Article

La Liga preview: El Clasico dominates Spanish top flight

4 October 2012 12:09

Alex Song and Javier Mascherano are set to play in central defence for Barcelona against Real Madrid due to Carlos Puyol's dislocated elbow.

Puyol dislocated his elbow when he landed awkwardly after going for a header in Barcelona's 2-0 Champions League win over Benfica on Tuesday and the Catalan club's head coach Tito Vilanova is likely to play Song and Mascherano in Sunday's El Clasico versus Real Madrid.

Song and Mascherano are both more known as defensive midfielders but with regular central defenders Puyol and Gerard Pique injured and Eric Abidal still recovering from a liver transplant, Vilanova believes he has no other option.

"I have always said it, we have always had problems in central defence but we will get through it," Vilanova said.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho will be thrilled at the prospect of sending Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain out against Barcelona's improvised defence.

Mourinho's side have started their La Liga campaign slowly with three wins and a draw from six games but thumped Ajax Amsterdam 4-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday with Ronaldo scoring a hat-trick and Karim Benzema also getting on the scoresheet.

Sunday will also see second-placed Atletico Madrid host Malaga, who are third in La Liga's standings, with the former set to go top of the league if they win and Barcelona lose.

But Atletico Madrid will take on the best defensive side in Spain's top tier with Malaga having conceded just two goals this season.

Malaga head into the game on the back of a 3-0 win away to Anderlecht in the Champions League to continue their perfect start to the continental club competition.

Celta Vigo and Sevilla will get the weekend's La Liga action underway on Friday, while on Saturday, Rayo Vallecano host Deportivo La Coruna, Real Zaragoza face Getafe, Valladolid will play Espanyol and Real Betis take on Real Sociedad.

In other fixtures, Levante host a derby clash with Valencia, Granada travel to Mallorca and Athletic Bilbao are up against Osasuna.

Info

Barcelona

W W W L D

2 - 2

Real Madrid

L D W W W

Competition

Half-time: 1 - 1
Full-time: 2 - 2

Venue: Camp Nou (Barcelona)
Attendance: 95000

Goals

	0 - 1	23' Cristiano Ronaldo (assist by K. Benzema)
L. Messi 31'	1 - 1
L. Messi 61'	2 - 1
	2 - 2	66' Cristiano Ronaldo (assist by M. Özil)

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
1	Valdés
2	Dani Alves
21	Adriano Correia
18	Jordi Alba
14	J. Mascherano
4	Fàbregas
8	Iniesta
6	Xavi
16	Busquets	54'
10	L. Messi	31' 61'
17	Pedro	39'
Coach: Tito Vilanova

#	Player	Bookings
1	Casillas
4	Sergio Ramos
3	Pepe	78'
17	Arbeloa	90'
12	Marcelo
14	Xabi Alonso	43'
10	M. Özil	58'
6	S. Khedira
22	Á. di María
7	Cristiano Ronaldo	23' 66'
9	K. Benzema
Coach: José Mourinho

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
19	Martín Montoya for Dani Alves 28'
9	A. Sánchez for Fàbregas 64'
7	David Villa
13	Pinto
15	Bartra
25	A. Song
28	Sergi Roberto

#	Player	Bookings
20	G. Higuaín for K. Benzema 62'
8	Kaká for M. Özil 80'
15	M. Essien for Á. di María 88'
5	Fábio Coentrão
13	Adán
18	Albiol
19	L. Modrić

