Wazzup with FC BARCELONA?!! (News)

[Classik]

Xavi set to break record for clásico appearances
www.fcbarcelona.cat 04/20/2012 11:07
Assuming he plays on Saturday, the midfielder will make it to 32 clásicos, beating the record held by Segarra (31) for matches against the old enemy
Also, Carles Puyol will equalise Migueli’s 13 league appearances against the all-whites at the Camp Nou

Xavi Hernández
More Clasicos (total)
Xavi 31
Segarra 31
Migueli 30
Puyol 29
César 28
More Clasicos (at Camp Nou)
Migueli 25
César 24
Puyol 24
Xavi 23
Rexach 21
Rifé 21
Asensi 19
Zubizarreta 18
On Saturday, Xavi Hernández could become the Barça player to have made the most appearances against Real Madrid. If he plays his 32nd match against the old enemy, he will beat the 31 achieved by Segarra, a record he levelled when he appeared in the Spanish Supercup last summer.
He played Real Madrid for the first time in 2000 at the Santiago Bernabéu, a game that also featured Pep Guardiola and Carles Puyol . Since then, he has made it to 23 clásicos in the league, which included one goal scored in last year’s famous 5-0 drubbing of Madrid at the Camp Nou. His total of 31 clásicos also includes 3 games in the Copa del Rey, 3 in the Champions League and2 in the Spanish Supercup.
Puyol equals Migueli
Although Xavi holds the outright record, he is notthe man to have played Real Madrid the most times at the Camp Nou. That honours falls to Migueli , who played 13 home matches against the side from the Spanish capital. But Barcelona captain Carles Puyol stands to equal that record on Saturday. Behind them in the list are César (12), Rifé (11), Asensi (10) and Rexach (10).

FCB

 

[Classik]

Picture the clásico
www.fcbarcelona.cat 04/18/2012 13:32
Add a touch of colour to the clásico and send us photos and drawings of your emotions in relation to this latest clash of the Liga giants at the Camp Nou
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Powered by Olapic Drag and share images, explore the galleries of other Barça Fans like you and show your Barça feelings in the build-up to the clásico at the Camp Nou on April 21. Visually express your emotions ahead of the game with the all-whiteson which so many of Barça’s league hopes depend.
Now Barça Fans can create their own photo and video galleries. Send photos, share them and take a look at everything that’s been published around the world. Title celebrations, Barça matches, away trips … You will find a little bit of everything in the Barça Fans gallery.
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FCB

 

[Classik]

FC BARCELONA-REAL MADRID 5-0 (2010/11)

29 November 2010. Round 13 2010/11 League.

On the day the Club marked its 111th anniversary, Guardiola ’s team celebrated with a memorable performance to sink Cristiano Ronaldo and Mourinho’s team. It had promised to be a close fought game, but Barça swept asidethe Madrid team from the off. 2-0 up at half time, Barça put away the game in the second half with two great goals from David Villa and a fifth from Jeffren after Ramos had been sent off for the visitors.

FC Barcelona: Valdés, Alves, Puyol, Piqué, Abidal, Xavi (Keita, 86’), Busquets, Iniesta, Pedro (Jeffren, 86’), Messi, Villa (Bojan, 75’).

Entrenador: Josep Guardiola.

Reial Madrid: Casillas, Ramos, Pepe, Carvalho, Marcelo (Arbeloa, 59’), Khedira, Xabi Alonso, Di María, Özil (Lass, 46’), Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema.

Entrenador: José Mourinho.

Àrbitre: Iturralde González.

Gols: Min. 9, 1-0: Xavi Min. 17, 2-0: Pedro Min. 54, 3-0: Villa Min. 57, 4-0: Villa Min. 91, 5-0: Jeffren

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FCB

 

[Classik]

Barça-Madrid: The Clásico goes global
www.fcbarcelona.cat 04/20/2012 17:09
With an estimated audience of 400 million people, the La Liga showdown between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will paralyze the world for 90 intense minutes
The Club encourages Barça fans to show their support for Guardiola’s men by using the hashtag#somiserem in the hours leading up to the match
The Camp Nou will host over 130 accredited press outlets from over 31 countries

