Barca focuses on league after losing Super Cup

MADRID - The Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina, right, and Pedro, center, react during a Spanish Supercup, second leg soccer match against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. AP Photo

Barcelona will be looking to rebound from the first loss of the campaign after perhaps its poorest performance in more than four seasons when it plays winless Valencia in the Spanish league.
 
Coach Tito Vilanova glossed over Barcelona’s bad form in losing the Spanish Super Cup to Madrid on Wednesday, and he will be banned for Sunday’s match against Valencia at the Camp Nou.
 
Barcelona can ill-afford a repeat against Valencia team eager to turn its uneven start around.
 
Barcelona, Valladolid and Rayo Vallecano are the only teams to start the championship with two straight victories. Rayo plays Sevilla and Valladolid is at troubled Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
 
Madrid, which had made its worst start in nearly 40 years before its Super Cup victory, will play Granada on Sunday.