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Wazzup with FC BARCELONA?!! (News)

Barça and Intersports Reach Agreement, More Exposure in China


www.fcbarcelona.cat

This Saturday at 12.30, a strategic collaboration agreement will be signed between FC Barcelonaand the company Intersports, owned by Beijing City Council, to promote the image of the club to the Chinese market.

Barça and Intersports sign agreement


The presentation will be shown live on Barça TV ,and will be held in the Ricard Maxenchs pressroom at the Camp Nou. Attending will be Sandro Rosell, president of FC Barcelona, HeifengXia, president of Intersports, Laurent Colette, commercial manager of FC Barcelona, and Jun Chen, general manager of Intersports .


This strategic collaboration agreement betweenFC Barcelona and the Intersports company, owned by Beijing City Council, should expand theimage of the Club in the Chinese market , and will involve initiatives such as a sports campus for the next five summers in the Beijing Olympic Stadium.

FCB
 
Guardiola: “We have a fascinating build-up to Christmas, and it all starts against Getafeâ€

The Barça manager believes this weekend’s trip to Getafe is vital considering there are two homegames to come before going to the Bernabéu and the Club World Cup


The three forthcoming matches are what he describes as ‘a dangerous phase’ and he will be calling on the players’ mental strength to keep up the chase on leaders Real Madrid


Missing Tito

Josep Guardiola also spoke about Tito Vilanova, who underwent surgery on Tuesday. He said he is missing his assistant both personally and professionally. "Tito is not here right now, but he'll be back soon. We are missing him in every way. He is an intimate friend of mine, I'm missing him, and when it comes to managing theteam he does everything I ask of him. He's slowly getting better, but should relax and take his time. He'll be back whenever he can."


"The squad is going to have to keep up the same form, intense football and number of chances created as last month. We have to get better day by day"

Josep Guardiola is treating the trip to Getafe veryseriously indeed, with some crunch games to come in an action packed December, which includes big journeys to Madrid and Japan."Between now and Christmas we have a fascinating month ahead of us, and everything clearly begins tomorrow," he said.


Hard work to come

He insisted that "in this championship, you have to work really hard right until the end ... everything matters in this competition. All the teams have their virtues, and if we aren't at our best we can drop points. Christmas is coming andwe have to try to keep up with Real Madrid." So, he believes the squad is going to have to "keep up the same form, intense football and number of chances created as last month. We have to getbetter day by day."


The Champions League match at San Siro behind him, Guardiola is wary of Getafe . "Their managerwas at Levante where we found it very difficult. The team has bought well this season and the pieces are starting to fit into place. We must remember that they have drawn a lot of games in the final minutes." Also, while Getafe have had all week to get ready, his own side is travelling "after playing a very intense game, a very tiring one at the San Siro , and we have to travel again just three days later."


Big things ahead

Guardiola also spoke about the seriousness of the Clubs World Cup in Japan . "You have to win the Champions League to get there, and so this isa very big thing," he said. Asked whether he thinks some players are being affected by their lack of playing opportunities, he commented that "they all have to make sure they don't let it get them down. All of them deserve to play, of course, and I'll make my decisions depending on what I see. They all have to help each other."


This Thursday, Jonathan Dos Santos extended hiscontract until 2015 : "We hold him in very high esteem, and I know him well. He's very versatile and Barça shouldn't let him get away. He's too good, he's got too much class, and he shouldn't leave FC Barcelona so young. There are not manypeople that can create such pressure and pass the ball around as well as he does. I hear that heaccepted the conditions in a minute, and that says a lot for him. It means he values this institution, that he's happy here." He also said that when the technical secretary decides to keep a player on, "it's because he thinks there is room for him in the first team."

FCB,

VANESSA FORNS
 
Getafe-FCB: First defeat of the season (1-0) Immense Getafe defensive display puts an end to unlucky Barça’s unbeaten record

