Match Preview: Saturday 22/02/2006 22:00 (GMT+1): La Liga match day 25
Real Zaragoza – FC Barcelona

La Romareda, Zaragoza – capacity: 35.000


Referee: José Esquinas Torres


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Váldes – Belleti, Marquez, Puyol, Silvinho – Motta, Edmilson, Deco, - Messi, Eto'o, Ronaldinho – Manager: Frank Rijkaard





FC Barcelona has to prepare for a tough and difficult away match against Real Zaragoza. We all know that Zaragoza are a good team and that against Barca they always show a very good performance. Results over the last two seasons against Zaragoza should have warned the Barça players that they will have to be at their best to take all three points from this weekend's game at La Romareda. Real Zaragoza will be highly-motivated for the match on Saturday, always creates trouble when they play FC Barcelona and the Barça team shall be prepare for that. Real Zaragoza is a team that defends very well and is very strong on the break. Barça has to pay attention to the two very quick forwards Ewerthon and Milito who are very good to score on counter attacks.

After the exit of the Copa del Rey earlier this month the Barca players do not need any extra motivation. The players seem to be very focused and confident to do the job at Zaragoza.

...In the dressing room nobody wanted to talk about the Chelsea game anymore because we are only thinking about our next match against Real Zaragoza

Barça´s left wing back Gio said.

We are pleased to have won at Stamford Bridge, but we have now to focus on this match, because it is very important to add three more points if we want to win the league.

With only 72 hours between the game against Chelsea and the match in Zaragoza the Barca team had to recover quickly. Despite having only two full days to prepare between matches all the players are ready to play again. "Two days off is fine," Gio said.

The game against Chelsea was very hard and playing away against Zaragoza will be very difficult, but we are all fit and ready to go.

Ronaldinho received a knock on the ankle at Stamford Bridge, but has been given the green light to play this weekend. He received a strong blow against Chelsea´s Geremi but he is already back and will be able to play.
Barça coach Frank Rijkaard has called up the following players for the match in Zaragoza:


Valdés, Jorquera, Iniesta, Van Bommel, Gabri, Van Bronkhorst, Puyol, Maxi, Motta, Deco, Márquez, Larsson, Sylvinho, Belletti, Eto'o, Ronaldinho, Edmílson and Messi.



After announcing the Barça squad for the match, Rijkaard explained why he chose to omit Oleguer and Santiago Ezquerro.

I have rested them because I have more players. Oleguer has played a lot of games. In Ezquerro's case the choice has been more difficult, but I have other players aswell to play. I am very pleased with how Oleguer has been playing. He is one of the players who always gives everything. He is always ready to help the team and in a winning side you need players like that.

Barça wants this win desperately, as much for the Barca team as for Ronaldinho and especially coach Frank Rijkaard. The Barça boss has some scores to settle. Zaragoza caused him a headache for almost three years now. It is Rijkaard's chance to get one back, and he will be eager to set the record straight.

The Barça Team will travel without Guily and Xavi, the two definitely ruled out by injury. Rijkaard will probably decide against risking Ronaldinho, but the Brazilian should push him hard.. It will be touch and go between Belletti and Gabri, Sylvinho and Gio, as well as Van Bommel, Motta and Iniesta. Real Zaragoza has no real injury worries and coach Victor Muñoz should stick with his favoured 4-2-3-1. Diego Milito will be supported upfront by Cani, Ewerthon and Oscar Gonzalez. The midfield should consist of Zapater and Celades, in front of a four men defense led by Gabriel Milito. We predict Zaragoza to play as following:


Zaragoza (4-2-3-1). Cesar – Ponzio, Alvaro, Gabriel Milito, Toledo – Zapater, Celades – Oscar Gonzalez, Ewerthon, Cani – Diego Milito.


Our Prediction: Even Real Zaragoza created problems in the last 3 years, Barcelona will be focused and up for three points. The will punish Real Zaragoza for the Cup exit and will maintain the lead in La Liga with at least 6 points. Real Zaragoza 0 – 2 FC Barcelona !





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