We are the Real thing: Barca

Spanish champions insist they can beat anyone on their day

BARCELONA midfielder Andres Iniesta has insisted they can turn around their poor away form and put themselves back in the La Liga title race by beating leaders Real Madrid today.

The Catalans are in third place, four points adrift of Real, having won just one of their past five away games in La Liga.

However, Iniesta believes the Spanish champions showed in their two recent games against Manchester City in the Champions League that they are still capable of beating anyone on their day.

“We have had bad days, like everyone, but no one can think that Madrid will beat us easily,” he said at a press conference this week.

“It is difficult to think that there are Barca fans that don’t believe in us. This team has won the right to believe in it, no matter what the situation is.”

Barca boss Gerardo Martino will have the luxury of a fully fit squad to choose from. He looks set to name the side that started the home leg against City for just the second time all season.

That means Neymar and Cesc Fabregas will return after being rested for last weekend’s 7-0 win over Osasuna. And Pedro Rodriguez and Alexis Sanchez, who struck the winner the last time Barca met Real, in October, will drop to the bench.

Iniesta is urging his teammates to impose themselves on the game, rather than be cowed by the atmosphere at the Bernabeu.

Madrid haven’t been beaten in 31 games in all competitions since the two sides met at the Camp Nou. That run allowed Carlo Ancelotti’s men to overtake Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, and they also progressed to the Copa del Rey final and the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

However, Ancelotti stressed they have to be at their best to all but kill off Barca’s title chances.

“We are in good form and desperate for the game to come around. We know it will be difficult, and against a great team,” said Ancelotti.

“Since the game in the first half of the season, we have improved a lot. We will need to be at our best, though: you need to be at 100% to beat Barcelona.”

Real suffered a blow in midweek when 21-year-old forward Jese Rodriguez was ruled out for the rest of the season with cruciate ligament damage to his right knee. That won’t affect Ancelotti’s starting line-up, though, as the likes of Luka Modric, Angel di Maria, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema will return to the side after being rested from the start in the 3-1 win over Schalke.

Meanwhile, Bale believes Ronaldo is “an example to everyone”, hailing his teammate as “the best”.

At a press conference this week, Bale appeared confident ahead of the crucial La Liga tie.

“Cristiano’s the best in the world, he is spectacular and an example to everyone.”

Bale is expected to play a leading role during a match that is sure to be billed as Ronaldo versus Lionel Messi.

As ever, La Liga’s two biggest stars will have a major say in the final result, especially considering that both have posted a string of excellent performances recently.

Ronaldo has scored 38 goals and provided 10 assists in 31 games across the Spanish top flight and Champions League this season. This includes nine strikes in his past six matches heading into the Bernabeu fixture with Barcelona.

Messi has posted 26 goals in 26 matches during an injury-hit campaign. His three-goal haul during the recent 7-0 thrashing of Osasuna provided the perfect preparation for La Blaugrana’s trip to the capital, as Gerardo Martino’s men know a loss will seriously dampen their chances of landing the La Liga crown.

The biggest winners of the weekend could be Atletico, as at least one of their title rivals are guaranteed to drop points, while they travel to bottom-of-the-table Real Betis.

Diego Simeone’s men will go top for a few hours at least, should they win at the Benito Villamarin, before Real and Barca kick off.

Ancelotti warned his Real side not to underestimate Atletico’s title challenge, even if they do see off Barcelona.

“It will be an open game, but I don’t think it will decide the league because Atletico are there too. I think the league will be decided in the last game of the season.”— AFP