La Liga Preview : El Clasico Barcelona vs Real Madrid (21 April 2012)

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FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid, Spanish League Match (21 April 2012)

El Clasico Match Preview : FC Barcelona v Real Madrid, 21 April 2012

The biggest rivalry in world soccer will be revisited again on Saturday when Real Madrid travel to Nou Camp in Barcelona to face the Catalans. It's very much a must-win for the home team, as Barcelona will try to make up some valuable ground in the dwindling La Liga season.

Real Madrid (27-4-2) currently sit four points (85-81) above Barcelona (25-6-2) on top of the Spanish Primera League heading into this heated match. With a win, Real Madrid can almost ice the league title by going seven points up on their rivals with just four games remaining.

The game sits in a precarious spot on the calendar for both teams, sandwiched between first and second legs of the two clubs’ UEFA Champions League semifinal matches against Bayern Munich (Real Madrid) and Chelsea (Barcelona).

Los Blancos fell to Bayern Munich, 2-1, in Germany on a 90th-minute goal by Mario Gomez on Tuesday, while Barcelona lost to Chelsea, 1-0, in their first-leg tie at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Saturday’s match between the two clubs, who I presently have ranked No. 1 and No. 2 both in Europe along with the entire Milky Way galaxy, should be a high-scoring affair. Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid have scored more goals (107 goals for, 29 against) than anyone anywhere, while Lionel Messi and Barcelona (96 goals for, 24 against) have been known to put a ball or two in the back of the net from time to time.

The Catalans have a couple of things going for them in this battle. Barcelona are undefeated (15-1-0) at Camp Nou, outscoring their foes an incredible 64-8 in the process. On the road, Real Madrid are an impressive 13-2-1 (44 goals for, 11 against) in La Liga, but beating Barca is a different beast.

A motivational factor for the Blaugrana is the reality that they are just four points behind Real Madrid in the league table and, with a victory on their home turf, can cut that lead to a slim one point (85-84) with only four games remaining.

With players like Messi, Cesc Fabregas, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol and Victor Valdes, the defending UEFA CL champs Barcelona can beat anyone almost anywhere and are certainly one of the best teams in soccer (futbol) history.

As if all that wasn’t enough to side with the home team in this game on Saturday, consider Barcelona’s 5-2-1 record against Real Madrid in the last eight meetings. In those meetings, Barca have outscored Los Blancos by a healthy 19-9 total in La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Supercup play. Real haven't scored more than two goals in any of those games.

So while the three-time defending Spanish Supercup champions Barcelona can still win the Copa del Rey title (vs. Athletic Bilbao May 25 in Madrid) and the UEFA CL crown (May 19 in Munich), they need to win this match to close the league gap to one for a shot at winning La Liga.

Although Los Blancos, under Jose Mourinho, are as good as they have been in some time, "The Special One" hasn’t been so special against the Catalans. Until Real Madrid can knock off Barca, manager Pep Guardiola will retain all bragging rights.

Both Gonzalo Higuain and Kaka weren’t in Real Madrid’s starting XI versus Bayern Munich on Tuesday, so they should be rested and possibly start in this edition of El Clasico. Barcelona won this season’s first matchup, 3-1 at Santiago Bernabeu.

In the end, Barcelona are that gnat Real Madrid can’t kill. Until Mourinho’s crew proves they can beat their Spanish rivals, I will have to side with Barcelona.

Prediction: Barcelona 3, Real Madrid 2

Source: bleacherreport.com

FA Cup Final Tickets: Liverpool FC vs Chelsea (5 May 2012)

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Liverpool vs Chelsea, FA Cup Final, 5 May 2012

LFC selling notice for FA Cup final against Chelsea ChesterChronicle.co.uk To book please visit www.thomascooksport.com/Football/Premier-League/Liverpool-FC or call 0844 800 9900. As we do not have enough tickets to satisfy demand, the remainder of the sale will be subject to a ballot. Members and Fan Card Holders with five ... See all stories on this topic »

Liverpool: FA Cup Final Ticket News Vitalfootball Liverpool FC have announced the receipt of an allocation of 25074 tickets for the FA Cup final - a sizable reduction from the 31871 received for the semi-final. The match scheduled to be held on Saturday 5th May 2012 (kick off 5.15pm) will see the Reds ... See all stories on this topic »

BPL Match Preview: Arsenal vs Chelsea (21 April 2012)

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Arsenal vs Chelsea, English Premiership Match 21 April 2012

BPL Match Preview : Arsenal v Chelsea, 21 April 2012

While Chelsea are one game away from this year's Champions League final, a mere spot in the 2012 tournament is on the line against Arsenal.

Chelsea, in sixth place with a game in hand, edged out Barcelona 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday and head to the Emirates on Saturday seven points behind third-placed Arsenal.

