Match discussion: Valencia

This evening at 8:00 pm bt,
Barcelona plays the 33rd league game of the season against Valencia.

Valencia squad list:
César, Renan, Miguel, Albiol, Maduro, Marchena, Alexis, Moretti, Del Horno, Edu, Baraja, Vicente, Míchel, Pablo, Angulo, Mata, Silva, Villa


Barcelona squad list:
Valdés, Jorquera, Alves, Puyol, Piqué, Márquez, Abidal, Xavi, Touré, Busquets, Keita, Gudjohsen, Iniesta, Messi, Eto'o, Bojan, Henry, Hleb



Read a match preview here

Re-live the first round game 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.

Bojan wants to continue next season

Asked about the offers he's receiving from other clubs (read more here), Barcelona forward and Spanish youth international Bojan Krkic (18) has said to journalists that he's not thinking about leaving the club in the summer:

"It's an honour to see that very big clubs are following you and want to sign you. But like I've always said and I won't get tired of repeating it: my intention is to continue at Barça. I don't have any doubts about that. It's here that I want to be successful as a football player.

There are a lot of rotations this season. In Munich for example, I had to watch the game from the stands, but it was only the first time and that's no problem at all. On the contrary, my scoring average is better than last year and that gives me the motivation to keep on working like I am now, knowing that things are going well this way."

Read more:
Arsenal interested in Bojan
Bojan sounded out by European top clubs
Valencia interested in Bojan loan

[Henrique] Bayer Leverkusen-Karlsruhe

Bayer Leverkusen played this afternoon their 29th league game of the season, losing 0-1 against Karlsruhe.

Brazilian central defender and Barcelona loan out Henrique (22) played the whole game as right back defender.



Barcelona bought Henrique last summer and decided to loan him out to Bayer Leverkusen for one season (read more here). This blog follows Henrique's performances during this season.





Sunday 10 August - Cup round 1: Rot-Weiß Oberhausen-Bayer Leverkusen 2-3
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 120 minutes.

Saturday 16 August - Bundesliga game 1: Bayer Leverkusen-Borussia Dortmund 2-3
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.

Saturday 23 August - Bundesliga game 2: Vfb Stuttgart-Bayer Leverkusen 0-2
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.

Saturday 30 August - Bundesliga game 3: Bayer Leverkusen-Hoffenheim 5-2
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Right back.

Saturday 13 September - Bundesliga game 4: Hamburg-Bayer Leverkusen 3-2
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Right back.

Friday 19 September - Bundesliga game 5: Bayer Leverkusen-Hannover 4-0
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.

Tuesday 23 September - Cup round 2: Augsburg(2)-Bayer Leverkusen 0-2
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Yellow card.

Saturday 27 September - Bundesliga game 6: Bochum-Bayer Leverkusen 2-3
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.

Saturday 4 October - Bundesliga game 7: Bayer Leverkusen-Hertha Berlin 0-1
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Yellow card.

Saturday 18 October - Bundesliga game 8: Eintracht Frankfurt-Bayer Leverkusen 0-2
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.

Friday 24 October - Bundesliga game 9: Bayer Leverkusen-FC Köln 2-0
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.

Tuesday 29 October - Bundesliga game 10: Werder Bremen-Bayer Leverkusen 0-2
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.

Friday 31 October - Bundesliga game 11: Bayer Leverkusen-Wolfsburg 2-0
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.

Saturday 8 November - Bundesliga game 12: Karlsruhe-Bayer Leverkusen 3-3
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Yellow card.

Saturday 15 November - Bundesliga game 13: Bayer Leverkusen-Schalke 2-1
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.

Saturday 22 November - Bundesliga game 14: Bielefeld-Bayer Leverkusen 2-1
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.

Saturday 29 November - Bundesliga game 15: Bayer Leverkusen-Bayern Munich 0-2
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Yellow card.

Saturday 6 December - Bundesliga game 16: Borussia Mönchengladbach-Bayer Leverkusen 1-3
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.

Saturday 13 December - Bundesliga game 17: Bayer Leverkusen-Cottbus 1-1
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.

Wednesday 28 January - Cup 1/8 finals: Bayer Leverkusen-Cottbus 3-1
Bench.

