FC BARCELONA

In seconds, the referee after being warned by the doctor of Zaragoza, was a point to live with a staple.

One of the shocking moments of Saturday's match came when in the second half and after a jump, Carles Puyol made ​​a small gap in front of which was bleeding for a few minutes.

The player immediately realized, but not to force him to leave the pitch and leave his team with ten players, went to the band and Pep Guardiola warned of the circumstances.

He did more than anything that doctors were ready and lose as little time as possible. He then returned to the box waiting for the right time to go to stop the bleeding.

However, the head of the medical services of Real Zaragoza, Óscar Luis Celada, realized that something was going to witness the conversation between 'Puyi' and Pep and to see her colleague Ricard Pruna placed gloves.

After verifying that Puyol was bleeding, went to the fourth official and warned him about it. Turienzo Alvarez was also warned and forced the central brave exit the field. There is also the chance that the doctor of the whole Aragon and Puyol long known as the first is also the doctor who usually accompanies the Spanish national team.

Anyway, so for any other player would of course be a couple of minutes away, for Puyol only lasted 30 seconds. The azulgrana captain ran to the band. Nervous, he sat down and tried to put a plaster, but soon Dr. Pruna stapled his wound while the player he got in a hurry.

"Go, go, go," said Puyol. So, without anesthetic or anything and without a groan, the defender returned to the party. In Zaragoza could not believe what was happening. Then asked about it, the player joked. "Too bad this can not add," he said in the mixed zone of the stadium of La Romareda. (via MD)

Zaragoza coach said he believes "in honor of the arbitrators." He added that "the result is misleading," and is "satisfied with the attitude" of his team.

Real Zaragoza coach Manolo Jiménez, described the outcome reaped by his team against Barcelona as "misleading and unfair" in a game in which he emphasized that have come "harmed by arbitration," but believes "the reputation of the referees. "

Jiménez did not want to argue for its expulsion at the beginning of the second half, but recalled that in the tunnel at the end of the first part had chatted with Turienzo Álvarez and had seemed "dialogue" but declined to go deeper.

The Arahal coach analyzed that the first goal of Barcelona "should not have come," but without clarifying the reasons, and when the score was already 1-2 "has been a very clear penalty Keita was the second card, but we should not doubt those mistakes. has whistled understand that what he has seen. "

"The team lacked being competitive and today we have faced a team that takes us out fifty points and the field was so much difference until the team finished dead," he said.

"The only way out of where we are is to keep fighting in the same way every game and hope that the reaction has not been late," he said.

In this regard the waste of energy by his players admitted to being worried face next Thursday's game against Sevilla because "each week we are very fair with the players and everyone was squeezed."

The wide track not considered a setback for his men because they "do not think we deserved such a result because we have done everything as if it had crushed and expelled to Abraham do not think that Barcelona had gone with that marker." (via AS)

BEST: COMEBACK ON THREE MINUTES

Barça responded forcefully to the beginning of game that was twisting. After the penalty saved by Valdés, Aranda pulled fortune to overtake the zaragocistas. Approaching storm, with zaragoza aimed to close around Roberto, but almost two actions in succession, with only three minutes apart, Guardiola went around the tables. First, the opportunism of Carles Puyol. Later in the clairvoyance of Alexis and the genius of Messi in a counter. On the fast track comeback is worth the hunt to follow the leader.

WORST: THE INJURY OF ALVES

Unfortunately, injuries are still news in the Barça dressing room. During the second part, the side Dani Alves asked switched to feel discomfort in the left leg. The Brazilian will undergo tests Sunday to determine the extent of injury in addition to the already known Gerard Piqué. The centre-back was low in Zaragoza, will be in Getafe and is expected to be ready against Levante. Now, wait to see if the side is accompanying or all a scare, scares those who accuse this late in the season. (via SPORT)

After the victory against Zaragoza, the Azulgrana players agree: the La Liga title can be won and they will fight until the end to win it

Víctor Valdés, who saved a penalty, thanked the fans for their support. He also said that he’s always felt loved by Barça fans.



