A WIN AT THE NOU CAMP FORTRESS

In the midst of counting down the great classical Bernabeu, one contemplates another result that is not adding another victory in the feud blaugrana

The revelation of the League will test the solvency of Barcelona at the Camp Nou. The presence of the Levant is not visiting anyone.Although the squad arrives quietly Levantine media, to date no one can argue that the whole of Juan Ignacio Martinez is a tough nut to crack under any circumstances. Guardiola must use one of his best versions if you want to win with solvency and not suffer more than necessary before the expected arrival of the classic.

It is evident that the Catalans do not go on. The team has alternated great exhibits, such as San Siro, with other meetings-gray light of the recent defeat at Getafe, but there is a coincidence: the club when you step on the Nou Camp is transformed into a solid block later early or later commitment takes all.

The feud has emerged as blaugrana a fort and not long remembered. And not only for the balance of points accumulated to date, the most surprising is that Victor Valdes is still unknown what concede a goal so far this championship. Nobody has been able to beat the framework of L’Hospitalet goal before their fans. Only in this way means that Sevilla have been the only team to have scratched a point. No need to remember the heroic action in excess of the target Javi Varas. Of course, the final tie went to zero.

Guardiola has tried every means to abstract the team of all that goes beyond mourning tonight. Nor should it matter what happens in the Molinón let alone everything that begins to surround the great classic next weekend. The first is the Levant, the rest depends on the Barça dressing room. Pep requires maximum concentration against a team that boasts the most uncomfortable. Strong case to be sensed a rare alignment with rotations. This is no time to dawdle or to remove wandering the test tubes.

The Nou Camp invites a cautious optimism. Good play on some occasions and the lethal punch Messi others have solved the problems have arisen periodically. Another spectacular detail refers to the effectiveness of the Argentina star. The crack is that the breaks at home, where has scored fifteen goals.

Because Barca respect, but the Levant has been shown not frightened by anyone. After what happened last week and taking into account the fitness of Real Madrid, Camp Nou should add another victory in the league. And if Valdes increases his legend, much better.

THE BARCA 1X1

VALDES: 6 Irregular. I miss game of Victor did a concert with the ball at his feet, but in tackling the ball was so successful, especially in a move that lost the ball and ended innocently for a corner. In the goal was not guilty.

Puyol: 6 Desperate. It certainly went wrong when the captain to defend the right wing because Ibra fell in your area and is anticipated to almost all their actions. Fortunately, there was room and ended the game in style.

MASCHERANO: 7 Leader. Barça defense came out with a three and Argentina took her galvanizing role in the game. Always very attentive to all the courts, was used to fund when it was necessary. The jefecito `do you still maintain its high level.

ABIDAL: 6 Flashing. The French defender had many problems in his band, reaching to lose balls incomprehensible. Fortunately, his game improved in the second half and gave much more packaging and safety on defense.

Sergio Busquets: 7 Ready. The Ciutat Badia is a real crack. He converted his private preserve area, dividing always the best option and retrieving balls everywhere. She sewed for kicks, but is so chaste and never throw in the towel followed.

XAVI: 10 Keynote. A party to frame the egarense who took all the excellences of his game: possession, control, intelligence, continuity, pressure, clear and on top of a goal by crack. Joaquim and Maria Merce Thanks for everything!

Keita: 9 Awesome. It took all the air balls have or might have, eventually winning the game at this point a whole Ibrahimovic. If we add to this that unfolded as he wanted with the ball, we can only say great match.

THIAGO: 8 Virtuoso. Seeing this guy do what he did yesterday in San Siro is something unique. No one plays like angels but also tactically worth a Potosi. We are talking about someone who is called to do great quotes.

CESC: Relentless 7. A combination of him with Leo Messi penalty led to the play of Xavi Hernandez.The Arenys was one of the most pressured and rushed, ending bottomless. Guardiola rested, releasing Peter.

MESSI: 9 omnipresent. He opened the pass to Keita’s band to focus and ended up in goal, the penalty that led to turning over and gave assistance to Xavi in the third. Need I say more of this great crack?

