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FC Barcelona midfielder and Real Madrid keeper, who were nominated together, win the prestigious 2012 Príncipe de Asturias Award for Sport. International Paralympic Committee were also nominated.

The number of unemployed people increased in Catalonia over the month of August, ending a positive trend of five consecutive months of drops. However, August is traditionally a month with an increase in unemployment, and this August’s has been the lowest increase since 2006.

Board member Toni Freixa announced that FC Barcelona has forecast income of €470 million and outgoings of €427.9 million for the coming year. Therefore, the Catalan club would end the current season with a profit of €35.9 million. The 2011/12 season closed with record profits of €48.8 million against a forecast of €21 million. Besides, the Board will ask the members’ delegates at the club’s assembly to authorise the calling of a referendum on the project relating to the future of the Camp Nou.

The permanent collection of the Can Framis Museum, located in a functionalist venue built three years ago, reopened its doors this Saturday. The museum, run by the Fundació Vila Casas, has restructured its permanent collection of contemporary paintings originating from the 1960’s onwards. The works are by various artists born or living in Catalonia and includes 45 new paintings, 20 of which are new acquisitions.

A wonderful first half goal from the Brazilian full back made it three wins out of three for FC Barcelona. The Catalans are two points clear at the top of the Spanish League table going into September’s international break.

Police estimate that 150 pickpockets operate daily in the Catalan capital’s underground, smart phones being the main target. The way the pickpockets target their victims has changed, no longer operating in large groups meaning that they are more “discreet and difficult to stop”. The police report that pickpockets are mainly “recurrent” and mainly come from South America, North Africa and Romania. The situation is evolving in a positive way, with crime rates in Barcelona’s metro decreasing for the second consecutive year.

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.

FC Barcelona’s midfielder edged out team-mate Leo Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo for the award that distinguishes him as the best player in Europe.

The 10th edition of the Barcelona International Music Documentary Film Festival will run from October 25th to November 4th this year. To celebrate, the festival will screen the six best films from the last ten years chosen by a public vote in a section named ‘Your 10 Years’. Other initiatives this year include the introduction of the ‘Fan’ ticket which includes extra benefits and the launch of its online platform ‘In-Edit TV’ where it is possible to pay to watch the documentaries online. Alongside this year’s festival is the 3rd edition of the Barcelona International Music Documentary Film Market.

After taking it for the last three years, Barça lost their Spanish Super Cup title on Wednesday night, going down narrowly in Madrid and losing the tie on the away goals rule. Higuaín and Cristiano Ronaldo put Real Madrid ahead early on and Barça played with 10 men for more than an hour after Adriano was sent off. Messi brought Barça back into the tie with a superb free kick just before the break. Pedro, Alba, Montoya and Messi all came close to getting the goal that would have meant Barça retained their title.

Barça will face off against Real Madrid on Wednesday evening (22.30 CET) as the Catalans look to claim their first title under Tito Vilanova. FC Barcelona come into the match against Real Madrid with a 3-2 advantage from the away leg of the Spanish Super Cup. Any result from the last Real Madrid v. Barça matches at the Bernabéu (five victories and two draws) would be enough for FC Barcelona to claim the title. Tito Vilanova may have to rule out Carles Puyol, who sustained a cheekbone fracture in this weekend’s game against Osasuna, even though the captain travelled with the team to Madrid.

The player's recovery will mark his availability for the return leg of the Spanish Supercup against Real Madrid to be played on Wednesday. Puyol fractured his cheekbone in a collision with Lamah with 15 minutes still on the clock in the match against Osasuna (1-2). The Barça captain played the entire 90 minutes of the game.

50.2% of the people travelling between Barcelona and Madrid in the first six months of the year used the High Speed Train (AVE), instead of the car, bus or airplane. 1.4 million people used this AVE line between January and June, a 6.2% increase compared to the same period last year. In addition, the Port of Barcelona had 905,000 passengers in the first half of 2012, making it the first port in Spain in terms of passenger traffic.

Two second half goals from Messi turned around an early strike by Osasuna’s Joseba Llorente to give Barça the points in Pamplona. Real Madrid was defeated by Getafe. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona will play the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup Final next Wednesday.

FC Barcelona, led by an outstanding Iniesta, came back from 1-0 behind to take a one-goal lead into the second leg of the Spanish Supercup. Misfortune struck in the 84th minute, when one chance was squandered and shortly after Real Madrid scored a second goal that leaves plenty left to decide in the return leg.