Spanish Primera Liga 2009
Barcelona
vs
Real Zaragoza
Match Schedule:
Date: October 25th
Time: 19:00 (GMT)
Everyone at Camp Nou has played down the significance of their midweek loss to Rubin Kazan in the UEFA Champions League. They claim things didn't go their way; they didn't have luck; they played well; they created chances. All familiar excuses if you are an Atletico Madrid fan, but the bottom line is that winners make their own luck in football. Barca lost, plain and simple, and have left themselves with some serious work to do to get out of the group now.
Two winter trips to icy Ukraine and Russia are difficult enough to contemplate without the pressure of these being must-win games. Suddenly unbeatable Barca look a little vulnerable.
Although Pep Guardiola was quoted last week as saying that Lionel Messi can play poorly as often as he likes, the absence of Thierry Henry and Bojan Krkic can quickly limit their attacking options if the Argentine wonder isn't on form, and the coach will certainly be keen to see Messi spread those poor performances out a little bit.
With Real Madrid and Sevilla both playing on Saturday, Barca may find themselves under a little more pressure to secure three points in this game. Times like these, after two games without a win, are when real championship credentials come shining through.
No Time Like The Present
Real Zaragoza have picked up just one point on the road so far this season and even managed to lose to Atletico Madrid, making them the only team to fail to pick up at least a point against Atleti this term.
A trip to Camp Nou is probably the last thing the promoted Blanquillos want as they go in search of their first away win of the season, especially considering their last visit here in September 2007 was a 4-1 thumping, but in many ways the timing of their trip to Catalunya may work to their advantage.
The champions suffered their first defeat of the season in midweek in the Champions League and drew the previous week at Valencia. Star Barca forward Lionel Messi has hit something of a blip in form, so now is probably as good a time as any for Marcelino's men to cause an upset. They must approach the game with rigid defensive organisation and concentration, and if they replicate Valencia's defensive display, they may get something here.
On the other hand, they could be the victims of a vicious backlash from the Blaugrana, who will be keen to illustrate that the defeat to Rubin Kazan was more a matter of misfortune than misfiring.
FORM GUIDE
Barcelona
Oct 20 Barcelona 1-2 Rubin Kazan (UEFA Champions League)
Oct 17 Valencia 0-0 Barcelona (La Liga)
Oct 3 Barcelona 1-0 Almeria (La Liga)
Sept 29 Barcelona 2-0 Dynamo Kiev (UEFA Champions League)
Sept 26 Malaga 0-2 Barcelona (La Liga)
Real Zaragoza
Oct 18 Real Zaragoza 2-2 Racing Santander (La Liga)
Oct 3 Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Zaragoza (La Liga)
Sept 27 Real Zaragoza 3-0 Getafe (La Liga)
Sept 24 Sporting Gijon 1-1 Real Zaragoza (La Liga)
Sept 20 Real Zaragoza 1-2 Real Valladolid (La Liga)
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona
Dmytro Chygrynskiy is available again after a month on the sidelines and should replace Rafael Marquez. Daniel Alves is set to miss three weeks and Thierry Henry is still a week away from full fitness.
Probable Starting XI (4-3-3): Valdes – Puyol, Pique, Chygrynskiy, Abidal – Keita, Xavi, Iniesta – Messi, Ibrahimovic, Pedro
Real Zaragoza
Leonardo Ponzio is suspended while Ikechukwu Uche is a long-term absentee with a cruciate ligament injury. Otherwise Marcelino has a full squad to chose from.
Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Carrizo– Paredes, Pavon, Ayala, Pulido – Gabi, Songo'o, Pennant, Aguilar, Lafita – Arizmendi.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Barcelona
When the pressure is on for Barcelona, one man who always gets his head down and works his way out of the mire is Andres Iniesta. If the Blaugrana misfire in this tie, he will chase everything until he or someone else makes something happen.
Real Zaragoza
Veteran defender Roberto Ayala will need to summon up all his experience and defensive craft to keep Barca at bay. A big performance from the Argentine may give the Blanquillos a surprise result here.
