EL CLASSICO BEST RESULTS

Real Madrid 5 Barcelona 0 (La Liga, January 7, 1995)

Barcelona 3 Real Madrid 3 (La Liga, March 10, 2007) Messi hat trick

Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 6 (La Liga, May 2, 2009) Guardiola fisrt match at bernabeu

Barcelona 5 Real Madrid 0 (La Liga, November 29, 2010)

Real Madrid 3 Barcelona 4 (La Liga, March 23, 2014)

'Liverpool to treat Ludogorets like Madrid'
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15 September 2014, 17:09






 
 
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has promised to treat Champions League outsiders Ludogorets with the utmost respect when the little-known Bulgarian side make their debut in the group stage of the competition at Anfield on Tuesday.
"We'll respect them like we would if we were playing Real Madrid," Rodgers told a news conference on Monday.
Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Aston Villa should help the Premier League side avoid any complacency and the manner of it convinced Rodgers that his new-look defence must improve.
Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in only one of their four games this season and two in 13 going back to last March.
"We need to be better in those areas," the manager admitted.
"We were disappointed with how we conceded a goal at the weekend. We had five players making their Anfield debut and the cohesion does take a little bit of time."
It will be Rodgers's first match in charge for any Champions League tie and Liverpool's first since December 2009.
"Five years is a long time, probably too long," he said.
"When I came here my main priority was to get the club back to this level.
"We want to be at the elite level and the Champions League is that."
Asked about Ludogorets, Bulgarian champions for the past three seasons, who came through three qualifying rounds, he said: "They play an open, attacking style and they'll come here with confidence.
"They've worked hard to get here and we know they'll be excited about coming to Anfield, one of the most iconic stadiums in the world."
Rodgers confirmed that Slovakian centre half Martin Skrtel will not be ready to return, but there are no new injury concerns.

QPRStoke CityPaddyPower


Rednapp Expected



QPRStoke CityUnibet Harry Redknapp insisted he always expected "a difficult day" at Old Trafford after his QPR side were thrashed 4-0 by Manchester United.
 Angel Di Maria, Ander Herrera, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata all found the net as a new-look team earned Louis van Gaal his first Premier League victory since arriving at Old Trafford in comprehensive fashion.
 And after the match Redknapp bemoaned a first half which saw United put the game beyond his side.
 "A few minutes before half-time we were 1-0 down and still bang in the game," he told reporters. "To come in at 3-0 down, when our keeper has not had a shot to save... If you have ever played in a team 3-0 down at half-time it is very difficult. You have to make sure you don't get beat by six or seven.
 "[It was] a difficult day, I expected it and we got one."
 QPR's woes were compounded by the enforced withdrawal of £10 million deadline-day signing Sandro on 74 minutes, but Redknapp insists neither the Brazilian nor midfield partner Leroy Fer constitute significant injury worries.
 "Leroy Fer is not fit, Sandro got a bit of cramp where he's not played many games," he added.
 Sunday's heavy defeat leaves QPR languishing in 16th in the Premier League having claimed just three points from their opening four matches but Redknapp remains upbeat about their survival chances this season, insisting: "I still feel confident we will be okay."
  

Radamel Falcao will walk out at Old Trafford this afternoon for the first time confident he can live up to his billing. The Colombian striker is expected to start against Queens Park Rangers and doesn’t think that mastering the new environment of Premier League football will be a problem.

The 28-year-old marksman signed on a season-long loan from Monaco with a view to a permanent deal,  with United paying a loan fee of £6million but a package totalling £16.4m including the  striker’s £200,000-a-week wages. But the debt Falcao feels he must repay is to United manager  Louis van Gaal for showing so much faith in him.LIVE: THE LATEST FROM MAN UTD VS QPR

“It’s a massive challenge but I’ve played in four different countries and I have always been able to adapt,” he says. “The pace of the Premier League doesn’t concern me, I will adapt.

“I have my own expectations. I don’t feel under pressure. I have confidence in my ability and confidence to score goals.”

That doesn’t mean he will be  necessarily calm beneath the confident exterior as he makes his way out on to the pitch with the famous No 9 shirt on his back.

“I feel like a child,” he says. “I’m excited. There is something special about pulling on the famous shirt for the first time. I rarely suffer from nerves but it will be a fantastic feeling walking out in front of those supporters for the first time.”

There are a number of factors which attracted Falcao to United including the lure of tradition. “I want to be part of the history at this club. I’m only focused on being a success,” he add. “England is the home of  football and to be part of that  and the history of the game  gives me enormous confidence  going forward.”

Today's EPL Fixtures

Arsenal vs. Man City 2,45pm

Chelsea vs. Swansea 5pm

Crystal Palace vs. Burnley 5pm

Southampton vs. Newcastle 5pm

Stoke vs. Leicester 5pm

Sunderland vs. Tottenham 5pm

West Brom vs. Everton 5pm

Liverpool vs. Aston Villa 7.30pm

BARCELONA BALANCED AHEAD OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WEEK, SAYS COACH

As well as adding to Neymar's claims by claiming Messi would be the best in defence if he was positioned at the back, Luis Enrique suggested the Barca No.10 can do what even popular manga and animated character Captain Tsubasa cannot.

"Messi isn’t only the best for his goals but for his assists," the former Roma coach told reporters. "If he wanted to be the best defender around he would be.

"He does things that I've not seen Captain Tsubasa do or what can be done on a Playstation video game - they border on the unimaginable.

"We're used to it now but it's still a privilege to have the world's best player in your team."

Luis Enrique also hailed the unsung hero of his Barca side so far this season - his defence - as the club earned their third clean sheet in as many matches.

"Sergio Busquets’ tactical intelligence, how he interprets the pressure," he added. "He’s a key player for us and the best in the world in his position.

"To be a team that wins titles you must have a good attack and a defensive phase, to be a complete team. Sometimes you can play too long and others you can have possession. Getting the right balance isn’t always easy.

"A team is formed to unite different personalities and profiles of players. I’m happy with what I have. I won’t explain why whoever plays to the players and I won’t do it here. We always hope to have the best version of each player.

"Any individual thing is easy to achieve but overall, the coordination of everything, means many hours of training. We do what we can, with and without the ball."

Barca are back in action on Wednesday in their opening group stage game of their Champions League campaign against APOEL.

Liverpool to miss Main Man

Liverpool will miss the services of their main man Daniel Sturridge after he sustained harmstring injury while on international duty. Sturridge is expected to miss upto 6 matches including opening round of Champions league but he is on hurry to feature in end month mersey side derby