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.
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.
Goals from Adriano, Busquets and Messi (2) turned around an opener from Falcao to leave Spanish League’s second place Atletico Madrid nine points adrift. Futhermore, after Real Madrid’s draw with Espanyol, the Catalans are 13 points ahead. Besides, Messi continues paving his legend and grads his 90th goal in 2012.
The Argentinean and the Colombian, who face each other at the Camp Nou on Sunday at the FC Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid game, are unquestionably the top two strikers in the Spanish League. The two lead the goalscoring table in La Liga with 23 and 16 after just 15 games – figures that reveal how important their goals have been for their two teams this campaign.
The Barça boss has admitted that he would rather be playing a First Division team in the round of 16 of the Spanish Cup, because Córdoba will be trying especially hard to spring a surprise. Vilanova said he left Iniesta out “because I’d prefer him to be fresh against Atlético considering that Cesc is injured”.
With a full 11 players who have come through the Masia – FC Barcelona’s school, Barça put four past Levante on Sunday, with Messi (2), Iniesta and Cesc scoring the goals. FC Barcelona now sit 11 points ahead of Real Madrid and threeahead of Atletico who they meet in three weeks’ time.
FC Barcelona’s Manager warned of the difficulties facing the team in Deportivo’s Riazor: “it’s never an easy ground – especially with the players coming off the international break”. Tito Vilanova has no plans to make rotations in his team, with a number of players out injured.
If Barça and Real Madrid get through the previous rounds, they would meet in the semi finals on 23rd and 30th January. Defending champions FC Barcelona, will be taking on the Division 2B Alavés in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey. The first leg is on 31st October in Vitoria and the return at the Camp Nou will be on 28th November.
The Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister, José Manuel García-Margallo, states that the claim for Catalonia’s independence during the last FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid Clásico football game “damages Spain’s brand”. On the contrary, the Catalan President, Artur Mas, praised the demonstration for its peaceful and democratic nature, and for “projecting our identity to the world”. Furthermore, the Spokesperson for the Catalan Government, Francesc Homs, considered García-Margallo’s statements to be “undemocratic” for not accepting “the free and democratic expression of the people at Camp Nou”. Thousands of Catalan independence flags were shown at the match – many more than in any other game ever. Furthermore, on several occasions, a large part of the stadium shouted pro-independence chants.
Points shared at the Camp Nou with two goals apiece from Messi and Ronaldo. Barça maintained their eight point advantage over Real Madrid at the Spanish League.
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.
FC Barcelona’s Manager thinks winning all three points at the ever-difficult Coliseum Alfonso Pérez would be the best way to deal with the problem of so many absent international players being away this week. On the five-point lead over Real Madrid, Vilanova says “the important thing is that we’ve got nine points”.