Pique, out.
No problem, Marquez can be his back-up.
Marquez, out.
No matter, there’s always Chygrynskiy.
Chygrynskiy, out.
Apparently Abidal doesn’t mind centre back.
Abidal, out.
Well at least there’s the in form Dani Alves!
Dani Alves, out.
We all remember Toure’s heroics against Chelsea last season, he performs well in the back!
Toure, out.

Oh, and did I mention that the remaining players are up against Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan?
Some may call this a disaster, others a tragedy. Fans are beginning to fly the white flag in the lead up to what is already being touted as a pre-determined loss for the undefeated-in-La Liga Barcelona, however, is this seemingly impossible predicament really such a catastrophe, or more a blessing for a depleted Blaugrana?

Team News

Barcelona

The major talking point in Catalunya as Barca’s injury woes allow a cloud of doubt to loom over the Blaugrana’s chances in this match.
It all began with the dismissal’s of Gerard Pique and Rafael Marquez who both saw straight red in last weeks game against Getafe. Hours after the game news spread of a 3 week-long injury to Dani Alves after the Brazilian aggravated a fibrillar break in his sides pre-match warm up to the Getafe game. The next day, disaster struck once again as Ivorian centre defensive midfielder-come centre back stand in Yaya Toure suffered a break in the abductor muscle of his left leg.
Seemingly comical, Eric Abidal soon followed suit, as the Frenchman tore a muscle in his left leg before last resort Centre Back Dmytro Chygrynskiy sustained a one week injury as he pulled a leg muscle.

This is the test for Barcelona and a win here will leave a silence like no other among all the Blaugrana’s critics as Pep Guardiola’s clockwork footballing mind is put to the true test.
Carles Puyol is expected to line up and should brave it through despite having complaints of a niggling injury. Puyol has time and time again proved himself on the right and 17 year old Right Back Albert Dalmau is far too inexperienced to take on Portuguese international Simao on debut.
This leaves the centre back slot wide open. Milito’s return to form has progressed swimmingly thus far and the Argentine is a certainty to control the centre of defence whilst Maxwell will be there to cover on the left.

Enter Marc Muniesa. The fan favourite stole Culérs hearts with his dramatic entrance and exit upon debut where the promising youngster was harshly shown red after a mere 20 minutes of play leaving the Spain Under-17 skipper heading back down the dugout in tears. This may be the chance Muniesa has been waiting for as Puyol’s backup gets a chance to prove his worth.

Predicted Starting XI, Barcelona: Valdes – Puyol – Muniesa – Milito – Maxwell – Xavi – Busquets – Iniesta – Messi – Ibrahimovic – Henry

Atletico Madrid

Sadly enough Atletico have it easy with no major absences after Pablo Ibáñez was able to train normally despite having fractured his nose in training last Saturday.

Predicted Starting XI, Atletico Madrid: de Gea – Perea – Ujfaluši – Domínguez – Lopez – Assuncao – Tiago – Simao – Aguero – Forlan

Key Players

Lionel Messi

Who else? Puyol will be needed to have the game of his career whilst Xavi must convert his every touch into an opportunity. Zlatan Ibrahimovic needs to erase any recent omens whilst Victor Valdes is essential for Barcelona to get a result tonight.
However cometh the hour, cometh the man as phenomenal FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi will be the key ingredient if Barcelona are to achieve mission impossible against Atletico Madrid. Messi has scored 7 goals in his sides last 6 outings with Atletico and its big games like these where the pin- sized Argentine blossoms. A goal thriving, brilliance surrounding Messi is a player who can change a game even when surrounded by 3 brutal markers, and expect Leo to do just that.

Sergio Aguero

‘El Kun’ burnt a distasteful image in the heads of Culés worldwide after he became the man responsible for crushing Barcelona’s 2-0 and 3-2 leads into a blockbuster 4-3 win for Atletico in which Aguero scored twice with his second a sucker punch in the 89th minute.
Since then Aguero has continuously been linked to top teams worldwide with his signature on a Chelsea contract reportedly imminent. Aguero’s efforts in big games is – like his Argentine team mate Messi – what makes him so special and the illustrious forward should be nothing short of a menace for a vulnerable Barcelona defence.

Catalan sports paper sport reports FC Barcelona technical secretary Txiki Begiristan will soon begin negotiations with the agent of Jose Manuel Pinto (33), to renew the players existing contract beyond the current season.

The priority of the coaching staff is to renew the contract of the current second choice Pinto, although the possibility exists that no agreement could be reached between the two parties as the player wants a two-year contract while it appears that the club are only willing to offer a one year deal.

Given the possibility that Pinto and Barcelona fail to reach an agreement to extend the contract, which expires on June 30, Barcelona has other options open.

The first alternative being Real Sociedad’s Claudio Bravo (26), of whom there were good reports at the club and has even been ’scouted’ live by the club’s goalkeeping coach, Juan Carlos Unzue.

