Ancelotti: "It's surprising to see Barca score on the break"

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti gave his views on Barça and Atlético de Madrid at a press conference earlier today, Tuesday. The Italian branded Barça's counterattacking style in Vallecas "surprising", while lavishing praise on Diego Simeone's side.

"I think Atlético de Madrid has been the biggest surprise. They're in great form, have won every match [in the league] and really gave Barcelona a run for its money in the Super Cup. Barça is always very competitive and plays great football, but I've been more surprised by Atlético, which is showing a lot of spirit and personality, just like its coach. He has moulded the team in his image. We are improving and I'm happy with the work we're putting in, because the team is showing the desire to improve in every training session. They are top professionals. We've had some good moments, but we need a bit more consistency. That's the area we most need to work on".


Back on the subject of Real and Barça's style of play, he added: "I think it's always up to the coach to adapt to the attributes of the players at his disposal, but it's not easy. Of course, a coach has to have an idea of the game plan he wants to impose, but without losing sight of the players' characteristics. It was surprising to see Barcelona score on the counterattack against Rayo and have less possession for the first time in so long".

Record-breaking-Barca, on its way to a seven win season start

FC Barcelona will be looking for yet another win against Real Sociedad, taking it ever closer to a new club record for the best la Liga start in its history, playing a team which has taken a draw away from each of its away matches.

Barcelona is still two wins shy of snagging the record, which its Real Sociedad and Almeria ties should deliver. Seven straight wins would see Tata Martino's Barcelona bettering the past achievements of the club's glitterati, with six consecutive victories from Cruyff (1990-1991), Van Gaal (1997-1998), Guardiola (2009/10) and Vilanova (2012/13).

However, the Barça faithful are more interested in seeing its team make a clear improvement in their game following the past few matches in which, despite convincing wins, the style was a world away from that with which it has been associated over recent years.

Under these circumstances, Barça is embroiled in the long-standing debate about whether the aesthetics and the idea of controlling the game through ball possession takes precedence over the effectiveness of the goals and victory.

In the midst of it all are the players, who are backing a change towards a much more defined approach, giving away the ball at certain moments and going on the counterattack. Eight goals in the last two games are swinging the vote, for the moment, towards the new coach as opposed to sticking with the club's trademark style.

No rest for weary Piqué and Mascherano

Just a month into the season and the lack of strength in depth at the heart of the 'Azulgranas' backline has been exposed. Having been thwarted in its attempt to sign Thiago Silva and Marquinhos, Barça once again finds itself seriously short on cover at centre-back, meaning Tata Martino could soon have a headache to contend with.

Javier Mascherano and Gerard Piqué have featured in every game so far. The Argentine has been a literal ever-present, clocking up 720 minutes across five 'La Liga' matches, both legs of the Spanish Super Cup and the Champions League opener. Piqué, who made way for Bartra in the latter stages of the European tie, has only played 9 fewer minutes.

Bartra has yet to start a game, while Martino seems reluctant to shunt Song or Busquets back into defence, as Tito Vilanova did on a few occasions last season.

Together with Elche and its Botía-Lombán partnership, Barcelona is the only team to have named an unchanged centre-back pairing in the first five rounds of league fixtures. Even Real Madrid, for whom Pepe and Ramos lined up together for the first four 'La Liga' clashes, felt the need to rotate this past weekend.

This lack of rest could end up taking its toll for the 'Azulgranas' in the shape of injuries. Piqué was a fitness doubt for Saturday's clash in Vallecas, while Mascherano has already played almost double the minutes this season as he had at the same stage last time around.

Martino delighted with Neymar impact

The Argentine believes the Brazil international is maturing and praised him for improving the defensive side of his game

Barcelona boss Gerardo Martino says Neymar has done a "fantastic job" for the club since arriving at Camp Nou in a €54 million deal in the summer.

The Brazilian has been eased into life at the club, making most of his appearances as a substitute from the bench, but has caught the eye with flashes of his brilliance, including his first goal for the club against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Supercup.

And after Martino handed Neymar a start in the 4-0 win over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, before bringing the 21-year-old off on 80 minutes, the Argentine coach insisted he was more than pleased with his progress.

He told AS: "The press judge how he has adapted by asking whether he has scored goals or not, but he does a fantastic job in creating chances and recovering the ball. He has adapted very quickly and I'm very happy with what he has done so far.

"Don't forget that he had a long summer with the Confederations Cup, his hectic transfer to the club and the long trips he has had to make which have prevented him from training properly. We are very satisfied with everything he has offered us."

Saturday's Liga clash saw the Blaugrana enjoy less possession than their opponents for the first time in 317 games, leading to questions from the media regarding the club's change in style, but Martino believes his methods have only come under the microscope because he is not from the same stock as his predecessors.

"I don't get annoyed by the debates. Whenever you have a team that has been as successful as this side, these debates will occur, especially when the coach isn't from Catalonia or from Holland," the 50-year-old added.

"I haven't come here to make any changes, and if you want to question our possession, then last year the average was 66% and this year it's 65,8%.

"If because of that 0.2% you want to say we have changed everything, then go ahead. And with regards to us playing long passes, I remember that Rafa Márquez used to play here, so it's not as if the club hasn't seen that before."