FC Barcelona News
Barça back on top after defeating Real Madrid
April 12th, 2010Barcelona is back at the top of the league table after a classic 2-0 defeat of Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Saturday night!
Although there are still seven matches remaining of the season, it is a huge moral boost for the Catalans and has really dented Real Madrid’s self-belief. It is always difficult to put “El Clasico” in any real perspective as it is hyped so much throughout Spain, which it so often fails to live up to (although last season’s 6-2 defeat of Real Madrid at the Bernabeu certainly DID). However, Saturday’s match was the forth El Clasico won by Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid’s first home loss this season.
The match started with both teams looking a little desperate and a long way from playing their best. Barça’s first goal came in the 32nd minute from a clearly annoyed Messi, sick and tired of the constant fouling from Madrid.
To me – and I’m hardly unbiased - it looked like Madrid were going in hard throughout the match, but players from both teams received yellow cards; Messi, Xavi, Alves and Maxwell were all cautioned, but although Ramos picked up one yellow for Madrid, there were two other occasions which looked like they were clear yellow cards and he should have received his marching orders.
After the break one of the heroes of the night was Victor Valdes, who faced dangerous moments in the 51st and 55th minute when Van der Vaart and Ronaldo managed to break through, and then in the 69th minute – it constantly amazes me both when people call for him to be replaced AND that he has never been called up for the Spanish selection. The other hero was Pedro, who scored the second goal for Barça in the 56th minute; Messi came close again in the 77th minute, but his shot was saved by Casillas.
A great night for Barcelona, but not the dismal result Real Madrid seem to think it is. While the teams are arch-rivals, coming second in the league – and it isn’t over yet – hardly counts as the total failure painted by some of their supporters.
After the match there were plenty of fireworks in Barcelona and the party atmosphere spilled over in to the centre of Barcelona where another spectacular victory was celebrated. My own post match party didn’t finish until the very early hours of Sunday morning.
0-1, Messi (min 32)
0-2, Pedro (min 56)
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Barcelona |
31
|
25
|
5
|
1
|
77
|
19
|
80
|
|
2
|
Real Madrid |
31
|
25
|
2
|
4
|
83
|
27
|
77
|
|
3
|
Valencia |
31
|
16
|
8
|
7
|
50
|
33
|
56
|
|
4
|
Sevilla |
31
|
15
|
6
|
10
|
45
|
36
|
51
|
|
5
|
Mallorca |
31
|
15
|
6
|
10
|
49
|
36
|
51
|
|
6
|
Athletic Bilbao |
31
|
14
|
6
|
11
|
45
|
42
|
48
|
|
7
|
Villarreal |
31
|
13
|
7
|
11
|
46
|
41
|
46
|
|
8
|
Getafe |
31
|
13
|
5
|
13
|
43
|
40
|
44
|
|
9
|
Deportivo |
31
|
12
|
7
|
12
|
33
|
39
|
43
|
|
10
|
Atlético Madrid |
31
|
11
|
7
|
13
|
47
|
48
|
40
|
|
11
|
Sporting Gijón |
31
|
9
|
10
|
12
|
33
|
39
|
37
|
|
12
|
Osasuna |
31
|
10
|
7
|
14
|
28
|
35
|
37
|
|
13
|
Almería |
31
|
9
|
10
|
12
|
33
|
43
|
37
|
|
14
|
Espanyol |
31
|
9
|
10
|
12
|
25
|
37
|
37
|
|
15
|
Racing Santander |
31
|
7
|
11
|
13
|
31
|
45
|
32
|
|
16
|
Zaragoza |
31
|
8
|
8
|
15
|
37
|
55
|
32
|
|
17
|
Málaga |
31
|
7
|
10
|
14
|
35
|
40
|
31
|
|
18
|
Tenerife |
31
|
6
|
8
|
17
|
29
|
61
|
26
|
|
19
|
Valladolid |
31
|
4
|
13
|
14
|
30
|
53
|
25
|
|
20
|
Xerez |
31
|
5
|
8
|
19
|
26
|
53
|
23
|
Want to see one of the few remaining home matches in this classic season? Reserve your FC Barcelona tickets today.
