Wazzup with FC BARCELONA?!! (News)

[Classik]

Adriano-Messi duo on song again


www.fcbarcelona.cat


Another Messi goal from an Adriano centre opened the scoring for Barça against Malaga. Here’s some more facts and figures from the game

Adriano, envoltat de defenses del Màlaga. FOTO:MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.

- The opener was Adriano's sixth assist of the season.
- Four of those set up goals for Messi (against Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup, , Mallorca, Viktoria Plzen and now Malaga).
- Messi's hat trick was his 14th ( he got four against Arsenal in 2010) and his fifth this season..
- Barça have scored eight headed foals in the first half of this season – six more than at the same time last year.
-The 1-4 win was the biggest victory away from home for Barça this season.
- The last time the team recorded that result wason May 2nd 2010 against Villarreal.
- Alexis Sánchez has scored six goals in his last six games.
- Barça boasted 76% of possession in the first half in Malaga and 69% after the break.
- The team completed 843 passes against 248 byMalaga.
- Barça committed one more foul than the hosts (13-12)
- Thiago was the busiest Barça player, with 148 interventions.
Dani Alves won back most possession for the team(12).

FCB

 

[Classik]

Iniesta: “Madrid will demand a perfect gameâ€



Barça’s Spanish international midfielder is clear that the team will go out and try to win against Madrid on Wednesday and certainly not attempt to sit on their 1-2 result from the first leg


Iniesta also promised that the team would keep on fighting till the end in the league to try and reduce the distance between them and Madrid

PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB


"Although we've got a good result from the first leg, that doesn't mean anything"


"I get the feeling that the team have to get better and outdo themselves every season"


Despite the result in Bernabéu (1-2), Andrés Iniesta made it clear that the team will have to give their all on Wednesday if they want to make it through to the semi final and that Madrid will force Barça to put in "a perfect game - we can't afford any relaxation. Iniesta added:"the only thing I want is that the team put in a good performance. We'll have our fans to support us, but although we've got a good result from the first leg, that doesn't mean anything, this is football and there is 90 minutes more of a great game between two big teams".


No sitting back

Asked as to what tactics he thought Real Madrid would be adopting, Iniesta was adamant that the only thing Barça needed to concern themselves with was: "how we play - really the only thing we should be worried about is how we do and that we are able to control their strong points. We'll go out to win, if we were to just try and hold on for a draw, be afraid of losing, we would have a lot of problems becauseMadrid will come here to win and they have the players who can do that".


Turning to the league, Iniesta explained how important the win in Malaga was as the team fight to retain their league title: "if you want to win the league you have to have a great away record, particularly with the team we are going head to head with. We needed that win and in general we controlled the game and were reallyefficient. I hope that we'll continue improving asthe season goes on, because we are full of confidence about our chances of holding on to the title".


Confident about the league

Iniesta is also aware that there's not much room for error in the league: "we know that Madrid won't slip up much and we have to get points back on them. Regardless of whether they lose or not, we can't slip up. We have to start taking maximum points from every game, so that we can close the gap. There's five points between us, but we think we can get back".


Iniesta also praised Víctor Valdés , who he reckons has been: "the top keeper for a while now, he's been performing year after year" and Leo Messi : "his peak is still ahead of him fortunately for him, for us and for Barça as a whole. He's performing incredibly in every game.The hardest thing in football is to be the player who makes the difference, but he just does it naturally. It's hard to think of any more superlatives for him".

Finally, Iniesta explained that the challenge for the team was "that we keep on improving every season. I get the feeling that the team have to get better and outdo themselves every season. What's more, Madrid are forcing us to better ourselves all the time. That is what will allow us to continue to be in there fighting for all the titles till the end of the season".

FCB,

VANESSA FORNS

 

[Classik]

Halfway through the season


With the win in Malaga, Barça finished the first half of the season in second spot, with an exceptional home record and Leo Messi equalling Cesar’s goalscoring record

Away record not as good as recent seasons

R.MADRID-FCB (1-3). FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ (FCB).


This weekend's games marked the halfway point in the 2011-12 La Liga season and Barça sitsecond, with 44 out of a possible 57 points (five behind the leaders Real Madrid). The team have won 13, drawn 5 and lost just a single game, with 59 goals scored and 12 conceded. At the Camp Nou, the team have won 9 of their games and drawn the other with 43 goals scored and just 2 conceded.