Leo Messi hits post in injury time

Valera goal from a second half corner proved enough to put an end to Barça's run of 27 games without defeat. With Getafe opting for an ultra defensive strategy, Barça never looked comfortable. Though they dominated throughout, they lacked punch up front until the final few minutes of the game when they laid siege to Moyà's goal. The Getafe keeper proved to be the home team's hero when he managed to knock away a last minute attempt after Messi had hit the post. The defeat leaves Barça six points behind Real Madrid, who beat Atlético Madrid 4-1 earlier this evening. Possession for Barça Getafe's decision to sit back and wait for Barça gave Guardiola's team plenty of possession and with a 4-3-3 formation, which quickly switched to a 3-4-3 whenever Alves pushed forward down the wing, they were always going to pose a threat, but they didn't find it easy to make chances against the well disciplined home defence. Alexis Sánchez saw an effort go just wide on 28 minutes and then on36 drew a good stop from Moyà after a great team play. Game narrowed down the middle Barça were being drawn into attacking down the middle though, and Guardiola was forced to switch his players around as he tried to get themto open up down the flanks. Getafe's only real occasion came on 41 minutes when Diego Castrofound some space, but didn't have time to get a good shot off. Shock strike from a corner Luis García's team continued with their solid defensive display after the break, leaving Barça with little space to develop their trademark game, though Guardiola's men gradually began to create danger closer to Moya's goal. Then, on 67 minutes, Getafe won an isolated corner and Valera met it well to head low past Valdés for a goal very much against the flow of play. There were still 20 minutes left for Barça to turn it round and Guardiola brought on Pedro and Cuenca, whilst reverting to a fixed three man defence. Unlucky Barça now threw everything at the Getafe goal, with Piqué playing as a target man. Pedro made two dangerous moves in from the right, but it just wasn't Barça's night as first Keita was harshly adjudged off side to deny Messi the equaliser and then the Argentinean hit the post in injury time. In the end, all the hard work and effort was not, this time, rewarded with the points.

FCB,

Jordi Clos
 
The voice of Barça! Força Barça!

Piqué: “We are Barça, we’ll move forwardâ€


www.fcbarcelona.cat

The centre back is confident that the team will be able cut into the lead that Madrid currently has over the reigning champions

Cesc, precautionary rest

Cesc Fábregas and Carles Puyol were dropped from the squad against Getafe. Guardiola gave Cesc a precautionary rest because the midfielder is having problems with his left thigh.


The team will return to training on Sunday, at noon, in a closed door session at the Ciutat Esportiva. Dani Alves will attend the pre-trainingpress conference.


Gerard Piqué is confident that FC Barcelona will bounce back after the loss to Getafe . “I’m convinced that the team will give everything they’ve got to be fighting for the title at the end of the season.†The centre defender called on the Camp Nou faithful to “trust us.†While addingthat, "there are may games still yet to be played,a lot of points up for grabs. Madrid is doing things a bit better and we have to turn this situation around. We are Barça and we’ll move forward.â€


The players are aware that they have no time to dwell on the defeat against Getafe as FC Barcelona will host Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday at the Camp Nou . Piqué said he doesn’t wan’t to think about the game against Madrid but it’s important, with the Clásico looming, that againstRayo and Levante “the team must win six points.â€


Víctor Valdés

“We’re disappointed because it was a defeat that wasn’t expected. The team did a good job but we didn’t take advantage of our chances.â€

“We knew we had to win here but it didn’t work out. We have to pick ourselves up because we have a game right around the corner.â€

“We have to keep on fighting. The sooner we lift our heads the better. We have to work hard because we have a game in a couple of days. Wehave to concentrate on winning our matches.â€


“It’s a really negative result and we have to pick ourselves up as soon as possible.â€


David Villa

“We don’t have to make excuses. We gave it our all and we tried to win but it wasn’t possible.â€

“The team played well but we didn’t capitalise on our opportunities. They scored off a fateful corner.â€

“We’re far away [from Madrid] but there is still a lot of time. This isn’t over. We have a game against them that we can win. We have to take it step by step.â€

Maxwell
“We needed to score early on. When time ticks away it gets a bit more complicated.â€

“We must be patient and focus the next match.â€

“It’s a big difference but we still have work to do, we need to see where we made mistakes and where we can improve.â€

FCB
 
Josep Guardiola: “We will get upâ€

www.fcbarcelona.cat

The Barça manager said that there is "a lot of the League still yet to be played" and he believes that the team "played a very good match" despite the loss to Getafe

Cardoner: “Football can be like thisâ€

Club vice-president Jordi Cardoner said that the Barça expedition returning to Barcelona is “saddened†by the loss, but “very motivated†to play the remaining games of the season. Cardoner also said that “the players tried to win the game from the beginning, but it just wasn’t possible. Sometimes logic doesn’t apply to football. It can be like that sometimes. Our team is enough."

