Goals by Xavi and Cesc lead Barcelona into Copa Final (Photo: AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Goals from Cesc Fabregas and Xavi Hernandez sealed a comfortable 2-0 victory for the blaugrana, propelling the Catalans to their third Copa del Rey final in four years.

The Basques of Bilbao await in a repeat of 2009's final, a game in which Barcelona came from behind to defeat los leones 4-1 and claim the King's Cup.

Yet another Clasico is upon us, infact the fourth of this season and the first of 2012. When it was confirmed that this years Copa Del Rey will see both Barca and Madrid taking on one another, the reaction of both set of fans were classic. For the fiirst time in history they all greeted with a collective sigh of "Not Again, Lord".

By Chris Wright

Diver & Aguilar are a photography agency based in London who, amongst other things, spend a fair bit of time producing ultra-classy, hi-res imagery of the Barcelona squad from year to year. This year's batch sees the current Barca squad sumptuously recreated in vintage 'cigarette card' form, and we like.

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.

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.

Lionel Messi si aggiudica, come nelle previsioni della vigilia, il Pallone d'Oro 2011-2012. Il fuoriclasse argentino del Barcellona, gi vincitore delle ultime due edizioni dello speciale riconoscimento (premio calcistico istituito nel 1956 dalla rivista sportiva transalpina France Football), incassa il terzo si consecutivo.

The FIFA backed IFFHS ( International Football Federation of History & Statistics) has handed in their list of the "Best Midfielder in World Football" for 2011 ( game creator + assistances) . The FC BARCELONA & Spanish Football International XAVI HERNANDEZ tops the list over second placed team-mate Lionel Messi.

The FIFA backed IFFHS ( International Football Federation of History & Statistics) has handed in their list of the "Best Midfielder in World Football" for 2011 ( game creator + assistances) . The FC BARCELONA & Spanish Football International XAVI HERNANDEZ tops the list over second placed team-mate Lionel Messi.

photo credit: prettyfriendshipThanks to Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and, of course, Lionel Messi Barcelona won the World Club Cup at a canter. Santos, arguably the best team in South America at the moment, were disposed of as though they were an irritant to Barcelona. This Barcelona side take no prisoners.

Los conteos y recopilaciones la mayoria de las veces son injustos y odiosos, en esta ocasion sin afan de generar polemica traigo hasta ustedes el top 10 de los mejores goles entre estos equipos que levantan pasiones, 101 grandes goles lo hizo, pero aqui los primeros diez ordenados cronologicamente.

The final three men shortlist for FIFA Balon D'OR 2011 has been announced. The final list is no surprise to anyone following serious footballing action - Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez. Actually everyone know who is going to win - Lionel Messi. But still you need a three man shortlist.

France Football & FIFA has named public the last 3 finalists for this years GOLDEN BALL AWARD. They are CRISTIANO RONALDO ( Real Madrid ) , LIONEL MESSI & XAVI HERNANDEZ ( FC Barcelona ). This way SPANISH FOOTBALL gets prized for having in its League the 3 Best Players in World Football. The winner will be announced the 9th of January 2012 at the ceremony held at Zurich (Switzerland) Ronaldo

France Football & FIFA has named public the last 3 finalists for this years GOLDEN BALL AWARD. They are CRISTIANO RONALDO ( Real Madrid ) , LIONEL MESSI & XAVI HERNANDEZ ( FC Barcelona ). This way SPANISH FOOTBALL gets prized for having in its League the 3 Best Players in World Football. The winner will be announced the 9th of January 2012 at the ceremony held at Zurich (Switzerland) Ronaldo

It was October 20, 2004, when Milan welcomed FC Barcelona to the San Siro on match-day three of the Champions League. Much like today, both teams were clearly the best two in their group. Much like today Barcelona sat in first position, Milan were in second. And much like will be today, the team that [.

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta believes that the influence of skipper Robin van Persie has helped him adapt easily to life at the Emirates Stadium following a deadline-day move from Everton a little over two months ago.

Van Persie's locker-room presence has been questioned in the past but the Dutchman has consistently been doing his talking on the field, scoring 13 goals in 16 appearances this season.

