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Atlético Madrid vs FC Barcelona: Barça bid farewell to Champions League (1-0)

An early Koke goal denied Barça the chance of a seventh successive semi final appearance. Barça’s dream of a Lisbon final came to an end at the Vicente Calderon tis Wednesday evening, when a combative Atletico Madrid beat them 1-0. The hosts’ early goal and their whirlwind start really set Barça back, but Martino’s side fought their way back into the game and had their chances to draw level. However, Simeone’s side stood firm and Barça bowed out of the Champions League.

April 10, 2014 01:28 AM

FC Barcelona members vote yes on New Espai Barça proposal

"Days like today are when the world sees what FC Barcelona is and means," says FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu. A total of 27,161 (72.36%) Club members backed the New Espai Barça proposal, which means that the project will move forward. The results of the vote were given by President Bartomeu in a press conference that started shortly after 9:00 PM CET. Bartomeu stated: "The support for the New Espai Barça proposal has been extraordinary". FC Barcelona members flocked to the Camp Nou this Saturday to vote on the proposed project. In addition to voting, members enjoyed an array of activities such as games for children, workshops, face painting and musical performances.

April 6, 2014 10:27 AM

FC Barcelona vs Betis: Voting day victory for Barça (3-1)

Roger Bogunyà

FC Barcelona maintained their title challenge this Saturday in a rollercoaster win against a spirited Betis side fighting to avoid the drop.  The visitors provided plenty of nervous moments for the Camp Nou fans and were even on top times, but two goals from Leo Messi plus a Jordi Figueras own goal were enough to keep pace with  Atlético Madrid at the top of La Liga.  The players can now turn their attentions to the Champions League.

April 6, 2014 10:02 AM

Hopeful youngsters combine football with studies at the FC Barcelona youth academy

Heidi M. Eskildsen

The FC Barcelona youth academy, called La Masia, is known and respected worldwide for its success with home-grown players such as Pep Guardiola, Leo Messi, Carles Puyol and Andrés Iniesta. The Technical Director of the youth system, former Barça midfielder Guillermo Amor, was also one of the young talents at the academy. A member of Johan Cruyff's Dream Team in the 1990s, Amor knows the place better than anyone. CNA offers an exclusive interview with the Barça legend who told us more about the day-to-day life of the Blaugrana stars of tomorrow…

April 3, 2014 06:28 PM

FC Barcelona to appeal the sanction imposed by the FIFA banning the club from signing new players

FC Barcelona has issued an official response to the sanction imposed by the FIFA Disciplinary Commission on the Royal Federation of Spanish Football and the Catalan club for infractions related to the transfer and registration of players under the age of 18. Barça will be presenting an appeal to the FIFA and should it be necessary, it will take the resulting resolution to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The FIFA has banned the Catalan club from signing new players during an entire year. This unusual sanction would leave FC Barcelona without being able to hire a much needed new keeper and centre-back. The Catalan club defends his youth training system, which has given players such as Leo Messi, awarded on many occasions by the FIFA.

April 3, 2014 10:44 AM

FC Barcelona vs Atletico de Madrid: All still to play for in the Calderón (1-1)

Jordi Clos

There were no surprises at the Camp Nou this Tuesday evening - no surprises in the line ups, in the tactics both teams chose, the way Barça had to work hard to breakdown the visitors’ rock solid and tough tackling defence and in the end, after three draws already this season, no surprise in the result. Diego conjured up a wonder strike from nowhere to give Atletico de Madrid the lead on 55 minutes, but Barça dug deep and Neymar’s equaliser leaves it all to play for at the Calderon next week.

April 2, 2014 01:56 AM

FC Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid: Maximum intensity at the Champions League quarters

Jordi Clos

Barça and Atlético Madrid, , the two teams on the summit of Spanish football, face off in an exciting Champions League quarter-final tie this Tuesday evening at the Camp Nou (8:45 pm CET) for a spot in the competition's semi-finals. If FC Barcelona wins the challenge, it will have participated in seven consecutive sem-finals. The teams come into the match on form and under the leadership of two key players: Leo Messi and Diego Costa. This season they’ve scored 36 and 33 goals, respectively. Valdés is Barça most important absence, while Raúl García, who is suspended, is Atlético's.

April 1, 2014 02:15 PM

Víctor Valdés’ surgery is successful and he will be out for seven months

The Barça keeper has gone through surgery on Monday morning, carried out by doctors Ulrich Boenisch and Ricard Pruna in Augsburg (Germany) for the anterior cruciate ligament tear he suffered last week during the Celta de Vigo match. The knee’s internal cartilage has been sewn up and the operation was concluded successfully. However, Víctor Valdés will be out of action for approximately seven months.

March 31, 2014 02:19 PM

RCD Espanyol vs FC Barcelona: Thrilling derby win (0-1)

Roger Bogunyà

Barça took three vital points from an intense Barcelona derby at the Cornellà- El Prat stadium against RCD Espanyol thanks to a second half penalty from Leo Messi. It was a typically tense and physical derby game  - made even more difficult by the strong wind at the ground throughout the game. Both Messi and Neymar blew chances to give Barça an early lead and after those early wobbles, Espanyol tightened up and it took a Messi penalty after Javi Lopez handled in the box to put the visitors ahead late on.

