Wazzup with FC BARCELONA?!! (News)

[Classik]

Abidal, goal scorer and photographer


www.fcbarcelona.cat 01-19-2012 17:12

After scoring his second goal ever in a Barça shirt, Éric Abidal was the center of attention at this afternoon’s training session at the Ciutat Esportiva

Abidal having a good time with the camera


Television camera

Last May, Éric Abidal showed off his charisma when he took charge of a Barça TV camera and, for a while, acted the part of a professional TV operator.


In was the 76th minutes when Éric Abidal controlled a magnificent pass from Messi and, with a subtle touch with the outside of his foot beat an outstretched Iker Casillas . Thus, Barça’s French defender scored his second ever goal in the Azulgrana strip and the match winner. He did it at the Bernabéu , in the quarter-final away leg of the King’s Cup.


The team spent the night in Madrid and returned this morning to Barcelona, and subsequently went straight to work at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Abidal, always good humoured, walked out onto the training ground and decided to test his photo-taking abilities. The Frenchman took aim at Gerard Piqué . He found the best angle, focused, and pressed the button. This is the result:

FCB

 

[Classik]

Group meal at the New Masía


www.fcbarcelona.cat 01-19-2012 17:36

Barça’s first team met at La Masia. Centro de Formación Oriol Tort to have a group meal

Pinto, Alexis and Alves PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.

After the brilliant victory at the Bernabéu and this Thursday’s training session at the Ciutat Esportiva, Barça’s first team celebrated their recent success with a group meal, a fairly common occurrence in Can Barça. However, whatwas new about today’s traditional meal was the venue: for the first time the team ate in the dinning hall of the New Masía . Centro de Formación Oriol Tort.


The old and the new

The group luncheon also served as an introduction to the new facilities to some of the first team players. At the same time, some of the Masía-grown footballers took advantage of the situation to greet and meet with the workers and cooks that help run football boarding school.


None of the players recuperating from long-terminjuries, David Villa , Ibrahim Afellay , and AndreuFontàs , missed out on this afternoon’s luncheon. The Barça B players that were named to Barça’s Clásico squad were also present ( Cuenca, Montoya, Sergi Roberto, and Dos Santos ).

FCB

 

[Classik]

Schedule confirmed for three matchdays

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Barça have been handed their La Liga schedule for matchdays 22, 23, and 24 - corresponding with the games against Real Sociedad, Osasuna, and Valencia

Barça B also knows when they will have to face Villareal B, Cartagena, and Deportivo

Puyol, at Osasuna, in last season's match. PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.


The Professional Football League confirmed the schedules for matchdays 22, 23, and 24. Barça is scheduled to visit Málaga (18.00) and Villareal on the following Saturday (22.00).


Matchday 22. FC BARCELONA- REAL SOCIEDAD : Saturday, Feb. 4, at 22.00.


Matchday 23. CA OSASUNA-FC BARCELONA : Saturday, Feb. 11, at 20.00.

Matchday 24. FC BARCELONA-VALENCIA : Sunday, Feb. 19, at 21.30.


Three Barça B games confirmed

The schedules for the Second Division matchdays23, 24, and 25 have also been confirmed.

Matchday 23. VILA-REAL B-FC BARCELONA B : Friday, Feb. 3, at 21.00.

Matchday 24. FC BARCELONA B-CARTAGENA : Saturday, Feb. 11, at 18.00.


Matchday 25. DEPORTIVO-FC BARCELONA B : Saturday, Feb. 18, at 18.00.

FCB

 

[Classik]

David Villa’s condition improving


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The striker, whose tibia was operated on a month ago, has published a video on his Facebook page showing him pedalling an exercise bike

“It’s a month since the operation and I’m able to pedal a bike. The leg is getting better each day and I’m getting strongerâ€, says Villa


David Villa - Rehabilitación en bici

It was a month on Thursday since David Villa underwent surgery on his left leg following the injury he suffered at the Clubs World Cup, meaning he had to return to Barcelona ahead of schedule. The Asturian has been describing his road to recovery on social networking sites and this Friday published a picture of himself on an exercise bike, along with a text saying "It's a month since the operation and I'm able to pedal a bike. The leg is getting better each day and I'mgetting stronger".

