Wazzup with FC BARCELONA?!! (News)

[Classik]

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
The global press pays homage to Leo Messi
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/08/2012 16:00
Media outlets from around the world praise Messi’s five-goal performance against Bayer Leverkusen
Footballers took to Twitter during yesterday’s match to weigh in on the Argentine’s brilliant night

The covers of various news outlets
The covers of various news outlets
The footballers also weighed in yesterday's match
Various footballers expressed their opinions on Leo Messi ’s performance last night on Twitter:
Wayne Rooney : “Messi is a joke. For me the best ever.â€
Falcao said, “was this a Champions League match or is this Messi in a Play Station game? Intractable! If he scores six goals does he get to keep two footballs?â€
Ex-Blaugrana and Barça legend, Rivaldo said, “he’s fantastic, FIFA needs to give him another player of the year award.â€
Maresca said “my imagination cannot believe that there has been someone better. Pelé, Maradona, Platini? They are greats. Messi? A monster.â€
Praise for Leo Messi after his historic five-goal performance against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last-16 return leg extended beyond his teammates and manager.
Pep Guardiola and Pedro ’s words of praise are only the tip of the iceberg, news outlets from around the world ran out of adjectives to describe last night’s performance. Here is a sample of what’s being said about Messi in today’s press:
EUROPE
L’Equipe : ‘¡Messi, Messi, Messi, Messi, Messi!’ and a photo of the Argentine’s five goals were on thecover of the French daily
Gazzetta dello Sport : ‘Barça Show, Manita [Little hand] for Messi’
Corriere dello Sport : ‘Messi, five legendary goals’
Bild : ‘The God of football: Messi’ said the German daily, “his five goals humiliated Leverkusen, a mere sparring for Barça. Leo is a joy for any football fan.â€
Kicker : ‘Record failure, Messi destroys Bayer’ and‘Messi, the Kaiser of the Champions League’ said the German daily. Leo is “simply unique and extraordinaryâ€
Daily Mirror : ‘Five stars, from another planet’
The Telegraph : ‘Messi makes history in the Champions League’
ARGENTINA
Olé : ‘Picasso,’ “Leo scores five goals (!) against the German runner-up (...) for two of his goals he chipped the keeper, he keeps on breaking records.â€
Muy Buenos Aires : ‘More than Diego’
BRAZIL
Folha de Sao Paulo : ‘Messi 5 x Neymar 3’
MEXICO
Récord : ‘Messi is turning into a Semidio5 [Semigod]’ - “Leo keeps on demonstrating that he’s the best in the world. We’re running out of adjectives to describe his performances.â€
Eco : ‘Unique’ plus a large photo of the Argentineled on the cover of the news source. “If there were any doubts about who he is, right now, the best player in the world, Messi scored five goals against Leverkusen yesterday.â€
COLOMBIA
El Universal : ‘Give me 5 Messi’ plus a photo of Leo and Piqué led the South American daily. “Crushing record for the Argentine.â€
HONDURAS
Diez : ‘Messi’s fifth symphony’
EL SALVADOR
El Gráfico : ‘Godly hand’ said the Central American daily. “He scored all types of goals to make history.â€
PERU
El Líbero : ‘He’s from another planet.’ “Messi confirmed that he’s from another galaxy and he scored five, yes, five ‘pepaza’ that took Barça to the quarter-finals.â€
SPAIN
Sport : ‘The little hand of God,’ plus a photo of the Argentinian after the 7-1 rout.
Mundo Deportivo : ‘The hand of God’
El Esportiu : ‘Alien’
MARCA : ‘The little hand of God.’ Leo Messi “is thefirst player to score five goals in one Champions League game.â€
*Manita, or hand/little hand, is often used to refer to five goals in one game (one finger for each goal). Thus the leading headlines of many of today's news outlets.

FCB

 

[Classik]

The Appeals Committee dismisses appeal to withdraw Piqué’s red card
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/08/2012 19:30
The Appeals Committee dismissed FC Barcelona’s appeal to withdraw the red card shown to Gerard Piqué and upheld the one-match ban for the defender

Gerard Piqué / PHOTO: ARXIU FCB
Gerard Piqué / PHOTO: ARXIU FCB
This afternoon, the Appeals Committee communicated that they have dimissed FC Barcelona ’s appeal to withdraw the red card shown to Gerard Piqué in the match against Sporting Gijón. The Committee upheld the one-match ban, meaning that the defender will not play against Racing Santander this Sunday.

FCB

 

[Classik]

FUTSAL
Caja Segòvia-FCB Alusport: Lozano shows the way (0-3)


03/08/2012 21:10
Barça Alusport qualifies for the semi-finals of the Spain Cup after beating Caia Segovia in a hard-fought match
Sergio Lozano broke the deadlock with two goals at the start of the second half and Saad grabbed the third

