Wazzup with FC BARCELONA?!! (News)

[Classik]

Messi: “There is a lot left and we'll keep on trying until the end"


01-29-2012 01:41


The FC Barcelona players believe that the fourth consecutive league title is still within reach despite tonight’s draw with Villareal. “The second half of the season just started and there are many points still in play,†said the three-timeBallon d’Or winner

Messi during the game against Villarreal / PHOTO: Miguel Ruiz


[highlight]El lunes, próximo entrenamiento
El primer equipo vuelve a los entrenamientos el lunes 30 a las 11 horas a puerta cerrada, de cara a preparar el partido de ida de las semifinales de Copa del Rey frente al Valencia. Posteriormente, José Manuel Pinto comparecerá en rueda de prensa.[/highlight]


Despite tonight’s draw at El Madrigal against Villareal , Leo Messi is hopeful about Barça’s chances of winning La Liga: “there is still a lot left and we have to keep on going. All of the tournaments are important to us and we will try to win them all; the second part of the season just started, there are many points still in play.†The Argentinean didn’t attribute tonight’s draw to the team’s many absences: “the team is made up of whoever is here and we’ll keep on moving forward until the end.†In regards to tonight’s match, the striker explained that “at times it wasdifficult for us to play our game, we especially weren’t on target. We needed a touch of luck.â€

Cesc Fàbregas said, “the ball didn’t want to go in,despite having control of the game in every moment.†The midfielder also called for unity: “we must be more united than ever, we must believe that a comeback is possible. We have to keep on working.â€


Leadership from the captain

Carles Puyol ’s response was passionate and charismatic: “the team will react; we’ll do more, whatever we must to win. There are no excuses, the players are used to playing every three days and La Liga is not lost. We will not give up.â€

Dani Alves echoed his captain: “we don’t give up on anything here, we’ll fight until the end, always until the end.†The defender, who playedfarther up the pitch tonight, admitted that “seven points is a significant disadvantage,†but he was clear that “we’ve achieved much more difficult things and we must keep on trying.†TheBrazilian believes that FC Barcelona is especially having difficulties away from the Camp Nou : “away from home it’s a challenge for us to find equilibrium.â€

Here are some of the statements made by the players after the match:

Valdés : “we had chances up until the end, but Diego López had a sensational match. La Liga is not lost.â€

Busquets : “there is no way we are going to give up on La Liga.â€

FCB,

Luis Davó

 

[Classik]

Villarreal – Barça Match Stats


www.fcbarcelona.cat 01-29-2012 11:55

Tello’s league debut, Piqué’s 100th league appearance or the 15th time Barça players have hit the woodwork this season – just some of the stats to come out of Saturday’s game in the Madrigal stadium

Gerard Piqué / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB

The match between Villarreal and FC Barcelona ,corresponding to the 21st round of La Liga, produced the following stats:

- Gerard Piqué , who made his debut on 13th September 2008 against Racing Santander, made his 100th league appearance. His record isimpeccable – 77 wins, 19 draws and just 4 defeats.
- Reserve squad winger Cristian Tello made his league debut following on from his first game with the seniors against Hospitalet in the Cup.
- It was the sixth draw of the season, five of which have come away from home. As Guardiola said in his press conference: "We've conceded too many draws when we deserved to win".
- Barça have hit the woodwork 15 times in 21 league matches. Of these, eight came away from home and cost the team 7 points. The last example was Cesc 's effort in the 79th minute in the Madrigal.
- Against Villarreal, Barça enjoyed 66% of the possession and 10 shots on goal. The Barça players received 22 fouls.

FCB

 

[Classik]

FIFA World Player 2011 Homare Sawa in Barcelona


WWW.FCBARCELONA.CAT 01-29-2012 12:39

Japanese female football team INAK Kobe Leonessa, featuring the FIFA World Player 2011, will be in Barcelona next week for a training camp

PHOTO: FIFA.COM

On Thursday, the Japanese champions will take on the FC Barcelona female football team in a friendly that will be broadcast live on Barça TV and can also be watched in streaming video on the Club's YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/ fcbarcelona).


The INAK Kobe Leonessa squad, which includes FIFA World Player 2011 Homare Sawa , will be training in Barcelona from Monday until February 7th and will play a friendly against current Superliga leaders FC Barcelona .

The match will be held in the Miniestadi on Thursday 2nd, kick-off 19.30 . It is being sponsored by Seiko and is dedicated to the memory of last March's tsunami victims . Match shirts, signed by the players, will be auctioned in Tokyo at a later date.


