Villareal CF vs FC Barcelona match preview

Villareal CF – FC Barcelona

El Madrigal, Castellon
Saturday 28th of January 2012 at 22:00
Spanish League

FC Barcelona visits Villareal tonight with only 18 players due to an overbooked injury list. A victory is mandatory to remain in contact of Spanish League leaders Real Madrid.

Alexis and Iniesta both went down with injuries against Real Madrid last wednesday, and have joined Villa, Afellay and Fontàs on the sidelines. In addition, Pep Guardiola will have to do without Seydou Keita, due to his participation in the African Nations Cup. The catalan coach, however, will be counting on the youngsters Isaac Cuenca, Jonathan Dos Santos, Sergi Roberto and Tello.

FC Barcelona fans

it is impossible to beat FC Barcelona without playing a brilliant match

After a very disappointing start in the League, the yellow submarine know it won’t be easy against the European champions. Their manager said this week that “it is impossible to beat FC Barcelona without playing a brilliant match”.

Next at the camp Nou: FC Barcelona vs Real Sociedad on February 4th. Get tickets now

FC Barcelona make it to the Spanish Cup semi-final

FC Barcelona drew 2-2 against the defending Spanish Cup Champions Real Madrid  at Camp Nou last night. This was enough for Pep Guardiola’s side to progress to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, as they edged out the holders after winning in Bernabéu 1-2 last week (4-3 aggregate)

Continue reading “FC Barcelona make it to the Spanish Cup semi-final”

FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid : Your predictions

Tomorrow evening, at 10pm, FC Barcelona will try to make it to the spanish Cup semi-finals. After beating Real Madrid in Santiago Bernabéu (1-2) last week, with goals from Puyol and Abidal, will FC Barcelona make it through the next round in front of their home crowd at the Camp Nou? Answer tomorrow…

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95.92% of voters think Pepe should get suspended

Out of 245 voters, a staggering 95.92% (235 voters) think that Real Madrid‘s Pepe deserves to get suspended after stepping intentionally on Leo Messi‘s hand during last week’s Clasico: Real Madrid 1-2 FC Barcelona

Still nothing from the Spanish football authorities, though…

Pepe steps on Messi's hand

We could not help but remind all our readers that Mario Balotelli, Manchester City‘s forward, is facing a sanction after what seems a deliberate kick in the face of Tottenham’s Parker. Although it is hard to judge with just a picture, plenty of videos are available on youtube.

Balotelli stamps on Parker's face
Balotelli stamps on Parker’s face

FC Barcelona take first round in a display of Tiki Taka

Real Madrid 1-2 FC Barcelona

Spanish Cup quarterfinals – first leg
Wednesday 18th of January 2012
Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid

Goals:

1-0: Cristiano Ronaldo (m. 11)
1-1: Puyol (m.49)
1-2: Abidal (m.77)

Starting lineups surprises

Mourinho did not opt ​​for Plan A or plan B. With Di Maria sidelined, the Portuguese Special One chose plan C, which included, in the starting lineup, Ricardo Carvalho, who has been out of competition since late September, and Hamit Altintop, a player with limited play time since his arrival last summer. Jose Mourinho selected Pepe for midfield, and the Portuguese showed his true colours in a pathetic display of aggression.

On the other side of the scale was a team speaking from the script we know only too well: possession and patience, with only the novelty of Pinto (starting goalkeeper for the Spanish Cup), in comparison to the team who won in Santiago Bernabeu (1-3) in the League last December.

Real Madrid: Casillas; Altintop, Ricardo Carvalho, Sergio Ramos, Coentrão; Pepe, Xabi Alonso, Lass; Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Higuain

FC Barcelona: Pinto; Dani Alvés, Piqué, Puyol, Abidal; Sergio Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi; Cesc Fabregas, Messi, Alexis Sanchez

 

Game Summary

Cristiano Ronaldo gave the defending champions the lead after 11 minutes, but second-half goals from Carles Puyol and Eric Abidal, with a brilliant play by Messi, mean Barça will feel confident of avenging their defeat to Real Madrid in last season’s final of the Spanish Cup (0-1) when they play the second leg at the Camp Nou next week. (Compare prices and get tickets for Barça vs Real Madrid)

It’s the third time Barca have beaten Real Madrid this season, following the victory in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup and then a 3-1 win at Santiago Bernabéu in their first Clásico of La Liga back in December 2011.