Saturday 31 January - Bundesliga game 18: Borussia Dortmund-Bayer Leverkusen 1-1
Bench.

Saturday 7 February - Bundesliga game 19: Bayer Leverkusen-Stuttgart 2-4
Substitute. Henrique replaces Castro in the 66th minute (0-2). Assist.

Friday 13 February - Bundesliga game 20: Hoffenheim-Bayer Leverkusen 1-4
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.

Sunday 22 February - Bundesliga game 21: Bayer Leverkusen-Hamburg 1-2
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Yellow card.

Saturday 28 February - Bundesliga game 22: Hannover-Bayer Leverkusen 1-0
Suspended. Henrique cannot play because of five yellow cards.

Wednesday 5 March - Cup 1/4 finals: Bayer Leverkusen-Bayern Munich 4-2
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.

Sunday 8 March - Bundesliga game 23: Bayer Leverkusen-Bochum 1-1
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.

Saturday 14 March - Bundesliga game 24: Hertha Berlin-Bayer Leverkusen 1-0
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes.

Saturday 21 March - Bundesliga game 25: Bayer Leverkusen-Frankfurt 1-1
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Yellow card.

Sunday 5 April - Bundesliga game 26: FC Köln-Bayer Leverkusen 0-2
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Right back.

Sunday 12 April - Bundesliga game 27: Bayer Leverkusen-Werder Bremen 1-1
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Right back.

Saturday 18 April - Bundesliga game 28: Wolfsburg-Bayer Leverkusen 2-1
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Right back.

Wednesday 22 April - Cup 1/2 finals: Bayer Leverkusen-Mainz 4-1 (aet)
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 120 minutes. Right back. Yellow card.

Saturday 25 April - Bundesliga game 29: Bayer Leverkusen-Karlsruhe 0-1
Starter. Henrique starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Right back.



Table
1. Wolfsburg (28) 57
2. Hertha Berlin 55
3. Bayern Munich 54
4. Stuttgart 54
5. Hamburg 54
6. Schalke 49
7. Borussia Dortmund 49
8. Hoffenheim 45
9. Bayer Leverkusen 42
10. Werder Bremen 39
11. Frankfurt 32
[...]

1st and 2nd place: group phase of Champions League
3rd place: third qualifying round of Champions League, winner enters the group phase, losers enter the Uefa Cup
4th place: qualifies for 4th qualifying round of Uefa Cup
5th place: qualifies for 3rd qualifying round of Uefa Cup

Ibrahimovic wants to play in Spain

Asked about the rumours linking with several European top clubs among which Barcelona (read more here), Inter Milan forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic (27) said in an interview with British sports television channel Eurosport that he is considering a move to Spain:

"I have a contract with Inter and I feel well here. But at the same time I would like to test something new now because I've been in Italy for five years.

I won everything in Italy, I learnt a lot from Italy. But there is a moment in your life, like when I was at Ajax, when you say to yourself you want to try something new. I think Spanish football is more the way I play... I like technical football and they play technical there."

Read more:
First contacts with Ibrahimovic
Maxwell could be included in Eto’o deal
Agent Ibrahimovic doesn't reject Barcelona rumours

Barcelona is a nine-headed monster

author: Cyrus C. Malek
source: Goal
date: 15 April 2009
editing: fcbtransfers.blogspot.com





Unsurprisingly, after a 4-0 thrashing of Bayern Munich in the first leg, Barcelona sealed their passage to the Champions League semi-finals with a businesslike draw in the second leg.

Once again successfully navigating the quarter-final stage, Barca have equalled their run in last year's competition, this time to face Chelsea in the semis instead of Manchester United. Unlike last year though, when the Blaugrana drew 0-0 in the first leg before falling to United 1-0 in the second, it is difficult to see any side standing in Barca's way of winning it all this year.

"Barcelona are the best team in Europe," declared Toure Yaya shortly after dispatching Bayern at the Camp Nou last week — a rare instance of self-indulgence from a Barca player this season. Usually press conferences involving Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola or Barca players this year have been treated with a fair measure of humility — always reminding us there was still much work to be done and that they have not yet achieved their objectives.

