Tello scores goal in victory over Real Sociedad (Photo: AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Lionel Messi scored one and assisted another as Barcelona successfully fought off their San Sebastian rivals in a freezing, sub-zero encounter at the Camp Nou.

Pep Guardiola rolled out the reserves for this one, choosing to rest key starters ahead of his team's Copa del Rey semi final clash with Valencia on Wednesday.

Have heart Real Madrid faithful, the Phoenix shall rise from the ashes. Barcelona's roster will age, wither, and eventually lose to us on a more regular basis. However, until then, we must cope. Seven points give us solace, but not joy. Rumors of Mou's departure stalk our nightmares. Only one thing can brighten these dark times: laughing at amusing and ill conceived pictures.

You can argue that everything Barca does these days is being scrutinized or subject to unfair criticism. But it's hard to deny the club's latest tribute to a journalist who passed away and spent his life reporting on the club. That's affectionate dedication for you!

Last week prior to the club's normal press conference, first-team players Xavi, Puyol, Valdés and Iniesta along with Pep Guardiola observed a silent tribute to Dani Montesinos, who formerly worked for Spanish TV and Barca TV.

Pedro celebrates goal that moves Barcelona through to next round of Copa (Photo: REUTERS/Albert Gea)

In a battle of titans, Barcelona held on to defeat Real Madrid 4-3 on aggregate and eliminate the defending Champions from the Copa del Rey.

It was everything a clasico should be: a high-octane encounter of offensive brilliance and heart-stopping tension.

El Barcelona sufrió el miércoles como local y empató 2-2 con el Real Madrid para clasificar a las semifinales de la Copa del Rey del fútbol español, en un partido en que el equipo blanco se recuperó de una desventaja de dos goles y tuvo varias opciones para ganar.
El conjunto catalán, que pasó de ronda con un marcador agregado de 4-2, tuvo muchos problemas ante su clásico rival, especialmente en defensa.

More than any other matchup, the coming together of Barcelona and Madrid forces apart the usually shared preferences of the cultfootball brain trust. So today's match was one where both sides could come away feeling they'd won some important battles, if not the war.

The game was not 90 minutes of pure flowing football.

25.01.2012 - Con goles de Pedro (´43) y Dani Alves (´47), Barcelona empató (2-2) con Real Madrid (C.Ronaldo ´67 + Benzema ´71) en el Camp Nou y se clasificó a semifinales de la Copa del Rey 2012.
El más esperado, cotizado y comentado del mundo (120 medios de 27países acreditados) fue digno de la expectativa: altísima tensión, fútbol de primera jerarquía, dominios alternativos, carácter, esquemas y trifulcas en un atestado Camp Nou (95.

Barcelona: Pinto; Dani Alves, Piqué, Puyol y Abidal; Xavi, Busquets e Iniesta, Fabregas; Messi y Alexis Sánchez. DT: Pep Guardiola
Real Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Albiol, Sergio Ramos y Marcelo; Lass, Xabi Alonoso y Coentrao; Özil, Cristiano Ronaldo e Higuaín. DT: José Mourinho
España: 22:00 horas / Argentina - Chile: 18:00 horas
VER EN VIVOOPCION 1OPCION 2 OPCION 3
OPCION 4
ROJA DIRECTA Pese a los golpes que ha recibido por las autoridades estadounidenses continúa operativa y presenta la mejor oferta de links para seguir online cualquier partido de cualquier disciplina.

Lionel Messi scored his first away hat-trick of the season to give Barca a comfortable 4-1 victory over Malaga. The match wasn't as comfortable as the score-line suggest. In the first half Malaga had some serious chances and ended as 1-0. Rondon scored the consolation goal for Malaga.

Liverpool has made Swansea midfielder Joe Allen one of their primary summer targets reports the Independent.
The 21-year-old Wales international has impressed in the Swans' debut Barclays Premier League campaign, and has captured the attention of a number of rival suitors.
His sensible use of the ball has helped teammate Leon Britton be ranked among Europe's leading passers - beating the likes of Barcelona duo Xavi and Andreas Iniesta.

The battle between the two GQs resumes

Transfer windows are always silly season but they pale in comparison to the sort of collective psychosis and paranoia engendered by El Clasico.

The hysteria before tomorrow's Copa De Rey semi-final first leg has gems like if Mourinho plays Pepe in the midfield then Real has a winning record in the Clasicos.

FC Barcelona continued with their winning streak at home in La Liga with a very hard fought 4-2 victory against an inspired Real betis side. The match started very brightly for us going 2-0 up within 12 minute, then turned into a nightmare when Real Betis equalised early into second half.

