Iniesta back for Barca
FC Barcelona's Copa del Rey Final against arch-rivals Real Madrid has dominated the sports headlines after the pair won their last 4 contests this week but midfielder Javier Mascherano has warned their focus must quickly return to La Liga.
Leaders Barca host misfiring Atletico Madrid on Saturday seeking a Spanish record 16th consecutive league win.
"Great teams like Atletico are most dangerous when they are wounded", the Argentine said.
"We must not under-estimate anyone because for sure they'll want to put on a good show against us."
Barca are likely to have midfielder Andres Iniesta back after the Spanish international shook off a shoulder strain, but Carles Puyol and Jeffren are still injured.
Atletico, who have conceded 14 goals on their last 3 league trips to Barcelona, will be without suspended defender Luis Perea. They have lost their last 3 matches without scoring.
Barcelona bate toate recordurile!
Barcelona a doborât încă un record în meciul cu Atletico Madrid. Catalanii au obţinut cea de-a 16-a victorie consecutivă în Primera Division, depăşind recordul deţinut de Realul lui Di Stefano din anul 1961, 15 victorii consecutive.
Barcelona a spulberat pe Atletico Madrid cu 3-0, prin golurile marcate de argentinianul Lionel Messi în minutele 17, 28 şi 79. Echipa lui Pep Guardiola are acum 10 puncte în faţa celor de la Real, care vor juca astăzi cu Real Sociedad. Cu aceste goluri, Messi a ajuns la 24 de goluri în acest sezon din Primera, depăşindu-l pe Cristiano Ronaldo, care a marcat 22 de goluri până acum.
PRIMERA DIVISION - ETAPA 23
Sporting Gijon 1 - 1 FC Barcelona
pique ridiculizat
Barca depleted for Mallorca clash
Leaders FC Barcelona make the short hop across the Mediterranean to take on Balearic Islands club Real Mallorca on Saturday with the spine of their team sidelined by injury.
Goalkeeper Victor Valdes, captain and central defender Carles Puyol and playmaker Xavi are all unavailable for the match against one of only 3 teams to take points off them this season.
Xavi, who picked up a minor muscle tear in last weekend's 2-1 win at home to Athletic Bilbao, played down the situation, saying they were unlikely to hurt the club's bid for a third successive Spanish league title.
As well as the injured trio, Barca will also be without one of their main creative outlets on Saturday.
Right back Daniel Alves, who has an incredible 14 assists this season in all competitions, is suspended.
However, their prolific attacking trio of World Player of the Year Lionel Messi and Spain pair David Villa and Pedro, who have 77 goals between them in all competitions, is intact.
"Keita the key"
Pep Guardiola singled out Seydou Keita as the man who made the difference for a depleted Barca in their win over Mallorca.
Goals from Lionel Messi, David Villa and Pedro secured the victory for the visitors to Iberostar Stadium on Saturday.
But Mali international Keita - who has been forced to contend with a place on the bench for much of the season - was the man to draw special praise from Barca coach Guardiola.
"Today we have won the game thanks to Keita", Guardiola said.
"He is a strong midfielder and we need him a lot. I'm happy for him."
Xavi fit to face Valencia
FC Barcelona midfielder Xavi has been passed fit for his side's trip to Mestalla on Wednesday.
The Spain star has been suffering from a calf problem but trained fully with the squad on Tuesday, as did Jeffren following his own recent injury problems.
Carles Puyol and Victor Valdes continued to train separately from the squad, meaning reserve 'keeper Ruben Mino will supplement the travelling party.
Back problems have also called into doubt coach Pep Guardiola's ability to travel with the team, with his assistant Tito Vilanova handling pre-match media duties and on stand-by to take charge of the team.
Puyol out of Arsenal game
FC Barcelona captain Carles Puyol will not play against Arsenal in Champions League on Tuesday, the club have confirmed.
The Spanish international had shown signs of progress and was expected to feature against the Gunners, but despite training on Sunday morning, he is still suffering from problems to his knee.
A statement on the club's official website reads: "Carles Puyol will not be available for the Champions League match against Arsenal on Tuesday".
"The captain has been feeling problems in relation to his previous injury and so he will not be able to play in Champions League."
Meanwhile, both Victor Valdes and Adriano trained in the gym, aside from the rest of the squad.
Barca to open Abidal new deal talks
Barca have confirmed they are looking to extend Eric Abidal's deal at Camp Nou with his current agreement due to expire in June 2012.
The French defender has 18 months remaining on his current deal.
But Barca vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu confirmed the club are set to open talks with the 31-year-old, who recently admitted that he wanted a new deal.
"We will surely offer him a contract beyond 2013", he told ONA FM.
"He has made a change this year, a good player has become an excellent one."
French boss Laurent Blanc seemingly agrees with Bartomeu's appraisal of Abidal's progress.
"On pure defensive level, he has always been one of the best French defenders. But he has greatly improved", he told France Football.
"What he achieved against Arsenal was exceptional."
Dani Alves keen to stay
Manchester City target Dani Alves is determined to sign a new contract at Primera Division giants FC Barcelona.
Alves has been unable to agree a new deal with the Catalan club and admits he is frustrated by Barca's stance during recent negotiations.