Alves Abidal and Puyol celebrate the second goal

Messi breaking new record(s) for FC Barcelona ! Again…

Where will he stop?

Since his inauguration in the first team back in 2004-2005, Leo Messi has constantly been rewriting the history book of FC Barcelona.

Messi 2005-2006

Young Messi in the 2004-2005 season

 

The youngest player with 300 games

Tonight, for the first leg of the Spanish Cup Quarterfinals against Real Madrid, Messi will become the youngest player in the Blaugrana history to reach 300 official matches, with only 24 years and 6 months behind him, clearing Xavi Hernández (25 years and 8 months) and Andrés Iniesta (25 years and 9 months) from the record book.

 

Pichichi in the ‘Clasicos’

Messi could also become the most prolific scorer in the Clasico. ‘La Pulga‘ has scored 13 goals so far against the Merengue (all goals were scored against Iker Casillas) and is only one short of his 14 goals scored by the best shooter in FC Barcelona history, César Rodríguez.

Cesar Rodriguez Alvarez

César Rodriguez Alvarez

 

22 goals shy of historic FC Barcelona record of 235 goals

Messi has scored 213 goals so far in his career and is only 22 goals shy of the historic record of 235 goals (by the same César Rordíguez) as the clubs’ pichichi.

Lionel Messi Ballon d'Or

Lionel Messi receiving his 3rd Ballon d’Or last Sunday

History of El Clasico

Club Rivalry

Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have been rivals since the 30’s, after the dictatorship of Franco in 1939. During the 1930’s, people showed more interest in their political meetings than it did in their football matches, with FC Barcelona having to tour America to look for funding after the death of their president in the late 30’s. Some players never returned after this ‘rescue tour’ and the club faced a very difficult time with no president and a decrease in club memberships and subscriptions. Since the Civil War, the two teams have still hung closely to their political and cultural views and tensions.

FC Barcelona represent the Catalans, who propose a complete independence from Spain, as a separate state, and Real Madrid represent Castile, the former kingdom that became a part of Spain itself. Both teams are dominant in La Liga (Spanish League) in year out and  it is this rivalry that has became knows as the El Clásico.

Check out the next chapter in history in Camp Nou, Barcelona:

FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid

Spanish Cup 2011-2012

25th of January at 10pm

Get your tickets here

Messi agaisnt Real Madrid

Abidal to remain in Barça until 2013 + 2 optional years

According to el Mundo Deportivo, FC Barcelona and Eric Abidal have come to an agreement to an extension of his contract.

The 32 year old French defender will remain in the catalan squad until 2013, with 2 optional years

abidal

This is very good news for FC Barcelona. Abidal was rumoured to sign for Chelsea and Pep Guaridola’s team could not affor to lose another left back after losing Maxwell to Paris Saint Germain last week.

Abidal has been playing for FC Barcelona since 2007-2008 and has won the following:

  • FIFA Club wolrd Cup 2009, 2011
  • European SuperCup 2009, 2011
  • Champions League 2009, 2011
  • Spanish SuperCup 2010, 2011
  • Spanish League 2009, 2010, 2011
  • Spanish Cup 2010

Enjoy 2 more clasicos in the next 15 days : FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid

After respectively eliminating Malaga (3-2 and 0-1) and Osasuna (4-0 and 1-2) in the Spanish Cup last 16, the 2 Spanish giants and arch rivals Real Madrid and FC Barcelona will face each other, again, in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey.

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Pep Guardiola : best coach of 2011

Right before Leo Messi was given the FIFA Ballon d’or for the 3rd consecutive time, Pep Guardiola, FC Barcelona‘s head coach, was named “World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football”, ahead of Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson, and Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho.

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