FC Barcelona News
Madrid stumble leaves Barça at top
October 5th, 2009The question this season has been, who was going to stumble first; FC Barcelona or Real Madrid?
While on paper Barcelona should have walked all over Almeria on Saturday night – last season they beat them 5-0 at the Nou Camp – they managed to break down the attack though fair means and foul, preventing Barça’s from getting through for the first half an hour. Xavi came close twenty minutes in, but it wasn’t until minute 31 that Pedro shot from inside the box to put Barcelona one goal up.
From then on the match continued pretty much as it had been, with Almeria’s heavy tactical fouling breaking up Barcelona’s fluency. After the break Almeria attempted to pick up the game and break into the Barcelona defence. However, they were unsuccessful, allowing the Catalans to keep the three points.
While Barça came close to stumbling, Madrid did for sure. Facing third placed Sevilla on Sunday night, it was always going to be a tough match. In the end Sevilla beat Real Madrid 2-1, leaving both teams on 15 points and Madrid in second place in the league thanks to the goal average.
1-0, Pedro (min 31)
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Barcelona |
6
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
17
|
3
|
18
|
|
2
|
Real Madrid |
6
|
5
|
0
|
1
|
17
|
4
|
15
|
|
3
|
Sevilla |
6
|
5
|
0
|
1
|
14
|
4
|
15
|
|
4
|
Deportivo |
6
|
4
|
0
|
2
|
10
|
6
|
12
|
|
5
|
Valencia |
6
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
12
|
7
|
11
|
|
6
|
Mallorca |
6
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
11
|
7
|
10
|
|
7
|
Athletic Bilbao |
6
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
7
|
9
|
10
|
|
8
|
Getafe |
6
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
9
|
9
|
9
|
|
9
|
Sporting Gijón |
6
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
8
|
8
|
8
|
|
10
|
Espanyol |
6
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
8
|
|
11
|
Zaragoza |
6
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
8
|
9
|
7
|
|
12
|
Osasuna |
6
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
6
|
8
|
7
|
|
13
|
Almería |
6
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
6
|
6
|
|
14
|
Atlético Madrid |
6
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
9
|
14
|
6
|
|
15
|
Tenerife |
6
|
2
|
0
|
4
|
3
|
10
|
6
|
|
16
|
Valladolid |
6
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
7
|
12
|
5
|
|
17
|
Racing Santander |
6
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
7
|
13
|
5
|
|
18
|
Málaga |
6
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
6
|
8
|
4
|
|
19
|
Villarreal |
6
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
4
|
8
|
3
|
|
20
|
Xerez |
6
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
12
|
2
|
If you’re planning on seeing Barça at the Nou Camp make sure you book in advance. Check out price and availability of Barcelona tickets on our homepage.
Champions League: Barcelona beats Dynamo
September 30th, 2009Barcelona took the top spot in Champions League Group F last night after a 2-0 win over Dynamo Kiev.
Despite the two goals from Barça, their killer edge seeming to be missing and much of the 90 minutes lacked excitement. With a strong defence from Dynamo and sluggish attack, it looked for a while like the match was going nowhere – and in minute 20 it looked like it might go the wrong way for Barça.
However, as frequently is the case, Leo Messi pulled something together and minute 25 saw the first goal of the match. With one goal behind them, the squad started to make some impact on the defence, only to be stopped by the keeper; and then Dynamo got through, only to have it ruled offside .
In the second half Barça stepped up the pace slightly, although they failed to totally dominate as is their norm. Finally it was Pedro who scored the second goal of the match in minute 76, putting all the points beyond the reach of Dynamo and Barça on top of the Group.
1-0 Messi (min 25)
2-0 Pedro (min 75)
Barça neck and neck with Real Madrid
September 28th, 2009Barcelona maintained their one hundred percent record of wins, with a 2-0 away victory against Malaga. Although the home team played some tough football, for most of the match they were resigned to defend.
But it wasn’t until Ibrahimovic came on to replace an injured Henry that the visitors scored. The Swede came on in minute 28 and 10 minutes later scored Barça’s first of the match off Messi. And it was Piqué, who also started the match on the bench, who made it 2-0, with a header off a Xavi free kick in minute 58.
