FC Barcelona News
Yet another 5-0 result for Barça
January 27th, 2011FC Barcelona scored another 5 goals last night in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, all but guaranteeing their place in the final. Leo Messi scored two goals, with Barça up three within the first quarter of an hour.
1-0 Messi (min 9)
2-0 Villa (min 11)
3-0 Messi (min 15)
4-0 Pedro (min 30)
5-0 Keita (min 89)
Guardiola matches record 14 successive league wins
January 24th, 2011Racing Santander visited a cold Nou Camp on Saturday night to mark the second half of the season. Mirroring the start of the season, Barça again beat Racing 3-0 with a goal from Pedro two minutes in to get the Catalans off to a fast start. The other two goals came from Leo Messi from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute – he kicked it in decisively, after having missed a penalty on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey match against Betis. And the final goal was scored by Iniesta from a Pedro assist.
While Barcelona won their 14th successive league match this season, equalling the record set under Frank Rijkaard in 2005/2006, things don’t appear to be going so well for Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho who is locked in bitter conflict with his club’s Director General, Jorge Valdano and hinting that this season could be his last.
Some Spanish pundits are saying that if the gap opens between the arch rivals then the league is already over. However, while Barça are playing extremely well at the moment all it would take would be a string of injuries or some other bad luck to tip the balance.
1-0, Pedro (min 2)
2-0, Messi (pen, min 33)
3-0, Iniesta (min 66)
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Barcelona |
20
|
18
|
1
|
1
|
64
|
11
|
55
|
|
2
|
Real Madrid |
20
|
16
|
3
|
1
|
48
|
17
|
51
|
|
3
|
Villarreal |
20
|
13
|
3
|
4
|
40
|
21
|
42
|
|
4
|
Valencia |
20
|
12
|
4
|
4
|
33
|
23
|
40
|
|
5
|
Espanyol |
20
|
12
|
1
|
7
|
28
|
26
|
37
|
|
6
|
Atlético Madrid |
20
|
9
|
3
|
8
|
31
|
24
|
30
|
|
7
|
Sevilla |
20
|
9
|
2
|
9
|
30
|
32
|
29
|
|
8
|
Athletic Bilbao |
19
|
9
|
2
|
8
|
29
|
31
|
29
|
|
9
|
Mallorca |
20
|
8
|
3
|
9
|
23
|
25
|
27
|
|
10
|
Getafe |
20
|
8
|
3
|
9
|
29
|
32
|
27
|
|
11
|
Real Sociedad |
20
|
8
|
1
|
11
|
30
|
33
|
25
|
|
12
|
Hércules |
19
|
6
|
4
|
9
|
22
|
28
|
22
|
|
13
|
Deportivo |
20
|
5
|
6
|
8
|
15
|
27
|
21
|
|
14
|
Racing Santander |
20
|
5
|
5
|
10
|
15
|
29
|
20
|
|
15
|
Sporting Gijón |
20
|
4
|
7
|
9
|
18
|
27
|
19
|
|
16
|
Zaragoza |
20
|
4
|
7
|
9
|
18
|
32
|
19
|
|
17
|
Osasuna |
20
|
4
|
6
|
10
|
19
|
28
|
18
|
|
18
|
Almería |
20
|
3
|
8
|
9
|
20
|
34
|
17
|
|
19
|
Málaga |
20
|
5
|
2
|
13
|
27
|
45
|
17
|
|
20
|
Levante |
20
|
4
|
3
|
13
|
20
|
34
|
15
|
Check out Barcelona Tickets for the remainder of the season by visiting our homepage.
Barça through to Copa del Rey semi-final despite defeat
January 20th, 2011Barcelona suffered their first defeat in several months last night, when they were beaten 3-1 by Betis. The hosts were really going for it, with two goals within 7 minutes and it was only Messi who saved some face for Barça with a goal in the 37th minute – although that didn’t stop Betis from scoring a third goal just before the half time whistle.
However, with 5-0 to their name in the home leg, FC Barcelona goes through anyway, and will face Almeria next week at the Nou Camp. You can find tickets available on the home page.
1-0 Molina (min 1)
2-0 Molina (min 7)
2-1 Messi (min 37)
3-1 Arzu (min 45+1)
Barça end first half of season on record 52 points
January 17th, 2011FC Barcelona have reached the halfway stage of la Liga with a record 52 points after Sunday night’s 4-1 win against Malaga. Barça dominated right from the start and within 7 minutes Iniesta had scored Barça’s first. Ten minutes later and it was Villa’s turn; and when Pedro added a third goal ten minutes before the end of the first half, the Catalans had the match pretty much tied up.
