Barcelona seek return to form against Xerez
Friday, 23 April 2010
MADRID, Apr 22 (AP): Spanish league leader Barcelona must bounce back from its midweek European setback when it hosts Xerez Saturday.
The defending champions lost to Inter Milan 3-1 at the San Siro in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals. It was the first time Barcelona has lost by more than one goal since coach Pep Guardiola took charge in 2008.
Saturday's league match should offer the perfect chance for the Catalan side to restore morale and maintain its lead over second-place Real Madrid, which is one point behind with 83. With five rounds left to play, Xerez is last with only six wins.
"All the games that remain are finals," Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes said. "Winning this game would give us a lot of confidence going into the final part of the season. For us and for Madrid, it's down to the wire."
While the Andalusians might not represent an obvious threat to the league and European champions, the game should make clear whether Guardiola's squad has peaked too soon. Last Saturday, mid-table Espanyol held Barcelona to a 0-0 draw in the Catalan derby. The lack of attacking spark in that game was repeated against Inter.
"We all know it's difficult. Very few teams have managed to get points (in the Camp Nou)," said Xerez midfielder Victor Sanchez, a former Barcelona youth team player. "It's difficult but not impossible. If we play a serious game and don't let them settle, I think we can hurt them."
Injured midfielder Andres Iniesta has been Barcelona's only absentee from training this week.
Real Madrid knows it needs to maintain its winning league form and for Barcelona to drop points. Madrid visits Zaragoza on Saturday after having won 14 of its last 15 league games, the only slip-up being a 2-0 loss to Barcelona.
"At this stage of the season all games are tough," Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa said. "(Barcelona) is in two competitions and that's not easy, but 10 days ago people were saying they were the best team in the world. I don't think they can have changed so much in a week."
Arbeloa insisted that coach Manuel Pellegrini has the full support of his players despite media reports that the Chilean will be replaced at the end of the season.
Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo was bullish about his team's title hopes.
"Is the league race still alive? Of course it is," Ronaldo said. "I'm confident we'll win the five games remaining and that we'll win the title."
Brazil playmaker Kaka could play for Madrid for the first time since the team's Champions League elimination on March 10. He has been recovering from a persistent groin problem, which appears to have been a factor in his failure to make a significant impact at the Bernabeu since a ?65 million ($87 million) move from AC Milan.
"He looks well," Ronaldo said of his teammate. "I'm happy for him because he's a friend and a great professional."
The defending champions lost to Inter Milan 3-1 at the San Siro in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals. It was the first time Barcelona has lost by more than one goal since coach Pep Guardiola took charge in 2008.
Saturday's league match should offer the perfect chance for the Catalan side to restore morale and maintain its lead over second-place Real Madrid, which is one point behind with 83. With five rounds left to play, Xerez is last with only six wins.
"All the games that remain are finals," Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes said. "Winning this game would give us a lot of confidence going into the final part of the season. For us and for Madrid, it's down to the wire."
While the Andalusians might not represent an obvious threat to the league and European champions, the game should make clear whether Guardiola's squad has peaked too soon. Last Saturday, mid-table Espanyol held Barcelona to a 0-0 draw in the Catalan derby. The lack of attacking spark in that game was repeated against Inter.
"We all know it's difficult. Very few teams have managed to get points (in the Camp Nou)," said Xerez midfielder Victor Sanchez, a former Barcelona youth team player. "It's difficult but not impossible. If we play a serious game and don't let them settle, I think we can hurt them."
Injured midfielder Andres Iniesta has been Barcelona's only absentee from training this week.
Real Madrid knows it needs to maintain its winning league form and for Barcelona to drop points. Madrid visits Zaragoza on Saturday after having won 14 of its last 15 league games, the only slip-up being a 2-0 loss to Barcelona.
"At this stage of the season all games are tough," Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa said. "(Barcelona) is in two competitions and that's not easy, but 10 days ago people were saying they were the best team in the world. I don't think they can have changed so much in a week."
Arbeloa insisted that coach Manuel Pellegrini has the full support of his players despite media reports that the Chilean will be replaced at the end of the season.
Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo was bullish about his team's title hopes.
"Is the league race still alive? Of course it is," Ronaldo said. "I'm confident we'll win the five games remaining and that we'll win the title."
Brazil playmaker Kaka could play for Madrid for the first time since the team's Champions League elimination on March 10. He has been recovering from a persistent groin problem, which appears to have been a factor in his failure to make a significant impact at the Bernabeu since a ?65 million ($87 million) move from AC Milan.
"He looks well," Ronaldo said of his teammate. "I'm happy for him because he's a friend and a great professional."