Real look to build on Barcelona´s absence

December 19, 2009

Real Madrid aim to capitalise on Barcelona’s World Club Cup distractions by closing the gap at the top of La Liga on Saturday with victory over relegation-haunted Zaragoza.

A victory for Real would put them two points behind Barcelona, who are in Abu Dhabi for the World Club final against Estudiantes of Argentina, with the same number of games played.

Real have responded well since their defeat in the ‘Clasico’, winning their last three matches and can count on the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, missing from the last game against Valencia through suspension.

The main concern for Real coach Manuel Pellegrini is in defence with Pepe ruled out for six months with a cruciate knee ligament injury while Raul Albiol is also a doubt with a knock.

Marcelo is tipped to move from midfield to defence for the game.

“I want to always play for Real Madrid, be it as a left back, a midfielder or a striker. It will be fine with me to play as a left back against Zaragoza. That’s my true position,” he said.

Saturday’s match will be a baptism of fire for Zaragoza caretaker-coach Jose Gay after replacing Marcelino Garcia who was fired after the defeat to Athletic Bilbao.

He will have his work cut out in the Bernabeu Stadium with his side having already leaked 29 goals, the most in the Spanish top flight.

“I hope to transmit to the team the enthusiasm that I had when I arrived,” said Gay.

“Of course we can win this match. Obviously it is not going to be easy but if we play well then we can get the three points.”

Valencia, 11 points behind Barcelona, face another stern challenge against a rejuvenated Deportivo La Coruna.

The battle at the top of table is fierce and Sevilla took advantage of Valencia’s defeat last week to move into third place.

They take on Getafe but star striker Frederic Kanoute feels that Sevilla, nine points behind Barcelona, are not at the level of the top two sides.

“We are step below Barca and Madrid on the ladder but we will try with what resources we have to compete with them and although it is not easy we are not far behind,” said Kanoute.

Mallorca are proving one of the surprise candidates for a place in the Champions League playing solid, rather than flamboyant football.

They are aiming for their second away win of the campaign against relegation-threatened Malaga after recording their first against Osasuna last weekend.

Athletic Bilbao and Sporting Gijon have also made good starts and they face Osasuna and Valladolid respectively looking to finish the year with a win to keep them in touch with the European places.

Villarreal, who continued their upward march in the table with victory over Atletico Madrid, play Racing Santander, while Atletico, who have endured a dismal last few months, travel to Tenerife.

The game between Espanyol and Almeria sees two sides desperate for a positive result.

Espanyol have lost their last five matches and are level on 13 points with Almeria, whose coach Hugo Sanchez is fighting to keep his job.

Saturday

Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna, Sevilla v Getafe, Real Madrid v Zaragoza

Sunday

Valladolid v Sporting Gijon, Villarreal v Racing Santander, Espanyol v Almeria, Malaga v Mallorca, Tenerife v Atletico Madrid, Deportivo La Coruna v Valencia

BARCELONA (AFP)

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Forget Man Utd, concentrate on Atletico: Ancelotti

November 3, 2009

Carlo Ancelotti promised his Chelsea side would focus entirely on trying to qualify for the Champions League knockout phase with a Group D win over Atletico Madrid Tuesday despite a clash with Manchester United on the horizon.

Chelsea lead Manchester United by two points at the top of the English Premier League ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash at Stamford Bridge but Ancelotti insists that for now the priority is Europe.

Chelsea have a perfect record having won all three of their Champions League matches without conceding a goal and victory over Atletico would book their place in the next round.

“Usually all the people think about the game against Manchester United but we have another important game (against Atletico Madrid) during the week and we want to prepare well,” said Ancelotti.

“It is very easy to prepare for Manchester United because it is a very important match but we need to maintain concentration in the Champions League at this moment.”

Chelsea crushed Bolton Wanderers 4-0 ahead of their trip to the Vicente Calderon where they will face an Atletico side that have failed to win in this season’s Champions League and have not even scored a goal.

Atletico lie third from bottom of their domestic league with one win from nine and know that they have to beat Chelsea, who thrashed them 4-0 at Stamford Bridge, to have any chance of sneaking into the knockout phase for the second successive season.

New coach Quique Sanchez Flores started with a 1-0 loss at Athletic Bilbao and now has a real baptism of fire against Chelsea and then a derby against Real Madrid.

“They are two tough games (against Chelsea and Real Madrid) coming up and everything looks bleak at the moment,” admitted Flores. “We just need a win to get up and running and then there will be light at the end of the tunnel.”

