Saturday 7 February 2009

First birthday of the blog

This is the last post of the first year of this blog. One year ago, I started the Barcelona site I missed on the internet and I think the blog has meanwhile found its place.

The blog is still growing, people are joining in, new features have been added and the ideas are there to keep on making it better and better in the next year.

Thanks to all who have helped this blog make what it is now, by offering their help, spreading the news or just reading. Cheers, stay tuned!

Quote of the day: Guardiola







We have lost a little brilliance, a little edge, but it does not worry me.


Josep Guardiola, Barcelona manager






Barcelona and Villa reply to transfer rumours

Asked about the new rumours linking Valencia forward and Spanish international David Villa (27) with a summer move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent José Luis Tamargo seemed to leave the door open in an interview with Catalan radio station Onda Cero:

"This is new for me. I don't know if this report is true or not. But Barcelona is a big club, so if they would be interested in David Villa that would be a nice thing.

I don't think he would have problems to adapt, I'm sure he would score at Barcelona. Both Barcelona, at this moment the best club in the world, and the player would benefit from a transfer. And it would be amazing to see him play together with Messi. I think they're two compatible players, with Messi creating things from the wing and Villa being a killer in the box.

But Villa now is a Valencia player, a club which he owes a lot. He's very happy there and is only thinking about the next game. He has a contract until 2014, with a buyout clause of 150 million euro°, although he could probably leave for less. Last summer he was close to Real Madrid. That deal didn't went through because of a difference of 5 million euro. The clubs couldn't sort it out, it wasn't to be."

In an interview with Valencia regional television channel Canal 9 Tamargo nevertheless clearly denied the rumours: "Until this day, I'm not in contact with any club. Villa wil stay at Valencia." Villa himself reacted ironically to journalists: "The report doesn't say when I will join Barcelona, right?"

Valencia first vice-president Migual Zorío rejected the option of a transfer when speaking to journalists: "If we didn't sell Villa and Silva when we had no cash at all last summer, we're certainly not gonna do it when we're on the verge of signing a few deals that will provide us some money."

Asked about the rumours, Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola denied a deal with Villa at a press conference: "Like I already said recently, I didn't yet speak with the sports department about the incoming and outgooing transfer for next season. I would advice the press to check their stories before they publish them."

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain said to journalists that there's no truth in the story: "I deny to have been in contact with the player. We didn't even talk within the club about an interest for the player. At this moment, the sports department is working hard to prepare next season and the following one.

We're now analyzing the squad to see which are the weak points. We'll talk about it with the coach, I'm sure he knows the weak points. But I can assure you that we're still not going after concrete players. Only later on we will start looking for players, but I insist that there's nothing going on at this moment."

Read more:
Villa prefers Barcelona
Barcelona considers buying top striker
Verbal agreement with Villa

[Crosas] Celtic Glasgow-Queen's Park

Celtic Glasgow played earlier today the 1/8 finals of Scottish cup. Celtic defeated third division club Queen's Park 2-1 and qualified for the next round.

Former Barcelona midfielder Marc Crosas started the game as central midfielder. He was forced to leave the pitch when he got injured just before half-time.



Marc Crosas joined Celtic Glasgow in 2008. Since Barcelona can buy Crosas back in the summer of 2010 for two million euro (read more here), this blog will follow the performances of the midfielder over the next two years.





Sunday 10 August - League game 1: Celtic Glasgow-St Mirren 1-0
Non-selectable. Crosas has signed his contract and is presented to the fans before the match.

Sunday 17 August - League game 2: Dundee United-Celtic Glasgow 1-1
Bench.

Saturday 23 August - League game 3: Celtic Glasgow-Falkirk 3-0
Substitute. Crosas replaces Brown in the 73rd minute (3-0).

Sunday 31 August - League game 4: Celtic Glasgow-Rangers 2-4
Bench.

Sunday 14 September - League game 5: Motherwell-Celtic Glasgow 2-4
Starter. Crosas starts the game and is replaced by Nakamura in the 80th minute (2-4).

Wednesday 17 September - Champions League group stage game 1: Celtic Glasgow-Aalborg 0-0
Bench.

