Krkic not looking to leave Barca

Barcelona youngster Bojan Krkic insists he has no intention of leaving the Camp Nou at the end of the season.

Speculations have suggested that the 18-year-old would be interested in a move away from the club in order to get regular first-team football next season.

“I have never even thought about going, firstly because I have faith in my chances, something that was reaffirmed to me last year, and secondly because I believe that I can compete with the players and that I can play in a team at the level of Barca,” Krkic told Catalunya Radio.

“I am at home because here I have my club, my family, my friends and in no other place would things be so good.

“At Barca, the best team in the world, we will always have the best defenders, the best midfielders and the best forwards, which is key.

“But I am keen to show that players from the youth team are also important. I try to stay away from the stories and ignore them all.”

Villarreal boost Champions League hopes

Villarreal put the pressure on Champions League rivals Atletico Madrid and Malaga with a 2-0 home win over 10-man Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Goals from Spanish international Santi Cazorla and Mati Fernandez saw fourth-placed Villarreal move five points clear of chasing Atletico and Malaga who are in action on Sunday.

For Bilbao, who had Markel Susaeta sent off late on, it was another setback as they have failed to win in their last seven outings and are not yet safe from the drop.

Turkish striker Nihat had the hosts’s first opening but his shot from an acute angle was blocked and Bilbao cleared their lines.

Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez, called up into the Spain squad for the first time this week, was called into action on 13 minutes producing a fine save to thwart Igor Gabilondo’s deflected shot.

The breakthrough arrived in the 68th minute with Cazorla’s fierce shot into the corner after Bilbao were cut open.

Susaeta was sent off for a second yellow card all but ending Bilbao’s hopes of getting back in the game. Fernandez then scored in stoppage time to wrap up the win for Villarreal.

Third-placed Sevilla entertain Valladolid in Saturday’s late match looking to extend their lead over their chasing Champions League rivals.

Valladolid are down in ninth but are only four points off the final UEFA Cup spot and have already beaten Sevilla this season along with Real Madrid, Villarreal and Valencia.

“It is a tricky game against a team that has surprised a lot of the top teams,” said Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez.

“Valladolid have the ability to score goals and we need to be careful. Our stadium needs to be a fortress if we want to get the points we need (to qualify for the Champions League).”

Real Madrid take on Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday trying to put the pressure on Barcelona, six points ahead at the top, in the title race.

“We cannot slip up,” said goalkeeper Iker Casillas. “There are about two months left. A lot can happen, but things can also get ugly if the league is won early.”

It is an emotional game for Almeria’s Mexican coach Hugo Sanchez who played for Real between 1985 and 1992 winning four Pichichi crowns in the process.

Barcelona host Malaga at Camp Nou on Sunday as they continue their bid for a historic treble.

“If I had to prioritise one of them, it would be the league because it?s what gives you stability and sets the tone for the team,” said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. “We have to focus on the next match above any other.”

Old boy Sanchez aims to dent Real title bid

Hugo Sanchez became a legend at Real Madrid in seven trophy-laden seasons but on Sunday the Mexican will put sentiment aside as his Almeria side look for a first ever win at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Legendary striker Sanchez starred for Real between 1985 and 1992, winning five league titles and four ‘Pichichi’ (top goalscorer) crowns, but now he wants to get one over on his old club.

“It will be emotional to return to Real Madrid but I have to put my job first and we will go for the three points,” said Sanchez.

“I would like to make Almeria history by winning at the Bernabeu for the first time.”

The only problem for Sanchez, and Almeria, is that Real can afford no slip-ups as they look to close the six-point gap to frontrunners Barcelona.

Juande Ramos’s side may have crashed out of Europe but they have won 11 of their last 12 games to stay on Barca’s heels and French midfielder Lass Diarra believes they are capable of winning all their remaining fixtures to snatch the league title.

“There is a positive atmosphere in the squad,” said Diarra.

“Our goal is to win the title by winning every game. We are very much alive and I think we can catch up with Barcelona. I am convinced we are capable of winning all our matches.”

Having halved a one-time 12-point gap to Barca, Real have just the league on which to focus while their arch-rivals must also focus on the Kings Cup final and the Champions League.