Barça shows Stuttgart why they’re Champions
March 18th, 2010Pep Guardiola said that his team would be looking for goals, and last night he was as good as his word; FC Barcelona’s decisive 4-0 win over Stuttgart clearly sent out a message that the Catalans intend to be there at the Madrid final on Saturday 22nd May 2010 and Barça’s fans were chanting as much last night.
Barça’s dominated possession throughout in front of a packed Nou Camp and the first goal wasn’t long in coming – in the 12th minute Leo Messi ran forward into the Stuttgart area and shot the ball over the keeper, looking almost like it wouldn’t go in. Immediately Stuttgart staged a counter attack, but it fizzled out against Barcelona’s defence.
Barça kept up the attack, which paid off again in minute 22 when an extended attack on the Stuttgart goal went rewarded with a goal from Pedro.
Barcelona continued to control the game through the rest of the first half and while there were more opportunities, nothing went home. Back on after the break, Messi continued to threaten the Germans and in the 59th minute Alves passed the ball back to Messi on the edge of the box, who put the ball into the net to make it 3-0.
Not content with what was almost certainly going to be a clear victory, Barça kept up the pressure. And when Bojan came on in place of Iniesta he was able to put his talent to good use, scoring in the 89th minute.
1-0 Messi (min 12)
2-0 Pedro (min 22)
3-0 Messi (min 59)
4-0 Bojan (min 89)
The draw for the quater finals takes place on Friday. Apart from FC Barcelona, the following teams remain in the Champions League:
Bordeaux
Inter Milan
Bayern Munich
CSKA Moscow
Lyon
Arsenal
Manchester United
We will have tickets for the home leg of the quarter finals (30/31 March and 6/7 April) although supply will be subject to UEFA ticketing regulations. For current availability of Barcelona Tickets see the home page.
Barça hangs on to 2 point lead
March 1st, 2010Barcelona retained their 2 point lead over real Madrid on Saturday night as both teams won their respective matches. Madrid paid a visit to Tenerife who they thrashed 5-1, while Barça played hosts to Malaga for an entertaining match which wasn’t won quite so convincingly.
It was good to see Dani Alves back in the starting lineup after being off thanks to injury but while Barcelona dominated possession of the ball they found it difficult to actually do anything with it and time and time again throughout the match the ball went wide.
Although the first half was goalless it was at least exciting, but the 0-0 result at the break was hardly deserved. After the break though, Barcelona’s fortunes changed, with a goal from Pedro in the 68th minute. Malaga still had fight in them and continued to cause problems for Barça; and so it was in the 80th minute that Valdo put the equaliser into the net for the visitors.
Barça’s downturn in fortune didn’t last long though. Just three minutes later Messi scored for Barcelona, thereby sealing three important points for FC Barcelona. It appeared that Ibra scored afterwards to make it 3-1, but the goal was denied, although it is hard to see why.
