FC Barcelona News
Messi Grabs Advantage for Barcelona
April 28th, 2011Lionel Messi struck twice to hand FC Barcelona a massive advantage in their Champions League semi-final tie with bitter rivals Real Madrid. It was another ill-humoured Clásico, repeatedly interrupted by squabbles and niggling fouls, but come the final whistle the Blaugrana side were in a justified ascendancy, taking a 2-0 lead to next week’s match at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona had the upper hand throughout, but the game’s turning point came on the 60th minute with a red card for Pepe after a crude studs-up lunge on Dani Alves. Lionel Messi then seized the initiative, poking an Afellay cross beneath Casillas from close range, then embarking on a jinking run from the centre circle, beating five players and slotting home.
In hindsight, the build-up to this monumental first leg was a sign of things to come. Pep Guardiola had elected to stand up to Jose Mourinho by bristling at the Madrid manager’s recent provocation at Tuesday’s press conference. And this tetchy atmosphere was carried onto the Bernabéu pitch.
The first half was reminiscent of the recent confrontations between these two clubs; Barcelona were trying to set the tempo, with Pedro and Villa hugging the left and right touchlines, trying to furnish Messi and Xavi with some space against a compact Madrid formation.
Their counterparts were far less enterprising – opting instead to find Cristiano Ronaldo on the counter attack and gain territorial advantage via set pieces.
There were plenty of petty fouls followed by shrill protestations and theatrics, perhaps a consequence of Mourinho’s pre-match fixation with referees. But amid the fractious exchanges Barcelona did manage to carve a couple of notable chances.
Pulling in off the right wing, Villa cut onto his weaker left foot and curled a 20-yard effort past Casillas’ right post. Later, Messi squirmed through three challenges before slipping a clever pass to Xavi, but Barça’s captain was denied at the near post.
The half-time whistle was met with an ugly skirmish at the mouth of the tunnel. The result was a red card for Pinto, leaving Barcelona without a substitute ‘keeper for the second half.
The opening minutes of the second period picked up where the first had left off. Barça were probing and circulating the ball, while Real Madrid were lying in wait for a counter attack. There was still plenty of hostility, and a series of tit-for-tat fouls eventually culminated in Pepe’s deserved red card for his reckless challenge on Aves. Jose Mourinho’s sarcastic applause for the stricken Barça fullback was also rewarded with a sending off.
After ceding possession for an hour, Real Madrid no longer had the legs to close down space now they had to play with ten men. Chances for Villa and Pedro were followed by 15 minutes of pure magic from Lionel Messi.
After a vital first goal, he capped a glorious night for a Barça with a world-class effort that placed his team firmly in the driving seat.
0-1, Messi (min 76)
0-2, Messi (min 87)
Barcelona Fall to Extra Time Goal in Copa del Rey
April 21st, 2011FC Barcelona had to settle for runners up medals on Wednesday as they were edged out of the Copa del Rey final by a Cristiano Ronaldo goal in extra time. Facing off against a determined and well-drilled Real Madrid team, Barça only produced flashes of the kind of football that has dazzled La Liga this season.
Pep Guardiola was able to pick a strong side for the decisive match at the Mestalla – Mascherano stepped in at a centre-back to replace the injured Carles Puyol, and Pinto took his customary place between the posts for the cup.
Picking up from Saturday’s league meeting, the first half got off to a frenetic and tetchy start, with a host of fouls and angry recriminations. And although Barcelona were monopolising possession, Los Blancos were pressing higher up the pitch than before – when they won the ball they attacked with real speed and intent.
Cristiano Ronaldo was set free down the inside right channel and drew a smart save from Pinto after 11 minutes. Barcelona, on the other hand, were struggling to find a way through, and the game soon descended into a turgid stalemate punctuated by niggling fouls.
It was a scenario that suited Mourinho’s team perfectly, and just before half time they mustered another opportunity; Mesut Özil found some space down the right flank and whipped in a teasing cross that Pepe powered onto the inside of Pinto’s right post. Fortunately the ball bounced across the face of goal and out to safety.
