona could find immense comfort; that is, if Valencia don’t put an end to their hunt.
“We are not getting the balance of last year,” Dani Alves admitted following his side’s disappointing goalless draw away to Villarreal last weekend. One of the many questions is whether Barca can overcome the away ground factor and punish Valencia for their poor passing game.
Can Real Madrid win La Liga this season?
Barca’s away-day blues is no secret- they have dropped 13 points away from home. With each point they have dropped, they have found Madrid ahead of them bit by bit. Barca has dropped points in seven matches so far this season. Real Madrid has dropped points in just three matches.Jose Mourinho’s team has been outdoing other sides in style this season. With the exception of two blips at the beginning of the season, Madrid has won every game with the exception of the match against Barcelona. Madrid lost to Levante and drew with Real Sociedad in the other two games where they lost.
Real Madrid vs Real Zaragoza Report
Jose Mourinho offered Pepe yet another spot in Real Madrid’s starting XI. The Portuguese defender partnered with Carvalho and Hamit Altintop at the back whereas Granero and Xabi Alonso featured as defensive midfielders in the 4-2-3-1 formation. Kaka and Mesut Özil joined Cristiano Ronaldo in attack as Karim Benzema led the line as a lone striker.The first great chance of the match fell to Karim Benzema inside the 6th minute. Cristiano Ronaldo set up the Frenchman who headed the ball into the wrong direction from 4 yards. Despite having little ball possession, Real Zaragoza broke the deadlock at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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.
How will Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey exit to Barcelona shape La Liga’s title race?
This Copa del Rey quarterfinal fiasco has left Real Madrid with a lot of positives to take. The second leg of the tie, especially, has opened a way for Los Blancos to follow. Defender Alvaro Arbeloa couldn’t explain this better. He was quoted as stating by Real Madrid’s official website:
“We've managed to get rid of our psychological anxiety and fear to lose against Barcelona. It's hard to be strengthened after being eliminated, but we realize we can defeat them and we're looking forward to our next meeting.”
Indeed, it seems like Jose Mourinho and his men have found the key to unlock Barcelona’s secrets. You cannot look at the 2-2 draw in Camp Nou and talk about humiliation for Madrid.
Real Madrid vs Real Zaragoza Preview
Real Madrid usually put on a great attacking show when they come up against Real Zaragoza. In addition, they are unbeatable at the Santiago Bernabeu. Well, almost unbeatable; Barcelona forced them to a defeat on home soil back in December.The Spanish giants are poised to destroy Zaragoza on Saturday. Cristiano Ronaldo will be fired up to continue his proof case against his critics. With his goals against Athletic Bilbao last weekend, Cristiano Ronaldo matched his personal best and the record set by Barcelona’s Cesar (22 goals in 19 games).
Current top scorer Ronaldo (with 23 goals) will feature against Zaragoza as La Liga’s all-time top scorer in the first phase of the championship. The Portuguese superstar scored in both legs of El Clasico in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals. Unfortunately for him and for his team mates, these two goals weren’t enough to push Spanish cup titleholders Real Madrid into the semifinals.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid Report
A couple of glorious opportunities fell to Higuain but the Argentine failed to take them. Barcelona finally punished Pipita and team mates through late first-half goals from Pedro and Dani Alves. At the break, it seemed like Real Madrid had suddenly lost all hopes of reaching the Copa del Rey semifinals.However, their approach in the second period showed the brave side of Los Blancos. Kaka and Higuain went off for Callejon and Benzema before Cristiano Ronaldo pulled a goal back in the 68th minute. Substitute Benzema did what Higuain couldn’t do as he leveled the match at 2-2.
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.”
Where to watch Barcelona vs Real Madrid on TV - Copa del Rey - January 25, 2012
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The footballing world will again be treated to another high-octane play-off between Leo Messi's FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid.
The first of the two quarter-final legs took place in Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 where FC Barcelona...
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.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid – Copa del Rey quarterfinal second leg: 5 things to predict
The latest Clasico produced a Cristiano Ronaldo goal, a comeback from Barcelona, a rare match winner from Eric Abidal and surprisingly, no red card. There actually should have been at least one sending off following Pepe’s stomp on Lionel Messi’s hand. However, controversy is most often the rule of the game when Barcelona and Real Madrid clash.
What will happen at the Camp Nou on Wednesday night? Will Barcelona suffer an upset despite holding a vital 2-1 advantage ahead of the second leg? Will Real Madrid exit the Copa del Rey in the quarterfinals as most expect?