1-0, Pedro (min 68)
1-1, Valdo (min 80)
2-1, Messi (min 83)
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Barcelona |
24
|
19
|
4
|
1
|
59
|
14
|
61
|
|
2
|
Real Madrid |
24
|
19
|
2
|
3
|
64
|
17
|
59
|
|
3
|
Valencia |
24
|
13
|
7
|
4
|
42
|
24
|
46
|
|
4
|
Sevilla |
24
|
13
|
4
|
7
|
36
|
25
|
43
|
|
5
|
Mallorca |
24
|
12
|
4
|
8
|
38
|
28
|
40
|
|
6
|
Deportivo |
24
|
11
|
5
|
8
|
26
|
26
|
38
|
|
7
|
Athletic Bilbao |
24
|
11
|
4
|
9
|
32
|
30
|
37
|
|
8
|
Villarreal |
24
|
9
|
5
|
10
|
36
|
37
|
32
|
|
9
|
Getafe |
24
|
10
|
2
|
12
|
31
|
32
|
32
|
|
10
|
Sporting Gijón |
24
|
8
|
7
|
9
|
28
|
29
|
31
|
|
11
|
Atlético Madrid |
24
|
8
|
6
|
10
|
37
|
37
|
30
|
|
12
|
Osasuna |
24
|
8
|
6
|
10
|
24
|
26
|
30
|
|
13
|
Almería |
24
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
27
|
33
|
29
|
|
14
|
Málaga |
24
|
6
|
9
|
9
|
29
|
29
|
27
|
|
15
|
Espanyol |
24
|
7
|
6
|
11
|
18
|
32
|
27
|
|
16
|
Racing Santander |
24
|
6
|
7
|
11
|
24
|
37
|
25
|
|
17
|
Zaragoza |
24
|
6
|
6
|
12
|
29
|
47
|
24
|
|
18
|
Valladolid |
24
|
3
|
11
|
10
|
27
|
42
|
20
|
|
19
|
Tenerife |
24
|
5
|
5
|
14
|
20
|
49
|
20
|
|
20
|
Xerez |
24
|
2
|
6
|
17
|
14
|
44
|
12
|
Check out the homepage for Barcelona tickets at the Nou Camp in 2010!
Narrow victory for Barça
February 1st, 2010Barcelona narrowly held on to their five point advantage over Real Madrid on Saturday night with a 1-0 victory over Sporting de Gijon.
Despite numerous opportunities in the first half, Barcelona managed to score just once – a Messi free kick picked up by Iniesta, passed to Pedro, and into the back of the net.
The second half saw the home team strengthen their attack, but while it loosened Barça’s dominance of the game they failed to score and the final score remained 1-0 to the visitors.
0-1, Pedro (min 29)
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Barcelona |
20
|
16
|
4
|
0
|
50
|
10
|
52
|
|
2
|
Real Madrid |
20
|
15
|
2
|
3
|
47
|
14
|
47
|
|
3
|
Valencia |
20
|
11
|
6
|
3
|
36
|
18
|
39
|
|
4
|
Mallorca |
20
|
11
|
3
|
6
|
31
|
22
|
36
|
|
5
|
Deportivo |
20
|
10
|
4
|
6
|
34
|
23
|
34
|
|
6
|
Sevilla |
20
|
10
|
4
|
6
|
24
|
22
|
34
|
|
7
|
Getafe |
20
|
10
|
1
|
9
|
27
|
24
|
31
|
|
8
|
Athletic Bilbao |
20
|
9
|
3
|
8
|
24
|
25
|
30
|
|
9
|
Villarreal |
20
|
7
|
5
|
8
|
31
|
29
|
26
|
|
10
|
Sporting Gijón |
20
|
7
|
5
|
8
|
20
|
21
|
26
|
|
11
|
Atlético Madrid |
20
|
6
|
6
|
8
|
20
|
22
|
24
|
|
12
|
Osasuna |
20
|
6
|
6
|
8
|
23
|
27
|
24
|
|
13
|
Racing Santander |
20
|
6
|
5
|
9
|
30
|
33
|
23
|
|
14
|
Espanyol |
20
|
6
|
5
|
9
|
14
|
26
|
23
|
|
15
|
Almería |
20
|
4
|
8
|
8
|
23
|
26
|
20
|
|
16
|
Málaga |
20
|
4
|
7
|
9
|
19
|
30
|
19
|
|
17
|
Valladolid |
20
|
3
|
9
|
8
|
24
|
36
|
18
|
|
18
|
Tenerife |
20
|
4
|
5
|
11
|
23
|
42
|
17
|
|
19
|
Zaragoza |
20
|
4
|
5
|
11
|
17
|
39
|
17
|
|
20
|
Xerez |
20
|
2
|
5
|
14
|
10
|
35
|
11
|
The match against Sporting Gijon marked the start of the second half of the season. With plenty more matches to go, make sure you reserve your tickets to see FC Barcelona this year.