The fact is that the defensive midfielder is dead right. At this moment in time and for much of this season, Barcelona have been the best team in Europe. And they don't look to be relinquishing that status until they formally claim it with the Champions League trophy in Rome.

It is difficult to remember a team with the balanced weaponry of this year’s Barcelona squad. Even in the Ronaldinho years it was somewhat straightforward as to where the danger would be coming from. This year however, Pep Guardiola has created a monster akin to the dreaded beast in Greek mythology — the nine-headed Hydra. Barcelona can beat you from almost every position on the pitch, and every player in their starting line-up can be lethal.

The most pivotal signing came in the summer addition of Dani Alves who has revolutionised the role of the right back from the classic pick-the-time-to-come-forward defender to a marauding come-at-them-full-throttle attacker. The dimension Alves brings to his side is invaluable. Alves opens up an entire half of the field for Barça, allowing the right-sided winger to pinch in closer to goal and await the stinging cross that is sure to come from the Brazilian's boots.

Eto'o has been in the Barca squad for a number of years now and actually looked to be headed for the exit in the Ronaldinho, Deco, Rijkaard and others exodus that preceded this season. While the Cameroonian striker was best known for making noise in front of microphones, this season Samuel has enjoyed a renaissance and has been making noise in front of goal on his way to netting the title of La Liga's presumed Pichichi.

After considerable growing pains in his first season at Barcelona, Thierry Henry seems only slightly less dangerous than at his Arsenal best. Owning the left wing, Titi has made a habit out of taking defenders on — and more often than not, beating them. Fitting perfectly into Guardiola's attacking trident, the Frenchman has seen his career blossom once more.

Coming off their Euro 2008 win with the Spanish national team, Xavi, Iniesta, and Puyol bring their championship-winning experience to Barca in brilliant fashion. As he is for La Roja, Xavi is the architect of Barcelona’s offence — the engine that powers the attack - cruelly picking apart opposing defences as a child picks the legs off of an unfortunate insect.

In a style all his own, Iniesta darts through the midfield relying on his quick changes of direction to out-wit defenders. Puyol is the rock of the back. As the Blaugrana captain, he lays the foundation for his team and this season in particular, Carles' tackles are made with authority and split-second timing. When he spent a few weeks injured, Barca were an entirely different side in defence without him.

The rest of the back line and defending midfield — Abidal/Sylvinho, Marquez/Pique, and Toure/Keita complete the defence, but all are so equally comfortable on the ball that none are a liability. The truth is that the back line is so rarely called upon to play traditional defence because Barca's best defence is its offence.

Abidal/Sylvinho are cautious going forward, always conscious of their defensive responsibilities, Marquez serves as a second leader in the back while Pique has been playing years above his age, and Toure/Keita provide superb link-up play between the defence and attack.

Valdes is the only real liability in defence. His most notable errors include gifting the ball to Ivan de la Pena in Barca's defeat to Espanyol at the Camp Nou and being embarrassed by Juninho's free kick in Lyon. Nonetheless, he remains an adequate keeper and, to his credit, does pull off a spectacular save now and again.

Oh yes, Messi. They used to say a player the likes of Maradona would never be seen again, but now they say another the likes of Messi will never come to pass. He is undoubtedly the best player in the world and he is only getting better, becoming much better at discerning the times he should take on an entire defence on his own or use his team-mates to surgically cut through it. But unlike Ronaldinho who made Barca tick, Messi is more like icing on the cake.

Bojan, Busquets, Hleb, Gudjohnsen, and Caceres would be undisputed starters for other teams and with that, Barcelona’s feared Hydra becomes complete. With the way the Blaugrana squad has been performing, the Champions League seems more a probability than it does a possibility and if they do not win Europe’s coveted trophy this season, it will be some injustice. For as this Madrid-leaning columnist will be the first to admit, they are the best team in Europe.

read the full and original article here


Read more:
Barça's beauty lies in their bite
Barcelona the team to avoid in Champions League
Barcelona Is Winning With Style

Messi's new look

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the new look of Barcelona player Lionel Messi (pictures from Wednesday's game against Sevilla) is the work of hairdresser Manolo García, who is in charge of the hairdresser's saloon at the Princesa Sofía hotel in Barcelona and who also takes care of the look of Gerard Piqué.

