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.

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.

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.

The River End belts out the National Anthem.

Zombie-mode in full effect as Corey Furlan gets the beat going.

The header from a Brad Davis free kick begins to make its way into goal...

...and moments later Faryd Mondragon celebrates Seba's beautiful goal.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

So, what the hell was that line up?

I can't believe I have to phrase it that way. I mean, it is really hard to be that surprised by the starting XI in a season where the starting XI has been a surprise almost every match. But not only did Peter Nowak start Stefani Miglioranzi, who has played a total of 19 minutes since September 17, he started him as a center back in a system we've yet to see the Union use all season.

PSP photographer Nicolae Stoian's photo essay of the Phialelphia Union's 1–2 loss to Houston Dynamo in the first leg of the Eastern Conference semifinal.

Leaving the tunnel

The National Anthem

That will be a yellow card.

Califf on Carr.

Frustration as Barcelona draw against Sevilla (Photo: Manu Fernandez/AP Photo)

Javi Varas saved a stoppage time penalty from Leo Messi to highlight his brilliant performance on the night, holding the defending champions to a scoreless draw at the Camp Nou.

It was a match of resilient defense, poor finishing and childish antics in the closing minutes.

Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

The Shin Guardian invited Philly Soccer Page to write a preview of Thursday night's Philadelphia Union game against New York. And when the Shin Guardian calls, it is PSP's Adam Cann who answers the call.

Among the topics covered are:

John Harkes Keys to the Game "Thursday's predicted Harkes' Keys: 1) Stop Le Toux, 2) Don't Give Up Goals 3) Marquez Something Something.

Iniesta returns from injury to face Racing Santander (Photo: JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images)

Andres Iniesta has recuperated from his injury and will act as the anti-FIFA Virus in Saturday's home clash against Racing Santander. The Spanish international was out for three weeks following a hamstring pull, but it looks like Guardiola will be ready to start him after having trained regularly for the past week.

So the Seleção scraped past Ghana in a 1-0 victory last night, which is fair enough, especially since winning hasn't been their forte as of late! Within ten minutes of the first half, Ganso who suffered a thigh injury had to be replaced by Elias.

When PSP runs our live commentary during away matches, we get lots of interesting comments and questions from readers. We take those comments and try to put together a list of questions that get to the heart of what Union fans want to know about the team.

The Question: Is it time to bid adieu to the diamond midfield, or are the Union's problems with shape and possession a personnel instead of a tactical issue?

FC Barcelona won this seasons Spanish Super Cup in the end of a sensational match which ended 3-2 in favor of the host at Camp Nou. Two goals from Messi and one from Iniesta took Guardiola to yet another title. The match also some disgraceful scenes at the end courtesy of the fight started by Real madrid players.

The two best teams in Europe locked horns in Spain tonight as Real Madrid and Barcelona drew 2-2 in an entertaining first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu. I watched a lot of Premier League games this weekend and these two Spanish giants are several steps above even Manchester United.

Real Madrid had an impressive preseason and Jose Mourinho threw a couple of wrinkles into his team selection playing Ángel Di María on the right flank and leaving summer signing Fábio Coentrão on the bench.

Real Madrid and Barcelona will resume their Spanish Super Cup contest locked at 2-2 on Wednesday after an entertaining first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Real Madrid had an impressive preseason and Jose Mourinho threw a couple of wrinkles into his team selection playing Ángel Di María on the right flank and leaving summer signing Fábio Coentrão on the bench.

Some scattered thoughts on the season just gone, which like a good adventure movie had its highs and lows before the uplifting, happy ending.
the boardroom and the locker room
For all the talk of a steady transition, the election of Sandro Rosell bought about a revolution in the board room at the beginning of this season.

Live thread, running late. Leave your comments after the jump.

Lineups

Revolution: Reis; Tierney, Coria, Soares, Alston; Feilhaber, Phelan, McCarthy, Nyassi; Mansally, Lekic

Bench: Shuttleworth, Barnes, Loewy, Boggs, Guy, Koger, Schilawski

Union: Mondragon; G.

Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Union

Paunovic or Dax McCarty? Who would you take? New York dispatched with a high-priced, moody and inconsistent veteran offensive player (Dwayne "Tiny Dancer" de Rosario) and received Dax McCarty in return. The best part of this trade?

Photo of cheater via FoxSports

Easing six goals into past the hapless Toronto defense is no way to prepare for the rough and tough Colorado Rapids. With a chance to earn their first two match road winning streak, Peter Nowak handed Jack McInerney his first start of the year and rewarded Gabe Farfan with a second straight appearance in the first team.

I'm not a big fan of forced narratives in sport. Often they require material facts to be ignored and result in faulty conclusions. This is possibly an oddity for a Cule - after all, Barcelona have built their identity on a strong sense of narrative, casting themselves in the same role in every story.

With Houston yet to play today, the Philadelphia Union suddenly have the second most prolific offense in the East (tied for second most in all of MLS).

The Union scored six goals against a hapless Toronto FC defense. Gabe Farfan opened his account in the 2nd minute and nine minutes later Justin Mapp doubled the lead.

Starting Line Ups

Fire

GK Conway

D Ristic, Cuesta, Gibbs, Segares

M Paladini, Bone, Pappa, Oduro, Husidic

F Chaves

Subs: Johnson, Robinson, Anibaba, Pause, Puerari, Barouch, Nazirit

Union

GK Mondragon

D Williams, Califf, Valdes, Harvey

M Carroll, Okugo, Mapp, M.