Didier Drogba scored the winner against Barcelona and will look to add to his career tally of eight Premier League goals against the Gunners, who also have Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United hot on their heels in fourth and fifth respectively.

Arsenal are coming off a shock 2-1 loss at home to Wigan on Monday and face a selection dilemma in midfield after Mikel Arteta was this week ruled out for the remainder season with ankle ligament damage.

Arteta joins Jack Wilshire on the sidelines, while Yossi Benayoun, who is on loan from Chelsea, is ineligible to face his parent club and Abou Diaby remains short of match fitness, leaving Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger with few options for the London derby.

Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo hinted towards a number of changes in personnel following the Barcelona win, which came three days after a 5-1 romping of Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

"Public opinion has been that these boys are over the hill and too old to play two games in succession," Di Matteo told the club's official website.

"But they gave their answer on the pitch (against Barcelona).

"We have to assess the players ... but there's a good chance some fresh players will come in, because they deserve to as well."

Fernando Torres, Florent Malouda and Daniel Sturridge were all unused substitutes against Barcelona and could feature against Arsenal as the Blues go in search of just their fourth win in 20 Premier League trips to the Emirates.

Source: soccerway.com

Champions League Goals Video: Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona (18 April 2012)

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Chelsea 1-0 FC Barcelona, Champions League Semi Final Leg 1 (18 April 2012)

Champions League Semi-Final: Chelsea vs FC Barcelona Leg 1 Preview

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PREVIEW: Chelsea vs FC Barcelona, Champions League Semi Final Leg 1 (18 April 2012)

The holders head to Stamford Bridge once again to take on Roberto Di Matteo's men with both sides bidding for a place in the final against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich

Chelsea vs FC Barcelona, Champions League Semi Final 1 Preview

Chelsea has problems in defense with David Luiz likely to miss out after being stretchered off at Wembley against Tottenham on Sunday and Gary Cahill also struggling with a foot problem. John Terry will continue to play, despite a rib injury, and Branislav Ivanovic should replace Jose Bosingwa at right back, having been suspended for the FA Cup semifinal.

Elsewhere manager Roberto Di Matteo must decide whether to keep faith with the players who served him so well in the 5-1 thrashing of Spurs or freshen up his team. Dider Drogba and Frank Lampard were both scorers on Sunday, so may have done enough to retain their places, although Fernando Torres, who started both games against Benfica, will be hoping for a recall to the starting XI.

Barcelona has no fresh injury worries and indeed has players returning from injury with Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Seydou Keita and Ibrahim Afellay all back in the squad. It it also worth mentioning that both Javier Mascherano and Carles Puyol are one yellow card away from a suspension.

DID YOU KNOW ?

• Chelsea last met Barcelona in May 2009, again in the semifinals of the Champions League. After a goalless first leg, the Catalans qualified for the final with a stoppage time Andres Iniesta goal which cancelled out Michael Essien’s opener and saw Barca through on away goals.
• The Blues have a perfect record at home this season in the Champions League. Di Matteo’s men have played five, won five, scoring 16 times and conceding just two in the process.
• This fixture is the Londoners’ sixth Champions League semifinal in nine years. However, they have only ever won one, beating Liverpool 4-3 on aggregate in 2008.
• The Stamford Bridge side has never won the European Cup, although it has was runner-up in 2008.
• Barcelona’s last trip to London was last May at Wembley when it beat Manchester United 3-1 to claim a fourth European Cup.
• Should the reigning champions win the Champions League this season it will be their fourth triumph in seven years and they will be the first club since AC Milan in 1990 to retain the trophy.
• This is the fifth consecutive season that Barcelona has been in the semifinals of the Champions League. The last team to beat Barca at this stage was Inter Milan in 2010.
• Lionel Messi has faced Chelsea six times in the Champions League but has never scored against the Blues.
• When the two clubs met in the quarterfinals in 2000, Barcelona beat Chelsea 5-1 in the second leg at Camp Nou. That game saw Roberto Di Matteo start for the Blues, while a certain Pep Guardiola featured for the hosts.

Source: Goal.com

Football Tickets: FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid and Chelsea

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FC Barcelona-Real Madrid: new tickets to go on sale on April 20 ... Starting this Friday, April 20th, at 10:00, tickets to the match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will go on sale. The sale is exclusive to FC Barcelona ... www.fcbarcelona.com/.../fc-barcelona-reial-madrid-new-ticket...

Chelsea vs FC Barcelona Tickets Chelsea vs FC Barcelona Tickets - £350 (London/ BCN) ... Chealsea vs Barcelona , Champions League Semi Final Tickets available in Barca END 350each ... london.craigslist.co.uk/tid/2959211449.html

Champions League Goals Video: FC Bayern Munich 2-1 Real Madrid (17 April 2012)

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FC Bayern Munich 2-1 Real Madrid, Champions League Semi Final Leg 1 (17 April 2012)