The Camp Nou during El Clásico
Barça's social media reach
Facebook
29.6 million fans
Twitter
8.4 million followers
Youtube
261,000 subscribers
Google Plus
1.1 million fans
Tencent1 million fans
The Camp Nou will once again be the focus of the sporting world this Saturday. The popularity of the Clásico between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid has increased year after year - it’s estimated that more than 400 million people will tune in to watch tomorrow's La Liga showdown. The world will also be able to followthe match at the Camp Nou, which will welcome the teams with the slogan ‘Som i Serem’ (We are and we will be), online.
40 million followers on social networks
Passion for Barça, the global leader on social networks, will be palpable as 40 million followers on different 2.0 platforms take to the Internet to show support for the team. On Facebook, where Barça have over 29.6 million likes , fans can show their support for the team by changing their profile picture to the image of the ‘Som i Serem’ mosaic . Barça’s number of fanson Facebook has increased by nearly 33% since the first time the Azulgranas faced Real Madrid this season (August, 2011).
#somiserem on Twitter
On Twitter, with three official twitter accounts for the football team ( @fcbarcelona , @fcbarcelona_es , @fcbarcelona_cat ), Barça haveaccumulated 8.4 million followers between the three accounts. The hashtag #somiserem will be the official hashtag for followers to send messages of encouragement to Pep Guardiola and his men as they attempt to cut Real Madrid’s lead to one point. Another option for following the Clásico online is through Google + . The Club’spage, with over a million followers, is the seventh fastest growing page globally. Chinese fans can also follow Barça on the Chinese social network Tencent Weibo where the Club have over one million followers.
Barça TV, R@dio Barça, FCB Live!
Barça TV has prepared a special program for tomorrow’s match at the Camp Nou that will cover the days leading up to the game and post-match analysis. Programs like El Clásico of my life and Dissecting the Clásico and the broadcast of the 10 most significant matches between the two teams will air hours before thematch. During the match, fans will be able to follow the game on the Club’s website, R@dio Barça and FC Barcelona’s first iPad applications FCB Live! . The application gives users live statistics, overviews of players’ actions and minute-by-minute updates.
Picture the Clásico
The Club’s official website also offers users a Barça-Madrid content special which features all the information on tomorrow’s match. Users can expect to find historical data, statistics and a host of multimedia material that’s sure to keep the most ardent fan satisfied. The website also offers up interactive content. Users are encouraged to express their emotions and feelings by sending in their drawings and photographs related to tomorrow’s match by using the Club’s Picture the Clásico interface.

FCB

 

[Classik]

133 accredited media outlets representing 31 countries
www.fcbarcelona.cat 04/20/2012 18:07
The Camp Nou will host a total of 780 accredited professionals. The journalists, photographers, commentators, camera crews and technical directors tasked with bringing the match to the world represent 133 media outlets and 31 different countries

The Ricard Maxenchs press room. PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.
Millions of people from around the world will watch the match between Barça and Madrid tomorrow. In order for this to be possible, the Camp Nou will host a total of 780 accredited professionals . The journalists, photographers, commentators, camera crews and technical directors tasked with bringing the match to the world represent 133 media outlets and 31 different countries .
Of these 133 media outlets, 71 are newspapers, 16 are agencies, 4 radio stations and 29 television channels. The represented countries are as follows: Spain, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Greece, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Romania, Denmark, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Hungary, Israel, United States, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile, Japan, China, Thailand and Malaysia.

FCB

 

[Classik]

18 first-team players and 3 Barça B players prepare for the Clásico
www.fcbarcelona.cat 04/20/2012 18:58
Barça held a closed-door training session at the Camp Nou ahead of tomorrow's match against Real Madrid

The team before the training session. PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.
Barça’s first team completed a closed-door training session ahead of tomorrow’s match at the Camp Nou. This is the team’s second training session after the Champions League away leg against Chelsea.
The 18 available first-team players, as well as 3 Barça B footballers that travelled to London, Bartra , Montoya and Tello , trained on the Camp Nou’s pitch. After the session, Josep Guardiola explained that Alexis Sánchez , “very doubtful for tomorrow’s match,” trained apart from the group after receiving a knock during the match at Stamford Bridge. Therefore, the only confirmed absences against Madrid are Villa , Fontàs and Abidal .
Barça will hold one final training session tomorrow at noon before the match against RealMadrid.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Training session 20/04/12
04/20/2012 19:39
FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Guardiola: “The only option is to winâ€


04/20/2012 21:05
The manager notes that Barça’s only objective against Real Madrid this Saturday at the Camp Nou is to “win to prolong the competition.†He adds: “if they win or draw, the Liga is theirsâ€
Guardiola considers that, whatever the result is tomorrow, that “Barça have already won,†in regards to how well the team have played in recent years
The manager warns of the dangers that Real Madrid bring to tomorrow’s match: “they dominate all aspects of the game ... they’ll come out to winâ€

