TEAM NEWS: Iniesta, Messi, Pedro in attack for Barca at Valencia

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova has fielded a near full strength starting XI for his sides trip to face Valencia on Sunday evening in La Liga.

Spain internationals, Andres Iniesta and Pedro, will line-up in the front three along with Lionel Messi in what is a talented frontline for Los Cules.

The midfield trio consists of Sergio Busquets, Xavi and Cesc Fabregas. However, as the game progresses, expect the former Arsenal man to fluently swap positions with Andres Iniesta in attack.

Perhaps the only first-choice absentee is Carles Puyol. Javier Mascherano is preferred over the Barcelona club captain to partner Gerard Pique in the centre of defence this evening.

For Valencia, Victor Ruiz is once again dispatched as a midfield enforcer despite being a natural central defender. He will partner Tino Costa is the middle for Los Che.

Roberto Soldao is supported up top by an attacking trio of Juan Bernat, Andres Guardado, and Ever Banega.

Valencia (4-2-3-1): Guaita; Joao, Rami, Ricardo Costa, Cissokho; V. Ruiz, Tino Costa; Bernat, Banega, Guardado; Soldado.

Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes; Dani Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Fabregas, Busquets, Xavi; Iniesta, Messi, Pedro.


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Ramos: Real Madrid wounded by Granada defeat

Sergio Ramos has revealed that Real Madrid have been left "wounded" by their 1-0 loss to Granada.

Having drawn with Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, Blancos seemed jaded as they went down to an own goal from Cristiano Ronaldo on Saturday, with their hosts failing to register a single shot on target in the match.

The loss means that the Catalans can go 18 points clear of Madrid if they beat Valencia on Sunday evening, and Atletico Madrid can extend their lead over their neighbours to seven points should they beat Betis.

Ramos took to Twitter to say how everyone associated with the club was hurt by the loss, but added that the players would keep fighting for success.

"All Madridistas are feeling wounded today, above all the players," wrote the defender.

"But we are not going to give up on any competition, we will keep on going, for our badge and for our fans. Hala Madrid!"

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Real Madrid had no luck against Granada, says Butragueno

Emilio Butragueno has claimed that Real Madrid were unlucky to fall to a 1-0 defeat against Granada and lamented the team's inability to find a way past the hosts' defence.

A Cristiano Ronaldo own-goal midway through the first half consigned the Spanish champions to their fifth Liga defeat of the season, but the legendary striker feels they suffered from the Andalusians' negative approach.

"Granada defended very well and we struggled," theclub director told their official website.

"We were not inspired. True, we had few chances, fewer than usual, but we did not have any luck. Their defensive structure blocked us, but you always have the hope that the individual quality appears.

"Karim Benzema had a chance to score. We tried to show up, but we could not today."

Ronaldo has reportedly been playing through an ankle injury, but the 49-year-old is certain that the Portuguese put in his usual standard of performance.

"He played with the same intensity as always and wanted to win," he added.

Barcelona could move 18 points clear of los Blancos with victory over Valencia on Sunday.
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The curse of Andalucia: Real Madrid go missing again as Barcelona effort takes its toll

COMMENT
By Ben Hayward Spanish Football Writer

Four times Real Madrid have visited Andalucia in La Liga this term - and on each occasion they have left Spain's southernmost province with nothing. Indeed, if the capital club can draw comfort from one thing after Saturday's lacklustre loss in Granada, it is that they do not now have to return to the region in 2012-13.

Madrid fell behind as Cristiano Ronaldo glanced the ball into his own net from a corner midway through the first half. The Portuguese changes his hairstyle for virtually every game, but the slicked-back look did him no favours on Saturday as the ball deceived Diego Lopez on its way in from the tightest of angles. Unfortunate it may have been, but it was nevertheless yet another set-piece strike conceded by Madrid this term. Bad habits can be difficult to shake.

Jose Mourinho's men trailed by the same scoreline at half-time in the corresponding fixture last season, but scored twice in the second period to claim all three points.

This time, however, that rarely looked likely. Lacking the creative threat provided by the suspended Mesut Ozil and looking tired both mentally and physically following the extreme exertion expended in Wednesday's Clasico against Barcelona, the champions were unable to find a way back into the game.

The week strangely sums up the capital club's campaign in 2012-13 - brilliant versus Barca and then awful at times against the lesser sides. Madrid have paid the price for inconsistency this term and La Liga is now well out of reach - on Sunday, the Catalans can open the gap to 18 points between themselves and their fierce rivals.

Mourinho's men had given their all on Wednesday and, unusually in the Clasico, finished the game still strongly despite the vast effort required against the Catalan club. It was a monumental endeavour, but one which ultimately took its toll on Saturday after just three days' rest, up against a side with a new coach, Lucas Alcaraz, and who are fighting for their lives in the Primera Division.