The away figures aren't quite up to the exemplary standard set in previous seasons, though the high point of the campaign so far came on the road, with the 1-3 win over Madrid - the fourth season on the run they have taken points from the Bernabeu.


Valdés and Messi put in most minutes

Víctor Valdés and Leo Messi are the only players to have figured in all 19 games. The keeper has played every minute (1,710), whilst the Argentinean has played 1,649. Dani Alves is Guardiola's next favourite with 1,539 minutes in 18 games, whilst both Éric Abidal (1,386 minutes) and Xavi Hernández (1,341) have played in 17 games.


Messi scoring record

The 22 goals Messi has scored is the joint highestof any Barça player in the first half of a season, matching César Rodriguez's record from the 1950/51 season. The three times World Player ofthe Year is the league's second highest scorer, one behind Cristiano Ronaldo. Behind Messi in the scoring stakes are Cesc Fàbregas (9), Alexis Sánchez (7), David Villa (5) and Xavi Hernández (5).


Most yellows for Piqué

Barça have not been handed a single red card so far this season and only Pique has been suspended – for just one match- having picked up six bookings. Messi and Sergio Busquets have both seen four yellows, whilst Javier Mascherano, Cesc and Alves have been booked three times.

FCB,

Jordi Clos

 

[Classik]

The Azulgrana Roundup


01-24-2012 09:00

As FC Barcelona prepares for the return leg of the King's Cup quarter-final against Real Madrid, check out what people outside of the Club have to say about Barça

Puyol Vintage Football Card / PHOTO: Diver & Aguilar (www.behance.net/diveraguilar)

“It is no longer about whether or not Messi is currently the best player in the world; it is about whether he might even be the best there has ever been†- Sid Lowe

As important matches come and go at a breakneck pace, it’s difficult to keep in lockstep with the amount of quality content that’s created on a daily basis by Barça fans and journalists. The purpose of this column is to highlight interesting and thought provoking articles written by journalists, insightful tactical breakdowns, and content created by Barça fans from around the world. As this is the first installment of the RoundUp column, we have a lot to catch up on - you will notice older posts amongst more recent articles. If you have suggestions for this column, please tweet them to Barça’s twitter account , make sure you tag your tweet with #FCBroundup

Periodistas Anónimos . Robert Lozano Vergés - El segundo de Valdés (Spanish)

“Pero las paradas de Valdés, lejos de ser un merodetalle puntual del partido, son una tónica, un hábito decisivo que ha dado títulos a este equipo de ensueño. El de Gavà ha sumado tantossegundos decisivos que podríamos ver un partido entero de paradas estratosféricas.â€


Zonal Marking . Real start strong but Barça eventually find a way through (English)

This article features an in-depth tactical breakdown of the first leg of the King’s Cup quarter-final between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

The Guardian . Sid Lowe - To compare Lionel Messi to anybody else is unfair - on them (English)

“It is no longer about whether or not Messi is currently the best player in the world; it is about whether he might even be the best there has ever been.â€

Total Barça . El Clásico Tactical Review: A Football Odyssey (English)

Total Barça likens Guardiola’s tactical display in Madird to Stanley Kubrick ’s 2001: A Space Odyssey in their El Clásico tactical breakdown: “The Monolith keyed the evolution of sapient intelligence on Earth, and so too does Pep Guardiola key the evolution of Barcelona’s play.â€

Goal.com . Carlos Garganese - Barcelona star Xavi, the best centre midfielder of all time (English)

“When Barcelona and Spain repeatedly monopolise 60-70 per cent possession in matches, the key reason for this is not the other world class stars such as Andres Iniesta, David Villa and Lionel Messi it is the magician that is Xavi who never miscontrols a ball, never concedes possession, and is always directing, dissecting and debasing the opposition.â€


ESPN Soccernet . Phil Ball - Media Punta Power (English)

“But the term 'midfielder' is misleading in a system like Barcelona's. Their fluidity of movement, often using three media punta players who flit and fly around the more static Xavi in a sort of hypnotic, unpredictable dance, simply destroys defences that have grown up on the idea that the opposition will consist of a set of players whose movements and zonal play willbe more or less limited to specific areas of the pitch.â€