Japanese media spotlight

Apart from Homare Sawa , INAK Kobe Leonessa boast a total of seven players who won the World Cup for Japan in Germany. Last year, INAK Kobe Leonessa won the All-Japan Women Championship and the Nadeshiko League. The presence of the team and of Homare Sawa has attracted a large number of Japanese journaliststo Barcelona to follow the training sessions and report on the match.

FCB

 

[Classik]

League and Cup commitments


WWW.FCBARCELONA.CAT 01-29-2012 14:03

Barça have two games coming up this week. The first is in the Mestalla stadium against Valencia in the Kings Cup and the second in the Camp Nou against Real Sociedad in the league

FOTO: ARCHIVE - FCB

Following a pattern that has marked the month of January, the players will commence training this week focussed on not one but two vital matches, one each in the league and the Cup. OnWednesday Barça will travel down to Valencia (Cup semi-final first leg) while on Saturday they welcome Real Sociedad to the Camp Nou (La Liga).


The first training session of the week will be held behind closed doors at 11 am on Monday followed by a press conference with José ManuelPinto . Next it will be the turn of Josep Guardiola ,who will speak to the media ahead of Wednesday's Cup clash.


The squad will leave for Valencia on Wednesday morning for a 9 pm kick-off. On Thursday, the players will be back at the Club's training grounds for a session beginning at 12 noon.


Friday afternoon

Another session has been scheduled for 6 pm on Friday and will be followed by the manager's pre-match press conference. On Saturday, as is the norm on home matchdays, the players will have a final training session at 12.30. The matchagainst Real Sociedad will then kick off at 10 pm.

FCB

 

[Classik]

22 Barça players ready themselves for the Cup match against Valencia


www.fcbarcelona.cat 01-30-2012 11:48


Fourteen first team members and eight from Barça B trained this morning in the Ciutat Esportiva with the Copa del Rey game with Valencia on their minds


The injured Pedro, Iniesta, Afellay and Villa all did recovery work in the gym

The team training at the Ciutat Esportiva / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB

FC Barcelona returned to training on Monday morning after having Sunday off. The main focuswas the first leg of their cup semi final against Valencia at Mestalla , which kicks off on Wednesday at 21.00.

All 14 available first team players were present, including Alexis , who was declared fully fit on Saturday. The Barça B players that travelled to Villareal were also involved, namely Isaac Cuenca , Jonathan dos Santos , Tello and Sergi Roberto , as well as Rosell , Espinosa , Balliu and Sergi Gómez .


Recovery from injury

Apart from Andreu Fontàs , all the other injured players, Pedro , Iniesta , Afellay and Villa were in the gym at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper doing recovery work. As well as these, Seydou Keita is also absent, as he's in the African Nations Cup with Mali.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Reasons to believe


01-30-2012 12:07

Five reasons to believe Barça can still win their fourth league title in a row

The captains Valdés, Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta, presenting the 2010/11 Liga trophy to the Camp Nou supporters. PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.


The draw in Vila-real has not left Barça in the best of situations in the league. They are seven points adrift of a Real Madrid side that is makingvery few mistakes. But it is too early for anybodyto start saying the race is over. Barça is the best team in the world, and the fans have many reasons to still believe the league trophy will still end up in Catalonia.


- The team is able to overcome all kinds of setback. Guardiola's Barça is not known for giving up, and coming back from so far behind is perhaps the most enticing challenge they have ever been faced with. The club has won 13 of the 16 competitions it has played in over the lastthree and a half years, and in each one of the league campaigns, they still needed to travel to the Bernabéu before going on to clinch the title. The difference may never have been quite as wide as it is now, but this time it's Madrid who still have to come to the Camp Nou.


- Home form . Barça have been extraordinary at the Camp Nou, where they have got 9 wins and one draw, scoring 43 goals and conceding just the two to Real Betis. This season was the first ever in which they managed to keep a clean sheet in their first nine home league fixtures.

- Improvement on the road. But the team has drawn five games and lost one away from home (17 out of 30 possible points). That might still be the second best away record in the championship, but as far as Barcelona are concerned, it's a much poorer showing than in recent seasons. But if Barça win all nine of their remaining away games, they can still equal the record of 13 for the three previous seasons.

- Recovery of resources. The team has been missing several key players in recent outings. Short term injuries have affected Iniesta (3 weeks) and Pedro (his return depends on how things develop), and Keita is away at the African Nations Cup. All of those will soon be back, and Villa and Afellay could still return before the season is out.

