Ferguson plots Barca downfall

Posted on May 24, 2011 by SoccerCapper

The countdown is well and truly on for the biggest game in the European football calendar this season, with Manchester United ready to try to stop the might of 10/11 favourites Barcelona in the Champions League final.

United and Barca contested the final back in 2008-09 in Rome but it was a night to forget for the Red Devils after they fell behind to an early Samuel Eto’o strike and never really recovered their composure.

Superstar Lionel Messi put the game to bed 20 minutes from time as United failed to cause too much trouble for keeper Victor Valdes and his patched-up defence which included Manchester City’s FA Cup hero Yaya Toure as Dani Alves was suspended forcing captain Carles Puyol to right-back.

The final two years ago was set up for Cristiano Ronaldo, who at the time was on the verge of a switch to Real Madrid, but he failed to deliver in a free role as Sir Alex Ferguson opted to push Wayne Rooney out to the left wing.

Ferguson’s reasoning – and who can really criticise the all-conquering United boss? – was to pack the midfield and try to use the pace of Ronaldo to expose Puyol, Toure, Sylvinho and Gerard Pique, but it simply did not work.

Michael Carrick and Anderson failed to get to grips with Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta so much so that Carlos Tevez was introduced for the Brazilian at half time, to little effect though in the grand scheme of things.

Ferguson is wily enough a character to have taken all of those points on board while he will also be contemplating the fitness of Scotland captain Darren Fletcher who missed the 2009 final through suspension.

Ferguson trusts the all-action midfielder in the big games – seemingly in contrast to laidback striker Dimitar Berbatov – but his countryman has only just returned from a medium-term lay-off through illness and so will need to be monitored this week.

It is something of paradox that for all the money United have lavished in the transfer market over recent years that Fletcher, who came through the ranks, could be key to Saturday’s midfield battle.

He might not win the game but he can certainly have a say, if fit, in how long United are able to stay in it which would give them a chance of overturning the odds (United 3/1 – 9-0 Minutes).

And perhaps there is a danger of over-stating Barcelona’s chances at Wembley based solely on two years ago in the Italian capital as the season before United accounted for the Catalans in the semi-finals without Frank Rijkaard’s side scoring a goal.

“We showed fantastic concentration in those two ties,” said Ferguson. “That is the key for us. It is an important issue in terms of Saturday.”

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Barca ready for title party

Posted on May 10, 2011 by SoccerCapper

There are still one or two domestic issues to sort out across Europe and with a full midweek programme in Spain’s La Liga culminating on Wednesday, a clearer picture will emerge of the success stories this season (Primera Liga – totesport).

Barcelona can wrap up the title on Wednesday, regardless of what Real Madrid do on Tuesday night, when they travel to Levante and it is difficult to see them not justifying 3/10 favouritism in the match betting.

Levante are priced at 10/1 to cause a shock, with the draw on offer at 4/10, but the season has started to fall away for the Granotes and they are currently on a three-game winless streak with nothing left to play for.

Barca have an impressive way record, easily the best in La Liga, and although they suffered their only defeat on their travels the last time they played away – a 2-1 defeat at Real Sociedad – there were mitigating circumstances for that defeat.

The Catalans fielded an understrength line-up for the clash yet still dominated, only to be undone late on, having substituted both centre-halves, while the game came the weekend before a crunch Champions League semi-final against arch rivals Real.

With a place secured at Wembley, Barca can now concentrate on the league and needing just a point from their remaining three games to guarantee the title, they can do it at the earliest opportunity and in the best possible style.

Lionel Messi has underlined why he is considered the best player in the world time and time again this season and is an obvious candidate in the goalscoring markets (9/4 to score two or more) but it may pay to side with Pedro to open the scoring at 7/2 as he is the one who generally makes the runs behind the defenders.

The Blaugrana have scored 45 times away from home in La Liga and with the pressure off against a side looking forward to their holidays, goals look a very real possibility at the Ciutat de Valencia.

Barcelona to score in both halves is available at 21/20 and Pep Guardiola’s men are also worthy of support on the handicap (-1) at 20/23.