Sunday 21 September - League game 6: Kilmarnock-Celtic Glasgow 1-3
Starter. Crosas starts the game and is replaced by Hartley in the 74th minute (0-2).

Tuesday 23 September - League Cup 1/8 finals: Celtic Glasgow-Livingston 4-0
Not selected.

Saturday 27 September - League game 7: Celtic Glasgow-Aberdeen 3-2
Starter. Crosas starts the game and is replaced by McDonald in the 72nd minute (1-2).

Tuesday 30 September - Champions League group stage game 2: Villareal-Celtic Glasgow 1-0
Bench.

Saturday 4 October - League game 8: Celtic Glasgow-Hamilton 4-0
Starter. Crosas starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.

Saturday 18 October - League game 9: Inverness-Celtic Glasgow 1-2
Starter. Crosas starts the game and is replaced by Hartley in the 95th minute (1-2). Yellow card.

Tuesday 21 October - Champions League group stage game 3: Manchester United-Celtic Glasgow 3-0
Injured. Crosas has a hamstring injury.

Saturday 25 October - League game 10: Celtic Glasgow-Hibernian 4-2
Injured. Crosas has a hamstring injury.

Wednesday 29 October - League Cup 1/4 finals: Kilmarnock-Celtic Glasgow 1-3
Injured. Crosas has a hamstring injury.

Sunday 2 November - League game 11: Hearts-Celtic Glasgow 0-2
Injured. Crosas has a hamstring injury.

Wednesday 5 November - Champions League group stage game 4: Celtic Glasgow-Manchester United 1-1
Injured. Crosas has a hamstring injury.

Sunday 9 November - League game 12: Celtic Glasgow-Motherwell 0-2
Injured. Crosas has a hamstring injury.

Wednesday 12 November - League game 13: Celtic Glasgow-Kilmarnock 3-0
Injured. Crosas has a hamstring injury.

Sunday 16 November - League game 14: Hamilton-Celtic Glasgow 1-2
Injured. Crosas has a hamstring injury.

Saturday 22 November - League game 15: Saint Mirren-Celtic Glasgow 1-3
Injured. Crosas has a hamstring injury.

Tuesday 25 November - Champions League group stage game 5: Aalborg-Celtic Glasgow 2-1
Injured. Crosas has a hamstring injury.

Saturday 30 November - League game 16: Celtic Glasgow-Inverness 1-0
Injured. Crosas has a hamstring injury.

Sunday 7 December - League game 17: Hibernian-Celtic Glasgow-Inverness 2-0
Injured. Crosas has a hamstring injury.

Wednesday 10 December - Champions League group stage game 6: Celtic Glasgow-Villareal 2-0
Injured. Crosas has a hamstring injury.

Saturday 13 December - League game 18: Celtic Glasgow-Hearts 1-1
Bench.

Sunday 21 December - League game 19: Falkirk-Celtic Glasgow 0-3
Bench.

Saturday 27 December - League game 20: Rangers-Celtic Glasgow 0-1
Bench.

Saturday 3 January - League game 21: Celtic Glasgow-Dundee United 2-2
Bench.

Saturday 10 January - Cup 1/16 finals: Celtic Glasgow-Dundee (2) 2-1
Starter. Crosas starts the game and is replaced by Robson in the 64th minute (2-1).

Sunday 18 January - League game 22: Aberdeen-Celtic Glasgow 4-2
Bench.

Saturday 24 January - League game 23: Celtic Glasgow-Hibernian 3-1
Starter. Crosas starts the game and is replaced by Robson in the 78th minute (3-1).

Wednesday 29 January - League Cup 1/2 finals: Celtic Glasgow-Dundee United 0-0 (pen 11-10)
Starter. Crosas starts the game and plays for 120 minutes. Scores penalty.

Sunday 1 February - League game 24: Inverness-Celtic Glasgow 0-0
Substitute. Crosas replaces Nakamura in the 64th minute (0-0).

Saturday 10 January - Cup 1/16 finals: Celtic Glasgow-Queen's Park (3) 2-1
Starter. Crosas starts the game and is replaced by Donati in the 42nd minute (1-0).



Table
1. Celtic Glasgow 55
2. Rangers 53
3. Dundee United 38
4. Hearts 38
[...]

