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Juande Ramos Unsure On Huntelaar Debut

Real Madrid might be twelve points off the pace in La Liga, but the defending champions will not be giving up their crown easily, as shown by some of the comments coming from the camp.

Add to the confidence the fact that they have already bought in two quality players, in the shape of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Lassana Diarra, and suddenly the task looks more achievable.

However, Real Madrid coach, Juande Ramos, admitted to AS today that his team need to keep picking up points, and hoping others drop some, if they are to challenge for the title.

"If we want to aspire to the title we have to keep adding three points and hope that others slip up," he mused.

"Villarreal had a magnificent season last year and it is going to be a very good game for the spectators, because both teams are very motivated."

The coach did confirm though that he is not sure whether new signing Klaas-Jan Huntelaar will be able to play after recovering from injury, and that he certainly won't be able to play the whole game.

"He has trained normally with the rest of the team, but it is true that he has gone four or five weeks working at a lower level than the rest," he declared.

"It will be difficult for him to finish the match, therefore I need to decide whether to start him and see how long he can last, or keep him on the bench so he can help the team in the second-half. I will make the decision before the game tomorrow."

Huntelaar has seen his name in the press a lot lately, due to the fact that UEFA have confirmed that only he OR Diarra will be able to play in the Champions League, but not both. Ramos remained coy on the subject today though, saying that it was a surprise to him, but that it is not an urgent problem to solve.

"There is a month to decide who will play, it is not necessary to make the decision now," he said.

"It did surprise me, but I do not want to think about it any more. It is an important problem to handle, but I am dedicated to the team. I do not get involved in the bureaucratic matters, but it did surprise me because there is no consistency."

Ramos also spoke briefly about the need for a winger, and hinted that with players coming back into the squad they might not sign one, saying, 'we are recovering important players, and that is good for the team.'

Indeed, the coach also named the squad for the match with Villarreal tomorrow, and has included both Diarra and Huntelaar in it.

Real Madrid squad to face Villarreal: Casillas, Salgado, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Lassana Diarra, Gago, Raúl, Saviola, Sneijder, Robben, Van der Vaart, Drenthe, Heinze, Huntelaar, Metzelder, Guti, Dudek, Palanca. Goal



Barcelona open 2009 with fine home victory

Barcelona continued their charge towards the Spanish Primera title by opening 2009 with a 3-1 home win over Real Mallorca on Saturday night.

The Catalan giants had to come from behind before securing a victory which leaves them 11 points clear of second-placed Valencia with 44 points from 17 games, including a solitary defeat.

Reigning champions Real Madrid trail their arch-rivals by 15 points ahead of their 17th round match on Sunday at home to Villarreal, who are on the same points tally in sixth place.

Valencia moved above Sevlla into second place with a 3-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in Saturday's late kick off in the Mestalla.

Valencia took a two-goal lead through a David Villa penalty and David Silva before Diego Forlan pulled one back from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time.

But Silva added his second in the 69th minute to secure the three points and leave Atletico in fourth spot in the standings.

Earler, Barcelona were given an early shock as league action returned to the Camp Nou after a two-week seasonal break.

Aritz Aduriz won possession near the halfway line and outpaced the home defense before chipping goalkeeper Victor Valdes for a sublime 15th minute opener.

Eidur Gudjohnson clipped the crossbar with a fierce shot as Barcelona pressed for an equalizer which eventually came just after the half hour mark as Thierry Henry picked up a loose ball from a corner.

The French international turned the ball home at the far post for his 11th of the season and ninth in the league.

Andres Iniesta, who was returning after sustaining a serious leg injury in November, scored the second goal after coming on as a substitute for Alexandre Hleb.

He converted a low cross from Gudjohnsen in the 76th minute and Mallorca's hopes were further dented in the 90th as Jose Miguel Gonzalez was sent off for a second yellow card.

Yaya Toure then rounded off the Barca scoring in injury time as he jinked his way past several defenders before scoring smartly.

Lionel Messi sat out the match after arriving home late from Argentina, watching from the VIP area with his international manager Diego Maradona, a former Barcelona player. CNN



Man City humbled in FA Cup third round upset

Premier League Manchester City crashed out of the English FA Cup after a humiliating 3-0 defeat to second-flight Nottingham Forest in a third round tie on Saturday.

The shock result casts fresh doubt on the future of City manager Mark Hughes who is set to be handed millions by the club's Abu Dhabi backers in the transfer window, but saw his current line-up dismantled.

It was not the only upset with fellow Premier League side Stoke beaten 2-0 by Hartlepool and title challengers Chelsea held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Southend at Stamford Bridge.

City's first January signing England international Wayne Bridge was paraded before the kick off at Eastlands and then watched on as Nathan Tyson and Robert Earnshaw put Forest two up by half-time.

City also lost star winger Shaun Wright-Phillips to an 18th minute hamstring injury and scarcely improved after the break with Joe Garner scoring Forest's clinching third in the 76th minute.

It was the signal for thousands of City fans to head for the exits as their last chance of silverware this season disappeared at the first hurdle.

Forest have been struggling this season and sacked manager Colin Calderwood last week, but played above themselves in true FA Cup tradition.

Striker Tyson let fly with a dipping first-time volley to beat Joe Hart in the 39th minute and Earnshaw scored the second soon afterwards from close range as he deflected home a wayward shot.

City, who were without Brazil star Robinho, had their chances to get back into the match, but victory was sealed as Dietmar Hamann's poor throw in was seized upon by Garner who converted easily.

"We are bitterly disappointed with the level of performance that we produced today," Hughes told Press Association.

"Nottingham Forest fully deserved to win. They showed more desire and energy in their play. They forced us into errors and took their chances."

Earlier, third-flight Hartlepool easily accounted for relegation-threatened Stoke, who rested several regulars for the trip to Victoria Park.

Michael Nelson and David Foley scored Hartlepool's goals in the second half.

Chelsea must now face an unwanted replay after minnows Southend equalized through Peter Clarke in injury time.

Salomon Kalou had put Luiz Felipe Scolari's men ahead in the 31st minute and the Brazilian manager rued their failure to convert chances.

"I need to teach to my players more concentration when they arrive in front of goal," he told Press Association.

"They need to score more goals and get more confidence."

Southend's fellow League One side Peterborough drew 1-1 at Premier League bottom club West Bromwich Albion, while FA Cup holders Portsmouth were held goalless at home by second-flight Bristol City.

But other Premier League clubs were in better form with leaders Liverpool accounting for Preston 2-0 in the late kick off.

Albert Riera put Liverpool ahead with a curling first half strike.

Substitute Fernando Torres scored the second with the last kick of the match after being set up by Steven Gerrrard, who played despite being charged with assault and affray earlier in the week.

Arsenal beat Plymouth 3-1, Robin van Persie scoring twice, Everton won 1-0 at Macclesfield and West Ham thrashed Barnsley 3-0.

Middlesbrough accounted for Barrow 2-1 and Fulham won 2-1 at Sheffield Wednesday while Newcastle drew 0-0 at Hull with Shay Given playing in goal for the visitors despite rumors of his departure in the transfer window.

In another all-Premier League clash, Sunderland beat Bolton 2-1.

Non-league Forest Green almost pulled off a famous giant killing win before Derby County came through 4-3 after trailing 2-0 and 3-2.

Manchester United, who have won the FA Cup a record 11 times, go to second-flight strugglers Southampton on Sunday. CNN