Atlético Madrid v Barcelona: Preview
PA
MADRID, September 17 (Primera Liga) - Barcelona midfielder Deco believes their Champions League experiences will serve them well when they travel to the Vicente Calderon to play Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Frank Rijkaard's side earned a 2-0 away win over Werder Bremen on Wednesday in a game where they were put under intense pressure for large periods, before sealing the points with Ronaldinho's late penalty.
``The team is learning how to remain patient under pressure and acquiring the skills to deal with a variety of difficult situations,'' Deco said.
``With this willingness to learn we will keep on improving and growing stronger.''
Atletico took four points off Barca last season, with a 1-1 draw in the Calderon and a surprise 2-0 win in the Nou Camp - all the goals coming from the boot of striker Fernando Torres.
Although Carlos Bianchi's side have started sluggishly this season, with a draw and a defeat so far, Deco is expecting Sunday to be another stern test for the Catalan outfit.
``We are still at the start of the season and every team is still searching for it's rhythm,'' he said.
``With the quality players in their side we will have to remain alert at all times. I have no doubt they will make life very difficult for us.''
Rijkaard has put Ronaldinho through an intensive individual training session during the week after implying the playmaker was not performing to the expected standard.
Brazilian midfielder Thiago Motta is still out injured, while Argentinian forward Lionel Messi, who won the penalty from which Ronaldinho scored on Wednesday after coming on in the 66th minute, remains sidelined in the league as the club fights to resolve the player's nationality status in Spain.
One point and no goals is a poor return from Atletico's opening two games but Argentinian coach Bianchi is confident the results will eventually come if his side remain true to his attacking philosophy.
``I am not happy to settle for a point,'' said Bianchi. ``We like to control the possession and so do they, so it will be crucial to have the ball as much as possible.
``I don't want to sit on the bench with the score stuck at 0-0. We have to play like we know we can and impose ourselves on the game.''
After surprisingly leaving star signings Martin Petrov and Mateja Kezman out of last weekend's starting line-up for the 1-0 defeat to Deportivo la Coruna, Bianchi is expected to have a full strength starting XI for Sunday.
Right-back Juan Velasco has recovered from injury but Argentinian midfielder Ariel Ibagaza remains a doubt.
Mä en huomenna pelaa Barcan voittoa, täytyy kattoo mitä maailmalta saa kotivoitosta ja tasureista, joku asian handicappi vois olla tohon hyvä idis.
MItäs muut TOSI PELIMIEHET on mieltä??
PA
MADRID, September 17 (Primera Liga) - Barcelona midfielder Deco believes their Champions League experiences will serve them well when they travel to the Vicente Calderon to play Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Frank Rijkaard's side earned a 2-0 away win over Werder Bremen on Wednesday in a game where they were put under intense pressure for large periods, before sealing the points with Ronaldinho's late penalty.
``The team is learning how to remain patient under pressure and acquiring the skills to deal with a variety of difficult situations,'' Deco said.
``With this willingness to learn we will keep on improving and growing stronger.''
Atletico took four points off Barca last season, with a 1-1 draw in the Calderon and a surprise 2-0 win in the Nou Camp - all the goals coming from the boot of striker Fernando Torres.
Although Carlos Bianchi's side have started sluggishly this season, with a draw and a defeat so far, Deco is expecting Sunday to be another stern test for the Catalan outfit.
``We are still at the start of the season and every team is still searching for it's rhythm,'' he said.
``With the quality players in their side we will have to remain alert at all times. I have no doubt they will make life very difficult for us.''
Rijkaard has put Ronaldinho through an intensive individual training session during the week after implying the playmaker was not performing to the expected standard.
Brazilian midfielder Thiago Motta is still out injured, while Argentinian forward Lionel Messi, who won the penalty from which Ronaldinho scored on Wednesday after coming on in the 66th minute, remains sidelined in the league as the club fights to resolve the player's nationality status in Spain.
One point and no goals is a poor return from Atletico's opening two games but Argentinian coach Bianchi is confident the results will eventually come if his side remain true to his attacking philosophy.
``I am not happy to settle for a point,'' said Bianchi. ``We like to control the possession and so do they, so it will be crucial to have the ball as much as possible.
``I don't want to sit on the bench with the score stuck at 0-0. We have to play like we know we can and impose ourselves on the game.''
After surprisingly leaving star signings Martin Petrov and Mateja Kezman out of last weekend's starting line-up for the 1-0 defeat to Deportivo la Coruna, Bianchi is expected to have a full strength starting XI for Sunday.
Right-back Juan Velasco has recovered from injury but Argentinian midfielder Ariel Ibagaza remains a doubt.
Mä en huomenna pelaa Barcan voittoa, täytyy kattoo mitä maailmalta saa kotivoitosta ja tasureista, joku asian handicappi vois olla tohon hyvä idis.
MItäs muut TOSI PELIMIEHET on mieltä??
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