Wazzup with FC BARCELONA?!! (News)

[Classik]

Alves: “If we keep up this standard until the end, we’ll have plenty to enjoyâ€
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/18/2012 14:24
Dani Alves told reporters today that the team will keep on competing right to the end: “Let’s hope we can keep up this standard until the end because I’m sure we’ll have plenty to enjoyâ€
“We’re coming up to the key moments of the season and we're beginning to get the right balance between home games and away gamesâ€
"We’ll keep on competing. The intensity and concentration we have in the league will help usin the rest of the competitionsâ€

Dani Alves during today's press conference / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB
Dani Alves during today's press conference / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB
Dani Alves was speaking to reporters after training on Sunday and was upbeat about the team's improving form: "The right balance between home games and away games keeps you in the fight for the league title. We're that distance behind because we've slipped up away from home. However, at this key stage of the season we're beginning to recover that balance. Let's hope we can keep up this standard until theend because I'm sure we'll have plenty to enjoy".
According to Alves, this balance depends on the players maintaining their intensity and concentration: "The most important thing is that we keep on competing right to the end, in the league as well, since it helps us in the rest of the competitions". Asked to comment on Guardiola 's assertion on Saturday that Barça would not win the league, Alves emphasised: "There's always sense to what the manager says. We canonly say that we'll compete right to the end. We have to do honour to the shirt of the best club in the world. The way to pay back the affection of so many people is to keep them happy with our football".
The moment of truth
Alves also spoke about the Champions League quarterfinals: "The best part of the Champions League is coming up and we have to be ready. A really tough opponent awaits us. We won't get any gifts from anybody. At this stage of the competition you can't choose your opponent andyou have to play as well as possible against whoever you draw". He's not looking beyond the Milan contest and hopes to stay in the goals:"I hope we take all the chances we create from now on".

FCB

 

[Classik]

La Masia graduates have scored more goalsthis season than in any other season in the Club's history


03/18/2012 16:30
The first-team footballers that graduated from La Masia have set a new record; they’ve scored 111 of the team’s 145 goals this season
The current Barça squad broke the 2010/11 season record, where the Barça canteranos scored 110 of Barça’s 152 goals

Tello and Cesc celebrating a goal / PHOTO: Arxiu FCB
Tello and Cesc celebrating a goal / PHOTO: Arxiu FCB
The Azulgrana youth system philosophy has its rewards. Specifically, goals scored for the first team by La Masia graduates. With yesterday’s two goals from Xavi and and Messi at the Sánchez Pizjuán, the players from the Barça youth system have scored 111 of Barça’s 145 goals this season. That means that canteranos have scored more than two thirds of the team’s goals so far.
The Argentinian striker has a spectacular tally of51 goals, making him the highest goalscorer in Josep Guardiola ’s team. Xavi has also racked up an impressive goal tally this season, having scored nine in the Liga - his best goalscoring run in a season. Counting the number of goals he’s scored in the Champions League and King’s Cup, Xavi’s goal tally goes up to 12.
With the two goals scored in Andalusia, the Club’s youth system graduates have surpassed the 110-goal record set in the 2010/11 season bycanteranos.

FCB,

Sergi Garcia

 

[Classik]

Tickets for Champions League quarter finals
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/16/2012 12:59
On Tuesday March 20 members will be able to start applying for tickets for the San Siro
FC Barcelona will be allocated 5,200 tickets for the game in Milan
For the game at the Camp Nou, members will getpriority from Wednesday; the general public can buy tickets from the 29th

