La Liga: Barcelona — Murcia

Posted on | January 8, 2008 | No Comments

Barcelona found their winning ways again last weekend with an important two nil away victory to Mallorca. They didn’t show their kind of attractive football which has been them famous these past couple of seasons, but instead gave a gritty performance born out of a real need to get the three points and keep up with leaders Real Madrid.
Murcia have won seven of the last nine points in the league which has elevated them to a comfortable ninth place in the table. Still, they shouldn’t start relaxing as there are only four points separating them from the relegation zone.
In team news, Barcelona will still be without French striker Thierry Henry. He can’t seem to get rid of his chronic back pain, and will be out for the foreseeable future. It has been leaked to the press that Barcelona bought him from Arsenal knowing his injury problems, and no one seems to understand why they paid so much for a player who could very well have to retire from football in the not too distant future. Also out is Ronaldhino, and the longest running transfer saga now puts him in AC Milan this January. Officially he has a tendinitis and will miss the Murcia game as well as the exciting King’s cup eighth round tie away to Sevilla. A large portion of the Spanish public, though don’t see him playing for Barcelona again. Another important absentee for this match will be Ivory coast midfielder Touré Yaya, who has traveled to his home country to prepare for the African cup with his international team mates. Luckily for Barcelona, Samuel Eto’o has a special permission to remain with his club until after the Sevilla game
As for Murcia, coach Lucas Alcaraz will have to make do without Spaniard Paco Gallardo –out for a month with a ligament injury- as well as the Uruguayan Mario Ignacio Regueiro. This means a complete change to the midfield and a lot of headaches for Alcaraz.
You can’t seriously see Murcia taking any points home from the Nou Camp, even if the Catalan side did lose their last home game to Real Madrid. I’m going for an easy home win, as Barcelona won’t be stretched in this encounter.
Prediction: Home win (3-0)

Related posts:

1. La Liga: Murcia vs. Barcelona
2. La Liga: Real Madrid vs. Murcia
3. La Liga: Murcia vs. Racing
4. La Liga: Barcelona vs. Racing de Santander
5. La Liga: Zaragoza vs. Murcia

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