glasgow

Party with Catalan food and castellers will kick off over three weeks of film screenings and talks

Ada Colau calls on administrations to invest in commuter trains rather than expanding airport

Two goals from Leo Messi see off a brave challenge from the Scots and coupled with Man City’s draw in Germany the Catalans clinch a seeded berth in the round of sixteen FC Barcelona have won 2-0 at Celtic Park. And not only does that send them through to the knockout stages of the Champions league for the thirteenth  time in a row, but Manchester City’s 1-1 draw in Monchengladbach means that they’re already guaranteed one of the eight seeded berths. All that with one game to spare, so we won’t be finding out who Barça will be meeting next until the draw on December 12. Moreover, Messi reached yet another landmark, after scoring his 100^th goal in the international competition: 92 have come in 110 Champions league games, three in four European Super Cup matches and five in five in the Club World Cup.

Between the 18^th and the 20^th of November, Barcelona is hosting the 4^th edition of the Smart City Expo World Congress. This year it will be the most international edition so far, with 400 cities from 5 continents represented, a 33% increase. Participating cities include Berlin, Munich, Boston, Chicago, New York and San Francisco, who are present at the Fira de Barcelona exhibition centre. The goal of reaching 9,000 visitors may be achieved, as nearly 700 people attended the opening ceremony on Monday. Companies are presenting technological applications for improving the sustainability, mobility and quality of life of everyday citizens. Applications being presented this year include drones for cities, technology to monitor free parking for busy commuters, and applications to assess air quality for the physically active and for choosing the best place to open a business.

The Spanish Airport Authority (AENA) has announced that this coming winter season over 8.4 million seats will be on offer on flights out of Barcelona El Prat Airport, an increase of 6.8% compared to last year. Seats on intercontinental destinations have increased by 13.6% over last year. The number of flight operations (take-offs and landings) is anticipated to be 47,000: an increase of 4.1% to 2013. In contrast, the airport of Girona Costa Brava (northern Catalonia) has announced it will offer 16 routes this winter season, 20% less than last year. Ryanair has implemented the cuts it announced last May and will no longer be connecting Girona to London or Paris. Ryanair and Wizz Air will be the only airlines flying from Girona to Kiev, and only Ten Airwais will operate charter flights to Nador, Morocco. This summer, Girona airport connected passengers to 69 destinations.

Barça need one point against Celtic to secure the top spot of its Champions League H group in this Wednesday evening’s game at the Camp Nou (20.45 CET). The Catalans would end on the group’s top also if Milan draw or lose against Ajax at the San Siro. These are the current standings after Barça’s defeat to Ajax two weeks ago: Barça 10 points, Milan 8, Ajax 7 and Celtic 3. Another feat Barça hope to accomplish this evening is scoring the team’s 1,000th goal in international competitions. So far they’ve scored 999 goals, 487 of which have been scored in the current format of the Champions League. Messi, Valdés, Alves, Dos Santos and Afellay are injured but Tello, Xavi, and Iniesta have been declared fit for the match.

Cesc Fàbregas’ goal gives Barça the win against Celtic, a year on from last season's defeat, when the Scots beat the Catalans 2-1 despite the visitors’ dominating possession.Now, FC Barcelona made the ball their own once again, but with their lesson learnt. Barça patiently probed and looked to open up the flanks through Neymar Jr and the advanced Adriano and it was from the wings that their best chances arose.The win in Glasgow, together with Milan’s 1-1 draw in Amsterdam against Ajax means Barça stay top of the Champions League’s Group H and look favourites to progress to the knock out stages.

Barça take on Celtic in the second round of the Champions League group stage in Celtic Park this Tuesday evening (20.45 CET). Martino's men come into the match after securing the best ever start to a league campaign in club history, but they'll be without Messi, who is injured and out of the pitch for the next two weeks at least. Celtic Park is a stadium that Barça know well seeing that the Blaugrana have played there four times in the last decade. The most recent clash between the two teams was played last year, when Barça lost 2-1 in the group stage of the Champions League.

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.

Barça were placed in Group G in the the Champions League Group Stage along with Benfica from Lisbon, Spartak Moscow and Celtic from Glasgow. Benfica and Barça will face off once again after the 1960/61 Champions League final.