FCB

 

[Classik]

Great results after the clásico


Barça has won eight, drawn one and lost just one game immediately after playing Real Madrid over the last three and a half seasons

Alegria d'Iniesta per l'empat al camp del Chelsea, just després del 2-6 al Bernabéu. FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.


Guardiola's side is rarely caught off their guard after facing their biggest rivals. In fact, they have generally picked up great results the next time they have played. They have only been beaten once in such matches over the last season and a half.


The seven wins

In their most recent matches, Barça thrashed Al-Sadd (4-0) at the Clubs World Cup and also Napoli (5-0) in the Gamper after winning at the Bernabéu in the league and at the Camp Nou in the Spanish Supercup respectively. Last season, FCB won at the Reyno de Navarra 3-0 after their historic 5-0 demolition of Madrid, and Osasuna were again the victims, this time 2-0, straight after Barcelona had been beaten in the cup final.They also won the derby with Espanyol 2-0 immediately after putting Madrid out of the Champions League.

In Guardiola's first two seasons, clashes with Madrid were less frequent affairs. But in 2009/10, after beating Madrid home and away in the league, Barça defeated Xerez 2-0 and Deportivo 3-0 and the previous season won 2-1 against Vila-real.


Famous draw and sweet defeat

Paradoxically, Barça's best result after a clásico wasn't a win. It was the last-second draw at Stamford Bridge, which came just four days afterwinning at the Bernabéu 6-2 in May 2009. The win in London sent Barça into the Champions League final. The other time Barça failed to win immediately after a clásico was last season, when they lost at Anoeta, 2-1, but the result didn't matter too much, because the Catalans were already well on course for the league title, which they did indeed eventually win.

FCB,

Jordi Clos

 

[Classik]

BARÇA B

Soriano transferred to FC Red Bull Salzburg


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FC Barcelona have agreed to a 500,000 euro fee plus 500,000 euros in variables for the Barça B striker

Jonathan Soriano / PHOTO: ARXIU FCB


FC Barcelona have confirmed the transfer of Jonathan Soriano to FC Red Bull Salzburg. The Austrian team will pay a transfer fee of 500,000 euros plus 500,000 in variables.


Jonathan Soriano travelled this Thursday to Salzburg, with the Club’s permission, to pass the medical and definitively close the deal.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Pedro fit to travel to Malaga

www.fcbarcelona.cat 01-21-2012 12:55


The Canary Islander has been declared fully fit and is one of the 19 players that will travel to Malaga


Cuenca, Sergi Roberto and Dos Santos from BarçaB have also been picked

Pedro, convocat per a Màlaga / FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB

Pedro Rodríguez is the most important addition to the Barça squad that faces Malaga on Sunday at La Rosaleda. Nine days after pulling a hamstring in Pamplona, the striker has been declared fully fit and is back in the side.

Like for the cup game in Madrid, the coaching staff have drawn on the services of B team players Isaac Cuenca, Sergi Roberto and Jonathan dos Santos. So the only missing players are the injured Fontàs, Villa and Afellay, plus Keita, who is away at the African Nations Cup.


