Barcas Alba out for three weeks

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba has been ruled out for up to three weeks after suffering a torn hamstring in the Catalans' 3-2 win over Sevilla on Saturday.

"The medical services have confirmed that the player suffered a muscle tear in his right femoral biceps (hamstring). The estimated time out is three weeks," the club said in a statement.

The Spanish international had to be replaced by Adriano after just 14 minutes of the clash against Sevilla and will almost certainly now miss Barca's opening two Champions League games against Ajax and Celtic.

The injury comes at the worst possible time for Barca boss Gerardo Martino with the injury prone Adriano the only cover on offer at left back.

Barca face a punishing schedule in the next few weeks with six games in the next 20 days and Alba is also now a doubt for Spain's two remaining World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Georgia next month.

Valdes content despite Barcas stuttering form

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes has said he is happy with his side's start to the campaign despite the fact the Catalans haven't shone in any of their past three games.

Valdes was the hero as Barca lifted a record 11th Spanish Super Cup on away goals following a 0-0 draw (1-1 on aggregate) with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night as he made a string of fine saves.

And with three clean sheets from the first four games of the season, the 31-year-old is pleased with how his final campaign at the Camp Nou has begun.

"I am very happy both on a personal level with my performances and how the team has started the season," he told Barca TV.

"My role at Barca means I don't have to intervene a lot. I have to do so with my feet more often than with my hands and now and again it is good to show that I can also do so with my hands."

However, after a 7-0 thrashing of Levante on the opening day, new Barca boss Gerardo Martino hasn't had the most convincing of starts as, in between the two draws with Atleti, the Spanish champions were also lucky to come away with a 1-0 win from their trip to Malaga last weekend.

Valdes, though, is hoping that having clinched the first silverware of the season they can kick on when they face another stiff test away to Valencia on Sunday.

"There are always aspects you can improve. Something which you do well today, the next day you might do badly. It will be a very tough season because Barca is always the team to beat so we need to go game by game.

"It is very important to start the season with this title. The players give it the value it deserves.

"We knew Atletico are a very good team playing on the counter-attack and taking advantage of the second ball. That is a style of play that is very uncomfortable for us."

And a former Barca player Oriol Romeu is hoping his Valencia side can follow Atletico's lead.

Romeu has joined Los Che on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea and believes his new teammates are capable of at least repeating their 1-1 draw with Barca at the Mestalla last season.

"Barca are uncomfortable when they don't have the ball and, with the pressure that Atletico put on them, they managed to take the ball away from them for long spells," he told the club's website.

"If we can do the same and be well-positioned at the back then we have the team to be able to beat them."

Valencia boss Miroslav Djukic could hand a debut to Colombian striker Dorlan Pabon after his move from Monterrey was completed on Wednesday and the Serbian is expected to make a few changes after publicly criticising his side's performance in the 3-1 defeat to Espanyol last weekend.

Earlier on Sunday, Real Madrid could move above Barca to the top of the table as they host Athletic Bilbao in the first midday kick-off of the season.

Madrid have won both their opening games by the odd goal and new boss Carlo Ancelotti admitted after Monday's 1-0 win over Granada that his side were still coming to terms with the change in philosophy he is looking to implement.

The Italian is likely to be forced into naming another very offenisve line-up though as injuries to Sami Khedira, Xabi Alonso and Asier Illarramendi mean all of Luka Modric, Isco, Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria should start.

And on a footballing feast on Sunday, the meat in the Real and Barca sandwich is arguably the best match of the weekend as Spain's other two Champions League representatives, Real Sociedad and Atletico, square off at Anoeta.

Fixtures

Friday

Almeria v Elche, Rayo Vallecano v Levante (both 2100 GMT)

Saturday

Celta Vigo v Granada (1700 GMT), Valladolid v Getafe (1900 GMT), Osasuna v Villarreal (2100 GMT)

Sunday

Real Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (1000 GMT), Espanyol v Real Betis (1500 GMT), Real Sociedad v Atletico Madrid (1700 GMT), Sevilla v Malaga, Valencia v Barcelona (1900 GMT)

Beating Mourinho extra motivation for Barcas Xavi

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez has admitted that beating Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has been an extra motivating factor for his side over the past three years.