Barcelona midfielder Xavi, who will be among the several superstars Spain will unleash against England on Sunday evening at Wembley, has expressed his shock at Fabio Capello's assessment of the Three Lions' quality, insisting that they remain one of the most daunting opponents in the world.

Xavi last celebrated a famous UEFA Champions League title at Wembley when his Barca side defeated English champions 3-1 in May.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo lead a stacked field of finalists for the Ballon d'Or, French publication France Football announced on Tuesday.

A total of 23 finalists were revealed for the award, which Lionel Messi is considered the favorite to win for the third straight year.

Xavi leads Barcelona past Granada (Photo: CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP/Getty Images)

A stunning free-kick from record-setter Xavi Hernandez saw Barcelona return to their winning ways, dispatching undermanned Granada 1-0 in the Estadio Los Carmenes.

After last weekend's draw to Sevilla, manager Pep Guardiola decided to shake things up, making five alterations to his lineup.

Granada vs Barcelona 0-1 Highlights 2011 Xavi Goal Romero Benitez red cards Video is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Granada vs Barcelona 0-1 Highlights 2011 Xavi Goal Romero Benitez red cards Video is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Granada vs Barcelona 2011 ( Granada vs Barca 2011) Score and result:- Granada vs Barcelona 0-1 ( Xavi) Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes (Granada)- 25 October, 2011- 19.

25.10.2011 - Mundo Deportivo adelantó parte de la nómina de 50 jugadores preselccionados por el Comité Técnico de la FIFA (en el que figuran hombres como Romario, Maturana, Bilardo o Jomo Sono) para la próxima elección del Balón de Oro 2011 que se entregará el 9 de enero (2012) en Zurich.

Thursday saw the opening of the new 'La Masia'; that is Barcelona's freshly constructed youth training facility which promises to bring forth the next generation of Catalan prodigies from the conveyor belt. The new La Masia was opened to a fun filled atmosphere which featured a special appearance from Andres Iniesta one of Barcelona's [.

Thursday saw the opening of the new 'La Masia'; that is Barcelona's freshly constructed youth training facility which promises to bring forth the next generation of Catalan prodigies from the conveyor belt. The new La Masia was opened to a fun filled atmosphere which featured a special appearance from Andres Iniesta one of Barcelona's [.

Barcelona vs Racing Santander 3-0 Highlights Video Messi Xavi Goals 2011 is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Barcelona vs Racing Santander 3-0 Highlights Video Messi Xavi Goals 2011 is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Barcelona vs Racing Santander 2011 ( Barca vs Racing 2011) Score and result:- Barcelona vs Racing Santander 3-0 ( Lionel Messi*2, Xavi Hernandez) Nou Camp, Barcelona- 16 October, 2011- Lionel Messi nets twice [.

It's like grown-up Subbuteo. For pervy people. Image: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images Europe.

Admittedly there isn't a great deal of room in our office, but if we ever had a reason to locate and work out how to switch on the vacuum cleaner, this would be it. Our own footballer. In all his glorious be-suited buffness.

With the UEFA Champions League group stages kicking off less than 48 hours, many of Europe's most distinguished clubs had one eye on the midweek and consequently, they were punished for not being fully focused on their league opponents.

It all started on Friday night with AC Milan dropping two points at home to Lazio in the Serie A's opening fixture of the season.

Alvaro Negredo(2) David Villa (2) Xavi Hernandez and Sergio Ramos scored to take Spain to a 6 - 0 win over lowly Liechtenstein.Spain are on top of group 1 and are going to try to become first European nation to defend the title after winning the World Cup.

szólj hozzá: Spa 6-0 Lie

Dear Arsene Wenger,

I write you on behalf of humanity. We all know why you signed Mikel Arteta not to compete for trophies, but rather to crush his boyhood dream of playing for Barcelona. In fact, Arteta played youth football for the club, but left for PSG because he couldn't break into the starting eleven.

Si el mejor toeno de clubes del mundo esta listo con los equipos que se enfrentaran en la fase de grupos El Barcelona comenzará la defensa de su título en el mismo grupo que el Milan, dos grandes europeos.
El Barça se reencuentra con Ibra y el Real Madrid repite con Lyon y Ajax de Holanda.

