FC Barcelona would belooking at a huge 10 point deficit with League leaders Real Madrid by the end of tomorrow night after going down 3-2 against osasuna. If the Villareal draw had put a huge blow to Barca's title hopes, then this defat at Pamplona virtually ends the league hopes. If Real madrid win against Levante at home tomorrow, the lead at the top will climb to a huge 10 points.

FC Barcelona booked their place in the Copa Del Rey final with a 2-0 victory against Valencia at Camp Nou. Goals from Cesc Fabregas and Xavi gave Barca a bit of nervous victory. Now the final will be against Atletic Bilbao, between the two most successful teams in the Copa Del Rey history.

Puyol's header gives Barça 1-1 draw in first leg of Copa (Photo: AP Photo/Paul White)

Barcelona rallied from a goal down to ensure a 1-1 draw against Valencia in the first leg of their semi final showdown in the Copa del Rey.

La Mestalla provided all of the hostility the Catalans could handle, as Valencia came out of the gates in a surging frenzy, mounting unrelenting pressure in the opening minutes trying to force a crack in Barcelona's defensive armor.

Messi shows frustration in draw against Villarreal (Photo: REUTERS/Heino Kalis)

Barcelona saw their La Liga title aspirations take a serious hit after suffering a goalless draw against Villarreal at El Madrigal on Saturday night.

Another road game, another setback.

It has been the same story all year long; with Barca now having dropped 13 points in league play away from the Camp Nou this season.

Rumours suggest that Javier Mascherano is in Liverpool holding talks with...

FC Barcelona could have handed over the Liga title to Real Madrid unofficially after drawing away at 17th placed Villareal. The lead at the top of the summit is seven points which could be too much for our boys to climb. Already with a very depleted side, we weren't helped by Guardiola's decision making all night.

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.

Alexis goal secures win for FC Barcelona against Real Betis (Photo: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

Alexis Sanchez's last gasp goal saw Barcelona rally deep in the second half to defeat Real Betis 4-2 at the Camp Nou.

After a quick start, Barcelona were forced to watch Betis comeback from two goals down, nearly stealing the match and ending Barcelona's aspirations for a fourth consecutive La Liga title.

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.

In recent years, the January window's been relatively tame 2007 was maybe the most active, with Javier Mascherano and Alvaro Arbeloa among the names on the way in, and 2008 saw Martin Skrtel arrive with Momo Sissoko heading out. But 2009 brought only the exit for the recently arrived but underwhelming Robbie Keane, and 2010 had only Maxi Rodriguez arriving on a free with Andrea Dossena and Andriy Voronin leaving Anfield.

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.

Lucas out for the rest of the season

LUCAS LEIVA won't be playing again this season for Liverpool after the club announced he had sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury would now need an operation. When the Brazilian midfielder was stretchered off 20 minutes from the end of the Carling Cup quarter-final against Chelsea it was feared afterwards that his lay-off would be lengthy.

Alexis looks to continue form against Levante (Photo: JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images)

On Saturday FC Barcelona look to get back on track following their suprising loss to Getafe last weekend. Though they put up an impressive performance mid-week against Rayo Vallecano winning easily 4-0 it will be imporant to keep the momentum rolling going into a midweek Champions League match up against BATE Borisov followed by the monsterous clash against Real Madrid.

Alexis scores against Rayo (Photo: REUTERS/Albert Gea)

Barcelona returned to their winning ways on Tuesday night with a four-goal thrashing of La Liga minnows Rayo Vallecano at the Camp Nou.

The word echoing through the stadium: maravilla.

Between cheers for David "Mara" Villa, Alexis Sanchez, "el niño maravilla" of Chile, and the sheer majesty of Messi's highlight-reel goal, one couldn't help but marvel.

Fascinating game between AC Milan and Barca today. For the first position in the group.

Pep had mixed up the starting eleven a bit with midfielders Mascherano and Busquets as central defenders ( Bert? Are you paying attention?) but when you have Messi, Xavi and Fabregas in your squad you [read more]

By Chris Wright

Excuse me mate, mind taking a picture of me and Javier Mascherano?

Via Reddit (One thousand apologies for nicking the joke!)