Flores knows all about Chelsea having faced them in the 2007 Champions League quarter-final when he was in charge of Valencia with Jose Mourinho?s Chelsea triumphing 3-2 on aggregate thanks to a dramatic Michael Essien winner.

Atletico?s main problem is their leaky defence which is the worst in the Spanish top-flight, shipping 19 goals in nine games.

“We need to defend as a whole team not just four or five players,” said Czech defender Tomasz Ujfalusi.

Ominously for Atletico Chelsea’s lethal strike force of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are on top of their game wreaking havoc at home and abroad with England international Frank Lampard singing their praises.

“Nico (Anelka) has been fantastic all season. Along with Didier they are a great partnership,” said Lampard. “He (Anelka) has tremendous pace and balance, particularly when he runs at defenders.

“Didier (Drogba) is neck and neck with Fernando Torres in the goals chart, but for me he is the best in the world because of his all-round game.”

Atletico’s Argentine forward Sergio “Kun” Aguero was linked with Chelsea in the past and has a chance to measure himself against the likes of Drogba and Anelka.

“We want rivals to say: man, it’s difficult to play against Atletico Madrid,” said Aguero.

As it stands that is far from the case with Atletico looking a soft touch while Chelsea are looking the part under Ancelotti.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: Argentine, athletic bilbao, atletico madrid, baptism of fire, Bilbao, bolton wanderers, carlo ancelotti, champions league, CHELSEA, clash, concentration, crunch, England, English Premier League, Fernando Torres, frank lampard, horizon, Jose, jose mourinho, knockout, light at the end of the tunnel, MADRID, manchester united, match, Michael Essien, Nico, Nicolas Anelka, premier league, Quique Sanchez, quique sanchez flores, Real, real madrid, Sergio, stamford bridge, Valencia, Vicente Calderon

Newcastle debut offers Nolan fresh start

February 1, 2009

NEWCASTLE, England (AFP) – Kevin Nolan, Newcastle’s four-million-pound recruit from Bolton, goes straight into the side to face Sunderland in the northeast derby on Sunday.

With both teams struggling to pull away from the relegation zone, the 26-year-old is bracing himself for a baptism of fire at St James’ Park after deciding to sever his ties with Bolton, where he had been since he was 17.

"It’s amazing how much hype I have heard since I heard about the move," the midfielder said. "I didn’t even know they were playing Sunderland this weekend until I was on my way up here on Thursday night.

"It’s a massive game to come into and hopefully one in which we can get the win and start getting away from that relegation zone."

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear moved to snap up Nolan after losing Joey Barton for over two months with a broken metatarsal and will be hoping that the Magpies reap the benefit of the attacking midfielder’s desire to re-establish his reputation as one of the most effective players of his type in the country.

Nolan admitted that the time had been right to leave Bolton for a fresh challenge.

"Everyone saw me as ‘Mr Bolton’, if you like, and it is about going to that next level and showing people what I am all about," he said. "Hopefully, I can do that, and I thank Newcastle for giving me that opportunity.

"Just walking into the dining room there and seeing how many players were there and what a talented squad we have got, it’s just unbelievable.

"It is hopefully going to raise my level of performance and raise my game, and it’s down to me now to get my head down and work hard to get into this Newcastle team as quickly as possible."

Kinnear added: "We are a very young side and when we lose experienced players, at the moment we have only got young players to go in and take their places.

"I needed to get somebody in who has seen it and done it and somebody who probably can nick us a goal when we need it.

"Kevin has had something like 350-plus games for Bolton and scored 50 or 60 goals and, hopefully, he will bring that sort of form to us.

"He is a decent character. We have got a quiet dressing room, so hopefully he will liven it up as well."

Kinnear will be without Michael Owen for at least six weeks as a result of an ankle injury he suffered in midweek while goalkeeper Shay Given, who looks set for a move to Manchester City, is out with a knee problem.

Obafemi Martins, who is recovering from a hernia operation, and Mark Viduka (Achilles) are both close to returning, which will greatly increase Newcastle’s firepower but this match comes too soon for both the strikers.

In their absence, local boy Andy Carroll will again lead the Newcastle attack.

Sunderland make the short trip to Newcastle looking to complete their first double over their biggest rivals since the 1966-67 season, and claim revenge for the 2-0 defeat they suffered in the corresponding fixture last season.

Michael Owen’s double made the difference that afternoon and Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones admitted he and his team-mates were keen to make amends.

"Last year, it didn’t happen for us. You don’t want to go to your biggest rivals and lose by that margin, but that’s football, it happens. Hopefully this year, we can put it right."

Written by: AFP