PREDICTION
Barcelona are renowned for winning games early and then controlling the remainder of the fixture at their pace. If Zaragoza can frustrate them in the first half hour, the hosts may start to feel the pressure. If they score early, however, it could be a familiar rout.
Barcelona 2-1 Real Zaragoza
Barcelona
vs
Real Zaragoza
Match Schedule:
Date: October 25th
Time: 19:00 (GMT)
Two winter trips to icy Ukraine and Russia are difficult enough to contemplate without the pressure of these being must-win games. Suddenly unbeatable Barca look a little vulnerable.
Although Pep Guardiola was quoted last week as saying that Lionel Messi can play poorly as often as he likes, the absence of Thierry Henry and Bojan Krkic can quickly limit their attacking options if the Argentine wonder isn't on form, and the coach will certainly be keen to see Messi spread those poor performances out a little bit.
With Real Madrid and Sevilla both playing on Saturday, Barca may find themselves under a little more pressure to secure three points in this game. Times like these, after two games without a win, are when real championship credentials come shining through.
No Time Like The Present
Real Zaragoza have picked up just one point on the road so far this season and even managed to lose to Atletico Madrid, making them the only team to fail to pick up at least a point against Atleti this term.
A trip to Camp Nou is probably the last thing the promoted Blanquillos want as they go in search of their first away win of the season, especially considering their last visit here in September 2007 was a 4-1 thumping, but in many ways the timing of their trip to Catalunya may work to their advantage.
The champions suffered their first defeat of the season in midweek in the Champions League and drew the previous week at Valencia. Star Barca forward Lionel Messi has hit something of a blip in form, so now is probably as good a time as any for Marcelino's men to cause an upset. They must approach the game with rigid defensive organisation and concentration, and if they replicate Valencia's defensive display, they may get something here.
On the other hand, they could be the victims of a vicious backlash from the Blaugrana, who will be keen to illustrate that the defeat to Rubin Kazan was more a matter of misfortune than misfiring.
FORM GUIDE
Barcelona
Oct 20 Barcelona 1-2 Rubin Kazan (UEFA Champions League)
Oct 17 Valencia 0-0 Barcelona (La Liga)
Oct 3 Barcelona 1-0 Almeria (La Liga)
Sept 29 Barcelona 2-0 Dynamo Kiev (UEFA Champions League)
Sept 26 Malaga 0-2 Barcelona (La Liga)
Real Zaragoza
Oct 18 Real Zaragoza 2-2 Racing Santander (La Liga)
Oct 3 Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Zaragoza (La Liga)
Sept 27 Real Zaragoza 3-0 Getafe (La Liga)
Sept 24 Sporting Gijon 1-1 Real Zaragoza (La Liga)
Sept 20 Real Zaragoza 1-2 Real Valladolid (La Liga)
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona
Dmytro Chygrynskiy is available again after a month on the sidelines and should replace Rafael Marquez. Daniel Alves is set to miss three weeks and Thierry Henry is still a week away from full fitness.
Probable Starting XI (4-3-3): Valdes – Puyol, Pique, Chygrynskiy, Abidal – Keita, Xavi, Iniesta – Messi, Ibrahimovic, Pedro
Real Zaragoza
Leonardo Ponzio is suspended while Ikechukwu Uche is a long-term absentee with a cruciate ligament injury. Otherwise Marcelino has a full squad to chose from.
Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Carrizo– Paredes, Pavon, Ayala, Pulido – Gabi, Songo'o, Pennant, Aguilar, Lafita – Arizmendi.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Barcelona
When the pressure is on for Barcelona, one man who always gets his head down and works his way out of the mire is Andres Iniesta. If the Blaugrana misfire in this tie, he will chase everything until he or someone else makes something happen.
Real Zaragoza
Veteran defender Roberto Ayala will need to summon up all his experience and defensive craft to keep Barca at bay. A big performance from the Argentine may give the Blanquillos a surprise result here.
PREDICTION
Barcelona are renowned for winning games early and then controlling the remainder of the fixture at their pace. If Zaragoza can frustrate them in the first half hour, the hosts may start to feel the pressure. If they score early, however, it could be a familiar rout.
Barcelona 2-1 Real Zaragoza
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