FCBARCELONA.CAT

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.