Milan-FCB
TICKETS FOR AC MILAN v FC BARCELONA (MARCH 28), AT THE SAN SIRO
From Tuesday March 20 at 10.00 until Wednesday March 21 at 19.00, applications will be open on the club website (www.fcbarcelona.cat) for tickets for the away leg of the Champions League quarter final between AC Milan and FC Barcelona (March 28).
Tickets
AC MIlan - FC Barcelona
[highlight]The process is open[/highlight] exclusively to Club members,who must apply by filling in the form available in the members' section of the website. Each member can only make one application for a ticket, but up to four people can apply on the same form in order for them to be able to travel together.
5,210 seats at San Siro
For this match, FC Barcelona will be allocated 5,210 seats to be distributed among members and fans, at a single price of 33 euros. As usual, 85% of these tickets will be provided to members (3,543) and supporters clubs (886). Theremaining 15% of the tickets (781) will be used for the club's sporting and institutional purposes and by sponsors.
Applications will close at the end of the established period. If there are more requests than there are tickets available, on March 22 a draw shall be held before a notary among all members that have applied. On the same day, the club will announce to the winning members what they will have to do to collect the tickets.
As with the game at Leverkusen, members aged under 5 years may not apply for tickets for an away game. Also, the same credit card cannot beused to apply for more than a minimum of eight tickets. Tickets can only be collected by the member that has won the right to the same, and in person. If that person cannot collect the ticket,this person must report the name and national ID of a person authorised to collect the ticket in their place. This person can only collect a maximum of eight tickets for other people.
TICKETS FOR FC BARCELONA v AC MILAN (APRIL 3),AT THE CAMP NOU
From Wednesday March 21, FC Barcelona will getexclusive priority for the purchase of tickets available for the Champions League quarter final second leg against AC Milan (April 3).
These tickets can be purchased by Internet via the Club website at www.fcbarcelona.cat, from ServiCaixa or from Ticketmaster. Tickets can alsobe obtained from the FC Barcelona ticket office, FNAC or Carrefour stores, or by calling 902 18 99 00. Up to six tickets may be purchased per membership card, at a discount of 5% on the firstticket. Sales will remain open as long as there are tickets available.
Thursday 29, tickets on sale to general public
On Thursday March 29, tickets will go on sale to the general public, as part of a second ticket sales process involving tickets freed by means ofSeient Lliure, and all tickets released until that time will be put on sale. Availability will vary depending on the number of seats freed using the Seient Lliure system by season-ticket holdingmembers that cannot attend the match. Up to sixtickets may be purchased per person.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Barça to play two La Liga showdowns this week
WWW.FCBARCELONA.CAT 03/19/2012 09:30
After winning an important victory at the Sánchez Pizjuán, Pep Guardiola’s players will play two more La Liga matches this week as theytry to cut into Real Madrid’s lead
The Culé footballers will host Granada this Tuesday, and on Saturday they travel to the Balearic Islands to take on Caparrós’ Mallorca

Carles Puyol during a training session / PHOTO: Miguel Ruiz - FCB.
The Barça squad is mentally preparing for a week that will bring two La Liga clashes. After taking the three points from Seville , the Azulgranas will hold a closed-door training session this Monday at 18:00 at the Ciutat Esportiva Sant Joan Despí to prepare for La Liga’sMatchday 29. Pep Guardiola will hold a post-training press conference.
Granda, the first opponent
The coaching staff have scheduled an afternoon training session for Tuesday at the Camp Nou to finalise preparations for the clash with Granada .The game will be played later that evening at 21:00. With no time to rest, the Azulgrana team will return to work the next day, Wednesday morning at 11:00, at the Ciutat Esportiva Sant Joan Despí.
Deserved rest and trip to Mallorca
On Thursday, however, the team will have a deserved day off before returning to work on Friday to prepare for the match against Mallorca .
The team will add finishing touches to their game plan during a training session that’s scheduled to take place at 11:00 at the Ciutat Esportiva. The team will depart for the Balearic Islands on the same day. Barça will take on the team led by Joaquín Caparrós at 18:00 on Saturday. After a frenetic week, the team will enjoy a day off on Sunday.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Eleven remaining League games in detail


03/19/2012 11:47
Barça have six games at home to play and five on the road – whilst for Madrid it’s five at the Bernabeu and six away games before the season finishes

Ramos and Iniesta / PHOTO: ARCHIVE FCB
As the league reaches the business end of the season, Madrid and Barça go into the last 11 games with an eight point gap between them. There are little details that might just tip the balance one way or another over the next couple of months - Barça will play one more game at home, including El Classico and both teams face city derbies, Barça at home to Espanyol and Real Madrid away to Atletico .
Rivals at the bottom and the top
Both teams will play sides involved in the relegation struggle – Barça play Zaragoza and Madrid face Sporting - as well as the two other top four teams – Barça away to Levante and Madrid at home to Levante – and on the same weekend at the start of April Barça entertain Bilbao and Madrid travel to Osasuna – both teams fighting for a Europa League spot. It's alsoworth noting that last season Madrid dropped none points in their last eleven games.
Barça also have to face Bilbao in the Spanish CupFinal on May 25th - a prospect that whatever happens in the league, is bound to serve as further motivation for Guardiola 's squad.
Below is the full list of remaining fixtures for both teams:
Week 29
FCB -Granada
Villarreal-Madrid
Week 30 (ahead of the Champions League quarter finals first leg)
Mallorca- FCB
Madrid-R. Sociedad
Week 31 (ahead of the Champions League quarter finals second leg)
FCB -Athletic
Osasuna-Madrid
Week 32
Zaragoza- FCB
Madrid-Valencia
Week 33
FCB -Getafe
Atletico-Madrid
Week 34 (ahead of the Champions League semi finals first leg)
Llevant- FCB
Madrid-Sporting
Week 35 (ahead of the Champions League quarter finals second leg)
FCB -Madrid
Week 36
Rayo- FCB
Madrid-Seville
Week 20 (games held over from earlier in the season)
FCB -Malaga
Athletic Club-Madrid
Week 37
FCB -Espanyol
Granada-Madrid
Week 38 (ahead of the Champions League final)
Betis- FCB
Madrid-Mallorca

