Pelé in hospital in Sao Paulo

Brazilian football legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, has been admitted to hospital in Sao Paulo.

A spokesperson for the Albert Einstein hospital of Sao Paulo confirmed that the former footballer, who won the World Cup with Brazil three times, had been admitted to the hospital, but gave no further information, at the request of Pelé's family.

Sao Paulo newspaper 'Folha' has reported that Pele went into hospital for a hip operation, in order to resolve a problem in his thighbone, while 'Globo TV' claims he will be discharged on Wednesday.                                                       

                                                                                                                          by: www.as.com

Sport pic

Roger Federer beat David Ferrer to reach the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals

Federer improved to 14-0 against the Spaniard as he ground out a 6-4 7-6 (7/5) victory at the O2 Arena in London.

He did not have things all his own way against Ferrer, who defeated Juan Martin del Potro in his opening match, but came through in an hour and 49 minutes to stay on course to defend his title at the event.

Ferrer headed into the clash on an 11-match winning streak following his triumph at the Paris Masters last week but, having managed only three sets in his previous meetings with Federer, made a poor start as his Swiss rival broke en route to an early 3-0 lead.

But that did not tell the whole story as the world number two was forced to fend off six break points in doing so and they were back level after Ferrer finally took his eighth chance.

As so often, though, Federer moved up a gear just when he needed to and, with his opponent serving to stay in the first set at 4-5, he emphatically broke to love to take control of the contest.

Ferrer had further opportunities at the start of the second set but once again could not take them, Federer saving two more break points.

The set remained tight throughout and Ferrer stayed with his opponent all the way until an inevitable tie-break, but once there an error on the sixth point proved crucial.

Federer had been immaculate on serve and took his third match point when a Ferrer return dropped long to become the first singles player through to the last four.

Redemption for ferocious Juventus Nordsjaelland thrashed in Turin

Juventus steamrolled Nordsjaelland in Turin by a score line of 4-0. Marchisio, Vidal and Giovinco found the net in the first half before Quagliarella followed in the second. Juve looked particularly fierce against the unfortunate Danes. They were foaming at the mouth, as they did last season when they resembled a beast that was hungry for goals. The beast was wounded this time, after the defeat against Inter, with a tangible desire for redemption. They thrashed a modest team, but it was the same team that held them to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Copenhagen. The run of nine consecutive draws in European competition has been broken. However, the path forward in Group E of the Champions League remains difficult. The match against Chelsea, who beat Shakhtar Donetsk in the 94th minute at Stamford Bridge, will be crucial. The Bianconeri are still in third, behind the Englishmen and the Ukrainians who are each ahead by one point. To be certain to qualify they need 4 points from their last two games. Juve also dispelled any possible doubts about their physical condition. They pressed high, stormed through their opponents’ box and then kept them playing in their own half for 90 minutes. It was domination without a pause.

Santillana: "Madrid needs prestigious players"

Former Real Madrid striker Carlos Santillana has stated that the club considers "prestigious players who can sell its image" to be very important, although this does not mean that the youngsters should be forgotten and a "balance" needs to be struck between the two.

"Football has changed. There are massive signings, they cost a lot of money and they have to pay for themselves; but it's not easy. They have to support the youngsters, but they also need players who sell an image of prestige, which is very important for a team like Madrid. That's why they need to strike a balance between the two so that young players have a chance of debuting with the first team," he explained in statements during his involvement in the '2nd Conference in Support of Aid for Chad'.

Santillana does not like controversies such as the one which has put José Mourinho at loggerheads with the Castilla coach, Alberto Toril. "Whoever is responsible will have to set things straight and do things right, and these things should definitely not be aired in public until they are resolved, like what happened with Cristiano Ronaldo. It's important for them to be sorted out in the dressing room," he added.

"They should sit down, discuss it and find a solution. They should say how they have to treat the home-grown players and how they want to train them so they can make it. Everything that leaks out is bad for everyone, and the club has to step in," explained the legendary striker.

