Madbouly Egypt's development model at UN conference    Egypt's Foreign Minister urges diplomacy on Iran nuclear issue in IAEA call    Egypt, Iran FMs discuss Gaza truce, nuclear talks revival    Egypt's Environment Minister calls for stronger action on desertification, climate resilience in Africa    Egypt's Q3 GDP growth hits three-year high of 4.77%    Peace is not imposed by bombing… nor achieved by normalisation peoples reject: Al-Sisi    Al-Sisi reaffirms Egypt's support for Libyan unity, withdrawal of foreign forces    Spinneys Opens A New Store in Hurghada    Egypt to launch new dialysis filter factory in July, covering 65% of domestic demand    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Egypt leverages diplomacy to advance global health partnerships    Egypt to toughen truck safety rules following fatal Ring Road accident    Egypt condemns Pakistan convoy attack, voices solidarity    Egypt, Mauritania eye joint healthcare plans    Egypt's FM, UK security adviser discuss de-escalation    US Fed holds rates steady    EGX ends in green on June 16    Egypt's EHA, Schneider Electric sign MoU on sustainable infrastructure    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Grand Egyptian Museum opening delayed to Q4    Egypt delays Grand Museum opening to Q4 amid regional tensions    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's EDA joins high-level Africa-Europe medicines regulatory talks    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Egypt discovers three New Kingdom tombs in Luxor's Dra' Abu El-Naga    Egypt launches "Memory of the City" app to document urban history    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



After records, Barcelona's Messi can focus on silverware
Published in Ahram Online on 27 - 11 - 2014

With the distraction of two individual scoring records safely out of the way, Barcelona forward Lionel Messi can turn his full focus on helping the club win the major silverware that eluded them last season.
New coach Luis Enrique was as effusive as anyone in his praise of the Barca and Argentina captain, who on Tuesday added the all-time Champions League scoring record to the La Liga-best tally he set at the weekend.
However, both Messi and Luis Enrique know all that will be forgotten unless Barca add another Champions League or La Liga title to the trophy cabinet, or at the very least a King's Cup and preferably all three, in 2014-15.
As the Catalan side prepare for Sunday's La Liga game at fourth-placed Valencia, there are signs they are beginning to move up the gears after a patchy couple of months.
Tuesday's 4-0 win at APOEL Nicosia followed hard on the heels of Saturday's 5-1 drubbing of Sevilla, while new signing Luis Suarez finally opened his Barca account in Cyprus in his sixth appearance.
Although it took him longer than expected to score, the Uruguay forward appears to have slotted seamlessly into the Barca attack alongside Messi and Neymar and he also has four assists to his name.
"This is the version of Barca I would like to see all season long," Luis Enrique said at his post-match news conference on Tuesday.
"If we play like that all the time it is going to be very difficult for anyone to beat us," added the former Spain midfielder, who played for both Barca and Real Madrid.
Second-placed Barca are two points behind leaders Real after 12 matches and could see the gap stretch to five if the European champions win at Malaga on Saturday.
A win for Real in Andalusia will set a club record for consecutive victories of 16 and they were last beaten in mid-September, a 2-1 home reverse to champions Atletico Madrid.
Atletico, who joined Barca and Real in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday, are third, two points behind Barca, ahead of their match at Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.
David Moyes, whose debut as coach of Real Sociedad at Depor on Saturday ended in a 0-0 draw, will seek a first win at home to Elche on Friday.
(For more sports news andupdates, follow AhramOnlineSports on Twitter at@AO_Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports.)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/116597.aspx


Clic here to read the story from its source.