Barca manager Pep Guardiola rested Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry last weekend in the 2-0 win over Almeria as he tries to keep his stars fresh for the key final few months of the season.

Bojan Krkic, 18, scored both goals against Almeria but admits it is difficult to force his way into Barca’s star-studded line-up.

“It is not easy to get a game when you have Eto’o, (Lionel) Messi and Henry in front of you. They are three of the best players in the world,” said Bojan.

Malaga are the visitors at Camp Nou on Sunday, and are looking to claim another big scalp. The promoted side have surprised everyone this season and are only two points off the Champions League spots.

Atletico Madrid are level on points with Malaga after a morale-boosting 3-2 win over Villarreal last time out and aim to build on that success at strugglers Real Mallorca on Sunday.

Uruguayan international Diego Forlan has scored more than any other player in 2009 with nine league goals taking his tally to 19 - just four behind the league’s top-scorer Samuel Eto’o.

“I didn’t expect to score so many goals in Spain because it is a tough league,” confessed Forlan. “I am quite far away (from Eto’o) and I don’t really set targets. I just keep on working hard.”

Villarreal need to make amends for the defeat to Atletico and they host Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Sevilla are well positioned in third six points ahead of Villarreal and want to consolidate their lead at home to Valladolid on Saturday.

For Valencia the Champions League dream is rapidly disappearing with the 2004 champions falling five points off the top four after one win in their last eight league matches.

Unai Emery’s side travel to an improving Racing Santander outfit on Sunday needing a win to take the spotlight off their well-publicised financial problems.

Carlos keen on Real Madrid move

Brazilian full-back Roberto Carlos has revealed that he would be interested in a return to Real Madrid if Florentino Perez wins the club’s presidential election.

Carlos has just recently signed a one-year extension with Turkish side Fenerbahce.

“I have a year left on my contract, but many things can happen with Florentino,” Marca quote him as saying. “I have renewed here and have another season, but we shall see because everyone knows I have great respect for him.

“Fenerbahce have given me the opportunity to be here for ten or 15 years, but I have already spent eleven years of my life with Real Madrid.

Messi: I would stay at Barcelona forever

Lionel Messi wants to stay at Barcelona for the rest of his career, the Argentina forward said. “I have said many times that if it were up to me I would stay my whole life at Barca,” he said at a book presentation in the Catalan capital.

“There are some things money cannot buy such as happiness and how good I feel here,” added the 21-year-old while replying to a question about whether he would consider signing for arch-rivals Real Madrid.

So far, he has scored 18 goals in 24 league matches and netted six times in the Champions League and five times in the King’s Cup.

Marchena still confident

Valencia defender Carlos Marchena remains confident that they can manage to qualify for the Champions League this season, in spite of their current crisis.

Los Che’s are five points adrift of the Primera Division top four, following their 1-1 draw at home to Recreativo Huelva.

“The Champions League is still within reach for us. Nothing is impossible and there are a lot of games to play for and the points difference isn’t that big,” he was quoted as saying by Marca.

“Of course, there are a group of other teams who are all chasing the same thing as we are. But we cannot give up and we must try with all our might [to qualify].

“There have been games where we have missed our chances to win, but if we continue pushing, we will win again eventually.”

Barcellona, Laporta dreams about the Treble

Barcelona are seen once again as favourites to land La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey, but club president Joan Laporta is refusing to start thinking about treble celebrations.

“We are enjoying a good run now, but the season is far from over and we must remain prudent,” he said in an interview with RAC-1 programme ‘Tu diras’.

“What is important is that we continue to show we are the team to beat, and that we are back to our best. I believe that the Real Madrid fans are disappointed to see Barca so solid and strong again.

Silva could join Juventus

Valencia star David Silva has admitted that he could join Italian giants Juventus at the end of the season.

The Spanish club is struggling with financial problems and could be forced their star players and the Bianconeri are looking to bring in someone to replace Pavel Nedved in the summer.

“Why would Nedved want to retire? He still looks very young when you see him in action,” Silva told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“He has been one of European football’s greats and I don’t think I deserve to be compared to him.

“Juve were knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea, but they went out with their heads held high.