Three vital points won at La Romareda and two more games to go this week in La Liga. Before hosting Getafe at the Camp Nou this Tuesday, the Barça players analysed today’s victory over Zaragoza.

“We always have to work hard to win in this stadium. We managed to win three important points,” said Thiago Alcántara. The midfielder also talked about how his team reacted after Zaragoza’s opener: “we weren’t afraid at any moment. Luckily, a mistake from the keeper allowed us to equalise quickly.”

Clear message

Thiago also talked about the condition of the pitch. However, the handicap wasn’t enough to stop Barça from winning on week 32 of the La Liga, which also happens to be the ninth consecutive victory for Barça in the competition.

Finally, the La Masia graduate sent a clear message to the current league leaders: “Real Madrid will have to sweat if they want the league title.”

Here are the statements made be FC Barcelona players after today’s match:


Carles Puyol:

“We knew what was waiting for us: a very on-form Zaragoza. We had to work hard to win. These are three extremely valuable points.”

On Real Madrid’s match: “We’ve done our work, now we have to wait and see what happens, there’s a lot of Liga left.”


Dani Alves:

“Great victory, great work from my teammates. The show must go on.”


Cesc Fàbregas:

“It was a difficult match, the conditions weren’t optimal, but the team played with a lot of character - we deserved the victory.

“The conditions were difficult: the pitch, the wind and because we played against a rival that complicated the game. They’re playing for everything.

“It was a very hard-fought match. Despite it all, it’s a shame to play on a pitch like this, on such a dry field where the ball is so painfully slow.

“We had a lot of chances that we weren’t able to capitalise on.

“We weren’t expecting to be three points behind Real Madrid at this point in the competition, but there’s a lot of Liga still left to be played. They’re still favourites to win it.”


Víctor Valdés:

“It was a difficult, hard-fought match. The pitch was very dry and we had to carry the ball more than we would have liked.

“Saving a penalty is encouraging to the team, we fought back and it helped us a lot. I always try and study how our opponents shoot. I wasn’t on a particularly good streak, but luckily I saved the shot. I’m very pleased.

“We must do our work. Little by little the difference is getting smaller; now it’s Real Madrid’s turn to respond.

“We knew that Zaragoza is playing for their top-flight life. It was very difficult for us in the first half; both teams had chances to score.

“I’ve always felt very loved; I’m happy to hear the shouts of encouragement, they help a lot.

“The play that produced the penalty was a bit doubtful, but it’s respectable that the referee called it.”


Pedro Rodríguez:

“We knew that it was going to be a hard and difficult match. Zaragoza have been showing their real level of play these past couple of games. Moreover, they scored the first goal and it was hard to win the match.

“The goal has given me a lot of confidence. It’s always important for a striker to score goals. I was having a pretty bad goalless streak, but I have to thank Lionel Messi for the pass he game me. I’m very pleased with the victory.

“I dedicated my goal to Abidal.”

In reference to the low amount of goals he’s scored this season: “My teammates have been helping me along the way. The most important thing is that I’m feeling much better on the pitch.

“I’m very pleased with my form and with how the team is playing.

“There are a lot of points still left in play and we’ll fight until the end. We have to take it one step at a time.” (via FCBarcelona.cat)

Dani Alves was substituted in the second half due to thigh problems in his left leg. The player will undergo medical tests this Sunday to determine the extent of the injury. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

The manager congratulated his team for the effort they put in at La Romareda after the exhausting Champions League match against Milan

“We knew that this was going to be a complicated match. It was extremely difficult and complicated,” said Guardiola.



Josep Guardiola said that he anticipated a tough match against Zaragoza in the post-game press conference. “We knew how difficult this game was going to be. This past month Zaragoza have shown that they have a lot of intensity and fortitude. It was extremely difficult and complicated. I'm very proud of our victory,” said Guardiola.

The Barça manager considers that today’s win is especially meritorious considering the poor condition of the pitch. “This isn’t basketball or handball, where the court is always the same and the ball bounces no matter what. We depend on the condition of the pitch,” explained Guardiola. The manager went on to say that “we have to adapt and not complain. This is done [maintaining poor pitch conditions] to gain an advantage over us, but it affects us all.”