Without Ozil and the motivation needed in a competition which is already beyond their reach, Madrid also struggled to create chances against the static side in front of them.

Despite the difficulty of such fixtures, Mourinho's men appear much more comfortable against attacking sides like Barcelona, who will come out of their shell, thus leaving spaces to be exploited on the break. But when faced with teams who sit back and soak up the pressure, this Madrid side still struggle to play through rivals like Granada and often rely on individual brilliance.

There was little of that in evidence on Saturday, with Ronaldo unable to provide much of a threat, Luka Modric showing some signs of breaking through yet still struggling and Angel Di Maria disappointing once more. So too, was Jose Callejon after he came off the bench, barely improving on his dreadful display in Wednesday's Clasico, while Karim Benzema was guilty of squandering a wonderful chance to level with six minutes left.

Madrid, claimed Marca in their headline, "failed to show up" - and it was an accurate assessment of a poor performance. But the important thing now will be for Mourinho's men to ensure they do "show up" in their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Barcelona later this month - and also in the two-legged tie versus Manchester United in the Champions League.

The bad news is that they can forget all about La Liga in 2012-13. The good news? They can forget all about Andalucia as well - at least until next season.

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Pellegrini: Monreal sale a blow for Malaga

Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini has expressed his disappointment at the club's sale of Nacho Monreal to Arsenal at the end of the January transfer window.

The Gunners signed the left-back for an estimated 10 million on transfer deadline day to cover for the injured Kieran Gibbs, and the Chilean bemoaned the exit of the talented defender.

"Monreal's exit is a very sad moment for the team. It deprives us of a very important player who performed to the highest standards", a frustrated Pellegrini said in a press conference.

The coach went on to state that not only was it a loss in footballing terms but it also epitomises the dire financial state that the Liga side find themselves in.

"Unfortunately, the reality of the club is what it is, and there is no way of hiding it. It was an option that came up at the last minute, and the club thought it was appropriate," he added.

"I understand they have to try and balance the books, because the pressure is on us from all sides, and we have received punishments. It is a major loss to us in sporting terms."

The move comes less than a year after Arsenal swooped for Malaga's star midfielder, Santi Cazorla, and Premier League clubs - most notably Manchester city - are reportedly keen on talented attacker Isco.
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Granada boss Alcaraz 'unsurprised' by Real Madrid scalp

Lucas Alcaraz has insisted that Granada's 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in La Liga on Saturday should not be viewed as a surprise result.

Cristiano Ronaldo's own goal early in the first half was enough to hand the former Recreativo and Racing Santander boss a win on his debut in the Andalucians' hotseat and ensure his new troops distanced themselves from the drop zone.

And Alcaraz, who replaced Juan Antonio Anquela as coach earlier in the week, was quick to pay tribute to Granada's resilience against their more fashionable opponents, but called for calm from their supporters in the wake of their triumph.

"I was the one who had said this week that we could win, so I was surprised less than others with the result," the 46-year-old told reporters after the home victory.

"These games demand that you give almost all of your physical strength and attention, but we cannot delude our fans and their expectations [shouldn't soar]."

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Mourinho: I'm responsible for Madrid loss

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has fumed that he is responsible for his side's 1-0 defeat toGranada on Saturday evening.

A bizarre Cristiano Ronaldo own goal - the first of his career - handed the hosts a fairytale lead, when the winger's attempted clearance of a corner glanced wrongly off his head and flew into Diego Lopez's net.

Karim Benzema had the opportunity to cap off a los Blancos fightback at the death, but shockingly side-footed wide from point-blank range to summarise a miserable outing for the Spanish champions.

"When we win and everyone plays well it's the result of self management, but when we lose it's the responsibility of the coach," an irate Mourinho thundered at reporters. "So we didn't play well today, we weren't ourselves, so now I'm the one responsible.

"We didn't manage a draw, and the result bothers me. It bothers me also that in the first half we were terrible, and, even if we tied in the second half, there would have been very little to be satisfied about."

The 50-year-old found fault with Barcelona again, citing the Liga leaders as having an extra day to recuperate after their Copa del Rey encounter on Wednesday night.

"It's been clear for a long time that teams do not have control of their calender. It was a huge and physically exhausting game on Wednesday, yet one team plays today, while the other plays tomorrow. It has always been the case," he continued caustically.

"A few of our players who played today were tired, because they worked tremendously in the full game against Barcelona.

"But I don't know why there were others who played today and were tired, yet they were either on the bench, or in the stands, on Wednesday."

Mourinho's season with Madrid has become dogged with frequent public run-ins with his squad, leading to rumours of him losing the support of his players growing in number.
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