“They are a great and prestigious club on the international stage and they have so many champions.

“Could I win the Champions League with Juve next season? Why not? I dream of the magical moment of lifting that trophy.”

Valencia without David Villa for two weeks

Valencia’s bid to put an end to their abysmal form on the pitch has been dealt a severe knock after it was confirmed that their leading scorer, David Villa, will be ruled out for around 15 days.

The in-form striker was omitted from the side that lost 2-1 at Numancia at the weekend and after further medical tests on Monday, the club have revealed on their official website that the 27-year-old is suffering from an inflammation in the joint in his left knee due to a partial dislocation.

Real Madrid eye Atletico in Spanish League clash

Barcelona held a substantial 12-point gap over Real back on February 15 but that lead has shrunk to just four points in the space of three games with Barcelona drawing against Real Betis before defeats to Espanyol and Atletico Madrid.

Real have rattled out ten straight wins to play their part and hope to continue their pursuit of Barcelona on Saturday with a derby win over Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“We are four points behind the leaders now and people seem to think our work is over, but this has only just begun,” said Real coach Juande Ramos. “Those people who think we’ll easily catch up with Barcelona are wrong. This is going to be very long.”

Barcelona?s dip in form has been attributed to playing too many games as they fight on three fronts and they were in action in midweek reaching the Spanish Cup final with a 3-1 aggregate win over Real Mallorca.

Barcelona will face Athletic Bilbao in the final and ironically the two finalists meet at Camp Nou on Saturday.

Atletico came from 2-0 down to beat Barca 4-3 last weekend and hope to follow that up with victory over Real to enhance their Champions League hopes with fourth-placed Villarreal three points ahead.

Atletico have not beaten neighbours Real since 1999 and new coach Abel Resino will hope he is the man to break that jinx.

Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas has watched his side close the gap on Barca but said he would rather be in their shoes at the top of the table.

“It was to be expected that Barca wouldn?t win a few matches and something like that could happen to us too,” explained Casillas. “I would swap places with them as they are still in three competitions and four points ahead in the league.”

Real have a tough week with Atletico and then Tuesday?s Champions League match at Liverpool trailing 1-0 from the first leg.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is under the microscope after his team?s loss of form but remains convinced Barcelona will be crowned champions come May.

“I sense we?ll be champions,” said Guardiola. “I always say what I feel and right now I feel like we will start winning again and gain more of an advantage. We just need to get back the shape and aggression we were showing at the start of the season.”

Bilbao thrashed Sevilla 3-0 to reach the Spanish Cup final after a 24-year wait so will go to Barcelona on a high.

Sevilla entertain Almeria on Sunday aiming to bounce back from their cup setback and continue their strong league form that has left them third.

Last season?s cup winners Valencia are in freefall and need to get back on the winning trail after collecting just six points from their last eight games.

Valencia, three points off the Champions League spots, travel to bottom side Numancia on Sunday.

Winger Joaquin insists there is no reason to press the panic button and emphasised that the players were still focused on the job in hand despite the club not paying their wages on time due to financial problems.

Messi needs protection

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola on Friday once again called for referees to do more to protect Argentine playmaker Lionel Messi from hefty tackles and fouls.

“One day they will really do some damage. Lately, he has been knocked to the floor almost every time he receives the ball,” he told a news conference.

“The referees have an obligation to protect players that are having that done to them. Not only Messi, but anyone,” he added.

He was especially targeted by Real Madrid players during the “classico” between the two arch rival teams in mid-December which the Catalan giants won 2-0.

FC Barcelona plan for Miami MLS team dumped

Miami is no longer a candidate for a Major League Soccer expansion team after FC Barcelona and the league agreed the poor economic conditions made it unfeasible to launch an MLS team there in 2010.

The announcement made by the league said all sides agreed the timing was wrong after extensive discussions and evaluations, although franchise applicant Marcelo Claure and FC Barcelona still plan to work with the league on projects.

“I want to thank both FC Barcelona and Marcelo Claure for the tremendous effort to bring an MLS expansion team to Miami,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said.

Barca have not given up on making a bigger foothold in America.

“The US market continues to be a priority for FC Barcelona,” chief executive Joan Oliver said. We will look for additional ways to strengthen our relationship with MLS and America?s soccer fans.”