Training in Sant Joan Despí

The squad trained on Saturday morning at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. All 16 available first team members, including Pedro, were involved, as were Cuenca, Sergi Roberto and Dos Santos. They then had lunch in Sant Joan Despí and this evening will fly south to Andalusia, where tomorrow's match kicks off at 18.00.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Fontàs, undergoes surgery, will be out for 6 months


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The player underwent knee arthroscopy surgery this morning to reconstruct his anterior cruciate ligament. The operation was led by doctors Cugat and Pruna

Doctors Ricard Pruna and Ramon Cugat at the press conference / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB


On Villa: “He is doing very wellâ€

The doctors were also asked about David Villa’s progress with his injury (fractured tibia). “He’s doing really well and he’s working. For the moment, everything is going according to plan, his recovery is great - but it’s too early to set a return date,†said Dr. Cugat. He went on to say that Afellay, who is recuperating from a long-term injury, is also doing “very well.†The doctor concluded with, “starting this February he’ll begin his recuperation on the field.â€


"He’s been in high spirits since the beginning and he isn’t afraid of dealing with a long recovery time"

The player Andreu Fontàs underwent knee arthroscopy surgery this morning to correct the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The surgery was led by doctors Ramon Cugat and Ricard Pruna, the player’s estimated recovery time is six months.


Once Dr. Cugat and Dr. Pruna completed the procedure, they held a joint press conference in the pressroom of the Ciutat Esportiva to explain the details of the operation.


“In high spiritsâ€


Pruna said that Fontàs is in high spirits despite the gravity of his injury. “Frankly, he’s dealing with it well. He’s been in high spirits since the beginning and he isn’t afraid of dealing with a long recovery time ,†said Dr. Pruna. The doctor went on to say that “he already had a corrective surgery, when he broke his fifth metatarsal in his foot. He was out of action for three months.†The past injury, according to the doctor, has mentally helped the player deal with his current injury.


Dr. Pruna went on to say that the player will be out of action for sex [sic] months, “we hope to have him fit for the preseason.†Dr. Cugat added, “the doctor isn’t in charge, it’s the player’s injured knee†that will set the recovery time.

It’s worth noting that Fontàs injured his knee on the 12th, Thursday, during the first half of the last 16 round of the King’s Cup match against Osasuna

FCB

 

[Classik]

The team arrives in Málaga


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FC Barcelona arrived in Málaga at 20.15, where the team will play on Sunday afternoon against Málaga CF at La Rosaleda in the match that marks the official halfway point of the LigaLike5Send

Iniesta arriving at the hotel in Málaga / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB

FC Barcelona arrived in the Andalusian city where they will play in the game corresponding to matchday 1 of La Liga this Sunday afternoon against the side managed by Manuel Pellegrini . Directors Pilar Guinovart and Toni Freixa led the Azulgrana expedition to Málaga, Vice-President Javier Faus will follow on Sunday. Guardiola has named 19 players to the Barça team, along with Pedro , who was given the medial all-clear this week. The flight departed from El Prat airport in Barcelona at 19.00 and arrived in Málaga at 20.15.


Upon arrival, the players went to the NH Málaga hotel, where they will stay until game time at La Rosaleda, kickoff time is at 18.00.


Interestingly enough, this is the second time the team has travelled the day before a match in La Liga. The first time was in matchday 2, for the Real Sociedad-Barça game.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Spotlight on Malaga CF


01-21-2012 22:42

Malaga CF, one of the most active teams in the summer transfer window, will receive the reigning league champions on Sunday at La Rosaleda (18.00)

Isco against Granada / Phot: www.malagacf.com

FC Barcelona 's opponents this weekend are Malaga FC , who are currently in eighth place on 25 points. The club is bankrolled by Quatar sheikh Ahmed Al Thani and ambitions are high at the Costa del Sol side, as they look for a European spot next season.


History

The current Malaga Club were formed as a successor to CD Malaga in 1993, after the old club went bust. Since then, they have fought their way up through the lower flights and at thestart of the century they enjoyed a few seasons as a top ten team under Joaquin Peiro and Juande Ramos before spending a couple of years in the second division. The big change for the club came in 2010 when Quatar billionaire Abdullah bin Nasser bin Abdullah Al Ahmed Al Thani bought them and began a massive rebuiding programme with his cash. Coach Manuel Pellegrini was brought in, along with bigmoney signings such as Julio Baptista, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Toulalan, Isco, Joaquin, Kameni and Santi Cazorla and after surviving a relegation scare last year, they have set their sights on European qualification this season.