El equipo ideal del año fue monopolizado por los españoles, que situaron a seis jugadores entre los 11 seleccionados. El llamado "once mundial" quedó compuesto por Iker Casillas en el arco; Dani Alves, Gerard Piqué, Nemanja Vidic y Sergio Ramos en defensa; Andrés Iniesta, Xabi Alonso y Xavi en el centro del campo; Messi, Wayne Rooney y Cristiano Ronaldo en ataque.

Forget Lionel Messi, it was all about Homare Sawa's kimono (traditional Japanese costume) at the FIFA Ballon D'or awards in Zurich last night! The captain of the Japanese women's team and winner of the FIFA Women's Ballon d'Or lit up the stage with that outfit which should make her countrymen and women extremely proud today.

STARTERS
Did you see the trio of goals that Clint Dempsey scored for Fulham in the FA Cup this past weekend. He is been on FIRE lately. See those goals right here.
dN
Landon Donovan also contributed to an Everton win in the FA Cup putting in a corner kick that was finished off with a fine header for the games first goal.

09.01.2012 - De final anunciado, la celebración y entrega del Premio Balón de Oro (2011) coronó a Lionel Messi como el mejor jugador del mundo (por tercera vez consecutiva).
Con 55 goles en 57 partidos y 5 títulos con Barcelona (Liga de España , Champions League , Mundial de Clubes, Supercopa de España y Supercopa de Europa, el año de Messi volvió a romper récords y felicitaciones.

FC Barcelona dropped two precious points in their pursuit of league leaders Real Madrid with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Espanyol. In teh 200-07 season, it was against Espanyol we lost the league title. There is still 21 games to be played yet, but maybe at the ned of the season we would be considering this match as a turning point.

French publication L'Equipe named its 2011 Team of the Year recently, and as you might expect, Barcelona dominated the selections with six players on the team.

LIonel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo headline the squad, which includes a total of eight players from La Liga and two players from the English Premier League.

By JOEY SAMUEL

In a match where both teams needed three points, London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea each had to settle for one as they played to a 1-1 draw. Emmanuel Adebayor scored to put Spurs up in the 8th minute, only for Chelsea to equalize through Daniel Sturridge fifteen minutes later.

23.12.2011 - Si incluso puede dudarse de la competitividad de la Champions League, que nos puede quedar para la Copa del Rey donde, como en la Copa Argentina, se encuentran equipos de todas las categorías.
Barcelona acaba de sellar su clasificación a octavos de final ganándole (9-0) a L'Hospitalet en el Camp Nou con una formación mixta (ida 0-1).

Barcelona vs L'Hospitalet 9-0 Highlights Copa Del Rey 2011 Video Goals Tello Cuenca Thiago is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Barcelona vs L'Hospitalet 9-0 Highlights Copa Del Rey 2011 Video Goals Tello Cuenca Thiago is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Barcelona vs L'Hospitalet 2011 ( Barca vs L'Hospitalet Copa del Rey video below) Final score and result:- Barcelona vs L'Hospitalet 9-0 ( Pedro, Iniesta, Thiago Alcantara*2, Tello*2, Cuenca*2, Xavi) Camp [.

FC Barcelona World Champions (Photo: Getty Images)

Another scintillating performance by Leo Messi saw Barcelona dismantle Brazil's Santos 4-0 to claim the FIFA Club World Cup Championship.

Barca enter the record books as the only club to ever win the tournament twice, giving Pep Guardiola his 13th trophy since taking over at the helm in 2008.

FC Barcelona were crowned the 2011 World Club Champions following a brilliant 4-0 victory against South American Champions Santos. The battle between the Champiosn of Europe and Champiosn of South America were a mismatch with Barca controlling the proceedings for the majority of match.

O Barcelona acaba de conquistar o Mundial de clubes disputado no Japão ao golear os brasileiros do Santos por quatro golos sem resposta num jogo em que do onze titular que apresentou apenas os dois laterais não foram formados no clube. De facto, apenas Daniel Alves e Abidal não "cresceram" em La Masia, o centro de formação do emblema catalão.

Not pictured: Him tapping the tips of his fingers together and/or petting a white cat.

Don't sweat yet another defeat in the biggest game on Earth, Mr. Mourinho. We've got ten ideas for how to win the return leg that will appeal to your evil genius side.1. Get Carvalho back and once again play Pepe as a rearmost midfield destroyer, hoping his physicality can throw off the Barca rhythm just as Real's pressing did in the opening minutes.

Till the start of Yesterday El Clasico I was naming Mourinho as the best coach in our planet today. However, after yesterday defeat, I am doubting that statement, and at least might give that title to Guardiola.
Coaches today play chess, and it was apparent that after the first 30 minutes, Guardiola touches on the game, and how he reacted to very difficult start was impressive.

