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Luis Enrique announced his squad to the players at the Ciutat Esportiva this morning for this evening’s game against Rayo in Madrid. Rafinha and Douglas were both declared fit, but miss the game, Montoya, Sergi Roberto, Vermaelen and Masip are also left behind.
Luis Enrique used his press conference before Saturday's visit to Vallecas to talk all about who they are up against. "Rayo is a team I especially like. They make things difficult and no how to move the ball. It's a nice example of a team without a lot of money and that's fun to watch," he said. "I really like the team and their coach."
FC Barcelona has signed a new sponsorship agreement with Apamanshop, making the real estate agency chain, which has 1,066 offices, a Regional Sponsor of FC Barcelona in Japan until 2016. With this alliance FC Barcelona continues to build relationships with leading brands in priority markets, bringing Barça closer to its fans in the area. Growth in the Asia market has been a top priority of the Club’s Hong Kong office.
The South American nation's trainer swatted aside criticism over Suarez's fitness fears and insisted that the ex-Liverpool striker still has a major role to play for his country. "I cannot imagine that a club like Barcelona would buy a fat player," Tabarez, who has just extended his contract through to the 2018 World Cup, told reporters. "He is in his best footballing years and, beyond his mistakes, he has everything needed to succeed.
Chelsea are set to sign Dani Alves from Barcelona in the January transfer window after Jose Mourinho personally requested his signature. Alves revealed this week that he will be departing Barca in the new year to move to the Premier League – and Manchester United and Liverpool have been linked. But Spanish news website Fichajes says Chelsea are set to win the race for the Brazilian, with Mourinho pushing for the deal to happen.
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo returned to training with his team mates on Saturday and coach Carlo Ancelotti said he was in "perfect shape" ahead of Sunday's La Liga game at home to Athletic Bilbao. The World Player of the Year took a knock to the ankle near the end of Wednesday's Champions League Group B victory at Ludogorets when he was caught by midfielder Anicet Abel.
Atlético Madrid captain Gabi Fernández has admitted involvement in the fixing of a Spanish top flight match, according to reports in Spain. Gabi, who led Atlético to the Spanish league title last season, made the apparent admission at an appearance on Thursday before prosecutors in Madrid. A report in El Mundo Deportivo on Thursday said that Gabi had admitted being part of a conspiracy to fix the match and had told prosecutors he was doing "what the club asked me".
Getafe substitute Baba Diawara scored two minutes from time to salvage a 1-1 draw at home against Cordoba in the Spanish league on Friday. Midfielder Patrick Ekeng scored in the 78th minute to put Cordoba on the verge of their first victory in their first season in the top flight in 42 years. But left-back Javier Escudero capped his strong showing by using one touch to cross the ball for Diawara to tap in the equaliser.