Morale boost ahead of the Champions League
Josep Guardiola believes that the team that wins tomorrow “will be reinforced ahead of nextweek’s Champions League round.†The manager is convinced that no matter what the result is, that after the match “we have to adapt to another decisive match and think about how we can attack and defend against Chelsea to get to the final.â€
Josep Guardiola was very clear, if Barça does not win the three points against Real Madrid tomorrow, “the league will have a new champion.†The manager, who is convinced that Mourinho’s team “will try to win the match,†reminded the press room that even if Barça win the three points that “the competition will still be in Madrid’s hands.†Guardiola gave his word that his team will come out onto the pitch tomorrow with one goal in mind: “to attack.†The manager promised that his team will play the match “with tranquility and the peace of mind knowing that they’ve already done their work, without reproach.â€
Guardiola is very clear that FC Barcelona must win tomorrow: “our only option is to win, we have a very small chance and we must try to take it. If it doesn’t work out we’ll have a new champion and we’ll regroup and prepare well for next season. It wasn’t too long ago that we were very far from the leaders. Now we’re in a luxurious position after gaining a bit of ground, frankly we had not imagined [that we’d be this close]. We have the chance to prolong the competition.â€
“Madrid have very few weak pointsâ€
Guardiola, on the type of game he anticipates from Real Madrid, believes that the team from the Spanish capital will come to the Camp Nou “to pressure and try to win the match.†He added: “they’ll take advantage of space when they get the chance, it’s one of their strongest virtues.†Guardiola went on to define the team led by Mourinho in the following way: “they always create danger, they are a very complete side. They dominate all aspects of the game - they have enormous power. Weak points, they have very few, because they have multiple waysof playing. They have an indecent amount of goals with five games remaining. We have to play our game, and that won’t be easy. We have to find the way to overcome them and score goals.â€
When asked about the morale of his team after the defeat at Stamford Bridge, Guardiola said that “they will be fine on Saturday.†He added: “in their minds they know that only one thing matters, and that’s to win. I’ve always told them that the game they are about to play, is the the game they have to go out and attack. Tomorrow we’ll try to do what has been habitual for us this whole time.â€
On whether or not Alexis, who received a knock in London, will be available, Guardiola said that the player is “doubtful.â€
With peace of mind
Whatever tomorrow’s result is, Guardiola said that his team “have fulfilled†expectations. "We have done a good job, and no one can hold anything against us. We’ve fulfilled our work dutifully. Whatever happens, we have already won, the people have once again enjoyed how we’ve played. The only thing that can be expected of us is to maintain the drive to fight until the end. That’s what we’re doing.â€
The Barça manager also said that he wants to “win tomorrow and overturn the result against Chelsea. If we don’t do it we’ll be disappointed, but sports have shown me that winning isn’t everything. There are a lot of things that are more important. To the people that give it their all... seing the trajectories of Rayo Vallecano or Levenate, we can’t consider them losers. Their work has a lot of value. We should be very satisfied with how things were done these past years, of how well we’ve behaved.â€

FCB,

VANESSA FORNS

 

[Classik]

FUTSAL
Barça Alusport - Marfil Santa Coloma: Rampant Barça (5-0)


04/20/2012 23:22
Igor and Wilde allowed Barça Alusport to get to the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead
In the second half, goals from Torras, Wilde and Lozan secured the Azulgrana victory
Getting a significant morale boost from today’s win, Barça looks ahead to their upcoming UEFA Final Four playoff with confidence