Form Guide

Malaga have gone five league games without a win, losing to Sporting , Valencia and Real Sociedad , whilst being held at home by Atletico Madrid and Osasuna . The team were also knocked out of the Spanish Cup in the last round,going down 3-2 and 0-1 to Real Madrid. Last season's game between Guardiola's team and Malaga in Andalusia ended in a convincing 1-3 win for the Catalans.


One to Watch

Santi Cazorla was a key part of Spain ' s European Championship winning team in 2008 and although he missed out on World Cup in South Africa through injury he is now back on top form after signing for Malaga from Villarreal at the start of this season. Cazorla is the creative spark of Pellegrini's team, his ability to come in from either wing marks him out as a dangerous attacking force and he's the team's leading scorer in the league.

FCB,

Nick Bedson

 

[Classik]

Malaga v FC Barcelona: A threat between clásicos


18.00, GolT, C+ Liga and Radio Barça - On Sunday evening, FC Barcelona visit eighth placed Malaga, one of the most ambitious outfits in La Liga. Pedro is back in the side

Pedro, celebrant un gol / FOTO: ARXIU FCB

In between the cup games against Real Madrid, Barça have another big test in store at La Rosaleda. They will have two particular things inmind. First, to maintain the excellent form they showed in the 2-1 win on Wednesday night at the Santiago Bernabéu, and second, to get their away form back on track in the league, where they have only won three of the fixtures away from Camp Nou so far. But La Rosaleda is never an easy place to go, especially with Malaga currently eighth and aiming for even bigger things.


Pedro back

The last game of the first half of the season is really the first, because this is the match that was originally cancelled due to the players strike. And for it, Josep Guardiola will be glad to have one of his strikers back, namely Pedro Rodríguez. The Canary Islander was injured in the cup game in Pamplona and with Afellay, Villa and Fontàs all injured, and Keita away in Africa, his return is especially welcome. Even so, there are currently only 16 first team players available, and Guardiola has drawn on Barça B's Cuenca, Dos Santos and Sergi Roberto to bolster his travelling party to 19, one of whom will have to be dropped to make up the definitive list of 18.


Struggling on the road

Barça have been uncharacteristically irregular in away league matches this season. The 11 points they have dropped on the road explain the current five-point deficit with regard to Liga leaders Madrid. Guardiola made it clear on Saturday that they cannot afford any more setbacks away from home if they want to maintain their hopes of winning the title. Three points in Malaga would work wonders for the team's confidence, with another away trip, this time to Villarreal, coming up a week late.


Malaga winless since November

However, Malaga won't be giving up those threepoints lightly. Manuel Pellegrini's side was one of the biggest spenders over the summer, but despite a promising start, they have gone without a win since November. Two draws at home and three defeats away are a poor return for a team that has European aspirations. That's not for want of big names in the squad. Malaga has players of the calibre of Van Nistelrooy, Cazorla, Rondón and Mathijsen, while they have also just signed goalkeeper Kameni from Espanyol, who may well make his debut on Sunday. All in all, it's some challenge for Barcelona, and victory is anything but a foregoneconclusion.

FCB,

Roger Bogunyà

 

[Classik]

Priceless win (1-4)

A sensational display from Barça at La Rosaleda against a threatening Malaga side. A stunning hat-trick from Messi, and another goal from Alexis, reflected the Barça superiority


Victor Valdes made a vital triple save in the 15th minute

Leo Messi, autor d'un hat-trick a La Rosaleda. FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.


Barça ended the first round of League games in the best way possible. Away at the imposing Malaga, it was a fantastic display, based on control of the match and efficiency in front of goal. Valdes kept the team alive at the beginning and a monumental Messi guaranteed the three points that take them into the Clasico with their morale really high. With his umpteenth hat-trick, Messi has now scored 22 goals in the League Championship.


