Iniesta extends Barca deal

Andres Iniesta has signed a one-year contract extension with Barcelona with a minimum fee release clause of €200million.

The news will give the Spanish champions a boost ahead of the eagerly awaited first 'El Clasico' of the season at Camp Nou on Sunday.

The 25-year-old was contracted until 2014 but Barca were eager to tie the midfielder down to an extra year with Iniesta's buy-out clause also rising by €50million.

After an injury-hit start to the season the Spain international is beginning to show the kind of form that has established him as one of the leading midfielders in world football.

Iniesta follows the likes of Eric Abidal, Victor Valdes, Lionel Messi, Carles Puyol, Yaya Toure and Pedro in extending their stays with the Catalan club.

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Abidal reveals contract delight

Barcelona defender Eric Abidal has stated his love for the club after signing a contract extension at the Camp Nou.

The 30-year-old penned the new deal on Wednesday, which runs until 2012 and includes a €90million (Ј81million) buy-out clause.

The Frenchman, who was recently diagnosed with swine flu, has also seen an increase in his wages but admits that his passion for Barcelona is his main motivation for putting pen-to-paper.

He told skysports.com : "It is a fantastic moment for me, I love this club, we play good football and we will always be a favourite to win a football game.

"To be playing in this fantastic club for five years is a dream come true," he added.

Abidal missed his country's controversial 1-1 World Cup play-off draw with the Republic of Ireland through injury last week after featuring in the first leg in Dublin.

However, the full-back remains on course to make Raymond Domenech's squad for South Africa providing he stays clear of injury.

He stated: "My ambition is to return to the national team, and be in the squad for the World Cup in 2010."

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Alonso targets improvement

Xabi Alonso has admitted that the current Real Madrid crop are uncomfortable with the term 'Galactico'.

The word is most commonly associated with the Real Madrid side of a few seasons ago when Florentino Perez was in his first tenure as club president.

The likes of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo and David Beckham were brought to the Santiago Bernabeu in big-money moves but Real sometimes failed to live up to they hype and deliver the trophies expected of them.

Perez has assembled a similarly impressive squad since becoming president again over the summer, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Alonso among the new arrivals.

However, Alonso would prefer not to be referred to as a 'Galactico' and has insisted Real are still far from the finished article.

"That's a term that has done a lot of damage to past eras," the former Liverpool midfielder told the Daily Mail .

"That's why it is avoided. We never use that word. It's nothing close to Galactico here. It's very humble, everything here is earthly.

"I think we're in a process. There's a lot of things to improve, to gel, but I feel we've taken a step forward.

"In that sense we are happy. But we don't want to get over-ambitious, just get better."

Barca test

Real travel to Camp Nou to face Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the season on Sunday and Alonso is relishing the challenge.

"It'll be a nice experience for me. It is a massive stadium," he said.

"The last time I played there was with Liverpool, last 16 of the Champions League, and we got a great result. So my last memories are brilliant.

"But it'll probably be a more passionate game on Sunday, the Clasico for them is very important.

"It's always special to play in the Nou Camp. I've played there with Real Sociedad, with Liverpool, but playing there with Real Madrid will make it even more special because we know the meaning of this big Clasico."

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Barca v Real Madrid preview

The first 'El Clasico' of the season takes place this Sunday as Barcelona lock horns with Real Madrid, live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1 .

The anticipation surrounding Spain's premier fixture is higher than ever with both clubs fully stocked with star-studded names after the Primera Liga giants splashed over Ј300million on summer signings.

New additions for the Camp Nou clash are Barca's marquee signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while Real have reclaimed their 'Galactico' status with the likes of Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema and world record signing Cristiano Ronaldo all arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Both sides are faring well in domestic and European leagues - Pep Guardiola's Catalans beat Inter Milan on Tuesday to boost their hopes of retaining the UEFA Champions League while Sunday's visitors sit top of Group C after their latest win over FC Zurich on Wednesday.

As for the Primera Division, Manuel Pellegrini's side currently set the pace after they narrowly beat Racing Santander to leapfrog Barca last weekend, who could only manage a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao.

With top spot and the ever-crucial head-to-head record at stake when Madrid come to town, Barca midfielder Xavi has demanded his team-mates remain faithful to their attacking philosophy by dictating the game against their bitter rivals.

Despite hammering Real 6-2 at the Bernabeu last season en route to winning the league, Champions League and Copa del Rey, Xavi insists victory - and not the margin of it - is most crucial.