The team celebrating their five goals in the derby / PHOTO: ÀLEX CAPARRÓS-FCB
MATCH STATS
Barça Alusport, 5
Marfil Santa Coloma, 0
Barça Alusport: Sedano, Lozano, Lin, Torras, Wilde (starting five), Javi Rodríguez, Saad, Ari, Igor, Gabriel, Eric, Cristian
Marfil Santa Coloma: Isaac, Rubén, Adolfo, Jhow, Redondo (starting five), Hugo, Segura, Del Barco, Rafa, Lluc
Goals: 1-0, Igor (min 8); 2-0, Wilde (min 20); 3-0, Torras (min 27); 4-0, Wilde (min 32); 5-0, Lozano (min 35)
Barça Alusport made up for last week’s match against Talavera by claiming victory in a hard-fought Catalan derby. The first half was especially difficult against a Marfil Santa Colomaside that never backed down. However, two goals from Igor, who was give the medical clearance to play, in the first half and Wilde gaveBarça the advantage before the half. In the second half, the team led by Marc Carmona secured the win with three more goals from Torras, Wilde and Lozano. Gabriel and Cristian both enjoyed a lot of playing time against Coloma.
With this victory, which allows Barça Alusport to maintain the distance with leaders ElPozo Murcia who also won their games (9-1 against Triman Navarra), the team can look to their upcoming appearance in the UEFA Final Four with confidence.
Amazing Igor
Barça Alusport took the initiative from the starting whistle. Lin came close to scoring the first goal of the night with a shot that hit the crossbar after three minutes, five minutes later, Igor fired his team ahead after a good play with Javi Rodríguez. Marfil Santa Coloma didn’t give up as they also went on the attack at the Palau Blaugrana. Because of the visiting side’s attitude, Barça were not comfortable throughoutmuch of the first half. Igor appeared on the scene again with an individual play that could have been the 2-0 for Barça.
Seconds from the break, however, the second goal was scored. With 47 seconds to go, Wilde, after a brilliant give and go with Ari, made it 2-0 for his team. The goal shocked the visiting side, who had played an amazing first half. Against this Barça Alusport, however, it simply isn’t enough.
Absolute superiority
In the second half the difference between the two sides was painfully evident. A physically fresh Barça Alusport team pinned Coloma back into their own half. Rafa cleared what would have been a goal off the goal line on 27 minutes.The play ended in a corner, which allowed Torras to make it 3-0 after a great assist from Igor. The goal completely deflated the visiting side. Wilde and Lozano quickly added two more goals to Barça’s tally.
In the dying minutes of the match, Carmona brought on Eric Martel and the keeper Cristian, who along with Igor and Gabriel, missed Barça’s recent matches due to injury.

FCB,

Roger Bogunyà

 

[Classik]

The Azulgrana Roundup, Week 13


04/21/2012 02:33
Vice-president Carles Villarubí gives CNN an exclusive tour of the Camp Nou, the quiz-centric website Sporcle challenges you to name the whole Barça squad in under six minutes, Sid Lowe singles out Javier Mascherano as one of the key pieces in this Barça team...

PHOTO: CAPARRÓS - FCB
Have ideas for the column? Share them!
If you have any suggestions for this column, please don't hesitate to share them with us. Tweet them at FC Barcelona's twitter account and be sure to use the #FCBroundup hashtag.
*. CNN . Inside FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou
FC Barcelona vice-president Carles Vilarrubí givesCNN an exclusive tour of the Camp Nou.
*. Sporcle. Can you name the current FC Barcelonasquad in six minutes?
It might be tougher than you think.
*. The Guardian . Sid Lowe. Pep Guardiola’s preaching converts quiet man Mascherano to Barça style
"When he [Mascherano] speaks he does so with clarity and conviction, a quiet authority, and withrare understanding and analysis. Yet there is also a kind of wide-eyed eagerness and he is never off message. He speaks with a convert's zeal, describing team-mates with a kind of hushed awe. "I have never seen anything like Barcelona; it is not that they win, it is the way the win," he said. "I now know that there's another way of thinking about football."
*. El Centrocampista . Javier Hernández. Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: The stats beyond stats
"Everybody knows the current situation of course; Cristiano has reached 40 goals, Messi is just one behind with 39 [now 41 goals apiece]. The Argentinean leads the assists department with 14, compared to Ronaldo’s 11. However, there are a lot more stats behind these numbers that may escape the average fan. Until today that is, as we take the challenge of analysing every aspect of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo during this amazing season."
*. The False 9. Kiran Vr. Pep’s Barcelona vs Sacchi’s Milan – Clash of the titans
"The last definitive shift in tactics in football occurred back in the late 80s, when Arrigo Sacchi, the master tactician from Italy decided that a change was required from the five-man backline or the sweeper formation to a four-man backline, which depends more on the offside trap than sheer defensive prowess. While it was Italy’s domination of Europe in the 60s which made the sweeper-formation famous,it was Milan’s domination in the late 80s – early 90s which brought an end to it."
*. The Telegraph . John Carlin and Michael Robinson. Chelsea v Barcelona: How Pep Guardiola completed Johann Cruyff’s tactical revolution at Nou Camp
"Barcelona mark a watershed in the evolution offootball. There is a before and an after with this team. They have redefined the way the game is played and caused the football world - from coaches of children’s teams to the technical staff of the biggest clubs on the planet - to return to the drawing board and reconsider their most basic premises."
*. El País . David Trueba. Guardiola El hijo del ‘paleta’
"El catalán es una lengua hermosa que coqueteacon el francés para desespañolizarse, que tiene música portuguesa, pero que cuando alcanza la mayor expresividad es puro italiano. En catalán, al albañil le dicen paleta, en ejemplo prodigioso de metonimia popular. La paleta es también el arma del pintor. Para hablar de Pep Guardiola, entrenador del FC Barcelona, es apropiado reparar en esa ambivalencia."
*. The Guardian . Sid Lowe. Chelsea's dilemma now is whether to stick or twist against Barcelona
"Optimism laced the resignation. Barcelona had been beaten for only the third time this season, but they had not yet been defeated and they feltentitled to believe they would not be either. Thenatural reaction might have been to insist the second leg will be different; in fact, the European champions insisted it will be much the same. If the final score needs to change, the performance need not."