Triple save by Valdes

Barça, with a four man defence and Adriano on the left wing, took the field against a Malaga team who tried to make them feel uncomfortable by applying intense pressure high up the pitch. Moving the ball towards the opponent's goal was not easy. Barça’s best option was connecting with Messi as he droppedoff into midfield, and he came close with the first chance for Barça, who were excellent in winning the ball back.


However, right at the end of the first quarter of an hour, Victor Valdes was their saviour: first he practically flew to deflect a shot from Isco, and from the resultant corner, the keeper again popped up to block a double strike from the Malaga player. Three consecutive saves from the Barça keeper.


Messi scores with a header.

Gradually, Barça imposed their technical superiority in midfield, and Messi was the channel for the Barça attacks. In the 32 nd minute, the three time Ballon d'Or winner put a ball out wide for Adriano, and then met the Brazilian’s cross to place a header into the back of the net, just like a heading specialist. The Argentinian’s 20th goal of the season gave the away team confidence, and they had over 70% of the possession, even though Malaga were trying to play football.


Stellar resumption

The situation was under control, but with the lesson learned, Barça came out with the intention of killing off the game. In minute 47, Willy Caballero managed to save 2 Thiago efforts (one from another great Adriano cross), but Alexis was on the spot to make it 2-0. Almostimmediately after that Messi recovered the ball, and with a trademark slalom he got to the edge of the box, and placed an unstoppable shot past Caballero.


Messi hattrick.

The 3-0 lead saw the current Champions in a very comfortable position. Guardiola took off Alexis, Adriano (with muscle problems), and Iniesta, in view of the Cup match on Wednesday. Cuenca, Dos Santos, and Pedro came on. Meanwhile, Malaga were not giving up and went looking for a consolation goal.


On the other hand, Messi was still doing his thing, and sent a masterfully executed free-kick against the crossbar (min 74). A short while laterthe best player in the World put the icing on the cake with a fabulous goal, after picking up the ball in midfield, and finally scoring with a subtle cross-shot into the net. Rondon got the consolation goal, and made it 4-1 right at the end of a spectacular display.

FCB,

Jordi Clos

 

[Classik]

Messi is like César



With tonight’s hat-trick against Málaga, the Argentinian star finished his best first half of La Liga in his career (22 goals) and draws level withthe record set by César, until now the highest Barça goal scorer at the halfway point in the competition

Messi celebrates his first against Màlaga / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB


Messi: "the most important thing is winning"


Far from turning the attention on himself, tonight’s man of the match against Málaga, Leo Messi, preferred to talk about the team’s collective achievement: “more than personally scoring goals, the most important thing is to win.Málaga is a great team and every match is difficult, even more so when you are playing away from home. In the second half we played really well.â€


Who said that Messi wasn’t on form? The Argentinian genius showed his quality in Málaga tonight and he equalled another record: at the Rosaleda he scored his 15th hat-trick as a Barça players -his fifth this season- to close out the first half of La Liga , in which he scored 22 goals. He’s equalled the historic record set be César , who also scored 22 goals in the first half of the 1950/51 season. Simply put, Messi is a goal-scoring machine.


Four goals more than last year


Furthermore, he’s scored four more goals this season than he did last year (at this point in 2010/11 he had 18 goals) and seven more than two years ago (15 goals). Until now, Messi had only scored one goal away from the Camp Nou this season, it was at San Mamés .


36 goals this season

In total, this season Messi has scored 36 goals in 32 official matches: 22 in the Liga, 6 in the Champions League, 3 in the Spanish Super Cup, 2 in the Cup, 2 in the Club World Cup and 1 in the European Super Cup.


