Xavi hoping for strong La Liga start

Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez believes that a strong opening to the new La Liga season will see the Catalans retain the title

The Spanish international midfielder has been left out of Vicente del Bosque’s squad for the upcoming friendly with Ecuador as he prepares for the new season with Barca.

The Catalans won the La Liga title last season by 15 points over rivals Real Madrid and Xavi insists that they must start strong if they are to retain the title.

Moyes to make Man United swoop on La Liga star?

Manchester United are reportedly readying a £25million bid for Real Madrid playmaker Luka Modric.

New United boss David Moyes and chief executive Ed Woodward have seen Bayern Munich pip them to the signing of Thiago Alcantara, from Barcelona, and they now accept their bid to lure Cesc Fabregas from the Nou Camp is dead.

Proposed mega-money swoops for Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Tottenham’s Gareth Bale have failed to materialise, with neither player currently keen on a switch to Old Trafford, while a mooted Moyes raid on former club Everton for Marouane Fellaini has apparently been mere paper talk.

Madrid playmaker Modric, who was the subject of United interest during his spell at Tottenham, is Moyes’ back-up plan, reports The Times. (The Metro).

La Liga is more difficult to win than Champions League, says Alves

The Blaugrana full-back says he believes winning the Spanish domestic league is a tougher challenge than winning the Champions League

Barcelona defender Dani Alves says winning the Liga is more difficult than securing the Champions League trophy.

Alves made the comments after his side's 2-0 win over Deportivo on Saturday lifted Tito Vilanova's men 14 points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid, with Barca now preparing for the second leg of their Champions League tie against AC Milan on Tuesday.

"For me, it is more difficult to win the league, and thus more valuable, because everything is spread over 38 games," the 29-year-old told reporters.

"To be champions and winning means so much to people, making it a very important competition.

"Every competition has its own value, and talking about the importance of the Champions League should not detract that of the league's either."

The Catalan giants host Massimiliano Allegri's men in a make-or-break encounter to continue their European adventure in midweek, and Alves is hopeful the team has left its recent troubles behind.

"Everything that has been happening lately is mental. When things begin to go negative, sometimes we just have to cover our ears and not let such circumstances influence us.

"Not conceding goals tonight gives us confidence. It's been a while since we've been able to recall this feeling. The goal today was to get a win, in order to put ourselves on the right track for Tuesday."

The Camp Nou outfit will have to fight back from a 2-0 deficit after the first-leg.