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La Liga Focus - Defensive troubles for reigning champions
El Clásico may have the glamour, but few ties can compare to the drama and excitement of Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona. The sides’ past two meetings have seen them share 14 goals, and the neutrals will again expect a clash of epic proportions when these two attacking giants clash on Sunday night.
The European champions go into Sunday’s game with defensive troubles. Daniel Alves, Éric Abidal and Dmytro Chygrynskiy are all injured, while Rafael Márquez and Gerard Piqué are suspended. Yaya Touré, who would naturally deputize in the back line, is also out injured, leaving just Carles Puyol, Maxwell and Gabriel Milito as the side’s only recognized defenders. Coach Pep Guardiola may opt to deploy Sergio Busquets or Seydou Keita in defence, or a debut could be handed to one of the club’s young starlets from their highly-respected youth team. The Catalans are well equipped to fill the gaps, but a rejuvenated Atlético side, boasting a strikeforce of Sergio Agüero and Diego Forlán, will sense their opponent’s vulnerability.
The two sides have certainly produced some classic matches in past seasons. Their last meeting at the Vicente Calderón, arguably last season’s finest spectacle, saw a spirited Atlético twice came from behind to win 4-3. Sublime finishing and breathtaking drama was the order of the day, courtesy of great goals from Thierry Henry (2), Lionel Messi, Diego Forlán (2) and Sergio Agüero (2). Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona ran out 5-2 winners in their tie at the Camp Nou earlier in the campaign, in keeping with the explosive nature of the matches between these two sides.
Watch last year’s encounter here:
Beneath the glamour and expectation, the champions know that a win is essential if they are to maintain command over rivals Real Madrid. Five points currently separate the two teams at the top of La Liga, but Real travel to bottom-team Xerez on Saturday, meaning that Barca’s cushion will most likely have been cut to two points come kick-off at the Vicente Calderón on Sunday. The all-important Clásico does not come for another two months, but with the resumption of the Champions League this coming week, the 2009/10 campaign is approaching the business end.
Elsewhere in La Liga, media talk has been centred on transfers. Sergio Agüero’s future has been the subject of speculation after the Argentine striker said: “I have enormous affection for Atlético but you cannot say I'll be here forever.” The party line does not seem to have changed, but some have taken it as an indication that his future may not lie in Madrid. His physical style would suit the Premier League (take note, Manchester United and Chelsea), but the colours he will be wearing in August remain a mystery.
Reports linking Cesc Fàbregas to Barcelona have again surfaced, claiming the 22-year-old has signed an agreement to join the club at the end of the season. The Catalan midfielder, who spent six years at Barcelona as a youth player, has always been heavily linked to the club and has made no attempt to hide his desire to return to his boyhood club at some stage in his career, but as Arsenal’s run without a trophy increases, so does talk of a return to his homeland. All parties have since denied any agreement, Fàbregas himself telling Sky Sports: “They have denied it, I have denied it. I just want to focus on Arsenal,” before claiming that his current club deserved ‘a little bit more respect’.
While the speculation continues as to the future of these two young talents, one of La Liga’s elder statesmen has also been the focus of media attention. Raúl, Real Madrid’s all-time leading goalscorer and appearance maker, is heading to the USA at the end of the season, according to Madrid-based newspaper Marca. It claims that he is to sign for MLS side New York Red Bulls, after falling down the pecking order at Real Madrid. The striker has become increasingly disheartened at his lack of opportunity, stating: “It's not an ideal situation,” earlier this year. If a move away from his beloved Madrid, at which he has spent 17 years, is to become reality, the MLS seems the most likely destination for a player of his age. Whatever he chooses to do, this summer is certain to be one of some major shake-ups at Spain’s top clubs.
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