FC Barcelona lost its first game of the season to Getafe . The 1-0 scoreline leaves Madrid six points ahead at the top of the table with half theseason yet to be played. Josep Guardiola believes the distance is salvageable: “There’s a lot of the League still yet to be played. We’ll get back on our feet and keep on going.â€


The better team, no goals

The manager, optimistic during the press conference, doesn’t believe that Barça deserved to lose to Getafe: “We played a good game. I don’t think Getafe was better, but they won and we have to congratulate them. We knew that they were a team capable of defending really well.â€


No reproach

Guardiola said that his team tried everything they could to find spaces in Getafe’s defence: “In the first half we found spaces. After, being down1-0, they played more defensively and when that happens it’s always more complicated. We tried to widen the field with Dani Alves and withour wingers.†With that said, the Barça manager added, “I cannot reproach the team, exactly the opposite.â€

When asked to rate the referee's performance, Josep Guardiola, as usually, had nothing to say. The Barça manager has his sights set on Tuesday’s match against Rayo Vallecano at the Camp Nou.

FCB
 
Alves: "It’s an exciting challenge and we’re fascinated by it"

The Brazilian international wingback has confidence in the team and on Sunday sent out an optimistic message after the defeat against Getafe

He warned other teams that Barça "will fight to the death for everything†and believes that the two matches against Real Madrid in the league will be decisive

Dani Alves.
"One of the keys to this team is that we don't give up or throw in the towel - never."

Despite last night's painful defeat against Getafe, there are only upbeat signals coming from the Barça players. Speaking at a press conference after training, Dani Alves summed upthe general mood of the squad: "The players are fairly relaxed; we know that in our profession there are challenges, and that's exciting and we're fascinated by it. Happily, there's still a longway to go, and no cups have been awarded yet. One of the keys to this team is that we don't giveup or throw in the towel - never."



Taking your chances

As for the match in the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, he told reporters: "We had our chances but we didn't take them, while they scored with the only shot they had on goal. There's no other explanation." But Alves did take one positive from the defeat and insisted that Barça remained true to their ideals: "We don't change the way we play because of results. We have a philosophy and if we have to die we'll stick with that philosophy".

Alves also spoke about the difficulty Barça is finding with the away games in the league: "It isn't more difficult than before. It's always been very complicated. This year we're finding it moredifficult away from home, but these are phases. Luckily, it's happening to us now and not at the end of the end. There's time to put things right."


No more room for mistakes

However, Alves admitted that there's no more room for mistakes if Barça wish to aspire to the league title: "Real Madrid won't drop many points and we can't make any more mistakes. They have a lead and we have to try and reduce it. We have to concentrate and not make any more mistakes."

He believes that the two head-to-heads with Real Madrid – the first is coming up in two weekstime in the Bernabeu – will be decisive: "My team-mates will rise to this challenge. Don't let there be any doubt but that this team will fight to the death for everything."

FCB,


Jordi Clos
 
Iniesta and Cesc back in training

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Iniesta and Cesc trained with the rest of the squad on Sunday morning after sitting out the Getafe match as a precaution

The players who featured in Saturday’s defeat in the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez did some light training designed to recover tired muscles. Seven players from the reserve squad joined the seniors for the session

Andrés Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas were both back in training with the squad after their respective injury layoffs. Iniesta had missed the previous two matches due to bruising in his left thigh while Cesc dropped out of the squad to face Getafe at the last minute due to some minor injury niggles. However, both players came through Sunday morning's training session without incident.


Thoughts turn to Rayo

While the players who took part in Saturday's match went through the usual post-match recovery programme, the rest of the squad began preparations for the visit of Rayo Vallecano to the Camp Nou on Tuesday. Reserve team players Cuenca, Dos Santos, Rosell, Armando, Femenía, Balliu and Oier made up the group.


The next training session will take place behind closed doors on Monday afternoon in Sant Joan Despí.

FCB
 
Barça closes deal with Chinese Internet giant Tencent


www.fcbarcelona.cat

FC Barcelona and Tencent have agreed to develop Barça’s brand China, the deal will allow the Club to reach a massive audience as well as generate revenue


Barça consolidates its online leadership in the Chinese market thanks to Tencent , the principal Internet service provider in China. FC Barcelona and the Chinese company have agreed to work together to develop Barça’s brand in the Asian country, which will allow the Club to reach a massive audience and increase revenue. Dídac Lee , director of new technology, was “very satisfied†with the agreement and Antoni Rossich , general director, said, “they are industry leaders in China, and they fit perfectly with our strategy.†Lee added, “on a personal level I’m doubly satisfied, because of my origins and beacuse this is in my field of work.â€



Tencent has agreed to develop a new website for FC Barcelona in Chinese and to commercialiseapplications and mobile games using Barça’s brand. All content created by Tencent will be subject to Club approval.