FCB,

Roger Bogunyà

 

[Classik]

Spanish League Round Up Week 28


03/19/2012 15:48
Málaga put an end to Real Madrid’s unbeaten run with an injury time strike from Santi Cazorla to take a point, whilst Valencia thumped Bilbao 0-3 and Levante’s win over Villarreal meant the sack for their boss Jose Molina after three straight defeats

Piqué playing against Màlaga / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB
Casillas: “no need to panicâ€
Santi Cazorla ’s brilliant injury time free kick gave Málaga a 1-1 draw at the Bernabéu, after
the hosts had gone one up through Benzema in the first half. Those dropped points mean
Madrid’s lead at the top has been cut to eight points, but Iker Casillas insists: “there’s no
need to panic – it hurts that they get a draw withthe last kick of the game, but in other games
we’ve been lucky in the final minutes – like against Rayo or Betisâ€. The point wasn’t enough
for Málaga to keep their fourth spot, as Levante moved ahead of them on goal difference after
Xavi Torres scored the only goal with the last kick of the game against Villarreal, who had just
had Marchena sent off. That defeat spelt the endfor Jose Molina’s short tenure in charge at
El Madrigal, as he became the 11th La Liga boss to lose his job this season – and the second at
Villarreal so far this campaign.
Soldado hat trick sinks Bilbao
Valencia made a firm statement of their intention to hold onto third spot, by thumping
Athletic Club 0-3 at the San Mamés. Roberto Soldado got a hat trick in the game, which
also saw Athletic's captain Iraola dismissed for two yellow cards, as the strains of competing on
two fronts took their toll on the Basques. Valencia are now six points clear of Levante and
Athletics are down in seventh, four points off thelast Champions League place. Osasuna stay
in sixth after their 1-1 draw at Zaragoza on Saturday. The bottom club looked on course for a
morale boosting win when Helder Postiger scored on 85 minutes, but were cruelly denied by
Roversio ’s equaliser just three minutes later.
More red cards
Zaragoza cut the gap on Sporting to five points, as Javier Clemente ’s team went down 2-1 to
Granada. Martins and Siquiera were on target forAbel Resina’s team, though Martins blotted
his copybook when he was shown a red on the bench at the end of the game, which will rule
him out of the Camp Nou match. Mallorca’s Ivan Ramis also saw red in his side’s 2-1 win over
Atlético Madrid. After a quiet first half, Mallorca got two quick goals after the break, as Godin
put through his own net and Pereira got the second, before Ramis was shown a straight red,
Falcao then missed a penalty before pulling one back for the visitors who suffered their first
away defeat under Simeone. The win leaves Mallorca just three points behind Atlético, who
are themselves just three points and three places behind Osasuna.
With Espanyol and Racing scheduled to play on Monday night, the weekend’s two other games
ended with a convincing 3-0 win for Rayo over Betis, which takes the Madrid club a point
above neighbours Atletico, and a 1-0 win for Getafe over Real Sociedad.

FCB,

Nick Bedson

 

[Classik]

The first team focuses on Granada
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/19/2012 19:24
After cutting into Real Madrid’s lead, Barça finalised preparations ahead of tomorrow’s match against Granada will all available first-team players including Afellay, Abidal and Barça B’s Tello and Muniesa

The midweek Liga match will bring Granada to the Camp Nou this Tuesday (21:00). Only two days after the victory in Seville, Josep Guardiola ’s men returned to work this evening at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper to finalise preparations for tomorrow’s clash with the Andalusians.
All 17 available first-team players, plus Afellay - who returned to training with the group after hisinjury - and Éric Abidal . Tello and Muniesa also trained with the first team.
The last training session before the match against Granada will take place tomorrow at noon at the Camp Nou.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Spotlight on Granada


