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April 1, 2013

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Mourinho plans to stick with keeper Lopez

FOR Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, Iker Casillas will have a difficult time recovering his spot as starting goalkeeper considering Diego Lopez's strong performances.

Mourinho said following Saturday's 1-1 draw at Real Zaragoza that if Lopez continues playing well "it will be difficult that he relinquishes the net."

Lopez was signed from Sevilla after Casillas broke his left hand on January 24. Lopez helped Madrid eliminate Manchester United in the Champions League last 16, and he made a key save to prevent a loss on Saturday.

Casillas was cleared to play by team doctors last week but was not named to Madrid's squad for Saturday's game.

"In football we have to be honest with ourselves and with our players," said Mourinho. "Casillas still isn't ready to be Diego Lopez's backup."

Casillas has been a regular starter for a decade and is the captain of both Madrid and world champion Spain. He is widely revered by the club's and national team's fans.

Real's draw meant that Barcelona's lead at the top of La Liga remains at 13 points after it too could only manage a 2-2 away draw at Celta Vigo.

Lionel Messi was once again the protagonist as he scored Barca's second goal to become the first player ever to score against every other side in the league in consecutive games. Messi took his tally to 29 goals in the 19-match streak.

In Italy, Edinson Cavani put his travel nightmares behind him and came off the bench to score a brace in a 5-3 win over Torino that sent Napoli back into second place in Serie A on Saturday.

Leader Juventus had earlier taken its lead over Napoli to 12 points after a comfortable 2-1 win over Inter Milan at the San Siro dropped the Nerazzurri to sixth place. AC Milan then provisionally jumped up into second thanks to a 1-0 win away to ten-man Chievo.

In Germany, Bayern Munich's latest Bundesliga championship was delayed for another week but it did celebrate hammering Hamburger SV 9-2. Borussia Dortmund also won, 2-1 in Stuttgart.




 

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