Real Madrid News

The Catalans need to beat Athletic Bilbao in their last visit to the old San Mames stadium and hope Real lose out to Atletico in the capital clash for the first time since 1999

By Ben Hayward

Barcelona will win La Liga on Saturday if they can beat Athletic Bilbao at San Mames and rivals Real Madrid lose in their derby clash against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon.

Both Barca and Madrid are reeling from their disappointing defeats at Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, respectively, in the Champions League this week, but the Catalans can cheer up their frustrated fans by clinching the Primera Division title tonight.

However, it is not solely in their hands. Barca must beat Athletic in what will be the Blaugrana‘s last-ever game at the old San Mames stadium, but also hope Atletico can defeat Real in the Madrid derby – and that hasn’t happened since 1999.

Many of Barcelona’s players would rather win La Liga in front of their own fans. “Last time we won it away from home [at Levante in 2010-11] and this year it would be nice to win it at home so we can celebrate with our supporters,” Adriano said just last week.

However, a title triumph on Saturday would represent a big boost after the 4-0 defeat at Bayern on Tuesday and coach Tito Vilanova (who on Friday gave his first press conference since returning from cancer treatment in New York last month) says he hopes to win it sooner rather than later. “This a league we are fighting for against Real Madrid and I want to win it as soon as possible,” he revealed. It would also be his first trophy as Barca boss after taking over from Pep Guardiola in the summer.

Barcelona will need to better last season’s 2-2 draw at San Mames to have any chance of claiming the title, but must wait to see how Madrid get on in the capital clash at Atletico before the celebrations can begin.

By the end of that match, Barcelona will already be on the plane back to the Catalan capital, although they will be kept informed of events at the Calderon by the captain and the cabin crew.

Atletico have failed to beat Madrid in a competitive match since 1999, but Diego Simeone’s side may have their best chance for some time as Cristiano Ronaldo has been ruled out with a muscle injury and Jose Mourinho will have more than one eye on Tuesday night’s Champions League semi-final second leg at home to Dortmund (after the first match was won 4-1 by the Germans on Wednesday).

Nevertheless, assistant Aitor Karanka claimed on Friday that Real would work hard to preserve their amazing derby record. “[Atletico] are a team who haven’t beaten us for many years, but they are strong at home, we are fighting them for second place and it is the city’s derby – we will have to play with great intensity,” he told the media.

Atletico celebrated their 110th birthday on Friday and the capital club will hope to mark that anniversary with a first derby success this millennium. Simeone’s side are currently third, six points behind Mourinho’s men. “Let’s hope we can finish second,” Koke said on Friday, while captain Gabi added: “We have been waiting for 14 years to win the derby – it is a very special game and we are desperate to win it.”

Atletico also meet Madrid in the final of the Copa del Rey at the Santiago Bernabeu next month.

If Barcelona beat Athletic and Madrid win or draw at Atletico, the Catalans will have to wait until next weekend’s game at home to Betis for their next chance to be crowned champions. Vilanova’s side currently lead Madrid by 13 points with six rounds of La Liga remaining, but Madrid edge out the Blaugrana on the head-to-head record (if the sides are level) after claiming a win and a draw from this season’s two Clasico clashes in the Primera Division.

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Blancos assistant coach Aitor Karanka has confirmed that the Portuguese will miss his side’s clash with Atletico after picking up a minor knock against Dortmund

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo will not play in Saturday’s derby clash with Atletico due to a minor leg injury picked up in Wednesday’s match against Borussia Dortmund, the Champions League semi-finalists have revealed.

Reports had circulated across Spain that the Portuguese star would not feature for los Blancos against their city rivals and assistant coach Aitor Karanka confirmed his absence.

“Cristiano Ronaldo will not be in the squad for tomorrow,” he stated at a press conference on Friday.

“With the exception of Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo and [Alvaro] Arbeloa, the rest are well and tomorrow our best team will go out to win.”

Karanka went on to say that every member of the capital club’s squad must give their all against Diego Simeone’s side as they look warm up for their Champions League clash with Dortmund on Tuesday.

“Tomorrow we have to be at 120 per cent and go out with the maximum level of intensity,” he continued.

“There are still big games left and the team is going to be at that level. We have to go out tomorrow with a winning mentality and increase the points lead [over Atleti].

