Liga – Matchpack: Real Madrid v Barcelona
January 22nd, 2012
posted by admin 12:14 am
Team news and quotes ahead of the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-final clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Bernabeu.
TEAM NEWSMadrid have named Angel Di Maria in their squad despite the winger suffering from a thigh problem recently, but defender Alvaro Arbeloa is suspended so Jose Mourinho must decide whether to move Sergio Ramos to right-back or bring in Fabio Coentrao. Sami Khedira is out due to an ankle problem and while Pepe has been struggling with a thigh strain, he is expected to feature.Barcelona are without forward Pedro after he sustained a hamstring injury in a 2-1 victory over Osasuna last week. He joins David Villa and Ibrahim Afellay on the sidelines while midfielder Seydou Keita is at the African Cup of Nations with Mali. Pep Guardiola has said Jose Pinto will continue to play in goal for Copa del Rey matches.MANAGER QUOTESJose Mourinho: “How many titles do I have to win in order to avoid being questioned for what I do? Tell me what I have to do to satisfy you. If I field Karim Benzema as my striker, you all ask about Gonzalo Higuain, but if he plays, you want to know why Benzema is out. If I play Pepe in midfield, you all stress he’s better at the back, but if he plays in defence, you suggest I use him in midfield.”Pep Guardiola: “Going to the Bernabeu we must be wise to get through. The only way to get a result and have the tie alive is to go to win the game. Madrid are the strongest opponents that we can find. Against Madrid you cannot feel a favourite. In sport there are no precedents. It matters what you do at the time. Tomorrow is a new day and 90,000 people will support a team in white. You have to start again. That’s the beauty. This work makes sense because it offers passion.”MATCH ODDSReal Madrid 7/4, Barcelona 6/4, Draw 12/5.Eurosport
TEAM NEWSMadrid have named Angel Di Maria in their squad despite the winger suffering from a thigh problem recently, but defender Alvaro Arbeloa is suspended so Jose Mourinho must decide whether to move Sergio Ramos to right-back or bring in Fabio Coentrao. Sami Khedira is out due to an ankle problem and while Pepe has been struggling with a thigh strain, he is expected to feature.Barcelona are without forward Pedro after he sustained a hamstring injury in a 2-1 victory over Osasuna last week. He joins David Villa and Ibrahim Afellay on the sidelines while midfielder Seydou Keita is at the African Cup of Nations with Mali. Pep Guardiola has said Jose Pinto will continue to play in goal for Copa del Rey matches.MANAGER QUOTESJose Mourinho: “How many titles do I have to win in order to avoid being questioned for what I do? Tell me what I have to do to satisfy you. If I field Karim Benzema as my striker, you all ask about Gonzalo Higuain, but if he plays, you want to know why Benzema is out. If I play Pepe in midfield, you all stress he’s better at the back, but if he plays in defence, you suggest I use him in midfield.”Pep Guardiola: “Going to the Bernabeu we must be wise to get through. The only way to get a result and have the tie alive is to go to win the game. Madrid are the strongest opponents that we can find. Against Madrid you cannot feel a favourite. In sport there are no precedents. It matters what you do at the time. Tomorrow is a new day and 90,000 people will support a team in white. You have to start again. That’s the beauty. This work makes sense because it offers passion.”MATCH ODDSReal Madrid 7/4, Barcelona 6/4, Draw 12/5.Eurosport