Barcelona needed to improve in the second half, and the Blaugrana fans got their wish with a far more fluent performance, forcing Real Madrid to the edge of their penalty with some smart combinations.
Messi went on a spellbinding run, evading four Real Madrid challenges before releasing Pedro who shot low past Casillas, only to see the goal chalked off by the offside flag. Barcelona upped the pace even further – Messi, Pedro and Iniesta all drew stunning reaction saves from the Madrid ‘keeper.
And then, after forcing the opposition onto the ropes, Barcelona slowly started to lose the upper hand. In the closing minutes of regulation time, Real Madrid began to find their feet once more, bringing Pinto into action, who had to tip a Di Maria shot over the bar moments after an Alves block denied Cristiano Ronaldo a scoring opportunity.
Extra time ensued, and Los Merengues started to look increasingly menacing on the break, before breaking the deadlock in the 102nd minute. Di Maria led a counter attack down the left flank, and his cross was met with a powerful header by Ronaldo to leave Pinto stranded. FC Barcelona then tried to raise the tempo, but just didn’t have the legs to drag themselves back into the match.
The result is a bitter blow, but more exciting challenges lie ahead, as Guardiola’s team returns to the Ciutat Esportiva to regroup ahead of the Champions League semi-final.
0-1 C.Ronaldo (102′)
Barcelona Continue Title March After Vital Draw in Madrid
April 17th, 2011FC Barcelona took a huge step towards a third successive Primer Division title after securing a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabéu in the first of four climatic Clásicos. Pep Guardiola’s team bossed possession and arguably had the best chances, but had to settle for a point after Los Blancos came back from a goal and a man down to win a debatable penalty with ten minutes to go.
Nevertheless, the result leaves Barça in a practically insurmountable position; eight points clear at the top of the table, with a superior head-to-head record against their historic rivals.
Barcelona went into the game with their strongest XI for months, with captain Carles Puyol making a surprise start after recovering from a long-term injury that had kept him out of action since January.
For all of the hype, and column inches in anticipation of a memorable spectacle, the game got off to a relatively subdued start, with play frequently broken by niggling fouls. Both coaches spent much of the opening at the edge of their technical areas marshalling a fraught tactical battle.
The pattern that finally emerged was one of Barcelona dominance, and no little negativity from their opponents; Madrid’s midfield was effectively composed of three holding players sitting tight in front of their defence. It was no surprise that the first chance fell to the Blaugrana team – Iniesta crafted one of his signature looped passes to set Messi free, but the forward saw his lob saved easily by Casillas.
On the half-hour mark Barcelona had a great shout for a penalty when Villa raced onto a through pass after a stylish move, appearing to reach the ball before the Madrid ‘keeper who brought El Guaje to the ground. Referee Cesar Muniz Fernández wave the Barça protests away and even saw fit to book a livid Gerard Pique.
This fortunate escape appeared to stir Real Madrid, who finally began to emerge from their shells. Los Merengues’ best opportunities came via set pieces and the brutal right boot of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward slammed a trademark free kick off Valdes’ right post and had a header saved off the line by the increasingly impressive Adriano.
Yet it was Barcelona who were dictating play. And when the industrious Villa chased another clipped pass over the Real Madrid backline, Raul Albiol clumsily hauled the striker down by his collar – penalty, red card and Messi dispatched the spot-kick to take his tally to 49 and counting.
Puyol was withdrawn with a recurrence of his thigh injury, and Barça opted to slow the tempo, knowing Madrid had to chase the game with ten men. The strategy was paying off until Marcelo took on Alves down the left side of the penalty area. The right back appeared to win the ball with his sliding tackle, but Fernández pointed to the spot to allow Cristiano Ronaldo win a share of the points for Madrid ahead of Wednesday’s cup final.
0-1, Messi (pen, min 52)
1-1, Ronaldo (pen, min 83)
El clasico 2010 – the shame of Real Madrid
November 30th, 2010FC Barcelona v Real Madrid is probably the biggest fixture of the year worldwide, and while it always has a huge build-up it is sometimes quite a let down.
