Wazzup with FC BARCELONA?!! (News)

[Classik]

Alves joins team-mates in training
www.fcbarcelona.cat 04/09/2012 18:56
The Brazilian international continues to nurse a sore left thigh muscle but was able to work alongside his team-mates for part of Monday’s training session. However, Piqué exercised awayfrom the main group
Guardiola continued his preparations for the Getafe match with the first team squad plus Bartra, Montoya, Tello and Muniesa from the reserves

The players trained on Monday afternoon aheadof Tuesday’s Camp Nou clash with Getafe (9 pm). Dani Alves , who picked up a slight thigh strain inthe game against Zaragoza, was able to follow part of the session with the other players. The Brazilian was one of 18 available first-team players who took part in the session together with Ibrahim Afellay , who is still working his way back to fitness.
Meanwhile, Gerard Piqué trained separately from the group as part of his recovery from a thigh problem.
Four from the reserves
Four members of the Barça B squad, Bartra , Montoya , Tello y Muniesa , also took part in the session.
The final training session before the game will be held behind closed doors in the Camp Nou at 12 noon on Tuesday.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Guardiola: "Fighting back from four points down is tremendously difficult"




04/09/2012 21:15

The manager reminded the packed press room that no team in the history of La Liga have ever fought back to overturn a 10-point lead held by Real Madrid and that Barça still have a lot of work to do, starting with the match against Getafe

Guardiola said that his team must focus on the Getafe match in order to overcome the Madrid-based side’s fantastic defence

The Champions League

Guardiola is prudent ahead of the Champions League semifinal clash with Chelsea: “we can lose in the Liga, and Chelsea can eliminate us. We weren’t educated that way; it’s ugly to say that we’ve already eliminated Chelsea. We only celebrate what we earn. We need to be inconspicuous and get to work, that’s how things are won. In a two-leg playoff, we have to be wary because Chelsea have players that are capable of anything. They will be a terribly tough rival.â€

“La tasca és pensar que demà ve el Getafe de Luis Garcia, al qual sempre ens costa molt de superar pel gran treball defensiu que fa"

Josep Guardiola played down Barça’s situation inLa Liga, now only four points adrift of the leadersafter Los Blancos were held by Valencia this weekend. The manager is very aware of the enormity of the challenge before his squad seeing that no team in the history of La Liga have ever fought back to overturn a Real Madrid 10-point lead. “ It seems as though we already have it [the title], but the reality is that four points are a lot of points. There’s a lot of work to do . People need to start doing the math. We do our own calculations. I’m not interested in the calculations done 600 km away,†said the manager. He added: “this league title is practically impossible.â€

Getafe takes priority

Along these lines, Guardiola insisted that “four points are a lot to fight back from†and he addedthat Mourinho’s side have the luxury of being able to “drop points†where as Barça cannot allow itself to lose any. “I still believe that it’s a practically impossible task,†he said. The Azulgrana manager is very clear that if his players want to have “the slightest chance at thetitle,†they have to win the seven remaining games left on the schedule. “You never know, but it’s evident that we cannot lose points.†In order to add to Barça’s nine-match winning streak, the team must beat Getafe tomorrow: “our job is to think that Luis García ’s Getafe are coming tomorrow, they have always made it difficult for us to overcome their fantastic defence; they beat us the first time around.â€

The manager urged everyone to “not confuse the situation the team is in.†He went on to say that from this point on until the end of the season that the team’s difficulties “will be greater now†as opposed to when Barça trailed by 10 points. He added that the team will be “in for a surprise†if they aren’t ready. “It’s a given that everything will be simple from now on, when the reality is that we have very tough games ahead of us,†said Guardiola. On the upcoming Clásico, Guardiola said that Madrid will come into the game “knowing that if they win they’ll be La Liga champions.â€

The manager had a very clear message for his players: “the players know what I’ve told you and what we must do for the rest of the season, and that’s smiling a little less and running a littlemore . There has been very little relaxation in these players.†He added: “in order to win we have to run more and when the good times come, smile. What I don’t want is for my players to focus on things they shouldn’t. I want these players to have a good time, smile - but in order to win we have to run. They say that we won’t lose anymore matches for the rest of the year, I don’t know which self-help book they’re getting that from, because we have tough matches coming up. We need to be fresh and very brilliant on defence, where we’re stretched so thin.â€

