Sports

The FC Barcelona’s Assistant Manager, Pep Guardiola’s right hand man, returned to training this morning after going through surgery on November 22nd. Guardiola was able to work with the whole squad, including Adriano, to prepare the clásico against Real Madrid. On pitch number 1 at the training ground, reserve team players Cuenca, Soriano, and Muniesa, also took part in the session.

A Barça team with an average age of just 22.7 years in the starting line-up overcame BATE Borisov with exquisite football to end the Champions League group with 16 points. FC Barcelona ends the phase unbeaten and on top of its group.

For the fifth year on the run there will be a Barça player on the podium for the FIFA Ballon d’Or, as Messi and Xavi are again amongst the top three candidates. Cristiano Ronaldo, from the Real Madrid, is the third finalist.

FC Barcelona vs Levante was an exquisite Barça performance and ended with hitting five past the visitors, through Cesc (2), Cuenca, Messi and Alexis. The game was virtually done and dusted within 36 minutes and Barça will go to the Santiago Bernabeu full of confidence to play against Real Madrid.

Just one week before they face Real Madrid, FC Barcelona Manager, Josep Guardiola, refused to discuss the clásico. Instead he preferred to focus on the next Spanish League game at the Camp Nou against a solid and physical team: the Levante.

No team has more candidates than FC Barcelona at the FIFA FIFPro World XI 2011. The association of professional footballers announced the final list of 55 players who are candidates for the best eleven of 2011. 20% of them are from the FC Barcelona. In 2010, Barça already had six players in the winning team.

Barça stormed to victory against Rayo Vallecano with goals from Alexis (2), Villa and Messi, and have now scored 34 goals to no reply in home fixtures. This victory shows that FC Barcelona’s Spanish League campaign is very much alive.

A Valera goal from a second half corner proved enough to put an end to FC Barcelona's run of 27 games without defeat. Immense Getafe defensive display puts an end to unlucky Barça’s unbeaten record. Leo Messi hits post in injury time.

The auction of a Barça shirt signed by the players has raised 210.000 euros at the China Foundation for Disabled Persons (CFDP) Gala. CFDP helps more than 80 milion people in China. The FC Barcelona delegation will also visit the University of Beijing and will meet with the city Mayor.

The 21-year-old Mexican midfielder will have a buyout clause of 30 million Euros. Jonathan dos Santos started his Barça career with the Infantil B team and has worked his way up to the Barça B squad. Guardiola calls him sometimes to play wit Barça’s first team, such as in the last Champions League game against AC Milan.

Goals from Van Bommel (o.g.), Messi (pen), and Xavi, defeated AC Milan in a fantastic match, and Barça come away from the San Siro Stadium with the first place in the group mathematically secure. Ibrahimovic and Boateng twice leveled the score, which could have been greater in Barça’s favour.

Who tops the Champions League group to be decided at San Siro. A Barça win would mathematically mean they finish top with one game to play. Alves, Iniesta, Adriano, Cassano and Gattuso amongst the players out.

The FC Barcelona travelling squad has arrived in Milan where they will face AC Milan in a battle to top their UEFA Champions League group. The injured Iniesta is the main absentee, with Adriano and Afellay also out through injury and Alves suspended. Barça’s assistant coach Tito Vilanova stays home for surgery.

FC Barcelona cruised past Zaragoza at the Camp Nou, with four goals from Piqué, Messi, Puyol and Villa to round off another brilliant exhibition of football.

Given the flood of questions asking about a possible rest for the Argentinian star, Pep Guardiol, FC Barcelona’s Manager, insisted that he is in perfect condition to play the full Spanish League game against Zaragoza on Saturday.