News » Canadians hit the start line including two relative

MADRID - Atletico Madrid and Barcelona fittingly have Wednesday in Spanish football all to themselves for the return leg of their Copa del Rey quarterfinal.All eyes will be on Vicente Calderon Stadium, where visiting Barcelona bring a 1-0 advantage.The other three return legs are on Thursday, when Espanyol takes a 3-1 lead into Sevilla, Villarreal goes to Getafe 1-0 up, and Athletic Bilbao and Malaga start without a goal yet.Here are some things to know about the matches:___BARCELONA STREAK: After romping past Elche 6-0 in the league, Barcelona is on a six-match winning streak in all competitions, and still on course for a treble.Coach Luis Enrique is expected to field a strong attacking lineup including Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez againt Atletico.Im at my best moment with Barcelona, Neymar says. I carry on growing and having more to do at the club. I want titles and many more things.Last season, Barcelona lost in the Copa final to Real Madrid. Atletico knocked out Real in the previous round.TO BENCH TORRES OR NOT: Atletico coach Diego Simeone has to decide whether to make the unpopular choice of benching striker Fernando Torres, who scored twice against Real, in favour of the in-form attacking duo of Mario Mandzukic and Antoine Griezmann.Also, they will be without key defender Diego Godin, who is suspended.Whatever Simeones decisions, the team back him.Everyone knows Simeone, and they know how he loves the games and how he prepares them — always to win, defender Jose Maria Gimenez said. Thats the energy he gives us, that winning energy.Atletico has won only two of its last five matches. It comes off a 3-1 win against crosstown rival Rayo Vallecano, but has lost its last two games against Barcelona.EAGER FOR A COMEBACK: Eager to fill its Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on Thursday, Sevilla exhorted its fans to support the team for what it called another historic comeback, and offered members tickets at 5 euros ($5.70).Queues formed around the stadium on Monday.Sevilla will be without defensive midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak, who has a ligament injury to his left ankle.THREE IN A ROW: Athletic Bilbao and Malaga ought to be getting sick of each other: This will be their third consecutive game. Athletic drew 1-1 against Malaga at San Mames Stadium in the league at the weekend.During the previous matches, both teams defended staunchly and tried to break their opponents down at set-pieces or on the counterattack. 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The Eastern Conference-leading Celtics finished their recent trek at 3-1 on Monday in Salt Lake City when Rajon Rondo made a key jumper with 24.1 seconds remaining, as Boston held off the Utah Jazz, 107-102, at EnergySolutions Arena.TOBLACH, Italy -- Alex Harvey was solid in a fifth-place result on Saturday in his final World Cup cross-country ski distance race prior to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. After spending a week doing high-altitude training in Italy, the 25-year-old from St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., bounced back into race form while challenging for the podium in the mens 15-kilometre individual start classic-ski race. Harvey clocked a time of 37 minutes 30.1 seconds. "That was a solid race from Alex today. He started out conservative and then made up ground throughout the race," said Justin Wadsworth, head coach of the Canadian cross-country ski team. "This week is all about shaking out the cobwebs after being at altitude so it was a good day." Harvey set a pace ahead of the eventual winner, Russias Alexander Legkov, in the final lap. Legkov set the time to beat at 37:02.7. Switzerlands Dario Cologna was second at 37:05.6, while Swedens Marcus Hellner rounded out the podium in third with a time of 37:20.3. Four other Canadians hit the start line including two relative rookies to thee World Cup, Graeme Killick and Jesse Cockney, along with Olympic veterans Devon Kershaw and Ivan Babikov.dddddddddddd Kershaw, from Sudbury, Ont., finished 39th with a time of 39:31.7, while Killick, from Fort McMurray, Alta., placed 40th (39:32.3). Cockney, from Canmore, Alta., was 51st (39:48.6), while Babikov, also from Canmore, finished 62nd (40:24.4) in the wet and mild conditions. "Devon and Ivan struggled with their skis today in the conditions," added Wadsworth. "All of the guys are feeling really good and I think are looking good heading into the Games." Whitehorses Emily Nishikawa was the lone Canadian to start in the womens 10-kilometre classic-ski race. Nishikawa placed 40th after clocking a time of 30:06.8. Norways Marit Bjoergen finished on top at 26:54.2. Therese Johaug, also of Norway, grabbed the silver medal with a time of 27:30.9, while Swedens Charlotte Kalla skied to the bronze after stopping the clock at 27:37.1. The final World Cup race prior to the start of the Olympic Winter Games takes place on Sunday in Toblach, Italy. ' ' '