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Nairaland Forum / Entertainment / Sports / European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) / La Liga; Athletico Madrid Vs Fcbarcelona On 11th January,@8pm (2945 Views)
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La Liga; Athletico Madrid Vs Fcbarcelona On 11th January,@8pm by philfearon(m): 8:25am On Jan 10, 2014 |
La Liga's top two meet in an eagerly anticipated match at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday as Atletico Madrid host champions Barcelona. Gerardo Martino's Barca are top of the table on goal difference alone, and their opponents this weekend have displayed marginally better recent form in the league. Atletico have taken maximum points from their last five games, keeping four clean sheets and seeing striker Diego Costa score six goals in the process. Barca suffered their only league defeat of the season to date when losing 1-0 to Athletic Bilbao at the start of December, but have bounced back by taking nine points from nine since then and are boosted by Lionel Messi's return from a hamstring injury. Messi scored twice after coming on as a second-half substitute in a 4-0 Copa del Rey win over Getafe on Wednesday, and will be looked upon to play a key role against Atletico. Xavi, who was rested for the Getafe fixture, was delighted to see Messi back on the field ahead of a game he feels could prove crucial in deciding the destination of this year's title. "It was an impressive return and (Messi) has clearly come back hungry and motivated," Xavi told Barcelona's official website. "The game against Atletico is vital for the outcome of the league - it might not turn out to be definitive, but a win would lay down a marker." In the last 20 years, Atletico and Barca have met as the sides ranked first and second in the table on only three occasions, with the men from Spain's capital winning two of those meetings. Barca claimed the Supercopa de Espana when the teams last faced off, triumphing on away goals following a 0-0 draw in the second leg at Camp Nou. Prior to the first leg of that tie in Madrid, which finished 1-1, the Catalan giants had won their last six games against Atletico. In addition to welcoming back Messi, Barca are also expected to have Neymar available following a bout of gastroenteritis, while another forward, Pedro, is in fine form, scoring five goals in his last four appearances. Atletico midfielder Koke has warned his team- mates not just to focus on FIFA Ballon d'Or candidate Messi. "If he plays we have to be careful because he is the best in the world but Barcelona have great footballers and we must be aware of them all," said the midfielder, who scored the winner in Atletico's 1-0 victory at Malaga last weekend. "It will be a very important game because the top two teams in the league play, (but) it is just another game and the whole second half of the season is to come. "We know that to date it is the most important game." Defender Diego Godin is a doubt for Atletico after picking up a thigh problem against Valencia in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday, while Mario Suarez (knee) is also likely to miss out...... source:soccerway.com 1 Like |
Re: La Liga; Athletico Madrid Vs Fcbarcelona On 11th January,@8pm by philfearon(m): 8:43am On Jan 10, 2014 |
Barca to test Atletico's credentials Photo Source: AFP Atletico Madrid's impressive Spanish league campaign gets the ultimate test this weekend against co-leaders Barcelona who have Lionel Messi back from injury. Messi marked his return from a two-month layoff with a pair of goals in Barcelona's 4-0 Copa del Rey victory over Getafe on Wednesday. Atletico, meanwhile, drew 1-1 at Valencia in the midweek domestic cup competition that has been a distraction with Saturday's league clash looming. Barcelona and Atletico both have 49 points from 18 games, while Real Madrid sit third with 44 points. Atletico haven't flown so high at this point of the season since winning the championship in 1996. "Winning on Saturday will be insignificant if we don't meet our objectives over the season," Atletico midfielder Koke said. "We've got the entire second half of the season to go even though we all realise that up until now this is the most important game of the season." Atletico defender Juanfran Torres is available after having a booking revoked, avoiding a ban. For Barca, Messi seems to be back to his normal self after a torn left hamstring, scoring one of Wednesday's goals from a typical run through the defence. "What I wanted was to get back on the field and to play. I was very motivated to return," Messi said. Neymar was absent because of a stomach bug but the Brazil striker should return against Atletico. Goalkeeper Victor Valdes could also be back. With all the attention on Atletico-Barcelona this weekend, Real Madrid, unbeaten in 13 games, are hopeful of making up ground at Espanyol on Sunday. Angel di Maria is available after Madrid opened and closed a disciplinary case against the talented Argentina forward over an awkward on-field gesture. Di Maria quickly grabbed his crotch as he came off for Gareth Bale in last weekend's league victory over Celta Vigo, which led to accusations that he had directed a rude gesture toward Madrid's fans or coach Carlo Ancelotti. Di Maria had the support of Ancelotti over the incident, which the player said was blown out of proportion. "It was just a natural gesture that any man would make when he's running. It wasn't directed at the fans or the coach like is being said," Di Maria said in a video posted on Real's website. 1 Like |
