FC Barcelona News
Barça face Chelsea in Champions League semifinal
April 15th, 2009While Barcelona drew 1-1 in the away leg of the quarter final against Bayern Munich, thereby securing their expected semifinal place, things were different in England.
Barcelona won 4-0 at the Nou Camp last week, ensuring anything but a miracle for the Germans would see the Catalan club go through. In the end Barça played an uninspired match, and while possession was in their favour it hardly looked like their hearts were in it.
Chelsea v Liverpool was a different matter entirely. After Chelsea’s win at Liverpool it looked like the semifinal was already in the bag. However, Liverpool weren’t at Stamford Bridge for anything but a win and the hard fought battle meant it was touch and go.
Both teams played daring attacking football, but despite Liverpool’s persistence it was Chelsea who go though to play FC Barcelona. The final result was 4-4, with Chelsea winning 7-5 on aggregate.
Recreativo own goal aids Barça win
April 13th, 2009Barcelona remain six points ahead of Real Madrid after Recreativo’s visit to the Nou Camp on Saturday. On paper Barça should have notched up more goals against Recreativo de Huelva, lying three from the bottom, but overall domination it wasn’t to be. After a goal in the first minute from Iniesta it took an own goal in the second half to cement Barcelona’s victory.
1-0, Iniesta (min 1)
2-0, Morris (min 67, own goal)
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1
|
Barcelona |
30
|
24
|
3
|
3
|
87
|
24
|
75
|
|
2
|
Real Madrid |
30
|
22
|
3
|
5
|
69
|
31
|
69
|
|
3
|
Sevilla |
30
|
17
|
6
|
7
|
43
|
27
|
57
|
|
4
|
Valencia |
30
|
14
|
7
|
9
|
55
|
43
|
49
|
|
5
|
Villarreal |
30
|
13
|
9
|
8
|
45
|
42
|
48
|
|
6
|
At. Madrid |
30
|
13
|
7
|
10
|
60
|
48
|
46
|
|
7
|
Malaga |
30
|
13
|
7
|
10
|
47
|
47
|
46
|
|
8
|
Deportivo |
30
|
12
|
7
|
11
|
39
|
42
|
43
|
|
9
|
Valladolid |
30
|
12
|
3
|
15
|
42
|
49
|
39
|
|
10
|
Santander |
30
|
9
|
9
|
12
|
38
|
38
|
36
|
|
11
|
Osasuna |
30
|
8
|
11
|
11
|
34
|
36
|
35
|
|
12
|
Mallorca |
30
|
9
|
8
|
13
|
36
|
48
|
35
|
|
13
|
Betis |
30
|
8
|
10
|
12
|
44
|
49
|
34
|
|
14
|
Getafe |
30
|
8
|
10
|
12
|
40
|
46
|
34
|
|
15
|
Athletic |
30
|
9
|
7
|
14
|
40
|
51
|
34
|
|
16
|
Almeria |
30
|
9
|
7
|
14
|
36
|
48
|
34
|
|
17
|
Gijon |
30
|
11
|
0
|
19
|
38
|
64
|
33
|
|
18
|
Huelva |
30
|
7
|
9
|
14
|
27
|
43
|
30
|
|
19
|
Numancia |
30
|
8
|
4
|
18
|
33
|
59
|
28
|
|
20
|
Espanyol |
30
|
5
|
11
|
14
|
28
|
46
|
26
|
4-0 win brings Champions League semi-final closer
April 13th, 2009Barcelona’s 4-0 defeat of Bayern Munich last week means that the Catalan super club is almost certain to play in the semi-final. Playing at the Nou Camp, Barça completely demolished the visitors in the first half to such an extent that the German team could feel nothing but complete shell shock and demoralisation.
1-0 Messi (min 8 )
2-0 Eto’o (min 12)
3-0 Messi (min 37)
4-0 Henry (min 43)
The return leg takes place on April 14th, after that FC Barcelona will play either Liverpool or Chelsea – barring a miracle from Bayern – on April 28th.
FC Barcelona demolishes Malaga
March 23rd, 2009Barça once again dominated play against Malaga last night in a match that resulted in a 6-0 win for the Catalans. With Real Madrid taking another three points it was vital for Barcelona to win too, and they carried it off outstandingly.