- History speaks for itself. Barça have achieved amazing things under Guardiola, but well beforehis arrival, the club has enjoyed a history of extraordinary 'bouncebackability'. Two famous examples were the comebacks to win back-to-back titles with help from Tenerife (1991/92 and1992/93), and the 1993/94 league that went down to the very last seconds, as well as 2003/04, which some say was the turning point for the magnificent Barça of today.

FCB,

Jordi Clos

 

[Classik]

Pinto: "We're not giving up on anything"


The Barça keeper says that his team has the faith and confidence to keep fighting for the league and cut down the difference between them and Real Madrid

Pinto during today's press conference / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB


"The message coming from the squad is one of faith and confidence"

"We are excited about excelling ourselves and achieving every target we have"

"The squad has always shown that it can stay strong despite any setbacks"

Jose Manuel Pinto was optimistic despite the difference between Barcelona and Real Madrid now being seven points. The team is still alive in three competitions and is not throwing in the towel in any of them. "The message coming from the squad is one of faith and confidence... we have very little margin for error, but we're not giving anything up ... Challenges emerge every day, and that's nice. We are excited about excelling ourselves and achieving every target we have".


Up for the cup

The Barça keeper knows how professional the players are and that the draw at El Madrigal won´t affect them. "The squad has always shown that it can stay strong despite any setbacks. The team is optimistic and looking forward to the cup".


Pinto also spoke about fitness, saying "we aren´ttired. We have good coaches and physios but it ishard for everything to work out perfectly every day ... But the team is fully committed".


Working to be first choice

Although he is an ever-present in the Copa del Rey, Pinto does not consider himself the first choice keeper in the competition. "I treat every training session as if I'm going to play. I have all the patience and ambition in the world ... Valdés is the best goalkeeper in the world ... I am working to improve and win my place from Víctor".

FCB,

Anna Segura

 

[Classik]

First training of the day


www.fcbarcelona.cat 01-31-2012 12:25

FC Barcelona trained this morning behind closed doors at the Ciutat Esportiva, the first of two sessions scheduled for Tuesday

Fourteen first team players and eight from BarçaB worked at the orders of Guardiola in preparation for Wednesday’s Copa del Rey match in Valencia

Training session / FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB


The curious case of Cuenca

Isaac Cuenca trained this morning as a Barça B player but this evening he'll being doing likewise as a member of the first team. That´s because he is signing a new contract with FC Barcelona this afternoon at 16.30.

The FC Barcelona squad are still preparing for the Copa del Rey semi final first leg at Valencia (Wednesday at 21.00) and are meeting twice today. The morning session involved the 14 available first team members plus eight from the reserves: Isaac Cuenca, Jonathan dos Santos, Tello, Sergi Roberto, Marc Bartra, Marc Muniesa, Montoya and Rodri . The injured Pedro, Iniesta, Afellay and Villa all exercised in the gym.

The team will train again early Tuesday eveningat 18.00, also at Sant Joan Despí and behind closed doors. Pep Guardiola will be giving a press conference immediately after.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Rosell: “No Barça fan with a memory can doubt this teamâ€


01-31-2012 12:46

The Barça president has insisted that the current first team has won much respect and feels that “no Barça fan with a memory can doubt this team or its manager even for a secondâ€

He is convinced that seeing as the team has already won three titles out of six, that they can still compete for the other three, adding that “this season has already been brilliant"

Sandro Rosell / PHOTO: ÀLEX CAPARRÓS - FCB

[highlight]The importance of the Cup
Sandro Rosell said that Barça "treat all three competitions it's involved in as important, including the Copa del Rey". Looking ahead to the semi final first leg with Valencia, he said that"the team will be going there to win ... It's another title, and we should remember that if we win it, we will have won more trophies than any other European team this year".[/highlight]


“The team won’t throw in the towel and will fight for the league to the endâ€

Speaking at the presentation of the agreement between the FC Barcelona Foundation and Intervida , FC Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has made it clear that he has every faith in the team. Rosell answered questions about the current state of affairs, and said that he already qualifies this season as 'brilliant', in reference to the fact that they have already won three titles, and are still in the hunt for three more.

Rosell believes Barça "are still alive in the league ... there are plenty of games left." He knows that the FC Barcelona members feel"solid and remember their history ... they love the team, who are so confident and keen to play... They won't throw in the towel and will fight for the league until the end, I'm sure of that, but there are also external factors that can make lifemore difficult ... But at the end of the day, we mustn't forget that this is just a game. If we do win, then fantastic, but if not then we shall still have set an example for football, attitude and doing things right".


