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Dani Alves has downplayed the importance of the injury that Messi picked up on Wednesday during the match against Atlético Madrid and which forced him out of the game. "It’s normal that when he doesn’t play people worry because he wants to play every day. But I don’t think there’s any need for alarm". With his characteristic sense of humour, Alves warned: "Ferraris also have to go in to the workshop sometimes".
The FC Barcelona first team had a training session on Friday evening at the Ciutat Esportiva. Carles Puyol and Leo Messi did not work with the main group. The Barça captain exercised separately while Messi, who came off injured during the match in the Vicente Calderón (1-1), had physio treatment.
You float like you are an angel out on to that pitch. The Bernabéu is the best stadium in the world. I felt like a king. It is the history, the tradition, the sheer scale of the place. When I moved there in 2004, I walked into the stadium and felt the history and expectation. I walked into the trophy room and was reminded of Real’s great history. I went into the dressing room and saw all these famous players, my new team-mates. It is special. Gareth will love it.
Barcelona are being linked with a move for one of Chelsea’s top transfer targets, Porto defender Eliaqum Mangala, according to Mundo Deportivo. The French international looks like one of the top defensive prospects in the game, establishing himself as a key member of this Porto team at the age of only 22, and being valued by his club at around £40million.
Athletic Bilbao beat Osasuna 2-0 Friday to stay perfect through two rounds of the Spanish league. Bilbao's victory came at Anoeta Stadium, the home of regional Basque rival Real Sociedad, with Bilbao's new San Mames Stadium still under construction. Bilbao went ahead in the 31st when Osasuna's Alejandro Arribas knocked Markel Susaeta's cross into his own net shortly after the defender had saved a goal-bound shot by Aduriz. Bilbao took control of the ball in the second half, and substitute Oscar de Marcos sealed the win in the 82nd on the break with Osasuna pressing all its men forward in search of the equalizer its toothless attack couldn't produce.
Getafe twice came from behind to share the spoils with Almeria at the Coliseu Alfonso Perez, as both teams picked up their first points in the 2013/14 La Liga season. Rodri opened the scoring for the visitors after half an hour, but his goal was immediately cancelled out at the other end by Angel Lafita. Fernando Soriano put the Andalusians back in front before the break, but Diego Castro levelled four minutes from the end from the penalty spot.
Real Madrid are looking at bringing Samuel Eto'o back to the Santiago Bernabeu as a possible replacement for Arsenal target Karim Benzema. Reports in Spain suggest that Arsenal's interest in Benzema has led Real to enter the race to sign Eto'o from Anzhi Makhachkala. According to AS journalist Joaquin Maroto, Carlo Ancelotti would be happy to entrust the keys to his attack to Eto'o if Benzema is offloaded.