Pro Eleven Headline News
Barcelona begins year with home match vs. Mallorca
Barcelona begins the new year with a chance to extend its impressive 10-point lead in the Spanish league with a win against Mallorca on Saturday.
With the league resuming this weekend after its annual winter break, Barcelona should have little trouble against the 17th-placed club despite the likely absence of Lionel Messi. The Argentina forward was one of several foreign players given an extended break by coach Pep Guardiola to travel home to see relatives, and is expected to rejoin the club this weekend.
However, Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o will likely spearhead the attack after forgoing the extra three days of holiday and surprising teammates by showing up for practice on Tuesday. Eto'o is the league's top scorer with 15 goals after 17 rounds, with Barcelona topping the standings on 41 points.
Mallorca, meanwhile, is struggling to distance itself from the relegation zone and is looking to find new signings in the January transfer window to strengthen an injury-plagued squad, which coach Gregorio Manzano described as "inferior to Barcelona's, but not that inferior."
Manzano has singled out Israeli goalkeeper Dudu Aouate as a transfer target, as Miguel Angel Moya has been battling injuries.
Second-place Sevilla hopes to keep pace with Barcelona when it hosts last-place Osasuna at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, while third-place Atletico Madrid travels to Valencia.
Atletico leads Valenica on goal difference with both teams on 30 points, one behind Sevilla. Valencia was founded in 1919 and needs a good start to its 90th year to set aside worries about recent financial struggles.
"We shall fight to achieve economic stability," club president Vicente Soriano said.
Defending champion Real Madrid welcomes Villarreal to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium where newly appointed coach Juande Ramos will face his second match in charge of the Spanish powerhouse.
"Villarreal are a dedicated team with great prospects, they have their own character and everything they have achieved is down to hard work for which they deserve the highest praise," Ramos said on his Web site.
Both clubs have 29 points, with fifth-place Madrid ahead on goal difference.
With his side 12 points adrift of Barcelona in the league, Ramos has been focusing on reinforcing his injury-struck squad with a view to surviving the next Champions League stage against Liverpool. Madrid has Ruud van Nistelrooy, Mahamadou Diarra and Ruben De La Red out for the rest of the season, while Pepe, Gabriel Heinze, Sergio Ramos and Wesley Sneijder are all battling injuries.
Sports director Pedja Mijatovic has reportedly approached English club Wigan for the loan of 23 year-old Ecuadorean right-winger Luis Antonio Valencia.
Also Sunday it's: Recreativo vs. Numancia; Valladolid vs. Racing Santander; Malaga vs. Sporting Gijon; Almeria vs. Real Betis; Athletic vs. Espanyol and Getafe vs. Deportivo La Coruna.
Herald Tribune
Liverpool lead big four assault on FA Cup
Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, with 32 FA Cup wins between them, begin their 2009 campaigns this weekend with the world's oldest knockout competition poised to satisfy its appetite for shocks.
Much-loved by minnows keen to grab a rare national headline, as well as significantly boost their bank balances, the game's giants seem more concerned with transfer window bargains and securing places in the Champions League.
Not that being distracted is necessarily a barrier to success in the tournament.
Portsmouth's win in the 2008 final was the first by a club outside the 'big four' since Everton edged Manchester United in 1995.
League leaders Liverpool's opening tie at Preston has been given an added dimension as it could be the first match in which club captain Steven Gerrard plays since being charged with assault following an alleged brawl in a bar.
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina's heroics helped the Reds to the 2006 FA Cup against West Ham.
The Spaniard overcame the shock of conceding three goals in normal time to follow up a miraculous extra-time save from Nigel Reo-Coker by keeping out three penalties in the shoot-out.
"I was the villain and then the hero in the penalty shoot-out," he recalled. "It was a great game and we got back into it with a magnificent Steven Gerrard goal.
"I have some really nice memories from that day so let's see if we can do it again."
Arsenal are at home to Plymouth, Chelsea welcome Southend to Stamford Bridge while Manchester United, the 11-time champions, travel to second-tier Southampton, a repeat of the 1976 final where the south coast club defeated their illustrious opponents 1-0.
Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho is determined to reach the final after missing the win over Manchester United two seasons ago through a knee ligament injury.
"I was there (at Wembley). I was watching the game and the atmosphere was fantastic and after we got the trophy, I went in the dressing room and the feeling was unbelievable," saod the Portuguese star.
"I want to repeat that and to win at home on Saturday."
High-flyers Aston Villa and Everton face potentially awkward trips to Gillingham and Macclesfield respectively.
However, the tie which best encapsulates the spirit of the third round takes place on Monday when non-league Blyth Spartans are at home to Premier League strugglers Blackburn Rovers.
Back in 1978, the north-east side's fifth round replay against Wrexham was witnessed by a crowd of more than 42,000 at Newcastle's St James' Park and the Spartans have high hopes of giving their supporters another set of memories to last a lifetime.
"We're absolutely buzzing for it. I've had all my mates on the phone telling us to stick it to them," Blyth captain Gareth Williams said.
And it seems you can put a price on the 'Romance of the Cup'.
"Win, lose or draw we will be talking about 160,000 pounds just for the televised rights," club chairman Tony Platten explained to the Daily Telegraph.
FA Cup 3rd rd
Fixtures (1500GMT unless stated)
Friday: Tottenham v Wigan (2000GMT)
Saturday: Arsenal v Plymouth, Birmingham v Wolves, Cardiff v Reading, Charlton v Norwich, Cheltenham v Doncaster, Chelsea v Southend, Coventry v Kidderminster, Forest Green v Derby, Histon v Swansea, Ipswich v Chesterfield, Hartlepool v Stoke (1300GMT), Hull v Newcastle, Kettering v Eastwood, Leicester v Crystal Palace, Leyton Orient v Sheffield United, Macclesfield v Everton, Manchester City v Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough v Barrow, Portsmouth v Bristol City, Preston v Liverpool (1730GMT), QPR v Burnley, Millwall v Crewe, Sheffield Wednesday v Fulham, Sunderland v Bolton, Torquay v Blackpool, Watford v Scunthorpe, West Brom v Peterborough, West Ham v Barnsley
Sunday: Gillingham v Aston Villa (1330GMT), Southampton v Manchester United (1600GMT)
Monday: Blyth Spartans v Blackburn (2000GMT) AFP
Zhirkov to replace Bridge at Chelsea
Chelsea have given Wayne Bridge permission to talk to Manchester City, and are asking £12 million for the left-back, funds that Luiz Felipe Scolari wants to reinvest straight away on another wide player, CSKA Moscow’s Yuri Zhirkov. 25-year-old Zhirkov, a pacy and skilful dribbler who earned a place in the Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament after his displays for Russia, can play either as a full back or a winger. Chelsea will have to act soon, as Barcelona and Juventus are also interested in Zhirkov.
Zhirkov in action