Benahce Network . Diver & Aguilar - FC Barcelonavintage Football Cards

Penya Barcelonista Washington DC - Messi’s countdown to 236 goals

FC Barcelona - Messi, the subject of a giant graffiti mural

“After winning his third consecutive Ballon d’Or, Leo Messi was the subject of a giant graffiti mral in the Tres Xemeneies park on Barcelona’s Avenida Paral·lelâ€

FCB,

Ian MacLurg

 

[Classik]

'Som-hi Barca', Wednesday's mosaic


WWW.FCBARCELONA.CAT 01-24-2012 10:58

Senyera (Catalan flag), Azulgrana colours and a message of support are all part of the mosaic that Barca fans will make at the Camp Nou whenthe first team takes on Real Madrid this Wednesday

The mosaic that will feature in the Camp Nou against Real Madrid

Video of the last Cl¨¢sico mosaic in the Camp Nou .
FC Barcelona will play for a spot in the King's Cup semi-final against Real Madrid this Wednesday. To help the team accomplish their goal, the Camp Nou faithful will receive the players with a mosaic on the east side of the stadium.

A total of 22,000 banners will compose the mosaic that will read 'Som-hi Barca.' The message will be on top of a blue and red background surrounded by the Catalan flag.

FCB

 

[Classik]

SUPPORTERS' CLUBS

Board passes new Penyes regulations

www.fcbarcelona.cat 01-24-2012 10:00


Changes agreed on at Penyes Congress

This is the result of a season of work on all aspects affecting the supporters club movement

Board of Directors - Archivo FCB

New penyes
The new rules also set the procedures for creating a new club and within the next few days these will be published in the section"Creating a new club".

As spokesperson of the Board Toni Freixa announced on press conference, the changes to the Penyes regulations have been passed, whichwere previously approved at the last World Congress, and also validated in the plenary of the Supporters' Clubs Advisory Council on December 3. This means that for the first time the clubs themselves, together with the Club have decided their own future.


One of the fundamental principles of the Penyes Segle XXI project is the self government of the clubs and this change is a clear example of that. Since August, the process of bringing together the agreements made at the last congress has been underway and these new regulations havenow become the movement's guiding light.


Productive process

In October 2010 it was decided that the regulations needed to be updated to reflect newtimes and the realities of the movement. From then on, the Club launched a series of initiatives to ensure that the changes could be presented atthe XXXII World Congress and four commissions have been working hard to make the changes, with the overall aim of strengthening the Penya trademark

FCB

 

[Classik]

Camp Nou to get Memorial Area


www.fcbarcelona.cat 01-24-2012 13:34


The Club has announced an agreement for the construction of an area in the stadium that will be used to remember deceased members of the club

Camp Nou.

The spokesman for the board, Toni Freixa, announced the agreement with the company GIEM Sports for the construction of a Memorial Area at the Camp Nou. It will be located in the lateral zone, in the lower section of the terraces and "will be available for anybody with an affective association with FC Barcelona". The management and commercialisation of this areawill eb the responsibility of GIEM Sports.


Social and financial motives

Freixa explained the two reasons for this project."The first is social, to cater for the members' demands and also for former players to be able to take their association to the club beyond theirown lives ... The second id economic, because thecompany will be providing some of the income to Barça". The creation of the Memorial Area guarantees an advance of 6 million euros for thefuture exploitation of the space.

Some time during the next few weeks, the spokesman announced that FC Barcelona will be giving a press conference to explain the full extent of the deal with GIEM Sports.

FCB

 

[Classik]

FC Barcelona are one win away from going ahead of Real Madrid all-time in clásicos


01-24-2012 13:59

Barça and Madrid have 86 wins against each other all-time, and on Wednesday will be vying for the most wins ever

It is 81 seasons since Barça last topped Madrid interms of the overall number of wins

When Guardiola became Barça manager, the balance was 77-85 in favour of Madrid

R.MADRID-FCB (1-2). FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ (FCB).