FCB,

Ian MacLurg

 

[Classik]

The Clásico in focus

www.fcbarcelona.cat 04/21/2012 09:30

Get all the information on the La Liga showdownbetween FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. The Clásico at the Camp Nou is scheduled to kick off at 20:00 (GolT, Canal + and Barça R@dio)

See Video [video]rtsp://v1.cache1.c.youtube.com/CkULENy73wIaPAkWlNgNXQVwBBMYDSANFEgGUgZ2aWRlb3NyIQ G2od7TP1oGUQR3NBDnWQN7DvPB7EI6RNWvHdRsUJxg5gw=/0/0/0/video.3gp[/video]
L'himne més emotiu del Barça-Madrid

On March 18 Josep Guardiola ’s men began what could considered to be one of the most epic comebacks in La Liga history. Real Madrid let twopoints slip away in the dying minutes of the match against Málaga allowing Barça to move within eight points of the top of the table. One month later, FC Barcelona will have the opportunity to move within striking distance, just one point, of the leaders as they take on Real Madrid this evening at the Camp Nou at 20:00 (GolT, Canal + and Barça R@dio).

Be sure to check out all the analysis, statistics, multimedia and historical data on tomorrow’s LaLiga showdown:

[+] ARTICLES

- FC Barcelona-Reial Madrid: new tickets to go onsale on April 20

- All FCB v Real Madrid league matches in the cityof Barcelona

- "Som i Serem" - “We are and we will beâ€, the clásico mosaic

- Historical trivia on Barça v Madrid matches

- Champion reactions

- Long tradition of debutant goalscorers in the clásico

- Statistical battle in the clásico

- Pedro, one step away from 100 games in La Liga

- Xavi set to break record for clásico appearances

- 18 first-team players and 3 Barça B players prepare for the Clásico

- Guardiola: “The only option is to winâ€

[+] MULTIMEDIA

- Picture the clásico

- Clásico wallpapers

- The Barça Toons, ready for the Clásico

- The Clásico seen from the Palau

FCB

 

[Classik]

FC Barcelona v Madrid: League title at stake04/21/2012 09:30If Barça win, they’ll get within a point of Madrid with just four matches left to playGuardiola admitted on Friday that Alexis Sánchez is doubtful for the match

Únicament quatre punts separen tots dos equips/ FOTO: ARXIU FCBIf there was ever a red letter day in the calendar, then this is the one. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are set to meet for the sixth time this season, and for the third time at the Camp Nou. And this time they’re as good as playing for the league title. If Barça win, they’ll get within a point of the leaders with just four games to play.But a draw (which would leave the current four point difference intact) and a Madrid win (which would increase the difference to seven points) would leave Josep Guardiola’s side in a very difficult situation indeed. At what is certain to bea packed Camp Nou, much of the league title is set to be decided.Alexis in doubtGuardiola has been preparing for tonight’s match with 21 players, 18 from the first team plus Montoya, Bartra and Tello from Barça B. All of Fontàs, Villa and Abidal are, of course, still unavailable while Afellay has yet to play since being declared fully fit ten days ago. And there are also doubts concerning the fitness of Alexis Sánchez, as Josep Guardiola revealed at his Friday press conference.Champions League set to one sideBoth Barça and Madrid are going into the clásico having just played the first legs of their respective Champions League semi finals. And what’s more, they are both faced with the challenge of having to turn around one goal deficits. But it would be too dangerous a distraction for either side to let their thoughts drift to their European commitments tonight, even though the outcome of tonight’s result could have a huge bearing on their morale against Bayern and Chelsea, respectively. Whoever comes out best tonight will also receive a massive boost for their hopes in the European semi finals.Only one away defeatMadrid have reasons of their own to feel optimistic. They have only lost one of their 16 away fixtures in the league this season (1-0 at Levante), having won 13 and only drawn twice (0-0 in Santander and 1-1 at Vila-real). But they suffered defeat on Tuesday in Munich (2-1) and José Mourinho’s side have also failed to beat FC Barcelona in any of their last seven attempts. The last Madrid win was in last season’s Copa del Rey Final on April 20, 2011. Let’s hope that negative run continues…FCB,Roger Bogunyà