As a Barça player, he has scored 216 official goals for the team. He’s only 19 adrift from the all-time Club top scoring record , currently held by César (235)

FCB,

Roger Bogunyà

 

[Classik]

Guardiola: “The line between winning and losing is very thin, tonight is a good example of thatâ€



The Barça manager said the play at the 15 minute mark where Valdés cleared a corner and saved, on two occasions, a goal was key in tonight’s result

Guardiola was pleased with his team’s 1-4 victory at La Rosaleda and for the overall behavior displayed by his players. He highlighted that to do well in stadiums like La Rosaleda, “you must do things correctlyâ€


Furthermore, he lauded Leo Messi, who scored another hat-trick tonight, pointing out that the Argentinian’s biggest asset is “his consistencyâ€


Faus: “Against Madrid there is no such thing as being favouriteâ€


The Vice-President Javier Faus, once the game had ended, talked about the upcoming King’s Cup match this Wednesday at the Camp Nou against Real Madrid: “this Wednesday we are favourites because of the first leg, but it’s clear that against Real Madrid there is no such thing as being favourite.†Along these lines, Faus said that “Madrid could beat us, it’s not impossible, nothing is impossible. It’s true that up until now things have gone our way, but when you think something is finished, that’s when you stumble.â€


On the other hand, Faus talked about Josep Guardiola’s possible contract extension: “We want Pep to stay here for many years. We will know his decision in a couple of weeks, we hopehis response will be positive.â€


"If Víctos hadn’t cleared the corner or saved a goal-scoring chance on two occasions, I don’t know what would have happened"


After the clear victory over Málaga by 1-4, Josep Guardiola talked about a play in the first quarter of the game at La Rosaleda to illustrate the pointthat “the line between winning and losing is very thin, today is a clear example.†The Barça manager lauded Víctor Valdés : “if Víctor hadn’t cleared the corner or saved a goal-scoring chance on two occasions, I don’t know what would have happened.†With that said, the manager corrected some issues at half time, “weadjusted a couple of things and everything was more simple from that point on.â€


Speaking about tonight’s opponents, Málaga CF , and the expectations surrounding the Andalusian side, the Barça manager said: “ in sports the biggest difficulty is anticipating expectations . When you play in a big team the expectations are that you must always win by a large margin. Málaga have a fantastic manager that understands football, quality players, and young players with a lot of promise. The only thing needed is patience. They need their time and I’m sure Pellegrini will succeed, because he knows La Liga. He’ll achieve constancy, it’s always a bit difficult when you have a new team.â€


Messi’s biggest asset, his consistency

Without a doubt, the man of the match was Leo Messi , who bagged three goals tonight: “you already know my opinion. His biggest asset is hisconstancy , to be important in every match for so long ... His life is football. Scoring these goals willhelp him in upcoming matches.â€


Lastly, Guardiola said that the team should celebrate because “they managed to comfortably win a game away from home.†The manager went on to analyse the first half of La Liga : “We finished the first half of La Liga tonight.We have a rival that is sensational (Real Madrid), it takes away from what we’ve done. Ingeneral, we’ve comported ourselves well.â€

FCB,

VANESSA FORNS

 

[Classik]

Piqué: "We needed a game like this"


www.fcbarcelona.cat

The FC Barcelona players are very pleased with the result achieved against Málaga

Piqué against Màlaga / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB


Training session this Monday

The first team will train this Monday, the 23rd, at 11.00 at the Ciutat Esportiva Sant Joan Despí. Afterward, Andrés Iniesta will hold a press conference.