Last week's win at Real Madrid (1-2) was not only a huge step towards qualification for the last four of the Copa del Rey. It also meant that Barça tied Madrid on 86 wins in the clásico. If they beat the all-whites in the return leg at the Camp Nou, they will move to 87 wins, and will have a better record than their rivals for the first time since the 1930-31 season.


Nine wins under Guardiola

In the 2008-09 season, Pep Guardiola took over as first team manager, at which time Madrid hada considerably better record of 85 wins compared to Barça's 77. But after four incredible seasons, all that has changed. Following FCB's nine wins, three draws and just one defeat, the sides now have an equal head-to-head all-time record.


81 seasons behind

Unless Wednesday's game is a draw, the balancewill shift. And if Barcelona win, they will have the best all-time record for the first time in 81 seasons, when they last led the series by 6 wins to 5. Madrid have led ever since, and in the 1964-65 season stretched their lead to the highest ever, 16 wins.

But FC Barcelona have made up ground over the last few decades, and on Wednesday could finally win back the bragging rights of having the best all-time record in one of the biggest rivalries in world sport.

FCB,

Anna Segura

 

[Classik]

FC Barcelona to update membership lists for 2012


01-24-2012 14:02

The spokesman and secretary of the Board, Toni Freixa, has spoken about the need to update the club’s membership lists in order to properly reflect the reality of the day


The last time the Club membership list was updated was in 2004

PHOTO: ARCHIVE FCB

Over the coming year of 2012, the Club is planning to fully update its membership list. Toni Freixa spoke about the subject at his press conference this Tuesday, where he explained the outcome of the latest Board meeting. He explained that the membership lists have not been updated since 2004. "That was eight years ago, and logically things have happened since then that mean we need to update it, such as theincrease in membership by 50,000."


The last time the membership list was updated in 2004 there were 120,379 members, a number that has since increased by 32.34% to the currenttally of 177,928.


Not imminent

Freixa then confirmed that this update is not going to happen imminently, but will be announced via the club's usual communication channels in due course. "That is when all Barça members will be asked to go to the OAB to provetheir identities." Their photographs will also be updated as part of the process.


He added that the main reason for this revision was "to promote transparency ... the membership list must reflect the reality of the FCBarcelona membership."

FCB,

VANESSA FORNS

 

[Classik]

Pinto: “It’s marvellous to stayâ€


www.fcbarcelona.cat 01-24-2012 14:32

At midday on Tuesday the goalkeeper signed the renewal of his contract with FC Barcelona until June 30, 2013

He looked back positively on his four years at Barça

As announced a few days ago, goalkeeper José Manuel Pinto has agreed to stay on at Barça untilJune 30, 2013. He was joined for the signing of the document by president Sandro Rosell, vice president for sport Josep Maria Bartomeu, director of sport Andoni Zubizarreta and director of football Raül Sanllehí.


Very special moment

Pinto told Barça TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat that "it is marvellous to stay at such a great club... I came here for six months and I've stayed quite some time ... The balance is very positive. Itis in terms of titles and personally I am thoroughly enjoying being part of this squad".

He even said he'd like to retire in the city of Barcelona. "It is a very special moment and both my family and me are really happy to be here" he said.


Consolidated year by year

Pinto started out as a professional in the Betis B team in 97/98 and made it into the first team. Hethen joined Celta Vigo a year after, where he played for 10 years and ended up as team captain, even winning the Zamora Trophy for thebest goalkeeping record in the league in the season of 2005/06.


A serious injury to Albert Jorquera in the 2007/08 season led to his arrival at FC Barcelona on loan, with the club having the option to purchase the player outright at the end of the season. Pinto has been first choice keeper in all Copa del Rey matches, and therefore played a key role in the treble winning season. He has renewed his contract every year he has been here, and has won the confidence of Pep Guardiola and the affection of his team-mates.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Toni Freixa: “The main objective is to qualifyâ€

01-24-2012 14:39


The secretary and spokesman for the Board has said that the club’s main objective is to qualify for the Copa del Rey semi finals by eliminating Real Madrid

On a possible suspension for Pepe, Freixa said “you should ask the people who have the power to do soâ€, in reference to the Competition Committee

FOTO: ARCHIVE FCB

Call for good behaviour

The spokesman and secretary for the Board also stated that the fans should "continue to set an example for sportsmanship and good behaviour." He has every faith in the "impeccable and exemplary attitude that the Barça family is presenting to the world" and is convinced that Wednesday's cup tie against Real Madrid will be no exception. "We want our fans' behaviour to be exemplary" he concluded.