Guardiola highlighted Alexis’ 90-minute performance. “He was decisive in all of his plays.” He also talked about Pedro, who found the back of the net after three months without scoring. “He’s had a difficult year because of his injuries, but for the past month he’s been gaining form. We’re very pleased with Pedro because he never gives up. This [goal] will encourage him.” (via FCBarcelona.cat)

The Argentine has scored seven goals from his last three visits to La Romareda.

Messi has netted 23 times in his last 12 matches for the Club.

Zaragoza once again succumbed to Leo Messi’s talent. The Argentine, with a brace to help FC Barcelona take the three points this Saturday (1-4), has scored 11 goals from 12 matches played against Real Zaragoza. Messi is a veritable nightmare for the Aragón side, especially at La Romareda. In his last three visits to the stadium, the La Masia graduate has scored a total of seven goals: three in the 2009/10 season, two in the 2010/11 season and two this Saturday.

His today's brace, the Argentine continues his goal scoring rampage. In fact, he’s scored 23 goals in his last 12 matches. In total, he has 60 goals from 50 matches, and he’s only 7 away from drawing level with Müller’s historic goal tally of 67 goals scored in a single year, set in the 1972/72 season. (via FCBarcelona.com)

Goals from Puyol, Messi (2) and Pedro turned the game round for Barça at La Romareda this evening, after the hosts had taken an early lead. The three points take Guardiola’s team to just three points behind Madrid, who play on Sunday.

Barça continue to pile on the pressure behind the leaders, with their ninth win on the run in Zaragoza tonight. After an early goal from Aranda, following a penalty save at 0-0 from Valdes, Barça struggled to impose their trademark game, but still pulled ahead thanks to goals from Puyol and Messi as the team put in a collective performance of courage and character.

In the second half, Barça took advantage of Zaragoza’s playing with just ten men after Abraham was sent off and finished off the game with a Messi penalty and a fourth from Pedro.

aragoza began by pressing Barça upfield and keeping them from imposing their normal short passing possession game. With Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta sat on the bench, it was Keita, Thiago and Cesc who were charged with taking control in the middle, but there was a lack of precision in their play and Zaragoza were able to create danger by putting long balls in behind the visitors’ defence, one of which led to Valdes fouling Lafita and giving away a penalty. He made up for it though, by anticipating Aranda’s effort and making what could prove to be a vital save come May.

Zaragoza didn’t let that get to them though and a few minutes later Aranda got lucky when Valdes parried the strikers’ shot back onto his head, leaving him with an easy opportunity which he took with gusto. Unfortunately for the hosts, that goal seemed to spur Barça who now began to look more direct and pacey and within ten minutes they’d turned the score around.

Soon after Zaragoza’s opener, Alexis and Cesc had a double chance to equalise, but the attack ended in a corner, from which Puyol scored after a poor clearance from Roberto. Two minutes later a quick counter from a Zaragoza corner saw Messi fire home with a great finish to put Barça ahead. There was still time before the break for more action, as Abraham saw a second yellow after stopping Alexis in his tracks as the Chilean once again looked to break free.

Alexis was soon back into the groove in the second half, when Roberto pulled off a fantastic stop to keep him out, but the game was being played at a frantic pace, which Guardiola reacted to by bringing on Busquets for Keita to bring some order to the midfield. Barça now began to take control and both Thiago and Messi had the chance to score the third before Alexis was brought down in the box and Messi fired home from the penalty spot.

Barça didn’t sit back though, and a great move between Messi and Pedro ended with the Spanish winger getting his first goal since the Cup quarter final against Madrid to round offa great performance in which the team showed the character of champions. (via FCBarcelona.com)


[Match Stats]
Real Zaragoza Roberto; Álvarez, Da Silva, Paredes, Abraham; Pinter, Zuculini, Lafita, Obradovic (Lanzaro, min. 65); Micael (Juan Carlos, min. 82) and Aranda (Helder Postiga, min. 65).