Piqué and Alves, doubtful

Lastly, the Barça manager said that both Gerard Piqué and Dani Avles “are doubtful†for the Getafe match. Guardiola won’t make a decision on whether to field the players until after tomorrow’s pre-match training session at the Camp Nou. On the other hand, the Competition Commission has yet to meet, which means that Ceschas yet to receive confirmation that he will be banned for one match due to picking up his fifth yellow card in the match against Zaragoza. Guardiola, however, said that “Cesc is out and he cannot play.â€

FCB,

VANESSA FORNS

 

[Classik]

Spanish League Preview Week 32



04/10/2012 09:00
There’s another midweek series of matches over the next few days and if Barça can beat Getafe on Tuesday, Real Madrid could go into their Madrid derby against Atletico on Wednesday, just one point ahead at the top

ATHLETIC - SEVILLA / FOTO: www.athletic-club.net
Guaita frustrates Madrid ahead of derby
Real Madrid’s goalless draw against Valencia at the Bernabeu saw a fantastic display from the visitors keeper Guaita which cut the hosts’ lead to just four points and with their derby at the Vicente Calderon not due till a day after Barça’s game against Getafe, the pressure is really on Mourinho’s team. Atletico disappointed with a 2-0 defeat at Levante at the weekend and they are still stuck on 42 points in seventh, six behind Levante, who lie in fifth with 48.
Malaga go third
Despite their point at the Bernabeu, Valencia losttheir third place spot to Malaga who beat Racing3-0 on Monday night to go a point ahead. Isco, Cazorla and Van Nistelrooy were on target for Pellegrini’s team, whilst Racing were reduced to ten men after just three minutes when Francis was sent off. Malaga are away to Villarreal on Thursday, whilst Valencia host Rayo, who absolutely destroyed Osasuna on Saturday, winning 6-0 at Vallecas. The Pamplona outfit stay in sixth spot on 43 points – thanks to Atletico’s defeat and Bilbao’s 1-0 win over Seville – and will look to their generally good home form to bounce back when they play Espanyol – who are level with Atletico, Seville and Getafe on 42.
Bilbao looking to get back in the mix
Bilbao’s win was a welcome return to league form, with Llorente getting their winning goal, and they will be right back in the fight for a Europa League spot if they can win at Granada on Thursday. Granada themselves took a point from a goalless draw with Mallorca at the weekend and that could prove vital with all four clubs below them losing at the weekend. Villarreal are now three points behind Granada on 32 points after losing 3-1 at Betis, with Zaragoza on 28 and Racing and Sporting, who lost 2-0 at Getafe, on 25. Zaragoza are away to Seville on Thursday night, Sporting host Levante and Racing face what has to be a must win gameat home to Mallorca.
The midweek round of games gets underway onTuesday with Real Sociedad (37 points), who threw away a 0-2 lead at Espanyol to end 2-2 on Saturday, at home to Betis(38), with both teams looking for a win that would probably guarantee safety.

FCB,

Nick Bedson

 

[Classik]

Applications for tickets for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea will be accepted as from Tuesday 10th April
www.fcbarcelona.cat 04/10/2012 09:30
The application process for the CL first leg will open at 10 am. Club members have been allocated 2,026 tickets
Applications for the match between Chelsea andBarça in London may be made from 10 am Tuesday 10th until 7 pm Wednesday 11th via theClub’s website (www.fcbarcelona.cat)