The club's reaction to the way Pepe trod on Messi's foot in last week's cup quarter final at the Bernabéu was one of the main topics of Toni Freixa 's press conference to discuss recent agreements made by the Board of Directors.

He wished to make it patently clear that the clubis focusing its entire efforts right now "on qualifying for the semi finals of the competition... We understand that this was a serious occurrence that everybody saw, and there is a Competition Committee that has the power to act if its sees fit. Without forgetting the importance of this, the most important thing is the match. We wouldn't want people's attention to be diverted".


Clear what happened

Although FC Barcelona understands that there are strong reasons to request a sanction to be applied to the Madrid player, Freixa said that"we do not think that we are anybody to judge the criteria of the Competition Committee ... It was obvious what happened. The events have already been judged socially, and there is unanimous disapproval. But action should be taken by those who have the power to do so."


Freixa was also asked about the Iñaki Urdangarín controversy, to which he replied that"we have to act socially in response to this issue... In a state of law, nobody is guilty until proven to be so." The implication was that Urdangarín ismerely facing charges at the moment. The spokesman continued that the former handball star "was a very important sportsman at our club, and his sporting values are still valid in the view of the people at this club. We have to respect his figure as a former sportsman and the presumption that he is innocent".

FCB,

VANESSA FORNS

 

[Classik]

19 picked for clásico


www.fcbarcelona.cat

Pep Guardiola has picked his 16 available first team players plus Cuenca, Dos Santos and Sergi Roberto to face Madrid


The team trained in the Camp Nou on the eve of the cup fixture

Entrenament previ. FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.

Barça have picked the same 19 players that travelled to Malaga for the Copa del Rey quarter final second leg at home to Real Madrid, namely the 16 available first teamers plus Isaac Cuenca, Jonathan Dos Santos and Sergi Roberto from the B squad. The three players out with long-term injuries (Villa, Afellay and Fontàs) and Keita, who is at the African Nations Cup, are the only absentees.


Training at Camp Nou

Barça trained behind closed doors at the Camp Nou today. The players named in the squad for tomorrow’s fixture then went to stay the night together at Hotel W in Barcelona. On Wednesdaymorning they will return to the Camp Nou for another session to fine-tune matters before the clásico, which kicks off at 22.00 (Canal+).

FCB

 

[Classik]

Guardiola: “I just hope the ground is full on Wednesdayâ€


www.fcbarcelona.cat 01-24-2012 20:42

The FC Barcelona manager is hoping for a packed Camp Nou and for the team to enjoy the match. “You will see two great teams put on a very good show. The rest doesn’t matter†he insisted.

“I hold reverential respect for Real Madrid. They are the worst team we could expect to play on Wednesdayâ€

Guardiola in the pressroom / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB

The FC Barcelona manager appeared in the Ricard Maxenchs pressroom after training behind closed doors at the Camp Nou on Tuesday, and his message was clear. "I just hopethe ground is full. What would upset me most is for the place not to be packed to the rafters" . Healso urged fans not to bring any ill feelings into the stadium. "You will see two great teams put on a very good show. The rest doesn't matter. Come to enjoy yourselves, to support us, to be with us and to forget about the rest. Watch Real Madrid. Not a specific manager or player ... If the atmosphere gets too heated it's because we haven't learned from the past, but I'm convinced that we are a mature club. The whole world is watching us and we have to show that we do our talking with our football".


Utmost respect for Real Madrid

Guardiola also stressed that "I hold reverential respect for Real Madrid. They are the worst teamwe could expect to play on Wednesday. The problem with this game is that we have already qualified and they are already out, and yet we still have to play . I predict a tight match right until the end ... If we try to defend the result from the first leg, they'll beat us. If we want to make the semi finals we'll have to play another great match . I have a feeling that Real Madrid are going to get a goal at the Camp Nou and so we are going to have to try to get one too".