Kick-off time for Barcelona vs Real Madrid is on Wednesday, January 25 at 16:00 EST and 21:00 GMT. Live streaming and TV schedule info for El Clasico can be found on the match page.
Why El Clasico at the Camp Nou on Jan. 25 could end Mourinho’s Real Madrid career
Jose Mourinho’s career at Real Madrid is taking a rather uncomfortable twist. When the former Porto, Chelsea and Internazionale manager arrived in the Spanish capital, the majority of Madridistas hailed him as the one and only man capable of offering Los Blancos what they’ve been dying for since the past few years: stylish football and immense authority in Spain and in Europe through trophies in the cabinet. But as much as anyone can see, Real Madrid are still living in the shadow of bitter rivals Barcelona. In his first ever Clasico in charge, Jose Mourinho experienced a humiliating 5-0 defeat to eventual La Liga champions Barcelona. The Special One later claimed revenge as Cristiano Ronaldo’s sublime header in the Copa del Rey final ended Real Madrid’s title drought.
Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao Report
Fernando Llorente stunned the home crowd with a 13th minute volley which completed Bilbao’s counterattacking move. Munian nearly doubled the visitors lead six minutes later but Marcelo leveled the game for Real Madrid a few moments midway through the first half. Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo were involved in that goal with excellent one-twos. At the break, Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao could not be separated. The scoreboard showed 1-1… but not for long.
Los Blancos went in front quickly after restart. Kaka, who had a good game, earned Real Madrid a penalty kick which Cristiano Ronaldo converted without mistake. The ball flew in the top corner of the net, leaving Iraizoz helpless.
Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao Preview
Los Blancos will be playing with El Clasico on their minds. They have a mammoth task to complete at the Camp Nou following their 2-1 defeat to Barcelona at the Bernabeu in midweek. Chances are that Real Madrid will exit the Copa del Rey in the quarterfinals at the expense of the Blaugrana. Recently, Jose Mourinho described the Spanish Cup as a “third priority” this season. The focus is on La Liga title—something which has been missing from Real Madrid’s trophy cabinet since 2008.
It’s interesting to know what kind of team Jose Mourinho will feature against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. The coach’s squad choice will tell a lot about Real Madrid’s vision of the Copa del Rey now that they are half-way out.
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: Messi & Ronaldo’s impact, Mou’s respect & more in quotes
We bring you a preview of the pre-match preparations in quotes from the Catalans’ point of view. What do people think of Barcelona? What are they predicting concerning Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Psychologically, how do Pep Guardiola’s players regard the game?
1) Xavi – as quoted on Barcelona’s official website
The midfielder is naturally bold and hard to break in midfield. After experiencing so many unbelievable results against Real Madrid, Xavi’s desire to triumph still exists. The 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or nominee has promised to give Los Blancos a tough time in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey.
“We'll play with our trademark style and philosophy, exciting, spectacular and looking for a goal – the more goals you score away from home, the better!”
Real Madrid-Barcelona tie highlights ESPN’s Copa del Rey quarterfinals coverage
El Clasico coverage on ESPN Deportes will start with pre-game discussions via Futbol Center (at 2:00pm EST) and Fuera de Juego (at 3:00pm EST). Martin Ainstein will be teaming up with Jorge Ramos and Tato Noriega to cover the action live from the Santiago Bernabeu. Ainstein will work with Fernando Palomo and Mario Kempes during the second leg to be played at the Camp Nou.
Analysis, commentary in Spanish and on-site reporting will also be available to followers of ESPN Deportes Radio and ESPN3.
Where to watch El Clasico 2012: Real Madrid vs Barcelona, Copa del Rey 2011-12 Quarter-Finals
Revised - Tuesday January 17, 2012 @ 23:39PM.
Global eyes will once again be on the two spanish giants as Real Madrid and FC Barcelona clash once again in the Quarter-Finals of the 2011-12 Copa del Rey.
The first of the two quarter-final legs takes place in Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 4:00PM (EST). FC Barcelona will be looking to redeem themselves after losing this competition to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final last year. They will also be looking to make a bold statement about their title aspirations since they find themselves 5 points behind Los Blancos in the La Liga championship.
This match comes at a critical time when Real Madrid and Barca are underpeforming as was proven this weekend by unconvincing displays by both teams. Jose Mourinho was able to overturn his side's title threatening 1-0 deficit in Mallorca late in the game whereas Pep Guardiola's men fought hard to overcome a 2-2 score late in their game against Real Betis, which happened to be the only goals conceded at the Camp Nou in the current La Liga competition this season. The Cules were able to return to business as usual at the Camp Nou by winning 4-2 later on in the game.