Emery shifts focus to Real Madrid - ESPN STAR Sports

Valencia coach Unai Emery is already looking forward to his side's next match against Real Madrid after beating Almeria 2-1.

It proved to be a comfortable match for Emery's side thanks to two goals in each half by Roberto Soldado.

Almeria did claw one back in injury time through José Ulloa.

Speaking after the match, Emery was pleased with his side's victory despite and is already preparing to face Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

He stated, "We faced a team tonight who had options to score, but we are getting increasingly stronger at home, and that allowed us to settle the game.

"Out with Real Madrid and Barcelona, a lot of the teams are equal and the differences depend on little details, and teams can create problems for you. Today the team has had this difficulty, but we have overcome it.

"We play Real Madrid next, and now we can focus on that match, and we hope that they will be tired."

Valencia currently occupy fifth place in the La Liga standings.

Barcelona May Hand Javier Mascherano Starting Berth Against Real Madrid - Report - Goal.com India

Barcelona may hand Javier Mascherano a start in midfield in this evening's el clasico clash with Real Madrid, according to Goal.com

Sources in Catalunya claim that the Argentine will move into the first eleven at the expense of Pedro Rodriguez, who despite being in excellent form in his last two matches, will be sacrificed as part of coach Pep Guardiola's tactical reshuffle.

Mascherano's inclusion could see the Blaugrana use the former Liverpool enforcer as part of a central pairing with Sergio Busquets, allowing Xavi and Andres Iniesta more freedom to link up with attackers Lionel Messi and David Villa.

Guardiola is reportedly wary of los Blancos' counter-attacking abilities, and wants to use two holding players as insurance against the pace of Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel di Maria.

It's not yet clear whether the possibility of Gonzalo Higuain missing the match through injury has influenced the decision of Guardiola, with Karim Benzema likely to be a direct replacement for 'Pipita'.

This Clasico will be very even - Barcelona captain Carles Puyol - Goal.com

Barcelona defender Carles Puyol insists that Monday night's El Clasico encounter with Real Madrid is very evenly poised, but that his team will do everything possible in order to secure victory.

The Spanish international stopper will take his place in the heart of the Blaugrana defence for the match against Los Blancos, who hold a one-point advantage over their rivals at the top of the Primera Division table.

Speaking to the club's official website, Puyol discussed the attributes that will make Real Madrid so difficult to overcome.

He remarked: "I can't remember all the previous Clasicos, but to me this one seems very even. Both Barca and Real Madrid are playing well, and have few injury concerns. We have the advantage of playing at home, but I still think it is 50/50.

"They are very strong in defence, and have fast players on the counter. If you give them space, they will be difficult to control."

Puyol also had words to say about opposition coach Jose Mourinho, adding: "We are not playing against him, we are playing against Real Madrid, who have a great coach and great players. His results speak for themselves."

Liverpool warned by Zinedine Zidane over race with Real Madrid for Eden Hazard - Daily Mail

By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 12:24 PM on 29th November 2010

Zinedine Zidane has warned Liverpool that they face a fight to sign Belgium wonderkid Eden Hazard.

The Merseysiders have been impressed by the 19-year-old Lille playmaker, but his performances have also been noted at the Bernabeu.

Red letter day: Hazard (right) scores for Lille against Brest

France legend Zidane, an adviser to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, admitted: 'What he has been doing for his club has been extraordinary. Would it be possible to see him one day in Madrid? It may be.'

Arsenal and Manchester United have also tracked Hazard, who is already approaching 20 full international caps despite being a teenager.

Lille president Michel Seydoux admitted last week that he was braced for bids after Liverpool scouts watched the 5ft 7in midfielder ooze class during the side's 2-1 win over Monaco.

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Real Madrid team bus stoned on arrival at Barcelona hotel - Goal.com

Real Madrid's team bus was pelted by stones on arrival at their team hotel in Barcelona yesterday evening, smashing a window next to defensive duo Raul Albiol and Alvaro Arbeloa.