 

[Classik]

Historic special edition on FC Barcelona from L’Équipe Magazine 04/21/2012 10:00The prestigious French magazine will publish a special edition solely dedicated to FC Barcelona. This is the first time the magazine has featured a football team in their special editionL’Équipe has featured Platini, Cantona, Zidane and the All Blacks in previous special editionsTwo North American magazines, Newsweek andTIME, have also covered Josep Guardiola’s FC Barcelona

‘L’Équipe Magazine’ will publish a special edition dedicated solely to FC BarcelonaL’Équipe Magazine , the weekly supplemental piece of the French daily newspaper, will publisha special on Barça titled “ 100% Barça, Més que un Club †in their upcoming edition, which will hit the stands on April 21st. This will be the first time in the prestigious French publication’s history that a football Club will be the feature of L’Équipe Magazine . Individuals like Platini , Cantona , Zidane and the All Blacks , the New Zealand national rugby team, have also been the main focus of the special issue.Holistic view of the ClubThis week’s edition of the French publication’s special offers a glimpse into the Club with interviews with Sandro Rosell , Xavi Hernández and Johan Cruyff . But the scope of the story goesbeyond individuals; the Club’s gastronomy, explained by famous chef and Barça fan Ferran Adrià , and the first famous Frenchman to play for Barça, Lucien Muller , also feature prominently in this week’s edition.Lionel Messi also receives a lot of focus in the write-up. L’Équipe analyzes the player from six different perspectives, while there is no specific reference to the time Messi spent at La Masia or the importance placed on player integration with Barça’s culture, the edition focuses on the importance the Club places on technical skill andtechnique, the fact that FC Barcelona is a multi-sport Club, and historical data and statistics.L’Équipe Magazine , which made its debut in 1980, has over two million readers each week. It’s the fourth most widely read French magazine - after Paris-Match , Télerama and Nouvel Observateur .Newsweek and TIMEFC Barcelona, especially since Josep Guardiola took charge of the Barça bench, are becoming a regular feature in prestigious international publications. In June 2001, the North American magazine Newsweek featured the winners of the Champions League and posed the question: “ Barça! The best football team ever? †In January of this year, TIME magazine featured Leo Messi on their cover. It was the first time a male footballer appeared on the front of the North American magazine.FCB,VANESSA FORNS

 

[Classik]

Final preparations made at the Camp Nou

WWW.FCBARCELONA.CAT 04/21/2012 15:15

FC Barcelona staff have started to place the 90,000 posters around the Camp Nou in preparation for tonight’s giant mosaic

Club staff prepare the mosaic at the Camp Nou

- 16:00: Fans start to arrive at the Camp Nou

- 14:30 : The traditional meal between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid supporters’ clubs begins at Restaurante Visual de la Torre Catalonia.

- 14:00 : The official directors lunch between Barça and Real Madrid is underway at Via Veneto. FC Barcelona’s delegation is led by Sandro Rosell and Real Madrid’s by Florentino Pérez.

- 13:30 : FC Barcelona staff start to place the 90,000 posters for the mosaic ‘Som i Serem’ (We are and we will be) around the Camp Nou stands

- 13:00 : The training session comes to an end. The players will now eat together at the Camp Nou and then given free time until 18:30, where they will regroup at the Camp Nou.

- 11:00 : The team commence their final training session before the Clásico. 18 first-team players and Barça B’s Montoya, Bartra, Tello and Planas are all present at the session.

- 10:15 : The FC Barcelona players arrive at the Camp Nou. The final training session before tonight’s match starts at 11:00.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Final session before the Clásico

www.fcbarcelona.cat 04/21/2012
As usual on match days at home, Guardiola's team trained this morning at the Camp Nou. Barça B's Bartra, Montoya, Tello and Planas participated in the session

Messi at the Camp Nou / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB

The FC Barcelona players completed their final training session at the Camp Nou this morning before the all-important match against Real Madrid . The same 18 first-team players that trained on Friday at the stadium took to the pitch once again at 11:00. Barça B’s Montoya , Tello , Bartra and Planas also trained with the team.