Simply the best

He will wanting to get the very best he can out of his players. "We have to be prepared to face the very best Real Madrid have got, whether they push forwards or wait further back. What we have to do is play fast. If we are quick and pass the ball around and avoid contact, so much the better " he said.


Guardiola had no more to say about the Pepe incident with Messi. "The club has made a statement in that respect" he said. Neither did he think the fans were expecting a rout. "I think we're more prudent than that and I sincerely don't think most Barça fans are assuming we'll thrash them by a high score. Even though we got the best result out of the first leg, nothing has been decided yet", concluded Guardiola, who finished by reiterating how happy is to be managing Barça.

FCB

 

[Classik]

FC Barcelona - Reial Madrid: Let’s go Barça!


01-25-2012 10:40


22.00, Canal +: The team is looking to qualify forthe semi finals of the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid, and is doing that with a head start following the 2-1 win in the away legLike23

FC BARCELONA - REAL MADRID

'Let's go, Barça!' , will be the message on the mosaic that will appear in a packed Camp Nou for yet another meeting between Barça and RealMadrid tonight. Barça have the chance to make the last four of the domestic cup at the expense of their biggest rivals. The 1-2 win at the Santiago Bernabéu means that Madrid will need to score at least two goals in order to qualify.


Barça classics

In the three and a half years in which Pep Guardiola has been in charge , Barça have won 9of their 13 games against Madrid . That means that both team have beaten the other 86 times altogether, with 45 encounters between the twohaving ended in draws . Barça now have the chance to take the lead in the all-time series for the first time since the early 1930s.


Maximum concentration

Pep Guardiola has called on his full squad apart from the three recovering from long-term injuries ( Villa, Afellay and Fontàs ) and Keita , who is at the African Nations Cup. The Tuesday training session also featured the B team's Cuenca, Sergi Roberto and Dos Santos. The game is being treated with the utmost importance andthe team stayed together in a hotel the night before. Both Barça and Madrid are still chasing three major titles this season, but for one of them , the cup dream will come to an end tonight.


Doubts for Madrid

Madrid's build-up to the match comes against the background of all the noise surrounding their attitude to the first leg. José Mourinho has been criticised for employing such conservative tactics, while another of the protagonists whose name has featured prominently in the papers this week, Pepe , may not be fully fit to play. Di Maria and Khedira are both recovering from injuries.

Both teams will also be aware that the result of this match could affect their respective form in the league, where Madrid are currently five points clear of FC Barcelona.

FCB,

Jordi Clos

 

[Classik]

Sweat, draw and semis! (2-2)

01-26-2012 00:43


Barça drew 2-2 with Madrid in an electrifying Clasico, taking them into the semifinals of the Cup. Barça went ahead before the break with goals from Pedro and Alves, but Madrid tied up the match in the second half

Pedro, autor de l'1-0. FOTO: ÀLEX CAPARRÓS-FCB.


Barça are in the semifinals of the Cup after eliminating Real Madrid. The second leg of the quarter final was brutal, with a first phase with the away team on top, a second with Barça in charge, and a third of heart attack proportions where the balance could have come down on either side. In the end, a calm Barça managed the draw that made the first leg win at the Bernabeu a great result.


Crazy first half hour

The game was spectacular from the beginning. Madrid, with Pepe as central defender, and booed every time he touched the ball, were far more ambitious than in the first leg, and almost scored after 15 seconds, when Higuain took advantage of a defensive lapse, but with only Pinto to beat he shot wide. In the 3rd minute, the Barça keeper stopped a shot from close range, which was later invalidated for offside from the free-kick. The Barça reply came after 8 minutes with a situation in which the referee ignored a Ramos foul on Alexis, when he was the last man. Soon after that the Chilean couldn'tcontrol a great pass from Xavi that left him in a wonderful position.

All this in ten minutes. The game was how Madrid wanted it, not controlled and physical. They threatened with very few passes. Barça, however, found it hard to find that point of calm and precision in their passing. Lady luck smiled on them from an Özil thunderbolt that hit the crossbar with Pinto beaten (min 25). Just after that the keeper gave the ball away inside the area but redeemed himself by blocking Higuain's shot. The situation became more complicated with Iniesta's injury, and he was replaced by Pedro.