Celtic prove Barça can be beaten

Good defensive tactics, an amazing performance by Forster in goal, a partisan crowd and a pinch of good luck. With these ingredients, Celtic cooked up a night in which Barcelona was unable to offer its best side.

The game took a turn for the worse for Barça on 20 minutes and a comeback proved impossible on the night. Considering how the home fans celebrated winning a corner, the whole of Celtic Park seemed to be aware of the aerial threat posed by the Scots.

Everyone that is, except Jordi Alba, who failed to mark Wanyama properly, allowing him to head the ball home at his leisure. The Kenyan midfielder took his chance and opened the scoring with a superb header.

Of course, Barça tried everything to turn things around and didn't give Celtic a moment's piece all night, but they lacked accuracy in front of goal.

In the first half, Celtic's defence made a number of mistakes – none of which were taken advantage of by the visitors – but it grew in stature as the minutes ticked by.

The hosts started to believe they could pull off the win, although that wasn't going to change their game plan. All that was left for them to do was continue parking the bus and resist Barça's continued attacks.

But, just as a Barça comeback looked most likely, the visitors suffered another unexpected setback. Forster kicked long, Xavi failed to control, the ball found Watt, who comfortably beat Valdés after Mascherano failed to close him down in time.

Messi gave Barça a glimpse of hope in the 90th minute, but the cards had been dealt and Celtic had pulled off a coup, not without first withstanding a four-minute onslaught from the visitors. Three points for the Scots, second in the group. Barcelona, two points ahead, remain in top spot.

Marcelo injured on international duty and will be out for three months

Marcelo quickly left the Brazilian national team's training camp in Wroclaw (Poland) after fracturing a bone in his right foot. The Real Madrid left-back will be out of action for almost three months, according to an official statement by the CBF (Brazilian Football Federation).

The Brazilian left-back was injured in training and although at first it was thought that it was only a sprain, upon leaving the pitch unable to put weight on his foot, a medical examination at a Polish hospitalconfirmed that the injury was serious.

Marcelo was given permission by his national team to return as soon as possible to Madrid and it's likely he’'l need surgery. "I'll be back soon. There's a long way to go until the 2013 Confederations Cup and I hope to be there", Marcelo said. Brazil is playing a friendly against Japan in Wroclaw this Tuesday.

It just happens that Fabio Coentrao also injured himself, in his case a thigh injury in the 19th minute of Portugal's World Cup qualifier against Russia last Saturday and he'll now miss Portugal’s next game against Northern Ireland.

Real Madrid is going to find it hard to fill the void he's left in the left side of its defence. An initial solution could be to move Arbeloa over from the right.

Benzema: "Ronaldo has always been my inspiration"

Karim Benzema is in a great moment of form for Real Madrid. After a start to the season in which Higuaín beat him to a place in Real's starting XI, the Frenchman has regained his place in Madrid's attack, scoring important goals against Manchester City, Rayo Vallecano and Ajax. In an interview in UEFA.com, the striker expressed his desire to continue working hard and improving.

"My ambitions have always been the same, to improve every day. I'm lucky to play at a great club. I need to have a good season, like the one I had least year, as well as playing well for my national team. What am I missing in order to be a great player? I don't know. I'm working hard to become a great footballer and I'll never stop working towards that", Benzema said.

The Frenchman's attacking skills have always been compared to those of Brazilian Ronaldo. The Frenchman acknowledged his admiration for the former Madrid player: "During my first season at Madrid I had the chance to meet him. I've been following him since I was a kid and he's always been my inspiration. In my opinion he's the best".

Benzema has also been compared to his fellow countryman Zinedine Zidane. "It's an overstatement to compare me to him, but he's a role model for what I'm doing and for what I want to achieve. I ask him for advice and he gives it to me. I hope to have a different career to his, but I hope to have the same success".

