Previews: Ronaldo remains banned for Real
Reuters - Friday 05 February 2010, 17:35
MADRID - Brief news from La Liga ahead of
this weekend's matches:
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo will not play in
Saturday's La Liga match at home to Espanyol after Spain's
Sporting Disciplinary Committee (CEDD) declined to rule on the
club's appeal against his ban.
"The CEDD will not rule today, as planned, on the appeal
presented by Real Madrid against the two-match ban imposed on
the player," Real said in a statement on their website
on Friday.
The Spanish football federation (RFEF) suspended Ronaldo for
two matches after he was sent off for catching a Malaga player
in the face with a flailing arm and he served the first half of
the ban in last weekend's 3-1 win at Deportivo La Coruna.
Ronaldo is an important player for Real but there is
enough quality in the squad to cope without him, coach Manuel
Pellegrini told a news conference on Friday.
"Ronaldo is a fundamental player but without him we have
been up among the league leaders and we have won important
games," the Chilean said. "This is an impressive squad with
great players."
Barcelona, undefeated in the league and five points clear
of Real at the top, will have to do without captain Carles Puyol
for Saturday's visit of Getafe as the Spain central
defender is suspended after accumulating five yellow cards.
Puyol was missing for Barca's only two losses this season,
in the Champions League against Rubin Kazan and in their King's
Cup last-16 first-leg against Sevilla.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola should have Daniel Alves
available after he rested the Brazil right back for last
weekend's 1-0 win at Sporting Gijon.
Alves was suffering from a leg-muscle strain but trained as
normal on Friday, the club said on their website.
Barca's Ukrainian defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy, who joined
from Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer, is certain he will be a
success after suffering a patchy start to his stint with the
European champions and being whistled by the fans.
"I have needed more time to adapt than I expected but I knew
that it would not be easy to get a regular place in the side,"
he said at a news conference on Thursday.
"The last week has
been very good for me and my level and my spirit have been
improving."
Sevilla and Brazil striker Luis Fabiano says his obsession
is to go to the World Cup in South Africa with one title already
in the bag and third place in La Liga secured.
"I am very happy living in Seville and I am focusing on the
Champions League, La Liga and the King's Cup, and later going to
the World Cup, and then I will return to my club," he said at a
news conference on Thursday.
Fabiano tweaked a muscle in his chest in Wednesday's 2-0 Cup
win over Getafe but should be fit for Sunday's game at Real
Zaragoza as Sevilla look to close the three-point gap to
third-placed Valencia.
Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores is hoping
Thursday's 4-0 drubbing of Racing Santander in their King's Cup
semi-final first-leg will serve as a springboard toward more
consistency in the league.
"Now we want to repeat (this performance) in successive
matches and have some continuity in our level of play," Sanchez
Flores said at a news conference.
Atletico, in 13th spot in the standings on 23 points, play
Racing again in the league on Sunday and their Cup
second-leg is on Thursday in Santander.
Real Mallorca's financial problems will not affect the
players as they bid for a 10th home win in 10 on Sunday against
Villarreal, goalkeeper Dudu Aouate told the Balearic
Islands club's website.
"When a professional goes out on to the pitch he is thinking
only about winning and doing his best," the Israeli said. "The
situation is not good but it won't affect us on the pitch."
Mallorca said this week they were in talks with creditors
and they had three months in which to find a solution that will
prevent them from going into administration.