“The best way to present yourself for Tuesday at the Bernabeu is winning. It’s the best way to get motivated.”

The 67-year-old says he will not reveal his next move until the expiration of his contract this summer amid reports of a return to the Bernabeu

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes has played down rumours that he will take Jose Mourinho’s place at Real Madrid next season.

The 67-year-old is set to be replaced by Pep Guardiola at the Allianz Arena this summer and although he knows about his next move, he promised not to reveal his future until his contract expires.

“I won’t tell you what I will do after June 30,” he told reporters.

“I look at that in a relaxed manner. I know what I will do and I’ve known it for some time. I never had an agent and the rumours from Spain is only what the media are writing“.

The German believes that Bayern are now among the best sides in Europe having beaten Barcelona 4-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

“It was a spectacular week in football. You can see how much the Bundesliga has caught up and that we are on the same level as Europe’s elite,” he continued.

“We enjoy our success with calmness and discipline. There is no room for arrogance with us. We always have to get our machine working against from scratch.

“I look forward to returning to Spain. I lived there for a while. And it is great for every player to play at Camp Nou.”

Heynckes also said that his side are excited about the prospect of linking up with Mario Gotze of Borussia Dortmund, who will ply his trade for Bayern next season.

“We have lots of extraordinary players in midfield, and the team are happy about his transfer,” he added.

“There are always new stories and rumours at Bayern. The players take it calmly. We know how to handle it.”

Our man in Madrid, Phil Kitromilides, believes a motivated Rojiblancos side are good value to open the scoring against what is likely to be a weakened Blancos outfit

It is 14 years since Atletico Madrid defeated their more illustrious neighbours from the north of the Spanish capital, and on that occasion a 3-1 victory for los Rojiblancos was not enough to avoid them being relegated from the top flight.

This season, Atleti have of course been a permanent fixture at the other end of the table, and despite surrendering the advantage they held over Madrid, Diego Simeone’s men still harbour realistic hopes of finishing above their arch rivals.

That would represent a monumental success for Atletico but to have any hope of achieving it they need to beat Jose Mourinho’s men on Saturday and Paddy Power price them at 7/4 (2.75) to do so.

Madrid, meanwhile, can be backed at 6/4 (2.50) to continue their dominance with a win, with the drawn offered at 12/5 (3.40).

As ever when two top teams meet, goals at both ends look likely and with Atleti scoring in all but one of their last 23 home league games and Madrid scoring in all but one of their last 21 matches in all competitions, it is understandable to see both teams to score at just 1/2 (1.50).

That price will attract only the most serious of punters, but a much more attractive selection is to back Atletico to open the scoring at evens (2.00).

Diego Simeone’s men will be fresher having not endured a draining midweek Champions League encounter like their rivals and will be hugely motivated to get the win which should mean Madrid relinquish their league crown if Barcelona can claim three points earlier in the day.

Furthermore, Atleti having scored first in 14 of their last 16 home league matches, while Madrid have conceded first in four of their last eight games. With Madrid likely to field a weakened line up this bet has a great chance of paying out.

For a value bet back both teams to score in the first half at 9/4 (3.25) which could well see punters enjoy a healthy profit if, as seems likely, goals are conceded at both ends.

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Phil Kitromilides is a sports anchor working on TV in Madrid. You can also follow Phil on Twitter.

The creative midfielder has caught the attention of a number of big European clubs, but the Bundesliga outfit are determined to hold on to him

Schalke general manager Horst Heldt has stressed the club have no intention of selling Julian Draxler in the summer transfer window.

The Germany international has been linked with clubs such as Juventus, Inter, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the past few months, but the Gelsenkirchen side are determined to hold on to the 19-year-old.

“There is no exit clause and we have no intention of selling Julian at the end of this season. He is feeling very well at the club and is the face of Schalke,” Heldt was quoted as saying by Bild.

“What I would say if a €100 million offer came in tomorrow? You can’t blame Julian for having the desire to play at one of his dream clubs in Spain at some point. If Barcelona or Madrid were to offer €100m, we would look at things differently.

“Bayern? Where would he have to play at Bayern with all the players they already have …”

Draxler has a contract with Schalke until the summer of 2016.