Valencia bounced back to form with a 3-0 over Real Sociedad on Saturday and can confirm their third place with victory as 13/10 favourites at Espanyol at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat.

Los Che have easily been the third best team in the division – they have a five-point cushion over Villarreal – and boast an impressive away record with 10 victories on the road this year – bettered only by Barca and Real.

Espanyol (17/10 to win, 9/4 the draw) have been difficult to beat at home, losing just five times, but their season is stalling at just the wrong time with just one win in their last six games.

A massive game in the relegation battle takes place at the Estadio Municipal de Anoeta with Real Sociedad (Evens in the match betting) taking on Real Zaragoza (23/10 to win, 9/4 the draw).

It has been a case of all or nothing for these two sides of late and with only one draw at the ground all season it is difficult to envisage another on Wednesday night.

It would be risky taking the 23/10 on the away win unless Zaragoza can reproduce the performance at the Bernabeu 11 days ago when they beat Real 3-2 – on the same evening Sociedad came from behind to beat Barcelona at home.

However, that was only a second road win this term for Zaragoza but with 10 home wins behind them, Sociedad look to have a great chance to pull further clear from the drop zone.

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Barca ready to thwart Gunners

Posted on February 15, 2011 by SoccerCapper

Wednesday’s Champions League action sees the tie of the round as Arsenal take on 19/10 outright favourites Barcelona at the Emirates in the first leg of their last-16 clash with the Gunners on a revenge mission following their quarter-final exit last year. Perhaps not necessarily the choice of the neutral but there is also Roma’s match against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Italian capital and here is a look at the betting for both games.

Arsenal v Barcelona

The Gunners are considered by many to be the best footballing side in England but unfortunately for them, they face the best footballing side in the world on Wednesday and it is not hard to see why the Catalan giants are the 5/6 favourites in the match betting.

Anyone who has seen Barca play over the course of the season is sure to have been impressed and they have forged a five-point lead at the top of La Liga, despite the vast amounts of money spent at arch-rivals Real Madrid and the summer signing of Jose Mourinho as manager.

At times, Barca have not quite lived up to their billing but are more than capable of playing when the pressure is one, demonstrated by the 5-0 hammering of Real in El Clasico.

The 2009 champions come into this match on the back of a surprise 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon on Saturday, which ended a 16-match winning streak in Spain.

However, excuses can be made for the result ahead of a big Champions League match and with Lionel Messi (7/2 to score the first goal) in red-hot form for the Blaugrana – has scored 24 goals in 23 league games and another six in the Champions League – it looks a case of whether Arsenal can keep pace.

Arsenal, who have top scorer Samir Nasri available after a hamstring injury, are certainly capable of scoring against anyone so goals look a certainty with Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals priced at 4/7.

The Gunners defence though is not the strongest – recently surrendering a 4-0 lead against Newcastle – particularly with Thomas Vermaelen out, and it may be a case that they need to outscore a side that not includes the World Player of the Year, but David Villa, Andres Iniesta and rising star Pedro.

The Catalans have never lost to Arsenal as well drawing 2-2 at the Emirates last season before destroying Arsene Wenger’s men 4-1 at the Nou Camp, while they also came from behind to win 2-1 in the 2006 Champions League final.

The clubs also met in the group stages in 1999/2000 which saw a 1-1 draw played out in Spain before Barcelona won 4-2 in the reverse fixture – at Wembley.

Arsenal also contrived to finish second in their group, despite winning their first three games with an aggregate 14-2 – and, despite winning four of the last five domestically, they haven’t played any side of the quality of Barcelona.

Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk

Roma’s campaign started slowly as they suffered defeats to Bayern and Basle (at home) but won two and drew one of their last three games to make it through to the last-16, despite finishing with a negative goal difference.

They are 20/21 favourites to make home advantage count on Wednesday and although they won 4-0 the last time they played the Ukrainians at home in 2006/07, recent domestic form does not make pretty reading and a Shakhtar surprise looks good value at 3/1.

Much may depend on their sharpness having not played since December 28 because of the winter break in Ukraine but they have won 25 of 28 matches played this season, and won two out of their three away games in the group stages.