As part of our extensive Barcelona v Manchester United Champions League final coverage on Soccerlens, today we look at key head-to-head stats between the two Champions League finalists.

VAN DER SAR v VALDÉS

Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has saved 91% of the shots he has faced this season in the Champions League, a higher ratio than any other ‘keeper.

Here is a picture for FC BARCELONA fans to keep & stick on their favourite places. The starting 11 side against Real Madrid in the 1ºst leg of the Champions League semi finals. FC Barcelona 2011 Champions League semi-final line-up (photo courtesy of "Sport") L to R Top: Pedro, Keita, Mascherano, Busquets, Pique & Valdes L to R Bottom: Messi, Alves, Villa, Xavi & Puyol Notable absence due to

Barcelona's 1-1 draw with Real Madrid at the Camp Nou tonight sealed a 3-1 aggregate win and secured a place in the Champions League Final on 28 May final at Wembley.

This game was the most open, and riveting of the four recent El Clasico's with both sides committed to playing football and not diving all open the pitch.

Messi scores in first half to seal victory over Shakhtar Donetsk AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky

Pep Guardiola's side with tonights victory on the road against Shakhtar Donetsk marks the fourth year in a row that the club makes it into the semi-finals of Champions League play. They will most likely play Real Madrid who hold a commanding 4-0 lead over Tottenham.

Philadelphia Union at D.C. United - Gamethread - U.S. Open Cup Qualification Play-In Round

Union starting XI: Mondragon, Harvey, Valdes, Califf, Harvey, Nakazawa, Carroll, M. Farfan, Daniel, Le Toux, Ruiz
Union bench: Holder, McInerney, Pfeffer, Richter, Agorsor, Torres, Mwanga
D.

FC Barcelona thrashes Shaktar Donetsk to take a firm step to Semi-Final

FC Barcelona has taken a firm step to set up an El Clasico clash in this season's Champions League semi-final with the demolition of Shaktar Donetsk at Camp Nou. Iniesta, Alves, Keita, Pique and Xavi scored for Barca in a very thrilling 5-1 victory against the Ukranian Champions.

[Editor's Note: Highlighting some nice work by a reader, front paged]

Thus far in the new season, I have taken in two separate games: MLS First Kick, a match where the Galaxy got a second half goal from Juninho to defeat Seattle 1-0, and Saturday night's match between our Union and Houston.

The full extent of the damage done in Barcelona has now come to light, Cesc Fabregas irritated his hamstring injury after just 15 minutes and carried on playing, Wojiech Szczesny also looks set for at least a month on the sidelines with a dislocated finger. Luckily, there doesn't seem to be any tendon damage.

It's all gone a bit crazy since the game last night. People are upset at the referee, at the players, at Barcelona. Let's see if I can sift through some of the rubble and see what we've been left with here.

Arsene Wenger is not a happy bunny:

"Two kinds of people can be unhappy; those who love Arsenal and those who love football can be frustrated with the referee's decisions.

Que? This fantastic spoof poke fun at the genuine problems Barcelona's Spanish and Catalan-speaking players appear to be experiencing when trying to give instructions to new boy Ibrahim Afellay. The full script, including English and Spanish bits, goes a bit like this: Valdes: When you are close to me, you, you, you pass the ball [.

"Arsenal's Champions League dreams were in tatters last night after Barcelona ruthlessly tore them apart in a display worthy of the best team in generations. The warning signs were there early on, but when Van Persie's shot was well saved by Valdes you sensed that such chances needed to be taken.

I said in yesterday's blog that we've had the promise of a great European night at the Grove without actually ever experiencing it. I think it's fair to say that last night we did. The roar at Arshavin's goal was visceral, borne out of the pain of Paris and Wembley and the Camp Nou, and while it's only half-time in the grand scheme of things the win last night was hugely significant, in my opinion.

La Familia!

The talk is over. As they say it is all about the scoreline and the scoreline is there for everybody to see. YES, we have put one behind the mighty Barcelona. We gave them a dose of their own medicine i.e 'Beautiful Football', so should we still call them 'mighty'?

Heroic performance. Magnificent result. Half the job done.

I was worried pressing higher up the pitch will leave Arsenal exposed but in the end the result justifies the manager's approach and the players deserve immense credit for fighting all the way till the end to achieve this win. It also shows how little I know but in this case I'm delighted to be proven wrong.

The Philadelphia Union played its first pre-season game in a rainy Orlando this afternoon against the U-17 U.S. Men's National Team. The Union managed a 1-1 draw against the teenagers. As there was no video of the match available, this synopsis comes from written sources.

The Union fielded two completely different teams in each half.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has named his 21-man squad for next Wednesday's friendly with Colombia in Madrid. He has also warned every player to be prepared to play the full 90 minutes, despite a request from Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho not to overload the players.

Del Bosque told reporters:

"We care for everyone in whatever we can, but we will demand the maximum.

BARCELONA, — Lionel Messi struck twice to take his league goals tally to 21 as champions Barcelona beat Hercules 3-0 to move seven points clear of Real Madrid on Saturday. Spanish international Pedro Rodriguez scored his 12th league goal of the season to open the scoring on 43 minutes before Ballon d'Or winner Messi struck [.