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Former FC Barcelona Manager, Tito Vilanova, dies aged 45

April 25, 2014 10:13 PM

Francesc ‘Tito’ Vilanova died on Friday in Barcelona after a long struggle against the illness which was first diagnosed two and a half years earlier. He was the manager in FC Barcelona’s record-breaking season of 2012/13, when the team got 100 points in the league, and contributed to the greatest Barça team of all time as assistant coach to Pep Guardiola. He won everybody’s admiration for his achievements in the football world, and later for his immense courage in the final years of his life. FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu spoke on behalf of the Board of Directors today when he said on social networks that “Tito Vilanova was a wonderful person, and will never be forgotten at FC Barcelona. Thank you for everything you taught us. May you rest in peace.”

FC Barcelona to sign new players after the FIFA suspended its previous decision

April 24, 2014 11:19 AM

FC Barcelona has responded positively to the decision announced on Wednesday by FIFA’s Appeal Committee to provisionally grant suspensive effect to the appeal made by the Catalan club against the sanction imposed by FIFA’s Disciplinary Commission. The sanction was announced by the FIFA Disciplinary Commission last April 2 and prevented FC Barcelona from signing players during the next two transfer windows. The Catalan club presented an appeal against the measure within the required period.

FC Barcelona vs Athletic Club: Barça are still in the Spanish League race! (2-1)

April 21, 2014 12:23 PM | Roger Bogunyà

FC Barcelona are alive in La Liga. The Catalans ended a three-match losing streak this Sunday thanks to a 2-1 win over Athletic Club, who had taken the lead through Aduriz in the 50 minute. Barça missed a number of clear chances to equalise before Pedro pounced on a scuffed shot from Alexis to score from close range in the 71. Just minutes later Messi scored a second from a free kick to seal the win and keep Barça in the hunt for the Spanish League title.

FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid: The Spanish Cup slips away from Barça’s hands (1-2)

April 17, 2014 11:35 AM | Roger Bogunyà

Gareth Bale's goal five minutes from the end clinched the Spanish Cup for Real Madrid. Neymar almost sent the game into extra time in the final minute, but his shot hit the post. The 2014 Spanish Cup goes to Real Madrid after goals from Di María and Bale at the start and end of the match tipped the balance in their favour in this evening’s final. It was a cruel blow for FC Barcelona, who equalised with a Bartra in the second half. Barça are still the ‘king of cups’ with 26 titles, but this season the only major title they can still win is the domestic league.

FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid: The classic Spanish Cup final

April 16, 2014 02:18 PM | Roger Bogunyà

This Wednesday evening Valencia's Mestalla hosts the Spanish Cup Final and the Catalans face old rivals Real Madrid. It’s 63 days since FC Barcelona beat Real Sociedad in the semi-finals. It’ll be a peculiar final. There is no clear favourite, both sides are missing important players to injury, and for the first time in several years, these two teams are not the runaway leaders in La Liga. Barça come into the game following a disappointing week in which they were knocked out of the Champions League and suffered a serious setback in their quest to win La Liga. Real Madrid would appear to be heading in the opposite direction.

Granada CF vs FC Barcelona: Barça's destiny in La Liga is out of their hands (1-0)

April 13, 2014 11:25 AM | Roger Bogunyà

FC Barcelona suffered their fifth defeat of the season away to Granada, losing by the only goal of the match. It was one of those games in which the ball just simply didn’t want to go in. The visitors shot no fewer than 29 times, but not one of those was enough to neutralise Brahimi’s opener. This was a very different game to the ones in San Sebastian and Valladolid. At the Nuevo Los Cármenes, Barça created threat after threat, but couldn’t secure the three points, or even just one, and now find that their destiny in La Liga is once again out of their hands.

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

April 10, 2014 01:28 AM

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.

FC Barcelona members vote yes on New Espai Barça proposal

April 6, 2014 10:27 AM

"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.

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

April 6, 2014 10:02 AM | 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.

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

April 3, 2014 06:28 PM | 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…

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

April 3, 2014 10:44 AM

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.

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

April 2, 2014 01:56 AM | 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.

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

April 1, 2014 02:15 PM | 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.

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

March 31, 2014 02:19 PM

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.

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

March 30, 2014 12:15 PM | 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.