Fans / PHOTO: ARXIU FCB
Applications for tickets will only be accepted from members using the form available in the members section of the website. Tickets are restricted to one per member, though up to four members may apply on the same form if they wish to travel together.
TICKETS FOR THE FIRST LEG
FC Barcelona has been allocated 2,979 tickets. Asusual, 85% of the tickets will go directly to members (2,026 tickets) and the Supporters’ Clubs (506 tickets), while the remaining 15% will be used for sporting and institutional commitments or for Club sponsors (447 tickets).
Draw for tickets on 12th April
All applications will be processed once the application period has closed. If there are more applications than available tickets, a draw will be held before a notary on Thursday 12th. On thesame day, the Club will take payment for the tickets. They can be collected on Friday 13th or Monday 16th.
Please remember that infant members (under 5)cannot request tickets for away matches. A maximum of 8 tickets may be charged to one credit card. Please note that tickets must be collected in person by the owner of the ticket. If you are unable to collect the ticket yourself, you will have to provide the Club with the name and identity number of the person collecting it on your behalf. An individual may collect up to a maximum of 8 tickets on behalf of others.

FCB

 

[Classik]

From application 22,302, to the Copa del Rey Final
www.fcbarcelona.cat 04/10/2012 09:45
The 13,600 tickets allocated to FC Barcelona members for the Copa del Rey Final on May 25 in Madrid will start from this numberLike2Send

From application 22,302, to the Copa del Rey Final / PHOTO: ÃLEX CAPARRÓS - FCB
On Tuesday at 9.30, in the Ricard Maxenchs Pressroom in the Camp Nou, the draw was held to distribute the 13,600 tickets allocated to the Club for its members for th e Copa del Rey Final on May 25 at the Vicente Calderón against Athletic Bilbao . Tickets will be allocated startingfrom application number 22,302 .
We remind you that FC Barcelona members requested 61,569 tickets as part of 27,302 separate applications, The draw was held in the presence of the vice president of the Social Area, Jordi Cardoner , and the vice president of the Institutional Area, Carles Vilarrubí .
Tickets from 60 euros
From this Tuesday and until Thursday, the Club will be announcing to the winning members the process for collecting tickets and making payment. If allocated a ticket in the draw, the charge will be made automatically in the form ofa ticket reservation of 60 euros, which is the minimum price for a seat. If there is any difference in price, this will be paid when collecting tickets from the ticket offices, where members will be able to choose their ticket category depending on availability. The collection process will be in order of winning applications. If payment cannot be made, the right to purchase will be lost.
85% of tickets for members
Out of the Vicente Calderón’s total capacity of 50,000 seats, each finalist club gets 20,000 tickets (40% of the capacity), while the remainder are allocated to the RFEF. 85% of the tickets available to FC Barcelona for the final (16,757 tickets), will be allocated to members (13,600 tickets) and supporters clubs (3,400 tickets). The remaining 15% (3,000 tickets) will be used for the Club’s sporting and institutional commitments and by its sponsors.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Historically difficult visitor


04/10/2012 09:53
Getafe have avoided defeat in two of their last four trips to FC Barcelona
They are one of the just two teams of the Guardiola era never to have conceded more thantwo goals at the Camp Nou, the other being Espanyol

PHOTO: ARCHIVE FCB
Josep Guardiola is right, Getafe won’t be easy to beat on Tuesday night at the Camp Nou. The Madrid based outfit is one of the teams that have caused the most problems for FC Barcelona,having got a positive result on two of their last four visits to the Camp Nou, and never having lost by more than one goal. Under Guardiola, games have always been close, 1-1 (in the 2008/09 season), 2-1 (2009/10) and 2-1 (2010/11). The year before, against Frank Rijkaard’s Barça, the score was 0-0.
One of the three hardest
A glance at the last few seasons at the Camp Nou makes for interesting reading. Getafe is one of Barça’s three toughest rivals at the Camp Nou of late. Only Espanyol (with a draw in 2007/08 and a win in 2008/09) and Vila-real (with a win in 2007/08 and two draws in the seasons immediately after) have got more points at the Camp Nou in recent seasons.
Five goals against
Although Getafe have never won at the Camp Nou in seven attempts, they have only let in five goals in four seasons, and only four goals against Guardiola, never having conceded any more than two goals. Espanyol have also managed to avoid being scored against more than twice at the Camp Nou since Guardiola has been in charge.