Sergio Lozano. PHOTO: ARXIU FCB.
Sergio Lozano. PHOTO: ARXIU FCB.
MATCH STATS
CAJA SEGÃ’VIA, 0
FCB ALUSPORT, 3
Caja Segòvia: Cidao, Borja Blanco, Lolo, David i Antoñito –starting five-, Borja, Fabián, Sergio, Víctor and Hicham.
FCB Alusport: Cristian, Ari Santos, Saad (1), Lin i Wilde- starting five-, Torras, Gabriel, Fernandao, Lozano (2), Igor and Javi Rodríguez.
Referees: Gutiérrez i Gracia.
Goals: 0-1 Lozano (min 24), 0-2 Lozano (min 27), 0-3 Saad (min 31)
The defending champions of the Spanish Cup won in Logroño after hard-fought match against Caja Segovia, finalists in last year’s Cup edition. The team led by Marc Carmona was the better side in the first half, but Cidao was up to the taskand kept the home team in the game. Two goalsform Lozano at the start of the second, when things weren’t looking good for Barça, sealed Barça Alusport’s victory.
Incredible keeper display
Barça Alusport came out with an unusual starting line-up, no Torras or Lozano up top. However, from the starting whistle, both teams rotated their benches. Once Torras and Lozano came on, the Barça side took control of the match. It was Cidao, Caja Segovia’s keeper, with an incredible display throughout the half, that kept the home side in the match. Cristian, on the other end of the court, was also having a fine night on the goal line; he saved two clear counterattacks that would have otherwise ended in goals (min, 7 and 12).
Blaugrana initiative
As the minutes passes, Barça’s onslaught intensified. An incisive Wilde hit the crossbar in the 10th minute. Just before that, the Barça teamhad three goalscoring chances in the same play. Cidao, however, emerged as the hero for Caja Segovia by denying each an every one of them. The Culé superiority forced the home side’s manager, Jesus Velasco, to call a timeout to break Barça’s rhythm. His men were lucky to be level.
Cidao saves Caja Segovia
The match was beautiful and despite Barça’s dominations (15-6 shots on target balance on 17minutes), the game was open. The Castilians were bold. The first half saw the visiting side almost realize two fantastic chances, the first was Torra’s that hit the post the second, Wilde’s, was saved by Cidao. 0-0 at the half.
Lozano breaks the deadlock
At the start of the second half both side’s assumed the roles played by the opposite team in teh first half. Caja Segovia roared back into the match and they pinned Barça Alusport back. Cristian, with a couple fantastic saves, proved enormous on the goal line. Sergio Lozano saved his team when the flow of the match wasn’t going Barça’s way - his shot found its way into the back of Cidao’s net on 24 minutes. Barça needed the goal to stay alive. From that point onthe game wasn’t so complicated. Lozano, again, netted his second with a beautiful chip; Saad grabbed the third after a back heel assist from Ari Santos. Barça’s accuracy in the second half was simply exquisite.
Caja Segovia looked as though they had given up, they didn’t even try to use a keeper-player. At the same time, Barça employed intelligence and power to preserve their lead. However, bothkeepers once again proved to be decisive beforethe game’s end with fantastic saves. With three minutes remaining, Lolo came on as a keeper-player. It was too late, Barça was out of reach.

FCB,

Jordi Clos

 

[Classik]

Download the wallpaper of Messi's five-goal performance
Click on the image:
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/09/2012 09:00
Personalise your desktop with Leo Messi's five goals against Bayer Leverkusen


Download the wallpaper!

FCB

 

[Classik]

Krankl, the last Barça player to get five goals


03/09/2012 11:11
The Austrian striker scored five goals against Rayo Vallecano in a 9-0 win in the 78/79 season, which he ended as top scorer
Barça also won the European Cup Winners Cup inBasel that year

Krankl va fer un gol en una acció espectacular de tisora / FOTO: ARxiu Seguí-FCB
MATCH STATS
FC BARCELONA, 9
RAYO VALLECANO, 0
FC BARCELONA: Mora, Zuviría, Migueli, Olmo, Albadalejo, Neeskens, Rexach, Sánchez, Krankl and Carrasco.
RAYO VALLECANO: Hierro (Alcázar), Anero, Uceda,Tanco, Rocamora, Nieto, Francisco, Landaburu, Marián, Puig-Solsona and Alvarito
GOALS: 1-0, Krankl (16'); 2-0, Krankl (37'); 3-0, Neeskens (41'); 4-0, Krankl (44'); 5-0, Krankl (58'); 6-0, Krankl (61'); 7-0, Neeskens (66'); 8-0, Asensi (72'); 9-0, Carrasco (86').
REFEREE: Orellana.
Krankl: "Va ser un partit molt famós. Un partit fenomenal"
Leo Messi is incomparable. His cunning skill, his ability to read the way the team plays, his goalscoring touch, his passion for the game ... It is simply impossible to find fault in possibly the most dazzling player that ever graced the game. And he just can't stop breaking records. No Barça player has ever scored five goals in a European fixture, and in fact, we have to go all the way back to January 14, 1979 to find the last occasionthat anybody scored that many goals in any kind of match.
Two faced Barça
As part of the season that ended with Barça winning the Cups Winners Cup in Basel against Fortuna Dusseldorf, Barça under debutant LucienMüller were famed for some stunning displays athome coupled with some inexplicable setbacks on the road. One of the most amazing displays ofall at the Camp Nou was the 9-0 win against Rayo Vallecano, where the star was a very recentsigning, Hansi Krankl, recent winner of the Ballon d'Or.
The game was only 61 minutes old when the Austrian, who had impressed at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, had already scored five goals – and each time with his left foot. Wearing the same number nine as Leo Messi, he showed the Camp Nou just what an incredible acquisition they had just made. In the 88 official matches hewent on to play for the club, Krankl scored 64 goals, and in that debut season of 78/79 he was the top scorer in Spain with 29 goals. In fact, it was those five against Rayo that first put him top of the chart, moving ahead of the likes of Quini (then of Sporting) and Santillana (Real Madrid).
No more away wins
"It was a very famous game. A phenomenal match", remembered Hansi Krankl years later ona TV show. "Our home games were great, especially for me as a goalscorer, but we had problems playing away". In fact, despite that convincing victory at the Camp Nou, Barça would not win any of their remaining nine away league fixtures. "It was a mental thing. We scored five against Zaragoza, and a week later we lost in Salamanca. Nobody understood it", manager Lucien Müller told 'Recorda míster' on Barça TV.
Müller, the first coach of the Josep Lluís Núñez presidency, didn't last until the end of the season, and it was Quimet Rifé who led the teamto the Basel final. Those were other times, when football was very different, when players wore moustaches and tattoos were unheard of. It was a time when the club was going through sporting and institutional difficulties, very different to the situation today, as Pep Guardiolapointed out to the press following the famous win against Bayer Leverkusen (7-1). The day that Leo Messi also scored five goals.