Medical: Green light for Puyol

Barcelona player Carles Puyol (30) has received earlier today the green light from Barcelona's medical staff and will be available for the league match against Sporting Gijón tomorrow.

Puyol has recovered from a small muscle tear of the quadriceps at the front of his left thigh, although he didn't train with the group today and did some individual exercises instead.

The Catalan defender suffered the injury during last week's cup game against Espanyol on Thursday 29 January and was then expected to be out for around ten days (read more
here).

Read more:
Medical: Xavi out for Mallorca game with flu
Medical: Puyol could return for Sporting game
Medical: Green light for Marquez

Caceres feels ready to play

Cáceres:
Coach, why was there so much commotion about the absences of Piqué, Puyol, Márquez, Milito and Alves? I'm still there to play as centre-back.

Guardiola:
Martín, sometimes it's better not to ask questions...







(click the cartoon to enlarge)

see more cartoons here

source:
golsud.com

Poll result - Man of the match: Mallorca

This is the final result of this blog's Barcelona-Mallorca: who was our man of the match? poll:


1. Iniesta 39%
2. Bojan 25%
3. Marquez 9%
3. Henry 9%

see full results here
see previous poll results here

Bojan, Busquets and Sanchez want another cup

original source: www.sport.es




The Copa del Rey is a tournament that exists to make a great season even better or to make a bad season acceptable. This point of view that the majority of the supporters hold doesn't seem to be something that the players share in thought. And much less the Barça players, who have gone two years without winning a trophy. However, in the blaugrana roster, there are three players who are especially hopefull for the Copa for a simple reason: they've won it before.

Víctor Sánchez, Bojan Krkic and Sergio Busquets won the trophy with the Juvenil team in 2006, which was the last time that the team has won the cup. With a team that consisted of, minus those previously mentioned: Marc Crosas, Jeffren Suarez, Iago Falque, and Giovani dos Santos, it was logical to win the trophy. That's how things went, in both the Copa and the Liga. These three players that are now a part of Pep Guardiola's first team want to repeat the celebration they lived that day in Soria. This time it'll be in Valencia.

The knockout tournament is allowing the coach to give minutes to all of his players, and everybody does what he has to. Bojan has played almost every minute in the Copa and has been important in the reaching of the semi finals, thanks to his goals against Benidorm, Atlético and Espanyol. Busquets had only missed a few minutes, before the game against Mallorca on Thursday. He played in the rest of the matches. Victor Sanchez played the first game of the 1/16 finals, although he didn't make another appearance until the Espanyol game, when he came in for Rafa Márquez, who left the pitch injured.

Feeling important to the team gives these players extra motivation to give everything in this tournament. On one hand, none of them know what it feels like to win a title with the first team. Bojan couldn't do it last season and his fellow players only arrived to the first team last summer. The forward says it clearly: "The Copa is one of the three titles that we can win, one of the three that we're still participating in and it's obvious that I'm hoping to lift the trophy because, although I hope that it's not the only title that we can win, it'll be my first. Also, I'm participating often."

The Linyola native remembers the Copa that he won with the youth team, and especially the final: "In that match Busquets scored a great goal, a cracker." Bojan arrived to Alex Garcia's team with the tournament already started, from the Juvenil B, but was still vital in the final victory: "The fixture against Real Madrid was great."

Sergio Busquets also remembers those games to be special: "Winning that Copa was incredible. Also, we defeated Real Madrid in the semi-finals in a great match at the Mini Estadi." Today, the midfielder is determined to help the first team repeat the feat: "Defeating Espanyol was the first objective and if we reach the final, which I hope to do, I'm certain that it'll be a great match. It must be impressive to see how your supporters occupy half the stadium and the rival team's supporters occupy the other half." In that case, it would also be a great career start for the player: "It would be awesome to win a title in the first year in the senior team."

Victor Sánchez entered the final against Zaragoza in the second half and was an important player during the whole tournament, where he was a key player for the coach, Alex García. The all-around player remembers: "I have great memories about that match. I felt like I was involved because I played many matches and because it was my first title," said the player, who also won the Liga with the team.