Milan plots Guardiola NYC offensive

This isn't the first time Silvio Berlusconi has attempted to lure Pep Guardiola to take the Milan hotseat, but the team's stuttering start to the season – the 'Rossoneri' lie 11th in the Serie A table – has led him to redouble his efforts to land the former Barça coach. Milan number two Adriano Galliani has revealed plans to fly to New York – he claims he is visiting his daughter, who lives in the 'Big Apple' – at precisely the same time Guardiola's agent, Josep María Orobitg, is in Manhattan.

Orobitg and Guardiola had been scheduled to meet in December, with the coach briefing his agent to turn down all advances in the meantime. He was to take down the details of any offers and bring them to the table in December, when the former Barça boss would begin to make a decision on his future after his sabbatical year. But for some reason, the meeting seems to have been pushed forward.

Milan has sounded out Orobitg on numerous occasions since Guardiola announced he would be leaving Barça, and the Italian media are reporting that Berlusconi would be willing to offer him a four-year package worth €6 million a season after tax.

Guardiola is determined not to rush back to coaching this year, but Milan is equally desperate to get the Catalan tactician on board as soon as possible, whether for what remains of this campaign or in the shape of a pre-contract agreement for next season.

Kaká: "There's more to come"

Kaká's revival continues to pick up steam. After four good performances for Real Madrid, the Brazilian forward continued his march back into form with his national team. The game against a poor Iraq side was a perfect stage on which to shine for a player who was sitting in the stands just three weeks ago. "I never lost the hope of coming back and experiencing what I am now. This is a personal resurgence that I have achieved gradually through a lot of hard work", he stated.

Thursday was one of the most special occasions of Kaká's career, although a few years ago he could barely have imagined that a friendly played against Iraq, played in freezing conditions in Sweden (temperatures were as low as 3° C), would be so important. What would have been a nuisance back when he won the Ballon d'Or has now become a lifeline. "I'm trying to make the most of every match, enjoy it and do a job for the team. I know that I have to take every opportunity I get to win back my place in the football world", the Brazilian stressed.

In Malmo, the forward looked like the Kaká of old, rolling back the years to his Milan days. This is the best shape he has been in since he joined Madrid, as demonstrated by the stunner he scored against Iraq after a 50-metre sprint. Now he is eyeing getting on the scoresheet more regularly: "I hope so. I think I've been improving and flourishing over the last few days and there's more to come. I'm in great form, I feel great physically and now I have the chance to ride that wave. Here's hoping that's the case".

Cristiano – the first player to score in six consecutive 'Clásicos'

Cristiano Ronaldo is in his element when he has Barcelona as an opponent and he proved that once more in this latest 'Clasico' match. With those he scored this Sunday at Camp Nou, he has become the first player in history to score in six consecutive games between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

In the Copa del Rey quarter finals last season, he started his run. Cristiano Ronaldo was on target both in the first leg at the Bernabéu and the second at Camp Nou.

He went on to score the goal that practically decided the 2011/2012 Liga in Real Madrid's favour last April.

During the summer's two Spanish Super Cup matches, Cristiano also scored on both pitches and now finishes things off by securing a brace for the first time on 'Azulgrana' territory.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi went head to head continuing the battle to win FIFA's Ballon d'Or at the end of the year; this time calling it a draw with both scoring two goals each.

Messi and Cristiano steal the show

More than ever, tonight's Barcelona-Real Madrid was a shootout between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The two best players in the world left their stamp on a game that was at once an all-out battle between two top sides and a head-to-head showdown. In the end, the spoils were shared both in terms of the overall scoreline (2-2) and the Messi-CR7 bout.

Braces from Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo saw La Liga's 'Clásico' end all square, leaving things as they were in the league table, with Barcelona retaining its eight-point lead over 'Los Blancos'.

Tito Vilanova's makeshift defence struggled in the first half, in which Mourinho's side threatened to deliver a knockout blow when, after setting up Cristiano for the opener, Karim Benzema crashed a drive off the near post. Had the Frenchman found the net, the whole complexion of the game could have been different.

