Barca play ´a thousands times better´ than Real – Cruyff

November 27, 2009

Defending champions Barcelona play “a thousand times better” than Real Madrid, former Holland and Barcelona star Johan Cruyff said Thursday ahead of the sides much-anticipated weekend clash.

“This is not a revelation. The whole world is captivated by this way of playing, this quality, this technique,” the 62-year-old said.

But he said Barcelona had to “respect” Real, who are heading into Sunday’s “El Classico” with a one-point advantage over the Catalan side following their best league start in 17 years.

“They do not play well, but they are at the top and they have time to improve,” said Cruyff.

Despite being without injured star strikers Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic Barcelona defeated Inter Milan 2-0 on Tuesday in a crucial Champions League match.

Cruyff, a three-time European footballer of the year, started his career as a teenager at Ajax before going on to enjoy huge success with Barca, whom he coached to the 1992 European Cup.

Earlier this month he replaced Pere Gratacos as coach of the Catalonia regional team in Spain.

MADRID (AFP)

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Messi, Ibrahimovic in doubt for Barcelona-Real

November 26, 2009

Star strikers Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed Barcelona’s training session on Thursday and are in doubt for the club’s weekend clash at home against arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Messi, who injured his leg in a league match on Saturday, and Ibrahimovic, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury, “continued their process of recuperation”, the club said in a statement posted on their website.

Sunday’s match at the at the Camp Nou comes as Real have have a one-point advantage over the reigning champions following their best league start in 17 years.

Both strikers missed Barcelona’s crucial 2-0 Champions League defeat of Inter Milan on Tuesday because of their injuries.

“It was an important game and it has given us confidence and lifted morale because we were at our best. We could have gone out of the Champions League,” Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said Thursday after the training session.

“We have great respect for Madrid. They are league leaders and that means something. They have won nearly all their games and are a difficult side. I think (the odds of) our game with them is 50-50,” he added.

Real defeated Racing Santander 1-0 on Saturday to wrestle top spot from unbeaten Barca – who drew 1-1 at Athletic Bilbao – and their haul of 28 points from a possible 33 represents their best start since the 1991-92 season.

MADRID (AFP)