Victory

"We are not thinking about beating Real Madrid by many goals," he said.

"We want the three points and that is what we will go out to win. We have a lot of respect for them and we must be careful because historically these are complicated games.

"They are the leaders at the moment and they are scoring goals at the moment. But we are at home and we are highly motivated for the game.

Alonso has revealed that Los Blancos are trying to treat the Barca showdown as just another three points, insisting the tie will not prove decisive in who will win the league this season.

The former Liverpool midfielder - who returned to his homeland last summer in a Ј30million move - hailed Xavi and Andres Iniesta as the players to watch.

"It will be important, but not decisive. Three more points are at stake, but we will face our greatest opponent and there are nevertheless many games left in the championship," he told his club's official website .

Of Xavi and Iniesta, Alonso said of his Spain team-mates: "Their performance level is truly impressive. I believe they are the best midfielders in the world."

Team news

Barca will call on their Spanish stars to do the business for them on Sunday as they look unlikely to call upon the services of Lionel Messi or Imbrahimovic for the derby affair.

Neither forward seems fit enough to start, Messi is struggling with the leg injury he picked up last weekend while his Swedish strike partner has been unable to shake off a thigh complaint.

Real have been boosted by the return of Ronaldo after the Ј80million signing made a successful comeback from an ankle injury as a substitute in Wednesday's Champions League success.

Pellegrini faces a dilemma on who to partner Raul up front with Gonzalo Higuain staking his claim after scoring his seventh goal of the season midweek, while Benzema will be hoping to feature in his first taste of 'El Clasico'.

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Future doubts for De la Pena

Ivan de la Pena has hinted that he will retire from football in the summer if he fails to shake off a niggling injury.

The Espanyol ace admits he is finding life on the sidelines increasingly frustrating, and he could be ready to hang up his boots.

The 33-year-old feels useless while unable to take to the field and does not want to become a drain on the club's resources.

For that reason he has revealed that if he is no longer able to perform to the best of his ability he will walk away from the sport.

"I want to be training with my friends and be 100 per cent," De la Pena told Marca .

"It's a complicated situation and at the moment I can't do anything with my body.

"First of all I want to get back playing, but it has to be without discomfort if I am to give my all.

"I want to feel useful because if I am not, I am better off staying at home.

"I feel good at the moment but I need to find a solution to the problems I have."

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Chevanton off to Italy

Sevilla have announced that Javier Chevanton will join Atalanta on loan in January for the remainder of the season.

The Uruguay international has made just one appearance in the Primera Liga this season after being deemed surplus to requirements.

He will now have the opportunity to reignite his career in Italy, with Atalanta having an option to make the move permanent over the summer should they be suitably impressed.

"Chevanton will join Atalanta on loan from 2nd January until the end of the season," read a statement released by Sevilla.

"Atalanta reserves the option to buy the player once the loan spell ends.

"Sevilla has given permission for Chevanton to train with his new team-mates although the loan deal will not be effective until January."

Unfortunate

The 29-year-old joined Sevilla from Monaco in 2006, but previously spent three years in Italy with Lecce.

He is looking forward to making a return to Serie A and hopes he can put the injury problems of his recent past firmly behind him.

"I have one further year left in my contract with Sevilla," said Chevanton.

"These six months will be good for me to prove and display what I am capable of doing.

"I haven't been lucky in Sevilla, mainly due to injuries.

"Unfortunately, I have not been able to triumph here but I will always carry Sevilla in my heart."

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Zabaleta urges Robinho stay

Pablo Zabaleta believes it is imperative that Manchester City retain Brazil international striker Robinho when the January transfer window reopens.

It has been mooted City could cash in on the former Real Madrid ace with European giants Barcelona reportedly keen on bringing him back to La Liga.

Zabaleta has denied there is any disharmony among Mark Hughes' squad and that the gifted 25-year-old gives City an added dimension.

Robinho is in line to make his City return against Hull at the weekend after missing nearly three months with an ankle injury.

"I think it's vital that Robinho stays with Man City," he told The Sun .

"He is a player who can give us more quality and he means a lot to his team-mates.

"There is no problem with him or with the other players."

Robinho mustered 15 goals in his first season with City and Zabaleta believes he can get even better this time around if he can remain injury-free.

"I think he can do even better," he continued. "Naturally, you always expect more from a player like him because there's a reason why he cost more than Ј30m.

"But I hope we can enjoy having him with us for a long time. The truth is, we will achieve our goals faster as a club with players like Robinho here."

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