Here is the possible Line-up for the Game against Colombia:
4-4-2 Formation
----------Messi -- Higuain--------
José Sosa -- Mascherano -- Gago Or Brana ? -- Pablo Guiñazú
Pablo Zabaleta -- Fede Fernández -- Nico Burdisso -- Clemente Rodríguez
----------Sergio Romero---------

Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy believes that team he played in under Rafa Benitez during the 2006-7 is superior to current team put together by Kenny Dalglish's. Do you agree?
Bellamy, who memorably helped Liverpool beat Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final that year, argued:
"Rafa's team was very good; it was very efficient, but this team is not too far off it.

L'Hospitalet vs FC Barcelona in Copa del Rey

Wenesday's Copa del Rey match away at L'Hospitalet, Victor Valdes' hometown, could be an game for youngsters Rafinha, Deofoleu and Sergi Roberto to shine. With the absences of Alexis, Messi, Alves, Mascherano, Cuenca and Thiago due to international duty, Guardiola will be looking to give minutes to La Masia's newest jewels.

27.10.2011 - Alejandro Sabella dio a conocer la lista de 21 jugadores que actúan en el exterior, para los partidos ante Bolivia y Colombia (11 y 15 de noviembre 2011), en Buenos Aires y Barranquilla respectivamente, correspondientes a las eliminatorias sudamericanas para Brasil 2014.
Messi, Lionel (Barcelona - España)Mascherano, Javier (Barcelona - España)Di María, Ángel (Real Madrid - España)Higuaín, Gonzalo (Real Madrid - España)Banega, Ever (Valencia - España)Demichelis, Martín (Málaga - España)Romero, Sergio (Sampdoria - Italia)Andújar, Mariano (Catania - Italia)Burdisso, Nicolás (Roma - Italia)Gago, Fernando (Roma - Italia)Fernández, Federico (Nápoli - Italia)Lavezzi, Ezequiel (Nápoli - Italia)Denis, Germán (Atalanta - Italia)Pastore, Javier (Paris S.

Granada vs FC Barcelona

Today's away match at the Los Carmenes stadium is a perfect opportunity for Lionel Messi to get his first away goal in La Liga since the start of the season. The Argentinean scored in away games in the Champions League and the Spanish Supercopa, so a goal versus newly promoted Granada would do him justice in La Liga.

After watching his two performances for Chelsea this season where he has started and played the full games, I think we have all realised that we have found an absolute gem in Oriol Romeu. Brave enough to leave Barcelona and come over here when he realised that life would be difficult with Mascherano and Busquets ahead of him, he has really made a big impression here in just two games.

By Saf Hossain, writing from London

The small matter of Liverpool versus Manchester United is, arguably, the biggest fixture in any sport, anywhere in the world. This Saturday afternoon at Anfield was due to be a special occasion regardless, but the most illustrious match in English football will be forced to share the day with a very significant anniversary.

FC Barcelona made to the top of La Liga with a hard fought 1-0 win against Sporting Gijon. This incidently was the first away victory of the Catalan side this season in the league. Right now we are tied with Levante, who beat Betis at the top of the table. Barcelona is on the top due to their goal difference which is a whooping 19 goals.

FC Barcelona with another manita, this time against FC BATE in Champions League (Photo: Getty Images)

Guardiola can rest easy. The dread of facing an unknown, physical, Eastern European side, hungry to impress its fans proved all for naught. Indeed, the arduous journey to Belarus proved more difficult than the challenge awaiting his side upon arrival.

Bate player, Filippe described this Barca team as made of outer space creatures and definitely Barcelona produced a display to honour that compliment. FC Barcelona won their first match of this year's Champions League season with a 5-0 result at the Dynamo stadium. This is our first away victory in all official matches till now.

Captain Carles Puyol leads FC Barcelona into Belarus to take on FC BATE (Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images)

FC Barcelona go into their 400th match in a UEFA competition facing the brilliant news that Pique and Puyol are likely to start together for the first time since the 2-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu in last seasons Champions League semi-final first leg.

Ah, would you just look at THAT! If it isn't Chelsea's resident Spaniards in Valencia wearing Los Che's traditional colours, Orange! You can't get any cheesier than that in a strangely endearing way, of course. Anyway, Juan Mata is all set to face his former side tonight when Valencia host Chelsea at the Mestalla.