FCB,

DAVID SAURA

 

[Classik]

Tello the super-sub
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/09/2012 11:50
The scorer of a brace against Bayer 04 Leverkusen has scored a goal every 66 minutes he has played, an even better average than that of Leo Messi
He has only ever started two first team matches, but has taken his chances extraordinarily well, with six goals already to his name

PHOTO: ARCHIVE FCB
Cristian Tello is proving to be the perfect super-sub. The Barça B player has scored six times in the 366 minutes he has been offered with the first team in the Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League. His finest showing yet came against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, where he was on target twice on his European debut, and that despite only being on the pitch for 40 minutes.
Fast and decisive, and always playing on the left,Tello has an average of a goal every 66 minutes. Not even Messi, who has scored once every 93 minutes, can boast stats like that, although the Argentinian has played considerably more minutes, 3,291 this term.
Twice a starter, eight times a sub
Most of Tello's goals have been scored as a substitute. He has only every been in the first eleven twice, against l'Hospitalet in the cup (0-1) and Real Socieidad in the league (2-1)), both times playing the full ninety minutes, and both times scoring Barça's first of the night.
Tello has scored his other five goals as a substitute. He managed braces against both l'Hospitalet (9-0) and Bayer 04 Leverkusen (7-1), while he also netted what was ultimately only a consolation goal at Osasuna.

FCB

 

[Classik]

10 out 11 successful European knockout ties


03/09/2012 12:02
Guardiola has only ever been beaten once in a European match played over two legs in the fourseasons he been Barcelona manager

Messi, contra el Bayer Leverkusen. FOTO: FCB.
Barça are into the quarter finals for the fifth consecutive time. Since Pep Guardiola arrived in 2008, their European record is enough to strike fear into the hearts of any of their rivals. They have got through 10 out of 11 European knockout ties between 2009 and 2011.
Long road to Rome
Guardiola's first do-or-die European clash was in the preliminary round of the competition againstWisla Krakow. A place in the group stages looked beyond doubt after they brushed aside the Polish champions in the new manager's first official game (4-0). Having got through the groups as well, FCB next faced Olympique Lyon, then Bayer in the quarters and Chelsea in the semi finals, one of the most nail-biting fixtures of recent years, before going on to lift the cup in Rome.
Only defeat against Inter
Next year, Barça got the better of Stuttgart and Arsenal, with Messi getting four goals in one game against the Gunners. But the semi final brought Pep Guardiola's only major setback as Barça manager in Europe, when Inter won the first leg 3-1 and with determined defending, managed to limit the Catalans to one goal at the Camp Nou (1-0).
From the clásico to Wembley
The team made no mistake in Champions League 2010/11. Arsenal were beaten again, and then Shakhtar Donetsk, followed by the old enemy Real Madrid to reach the final at Wembley. That made it nine out of ten Europeanqualifications for Guardiola. The record continued this year, with a 10-2 aggregate win against Bayer Leverkusen, the biggest of all overtwo legs for Barcelona in the last four years.

FCB,

Jordi Clos

 

[Classik]

American women’s soccer star Alex Morgandeclares support for Barça


03/09/2012 11:30
The star of Team USA has been visiting the club, which she says are her favourite team, because “they do magic on the field. I’m so happy to see them get as many trophies as they haveâ€
Morgan, who played in a charity match in Washington during the US Tour, tries to catch as many Barça games on TV as she can
“Messi is out of this world†she said. “I’m just so happy to have been able to watch him. And to score five goals! That’s not an easy thing to do, especially in a Champions league game! That’s the top of the top. He’s showing that he’s the best player in the worldâ€

Last summer in Washington , Morgan played in a game organised by FC Barcelona's ambassador in the United States, Mia Hamm , which also featured Kobe Bryant and Pep Guardiola , amongothers. The young Californian impressed that day, and things have just got better for her. Now the biggest star in her national side, the WesternNew York Flash striker is currently in Barcelona, where she has enjoyed a visit to the FCB facilities. "It amazing to be in this city, and be wearing this jersey", she told Barça TV.
"I've been a Barça fan for some time. A lot my friends at college were Barça fans and we started watching probably five or six years ago, and I've been following them very closely ever since", said the member of the side that finished runners-up at the recent World Cup in Germany. Morgan, who scored the first goal of the final against eventual winners Japan, explained whatshe admires most about FC Barcelona : "There a big reason why I'm a Barcelona fan. I love the way they play, their style, but what's so great about this team is that they're so great individually, but they come together as a team. Pep Guardiola has done so much for this team ... It's really exciting to see them do so well, and succeed, and get as many trophies as they have".
Best team and player in the world
The 22 year old, who won the Silver Ball at the Under 20 World Cup in Chile in 2008, said that"Barça play the best soccer in the world, they do magic on the field." And asked to single out one particular player, she answered that "Messi is just out of this world. He's on another level. He can just do so much with the soccer ball, so I have to go with Messi".
Alex Morgan, who now has her own number 12 Barça top, says she's keep following her favourite club on TV. "I love the way they celebrate goals. Everybody is so excited after they score a goal – it doesn't matter if it's the first goal or the seventh goal. They always celebrate together as a team".