It was not to be and a major slip-up from Pepe gifted Barcelona a lifeline, the Portuguese centre-back mistiming his jump in the box to leave Messi free to level the scores. Barça grew in stature in the second half and moved ahead through a majestic free-kick from the Argentine wizard which Casillas could do nothing about. However, Cristiano would have the last laugh, making the most of a lapse from the home defence to slot home and restore parity.

Mourinho: "After Madrid to England, that's for sure"

José Mourinho has again insisted that sooner or later he intends to return to England and coach in the Premier League. He said this in an interview to Sky Sports, in which he assured that "after Real Madrid, I want to coach in England again". "That's for sure. I keep repeating the same thing, I'm sure that it's where I want to be", he said.

"When I talk about my future in Spain, they immediately twist my words, but I can't deny something I’m so sure about", stated the Portuguese coach.

When asked if he had any preference or had ruled out coaching any English club in particular, Mourinho said: "I could coach at any English club, at all of them. I'm a Blue, a London Blue, but above all else, I'm a professional".

Mourinho left Chelsea in September 2007, having managed the club for three seasons. Last season, it was speculated that the Portuguese might leave Real Madrid and return to take charge of one of the bigger Premier League sides.

Right now, he hasn't wanted to set a time frame for his return to England or limit his managerial options, insisting that he's open to any club. Mourinho has also insisted on a number of occasions that he would like to coach the Portuguese national team one day. However, according to his most recent comments, this would have to wait until after his second spell in the Premier League.

Villa: "The national team is like my family"

David Villa wants to enjoy every minute of his time with the Spanish national team. The team spent ten months without its number 7, the amount of time it took him to recover the serious injury that ruled him out of Euro 2012. Now he's only thinking about one thing: having fun. Congratulations to him and the national team because the best goalscorer ever produced by Spain is once again where he should be, on the pitch in a red shirt.

"I missed my teammates, experiencing all of this, arriving at training camp and training with the national team. Fortunately I can now experience these moments again. This team is like part of my family", Villa explained emotionally.

The Barcelona forward gives thanks to Del Bosque: "I have to be grateful for the faith that the coaching staff have placed in me. I love to come away with the national team and be with my teammates. They really are like my family. I really enjoy it and it's obvious that I was looking forward to coming back. It was tough being away, but I’m back again now".

Villa says he feels "increasingly better. I feel very good and I'm improving daily. I have increasingly more acceleration and speed".

"Goals are the most important thing for a striker, but right now I'm just looking to play and improve my match fitness after so long without playing", he concluded.

Barça has 5-point lead on Real

All seemed to be going smoothly for Real Madrid against Getafe. There wasn't much of a crowd to contend with, despite it being an away fixture, and its southern Madrid opponents were struggling to make an impact on the game. The opening goal from Higuaín was no less than the champions deserved, having dominated the encounter and so nearly gone ahead several minutes earlier, when Cristiano played in Özil, who crashed his shot against the bar with the goal gaping.

But, as time wore on and Madrid failed to add to its advantage before the break, things began to unravel, culminating in defeat. Mourinho is now winless in three competitive fixtures this season, the 1-1 draw against Valencia followed by losses to Barcelona (3-2) and Getafe (2-1).

Just like in its league opener against Valencia at the Bernabéu, Madrid conceded from a set piece. Barrada, Getafe's hero on the night, curled in a free-kick to around the penalty spot, where a sea of white shirts failed to pick up Valera, who planted a header into the corner beyond Casillas' belated dive.

From that point on, Madrid began to rush things. With Benzema on for Higuaín and Callejón replacing Marcelo, a mixture of carelessness, nerves, over eagerness and a well-drilled Getafe side kept the champions at bay. Worse was still to come when Colunga won back possession and played in Barrada, who drilled the ball past Casillas.

Increasingly desperate, Mourinho turned to the young academy product Morata, who came on for Di María but was unable to save the blushes of the team led by the self-anointed "The Only One".