Now, three seasons later, Victor Sanchez is a part of both the senior team and Barça Atlètic, where he's doing well: "It's easy because what I like best is to play football and I know that, no matter where it is, I will play." Therefore, he could be the first player in the club's history to win the Copa del Rey and also win promotion to the second division: "It would be great for everyone. Winning a title with the first team must be great."

The next objective would be to win the fixture against Mallorca next month, after the 2-0 home game. After that, there would be one more game for the three players to repeat the moment that they lived on June 24, 2006, a day that is now already distant, even though it's still fresh in the minds of Bojan, Sergio Busquets, and Victor Sanchez. History always repeats itself.


Translated by: Al

Youth: Liverpool prepares offer for Deulofeu

British sports site Sky Sports claims that Liverpool are planning a move for Barcelona Cadete A wing attacker and Spanish youth international Gerard Deulofeu (14).

Liverpool scout Paco de Gracia would have recommended the Catalan player to Liverpool manager Rafa Benítez (read more here).

The English Premier League club wants to hold off other interested clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal, and Liverpool would therefore now be ready to firm up their interest in Deulofeu by making an offer for his services.


Read more:
Youth: Chelsea confirms monitoring Deulofeu
Youth: Agents battle to represent Deulofeu
Youth: Liverpool intensifying Deulofeu scouting


Watch this video of Deulofeu:

The Points: Mallorca

Pinto 6__6__5,5__7__5,5__6

Alves 7__7__6__7__6,5__7
Piqué 6__6,5__6__6__6__6
Márquez 7__7,5__6__8__6__8
Sylvinho 6__6,5__5__5__6__5

Gudjohnsen 5__6__5,5__4__6__5
Touré 6__5,5__5__5__6__6
Iniesta 7__8__7,5__7__8__8

Hleb 5__7__5,5__8__6__6
Bojan 7__7,5__6,5__7__6,5__8
Henry 7__7,5__7__7__7__8


Messi 6__7,5__*__6__7__7
Busquets 6__5,5__*__6__6__6
Eto'o *__5__*__*__*__5


(sport-goal-clan-offside-oleole-yoya)

If you know other papers or sites that give points, you can let me know. See previous points here.

The Pictures: Mallorca

(click on the pictures to enlarge)






























(click on the pictures to enlarge)

Friday 6 February 2009

The Ultimate Game: Get Inside Guardiola's head


With Frank Rijkaard you couldn't get any honour by predicting Barcelona's starting line-up. Even hockey moms could. But this has dramatically changed last summer. Until this very day, nobody has been able to crack the code of Josep Guardiola's brain. Nor has anyone got inside his sleeves.

So this is your chance to prove not only your knowledge about the game of football but also your psychological insight:

PREDICT BARCELONA'S STARTING LINE-UP


This is not (as in: NOT) a place for discussion on team tactics or personal player preferences. You just give the system and the eleven names you think will start the game against Sporting on Sunday.

You put them in the right position, so using the 4-3-3 (or whatever you think they will play) and putting the players from the right to the left, so the right back defender is your first name after the goalkeeper. If your line-up isn't clear, my interpretation counts.

Don't forget to add your (nick)name by clicking Name/URL under the comment box and fill it in, otherwise your after-game claim to glory will be dismissed.

You can give your starting line-up until four hours before the start of the game, in this case: until 3:00 pm barcelona time.

If you give your line-up before Guardiola announes his match list (or if at least 20 players are included in the match list), you get one point for the correct line-up. If you do it after that announcement, you get half a point. Who will have the most points at the end of the season, can call himself the winner.

This is the 27th time this game is organized.







Table

3.5
FCBFan
Zeli

3
Barcik
Davor
Henry
jerryprez
mario ch
Söderström
temeldinho
westinho

2.5
ElDuroDeFCB
GrandeMessi
James
jepoy
semko
vj

2
B. Beltrocco
Etsp
Jamrock
Kiki
Nikola
nozbleed

1.5
Dan R
Louis
Valdi
younes

1
zuka
OLALEKAN
Bogman
Brambo
kamikaze kontiki
CharlesWood
Flippy
Romyan
Severian
granche
Maximus
Hung
Koyya
simon
Barca nike
SimonP
Cali Socis
KEMPE cy
mofof
Josep
Ramen
fcbee
brogie
Jonathan
peter

0.5
deyaa
Knives Out
Michael
ekar
blaugrana poland
Bonton
Tobogan

Benzema could stay one more year at Lyon

Asked about the rumours linking him with several European top clubs, among which Barcelona (read more here), Olympique Lyon forward and French international Karim Benzema (21) has said in an interview with French sports paper Aujourd'hui Sport that he could well stay another year with Lyon:

"I'll wait to see how we will do in the Champions League before I make a decision. I feel good at Lyon so I don't know if I will leave. I actually think I will stay one more year at Lyon. Although I will leave some day. One has to leave France to reach a higher level. And that's my goal. So one day I will play abroad.