The agreement also opens up Chinese social media sites to FC Barcelona. Tencent owns several social media sites that boast millions of users: QQ , with 900 million users, is the country's largest instant messaging platform; Qzone , has 500 million users; and Pengyou has 130 million users. In the short term, FC Barcelona will open a verified account on Tencent Weibo , known as the Chinese Twitter, this Tuesday. Tencent Wiebo has 300 million users.


Dídac Lee is convinced that the Internet is the ideal platform for Barça to expand throughout the world: “I believe that the best way for FC Barcelona to reach its fans globally is online, especially in China, where we are the preferred Club.â€


Tencent ( www.tencent.com ), besides providing technology services, also adds online value with web portals, social media (leaders in China), online games, mobile applications, e-commerce and web advertising. Dídac Lee explained that this is the first time Tencent has signed “an agreement with global reach. . . Their directors have told us how satisfied they are, not only because we are a great Club, but because we also share common values.â€


Barça leading in new technology

With the agreement in China, FC Barcelona further consolidates its position as the leader in new technology. Barça is the leader on social networks: nearly 23 million fans on Facebook and 4.5 million followers on Twitter (accounts in Catalan, Spanish and English). Barça’s growth rate on these two social networks outpaces Facebook and Twitter’s own growth rate, and on YouTube , FC Barcelona boasts the largest sports channel in Spain.

Barça has established a strong digital strategy, presented a couple of weeks ago during the unveiling of www.fcbarcelona.cat , the most visited Spanish football site with over 100 million visits per year. Barça has also committed to improve its digital assets and mobile applications to better serve Club members and Barça fans.


Besides the agreement with Tencent, FC Barcelona also has deals with other technological firms, Telefónica I + D , to improve the digital experience at the Camp Nou ; Google+, inclusion of FC Barcelona’s page for the global launch of business profiles; and UNICEF , amongstothers.


Helpful trip to China


Since Friday, FC Barcelona has been working on commercial and institutional agreements, like the Tencent deal, in Beijing and Shanghai. Members of the Club’s board of directors, led by Sandro Rosell , have participated in social events,like the China Foundation for Disabled Persons gala, and they have visited Pekin University and met with leaders from the country’s two most important cities.


FCB
 
Josep Guardiola: “We're willing to keep tryingâ€


After the defeat to Getafe and before playing against Rayo, Pep Guardiola relayed a message of confidence and calmness to his men


The Barça manager believes that the challenge is to maintain continuity and to up the level of play if Barça are to take top spot

“The challenge must be to behave like a Barça player should everyday, our challenge is continuityâ€

Content with what the team has done up until this point and confident with what it will do, PepGuardiola downplayed the loss to Getafe, that left Barça six points adrift of Madrid, in the pre-game press conference ahead of the clash with Rayo. “The players are well, they’re people that are calm when things are going well, and when there’s a scare along the way or a loss they deal with it well. Yes, it’s the first time we’re at this kind of disadvantage this far into the season, although I thought this would happen in the second or third year, but we’re willing to keep on trying,†said Guardiola.


He only demands effort

The Barcelona manager hasn’t deviated from the message he gave on day one of his tenure ascoach: “We’re going to work hard until the end, we’ll try and make the people that love this Club proud. The only thing I ask of the players is their effort.†With this in mind, Guardiola has a clear objective, “the challenge must be to behave like a Barça player should everyday, our challenge is continuity.†He added, “I don’t know if we’ll be champions. Will we try? I’m convinced we will.â€


Barça’s good level of play

Guardiola, while admitting that the team is having difficulties winning away games, stressed that his team’s trajectory in the League has been good. “There have been moments where we have played much better than last year. We’ve won two titles against two strong teams, we’ve qualified as group winners in the Champions League with two games to go and we’re second in the League.†According to Guardiola, “we know that we’re at a good level but it’s not good enough to be first, up until now Madrid has been better by six points.â€


He isn’t thinking about the Clásico

Despite his team being down six points to the current League leaders, Pep Guardiola was both optimistic and realistic at the same time: “There’s a lot of the League still yet to be played and if Madrid maintains their form it will be much more complicated. They haven’t won in a while, it’s normal that every game is important to them.†Even with the Clásico looming, the Barça boss prefers to focus on the game at hand. €œThere are very few teams as bold [as Rayo], let’s see if we are capable of playing better than them,†concluded Guardiola.