(read Messi's new hair cut)

[2008] Deal with Lahm

this post was published exactly one year ago:


Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Barcelona has found an agreement with Bayern Munich full back defender Philipp Lahm (24). The deal with Barcelona would be the main reason why the renewal talks between Lahm and Bayern were cancelled earlier this week (read more here).

Lahm, who should replace current right back and italian international Gianluca Zambrotta (31), will sign a contract for four seasons but it's not yet clear if the German international will arrive this summer or only in 2009, when his contract with Bayern Munich expires. The date of arrival depends on the fact if Barcelona can agree with the German club on a transfer and the fee that has to be paid.


Read more 25 April 2008 news:
Could Henry return to Arsenal?
Edmilson on his way to Villareal
First talks with Guiza
Barcelona could get fee for Motta renewal

Live Match Chat: Valencia CF - FC Barcelona

(original post by OmarX)

Valencia CF - FC Barcelona
(Saturday 25 April 2009 @ 20:00 barcelona time)

Chat Link:
http://fcbarcelona.hopto.org/

Chat starts around 18:00 - 6:00 pm


Have you ever sat infront of your TV or computer while you were watching a FC Barcelona game and hoped you could share your excitement, feelings, and opinions with other fans LIVE as it happens?

We are proud to present you the new FC Barcelona Match Chat. Now you will be able to communicate before, during and after the match. The chat will be available from two hours before until two hours after the match. In the future this could turn into a 24/7 chat.

The chat is designed to be very user friendly and just requires you to enter your desired nickname and join (no registration required!). It is open to everyone, therefore make sure to invite your friends and spread the message. If you encounter any troubles or difficulties please put them here in the comments section or contact omarx in the chatroom.


To make all this work, we're setting up a moderator's system. Until that's in place, please keep in mind the following basic rules:

- on the public chat the main language is English

- you can hold private conversations by using the appropriate button you find below at the right of your screen
(mark the person you want to have a private talk with and click the button)

See you there!

Eto'o repeats his intention of staying

Asked about the rumours linking him with a move to the English Premier League (read more here), Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o has repeated in an interview with British tabloid The Daily Mail that he wants to continue at Barcelona next season:

"Let me ask you something. If you were playing in this Barcelona team the way it is playing, would you want to leave for anywhere else in the world? If you think about that question logically you will get your answer. But just to be clear, I have no intention of leaving.

I don't think there is much doubt over the last two or three years the power of European football has been in England. But for me that is not strange. The power shifts every few years to one of the major leagues in Europe, and this is England's turn. We have seen Juventus and Milan dominate, then us and Madrid, so it is no shock for me that now it is England's turn. It will not last for ever, though. These things shift to another country.

For me, we have the best attacking force in world football. It is an honour to play in this team with so much talent. I have been very pleased with my own scoring form this season, but it remains that I could not reach the levels I do without so much talent around me. The service I get is exceptional and we play with no fear.

Some of the players in Barcelona's attack will go down in football history and sometimes you need to take a minute and have a think about just how special this team is. Look at Xavi. This is somebody who just makes the team work. You will not meet many more passionate men in the world. Some people win, but some are winners. He doesn't have another option apart from 'win' in his brain.

I am also convinced Messi will not go down as one of the best players of his generation, but as one of the best who has ever lived. People will still be talking about him in 50 years, saying 'I once saw Messi play', and that 'He was the greatest player I have ever seen'. Of that I am sure.

Some of the things you see him do in training and on the pitch just make you stand back and wonder how it is possible. But he does not conduct himself as if he is the best player in the world. He is very humble and just wants to play football, and maybe even he gets a little bit shy when people say such great things about him."

Read more:
Four Barcelona players could end up in England
Messi-Eto'o-Henry: Barcelona's Prolific Trident
Eto'o turns down Manchester City offer

Pichichi and Zamora (day 32)

With Barcelona players competing for the trophies of best goalscorer and best goalkeeper of the Spanish league, this blog will follow the events during the second round.



