Bartra out to seize chance with Barcelona

MADRID (AFP) –

Barcelona‘s Alexis Sanchez (C) is congratuled by teammates Daniel Alves (L), Marc Bartra and Thiago Alcantara after scoring during their Spanish La Liga match against Mallorca, at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, on April 6, 2013. Amid a defensive crisis at the club, Bartra has vowed to hold down a place at centre-back in the final weeks of the season.

Amid a defensive crisis at the club, Barcelona defender Marc Bartra has vowed to hold down a place at centre-back in the final weeks of the season.

Injuries to Carles Puyol and Javier Mascherano have meant the 22-year-old has started each of Barca’s last three league games. And with Adriano suspended for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first-leg against Bayern Munich, he could well partner Gerard Pique in Germany.

“When there are difficult games you try to give your best. I have spent the whole season preparing for when my moment came,” he told a press conference on Thursday.

“I will try to do my best. Physically I am good and every time I play I feel better.”

Barca need just three more wins to seal a fourth title in five seasons – even assuming no Real Madrid slip-ups in the coming weeks.

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (down) celebrates with teammate Sergio Ramos after scoring a goal during their Spanish La Liga match against Athletic Bilbao, at San Mames stadium in Bilbao, on April 14, 2013. Real are in action on Saturday next, as they take on Champions League chasing Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Bartra is delighted with how the Catalan club have managed to stay focused in La Liga, having led from the front for most of the season.

“It is not easy, even when you are so many points in front.

“We haven’t relaxed, even when having the Champions League games we have had. It is not easy to be so many points in front and maintain that distance. The work we have done is something to be proud of,” he said.

Lionel Messi returned to training on Thursday as he continues to recuperate from a hamstring injury but the Argentinian is not expected to play any part in Saturday’s clash with Levante to ensure he is fit for the trip to Munich.

Sergio Busquets is also likely to miss out this weekend as he is still struggling with a pelvic injury, whilst the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Jordi Alba, Dani Alves and Pique could be rested.

However, Levante captain Sergio Ballesteros doesn’t believe Messi’s absence will have a major impact on the game.

“Barcelona have played some games without Messi and they continue to be Barcelona,” he indicated Wednesday.

“In key moments you can depend on your best player, but as a team they don’t need him to win games.

Atletico Madrid’s Raul Garcia (R) is congratulates by teammates after scoring against Granada during their Spanish La Liga match at Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, on April 14, 2013. Atletico travel to Sevilla next, in Sunday’s late game with the hosts looking to exact revenge after Diego Simeone’s men beat them to reach the final of the Copa del Rey back in February.

“If he plays it will be a confidence boost for them and if he does not, as they showed in Zaragoza, they are capable of beating anyone because they have an extraordinary squad.”

Real Madrid are also in action on Saturday as they take on Champions League chasing Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Los Blancos are on Champions League duty themselves in midweek against Borussia Dortmund and after naming a surprisingly strong side for the 3-0 win at Athletic Bilbao last weekend, Jose Mourinho is expected to return to his policy of resting key players ahead of big European games.

Xabi Alonso will certainly miss out as he is suspended, whilst Michael Essien is still out with the muscle strain he suffered against Galatasaray last week.

Should Real slip up, Atletico Madrid could move level with their neighbours in second place ahead of their meeting in the Madrid derby next weekend.

Atletico travel to Sevilla in Sunday’s late game with the hosts looking to exact revenge after Diego Simeone’s men beat them to reach the final of the Copa del Rey back in February.

And at the bottom there is a huge clash on Monday night as bottom-placed Celta Vigo look to give themselves a lifeline against Real Zaragoza, who slipped into the bottom three last weekend and have yet to win a league game this year.

Fixtures

Saturday

Granada v Valladolid (1400), Real Madrid v Real Betis (1600), Barcelona v Levante (1800), Valencia v Malaga (2000)

Sunday

Getafe v Espanyol (1000), Deportivo la Coruna v Athletic Bilbao (1300), Osasuna v Real Sociedad (1700), Sevilla v Atletico Madrid (1900)

Monday

Celta Vigo v Real Zaragoza (2000)