FCB,

Jordi Clos
 
The fight back starts here 21.00, R@dio Barça: Barça host Rayo Vallecano in a game brought forward from week 17 aiming to start their La Liga fight back

Iniesta given medical all clear is available


Barça and Rayo Vallecano face each other at the Camp Nou tonight in a game brought forward from week 17 because of Barça's World Club Cup commitments. The game gives the reigning league champions an early chance to cut the six point lead which Madrid hold over them following the defeat to Getafe on Saturday. Barça face three home games before they travel to the Bernabeu, with the first of those three tonight, on the occasion of the Club's 112th anniversary , against Rayo , the second on Saturday against Llevant and the the third next Tuesday against BATE , with the Champions League Group already decided. There's little room for error, but the prize is immense. Iniesta available The players are confident that they will make up the six points Madrid currently leadthem by and at this evening's training session they received some great news, with Andres Iniesta , who's missed the last two games with a left thigh injury, passed fit to play. Cesc, who wasrested as a precaution against Getafe , also trained fully with the group and Guardiola can call on an almost complete squad which is only missing the injured Ibrahim Afellay . Rayo back inthe top flight The visitors tonight, Rayo Vallecano , are back in the top flight this season for the first time since 2003, when they lost 3-0 at the Camp Nou . They are potentially a tough test, having won more points away from home than at Vallecas so far this season and currently sitting in a comfortable tenth spot. José Ramón Sandoval 's only doubt is at right back, where Tito is waiting to find out if the Spanish disciplinary committee allow him to play.

FCB,

JORDI CLOS
 
Andrés Iniesta gets medical all-clear, fit to play against Rayo Vallecano

www.fcbarcelona.cat

The Barça midfielder, recovered from the contusion on his left foot, has been declared fit ahead of tomorrow’s game against Rayo Vallecano

The player trained without problems during today’s training session at the the Ciutat Esportiva


"(On) Monday, Andrés Iniesta was declared fit by Barça's medical staff. After missing the AC Milan (2-3) and Getafe (1-0) games because of a contusion on his left foot, Iniesta is back with the squad for tomorrow’s game against Rayo Vallecano , the first of three consecutive games at the Camp Nou .


Training with 23 players

The 20 first team players available to Josep Guardiola , including Iniesta who got the medicalall-clear after the session, and 3 Barça B players, Cuenca , Tello and Carmona took part in this afternoon’s training session. The only absentee was the injured Ibrahim Afellay. The team trained on Field 1 at the Ciutat Esportiva, they will train one last time tomorrow, at the Camp Nou, before the match against Rayo Vallecano.


FIFA anti-doping control

Several members of FIFA’s Medical Services were present at today’s training session. FIFA personnel performed urine-based anti-doping tests on the Barça players ahead of the FIFA ClubWorld Cup in Japan . Unlike in 2009, FIFA regulations call for anti-doping controls, the organisation warned all teams involved that they would conduct anti-doping controls before the end of year competition.

FCB
 
Johan Cryuff's side fought back to win the title on the last day of the 1991/92 season


Barça may be six points adrift of Real Madrid, but in the 1991/92 season they came back from an eight point deficit to take the title


As Josep Guardiola made clear after the Getafe defeat, "we're only in November and there's a long way to go in this league." The boss has himself experienced how a lead can be whittled away, as he was a player in the Barça team of the early 90s who won four titles on the run, the second of which came after pulling back an eight point deficit.


Eight points adrift

After 13 games of the 1991/92 campaign , Barça found themselves in third spot, eight points behind the leaders in a competition where a winstill earned just two points. With Atletico and Real Madrid above them, Johan Cruyff 's side went on to complete one of the great comebacks of La Liga.


Three defeat s and three draws

The team had made a poor start to the season, with three defeats, against Seville (4-2), Sporting (2-1) and Oviedo (1-2) and three draws - against Logroñés (2-2), Albacete (1-1) and leaders Real Madrid , who had dropped their onlypoint of the campaign so far in the 1-1 draw between the two.


This season, there have only been four draws ( Real Sociedad, Valencia, Seville and Athletic Club ), plus Saturday's defeat at Getafe and Barça are just six points adrift in a league with three points for a win. With both games against leaders Real Madrid still to come, Barça's fate in this season's league is still very much in their own hands.


Happy ending

That 1991/92 season had a happy ending for Cruyff's team, as Tenerife –for the first but not the last time- thwarted Real Madrid's title hopes on the last day of the season and Barça were proclaimed champions after finishing a point ahead of their great rivals. That was a great climax to a great fightback and one that will surely serve as an inspiration as the team set outto cut the distance between themselves and Madrid after 13 games this campaign.