Lyon is a big cub but there are others. I want to win a lot of titles, a World Cup, a European championship, and so on. I want to build a legacy. And I would like to win the Ballon d'Or. I will work very hard, I will go beyond my limits trying to hold that trophy one day.

Meanwhile, I really would like to win the Champions League with Lyon. And why not this year? At this moment, Barcelona is the best club in Europe. All those who play against them, lose with four goals. But they can have a bad moment, why not against us? We will have to attack. If you only defend against them, you take eight goals. The teams who play with everyone at the back, get three goals in five minutes. That's stupid."

Read more:
Cash plus Abidal bid for Benzema on the table
Lyon wants to resign Abidal next summer
Barcelona working on Benzema transfer

The Video: Mallorca

First international call-up for Piqué and Busquets

Barcelona central defender Gerard Piqué (22) and Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets (20) have today for the first time been called-up for the Spanish national team.

The two Catalan players were included, along with Barcelona players Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta, in the squad that will face England next Wednesday. Busquets only made his international debut with the Spanish U-21 team a little four months ago (read more
here).

Guardiola declares his team independent

* Those who have one foot and four toes of the other in the final 2 - Mallorca 0 *


Guardiola:
This is a big day. Finally we've won without the goals of Messi.
That's why I hereby proclaim...

THE MESSI-INDEPENDENCY!!!


... :
What we surely never will have is Hleb-dependency






(click the cartoon to enlarge)

see more cartoons here

cayecaturas.com
sport.es

Crosas: "Guardiola was the best man for the job"

Celtic Glasgow midfielder and fromer Barcelona player Marc crosas gave an interview to Catalan sports paper Sport.





How did you adapt to your new club?
When you start at a new place, it's always difficult, but I adapted well to the dressing-room. The hardest thing was to arrive here in August, after the heat of Barça's US tour. It was raining and it was horrible. Then I got injured, but I have recovered now and I think I'll have more chances to play.

How is Barcelona looked at from abroad?
Within the team people are talking quite a lot about how Barcelona is doing. The truth is that I noticed a clear difference compared to how people talked about the club last season when I was in Lyon. Then my team-mates asked me how it was possible that things were going that bad for a team like Barça.

What do they say this year?
Totally the opposite, people are excited about Barça, they follow the games every weekend and they're very happy with how the team is doing.

Does it bother you that people could see you as some kind af "ambassador" of Barça?
I don't see myself that way, but for some that is the case, just for the fact that I'm coming from Barça. But it's clear to me that I'm a former Barcelona player and that, for now, my time at the club has ended. If I'm following Barça now, that's just as a fan and nothing more.

You worked with Pep Guardiola at Barcelona B and also during the pre-season. You were one of those who thought that he was the best possible coach for Barça?
I was convinced - because of his work-rate and his motivation - that nobody was more capable to coach Barcelona than he was. The coach is showing that, although some people were thinking the opposite, he was the best man for the job. I hope things will keep going well for him.

You're jealous with the those who stayed and who are playing at Barça now?
It's a healthy jealousy. Looking at what they're living now, I'm very proud and very happy as a fan and because several squad players are friends of mine.

One of them is Bojan. This year he has to deal with more criticism and he's playing less. You would recommend him to follow your example?
Our careers are very different. He had his chances with the first team from the beginning. For his age, he maybe even had too many responsibilities last season. Bojan has gone through some difficult moments but last year he showed that he can be very helpful when things aren't going well.

Barcelona's next opponent in the Champions League is Olympique Lyon, a club you know well because you played there last season. You think that Barça was lucky in the draw or people are taking it too easily?
In theory, it seems the easiest opponent of the ones Barça could have faced, because of the way of playing of both teams. But it won't be easy, not at all.