FCB,

Aleix Santacana

 

[Classik]

Spanish League Preview, Week 27



03/10/2012 01:10

There are some big games in La Liga this weekend, with Athletic Club, fresh from setting Europe alight with their win at Old Trafford, facing Osasuna in Pamplona and two of the other teams fighting for European places, Málaga and Levante meeting at La Rosaleda

Puyol and Thiago against Racing Santander / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB


La Liga teams really made their mark in Europe this week -as if Barça’s demolition of Bayer

wasn’t enough, all three Europa Cup teams won, with Athletic Club grabbing the headlines

thanks to their defeat of Manchester United and Valencia and Atlético Madrid also getting good results.


Second derby in a week for Athletic Club

Sunday sees Athletic Club’s second derby game in a week, when they travel to Pamplona to

play Osasuna who lie seventh just two points and two places behind them. Osasuna’s ex-Barça

utility man Damia explained: “there’s a really intense rivalry between Bilbao and us. It’s a good

feeling though and these are the games you want to play. If we can win, we’ll consolidate our

position in the European places, everyone knowsour aim is to stay up, but it’s exciting to be

fighting at the other end tooâ€. His captain Patxi Puñal reckons: “Bilbao gave an exhibition in

Manchester. They’ll come here full of confidence,but we are at home and we are doing well

hereâ€.

Good week for Valencia….so far

Valencia have enjoyed a good week, putting an end to their poor league run last weekend by

beating Granada and defeating PSV 4-2 in the Europa League on Thursday, but although they

are still in third place, they are only five points clear and will be looking to build on the week’s

success when Mallorca come to the Mestalla on Sunday ahead of their trips to Eindhoven and

Athletic Club next week.

Atlético look to progress

Atletico Madrid scored three great goals against Beskitas on Thursday night – and none of

them by Falcao!- as Salvia(2) and Adrian demonstrated the fire power that Simeone has at his

disposal and with four of the five teams immediately above them playing each other, three

points this Sunday from the visit of struggling Granada, could catapult them back into the

fight for the fourth Champions League spot. Two of those four, Levante and Malaga play on

Saturday and a win for the hosts would send them into that fourth place – for 24 hours at

least. However, Malaga winger Joaquim warned: “it won’t be easy, they are a strong team and

if they get ahead, it’s hard to catch them. They are full of experienced players, they know what

they are doing and they are where they are thanks to their own effortâ€.

Zaragoza’s problemsâ€in their headsâ€

At the bottom, Zaragoza travel to Donosti after last weekend’s morale lifting win against

Villarreal. Zaragoza boss Manolo Jimenez insists his team’s problems are “in their heads, just

psychological – I’m trying to convince them that they can play at a high levelâ€. Sporting have

an equally motivating boss in Javier Clemente of course, and for the visit to Gijón of Sevilla on

Saturday there will be further inspiration for the players, as the Sporting board have decided

to drop ticket prices to ensure a full house to get behind the team. Villarreal are the side the

bottom three have to catch and they host Getafe in Monday night’s game.

In the weekend’s other games, Real Madrid travel to Betis on Saturday night with Benzema still

a doubt, whilst at noon on Sunday, Espanyol, who’ve lost their last two matches at home, host

Rayo, who have won their last three games on the road to overtake Espanyol in the table.

FCB,

Nick Bedson

 

[Classik]

The Azulgrana Roundup, Week 7

Ian MacLurg 03/10/2012 02:45

On this week's Azulgrana Roundup: 'AMC's' Don Draper and Josep Guardiola, why Andrés Iniesta is the best midfielder in the world, why young Cristian Tello doesn't go unnoticed, and of course, opinions on Lionel Messi's historic five-goal performance in the Champions League

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi

After Barça's stellar performance in the Champions League the worldwide press was ablaze with praise for the Catalan side. While the 7-1 scoreline, Messi's five-goal performance, or Keita's brilliant strike took the headlines, the Azulgrana Roundup will attempt to bring you a couple of pieces that might have slipped throughthe cracks. If you have any suggestions for this column, please tweet them to FC Barcelona's Twitter account , remember to tag your tweet with #FCBroundup .

Twelve Point Sports. Pep Guardiola: A Mad Man


An essay examining the parallels between Don Draper from AMC's 'Mad Men' and FC Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola

The Guardian . Sid Lowe. Lionel Messi now bears comparison with Diego Maradona

The hand as an icon of a game played with the feet: from 1986 and the symbol of Diego Maradona, Argentina's greatest talent in a generation, in any generation, to the almost mystical symbol of FC Barcelona's greatest nights. A manita, a goal for every finger: the 5-0 against Real Madrid with Johan Cruyff the playerin 1974; the 5-0 against Madrid with Johan Cruyff the manager of the Dream Team in 1994; the 5-0 with Leo Messi leading the Team That's Better Than The Dream Team in 2010.â€

New York Times . Rob Hughes. A Little Magic in Nicosia, a Lot More in Barcelona[/ul]

Little Leo scored five goals in Barcelona’s 7-1 demolition of Bayer Leverkusen. “It’s nice,†he said, “to score five.†Nice? It’s downright outrageous. Messi chipped goals with his right foot and left. He drew three defenders and then waltzed away from them, the ball still in his possession until he once more released it into the net.

QQ.com .[url=http://sports.qq.com/a/20120304/000399.htm] 巴萨绝代搭档如绿茵法拉利 掏8000万也别想挖 [The pair (Xavi and Iniesta) are a Ferrari on the pitch, don’teven think about taking Xavi to another team, even if 80 million is offered] [Chinese]

腾讯体育讯 作为皇马(微博 数据) 球迷的费尔南多-阿隆索来到诺坎普观战巴萨VS希洪，目睹了与自己身高相仿的哈维(微博 数据) 与伊涅斯塔(微博 数据) 两个小个子共同领衔主演的一堂足球技术教学课。如果说作为两届F1年度冠军与法拉利结合是赛车界的钻石级结合，那巴萨双核无疑便是足球场上王冠，宏伟的艺术雕塑，划时代的杰作。

[A Real Madrid supporter, Fernando Alonso, came to the Camp Nou to watch the Barça v Sporting match, and he enjoyed the football show put on by Xavi and Iniesta. If we say the connection between Fernando Alonso and Ferrari is perfection in Formula 1, than Xavi and Iniesta are a work of art on the pitch.]