FCB,

Roger Bogunyà
 
FC Barcelona v Rayo Vallecano: Winning form continues at Camp Nou (4-0)

FC Barcelona stormed to victory against Rayo Vallecano with goals from Alexis (2), Villa and Messi, and have now scored 34 goals to no reply in home fixtures

www.fcbarcelona.cat

FC Barcelona responded in perfect fashion to defeat at Getafe , by tearing Rayo Vallecano apart at the Camp Nou to keep their Liga campaign very much alive. Guardiola 's side only needed 50 minutes to have the tie sewn up, in which time Alexis had scored a brace and Villa and Messi had added goals of their own. Barça are simply untouchable at the Camp Nou, where they were able to celebrate the stadium's 122nd anniversary with yet another win. The victory against Rayo , in a game brought forward due to FCB's forthcoming trip to Japan, puts FC Barcelona back within three points of Real Madrid , who do have a game in hand. Alexis breaks deadlock Barça struggled to get into the game. The ball wasn't flowing as they would have liked, while Rayo were solid at the back and had a tough keeper to beat in Cobeño . The visitors also managed to create chances of their own on the counter attack, with Lass especially dangerous on the end of some rapid Rayo moves. Mascherano can in particular be thanked for some crucial interventions. But the whole panorama changed when Alexis, in one of his first interventions in the play, finally put the Catalans ahead with a pinpoint effort that bounced in off the crossbar. Sorted before the break With a one goal lead, Barcelona managed to settle into their usual style, and the passing was far more accurate and effective than before.In one of these delightful combination moves, Messi threaded a through ball to Xavi , who following an unusual piece of ball control, laid the ball on a plate to Alexis, who scored his second. Rayo were clearly stunned by this further setback, and practically straight from the restart, in which Alves was allowed a ridiculous amount of space in which to manoeuvre, Villa was supplied with the ball and converted with ease. It was not half time, but it looked like this game was already over. Messi makes it four But Barça were in no mood to rest on their laurels, and the second half was barely under way before Messi and Alves set off a powerful run down the right, with the former finishing the blistering move with his side's fourth goal of the night, finding his way past Javi Fuego with an amazing piece of skill. At 4-0, and with the homewin now a certainty, the game lost in intensity and saw few chances created by either side Guardiola made use of the final half hour to give some rest to Alexis, Xavi and Iniesta , who was fresh back from injury, to give a run out to three other key players in Cesc, Thiago and Adriano . Towards the end, Piqué was shown a yellow card, which means he will be suspended for the Levante game on Saturday.

FCB
 
Andrés Iniesta: “We’re doing really well at the Camp Nouâ€


Barça’s number 8 was pleased with the win overRayo and he highlighted Barça’s stats at the Camp Nou during an interview with Barça TV


Training session on Wednesday at 11:30 hrs

The first team will train this Wednesday at 11:30 hrs at the Ciutat Esportiva. Villa will attendthe post-training press conference.

FC Barcelona thrashed Rayo Vallecano 4-0 tonight at the Camp Nou. Alexis Sánchez scored abrace followed by goals from David Villa and Messi. Having scored 34 goals and conceding none this season at home, FC Barcelona continues its winning form at the Camp Nou. Andrés Iniesta, who was interviewed after the match by Barça TV, said: “They are significant numbers. We’re on good form at the stadium. However, it’s a bit more difficult playing away, but we’re working to improve the situation.â€


Happy for Villa and Alexis

FC Barcelona’s technical staff have been applying different systems of play in each game and the first team midfielder said that “we studyour opponents, but sometimes when they play against us they change their style. The technical staff tells us how the opposing team plays and we apply variants to our play style for the match.†Iniesta was very happy for Alexis and Villa as they both bagged goals against Rayo: “it’s great news, we all know that strikers live to score goals. It’s great for them and it’s good for the team."


The Clásico is closer

With the three points won this Tuesday, FC Barcelona cuts into Real Madrid’s lead at the top of the table. Iniesta explained that in the Liga there is very little margin for error and that “we’ll play against Madrid soon, this is the Liga. Each year is demanding and playing for a Barça you always have to fight to win all the titles.†The midfielder said that the work that the team is doing is “good,†but they need a bit more because “the leader demands it.†He also said that the team must always continue with “the same confidence.â€


David Villa:

“For us, the important thing is to keep on winning points. We played well again and we won by a good margin.â€

“You always need a goal, when it doesn’t come you focus on doing other things in the match. I’m happy that I scored but if I hadn’t I’d still be happy.â€


Dani Alves:

“It was a tough match against a team that has personality, but we were on target and we found our goals.â€


On Alexis: “I’m very happy for him, he works hard. He was on target tonight and he got two goals.â€


Víctor Vlés:

“We got a great victory against a Rayo side that made it difficult for us. Three more valuable points.â€

