After a two month absence the Champions League returns the week with the first batch of round of 16 first legs. Here is a look at the four games slated for this week:

Bayer Leverkusen v Barcelona
Josep Guardiola's side may be struggling to keep pace with Real Madrid in La Liga but at first glance they should present a tough task for Leverkusen.

Rumours of Jose Mourinho wanting to leave Real Madrid for the Premiership would mean only one thing: he is heading for Manchester. Since his famous Champions League win with Porto in 2004, Mourinho has had no desire to manage any side lacking truly world-class pedigree. For this very reason, a return to a depleted Chelsea side is not on the cards.

Barcelona might have won the latest el clasico, but it is Real Madrid who are threatening to run away with the La Liga title.

Real Madrid are now seven points clear at the top of the Liga after their 3-1 win over bottom side Real Zaragoza while Barcelona's poor away form continued as they were held to a scoreless draw at Villarreal.

El Barcelona volvió a recoger hoy los mayores elogios tras su triunfo en el clásico de Copa ante el Real Madrid: la prensa española califica al equipo azulgrana como "amo" o "equipo inimitable". El conjunto azulgrana ganó el miércoles por 2-1 en el estadio Santiago Bernabéu, situándose muy cerca de las semifinales de Copa y a punto de derribar al vigente campeón y gran rival.

Abidal fires the winning blast to defeat Real Madrid (Photo: REUTERS/Susana Vera)

Barcelona mounted a second half comeback to defeat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu, extracting a measure of vengeance for their defeat in last year's Copa del Rey Final at the hands of their eternal rivals.

By Alan Duffy

Those overpaid, underworked suits ensconced in the plush environs of Geneva have taken time out from their golf outings and gala receptions to put together their team of the year for 2011 which has been compiled from over 4.

Barcelona returned to within five points of Liga leaders Real Madrid with a 4-2 defeat of ten-man Real Betis, on a day when Athletic Club improved their European chances by beating Levante.

Josep Guardiola's men made an explosive start at Camp Nou as Xavi Hernández opened the scoring after ten minutes and Lionel Messi took his league tally to 18 shortly afterwards.

FIFA handed tonight the 2011 GOLDEN BALL ( BALON D´OR) AWARD - the Best Player in World Football - to FC BARCELONA player LIONEL MESSI. Its his third straight Golden Ball & puts the 24 year old Argentine in the elite class of 3 x winners like Platini, Van Basten & Cruyff. The second place was given to REAL MADRID player CRISTIANO RONALDO & third to FC BARCELONA player XAVI HERNANDEZ.

SPANISH & FC BARCELONA Coach JOSEP GUARDIOLA has been named by the FIFA backed "International Football Federation of History & Statistics" (IFFHS) as the "Best Coach in World Football". Its the second straight year that the Catalan gets this prestigious recognition & with a healthy margin over second placed José Mourinho of Real Madrid.

SPANISH & FC BARCELONA Coach JOSEP GUARDIOLA has been named by the FIFA backed "International Football Federation of History & Statistics" (IFFHS) as the "Best Coach in World Football". Its the second straight year that the Catalan gets this prestigious recognition & with a healthy margin over second placed José Mourinho of Real Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his fourth La Liga hat-trick of the season as Real Madrid easily swept aside ten-man Osasuna 7-1 to move three points clear of Barcelona, who drew 2-2 at Athletic Club.

Ángel Di María set up goals for Ronaldo, Pepe and Gonzalo Higuaín in the first half, with Ibrahima briefly levelling the scores at 1-1 for the visitors.

A hat-trick from Lionel Messi and two David Villa goals helped Barcelona to an 8-0 victory against Osasuna at the Camp Nou, while Valencia made it three Liga wins out of three this season.

Barcelona emphatically returned to winning ways with an 8-0 thrashing of CA Osasuna but remain two points behind early leaders Valencia, who maintained their perfect start to the Liga season.

AC Milan secured a gutsy 2-2 draw against Barcelona thanks to goals in the first and final seconds of an absorbing match at the Nou Camp.

