Real sets down marker ahead of Barca clash
Source: Agencies |
March 8, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE build-up to next month's "clasico" started in earnest on Saturday when Real Madrid's thrilling comeback to beat Sevilla 3-2 at home put it top of La Liga on goal difference from Barcelona.
It is a two-horse race for the title, with third-placed Valencia 16 points behind with a game in hand, but Real now holds the edge.
Barcelona's trip to the Bernabeu on the April 10-11 weekend could be the key, with the head-to-head record between the teams deciding the title if they finish level on points, as happened in 2007.
Barcelona beat Real 1-0 at the Nou Camp earlier this season.
Sevilla, one of only three teams to have beaten Real this season in the league, went two up at the Bernabeu - courtesy of an own-goal from Xabi Alonso and an Ivica Dragutinovic freekick - but was swept aside as Real scored through Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and finally Rafael van der Vaart, who found the net in injury time.
"The key for me was that this Real was able to play the kind of electric football they are capable of," Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez told reporters.
"I have to say that this Real is electric, with power and speed, incredible. It was very difficult to keep Real away from our goal, given how fast they are."
Alonso said the win was a huge boost to morale ahead of Wednesday's Champions League visit by Olympique Lyon, when it has to overturn a 0-1 first-leg deficit.
"We have played as a team and everything worked well," he said. "This gives us a lot of confidence in the league and for Wednesday's match."
In contrast, Barcelona's faltering form cost it dearly when it was held 2-2 in Almeria, having to twice come from behind to level through Lionel Messi.
The pressure on the leader appeared to be reflected in Pep Guardiola's being sent to the stands in the first half and then striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic saw red in the 61st.
"Despite the sendings off, and the adverse result, we didn't lose faith," Guardiola said. "We continued to press forward with 10 men and for this reason I am proud of the players."
When asked about his sending off, Guardiola was brief in his reply. "Ask the referee," he said. He was clearly annoyed when asked whether he was feeling the strain, saying: "No. I'm not tense."
Deportivo Coruna climbed to fifth on 41 points with a 3-1 comeback victory at home to lowly Tenerife thanks to goals from Juan Rodriguez, Andres Guardado and Diego Colotto.
It is a two-horse race for the title, with third-placed Valencia 16 points behind with a game in hand, but Real now holds the edge.
Barcelona's trip to the Bernabeu on the April 10-11 weekend could be the key, with the head-to-head record between the teams deciding the title if they finish level on points, as happened in 2007.
Barcelona beat Real 1-0 at the Nou Camp earlier this season.
Sevilla, one of only three teams to have beaten Real this season in the league, went two up at the Bernabeu - courtesy of an own-goal from Xabi Alonso and an Ivica Dragutinovic freekick - but was swept aside as Real scored through Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and finally Rafael van der Vaart, who found the net in injury time.
"The key for me was that this Real was able to play the kind of electric football they are capable of," Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez told reporters.
"I have to say that this Real is electric, with power and speed, incredible. It was very difficult to keep Real away from our goal, given how fast they are."
Alonso said the win was a huge boost to morale ahead of Wednesday's Champions League visit by Olympique Lyon, when it has to overturn a 0-1 first-leg deficit.
"We have played as a team and everything worked well," he said. "This gives us a lot of confidence in the league and for Wednesday's match."
In contrast, Barcelona's faltering form cost it dearly when it was held 2-2 in Almeria, having to twice come from behind to level through Lionel Messi.
The pressure on the leader appeared to be reflected in Pep Guardiola's being sent to the stands in the first half and then striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic saw red in the 61st.
"Despite the sendings off, and the adverse result, we didn't lose faith," Guardiola said. "We continued to press forward with 10 men and for this reason I am proud of the players."
When asked about his sending off, Guardiola was brief in his reply. "Ask the referee," he said. He was clearly annoyed when asked whether he was feeling the strain, saying: "No. I'm not tense."
Deportivo Coruna climbed to fifth on 41 points with a 3-1 comeback victory at home to lowly Tenerife thanks to goals from Juan Rodriguez, Andres Guardado and Diego Colotto.
- 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.