Tottenham to sell Modric to Real Madrid

Real Madrid has announced that it has signed a partnership agreement with Tottenham and has reached an agreement for the transfer of Luka Modric, subject to medical revision.

The croatian player made 160 appearances for Totteham, scoring 17 goals, and moves for a fee thought to be worth, €35 million, plus another €7m in various add-ons.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez Rodriguez added: "The strong relationship and affinity between our two clubs has resulted in the cementing of a longer-term partnership and the successful transfer of Luka Modric.

"We are delighted to welcome Luka and look forward to working closely with Tottenham in the coming years."

BARCELONA vs REAL MADRID 3-2 All Goals

Tito passes with honors his first test against Mou

The Super Cup, contested by the previous year's league and Spanish Cup champions – in this case, Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively – is the first major trophy up for grabs in the Spanish football season.

What's more, both this year and last the cup has taken on additional importance as the first instalment in the series of 'Superclásico' matches between the two biggest rivals in Spanish football. Winning thus offers a significant psychological advantage and gives the winner a major morale boost ahead of subsequent Real Madrid-Barcelona clashes throughout the season.

These fixtures are often decisive in the league, where each point is vital and the two teams necessarily meet every season, and potentially in the Spanish Cup and the Champions League, depending on the luck of the draw.

This year's Super Cup also represents Tito Vilanova's first chance to get his hands on some domestic silverware as Barça manager and, perhaps even more significantly, his first ever match in charge against Real Madrid. This makes it an important baptism for him in the eyes of fans and the board that has entrusted him to lead the team. So far, he has passed the test with honors.

While Mourinho is respected across the planet and has earned the right to the odd slip-up – his Madrid team was thrashed 5-0 by Barça in 2010 – Vilanova has just made his Superclásico debut in the managerial hotseat, meaning he had double the pressure on his shoulders.

Both Mourinho and Vilanova have tried to play down the importance of this competition, as they'll have to face much bigger challenges during the season. But the truth remains that a match between Real Madrid and Barcelona will always be a crucial duel, and even more when there's a trophy at stake.

By any token, both coaches will be forced to face this same pressure again in the decisive return leg at the Bernabéu, set to take place on 29th August. Then all the off-the-pitch talking will pale into the background as the action on the pitch crowns the first champion of a season that promises to be as hotly contested as ever.

Valdés error gives Real Madrid a chance

A dull first half and a frantic second half. Barcelona dominated the first Superclasico of the season as evidenced by an overwhelming ball possession (73%). Real Madrid had their chances and at times proved to be an irresistible force on the counter-attack. But in the end, Tito Vilanova's boys were far superior and won fairly, although the final score (3-2) very much leaves Los Blancos' chances intact to win the Spanish Supercopa in the second leg.

The tight final score was due to an error by Victor Valdés with five minutes left in the match. The Barcelona goalkeeper fumbled a back-pass in front of Angel Di Maria and the Argentine made no mistake in the 85th minute slotting home for the goal. Until then, the game was closer to a 4-1 in favor of Barcelona than the actual final outcome.

From the very start, Barcelona showed no signs of wanting to change its traditional style of play. Tito's team wanted to possess the ball and to rule inside the pitch. But Real Madrid, with a solid defence, displayed its recognized ability to counter-attack, making sure the home team could not feel at all comfortable during the first minutes. The local club touched the ball in the midfield, but was unable to penetrate the opponent's box.

Gradually, Real Madrid's defence began to show weaknesses allowing Barça to have several shots on goal. Possession was at 73% in favor of the locals in the first part of the first half, a statistic that wouldn't change all game long. Barcelona felt more and more comfortable and enjoyed several chances while Real Madrid had to rely on fast counters, earning some corners and free kicks, but unable to shoot between the poles.

The second half started at a diabolic pace and both teams had its share of good chances during the first minutes. Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with an unstoppable header, after a corner kicked by Mesut Ozil (55'). Barcelona's response was immediate. It took only a minute for Pedro to score the equalizer, thanks to a magnificent assist by Mascherano (56'). It was claimed that the Canarian winger was in an offside position, but the assistant referee didn't see it that way.

