Pablo Foley Elias & Tim Stannard preview Getafe v Real Madrid in the latest edition of “THE MATCH” on Real Madrid TV.

When Atletico Madrid sold Sergio Aguero to England’s Manchester City during the summer, there was all sorts of rumors that Aguero really wanted to move to city rivals Real, but that Atletico refused to sell him to their bitter rivals.

There were also rumors at the time that Aguero was only heading to Manchester for a season and that in 2012 he would be heading back to the Madrid, this time to play for the the white side of the capital.

So I found it really interesting to read the Daily Mirror, and English newspaper today that says that Real Madrid will be willing to sell Gonzalo Higuain in order to help fund a move for Aguero.

With the new UEFA Financial Fair Play rules coming into effect, it makes it much harder for clubs to buy big name players without balancing the books with some sales. The sale of Higuain to someone like Chelsea this summer will help balance Real Madrid’s transfer account.

It was a depleted Barcelona side that turned up in Valencia tonight, but it was also a team that does’t give and they got a credible 1-1 draw in their Copa del Rey semi-final first-leg. Barca will be heavy favorites now to finish this tie off at the Camp Now.

Barca were given an early scare when Roberto Soldado raced onto a through ball, but Pinto came racing out of his goal to slide in and clear the danger, appearing to use his hand as he did so, only for play to be waved on. He could easily have been given a red card for a deliberate red card.

A minute later, a lovely ball from Cesc Fabregas put Alexis Sanchez in, but he got his shot all wrong and toe-poked it harmlessly wide. It was an awful miss. At the other end, Soldado met an Ever Banega corner but volleyed just over the bar, before Messi dragged a shot wide for Barca.

The deadlock was broken on 27 minutes. Valencia got down the left-hand side and Mathieu’s cross was met by Jonas, who fired home from 10 yards for his eighth goal of the season.

Barca looked odds on to draw level on 36 minutes, but Alves made a sensational save to deny Alexis. However, from the resulting corner, Barca drew level when the unmarked Puyol nodded home at the far post. The curly-haired defender had lost his marker, Víctor Ruiz, to find the space to score.

Alexis had the ball in the net early in the second half but his effort was ruled out for offside, before Barcelona were handed the perfect opportunity to take the lead when Miguel clumsily brought down Thiago in the box. Messi stepped up to take the penalty but Alves guessed right and leapt to his left to palm the spot-kick away.

Gerard Pique then headed a good chance over the bar, before substitute Dani Alves saw an effort come back off the post after playing a lovely one-two with Messi.

And that proved to be the last chance of an enthralling game as the two sides had to settle for a draw. The second leg takes place at Camp Nou on February 8.

Two goals from Fernando Llorente has given Athletic Bilbao a 2-1 first-leg advantage in their Copa del Rey semi-final against giant-killers Mirandes, and seriously dented the Cinderella dreams of the third division team.

Llorente scored twice in the first half to seemingly put Athletic firmly in control of this tie. But the minnows, who have dumped out Villarreal, Racing Santander and Espanyol to reach this stage, gave themselves hope of yet another upset with a last-minute goal from substitute Ander Lambarri.

Mirandes coach Carlos Pouso predicted that next Tuesday’s second-leg match at the San Mames stadium will not be easy for the Rojillos.

“We’re going to have to play the match of our lives.” the Spaniard said during a post-match press conference. “It was clearly a game of two halves; we weren’t able to do more. You couldn’t help but notice our opponents were from the first (division).”

While the late goal wil gave Mirandes a sliver of hope they can turn the tie around at the San Mames next week, Llorente was confident Bilbao would be able to hold them off.

“Conceding at the end was a shame as 2-0 would have been a great result but 2-1 is pretty good too,” he told Spanish television. “We really want to reward our fans with a trip to the final and let’s see if we have luck in the return leg.”

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has criticised the performance levels of Spanish referees this season.

Rosell’s club felt aggrieved by the decision of the Spanish federation’s competitions committee not to punish Real Madrid utility man Pepe for appearing to stamp on Barca forward Lionel Messi’s hand earlier this month.

Rosell said in quotes reported by marca.com:

“I like to assess [referees] at the end of the season but this year it doesn’t look good. If [the competition committee] does not work well then we will have our say, because football is supposed to be based on fair play.”

I hate to see these kind of comments from Rosell. Barca are seven points behind Real Madrid because of their poor away form this season, not because of referring decisions. Accept the responsibility Rosell, and stop making excuses.

Barca manager Pep Guardiola also disagrees with his boss saying:

“Barca do not complain about referees. But a different thing is to say if in this or that situation we could have been awarded a penalty. If that is complaining, then we complain. The only thing I know is that we do not help referees and we do not to them any favours. I get annoyed when referees make mistakes which damage us, but then I think: ‘They made a mistake’. I represent a club and I know that tomorrow, in another decision, maybe they will favour us. And I have to live with it. If we are defeated, we have to do better. And I know this, having spent so many years at this club.”

 

Atletico Madrid‘s revival under new coach Diego Simeone continued on Monday as Diego Godin fired the winner in a battling 1-0 victory at Osasuna that lifted Atletico up to seventh in La Liga.

The Uruguay defender bundled in from close range at a corner just before the break and forwards Adrian and Radamel Falcao missed gilt-edged chances to extend the lead.

Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois, on loan from Chelsea, kept the visitors in the game in the closing minutes with string of excellent saves as Osasuna piled forward in search of an equaliser.

Under former Argentina captain Simeone, a huge fan favourite at the Calderon where he won a league and cup double as a player in 1996, Atletico are unbeaten in their last four matches, drawing one, and winning the last three in a row, all without conceding a goal.

With the win, Atletico climbed above Osasuna in the table, and with 29 points from 20 games and are two points off a Champions League place.

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes says that his side cannot afford to drop any more points if they are to successfully defend their La Liga title this season.

Barca were held to a 0-0 draw against Villarreal on Saturday, a result that now leaves them seven points behind league leaders Real Madrid, who recorded a 3-1 win over Real Zaragoza at the weekend.

“We have no more room for error,” Valdes told Sport. “We have dropped two important points against Villarreal. We have to win all the points that remain. And that’s what you get. If we want to fight for the league, we cannot fail anymore because there is a rival in front of us that is very strong.”

Valdes is also reluctant to accept injuries as a reason for Barca’s inconsistent form of late, although he suggests their trip to Japan for the FIFA Club World Cup might have taken its toll.

“Injuries can never be used as excuses,” Valdes added. “That would be a small team that does that. There is enough [strength in depth] to deal with all of the games. [But] I have the feeling that we are tired. But we are facing opponents who are also playing a lot and nobody here ever said that this would be easy. I cannot say exactly what is happening, really. The important thing is that the team is working hard but we must continue giving our all – and more if necessary.”

Not convinced that Barcelona can go through the rest of their La Liga campaign unbeaten. Their away form has been surprisingly poor this season, and until that improves they will not be able to close the gap on Real Madrid at the top of the table.

Barcelona travel to Valencia on Wednesday for the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, before returning to La Liga action on Saturday when they entertain Real Sociedad.

Real Madrid midfielder Kaka has revealed that his future with the club has been assured by club president Florento Perez and coach Jose Mourinho.

Kaka has struggled with injuries since joining Real Madrid in 2009, but has periodically displayed his old skill in recent matches and had one of his best games games in a Real Madrid shirt in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Zaragoza.

Despite that, Kaka has admitted that he had been troubled by speculation that he would be sold during the winter transfer window.

“I discussed it with Florentino and Mourinho,” the 29-year-old is quoted as saying by AS. “We talked and I was assured it was not going to happen. Speculation has always come. Not for the first time they [the press] said I was going, but I always say that my desire is to stay and succeed here. It’s what I want. I keep working and eventually people will see the truth.”

Still not convinced that Kaka’s long-term future is at Real Madrid. He doesn’t appear to be a Mourinho player, and I would not be surprised to see him move on (possibly to PSG) during the summer.

Third-tier club Mirandes’ improbable run in the Copa del Rey continues as they will meet Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday in the Copa del Rey semi-final

Mirandes has already eliminated topflight clubs Villarreal, Racing Santander and Espanyol to become only the third team below the second division to reach the last four.

The only other third-tier clubs to reach the semifinals were Figueres in 2002 and Deportivo Logrono, 81 years ago.

In the other semi-final Barcelona will be looking to shake off its recent woes away from home at Valencia on Wednesday.

Barcelona overcame Real Madrid in the quarterfinals but has slipped to seven points behind its fierce rival in the league standings after yet another draw away from home on Sunday.

Barcelona has dropped 13 league points in 10 games away from the Camp Nou this season, including the 0-0 draw at Villarreal. But in the Copa del Rey it has won all three road matches so far by a combined score of 12-1.

The Barca v Villarreal tie is a repeat of the 2008 semifinals when Valencia emerged victorious. Will history repeat itself?

Copa del Rey Semi-Final Draw
31 Jan: Mirandés v Athletic Club
1 Feb: Valencia v Barcelona – Buy Valencia v Barcelona Tickets
7 Feb: Athletic Club v Mirandés
8 Feb: Barcelona v Valencia – Buy Barcelona v Valencia Tickets

Barcelona might have won the latest el clasico, but it is Real Madrid who are threatening to run away with the La Liga title.

Real Madrid are now seven points clear at the top of the Liga after their 3-1 win over bottom side Real Zaragoza while Barcelona’s poor away form continued as they were held to a scoreless draw at Villarreal.

Madrid must have feared that their bad week was going to continue as they fell behind to an 11th-minute strike by Ángel Lafita at the Santiago Bernabéu. However, Mourinho’s side rallied from a goal down for the third league match running as Kaká levelled terms on 32 minutes before Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 31st goal of the season and the Mezut Özil then early in the second half.

Barcelona needed a victory at El Madrigal to keep their rivals from pulling further clear at the top but Josep Guardiola’s side failed to break down a resolute Villarreal side. Lionel Messi squandered the best opportunity on 17 minutes when he raced clear only to send his lob over Diego López wide, while Cesc Fàbregas crashed a shot against the bar on 72 minutes.

Earlier in the day Espanyol moved level on points with fourth-placed Levante thanks to a 1-0 victory against Mallorca, while Athletic Club are just a place back after Fernando Llorente’s hat-trick edged a 3-2 success at Rayo Vallecano.