0-1, Ibrahimovic (min 38)
0-2, Piqué (min 58)
At the top of the league Barça and Real Madrid are going head to head, with neither team having yet conceded a single point and each waiting for the other to stumble. In the end it is Madrid who are in the number 1 spot thanks to only having 2 goals scored against them compared with Barcelona’s 3.
Both have Champions League matches this week; Barça play Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday and Real Madrid play Olympique de Marseille on Wednesday. However, next weekend Barcelona play Almeria, currently 13th in the table, while Madrid play third placed Sevilla – could this be the stumble Barcelona have been waiting for?
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Real Madrid |
5
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
16
|
2
|
15
|
|
2
|
Barcelona |
5
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
16
|
3
|
15
|
|
3
|
Sevilla |
5
|
4
|
0
|
1
|
12
|
3
|
12
|
|
4
|
Mallorca |
5
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
10
|
3
|
10
|
|
5
|
Deportivo |
5
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
9
|
6
|
9
|
|
6
|
Athletic Bilbao |
5
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
9
|
|
7
|
Valencia |
5
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
11
|
7
|
8
|
|
8
|
Zaragoza |
5
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
7
|
7
|
7
|
|
9
|
Osasuna |
5
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
|
10
|
Espanyol |
5
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
7
|
|
11
|
Getafe |
5
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
7
|
8
|
6
|
|
12
|
Tenerife |
5
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
9
|
6
|
|
13
|
Almería |
5
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
5
|
5
|
6
|
|
14
|
Sporting Gijón |
5
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
7
|
5
|
|
15
|
Racing Santander |
5
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
7
|
12
|
5
|
|
16
|
Valladolid |
5
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
5
|
10
|
4
|
|
17
|
Málaga |
5
|
1
|
0
|
4
|
5
|
7
|
3
|
|
18
|
Atlético Madrid |
5
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
7
|
13
|
3
|
|
19
|
Villarreal |
5
|
0
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
8
|
2
|
|
20
|
Xerez |
5
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
0
|
11
|
1
|
0-2, Piqué (min 58)
If you are thinking of coming to see Barça this season then check out the homepage for availability of Barcelona tickets for La Liga and Champions League.
Barça tops the league
September 23rd, 2009Barça top over the top spot in the Spanish league last night from Real Madrid thanks to a 4-1 away victory over Racing Santander, their place may be short lived as Madrid will tonight be playing Villarreal.
Once again Barcelona clearly dominated, and while it top 20 minutes for the first goal to appear, thanks to a Messi cross to Ibrahimovic, who was inside the box. Once that first goal arrived though, the others were quick to appear; goals from Messi (min 23) and Piqué (min 26) virtually putting to an end any result but clear victory.
After that sudden rash of goals, Messi waited until the second half before scoring again, in minute 63, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd. And just to show that not all the action was on Barça’s side, Serrano scored for the home team in minute 72.
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Barcelona |
4
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
14
|
3
|
12
|
|
2
|
Real Madrid |
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
11
|
2
|
9
|
|
3
|
Sevilla |
4
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
8
|
3
|
9
|
|
4
|
Athletic Bilbao |
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
2
|
9
|
|
5
|
Mallorca |
4
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
7
|
3
|
7
|
|
6
|
Valencia |
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
8
|
4
|
7
|
|
7
|
Almería |
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
|
8
|
Valladolid |
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
|
9
|
Sporting Gijón |
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
5
|
4
|
|
10
|
Racing Santander |
4
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
10
|
4
|
|
11
|
Málaga |
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
3
|
3
|
|
12
|
Getafe |
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
|
13
|
Deportivo |
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
5
|
6
|
3
|
|
14
|
Espanyol |
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
3
|
6
|
3
|
|
15
|
Zaragoza |
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
3
|
6
|
3
|
|
16
|
Tenerife |
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
6
|
3
|
|
17
|
Villarreal |
3
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
2
|
|
18
|
Osasuna |
3
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
5
|
1
|
|
19
|
Atlético Madrid |
3
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
9
|
1
|
|
20
|
Xerez |
3
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
8
|
0
|
0-1 Ibrahimovic (min 20)
0-2 Messi (min 23)
0-3 Piqué (min 26)
0-4 Messi (min 63)
1-4 Serrano (min 72)
See the homepage for current availability of Barcelona tickets and make sure you don’t miss out on this exciting season.