Pato gave the visitors a dream start when he notched the quickest matchday one goal in Champions League history, only for Pedro Rodríguez and David Villa to reply either side of half-time.

Lionel Messi and Cesc F bregas scored late in either half as Barcelona beat nine-man Porto 2-0 to win the UEFA Super Cup for the second time in three years.

The was very open from the opening whistle and Hulk had already curled a free-kick over from a promising position before Víctor Valdés dived to his left to tip behind an angled shot from João Moutinho.

Lionel Messi and Cesc F bregas scored late in either half as Barcelona beat nine-man Porto 2-0 to win the UEFA Super Cup for the second time in three years.

The was very open from the opening whistle and Hulk had already curled a free-kick over from a promising position before Víctor Valdés dived to his left to tip behind an angled shot from João Moutinho.

When a self-righteous man becomes obsessed with a powerful enemy, flames are almost a certainty. Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, self-described as "the special one," is setting fire to Spanish soccer with dangerous fireworks that some fear may spark a bigger conflagration on the parched tinder of that fractured entity called Spain.

Barcelona have released the itinerary for their upcoming U.S. tour. From July 28 to August 6, the team will be visiting Washington, Miami and Dallas.

The following is a detailed explanation of the expedition, including training sessions, matches and events that the players Hill be attending.

After finishing up the match report of Barcelona's 3-1 win over Manchester United in the Champions League final, I realized that this amazing victory deserves two posts. And so, because my "Best Images from..." compilations (Manchester City's FA Cup win and Real Madrid's Copa del Rey win) were so popular, I've decided to make one for this Barcelona victory.

Barcelona have won their fourth Champions League. It's their second in the past three years, and it was won with an amazing display of dominance. While Manchester United offered some resistance in the first half, by the end of the match we saw why Barcelona's ideal style of playing is loved by so many around the world.

First name on the Barcelona team sheet? Messi. Xavi. Sergio Busquets.

As Sergio Busquets clutched the World Cup in his hands on the 11th July 2010, a footballing fast-track journey started only 22 months ago, was complete. In less than two seasons, the 21-year old had broke into the Barcelona First Team, cemented his place, been called up to the Spain squad, and lifted the World Cup.

FC Barcelona have won their 21st league title, and it's now three-out-of-three for manager Josep Guardiola, who has produced a winning style that has amazed the footballing world.

In three three years Guardiola has won three league titles and nine major honours in total. An amazing record by an amazing coach.

We get the fourth and final El Clasico Tuesday and Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola is expecting an anxious evening at the Camp Nou despite his side's 2-0 first-leg lead over Real Madrid. REal Madrid assistant coach Aitor Karanka played down criticism of his side's approach in the first match as he said José Mourinho's touchline ban would not be a problem for Madrid.

Messi scored a magnificent double at the Bernabeu
Clasicos are always quite a lot of fun. While often there isn't too much football played due to scuffles, pre-match press room mind games, and the ridiculous amount of red cards often handed out, the football which is played is often brilliant. It was Lionel Messi again, scoring two goals the second more beautiful than the first.

Messi scored a magnificent double at the Bernabeu
Clasicos are always quite a lot of fun. While often there isn't too much football played due to scuffles, pre-match press room mind games, and the ridiculous amount of red cards often handed out, the football which is played is often brilliant. It was Lionel Messi again, scoring two goals the second more beautiful than the first.

Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola won't change his team's attacking style following its 1-0 overtime loss to Real Madrid in Wednesday's Copa del Rey final.
"It seems like we cling to the style as an excuse whenever we lose. The style has much to do with the idea of the club and the coach. It is something that should not be raised, it is what it is," he said Friday.

Now that Real Madrid has defeated Barcelona parity has been restored to Spain, and maybe all of Europe. Their last game against the Catalans finished 1-1, and Mourinho's team took that draw (which virtually won La Liga for Barcelona) as a victory. But now Real can actually celebrate an El Clasico victory and a trophy.