The president of FC Barcelona has said that the club would love to renew Josep Guardiola 's contract, and "the sooner the better .. that wouldalways be a massive boost, it would be great." But asked whether he would prefer to win the league or extend Guardiola's contract he had no doubt in replying that he'd want both.

Asked about what is going on in relation to the Committees, Rosell said he'd rather answer that question at the end of the season, merely saying that "I have nothing to say about that for the moment .. But at the moment things don't look good for Barça." If he feels it convenient at the end of the season "I'm sure that Barça will say their bit ... because football should ultimately be based on fair play". The FCB president made it clear that what he was saying was purely "in thename of football and fair-play".

FCB,

VANESSA FORNS

 

[Classik]

Cuenca signs extension to contract


www.fcbarcelona.cat 01-31-2012 18:36

On Tuesday afternoon, Isaac Cuenca signed a contract to extend and improve his association to FC Barcelona until June 30, 2015. The striker has become a full member of the first team


The extension and improvement of Cuenca's contract was signed at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, minutes before the second training session of the day. Isaac Cuenca was joined by his family and his agent, Josep Maria Orobitg. FC Barcelona was represented by the president of the Club, Sandro Rosell , the vice president for the sports area, Josep Maria Bartomeu , and the director of the sports area for football, Andoni Zubizarreta .

The player and club announced last Friday that they had reached an agreement until June 30, 2015 and this was set down in writing this afternoon. Cuenca is now a professional first team footballer, wearing number '23' .

FCB

 

[Classik]

Guardiola: "Let me believe that we can win again"


01-31-2012 21:56

The manager believes that this is a “fascinating challenge†that gives meaning to his profession

Guardiola said that he has blind faith in his players and that they “astound†him each time they don’t win a match

Guardiola, during the press conference / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB


“The players must put in the effort to continue. They will regret it if they don’tâ€

“We’re almost at the point of no return, but we have 18 games left not 5â€

“Valencia is aggressive and fast, they impress meâ€

With the quality football that’s been produced under his tutelage, with the titles the team has won under his management and with a firm belief in the squad he has at his disposal, Josep Guardiola called upon Barça fans and members to believe in this team ahead of the Cup semifinal away leg against Valencia. The manager has faith that his team will get back ontrack, despite the long list of injuries and being seven points down to Madrid in the League: “I believes that we can do it once again. We’re almost at the point of no return, but we have 18 games left not 5. A lot of people believe the League is already lost, but they will not convince me.â€


“It’s a fascinating challengeâ€

Guardiola believes this is a unique opportunity to build upon what his players have already accomplished: “what we must try to do is extendwhat these players have already done. It’s a challenge that I impose on myself. It’s a fascinating challenge. It’s gives meaning to my profession.†Even though the team has not won in its last two matches, the manger believes thatno title is beyond reach. “Let me believe that we can win again, and if we cannot, we’ll congratulate our opponents,†said the manager. He graded his team’s performance in the League so far with an "8.5 or 9" out of 10 “but the the other team is performing at a 9.5 or 10.â€


The difficulty to do things well year after year

The team has received some criticism in the last couple of days because of the goalless draw with Villarreal. However, the support and faith shown in the team by the public to mount a title-winning fight back has been almost overwhelming: “it’s normal for people to have faith in us now. We’ve done well for a long, long,long time, and you don’t know how hard that is... the players must put in the effort to continue. They will regret it if they don’t. It happened to me. We cannot give up yet,†said the manager.


Praise for the squad that wants more

Guardiola’s press conference was captivating. The coach said that his team’s morale hasn’t hit “rock bottom,†quite the contrary: “in Villarreal they ran more than ever. We didn’t go to sunbathe. It’s astounding to me that they get so sad when they don’t win. I have absolutely no doubts about their mentality ... if the ball just barely doesn’t go in, we just need to put in a little more work.†The manager reiterated his point by using the Australian Open championship match between Djokovic and Nadal as an example - the Spanish tennis player’s shot, which would have given him a veryclear advantage, missed its mark by mere centimeters. Just a little more is needed and the victories will return.


Valencia is a “good testâ€

The manager heaped praise on Barça’s Cup rival:“Valencia has always been a strong side these last four years. They are a great team, strong in every position. It has always been a good test to compete against them. They are aggressive and fast, they impress me.†The Valencia-Barça League match at Mestalla ended in a draw (2-2).