It never rains but it pours…
September 21st, 2009The Nou Camp was treated to a feast of goals on Saturday night, with the much anticipated visit from Atletico de Madrid. The stadium was spared the thunderstorms and torrential rain that had washed down Barcelona the previous day and instead spectators were treated to a seven goal marathon during a spectacular 5-2 victory for Barcelona.
No sooner had the match started that Barça began the attack, with a shot from Henry in the first minute striking the posts. However, there was no letup for Atletico, with a rather stupid goal a minute later from Ibrahimovic which seemed to simply trickle past the keeper into the net.
The next goal was more like it, with a Xavi pass to Messi, who put the ball home in minute 16; then Alves (min 30); Keita (min 42); and finally a goal from the visitors to make it 4-1 at the end of the first half.
After the break the pace was much slower, with Barça feeling the job was all but done. It wasn’t until minute 84 that the next goal was scored, once again from Atletico, but it was Leo Messi who polished the match off at the very last minute – his second goal in minute 93.
FC Barcelona’s next two matches are away; they play Racing de Santander on Tuesday and Malaga on Saturday. The next home match is against Dynamo Kiev on September 29th.
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Real Madrid |
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
11
|
2
|
9
|
|
2
|
Barcelona |
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
10
|
2
|
9
|
|
3
|
Athletic Bilbao |
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
2
|
9
|
|
4
|
Mallorca |
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
7
|
1
|
7
|
|
5
|
Valencia |
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
8
|
4
|
7
|
|
6
|
Sevilla |
3
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
6
|
3
|
6
|
|
7
|
Almería |
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
|
8
|
Valladolid |
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
|
9
|
Racing Santander |
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
6
|
4
|
|
10
|
Sporting Gijón |
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
5
|
4
|
|
11
|
Málaga |
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
3
|
3
|
|
12
|
Getafe |
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
|
13
|
Deportivo |
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
5
|
6
|
3
|
|
14
|
Espanyol |
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
3
|
6
|
3
|
|
15
|
Zaragoza |
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
3
|
6
|
3
|
|
16
|
Tenerife |
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
6
|
3
|
|
17
|
Villarreal |
3
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
2
|
|
18
|
Osasuna |
3
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
5
|
1
|
|
19
|
Atlético Madrid |
3
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
9
|
1
|
|
20
|
Xerez |
3
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
8
|
0
|
1-0, Ibrahimovic (min 2)
2-0, Messi (min 16)
3-0, Alves (min 30)
4-0, Keita (min 42)
4-1, Agüero (min 45)
4-2, Forlán (min 84)
5-2, Messi (min 93)
Barça and Inter share the points
September 17th, 2009Barça go into the home leg against Inter Milan with the advantage after a goal-less draw last night.
The first few minutes of the game suggested that Barcelona was going to dominate, with attacks from Messi and Abrahimovic in the first few minutes. However, as the home team settled down it became clear that the two sides were evenly matches and it was going to be no walkover for either. Indeed, possession during the first half was almost 50-50, with neither team dominating play.
In the second half though things looked a little different, with much of the play in Inter’s half. For a while it looked as if the visitors would break through and get at least a single goal, but it simply was not to happen.
| Club | Pld | Pts | W | D | L | F | A |
| Dynamo Kiev | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Barcelona | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Inter Milan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rubin Kazan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Barcelona’s next Champions League match is against Dynamo Kiev at the Camp Nou on September 29. Check the home page for details of this and other Barcelona tickets for La Liga and Champions League matches.
Iniesta returns to Getafe defeat
September 14th, 2009Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Leo Messi were the two goal scorers against Getafe on Saturday night, maintaining Barcelona’s position at the top of the league thanks to the fact that the team has yet to cede a goal – Real Madrid, Valencia and Athetico Bilbao are also all on 6 points.
The match marked the return of Andres Iniesta, returning after am injury sustained in the Champions League final and coming on just before the hour mark, received a standing ovations from the crowd.
Getafe is never a walkover and on Saturday they showed they were also there to win, with the home team producing two strong attacks in the first half hour that failed to make the net. However, Barça picked up their game and started looking as if they too were there to win – particularly at the end of the first half thanks to Ibramovic.
In the second half the team was refreshed with Iniesta and Messi, still reeling from Argentina’s poor performance. However, with Xavi and Pique piled on the pressure it was looking like Barcelona were going to score at any moment – and that moment came within minutes, when Ibramovic scored off an Abidal cross in the 66th minute.