The home team were in stunning form and on the attack from the outset, while Malaga didn’t really manage to get into the game at all, but it took 19 minutes for a goal from Xavi, from a pass from Eto’o. Six minutes later Messi showed why he is considered among the best in the world, beating the Malaga defense and putting the ball in the net. And then Henry’s goal in the 32nd minute and Eto’o's first goal in the penultimate minute of the first half were both set up by Xavi, leaving the half time score at 4-0, and the winner already decided.
After the break the pace slowed down a little, but Barça was far from finished with their guest. Alves headed the ball into the net in the 51st minute from a ball from Iniesta, while Eto’o scored again in minute 56 in the box after a pass from Henry. All in all a convincing win and a sign that FC Barcelona is back on form.
Xavi Hernandez 19′
Lionel Messi 25′
Thierry Henry 32′
Samuel Eto’o 44′
Daniel Alves 51′
Samuel Eto’o 56′
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1 |
Barcelona |
28 |
22 |
3 |
3 |
84 |
24 |
69 |
|
2 |
Real Madrid |
28 |
20 |
3 |
5 |
66 |
31 |
63 |
|
3 |
Sevilla |
27 |
15 |
6 |
6 |
38 |
25 |
51 |
|
4 |
Villarreal |
27 |
12 |
9 |
6 |
43 |
37 |
45 |
|
5 |
At. Madrid |
28 |
12 |
7 |
9 |
56 |
43 |
43 |
|
6 |
Valencia |
28 |
12 |
7 |
9 |
48 |
40 |
43 |
|
7 |
Deportivo |
28 |
12 |
7 |
9 |
37 |
37 |
43 |
|
8 |
Malaga |
28 |
12 |
7 |
9 |
45 |
46 |
43 |
|
9 |
Valladolid |
27 |
12 |
3 |
12 |
41 |
42 |
39 |
|
10 |
Santander |
28 |
8 |
9 |
11 |
34 |
35 |
33 |
|
11 |
Gijon |
28 |
11 |
0 |
17 |
36 |
59 |
33 |
|
12 |
Mallorca |
28 |
8 |
8 |
12 |
33 |
46 |
32 |
|
13 |
Almeria |
28 |
8 |
7 |
13 |
33 |
46 |
31 |
|
14 |
Getafe |
28 |
7 |
10 |
11 |
38 |
42 |
31 |
|
15 |
Athletic |
27 |
8 |
7 |
12 |
37 |
46 |
31 |
|
16 |
Huelva |
28 |
7 |
9 |
12 |
27 |
40 |
30 |
|
17 |
Betis |
28 |
7 |
9 |
12 |
38 |
44 |
30 |
|
18 |
Osasuna |
28 |
6 |
11 |
11 |
28 |
33 |
29 |
|
19 |
Numancia |
28 |
8 |
2 |
18 |
30 |
56 |
26 |
|
20 |
Espanyol |
28 |
4 |
10 |
14 |
25 |
45 |
22 |
Barcelona retains six point lead
March 16th, 2009FC Barcelona secured another three points last night, with two second half goals from Bojan Krkic within a few minutes of each other. Barça started of slowly, perhaps exhausted by their Champions League encounter earlier in the week, before stepping into form. But however hard they tried to score, the Almeria keeper always got to the ball, but the pace stated to quicken and Barcelona began to take over, despite some good attempts at the Barça goal by the home side.
Coming out after the break, the team looked revived and were quick to show what they could do. The first goal came from a Iniesta ball passed to Messi, who hit the post, with Bojan scoring on the rebound; the second just a few minutes later came from Alves to Messi to Inesta to Alves and once again to Bojan who struck the ball home.
Also this weekend real Madrid visited Athletic Bilbao, with the visitors winning 5-2 against what was, after the 58th minute, a nine man squad, leaving Barcelona still six points ahead of their rival.