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Barca, Mes que un club

Posted on December 21, 2010 by SoccerCapper

Only the most ardent of Espanyol supporters must have dared to dream a comeback was on the cards when Pablo Daniel Osvaldo had the temerity to score against Catalan derby rivals Barcelona on Saturday (8/15 Barcelona – La Liga outright).

The dominance of Pep Guardiola’s star-studded squad means such clutching of straws is now commonplace when L’equip blaugrana are in town.

It is also worth pointing out that Barca were 3-0 up by the time the Buenos Aires-born striker found the net – and David Villa scored two more to seal an emphatic 5-1 away victory.

The Camp Nou boss has suggested this was to be the most difficult La Liga match remaining this season – he need not have lost any sleep.

His players proved unequivocally at Estadi Cornella-El Prat that they are the most formidable fusion of guile and graft in world football right now.

The end product is mesmerising but the work done behind the glitz and glare of the cameras must not be underestimated here because the facts laid bare are simply frightening.

This was the fifth time Barcelona have scored five goals. They have now got 51 after just 16 weeks. They have won 10 on the trot and racked up an eighth win out of eight away. They have dropped points just twice – against Mallorca and Hercules – to boast the best record in history at this stage. They will finish 2010 with a record 103 points in the calendar year.

For all their attacking prowess Barcelona have added a resilience and dogged determination at the back. They have conceded just 12 goals in all competitions since the first whistle was blown this season.

Let us not forget Lionel Messi. The Argentina superstar has scored 58 goals in 53 games – the highest total ever.

Jose Mourinho, perhaps in desperation, perhaps in awe, attempted to get Real Madrid supporters onside when he suggested his side’s bad-tempered win over Sevilla “will be very frustrating for those who wanted us to lag four or five points behind Barcelona”.

The street-wise Portuguese coach witnessed first-hand the destruction Barca can cause when his side were crushed 5-0 at the end of November, so shouting from afar is unlikely to ruffle Guardiola (11/8 Real Madrid – La Liga outright).

It seems only tired legs and minds can stop Barca from retaining their Spanish crown – and the rest of us can just enjoy the ride.

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Mourinho can outwit Barca

Posted on November 26, 2010 by SoccerCapper

Jose Mourinho returns to the Nou Camp on Monday night (Barcelona 21/20, draw 5/2, Real Madrid 9/4 – Match Betting) to try and spoil the party once again for Barcelona fans, as arguably the two best club teams in the world go head to head in El Classico.

The ‘Special One’ worked as a translator for former Barca boss Sir Bobby Robson, before being promoted to assistant manager under Louis van Gaal.

Since then, Barca fans have been sick of the sight of the Portuguese mastermind with his latest insult to the Nou Camp faithful being the way he helped Inter Milan deny the Catalan club the chance of winning the Champions League in the Santiago Bernabeu.

Barcelona are just one point behind league leaders Real Madrid and go into this mouth watering clash on the back a 8-0 demolition of poor old Almeria in La Liga and an impressive 3-0 away performance against Panathinaikos in the Champions League.

You cannot help but match up two of the world’s superstars for this clash, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi looking to outdo each other in this massive game.

Messi is in scintillating form for Barca, bagging himself 23 goals in 18 games in all competitions this season. Ronaldo is also enjoying a dazzling season, with 18 goals in 19 games, as his tricks continue to baffle defenders in La Liga and the Champions League.

Obviously this game will not just come down to these two superstars with the likes of David Villa, Gonzalo Higuain, Xabi Alonso and Andres Iniesta all capable of stealing the headlines.

With the game at the Nou Camp, Barca will be favourites but with Real in their current form and Mourinho’s abilities to mastermind the most unlikely of wins, the team from the capital might just nick this one.

In the Serie A, table toppers AC Milan are on the road as they take on Sampdoria on Saturday (Sampdoria 19/10, draw 21/10, AC Milan 5/4 – Match Betting).

Milan sit just three points ahead of Lazio, who are chasing hard, whilst city rivals Inter trail the leaders by nine points.

Sampdoria had a strong start to the season but have dropped points in recent months and currently find themselves in eight place in the league.