Signings and referees

Guardiola also said there was little to no chance of picking up a new player during the winter transfer window: “we’ve thought about it, but I highly value the reserve players and I want to use them. I have no doubts about the footballersfrom the B team. If we have injuries, we’ll give the youngsters a chance. Cuenca, Sergi Roberto, Dos Santos, Bartra, Montoya ... whenever they play they do a good job.â€

On the referee debate started by some Spanish newspapers, he said: “I continue believing that Barça does not complain about the referees. It’s entirely different to opine if a certain play was or wasn’t a penalty, but we know that they [referees] have the right to make mistakes. Ever since I started managing, I try to think that the refs do not exist. President Rosell has been exemplary since he started, just like President Laporta. We have never turned the referees into an excuse [for adverse reslts]. My conscience is clear, because I respect the referee system, because it doesn’t help me if I do complain, and because not only do I represent myself, but an institution as well.â€

FCB,

Roger Bogunyà

 

[Classik]

Valencia-Barça: Did you know?


02-01-2012 10:31

The semifinal meeting between FC Barcelona and Valencia in the King’s Cup will be an exciting matchup that goes well beyond the long history of Cup duels the two teams share

PHOTO: ARCHIVE FCB

Tonight's match will be a clash of styles, two interpretations of how should be played football. Guardiola’s men have scored the most goals (20) in the competition while Los Che have conceded the least (3).


Here’s a list of interesting facts about the two teams in the Copa del Rey:
- FC Barcelona and Valencia have played against each other in the Cup 18 times. Barça has won 11of the ties.
- When considering the five semifinal ties between the two teams, the record is practically even: three victories for Barça, two for Valencia
- In the five times the teams have faced off in the semifinals, the winner has always gone on to win the title
- In the semifinals of the 1989/90 season, an incredible goal from Ronald Koeman 10 minutes from full time saw the Catalans through to the final. With the 1-0 at the Luis Casanova stadium, Barça was virtually eliminated from the competition, seeing that the away leg ended with 2-1. Barça won the trophy in the championship match over Madrid (2-0)
- The last time Valencia beat Barça in a Cup semifinal was in the 2007/08 season. Los Che , trained by Ronald Koeman, won the title in the end but they fought to stave off relegation in theLeague
- The teams had to play a tiebreak match in the semifinals of the 1962/63 season, which the Azulgranas won by 1-0. The away leg ended with a one-all draw and the return leg with a two-all draw (no home-goal advantage was given during that time)
- The biggest goal margin in a Cup match between the two sides came in the 1952/53 season when Barça won by 5-0. The 7-3 win in the first ever Cup ( Copa Alfonso XIII at that time)tie is also worth mentioning.
- Besides the semifinal duels, Valencia and Barça have played each other in the final three times. Barça won two (1951/52 and 1970/71) and Valencia won one (1953/54)

FCB,

Luis Davó

 

[Classik]

Guardiola currently La Liga’s most experienced boss


02-01-2012 12:09

Pep Guardiola is currently the manager working in the Spanish Primera League with most games at the same club, following the sacking of Manolo Preciado

FOTO: ARCHIVE FCB


After the departure of Manolo Preciado as manager of Sporting Gijon, Pep Guardiola has become the manager of a Primera Division team with more consecutive games managing the same team. Preciado led Sporting in 232 consecutive games , whilst Guardiola has been incharge of Barça for 220 matches since the 2008/09 season. Interestingly, his immediate pursuer is Unai Emery , his rival in the semifinals of the Spanish Cup, who has reached 192 consecutive games as Valencia manager .


The fourth Barça manager with more matches

On the other hand, Guardiola now occupies fourth place in the ranking of managers with more games for FC Barcelona , ​​only bettered by Johan Cruyff (430) , Frank Rijkaard (273) and Marinus Michels (264) . The cold statistics become more significant if we look at the numbers in depth, as Guardiola is third in terms of wins (159) , behind Cruyff (250) and Rijkaard (160) , whilst in terms of goals scored by Barça under the leadership of Guardiola (562) he is only surpassed by those scored by Johan Cruyff's players between 1988 and 1996 (870). Thus, the percentages show that Pep is the best manager that Barça has ever had.


The Barça manager with more trophies

Obviously, if Guardiola is the best this is not only due to statistics, but also for something intangible such as his team's fabulous football, and especially their achievements. In this sense, the numbers speak for themselves: since 2008 Barça have won 13 of 16 possible titles, a record for FC Barcelona . Behind are the 11 titles won byJohan Cruyff's Dream Team and the 8 trophies won by Jack Greenwell in the years 1917-24 and 1931-33. On the horizon we may see a new record that would put Barça at the top of the podium of Spanish football, as the manager withmost titles in Spanish history is Miguel Muñoz , former Madrid manager, who won 14 titles with his epic Madrid team between 1959 and 1974.

