31.05.2007 10:58
Five wins out of five after internationals
Sandra Sarmiento
The league programme here has a ten-day break at the moment due to the current round of international matches. However, these breaks don’t seem to affect the Barça players, who have won after the five international breaks so far this season.
A total of 13 players from FC Barcelona are currently involved in qualifying games for EURO 2008 or
the CAF Africa Cup 2008, preparations for the Copa America – to be held in Venezuela this
summer – or simply friendlies. Rijkaard won’t be able to train with the entire squad
until next week, ahead of the league derby against Espanyol. However, despite the obvious
inconveniences of losing so many key players, Barca have the best record of the three title
contenders in their matches played immediately after an international break.
Barça: 5 matches, 5 wins
Fifteen points out of fifteen. The fact is that Frank
Rijkaard’s team has won all five matches after the international breaks so far this season.
That’s victories against Osasuna, Sevilla, Racing Santander and Deportivo in the Camp Nou and
Mallorca (1-4) in Palma’s Ono stadium.
Real Madrid: 4 wins and one defeat
The Real Madrid team managed by Fabio Capello have won 11 of their away matches this season.
Three of these were played immediately after international matches. They took the three points
against Levante, Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo but lost away to Getafe in the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez
in matchday 6. In the only match played in the Bernabéu after an international break, Real Madrid
beat Racing Santander 3-1.
Sevilla: 2 wins, 2 draws and one defeat
Sevilla, managed by Juande Ramos, have the worst record of the three contenders and have
taken only eight points out of fifteen in these matches. They beat Real Sociedad and Valencia but
lost against Barça and conceded goalless draws against Betis and Osasuna.