FC Barcelona Víctor Valdés; Dani Alves (Montoya, min. 68), Puyol, Mascherano, Adriano; Keita (Sergio Busquets, min. 55), Thiago, Cesc (Xavi, min. 89); Messi, Alexis and Pedro.

Goals: 1-0, min. 30. Aranda, slightly ahead of Alves, penetrates and connects a shot that Valdés rejected, but the ball hits the zaragocista and cast into the goal. 1-1, min. 36. Left corner of Robert, the bad and Puyol clears goal, with the left, beat him by a private. 1-2, min. 39. counterattack pass Alexis to Messi, who cuts to Da Silva and left-handed bat with Roberto. 1-3, min. 85. Undisputed penalty Paredes Alexis. Messi, however high, shoots Roberto. 1-4, min. 92. New attack Barça and Messi's pass to Pedro, who shoots at goal zaragocista.

Referee: Turienzo Álvarez (Castilian-Leonese). Showed yellow cards to zaragocistas Zuculini, Abraham (2, min. 44), Michael and Lanzaro and barcelonistas Víctor Valdés, Keita, Thiago, Cesc and Adriano. Zaragoza ousted coach, Manolo Jiménez, in minute 46.

Subs: 34,000 spectators at La Romareda.

The issue of FC Barcelona, ​​who traveled by train to Zaragoza, has reached the noon half past eleven where he was received by about 500 fans.

FC Barcelona is already in Zaragoza, where tonight after 20 hours playing in La Romareda a vital game to stay alive in the fight for the League. The azulgranas have left this morning from the Barcelona Estación de Sants train with a charter that has led to Aragon. After an hour and three quarters of way, Guardiola's team has reached Zaragoza Delicias station, where they joined some 500 fans who have wanted to see their idols up close. Then, the players have moved up to the team hotel, where they remain until the game starts.

The expedition of Barça is headed by Vice President the Social Area Jordi Cardoner, who is accompanied by managers Toni Freixa and Pilar Guinovart. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

Xavi Hernández will be the subject of special care in planning coaches have until end of season. The midfielder suffered discomfort in the soleus and to take the path of bitterness undertake not to force the machine to Xavi, who follow a training plan somewhat softer than their peers, with a specific exercise to prevent even always within the outline marked for the group.

The coaching staff has thoroughly planned every week between now and end of the season, once it is safe to be in the Champions League semi-finals and you know what days you play those games. There is no week without a game on a Tuesday or Wednesday and the club will play a minimum of eleven games, which will be twelve if you qualify for the Champions League final.

The intent of the coaches is, in principle, do recovery workouts after each game, with a more intense workload for those who have not played, but at this point with particular maintenance charges.

There will be weekly holiday whenever possible and Guardiola can repeat the pattern of granting extra days in special cases. In principle are provided for about forty-five working sessions until end of season.

Xavi, who technically is fully available to the coach because it is low, will be special attention because of their physical complaints and has established a working slower rate than their peers. Guardiola does not want to lose under any circumstances to the director of game and instructed to make it a priority to protect from possible injury.

Xavi was affected earlier in the week of their old pains in the soleus and missed two training sessions. He played sixty minutes against Milan, but the intention to dose their minutes to avoid injury. (via MD)

The goal: to win all three games before the 'semi' Europe.
A Zaragoza reborn, the first danger, filled in la Romareda.

Play park emotions of the Champions, despite the intensity of lived experience against Milan. The aspirations in La Liga go through a new triumph, which would be the ninth in a row, before a reborn Zaragoza which lies at the peak of the season and they have the support of a crowd that filled la Romareda today, yesterday, Friday, had sold 8,000 of the 11,000 tickets offered for sale.

The tilefish has set four days without losing, winning the last three, and not put the red carpet for a Barca triumphant aware of what is at stake.

Before the Champions League semifinal against Chelsea, which will take between both parties the classic at the Camp Nou, the club faces three games in which it is essential to get the three points: outside Zaragoza, Levante and Getafe at home outside. Three games against rivals theoretically available prior to the Champions League tie against the English in which the template Guardiola wants Barcelona all of your attention.