FCB,

MANEL TOMÀS

 

[Classik]

The team arrives in Valencia


www.fcbarcelona.cat 02-01-2012 14:25

The team led by Josep Guardiola arrived in Valencia at 11.30. 200 Barça fans greeted the team at the airport

The Barça party, which left the Camp Nou at 9.45this morning, took off from El Prat airport at 11.00 en route to Valencia to play in the away leg of the King’s Cup semifinals (21.00, Canal + and Radio Barça).

The team, led by Sandro Rosell and the directors Jordi Moix , Manel Arroyo and Pilar Guinovart , took off a little before 11.00 from Barcelona. Theduration of the flight was approximately 45 minutes. In the end, Tito Vilanova travelled with the team.


Directly to the hotel

Once in Valencia, the team, donning new Barça gear , went directly to their hotel, The Westin, where they will stay until kick off at the Mestalla. After the match against Unai Emery ’s men, the team will return to Barcelona and arrive in the Catalan capital at 1.00 in the morning.

FCB

[highlight]Barça's new travel gear[/highlight]

 

[Classik]

Valencia v FC Barcelona: First step towards the final


21.00, Radio Barça: Barça visit Mestalla in search of a good result in the Copa del Rey semi final first leg to take back to the Camp Nou for the remaining 90 minutes that will decide which of the two teams will be going to the final

02-01-2012 10:44

Josep Guardiola 's side puts its Liga campaign aside once again to concentrate on the Copa del Rey . On Wednesday they have a great chance to get at least one foot through the cup final door, but they're up against a tough Valencia side that is currently third in the league. It promises to be a gripping encounter between the highest scoring team in the competition, Barça, and the side with the second best defensive record, Valencia. The Catalans are returning to the Valencian Community just a few days after suffering a setback in the league at Vila-real, and are doing so with several key players out through injury. But with concentration and effort, there is no reason why that cannot continue their hunt for what would be the fourthmajor trophy of the season.

On Saturday, Pedro 's name was added to the injury list with a thigh strain. That means there have only been 14 first team players available for training for the last few days, and so the services of several members of Eusebio Sacristán 's Barça B squad have been called upon.


Ready in reserve

And some of those reserves have been included in the squad for this crunch cup tie. Like against Vila-real, Jonathan Dos Santos, Sergi Roberto andCristian Tello get places. With Pedro out, and considering how Barça are lacking in attacking resources, it seems likely that Isaac Cuenca will be given his chance on Wednesday night, a day after he signed a longer and improved contract with the club, and which also made him an official first team member.


This will be the sixth time that FC Barcelona and Valencia have met in the semi finals of the Copa del Rey. In previous meetings, Barça have gone to play in the final three times, and the Valencians twice. Curiously, whichever of these sides eventually went through, in all five cases they went on to lift the trophy. A good omen.


Valencia with injury worries too

Valencia have got this far by beating Sevilla and local rivals Levante. Their manager said in his pre-match press conference that the players are aware that "Barça are always dangerous. They may be missing some very important players, butthere are plenty of other important ones left". Unai Emery has called up Alves, Guaita, Rami, Víctor Ruiz, Jordi Alba, Barragán, Miguel, Dealbert, Albelda, Mathieu, Tino Costa, Ever, Feghouli, Bernat, Piatti, Jonas, Soldado and Aduriz.

FCB,

VANESSA FORNS

 

[Classik]

Valencia - FC Barcelona: Draw with some shine (1-1)


Barça managed to get a valuable draw in Valencia in the first leg of the Cup semifinal, in a game where Jonas put the home side ahead, and Puyol equalised with a header

The Camp Nou will decide who’ll go through to the Final


02-01-2012 23:15

The Cup produced fireworks once again. In an electric match, Valencia and Barcelona came out even in a match where Jonas put the home side ahead before Puyol equalised with a header from a corner. The goals aside, Guardiola's team were on top from start to finish and deserved better luck in Mestalla, where Messi missed a penalty and Dani Alves thundered a shot againstthe post in the second half.

Nevertheless, the draw and the great football produced by Barça, will send them with optimism into the return leg at the Nou Camp, which will be played next Wednesday (21.00, Canal + and Radio Barça).


Jonas puts Valencia ahead

The semifinal started with Barça well on top. Playing in the opposition's half, Guardiola's players combined well against a Valencia outfit that, when they had the ball, probed away downtheir left wing, a ploy that worked for them against Barça in the League match. This time it also worked: a run down the left from Mathieu ended with a shot from Jonas that beat Pinto.