Benzema is their most dangerous player?
They always ask me about him and he's indeed a great player and he shows it every game by scoring and being decisive. But there are others.

Which Lyon players are the most decisives ones in your opinion?
Juninho is a player who's around for many years. They also have some excellent players in midfield, like Jérémy Toulalan or Kim Källström. That's why I shouldn't only focus on Benzema.

Do you think Benzema would fit well in Spanish football?
Yes, I do. Although the French league isn't on the same level as the Spanish league, he shows in the Champions League that he's a very good player and that he's ready to play at whatever team.


Marc Crosas joined Celtic Glasgow in 2008. Since Barcelona can buy Crosas back in the summer of 2010 for two million euro (read more here), this blog will follow the performances of the midfielder over this two years.

Read more:
Barcelona could make Crosas return in 2010
How is Crosas doing at Celtic?
Crosas dreams about Barcelona return

Messi third best paid football player in the world

Portuguese football finances website Futebol Finance has drawn up a list of the 50 best paid football players in the world.

The site claims that Barcelona player Lionel Messi is the third best player in the world with a year salary of 8,4 million euro.


Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o also make the top-ten with 7,5 million euro. Three other Barcelona players are metnioned in the list: Carles Puyol, Andrés Iniesta and Xavi are ranked 29th with a presumed salary of 5 million euro a year.


This is the top-10 of the list:

1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter) 9.000.000 €
2. Ricardo Kaka (AC Milan) 9.000.000 €
3. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 8.400.000 €
4. John Terry (Chelsea) 7.574.179 €
5. Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 7.574.179 €
6. Thierry Henry (Barcelona) 7.500.000 €
7. Samuel Eto´o (Barcelona) 7.500.000 €
8. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) 6.762.660 €
9. Ronadinho Gaucho (AC Milan) 6.500.000 €
10. Andrei Shevchenko (AC Milan) 6.500.000 €


See the full list here

Statistics 2008-2009: Goals, assists, cards

goals (99)
25 Messi (16 + 5 + 4)
22 Eto'o (19 + 3 + 0)
15 Henry (12 + 2 + 1)
7 Bojan (0 + 3 + 4)
7 Xavi (4 + 3 + 0)
4 Gudjohnsen (3 + 0 + 1)
3 Márquez (1 + 1 + 1)
3 Keita (3 + 0 + 0)
2 Piqué (0 + 1 + 1)
2 Iniesta (2 + 0 + 0)
2 Busquets (0 + 2 + 0)
2 Alves (2 + 0 + 0)
1 Touré (1 + 0 + 0)
1 Sylvinho (0 + 1 + 0)
3 own-goals opponent (2 + 1 + 0)


assists
18 Xavi (14 + 3 + 1)
15 Messi (11 + 3 + 1)
13 Alves (9 + 2 + 2)
8 Iniesta (4 + 2 + 2)
7 Eto'o (5 + 2 + 0)
7 Henry (5 + 2 + 0)
6 Bojan (2 + 2 + 2)
4 Puyol (4 + 0 + 0)
3 Gudjohnsen (1 + 2 + 0)
3 Hleb (3 + 0 + 0)
2 Touré (2 + 0 + 0)
1 Sylvinho (0 + 0 + 1)
1 Keita (0 + 1 + 0)
1 Pedro (0 + 1 + 0)
1 Víctor Sánchez (0 + 0 + 1)
1 Busquets (0 + 1 + 0)
1 Márquez (0 + 1 + 0)


yellow cards (58)
8 Busquets (5 + 1 + 2)
7 Márquez (5 + 2 + 0) (plus 2 > red card)
7 Eto'o (7 + 0 + 0)
6 Touré (4 + 0 + 2)
4 Henry (2 + 1 + 1)
4 Piqué (3 + 1 + 0) (plus 2 > red card)
4 Alves (4 + 0 + 0) (plus 1 revoked)
4 Xavi (3 + 1 + 0)
3 Cáceres (0 + 0 + 3)
2 Valdés (2 + 0 + 0)
2 Abidal (1 + 0 + 1)
2 Puyol (2 + 0 + 0)
2 Iniesta (1 + 1 + 0)
1 Víctor Sánchez (0 + 0 + 1)
1 Messi (1 + 0 + 0)
1 Keita (0 + 1 + 0)


red cards (2)
1 Piqué (1 + 0 + 0) (plus 1 revoked)
1 Márquez (1 + 0 + 0)



total (Liga + Champions League + Copa)