While this seems to have revived Getafe’s determination, Iniesta almost put Barcelona 2 goals up in the 77th minute, but it wasn’t to be. However, a move from Alves, Ibramovic and Messi settled the match, with Messi heading the ball home in the 80th minute.
Next match: Inter Milan on Wednesday in Champions League
0-1 Ibrahimovic (min 66)
0-2 Messi (min 80)
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Barcelona | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
|
2
|
Real Madrid | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
|
3
|
Valencia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
|
4
|
Athletic Bilbao | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
|
5
|
Mallorca | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
|
6
|
Málaga | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
|
7
|
Getafe | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
|
8
|
Sevilla | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
|
9
|
Deportivo | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
|
10
|
Tenerife | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
|
11
|
Zaragoza | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
|
12
|
Sporting Gijón | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
|
13
|
Villarreal | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
|
14
|
Osasuna | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
|
15
|
Almería | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
|
16
|
Valladolid | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
|
17
|
Racing Santander | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
|
18
|
Atlético Madrid | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
|
19
|
Xerez | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
|
20
|
Espanyol | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Would you like to see Barça play at home? Check out our homepage for price and availability of Barcelona tickets at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona wins first match of the season
September 3rd, 2009Barcelona easily won their first match of the season against top division newcomers Gijon.
The match was played in front of a full stadium on Monday night, to allow Barça to rest after their UEFA Super Cup victory on Friday and saw goals from Bojan, Keita and Ibrahimovic.
1-0 Bojan (min 17)
2-0 Keita (min 42)
3-0 Ibrahimovic (min 81)
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Getafe |
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
1
|
3
|
|
2
|
Barcelona |
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
|
3
|
Málaga |
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
|
4
|
Mallorca |
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
|
5
|
Valencia |
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
|
6
|
Real Madrid |
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
|
7
|
Athletic Bilbao |
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
|
8
|
Zaragoza |
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
|
9
|
Osasuna |
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
10
|
Villarreal |
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
11
|
Almería |
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
|
12
|
Valladolid |
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
|
13
|
Deportivo |
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
0
|
|
14
|
Espanyol |
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
15
|
Tenerife |
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
16
|
Sevilla |
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
|
17
|
Xerez |
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
|
18
|
Racing Santander |
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
0
|
|
19
|
Atlético Madrid |
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
|
20
|
Sporting Gijón |
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
Apologies for the brevity of this match report, which are due to technical issues on the website.
UEFA Super Cup goes to Barça
August 29th, 2009Shakhtar Donetsk proved to be a worthy opponent for Barça last night in the UEFA Super Cup, with the only goal of the match scored in extra time.
Although the first half saw the two teams fairly evenly matched, by the second half Barcelona was clearly dominating. However, although they controlled the ball for much of the time, Shakhtar’s defence proved to be
impenetrable and however many attacks Barça made on the goal, they failed to get through and at the end of 90 minutes the result remained 0-0.
Barcelona continued to dominate in extra time, but by the end of the first 15 minutes the match remained goal-less and with just 5 minutes of the match remaining it was starting to look as if the game would end in
penalties.
However, a pass from Messi to Pedro in the 115th minute resulted in the result Barça had been looking for, with Pedro being hailed as the hero of the match.
Make sure you don’t miss out on Barça at the Nou Camp – reserve your Barcelona tickets online for La Liga and Champions League matches.
FC Barcelona notches up another trophy
August 24th, 2009Sunday night’s 3-0 defeat of Athletic de Bilbao gave Barça a 5-1 win on aggregate and meant that they pocketed the Spanish Supercup in spectacular fashion.
However, while Barcelona clearly dominated the match, it seemed to take a while for the team to really get into its stride. When it finally happened – after the break – things really started to happen, with Messi scoring the first goal and taking the trophy one step closer to being won.
Barça kept up the pressure, with some spectacular football taking place in front of a packed Nou Camp. And when Messi was brought down in the penalty area he was able to capitalise again, with his second goal in the 67th minute.
Still the pace kept up and five minutes later it was the turn of Bojan to score – he collected the ball, took it past the keeper and then teasingly stopped it inches from the line before tapping it over.
Some great football in what looks like it will be another stunning season for Barcelona.
1-0, Messi (min 49)
2-0, Messi (pen, min 67)
3-0, Bojan (min 72)
FCB
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