From that moment on, both teams went on full throttle. The Superclásico was at its very best and the feeling was that anything could happen. But eventually Barcelona managed to show its superiority again. Messi scored a penalty kick (70') after Sergio Ramos took down Iniesta in the area and everything seemed to become easier for the local side.

Iniesta, probably the best player of the match, then gave a brilliant assist to Xavi, who scored the third goal for Barça right in front of Casillas. Everything appeared to be going off without a hitch for Barcelona when suddenly, Di María, who had replaced Callejón, stole the ball from Valdés's feet and comfortably scored before an empty goal. The keeper's gaffe sets the stage for next Thursday's return leg at Bernabéu where the next Superclásico will crown the Spanish Supercopa winner.

Mourinho's five commandments

There is no special plan as such for the match at the Camp Nou, but the team will be expected to fulfil five "must-dos", commandments if you will. Recent clashes between Real Madrid and Barcelona have demonstrated that Mourinho's strategy has borne fruit, allowing 'Los Blancos' to win the Spanish Cup and last season's league championship. Mourinho is more convinced than ever that these five commandments are the key to success at the Camp Nou.

Besides demanding his team plays with maximum intensity and at a high tempo, there are a number of methods he has devised to thwart the threat of an opponent Madrid knows all too well.

1. Keeping a high line

Pepe's injury is the biggest spanner in the works. With Pepe in the team, the plan was to push the defensive line up as close to the midfield as possible, compressing the pitch and catching Barça in the offside trap. Albiol is a different type of centre-back. He is less mobile than Pepe and less accustomed to playing in a high defensive line against an opposition that specialises in creating spaces going forward.

2. Flooding the midfield

With Pepe out, the rearguard needs extra protection, and one way of doing this is flooding the midfield. The players in the centre of the park will be asked to play as close together as possible. We can't rule out the possibility of Xabi Alonso, Lass and Khedira lining up to form a defensive midfield trio, or a "high-pressure triangle", as Mourinho likes to call it. The idea is to limit the space available and pressure the opposition into making mistakes. Once the team wins the ball back, it will be looking to launch immediate counterattacks. In the last league meeting between the two, in which Madrid ran out 2-1 winners, the pressuring carried out across the pitch was vital in unsettling and neutralising Barça and stifling their talent. As the Madrid players say, "you have to work for each other".

3. Isolating Messi

The aim of this system is to double up to stop Messi getting the ball and, when he does so, for him to be isolated, unable to turn or link up with his teammates. The idea is to cut Messi off, as the Argentine is the fulcrum of Barcelona's attacking play and can open teams up with his changes of pace and decisive passing. Messi is in top form, as he proved against Real Sociedad, scoring a brace and slicing through the opposition backline on several occasions. Mourinho is aiming to block off his supply. When Madrid loses the ball, its players will have to show anticipation in order to pressure effectively.

4. Dealing better with the aerial threat

Set pieces and aerial balls are Real Madrid's Achilles heel. This bête noire reared its head once again on Sunday against Valencia, when Jonas headed in a free-kick taken by Tino Costa. Against Real Sociedad, meanwhile, Barcelona scored yet again from a corner following its usual routine, with Puyol the target for Xavi's deliveries. Madrid ought to be a tall enough team to deal with these set plays.

5. Making the most of free spaces and chances

Playing a high line, flooding the midfield and applying intense pressure off the ball all aim to help Real Madrid create chances. Mourinho and his team know that they need to get a positive result at the Camp Nou, and this means scoring. Barcelona does leave spaces on the pitch and these must be exploited to the maximum.

Zenit sounds out Afellay

Ibrahim Afellay has no shortage of options should he choose to leave Barça. He has received contact from Lille, Borussia Dortmund, Schalke 04, Arsenal, Inter Milan and, last but not least, Zenit. The Russian champion is desperate to land the Dutchman at any cost, but Barça is not going to make it easy for the Saint Petersburg-based club.