Mourinho's exit from the Bernabeu at the end of the season was confirmed on Monday after a turbulent final season in which he clashed with a number of senior players and failed to win a major trophy.

"He is a controversial coach," Spanish international Xavi said.

"He has always been an extra motivation. I don't know if we will miss him or not.

"With Mourinho we have continued to win titles. In the three years he has been here he has taken the odd title away from us, but we have kept winning. This has to continue being our objective."

And despite Mourinho's relative success in winning the title last season and reaching three consecutive Champions League semi-finals, Xavi does not believe his departure will unduly influence Madrid next season.

"We are going to see what happens without Mourinho, but I am convinced that Madrid will continue winning titles with Mourinho or without Mourinho."

Meanwhile, Xavi was also asked about Brazilian international Neymar's potential arrival at Barca in time for next season.

The 21-year-old has been linked with a move to the Catalan capital for some time and with Barca representatives now in Brazil to close the deal it seems only a matter of time before he joins the Spanish champions.

"Neymar is a great player and he is said to be one of the world's stars. At the moment they are all rumours but he is a great player and I am sure he would adapt."

kca/dj

Es un entrenador polémico. Siempre ha sido una motivación extra. No sé si lo echaremos de menos o no lo echaremos de menos

Con Mourinho hemos seguido ganando títulos. En los tres años que ha estado aquí nos ha sacado algún que otro título, pero hemos seguido ganando. Ese tiene que seguir siendo nuestro objetivo

Vamos a ver qué pasa sin Mourinho, pero estoy convencido de que el Madrid va a seguir a ganando títulos con Mourinho o sin Mourinho

Neymar es un gran jugador y está llamado a ser uno de los cracks mundiales. De momento todo son suposiciones pero es un gran jugador y seguro que se adaptaría".

Barcas Pedro targeting 100 points in La Liga

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona winger Pedro Rodriguez has claimed he and his teammates are targeting Real Madrid's league record of 100 points after sealing the title last weekend.

The Catalans were handed their 22nd league crown when Madrid could only manage a 1-1 draw with Espanyol, but they stayed on course for a century of points with a late come from behind win at Atletico Madrid 24 hours later.

And with nothing else left to play for this season, Pedro said winning their last three games to match Madrid's treasured total from last season can be a motivating factor.

"The 100 points are a motivation, an objective that the team has in mind," he said.

"We know that it will be difficult because the opponents that we have left are still playing for things, but we will try to do it."

The Spanish international also insisted it has still been a successful season for Barca despite their eliminations to Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the Champions League and Copa del Rey respectively.

"The league is the most important title in the season because it is the one of consistency.

"I am very happy with the league and for the work of the team."

However, the 25-year-old has been slightly disappointed with his own return of just eight goals this season and understands why his place may be under threat by new faces arriving in the close season.

"Personally, I would have liked to be able to offer a little more, but I am happy with the opportunities I have had.

"Next season it will return to being very difficult. It is normal that in this team they talk about reinforcements.

"Barca needs goals and a lot of offensive contribution. Therefore, every year the frontline suffers alterations."

The likes of Pedro, Alexis Sanchez and David Villa will get the chance to prove their worth between now and the end of the campaign as Lionel Messi has been ruled out for the remaining weeks of the season with the hamstring injury that has dogged him in recent months.

Barca's opponents on Sunday, Valladolid, have also achieved their goal for the season by mathematically sealing survival, but their manager Mirsolav Djukic is looking forward to the challenge of facing the champions.

"The two teams have achieved their objectives, but I have never played easy games," he said.

"I think this is a good opportunity to see how we are in comparison to the best team in Spain.

"We can win against anyone and with our style we are confident that we can win, although we know it is very difficult because they will want to celebrate the title."

Meanwhile, on Saturday the focus is on the fight for the final Champions League place with Valencia and Real Sociedad both locked on 59 points.

Valencia are first up as they travel to Getafe before Sociedad face an awkward looking trip to Sevilla on in the evening.