Re: La Liga; Athletico Madrid Vs Fcbarcelona On 11th January,@8pm by honeric01(m): 8:46pm On Jan 10, 2014 |
Oga this your preview no dey attractive at all o. This is the most entertaining weekend fixture in Europe and probably the world, yet this is all you could make of it? do something na. pictures, stats, histories na. |
Re: La Liga; Athletico Madrid Vs Fcbarcelona On 11th January,@8pm by philfearon(m): 10:34pm On Jan 10, 2014 |
honeric01: Oga this your preview no dey attractive at all o.Oga m,u fit put hand for the matter help me Na. |
Re: La Liga; Athletico Madrid Vs Fcbarcelona On 11th January,@8pm by philfearon(m): 10:43pm On Jan 10, 2014 |
Tactical Preview…… .. It is more or less clear how the game will be set-up. Atletico will sit back and Barcelona will have a large portion of the ball. The team selections will be interesting. With Lionel Messi back he figures to start the game. Against Real Madrid, Gerardo Martino moved Messi to the right, from his usual ‘9’ position, to give him a bit more space. Will Tata do the same tomorrow? Here are some tactical points of interest ahead of tomorrow’s game. ... Diego Costa drifting to the right, Barcelona’s left Just as Messi, Diego Costa will drift. It was a feature of the sides’ Spanish Super Cup first leg encounter at the beginning of the season. Admittedly, this might be less likely now with Costa Atletico’s top scorer and undisputed central attacking figure. But, in the modern game good strikers always look for spaces and pockets where they can do most damage. So, just as in the Super Cup, Diego Costa will pull out to the right-wing and use his height and his strength to get the better of the left- back, likely Jordi Alba. He terrorised Alba in that Super Cup game and Atletico will play long balls for Costa to chest down or knockdown to supporting teammates. It is a get-out ball for Atletico and they will use it to set-up play in Barcelona’s half, by- passing the midfield. Costa is a huge factor in this game, not only with his goals and ability to create something from nothing, but his physicality is a big advantage for Atletico, offensively and defensively.… .. Villa running into the channels, into Pique Costa’s strike partner, David Villa, will also be of interest. He’s having a brilliant season since moving to the Vicente Calderon from the Camp Nou. In the Clásico against Real Madrid earlier this season Martino switched Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano’s usual sides, putting the Argentine on the right of Barcelona’s central defensive pairing in order to better deal with Cristiano Ronaldo’s pace. However, this luxury isn’t afforded with Atletico playing two strikers, and with Mascherano having dealt so well with Costa previously. So, as on a few occasions in the aforementioned Super Cup game, Villa will look to make runs into the channels behind Pique (the slower of the centrebacks) for the likes of Koke and Arda Turan to find. Lionel Messi Last time the teams met at the Calderon, Atletico sat extremely deep with two compact banks, even though they were at home. This forced Messi to go deeper and deeper to get the ball where he was rather mercilessly hounded out of possession. Admittedly, Messi wasn’t yet fully fit (he was withdrawn at halftime), and, yes, a healthy Messi can do anything. But, he prefers to get the ball higher up the pitch where he can eliminate defenders one-on-one or play quick one-twos. He is more dangerous in the final third. It will be interesting to see how this particular one pans out. Barcelona shots from range Barcelona will have to take shots from range in order to unsettle Atletico’s defence, which is the most organised, disciplined unit in La Liga, if not Europe. They won’t commit out of their structure. The only way Barça can entice Atleti’s central defenders forward is by taking an occasional long-range strike at goal, which may open small spaces for the nifty passes Barça like to play in and around the penalty box. However, Barcelona generally don’t take long- range shots at goal and didn’t in the Super Cup first leg, allowing Atletico’s defence to sit pretty comfortable, despite Barcelona’s possession..... |
Re: La Liga; Athletico Madrid Vs Fcbarcelona On 11th January,@8pm by philfearon(m): 10:56pm On Jan 10, 2014 |