Bravo, is a Chilean international goalkeeper who is a specialist with the ball at his feet and is being followed by several major European teams. Another option is to promote either one of Barca Athletic’s goalkeepers Ruben Mino (21) or Oier Olazabal (20).

“ONLY BARÇA”

Barça decides the tactic to let Cesc leave Arsenal.

Fàbregas should say that he wants to leave and that his wish is to play in Camp Nou.

The azulgrana club tries to avoid a bid with Madrid or Chelsea.

EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL

Despite the six players missing, Guardiola already knows how to win Atlético:

1- Messi, Ibra and Iniesta will be the forwards.

2- Puyol and Milito ensure the defence’s reliability.

3- The key is the philosophy: ball possesion and attack.

[Non Barça Related]

With Cristiano but without Guti in their match against la Liga’s last team (Madrid – Xerez, 20h, Gol TV/ C+ Liga)

When FC Barcelona take on Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderón on Sunday, they’ll face a squad coached by former Real Madrid and Valencia defender Quique Sánchez Flores.

Flores (45) was born in Madrid in 1965 and followed his father, Isidro Figueras who played for Real Betis (1958-61) and Real Madrid (1961-65),  into professional football. His distinguished career as a defender began in 1984 when he played with Valencia CF for ten seasons as a consistent first team member. He moved to Real Madrid in 1994 where he played for 2 campaigns, before ending his playing career the following year at Real Zaragoza. During this time, Flores earned 15 caps for his national team and was selected as part of the Spanish squad that traveled to Italy for the 1990 World Cup.

Flores began his coaching career with the Real Madrid youth squad. He accepted his first top flight appointment in 2004 at Getafe and went on to coach his own former club Valencia, after Claudio Ranieri’s departure. Despite several successful seasons at the Mestalla, he was fired in October 2007 after a run of poor results. He then took over coaching duties at Portuguese squad Benefica in May 2008, however his contract was terminated in June 2009 after failing to guide them into the Champions League. Just five months later, in October 2009, Flores was hired on a one year contract to take over Abel Resino’s poorly performing Atletico squad.

The appointment of a former defender with a reputation for tactical conservatism should have come as no surprise to anyone who has followed Atletico this season. Flores took over a team in the relegation zone, and with the worst defense in La Liga. Flores generally sticks to a standard 4-4-2, but has demonstrated some tactical fluidity, switching to a 4-3-3 or even a 4-2-3-1 in recent matches. Atletico’s performances have been mixed since his arrival, but the new coach has been clear from the beginning about his philosophy. In an interview with Sky Sports earlier this year, he noted,

“The basic idea behind my approach to the game is that players have to contribute on both fronts. From the moment the goalkeeper passes the ball to the defense each player has to be on the same page and be aware of what their role in the side is. The idea of personal awareness and collective workmanship are the first things I’m instilling in this squad.”

FC Barcelona defender and Mexican international Rafael Márquez Álvarez, turns 31 years old today.

Josep Guardiola expects a tough match at Atlético Madrid. “They are always at their best against us”, he said, before adding that he was “more or less” sure who’ll start in defence.

Atlético Madrid are as unpredictable as teams come in football. They can produce great displays like the 4-3 win against Barça, or lose 3-0 away to second division Recreativo. But Guardiola knows how they always produce their best against Barça, and not only that “but their morale is in the clouds. They have qualified for their first final in ten years” said Guardiola speaking at a press conference after training on Saturday. Quique Sánchez Flores’ side were vastly the better outfit in the semi final against Racing.

Defence undecided

Where Guardiola has by far the most problems is in forming his defensive line, and has ruled out playing just three at the back because “that is impossible against Atlético.” Nevertheless, he didn’t want to give away any clue about the back four he’ll be starting with, but did say “I have it more or less decided.”

The fourth man

Puyol, Milito and Maxwell will almost certainly be lining up, the question mark is over who the fourth man in the defence will be. Jeffren, who played right back against Cultural Leonesa, seems a likely choice, who Pep described as “fast, brave and daring, but that is not his natural position”.

Bartra and Muniesa, of Barça Atlètic, could make their League debuts on Sunday. Bartra is a centre back but can play as a full back, as he did in the friendly in Kuwait, and although Muniesa is also a centre back, he has played left back in the past.

Pep just said that “it is good news for Luis Enrique that two of the Barça Atlètic players are in the first team”. Of course, there is also the option of dropping Keita back into the left back position.

Avoiding anything crazy

Atlético v Barça games have, in recent years, been amazing affairs, with all kinds of manic activity on the scoreboard. The red and whites are the only side to have ever put four goals past Barça under Guardiola. The manager wants to avoid an “uncontrolled match … They lack regularity and continuity. They can play the best game in their history and then lose the next. If it is an end to end match, with no control, they are stronger than we are. We have to avoid all that”.

Josep Guardiola has named the squad that will be travelling to Madrid on Sunday. The side includes all available members of the first team plus Bartra, Muniesa and Jonathan of Barça Atlètic.