The 'Azulgranas' value Afellay at €8-10 million, and are willing to block his departure if this valuation isn't me. Above it, the club is determined to avoid selling him on the cheap.

Another key factor is the fact that Afellay isn't keen on a Barça exit. "Afellay is definitely on the list, but we have only enquired about availability and not made a bid. If Barcelona or the player himself do not want to negotiate our interest will end" said Luciano Spalletti, the Zenit manager.

Vilanova: "There's nothing at stake for me"

The Barcelona coach, Tito Vilanova, played down the importance of the consequences for him if defeated by Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup. "What's at stake for me? Nothing. It's not like that if we don't win, the world will fall down around me and I won´t be able to go on or do my job well. I don't believe that much is at stake in every game, because I want to enjoy this job peacefully. I'm sorry, but there are more important things in my life".

Guardiola's replacement faces his first 'Clásico' safe in the knowledge that the first title of the season will not determine the performance of the two teams over the rest of the year. "To say that whoever wins this trophy half-way through August is going to be the best all season seems hasty to me", said Vilanova, who believes that "neither of the teams are going into the game better than the other, nor at their best" at this stage of the season.

Regarding Mourinho's statements denying that Barça has dominated in recent years, he said: "Everyone has their own opinion, and you have to respect that, but what I know is that this team has done spectacular things; unbeatable things. It won nine titles out of the nine on offer in two years, and 14 out of 19 in total over the past four. Furthermore, there are four or five teams in history which are remembered not just for their titles but for how they played, and this is one of them", he stated categorically.

The battle for bragging rights begins

Tonight Barcelona and Real Madrid kick off the latest chapter in their unique, engrossing rivalry with a match that is being played in a completely different context to recent years. The main difference is the identity of the man in the home team's dugout, Tito Vilanova, for whom tonight's match marks a first taste of the pressure that awaits him in the hotseat.

The other big piece of news, and one that is much appreciated, is the sense of peace that reigns in the build-up to this instalment of the 'clásico'. With none of the usual posturing, the spotlight is firmly on the football and the 22 players who will take to the pitch at the Camp Nou tonight, which will include at least ten of the top footballers on the planet.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi, the two leading contenders for this year's Ballon d'Or, are once again expected to dominate proceedings in this clash of the titans.

For the first time in several years, Madrid will not be travelling to the Camp Nou as the underdog. Real Madrid's victory away at Barça last season meant more than just three points, even if these did virtually clinch the title for Mou's men. It confirmed that this Madrid side is a superb team that passes its toughest tests with flying colours.

Madrid overcame all of its fears that night and today it will arrive at the Camp Nou as champions, brimming with confidence. All this points towards the first title of the season not being decided until the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Unlucky 13

Leo Messi has gone 362 minutes without scoring against Real Madrid. This has been a bitter pill to swallow for the Argentine star, for whom an average of almost a goal a game had made Iker Casillas one of his favourite victims.

At one point the diminutive forward's record stood at 13 goals in 15 'clásicos'. However, he has since become stuck on this most unlucky of totals. His last goal against Barça's arch-rivals came in last year's Super Cup, when his strike with two minutes to go prevented the tie from going to extra time and sealed victory for the 'Azulgranas'.

Since then it's been nothing doing. Leo played the full 90 minutes in all four league and cup meetings between the clubs last year but failed to etch his name on the scoresheet. Mourinho seems to have found a way to keep him in check.

Curiously, Coentrao played in all four of these matches. This is particularly telling when you consider that the Portuguese defender only appeared in half of the club's league outings last year. His presence seems to have helped stop Messi, even though he is given free rein to roam across Barça forward line.

In these four fixtures, the Argentine's stats were way below his normal level: he took far fewer shots than usual and lost the ball more frequently. The worst of the lot was the league encounter at the Camp Nou, in which Madrid came away with a 2-1 win to wrap up the league title and Messi failed to hit the target on a single occasion.