FCB,

Roger Bogunyà

 

[Classik]

FC Barcelona joins the fight against Chagas disease
www.fcbarcelona.cat 04/10/2012 10:08
This Thursday the awareness campaign ‘Beat the silence. Beat Chagas disease’ will be unveiled at the Camp Nou
Leo Messi costars in the campaign’s awareness-raising video. The FC Barcelona Foundation, in collaboration with private and public institutions, is the driving force behind the campaign

Miguel Baltasar García, who has Chagas disease, features in the campaign's awareness video with Leo Messi. PHOTO: ÀLEX CAPARRÓS / FCB
On Thursday, April 12th, the awareness campaign “Beat the silence. Beat Chagas disease†will be unveiled by the FC Barcelona Foundation, the Catalan Agency for Cooperation and Development, the Leo Messi Foundation, theBID (Interamerican Development Bank) and the Catalan’s Institute’s International Health Program (PROSICS); with the support of the Neglected Disease Department of the World Health Organization (WHO), FindeChagas, ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health) and the Healthy World Foundation.
The presentation will take place in the Sala Roma at the Camp Nou at 19:00. Attendees include:
Sandro Rosell , FC Barcelona President
Ramon Pont , first vice president of the FC Barcelona Foundation
Carles Llorens , director general of the Generalitat de Catalunya Cooperation and Development Agency
Dr . Jordi Gómez , coordinator of Tropical Medial Unit and International Health Drassanes of the Catalan Institute for Health
Miguel Baltasar García , campaign spokesperson
During the event, which will be hosted by the journalist Rita Marzoa , the awareness video, which features Miguel Baltasar García and Leo Messi, will make its debut.
To find out more information on Chagas disease, click here .

FCB

 

[Classik]

FC Barcelona - Getafe: Keep the engine running



04/10/2012 12:55
9 pm, GOL T and Canal+ Liga: Barça are aiming to record their 10th consecutive league victory against Getafe and close to within a point of the leader.

PUYOL / PHOTO: ARCHIVE FCB
The players are determined to keep up a superb run of form and results with another win in the Camp Nou against Getafe – it would be the 10th league win in a row - which would lift Barça to within a point of Real Madrid pending the result of the league leader’s visit to local rivals AtleticoMadrid. It won’t be easy as Getafe, along with Osasuna, are one of only two sides to beat Barça in the league this season.
It will be a vital match against an uncomfortableopponent. In Josep Guardiola’s first season in charge, Getafe secured a 1-1 draw in the Camp Nou. The last two encounters have ended in a narrow 2-1 win for Barça.
All in all, a series of close results against a Getafe side that sits comfortably in midtable but has an eye on a sixth place finish that would open the door to Europe. Osasuna currently occupy that coveted sixth place just a point ahead of Getafe. It has all the signs of being a hard-fought match.
Cesc suspended
Josep Guardiola will be without Cesc Fabregas (suspended) while Gerard Piqué (who missed out on the Zaragoza game) and Dani Alves remain doubtful with thigh problems. Apart fromthese three, Guardiola will definitely be without Afellay , Villa , Fontàs and Abidal , who all have long-term injury problems.
Getafe bring in Masilela and Rubén Perez
Luis Garcia ’s Getafe side come to the Camp Nou on the back of decent five-match run including home wins against Real Sociedad, Valencia and Sporting, a goalless draw away to Osasuna y andjust one defeat away to Atletico Madrid. They are tenth with 42 points but just one point off a UEFA League place. Their away form this season has been mixed, with four wins, eight defeats and four draws. The Getafe coach has brought in the South African international defender Masilela and Spain under-21 midfielder Rubén Perez to replace Mané (suspended) and Pablo Sarabia . At his pre-match press conference, Garcia told reporters, “We’ll have to compete at the maximumâ€.