Malaga came on after the break with some changes, intent on attacking the Barça goal and created some dangerous moments – finally Duda got the ball through in the 68th minute to make it 3-1. Fired up by Malaga’s goal, Barça again went on the attack and Villa scored the final goal of the match 16 minutes from the end to make the final score 4-1.
While Barcelona took three points and ended the first half of the season on a record 52 points, Real Madrid didn’t fare so well. With a 1-1 draw against Almeria, Barça are now 4 points clear of their arch-rival. Also, Dani Alves will be out for two weeks with a calf tear, having limped of the pitch in the first half of the match.
1-0, Iniesta (min 7)
2-0, Villa (min 17)
3-0, Pedro (min 35)
3-1, Duda (min 68)
4-1, Villa (min 74)
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Barcelona |
19
|
17
|
1
|
1
|
61
|
11
|
52
|
|
2
|
Real Madrid |
19
|
15
|
3
|
1
|
47
|
17
|
48
|
|
3
|
Villarreal |
19
|
12
|
3
|
4
|
38
|
20
|
39
|
|
4
|
Valencia |
19
|
11
|
4
|
4
|
29
|
20
|
37
|
|
5
|
Espanyol |
19
|
11
|
1
|
7
|
25
|
25
|
34
|
|
6
|
Athletic Bilbao |
19
|
9
|
2
|
8
|
29
|
31
|
29
|
|
7
|
Atlético Madrid |
18
|
8
|
3
|
7
|
28
|
23
|
27
|
|
8
|
Mallorca |
18
|
8
|
3
|
7
|
23
|
21
|
27
|
|
9
|
Getafe |
19
|
8
|
3
|
8
|
28
|
29
|
27
|
|
10
|
Sevilla |
19
|
8
|
2
|
9
|
26
|
31
|
26
|
|
11
|
Real Sociedad |
19
|
8
|
1
|
10
|
29
|
31
|
25
|
|
12
|
Hércules |
19
|
6
|
4
|
9
|
22
|
28
|
22
|
|
13
|
Deportivo |
19
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
15
|
26
|
21
|
|
14
|
Racing Santander |
19
|
5
|
5
|
9
|
15
|
26
|
20
|
|
15
|
Osasuna |
19
|
4
|
6
|
9
|
17
|
25
|
18
|
|
16
|
Málaga |
19
|
5
|
2
|
12
|
24
|
41
|
17
|
|
17
|
Sporting Gijón |
19
|
3
|
7
|
9
|
17
|
27
|
16
|
|
18
|
Zaragoza |
19
|
3
|
7
|
9
|
17
|
32
|
16
|
|
19
|
Levante |
19
|
4
|
3
|
12
|
19
|
30
|
15
|
|
20
|
Almería |
19
|
2
|
8
|
9
|
17
|
32
|
14
|
Another 5-0 win for Barça: victory over Betis in the Copa del Rey
January 13th, 2011After winning the Ballon d’Or on Monday, Leo Messi proved why last night when he scored a hat-trick in Barcelona’s 5-0 victory over Betis. The match was the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter final, with the return leg being played next Wednesday. The result means Barça will almost certainly go through the the semi-final round.
1-0 Messi (min 43)
2-0 Messi (min 62)
3-0 Messi (min 73)
4-0 Pedro (min 75)
5-0 Keita (min 83)
More shock and awe from FC Barcelona
January 10th, 2011FC Barcelona retain their two point lead over real Madrid after both teams won their respective matches over the weekend.
Visiting Deportivo on Saturday night, the hosts seemed to hardly get involved with the match, despite the absence of Xavi, Alves as Busquets who were all being rested by Guardiola. That said, Barça scored just one goal in the first half, when Villa put the ball between the keeper’s legs off a Messi assist.
That changed just a few minutes into the second half, when Messi scored a fantastic goal from a free kick. And soon after the home fans, resigned to another Barça victory, started chanting Iniesta’s name. He soon responded with a goal of his own, quickly followed up by Messi setting up a goal for Pedro.
The 4-0 win was well deserved and just to underline how good this squad is the FIFA Ballon d’Or, which will be decided later today, is certain to go to a Barça player – the three candidates are Messi, Xavi and Iniesta.