At this stage of the League, before demanding a tie against Chelsea, Barça has the primary objective of putting pressure on Mourinho's Madrid. The white set will play the next three games against Valencia at the Bernabeu, Atletico at the Calderón and Sporting home again.

Three games, especially the first two complicated for all white, but add nine points in dispute in this section will be forced to heavy wear, at least in theory. The goal is not to stop Barca in the pressure on Real Madrid, who began having difficulties in La Liga had to face as demanding games in the Champions League, even in small entity as rivals CSKA Moscow in the quarterfinals.

With games intersemanales so complicated as that of Calderón next Wednesday or Munich in the Champions League the following Real Madrid will have a demand that has saved during his confrontation with Apoel Nicosia Cyprus.

No one in the Barcelona dressing room is down the arms in La Liga despite the ten-point advantage grew to Real Madrid. He has worked hard in recent months, with eight straight wins since the fiasco of Pamplona, ​​as to throw it all away now.

Guardiola has developed an entire roadmap until end of season, with careful planning and training workloads in order to keep increasing returns. Barça arrives in top condition at critical stretch of the season and everything is studied to improve until the end. (via MD)

A Zaragoza come over, after three consecutive victory, appears as a rock in the road traveled by Barcelona, ​​for which no play is certainly Piqué and Xavi.

The Catalan team will face in the Romareda grown a rival, which last month was in eviction, but three straight wins have revived to the point of being at the expense of a pair of lucky breaks to leave the relegation zone .

Thus, Zaragoza and Barcelona are prohibited from failing. They must get the three points to continue without giving up to reach the end of the season their respective goals, the league title for the Catalans and permanency for the Aragonese.

La Romareda has been very favorable scenario for the last three visits to the Barcelona fans with victory, although none of them was an easy target. But the Blaugrana will continue their pursuit to catch a quiet Madrid which still has a foothold in la Liga.

Since the offense against Osasuna, Pep Guardiola's team has won eight consecutive chains, some of great quality, and always with the good football as a companion, which has meant that barcelonistas are in a critical moment and will reflect his locker goal, as a mark of the Romareda, the club will be matched with the best record 158 goals at the time of Josep Guardiola, signed in the 2008-09 season.

For the meeting in Zaragoza, Barcelona could make some small rotation, especially on defense, where Piqué was low by a thigh problem, and do the repair on the left flank of Adriano, which moves to Puyol to the centre-back alongside Mascherano .

Meanwhile, Xavi Hernández is a fitness doubt somewhat cryptic due to a timetable to re-tightened, with league games during the week also, besides the appointment of the Champions League within two to three weeks.

Manolo Jiménez will be without three players through suspension with usual defender David Mateos, Antonio Galdeano midfielder 'Apoño' and forward Luis García, which will force you to make changes to their eleven. (via SPORT)

Since 2004, FC Barcelona have won five games at Zaragoza and only lost once, in the 2006/07 season.

Barça have always got three points at Zaragoza under Guardiola.

The last defeat in Aragon was also on April 7, five years ago.

Although it’s traditionally one of the toughest away grounds to visit, FC Barcelona have done well on recent trips to La Romareda. Five times out of the last six times they have come away with all three points, but did duffer defeat there in the 2006/07 season.

The last two games at La Romareda have been especially spectacular. A year ago, Messi bagged a brace in a 2-0 Barcelona win, and the Argentinian was also the star the previous season. That time he got a hat-trick, including one goal in which he took the ball single handed out of midfield. Barça won that game 4-2, making it two out of two in the Guardiola era.

In the 2008/09 season, Zaragoza were in the second division, and a year earlier, in 2007/08, Barça won 2-1 with goals from Henry and Ronaldinho. The only recent defeat at La Romareda came a year before that, 1-0, with the solitary goal scored by Diego Milito. Hopefully it is mere coincidence that that game was played on April 7, the same date as this weekend’s rematch between the two sides.