03/19/2012 20:00
Granada were playing in the third tier of Spanishfootball two seasons ago , but two successive promotions have seen them get back into the top flight after a 35 year absence and after changing managers in January, they are fighting hard to stay there for at least another year

Cuenca playing against Granada / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB
HISTORY
This is Granada’s 18th season in the top flight since they were founded in 1931, though it’s
their first season back since 1976, since when they have hit the depths and now risen again to
the heights of the Spanish game. Granada were relegated at the end of the 1975/76 season
and then spent 25 years scratching round the second and third tiers of the Spanish League
before in 2002 they were relegated down to the fourth tier.
It was a tough period for a club who although they have never won a title, were runners up
in the Cup in 1959 – when Barça beat them 4-1 inthe final - and had spent 13 years in the
first division in the 50s, 60s and 70s. In 2006, after four years in the fourth level, Granada won
promotion to the third and within 5 years they had won a place in Primera again. Last year
they finished 5th in the second division, but beat Celta de Vigo and Elche in the play offs to seal
their second promotion in two years.
FORM GUIDE
Granada are currently 15th – seven points off thedrop zone – and won an important three
points at the weekend by beating fellow strugglers Sporting 2-1. Granada have been in the
bottom half all season, but fought their way out of the bottom three in week 11 and have
managed to keep out of the danger area since then. In their last seven away games they’ve
won just once -1-2 at Betis – and lost all the other six, including a 5-1 defeat at the Bernabéu
and all season they’ve managed just 8 goals on the road.
THE BOSS
Abel Resino took over the reins at Granada on January 23rd this year after Fabri was sacked and the former Atlético Madrid keeper made a bright start, with three wins in his first four games,
before losing three on the trot and finally getting back to winning ways at the weekend, to
leave his record standing at 4 wins and 4 defeatssince taking over. Resino had previously
managed Levante and Atlético Madrid in the top flight and Murcia, Castellón and Valladolid in
the second division.
ONE TO WATCH
Granada’s striker Ikechukwu Uche made his name with his extraordinary scoring feats against Madrid. In the 2006/7 season he scored afantastic goal in Recre’s 0-3 win at the Bernabéu,then in 2008 he scored the only goal in Getafe’s 0-1 win on the same ground and the following season scored the third in Getafe’s 3-1 win over Madrid. The following season he was sold to Zaragoza, but suffered a serious injury that kept him out for nearly eighteen months. Last summer he was sold to Villarreal who sent him out on loan, where he scored the team’s first goal back in the top flight in the 1-0 win over….Villarreal!

FCB,

Nick Bedson

 

[Classik]

Guardiola: “Winning our remaining 11 matches is a 'titanic' jobâ€


03/19/2012 21:29
The Barça manager believes that it will be “very difficult†for Barça to catch a Real Madrid “that loses very few matchesâ€
Guardiola admitted that it’s “better to be 8 points behind instead of 10†but he’s clear that his team needs to focus “on competing well in our matchesâ€

“Pedro needs to be the same player he was against Sevillaâ€
Guardiola praised Pedro for the good performance he put in against Sevilla. “Pedro needs to be the same player he was against Sevilla. Thanks to his effort, where he ran enough for three players, the other players wereable to do what they did.†He added that the Spanish winger hasn’t been able to show his quality this year because “he’s been on the sidelines for a long time.â€
“I haven’t changed my opinion from two days ago. It will be very difficult for this [overturning Madrid’s advantage] to happenâ€
“It’s better to be 8 points behind instead of 10 but the only reality is that this Tuesday we have to compete againâ€
Despite Real Madrid’s slip up that allowed Barça to come within eight points of the top, Josep Guardiola hasn’t changed his opinion from the last time he gave a press conference: “I haven’t changed my opinion from two days ago. It will be very difficult for this [overturning Madrid’s advantage] to happen.†The manager went on to say that Madrid is a very strong team that “loses very few matches.â€
“It will be a titanic jobâ€
Guardiola reminded the packed press room that his team has a tough road ahead. He knows that his players will give everything they have in every game but “it will be difficult to win all 11 matches that we have left. It’s a ‘titanic’ job.†In fact, all of the teams that Barça is to face from now until the end of this season are playing for something, “there won’t be any meaningless matches.â€
Despite the monumental task at hand, the Barça fans are hopeful for a La Liga title this season. “I’m delighted that they believe, because my opinion isn’t the standard. The supporters need to stick with the players. It would be a shame if they thought like me. The players are the ones with a monumental challenge.â€
Focusing on themselves
“It’s better to be 8 points behind instead of 10 but the only reality is that this Tuesday we have to compete again.†This is Guardiola’s mentality ahead of tomorrow’s match against Granada. He believes that his team needs to focus on itself and forget about what Madrid does. “We have todo what we have done up until now; win matches and compete well. We need to win our matches, we’ll see what happens in a couple of weeks.†TheBarça manager said that “the objective isn’t to focus on a comeback. If we were four or five points behind, sure, but not when we’re at a distance of eight.â€

