Sports

Valencia’s Mestalla stadium is never an easy place to take points from, but although it again proved a tough venue for Barça on Sunday, the Spanish League leaders came away with a valuable draw from a game with few chances in either box after a Messi penalty just before the break equalised Banega’s opener.

The Catalan forward will play for the Dutch team until the end of the current season. Ajax does not have the option to buy the player once the loan period expires. Formed in FC Barcelona’s youth system, Cuenca’s breakout year was the 2010/11 season, when he played a decisive role in Sabadell’s promotion-winning season from Segunda B to Segunda A. The following season he returned to Pep Guardiola’s Barça, where he enjoyed first team action and featured in 30 games for the senior side. However, he was seriously injured at the end of last season and he was not was given the green light to return to competitive play since 10 days ago.

Barça managed a valuable draw at Real Madrid in Wednesday’s Spanish Cup semi final, but will feel short-changed after displaying superior football and creating so many wasted chances. Cesc made it 1-0 in the 50th minute, but without doing much to warrant it, Real Madrid snatched a draw with ten minutes to go.

Jordi Roura can call on his most important players for the match against Real Madrid. Los Blancos are without Casillas, Pepe (injured), Ramos, Coentrao and Di María (suspended). However, the Blaugrana know that Real Madrid, despite coming into the match with important absences, have always been a very dangerous side. Roura is aware that overconfidence could lead to a disastrous result at the Bernabéu. Barça coaching staff and the players have rubbished being called favourites for this Wednesday match, despite the 15-point lead FC Barcelona have in the Spanish League.

Jordi Roura, Barça’s assistant manager, has made it very clear that he expects Real Madrid to be highly competitive in the Spanish Cup semi-final’s first leg on Wednesday night. “These are very tight matches that are decided by small details”, he observes. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are facing the clasico in a very different situation: the Catalans lead the Spanish League, 15 points ahead the all-whites.

Four goals from Leo Messi and another from Pedro gave Barça a big win against Osasuna, who played with 10 men from the 26th minute. The victory put to bed any doubts after last week’s defeat to Real Sociedad. Such was Barça’s superiority that they were able to give a rest to some of their players ahead of this week’s tough schedule, with Wednesday’s ‘clasico’ against Real Madrid at the Spanish Cup’s semi-finals.

Barcelona’s reign as host to the Handball World Championship came to an end on Sunday evening as Spain destroyed Denmark by no less than sixteen goals at a sold-out Palau Sant Jordi (35-19). Seven Catalan players, most of them on the books of FC Barcelona Intersport, were part of the sixteen-strong world championship winning team. Last night, Croatia beat Slovenia 31-26 to take the bronze medal on the podium.

Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi played host on Friday evening to two riveting semi-finals in the World Handball Championship as Spain beat surprise package Slovenia 26-22 thanks largely to a strong defence while Denmark made it through to tomorrow’s final after defeating Croatia by a wider margin: 30-24.

Barça players faced Malaga’s challenge playing a magnificent game, after the quarter finals’ first leg draw at the Camp Nou. The Catalans won 4-2 in Malaga and now they are through to a Copa del Rey semi final against Real Madrid. The first leg of the ‘clasico’ will be next Wednesday at 21.00 at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. Goals from Pedro, Piqué, Iniesta and Messi gave FC Barcelona the victory, after one of the finest examples of spectacular football.

Along with other cities such as Madrid, Seville or Zaragoza, Barcelona and the neighbouring town of Granollers have played host to the Handball World Championship which comes to a climax this weekend in the Palau Sant Jordi in the Catalan capital. Last night, local handball fans watched as Spain and Germany battled it out to reach Friday’s semi-finals. Spain won 28-24 in a team featuring FC Barcelona players Victor Tomás, Albert Rocas and Daniel Sarmiento and now face Slovenia in tomorrow’s semi-final clash.

The Barça striker will be available for the Spanish Cup quarter final’s second leg to be payed on Thursday against Málaga. Villa has been given the medical all clear to play on Tuesday, following his recovery from a calf injury.

An injury time winner for Real Sociedad put an end to Barça’s unbeaten league season, with Tito’s team going down 3-2 despite having been 0-2 up in the first half.

Barça Manager has admitted that he was surprised by Víctor Valdés’ announcement today that he will not be extending his contract with FC Barcelona any further than June 30, 2014. However, Vilanova insisted that “he did not ask to leave, he just said he’s not renewing his contract”. Vilanova has confirmed that Valdés will continue to be the first choice keeper, saying that “as long as he is with us, he’ll be our goalkeeper and we have to help him as he would help us”.

Barça and Málaga drew in the Spanish Cup’s quarter final first leg. Camacho’s late goal cancelled out Barça’s comeback and leaves everything wide open ahead of the return leg in Andalusia. Iturra put the visitors ahead and although Barça almost immediately bounced back with goals from Messi and Puyol, not even against ten men after Monreal was ordered off were they able to extend their lead.

FC Barcelona Manager is wary Málaga despite the 1 to 3 result at La Rosaleda this Sunday: "It will be more difficult because our rival will play with the result". Vilanova called on the Camp Nou faithful to attend the match: "We have the chance to watch a game worthy of the Champions League. Excitement is guaranteed, in addition Messi will offer up his fourth Ballon d'Or". On Pep Guardiola's future, the Barça manager said that "it's great news [that he's coming back]. Football needs the best coach to manage again".