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Home , Andrea Pirlo, Thiago Motta

Sports FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2014 After records, Messi can focus on silverware

MADRID: With the distraction of two indi- net, or at the very least a King’s Cup and appears to have slotted seamlessly into Saturday. A win for Real in Andalusia will vidual scoring records safely out of the way, preferably all three, in 2014-15. the Barca attack alongside Messi and set a club record for consecutive victories Barcelona forward can turn his As the Catalan side prepare for and he also has four assists to his of 16 and they were last beaten in mid- full focus on helping the club win the major Sunday’s game at fourth-placed name. “This is the version of Barca I would September, a 2-1 home reverse to champi- silverware that eluded them last season. Valencia, there are signs they are begin- like to see all season long,” Luis Enrique ons Atletico Madrid. New Luis Enrique was as effusive ning to move up the gears after a patchy said at his post-match news conference on Atletico, who joined Barca and Real in as anyone in his praise of the Barca and couple of months. Tuesday. “If we play like that all the time it the last 16 of the Champions League on Argentina captain, who on Tuesday added Tuesday’s 4-0 win at APOEL Nicosia fol- is going to be very difficult for anyone to Wednesday, are third, two points behind the all-time Champions League scoring lowed hard on the heels of Saturday’s 5-1 beat us,” added the former Spain midfield- Barca, ahead of their match at Deportivo record to the La Liga-best tally he set at drubbing of Sevilla, while new signing Luis er, who played for both Barca and Real La Coruna on Sunday. the weekend. However, both Messi and Suarez finally opened his Barca account in Madrid. Second-placed Barca are two David Moyes, whose debut as coach of Luis Enrique know all that will be forgot- Cyprus in his sixth appearance. points behind leaders Real after 12 match- Real Sociedad at Depor on Saturday ended ten unless Barca add another Champions Although it took him longer than es and could see the gap stretch to five if in a 0-0 draw, will seek a first win at home League or La Liga title to the trophy cabi- expected to score, the Uruguay forward the European champions win at Malaga on to Elche today. — Reuters Brandao sentenced in jail for headbutt

PARIS: Bastia forward Brandao has been sentenced to one month in prison for headbutting St Germain , a French tribunal said yesterday. The sentence, however, is expected to be turned into community service. Brazilian Brandao, already suspended by the football authorities for six months, was also handed a fine of 20,000 euros ($24,966). “It is extremely harsh. We used to say that footballers are not above the law but they should not be below the law either,” his lawyer Olivier Martin told BFMTV. Last week the French football federation rejected Brandao’s appeal against his six-month ban. Security camera footage broadcast on television after the game in August showed Brandao standing in a corridor outside the changing rooms at the in Paris after the Corsicans’ 2-0 defeat at the hands of the champions. Facing the camera as Thiago Motta comes into view, Brandao takes two steps forward before making contact with the Italian international’s face. The Brazilian, who was substi- tuted in the game after picking up a yellow card, then turns and runs away with Thiago Motta in pursuit. It is the second time in two seasons the former Olympique de Marseille player has been suspended. He also received a three-match ban last season for elbowing another PSG mid- fielder, Yohan Cabaye. — Reuters

MALMO: Markus Rosenberg of Malmo, left, is chased by Juventus’ , center, during their Champions League group A soccer match in Malmo, Sweden, Wednesday. — AP Juventus hosts Torino in derby match

MILAN: Juventus is just one game away two matches. It has also managed to score league now,” Totti said. “It will be a difficult from a perfect November, and it has every just seven goals all season - the second match, they have changed coach and reason to be confident going into Sunday’s worst attack in ’s top flight. “In football Mancini is a great motivator. “It’s always a derby against Torino.Not only is the there are positive moments and negative special game against Inter but we have to three-time reigning Serie A champion sit- ones,” Torino coach Giampiero Ventura keep on going and stay close to Juve.” ting atop the table, it also took a giant step said. “We just need to stay calm and be toward qualifying for the Champions aware of our situation as we continue to Fight for third League knockout stages with victory in work hard. “We know that when we play as It will be a battle for third when Malmo midweek. ’s we know how to do, we can get good Sampdoria host Napoli on Monday. team has a perfect record in all competi- results.” Ventura’s team hasn’t even been Napoli currently occupies the final tions this month, and has also won the able to score from the penalty spot lately, Champions League qualifying spot with 22 past six encounters with Torino. In addi- missing their past three spot kicks. points, but Samp is just one point behind. tion, on Sunday it will be 12 years, nine Both teams had disappointing results months and seven days since Torino last Roma reeling last week, with Samp drawing 1-1 at lowly scored a against the Bianconeri. Roma has to pick itself up quickly from Cesena and Napoli squandering a two-goal If Juventus does slip up, second-place its European disappointment as it turns its lead to draw 3-3 to Cagliari. Roma can take advantage when it hosts attention back to the domestic competi- “We want to recover the two points we later on Sunday. AC Milan, tion. Roma appeared to be heading for a lost last Sunday and we will play to win,” which drew its derby match against Inter vital win at CSKA Moscow but the Russian Sampdoria captain Daniele Gastaldello last week, welcomes Udinese. Here are side scored an equalizer in stoppage time said. “But we’re expecting an angry Napoli PARIS: This file picture dated on August 16, 2014 shows some things to know about the Italian which captain said felt like side after their last match, and they will Bastia’s Brazillian forward Brandao running with the ball dur- league: “a punch from (Mike) Tyson.”Roma, which also want to get back on track.” ing the French L1 football match between Paris Saint- is three points behind Serie A leader Genoa has 20 points ahead of its vis- Germain (PSG) and Bastia in Paris. Brandao was sentenced Terrible Toro Juventus, hosts Inter Milan - which recently it to Cesena on Sunday, while Lazio is yesterday to one month in jail and a 20.000 euros fine for giv- Torino is struggling at the moment, sit- welcomed back as coach. on 19 before playing Chievo Verona ing Paris’ Brazilian player Thiago Motta a headbutt. — AFP ting 15th in the league after losing its past “We’re focusing all our energy on the tomorrow. — AP