And despite making up five points on the Basques since they lost in San Sebastian three weeks ago, Valencia boss Ernesto Valverde is warning his side against being over-confident.

"It is a decisive matchday because we have a difficult opponents and Real Sociedad play in Sevilla.

"Both matches are difficult. We are confident, but I would like to control this euphoria that we have. It also isn't good that this comes over us because we could have a setback."

And at the bottom Mallorca could be relegated if Zaragoza beat Athletic Bilbao and they fail to win against Betis on Monday.

Saturday

Getafe v Valencia, Granada v Osasuna, Sevilla v Real Sociedad

Sunday

Levante v Rayo Vallecano, Deportivo la Coruna v Espanyol, Real Zaragoza v Athletic Bilbao, Barcelona v Valladolid

Monday

Mallorca v Real Betis

Beating Mourinho extra motivation for Barcas Xavi

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez has admitted that beating Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has been an extra motivating factor for his side over the past three years.

Mourinho's exit from the Bernabeu at the end of the season was confirmed on Monday after a turbulent final season in which he clashed with a number of senior players and failed to win a major trophy.

"He is a controversial coach," Spanish international Xavi said.

"He has always been an extra motivation. I don't know if we will miss him or not.

"With Mourinho we have continued to win titles. In the three years he has been here he has taken the odd title away from us, but we have kept winning. This has to continue being our objective."

And despite Mourinho's relative success in winning the title last season and reaching three consecutive Champions League semi-finals, Xavi does not believe his departure will unduly influence Madrid next season.

"We are going to see what happens without Mourinho, but I am convinced that Madrid will continue winning titles with Mourinho or without Mourinho."

Meanwhile, Xavi was also asked about Brazilian international Neymar's potential arrival at Barca in time for next season.

The 21-year-old has been linked with a move to the Catalan capital for some time and with Barca representatives now in Brazil to close the deal it seems only a matter of time before he joins the Spanish champions.

"Neymar is a great player and he is said to be one of the world's stars. At the moment they are all rumours but he is a great player and I am sure he would adapt."

kca/dj

Es un entrenador polémico. Siempre ha sido una motivación extra. No sé si lo echaremos de menos o no lo echaremos de menos

Con Mourinho hemos seguido ganando títulos. En los tres años que ha estado aquí nos ha sacado algún que otro título, pero hemos seguido ganando. Ese tiene que seguir siendo nuestro objetivo

Vamos a ver qué pasa sin Mourinho, pero estoy convencido de que el Madrid va a seguir a ganando títulos con Mourinho o sin Mourinho

Neymar es un gran jugador y está llamado a ser uno de los cracks mundiales. De momento todo son suposiciones pero es un gran jugador y seguro que se adaptaría".

Vencer a Mourinho una motivación extra para Barcas Xavi

Centrocampista del Barcelona Xavi Hernández ha admitido que vencer a Real Madrid jefe José Mourinho ha sido un factor de motivación extra para su lado en los últimos tres años.

La salida de Mourinho del Bernabeu en el final de la temporada fue confirmada el lunes tras una turbulenta temporada final en el que se enfrentaron con un número de jugadores altos y no pudo ganar un trofeo importante.

"Es un polémico entrenador", dijo Xavi Internacional Español.

"Siempre ha sido una motivación extra. No sé si le echaremos o no.

"Con Mourinho que hemos seguido a ganar títulos. En los tres años que ha estado aquí ha tomado el título extraño lejos de nosotros, pero nos hemos mantenido ganar. Esto tiene que continuar siendo nuestro objetivo".

Y a pesar del relativo éxito de Mourinho en ganar el título de la temporada pasada y llegar a tres semifinales consecutivas de la Liga de campeones, Xavi no cree que su partida influirá indebidamente Madrid próxima temporada.

"Vamos a ver qué pasa sin Mourinho, pero estoy convencido de que Madrid va a continuar ganando títulos con Mourinho o sin Mourinho".

Mientras tanto, Xavi fue preguntado sobre la posible llegada de Neymar internacional brasileño en el Barca en tiempo para la próxima temporada.