Puyol once again

Before the 1-0, Messi almost scored the first with a free-kick that went close, and Valencia appealed for a red card for Pinto, for handling outside his area. After this, Barça continued to dominate the game. They just lacked the final pass, the decisive one, but it came after a move where Alexis just failed to beat Alves in the Valencia goal, and the ball went out for a corner. The equalising goal came from the resultant corner, and it was a replica of the Barça goal at the Bernabeu, in terms of the goalscorer. Puyol, at the far post, scored the valuable equaliser with a terrific downward header just inside the post.


Messi lets Valencia off the hook

The second half saw Barça in charge once again. In the first dangerous move the referee disallowed a goal by Alexis, for off-side, and, shortly after, Miguel brought down Thiago insidethe area to give away a penalty. Diego Alves guessed Messi's intentions and saved the spot-kick to keep the score at 1-1, a save that was reminiscent of the one by Varas at the Camp Nou.


Alves hits the woodwork

Just like after conceding the first goal, Barça responded in style, with their classic football, and laid siege to the Valencia goal. In one of their many attacks, Alves, who came on for Alexis, was on the verge of putting Barça ahead with a shot that came back off the far post. Only a bit of luck, and finesse inside the area, prevented Barça from coming away from Valencia with a win. Still, the result is a good onewith the second leg to be played at the Camp Nou next Wednesday (21.00, Canal + and Radio Barça).

FCB,

Roger Bogunyà

 

[Classik]

Mascherano: "The tie is in our hands"


www.fcbarcelona.cat 02-02-2012 00:05

The FC Barcelona players are satisfied with tonight’s result. “The tie depends exclusively on us, and that’s the most important thing,†said Mascherano


Gerard Piqué: “a draw with goals is always good away from home in the Cup. Valencia is having a fantastic season. It wasn’t easyâ€

Dani Alves: “We are at a good level and we havethe opportunity to go onto the finalâ€

[highlight]Pinto and Cuenca, anti-doping control
After the match in Mestalla, the FC Barcelona players José Manuel Pinto and Isaac Cuenca completed an anti-doping control[/highlight]

[highlight]Keita, pivotal for Mali
Seydou Keita, who is playing in the Africa Cup of Nations with his national team, was key in Mali’svictory over Botswana (2-1). The FC Barcelona midfielder scored the second and decisive goal. With this victory, Mali ensured qualification to the quarterfinal round of the competition and they will play Gabon on Feb. 5.[/highlight]

Javier Mascherano was one of the footballers that talked to the press after tonight’s match: “it’s a good result but it could have been better seeing how the game played out. We played against a great rival and we had good chances. Sometimes the ball just doesn’t go in. The important thing is that we played a good match and we created scoring chances.†Mascherano didn’t want to talk about bad luck: “I don’t like to talk about good luck or bad luck. A lot of teams go through these phases. We have to keep working and give the best of ourselves. That's the best way to change things.†The Barça player went on to say that “the tie is in our hands and that’s the most important thing. It depends exclusively on us.â€

Here are the post-match reactions from the players after the semifinal away leg:
Gerard Piqué:
“We dominated the game. Winning here is always difficult. We had good chances and we missed them. But it’s a good result ahead of the return leg.

“A draw with goals away from home is always good in the Cup. Valencia is having a great season. It wasn’t easy.â€

On the team’s form: “it’s a bit exaggerated. We don’t win as easily as we used to but we continue to secure good results.

“The pitch was very dry and high. It wasn’t easy to play.â€

Dani Alves:
“We played a great game. We hope to be up to the task in the next match.â€

On Pinto’s hand ball outside of the area: “it’s a play that happens during a game. You can call it or not. Referees are human. I believe the hand ball was involuntary.

“We’re at a good level and we have the opportunity to get into the final.â€
Víctor Valdés:
“The tam did a phenomenal job. I’d highlight Puyol’s goal. The captain is on form. It’s time to secure the tie at home in front of our fans.â€

FCB

 

[Classik]

The best Puyol amongst us


02-02-2012 00:05

The centre back scored his third goal of the season and he equals his best scoring run set in the 2006/07 season

Puyol, urging his team forward / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB

Two weeks ago when Barça was losing at the Santiago Bernabéu, Carles Puyol showed up to rescue FC Barcelona, tonight was no different as he scored the leveller at Mestalla . In this case, it was Cesc not Xavi -on the bench tonight- that took the corner kick that the captain headed in. It’s a goal worth its weight in gold and it bring Barça one step closer to the Cup final.

