Can Barcelona close the gap at the top?

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We have almost now reached the pivotal halfway mark in the 2011-12 La Liga season and Real Madrid are flying high a full 6pts clear of their great rivals Barcelona. Madrid also have a slightly superior goal difference as well and that is proof that the gap between these two great clubs is no more after the exploits of Pep Guardiola’s men in the past three seasons.

Jose Mourinho has added bite and steal to his side that wasn’t there last season and all this is despite the 3-1 loss to Barcelona in the league in the last El Clasico encounter. Barcelona take on Espanyol at the Cornella-El Prat stadium and a win will help them keep Madrid in their sites. But their opponents today are 8th in the league and are having a decent season.

One has to ask the question of how long the fluent style of Barcelona will continue to be effective before the best teams adapt and adjust to them? It appears that Madrid have done that this season and they have really attacked all of the teams that they have encountered. This has returned a goals scored total of 61 compared to the 50 of Barcelona which sort of tells its own story. A defeat in Espanyol could spell the end for Barcelona and a 6pt gap may prove too much….but we don´t believe that. A bet on win FC Barcelona should be nearly a sure bet (really sure will this bet, if you use the bwin bonus).

Toure confident in Manchester City quality

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Kolo Toure has every confidence in his Manchester City team-mates as he and his brother Yaya prepare to leave for the African Cup of Nations next month.

Blues boss Roberto Mancini admits the loss of the pair will be a huge blow. The City pair could miss up to six matches if the Ivory Coast reach the final in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea on February 12. The Ivory Coast are 2.50 to secure the African Cup of Nations title.

City officials are currently in talks with the Ivory Coast FA and have received positive vibes that both men will be able to remain at the Etihad Stadium until the last possible moment.

They are expected to be made available for the entire Christmas programme, plus the FA Cup and Carling Cup semi-final first-leg showdown against Manchester United and Liverpool respectively.  City are 7.50 to win the FA Cup, and the Toure brothers could be vital if they are to get the better of United in the third round.

Kolo was a surprise inclusion for the blues in their weekend 1-0 victory over his former club, Arsenal, which kept Mancini’s team top of the Premier League with a two-point margin.

The defender insists he holds no fear the City squad won’t be able to cope without him and brother Yaya.

He said: “I have total confidence in my friends because they are a fantastic team.

“We have Nigel de Jong, James Milner, and even Samir Nasri who could play in Yaya’s position, and Gareth Barry does a fantastic job. They are important midfielders.

“Gareth Barry is 30 years-old and works like a young boy. Nigel is full of fight and Milner runs all the time and is strong. We are due to join training on January 11.

“I hope we can go later, maybe on January 16 or 17 as the African Cup of Nations starts on January 21.”

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Villas-Boas under pressure at the Bridge?

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With Chelsea being 4th in the Premier League going into November then that will not please owner Roman Abramovich. Chelsea have done well this season but three defeats in ten league games is hardly conducive of a team likely to win the title. History shows us that teams in 4th position in November do not go on to win the title.

Chelsea let a victory slip in midweek against Genk in the Champions League and now they face a key trip to Blackburn. I think defeat in this game would really turn the screw on new boss Andre Villas-Boas who just may start to feel the same heat that previous managers felt.

Even successful managers like Jose Mourinho felt the wrath of Abramovich and Chelsea just look like a team that will fall short this season. They already trail City by a massive 9pts and that will be tough to claw back. If results go against them this weekend then they could even find themselves outside the top five.