Now that Real Madrid has defeated Barcelona parity has been restored to Spain, and maybe all of Europe. Their last game against the Catalans finished 1-1, and Mourinho's team took that draw (which virtually won La Liga for Barcelona) as a victory. But now Real can actually celebrate an El Clasico victory and a trophy.

Having consistent playing time at lower clubs doesn't always set an interest for every footballers including on loan Barcelona player, Alexander Hleb, who went on another spell this season at Birmingham City.

Despite admitting that he is enjoying his temporary stay at Birmingham, the Belarus international stated that he has no intention in making his stay at the club permanent next season as he is actually eying a return back to Arsenal instead.

Guardiola awkwardly watches Sergio Busquets and Mourinho
nuzzle noses in a memorable moment of the match
After my makeshift preview of El Clasico, things turned out exactly as I didn't think they would. While I was expecting an exciting battle between two sides wanting to crush each other, it turned out to be a fairly tiring affair to watch, especially the first half.

Guardiola awkwardly watches Sergio Busquets and Mourinho
nuzzle noses in a memorable moment of the match
After my makeshift preview of El Clasico, things turned out exactly as I didn't think they would. While I was expecting an exciting battle between two sides wanting to crush each other, it turned out to be a fairly tiring affair to watch, especially the first half.

El Clasico seems like an eternal fixture. No matter how much change we see in a season, it's this match which captures the attention of just about every soccer fan around the world. Admittedly, El Clasico has been slightly one-sided these past few seasons, with Barcelona having won the past five encounters.

El Clasico seems like an eternal fixture. No matter how much change we see in a season, it's this match which captures the attention of just about every soccer fan around the world. Admittedly, El Clasico has been slightly one-sided these past few seasons, with Barcelona having won the past five encounters.

El Clasico seems like an eternal fixture. No matter how much change we see in a season, it's this match which captures the attention of just about every soccer fan around the world. Admittedly, El Clasico has been slightly one-sided these past few seasons, with Barcelona having won the past five encounters.

El Clasico seems like an eternal fixture. No matter how much change we see in a season, it's this match which captures the attention of just about every soccer fan around the world. Admittedly, El Clasico has been slightly one-sided these past few seasons, with Barcelona having won the past five encounters.

The majority of the frontrunners in Europe's leading leagues enjoyed a winning weekend, though Ligue 1 leaders Lille bucked the trend with a first defeat since October. Meanwhile, Barcelona and Milan rebounded from midweek Champions League defeats to grab valuable league victories.

Spain
Barcelona bounced back from their midweek Champions League defeat by Arsenal with a 2-1 Liga win against Athletic Bilbao.

BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola has agreed to stay with the Spanish champions until June 2012, the club said Tuesday. "The signing of the contract will take place in the next few days," the club said in a statement posted on its website. The 40-year-old, who spent most of his playing career at [.

Barcelona and AC Milan successfully protected their advantages this weekend while Manchester United extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to two points.

Spain
It is a case of as you were at the top of the Liga after Barcelona and Real Madrid both won.

Choosing the winner of the 2011 Ballon D'Or seemed like a tough decision to make. Three Barcelona geniuses, all with a chance to be crowned as the best player of the world. Iniesta and Xavi had just triumphed in the World Cup with Spain, but Messi was part of an amazing season for Barcelona, scoring 43 goals in 57 matches.

Choosing the winner of the 2011 Ballon D'Or seemed like a tough decision to make. Three Barcelona geniuses, all with a chance to be crowned as the best player of the world. Iniesta and Xavi had just triumphed in the World Cup with Spain, but Messi was part of an amazing season for Barcelona, scoring 43 goals in 57 matches.

FC Barcelona continued their scintillating form in the Spanish Liga with a 4-0 triumph away to Deportivo La Coruna that moved them five points clear of Real Madrid.

Depor had conceded only four times at home in the league prior to the champions' visit but Josep Guardiola's side were typically irrepressible in attack.