TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014 SPORTS Barca need to avoid Clasico obsession and focus on Ajax BARCELONA: Barcelona need to avoid getting we want to play well and be ready for the El sucked into the Spanish obsession with El Clasico. “We need to continue improving Clasico when they face Ajax Amsterdam in the aspects despite the win,” he added. “Even when Champions League today. we weren’t able to score we did not panic and All eyes in Spain are on leaders Barca’s visit kept on trying. to Real Madrid next Saturday which could see “There is also a physical element as well the possible debut of Uruguay forward Luis because in the second half our rivals have Suarez after his four-month ban for biting problems against us. Playing with intensity and Italian Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup. forcing the opposition back into their own area With so much interest, there is a real risk means that they tire.” Lionel Messi and Neymar that the visit of four-times European champi- both started against Eibar despite long trips for ons Ajax could take a back seat and be treated recent international matches and between as a mere warm-up. However, defeat in their them they have scored 17 of Barca’s 25 goals so previous outing against Paris St Germain far. Barca coach Luis Enrique admitted that means that Barca cannot afford to be compla- Messi’s value to the team made it difficult to cent, even if Ajax are nowadays a provider of leave him out. “I look at who to give a break to young talent for other European clubs rather including Messi but later I think to myself if you than a force in their own right. don’t play him you will miss out on the goals he Paris St Germain lead Group F with four scores,” he said. “I think over what they say and points followed by Barca on three points and how the players are feeling. During the season Ajax on two. “The most important game for us he will have a break but I think it is a special now is against Ajax and we want to play well in moment for the team and him at the moment. GERMANY: Schalke’s new head coach Roberto Di Matteo talks to his team during a training session at the arena in Gelsenkirchen. Schalke will that so that we are in good condition for the El “Sometimes I sit there on the bench and play against Sporting Club in a Group G Champions League match today. — AP Clasico,” Javier Mascherano told reporters after think to myself how lucky I am to have Messi. It Saturday’s 3-0 win over Eibar. “You cannot live is not just what he can do but also the stimulus in the past or for games that are going to take he provides for the others.” Schalke plan Sporting ambush place in the future,” he added. “The match Ajax are second in the Eredivisie and came against Ajax is important for us and we need to from behind to draw 1-1 against Twente on be fully focused on that. If we don’t play well Saturday with Kolbeinn Sigthorsson scoring in LISBON: Schalke 04 are hoping their freshly- was good and the organisation of the team against Hertha, his first since suffering a knee today then that can also change the mood and the second half. — Reuters found discipline under new coach Robert Di was also good. We have to increase our pos- injury in August. Matteo, coupled with his Champions League session and play better between the lines. “We have not taken a huge step but we pedigree will help them beat Sporting Lisbon But we cannot change everything at once.” did take an important step forward,” today for their first win in the competition Schalke looked sharp in attack, with mid- Hoewedes said. “We have to remain patient this season. Italian Di Matteo, who replaced fielder Julian Draxler and Dutch forward and keep working and push ourselves for- Jens Keller, enjoyed a successful debut on the Klaas-Jan Huntelaar on target. Di Matteo, ward bit by bit.” For bottom-placed Sporting, Schalke bench with a 2-0 victory over Hertha whose appointment is the first since his a win is of paramount importance to main- Berlin on Saturday in what also was only their Chelsea sacking in late 2012, will be hoping tain their chances of advancing, having col- second clean sheet of the league so far. the striker’s streak in Europe also continues lected only one point in their two games so The former Chelsea coach, who won the after having scored in both the previous far. Chelsea top the group on four points, Champions League in a caretaker role in group games this season. with Schalke level on two with Maribor. 2012, must now also kickstart their European “Our focus is now on Sporting and success The Portuguese, however, enjoyed a confi- campaign after two draws in Group G against in this game in the Champions League,” said dence-boosting 3-1 win over Porto on Chelsea and Maribor. Di Matteo. Di Matteo will be able to count on Saturday for a spot in the Portuguese Cup “What was positive was the win and the captain Benedikt Hoewedes, after the fourth round. clean sheet,” Di Matteo said following Germany defender started against Hertha Although five of their 10 matches this sea- Saturday’s win which lifted them back up the following a five-week break with a hip injury. son have ended in 1-1 draws, Sporting’s only Bundesliga table into eighth place after a Defender Jan Kirchhoff also returned to defeat was at home to Chelsea in the rollercoaster start to the season. “Our defence action, making a brief substitute appearance Champions League. — Reuters SPAIN: Ajax players attend a training session at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. Barcelona will play against Ajax in a Group F Champions League today. — AP Sound of silence no boost to Pellegrini MOSCOW: Manchester City manager league leaders Zenit St Petersburg to just Manuel Pellegrini has said playing in an two points. empty stadium won’t help his side when Forwards Ahmed Musa and Seydou they travel to Russia for their potentially Doumba scored two goals apiece, with decisive Champions League match against midfielder Roman Eremenko also finding CSKA Moscow today. the back of the net. European football governing body UEFA “Of course we were not awarded any have ordered CSKA to play the game extra points for a 6-0 victory,” former behind closed doors because of racist Manchester United midfielder Zoran Tosic, behaviour by their fans-something City who is currently playing with CSKA, said. have direct experience of after Yaya Toure “But such a solid win raises the team’s self- was on the receiving end of verbal abuse confidence a great deal. when the clubs met last season. Self-confidence is just what we need But Pellegrini does not believe this will ahead of the match with Manchester City.” give the reigning Premier League champi- CSKA are rock-bottom of the Champions ons, still struggling to make their mark on League Group E table without points fol- Europe’s elite club competition, an advan- lowing two defeats in as many matches, tage in the Russian capital. one point behind third-placed City. “I think that affects football. I don’t think The 2005 UEFA Cup winners are still it is the best way to play, not only for our without Swedish midfielder Rasmus Elm team but for the Russian team,” Pellegrini and Brazilian forward Vitinho through said. “I think football is about the fans. It is injury, while Brazilian winger Mario the most important thing because they Fernandes, who suffered an arm injury on give an atmosphere at the stadium which is Saturday is in doubt for the match with different to an empty stadium. It will be a City. Russian international Alan Dzagoev different experience but that cannot affect and Swede Pontus Wernbloom will also sit our performance,” the Chilean added. out the last of their respective three-match City badly need victories in both their bans after being sent-off last season matches with CSKA, having been beaten by against Czech side Viktoria Plzen. Bayern Munich and drawn at home to “Our attacking line of Musa-Doumbia Roma in their opening Group E fixtures. proved their scoring abilities in the match “We have two games against CSKA with Kuban,” CSKA manager Leonid Slutsky Moscow in the Champions League that we said. “And I’m happy I can count on them need to win both of them,” said Pellegrini. both in the match with Manchester, even COBHAM: Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas (centre right) controls the ball during a training session. Chelsea will play Maribor in a Champions League “The best way is to treat every game as a though Doumbia hasn’t reached his top Group G soccer match at Stamford Bridge stadium today.— AP final, try to win it and then win the next form yet.” UEFA ordered CSKA to play their final,” added Pellegrini, whose side will trav- next three European matches behind el to Russia on the back of a 4-1 win over closed doors following supporter incidents Chelsea wary of Maribor threat Tottenham Hotspur where striker Sergio during the club’s match with Roma last Aguero scored all of their goals. month. CSKA have appealed but the UEFA LONDON: Chelsea may be five points clear at to finish the first three matches with seven explained.