0-1, Villa (min 26)
0-2, Messi (min 52)
0-3, Iniesta (Min 79)
0-4, Pedro (min 80)
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Barcelona |
18
|
16
|
1
|
1
|
57
|
10
|
49
|
|
2
|
Real Madrid |
18
|
15
|
2
|
1
|
46
|
16
|
47
|
|
3
|
Villarreal |
18
|
11
|
3
|
4
|
34
|
18
|
36
|
|
4
|
Valencia |
18
|
10
|
4
|
4
|
27
|
20
|
34
|
|
5
|
Espanyol |
18
|
10
|
1
|
7
|
23
|
24
|
31
|
|
6
|
Atlético Madrid |
17
|
8
|
3
|
6
|
27
|
19
|
27
|
|
7
|
Getafe |
18
|
8
|
3
|
7
|
28
|
25
|
27
|
|
8
|
Mallorca |
18
|
8
|
3
|
7
|
23
|
21
|
27
|
|
9
|
Athletic Bilbao |
18
|
8
|
2
|
8
|
27
|
30
|
26
|
|
10
|
Sevilla |
18
|
8
|
2
|
8
|
25
|
29
|
26
|
|
11
|
Real Sociedad |
18
|
7
|
1
|
10
|
25
|
31
|
22
|
|
12
|
Deportivo |
18
|
5
|
6
|
6
|
15
|
24
|
21
|
|
13
|
Racing Santander |
18
|
5
|
5
|
8
|
14
|
24
|
20
|
|
14
|
Hércules |
17
|
5
|
4
|
8
|
18
|
25
|
19
|
|
15
|
Osasuna |
18
|
4
|
6
|
8
|
15
|
21
|
18
|
|
16
|
Málaga |
18
|
5
|
2
|
11
|
23
|
37
|
17
|
|
17
|
Levante |
18
|
4
|
3
|
11
|
19
|
29
|
15
|
|
18
|
Sporting Gijón |
18
|
2
|
7
|
9
|
15
|
27
|
13
|
|
19
|
Almería |
18
|
2
|
7
|
9
|
16
|
31
|
13
|
|
20
|
Zaragoza |
18
|
2
|
7
|
9
|
16
|
32
|
13
|
Want to see Barça in 2011? Check out FC Barcelona tickets for la Liga now!
Barça through to Copa del Rey quarter-final
January 6th, 2011FC Barcelona drew with Athletic de Bilbao last night to ean their place in the Copa del Rey quater-final. Abidal scored Barcelona’s only goal, the first he has scored for the club. However, the hosts equalised 5 minutes from the end ending in a 1-1l draw, but letting Barcelona go through thanks to the 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp before Christmas.
0-1, Abidal (min 75)
1-1, Llorente (min 85)
Barça takes 3 points against Levante
January 4th, 2011Xavi equalled the record for the number of appearances for FC Barcelona on Sunday when Levante visited the Nou Camp for the first match of 2011. Xavi has now matched Migueli’s 549 appearances, having played in the first team for 13 seasons.
However, after some of the massive pre-Christmas goal-fests, the New Year seems to have put a bit of a dampner on things. While it is true that the squad was missing Leo Messi, who had been granted some extra days holiday over Christmas, they did struggle to get through to Levante’s goal.
The result was a goalless first half, although Pedro was quick to rectify this situation when they came on after the break – he scored after just a minute. Pedro also scored Barça’s second goal just 12 minutes later, his eighth goal in eight matches. And to make sure it didn’t all go Barcelona’s way, Stuani scored for Levante just nine minutes from time.
The win leaves Barcelona two points ahead of Real Madrid after their 3-2 win over Getafe yesterday.
1-0 Pedro (min 46)
2-0 Pedro (min 58)
2-1 Stuani (min 81)
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Barcelona |
17
|
15
|
1
|
1
|
53
|
10
|
46
|
|
2
|
Real Madrid |
17
|
14
|
2
|
1
|
42
|
14
|
44
|
|
3
|
Villarreal |
17
|
11
|
3
|
3
|
32
|
14
|
36
|
|
4
|
Valencia |
17
|
9
|
4
|
4
|
26
|
20
|
31
|
|
5
|
Espanyol |
17
|
9
|
1
|
7
|
19
|
24
|
28
|
|
6
|
Atlético Madrid |
17
|
8
|
3
|
6
|
27
|
19
|
27
|
|
7
|
Getafe |
17
|
8
|
2
|
7
|
28
|
25
|
26
|
|
8
|
Athletic Bilbao |
17
|
8
|
1
|
8
|
26
|
29
|
25
|
|
9
|
Mallorca |
17
|
7
|
3
|
7
|
19
|
20
|
24
|
|
10
|
Sevilla |
17
|
7
|
2
|
8
|
22
|
27
|
23
|
|
11
|
Real Sociedad |
17
|
7
|
1
|
9
|
23
|
28
|
22
|
|
12
|
Deportivo |
17
|
5
|
6
|
5
|
15
|
20
|
21
|
|
13
|
Hércules |
17
|
5
|
4
|
8
|
18
|
25
|
19
|
|
14
|
Racing Santander |
17
|
5
|
4
|
8
|
13
|
23
|
19
|
|
15
|
Osasuna |
17
|
4
|
5
|
8
|
15
|
21
|
17
|
|
16
|
Málaga |
17
|
5
|
1
|
11
|
22
|
36
|
16
|
|
17
|
Levante |
17
|
4
|
3
|
10
|
19
|
28
|
15
|
|
18
|
Zaragoza |
17
|
2
|
7
|
8
|
16
|
28
|
13
|
|
19
|
Almería |
17
|
2
|
7
|
8
|
15
|
27
|
13
|
|
20
|
Sporting Gijón |
17
|
2
|
6
|
9
|
14
|
26
|
12
|
Want to see Barça in 2011? Check out FC Barcelona tickets for la Liga now!