They go into this one after a 3-2 win over Serie A strugglers Lecce, but will come up against tough opposition as they face a Milan side that have lost only one of their last eleven games in the league.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been in fine form for Milan since he joined the Italian side on loan from Barcelona and he could be the star of the show, with the Brazilian tricksters Robinho and Ronaldinho providing the service.

This should be another three away points for AC Milan, as they look to win their first Serie A title since 2004.

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Fab opens up on Barca deal

Posted on October 14, 2010 by SoccerCapper

Cesc Fabregas has admitted he missed out on a “good opportunity” when his move to Barcelona failed to come off over the summer but says now he is solely concentrating on helping Arsenal “win titles” (Arsenal 8/1 – Premier League outright).

The Gunners skipper was the subject of several very public offers from Barca over the close-season but Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger resisted all bids for the under-contract star.

It was reported that the La Liga giants were prepared to spend £35million on the player they let leave for England as a youngster but ultimately they failed in their pursuit.

The Spain international has been linked with Barca again in a deal for next summer but the 24-year-old maintains talk of a move back to Catalonia is behind him – for now at least.

He has paid tribute to Wenger and the way he has nurtured him at Arsenal but he admits to pull on the famous Barca shirt remains a “dream” for the midfielder.

He said on radio station Cadena Cope: “I maintain that I was right because (to play for Barcelona) is a dream I have had since childhood.

“The truth is that the coach is like a second father to me. I told him what I thought.”

Fabregas could be back following injury for the Gunners in the Premier League clash at home to Birmingham City on Saturday (Arsenal 12/1 to win 4-0) and he has revealed how he was told in no uncertain terms by Wenger over the summer that the deal would not be happening.

“In the end, when I spoke to Wenger he told me ‘no’ – he was very emphatic, that the transfer was impossible,” he added.

“I am satisfied for all parties. It wasn’t to be and that’s that, though in my head I keep thinking it could have been a good opportunity.

“But here (at Arsenal) I have everything. I am still happy. I am very comfortable here, I like the club, lead the team, play football.”

Fabregas is hoping to lead Arsenal to their first trophy in five years this season but he admits they need to engender a winning mentality at the Emirates if they are to be successful once again.

“We just need to start winning titles because we have a wealth of quality. A winning mentality is missing,” he said.

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Mascherano ends Barca spree

Posted on September 1, 2010 by SoccerCapper

Barcelona’s sporting vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu confirmed that Javier Mascherano’s ‘dream’ move to the Nou Camp completes their transfer dealings for this season (Barcelona 13/5 Champions League Outright).

The Spanish champions swooped to bolster their already impressive midfield options by snapping up Argentina international captain, Mascherano, from Liverpool for a reported £18million on a four-year contract on Monday evening following his five-hour medical.

The Catalan giants, who are aiming to secure the Champions League title this season after failing to emulate their May 2009 success last term, have already snapped up David Villa (11/2f Champions League Top Goalscorer) and Adriano to help them do that.

Bartomeu has now spoken out to reveal that they feel Pep Guardiola’s squad has enough strength in depth to fight it out for the Primera Liga and Champions League.

He said: “The squad is now complete and we will not sign anyone else. We have reached the decision that there is no need to strengthen the team any further.”

Meanwhile Mascherano, who took a pay cut to join Barcelona, could not hide his delight at finally joining the club.

“When I landed I said that I was achieving a dream. At last I will be able to say that I play for Barcelona, the team who I wanted to play for.”

The 26-year-old must now fight it out with some quality players to get into a Barca side that consists of eight of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad.

“It would be stupid if I thought I was going to play all the time. You need to respect the people here who have been doing so well,” he added.

“In my position there are three world champions who have won everything (Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta). For me it is a dream to grow, learn and enjoy playing next to them.”

He added: “I know that they’ve won everything, it’s a team full of great players, with a base of world champions and I will try to be humble and help the team continue winning things.

“I’m going to have the chance to play with players who I admire and I will able to say that I’ve grown and that I’ve been a better player at this club.

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime. I will train to be ready when I’m needed.”

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Mascherano completes Barca spree

Posted on August 31, 2010 by SoccerCapper