Neues » After Rice was done speaking

Barcelona, Spain (SportsNetwork.com) - Barcelona will be eager to return to the win column on Sunday at the Camp Nou against Atletico Madrid in a top- three clash with Barca boss Luis Enrique coming under fire this week. The Catalan side opened 2015 with a disappointing 1-0 defeat in the league to Real Sociedad, which was followed by a 5-0 thrashing of Elche in the Copa del Rey in midweek. Yet that result did little to ease the pressure on Enrique, who is believed to be the main reason for stories surfacing about the potential departure of star forward Lionel Messi. It has been reported that Messi is unhappy with the current coaching situation, and unless Enrique is able to produce results on a consistent basis, he could find himself in danger of losing his job. Despite all the unrest surrounding the team, Barca still enters the weekend just one point adrift of leaders Real Madrid and level on 38 points with Atletico. The visitors will have fond memories of their last league meeting at Barca as it took place last May and ended in a 1-1 draw on the final day of the season, allowing Atletico to clinch their first league title since 1996. Diego Simeones side has once again remained firmly in the title picture this season and has gotten off to a great start in 2015 by recording a 3-1 win over Levante in the league to pull level with Barcelona, while a 2-0 first-leg victory against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey followed on Wednesday. The club also welcomed back a fan favorite in forward Fernando Torres, who joined Atletico on an 18-month loan spell from AC Milan last week. Torres made his debut against Real on Wednesday and played 60 minutes before being withdrawn, and he should be in contention for a place in the side on Sunday. Real Madrids fantastic form took a dip over the past week as the club lost for the first time in 23 games at Valencia last weekend before losing 2-0 to Atletico in the Copa del Rey. Carlo Ancelottis team will now try to get back to winning ways on Saturday when the team hosts Espanyol, which has lost its last two games. Valencia will be boosted by its upset over Real and the fourth-place side attempts to keep that momentum with a win at Celta Vigo, while Malaga hosts Villarreal in a battle of top-seven sides. Eibar has been one of the surprise packages in La Liga this season, entering the weekend in eighth place, and the club meets up with a Getafe side that is winless in its last seven league outings. Sevilla is only one point from a Champions League place and will travel to 15th-place Almeria on Sunday, Real Sociedad tries to build on its win over Barcelona with three more points at second-from-the-bottom Granada, while relegation-battling Cordoba travels to Rayo Vallecano on Monday. Fridays match saw Levante and Deportivo play to a 0-0 draw, moving the bottom-half sides just a bit further from the bottom three. Nico Hischier Jersey . The midfielder had an operation on Saturday, and is set to miss seven Premier League games, the third round of the FA Cup and the semifinals of the League Cup. Pavel Zacha Jersey . The rest of the team was already on the field stretching before batting practice while Puig was getting dressed in the clubhouse. He had been slated to start in right field for the afternoon game against the San Francisco Giants, who beat the Dodgers 8-4. http://www.devilssale.com/authentic-scot...-devils-jersey/. -- Phil Hughes ended a personal losing streak that dated to last July, pitching into the seventh inning Sunday and helping the Twins top the Kansas City Royals 8-3 to avoid a three-game sweep. Kyle Palmieri Devils Jersey . Despite 11-1 records, theyre out and Big Ten winner Ohio State is into the national semifinals. Damon Severson Jersey . -- Howie Kendrick had a two-run single in his first game batting leadoff this season, Chris Iannetta hit a pair of RBI singles and the Los Angeles Angels beat Cleveland 6-4 Tuesday night, sending the Indians to their fifth straight defeat. OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- His voice cracking with emotion, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice acknowledged Friday that he "failed miserably" and apologized for the actions that led to his arrest on assault charges. Rice was arrested following a Feb. 15 altercation in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in which he allegedly struck fiancee Janay Palmer. The couple married in late February, and both went to the stage at the team training complex for their first public comment since the arrest. "I failed miserably, but I wouldnt call myself a failure because Im working my way back up," he said. Wearing a light grey suit and striped tie, Rice spoke for just over six minutes and didnt take questions. His speech was not prepared, but he often referred to notes on his cellphone. "I know many of my supporters, sponsors, dont want to be in partnership with me. Thats my fault," Rice said. "I take full responsibility for that. One thing I do know is that Im working every day to be a better father, a better husband and just a better role model." Rice was accepted Tuesday into a diversion program, which upon completion could lead to the charges being expunged. "I want you to know Im still the Ray Rice that you know, or used to know, or grown to love," Rice said. "Im still the same guy. As me and Janay wish we could take back 30 seconds of our life, we definitely sit here and tell you that we are better parents, we are better lovers and also better friends." Among those in attendance were Rices mother, Janet, and his father-in-law, Joe Palmer. Rice was only 5 when his father was shot and killed, and he referred to Joe Palmer as the" father I never had.ddddddddddddquot; "Thank you for teaching me how to be a man," he told Palmer. "I know it wasnt easy when you saw everything that happened, but I just remember your words: Youll get through it. Those words will always stick with me, because one thing you gave me is trust." The 27-year-old Rice has played six years for the Ravens. He is the teams career leader in total scrimmage yards and ranks behind only Jamal Lewis in total yards rushing. "My job is a very powerful job, and Im blessed to be playing at the highest level of sports," Rice said. "But the job I did was more than scoring touchdowns. It was getting out in the community and helping out. So when this thing happened with me and my wife, one thing I can say is, sometimes in life you will fail." Rice is eager to put this behind him, but its possible that a suspension from the NFL looms ahead. His focus now, however, is clearly on his personal life. "There were a lot of tears shed, but me and Janay can truly say were in a better place," Rice said. "We just hope to one day gain back everyones trust. Were still the same people and Im still the same person." After Rice was done speaking, he turned toward Janay, who enforced the couples united front. "I do deeply regret the role I played in the incident that night," she said. "But I can say that I am happy that we continue to work through it together. I love Ray, and I know that he will continue to prove himself not only to you all, but to the community, and I know he will gain your respect back in due time." ' ' '