Wednesday 22 May

20:56	Mourinho and Ronaldo given two-match bans
20:48	AFC Champions League Wrap: Lekhwiya hold on to secure progress
20:37	Thomas, Jara released by West Brom
20:16	Martinez to decide future
20:04	Pearce: Championship will not hold back McCarthy
19:05	Pulis: I understand Stoke´s decision
18:39	Vidic reflects on ´amazing´ season
18:17	Bale: Spurs will bounce back
17:56	Petrov to become academy coach at Aston Villa
17:56	De Laurentiis begins search for Mazzarri replacement
17:52	New York City FC appoint Reyna
17:50	Pardew: We should try emulate Liverpool
17:20	Ribery: Bayern stronger than Dortmund
17:04	Conte building for the future at Juventus
16:52	Bundesliga Play-off Preview: Hoffenheim v Kaiserslautern
16:52	Ibrahimovic coy on PSG future
16:33	Goetze to miss Champions League final
16:22	Giroud wants better European showing from Arsenal
16:07	Chelsea´s England players to leave tour early
16:05	Fiorentina capture Yakovenko
15:25	Pellegrini and Malaga to part company
15:04	Fulham sign Boateng
14:50	Green wants first-team football at QPR
14:12	Britton set for surgery
14:03	Neville interested in Everton job
13:42	Holloway: Brighton incident motivated Palace players
13:36	Rodgers confident of keeping Suarez at Liverpool
13:25	Eredivisie Preview: Twente v Utrecht
13:21	Etherington praises Pulis´ work at Stoke
13:17	Vlaar excited for new season at Aston Villa
12:01	Badstuber sidelined for 10 months after knee surgery
11:21	Clichy: Manchester City were right to sack Mancini
11:10	Cole set for West Ham departure
10:27	Lampard: It was tough under Benitez
10:11	Mourinho branded a ´failure´
06:44	Carroll out of England squad
05:37	Nasri throws support behind Pellegrini
05:07	Kewell unhappy with Australia omission
04:58	Messi: Neymar would be a wonderful addition
01:22	Doll: Dortmund are not underdogs

Tuesday 21 May

23:08	AFC Champions League Wrap: Seoul, Buriram, Al Ahli, Al Shabab advance
22:27	Pulis leaves Stoke
21:08	Sanogo relishing Arsenal move
21:05	Galtier signs extension at Saint-Etienne
20:32	Baines explains appearance record
20:28	Pulis future in doubt amid exit rumours
20:12	Swansea coach Tucker praises goalkeepers
19:25	West Ham sign Rat
19:10	McAuley eager to keep improving
18:43	Ribery keen to end career at Bayern
18:36	Reina plays down Barcelona speculation
18:20	De Boer agrees new Ajax deal
18:13	Sheffield United make McCall move
18:11	Heldt: Schalke interested in Santana
18:06	Messi urges Barcelona not to change
17:41	Manchester City agree MLS club deal with New York Yankees
16:57	Cech confident Chelsea will attract big names
16:48	Blackman urges Reading to be more ruthless
16:47	Montanier leaves Sociedad for Rennes
15:38	Rodgers pleased with Coutinho impact
15:30	Leonardo: Ibrahimovic and Silva to stay
15:08	Carroll thanks West Hams fans after loan spell
14:31	De Laurentiis confirms Dzeko interest
14:16	Wilshere dreams of England captaincy
14:14	Mourinho a ´scourge´ on Spanish football
14:02	Moratti will not rush decision on Stramaccioni´s future
13:43	Klopp warns Dortmund stars about leaving
12:44	Schneiderlin backs Southampton to improve
12:29	Podolski delighted with fourth spot
12:12	Sigurdsson targets improvement at Tottenham
11:17	Di Canio criticised by PFA chief
10:50	Steaua owner Becali jailed for three years
10:00	Hummels pledges future to Dortmund
09:46	Retiring Ferguson ´overwhelmed´ by recognition
09:31	J.League Preview: Top three expected to win
06:34	Argentine Primera Division Wrap: Tigre earn point at Lanus
06:21	Galtier wants Ancelotti to stay
06:09	Pique, Barca playing for record haul
04:41	Gazidis, Arsenal target silverware
03:17	Juan plots Inter redemption
03:08	Gibbs wants to build on strong finish
02:58	Racism will not drive out Drogba
02:28	Martinez coy on Wigan future
02:17	Fernandinho still seeking City switch
02:01	Roberto Carlos set to coach Sivasspor
00:13	Ferguson named LMA Manager of the Year