Guardiola has given us an idea of his plans for the Vicente Calderón, and these include two reserve team defenders, Bartra and Muniesa, given that due to injuries and suspensions, all of Márquez, Piqué, Touré, Chygrynskiy, Alves and Abidal are missing. He has also given a place to Barça Atlètic midfielder Jonathan Dos Santos.

Cold session

Before announcing his list, Josep Guardiola held a training session at 11.00 at the Ciutat Esportiva. The coldest day of the week saw temperatures of just 1.5º, and involved all the players that Guardiola has named for game in Madrid. Dalmau, who has also trained with the first team this week, was not there.

Márquez gets ovation

Piqué, like on other days this week, worked out in isolation, but Puyol was able to able to train normally has been declared fit for the Calderón. It was a special day for Márquez, who is 31 today, and he was heartily congratulated by the rest of his team mates.

The match squad

Valdés, Pinto, Bartra, Muniesa, Maxwell, Puyol, Milito, Keita, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Jonathan, Ibrahimovic, Pedro, Bojan, Jeffren, Messi and Henry.

As for shirt numbers, Jonathan Dos Santos will wear ‘28’, Muniesa wears ‘33’ and Bartra ‘40’.

“We can’t make excuses in that respect (Absences of players). We have to take the absences as they are. We simply have one added difficulty to overcome. We’ll take the challenge.”

Iniesta, FC Barcelona midfielder, at a press conference Friday.

FC Barcelona will be facing German outfit VfB Stuttgart in the knock-out stage of the Champions League on February 23. Of the last seven games the German team has played, they have lost none, making a record of 2 draws and 5 wins which has moved them into the middle of the German league standings after being in the relegation zone for a major part of the campaign.

Stuttgart will be facing Hamburg, ranking 4th in the table, today, in a game that will not only be hard for Stuttgart, but will also act as an indicator of how much the team has progressed during the recent weeks.

“They are a great team (Hamburg). For me they are the favorites ahead of this match. In any case it will be like a barometer to see where we are. I think we have much further to go yet, but it is time to compare with one of the greats of the Bundesliga.” says Stuttgart’s coach Christian Gross.

While many think it to would be a comparitively easy game for Barcelona against Stuttgart, the current progress of the German side may force them to think twice as the Azulgranas look to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (25) has attempted to deliver a warning to bitter rivals Barcelona by stating that it will be the Bernabeu club, not the Catalan side, which will lift the La Liga title come the end of the season.

“I’m confident we will win the league”, Ronaldo is quoted by catalan sports paper Sport as saying. “We cannot think about what they do” said the Portuguese star, “I think that Real will achieve the success that Barcelona enjoyed in recent years.”

The former Manchester United star believes that the five point gap currently between Real Madrid and league leaders Barcelona is deceptive, as there are still many games left to play and “they have to come to our house [the Bernabeu].”

Real Madrid will be facing Xerez, who are at bottom of the table in an away fixture on Saturday.

    В интервью для Barça TV и официального сайта “Барселоны” бывший игрок каталонского клуба, а ныне директор спортивной школы “Атлетико” Кике Эстебаранс буквально рассыпается в похвалах “Барсе”: “Что меня больше всего поразило, так это как были добыты все достижения “Барсы”. Это команда, которая делает ставку на владение мячом и никогда не прекращает хотеть выигрывать. Просто невообразимо, что игроки, которые сравнительно недавно победили в двух чемпионатах Испании и Лиге Чемпионов все еще мотивированы на победу и хотят завоевывать новые титулы”. И добавляет: “Пеп смог передать дух победителя всей команде. Его нужно было бы обязать проводить мастер классы для всех тренеров мира”.

    ОБРАЗЦОВАЯ КАНТЕРА

    Кике Эстебаранс каждый день работает с детьми и подростками, которые мечтают когда-нибудь стать профессиональными футболистами. Вот как он оценивает работу, которая ведется в кантере “Барселоны” и успехи ею достигнутые: “Кантера “Барсы” не только прививает молодым игрока стиль игры, но и добивается того, чтобы во всех командах клуба футболисты играли в одинаковой манере”.

    ИЗВЕСТНОСТЬ “БАРСЫ”

    “Барселона” завоевала все, что смогла, будучи верной своему стилю игры. Этот стиль уже знают по всему миру: “Барсе” очень легко находить новые таланты, как дома, так и в других странах, так как она прекрасно знает, чего хочет. Ее стиль игры очень атакующий”, - объясняет Эстебаранс.

    “ФИНАЛ КУБКА ГАМПЕРА БЫЛ ДЕТСКИМ САДОМ”

    Мадридец заострил внимание на матч межсезонья. “Можно вспомнить, что финал Кубка Гампера в межсезонье стал настоящим детским садом. И я это говорю в хорошем смысле слова. Зрители того матча могли увидеть, как очень молодые и очень талантливые игроки делали первые шаги в профессиональном футболе. Было очень красиво”.