The year before that loss, in the 2005/06 season, the Rijkaard managed side won 2-0, having previously won 4-1 in 2004/05. In 2003/04, Zaragoza got the better of the Catalans, winning 2-1. (via FCBarcelona.com)

The Barça coach insists that they are going to La Romareda just as Zaragoza are hitting their best form and spoke about the difficulty of playing teams that are fighting against relegation.

He also mentioned the experience of their next Champions League opposition, Chelsea.



Josep Guardiola knows they’ve got a tough game ahead of them at La Romareda. “Undoubtedly we are facing Zaragoza in their best moment. They have found good form and have beaten teams like Atlético Madrid and Valencia. I’ve watched them and they’re very intense. It will be a tough game because there’s a lot to play for. Let’s see if we can recover from last week’s exertions and deal with the next three games.”


As the manager observed, from being twelve points away from survival, they are now just four, and “with eight or nine games left until the end of the competition, the games against teams near the bottom of the table are the most difficult there are … I think they have a good chance of staying up, and that makes them even more dangerous.” He considers Zaragoza to be a good example of a team that believes in itself, and “as long as there is a still a chance, they’ll always keep fighting”.

Gerard Piqué will be missing on Saturday, as he is still suffering from a thigh injury. Neither is it clear whether Xavi will be in the right condition to play. “Xavi has done well in training. He’ll play when he’s ready. It’s the kind of thing that happens to him now and again through tiredness. We’ll decide what to do tomorrow” said Guardiola.

He was asked whether certain players suffer more than others at this stage of the season, and answered that “there are some that have the capacity to tolerate games and the effort involved more than others. With others you have to evaluate the effort they are making more. When you’re playing three games a week, you have to be especially careful with certain players.”


Guardiola also spoke about the club they will be meeting in the semi finals of the Champions league, Chelsea, saying that “they are one of the historic teams in English football of late. They are a very experienced team, and they have fantastic players in every sense. They’re one of the great European teams, and in short competitions they are capable of everything and more. Of course, in the Champions League semi finals there are no easy teams.”

But for the time being he prefers to concentrate on domestic matters. “There will be time to think about Chelsea later. We now have a very intense week against three intense opponents, uncomfortable, defensive teams, and we’ll need to be alert. Always playing attacking football creates fatigue, more than you might think. We have to see what condition we are in. After that, it’ll be my pleasure to talk about Chelsea.”

Mourinho has said that he’s sure Barça will qualify for the Champions League final. The Barça manager replied that “I’m grateful for his confidence, but all four of the teams have a chance of getting through”.

Finally, he was asked to comment on Barça only having two days’ rest before the clásico against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou. “That’s what we’ve got” sighed Guardiola. “Bilbao have already given us a lesson in how to deal with this fixture list. At this stage of the season, you don’t feel the tiredness so much because the end is in sight. Every bit of effort and dedication we have will go into winning titles.”

Afellay developing well

Josep Guardiola is happy with the way Afellay is progressing. The Dutchman is training normally, although he has yet to be given medical clearance to play. But the FCB manager thinks there’s even a chance he could be back before the season is out. “I think so” he said. “I think he will because he’s doing well in training. We’re happy to have him back and that he’s doing so well. The surgery has gone even better than we’d hoped.” (via FCBarcelona.com)

The player did not recover in time from the injury he picked up against AC Milan.

Guardiola has named 19 players, 16 from the first team plus Montoya, Muniesa and Tello, to the Barça squad.

Gerard Piqué will not play against his ex-team in Zaragoza. The centre defender continues to have issues with the injury he picked up against AC Milan on Tuesday and will not travel to Aragón.

Guardiola has named the same players to his team as he did against AC Milan with the exception of Piqué. 19 Barça players will travel to La Romareda, the 16 available first-team players plus Montoya, Muniesa and Tello.

Saturday, by train

In today’s training session, the last one before tomorrow’s match, both Éric Abidal and Ibrahim Afellay participated whilst Piqué worked on his recovery.