While El Clasicos still garner the headlines and worldwide attention, it is Barcelona’s clashes with Madrid’s other major club that could be the defining matches of this Primera Division season. With 18 matches of the campaign gone, Atletico Madrid have an identical record to Barcelona at the top of La Liga, with 16 wins and just one defeat. But that is far from the only reason why the meeting between the two sides at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday promises to be such an intriguing occasion. Such has been the transformation performed on Atletico by Diego Simeone, it is hard to believe that he only just celebrated his second anniversary with the club. Once a tenacious midfielder, who represented Ateltico for five years during two spells, Simeone has reinvigorated a club that had been bumbling in its inability to punch its weight for far too long. Simeone’s impact was immediate as he got his team to play with the same intensity with which he performed as a player. He was then able to alter a defeatist mindset against Spain’s big two, particularly their illustrious neighbors, which had seen them go 25 matches and 13 years since getting the better of Real Madrid. That was shattered in the most glorious manner last May when in the Copa del Rey final, in Los Merengues’ own Bernabeu stadium, Ateltico came out on top to lift their first domestic silverware since Simeone was part of the side that won a league and cup double in 1996. This season, Atletico have added new elements to their play. While their ferocious appetite without the ball remains as a league- best 11 goals conceded demonstrates, they have become more dangerous when in possession. The intensity is still present, with quick, incisive attacks built on the ever- burgeoning relationship between young Spain international midfielder Koke and the man who could be Spain’s trump card in the World Cup, Diego Costa. Meanwhile, Arda Turan and David Villa provide impressive options alongside them. .. When Atletico and Barcelona last met, in the Spanish Super Cup at the start of the season , Simeone and Costa showed their tactical flexibility as the Brazilian-born forward was deployed wide on the right and caused the Blaugrana umpteen problems. Atletico were happy to concede possession, but counter- attacked with real vigor and, indeed, had the better chances and were unlucky to lose the two-legged affair on away goals. While Atletico are at home, have been more forward-thinking this season and Costa is the league’s second highest scorer, the same tactics could again be utilized. Possesing a water-tight defense, led by the partnership of Miranda and Diego Godin, which was in full evidence in an unspectacular 1-0 win to kick off 2014 at Malaga last week, Barcelona will have their work cut out to walk away still top of La Liga. Still, after a difficult start to his reign, there have been more encouraging signs of late for Simeone’s fellow-Argentine, Gerardo Martino. While results wise Martino has done everything that could have been expected in the first half of the season, he faced much criticism from the Catalan press for the perceived move away from the tiki-taka style that had been so successful in the previous five years. Although much of that talk was overblown, it was hard to ignore that Barcelona had become less dominant and less pleasing on the eye. While the team was grappling with Martino shifting the focus somewhat from the possession-obsessed philosophy to one where they are prepared to cede the ball and launch quicker attacks, it also had to deal with integrating the different talents of Neymar while their star man, Lionel Messi, looked off color. As it turns out the unsurprising injury that Messi suffered in November could have been the best thing for both player and club. In his absence, Neymar showed that he could take the mantle, having scored six goals in three appearances before the festive break. And fellow-forwards Pedro and Alexis Sanchez , who have benefited from Martino’s more direct approach appear to have gained further confidence in Messi’s absence, with each hitting a hat-trick either side of the break. Cesc Fabregas has impressed up front, too, as the new year has started with Barcelona showing signs of their best. Perhaps the injury may be most beneficial to Messi himself. Having not looked right since being rushed back from a muscular problem last spring, he has hopefully now had the proper time needed to recover. Certainly he looked refreshed when making his return against Getafe on Wednesday when scoring two goals off the bench, the second a demonstration of the four-time Ballon d’Or winner at his quick-footed best. Martino’s biggest challenge could well be deciding which three forwards to select. It is at the other end, though, where Barcelona could be most tested. For a side that still controls possession in most matches, the Catalans give up too many chances, especially from set-pieces. It is difficult to imagine Atletico not creating at least a couple of good opportunities to score on Saturday. And with Costa in lethal form you wouldn’t bet against them getting on the score sheet. It will likely take Barcelona’s attacking players in top form to emerge with something from what has all the ingredients of an intense and captivating matchup.. ibtimes.com