Publication Marca alleges that poor security allowed a group of radical Barcelona supporters, believed to be from the group known as the Boixos Nois, to attack the bus as it arrived, and a member of Los Blancos security team was struck on the neck during the incident.

The players were then quickly ushered into the building, and fortunately none of the squad sustained any injuries in the attack.

Ironically, a group of around 2,000 supporters had warmly greeted the arrival of Jose Mourinho's team when their flight landed at El Prat airport earlier in the day.

Tonight's Clasico encounter is one of the most anticipated meetings in recent memory, with the match rearranged for Monday evening as a result of security fears due to the Catalan elections being held yesterday.

El Clasico one-on-one: Sergio Busquets v Sami Khedira - Goal.com

Barcelona and Real Madrid meet in the classic encounter of Spanish football on Monday. Some opt to call it 'party of the galaxies', because of the stars on show: Ronaldo, Messi, Casillas, Villa, Mourinho, Guardiola, Higuain, Xavi, Sergio Ramos, Iniesta....

Among so many stars there are some who dazzle less, yet whose contribution is indispensable. The Clasico could hinge in such cases on Sergio Busquets and Sami Khedira.

Busquets has only enjoyed roughly two full seasons in Barcelona's first team, but his rise has been so meteoric that today he is an essential member of the team, and one of the world champions.

Discreet off the pitch, Busquets has become the perfect complement for Xavi and Iniesta, both at the Blaugrana and in the national team, because of his placement and sense of anticipation. To top it all off, with the ball at his feet he is far from an anchor; he is the player who connects the defence with the the attack, the adhesive keeping the team together. He is the complete player in the midfield.

Sami Khedira is one of the newcomers to Real Madrid, and gone are the days of the two Diarras and Fernando Gago. The fashionable midfield duo is now Xabi Alonso and Khedira, and the German has been able to adapt to his new role very quickly, bringing more presence to the centre than anyone else.

He does not enjoy the freedom that he had at his previous club Stuttgart, or in the German national team, as Jose Mourinho has asked him to maintain a balance in midfield, to defend the team physically, and the number 24 is fulfilling the role to perfection - showing restraint, not simplicity.

So far, he has performed well in all the matches he has played, but this will be a true test of the German. Who would take your place in the ideal midfield – Khedira, or Busquets?

Cornerkicks - Montreal Gazette

Thumbing his nose at rules

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is in hot water with European soccer governing body UEFA after appearing to order two Real Madrid players to pick up yellow cards intentionally. It goes like this: Real's Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso had already been assessed two yellows in earlier games in the Champions League group phase. One more yellow for either and they would be suspended for the next game. But Real has already qualified for the round of 16, meaning its final group game nest week against France's Auxerre is essentially meaningless. So Ramos and Alonso could pick up yellows, wiping the slate clean, and miss that nothing game. If they didn't, then picked up yellows against Auxerre, they'd be suspended for the first game of the knockout stage. Manager Mourinho was captured speaking to Alonso on the sidelines, then reserve goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek was sent to talk to Real 'keeper Iker Casillas, who then talked to Ramos. Sure enough, Alonso and Ramos were booked for, of all things, time-wasting -taking too much time over free kicks, with Real already comfortably ahead 3-0. UEFA announced it was investigating Mourinho, Ramos, Alonso, Dudek and Casillas for "improper conduct." Even the Spanish media said the players were acting on Mourinho's instructions. Then came a statement from Real director-general Jorge Valdano that appeared to confirm the two had deliberately picked up yellows, but cited precedent. Two years ago, two Olympique Lyon players, Brazilians Cris and Juninho, were fined by UEFA for getting deliberately booked to miss a meaningless Champions League game. "I can't go into details, but there have been many players who have done something similar and were not punished," Valdano told a Spanish radio station. Expect a fine, but a suspensions would be a shock.