The Top European Football Clubs - along with the four Top Spanish Football Clubs - have been drawn in Groups for the upcoming UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE season 2011 - 2012 competition. The most notable observation is Group A where VILLAREAL has been drawn in a "killer" group which beforehand is the most difficult of all the Spanish teams.

Three names are down as candidates for the first & new "UEFA Best Player in Europe" Award 2010 - 2011. The names are LIONEL MESSI (FC Barcelona) , CRISTIANO RONALDO ( Real Madrid) & XAVI HERNANDEZ (FC Barcelona). Thus Spanish Football has the honour of having all three play in its Football League (LA LIGA) & a Spanish born representative in Xavi Hernandez.

Three names are down as candidates for the first & new "UEFA Best Player in Europe" Award 2010 - 2011. The names are LIONEL MESSI (FC Barcelona) , CRISTIANO RONALDO ( Real Madrid) & XAVI HERNANDEZ (FC Barcelona). Thus Spanish Football has the honour of having all three play in its Football League (LA LIGA) & a Spanish born representative in Xavi Hernandez.

En un dia en el cual casi nadie pudo ver el partido en vivo en México por ser un juego de transmisión pago por evento, muchos se perdieron de un juego lleno de bronca y polemica de principio a fin.
En resumen los goles del Real Madrid son circunstanciales y los del Barcelona de una manufactura excelsa en las tres ocasiones que el balón beso las redes.

Barcelona and Real Madrid renew their rivalry in the two-game Spanish Supercup series this weekend in what should be an early indicator of each teams' form ahead of the new season.

The teams met five times last season and this preseason series between league winner and domestic cup champion provides two more clashes, starting with Sunday's first-leg at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium followed by the return at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.

It's only a friendly but Wednesday's match between Italy and Spain is a huge match for both clubs as he head towards the 2012 Euro's next summer.

Italy suffered a nightmare defence of their crown at the last World Cup, finishing below New Zealand at the bottom of Group F.

They have shown signs of improvement under Cesare Prandelli, and lead their Euro 2012 qualifying group by five points.

I want to take this opportunity to inform our newest readers that not only can this site be blunt at times, but there may be sparse usage of profanity as well.

I'm certain some people find this outrageous or just off-putting and that's ok. This is simply my way of saying this blog is probably not for you, and it might be best to unsubscribe.

Three SPANISH FOOTBALL based players ( one Spanish born ) are the final candidates for the "UEFA Best Player in European Football Award season 2010 - 2011". The three names are CRISTIANO RONALDO ( Real Madrid ) , LIONEL MESSI & XAVI HERNANDEZ ( FC Barcelona). The winner will be announced the 25th of August at Monaco were a jury of 53 European sporting journalists will hand down their decision.

Three SPANISH FOOTBALL based players ( one Spanish born ) are the final candidates for the "UEFA Best Player in European Football Award season 2010 - 2011". The three names are CRISTIANO RONALDO ( Real Madrid ) , LIONEL MESSI & XAVI HERNANDEZ ( FC Barcelona). The winner will be announced the 25th of August at Monaco were a jury of 53 European sporting journalists will hand down their decision.

This SPANISH FOOTBALL transfer story is beginning to stink. Its a "love story" that has hit the wall of reality with full heart wrenching consequences. FC Barcelona player Xavi Hernandez mentioned it the other day ..."Cesc is suffering", reminding me of Romeo yelling his heart out for Juliette. The negotiations between ARSENAL & FC BARCELONA for Spanish Football International CESC FABREGAS are

SPORTS69 Pedro all La Liga goals 2010-2011 ( Pedro goles en la Liga 2010-2011) - http://www.youtube.com/watch... 2 hours ago from ADD MORE INFO TO THE... - Comment - Like LATEST FIFA WORLD CUP NEWS & VIDEOS : Pedro all La Liga goals 2010-2011 ( Pedro goles en la Liga 2010-2011) Pedro Rodriguez, All Pedro goals 2010-2011 ( la Liga) , todos los goles de la liga 2010-2011.

Why Can't the Football World Keep Up With Spain? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

As the dust settles on Barcelona's fantastic 3-1 demolition of Manchester United in the Champions League Final, and the national side recently so effortlessly thumped the United States 4-0, one thing is for certain – Spain are the best footballing nation in the world at this moment in time.