Leo Messi’s four goals on Sunday night against Valencia have taken his overall tally in the Spanish League to 146. The 146 goals he has scored even place him above the legendary FC Barcelona player César Rodríguez as Messi looks set to smash records galore.
Barça came back from an early goal by Piatti for the visitors to bury Valencia with four goals from Messi and a fifth from Xavi to round off a fantastic performance that showed FC Barcelona are still up for the fight for the Spanish League title.
FC Barcelona have given their fans the perfect Valentine’s Day gift – a convincing win away to Bayer Leverkusen at the Champions League that puts them well on course for a place in the quarter finals. Alexis (2) and Messi scored the goals for Barça.
The Champions League returns at a good time for Barça following the weekend’s slip up in Pamplona, which left them 10 points adrift of the Spanish League leaders, Real Madrid, leaving no time for regrets, as they pick up the title they won at Wembley last season. Barça take up the defence of their Champions League title in Germany on Tuesday evening (20.45 CET), taking on Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16.
Barça have suffered their second defeat of the season away to an Osasuna side that made the most of their chances and adapted better to the freezing conditions. FC Barcelona were two goals down at half time but in the second half looked to have equalised when Alexis’s goal was ruled offside.
After having qualified for the Spanish Cup final and just before the Champions League gets back under way, Barça’s attention turns back to the Spanish League campaign. The Catalan side hopes to over take Real Madrid, who are seven points ahead.
FC Barcelona, the Kings of the competition, qualified for another Spanish Cup Final after beating Valencia at the Camp Nou, thanks to goals from Cesc and Xavi, one in each half. Guardiola’s team will play the Cup Final against Athletic Bilbao for the second time in 3 years.
FC Barcelona Manager, Pep Guardiola, believes that the Spanish Cup match against Valencia this Wednesday will be “very demanding,” and that the “players need match ready” in order to get to the final. On the players that are dealing with minor fitness issues, he said, “Xavi is OK, Alexis is getting there and Busquets’ fitness is the most doubtful”
Barça wins “the Oscars of sports”. FC Barcelona beat out the Dallas Mavericks, the Red Bull Formula 1 team, the All Blacks, the English national cricket side and the Japanese women’s national football side to win the Laureus World Team of the Year award. Messi and Abidal were also nominated. This award, which gives FC Barcelona worldwide recognition, will be added to FC Barcelona’s athletic and social achievements.
Barça overcame freezing temperatures and an injury to Busquets to beat Real Sociedad 2-1 at the Camp Nou. Tello and Messi scored for the FC Barcelona. The Catalans continue their race to overtake Real Madrid topping the Spanish League.
Barça managed to get a valuable draw in Valencia in the first leg of the Spanish Cup semifinal, in a game where Jonas put the home side ahead, and Puyol equalised with a header. The Camp Nou will decide who’ll go through to the Spanish Cup Final.
A hard working display from Barça wasn’t enough to see off Villarreal in a hard fought game the visitors had the best chances in, including a shot against the woodwork from Cesc on 78 minutes.
Vila-real vs FC Barcelona is a crucial game for the Catalan club. Barça go to Vila-real with important absentees as they chase three more points to keep Spanish League leaders Real Madrid in their sights.
Barça drew 2-2 with Real Madrid in an electrifying Clásico, taking them into the semifinals of the Spanish Cup. FC Barcelona went ahead before the break with goals from Pedro and Alves, but Real Madrid tied up the match in the second half.
The FC Barcelona manager is hoping for a packed Camp Nou and for the team to enjoy the match. “You will see two great teams put on a very good show. The rest doesn’t matter” he insisted. “I hold reverential respect for Real Madrid. They are the worst team we could expect to play on Wednesday”.