Barcelona has played 36 official games (21 in the Liga, 8 in the Champions League and 7 in the Copa)

Guardiola denies Van Persie-Hleb swap offer

Asked about a rumour that Barcelona has offered Arsenal the return of Barcelona attacker and Belarus international Alexander Hleb (27) in exchange for the transfer of Arsenal winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25), Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola has said at a press conference that he's not aware of that:

"Hleb hasn't been offered. Like I already said recently, I didn't yet speak with the sports department about the incoming and outgooing transfer for next season."

Asked about his situation at Barcelona, Hleb meanwhile seemed to suggest in an interview with the official Uefa website that he could be looking for a move in the summer if he doesn't get more playing minutes: "Of course I want more time on the pitch. I will fight for a place in the starting eleven until the end of the season. We will see what might happen in the summer if I am unsuccessful, but I do not want to sit on the bench."

Read more:
Hleb could already leave this summer
A goalkeeper, a left back and a left winger
Barcelona wanted Cesc-Hleb package deal

Alves has yellow card revoked

The Appeal Committee of the Spanish Football Federation RFEF has yesterday decided to leave "without effect" the yellow card that Barcelona right back defender Dani Alves received in the second half of the game against Santander on Sunday for presumed diving.

Because this would have been Alves' fifth yellow card of the season, he would have been suspended for the next league game, against Sporting in the weekend. With the yellow card revoked, Alves is now available to play on Sunday.

Read more:
Red card of Pique revoked

Poll - Man of the match: Mallorca

Copa 1/2, 1st leg: Barcelona-Mallorca 2-0

Pinto

Alves
Piqué
Márquez
Sylvinho

Gudjohnsen (55 Busquets)
Touré
Iniesta

Hleb
Bojan (85 Eto'o)
Henry (55 Messi)


34 Henry 1-0
73 Márquez 2-0



assists
Bojan
Iniesta

yellow cards
Touré
Henry

bench
Jorquera
Cáceres

out of match squad
Valdés
Abidal
Víctor Sánchez
Pedro

injured/ill
Milito
Puyol
Keita
Xavi




#

Thursday 5 February 2009

Match discussion: Mallorca

This evening at 9:30 pm bt,
Barcelona plays the first game of the 1/2 finals of the Spanish cup against Mallorca.



Mallorca squad list:
Lux, Tomeu Nadal, Josemi, Scaloni, Nunes, Ayoze, Corrales, Santana, Mario, Jurado, Castro, Arango, Pep Lluís Martí, Aduriz, Trejo, Webó

Barcelona squad list:
Valdés, Pinto, Jorquera, Alves, Márquez, Cáceres, Abidal, Sylvinho, Xavi, Víctor Sánchez, Touré, Busquets, Keita, Gudjohnsen, Hleb, Messi, Eto'o, Bojan, Henry, Pedro, Iniesta


Read a match preview
here




!!! LIVE MATCH CHAT !!!

From two hours before until two hours after the game you can join a match chat (read more here)



Before (what are your expectations, what's your prediction, what should be the line-up,...), during and after the match, you can also comment on the game here.

Barcelona wanted Belhadj to replace Sylvinho

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona (read more here), Portsmouth left back defender and Algerian international Nadir Belhadj (26) has unconfirmedly said in an interview with French sports paper Aujourd'hui Sport that Barcelona has shown interest for him before he signed a permanent deal with the English club:

"My agent was contacted by Barcelona during the winter transfer window. They wanted to prepare for the departure of Sylvinho, and Abidal was injured.
It was very attractive, but I want to play. I don't want to experience a substitute situation again. I suffered at Lyon. It made me mad when Fabio Grosso was not good, but remained in the starting eleven. I could do my best, but that didn't change anything."

Read more:
Barcelona prepares offer for left back Vargas
Barcelona will sign left back next summer
Barcelona wanted Portsmouth left back Belhadj

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