Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta remains confident coach Pep Guardiola will continue his successful spell at the helm.

However, he has confirmed the club have drawn up contingency plans should Guardiola decide to leave the Nou Camp.

Zubizarreta is optimistic it will not come to that despite the Catalans, who visit Osasuna on Saturday, trailing arch-rivals Real Madrid by seven points in the La Liga title race.

Welcome to the Friday Crackovia Club, where it's always a party in here before the weekend! Of course, Crackovia is one of the most craziest football sketch shows from Catalonia and this week was all about Barcelona's quest to slow down Madrid using some insane dressing room rituals.

Pep Guardiola took a leaf out of Bastian Schweinsteiger's Basketball Book over the week and watched a game with his children Marius and Maria (above). Of course, the only game on his mind tonight is Barcelona's Copa del Rey semi-final against Valencia when his newly crowned "Laureus World Team of the Year" take them on in the Nou Camp.

By Chris Wright

I'm willing to bet your gut reaction to the news that Sergio Busquets got well and truly knobbled in a challenge with Real Sociedad's Carlos Martinez during the home side's 2-1 win at the Nou Camp last night was somewhere along the lines of 'what goes around, comes around' but that doesn't make the deep laceration that the Barca midfielder suffered any less grotesque.

According to Gaizka Mendieta , there is a big possibility that Barca coach Pep Guardiola could soon be on his way out of the record breaking club. A lot of uncertainty has arisen over Guardiola's future following his shocking denial on Tuesday that he was close to signing a new contract.

It doesn't make any sense why Pep would want to leave Barcelona.

Que dulce! Valencia kept to their promise to the fans last night and held Barca to a 1-1 draw with a 27th minute screamer from Jonas. Part of the promise was to play their best and not lose in front of the home fans, so this result is significantly better than a loss.

Valencia keeper Diego Alves makes a great save from a Lionel Messi spot-kick to give his side a 1-1 draw to bring to the Nou Camp in their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg.

Welcome to Offbeat Wednesday, where we cover the wacky side of football! Today, read about the German National Team's bizarre new campaign, Mourinho's Carpark 'Me Time', Harry Kewell's Tennis Day Out and Guti's Holiday!

Now now, don't get all excited! You're not looking at the latest 80′s German pop band founded by Lothar Matthäus, but it's close to the truth.

Partido interesante de la fecha 5 del Clausura 2012 en el Estadio Nou Camp con el León marchando de líder después de esa victoria de 4-3 en Neza en la fecha 5 y donde no faltaron los problemas extra cancha al ser agredido el autobús que transportaba a Los Verdes cuando un grupo de aficionados de Neza apedrearon el vehículo hecho que por fortuna solamente arrojó daños materiales y sustos.

Es la primera vez que un jugador de fútbol aparece en solitario en la portada de esta revista, de las mas importantes del mundo el TIME, ya han aparecido deportistas como Tiger Woods, Muhammad Alí, Bjön Borg o la super estrella Michael Jordan.

La revista estadounidense TIME ha elegido al jugador argentino del FC Barcelona Leo Messi como protagonista de su próxima portada.

foto por joseolano

Esta semana, por no decir el año completo el villano de la película de fútbol ha sido el portugués Pepe. Esa mala fama ha sido ganada a pulso, es mas muchos madridistas no lo quiere en su equipo, para no ir mas lejos los ejemplos del clásico pasado en el Santiago Bernabeu, mostraron un poco de sus acciones antifutbolisticas, marrullerías,reclamos,clavados,malas actuaciones y pisotón a Messi incluido.

Very interesting reports emerging that are linking Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger with Mourinho's job at Real Madrid. Though very flattering the possibilities of Wenger leaving Arsenal any time soon are almost zero!

However, the same cannot be said of Jose Mourinho. The 'special one' once again had a negative result against arch rivals Barcelona, this time going down 4-3 on aggregate after pulling 2 goals back to level the scoreline in their Copa Del Rey quarter final return fixture at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona [2 : 2] Real Madrid
No. of Yellow Cards : 9
No. Of Red Cards : 1

Somewhere beneath this 'Blaugrana Happiness Pile' lies Pedro, who scored the opening goal in Barca's 2-2 draw with Real Madrid at the Nou Camp last night.