FCB,

Anna Segura

 

[Classik]

Messi, one goal away from César's record
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/19/2012 23:10
A joint study by FC Barcelona’s Center of Documentation and Studies and La Vanguardia confirms that the legendary “Pelucas†scored 232 official goals for the Club, leaving Leo Messi only one goal away from Barça's all-time high goals scored record

Messi
Leo Messi could draw level or break César Rodríguez ’s all-time high goal record which stands at 232 goals. FC Barcelona’s Center of Documentation and Studies started an investigation, in collaboration with La Vanguardia , to verify the exact number of official goals scored by the Barça legend during his time at the Club in the early 1950s.
After studying all of César’s matches, it has been confirmed that Messi is only one goal behind the legendary “Pelucas.†The Argentine has 231 goals in official matches, therefore if the player scores against Granada he will equal César.
The study analysed and compared all of the match reports from César’s Barça career with La Vanguardia ’s, a news paper founded in 1881 , historical database. The conclusion drawn from the study, not confirmed until today, is that Césarscored 232 official goals for Barça and not 235 . It’s worth noting that César Rodiíguez is the Club’s all-time top goalscorer in official matches, but the absolute record belongs to Paulino Alcántara, who scored 369 goals for Barça in 357official and friendly matches.
The documentary heritage managed by FC Barcelona’s Center of Documentation and Studies has been instrumental in carrying out major historical research on the Club.

FCB,

 

[Classik]

FC Barcelona - Granada: The chase is on!


03/20/2012 10:15
Barça, eight points behind the league leaders, entertain Granada with the aim of chalking up their eighth win on the trot and stretching their run of good form

FOTO: ARXIU FCB
There’s no rest right now, as Barça, already through to the Spanish Cup Final and the Champions League quarter finals against Milan, are right now totally focussed on the league . Just three days after their emphatic win over Seville ( 0-2 ), Guardiola’s men will be aiming for their eighth win on the run after the defeat to Osasuna ( 3-2 ) in February. This team is really ontop form.
A win against Granada would cut the distance between Barça and the leaders to just five points, with Madrid not due to play until Wednesday, when they are at Villarreal.
Same squad as Seville game
Pep Guardiola has called up the same 19 men he took to Seville – the 17 available first team players plus Muniesa and Tello from Barça B. Theinjured Afellay, Villa, Fontàs and Abidal are the men who miss out.
Tough opponent
Granada won’t be an easy opponent though and come into the game on the back of a good win against Sporting at the weekend and a good performance at the Vicente Calderon the week before.
In the game between the two in Granada earlierthis season, Barça won thanks to a single goal from Xavi in the first half ( 0-1 ) and tonight Abel Resino’s team could well be an equally tough nut to crack.

FCB,

Roger Bogunyà

 

[Classik]

FORMATIVE FOOTBALL

The players in the Barça youth system show their support for Éric Abidal

www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/20/2012 09:45

The lads in the Barça youth system, from the youngest players all the way up to Barça B, sent Éric Abidal messages of support and encouragement

FCB

 

[Classik]

Ticket petition process open for the Champions League game against Milan
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/20/2012 10:27
The process to petition for a ticket for the Champions League quarter-final away match against Milan opened this Tuesday at 10:00 (match to be played on March 28th)
Members can petition for tickets until Wednesday, March 21st at 19:00. The process is exclusive to Club members. Members must petition for tickets on the Members section of the Club’s website

