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In an international conference taking place in Barcelona of Ombudsmen from Europe, America and Africa, the Catalan Ombudsman, Rafael Ribó, has warned that the institution has “less influence”. Furthermore, in some areas of Europe there is a threat that they will “disappear”. The Ombudsmen have been discussing their role in the face of the privatisation of basic services. The conference has been organised with the ‘Cercle d’Economia’, which is mainly an economic forum, open to businesspeople, academics and economic professionals.

FC Barcelona cruised past Zaragoza at the Camp Nou, with four goals from Piqué, Messi, Puyol and Villa to round off another brilliant exhibition of football.

Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque has called up 8 Barça players for the friendlies against England and Costa Rica . FC Barcelona manager, Josep Guardiola, will be able to call on them for this week’s Spanish Cup tie against the modest Hospitalet.

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.

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.

Gerard Piqué took a full part in Monday lunchtime’s training session ahead of the midweek trip to Valencia’s stadium Mestalla. A total of 19 players from FC Barcelona’s first team squad and four from the B team took part in the training.

Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor has declared himself a FC Barcelona fan and visited Barça players. Ranbir Kapoor is one of the biggest Bollywood stars. And FC Barcelona is also becoming more and more popular in India.

After their European Super Cup win on Friday, Barça make their La Liga debut at the Camp Nou on Monday with a big game against Villarreal (21.00h CET). Pep Guardiola faces a defensive headache because of injuries and suspensions.

Barça player Gerard Piqué got injured in training and will be out for three weeks. Piqué tore fibres in his left calf muscle and will not play the European Super Cup match in Monaco against Porto next Friday evening.

The new Barça midfielder stresses that Xavi still has lots of years left, and that he can see himself "playing and winning with Xavi……my best years are starting now", and Guardiola "will get the best out of me".

This season, FC Barcelona’s first team will have eleven players that came up through the club’s youth system. Fifty per cent of the 2011/2012 team is from La Masia.

The airline Vueling, which has its main base at Barcelona’s El Prat Airport, has a network of permanent operating bases, to which Paris Orly will be added if French authorities give the green light. Vueling’s Chairman, Josep Piqué, announced that a minimum of six planes will be based at France’s second airport. Across the 21 routes it has in France, the airline estimates that it will carry 26% more passengers in 2011 when compared to last year.

FC Barcelona need just one point to mathematically win the Spanish League title, but Guardiola says “we need to be well prepared mentally because you have to win points, they don’t give them away”. However, if Real Madrid does not win all the 9 points still to be decided, Barça will become this year’s champion.

Barça again won the city derby against Espanyol with a 2-0 win that leaves them needing just a point to take the Spanish League title. If Real Madrid does not win Getafe next Tuesday, FC Barcelona would win the League.