Mourinho slammed

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has joined the swelling list of Mourinho bashers. "He sets a bad example and insults everybody in Italy," Allegri said of Mourinho, who coached Inter Milan to a pair of Serie A titles and a Champions League crown. "He was here for two years and insulted everybody in Italy." Allegri also slammed Mourinho for allegedly ordering Alonso and Ramos to be sent off. "Would I do that? No," Allegri said. "I wouldn't do what he did to us (in a Champions League game earlier this season) either. With (AC Milan's) Andrea Pirlo on the ground with his head cracked open, my players put the ball out. Real gave it back, but on the throw-in, there was already a fullback pressing us. He sets a bad example."

Eto'o sorry

Inter Milan's Samuel Eto'o, barred for three matches after head-butting a Chievo Verona player last weekend, has apologized, but not to the player he butted, defender Cesar. "I wish to offer my sincere apologies to all the people who could have been shocked and surprised by my unfortunate gesture," Eto'o said. He then said sorry specifically to the referees, his teammates, the fans, the coach, and even Inter president Massimo Moratti.

Non-apology

Wayne Rooney, who did a U-turn in October after announcing he'd leave Manchester United, then signed a contract extension with the team (at double his salary), finally said sorry -well, sort of -to United fans. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson had urged Rooney to say sorry way back then, and the player finally issued a statement last week that was a carefully crafted non-apology. "I feel like I have apologized to the fans, but everyone keeps saying that I haven't, and if that is the case, then I apologize for my side of things." Huh?

Lengthy ban

The Dutch league has suspended Ajax Amsterdam's Luis Suarez for seven games after he bit PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal on the shoulder. Fans might recall Suarez as the Uruguayan who deliberately used his hand to stop a Ghana goal in the World Cup quarterfinal, then celebrated wildly when Ghana missed the subsequent penalty. Suarez says he isn't sorry for snacking on Bakkal. "No, I do not regret what happened," he said.

Blackburn's 'Galactico' Michel Salgado claims Real was wonderful but only real ... - Daily Mail

By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 1:35 PM on 29th November 2010

Michel Salgado believes there is no bigger game in the world than Barcelona v Real Madrid - but the veteran right back insists real men play in England.

The 35-year-old raised eyebrows by joining Blackburn last year after a decade at the Bernabeu, but he has no regrets about leaving behind La Liga's pass and move style for a bit of Premier League grit.

'England was the birthplace of football - in Spain we say it is the cradle of the game,' Salgado told FIFA.com. 'The culture of football in England is fantastic: it is a different style to Spain, where we aim for possession of the ball and skillful football.

Up for it: Michel Salgado loves the physical aspects of the Premier League

'In England it is pure football, physical football, football for men. I'm living a great new experience where we have to battle for every point that we earn.

'(At Real Madrid) I was used to winning a game but knowing that was only part of the aim, with a trophy as the final aim. Here, every point is for surviving.'

After initially seeming to struggle in England, Salgado has started every League game for Blackburn this season and is sure he made the right decision to sign a two-year deal at Ewood Park.

'I have finally got used to playing in Blackburn,' he said. 'I had to change my style and be intelligent, because I couldn't play like I did at Real Madrid.

Galactico: Salgado spent a decade alongside the planet's best, including Ronaldo, David Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Raul, Esteban Cambiasso and Luis Figo

'I think it has been the perfect move. It is not only about me but it is about the family. We are living in a great place in Manchester with a great school for the children. They are learning English, which I think is very important, and for me it is the same. I'm living a new experience.

'Maybe the worst part is the weather but I am from the north-west of Spain so I am used to the rain!

'If you are going to complain about the football or the weather then you are better off leaving and staying in Spain. I know that it is not Real Madrid here.

'People ask me "after 10 years at Real Madrid, why move to Blackburn?" Well, Blackburn is a historical team in England, they have won the Premier League and they are one of just four clubs to have done so. They are a well-organised team and I see it as a great challenge.'