March 30, 2014 12:15 PM

FC Barcelona vs Celta de Vigo: Barça’s bittersweet win for Valdés’ injury (3-0)

Jordi Clos

Barça see off Celta with 2 goals from Neymar and another from Messi, but Valdés' injury casts a pall over the win. Barça continue to pressure at the top of the Spanish League table after the weekend's win over Real Madrid. Luis Enrique made his return to the Camp Nou with a five-man defence that included Fontàs as a deep lying midfielder and with an untypical tactic of ceding possession, which allowed Barça to lay siege to the Celta area and reap the benefits within the first five minutes, as a clever move between Iniesta, Messi and Alexis ended with a simple tap in for Neymar. With Iniesta finding plenty of space through the middle to release Messi, Barça were playing elegant and incisive football which created chances for both Neymar and Messi.

March 27, 2014 08:47 AM

FC Barcelona vs RC Celta Vigo: Sprint for the league

Roger Bogunyà

FC Barcelona host Celta at the Camp Nou four days after winning at Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu. Sunday’s 4-3 win in the clásico has put Barça back in contention in an incredibly tight championship race. Just one point separates Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona, and any setback could leave any of these teams in a very difficult position indeed. There are just nine games to go, and every one of them is absolutely crucial. It may sound like a cliché, but they all need to be treated like finals. The legendary Luis Enrique, who played for FC Barcelona for eight seasons and managed Barça B team for three, is back for the first time as a visitor. Gerardo Martino has dropped Oier, Montoya, Afellay and Xavi, the latter being rested after starting five games in a row.

March 26, 2014 02:42 PM

Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona: Brilliant Barça win Bernabeu thriller (3-4)

Jordi Clos

Barça win a thrilling Clasico with a Messi hat trick to blow the Spanish League title race wide open. An action packed 90 minutes full of quality saw Barça come away with the three points, just as they did in 2009, 2010 and 2012.The intense start gave due notice that we were in for a special night, Madrid laid down their marker with some aggressive pressing, but it was Barça who got the opener. Madrid were working the left flank as they tried to get in behind the Barça defence and Di Maria linked up brilliantly with Benzema for two quick goals to turn the game around. a lovely piece of skill in the box gave Messi the equaliser after good work in the box from Neymar. Ronaldo won a dodgy looking penalty and Messi scored two other penalty kicks.

March 24, 2014 11:38 AM

FC Barcelona will play Atlético Madrid in the Champions League quarter finals

Barça were the first team drawn out of the hat at this Friday lunchtime’s Champions League quarter final draw in Nyon (Switzerland), with Atlético Madrid then drawn to play them. The first leg of the tie will be played on April 1 or 2 at the Camp Nou, with the second leg set for the Vicente Calderón stadium a week later on April 8 or 9. The match at the Camp Nou will be the fourth time the two La Liga teams have met so far this season, with all three previous games ending in draws. Atletico are currently second in the Spanish League, a point ahead of Barça and reached the Champions League quarter finals by beating AC Milan 0-1 in Italy and then 4-1 at home, after also finishing unbeaten and topping Group G.

March 21, 2014 01:36 PM

Bartra signs with FC Barcelona till 2017: "It's a challenge to establish myself"

FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu and Catalan defender Marc Bartra signed the deal in the club offices this Tuesday that will keep the centre-back at Barça till June 2017. The new deal includes a 25 million Euro get out clause.The 23-year-old Bartra joined FC Barcelona as an eleven-year-old and worked his way up through the academy and Barça B teams before signing a first team contract in the 2012/13 season.After putting pen to paper, the Catalan centre-back admitted: “I’m very happy. It’s a great feeling and I hope everything continues to go as well as they have done in my time at the club so far. For me, Piqué and Puyol are my reference points - it’s a challenge to me to achieve what they have . Establishing myself in the team is a big test, but I am getting there”

March 18, 2014 08:51 PM

FC Barcelona vs CA Osasuna: Barça's goalfest! (7-0)

Jordi Clos

Messi (3), Alexis, Iniesta, Tello and Pedro on target for Martino's team. A week ahead of the trip to the Bernabeu, Barça put seven past Osasuna to build on the clear improvement they showed against Manchester City in midweek. With Leo Messi at his lethal best – the Argentinean scored another hat trick and became FC Barcelona’s all time leading scorer, passing Alcántara’s record – Martino’s side stormed to a seven goal thrashing and laid down a marker ahead of next week’s big game.

March 17, 2014 01:25 AM

Read the latest sports news, updates, and analysis from Catalonia, including professional football sides FC Barcelona, Espanyol, Girona, as well as Barça Femení and their team of global superstars including Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí, as well as major events taking place here like the America’s Cup sailing race, the Vuelta a España cycling Grand Tour, and off-field issues like Barcelona’s Negreira referee payments case and the development of the Camp Nou.