That wasn’t the case last night though, particularly if you are a Barça fan. While the Catalans came on to play the beautiful game, the visitors showed what happens when you hire a bunch of expensive thugs who have no idea what sportsmanship is.
And that was nowhere better demonstrated by Cristiano Ronaldo, who was bought for talent that he can never show when the odds are too high and behaves like a petulant prima dona when things don’t go his way.
Such as when he took the ball from Pep Guardiola and pushed him back around 30 minutes in – honestly, I know tensions run high but was that in any way necessary. I’m not condoning violence at football matches, but if I’d been in Guardiola’s place I think I would have decked him.
Okay, so now I have that off my chest….
It was a pretty miserable night from the point of view of the weather – cold and raining and nobody likes much to be out in that, but support for Barça – particularly on a Monday night – was outstanding. Perhaps it was something to do with the Catalan elections on Sunday, perhaps it was simply the event itself, but people were going out of their way to ignore the rain as best they could and support Barcelona.
The team went on with one intention – to beat Real Madrid, and they showed how intent they were to do that from the start. Messi came close in minute six, but Xavi put an Iniesta assist into the goal just four minutes later to open up the scoring. Seven minutes later it was Villa’s pass to Pedro that put the hosts 2-0 up.
That’s when Real Madrid really started to show how nasty they can be, with Ronaldo’s push of Guardiola at around the half hour mark. That earned him a yellow card, but the scuffles on pitch afterwards looked like the ref might start showing the red. In the end it was only Victor Valdes who earned a yellow.
A few minutes later when Valdes tangled directly with Ronaldo in the Barça area it looked like the visitors would be awarded a penalty. When it wasn’t given, Valdes just laughed in the face of his opponent. And what happened at the end of the first half? Leo Messi was clearly elbowed in the face, but it was him that was shown the yellow card!
After the break there was no let up for Barça. In the 54th minute David Villa scored his first; and three minutes later he did it again! Did I imagine it or had Jose Mourinho said that Villa can’t score??!!.. Oh yeah? Mourinho’s sour look on the bench told a story – his face had been well and truly rubbed in the dirt.
4-0 good enough for Barça? Not when it can be 5-0, as Jeffren made it right at the end. And when the stadium was just waiting for the fat lady, Ramos was shown a red for completely unnecessary behaviour and started pushing Puyol, Xavi and other players around. Umm… aren’t you supposed to be team mates in the Spanish selection, Ramos?
At 63% possession, Barça looked like they were playing a second rate team, not against so-called galacticos, thereby leapfrogging them in the league.
Conclusion?
Barça walked all over Madrid in the first half and after scoring the first two goals they simply tried dirty play to put Barça off their stride and break their flow. Real Madrid – you really ought to be ashamed. At least Jose Mourinho was suitably humbled after the match and said that Barça deserved to win.
And man of the match – definitely Cristiano Ronaldo, but for all the wrong reasons. He is a disgrace.