FCB,

Vanessa Forns

 

[Classik]

Last training session before hosting Getafe
www.fcbarcelona.cat 04/10/2012 13:15
18 first-team footballers plus Barça B’s Montoya,Muniesa, Bartra and Tello took part in this afternoon’s session
Dani Alves trained with the group and Gerard Piqué worked apart from his teammates

Last training session before Getafe / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB
This afternoon, the first team completed their final training session before hosting Getafe (21:00, Gol T, Cala + Liga and Radio Barça). The session took place at the Camp Nou and a total of 22 footballers participated - 18 from the first team plus Barça B’s Montoya , Muniesa , Bartra and Tello .
Of the first-team footballers, Dani Alves trained with the group, while Piqué worked apart from his teammates. Ibrahim Afellay , still without themedical all-clear, also trained. Abidal , Fontàs and Villa were the only absent players.
At the Camp Nou at 19:30
After the training session, the players ate together at the Camp Nou and heading home for a couple hours of rest. The team is due back at the Camp Nou at 19:30, 90 minutes before kickoff with Getafe.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Spotlight on Getafe



04/10/2012 15:45
Getafe is a working class town just outside Madrid and its football team, which was only founded in its current form in 1983 has made an amazing journey from the lower divisions to the heights of La Liga and European football in the last decade or so

PHOTO: ARXIU FCB
HISTORY
Although a Getafe team was formed in the mid 1940s and played around the lower divisions
until they were disbanded after failing to pay players’ wages in 1982, the current incarnation
was not formed until 1983. After starting at the bottom of the pyramid, Getafe won promotion
four seasons on the run to end up in the third tier, where they remained, with the occasional
promotion and subsequent relegation from the second division, until 2004 when they won
promotion to the top flight for the first time in their history. It’s been a fairy tale story
since then, with big name coaches such as Bernd Schuster and Michael Laudrup, European
qualification(twice), a sixth place finish two seasons ago and a Spanish Cup final defeat.
THE BARÇA CONNECTION
In 1978, Getafe, who were then in the second division, drew Barça in the last 16 of the Spanish
Cup. After a heroic 3-3 draw at home, the minnows were then brought back to earth with
an 8-0 thrashing at the Camp Nou in the second leg. Nearly 20 years later, the two met again
in the Cup semi finals and this time the first leg was in Barcelona, where two Messi goals –
including what many consider to be one of his best ever- and one each for Xavi, Eto’o and
Gudjohnsen gave Barça what looked to be a definitive 5-2 lead going into the second leg, only
for Getafe to pull off a remarkable 4-0 win to take them through to the final.
The Boss
Luis Garcia is, at 39, one of a clutch of promising young Spanish coaches, having joined Getafe
last summer following three successful seasons at Levante, with whom he won promotion in
2010.
Form Guide
After a poor start that saw them flirting with the relegation zone, Getafe now lie tenth in La
Liga. Their 1-0 win over Barça in November was in many ways a turning point, losing just one
of their next seven games and they are currently enjoying their best form of the season, having
taken 13 points from their last six matches, with just the one defeat at the Vicente Calderon on
their last outing.

FCB,

Nick Bedson

 

[Classik]

FC Barcelona - Getafe: Barça get ten out of ten (4-0)



04/10/2012 22:57
Goals from Alexis (2), Messi and Pedro have won Barça’s tenth game in a row and put them just one point behind Madrid, who play on Wednesday night

PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB
PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB
FC Barcelona have passed Tuesday night’s test with flying colours. They defeated Getafe playing exquisite football and are now just one point behind leaders Real Madrid, who have a high pressure derby at the Vicente Calderón against Atlético Madrid to deal with on Wednesday night. Guardiola ’s side played a perfect game from start to finish, with Alexis andMessi getting a goal each in the first half and theChilean heading home a second after the break, and Pedro getting his second goal in two games, also from a header, to make it 4-0.
That makes for ten wins in a row for Barça, who now turn their minds to Saturday’s game againstthis season’s surprise package Levante, althoughbefore that, they will have a keen eye on events at the Madrid derby on Wednesday night.
Alexis opens the scoring
Guardiola knew how important this game was, and decided not to rest any of his biggest names,while also opting for the ambitious tactic of fielding just three defenders and choosing as many as six attack-minded players in Xavi, Iniesta, Cuenca, Pedro, Alexis and Messi . The game started out as a battle to win the midfield, where Luis García also deployed the strongest forces he has in the hope of containing the Catalans as much as possible.
But his plans were in vain, with Barça absolutely dominating the possession from the outset, and it didn’t take the home side long to break the deadlock through Alexis , who lost his marker with blistering skill before shooting home from the edge of the area. The Camp Nou faithful, who remembered Abidal’s name in the 22nd minute of both halves, celebrated the goal in style.
Iniesta and Messi form lethal connection
Getafe only managed to break into the Barça half with any serious intent on three consecutiveoccasions just after the half hour. With Miku as their only out and out forward, the rest of the team did all they could to contain Barça’s suffocating possession football, and which led tocrosses time and again from Pedro and Cuenca , on the left and right respectively, while Xavi, Iniesta, Alexis and Messi masterfully marshalled the midfield. All those players had chances to get Barcelona’s second, but eventually it was theArgentinian who found the net following a magnificent one-two with Iniesta . Barça went in at the break 2-0 up, and looked in total command of the game.
Third and fourth from headers
After the restart, the Camp Nou suffered a torrential downpour, which had much to do with the drop in intensity until the final quarter of an hour when FC Barcelona put their feet back on the gas to ensure three valuable points. And they got them in uncharacteristic fashion, both coming from headers. The first was converted by Alexis with a powerful dive to complete a majestic move started by a pinpoint cross from Cuenca on the right. The second was the work of Pedro, who headed home a Messi free kick with his back to the goal. The two strikes brought an end to the storm, and sparked off yet another night of celebrations in the Catalan capital.

FCB,

Roger Bogunyà

 

[Classik]

Guardiola equals Rijkaard with 112 victories in La Liga



04/10/2012 23:03
Barça’s victory this Tuesday over Getafe saw Gaurdiola equal Rijkaard’s record of 112 victories in La Liga

Guardiola during the match against Getafe / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB
Josep Guardiola continues to break records as FCBarcelona’s manager. After today’s victory over Getafe, he’s now the manager with the second most amount of wins in La Liga in the history of FC Barcelona. Guardiola is level with Frank Rijkaard in second place, both with 112 victories . The Catalan manager reached this mark after leading his team in 146 league matches, with a winning rate of 76.8%, the highest of any Barça coach in the history of the Club. Rijkaard’s win rate in La Liga is 56.9%.
Only 10 defeats
If Guardiola’s number of wins is impressive, then the amount of games he’s lost is even more astounding. Of his 146 matches at the Barça helm, he’s only lost 10 games and drawn 24 times. His team have scored 392 goals and conceded 103. In terms of points, Guardiola’s Barça have earned 354 points over these past four seasons.
Only Johan Cruyff has led FC Barcelona to more victories than Guardiola. The Dutchman won 183matches on the Barça bench from 306 games.

FCB,

Roger Bogunyà

 

[God's_gift]

go Real Madrid!

 

[Classik]

go Real Madrid!

Of course they are going home defeated. El Classico, 21st April 2012.

 

[God's_gift]

:p:D

 

[Classik]

Sure you know that they will go - they are going home demolished!

 

[Classik]

Guardiola: “We dedicate this victory to Abidal"


04/11/2012 00:17
The manager dedicated the victory to Éric Abidal, who underwent liver transplant surgery this Tuesday
“I’m very pleased with today’s performance because it’s difficult to attack a team that puts nine men behind the ball,†said the manager