Idol: Salgado remembers watching Glenn Hoddle in his pomp

Salgado intends to carry on for as long as his legs allow and is tempted by a move to somewhere like Australia, the US or China before hanging up his boots.

He also enjoys dipping his toe into media work, admitting: 'I have been working with Glenn Hoddle, Gordon Strachan, Ruud Gullit and Graeme Souness, people that I watched on TV when I was six years old.

'I remember Glenn Hoddle at the 1982 World Cup, watching him play against Spain, and now I'm sharing a studio with him. It's fantastic for me.' 

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El Clasico preview: FC Barcelona – Real Madrid (Part 2) - bettor.com (blog)

El Clasico preview: FC Barcelona – Real Madrid (Part 2) 

Team News

FC Barcelona

Argentine defender Gabriel Milito will not make the squad as he is struggling with an injury while Eric Abidal's inclusion is also under clouds. The rest of the squad and all key players will be raring to go.

Expected Formation

Pep Guardiola has no reason to tinker with a 4-3-3 formation that has become Blaugnara's hallmark. Lionel Messi will start in a striker's role but the little Argentine fireball will move around the final third terrorising the Madrid defence. Young Pedro will line up on the right while David Villa will start on the flank. The front trio will be continuously switching positions in a bid to disrupt the Madrid rearguard. Xavi and Iniesta will be the two man creative machine in the midfield while owing much to his superior technical ability; Sergio Busquets will get the nod ahead of Mascherano. Gerrard Pique and Carlos Puyol will start in the heart of the defence while Abidal and Dani Alves will look to support from the flanks.

Probable Line up

Victor Valdes, Dani Alves, Carlos Puyol, Gerrard Pique, Eric Abidal, Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Pedro and David Villa.

Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho will need to do without the likes of Kaka and Fernando Gago. Ricardo Carvalho, Sami Khedira and Gonzalo Higuain have all overcome minor knocks to be named in the squad.

Expected Formation

Anticipating Mourinho's tactics takes a genius to guess but we will try nonetheless. The Portuguese wizard will line up his troops in a 4-3-1-2 formation with Ronaldo and Higuain leading the line. Mesut Ozil will start in the trequartista roe – a position he was born to play – while Khedira and Di Maria will start on the right and left of midfield respectively. Di Maria will be playing more of a defensive role as the mercurial Messi has to be controlled. Di Maria has searing amounts of pace stored in his legs and that will be used to counter the jinking runs of Lionel Messi. In defence, Marcelo and Sergio Ramos will take the flanks while Pepe and Carvalho will for a Portuguese centre back pairing. It goes without saying, Iker Casillas will be keep the gloves and will be the first name on team sheet. 

Probable Line up

Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Ricardo Carvalho, Pepe, Marcelo, Sami Khedira, Xabi Alonso, Angel Di Maria, Mesut Ozil, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain.

Key Players

Lionel Messi

It has to be him. The 23 year old sensation has scored 7 El Clasico goals in a short career to date and will look to add further to his tally. Blaugnara number 10 has already scored 15 goals this season while assisting in five others. Should Madrid defence fall asleep for even a second, the messiah will make them pay dearly.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Who else could it be? – Galacticos answer to Messi albeit one that cost them 80 million pounds. Ronaldo has been in devastating form this season and it will take mammoth efforts to stop the raging machine. CR7 tends to take on entire defences on his own and release his teammates into space. The likes of Di Maria, Higuain and Ozil in particular will relish the space created by the Portugal captain

Prediction

El Clasico is almost impossible to predict. With 22 world-class players gracing the pitch, a moment of genius from any player will decide the tie. Blaugnara play at their fortress but their defence has been far from impressive. Gerrard Pique in particular has clearly struggled in the build up to this match. Mourinho will manage to keep his unbeaten record intact with yet another victory. Real Madrid to edge the tie by a 2 – 1 score line!