FCB,

CRISTINA PALAU
 
Guardiola's Barca equal unbeaten record at the Camp Nou


WWW.FCBARCELONA.CAT
They have put together a run of eight consecutive victories at the Camp Nou, with 34 goals for and none against

Added to the last few league games of last season, the winning streak without conceding a goal at home has reached 11 matches


The eight Barça victories in the Camp Nou


Barça – Vila-real 5 a 0
Barça – Osasuna 8 a 0
Barça – Atlètic de Madrid 5 a 0
Barça – Racing 3 a 0
Barça – Sevilla 0 a 0
Barça – Mallorca 5 a 0
Barça – Saragossa 4 a 0
Barça – Rayo Vallecano 4 a 0

If we add the last few games of last season, Barça have gone 11 consecutive League games at home without letting in a single goal

With these 11 games, Barça overtake Cordoba, from the 64/65 season, and Athletic Bilbao, from the 70/71 season, who both put together a run of 10 matches without conceeding


With the win over Rayo Vallecano, this team continue to make history. On this occasion they equalled the unbeaten run at the Camp Nou, dating back to the 1986/87 season. That Barça team, managed by Terry Venables, remained unbeaten after eight league games, totalling 14 goals for and none against. Guardiola's Barçahave equalled that record, and have done it scoring 34 goals, an average of more than 4 goals per game, without reply. The team could beat the record, if this Saturday they beat Levante, and don't concede any goals, on the 15th League matchday.


Apart from this record, the match against Rayo Vallecano leaves us with some curious facts:

- Messi has scored 15 goals in the Nou Camp in the League, and is one goal short of his personal best.
- Victor Valdes is the first Barça goalkeeper to keep clean-sheets in 200 matches. Valdes has played a total of 428 games. Zubizarreta didn't let in any goals in 173 of the 410 matches he played in.
- Rayo Vallecano, Atletico Madrid, Zaragoza, and Mallorca,the teams who had most ball possession in the Camp Nou, all conceded at least four goals.
- Barça have won their last eight home games against teams from Madrid.
- Barça have never lost at the Camp Nou in a league gameplayed between Tuesday and Thursday. The balance is 39wins and 16 draws.
- Guardiola's players have conceded only 7 goals, the bestrecord after 14 League games since the season 1986/87.

FCB
 
Villa:"I feel important, and even more so when the manager speaks well of me"



The striker showed himself to be really pleased with the role that he has within the team, securein the knowledge that he has the support of his manager, his teammates, and fans


He valued the importance of the win against Rayo, following the defeat at Getafe


He regretted that some of his comments about Barça’s possibilities at the Bernabeu were taken out of context


David Villa was one of the mainstays of Barça's victory against Rayo, with a goal and his usual tireless work up front. At the end of the game Pep Guardiola praised his work, and on Wednesday at noon, at a press conference, Villa expressed his satisfaction. "I feel important, and even more so when the manager speaks well of me" he said.


Feels everybody's affection

He lives for goals, like any striker, but Villa said that he doesn't feel a release every time he scores: "I've always had the affection of teammates and especially the public. I noticed it since the day I arrived. So it's not vitalthat I score.......I don't give any importance to what is said outside the Club. I don't have to be worried about all of this, it's all the same to me. I work so that the manager, my colleagues, the fans, and my family, are happy, and that's the case".


In addition, David Villa said he felt comfortable where he's playing: "I'm playing in the same positions as last season, but sometimes within different systems. I've played on the left, sometimes on the right, and recently down the middle, and I'm happy in all of them ". He also analysed why, despite his constant escaping from defenders, he doesn't always get the ball: "We are a team with lots of players in front of the ball, we have loads of options. There's only one ball and we can't all receive it. When I don't get it, I try to create space for others".


An important victory

On the other hand, Villa admitted that after a defeat"it's always important to win again". For him, the reason for the better results at home is simple: "Any team, and more so us with the fans that we have, feel more comfortable at home. We need to change the situation away from home, not lose any more points, and continue the brilliant run at the Camp Nou". The next away game will be in Madrid, and Villa is clear about it:"Whoever we play against, we plan just the same. The greatness of this club forces us to go out to win. We're going to the Bernabeu in different circumstances to other years, but with the same idea".


Villa spoke about his recent statements about Barca's possibilities of winning El Clásico. "It's clear that we can win, just like we can draw, or we can lose. I don't understand why everything should be taken out of context "he said.