Leo is itching to break his duck and get the monkey off his back. Although Barcelona won two of the four matches in question, as a forward he remains keen as ever to hit the back of the net again.

Mourinho plumps for Higuaín again

The Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has given his players a list of five "must-dos" for the first leg of the Super Cup this Thursday at the Camp Nou. His strategy seems to be bearing fruit, at least lately, as it helped 'Los Blancos' to capture the Spanish Cup in 2011 and the most recent league title.

However, the Madrid coach is anticipating something different in this fixture, with Tito Vilanova expected to mix things up tactically or spring a surprise in terms of formation. Various scenarios are being prepared for.

Higuaí­n can be confident of retaining his place in the starting eleven, with Mourinho seemingly decided on starting with him at the Camp Nou, despite the Argentine also having led the line against Valencia, relegating Benzema to the bench in the process.

The Portuguese coach was delighted with Higuaí­n's performance. As well as scoring Madrid's opener, 'Pipita' crashed a header against the bar and proved he is in great shape with his all-round contribution.

Mourinho is sticking to his philosophy of picking players on form, and Benzema still has to meet a number of milestones before he is at the top of his game. The coach is refusing to rule out starting with the Frenchman, but at the moment he sees him more as an impact player for the second half.

At some point Mou will surely rotate his strikers, but for the time being he wants to make the most of Higuaín's rich vein of form.

Albiol set to play in the Camp Nou

Following a season on the side-lines, in which he only played 15 games (10 league appearances and 5 in Europe) Raúl Albiol's big opportunity has finally come. Pepe's injury has opened the door to the Valencian player, who will line up in defence alongside Ramos in the Camp Nou, in the first leg of the Super Cup.

What better scenario to make his comeback? Albiol is keen to silence his critics and make more appearances for his club than he did last season.

Having formed part of the Spanish squad that won the European Championships in the summer, Albiol is in good physical shape. He performed well in the pre-season and has become the regular substitute in defence at the expense of Varane.

Now the time has come for him to show Real Madrid that it wasn't a mistake to extend his contract, which was announced recently. Apart from that, he also wants to prove to himself that he can be a key player at Real Madrid.

Pepe: "Soon will to keep fighting for this club"

"I want to thank you for the many expressions of support I have had in the last days." These are the first words of Pepe since Sunday suffered a collision with Casillas who departed momentarily Real Madrid commitments.

The Portuguese said to the media of the club: "I'm flattered by the encouragement I have received since Sunday, especially from the fans of Real Madrid, I've come to the heart. Very soon I will be in perfect shape to continue fighting for our shirts and our club. "

"In this sense, it is still very important to the continued support of all my fellow costume, coaches, managers and employees of our house. Want to thank also very particular to doctors of our team, who have been and are by my side at all times, "added the player.

Moreover, Pepe remembered other players, such as Pique, who have sent their support. "I also want to transfer meaning to thank all those colleagues from other clubs through various ways been interested in my health. Grandes details are not forgotten. A big hug for everyone," he concluded.

A big signing

Alex Song is now a Barcelona player. On Monday afternoon, the Cameroonian signed his contract, which will keep him with the Catalan club for the next five years. This was a signing the club needed to make after Keita's exit.

Song can play in three positions, but importantly he provides strength and height to the midfield. Barcelona's starting eleven is full of short players. Lacking height hasn't stopped the team from winning every title going in the last few years, but it is a problem that has continued to deteriorate, even more so now with Abidal and Keita leaving.

"He'll give us height, but that's not the only reason we got him. He'll surprise people. He's a very good player, he'll help us as a holding midfielder and he can also play as a centre-back", said Vilanova.

He even ventured a new tactical variation with the player in the squad: "We can also play with two holding players or bring him on for the last minutes if we need more height on the pitch. He can play in three positions".

Song made his first statements as a Barcelona player: "Barcelona is a winning club. I'm very happy to be here because everyone knows it’s the best team in the world".