VILLA: 6 jinxed. No luck in front of goal, although he tried in every way. Especially one that finished off at close range and repulsed Abbiati does not know how. In any case their contribution is vital to the team for their dedication and claw.

ALEXIS: 8 Valiente. He entered the field and threw himself into the line of fire, fighting with all the defenses.

PEDRO: 7 Electric. He began to run around the field to hinder the ball out of the opposing defense.

DOS SANTOS: sc Testimonial. The youth was released in the last minutes paa give strength in midfield

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Atletico secure much needed Levante win

Sporting Gijon come from behind to beat Getafe

Misfiring Atletico Madrid finally found their touch in front of goal but were forced to hang on for a 3-2 victory over Levante, who fell to their third consecutive defeat.

The pressure was on Atletico coach Gregorio Manzano after their derby defeat by Getafe in their last game meant they had only one win in eight matches, but they showed plenty of attacking intent from the start.

The visitors are still in the top four thanks to a seven-match winning streak earlier in the season and they set out their stall to defend deeply and try to catch Atletico on the counter-attack.

Tiago Cardoso fired over early on from inside the area but generally Atletico struggled in the first half to create clear-cut chances.

After the break Levante almost sneaked a lead but keeper Thibaut Courtois was quickly off his line to deny Xavi Torres.

Atletico missed a series of openings but eventually went ahead through a cool finish from substitute Luis Pizzi. Levante hit back immediately via Torres but Adrian Lopez restored Atletico’s advantage after 74 minutes and Diego added another before a Ruben Suarez consolation.

Athletic Bilbao continue to soar up the table with a 2-1 victory away to Sevilla which has put them in sixth place.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side have now gone eleven matches unbeaten following a slow start to the campaign under the Chilean coach which took them six attempts to register their first win in la liga.

Since then though they have never looked back and fully deserved the three points against a Sevilla side which have not won now in five games and are just a point above Athletic.

Andoni Iraola gave Athletic the lead after just five minutes and while Sevilla drew level through Jesus Navas after a headed knock down from Frederic Kanoute, the visitors were in charge.

In particular Sevilla were finding it difficult to cope with Athletic’s physical threat although the winner came from a move with the ball on the ground as Iker Muniain found Oscar De Marcos, who scored from close range.

“This was not an easy win but a just one. At the moment we are not a side which wins games comfortably. Sevilla have some very good strikers and in the second half we were able to control them, while in both halves we were strong going forward,” said Bielsa.

Earlier, Sporting Gijon came from behind to beat Getafe thanks to a late Nacho Novo winner. Oscar Trejo equalised a Nicolas Miku goal in first half stoppage time and then a minute from the end Novo headed in a second.

Osasuna drew 0-0 with Rayo Vallecano while it was also goalless between Real Sociedad and Espanyol, who moved onto the fringes of the European places with 17 points.

Real Madrid kept their three point cushion at the top Saturday with a 3-2 win over Valencia in a stormy encounter at the Mestalla.

The pressure was on Real who had Barcelona breathing down their necks after their earlier 4-0 win over Zaragoza but they produced a battling display against a Valencia side who pushed them all the way after the break.

Real have a higher intensity to their play this season and deserved their lead through Karim Benzema after 19 minutes but Valencia responded after the break and the game threatened to boil over as tackles rained in and tempers frayed.

Sergio Ramos headed Real further ahead midway through the second half before Roberto Soldado hit the first of a double.

A mistake from Valencia keeper Alves who recklessly came off his line allowed Ronaldo to score from a tight angle, but another Soldado goal set up a grandstand finish.

A stylish Barcelona produced a rendition of attacking football at the Nou Camp against a Zaragoza side who have only won two games all season.

Barca were finding it difficult to find a cutting edge though until they managed it in a way not associated with Barca’s passing football, as Gerard Pique headed home a Xavi Hernandez free-kick.

Lionel Messi slotted in a second clinically before half time and then after the restartCarles Puyol and David Villa completed the scoring.