Real See Off Olimpic Threat
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Sports47 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2013 Barca ‘vulnerable’ without Messi, Neymar MADRID: Barcelona are looking to extend their record run at the top of La Liga and sign off for the winter break with a win when they play at eighth-placed Getafe on Sunday but the modest Madrid-based club are eyeing an upset. Barca will travel to the Spanish capital without injured World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, who is continuing his recov- ery from a muscle strain in his native Argentina and is not due back until the middle of January. Coach Gerardo Martino is also missing in-form Brazil forward Neymar, who is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the sea- son in last weekend’s 2-1 win over Villarreal, and Getafe president Angel Torres believes the absence of the two for- wards boosts his side’s chances. Sunday’s game is the first of three meetings between Barca and Getafe over the next few weeks as they also clash over two legs in the last 16 of the King’s Cup early next month. “Let’s see if we can get them this time, it’s a good moment for it,” Torres, whose side knocked Barca out of the Cup in 2007, told reporters at a charity event on Wednesday. “Messi is the best player in the world and Neymar is coming into good form but it must be said that they have plenty of backup,” he added. “We will have to play at 150 percent on Sunday as well as in the Cup. “We will have a go. We did it in 2007 and we will give it the best pos- sible shot.” With Messi and Neymar unavailable, the goal-scoring burden will likely fall on the shoulders of Alexis Sanchez, Pedro and Cesc Fabregas. Spain forward Pedro has seven MADRID: Real Madrid’s Argentinean midfielder Angel di Maria (center) controls the ball during the Spanish Copa del Rey goals in La Liga this term, one more than Neymar, and (King’s Cup) finals stage second-leg football match Real Madrid CF vs Olimpic de Xativa on December 18, 2013. — AFP scored Barca’s opening goal in Tuesday’s King’s Cup victory against third-tier Cartagena. “Scoring always helps with your confidence,” he told reporters. “I am pleased with the Real see off Olimpic threat goals I am bringing to the team and also for having a chance to play.” Real Madrid, Atletico book Cup last 16 RECORD RUN MADRID: Real Madrid reached the last game because we changed the team a when he turned home Adrian’s cross 12 Barca’s success at home to Villarreal meant the champi- 16 of the Copa del Rey with a comfort- lot. Some players that haven’t played a minutes from time. Sant Andreu looked ons had held top spot for 54 consecutive matchdays able 2-0 win over Olimpic Xativa at the lot need more minutes to reach optimal like they may still hold out for a famous extending back to last season, surpassing the record set by Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. condition. “In general the young players draw, but they were cruelly denied with arch rivals Real Madrid between the 1986-87 and 1987-88 Without the injured Gareth Bale and sus- need work because playing for Real the last action of the game as Toby campaigns. By the time Barca take to pitch at Getafe’s pended Cristiano Ronaldo, Real boss Madrid is not easy. They need to be Alderweireld headed home Gabi’s free- Coliseum stadium on Sunday (1600 GMT), however, they Carlo Ancelotti gave a number of his ready because this season we will need kick deep into stoppage time. Atletico could already be three points behind closest rivals Atletico younger players another chance to everyone, they need to be concentrated will now face Valencia or Gimnastic in Madrid. impress despite being held to a 0-0 so that when the opportunity arrives, the next round. Racing Santander pro- draw in the first-leg 10 days ago. The they take it.” Atletico Madrid, mean- duced the surprise of the evening as Diego Simeone’s side, who like Barca have won all eight Italian was rewarded as Asier Illaramendi while, were forced to come from behind they overcame a 1-0 first-leg deficit with of their home games, host 11th-placed Levante on Saturday slotted home his first goal for the club to beat minnows Sant Andreu 2-1 on a 2-0 win away to 10-man Sevilla. (1900) and are level on 43 points at the top. They have the before Angel di Maria’s penalty made it the night at the Vicente Calderon to David Miguelez pulled the visitors same goal difference as Barca but are second because they 2-0 at the