champions

FC Barcelona go to Granada on Saturday for the first in a marathon series of five games in 14 days, including massive matches with Milan in the European Champions League and Real Madrid in the Spanish Cup. The Manager has said in the press conference before the Granada vs. FC Barcelona game that “we are in comfortable position in the league but that should be no excuse for any kind of relaxation”. “We’re into the nice part of the season when in a few days there are lots of things at stake. In terms of fitness and morale this is a good moment for us” commented Roura.

Leo Messi’s scoring record was one of the talking points of FC Barcelona’s win at Valladolid. But the Catalan team has also set records for the most wins and goals in a calendar year. With two games yet to play before the Spanish League’s halfway stage, Barça have already secured the honorary ‘Winter Champions’ title for the nineteenth time.

Barça will face the same team they met in the last season’s quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League. Winners of seven European Cups, the Italian giants are currently immersed in a generational changeover and not challenging for the Serie A title. Historic figures such as Seedorf, Gattuso, Nesta and Inzaghi all left this summer, and Thiago Silva and Ibrahimovic were sold to PSG. El Shaarawy is the main threat and Bojan the most familiar face for Barça fans.

Barça closed the group stage of the Champions League with a goalless draw against Benfica. This should have been a night of celebration for Leo Messi as he closed in on Gerd Muller’s scoring record, but it ended badly with the injury to the World Number One. Messi had started on the bench and Tito Villanova didn’t bring him on until after the break. Shortly afterwards, the Argentinean had to come off with a knee injury. Before Messi’s appearance, Pinto had been the centre of attention with a series of saves that helped ensure the Portuguese team bowed out of the Champions League.

Barça are through to the second round of the Champions League after a convincing win at Spartak Moscow’s stadium. Alves and Messi (2) scored all the goals in a stunning first half display. Spartak reacted after the break, but Barça were expecting that and coped brilliantly in defence.

Barça Manager Tito Vilanova put his squad through their paces in Moscow on Monday evening and the players had their first chance to check out the artificial pitch Spartak’s stadium. The preparatory session for Tuesday’s Champions League game was held in freezing conditions.

FC Barcelona, who would have qualified as group winners had they won at Glasgow’s Celtic Park, have instead lost for only the second time this season. The three points were a far bigger return than the hoops deserved from a bizarre game in which they scored with their only two serious attempts on goal. Messi narrowed the gap in injury time, but this time it was too late for miracles.

A Jordi Alba goal in the final minute of injury time sparked off celebrations at the Camp Nou. It was just reward for Barça against a Celtic side that only wanted to defend its early lead. Barça are now top of their Champions League group with a five-point lead over the Scots.

FC Barcelona and Glasgow Celtic go head to head in a match that will have a huge bearing on the final outcome of group G of the Champions League. Barça Manager, Tito Vilanova, will once again have to shuffle his defensive pack due to Busquets being suspended.

The FC Barcelona Manager considers that this Tuesday's match against Celtic at the Camp Nou is “very important” for Barça’s hopes of reaching the Champions League knock-out rounds. Vilanova knows that the match this Tuesday won’t be easy, and his main goal is making sure his players recover from the effort they put in against Deportivo on Saturday.

A wonderful game and goals from Alexis Sánchez and Cesc Fàbregas gained FC Barcelona their second win in their Champions League group stage. Benfica were outplayed for most of the 90 minutes, especially in the second half. Puyol was forced to withdraw with yet another injury and Busquets was sent off towards the end of the game.

Two historic European football teams, Benfica and Barça, will face off on Tuesday evening (20.45 CET) at the Da Luz Stadium for the second match of the Champions League group stage. On Sunday, FC Barcelona will play the domestic classico against Real Madrid at the Spanish League, in which the Catalans are 8 points ahead the All-whites.

Barça will play with Sevilla, Benfica and Real Madrid. At the Sánchez Pizjuán, Barça will play the first of three vital matches in which they could equal or even beat their best ever start to a Spanish League campaign, and also get their second win in the Champions League.

Barça won their opening game of the Champions League with a 3-2 win over Spartak Moscow, who had been 1-2 up with half an hour to play. Tello and Messi, twice, scored the goals, with Piqué’s injury the big negative from the game.

Barça, who have a 100% record in this season’s Spanish League, will debut in the 2012/13 Champions League against Spartak Moscow at the Camp Nou (20.45 CET). Alexis Sánchez, who hasn’t been declared fit to play, was named by Tito Vilanova to the team.