Barcelona still cautious
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AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Aralık 15, 2008 00:00
MADRID - Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola reminded his team not to get carried away by its 2-0 victory over defending champion Real Madrid, saying a lot could happen over the remaining 23 games of the Spanish league season.
Late goals by Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi in Saturday's "el clasico" watched by over 96,000 spectators at a wet Camp Nou gave the leader its 12th win in an unbeaten streak of 14 league games, during which it has amassed 46 goals.
Barcelona now enjoys a 12-point lead over its fifth-place archrival and an eight-point advantage over Valencia.
"I have to keep my players feet on the ground. I can't deny that 12 points is a good distance after 15 games but there's a long way to go. I know what it means to go to play in Pamplona (against Osasuna) or Santander or have Numancia coming here with 10 men in defense," Guardiola was quoted as saying by news agency Efe. "Anyone who discards Real Madrid is wrong. Besides, there are other rivals to take into account such as Villarreal, Sevilla or Atletico Madrid, who will all be up there."
Madrid's defeat marked a disappointing return to the Spanish league for new coach Juande Ramos, who left Sevilla in October last year to take over Tottenham in the Premier League. Ramos praised his team’s presence at the Camp Nou.
"I'm satisfied with the image Madrid presented," Ramos said. "Barcelona dominated play but the clearest chances were ours. The result was excessive for what happened on the field of play." Ramos, who replaced the fired Bernd Schuster on Tuesday to become Madrid's eighth coach in 5 1/2 years, refused to discount his team's chances of a third straight title, although it has lost four of its past five league games.
Ramos wants time
"There's a big difference but there's a lot left," Ramos said. "We have to wait until the second half of the season, when the Champions League returns, to see whether some teams rise and others fall."
Madrid has striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and midfielder Mahamadou Diarra out for the season through injury, together with midfielder Ruben De La Red, who collapsed during a Copa del Rey game on Oct. 30.
Defenders Pepe, Gabriel Heinze and Miguel Torres also missed Saturday's game, while forward Arjen Robben and left back Marcelo were suspended. New signing Klaas-Jan Huntelaar cannot play until the January transfer window opens.
"We did what we could. We had some important players sidelined and those who played did so to perfection," Ramos said.
Madrid right back Michel Salgado, whose foul on substitute Sergio Busquets gave Barcelona a 70th-minute penalty which Eto'o missed, also said Barcelona should not celebrate prematurely. "Barcelona is sure to have a bad month and we have to take advantage of it," Salgado said.
The powerhouses face tough final games of the year next weekend, with Barcelona visiting Villarreal and Madrid hosting Valencia.
"It is certainly difficult to take," said Real captain Raul. "We had chances but then conceded two late goals and have to take it on the chin." He added, "We are not giving up (in the title race) as it is a long season and there are lots of points to play for. We have to absorb this defeat and carry on."
Barcelona now enjoys a 12-point lead over its fifth-place archrival and an eight-point advantage over Valencia.
"I have to keep my players feet on the ground. I can't deny that 12 points is a good distance after 15 games but there's a long way to go. I know what it means to go to play in Pamplona (against Osasuna) or Santander or have Numancia coming here with 10 men in defense," Guardiola was quoted as saying by news agency Efe. "Anyone who discards Real Madrid is wrong. Besides, there are other rivals to take into account such as Villarreal, Sevilla or Atletico Madrid, who will all be up there."
Madrid's defeat marked a disappointing return to the Spanish league for new coach Juande Ramos, who left Sevilla in October last year to take over Tottenham in the Premier League. Ramos praised his team’s presence at the Camp Nou.
"I'm satisfied with the image Madrid presented," Ramos said. "Barcelona dominated play but the clearest chances were ours. The result was excessive for what happened on the field of play." Ramos, who replaced the fired Bernd Schuster on Tuesday to become Madrid's eighth coach in 5 1/2 years, refused to discount his team's chances of a third straight title, although it has lost four of its past five league games.
Ramos wants time
"There's a big difference but there's a lot left," Ramos said. "We have to wait until the second half of the season, when the Champions League returns, to see whether some teams rise and others fall."
Madrid has striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and midfielder Mahamadou Diarra out for the season through injury, together with midfielder Ruben De La Red, who collapsed during a Copa del Rey game on Oct. 30.
Defenders Pepe, Gabriel Heinze and Miguel Torres also missed Saturday's game, while forward Arjen Robben and left back Marcelo were suspended. New signing Klaas-Jan Huntelaar cannot play until the January transfer window opens.
"We did what we could. We had some important players sidelined and those who played did so to perfection," Ramos said.
Madrid right back Michel Salgado, whose foul on substitute Sergio Busquets gave Barcelona a 70th-minute penalty which Eto'o missed, also said Barcelona should not celebrate prematurely. "Barcelona is sure to have a bad month and we have to take advantage of it," Salgado said.
The powerhouses face tough final games of the year next weekend, with Barcelona visiting Villarreal and Madrid hosting Valencia.
"It is certainly difficult to take," said Real captain Raul. "We had chances but then conceded two late goals and have to take it on the chin." He added, "We are not giving up (in the title race) as it is a long season and there are lots of points to play for. We have to absorb this defeat and carry on."