break. progress into the last 16, 6-1 on aggre- level in the tie from the penalty spot have scored one goal fewer. Real Madrid are five points Madrid failed to add to their tally in gate. Alberto Carroza had fired the visi- after Stephane M’bia had been sent-off adrift of the leaders after they were held to a 2-2 draw at the second-half, but were never threat- tors into a shock lead as Atletico con- for hauling down Mariano Sainz inside Osasuna last weekend and play at troubled Valencia on ened by their third-tier opponents as ceded for the first time at home since the area. Mahamadou Kone then sealed Sunday (2000). they eased into the next round where early October. Atletico then passed up a the comeback in stoppage time when Mired down in ninth, Valencia are yet to name a replace- they will face Osasuna. “I think we start- host of chances to level before the break he fired home from close range. Real ment for coach Miroslav Djukic, who was sacked on ed the game well, but we slowed down as Jose Gimenez had a goal harshly Sociedad set up a meeting with Monday, and B team boss Nico Estevez has taken charge in when we were 2-0 up. Our rhythm ruled out for offside, while Adrian Lopez Villarreal in the last 16 with a convincing the meantime. The club were in talks with former Barcelona dropped too much in the second-half blasted a penalty over the bar. With 4-0 win over Algeciras thanks to goals and Spain striker Juan Antonio Pizzi, who won Argentina’s and I didn’t like it,” said Ancelotti. And such an advantage from the first-leg, from Javi Ros, Haris Seferovic, Antoine league title with San Lorenzo on Sunday, Spanish media the former Chelsea boss stressed that Atletico boss Diego Simeone had hand- Griezmann and Carlos Vela to seal a 5-1 reported. Real coach Carlo Ancelotti is waiting to see if the likes of Jese Rodriguez and Alvaro ed a night off to the majority of his first- aggregate victory. La Liga sides Almeria record signing Gareth Bale will be available for the game at Morata need to make the most of their team regulars and had to turn to 18- and Real Betis also progressed despite opportunities in the absence of Ronaldo year-old Hector Hernandez in his search being held at home on the night by low- the Mestalla after the Wales winger took a knock to the calf and Bale. for an equaliser. er league Las Palmas and Lleida respec- in training on Tuesday.— Reuters “It wasn’t easy to prepare for the The young forward duly delivered tively.— AFP Leverkusen primed to close in on absent Bayern Munich BERLIN: As Bayern Munich take a break from sistency, Leverkusen have emerged as Bayern’s against a team with the joint worst defensive Fritz involved in a scuffle with a team mate dur- domestic action to pursue more silverware over- main challengers for the Bundesliga title despite record in the league after conceding 37 goals in ing training this week. Werder coach Robin Dutt seas, Bayer Leverkusen will be hoping to close suffering a 1-0 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt last 16 matches. “Every time our opponent gets into is well aware that another defeat following the within four points of the all-conquering week that halted a four-game winning streak. the penalty area, it becomes extremely danger- 7-0 drubbing at Bayern and a 3-2 loss at Hertha Bavarians with a win over Werder Bremen ahead After clinching a Champions League knockout ous for us,” Werder sports director Thomas Berlin in the past two weeks could cost him his of the German winter break. Bayern will be aim- stage berth last week, they bolstered their Eichin said of the 14th-placed side’s fragile job. “We are having a bad run, there’s no ques- ing to claim a fifth trophy of 2013 when they squad with the loan signing of 20-year-old defense. tion about it,” Dutt told reporters. “But it does face surprise package Raja Casablanca in the South Korean forward Ryu Seung-woo on Werder have conceded 14 goals in the last not do us any good to talk about the standings. I Club World Cup final in Morocco on Saturday Wednesday from FC Jeju for the second half of three games in the absence of injured central can read the table and there are not many and with their 17th league game put back to the season. defender Sebastian Proedl and their 16 point- teams behind us.” Dutt’s cause has not been January, Leverkusen have a chance to cut their For coach Sami Hyypia’s team, the Bremen haul after as many matches represents their low- helped by the possibility of having to deal with lead.