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|
1 |
Barcelona |
27 |
21 |
3 |
3 |
78 |
24 |
66 |
|
2 |
Real Madrid |
27 |
19 |
3 |
5 |
63 |
31 |
60 |
|
3 |
Sevilla |
27 |
15 |
6 |
6 |
38 |
25 |
51 |
|
4 |
Villarreal |
27 |
12 |
9 |
6 |
43 |
37 |
45 |
|
5 |
At. Madrid |
27 |
12 |
7 |
8 |
56 |
41 |
43 |
|
6 |
Malaga |
27 |
12 |
7 |
8 |
45 |
40 |
43 |
|
7 |
Deportivo |
27 |
12 |
6 |
9 |
36 |
36 |
42 |
|
8 |
Valencia |
27 |
11 |
7 |
9 |
47 |
40 |
40 |
|
9 |
Valladolid |
27 |
12 |
3 |
12 |
41 |
42 |
39 |
|
10 |
Santander |
27 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
34 |
34 |
33 |
|
11 |
Gijon |
27 |
11 |
0 |
16 |
35 |
57 |
33 |
|
12 |
Almeria |
27 |
8 |
7 |
12 |
33 |
43 |
31 |
|
13 |
Athletic |
27 |
8 |
7 |
12 |
37 |
46 |
31 |
|
14 |
Huelva |
27 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
26 |
38 |
30 |
|
15 |
Betis |
27 |
7 |
8 |
12 |
37 |
43 |
29 |
|
16 |
Mallorca |
27 |
7 |
8 |
12 |
31 |
46 |
29 |
|
17 |
Getafe |
27 |
6 |
10 |
11 |
36 |
41 |
28 |
|
18 |
Osasuna |
27 |
5 |
11 |
11 |
27 |
33 |
26 |
|
19 |
Numancia |
27 |
7 |
2 |
18 |
28 |
55 |
23 |
|
20 |
Espanyol |
27 |
4 |
10 |
13 |
25 |
44 |
22 |
53′ Bojan Krkic
56′ Bojan Krkic
Barça through to Champions League quarter final
March 12th, 2009It was goals galore last night as FC Barcelona dominated Olympique Lyon to a 5-2 victory at the Nou Camp. After an indifferent result in the first leg it was all or nothing for Barça – and they chose all.Thierry Henry scored the first goal in the 24th minute off a ball from from Rafa Márquez and quickly followed up with his second just three minutes later. Ten minutes later Messi moved into the penalty area and shot the ball past the Lyon keeper and Samuel Eto’o then made it 4-0 with a goal in minute 42, but to show that Barça couldn’t have it all their own way, Makoun scored for Lyon just one minute before the half time whistle.
Coming on after the break Lyon quickly stepped into the breach with a goal from Juninho in the 47th minute, but it took until the very last moment for Keita to score the final goal of the night for a 5-2 victory for Barcelona and a place in the quarter finals.
1-0 Henry (min 24)
2-0 Henry (min 27)
3-0 Messi (min 37)
4-0 Eto’o (min 42)
4-1 Makoun (min 44)
4-2 Juninho (min 47)
5-2 Keita (min 90)
Barça opens up gap with Madrid
March 9th, 2009This weekend saw things go FC Barcelona’s way, with a 2-0 victory over Athletic de Bilbao. Sergio Busquets and Leo Messi saw that the home game went their way, with goals in the 16th and 31st minutes, the latter off a penalty after Inesta was brought down in the area.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid played Atletico de Madrid, with the 1-1 draw meaning that Barcelona pulled ahead of their rival with a 6 point lead.