Two glorious minutes

Around the half hour mark, Barça regained their patience and, finally, began to dominate the game. In the opportune moment the superstar took centre stage. In minute 43, Messi took the ball in midfield and moved like lightning before slipping a through ball to Pedro, who beat Casillas from the edge of the box. There was more excitement in store. Lass got away with a clear second yellow card, but from a deflection from the resulting free-kick, Dani Alves hit an unstoppable shop into the top corner. The players went into the dressing room with the Camp Nou euphoric, and a 2-0 lead.


Madrid equalise and nerves begin to show

The fans were still enjoying the game at the start of the second half. They didn't stop singing while their team found more space and carried on attacking. Without the finesse of their best exhibitions, the Barça game was still easily recognisable. They had the ball and Madrid weresuffering (with a goal disallowed from Ramos after pulling Alves shirt before heading in from afree-kick). Nobody would have predicted what might happen in the game. Two consecutive goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema, when Madrid were not playing as well as they had done, changed the whole match.


There were 20 minutes of true heart-attack football left. Moments of nervousness and tension that claimed the sending off of Sergio Ramos for two bookings towards the end of the game. Barça showed their maturity and saw out the 2-2 draw. The 2-1 recital in the first leg at the Bernabeu sent them into the semifinals of the Cup, where they'll face Valencia or Levante.

FCB,

Jordi Clos

 

[Classik]

FC Barcelona - Real Madrid: the Camp Nou, fit for big occasions


www.fcbarcelona.cat 01-26-2012 01:07

The 95,486 supporters this Wednesday filled the Camp Nou, so much so that it set a record for the highest attendance for a home match this season

The members and fans cheered their team on during the most difficult moments of the match and the players are grateful

The players in front of the Camp Nou mosaic"Som-hi Barça" / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB

Guardiola ’s biggest wish was to see the Camp Nou supporters answer the call to cheer on the team and fill the stadium to the brim. The members and fans didn’t disappoint the manager and they flocked to the stadium to push their team to the semifinals of the King’s Cup . In fact, the 95,486 spectators set a record for the highest attendance for a match at the Camp Nou this season .

Up unitl now, the Spanish Super Cup match against Real Madrid held the record; the stadiumtook in 92,965 members and fans. The game against Milan , the first match of the group stages of the Champions League, is in third place with 89,861 attendees

FCB

 

[Classik]

Guardiola: “We were just winners after 180minutesâ€

01-26-2012 01:36

The manager said that it's not easy to beat Real Madrid and he considers qualification to the semifinals of the Cup as a "great success"

Bartomeu: “We deserve to go throughâ€

The sporting Vice-President of FC Barcelona Josep Maria Bartomeu said that the effort†that Barça put in during the two matches of the tie “are more than worth going through justly.†The director congratulated the two teams because they played two games that “made the fans happy.†Bartomeu also praised the response from the public at the Camp Nou: “they were very correct, respectful and they gave and example†of how to cheer on a team.

He also weighed in on the Competition Commission’s decision to not ban Pepe for the stomp on Messi: “We respect the decision because they have all the right in the world, but a revision of the Commission is needed.â€


"Ens agradaria haver patit menys però juguem contra el Madrid i costa molt guanyar-los"

It’s now three times Josep Guardiola will play a King ’ s Cup semifinal since he took charge to the Barça bench. The manager qualifies passage to the next round as “a great success,†and even more so if it was achieved against a “very good†Real Madrid team.


Guardiola believes that the overall score of the tie reflects Barça’s superiority: “in 180 minutes we were the just winners.†He added “the fact is that we played a great tie and we qualified for the semifinals. We would have preferred to havefewer problems against Madrid, it’s difficult to beat them.†He finished by saying that “we wereup to the challenge the tie.â€


He knew Madrid’s game plan

On Madrid’s play at the Camp Nou , Guardiola wasn’t surprised by Mourinho ’s game plan. “We knew that in their situation they had to fight back, and to fight back you have to go on offence.†The manager reminded the gathered journalists that Real Madrid played similarly in the semi-final return leg of the Champions League last year.