Barça supporters in Milan in 2010. PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ -FCB.
Each Barça member is allowed to petition for one ticket, however, up to four members may ask for a ticket on the same application form in the event that said members want to travel together to Italy. For this match, FC Barcelona has 5,210 available tickets to sell to members and supporters, all priced at €33. As usual, 85% of the tickets are allocated to members (3,543) and Supporters Clubs (886). The remaining 15% (781) are allocated to the Club for athletic, institutional and sponsor purposes.
[highlight]Tickets
AC Milan - FC Barcelona[/highlight]
Draw on March 22nd
All of the petitions will be handled after the scheduled close-off date. In the event that there are more petitions than there are tickets available, the Club, with the assistance of a notary, will hold a draw on March 22nd. The Clubwill inform winning members about the ticket pick up process.
Members that are younger than five-years-old will not be able to attend matches outside the Camp Nou. Furthermore, a single credit card can buy up to eight tickets. It’s worth noting that a ticket can only be picked up by the member that won it. In the event that a member cannot pick up his or her ticket, he or she must communicate the name of the authorized person, and DNI, thatwill pick up the ticket to the Club. Said person can receive up to eight tickets.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Thursday, presentation of 'We are what wepropose'
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/20/2012 11:22
The campaign focuses on inclusive physical activity and its socializing role in the community
The campaign is a FC Barcelona Foundation, Guttmann Institute, and International Paralympic Committee project. The details of thecampaign will be unveiled this Thursday in the Sala París

Víctor Tomás with a child that participated in one of the campaign's promotional spots / PHOTO: ÀLEX CAPARRÓS / FC BARCELONA
This Thursday, March 22nd, the FC Barcelona Foundation , the Guttmann Institute and the International Paralympic Committee will unveil the ‘We are what we do, we are what we propose’ campaign.
The presentation will take place at the Camp Nou’s Sala París at 19:00, and will boast the presence of:
Sandro Rosell , FC Barcelona President
Ramon Pont , FC Barcelona Foundation first vice-president
Josep M. Ramírez , director general of the Guttmann Institute
Miguel Sagarra , member of the Governing Council of the International Paralympic Committee
Josep Lluís Cleries , Generalitat Catalonia’s minister of Social and Family Welfare
Elisa Durán , director general of the La Caixa Foundation
After the ‘We are what we eat’ and ‘We are what we respect’ campaigns, the Foundation kicks off its third ‘We are what we do’ campaign,this time in collaboration with the Guttmann Institute and the International Paralympic Committee.
The fundamental objective of the ‘ We are what we do, we are what we propose’ campaign, is to raise social awareness for the physically disabled, elevate the education system as a place of normalization, promote equal opportunity and to foment inclusive physical activity as a means to knowledge, education andmutual learning.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Last training session before receiving Granada
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/20/2012 12:58
FC Barcelona's 17 available first-team players and Barça B's Muniesa and Tello trained this Tuesday morning ahead of this evening's clash with Granada

The squad is ready. FC Barcelona’s first team completed their final training session this afternoon before tonight’s match against Granada (12:00, GolT and Canal + Liga). The session at the Camp Nou involved all 17 available first-team players - everyone except Abidal , Afellay , Fontàs , and Villa - and Barça B’s Muniesa and Tello .
The team at the Camp Nou at 19:30
After the session, the FC Barcelona players ate lunch together and were given time off. The team is due back at the Camp Nou 90 minutes before kickoff (19:30).

FCB

 

[Classik]

Four La Liga fixtures confirmed
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/20/2012 13:37
The LFP has announced the La Liga schedule for weeks 31 through 34. Barça will take on AthleticClub on Saturday, March 31st, at 22:00. FCB was also handed kickoff times for the games against Zaragoza, Getafe and Levante

FC Barcelona vs Athletic Club Bilbao / PHOTO: FCB
FC Barcelona vs Athletic Club Bilbao / PHOTO: FCB
Barça B's schedule
The Segunda División schedule was also announced. Here is Barça B’s schedule:
Week.32: NÀSTIC-FCB B , Saturday, March 31st, at 18:00
Week.33: FCB B-CÃ’RDOVA , Sunday, April 8th, at 19:45
Week.34: GIRONA-FCB B , Saturday, April 14, at 18:00
The Professional Football League has confirmed the schedules for four more La Liga matches, week 31, 32, 33, and 34, this Tuesday. Therefore,Barça now knows the kickoff times for the games against Athletic Club , Zaragoza , Getafe and Levante .
Week 31: FCB - Athletic Club, Saturday, March 31st at 22:00
In between the Champions League tie with AC Milan, Barça will take on Marcelo Bielsa’s Athletic Club. The Basques and Catalans will givea La Liga preview of the King’s Cup final.
Week 32: Zaragoza - FCB, Saturday, April 7th at 20:00
Barça will visit bottom-of-the-table Zaragoza on Saturday, April 7th, at 20:00. The match betweenthe two sides in the first half of the season ended in a 4-0 for the Catalans, last season, at LaRomareda, Barça won 0-2 with two goals from Leo Messi.
Week 33: FCB - Getafe, Tuesday, April 10th at 21:00
The schedule is packed and there will be no timeto rest, in three weeks there will be another midweek La Liga fixture. This time, Barça will take on Getafe at the Camp Nou.
Week 34: Levante - FCB, Saturday, April 14th at 22:00
This match will kick off the most decisive part of the season for Barça. Pep Guardiola’s team will travel to Ciudad de Valencia, where Barça was crowed La Liga champion last year, days ahead of a possible Champions League semi-final clash and the Clásico at the Camp Nou.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Spanish League Preview, Week 29


