FC Barcelona have started their European title defence with a bittersweet draw with the Italian champions. Pedro and Villa neutralised Pato’s shock opener after 25 seconds, but when Barça looked assured of a 2-1 win, Thiago Silva headed an injury time equaliser.
The Champions League kicks off at the Camp Nou this Tuesday night (20.45 CET) with a sparkling game in store between AC Milan and FC Barcelona - the Spanish and European Champions against the reigning Italian title holders.
The European Clubs Association has singled out Barça for its success both on and off the pitch in 2011. Awards are presented in recognition of good results, the encouragement of a healthy attitude towards sport, good business practice and strong connections between members
Barça is not only famous for winning the European Champions League or the Spanish Super Cup; it is also famous for the way it plays football and for producing its own stars through La Masía, FC Barcelona’s football school. The club has reorganised the entire football section, confirming the main directors and managers and fostering the talent improvement.
FC Barcelona won Villareal with an exhibition of football, and made it clear that at this season’s Spanish League they’ve come back even hungrier. Three of the four new players, Thiago, Cesc, and Alexis, scored in the game, and Messi scored twice.
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.
FC Barcelona and Porto meet this evening (20.45h CET) in a very special European Super Cup. It’s the last to be played at the Louis II in Monaco. Piqué, Puyol and Afellay are all out through injury.
The Argentinian, who topped the goalscoring charts in the last edition of the Champions League has beaten Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi to win the award. In the same event, FC Barcelona was paired with AC Milan, Bate Borisov and Viktoria Plzen in the group H of this season’s Champions League.
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.
Barça has won its official trophy, the Joan Gamper, thanks to an emphatic win over Napoli. The home side performed brilliantly, and showed how extensive the squad is. Cesc, Keita, Pedro and Messi (2) scored the goals.
The FC Barcelona President Sandro Rosell addressed the audience at the 32nd Supporters Clubs Congress. He looked back on the 2010/11 season and spoke positively about all of the sporting activities at the club. He explained why FC Barcelona did not file a formal complaint against Mourinho and he asked for a cooling down for everybody’s sake.
Barça and Napoli meet tonight (20.30 local time) in the 46th edition of FC Barcelona’s official trophy, the Joan Gamper, in honour of the club's founder. Both teams could meet again this season in the Champions League.
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.
Speaking at a press conference Javier Mascherano insisted that the result of the Spanish Super Cup would not set the standard for the rest of the season, whilst accepting the importance of the clash