Two in the Cup, one in the League
Puyol has scored three goals this season. The first one came in the Liga, against Zaragoza (4-0), when he latched onto a free kick sent in from the left side. The following two came in theCup, against Madrid and tonight’s in Valencia, both of which were scored when his team was down 1-0.

With these three goals, the captain equals his best scoring run in a season. The last time he bagged three was in 2006/07.

In total, Puyol has scored a total of 12 goals for the first team in his 535 appearances in official matches. Many of them were decisive: the one that gave Barça the lead against Madrid in the famous 2-6 rout; the one that gave the team the Liga title last year; or tonight’s, which gives Barça the advantage in the return leg at the Camp Nou .

FCB,

Roger Bogunyà

 

[Classik]

Guardiola: “This is the best game we've played hereâ€


02-02-2012 00:09

The manager said that tonight’s match was the one “that they created the least amount of problems for us†since he took charge of the FC Barcelona

The manager believes that tonight’s result is good because “it’s better to go to the Camp Nou with the obligation of winningâ€

[highlight]Training on Thursday
The team will hold a closed-door training session this Thursday at 12.00 at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Thiago Alcantara will talk to the press afterward.[/highlight]

"Beyond the stats we once again played very well on a very dry pitch and that’s always hard"

"It’s better to go to the Camp Nou with the obligation to win. If you go with a 1-2 or 1-3 you sometimes get the impression that the tie is over"

This was the fifth time that Pep Guardiola played in Mestalla against Valencia since he took charge of the Barça bench in the summer of 2008 - 4 in the Liga and 1 in the King’s Cup. The manager declared that tonight’s match “was the best game we’ve played here.†He went on to say that this was the game that Valencia, who always make it difficult for Barça, “that they created the least amount of chances†since he took charge of the Barça helm. Guardiola also said that “beyond the stats we once again played very well on a very dry pitch and that’s always hard. But they are coming and we'll wet the pitch down (at the Camp Nou).â€


A good result for the return leg
“It’s better to go to the Camp Nou with the obligation to win. If you go with a 1-2 or 1-3 you sometimes get the impression that the tie is over,†said Guardiola when asked about how his team will deal with the retun leg at the Camp Nou (next Wednesday at 21.00). The manager is cautious about next week’s match and he called on the Camp Nou faithful to cheer his side on, saying that “we have to win the return leg.â€

The play with Pinto
On the controversial play involving Pinto , where Valencia appealed for a hand ball, the Barça manager explained that “they told me that it was a handball outside of the area.†He recognized that “Pinto’s expulsion would have conditioned the match.â€

Guardiola also talked about Xavi who was on the bench tonight, “Xavi needed to rest, rest and rest.â€

FCB,

Anna Segura

 

[Classik]

Just two defeats after 1-1 in away leg


02-02-2012 12:55


Barça have won five two-legged Cup ties after drawing 1-1 away and been knocked out on just two occasions

Xavi i Iniesta, després d'eliminar el Sevilla el 2008. FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.

The stats certainly support the idea that a 1-1 draw away from home in the first leg of a Cup tieis a positive result for Barça, with the team knocked out on just two occasions after similar results and going through in the other five ties.


Seville in 2008

Most recently, in 2008, the team drew 1-1 against Seville at the Sanchez Pijuan, with a goalless draw in the return leg enough to see them into the next round. In 1993, a 1-1 draw in the semi-final at the Bernabeu wasn't enough though, with Madrid eventually going through tothe final.

Maybe the most remarkable 1-1 result came in the 1929/30 season, when the game against Betis was abandoned at half time due to crowd trouble. That result stood and in the return gameBarça won 2-0 to go through.


1-1 Precedents in the Spanish Cup
1921/22 (semi-final)
SPORTING-FCB (1-1) / FCB-SPORTING (7-2)
1929/30 (Last 16)
BETIS-FCB (1-1) / FCB-BETIS (2-0)
1973/74 (quarter- final)
ESPANYOL-FCB (1-1) / FCB-ESPANYOL (2-0)
1976/77 (Last 16)
CELTA-FCB (1-1) / FCB-CELTA (1-2)
1987/88 (quarter- final)
CASTELLÓ-FCB (1-1) / FCB-CASTELLÓ (2-0)
1992/93 (semi-final)
REAL MADRID-FCB (1-1) / FCB-REAL MADRID (1-2)
2007/08 (Last 16)
SEVILLE-FCB (1-1) / FCB-SEVILLE (0-0)

FCB,

Manel Tomàs / Jordi Clos