21 Años de edad se ha relacionado con un traslado a la capital catalana durante algún tiempo y con representantes de la Barca ahora en Brasil para cerrar el acuerdo parece sólo cuestión de tiempo antes de que él se une a los campeones de España.

"Neymar es un gran jugador y se dice que una de las estrellas del mundo. Por el momento son todos rumores pero es un gran jugador y estoy seguro que se adaptaría."

KCA/dj

Es un entrenador polà © mico. Siempre ha sido una motivación extra. No sà © si lo echaremos de menos o no lo echaremos de menos

Con Mourinho hemos seguido ganando títulos. En los tres años que ha estado aquí nos ha sacado algún otro título, pero hemos seguido ganando. Ese tiene seguir siendo nuestro objetivo

Vamos a ver qué © pasa pecado Mourinho, pero estoy convencido de que el Madrid va a seguir un ganando títulos con Mourinho o pecado Mourinho

Neymar es un gran jugador y está llamado a ser uno de los cracks mundiales. De momento todo son suposiciones pero es un gran jugador y seguro se adaptaría".

Barcas Pedro targeting 100 points in La Liga

Barcelona winger Pedro Rodriguez has claimed he and his teammates are targeting Real Madrid's league record of 100 points after sealing the title last weekend.

The Catalans were handed their 22nd league crown when Madrid could only manage a 1-1 draw with Espanyol, but they stayed on course for a century of points with a late come from behind win at Atletico Madrid 24 hours later.

And with nothing else left to play for this season, Pedro said winning their last three games to match Madrid's treasured total from last season can be a motivating factor.

"The 100 points are a motivation, an objective that the team has in mind," he said.

"We know that it will be difficult because the opponents that we have left are still playing for things, but we will try to do it."

The Spanish international also insisted it has still been a successful season for Barca despite their eliminations to Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the Champions League and Copa del Rey respectively.

"The league is the most important title in the season because it is the one of consistency.

"I am very happy with the league and for the work of the team."

However, the 25-year-old has been slightly disappointed with his own return of just eight goals this season and understands why his place may be under threat by new faces arriving in the close season.

"Personally, I would have liked to be able to offer a little more, but I am happy with the opportunities I have had.

"Next season it will return to being very difficult. It is normal that in this team they talk about reinforcements.

"Barca needs goals and a lot of offensive contribution. Therefore, every year the frontline suffers alterations."

The likes of Pedro, Alexis Sanchez and David Villa will get the chance to prove their worth between now and the end of the campaign as Lionel Messi has been ruled out for the remaining weeks of the season with the hamstring injury that has dogged him in recent months.

Barca's opponents on Sunday, Valladolid, have also achieved their goal for the season by mathematically sealing survival, but their manager Mirsolav Djukic is looking forward to the challenge of facing the champions.

"The two teams have achieved their objectives, but I have never played easy games," he said.

"I think this is a good opportunity to see how we are in comparison to the best team in Spain.

"We can win against anyone and with our style we are confident that we can win, although we know it is very difficult because they will want to celebrate the title."

Meanwhile, on Saturday the focus is on the fight for the final Champions League place with Valencia and Real Sociedad both locked on 59 points.

Valencia are first up as they travel to Getafe before Sociedad face an awkward looking trip to Sevilla on in the evening.

And despite making up five points on the Basques since they lost in San Sebastian three weeks ago, Valencia boss Ernesto Valverde is warning his side against being over-confident.

"It is a decisive matchday because we have a difficult opponents and Real Sociedad play in Sevilla.

"Both matches are difficult. We are confident, but I would like to control this euphoria that we have. It also isn't good that this comes over us because we could have a setback."

And at the bottom Mallorca could be relegated if Zaragoza beat Athletic Bilbao and they fail to win against Betis on Monday.

Saturday

Getafe v Valencia, Granada v Osasuna, Sevilla v Real Sociedad

Sunday

Levante v Rayo Vallecano, Deportivo la Coruna v Espanyol, Real Zaragoza v Athletic Bilbao, Barcelona v Valladolid

Monday

Mallorca v Real Betis