FC Barcelona shaken off their recent poor result with an absolute 8-0 mauling of Osasuna at Camp Nou. After the two rather unfortunate draws, somebody had to pay and unfortunately Osasuna was on the fire line. And they did pretty bad. Messi scored three goal, Villa two goal, Cesc and Xavi scored one each and also there was an unfortunate own goal from Roversio.

Pep Guardiola looks to overcome recent frustration as FC Barcelona host Osasuna (Photo: Reuters Pictures)

It has been a tough week for FC Barcelona. A 2-2 draw against Real Sociedad last Saturday and a 2-2 draw against AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday. Both matches they dominated the first half but took their foot of the throttle in the second allowing both sides to get back into the match and pull out a draw in the closing minutes.

Gerard Piqué sigue lesionado y Carles Puyol en el banquillo ante el Milan en el debut europeo del Barça. Esta circunstancia, exactamente igual que en Anoeta el pasado sábado, hacía que Pep Guardiola tuviese que inventar una defensa de circunstancia al no tener más centrales 'puros' disponibles.

BBC Sport Thiago Silva secures draw for AC Milan at Barcelona.

AC Milan showed in 25 seconds tonight at the Nou Camp what Man Utd haven't figured out in two Champions League Finals, and that is if you attack Barcelona's defense right up the middle, you will create chances. Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato tore through the the center back pairing of Mascherano and Brusquets like a knife through butter to give the Italians a 1-0 lead.

Rafa: I've turned down job offers from all over the world

Former Liverpool boss also claims Inter's failure to sign Mascherano and Sanchez cost him his job

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-09-08 17:32:49 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

La baja de Carlos Puyol y Gerard Piqué no sólo trastoca los planes de Pep Guardiola. Son la pareja invencible, ya que juntos sólo han perdido tres partidos en estas tres campañas.
Uno con el Barcelona, ante el Inter en Milán en la semifinales de la Champions 2010, y dos con la selección ambos en Sudáfrica: uno en la Copa Confederaciones (ante Estados Unidos) y otro en el Mundial (el estreno ante Suiza).

La baja de Carlos Puyol y Gerard Piqué no sólo trastoca los planes de Pep Guardiola. Son la pareja invencible, ya que juntos sólo han perdido tres partidos en estas tres campañas.
Uno con el Barcelona, ante el Inter en Milán en la semifinales de la Champions 2010, y dos con la selección ambos en Sudáfrica: uno en la Copa Confederaciones (ante Estados Unidos) y otro en el Mundial (el estreno ante Suiza).

03.09.2011 - Con gol de Nicolás Otamendi (´66), Argentina venció (1-0) a Venezuela (amistoso) en el Salt Lake Stadium (Calcuta, India) en el debut de Alejandro Sabella como entrenador.
Lo esperado, una Argentina demasiado similar a la que dejara Sergio Batista (DT).

Following yesternight's demolition of Villareal more and more people are vying for the much coveted 3-4-3 fomation to be used at Barca. Already everyone is going gaga over the fact that we played almost 9 midfielde players and one defender in the starting line-up. A look into the line-up which started explains why people are so thrilled - Busquest, Mascherano who played in defense are natural defensive midfield players.

FC Barcelona started their La Liga title defense with a 5-0 thumping of fellow Champions League colleague, Villareal. Thiago opened the scoring for Barca and Cesc, Messi with two, Sanchez all completed the Manita list. It was important for us to start well in the league not only to warn our La Liga rivals but also the Continental rivals like Manchester United etc.

FC Barcelona won the 2011 UEFA Super Cup by defeating Europa Cup Winner, FC Porto 2-0 at the St.Louis stadium in Monaco. Goals from Messi and another from Cesc Fabregas sealed a record 11th Trophy for Guardiola as a coach. FC Porto really made life difficult for Barca with their high pressure.

FC Barcelona won the 46th edition of the annual pre-season friendly Joan Gamper tournament at Camp Nou with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Napoli. With this victory Barca has won the trophy which is named after the founder of the club for the 35th time. For Guardiola it's not a bad trophy to win, as the last two times he won the same, he went on to win the Champion League as a coach.