Sports

FC Barcelona player Eric Abidal was today discharged from hospital, although according to a medical bulletin he will still need to return for regular checkups. Abidal had a liver transplant on April 10th. In March 2011, the French defender was diagnosed a liver tumour and he went through a first surgery.

The FC Barcelona player underwent surgery on Wednesday afternoon to correct his fractured collarbone. Alves was injured the same morning during Barça first team’s training session.

Valdés, Alves, Puyol, Piqué, Abidal, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc, Alexis and Messi have all been named in the shortlist of 60 candidates named by French magazine ‘Onze Mondial’. Fans have until June 7th to make their choices. Messi has been named best footballer in the last three editions.

Leo Messi’s 50 league goals this season have made him the highest ever ‘Pichichi’ (top scorer) in the Spanish League and catapulted him to the head of the ranking of ‘Golden Boots’ of all time.

An injury time equaliser from Keita saved a point for Barça, who had gone ahead in the first half through Sergio Busquets, before losing Alves to a second yellow just after the break. With this match, FC Barcelona end the Spanish League season in the second place, on 91 points and having scored 114 goals. Valdes is the League’s best keeper and Messi, the best scorer. Next step: the Spanish Cup Final with Bilbao’s Athletic Club.

This weekend, Catalonia’s Formula 1 track, located in Montmeló, in Greater Barcelona, will once again organise the Spanish Grand Prix. As from next season however, the race will combine its venue between Catalonia and Valencia. In 2013 the race will be held in Montmeló, but in 2014 Catalonia will leave its place to Valencia. The decision to alternate venues was taken by racing mogul Bernie Ecclestone some weeks ago as a solution to both circuits’ financial problems. CNA investigates whether the local economy could suffer losses due to this decision.

La Bomba Navarro is suffering from a recurrence of the plantar fasciitis that has been bothering the Catalan basketball player in recent months. Developments over the next few hours will determine whether Juan Carlos Navarro is able to play in the Euroleague semi final on Friday against Olympiakos. Boniface Ndong is receiving treatment for an intestinal virus.

FC Barcelona captain is full of optimism and courage ahead of his knee operation. Carles Puyol regrets missing the Spanish Cup Final and most probably the European Championships, but is just focussed on getting back to 100% fitness.

FC Barcelona was named ‘The World’s Club of the 1st Decade’ by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) this Monday evening. Barça won a total of seven awards during the IFFHS' World Football Gala, which took place in the W Hotel in Barcelona’s Barceloneta beach. Xavi, Messi and Guardiola also won awards.

The Summer X Games are expected to bring 140,000 people and generate an income of €70 million. The world’s most important action sports event, arranged by the U.S. sports broadcaster ESPN and ABC network, will be held in Catalonia’s capital between 2013 and 2015. Barcelona will host the Summer X Games, together with 5 other cities worldwide. The Summer X Games have championships in skateboarding, motocross, car rally and BMX.

It was a triumphal send off for Pep Guardiola as Barça Manager, since FC Barcelona won their last game at the Camp Nou under his charge, beating Espanyol 4-0 thanks to four Messi goals.

The current FC Barcelona Manager, Pep Guardiola, will be sitting on the Camp Nou bench for the very last time on Saturday, but believes the derby with Espanyol is far more important than his farewell.

A goal from Puyol and a hat trick from Leo Messi, which served to take him past Gerd Muller’s previous record strikes in a European season, gave Guardiola, cheered all night by the crowd, another win at the Camp Nou. Two hours later, Real Madrid was winning the Spanish League title in San Mamés.

In the press conference before FC Barcelona vs Malaga, Barça’s Manager, Pep Guardiola, praised the way the Catalan club is handling the transition of managers. He also said that Tito Vilanova is “very enthusiastic about the upcoming challenge”. The current manager explained that Barça’s last three Spanish League matches will serve as preparation for the Spanish Cup final against Athletic Club from Bilbao.

Goals from Messi (2), Alexis, Keita, Pedro (2) and Thiago gave Barça a record win at Vallecas in a game the Catalans totally dominated. Further good news for FC Barcelona was the return of Ibrahim Afellay after his long injury layoff.