The team will travel to Zaragoza on Saturday. They will leave the Camp Nou at 9:25 for Sants Estació where they will board a train to Zaragoza. They’re scheduled to arrive at 11:30. Kickoff is set for 20:00. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

An on-form Zaragoza will host FC Barcelona this Saturday as the Aragón side looks to continue their run of good results.

This Saturday FC Barcelona will travel to La Romareda to play against the second-from-the-bottom team in the Liga. Despite the distance between the two in the table, Zaragoza have found their form of late and the face off promises to be a tough one for Guardiola’s men. The Aragón side have won their last three matches; what once was a 12-point climb out of the relegation zone has turned into only 4.

The man responsible for turning the once-ailing Zaragoza team around is manager Manolo Jiménez. The Andalusian took charge of the morale-depleted team at the start of the calendar year and injected hope into the Aragón side. Since Jiménez took the reigns, the all-whites have won five games, drawn three and lost six.

After 16 consecutive matches at the bottom of the table, the “in extremis” victory against Sporting Gijón - direct rival - saw Zaragoza jump to the 18th spot of the table. Before that, the team won two games in a row; the first against Atlético Madrid (1-0) and against Valencia (1-2 - despite finishing the match with nine men).

Jiménez will not be able to use three of his favourite players on Saturday: the defender Mateos, the midfielder Apoño and the striker Luis García. Two ex-Barça B players, however, will be ready should Jiménez call on them to play against their former team: Abraham Minero and Edu Oriol. (via FCBarcelona.com)

Real Zaragoza are going to lock in their last two training sessions to try to maintain their great run of results to an FC Barcelona that can not fail in Zaragoza.

The Aragon team is forced to make some changes regarding the recent games through suspension being without three regular players in the starting lineup in recent days as defender David Mateos, the midfielder Antonio GaldeanoApoño '' and forward Luis García.

Real Zaragoza coach Manolo Jiménez, has already anticipated it will be forced "to reinvent something within our patterns" to remedy the absence, in a game that takes nothing for lost and hopes that the azulgranas are not your level best to get something positive.

Despite the long bridge and play Easter Saturday, the stadium of La Romareda present its stands nearly full with an audience willing to support their team after the return to illusion to try to keep the category.

In recent days the Aragon has been able to surprise consecutively two aspiring European competitions such as Valencia and Atletico Madrid and rounded out his task with a win in the Molinón to Sporting Gijón, a direct rival in the fight against relegation.

Manolo Jiménez, each passing day more pleased with the delivery and response that is offering all staff, wants his players to be able to "compete and the public to see that they give all they have" to try to get a new positive , the fifth straight for their interests. (via SPORT)

Real Zaragoza coach Manolo Jiménez, knows his team can do against FC Barcelona braking the good run of three consecutive victories which has given air to keep thinking about salvation but even lost not think you need to re-see "all dark".

"We hope to save us and now we have a tough schedule in the next two matches (FC Barcelona and Sevilla) but not have to go back to see everything dark, although these two rivals are not of our League particular", commented in his previous appearance the closed-door training his team in the Ciudad Deportiva.

However, Jones believes that azulgrana side "you can win" although aware of the "difficulties that will arise and have to look at the numbers on the regularity of the equipment and it is clear that Barcelona is well above the ours. "

"I hate to lie or be a bully. At Barcelona he plays at full intensity and trying to counter it, if we believe that he plays one on one is that I'm unconscious," he said.

Also anticipated about the state of the pitch and the possibility of leaving the grass higher than "wear out the muscles" and do not plan to "try anything unusual, other than perhaps to leave the field a little dry to run the ball less. "

In his opinion the party can not raise output to try to draw because "it is impossible and when you mark a Barcelona go to the party and kills you."

"All I ask is that you can not have their day and all go out and compete and let people see that the team gives everything he has," he said.

Once abandoned the negative dynamic in which "every game everyone thought he was going to lose" is now upside down and "that's good but be realistic."

Arahal coach again expressed his satisfaction with the improvement of their players. "I love it, he said the attitude of the players who train with joy and that translates into the field."

On possible absences that Pep Guardiola will have noted that "it is clear that all coaches want to have the entire staff, but there are teams that have no problems pulling parts or doing rotations because they have many resources."