Pichichi
27 Eto'o (Barcelona)
25 Villa (Valencia)
22 Forlán (Atlético Madrid)
20 Messi (Barcelona)
19 Negredo (Almería)

Zamora
0,75 Víctor Valdés (Barcelona)
1,00 Palop (Sevilla)
1,03 Casillas (Real Madrid)
1,28 Toño (Racing Santander)
1,29 Aranzubía (Deportivo)

Preview : Valencia

Venue : Estadio Mestalla, Valencia




This week kamikaze kontiki was unable to do the regular preview so I (barca4life) will be filling in for him. I hope that I will be able to do half as well as he has done with these previews and hope that he is able to do these previews again soon.

On to the football then. Following Barca's mid-week 4-0 demolition of Sevilla the Blaugrana turns its attention to the Estadio Mestalla in what will undoubtedly be another tough clash on the road to glory this season. Longtime Barcelona fans may remember the 4-1 thrashing that Valencia handed to Barcelona at the Mestalla in the Champions League Semi-Final in the 1999/2000 season.

Puyol, Xavi and Guardiola were all part of that night for Barca while Angulo and Albelda are all of that Valencia team that remain in their current squad. Fast Foward 9 years and Guardiola now has the reins of a Barcelona squad, with Xavi and Puyol as key pieces, that are threatening to sweep all before them.

PREVIOUS GAME
La Liga rolled on this week with the unusual spectacle of the mid-week round of games in which Barcelona came up against 3rd placed Sevilla at the Camp Nou, while Valencia took on 10th placed Real Betis at the Estadio Manuel Ruiz De Lopera (a venue at which Barcelona could only draw 2-2 earlier this season).

Barcelona swept aside the Rojiblancos 4-0 in another breathtaking display of fantasy football which appeared more suited to the FIFA 09 or Pro Evolution Soccer video games than a real match. What made the Blaugrana win all the more impressive was the absence of Captain Fantastic Carles Puyol and one Lionel Andres Messi.

In Messi's absence Iniesta did his best Messi impersonation, scoring a golazo and assisting in the other three goals, so much so that it led Samuel Etoo to declare "Andrés is the best player in the world". Valencia meanwhile put in a hard-working performance in Seville to edge Real Betis 2-1 in an even contest with their talisman David Villa grabbing both items.

CURRENT FORM
Valencia have now won their last 5 games, winning all of their games played in the month of April in the process. This sequence that has seen them rise from 6th place to 4th place and in the process establish a 5 point gap between themselves and 5th placed Malaga.

Key to Valencia in this run has been David Villa who has notched 6 goals in his last 4 games (4 of them being penalties) and Juan Manuel Mata who has netted 4 goals in his last 5 games (including a goal in each of the first 4 games of this winning streak). This stretch has seen Valencia score 13 goals in 5 games and conceed 5.

Barcelona are also in magnificent form having won their last 7 games and like Valencia winning all of their games in April in the process. Following their 4-3 loss at Atletico Madrid, the Blaugrana have won all 7 of their games without conceeding a goal and scoring 18 goals in the process. Unlike Valencia however, who had 10 of their 13 goals scored by two players, the 18 goals for Barcelona have been spread around with Etoo getting 4, Messi scoring 3, and Henry, Iniesta, Xavi and Bojan netting 2 goals apiece.

RECORD BREAKING BARCA
The Blaugrana defence has been excellent with Victor Valdes, after the Sevilla game, having not conceeded a goal for 632 mins. He is now in 2nd place in Blaugrana history for the longest time without conceeding a goal. With his clean sheet against Sevilla he passed Andoni Zubizarreta (621 mins), Pedro Artola (619 mins) and Antoni Ramallets (569 mins). Valdes is now 2nd to only Miguel Reina (father of Liverpool's Jose Manuel Reina) who holds the record for most minutes without conceeding with a whopping 824 mins.

With their win against Sevilla, Barcelona also passed their previous record for their most wins in a 38 game season. They achived their previous record of 25 wins during the 90/91 season and repeated the feat again durng the 92/93, 93/94, 04/05 and 05/06 seasons. The record for the most wins ever in a league season is held by Sir Bobby Robson's Barcelona team team that won 28 games during 1996/1997 season (1996/1997 was a 42 game season) and Real Madrid during the 1987/88 season that also won 28 (1987/88 was a 38 game league season).