FCB,


Jordi Clos
 
Villa:"I feel important, and even more so when the manager speaks well of me"



The striker showed himself to be really pleased with the role that he has within the team, securein the knowledge that he has the support of his manager, his teammates, and fans


He valued the importance of the win against Rayo, following the defeat at Getafe

He regretted that some of his comments about Barça’s possibilities at the Bernabeu were taken out of context

David Villa was one of the mainstays of Barça's victory against Rayo, with a goal and his usual tireless work up front. At the end of the game Pep Guardiola praised his work, and on Wednesday at noon, at a press conference, Villa expressed his satisfaction. "I feel important, and even more so when the manager speaks well of me" he said.


Feels everybody's affection

He lives for goals, like any striker, but Villa said that he doesn't feel a release every time he scores: "I've always had the affection of teammates and especially the public. I noticed it since the day I arrived. So it's not vitalthat I score.......I don't give any importance to what is said outside the Club. I don't have to be worried about all of this, it's all the same to me. I work so that the manager, my colleagues, the fans, and my family, are happy, and that's the case".


In addition, David Villa said he felt comfortable where he's playing: "I'm playing in the same positions as last season, but sometimes within different systems. I've played on the left, sometimes on the right, and recently down the middle, and I'm happy in all of them ". He also analysed why, despite his constant escaping from defenders, he doesn't always get the ball: "We are a team with lots of players in front of the ball, we have loads of options. There's only one ball and we can't all receive it. When I don't get it, I try to create space for others".


An important victory

On the other hand, Villa admitted that after a defeat"it's always important to win again". For him, the reason for the better results at home is simple: "Any team, and more so us with the fans that we have, feel more comfortable at home. We need to change the situation away from home, not lose any more points, and continue the brilliant run at the Camp Nou". The next away game will be in Madrid, and Villa is clear about it:"Whoever we play against, we plan just the same. The greatness of this club forces us to go out to win. We're going to the Bernabeu in different circumstances to other years, but with the same idea".

Villa spoke about his recent statements about Barca's possibilities of winning El Clásico. "It's clear that we can win, just like we can draw, or we can lose. I don't understand why everything should be taken out of context "he said.

FCB,

Jordi Clos
 
FIFA FIFPro World XI 2011: Eleven Barça players amongst the candidates for the best team of the year


No team has more candidates than FC Barcelona,which already had six players in the winning team a year ago


FIFPro , the association of professional footballers, announced on Thursday the final list of 55 players who are candidates for the best eleven of 2011. Among the candidates are eleven players from Barça, ​​the team most represented amongst all the nominees. They are Valdés , Abidal , Alves , Piqué , Puyol , Busquets , Cesc , Iniesta , Xavi , Messi , and Villa . More than 50,000 professional players from around the world took part in the voting for the finalists.


Valdés, first time

Of the eleven Barça candidates, goalkeeper Víctor Valdés is the only first-timer on the list of finalists. The rest have been there in previous editions. In fact, the ideal XI of 2010 included six Barça players, over half the team: Piqué, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, and Villa.


Final decision on 9th January
On January 9th, 2012, to coincide with the gala of the FIFA Golden Ball in Zurich , the names of the eleven players that make up the ideal XI will be announced, including a goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards.


The 55 finalists

Goalkeepers : Buffon (Juventus), Casillas (Madrid), Neuer (Bayern), Van der Sar (retired, Man United) and Víctor Valdés (Barça)

Defenders : Abidal (Barça), Alves (Barça) , Carvalho (Madrid), Cole (Chelsea), Evra (Man United), Ferdinand (Man United), Kompany (Man City), Lahm (Bayern), Lucio (Inter), David Luiz (Chelsea ), Maicon (Inter), Marcelo (Madrid), Nesta (AC Milan), Pepe (Madrid), Piqué (Barça),Puyol (Barça) , Sergio Ramos (Madrid), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), Terry (Chelsea) and Vidic (Man United)

Midfielders : Xabi Alonso (Madrid), Bale (Tottenham), Busquets (Barça), Cesc Fabregas (Barça), Iniesta (Barça) , Kaka (Madrid), Lampard (Chelsea), Nani (Man United), Özil (Madrid), Pirlo (Juventus), Schweinsteiger (Bayern), David Silva (Man City), Sneijder (Inter), Yaya Toure (Man City) and Xavi (Barça)


Forwards : Aguero (Man City), Benzema (Madrid), Cavani (Naples), Drogba (Chelsea), Eto'o (Anzhi), Falcao (Athletico), Mario Gomez (Bayern), Ibrahimovic (AC Milan), Messi (Barça) , Neymar (Santos), Van Persie (Arsenal), Cristiano Ronaldo (Madrid), Rooney (Man United), Luis Suarez (Liverpool) and David Villa (Barça)

FCB,


Roger Bogunyà
 
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