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Re: La Liga; Athletico Madrid Vs Fcbarcelona On 11th January,@8pm by philfearon(m): 11:19pm On Jan 10, 2014 |
A team at CrossroAd .. Every so often a team reaches a crossroads; that is just the nature of the game, especially at the very top. In fact, this is perhaps the only constant at the top: questions – are you still good enough? Can you keep it up? Can you elevate? Sometimes the answer to these questions may be as simple as getting a win. But, often they need deeper introspection. Barcelona, with their new coach, are at such a crossroads. That may seem ludicrous to say. The Blaugrana are top of La Liga and have been so since Week 1, extending their stay at the top to a ridiculous 56 consecutive weeks. Barça are also through to the Champions League last 16, still on for a treble. Still, there has been underlying struggle for new coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, the target of attacks from those who see the ruin of the philosophy perfected by Pep Guardiola and his perfect generation. Barça have been good under Tata, but not great, not Pep’s Barça – and this is the gripe of the Catalan media and some socios. Yes, Barcelona are winning, but how? In the highly ideological environment of Barcelona this question has obviously heaped pressure on Martino, his every word judged and every game critical, because a slip-up is magnified that much more. Just take the recent back-to-back losses to Ajax Amsterdam and Athletic Bilbao. Instantly there were whispers Martino wasn’t the right man for the job, that he might even be gone when the season ends. So, although tomorrow’s clash with Atletico Madrid is by no means a title decider (it is too early for that), the game is a significant barometer for Barcelona and another appraisal of what Martino is doing and where Barça are going. There are mitigating factors to Barcelona’s performance and approach this season. The main one is time. Under Guardiola Barcelona were at their peak. It was a perfect storm. Guardiola, the star pupil of Barcelona deity Johan Cruyff, found a hungry group in its prime and nearly all schooled in the arts he wanted to exalt. All factors were in favour and, of course, there was Lionel Messi playing at a level possibly never seen. But, teams have cycles. Evolution is as necessary as it is inevitable. Naturally, the squad is ageing but, above all, battles have sapped the legs. Xavi, for example, has averaged over 50 games a season since 2006/07. The relentless pressing, the win-the-ball-back in five seconds rule, which was Barça’s trademark under Guardiola and a basis of their success has been scaled down by Martino. Such extreme harrying can only be sustained by the legs for so long. Martino would have noticed too that Barça were starting to tire towards the end of campaigns and that last season ended with key players such as Messi and Sergio Busquets injured and others like Xavi visibly fatigued. But, even Guardiola had begun to forestall the team’s decline, at least physically, which had started to result in more goals conceded and the decrease in variation offensively. Guardiola’s dabbling with the 3-4-3 system was as much an attempt to bring more solidity at the back, especially against athletic teams on the break, as it was a Pep innovation. More worryingly, despite their wealth of quality, by the end of last season under Tito Vilanova Barcelona had become almost functional, not magical, with signs of an over- reliance on Messi. . Messi's Goals Season Messi’s La Liga Goals Total Team Goals La Liga % Team Goals Scored 2012/13 46 115 40.00% 2011/12 50 114 43.86% 2010/11 31 95 32.63% 2009/10 34 98 34.69% Perhaps this is partly natural; when someone scores 100 league goals in just over seasons, to lean on them. Nevertheless, all their ills – the tiredness, lack of variety and power – were exposed in the now infamous Champions League semi-final defeat to Bayern Munich last May prompting a summer discussion about Barcelona’s style and philosophy. It wasn’t that Barça were bad, but tweaks had to be made to the system… to freshen it up a bit. bsports.com |
Re: La Liga; Athletico Madrid Vs Fcbarcelona On 11th January,@8pm by philfearon(m): 11:39pm On Jan 10, 2014 |
Current League Position: FcBarcelona-1st Athletic Madrid-2nd . Last Five Matches: FcBarcelona-WWWWW Athletico Madrid-WWWWD . Stat: Athletico Madrid have not won FcBarcelona in their last six meetings Across all competitions... Diego Costa has scored an astonishing 19goAls in 17 league matches.. Alexis Sanchez and Pedro are FcBarcelonA's joint league highest goal scorers,with 11goals Apiece.. Cesc Fabregas tops the assist table on 10assists while Athletico's Koke is on 8assists... |
Re: La Liga; Athletico Madrid Vs Fcbarcelona On 11th January,@8pm by philfearon(m): 11:40pm On Jan 10, 2014 |
Finally,Mods please move this thread to frontpage...........
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