The members of the Barça squad are pleased with the team's performance tonight at La Rosaleda. Gerard Piqué attributed his team’s victory to the “persistence shown until the last minute.†According to the Catalan, the team “hadthe rhythm and the ball possession throughout the whole game, it’s easier to win that way.â€


The centre back also talked about the difficulty Barça has had this season away from home: “it was time for us to win the right way. This seasonwe’ve won our games with few goals and with close scorelines; we needed a game like this, where we had an ample margin of victory.â€


Sergio Busquets echoed the man he plays in front of on the pitch: “we have lost a lot of pointsaway from home, but today we won comfortablyin a difficult stadium and against a difficult rival.†The midfielder said that Barça’s first half was “very good,†however “we didn’t create enough goal-scoring chances.â€


Javier Mascherano highlighted the team’s concentration: “they hardly created any chances all game long, save in the last five minutes and Isco ’s corner kick.†On the chance the young Málaga player had, Víctor Valdés said, “I don’t know if that was one of my best saves, even though I try to always do my best to help the team.†The keeper called on the Camp Nou faithful to help Barça in the upcoming match against Real Madrid in the King ’ s Cup : “this Wednesday we hope for a magical Camp Nou, like what we see when we play in the Champions League.â€


Here are the best comments made by the FC Barcelona players after the match:

Adriano :
“This was one of our best games this season away from the Camp Nou

“Whenever I play I always try to do the best possible job in helping my team. Things are working out for me thanks to the confidence the manager and my teammates have in me.â€

Valdés :
“I’m vey pleased for the players that played tonight that normally don’t get to, and for the Barça B players.â€

FCB

 

[Classik]

Barça wishes China a happy new year

www.fcbarcelona.cat

The three team captains, Puyol, Xavi and Valdés, along with Messi, wish the Chinese, both living inChina and abroad, a happy new year

FC Barcelona , through video messages made by four of its biggest stars, Puyol , Xavi , Valdés and Messi , will be present at the Chinese New Year’s Gala. The Gala, which will take place on January 23rd, will be broadcast on TV and streamed online. The estimated audience between spectators and online viewers is over 1 billion.


The congratulatory messages from Barça ushering in the Chinese New Year will be part of the television programme that not only will feature well known Chinese personalities but worldwide figures like the financier and philanthropist, Warren Buffet .


This is the second year that CCTV, the Chinese state television channel, will broadcast the New Year’s Gala in its current format. The television feed will also be disseminated through online channels owned by the biggest Chinese Internet company. This means that the audience will considerably increase and possibly reach the Chinese populations residing all over the world. It’s expected that viewership will surpass last year’s numbers.


The Gala, which will not air live, will be broadcast this Monday, January 23. Reruns of theevent will be re-broadcast for the next 15 days, the traditional celebratory period for the Chinese New Year. It’s expected that the broadcasts will reach over 400 million families with an estimated total audience of over 1 billion people. This includes the approximate 600 million people with Internet access plus 1 billion television viewers. An estimated 80% of the Chinese people not living in China will watchthe broadcast.


Specifically the Gala will be aired on CCTV’s channels 1, 2, 3, and 4, and on the most influential web platforms: sina.com, CNTV (China Network Television) and on Tencent ’s social network, FC Barcelona’s institutional partner in China.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Process for supporters' clubs ticket collection


www.fcbarcelona.cat


The following is an explanation of the process for collecting tickets

Supporters' Clubs ticket collection

In December, the Board of Directors approved a new series of measures for the collection of tickets for away games by members. In this regard, ticket collection by supporters clubs will continue to observe the same protocol established in previous seasons.


We remind you of the process and the documentation you must bring in order to collect tickets from the club ticket offices. This is the same procedure both for away matches and for games played at the Camp Nou.


Please find the conditions for ticket collection below:

● If the tickets are collected by the president of the supporters club, this person must bring the original credential and his or her national ID
● If the tickets are collected by another member of the supporters club, this person must bring the club's credential, authorisation signed by the president or secretary that states the name of the supporters club, a photocopy of the president's national ID and the name and ID number of the person collecting the tickets
● If payment has been made by bank transfer, the original payment slip must be provided

FCB

 

[Classik]

Barça shows support for local Chinese community


WWW.FCBARCELONA.CAT 01-23-2012 11:21

Club Directors Dídac Lee and Vidal-Abarca attended a Charity Dinner at the Gran Siglo Restaurant in Barcelona, held to celebrate the Chinese New Year which begins this Monday, January 23rd


The event, which was packed with various activities, received the full support of the Club


“FC Barcelona want to establish a long term relationship with China†according to Dídac Lee

PHOTO: ÀLEX CAPARRÓS - FCB


Dídac Lee , who is the Director responsible for Technology at FC Barcelona , and the Director of the Economic Area at the Club Josep Ramon Vidal-Abarca attended the Charity Dinner held this Sunday to mark the Chinese New Year – the Year of the Dragon- which begins this Monday, January 23 rd .