Bild.de. Phillip Arens. Fußall-Gott Messi [Messi the Football God] [German]

His five goals humiliated Leverkusen, a mere sparring for Barça. Leo is a joy for any football fan.

El Confidencial . José Manuel García. El mejor equipo del mundo posee la mejor cantera del mundo [The best team in the world have the best youth academy in the world] [Spanish]

La nómina de canteranos azulgrana no la dispone nadie. Veintiún jugadores salidos de las parideras de La Masia, casi dos equipos para montar un lienzo de Velázquez, una multinacional del fútbol, que eleva a este equipo, Fútbol Club Barcelona, a lo más alto de lapirámide mundial. Nadie recuerda semejante logro.

ICONS.com . Andrés Iniesta: The World’s Best Midfielder

Iniesta’s brilliance lies in the apparent ease withwhich goes about his job. Everything he does on the pitch looks natural, and his virtuosity brings out the very best in his teammates. Barcelona manager Guardiola has handed him greater responsibility since taking charge in 2008. The unparalleled success that has followed is no coincidence.

The Telegraph . Oliver Pickup. The next Lionel Messi: who is Barcelona’s forgotten Champions League hero Cristian Tello?

In the latest swirl of Messi-mania, Tello's superb European debut on Wednesday night is in danger of being lost; a mere forgotten footnote among the thousands in the career of the greatest player ever to have kicked a football.

EUMD . Barca 2012-13 (II): Montoya y Bartra [Spanish]

La decisión de ascender hasta cinco canteranos de golpe al primer equipo tiene un componente que va más allá de la evaluación individual. Se trata también de una decisión de vestuario, de renovar desde dentro. De inyectar ilusión y entusiasmo al grupo, ante los nuevos retos que se le presentan.

FCB

 

[Classik]

FUTSAL

The most awaited semi-final

www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/10/2012 09:02

18:15, Barça TV, Esport3 and Marca TV: Barça Alusport and Inter Movistar will play for a spot inthe final of the Spanish Cup in Logroño

The Madrid side are the only team to have beaten Barça Alusport this season

FCB- Caja Segovia (CUP). PHOTO: Rubén de Pedro

FCB- Caja Segovia (CUP). PHOTO: Rubén de Pedro

The Spanish Cup tournament that is being played in La Rijoa awarded the reigning champions Barça Alusport with mouth-watering semi-final matchup. The Catalans will play against Inter Movistar this Saturday. The matchup pits the two favourites of the tournament, especially after the way Caja Segovia and El Pozo Murcia were dispatched, respectively, in the previous round.

Third matchup

Barça Alusport comes into the match with a fully-fit squad two days after seeing off Caja Segovia in a hard-fought quarter-final match. Lozano (2) and Saad proved decisive in the quarter-final tie. The team led by Marc Carmona is showing superb consistency in all the competitions they’re playing in (leaders in the Liga and qualified for the Final Four of the UEFA Futsal Cup).

However, Inter Movistar is the opponent that have given the Catalan side the most trouble so far this season. In fact, Inter is the only team to have beaten Barça in an official match. It was in the Spanish Super Cup (3-2), at the beginning of the season. In the Liga, managed a one-all draw in Alcalá.

The men led by Chema Jiménez are enjoying high dose of morale after their exhibition in the quarter-finals against El Pozo (5-0). With this result they showed that they aren’t rueing the absence of Schumacher , one of their star players.

FCB

 

[Classik]

FOOTBALL-BARÇA B

Barça B out to show what sets them apart in the Catalan derby



03/10/2012 09:33

The Barça B side will take on Sabadell this Satruday (18:00, Esport3) in the Catalan derby; both teams are level on points

Eusebio Sacristán: “we’re going to play against ateam the have different arguments, options, than many of the teams in Segunda Aâ€

The Barça B players celebrating a goal /PHOTO: ARXIU FCB

The Barça B players celebrating a goal /PHOTO: ARXIU FCB

Barça B and Sabadell are in a very similar situation. Both teams play similar styles of football and they both have 35 points in the Liga.The Barça reserve side nor Lluís Carreras ' team were able to beat their respective rivals last week. For this reason, Saturday’s match will mark the differences between the two Catalan sides.

Barça B wants to play a “good gameâ€

The team led by Eusebio Sacristán comes into the Catalan match-up after drawing in Huelva against Recreativo . However, of the 13 games played away from the Mini, the Azulgranas have only lost 5 so far. Even so, the Barça manager said that his team is ready “to play a good game.†In fact, all the Barça B players are available with the exception of Miño and Ilie , who are both injured. Eusebio will also be missing Tello , Sergi Roberto , Muniesa , and Bartra , all of whom have been with the first team all week.

However, in the first half of the season, on October 1, Sabadell won at the Miniestadi by 0-1.The goal was scored by Juvenal after 40 minutesof play; the goal proved decisive in the Catalan derby that day. Barça B’s most offensive player was Tello, who now plays with the first team. Onthe day, however, Sabadell boasted a high position in the table: “we were under construction and we didn’t have consistency,†said Sacristán on the first match.

Sabadell, a strong rival

Despite being level on points with Barça B, Sabadell currently sits in the 14th spot of the standings. They have only lost two game at home, against Valladolid and Córdoba , and they’re currently on a four-match unbeaten run at home. However, they lost their last match against Hércules this past weekend by 1-0.