Barca holds off Madrid rally to reach cup semis World Soccer Yahoo! Sports.

Barcelona once again got the better of their closest rivals in La Liga by knocking out Real Madrid in the quarter finals of the Copa Del Rey. After taking a two goal lead over Real, Barcelona were pegged back to 2-2 as the game finished in a draw.

Antes de que los aficionados merengues me vayan aventar tomates, les aclaro que este monatje no lo hecho yo, me lo han mandado al buzón de este espacio,todo por lo que ha ocasionado el linchamiento del jugador Portugues Pepe y de las molestas declaraciones de Mourinho.

Siempre lo he dicho cine y futbol,una excelente combinación y este cartel se gana sus estrellas.

Se acerca el partido de vuelta de cuartos de final entre el Real Madrid contra el Barcelona , el mejor equipo del mundo en estos momentos ya lleva la delantera.
Pero de lo que mas se hablo en la semana despues de los goles y dominio del Barcelona fue del tremendo espectáculo que dio el portugués Pepe del Real Madrid , que es toda una caja llena de sorpresas violentas.

Both Real Madrid and Barcelona were winners yesterday to ensure that their is no let up in the La Liga title race. However, despite the win, things are not looking too rosy for Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho.

Madrid fans were heard jeering Mourinho despite his side's 4-1 over Athletic Bilbao.

Real Madrid. Top of La Liga. In the second round of the Champions League. In the latter stages of the Copa del Ray. All for what? The crowd are not happy and the white flags are waving not in support but in defiance. Why? Because Real Madrid keep losing to Barcelona. The fans are not stupid, they know that even Real Madrid win La Liga it will most likely be a pyrrhic victory, with Barcelona recognised as the best team in the country who just so happened to not win La Liga.

Yes, you're looking at the sticky note belonging to Jose Mourinho from Saturday's match between Real Madrid and Mallorca. Granted, his handwriting looks a little like your 7-year-old sister's when she's penning a poem about Prince Charming in a pink cape, but who cares?

Barcelona moved a step closer to a possible Copa del Rey quarter-final showdown with Real Madrid after winning the first leg of their last-16 tie against Osasuna 4-0.

Barca beat Osasuna 8-0 at home in the La Liga back in September and the Pamplona-based side must have feared another mauling when Cesc Fabregas netted twice in the opening 18 minutes at the Nou Camp the second a superb chip.

New York Red Bulls striker Thierry Henry's protracted loan move to Arsenal has finally been confirmed.
The 34-year-old will return to the Gunners on a two-month loan deal and could feature in Monday's FA Cup third round clash with Championship side Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium.
The soccer betting tips are had predicted Henry would make a dramatic return as soon as it was announced that he would train with the Gunners during the MLS off-season.

AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani claims his side are nearer to closing the gap on European champions Barcelona than Real Madrid.

Milan have already played Barca twice this season in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League with the Rossoneri earning a notable draw at the Nou Camp in September before losing 3-2 at the Giuseppe Meazza last month.

Terry Henry was a sensation at Arsenal. He remains a Gunners legend. But to sign him on loan for a couple of months would be a mistake. Yes, he scored goals for fun and spearheaded us to glory many times, not least of all during the season we went unbeaten in the Premier League. At no point am I denying he was one of the best players we have ever had.

Terry Henry was a sensation at Arsenal. He remains a Gunners legend. But to sign him on loan for a couple of months would be a mistake. Yes, he scored goals for fun and spearheaded us to glory many times, not least of all during the season we went unbeaten in the Premier League. At no point am I denying he was one of the best players we have ever had.

Terry Henry was a sensation at Arsenal. He remains a Gunners legend. But to sign him on loan for a couple of months would be a mistake. Yes, he scored goals for fun and spearheaded us to glory many times, not least of all during the season we went unbeaten in the Premier League. At no point am I denying he was one of the best players we have ever had.

David Villa fractured his left tibia shortly before half-time in the Fifa Club World Cup semi-final against Al Sadd in Yokohama, Japan today.

Villa, who had been linked with a move to away from the Nou Camp in January, was carried off on a stretcher after appearing to land awkwardly 39 minutes into a game Barcelona were winning 1-0.