1-0, Xavi (min 10)
2-0, Pedro (min 17)
3-0, Villa (min 54)
4-0, Villa (min 57)
5-0, Jeffren (min 91)
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Barcelona |
13
|
11
|
1
|
1
|
38
|
8
|
34
|
|
2
|
Real Madrid |
13
|
10
|
2
|
1
|
33
|
11
|
32
|
|
3
|
Villarreal |
13
|
8
|
3
|
2
|
26
|
12
|
27
|
|
4
|
Espanyol |
13
|
8
|
1
|
4
|
15
|
15
|
25
|
|
5
|
Valencia |
13
|
7
|
3
|
3
|
19
|
13
|
24
|
|
6
|
Mallorca |
13
|
6
|
3
|
4
|
15
|
13
|
21
|
|
7
|
Atlético Madrid |
13
|
6
|
2
|
5
|
22
|
17
|
20
|
|
8
|
Sevilla |
13
|
6
|
2
|
5
|
20
|
22
|
20
|
|
9
|
Real Sociedad |
13
|
6
|
1
|
6
|
19
|
19
|
19
|
|
10
|
Athletic Bilbao |
13
|
6
|
1
|
6
|
21
|
23
|
19
|
|
11
|
Getafe |
13
|
5
|
2
|
6
|
19
|
20
|
17
|
|
12
|
Osasuna |
13
|
4
|
3
|
6
|
12
|
14
|
15
|
|
13
|
Hércules |
13
|
4
|
3
|
6
|
14
|
20
|
15
|
|
14
|
Deportivo |
13
|
3
|
5
|
4
|
11
|
16
|
14
|
|
15
|
Racing Santander |
13
|
4
|
2
|
7
|
11
|
19
|
14
|
|
16
|
Levante |
13
|
3
|
2
|
8
|
14
|
23
|
11
|
|
17
|
Sporting Gijón |
13
|
2
|
4
|
7
|
11
|
21
|
10
|
|
18
|
Málaga |
13
|
3
|
1
|
9
|
15
|
27
|
10
|
|
19
|
Almería |
13
|
1
|
6
|
6
|
9
|
20
|
9
|
|
20
|
Zaragoza |
13
|
1
|
5
|
7
|
12
|
23
|
8
|
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.
El Clasico leaves Barça back on top
November 30th, 2009Barcelona took over the top spot from Real Madrid last night after beating them 1-0 at the Nou Camp. It’s been a spectacular week for Barça after qualifying for the next Champions League round earlier in the week.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the only goal of the match in the 55th minute after being brought on to replace Thierry Henry a tough match was made even harder when Buesquets received his second yellow card for handball with 30 minutes remaining. Madrid’s Lassana Diarra was also sent off in the 90th minute, too late to make any impact on the match.
1-0, Ibrahimovic (min 55)
Real Madrid lead ahead of “El clàssic”
November 22nd, 2009FC Barcelona dropped into second place in the league last night after their draw against Athletic de Bilbao and a Real Madrid win put their arch rivals one point ahead.
With a number of key players out of action, Barça sometimes struggled to find space and while Leo Messi came close to scoring in the first half it wasn’t until the 54rd minute that Xavi put the ball into the area for Dani Alves to score. However, just 9 minutes later Athletic equalised when Toquero took the ball through a confused Barça defence to put the ball beyond the reach of Victor Valdes.
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Real Madrid |
11
|
9
|
1
|
1
|
27
|
7
|
28
|
|
2
|
Barcelona |
11
|
8
|
3
|
0
|
29
|
8
|
27
|
|
3
|
Sevilla |
11
|
8
|
1
|
2
|
21
|
8
|
25
|
|
4
|
Deportivo |
11
|
7
|
1
|
3
|
16
|
12
|
22
|
|
5
|
Valencia |
10
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
19
|
8
|
21
|
|
6
|
Mallorca |
10
|
5
|
2
|
3
|
18
|
13
|
17
|
|
7
|
Athletic Bilbao |
11
|
5
|
2
|
4
|
12
|
14
|
17
|
|
8
|
Sporting Gijón |
10
|
4
|
4
|
2
|
12
|
10
|
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 |
11
|
3
|
1
|
7
|
8
|
21
|
10
|
|
16
|
Villarreal |
10
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
14
|
14
|
9
|
|
17
|
Racing Santander |
11
|
1
|
4
|
6
|
10
|
20
|
7
|
|
18
|
Atlético Madrid |
11
|
1
|
4
|
6
|
13
|
24
|
7
|
|
19
|
Xerez |
10
|
1
|
3
|
6
|
3
|
16
|
6
|
|
20
|
Málaga |
10
|
1
|
2
|
7
|
10
|
15
|
5
|
That means that Real Madrid lead Barcelona by one point ahead of “el clàssic” played at the Nou Camp next Sunday. While we have no tickets available for this match, see the homepage for availability of Barcelona tickets for other matches.
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