“We’re very pleased to be able to dedicate this victory to Abidal and his cousin Gerard. It’s a special day because we knew that he was in surgeryâ€
"We have to start thinking about one of the most difficult matches we have left away from home like the one against Levante and Rayo"
Josep Guardiola wanted to encourage Éric Abidal , who underwent liver transplant surgery today, by dedicating Barça’s victory over Getafe to the Frenchman. “We’re very pleased to be able to dedicate this victory to Abidal and his cousin Gerard. It’s a special day because we knew that he was in surgery.â€
On the match, the manager is pleased with the performance of his players against a team that came to the Camp Nou to defend the initial scoreline: “we’re very pleased because it’s nevereasy [to play against] such a defensive team. Wefound our patience, and we scored fairly early, we created goal scoring chances... we controlled the match.†He added that “it’s very difficult to attack a team that defends with nine players.â€
Time to think about Levante
The manager knows that he can’t influence tomorrow’s match between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid. However, he said “we’re on a good streak and we have to focus on our own work. We have to start thinking about one of the most difficult matches we have left away from home like the one against Levante and Rayo. These two games will mark our course [in the Liga].â€
Praise for Puyol
Carles Puyol turns 34 this Friday. Guardiola said that “beyond his physical qualities he can play football. He lives for it and he takes care of himself. He lives each training session as if it were his last and he performs like it’s his first. I’m very pleased with him and even more so after last year. It’s encouraging because it helps me think we can prolong his career and that’s good for him and for Barça.â€
Just as he did after the match against Zaragoza, Guardiola highlighted Pedro ’s performance. “Weneed his goals until the end of the season. It’s great that he’s recovering his confidence and I’mhappy that the fans cheer him on.â€
Lastly, the manager played down the fact that Barça finished the match with 10 La Masia gradutes. “The foundation of the Club is made up of players from La Masia, but in the end everyone is part of this team.â€

FCB,

Anna Segura

 

[Classik]

Iniesta: “We'll keep fighting for the title until the endâ€


04/11/2012 00:34
The midfielder said that “there is still a lot of Liga left†and that the team is on a “good trajectoryâ€
The Barça players dedicate tonight’s win to Abidal, who underwent liver transplant surgery today
Muniesa: “It’s an honour to finish the game with 10 players from the youth system. I hope we can some day finish a game with 11â€

Training session on Wednesday
Barça will train tomorrow at 11:00 at the Ciutat Esportiva Sant Joan Despí in a closed-door session. Sergio Busquets will hold a post-trainingpress conference
Barça closed the gap with Real Madrid, who still have a game in hand, to one point tonight after the Catalans beat Getafe 4-0 at the Camp Nou. “Madrid are the leaders, they have the advantage. But there’s still quite a bit of Liga to play. What we have to do is win the games we have left,†said Andrés Iniesta . The midfielder said that his teammates must have their “batteries charged†in order to take advantage of any slip up that Madrid might have from here until the end of the season. Despite the one-point difference, the Azulgranas aren’t giving up on the title: “things have changed and we’re still fighting for the title, and we’ll keep fighting for it until the end.â€
Goal express
Iniesta was the man that supplied Messi with the assist in Barça’s second goal. “The goal was scored after a very fast one-touch play. When they close themselves off we have to play as quickly as possible. It worked out well,†mused Iniesta, who also said that the team “is on a good trajectory†and that “we took advantage ofour chances.â€
Barça’s next match will be away to Levante. The Azulgranas place a lot of value on this Saturday’smatch seeing that the Valencia-based team are currently holing a Champions League spot in the table.
Victory dedicated to Abidal
Most of Barça’s players dedicated tonight’s victory to Abidal , who underwent liver transplant surgery today. Iniesta said: “I’m happy to dedicate this win to Abi. This is for you!†Another hot topic among the footballers after the match was the fact that Barça ended the game with 10 home-grown players on the pitch.
Barça’s footballers will be keeping a close eye on tomorrow’s match between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid. “This is a match worth watching because it’s a derby, and derbies are always intense. I’ll be watching it, but Madrid is capable of winning and Atlético is playing at home. Without a doubt, it will be an exciting game,†said Iniesta.
Here are the statements made by the FC Barcelona players after the match:
Montoya :
“It’s very easy to play with this team because they are the best. We have to win all of our matches and hope that Madrid drop points. We’re working really well and we’re on the best form we’ve been on all season. We have to pressure our rival [Madrid].
“Being one point away from Madrid after being 10 away is beautiful and we have to continue the trend. We have to keep on working.â€
Valdés :
“The boss always tells us what we need to hear. We’re in the final stretch of the Liga and we have to grit our teeth, it’s almost over. We’re onepoint away, we’ll see what Madrid does tomorrow. The work that needed to get done today, is finished.
“Fantastic match from the team and now we’re only a point behind the leaders. I have to highlight the fact that we finished the match with 10 players form the youth system on the pitch.â€
Adriano :
“We have to keep on running, the best part of the season is ahead of us. This was a good game,we were able to attack and keep our patience. We earned a good result. We believe we can winthe title. We’ll keep on fighting until the end because there are still a lot of points still in play. We have to hold on to this thought and work really hard.
“Levante have always been a difficult team. It’s an important match. We cannot allow ourselves to repeat the errors we’ve committed in the past.â€
Pedro :
“The fans were spectacular, I don’t have words. Great work from the team and great victory. Thisis for our friend Abidal.â€
Cuenca :
“This victory is for you, Abi. Be strong, we eagerlyawait your return!â€
Muniesa :
“It’s an honour to finish the match th 10 players from the reserve side. I hope we can someday finish a game with 11.â€
Alves :
“Great work from the team. The show must go on.â€