The players will eat together at the Camp Nou and then they’ll have free time until 18:30, at which time the team, with the exception of Planas, will regroup at the Camp Nou.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Fair play rivalry
www.fcbarcelona.cat 04/21/2012 18:03
Representatives of Barça and Madrid supporters’s clubs celebrated the traditional lunch before the Clásico
Pau Vilanova lead the FC Barcelona delegation

Lunch before the FCB - R. Madrid match. Photo: FCB
The Restaurant Visual in Barcelona has become the setting for a very special lunch this afternoon. Representatives of R. Madrid and FC Barcelona supporters’ clubs shared a table, to show the good atmosphere among fans before this evening’s Clásico.
Both clubs Social Areas were properly represented. On the Barça side, Pau Vilanova , chief director of the Social Comission lead the delegation. On the other hand, it was chief executive of the Social Area José Luis Sánchez who attended this event.
Both clubs also had representatives of several people in charge of R. Madrid supporters’ clubs societies and federations, lead by the president of Madrid supporters’ clubs federation Alejandro Lora . On the Barça side, several delegates of the Supporters’ Clubs Advisory Council did not miss this lunch, lead by its spokesperson, Antoni Guil , and Edmundo Bazo , delegate for Madrid.
In a relaxed atmosphere, fair play was present, in which each one showed their predictions for this evening’s clash, each one with their preferences. As agreed on the last plenary, the Club has all intention to support this kind of events organized by AFEPE.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Fair play rivalry

www.fcbarcelona.cat 04/21/2012 18:03

Representatives of Barça and Madrid supporters’s clubs celebrated the traditional lunch before the Clásico

Pau Vilanova lead the FC Barcelona delegation

Lunch before the FCB - R. Madrid match. Photo: FCB

The Restaurant Visual in Barcelona has become the setting for a very special lunch this afternoon. Representatives of R. Madrid and FC Barcelona supporters’ clubs shared a table, to show the good atmosphere among fans before this evening’s Clásico.

Both clubs Social Areas were properly represented. On the Barça side, Pau Vilanova , chief director of the Social Comission lead the delegation. On the other hand, it was chief executive of the Social Area José Luis Sánchez who attended this event.

Both clubs also had representatives of several people in charge of R. Madrid supporters’ clubs societies and federations, lead by the president of Madrid supporters’ clubs federation Alejandro Lora . On the Barça side, several delegates of the Supporters’ Clubs Advisory Council did not miss this lunch, lead by its spokesperson, Antoni Guil , and Edmundo Bazo , delegate for Madrid.

In a relaxed atmosphere, fair play was present, in which each one showed their predictions for this evening’s clash, each one with their preferences. As agreed on the last plenary, the Club has all intention to support this kind of events organized by AFEPE.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Barça hand out 25,000 roses at the Camp Nou in commemoration of Sant Jordi

WWW.FCBARCELONA.CAT 04/21/2012 20:07

The Sant Jordi celebration was moved up a couple of days at the Camp Nou, where PresidentSandro Rosell and other members of the board handed out roses and ribbons to Barça fans

This is the second time the Club has given out roses for the day of Sant Jordi

Coinciding with the match against Real Madrid , just two days before the major festival in Catalonia, the Camp Nou intensely celebrated the day of Sant Jordi. The FC Barcelona Social Area Department distributed 25,000 roses among the women and 30,000 ribbons among the men that attended the match. President Sandro Rosell , accompanied by vice-presidents Jordi Cardoner and Carles Vilarubí and other members of the board, was in the Camp Nou stands celebrating the 'Sant Jordi Blaugrana' initiative with Barça supporters.

Besides the members of the board and the socialcommission, the event was also attended by ex-Barça players Fusté, Migueli and Alfonseda. The presence of Club members and fans was overwhelming and many press outlets took interest. This was the second time that the Club has handed out roses at the Camp Nou, the first occasion happened last year. “It’s our party, we’re sharing it with our members and people involved with the Club. It’s an homage to our Catalan heritage,†said Cardoner.