Barcelona has reportedly placed David Villa on the transfer list, sparking a scramble for his signature between Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa.
The Spanish international, 30, has dropped down the pecking order at the Nou Camp this season, and more importantly, has allegedly fallen out with star player Lionel Messi.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has dismissed Spanish media reports linking David Villa with a move away from the Nou Camp in the January transfer window.

Sports newspaper Marca claimed oin Wednesday that the striker is ready to move on from Barca just 19 months into the four-year deal agreed following his 40million euro transfer from Valencia.

Believe it or not, it seems as though David Villa has been put up for sale by Barcelona after he has fallen out of favour at the Nou Camp and epecially falling out with Lionel Messi.
On this report here on ESPN, it seems that leading Spanish Paper "Marca" believe that Villa could be heading to England with Chelsea and Liverpool debating whether or not to make a move for the Spanish striker.

Whilst the eyes of most of the football world were focussed upon the likes of Stamford Bridge and the Nou Camp last night, an altogether more prosaic battle was playing out at Nene Park in Irthlingborough. The Blue Square Premier has had something of a flustered look about its lower reaches all season, with newly-relegated Lincoln City and Stockport County both finding life below the Football League tougher than they might have expected, but for existence-threatening financial difficulties, Kettering Town and Darlington beat all others hands down.

Despite the fact that David Villa has had a slightly tough time of late at the Nou Camp, it appears as though Kenny Dalglish will not be getting his hands on the Barcelona striker.
Speaking earlier today, the prolific Spain frontman, who has scored over 50 international goals, cooled rumours of an exit.

Mou are ya? Jose Mourinho has got one-up on Barcelona in the build-up to the forthcoming El Clasico. A digital traffic sign warning of restrictions around Barcelona's ground referred to the stadium as the 'Mou Camp' rather than the Nou Camp. You would expect that a fit-fingered Spanish civil servant has merely pounded the wrong [.

Han quedado listas las semifinales de la Liga de Ascenso en su torneo de Apertura 2011 con La Piedad, Correcaminos, Neza y León buscando el campeonato que será el primer paso para conseguir el ascenso a mediados del año próximo disputándolo con el campeón del torneo de clausura 2012.

Irapuato 0–1 León 20:45 hrs. Estadio: Sergio León Chávez Árbitro: Gerardo García Acevedo
En un cotejo lleno de pasión y lucha, los Panzas Verdes de León consiguieron un resultado importantísimo como visitantes en la Ida de los Cuartos de Final del Torneo de Apertura 2011, al vencer en la cancha del Sergio León Chávez por un gol a cero a los Freseros de Irapuato.

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.

Arsenal and Liverpool are amongst the teams ready to try and sign Eric Abidal, according to the Mirror.
The agent of the French left-back has claimed that it is more and more likely Abidal could leave the Nou Camp with his contract out at the end of the season.
Both Arsenal and Liverpool invested in new full-backs over the summer in the form of Andre Santos and Jose Enrique but appear to be keen on adding Abidal.

League action resumes this weekend with some very exciting fixtures across Europe. In Italy defending champions AC Milan face a tough away fixture to Fiorentina tomorrow in a match that could see them on their current position 3 ranking.

However, all attention will be on the Juventus v Palermo tie and the Napoli v Lazio match.

Guillem Balague has responded to last week's allegations that Barcelona's David Villa could be in line for a Premiership move by conceding that the striker is finding it slightly tough to find his best form at the Nou Camp.
Balague explained that Villa, valued at close to €40 million by Pep Guardiola, is struggling to gel with the precociously talented Argentine Lionel Messi.

After becoming a first-team regular at Barcelona since his move to the Nou Camp, ex-Gunner Cesc Fabregas has offered some sound advice to both former teammate Robin Van Persie and to Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger. Fabregas said, "I don't know if they will keep him. It is his decision. At his age, if he wants [.

Sensational reports from Spain have emerged today suggesting that David Villa has become unsettled at Barcelona and is looking for an exit from the Nou Camp.
What is more, radio station Cadena Ser has revealed that both Liverpool and Chelsea have approached the Catalan giants about their prolific frontman, whose phenomenal international scoring record – 50 goals in 80 appearances – speaks for itself.