On The Continent: Barcelona Pay The Price

BARCELONA PAY THE PRICE FOR PLAYING IT SAFE
The league games that fall in between the two legs of the Champions League semi-finals often tend to be tricky affairs for clubs who are trying to keep their players fresh at this tiring stage of the season. Manchester United find the balancing act too hard against Chelsea on Saturday as their weakened team fell to a 2-1 defeat that could prove costly in the title race, and tomorrow night's Barcelona had similar issues in their Primera Liga clash with Deportivo La Coruna.

The main difference for Frank Rijkaard's men was that they could afford to drop players in the league as their hopes of winning La Liga were all-but up in smoke anyway. If they weren't, then they certainly are after a 2-0 defeat to Depor at the Riazor, with second-half goals from Juan Rodriguez and Pablo Amo enough to beat a team lacking Victor Valdes, Eric Abidal, Deco, Samuel Eto'o, Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Lionel Messi. However, Rijkaard denied that his team selection was to blame for Barca's defeat.

"The defeat was the result of many factors," he said. "That we played another game a few days ago; the fact that there were a number of players on the pitch who lacked match-rhythm; the absence of some players. The first half was quite even, but in the second we half we have lowered our pace and they have taken advantage if it. Deportivo deserved the win, but we can still give more and win other games."

That result means that Barcelona are now well and truly out of the title race and are also struggling to finish second as they now trail Villarreal by four points.