"I don't feel the club have bent over backwards to renew my contract - it's a feeling I have", he told local newspaper Sport.
"I just want an agreement to be reached now, or within a few days."
"I don't like the fact there have been so many rumours - I'm as committed to this project as anyone in the squad."
Alves has been a key part of Barca's success under Pep Guardiola, adding a new dimension to the club's attacking play with his dangerous forays down the right flank.
Widely considered to be the best in the world in his position, Alves knows he would be expensive to replace and admits he wants parity with the club's highest earners.
"I won't be a hypocrite - if the club want to replace me it could cost them dear", he said.
"What Dani wants is for the club to value him depending on his importance and influence within the squad."
"If they do that, I'll be delighted and if not, thanks for these years at the club."
Indeed, Alves has won 8 major trophies at Barca, having previously won 5 titles in a highly successful spell at FC Sevilla.
inca 3 puncte pt un nou titlu
Xavi to miss Villarreal game
FC Barcelona playmaker Xavi will miss the La Liga leaders' game at 4th place Villarreal next month after earning a fifth yellow card in Saturday's 2-1 win at home to Getafe.
The Spain international, who is a key component of Barca's possession-based playing style, was cautioned for kicking the ball away late in the game at Camp Nou.
"He'll have a rest for the Villarreal match and have a clean slate for the next games", coach Pep Guardiola said.
"They know how many cards they have", he added.
"I want them to forget it and play their natural game."
Barca have 78 points from 29 matches, 5 ahead of Real Madrid. Villarreal, who play at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, have 51 points, 3 behind third place Valencia.
Abidal recovering well
FC Barcelona defender Eric Abidal is recovering well after surgery on a liver tumour, coach Pep Guardiola said.
"He is in good spirits, his family too", Guardiola said of the French international after Barca's 2-1 home win over Getafe.
"We hope that in the next 15 days he'll be ready for us to visit him and he can come and see us at the training ground."
Abidal joined Barca from Olympique Lyon in 2007 and has also played for Lille and AS Monaco.
He has made 52 appearances for France, including the 2006 World Cup Final against Italy when he netted a penalty in the shootout that the Italians won 5-3.
Dani Alves to sign new Barca deal
FC Barcelona full-back Dani Alves agreed to extend his deal with the Spanish league leaders until 2015, dashing the hopes of suitors across Europe.
"FC Barcelona have announced that they have reached an agreement with Dani Alves to extend his contract with the club for 3 more seasons until June 2015", said a statement the Barca website.
The pacy 27-year-old Brazilian, who played at last year's World Cup in South Africa and is one of the most popular players with fans of the Catalan club, was linked in the media with a move to Manchester City.
Many of Barca's attacks on goal rely on Alves's high-energy playing style and dashing runs down the right flank and he has forged a highly effective partnership with Lionel Messi.
Alves, who Barca said would sign his new contract on Wednesday, has made 141 appearances since joining from FC Sevilla at the end of the 2007/2008 season, scoring 11 goals, including a brilliant strike against Getafe in La Liga at the weekend.
He has 12 assists in the league this season, as well as one in Champions League and 2 in Copa del Rey.
Last edited by beavis; 30-03-2011 at 16:25.
Messi injury worry for Barca
FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is doubtful for Saturday night's Primera Division game at Villarreal due to an adductor injury.
The 23-year-old was missing due to the problem as Costa Rica held Argentina to a 0-0 draw in a friendly.
Messi suffered the injury in training with his national team coach Sergio Batista elected not to risk the FIFA Ballon d'Or winner - much to the annoyance of the supporters, who had hoped to see the superstar in action.
Speaking before kick-off at the new Estadio Nacional, Argentinian Football Association president Julio Grondona said: "We just had a chat with the president of the Costa Rica Football Federation and the doctor, and Messi has a minor injury".
"The doctor has reviewed it and sees that it is not as it should be."
"Obviously, caution must be taken in these cases and, thinking about everything, we must be sure that the player is able to play - and he is not."
"He has a muscle strain and we do not even know if he will get to play Saturday."
Barca have already confirmed that Bojan Krkic is also a doubt for the trip to El Madrigal after straining his ankle while playing for Spain U21 on Monday.
"My Barca reign is ending"
FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has dropped a heavy hint that he will leave the club when his contract expires in summer 2012.
Guardiola, who took over the reins of his boyhood club in summer 2008, prefers short-term deals and signed a one-year contract extension in February to keep him at Camp Nou until the end of next season.
The 40-year-old told Italian television channel Rai Sport: "I think my time is ending here in Barcelona".
"I'm fine here, but when you're at a club like this you cannot stay for too long."
"Next year will be the 4th consecutive season as coach of Barca."
"Such a club must have a lot of courage to take a coach for so long, because the players get tired of coaches and vice-versa."
Asked if he might one day coach in Italy, the former Brescia and AS Roma midfielder added: "I'll come if I still want to coach. It takes enthusiasm and more to make such a decision".
Since taking over at Barca, Guardiola has already won 8 titles including an unprecedented Treble of Primera Division, Champions League and Copa del Rey in his first campaign.
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