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La Liga Preview: Almeria - Barcelona
If the southerners are to continue their recent good form, they will have to find a way of avoiding defeat against the league leaders, who will be hungry to extend their advantage over Real Madrid once more...
Mar 5, 2010 7:00:00 AM
By Robin Bairner
Kick Off: Saturday, March 6, 2010. 20:00 CET
Estadio del Mediterraneo, Almeria
In Form
Almeria will aim to keep their remarkable run of good form going on Saturday evening, when they will meet with a Barcelona team still hungry for success but being pushed all the way by Real Madrid.
Christmas was not a time of contentedness for Almeria fans, who were grappling with the prospect of their club facing a long and arduous battle against relegation. With just 13 points to their name as the festive season arrived, it was unsurprising that they decided to release coach Hugo Sanchez and replace the Mexican with Juan Manuel Lillo.
New life continues to be breathed into the team under Lillo, who has guided them to four wins, four draws and one defeat in his brief tenure in charge. The 44-year-old coach can even consider that loss, which was to Sevilla, as highly unfortunate. Los Rojiblancos won 1-0 on a bog of a pitch, despite being placed under pressure for a significant portion of the game.
To their credit, Almeria bounced back brilliantly from that reverse, claiming 11 points from a possible 15. This run includes a spurt of three wins from four matches, which continued last weekend as Lillo’s side scored a crucial 2-0 success over Racing Santander, easing them up to 13th in the table and giving them an excellent springboard from which to attack the European champions.
Shaking The FIFA Virus
If Barcelona are to defeat Almeria on Saturday evening, they will have to first overcome the ‘FIFA Virus’, a phenomenon infamous in Spain that sees top clubs struggle for form immediately after international matches. Barca, of course, have sent copious numbers of players around the globe over the last week, so they should, in theory, be one of the hardest hit clubs.
Talk of la Blaugrana’s downfall continues, despite their continued dominance of La Liga. However, Pep Guardiola’s men stumbled from the top of the tree temporarily last weekend as Real Madrid got their blow in first, though the Catalans will be hopeful of their greatest rivals slipping up this week away to Sevilla. Saturday evening’s fixture against Almeria really gives them a great chance to turn the screw.
There can be little doubt that the Camp Nou outfit are not at their peak at present, though they did manage to muster the energy to see off the challenge of Malaga at home last weekend, claiming a hard fought 2-1 success against a side whose improvement has mirrored that of Almeria.
“Lately it seemed as though we could lose to any team,” Guardiola considered with a hint of hyperbole after the fixture. “But [on Saturday] we showed a great level.”
The mental strength of Barca’s players will again be stretched against an Almeria side they will be expected to comfortably dispatch, but who will show great aptitude and application.
FORM GUIDE
Almeria
WON 2-0 (a) Racing Santander (Liga, February 28)
WON 1-0 (h) Atletico Madrid (Liga, February 21)
DREW 2-2 (a) Getafe (Liga, February 14)
WON 3-1 (a) Sporting de Gijon (Liga, February 7)
DREW 1-1 (a) Valladolid (Liga, January 31)
Barcelona
WON 2-1 (h) Malaga (Liga, February 27)
DREW 1-1 (a) Stuttgart (Champions League, February 23)
WON 4-0 (h) Racing Santander (Liga, February 20)
LOST 2-1 (a) Atletico Madrid (Liga, February 14)
WON 2-1 (h) Getafe (Liga, February 6)
TEAM NEWS
Almeria
Miguel Angel Nieto and Corona are both injury concerns ahead of Saturday evening’s match, though their coach is hopeful they can shake the effects of injury off to play a role at the weekend. Swedish forward Henok Goitom is already back training normally and should lead the offence.
In addition, Domingo Cisma has purged a one-match ban and will likely feature.
Probable Starting XI: Diego Alves; Michel, Pellerano, Chico, Cisma; M’Bami, Bernardello; Piatti, Soriano, Crusat; Goitom
Barcelona
After an injury crisis in mid-February, things are starting to look up for Barca coach Guardiola. Dani Alves and Yaya Toure have both shaken off recent problems, though Eric Abidal has not trained this week, meaning another stint on the left of the defence for Maxwell. Seydou Keita has been tipped to return next week.
Gerard Pique is banned.
Probable Starting XI: Valdes; Dani Alves, Puyol, Marquez, Maxwell; Xavi, Toure, Iniesta; Messi, Ibrahimovic, Pedro
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Almeria
Diego Alves is considered in some quarters to be the most under-rated goalkeeper in the Spanish top flight. In Almeria’s last home match he sparkled as he helped the club to a shutout against Atletico Madrid. He is sure to be extended to his full whatever happens, but if he has a good night then the hosts may just sneak a point.
Barcelona
Rated as the best right-back in world football by the Castrol Rankings, in which he is positioned ninth, Daniel Alves will add an extra dimension to his club’s attacking play. A defender only by label, the Brazilian loves to spend time roaming up the field, scoring a healthy number of goals and contributing an avalanche of assists relatively speaking. Emphasising his attacking credentials, he was brought on by Brazil in their midweek friendly against the Republic of Ireland as a right-winger.
PREDICTION
This is not an especially easy game to call, given the form of Almeria. Barcelona will be wary of the FIFA virus striking, though the motivation to extend their lead at the summit of the table should prove enough of a remedy from that particular problem. Pep Guardiola’s side should claim maximum points, but it will certainly not be easy.