Monday 20 May

21:07	Inter, Roma fined for racist abuse
20:15	Mourinho in quotes
20:14	Real Madrid part company with Mourinho
20:03	Rodwell called up by England
19:40	Messi keen on Barca stay
18:39	Atletico Madrid ready to sell Falcao
18:35	Abbiati extends Milan deal
18:32	Terry misses Chelsea tour
18:30	Schwarzer unaware of new contract offer from Fulham
18:19	O´Brien proud of West Ham finish
17:34	Doncaster appoint Dickov as manager
17:07	Hearts avoid SPL points deduction
16:53	Galliani to hold talks with Allegri
16:52	Hill blasts Hughes´ QPR signings
16:36	Lampard: I have not performed at World Cups
16:20	Kacaniklic targets first-team place
16:13	Jardim replaces Ferreira at Sporting Lisbon
16:10	Indonesia fined for crowd trouble
15:57	Mignolet not worried about speculation
15:42	Neville uncertain on future
15:07	Hummels could make Champions League final
15:01	Napoli stars hail departing Mazzarri
14:44	Juninho: Donovan gets advantage with referees
14:32	Harper hails ´incredible´ reception
14:27	Giovinco not leaving Juve
14:21	Lambert ´proud´ of top-flight return
14:21	Torres targets improvement
14:06	Fernandinho wants to join Manchester City
13:49	Galliani relieved with Champions League spot
13:33	Stramaccioni bemoans injury-hit season
13:19	Lewandowski focused on Wembley
12:57	Reading owner confirms Pogrebnyak clause
12:51	Owen thanks Stoke for ´great experience´
12:36	Rizzoli to take charge of UEFA Champions League final
12:18	Raheem Sterling case dismissed
12:14	Schuerrle expects Leverkusen exit
12:03	Howson delighted with Norwich progress
11:53	Milan players targeted in Florence
11:32	Lukaku: Fans inspired my performances
11:24	Williams dismisses Arsenal links
10:52	Scolari: Neymar will be a Barcelona idol
10:45	David Luiz praises ´amazing´ Benitez
10:22	Walcott wants title tilt next term
10:12	Carragher´s final Liverpool appearance full of emotion
10:05	Carrick: United must move on from Ferguson
09:56	Villas-Boas confident Bale with stay at Tottenham
09:13	AFC Champions League Preview: Guangzhou eye last eight
08:26	Ecuador Primera A Wrap: Nahuelpan class buoys Barcelona
07:58	Liga MX Wrap: America, Cruz Azul reach final
07:53	MLS Wrap: Johnson does Dallas, Salt Lake sink Chivas
07:40	Peru Primera Division Wrap: Sporting Cristal shine on top
07:09	Paraguay Division Profesional Wrap: Melgarejo on a winner
06:48	Chile Primera Division Wrap: Top two win again
06:20	Colombia Primera A Wrap: Tolima strike late to go top
05:56	Costa Rica Primera Division: Cartagines v Herediano
05:24	Cahill in top form in New York
04:45	Henry: Galaxy were better than New York
04:35	Fulham plan Schwarzer solution talks
04:13	Vilanova staying, says Roura
04:05	Merrick joins Phoenix as coach
03:53	Juric signs with A-League´s Wanderers
03:14	Mazzarri leaves second-placed Napoli
03:03	Campeonato Paulista: Santos 1 Corinthians 1 (3-2 agg)
00:47	La Liga Wrap: Barcelona, Deportivo notch victories
00:40	Allegri refuses to be drawn on talk of future
00:32	Ibrahimovic, Ancelotti land Ligue 1 honours
00:09	Primeira Liga Wrap: Porto confirm title, Moreirense relegated

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