“We’re going to play against a team that have different arguments, options, than many of the teams in Segunda A. They play similarly to us, it will be necessary to compete for possession and control of the game,†said Sacristán, who also highlighted the differences between the two sides: “they, when they don’t have the ball, are accustomed to defend as a group i the back, while we go out all look for our rival.â€

FCB,

ITZIAR BRAVO

 

[Classik]

Guardiola, unbeaten at El Sardinero



03/10/2012 10:00

This Sunday’s match is Pep Guardiola’s fourth match against Racing Santander as first-team manager; the Catalan has never lost to Racing in Santander

Pep Guardiola in El Sardinero, during the 2009-10 season /PHOTO: ARXIU FCB

Pep Guardiola in El Sardinero, during the 2009-10 season /PHOTO: ARXIU FCB

Results at El Sardinero

10/11 Season- Machday 1 - 29/08/2010. Racing 0- 3 Barça (Messi, 3; Iniesta, 32; Villa, 62).

09/10 Season –Machday 4 – 22/09/2009. Racing 1 - 4 Barça (Ibrahimovic, 19; Messi, 23; Piqué, 26; Messi, 63; Óscar Serrano, 72).

08/09 Season- Machday 21 - 01/02/2009. Racing 1 - 2 Barça (Zigic, 55; Messi, 65; Messi, 81).

Pep Guardiola will go to the Sardinero for the fourth time as manager of FC Barcelona’s first team. In his past three visits he’s led his team to three victories.

Last season, on Matchday 1 of La Liga, Barça beat Racing 0-3, with an early Messi goal on three minutes, and two more from Iniesta and Villa . Inthe 2009/10 season Barça was victorious in Santander (1-4) as well. Guardiola’s men conceded a goal to Óscar Serrano on 72 minutes, after Ibrahimovic , Messi (2) and Piqué netted forthe Azulgranas.

Finally, in Guardiola’s first match at El Sardinero as manager, in the 2008/09 season, the Azulgranas won by 1-2. Zigic put his team in front but Messi, with two goals, overturned the home side’s advantage.

FCB,

ITZIAR BRAVO

 

[Classik]

Injury doubt Puyol travels to Santander
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/10/2012 12:53
Team captain Carles Puyol took a full part in Saturday morning’s training session and has been named in the squad to face Racing on Sunday, though he has not yet been given the all-clear by Club doctors
However, Piqué (suspended), Thiago, Alexis, Abidal, Villa, Afellay and Fontàs (injured) are all unavailable

Carles Puyol during today's training session. PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.
Carles Puyol during today's training session. PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.
Carles Puyol is the main highlight of the 19-man squad that goes to Santander this afternoon despite not yet being officially taken off the injury list. The following players will take on Racing on Sunday (6 pm, GolT and Canal+ Liga): Valdés , Pinto , Dani Alves , Cesc , Puyol , Xavi , Iniesta , Messi , Mascherano , Keita , Sergio Busquets , Pedro , Adriano , Cuenca , Tello , Montoya , Bartra , Sergi Roberto and Muniesa .
Morning training session
The players were back in training on Saturday morning after a day off on Friday. Puyol was able to train as normal with the rest of the squadbut Alexis and Abidal worked out separately from the main group. Thiago followed a personalised programme and is expected to return to full training next week but will miss tomorrow's match.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Guardiola: "Let everyone know: We’ve wonso much because we’ve been better than the rest"


03/10/2012 14:52
The Barça manager has emphasised that winning 13 out of 16 titles is the merit of the players. “This is all down to the athletes, who have performed so well over the whole periodâ€
"Nobody’s gifted us anything. What we’ve won we’ve won with a lot of hard workâ€
Turning to Sunday’s match, Guardiola told reporters that new Racing manager Ãlvaro Cervera added an unknown factor to the preparations

Slow to retract false accusations
Finally, Guardiola gave his opinion on the legal proceedings following on from the false accusations of doping levelled at the Club's players by the COPE radio station. "They should have admitted they'd lied a few days after it happened instead of going to court. It's taken quite a bit. They could have admitted it a couple of days afterwards." He rounded off his remarks by pointing out that the programme is still on air.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Racing Santander , Josep Guardiola insisted that all the successes of FC Barcelona over the past four years are exclusively the responsibility of the quality and hard work of the players. However, he emphasised that the fact that Real Madrid lead the way in the league by a margin of ten points is also a reflection of their merit.
"Winning 13 out of 16 titles is all down to the athletes. In the end this game always belongs to the players. We've won because we've got some fantastic players. This is all down to the athletes, who have performed so well over the whole period". No doubt speaking with Jose Mourinho in mind, Guardiola made it quite clear that it is the players who win the titles.
Along the same lines, and bearing in mind recentcomments by former Club vice-president Alfons Godall , Guardiola said: " Godall knows, as do Rosell and Florentino , that we have won because we've competed with hard work. It's very bad for football if the merit doesn't go to Messi and Cristiano . We've won so much because we've been better than the rest. If Madrid are ten points ahead it's because they've been better and we have slipped up. We accept responsibility. And if I say we won't win the league it's because making up that gap with Real Madrid is very difficult, as it is to referee."
However, Guardiola is used to this kind of pressure: "We've been like this for four years, always being under suspicion in everything we do for different reasons. This year's no exception. It's always for reasons that are not down to our team."
A reply to Mourinho
Guardiola was also very clear in his reply to comments made by José Mourinho: "Yes, he may have been referring to me. I hope he says the name next time. Everybody understood that he was going for me. We're alike in that we both want to win, there's no doubt about that. If I've behaved like him in other respects then obviously I'll have to change my ways . I don't feel that he's like me. There are words and images for anything. There are thousands of press conferences. Our paths are very different. We have always been honest. If in the end it really is like that I'll have to think harder and try to see where we've failed. My aim is not to put my Club and players in a bad light. I try not to make people ashamed of me as well as to generate a good atmosphere in my team."
Asked about recent insinuations that relations with the Spanish Federation could have an influence on the referees' decisions, Guardiola replied: "If that's the way it is, then the system of refereeing has a big problem. Barça and the rest of the teams have an obligation to maintain a good relationship with the Federation. Referees have been put under a lot of pressure and the president of the Spanish Football Federation should step forward and make a stand. He should come out and say that you win because of Messi , Cristiano and Mourinho , because if not it seems that you win because you're a friend of Angel Maria Villar (president ofthe Spanish Football Federation) and then we would have to talk about his buy-out clause".
Santander coach an incognita
As for Sunday's match against Racing Santander , Guardiola revealed that Barça has very little information due to the fact that manager Ãlvaro Cervera has only recently taken over: "We'll go there without much information. The only thing in our hands is to win our match in Santander. That's the only thing we can control. Santander is always a tricky ground and even more in the situation they're in"