"Barcelona has been the dynamic leading for years because it works fine. Know what to play and have a style that no change to anyone because they are better than anybody," he said.

Jiménez also have three penalty lower by men who are still important in the scheme in recent games as David Mateos, Luis García and Antonio Galdeano 'Apoño', which will force you to "reinvent something in our patterns and we have many resources. "

Following the results achieved in recent games for his team, coach zaragocista now recognized in the street feels that people think they can save and scares "have faith" in the event that after the permanence fail but has seen "The zaragoza soccer is excited." (via SPORT)

Problems in the Barça defender for Saturday's game at Zaragoza. Piqué will be low.

Nobody panic. The injury that has Gerard Piqué is not important, but by Saturday there is not enough time to recover and so the defense will be low for the match against Zaragoza. By contrast, almost certainly will play and on Tuesday in a new league match, in this case in the Camp Nou against Getafe.

Piqué was replaced in the 74th minute of the match against Milan. He felt discomfort in hamstring and taking into account the numerous cases of muscle injury that has been this season, did not want surprises. Requested the change quickly and lay down on the ground and was replaced by Adriano. After the meeting, the club has announced that the defense was just an overload on the biceps femoris at that time not ruled out for the next game.

With the decline of Piqué, Zaragoza probably Guardiola play with Alves, Puyol, Mascherano and Adriano, while Montoya and Muniesa be on the bench ready to go if the technician so wishes. (via SPORT)

Andres Iniesta, happy to have qualified for the semifinals of the Champions League, has no doubt that, whether Benfica or Chelsea are Barça’s rivals, to get to the Final will not be easy.

Referring to Messi, Iniesta said that "at the age he is, he’ll shatter all the records".



In the 53rd minute, Iniesta scored the third Barça goal to make it 3-1, the goal that calmed the team down to achieve their goal of qualifying for the semifinals of the Champions League. With the ticket for the semis in the bag, Iniesta, in an interview on the Barça TV program ‘El Marcador’, pointed out how hard it will be to get to the Champions League Final, whether it be Benfica or Chelsea in the semifinal. "Whoever we get in the semifinals it will be really tough," he warned.

This Tuesday was the fifth consecutive time that Barça have reached the semifinals of the Champions League. "It’s the result of a job well done year after year and this is the only way you can put it. This team has ambition and results come with that"said Iniesta, for whom the squad is now "in very good shape", something they have to maintain.

Iniesta was pleased with his goal, and especially to "have helped the team" with it. At the same time, he’s very demanding with himself and with his performance in front of goal: "I feel that I’ve had chances and maybe should have scored more goals than I have. It’s a question of ambition, because I aim to help out in every game and become a more complete player. It's a challenge I set every year and I try to score more goals. There are times that, from off the pitch, it seems like a very clear goal chance, but on the pitch you choose to pass. But this factor shouldn’t condition my game although it might improve it, not just for myself but also for the team".

He dedicated his goal in the Milan match, as he’s done on other occasions, to his daughter Valeria. His celebration on Tuesday, however, was somewhat different, since it coincided with his little ones first birthday: "Like it or not it’s a small or great motivation for each player, and I’m really glad I could dedicate the goal to her".
Once again, Messi was decisive, this time with the two penalties he scored. Iniesta praised his teammate and, in turn, points to the importance of teamwork: "At Leo’s age, he’ll shatter all the records. For our part, we’ll just try to keep that going as long as we can. When the team works as a whole, everyone is able to give the best of themselves".

Iniesta is among the ten players with most matches played in FC Barcelona shirt: "It’s an honor and a privilege to join this list that’s so hard to achieve. It’s very difficult to reach these numbers and even more so for this club. We hope these stats continue to grow".

Now for Zaragoza

Now, with classification in the bag, it’s time to focus back on the League, starting with this Saturday's game at Zaragoza. "First up now, is Zaragoza. We’ll go there and try to play well and bring home all three points, and hope to be able to close the gap with Real Madrid". (via FCBarcelona.com)