Fabregas with brace against Levante (Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images)

Barcelona continued their imperious form at the Camp Nou this season, hitting Levante for five goals in the latest manita under Pep Guardiola.

After suffering a shock defeat to Getafe last weekend, the champions responded the only way they know how, with goals.

The 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or will be decided between three contenders Lionel Messi, Xavi and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo. But who will win? In a month which will seen billions of people around the globe celebrate the birth of Christ, the football world was reminded of the day that three very special (almost Christ-like [.

FC Barcelona closed down the lead between them and Real Madrid to six points with a comfortable 5-0 victory against fourth placed Levante. Cesc Fabregas opened the scoring, then doubled it followed by Cuenca, Messi and Sanchez goals gave Barca a comfortable victory at Camp NOu. Now all the focus will shift to next week's Clasico action at Bernebeu.

FC Barcelona handed surprise defeat against Getafe (Photo: DANI POZO/AFP/Getty Images)

Barcelona saw their 27-game unbeaten streak come to an end, as Juan Valera's 67th minute header gifted Getafe a 1-0 victory at the Coliseo Alfonso Perez in Madrid.

The defeat marks the first time Barca have lost a match since April 30th, having gone unbeaten in 21 fixtures so far this season.

FIFA released today its monthy ranking with SPAIN retaining the Nº1 spot for the month of NOVEMBER as the "Best Football Nation in the World". However, the defeat against England in a Friendly International & the last moment draw against COSTA RICA has narrowed the points gap with the second placed nation , HOLLAND, which lost as well against Germany in their last match.

With both teams already qualified, tomorrow night's clash at San Siro between AC Milan and FC Barcelona is all about claiming the top spot in Group H. With 10 points Barca is at the top of the group ahead of AC Milan by two points. Usually two draws from now should see us stay at top, but the problem for Barca is the thei last Group match will take place days ahead of the first Clasico.

As attention shifts to matchday 5 of the Champions League today, many will be waiting with bated breath for what could very well be the Match of the season. Italian giants AC Milan host defending Champions Barcelona at the San Siro tomorrow.

The first leg of this fixture ended in a 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp and Milan know that they can't take any chances with the champs this time round.

Pique celebrates goal against Zaragoza (Photo: REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino)

Barcelona continued their impeccable home form this season, cruising to a comfortable 4-0 victory over bottom feeders Real Zaragoza.

With a critical group stage match against AC Milan looming on the horizon, Guardiola rested regulars Abidal, Iniesta, Busquets and Villa.

Este 15 de Noviembre Costa Rica tuvo una oportunidad de oro de vencer a la selección campeona del mundo, hasta obtuvo en el inicio ayuda de uno de los mejores porteros del mundo Iker Casillas el portero del Real Madrid por si vivian dentro de una cueva.
Costa Rica durante un tiempo puso a temblar a la selección española que de furia no tiene nada.

Spain's poor form in friendlies continued Tuesday when they needed a stoppage-time goal from David Villa ij order to get a 2-2 draw at Costa Rica.

Spain fell behind after an uncharacteristic howler from captain Iker Casillas. The Real Madrid goalkeeper miscontrolled the ball near the edge of the penalty area just after the half hour, allowing Randall Brenes to lift the ball into the empty net.

Right, so let me get this straight. England are going to win the Euros now after all? Oh well that's a relief. It was touch and go there for a moment but thanks to those courageous kids, some hardened old sea dogs and a bit of can-do attitude it looks like we're going to bloody well do it.

Inglaterra 1 España 0 by jordixana 1. This is the conclusion where we say that England are now effectively world and European champions and leave it to you to decide just how tongue-in-cheek that is. 2. Judging by how long it takes for him to remember the names of players, Fabio Capello must start naming [.

England 1:0 Spain
Wembley Stadium, London
Wembley was full, sold on the dream of the king's touch, as the world's No.1 soccer nation Spain dropped by for an evening.
A strange pre-match atmosphere, as the usual patriotic fantasy rang increasingly hollow: No-one expected England to win and most were hoping for a defeat short of embarrassing.

David Villa signs for Benitez

Spain are in London this weekend to face England in the friendly at Wembley but Rafael Benítez caught up with the squad before their trip and persuaded a number of them to sign football shirts for him to be auctioned for charity. As already mentioned on this site, a shirt signed by Spain's World Cup winning coach Vicente Del Bosque is up for auction and all proceeds from the sale will go the various charities that the Montse Benítez Foundation (MBF) raises funds for.