With the goals in the Sevilla game Barcelona also continued to extend the La Liga record it has set this season for the most consecutive games in which a team has scored to 31.

THE KEY MEN
Villa vs Etoo
Silva vs Messi

This season Valencia's financial woes of 400 million pounds debt have taken most of the headlines. Their new CEO Javier Gomez admitted recently that Valencia may be forced to sell their prized assets, the two David's, Villa and Silva to stay afloat. As a result their two star players have been constantly linked with moves to Barcelona, Inter, Juventus, Manchester City, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Chelsea.

Despite this, Villa and Silva have pledged their future to the club having both just signed new long term contracts at the beginning of this season. Villa has continued to bang in the goals for Valencia, tying his record for the most goals he has scored in a season in the process, with a remarkable 25 strikes 27 league games so far. Silva who had missed three months earlier this season, with an ankle injury, is back and has contributed 3 goals and a number of assists in the 16 league games that he has played this season.

Undoubtedly the story of this season for Barcelona has been the rejuvination of Samuel Etoo. At the end of last season, the Cameroon hitman seemed to be on his way out of Catalunya. He turned down offers to leave and forced his way back into Guardiola's first team and the rest is history. 27 goals in 30 games this season for Etoo has put him in the lead for the Pichichi and the battle of the two best strikers in La Liga and arguably the world undoubtedly make the game at the Mestalla one to watch.

The other story of the season in Barcelona has been the emergence of Leo Messi to undisputedly claim the title of the world's best player. A one-man wrecking crew, many have tried to stop Messi but nobody has been able to keep La Pulga from doing what he does best, terrorizing other team's defenders.

FORMATIONS AND TACTICS
Valencia have tended to favour a 4-2-3-1 lineup this season with Villa playing the role of the lone striker aptly supported by Silva Mata and Pablo. They have a mounting crisis in the midfield with Albelda, Manuel Fernandes and Joaquin all out due to injury but they have a enough talent to still pose a problem for the Blaugrana.

Barcelona will want to limit the creativity of Villa and Silva and as a result may want to cut off the supply to the front men by playing with an extra defensive midfielder. As a result we may see two of Keita, Busquets and Toure starting in the middle of the park for Barca.

Up front we may see Henry get a rest as he has not started three games in a week many times this season. He has played just once in the Copa de Rey and got rests before the two champions league games against Sporting Lisbon and the 2nd leg against Basel as well missing the 1st leg game against Basel and the 2nd leg game against Shakhtar.

This could mean a chance for Bojan or Hleb to shine as Iniesta could drop back deeper in the midfield to allow Xavi some time off before the Chelsea game. Messi should return having rested midweek and we could also see Dani Alves get a much needed break with Puyol doing the duties on the right side of the defence.

PREDICTED LINEUPS:
Valencia 4-2-3-1 : Cesar, Maduro, Alexis, Albiol, Moretti, Edu, Baraja, Silva, Mata, Pablo, Villa

Barca 4-3-3 : Valdes, Puyol, Marquez, Pique, Abidal, Toure, Busquets, Iniesta, Hleb, Messi, Etoo

HEAD TO HEAD
Valencia's record at the Mestalla this season has been very good winning 10 of the 16 games played and losing just 3 scoring 40 goals in the process and conceeding 24. Barcelona's away form however has been sublime winning 12 of their 15 away games (setting a new La Liga record for most consecutive away wins in one season in the process at 9) and losing just 2 scoring 34 goals and conceeding just 14.

In the past 4 years Barca have met Valencia at the Mestalla 5 times (4 in La Liga and once in the Copa del Rey) with Valencia winning 3 and Barcelona winning 2.

