Egypt, Colombia discuss medical support for Palestinians injured in Gaza    Egypt greenlights new public free zones to drive export growth    PM Madbouly reviews progress of 1.5 Million Feddan Project    PM Madbouly reviews progress on electricity supply for New Delta agricultural development projects    Australia to recognise Palestinian state in September, New Zealand to decide    Trump orders homeless out of DC, deploys federal agents and prepares National Guard    Egypt, Côte d'Ivoire hold political talks, sign visa deal in Cairo    Egypt's TMG H1 profit jumps as sales hit record EGP 211bn    Egyptian pound stable vs. USD at Monday's close    Egypt, Germany FMs discuss Gaza escalation, humanitarian crisis    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Global matcha market to surpass $7bn by 2030: Nutrition expert    Egypt, Huawei discuss expanding AI, digital healthcare collaboration    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt's govt. issues licensing controls for used cooking oil activities    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Oil rises on Wednesday    Egypt, Uganda strengthen water cooperation, address Nile governance    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Egypt, Malawi explore pharmaceutical cooperation, export opportunities    Egypt's Foreign Minister discusses Nile water security with Ugandan president    Egyptians vote in two-day Senate election with key list unopposed    Korean Cultural Centre in Cairo launches folk painting workshop    Egyptian Journalist Mohamed Abdel Galil Joins Golden Globe Voting Committee    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    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    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.



Madrid looks to overcome Barcelona in Supercup
Real Madrid needs to overcome the disappointment of a frustrating 2-2 draw when they play at Barcelona in the second leg of the Spanish Supercup on Wednesday
Published in Ahram Online on 16 - 08 - 2011

Madrid dominated the first leg on Sunday and created the best scoring opportunities, but the team was eventually undone by the individual talent of the Spanish champions, notably David Villa and Lionel Messi.
Barcelona will welcome a return to the Camp Nou after an uncharacteristic match where it failed to impose itself through its usual passing game.
The Catalans may also be able to count on Cesc Fabregas, who joined his boyhood club from Arsenal on Monday, as they look to win the annual preseason matchup between the league champions and the cup winners for the first time in five tries against Madrid.
“I am physically ready (to play), but it's the coach's decision,” Fabregas said. “Barca and Madrid are two of the best teams in Europe, the competition (between the two) is brutal. Madrid never throws in the towel. We know they are a great team.”
Fabregas' long-awaited return could be celebrated against Madrid, although the Spain midfielder's arrival illustrates the Barcelona's squad lack of preseason training time with so many international players away at different times. Fabregas can at least slide right into the Catalan club's system since he came up through the youth ranks before his move to north London eight years ago.
“It was a good result considering the shape we were in coming into the game,” Barcelona defender Daniel Alves said. “Several players had managed to play only some minutes for Barcelona this preseason and we played pretty well against this Madrid, which enjoyed more time together as a team. Our team responded (Sunday) so we have to be happy.”
Former Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano asked if the performance signaled the beginning of “Barcelona's deterioration” in his Marca sports daily column on Tuesday.
As Di Stefano asked if it was time for Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola—who is vying for his 11th major trophy—to revise his system, Guardiola labeled his team's first-leg performance “titanic.”
“In the return leg we'll play in a different manner since our team will also have more minutes,” Alves said. “We'll (also) arrive in better shape, physically. I'm sure we can achieve our objective.”
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is likely to stay with the same lineup he used at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium with Fabio Coentrao possibly replacing Angel Di Maria on the wing. Whether the Portuguese coach meets the Spanish media or not is the doubt.
Mourinho again dodged the post-match news conference just as he has done since the being sanctioned for comments made after the first leg of the Champions League semifinals between the clubs in April. There seemed little to complain about from Sunday's wide-open match when both teams could be upset over potential penalty calls.
“We were stronger, a better unit and I think we dominated and created more situations on goal, which is good,” Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain said. “We have to be happy with our play.”
Madrid beat three-time defending league champion Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final.


Clic here to read the story from its source.