03/20/2012 15:29
Miguel Ãngel Lotina faces a baptism of fire at El Madrigal on Wednesday when he takes charge of his first game as manager of Villarreal – against Real Madrid, who could find their lead cut to just five points by kick off time

Tello during the game against Villarreal / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB
Tello during the game against Villarreal / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB
In at the deep end
Lotina is an experienced pro, who took over at Villarrealon Monday morning, and has previouslybeen in charge of Espanyol, Celta, Deportivo and Osasuna amongst others. He’ll have a tough
task in his first game though, with Madrid still stung by Málaga’s last minute equaliser and
traditionally strong at El Madrigal, where they have lost just twice in the last 12 years, winning
seven times and drawing on three occasions andLotina admitted: “I’d have liked to have had
more time to work with the lads before meeting Madrid. They’ll be a real test for us, but a win
would give us a great boost “.
Racing and Sporting on Villarreal’s heels
Villarreal are only three points ahead of third from bottom Racing, who went down 3-1 to
Espanyol in Monday’s game from week 27, but the Santander team could overtake them on
Thursday night if they can beat Michel’s stuttering Sevilla at El Sardinero. Sporting could also
draw level with Villarreal, though they have a much worse goal difference, if Clemente can
lift his team for the visit of Mallorca - who have three players suspended for the game – on
Wednesday night. Bottom side Zaragoza’s coach Manolo Jiménez reckoned he could see “a
glimmer†of hope after his team’s 1-1 draw at the weekend, but they face a tough trip to
Mestalla to face Valencia on Wednesday.
Osasuna aim to keep up home form
Osasuna could go fourth on Tuesday night if theymaintain they excellent form at the Reyno
de Navarra with a third straight home win, but visitors Getafe are themselves on a little run,
having won their last two games. Levante are currently in fourth, but with just one away
win and seven defeats out of their last eight trips, the odds might well favour Real Sociedad
at Anoeta on Wednesday – the Basques have lost just once in their last eight home games.
Málaga are level on points with Levante and willlook to build on their point at the Bernabeu
with a win over Rayo, whilst Espanyol are also back in the mix after the win over Racing and
visit Betis on Thursday before entertaining Málaga next weekend.
Llorente could return for Bilbao
There’s also a big game on Wednesday at the Vicente Calderón, when Atlético take on Athletic
Club, with both teams hoping to bounce back after defeats at the weekend. Marcelo Bielsa will be able to welcome back Toquero and Amorabieta who were suspended at the weekend and the
injured Llorente could also figure, though captain Iraola is suspended.

FCB,

Nick Bedson

 

[Classik]

SUPPORTERS CLUBS
2nd Supporters Clubs Popular Walk in Carme
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/20/2012 13:34

The Penya Blaugrana de Carme organizes the 2nd Supporters Clubs Popular Walk, held on 25 MarchLike1Send
II Carme Popular Walk
II Carme Popular Walk
This supporters club has taken the initiative to gather all the supporters clubs to make a walk of 16 kilometres in the municipality of this town of l'Anoia.
The registration-in-advance fee is 13€ and must be formalized by clicking here . Moreover, if the registration is done on the day of the race, the price is 15€, depending on availability. This fee includes the dorsal, participation in the draws, and breakfast.
This hike has a popular and non-competitive spirit, so there will not be a classification. It will be a festive day where all participants will be able to enjoy the town.

