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Guardiola's Barca in shadow of Real
Source: Agencies |
November 28, 2011, Monday
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PEP Guardiola has taken Barcelona to the heights of world football, but his team has never been in a tougher situation than now. It trails Spanish league leader Real Madrid by six points and faces a loaded fixture list that will complicate the chase of its in-form rival.
Guardiola has had an unprecedented run since he took over as Barcelona's first-team coach in the summer of 2008 with a club record 12 trophies, including two Champions League crowns and three straight Spanish league titles.
Yet a surprise 0-1 loss at Getafe on Saturday broke Barcelona's 27-game unbeaten streak and left it trailing its fierce rival, which is playing its best football in years.
In his second season at Madrid, coach Jose Mourinho is on the best winning run of his career after his team beat Atletico Madrid 4-1 for its 13th straight victory in all competitions.
Guardiola, however, refuses to sound the alarm. "The loss isn't terrible," Guardiola said. "I don't think the league has slipped away. There is still a long way to go."
Even so, the former midfielder recognized that his team's margin of error is shrinking.
"We can afford fewer slip-ups now," Guardiola said. "We will keep working hard and move forward."
The European champion has had to reshuffle its schedule to make room for the upcoming Club World Cup, meaning that fatigue from added games could also play an important factor as it tries to keep pace with Real.
Barcelona plays Rayo Vallecano tomorrow, Levante on Saturday, and BATE Borisov in the Champions League four days later before then heading to Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium on December 10.
"The distance is considerable. Real is getting away," said Barcelona defender Gerard Pique. "But Guardiola has done things to make this club rise to an even greater level, and we have to continue believing in him."
First-half goal
In Italy, a first-half goal from Simone Pepe sent Juventus back to the top of Serie A on Saturday as it edged third-placed Lazio 1-0 in an entertaining encounter at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Pepe stroked home the winner after 34 minutes to take unbeaten Juventus, which has played one game less than most of its rivals, a point clear of Udinese and three ahead of Lazio.
"It was a hard-fought win that showed the character we have and how much we have matured," coach Antonio Conte told Sky Sports. "There is much still to improve but we are moving in the right direction. We now have a difficult game at Napoli on Tuesday."
Napoli climbed to seventh after an Edinson Cavani strike deep into stoppage time earned a 1-1 draw at Atalanta which had taken a 64th-minute lead thanks to German Denis's 10th league goal of the campaign.
Catania moved up to sixth with a 1-0 win at Lecce while struggling Novara came back from a goal down to beat Parma 2-1 and record its second league win this season.
Guardiola has had an unprecedented run since he took over as Barcelona's first-team coach in the summer of 2008 with a club record 12 trophies, including two Champions League crowns and three straight Spanish league titles.
Yet a surprise 0-1 loss at Getafe on Saturday broke Barcelona's 27-game unbeaten streak and left it trailing its fierce rival, which is playing its best football in years.
In his second season at Madrid, coach Jose Mourinho is on the best winning run of his career after his team beat Atletico Madrid 4-1 for its 13th straight victory in all competitions.
Guardiola, however, refuses to sound the alarm. "The loss isn't terrible," Guardiola said. "I don't think the league has slipped away. There is still a long way to go."
Even so, the former midfielder recognized that his team's margin of error is shrinking.
"We can afford fewer slip-ups now," Guardiola said. "We will keep working hard and move forward."
The European champion has had to reshuffle its schedule to make room for the upcoming Club World Cup, meaning that fatigue from added games could also play an important factor as it tries to keep pace with Real.
Barcelona plays Rayo Vallecano tomorrow, Levante on Saturday, and BATE Borisov in the Champions League four days later before then heading to Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium on December 10.
"The distance is considerable. Real is getting away," said Barcelona defender Gerard Pique. "But Guardiola has done things to make this club rise to an even greater level, and we have to continue believing in him."
First-half goal
In Italy, a first-half goal from Simone Pepe sent Juventus back to the top of Serie A on Saturday as it edged third-placed Lazio 1-0 in an entertaining encounter at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Pepe stroked home the winner after 34 minutes to take unbeaten Juventus, which has played one game less than most of its rivals, a point clear of Udinese and three ahead of Lazio.
"It was a hard-fought win that showed the character we have and how much we have matured," coach Antonio Conte told Sky Sports. "There is much still to improve but we are moving in the right direction. We now have a difficult game at Napoli on Tuesday."
Napoli climbed to seventh after an Edinson Cavani strike deep into stoppage time earned a 1-1 draw at Atalanta which had taken a 64th-minute lead thanks to German Denis's 10th league goal of the campaign.
Catania moved up to sixth with a 1-0 win at Lecce while struggling Novara came back from a goal down to beat Parma 2-1 and record its second league win this season.
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