FCB,

VANESSA FORNS

 

[Classik]

An historic goal in Santander
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/10/2012 17:03
Since 2008, Leo Messi can’t stop scoring goals on his visits to Racing Santander, including the Club’s historic 5,000th league goal

Messi and Eto'o in the 2008/09 season. PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.
Messi and Eto'o in the 2008/09 season. PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.
This Sunday, Barça go to Santander with only one result on their minds – a win. Ever since Guardiola took over as first team manager, Barçahave won on all their visits to Racing. Messi has been a key element, scoring five times in just three matches. In the treble-winning 2008-09 season, Barça found themselves one down after a goalless first half, thanks to a Zigic penalty. Guardiola reacted immediately by bringing on Messi for Busquets and the Argentine took just six minutes to equalise with a precise strike from inside the goal area.
Goal nº 5,000 in the league
Barça dominated possession and pushed hard for all three points with their trademark passing game. Finally, in the 80th minute Messi chested down the ball inside the Racing penalty area, skipped past his marker and tucked the ball away with a right foot shot from the edge of the goal area, beyond the reach of Racing goalkeeper Toño. Messi's goal handed Barça thewin but will go down in the Club's history as Barça's 5,000th league goal.
Always influential
Last season, Barça kicked off their league campaign with a visit to El Sardinero. Messi needed just three minutes to put Barça ahead with a superb chip over the head of Toño . Barça never lost this early advantage and the match ended 0-3. The following season (2009-2010), Swedish striker Ibrahimovic got the opening goal and Messi added a second three minutes later. At halftime, Barça led 0-3, but Messi addeda fourth, his second, and the match finally ended 1-4.

FCB

 

[Classik]

To the final in style (4-1)



03/10/2012 20:24
Barça Alusport sent Inter Movistar out of the tournament with a fantastic performance. Marc Carmona's men will have a chance to claim their second consecutive Spanish Cup title in tomorrow's final

FOTO: Rubén De Pedro - LNFS

MATCH STATS
FCB ALUSPORT, 4
INTER MOVISTAR, 1
FCB Alusport: Cristian, Ari Santos, Lin, Saad and Wilde –starting five- Sedano, Torras, Ari, Javi, Igor and Fernandao.
Inter Movistar: Juanjo, Tobe, Batería, Mati and Eka –starting five- Rafael, Ortiz, Ãlvaro and Hugo.
Goals: 1-0 Lozano (min 3), 1-1 Ortiz (min 14), 2-1 Igor (min 16), 3- 1 Ari Santos (min 32), 4-1 Torras(min 36).
The Barça-Inter Movistar faceoff was, as expected, a sensational duel between the reigning Liga champions and king of cups in Spain. It was the anticipated final. The first half was majestic, where the Catalans took the lead because of their better accuracy in front of goal. The second half was very tactical. In the last 20 minutes, Barça, with intense concentration and acommendable attitude, imposed their football on the futsal court. Fantastic game from the Catalans that’s worth a final.
Early Lozano goal
Barça, with the same starting line-up they used in the semi-finals, couldn’t have started off on a better foot. On two minutes, Saad saved a goal on the goal line and on the next play, with a veryfast counterattack, Lozano put the 1-0 on the scoreboard with a fantastic shot. Luck was on Barça’s side when Cristian diverted Rafael’s shot,moments later Batería would hit the post. Barça’s accuracy in front of goal had given them the early lead.
Draw and reaction
Inter took the initiative. Barça Alusport was organised at the back and their counterattacks were threatening. Barça tried to control the flowof the game, completely opposite from the Madrid side, who were very comfortable with back and forth type of match. Eka warned Barça with a second shot to the post just before Ortiz tied the match up with a fantastic goal (min 14). But Marc Carmona’s men didn’t shy away from the challenge and they took the lead once again through Igor. The morale boost was very important seeing that the match intensity was sky high. Only Batería’s injury slowed down the pace of the match before the end of the first half.
Barça imposes its skill
The pace wasn’t as high in the second half. Barçaneeded to slow the game down while still looking for the third. Javi Rodríguez and Torras came close to netting; luck was on Inter’s side. On 32 minutes Igor's shot hit the post. In the nextplay, after a great triangulation between Wilde, Lozano and Ari, Barça put the 3-1 on the scoreboard. Basic.
Torres clinches the match for Barça
The gravity of the situation was putting Inter’s players on edge, and Eka earned his marching orders - Inter was a man down. Barça Alusport created chances to put the game beyond reach and it was Torras, with a terrific shot on 36 minutes, that clinched a spot in the final for Barça. After an open first half for both sides, Barça took control in the second. This Sunday, Barça will have the chance to claim their second consecutive Spanish Cup.

