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Sport
Friday, April 15, 2011
Five classic “Clasicos” between Real and Barca Reuters MADRID - Soccer fans will have a unique chance to see Real Madrid and Barcelona — two of the world’s best teams and the two richest clubs — lock horns four times in 18 days starting with Saturday’s La Liga match at the Bernabeu. The arch Spanish rivals also meet in the final of the King’s Cup on April 20 and home and away in the European Champions League on April 27 (Bernabeu) and May 3 (Nou Camp). Following is a selection of five key games between Real and Barca, known as the “clasicos”, going back more than a century:
May 13, 1902 - Real 1 Barca 3 Barca drew first blood in what was to become one of the most intense club rivalries in world football. The Catalans triumphed over the Castilians in a game marking the coronation of King Alfonso XIII at Madrid’s Estadio Hipodromo. Swiss Joan Gamper, who founded FC Barcelona three years earlier, netted one of Barca’s goals.
June 21, 1936 - Real 2 Barca 1 Less than a month before Spain was plunged into a brutal civil war, Real edged the first meeting between the pair in a Spanish cup final. With the country bitterly divided, Barca president Josep Sunyol was assassinated by Francoist forces two months later and many Barca players chose not to return from a tour to Mexico the following year.
November 23, 1960 - Barca 2 Real 1 With Alfredo di Stefano leading the charge, Real triumphed in the first five European Cups between 1956 and 1960 but it was Barca who became the first team to claim their scalp in the competition a year later. The pair drew their last-16 first leg at the Bernabeu 2-2 before Barca won the second leg at their Nou Camp arena 2-1.
January 20, 1994 - Barca 5 Real 0 Dutch great Johan Cruyff led Barca to their first European Cup triumph in 1992 and they emphasised their dominance over Real during the early 1990s with a crushing 5-0 league drubbing of the Madrid club at the Nou Camp, Brazil striker Romario netting a hat-trick. Catalan joy was relatively shortlived as Real beat them 5-0 at the Bernabeu the following season thanks to an Ivan Zamorano treble.
May 2, 2009 - Real 2 Barca 6 As a player, Cruyff inspired Barca to what is still their biggest win at the Bernabeu, a 5-0 success in February 1974. But it was Barca’s 6-2 victory there in their treblewinning season in 2008/09 that really sticks in the throat of the modern generation of Real fans and confirmed coach Pep Guardiola was a force to be reckoned with. Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi scored twice, with central defenders Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique adding a goal each. Puyol celebrated his goal by tearing off and passionately kissing his captain’s armband in the colours of the Catalan flag to drive the point home.
International
Schalke finish off Inter in Champions League quarter Agence France Presse
GELSENKIRCHEN – Schalke 04’s veteran striker Raul said the German underdogs can afford to dream of the Champions League final after setting up a semi-final clash with giants Manchester United. Schalke are in the last four of European football’s premier domestic competition for the first time in their history after knocking-out holders Inter Milan in Wednesday’s quarter-final. Having won the first-leg 5-2 at Inter’s San Siro stadium last week, Schalke finished the job off with a 2-1 win at their Veltins Arena stadium. “It is a special moment, it is the first time we are in the semi-finals in our history,” said the 33-year-old Raul, who won the Champions League three times with Real Madrid. “Nothing is impossible in football, so even against Manchester United, why can’t we dream of the final?” Raul opened the scoring on the stroke of halftime on Wednesday to extend his record Champions League tally to 71 goals while Inter midfielder Thiago Motta levelled minutes after the restart. Defender Benedikt Hoewedes put the matter beyond doubt with a late winner. Having knocked out Valencia in the Round of 16 and now holders Inter on their way to the semi-finals, Raul said the sky is the limit for Germany’s Royal Blues with the final at Wembley on May 28. “It’s an incredible situation, you have to see that Valencia thought they were going to win against us and then so did Inter,” said Raul. “I do hope Madrid get through to the final and we get to play against them, but we need to focus on the semi-final.” Inter coach Leonardo was gracious in defeat. “Schalke deserved the win,” said the Brazilian. Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick warned his team will be underdogs against Manchester. “The team has been rewarded with this victory, this is an extraordinary evening, but we will be underdogs against Manchester United,” said Rangnick.
AFP PHOTO/ DANIEL ROLAND
Schalke’s defender Benedikt Hoewedes (R) celebrates scoring with Schalke’s Spanish striker Raul during the UEFA Champions League quarter final, second leg football match Schalke 04 vs Inter Milan in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany on April 13, 2011. Schalke won the match 2-1.
Manchester City’s Tevez out of FA Cup semi-final Reuters
LONDON - Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez will miss Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against his old club Manchester United and could be out of action for up to a month, City manager Roberto Mancini said on Thursday. The 27-year-old Argentine international injured his hamstring in the 3-0 defeat at Liverpool on Monday and, after initial hopes he could make a quick recovery, is now likely to be sidelined for much of the Premier League run-in. “Tevez is not available for Saturday. I think he will recover in three or four weeks. It is a big problem but we cannot take any risks,” Mancini told a news briefing. “We have six games left and hopefully we can get Carlos back for the last two or three games.”
That could mean the striker has a chance of making the final against Stoke City or Bolton Wanderers on May 14, if City get past United at Wembley on Saturday (1615 GMT). Tevez has played a major part in City’s assault on a Champions League place with 19 league goals this season, and although they are fourth, Mancini’s side are only three points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur who have a game in hand. Without the Argentine, City will have to put their trust in Edin Dzeko and possibly Mario Balotelli to lead the attack, although Mancini said he had still to make his mind up. “I still have to decide what to do,” he said. “But both players know this is an important chance for them.” The City manager was able to report better news on fullback Micah Richards
who has returned to training after a hamstring injury with Mancini saying he is available for Saturday.
REUTERS/Nigel Roddis/Files
Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez celebrates scoring against Wolverhampton Wanderers during their English Premier League soccer match in Manchester in this January 15, 2011 file photo.