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| 1 | Barcelona |
26 |
20 |
3 |
3 |
76 |
24 |
63 |
| 2 | Real Madrid |
26 |
18 |
3 |
5 |
58 |
29 |
57 |
| 3 | Sevilla |
26 |
15 |
5 |
6 |
36 |
23 |
50 |
| 4 | Villarreal |
26 |
12 |
9 |
5 |
41 |
34 |
45 |
| 5 | Deportivo |
26 |
12 |
6 |
8 |
34 |
33 |
42 |
| 6 | Malaga |
26 |
12 |
6 |
8 |
43 |
38 |
42 |
| 7 | At. Madrid |
26 |
11 |
7 |
8 |
53 |
39 |
40 |
| 8 | Valencia |
26 |
11 |
6 |
9 |
46 |
39 |
39 |
| 9 | Valladolid |
26 |
11 |
3 |
12 |
40 |
42 |
36 |
| 10 | Almeria |
26 |
8 |
7 |
11 |
33 |
41 |
31 |
| 11 | Athletic |
26 |
8 |
7 |
11 |
35 |
41 |
31 |
| 12 | Santander |
26 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
29 |
34 |
30 |
| 13 | Gijon |
26 |
10 |
0 |
16 |
32 |
55 |
30 |
| 14 | Huelva |
26 |
7 |
8 |
11 |
25 |
37 |
29 |
| 15 | Getafe |
26 |
6 |
10 |
10 |
36 |
40 |
28 |
| 16 | Betis |
26 |
7 |
7 |
12 |
37 |
43 |
28 |
| 17 | Mallorca |
26 |
7 |
7 |
12 |
28 |
43 |
28 |
| 18 | Osasuna |
26 |
5 |
10 |
11 |
27 |
33 |
25 |
| 19 | Numancia |
26 |
7 |
2 |
17 |
28 |
50 |
23 |
| 20 | Espanyol |
26 |
4 |
9 |
13 |
22 |
41 |
21 |
1-1 draw takes Barça to Copa del Rey final
March 5th, 2009FC Barcelona’s away draw against Mallorca on Wednesday night was all they needed to take them through to the final of the Copa del Rey on May 13th. After a 2-1 victory in the first leg, played at the Nou Camp, gave an aggregate score of 3-1 to Barça.
Disasterous weekend for Barça
March 2nd, 2009FC Barcelona snatched defeat from the hands of victory last night, when a two goal advantage after 30 minutes unravelled to leave the home team with three points. With Real Madrid beating Espanyol 2-0 in Barcelona on Saturday, they have now closed the gap to just 4 points and clearly looking to have a serious go at the title.
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| 1 | Barcelona |
25 |
19 |
3 |
3 |
74 |
24 |
60 |
| 2 | Real Madrid |
25 |
18 |
2 |
5 |
57 |
28 |
56 |
| 3 | Sevilla |
25 |
14 |
5 |
6 |
34 |
22 |
47 |
| 4 | Villarreal |
25 |
11 |
9 |
5 |
40 |
34 |
42 |
| 5 | At. Madrid |
25 |
11 |
6 |
8 |
52 |
38 |
39 |
| 6 | Valencia |
25 |
11 |
6 |
8 |
45 |
37 |
39 |
| 7 | Malaga |
25 |
11 |
6 |
8 |
41 |
37 |
39 |
| 8 | Deportivo |
25 |
11 |
6 |
8 |
29 |
30 |
39 |
| 9 | Valladolid |
25 |
10 |
3 |
12 |
37 |
40 |
33 |
| 10 | Almeria |
25 |
8 |
7 |
10 |
32 |
39 |
31 |
| 11 | Athletic |
25 |
8 |
7 |
10 |
35 |
39 |
31 |
| 12 | Santander |
25 |
7 |
9 |
9 |
26 |
29 |
30 |
| 13 | Huelva |
25 |
7 |
8 |
10 |
23 |
34 |
29 |
| 14 | Getafe |
25 |
6 |
10 |
9 |
35 |
38 |
28 |
| 15 | Betis |
25 |
7 |
6 |
12 |
34 |
40 |
27 |
| 16 | Mallorca |
25 |
7 |
6 |
12 |
25 |
40 |
27 |
| 17 | Gijon |
25 |
9 |
0 |
16 |
30 |
54 |
27 |
| 18 | Osasuna |
25 |
5 |
10 |
10 |
26 |
31 |
25 |
| 19 | Espanyol |
25 |
4 |
9 |
12 |
22 |
40 |
21 |
| 20 | Numancia |
25 |
6 |
2 |
17 |
26 |
49 |
20 |
One all draw against Olimpique
February 25th, 2009Barcelona played in the first leg of the last 16 in Champions League last night, paying a visit to Olympique Lyon. However, the host team played the match on their own terms and scored in the seventh minute.
Despite the French team’s control of the match, they were unable to make better use of the ball and the first half ended 1-0. Eventually Henry was able to head the ball into the back of the host’s goal in the 67th minute and a 1 -1 draw, giving Barcelona the advantage going into the home leg on March 11th.
