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.
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.
Barça players Gerard Piqué and Carles Puyol were congratulated by their team-mates before this morning's training session to prepare for the Spanish Cup quarter final game to be played tomorrow. Piqué was congratulated for becoming a father, while Puyol was congratulated for extending his contract with the FC Barcelona.
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”.
The Catalan Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola has reached an agreement with FC Bayern München to manage the football team as from next season until 2016. Finally, after rumours circulated pairing him with Manchester City and Chelsea, Guardiola has chosen the German club for its way of understanding football, which is much closer to the Catalan’s own approach based on attacking, playing nicely and working with home-grown players. Pep Guardiola quit FC Barcelona in June to take a year’s sabbatical, and moved to New York with his family. He will replace Jupp Heynckes, who is retiring at the end of the current season, in Munich.
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".
Goals from Messi, Cesc and Thiago gave Barça their 18th win from the first 19 Spanish League games, the championship record. The three points keep Barça 11 ahead of Atletico Madrid and stretch their advantage over the reigning champions Real Madrid to 18 after an incredible first half to the campaign. The win was a perfect example of Barça’s collective spirit, with a wonderful performance of possession football that left Malaga with no options whatsoever.
Thiago scored his first two goals of the season; Villa also got two, the first after a terrific individual move, and Alexis got back to his scoring ways with a brace. With this win, Barça reach the Spanish Cup quarter finals. Next up will be Malaga and Pellegrini. The first leg is next week at the Camp Nou and the return in a fortnight’s time at La Rosaleda Stadium. The downside to the night was injuries suffered by Sergi Roberto and Villa.
The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) has named FC Barcelona’s player Leo Messi the top goalscorer of 2012 in the 60 top leagues in the world. The 50 goals he scored in 37 matches represent an average 1.37 goals per game. These incredible figures mean Messi tops Cristiano Ronaldo, who got an average of 1.21 goals a game.
Barça finish the year on a high with goals from Xavi, Messi and Tello. With 49 out of a possible 51 points - 16 wins and 1 draw in their first 17 games- FC Barcelona close 2012 as undisputed leaders of the Spanish League. The players wore t-shirts with messages of support for their manager Tito Vilanova, who has been discharged from hospital after going through surgery on Thursday. Besides, Messi expands his own legend and he ends 2012 with 91 goals scored over a natural year.