What: Spanish La Liga
Who: Barcelona (1st; 49 Points) vs Malaga (16th; 17 Points)
When: Sunday 16th January, 2011, at 20:00 UK Time
Where: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
Record-breakers Again?
When Barcelona host Malaga at the Camp Nou, top spot in Spain’s La Liga is not the only thing on the line, neither is the chance to become ‘winter champions’. Pep Guardiola’s team have an opportunity to break yet another club record if they avoid defeat against the improving Andalusian side. A win or a draw will see the Catalan giants move their unbeaten streak to 28 matches, breaking a club record that has lasted nearly 37 years. Barcelona are undoubtedly in fantastic form and their midweek 5-0 thrashing of Real Betis in the Copa del Rey was not a real surprise, such is the way this team is sweeping their opponents aside at the moment.
Surely, Barcelona’s aim now in 2011 and just about halfway through their domestic season is to win the Spanish title for a third season in a row and to conquer Europe yet again. It would be a brave man to bet against this club at the moment, impressive not only in the wins they are reeling off, but the comprehensive nature of those victories. Even in close matches such as the recent Copa del Rey match-up against Athletic Bilbao, the Blaugrana have shown an ability to get the job done even on the rare occasions they have an off night.
Real Madrid may have something to say about Barcelona winning the trophies they so desire, but there is no question that in their current state ‘Barca’ are the best in Europe. And those who challenge the side beware if Guardiola’s statements this week are anything to go by. When asked about the club’s form this season, the manager talked about his squad’s improvement this season, “We have grown stronger from last season and the situation at the club is even more positive now.”
Ambitious Andalusians
Though they currently sit just four points above the drop zone, Malaga are proving to be a side that is, if nothing else, extremely ambitious. Qatari investor and member of the country’s royal family Sheikh Abdullah ben Nasser Al Thani bought the club last June and this January has shown that he is serious about building this side into one of the best in Spain. While that may take some time and inordinate amounts of money, this is a team that has improved under the leadership of former Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini, who himself arrived mid-season.
Malaga have signed eight new players already during the winter transfer window, either on full deals or on loan. The likes of Julio Baptista, Martin Demichelis, Enzo Maresca, Ignacio Camacho, and Sergio Asenjo have all been snapped up and rumours suggest there are more signings to come. This has easily made the team into the most active club in Spanish transfer market, if not Europe, halfway through January. Though Malaga have lost the most often in La Liga this season (11 times) and conceded 37 goals, recent performances such an away victory over Sporting Gijon and home draw last week against Athletic Bilbao, where the Basque side equalised at the death, have shown the improvement that is needed to survive in the top flight.
No one can blame this team for a lack of belief. Ahead of their hugely difficult contest against the league leaders this weekend, midfielder Apono’s comments this week were representative of a team gaining confidence. “Other teams have won here (the Camp Nou), so why not us? We have to take something positive from this game."
Recent form
Barcelona:
Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Barcelona (05/01; Copa del Rey)
Deportivo La Coruna 0-4 Barcelona (08/01; La Liga)
Barcelona 5-0 Real Betis (12/01; Copa del Rey)
Malaga:
Sporting Gijon 1-2 Malaga (02/01; La Liga)
Malaga 0-3 Sevilla (05/01; Copa del Rey)
Malaga 1-1 Athletic Bilbao (08/01; La Liga)
Key absences
Barcelona: None
Malaga: Helder; Eliseu; Jose Galatto; Sandro Silva; Baha
Players to watch
Barcelona – Lionel Messi: Surely there are no superlatives left to describe the diminutive Argentine star. And though Messi’s speed and quickness, his ability to dance past defenders, and his goalscoring touch are all to be lauded, it is perhaps the player’s overall consistency that is really impressive. These days it is a rarity to see the newly crowned FIFA World Player of the Year (for the second consecutive year) suffer a bad match. A hat-trick against Betis on Wednesday showed just how devastating Messi has been this season, coming off a campaign last year where he scored 60 times. He may have not reached his usual lofty heights at the World Cup, but he has proven over the last few seasons at Barcelona that he is the world’s best.
Malaga – Jose Rondon: While the club have recently signed the more well-known Julio Baptista, it is Rondon, the Venezuela striker who has led the way for Malaga this season in the goals department. The 21-year-old has been superb for Malaga since joining the club last summer from Las Palmas. With good size and power complemented by quick feet and a nose for goal, Rondon has been a fine addition to the squad and has scored seven goals in all competitions this season. He is a bright young star to watch and his time at Malaga could be the stepping stone to a bigger club in the next few years.
Match prediction
On paper the result of this match seems to be a foregone conclusion. And truth be told, when Barcelona find their groove at home they are perhaps unbeatable. Malaga though have made good progress under Manuel Pellegrini and with a plethora of winter reinforcements appear to have what it takes to stay in the top flight and maybe give some of the big boys a scare or two along the way. The smart money has to be on Barcelona though, unbeaten in 27 matches and in superb form at the moment. Barcelona 3-0 Malaga.