The US league will begin its 14th season in two weeks with 15 clubs with a new team set to begin play next year in Philadelphia and two more set to be added in 2011.

Figo never wanted to leave Barcelona

Inter Milan star Luis Figo has revealed he never wanted to leave Barcelona.

The Portuguese star claims he wanted to stay at Barcelona rather than move to their rivals Real Madrid.

Figo became one of the most hated men in Catalonia following his move to Real Madrid.

“I didn’t lie when I said that I wanted to stay with Barcelona. I wanted to remain there and the president also knew that,” he declared.

“My only mistake back then was to say in an interview that I would not go.”

He added: “When I retire I will visit Barcelona again. They may not ask me for autographs, but I will will return. I continue to have a lot of respect for the fans, I have a Catalan daughter and I knew my partner there…For, it is an important place, and I am proud to have played there. They were five good years of my life.”

Barcelona lose seven-goal thriller as title race blown wide open

Sergio Aguero’s late goal helped Atletico Madrid come from behind to beat Barcelona 4-3 on Sunday and blow the Spanish title race wide open.

Barcelona, who led 2-0 and 3-2, have now failed to win in four matches and have seen their lead over Real Madrid cut from 12 points, just three weeks ago, to four.

Thierry Henry put Barcelona ahead with a fine strike from 25 yards which flew into the top corner after 18 minutes before Lionel Messi, on the half-hour mark, produced a trademark dribble before finishing in style.

Diego Forlan brought Atletico back into the match with a spectacular 30-yard drive before Aguero got the first of his brace after 56 minutes.

Barcelona, who were stunned by struggling Espanyol last weekend, re-established their lead when Eidur Gudjohnsen unselfishly played in Henry for his second from close range in the 73rd minute.

But Atletico were not finished and Forlan again scored, this time from the penalty spot in the 80th minute, before Aguero struck in the 89th minute to win the match.

Meanwhile, the pressure is growing on Valencia coach Unai Emery as his side followed their mid-week UEFA Cup elimination with a 2-1 home defeat by Valladolid.

After a bright start to the season, Valencia have tumbled to sixth in the table and have now gone more than a month without a win.

It took just six minutes for Valladolid to go ahead with Jonathan Sesma heading home but then chances came and went for both sides before Raul Albiol scored an own goal to double the lead.

Valencia continued to create openings but missing David Villa through suspension they lacked a finishing touch.

They did eventually manage to find the back of the net through Carlos Marchena after 73 minutes but it was only to be a consolation.

Malaga’s hopes of European qualification suffered a setback when they were beaten 2-0 at home by mid-table Recreativo Huelva.

The Andalusian side have surpassed expectations this season but after the first-half dismissal of Manuel Lolo they struggled against Recreativo.

Javier Camunas gave the visitors the lead after 54 minutes with a shot from the edge of the area and then Jesus Vazquez hit the post before they doubled the lead with a fine finish from Adrian Colunga.

Deportivo La Coruna are just below seventh-placed Malaga on goal difference after they beat bottom side Numancia with a Juan Rodriguez strike mid-way through the second half.

Mallorca continued their fight against relegation by beating Sporting Gijon to secure their third successive win with a free-kick from Juan Arango to giving the visitors the win.

A Walter Pandiani goal in first-half injury time rescued a point for Osasuna who drew 1-1 with Racing Santander but they are still encamped in the bottom three.

On Saturday, Real Madrid reduced the gap on Barcelona when substitute Guti and veteran skipper Raul scored in a 2-0 win at Espanyol.

Real coach Juande Ramos singled out Guti for special praise.

“We knew that the game was not going to be easy but we were very motivated,” said Ramos, whose team had been stunned by a home midweek Champions League defeat to Liverpool.

“There was little difference between the teams in the first half but after the break Guti changed the match and after his goal Espanyol had to take risks which led to the second goal.”

A Frederic Kanoute brace helped Sevilla come from behind to beat Athletic Bilbao, who had gone ahead through Inaki Gabilondo, in a dress-rehearsal of the Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday.

It consolidated Sevilla in third but still 13 points behind leaders Barcelona.