Barça through to next round
November 25th, 2009FC Barcelona secured their place in the next Champions League round after a convincing defeat of Inter Milan combined with a draw between the other two teams. Samuel Eto’o made his first return to the Nou Camp since departing Barcelona and made a point of greeting some of his old team mates.
Barça were clearly playing to win and the payoff came after ten minutes with Pique scored the first goal of the match. Five minutes later they came close to goal number two, but it went over the next insetad; and in the 26th minute Pedro scored the second and final goal of the match. The closest they got again was in the second half when ALves passed to Xavi who headed the ball towards the goal; but it wasn’t to be.
Inter got away with playing it rough, with Puyol receiving a bodycheck that went unpunished, although it was after an admittedly rough tackle; and Iniesta was knocked down hard, again without punishment.
| Club | Pld | Pts | W | D | L | F | A |
| Barcelona | 5 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Inter Milan | 5 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Rubin Kazan | 5 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Dynamo Kiev | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 |
The next Champions League match is against Dynamo Kiev. See the homepage for prices and availability of Barcelona tickets for this and all other matches.
Barça remains top
November 9th, 2009FC Barcelona remains one point ahead of Real Madrid after the weekend after both teams won their respective matches in La Liga.
Barça beat Mallorca 4-2 at the Nou Camp, with goals from Pedro (2), Henry and Messi; Nunes scored from a corner for the visitors in the 19th minute, while Keita knocked the ball into his own goal in injury time to put the visitors on 2 goals.
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Barcelona |
10
|
8
|
2
|
0
|
28
|
7
|
26
|
|
2
|
Real Madrid |
10
|
8
|
1
|
1
|
26
|
7
|
25
|
|
3
|
Sevilla |
10
|
7
|
1
|
2
|
19
|
7
|
22
|
|
4
|
Valencia |
10
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
19
|
8
|
21
|
|
5
|
Deportivo |
10
|
6
|
1
|
3
|
14
|
11
|
19
|
|
6
|
Mallorca |
10
|
5
|
2
|
3
|
18
|
13
|
17
|
|
7
|
Sporting Gijón |
10
|
4
|
4
|
2
|
12
|
10
|
16
|
|
8
|
Athletic Bilbao |
10
|
5
|
1
|
4
|
11
|
13
|
16
|
|
9
|
Espanyol |
10
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
8
|
10
|
13
|
|
10
|
Osasuna |
10
|
3
|
3
|
4
|
11
|
12
|
12
|
|
11
|
Almería |
10
|
3
|
3
|
4
|
10
|
12
|
12
|
|
12
|
Getafe |
10
|
4
|
0
|
6
|
12
|
16
|
12
|
|
13
|
Zaragoza |
10
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
14
|
21
|
11
|
|
14
|
Valladolid |
10
|
2
|
4
|
4
|
14
|
17
|
10
|
|
15
|
Tenerife |
10
|
3
|
1
|
6
|
7
|
19
|
10
|
|
16
|
Villarreal |
10
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
14
|
14
|
9
|
|
17
|
Racing Santander |
10
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
10
|
19
|
7
|
|
18
|
Atlético Madrid |
10
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
12
|
22
|
7
|
|
19
|
Xerez |
10
|
1
|
3
|
6
|
3
|
16
|
6
|
|
20
|
Málaga |
10
|
1
|
2
|
7
|
10
|
15
|
5
|
1-0, Pedro (min 11)
1-1, Nunes (min 19)
2-1, Pedro (min 40)
3-1, Henry (min 43)
4-1, Messi (min 87, pen)
4-2, Keita (min 92)
FCB
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