Cristiano Ronaldo denies Lionel Messi rivalry: 'We're not friends, but we respect each other'

Not a surprise, just a confirmation

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the biggest superstars in football today. Both are incredibly talented in their own specific ways, and their statistics and trophies show that they're really, really good.

But because Messi plays for Barcelona and Ronaldo plays for Real Madrid, the rivalry between the clubs was naturally transferred to the two superstars, and someone is always looking for Ronaldo to trash-talk Messi, and vice-versa. They don't, they never really did and they probably never will, and Ronaldo reassured that position again in an interview this week:

"There is a big mutual respect between myself and Messi. The media like to make out like we have this big rivalry, but we don't. It is not like we are good friends, but there is a mutual respect on both sides."

Source: FourFourTwo

That's the honest truth. They're not friends, which is natural, but they respect each other a lot, which is even more natural. They are rivals in the sense that they always fight to be better than the other, but it's never personal. And that's why this rivalry is so fun: both do their talking on the pitch.

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Barcelona vs Granada, 2016 La Liga: List of injuries, suspensions

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Arda Turan "highly doubtful" for Barcelona's La Liga match against Granada due to injury - Report

Yay, more injuries!

The injuries continue to pile up at Barcelona and it's starting to become a giant concern.

The latest addition to the list of players with physical problems is Arda Turan, who is "highly doubtful" to play on Saturday's La Liga match against Granada at Camp Nou, according to reports in Spain. The Turkish midfielder was one of the few first team players to start the Catalan Super Cup against Espanyol and took a knock to his right ankle, and it does not look good.

Arda is in a lot of pain and there's huge swelling in the area, which has limited his movements. He wasn't able to train normally with his teammates on Thursday's session, and he's very unlikely to be available to face the Filipinos at the weekend. The depth at midfield will make Arda's absence a little less problematic, especially against a Granada side who's yet to win this season and sit in last place on the table.

The games that really need Turan take place next week, against Manchester City and Sevilla away from home. Arda should be available for both matches, especially if he's rested against Granada. But these injuries have to stop. It's insane right now.

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FC Barcelona News: 27 October 2016; Barça launch major project for youth academy, begin preparations for Granada match

Masia 360 project presented at Palau Blaugrana - FC Barcelona
Masia 360 forms part of the innovative and revolutionary strategic project called FCB Coneixement (FCB Knowledge), which the club is set to unveil shortly and is designed to ensure its leadership in terms of knowledge and coaching in connection to sport, bringing the future forward and reasserting FC Barcelona’s position as a global trendsetter.

Barcelona double youth team funding in a bid to halt a decline in home-grown players | Daily Mail Online
Barcelona are responding to the declining influence of home-grown players in their team by doubling the club’s financial commitment to its youth system from €1.25million (£1.1m) euros a year to €2.95m (£2.6m).

Never seen before: The Competition Committee attack Barcelona! | Diario Sport
The RFEF’s Competition Committee have been really tough on Barcelona. This time, despite Barça’s players being the victims, they have been criticised for their actions and accused of provocative behaviour.

Relive the day FC Barcelona clinched the Liga title in Granada - FC Barcelona
Thanks to a 3-0 win at the Nuevo Los Cármenes, with all three goals scored by Luis Suárez, the Catalans added a 24th championship trophy to their collection

When and where to watch FC Barcelona v Granada CF - FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona welcome Granada to the Camp Nou on Saturday as they look to continue their excellent form following 4-0 wins against both Deportivo and Manchester City, and a last gasp 3-2 win in Valencia.

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How should Barcelona line up on Saturday's La Liga match against Granada?

Choose the starters!

Forget the midseason/preseason friendly/official match loss against Espanyol on Tuesday, and Barcelona have won the last three games, and the team is looking good while doing it. But there is a big problem right now: injuries. Six players are definitely out with physical problems and that is a huge issue in a squad with only 22 players, three of those goalkeepers.

Most of the players will return from injury after the international break next month, with only Andrés Iniesta being a long-term issue. But Barça have Manchester City and Sevilla next week without the injured stars, and that's definitely a concern. Thankfully the calendar brings a La Liga game against Granada, who sit in last place on the table and are yet to win a match this season, so the Blaugrana are huge favorites and likely to win big even without a full strength team.

But would you select a rotated side for Saturday? We'll ask you to please fill out the attached form and pick the formation and eleven players you want to see against Granada. Remember: it's not what you think Luis Enrique will do, it' what you want to see on the pitch. You can also use the comment section below to share your selections.

VISCA EL BARÇA!

(Results)

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This goal is so incredible it doesn't even matter that a Real Madrid player scored it

NACHO(LY CRAP)!

Barcelona fans are almost never impressed or excited with anything that Real Madrid players do, but even we have to appreciate this spectacular goal scored by Madrid defender Nacho Fernández:

Ridiculous goal from Nacho http://pic.twitter.com/LtspLvOhJR

— Mostro (@idologeniocrack) 26 de outubro de 2016

Seriously, this is an incredible goal, especially coming from a defender. Sure, it was just a Copa del Rey match against Spanish Third Division side Cultural Leonesa that Madrid easily won 7-1 without any kind of trouble, but it's still an incredible goal. Nacho definitely wasn't blessed with quality and there's a reason why he's the fourth-choice center-back, but he swam in the finishing lake before this game, that's for sure.

Without Cheryshev in the squad, Madrid are now definitely guaranteed a place in the Round of 16 of the Spanish Cup, although they still have to play the second leg at Santiago Bernabéu next month, because the Copa del Rey rules are stupid and there's a second leg regardless of what happens in the first.

Barça begin their Copa journey next month, against Hércules. Can we score a pretty goal like this?

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WATCH: Sergi Palencia becomes an instant exciting prospect in Barcelona debut (all touches)

This guy is good!!!

Barcelona played the Catalan Super Cup against Espanyol last Tuesday, and while the result (a 1-0 loss) wasn't the best or even important, we got to see some very good Barça B prospects and potential first team future stars.

One of them is Sergi Palencia, who came in late in the second half for a 20-minute debut with the Catalan giants, and boy was he impressive:

Sergi Palencia (@Sergipalencia96 #12) vs RCD Espanyol. Supercopa de Catalunya. #FCBMasia http://pic.twitter.com/TrarBgmA6E

— LD (@neurophate) 26 de outubro de 2016

You may not think this is the greatest debut in history, but for an original right-back to make his first team debut out of position (although he has played at LB for Barça B this season) and play the way he did is very impressive. His determination and tireless effort stand out from the start, and he's got some very good skills to go along with that workrate. He made some very good runs, a disgusting turn that put an Espanyol player in a spin cycle, and combined well with his teammates in terms of passing.

His tackles and challenges are also impressive, meaning this is a full-back who can do it both with and without the ball. Of course, these were just 20 minutes of what was basically a preseason match, but Palencia has certainly caught the eye of Luis Enrique. Thanks to the injury crisis on the Blaugrana defense with only four healthy players, it's not crazy to imagine Palencia being on the squad that faces Granada at the weekend and the one that travels to Manchester City next week.

Welcome, Palencia. You're good, kiddo.

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