The event was attended by 600 people held at the Gran Siglo Restaurant in Barcelona and was presided over by the President of the Generalitat Artur Mas , who explained: “Catalonia wants to be a friend of China" , and the Barcelona Mayor and, Xavier Trias .

The celebrations began at 20.00, with the signing of an agreement with SIFU and was followed by an opening speech given by Professor Dr. Pedro Nueno . The event also included a number of activities, such as the presentation of the Dragon Godfather Sr. Lluís Llongueras as well as the election of the Pubilla of the New Year. There was also a prize draw of signed Barça players’ shirts.


Lee, doubly proud

Dídac Lee was especially proud to be representing the Club and stressed the importance of the Chinese community for the Club: “ FC Barcelona want to establish a long term relationship with the Chinese community. The New Year’s Eve Dinner is the most importantevent for Chinese people and it is a great honourfor us to be invited. On a personal level, I am doubly proud, for FC Barcelona and my own Chinese originsâ€.


Profits from the event will go to a charitable end, supporting mentally handicapped people.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Xavi a Clásico away from Segarra’s record



The Catalan midfielder will equal the record of 31 games against Real Madrid held by the legendary Joan Segarra if he plays this Wednesday

Xavi and Segarra

Last week's 1-2 win was Xavi 's 30th appearance in a Clásico - the same number as Migueli during his career at the Club- and if the midfield maestro figures this week in the secondleg of the Cup quarter final at the Camp Nou , he will equal Joan Segarra 's 31 games played between 1949 and 1964


Unforgettable figure in Club history

Joan Segarra played in 21 league games against Real Madrid, 8 in the Spanish Cup and twice in the European Cup. One of the most charismatic players in the Club's history, Segarra was known as El Gran Capità and in all he made 528 appearances for the Club over his 15 year career. A midfielder, he was famed for his strength, technical skill and above all for his fair play on the pitch.


30 games and some great goals

Xavi's appearances against Madrid have been spread over four competitions: 23 in La Lliga, 3 inthe Champions League, 2 in the Spanish Cup and 2 in the Spanish Super Cup. He's also scored somememorable goals, such as the chip in the 1-2 winin the 2003/04 season after an unbelievable assist from Ronaldinho, or the first goal in the 0-5 rout last season. He has also made his mark against the eternal rivals with a series of assists, including four in the 2-6 win in 2009 and setting up both in the 0-2 win the following season.

FCB,

Jordi Clos

 

[Classik]

League on hold as focus switches to Cup


WWW.FCBARCELONA.CAT 01-23-2012 12:27


With little time to recover from the win in Malaga, the squad were back in training preparing for the midweek Cup game this morning

Guardiola ha comptat amb 16 jugadors del primer equip i 9 del filial aquest dilluns / FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB


As is usual after a game, the players who figured in Malaga did some recovery work, whilst Cuenca, Dos Santos, Sergi Roberto and six other B team players completed the squad for training this morning.


The players had to switch their focus from the league after Sunday's win against Malaga and concentrate on Wednesday's Spanish Cup quarter final second leg against Madrid when they turned up for training at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper this morning.


Pep Guardiola was able to call on all of his available first team players for the session this morning, with B team players Cuenca, Dos Santosand Sergi Roberto again involved alongside six more B team youngsters - Oier, Balliu, Rosell, Espinosa, Deulofeu and Patric

FCB