The Hindu : Sport / Football : Barcelona must regain its focus on Spanish League

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 01, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Football

Barcelona must regain its focus on Spanish League

MADRID: After a disappointing midweek Champions League result, Barcelona must regain its focus on the Spanish league with a crucial “clasico” derby match against main rival Real Madrid.

The Spanish leader has little time to ponder Tuesday’s 0-0 draw against Chelsea in the first leg of the semifinals, with Saturday’s match at the Santiago Bernabeu set to shape the domestic title race with only five games to play.

Madrid, the two-time defending champion, rallied for a victory at Sevilla for a 16th win in 18 games, and has trimmed Barcelona’s lead from 12 points to just four.

With Madrid surging and Barcelona also in a rut after a 2-2 draw at Valencia last weekend, Madrid’s interim president Vicente Boluda is already predicting another title.

That doesn’t sit well with the Barcelona players.

“I’m surprised that they’re saying they’ve got the league won, considering we have a four-point advantage,” Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez said.

Chelsea held Barcelona’s powerful offence, which has scored 94 goals in 33 league games, scoreless for the first time since an opening-day defeat at Numancia.

Although Barcelona dominated, the Catalans looked tired as the chase to snap a three-year trophyless streak takes its toll.

Barcelona has been playing midweek games nearly every week in 2009, while Madrid has had only the league to worry about after an early exit from both the domestic cup and Champions League competitions.

Barcelona, which will face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final next month, will be keen to make up for last season’s trip to the Bernabeu, when it had to applaud Madrid as it entered the field as newly crowned league champions. It then lost the match 4-1.

“Revenge isn’t a factor,” Lionel Messi said.

Marquez out

Barcelona will be without Mexico defender Rafael Marquez for the rest of season because of a left knee injury.

Madrid has a few more injury concerns, with midfielders Wesley Sneijder and Jose Maria “Guti” Gutierrez both missing, while Arjen Robben and Gabriel Heinze are doubts. Center back Pepe is serving a 10-match ban that won’t see him return before next season.

Former Madrid player Zinedine Zidane said that a Madrid victory in the “clasico” was “key” for any chance of winning its third straight league title.

Madrid midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart admitted there were some nerves inside the locker room, but expected his opponent to feel the same way.

“We’ve got a great chance of winning the league,” the Dutchman said. “Barcelona will start to feel a little more nervous” if Madrid wins.

In this weekend’s other 34th round of games, it’s: Villarreal vs. Sevilla; Numancia vs. Malaga; Mallorca vs. Getafe; Osasuna vs. Recreativo Huelva; Deportivo La Coruna vs. Valladolid; Racing Santander vs. Almeria; Sporting vs. Athletic Bilbao; Real Betis vs. Atletico Madrid; and Espanyol vs. Valencia. — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport