Despite Real woes, Pep talks down hopes of title
Source: Agencies |
April 11, 2012, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
BARCELONA coach Pep Guardiola thinks his team's chances of catching Real Madrid are slim despite the defending champion being in striking distance following the Spanish leader's recent stumbles.
Guardiola says "in the history of the league no one has ever come back from 10 points behind to beat Real" and "therefore it is almost impossible for us to be champions."
Real's third draw in five games on Sunday left it four points clear of Barcelona with seven rounds to play.
Real visits Atletico Madrid in a Spanish capital derby today and travels to Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium two games later.
The champion, which is chasing a fourth consecutive league title, was hosting Getafe yesterday on the back of nine consecutive victories.
A tenth would put it on 78 points from 32 matches, one behind Real.
On Monday, Isco, Santi Cazorla and Ruud van Nistelrooy earned Malaga a 3-0 home win over 10-man Racing Santander that put it up to third in La Liga.
The big-spending Qatari-owned club knocked Valencia out of the last automatic Champions League qualification slot, climbing to 50 points.
Faltering Valencia slipped down to fourth with 49 points after a 0-0 draw at Real on Sunday.
Racing was reduced to 10 men after only three minutes at the Rosaleda when defender Francis brought down Salomon Rondon in the area to be shown a straight red card, but Cazorla's spot kick was saved.
Racing is 19th with 25 points, the same as basement side Sporting Gijon.
Guardiola says "in the history of the league no one has ever come back from 10 points behind to beat Real" and "therefore it is almost impossible for us to be champions."
Real's third draw in five games on Sunday left it four points clear of Barcelona with seven rounds to play.
Real visits Atletico Madrid in a Spanish capital derby today and travels to Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium two games later.
The champion, which is chasing a fourth consecutive league title, was hosting Getafe yesterday on the back of nine consecutive victories.
A tenth would put it on 78 points from 32 matches, one behind Real.
On Monday, Isco, Santi Cazorla and Ruud van Nistelrooy earned Malaga a 3-0 home win over 10-man Racing Santander that put it up to third in La Liga.
The big-spending Qatari-owned club knocked Valencia out of the last automatic Champions League qualification slot, climbing to 50 points.
Faltering Valencia slipped down to fourth with 49 points after a 0-0 draw at Real on Sunday.
Racing was reduced to 10 men after only three minutes at the Rosaleda when defender Francis brought down Salomon Rondon in the area to be shown a straight red card, but Cazorla's spot kick was saved.
Racing is 19th with 25 points, the same as basement side Sporting Gijon.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