Goalless draw for Barça in Copy del Rey
December 22nd, 2010After a series of spectacular wins involving goals galore, the inevitable happened last night at the Nou Camp; a goalless draw against Athletic de Bilbao.
The match was for the Copa del Rey, so not vitally important, but it is a reminder that however good a team is, it is the end result matters. The return takes place in two weeks.
Round one of the Barcelona derby goes to Barça
December 20th, 2010It doesn’t seem that long ago since I was wondering if Barça would really be able to step up their game and compete with Real Madrid for the Spanish League title. Coincidentally, that was the moment that Barça DID really start to get things together and the following matches have seen an astounding number of goals, including against their arch-rival.
Following that comment, Barcelona beat Sevilla 5-0; they then went on to beat Getafe and Villarreal 3-1 each; then 8-0 against Almeria; 5-0 against Real Madrid; 3-1 with Osasuna; 5-0 again against Real Sociedad; and now 5-1 in theBcelona derby on Saturday night. The goal tally has been astounding and Barça’s reputation must strike fear into any team the play at the moment – I pity the poor goalkeepers in particular.
In theory Espanyol should have been a fairly tough match, but other teams with an even better reputation have been dropping like flies against this new Barcelona dream team, so why should this be an exception? Perhaps the most unusual feature of the match on Saturday was the lack of goals from Messi; I can’t wait until the league gets going again right at the beginning of the new year to see how this season will play out.
0-1, Pedro (min 19
0-2, Xavi (min 30)
0-3, Pedro (min 60)
1-3, Osvaldo (min 62)
1-4, Villa (min 75)
1-5, Villa (min 84)
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Barcelona |
16
|
14
|
1
|
1
|
51
|
9
|
43
|
|
2
|
Real Madrid |
16
|
13
|
2
|
1
|
39
|
12
|
41
|
|
3
|
Villarreal |
16
|
10
|
3
|
3
|
30
|
14
|
33
|
|
4
|
Valencia |
16
|
8
|
4
|
4
|
24
|
19
|
28
|
|
5
|
Espanyol |
16
|
9
|
1
|
6
|
18
|
22
|
28
|
|
6
|
Atlético Madrid |
16
|
8
|
2
|
6
|
27
|
19
|
26
|
|
7
|
Getafe |
16
|
8
|
2
|
6
|
26
|
22
|
26
|
|
8
|
Athletic Bilbao |
16
|
8
|
1
|
7
|
25
|
27
|
25
|
|
9
|
Real Sociedad |
16
|
7
|
1
|
8
|
22
|
26
|
22
|
|
10
|
Mallorca |
16
|
6
|
3
|
7
|
16
|
20
|
21
|
|
11
|
Sevilla |
16
|
6
|
2
|
8
|
21
|
27
|
20
|
|
12
|
Hércules |
15
|
5
|
3
|
7
|
18
|
22
|
18
|
|
13
|
Deportivo |
16
|
4
|
6
|
5
|
13
|
19
|
18
|
|
14
|
Osasuna |
16
|
4
|
5
|
7
|
15
|
20
|
17
|
|
15
|
Racing Santander |
15
|
5
|
2
|
8
|
13
|
23
|
17
|
|
16
|
Levante |
16
|
4
|
3
|
9
|
18
|
26
|
15
|
|
17
|
Almería |
16
|
2
|
7
|
7
|
15
|
25
|
13
|
|
18
|
Málaga |
16
|
4
|
1
|
11
|
20
|
35
|
13
|
|
19
|
Sporting Gijón |
16
|
2
|
6
|
8
|
13
|
24
|
12
|
|
20
|
Zaragoza |
16
|
1
|
7
|
8
|
14
|
27
|
10
|