90,000 stories at the Camp Nou

Besides the roses and ribbons, the fans that came to the Camp Nou found a copy of ‘La smarreta màgica’ (the magical jersey), written by Víctor Panicello , on thier seats. In total, more than 90,000 copies were given out. Taking advantage of the proximity of the day of Sant Jordi, this initiative is meant to encourage Catalan literature, especially among the youngest Culés and raise awareness for children that deal with disease on a daily basis. The project is part of the FC Barcelona Foundation, the Leo Messi Foundation and the Ànima Foundation in collaboration with the Institute of Catalan Writing.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Video: The Clásico Mosaic

WWW.FCBARCELONA.CAT 04/21/2012 20:37

This is how the Camp Nou welcomed the playersto the pitch for El Clásico



Click on Video

[video]rtsp://v5.cache4.c.youtube.com/CkULENy73wIaPAmKNXcT0YhKhxMYDSANFEgGUgZ2aWRlb3NyIQ G2od7TP1oGUQR3NBDnWQN7DvPB7EI6RNWvHdRsUJxg5gw=/0/0/0/video.3gp [/video]

FCB

 

[Classik]

FCB-R.Madrid: A cruel blow (1-2)



04/21/2012 22:38

Barça have lost to a practical and effective Real Madrid, but have come out of the game with their heads held high

A Cristiano Ronaldo goal just after Alexis had equalised was enough to sentence tonight’s clásico at the Camp Nou. Barça are now seven points adrift of the leaders

Decepció de Xavi. FOTO: ÀLEX CAPARRÓS-FCB.

El tricampió de Lliga ha perdut davant l’etern rival el dia que pràcticament es decidia el present campionat. El Madrid s’ha trobat amb un gol al minut 16 i s’ha dedicat a especular amb la renda. El Barça, sense la clarividència ofensiva habitual, ha dominat, però no ha trobat la manera de desarticular el mur blanc fins al minut 70, quan Alexis ha empatat. El somni culer esvairia a continuació, amb un gol letal de Cristiano Ronaldo. Amb la tornada del Chelsea a tocar, la Lliga queda ara a set punts.

Partit obert d’entrada

L’intercanvi de cops inicial ha beneficiat clarament el Madrid. La primera ocasió ha estat seva en un córner rematat amb el cap per Cristiano Ronaldo, amb una bona resposta de Valdés (min 4). Tot seguit, Alves tallava una pilota a la defensa blanca i era Casillas qui haviad’apagar el foc. El 3-4-3 amb el brasiler d’extrem i la presència de Thiago i Tello eren les sorpresestàctiques blaugranes. El Barça buscava amplitud i fer-se amb el control del joc que li hauria d’haver aportat la superioritat numèrica i tècnicaal mig del camp. El Madrid, per la seva banda, volia tapar al màxim els espais i exprimir les seves millors armes: el joc aeri i el contracop.

0-1 desafortunat

Ha estat precisament en un altre servei de cantonada quan el quadre merengue s’ha avançat, al minut 16. L’acció, de molt infortuni deValdés i Puyol, ha deixat la pilota franca a Khedira a l’àrea petita perquè només l’hagués d’empènyer al fons de la xarxa. Amb el gol, els locals han fet una passa endavant i els visitants, enrere. La reacció barcelonista ha estat plena de caràcter, però sense la profunditat necessària per triturar la teranyina dels de Mourinho. El Barça només podria crear una oportunitat en tot el primer temps. Això sí, ha estat claríssima: una assistència de Messi ha deixat Xavi sol i Casillas ha desviat el xut del ‘6’.

Control i insistència culer

Des del 0-1, els únics que atacaven eren els locals. Cada vegada amb més finor, obligant moltes vegades al Madrid a regalar la pilota just després de recuperar-la. Tot i això, el contrari es trobava còmode amb el guió que se seguia. No li suposava cap trauma oblidar-se de l’esfèrica. Com a preludi del descans, un autèntic diluvi ha sorprès els més de 99.000 aficionats que presenciaven el xoc de trens. La tempesta ha continuat durant part de la segona meitat. La dinàmica del partit també seria la d’abans de la mitja part: atac local, defensa visitant -amb línies molt juntes i endarrerides- i escasses opcions. Al minut 53, Tello n’ha trobat una de boníssima, encara que ha disparat molt desviat.

Un minut decisiu

Animava el Camp Nou, fidel i indignat per les pèrdues de temps madridistes. Les interrupcions del joc per part dels blancs han estat una constant. L’entrada d’Alexis –per Xavi- ha suposat el punt d’inflexió que necessitava el Barça perquè el xilè ha empatat en una acció plena d’empenta (min 70). L’èxtasi ha durat poc a l’estadi. I és que, pràcticament en la jugada següent, Cristiano Ronaldo ha guanyat l’esquenaa la defensa local i ha marcat l’1-2 driblant Valdés. Un cop duríssim i definitiu a les esperances del Barça. Se li ha escapat el partit i la Lliga no sense intentar-ho, amb més cor que cap, fins al final. I l’afició, malgrat la decepció, hareconegut el seu esforç amb una històrica ovació.

FCB,

Jordi Clos