FCB

 

[Classik]

AC Milan, eliminated from the Italian Cup
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/20/2012 23:06
AC Milan forced overtime, but Juventus drew level in the dying minutes to send Allegri's men out of the competition

Milan after scoring a goal / PHOTO: www.acmilan.com
A goal from the Montenegro national Mirko Vucinic in overtime saw off FC Barcelona’s next rival in the Champions League, AC Milan (2-2). Juventus, who won the away leg at the Guisseppe Meazza (1-2), started the game off strong with a goal from Alessandro Del Piero on 30 minutes.
In the second half, the team led by Massimo Allegri reacted and forced overtime thanks to a goal from Djamel Masbah and another from the ex-Barça player Maxi López. The overtime goal from Vucinic drew Juventus level and carried the black and whites to their first Italian Cup final in eight years.
AC Milan’s next game will be on Saturday (18:00)against Luis Enrique’s Roma.

FCB

 

[Classik]

FC Barcelona - Granada: Simply the best (5-3)


03/20/2012 23:18
Messi’s hat-trick this evening has made him the highest goalscorer in FC Barcelona history, while goals from Xavi and Tello also helped to put Barça within five points of the leader

PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB
That's eight out of eight for FC Barcelona, who defeated Granada tonight in a game that will be remembered above all else for the three goals that mean Leo Messi has overtaken César to become the highest goalscorer in club history. After Xavi had made it 1-0 and Leo had added a second, nobody imagined that the second half ofa rainy night at the Camp Nou was going to be soaction-packed, in which Granada, like Betis earlier this season, managed to cancel out a two-goal deficit.
It was then that Messi, cool as ever with another stunning finish, wrote the latest chapter of his amazing story. His goal not only knocked the wind out of a momentarily resuscitated Granada,but also marked his 233rd for the club, more than even the legendary César. Tello then added another, before the Argentinian completed his umpteenth hat-trick to once again show why he is, quite simply, the great footballer in the world.Not even the third Granada goal, their second penalty of the night and which also saw Alves sent off, was enough to dampen the spirits on such a historic evening.
The win is FC Barcelona's eighth in a row and cuts the difference between themselves and leaders Real Madrid to five points, although the latter have a game in hand, away to Villarreal onWednesday night.
Xavi early doors
FC Barcelona only needed four minutes and one chance to go ahead. A nice piece of combination play was completed with a Cuenca cross from the left, off which Messi supplied the ball to Xavi,who came in from behind to score. Granada had barely touched the ball and the Catalans were already in front.
Messi equals César
Although five changes had been made to the team that faced Sevilla, with a completely unfamiliar midfield without any of Busquets, Cesc or Iniesta, and with Keita and Thiago providing support for Xavi, FC Barcelona found little difficulty finding further chances to test Julio Cèsar. And they barely had to shift out of third gear to do it, with Alexis and Cuenca pulling the play out wide and creating plenty of space for Messi to do his work.
Cuenca was also involved in the second goal, supplying a the cross for Messi to score with his first touch, taking a slight deflection off the Granada defence on the way. The crowd immediately responded by chanting the Argentinian's name. And rightly so. He had just equalised César's goalscoring record for the club. History was in the making.
Granada pull back level
Barça conserved their energy for the rest of the half, and started the second in similarly relaxed fashion. Meanwhile, Granada were creating nextto nothing in the way of threats. But following a free kick on the edge of the area after 55 minutes they managed to pull back to 2-1. It hadbeen their first shot on target all game. If that goal had seemed hard on Barça, who had been providing almost all the football, the second, to make it 2-2, was even more so. Alves brought down Benítez, and the referee adjudged the incident to have happened inside the area and pointed to the spot, from which Siqueira made no mistake.
Record breaker
With rain now lashing down over the Camp Nou, the greatest player in the world stepped up to make his mark once again. A pinpoint assist from Alves was met by Messi, who beat Juli Cèsarwith a sublime chip. Having already equalled César's record, he had now gone one better to become the highest scoring Barça player in history. And what a goal to mark the occasion. Simply the best.
Crazy ending
Now 3-2 down, Granada didn't seem to have any strength left to conjure up another response, andinstead Tello added another to Barcelona's tally, while there was still time for Messi to complete a hat-trick on what was already a historic night for him. It looked like it was all going to end 5-2,but then the Andalusians were awarded anotherpenalty, this time for an Alves handball in the area, for which the Brazilian was red carded. Thespot-kick was converted, and at least Granada can go away saying that they scored three goals at the Camp Nou, something nobody else has achieved this season.
But little did it matter in the end. The game was already won, and the night belonged to just one man – the incredible Leo Messi. He's already the highest goalscorer in FC Barcelona history, and still has many years of football ahead of him. He is both the present and future of one of the most amazing football teams ever to grace this sport.

FCB,

Roger Bogunyà