FC Barcelona News: 20 April 2012; Alexis Sanchez Doubtful for El Clasico, Pedro on Verge of Milestone

Guillem Balague Football Website | Clasico Preview: Guillem Balague answers your questions
Beating Barcelona is Real`s ultimate and beating them in the league is certainly a sign of quality and prestige, but having not won the league for three years now if Real Madrid do win it, it will be celebrated as a massive achievement. The fact that they might not have beaten Barcelona is not irrelevant but you get rewarded in a league for your consistency and Real Madrid have had that.

Barcelona star Xavi believes Real Madrid clash could be decisive - ESPN Soccernet
Madrid have seen their ten-point lead at the top of the table dwindle over recent weeks, and Barca would move to within a point of the leaders should they secure victory this weekend. Xavi feels the outcome of the match is far from certain, but believes a victory for either side would have huge significance in the title race.

Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez reportedly in doubt for Clasico clash against Real Madrid - Goal.com
Upon returning to Barcelona from the match in England, Alexis was still seen limping, reportedly from a harsh challenge from John Terry during the second period of the match. It is said that the player will undergo a series of tests on Friday to determine whether he will be available for the crunch game against the capital club.

Historical trivia on Barça v Madrid matches | FC Barcelona
There is a wealth of history behind past encounters between Barça and Real Madrid in the league. Here we look at some interesting facts associated to league games played between the two sides when FCB have had the home advantage.

Statistical battle in the clásico | FC Barcelona
Madrid get most spot kicks: Barça have been awarded 7 penalties and have had 4 blown against them, while Madrid have had 11 penalties for and just one against, last weekend.

Messi is like Kryptonite to Cristiano Ronaldo's Superman: The story behind football's greatest modern rivalry - Goal.com
"Leo Messi prefers Einstein: the shortest distance between two points is always a curve, and the only way to arrive is if you zigzag unpredictably like a careering swine trying to dodge the axe. Ronaldo inspires passion – Messi, admiration." And that’s why they are considered the gods of the modern footballing world.

Pedro, one step away from 100 games in La Liga | FC Barcelona
Pedro is one step away from reaching the century mark in La Liga with FC Barcelona. If the striker plays this Saturday against Madrid, Barça fans will be able to boast that they’ve seen the Masia graduate play in La Liga 100 times. Pedro has played 99 games in the league in his career, his 100th could be against Barça’s old rival, Real Madrid.

Long tradition of debutant goalscorers in the clásico | FC Barcelona
Alexis and Cesc Fàbregas will both be playing their first ever league match against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou this Saturday, although the former has already experienced a clásico at the Camp Nou in the form of the Spanish Supercup, a match at which he made his official debut for the club.

"Som i Serem" - "We are and we will be", the clásico mosaic | FC Barcelona
‘Som i serem’ (‘We are and we will be") is the slogan that will appear in the mosaic being prepared for Saturday night’s crunch encounter between Barça and Madrid, a match that will be watched by an expected 400 million people around the world. The mosaic, consisting of 90,000 coloured cards, will stretch right around the stadium and will be unveiled just as the teams are emerging out of the tunnel.

Del Bosque Q&A: Spain waiting on Villa - Yahoo! Eurosport
We have a very intelligent group of guys. They know everything about football; they also know that the career of a player is really short, so we must treat each competition with the utmost urgency, with Euro 2012 being the next one. I don’t say this exclusively about the players who are in their 30s, but also the young players who must seize their opportunity.

Atletico close on final | Sky Sports
Atletico Madrid have one foot in the Europa League final after a 4-2 win over Spanish rivals Valencia in the first leg of their semi-final. Two goals from Radamel Falcao and further strikes from Miranda and Adrian Lopez were enough to give Atletico a two-goal advantage to take into the second leg at the Mestalla.

Sporting stun Athletic | Sky Sports
Sporting Lisbon stunned tournament favourites Athletic Bilbao to win their Europa League semi-final first-leg 2-1 in the Portuguese capital. Second-half goals from Emiliano Insua and Spain international Diego Capel turned the tie on its head and ensured Sporting can take a one-goal lead to Bilbao.

Spanish success comes at a price | Andy Mitten - Yahoo! Sport UK
Just three points separate Levante in fifth from Espanyol in ninth. A further three separate Atletico in 10th from 15th-placed Real Sociedad. No major European league comes close to being as close between third and 17th and such is the strength of those teams, the likelihood is that those who make it into Europe will be reach the latter stages.