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.
6 of the 8 Barça players that won the EURO title with Spain were named to the best team of the EURO. Valdés, Pedro and the Dutchman Afellay are the only Barça players that did not make the all-star team.
The FC Barcelona midfielder wins the award that his fellow Barça teammate, Xavi Hernández, won in the 2008 EURO. Iniesta was named man of the match against Italy (Group Stage), Croatia and in the final against the Azzurri.
Spain is once again the favourite team going into Euro 2012. After breaking an international jinx of 44 years in 2008, they have not looked back since and possess a squad oozing with quality. Of the 23-man squad Vicente del Bosque is taking to the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine six are Catalan players. Their first match of the tournament is against Italy on June 10th.
The seven FC Barcelona players in Vicente del Bosque’s squad for Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine joined their team mates on Friday morning at the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas. Carles Puyol and David Villa, who are a regular feature of Spain line-ups, but are recovering from their respective injuries, visited the 23-man squad.
Valdés, Alves, Puyol, Piqué, Abidal, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc, Alexis and Messi have all been named in the shortlist of 60 candidates named by French magazine ‘Onze Mondial’. Fans have until June 7th to make their choices. Messi has been named best footballer in the last three editions.
FC Barcelona was named ‘The World’s Club of the 1st Decade’ by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) this Monday evening. Barça won a total of seven awards during the IFFHS' World Football Gala, which took place in the W Hotel in Barcelona’s Barceloneta beach. Xavi, Messi and Guardiola also won awards.
Barça dominated against Chelsea over both legs of the UEFA Champions League semi-final: shots, completed passes, possession, corners… except one – goals scored. Xavi Hernández made more passes during the Camp Nou game than all the Chelsea players combined.
Barça have lost to a practical and effective Real Madrid, but have come out of the game with their heads held high. A Cristiano Ronaldo goal just after Alexis had equalised was enough to sentence the clásico at the Camp Nou. Barça are now seven points adrift of the Spanish League leaders.
Barça and Real Madrid are way ahead of the rest of the Spanish League in almost all individual and team stats. In many ways, their records are very similar, but there are also some striking differences.
Two goals from Leo Messi in reply to an early opener from Barkero gave Barça the win against Levante to keep the Catalans just four points behind the Spanish League leaders, Real Madrid, which won against Sporting de Gijón. Attention now switches to Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final against Chelsea, with the clásico against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou next weekend on the horizon.
FC Barcelona celebrated their 157th goal so far this season on Tuesday, which leaves Barça just one goal short of the record for a season under Guardiola, in the 2008/09 campaign. Messi, with 58 goals is the leading scorer, averaging 1.18 goals a game.
Barça have beaten AC Milan in style to extend their legend by becoming the first team to qualify for five consecutive semi finals in the Champions League era. Messi, with two penalties, and Iniesta got the Barça goals.
Barça need to beat AC Milan at the Camp Nou in order to qualify for the semi finals of the Champions League for the fifth consecutive season. FC Barcelona will only make it into the semi finals if they beat AC Milan at the Camp Nou (20.45h CET). 88% of the home results this season would be enough to ensure Barça go into the last four.
Leo Messi’s hat-trick against Granada has made him the highest goalscorer in FC Barcelona history, while goals from Xavi and Tello also helped to put Barça within five points of the Spanish League leader, Real Madrid.