FCB,

Jordi Clos

 

[Classik]

FC Barcelona arrives in Santander
WWW.FCBARCELONA.CAT 03/10/2012 21:40
The team led by Josep Guardiola arrived in Santander where they will play against Racing tomorrow at 18:00. The team was received by 300 Barça supporters in Cantabria

Xavi en l'arribada a l'aeroport de Santander / FOTO: Miguel Ruiz FCB
Xavi en l'arribada a l'aeroport de Santander / FOTO: Miguel Ruiz FCB
Board member luncheon
This Sunday, at 14:30, the traditional lunch between board members of both clubs will take place at the Hipódromo Bellavista restaurant.
FC Barcelona commenced their trip to Cantabria this afternoon ahead of tomorrow's match Racing Santander (18:00). The Barça team left the Camp Nou at 18:15 for El Prat airport. The plane took off at 19:15 and was scheduled to land in Santander at 20:10. The team was received by 300 Barça supporters who didn’t want to miss their chance to see the first team.
The coaching staff and the 18 players named to the squad, plus Carles Puyol , who doesn’t have the medical all-clear, including vice-president Javier Faus , director Pilar Guinovart and football director Andoni Zubizarreta form the Barça expedition.
Upon arrival, the team went straight to their hotel, Hotel Real . On Sunday, after the match against Racing, the first team will return to Barcelona at 21:30. Their plane is scheduled to land in the Catalan capital at 22:40.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Spotlight on Racing


03/11/2012 00:10
Racing are based in the Cantabria port of Santander and although they have become something of a fixture in La Liga over the last few years, they have generally been at the wrong end of the table – something that is happening again this season as they currently lie17th

FCBarcelona - Racing in the first half of the season / Photo: FCB
FCBarcelona - Racing in the first half of the season / Photo: FCB
HISTORY
Racing Santander have spent 18 of the last 19 seasons in the top flight and as founder
members of the Spanish League in 1928, they have spent 44 seasons amongst the elite, though
in their most recent spell, they have usually finished in the bottom half of the table. Since the
1930s, their best position in the league was the sixth place they won in the 2007/08 season,
which also led to their only appearance in Europe. The Indian businessman Ali Syed boughtthe
club in 2011 and many fans hoped this might give their team a boost, but after finishing 12th
last year, they are currently sitting third from bottom after another disappointing campaign.
FORM GUIDE
Racing didn’t get a win until week 10 of this season, when they beat Betis 1-0, and since then
they have only managed 3 more – at home to Zaragoza and Villarreal and away to Osasuna in
January. That win in Pamplona marked the start of what had looked to be a decent run, with
draws against Valencia, Levante and Atletico Madrid coming soon after, but successive heavy
defeats away to Real Madrid and Rayo (4-0 and 4-2) as well as a disappointing 1-1 draw with
fellow strugglers Sporting proved too much for the owners who decided to change managers
this week.
THE BOSS
Recreativo de Huelva manager Alvaro Cervera took Friday morning’s training session with his
squad and at lunchtime he took the team bus with his players for Almeria where they were
due to play on Saturday. However, he got off the coach in Sevilla after receiving a phone call
and returned to Huelva where he finalised the end of his contract before being presented as
the new Racing manager in the evening. Cervera , who played for Racing in the 90s, comes in
for Juan Jose Gonzalez who was sacked earlier this week after himself taking over from Hector
Cuper who quit in November.
ONE TO WATCH
Veteran Pedro Munitis was born in Santander and came up through the Racing B team, making
his La Liga debut way back in the 1994-5 season and after two years at Real Madrid from
2000 to 2002 – where he won a Champions League and a Spanish League winners medal- he
re-joined his hometown club on loan in the 2002-03 season, but he only stayed for one year
before joining Deportivo. He began his final stintat Racing in 2006 and remains a competitive
forward, though perhaps with a little less pace than he once had, and is a firm favourite with
the Sardinero fans.

FCB,

Nick Bedson

 

[Classik]

Racing - FC Barcelona: Santander test for winning streak



03/11/2012 11:28

6 pm, R@dio Barça, GolT and Canal+ Liga: Barça go for their sixth consecutive away win against Racing

The presence of Puyol is the main news in the Barça squad

PHOTO: ARCHIVE FCB

The New Sardinero will be a good test of Barça'scurrent form. The team have put together a run of three league wins plus an imposing ride into the quarterfinals of the Champions League . Five wins in the last five encounters . The battle to maintain this winning streak– Barça are 13 points adrift of Real Madrid after the victory in Seville – will be played out in the New Sardinero,a ground Barça have found very favourable over the past three seasons.

Rich pickings for Guardiola

Since Pep Guardiola took charge, Barça have won all of their matches away to Racing: 1-2 (2008/09), 1-4 (2009/10) and 0-3 (2010/11). It's been particularly fertile ground for Leo Messi , who scored five in the three games including Barça's 5000th league goal. The match also comes on the back of Messi's five-goal exhibitionagainst Bayer Leverkusen (7-1), a feat that delighted fans across Europe.

Doubts in defence

The presence of Carles Puyol in the squad is the main news though the Barça captain has yet to get full clearance from Club doctors. However, Piqué (suspended) plus Thiago, Abidal, Alexis, Villa, Afellay and Fontàs (injury) are all discounted . With so many players missing or doubtful, Guardiola has a limited number of options, especially in defence, and has drafted in Tello, Muniesa, Sergi Roberto, Bartra and Montoya from the reserves .

A difficult week for Racing

It's been a difficult week for Racing Santander . The club, which currently sits second from bottom and three points adrift of safety, sacked manager Juanjo Gonzalez and brought in Ãlvaro Cervera , until then manager of Recreativo . The new man has had very little time to prepare his players and will also have to cope with the absence of goalkeeper Toño (suspended) and forward Acosta (injured).

FCB,

Jordi Clos