FC Barcelona’s Chilean striker is back in the 21-man squad for Tuesday’s Champions League match against Viktoria Plzen. Forward Isaac Cuenca and goalkeeper Oier Olazabal are also included for the trip to the Czech Republic.
FC Barcelona player, Leo Messi, destroyed Mallorca with a first half hat trick to set up a comfortable win, rounded off after the break with two cracking goals from Cuenca and Alves.
Both the Barça centre backs will be able to play against Mallorca after being declared fit at the end of today’s training session. That means Guardiola has 19 players to pick from including the reserve team’s Isaac Cuenca.
Cesc Fàbregas came out in defense of Leo Messi and believes that he’ll soon get back to scoring goals as usual: "He’s very humble, always gives everything for the team, and loves the club. There’s nothing more to say".
Barça neat Granada by a single goal and for 24 hours at least they are back on top of the Spanish League. Xavi got the goal with a fantastic free kick while Pedro was taken off injured and Jaime and Benítez were sent off for Granada.
The Fundació FC Barcelona and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have released a video to increase awareness of the disease to coincide with World Polio Day. In the video, Bill Gates, who can be seen wearing a Barça shirt, states: “no other sporting institution in the world [than FC Barcelona] shows the same passion for resolving social problems”. As part of that commitment, Barça first football team players all wore shirts bearing the words “End Polio” before last Saturday’s game at the Camp Nou.
FC Barcelona drew with Sevilla in a game that they did everything they could to win, but came up against an inspired Javi Varas. The visiting goalkeeper saved a penalty from Messi in injury time
At the official inauguration of the new youth residential centre, FC Barcelona’s President, Sandro Rosell, praised the sporting and human work done within the Masia, Barça’s school for new talents. The president hoped that the atmosphere of the old building at the Camp Nou would be transferred to the new one at the Oriol Tort Training Centre.
FC Barcelona overcame Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League by just 2-0. Barça were the much better team for the whole match and created lots of chances, but had to work really hard to break down the visitors.
Barça have never won the third and fourth matches of the group stages of the Champions League under Guardiola. Tonight they will be hoping to change that as FC Barcelona face the little-known Czech outfit Viktoria Plze? (20.45 CET).
The latest technology and sustainability converge on the façade of the new Barça football school and residence, the new Masia. This cinematic façade will be used as new advertising support by FC Barcelona sponsors. A 1,460 m² led screen will do this with no overheads for the club.
Barça’s playmaking general has made his best start to a season as a goal scorer with three goals at the start of the Spanish League campaign.
Two goals from Messi and another from Xavi gave FC Barcelona a win over Racing Santander at the Camp Nou. With Iniesta back in the team, Barça stay top of the Spanish League table for another week.
FC Barcelona will open their Copa del Rey challenge with a local derby against L’Hospitalet, a small team from Greater Barcelona, playing at the third division (called Division 2B). The first leg will be on November 9 and the return at the Camp Nou on December 21.
FC Barcelona may be the team to supply the most players to the European Championship for 2012. Between Spain, France and Holland, the club has twelve players due to take part in Ukraine and Poland next summer.