Tonight’s Copa del Rey decider between Barcelona and Real Madrid in Valencia will be very different from their last final meeting.

Barça almost don’t deign to regard their cross town neighbours Espanyol as a genuine rival.

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino confirmed his intention to see out his contract with the Catalan club ahead of tonight’s Primera Division clash with Celta Vigo.

LA LIGA:

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino sent a defiant message to his critics as they turned up the heat ahead of his side’s latest Champions League outing.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho doesn’t get much wrong and while the validity of his claim this is a Barcelona side on the wane will most likely have to wait until later rounds of this season’s Champions League, the evidence at the Etihad Stadium was that the Portuguese may just have a point.

Gerardo Martino claims Manchester City are no clone of his Barcelona side — but simply one of the best teams in the world.

At his post-game press conference on Saturday night it seemed Gerardo Martino’s biggest problem ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League last 16 first leg at Manchester City is who to start.

European champions Bayern Munich feel they have got the strongest opposition they could have faced after yesterday’s Champions League last 16 draw pitted them against Premier League leaders Arsenal.

“Barcelona on a roll...

This week marks the 40th anniversary of Johan Cruyff’s debut at Barcelona, last week Real Madrid celebrated Francisco Gento’s 80th birthday.

Barcelona take on Milan at a damp San Siro for the fourth time in two years this evening.

Teething problems were always likely when La Liga’s big two began the season with new coaches, but even by La Liga standards Barcelona’s Gerardo Martino and Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti have had eventful first 100 days in charge.

Neil Lennon believes the absence of Lionel Messi from tonight’s Champions League clash with Barcelona at Celtic Park is a boost for Celtic, but insists it is also “tinged with sadness”.

Lionel Messi has rejected suggestions he made a disrespectful gesture towards Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino after being substituted in the Catalan club’s 4-1 win over Real Sociedad last night.

La Liga’s ‘big two’ go into the new Champions League campaign this week with new coaches in Gerardo Martino and Carlo Ancelotti, fresh expensive superstars in Neymar and Gareth Bale, but the same huge expectations as always.

Manager Gerardo Martino was thankful that his Barcelona side were able to share the goals around as after they got the better of Malaga 1-0.

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino is critical of the record-breaking transfer fee Real Madrid are reportedly poised to spend on Gareth Bale.

Neymar scored his first goal for Barcelona as the Catalans came from behind to salvage a draw in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup at the Vicente Calderon.

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino says he is no longer worried about the possibility of Cesc Fabregas leaving the club to join Manchester United.

Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino is confident Cesc Fabregas will not swap the Nou Camp for Old Trafford but admits the Spain international will decide his own future.

Barcelona midfielder Xavi is unsure whether Real Madrid are right to be chasing Gareth Bale for a fee reported to be in the region of €100m.

Departing goalkeeper Jose Reina has hit out at Liverpool after claiming the club decided to loan him to Napoli without telling him first and that he “deserved better”.

Barcelona coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino has made it clear that Cesc Fabregas will be part of his team next season, despite repeated interest from Manchester United.

New Barcelona coach Gerardo ’Tata’ Martino is certain Cesc Fabregas will be part of his team next season, despite repeated interest from Manchester United.

Lionel Messi insists he had nothing to do with the appointment of Gerardo Martino as Barcelona coach.

The future of Manchester United target Cesc Fabregas will be among the priority issues for new Barcelona head coach Gerardo Martino.

Gerardo Martino believes fellow Argentinian Lionel Messi had a say in his appointment as the new Barcelona coach.

Barcelona have reached an agreement for Argentinian Gerardo Martino to become their new coach.

Gerardo Martino last night emerged as the likely replacement for Tito Vilanova as Barcelona coach.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has spoken glowingly about Gerardo Martino following the emergence of his fellow Argentinian as the favourite to succeed Tito Vilanova in the Nou Camp hot-seat.

A HIGH school teacher in Australia who assigned her class to plan a terrorist attack that would kill as many innocent people as possible had no intent to promote terrorism, the school principal said.

A high school teacher in Australia who assigned her class to plan a terrorist attack that would kill as many innocent people as possible had no intent to promote terrorism, the school principal said.

Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino has resigned following his team’s elimination from the World Cup.

CESC FABREGAS has no doubt his Spain team-mate Fernando Torres will soon be over his goal drought and is expecting the striker to play a key role in the World Cup quarter-final against Paraguay today.

PARAGUAY coach Gerardo Martino revealed his side were in party mood following their historic victory over Japan last night, although he admitted the full impact of their success has not yet sunk in.

JAPAN coach Takeshi Okada believes his side have the ability to reach their first-ever World Cup quarter-final at the expense of an impressive Paraguay side.

DEFENDING champions Italy had to come from behind to salvage a draw in their World Cup Group F opener against Paraguay in Cape Town last night.

Italy 1 Paraguay 1

Italy coach Marcello Lippi insists he will not rush chief playmaker Andrea Pirlo back from injury at the World Cup.

ITALY coach Marcello Lippi has dropped the strongest hint yet that his country’s best goalscorer will not start tonight’s World Cup Group F opener with Paraguay.

SINGER Al Martino, who played the Frank Sinatra-type role of Johnny Fontane in The Godfather and recorded hits including Spanish Eyes and the Italian ballad Volare in a 50-year musical career, died on Tuesday. He was 82.

US singer Al Martino who had Britain’s first number one single in 1952 has died aged 82.

Paraguay secured their place at next summer’s World Cup finals with a 1-0 win over Diego Maradona’s hapless Argentina tonight.