Barcelona have little time to rest on their laurels after a stunning victory over Paris Saint-Germain in midweek as the Catalans’ quest for a treble continues when Valencia visit the Camp Nou today.
Luis Enrique’s men all but secured their place in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday with a 3-1 dismantling of the French champions thanks to two wonderful goals from Luis Suarez.
However, a 2-2 draw away to Sevilla last weekend means should Barca suffer one more slipup between now and the end of the league campaign, the destiny of the title would be in Real Madrid’s hands.
Photo: AFP
“We learned our lesson from the game against Sevilla. In Paris we played a more complete game and that shows in the scoreline,” said defender Gerard Pique, who made his 300th appearance for the club at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Wednesday. “We are very confident. The dressing room is very happy, but we have our feet on the ground. We know the most difficult part [of the season] is yet to come being leaders of La Liga, in the final of the Copa del Rey and with a result in our favor to qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions League.”
“From now on every game is like a final and we don’t have time to rest,” he said. “First, we have Valencia, then PSG at the Camp Nou. The schedule is very difficult, but if we want to win as many titles as possible we have to accept it and move on.”
Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta is a doubt after suffering heavy bruising on his lower back against PSG, but Dani Alves is set to return from suspension to take his place at rightback.
Photo: AFP
Valencia are in need of the points themselves as they battle with Atletico Madrid and Sevilla for the final two Champions League places for next season.
Los Che stunned the Camp Nou in February last year with a 3-2 win and striker Alvaro Negredo sees no reason why they cannot repeat that feat this weekend.
“We know it will be very difficult to win at the Camp Nou, but my teammates managed it last season,” the Spain international said. “Why not this year as well? It’s very demanding, you have to be fully focused for 90 minutes, and we are going to try and take all three points.”
Valencia will be boosted by the return of fullback Jose Luis Gaya from injury, despite continuing speculation about a move to Real Madrid next season for the 19-year-old.
Real Madrid host Malaga later today and could move back to the top of the table should Barcelona fail to win.
The European champions were frustrated by Atletico Madrid in a 0-0 Champions League quarter-final, first leg on Tuesday and cannot afford to let their minds wander ahead of next week’s decisive return against Los Rojiblancos at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Malaga have already shown their ability to upset the odds this season by beating Barcelona at the Camp Nou in February, and by holding the league leaders and Atletico to draws at La Rosaleda.
Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema missed training due to minor injuries on Thursday, but both are expected to be fit to take their place alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in the Real Madrid attack.
Atletico, meanwhile, will face a hostile atmosphere when they travel to meet RC Deportivo de La Coruna.
The champions’ 2-0 win over the Galicians in November last year was overshadowed by the death of a Deportivo fan in fighting between rival supporters groups in Madrid.
However, Atletico midfielder Koke said his side’s focus would be purely on the three points.
“Our objective is to qualify for the Champions League, to be third and not have to play a qualifying round. Our rivals are a concern for us, they are forcing us to battle, to continue winning, and we have to go there [La Coruna] on Saturday with a lot of desire to take the three points.”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care