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FC Barcelona produced a domineering display against Getafe to secure all three points on Sunday evening as Lionel Messi, David Villa and Pedro all scored in a game in which Gerard Piqué was sent off.

Zapatero refused to attend the ceremonies in Santiago de Compostela and in Barcelona. This meeting was the only one they shared during the Pope’s trip. Zapatero’s decision, announced several days ago, raised controversy in Spain. The Pope himself contributed to the tension answering back and criticising what he called the “aggressive secularism” present in Spain nowadays, which reminded him of the 1930s atmosphere.

The team travels to Getafe today at 19.00 in what promises to be an excitement packed clash. Every time Barça has won here, they have gone on to win the league.

The Pope has declared the temple a “basilica”. He has also praised Antoni Gaudí’s church and the architect’s talent. The Pope was cheered by believers along the streets of Barcelona on his way to the Sagrada Família. Protesters against the Pope and his visit also showed their disagreement as the Popemobile went by. The ceremony started on time and, as announced, Prime Minister Zapatero did not attend. Benedict XVI continued criticising liberal laws and vindicated the traditional family and its values

David Villa knows that at Barça, the team should always be put ahead of personal aims, and does not feel he should be judged on how many goals he scores. “Barça did not sign me to be the top scorer, but to help make Barça better”, he said.

There’s just no stopping Leo Messi. In Copenhagen, the Argentinian scored yet again and now has 100 in the Josep Guardiola era. Messi has also overtaken Rivaldo as the club’s highest scorer in international competitions.

FC Barcelona have taken a point from their visit to the animated Parken Stadium in Copenhagen in which they hit the woodwork three times. Messi opened the scoring in a game that sees Barça stay top of their group table.

The famous saxophonist Sony Rollins will kick off the 42nd edition of the Barcelona Jazz Festival tomorrow. The musician is perfoming at the Auditori de Barcelona as part of his 80th Birthday tour.

Barça face Copenhagen this evening at 20.45 h in a game to decide the leadership of Group D of the Champions League. A win for Guardiola’s men would virtually ensure classification.

Ahead of Tuesday’s game, Pep Guardiola has insisted that Copenhagen will pose a very different threat from Seville: “it’s a different competition and a completely different game – we`ll have to put in a very good performance”.

Messi missed the trip to Ceuta in midweek and he stressed the importance of a week of training at the Ciutat Esportiva for a number of the senior players: “it’s been a good week for working out and recovering our physical fitness”, he explained to the Barça TV programme” El Marcador”, after the game against Seville.

Barça treated the fans to a fantastic performance at the Nou Camp tonight, hitting five past Seville with two goals apiece from Messi and Villa and one from Alves to chalk up their fifth win on the trot.

Emergency Medical Services of Catalonia (SEM) will be equipped with 160 people, 38 ambulances and 4 hospital tents for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Barcelona. Thousand of people, most of them old, are expected to be on the streets and in the events scheduled. Barcelona is getting ready for the Pope’s visit taking place on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th of November to bless the Sagrada Família church.

Pep Guardiola is relishing the visit of Sevilla this weekend as FC Barcelona return to league action and looked ahead to the idea of playing the clásico against Real Madrid on a Monday evening.

“We Give Everything” is the slogan that fronts the latest campaign by the club for ticket sales for the 2010/11 campaign, which is being launched this Thursday. The players are the front men for the campaign, in which they appeal to the fans to come along and support them at every home game.