Almeria 1-2 Barcelona
Estadio del Mediterraneo, Almeria
In Form
Almeria will aim to keep their remarkable run of good form going on Saturday evening, when they will meet with a Barcelona team still hungry for success but being pushed all the way by Real Madrid.
| Bet: | Returns: | Bilbao £85.00 | Draw £55.00 | Barcelona £12.50 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Bilbao £95.00 | Draw £55.00 | Barcelona £12.90 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Bilbao £90.00 | Draw £50.00 | Barcelona £13.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Bilbao £90.00 | Draw £60.00 | Barcelona £12.90 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Bilbao £87.00 | Draw £53.00 | Barcelona £12.50 |
|
Christmas was not a time of contentedness for Almeria fans, who were grappling with the prospect of their club facing a long and arduous battle against relegation. With just 13 points to their name as the festive season arrived, it was unsurprising that they decided to release coach Hugo Sanchez and replace the Mexican with Juan Manuel Lillo.
New life continues to be breathed into the team under Lillo, who has guided them to four wins, four draws and one defeat in his brief tenure in charge. The 44-year-old coach can even consider that loss, which was to Sevilla, as highly unfortunate. Los Rojiblancos won 1-0 on a bog of a pitch, despite being placed under pressure for a significant portion of the game.
To their credit, Almeria bounced back brilliantly from that reverse, claiming 11 points from a possible 15. This run includes a spurt of three wins from four matches, which continued last weekend as Lillo’s side scored a crucial 2-0 success over Racing Santander, easing them up to 13th in the table and giving them an excellent springboard from which to attack the European champions.
Shaking The FIFA Virus
If Barcelona are to defeat Almeria on Saturday evening, they will have to first overcome the ‘FIFA Virus’, a phenomenon infamous in Spain that sees top clubs struggle for form immediately after international matches. Barca, of course, have sent copious numbers of players around the globe over the last week, so they should, in theory, be one of the hardest hit clubs.
Talk of la Blaugrana’s downfall continues, despite their continued dominance of La Liga. However, Pep Guardiola’s men stumbled from the top of the tree temporarily last weekend as Real Madrid got their blow in first, though the Catalans will be hopeful of their greatest rivals slipping up this week away to Sevilla. Saturday evening’s fixture against Almeria really gives them a great chance to turn the screw.
There can be little doubt that the Camp Nou outfit are not at their peak at present, though they did manage to muster the energy to see off the challenge of Malaga at home last weekend, claiming a hard fought 2-1 success against a side whose improvement has mirrored that of Almeria.
“Lately it seemed as though we could lose to any team,” Guardiola considered with a hint of hyperbole after the fixture. “But [on Saturday] we showed a great level.”
The mental strength of Barca’s players will again be stretched against an Almeria side they will be expected to comfortably dispatch, but who will show great aptitude and application.
FORM GUIDE
Almeria
WON 2-0 (a) Racing Santander (Liga, February 28)
WON 1-0 (h) Atletico Madrid (Liga, February 21)
DREW 2-2 (a) Getafe (Liga, February 14)
WON 3-1 (a) Sporting de Gijon (Liga, February 7)
DREW 1-1 (a) Valladolid (Liga, January 31)
Barcelona
WON 2-1 (h) Malaga (Liga, February 27)
DREW 1-1 (a) Stuttgart (Champions League, February 23)
WON 4-0 (h) Racing Santander (Liga, February 20)
LOST 2-1 (a) Atletico Madrid (Liga, February 14)
WON 2-1 (h) Getafe (Liga, February 6)
TEAM NEWS
Almeria
Miguel Angel Nieto and Corona are both injury concerns ahead of Saturday evening’s match, though their coach is hopeful they can shake the effects of injury off to play a role at the weekend. Swedish forward Henok Goitom is already back training normally and should lead the offence.
In addition, Domingo Cisma has purged a one-match ban and will likely feature.
Probable Starting XI: Diego Alves; Michel, Pellerano, Chico, Cisma; M’Bami, Bernardello; Piatti, Soriano, Crusat; Goitom
Barcelona
After an injury crisis in mid-February, things are starting to look up for Barca coach Guardiola. Dani Alves and Yaya Toure have both shaken off recent problems, though Eric Abidal has not trained this week, meaning another stint on the left of the defence for Maxwell. Seydou Keita has been tipped to return next week.
Gerard Pique is banned.
Probable Starting XI: Valdes; Dani Alves, Puyol, Marquez, Maxwell; Xavi, Toure, Iniesta; Messi, Ibrahimovic, Pedro
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Almeria
Diego Alves is considered in some quarters to be the most under-rated goalkeeper in the Spanish top flight. In Almeria’s last home match he sparkled as he helped the club to a shutout against Atletico Madrid. He is sure to be extended to his full whatever happens, but if he has a good night then the hosts may just sneak a point.
Barcelona
Rated as the best right-back in world football by the Castrol Rankings, in which he is positioned ninth, Daniel Alves will add an extra dimension to his club’s attacking play. A defender only by label, the Brazilian loves to spend time roaming up the field, scoring a healthy number of goals and contributing an avalanche of assists relatively speaking. Emphasising his attacking credentials, he was brought on by Brazil in their midweek friendly against the Republic of Ireland as a right-winger.
PREDICTION
This is not an especially easy game to call, given the form of Almeria. Barcelona will be wary of the FIFA virus striking, though the motivation to extend their lead at the summit of the table should prove enough of a remedy from that particular problem. Pep Guardiola’s side should claim maximum points, but it will certainly not be easy.
Almeria 1-2 Barcelona
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Make Your Prediction
Athletic Bilbao - FC Barcelona
Athletic Bilbao
FC Barcelona
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Athletic Bilbao 1-3 FC Barcelona
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Athletic Bilbao 2-1 FC Barcelona
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