Pride in his team and the supporters

The Camp Nou faithful answered the Barça manager’s call. A total of 95,485 spectators made their way to the stadium on game day andGuardiola congratulated them for their “spectacular behaviour.†Guardiola also had words of praise for his team: “I’m proud of the way these players competed.†It’s not easy to face off against Real Madrid and that’s why “the run against them is meritorious.â€


The injuries of Iniesta and Alexis

The bad news were the injuries of Iniesta and Alexis , both of whom join Villa , Fontas and Afellay , plus Keita , who is playing the Africa Cupof Nations, on the not-available list. The manager admitted that “we aren’t very many and between all of us we must move forward.†Guardiola s pleased, however, with Pedro ’s return to goal-scoring form: “we needed him because the situation was precarious.â€

FCB,

Anna Segura

 

[Classik]

Xavi: "We beat a super team"

01-26-2012 01:42

The midfielder praised the supporters and he's optimistic about his future: "I hope to remain here for many years"


"We’re happy, the semifinals await"

The defenders Alves and Piqué also weighed in on the game. The Brazilian fullback highlighted Real Madrid’s play: “they were phenomenal, they pressed us really well.†The Catalan defender said: “we’re happy, the semifinals await.â€

Xavi Hernández recognised that “we suffered more than we thought we would against a superteam, even though we dominated up until the 15th minute of the second half.†the midfielder admitted that the team showed their best play in the away game: “at the Bernabéu we were superior, today, not so much, but be won the tie. It’s time to enjoy it and celebrate.â€

On Barça’s drop of form after Madrid’s goals, Xavisaid it was a mere “mental problem†and that “the team disconnected a little bit and we lost control.â€

The vice-captain praise the support shown by the fans: “the supporters were with us and the mosaic started us off in spectacular fashion. Sometimes you forget what this team is accomplishing, but it’s extremely difficult and we have to enjoy it . Seeing how difficult it was [reaching the semis], we enjoy it all the more.â€


Injuries and polemic calls

One of the sour parts of the match were the injuries to Alexis and Andrés Iniesta : “both are very important absences, especially because both of them were giving a lot to the team. The boss will have to solve the puzzle and replace them, but we have players in the reserve side that are very good and we’ll make it to the end of the season [with a chance to win].â€

The midfielder also wanted to talk about the polemic calls from the referee: “the referee issue is relative. When you finish a game you think that he was against you but Madrid thinks the same thing, even though the red card [play] from Lass was obvious. I think the ref called the game fairly.â€


The Masía graduate, who turned 32 today, said: “I’m really enjoying this period. From now on every season is an extra year. I love Barça, they have the best team inthe world and I hope to remain here for many years to come.â€

FCB,

Luis Davó

 

[Classik]

Library for supporters' clubs

www.fcbarcelona.cat 01-26-2012 09:11

New service section on the Penyes website

All the Newsletters and Infopenyes sent during the season can be consulted

Infopenyes

The Penyes web is constantly updating as we aim to improve the service provided to supporters clubs and increase the amount of information available. We have just opened two new sections thanks to the work of the joint communication and new technology commission made up of members of the Supporters' Clubs Advisory Council and Penyes Comission , who have taken on board the interests and concerns of the movement in order to define the work that was needed and arrive at agreement with the Club.

On the Home page of the Penyes Website there is a link which takes you to a searchable data base of all the newsletters, Infopenyes and communications sent to the clubs.

Together with the established news section allows clubs to find and consult all the communications sent to the Penyes movement.

Here is a link to all the FCButlletin Newsletters and Infopenyes.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Recovery work after last night’s game


www.fcbarcelona.cat 01-26-2012 13:08

After booking their place in the Spanish Cup semi finals last night, the squad were back training at the Ciutat Esportiva this morning, with the injured Iniesta and Alexis the main absentees

New training kit makes its first appearance

There were plenty of happy faces on the training ground this morning following last night's qualification for the Cup semi final. That titanic battle obviously took a lot out of the players and this morning they basically did recover work, whilst Iniesta and Alexis – both injured against Madrid – were not at the session.

Orange kit

The rest of the squad were joined by six B team youngsters - Sergi Roberto, Cuenca, Dos Santos, Tello, Balliu and Rosell and all the players were showing off their new training kit – an all orange outfit replacing the previous yellow kit.

The session was the first preparatory work ahead of Saturday night's game away to Villarreal.

New kit on sale
FCB