FCB ,

ITZIAR BRAVO

 

[Classik]

Pedro: “Every game’s a final from now onâ€


04/11/2012 10:45
Pedro believes the team “are enjoying some good form and are really on a rollâ€
Happy with the Camp Nou crowd: “I don’t know how to thank the fans enoughâ€

t’s been more than a year – since February 2011- since Pedro last scored in two consecutive games, but after an injury plagued season, he’s clearly getting back to his best now: “the most important thing is the way that I feel right now –I’m fine and so is the team – from now on, every game is a finalâ€, he told the Barça TV programme‘El Marcador’.
“Full of confidenceâ€
Pedro has now scored nine times this season andin the last two – against Zaragoza and Getafe – he seems to have really got his confidence back: “tonight’s goal was a bit of an odd one, the ball flew in. I’m very happy with it and I dedicated it to my teammate and friend Abidal, who’s havinga tough time. I want to send him all my supportâ€.Pedro also sent a message to the Camp Nou crowd: “I really don’t know how to thank them enough – right now I’m feeling very happy, satisfied and full of confidenceâ€.
Guardiola’s message
Pedro is also clear about the team’s position: “we are playing very well as a team and we are really on a roll. We’ve just taken each game at a time, focussing on ourselves and knowing we couldn’t slip upâ€. It’s also clear that Guardiola’s advice to the players has been key: “we knew that Getafe could be a tough game and we had to be concentrated on the match and nothing else. That’s what Guardiola told us. Right now every one of the six games left will be like a final. We have achieve our objective of cutting down the distance, but it’s still going to be very hard to overtake themâ€.

FCB,

Itziar Bravo / Roger Bogunyà

 

[Classik]

Facts and figures from the Barça – Getafe game
www.fcbarcelona.cat 04/11/2012 11:00
The game against Getafe was the team’s tenth on the run in La Liga and also saw Alexis beat hisprevious personal goal scoring record for a season

Iniesta and Messi / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB
The team’s tenth consecutive victory came against Getafe on Tuesday and threw up a number of interesting facts and figures.
- The win was Guardiola’s 110th league victory in charge of the team, equalling Frank Rijkaard and leaving him only behind Johan Cruyff’s record of 183 wins.
- With his two goals, Alexis has now scored 13 sofar this season – one more than his previous record, the twelve he scored for Udinese last year. The Chilean has bagged 10 league goals, 2 in the Champions League and 1 in the Spanish Cup.
- With Barça’s second, Messi took his total to the season so far to an astonishing 39 in the league, just one short of the record set last season by Cristiano Ronaldo. The Argentinean has now scored in each of the last nine league games.
- Barça have now scored 94 league goals this season - one less than they scored in the whole of last year’s campaign – with six games still to be played.
- When Muniesa replaced Mascherano on 82 minutes, the team had 10 home grown players on the pitch.
- It’s the first time that Barça have been within a single point of the leaders since week 10, when Real Madrid had 25 points and Barça 24.
- Xavi (153), Busquets (125) and Iniesta (104) were the best passers in the game with Miguel Torres (39) making the most for Getafe. In all, the team made 718 passes against 177 for the visitors.
- Víctor Valdés didn’t have to make a single save during the game, the visitors didn’t manage a single shot on target.
-Sergio Busquets was key in the success of the three man defence, making 13 tackles – more than any other Barça player on the night.

FCB