May 05 : Valencia 0 - 2 Barcelona
Feb 06 : Valencia 1 - 0 Barcelona
Feb 07 : Valencia 2 - 1 Barcelona
Dec 07 : Valencia 0 - 3 Barcelona
Mar 08 : Valencia 3 - 2 Barcelona

CONCLUSION
A tough away game for Barca with one eye on the Champions League Semi-Final with Chelsea, Barca may rest a few players and may need some of the players that have played less to step up. Valencia have scored 29 of their 60 goals in the last 30 minutes of matches this season, Barcelona's defence will therefore need to be alert for the entire 90 mins.

Prediction: Valencia 1 - Barcelona 2


barca4life

ReLive: Barcelona-Valencia 4-0

match data


pictures

A game plan for Chelsea to beat Barcelona

author: Gabriele Marcotti
source: The Times
date: 15 April 2009
editing: fcbtransfers.blogspot.com





Does last week's Chelsea-Liverpool game at Stamford Bridge show Chelsea can trouble Barcelona?
First of all, everyone is revelling in what they're calling a phenomenal game. Yes, it was an exciting match, but there were so many mistakes that it was actually a badly played game for long periods.

The first thing Chelsea have to do is cut out the kind of errors that we saw that night. They had a lot of issues: the defending for Dirk Kuyt's header and for free kicks and Petr Cech's form. If you give up four goals at home against a Liverpool side without Steven Gerrard, you have a problem.

Are there any areas in which Chelsea will have an advantage over Barcelona?
They will have a tremendous advantage at set-pieces. In Didier Drogba, Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry and Alex, Chelsea have some outstanding headers of a ball. Apart from the central defenders Rafael Marquez and Gerard Piqué, and Yaya Toure, Barcelona have few aerial threats. So, Chelsea's fourth-best header of a ball is likely to be marked by a considerably lesser player in the air.

Will Chelsea struggle in terms of possession?
Barcelona are very good at regaining possession without committing fouls, while Chelsea do not have many runners who can attack a defence and draw the free kicks that I mentioned they need. The answer, though, might be Michael Essien.

I want to see him let loose on Barcelona. Give Essien the freedom to attack and he will give the team great energy. Between now and then Guus Hiddink may have to tinker a bit and find a way to get Essien in a position where he can hurt opponents. Hiddink was right to use him in front of the back four against Liverpool, but it's time to set him free.

So you don't expect Essien to man-mark Lionel Messi?
I don't buy into man-marking Messi, I don't know anyone who can do it. If you put Essien on him, you deprive the team of an outstanding player and you still have the problem of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o. I think you have to defend against Messi zonally.

How do you stop Barcelona's front three?
Messi, Eto'o and Henry base their play entirely on movement and are not a huge threat at set-pieces. So, to some degree, Chelsea can afford to be a little more physical and give a way a few more free kicks against them. That three tend to stay forward, relying on the ball coming through Xavi and Iniesta in midfield. Chelsea need to cut off that supply. They need to outmuscle both players.

The other way Barcelona attack is through Daniel Alves running from deep, creating a devastating partnership with Messi on the right wing. Alves is a lot more difficult to stop because he just gets the ball and runs at the defender. You can only foul him so many times before the yellow cards come out. If Chelsea are going to focus on marking one player, it's Alves.

Who could do that job?
Possibly Florent Malouda. He has had an indifferent time throughout much of his Chelsea career, but he is an extremely intelligent footballer and would be able to fill such a tactical role.

read the full and original article here


Read more:
Barcelona are overrated
Barcelona the team to avoid in Champions League
The weak points of Barcelona

Barcelona-Chelsea (season 2005-2006)

UEFA Champions League 2006 First Knockout Round 1st leg
Chelsea FC vs FC Barcelona
February 22nd 2006
Stamford Bridge, London
Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)

Chelsea (4-3-3):
1-Cech;
20-Ferreira, 26-Terry, 6-Carvalho, 3-Del Horno;
8-Lampard, 4-Makelele, 22-Gudjohnsen;
10-Joe Cole (14-Geremi, 40'), 9-Crespo (15-Drogba, 46'), 16-Robben (24-Shaun Wright-Phillips, 78')
Subs:
23-Cudicini, 7-Maniche, 11-Duff, 15-Drogba, 14-Geremi, 29-Huth, 24-Shaun Wright-Phillips

Barcelona (4-3-3):
1-Valdes;
23-Oleguer, 4-Marquez, 5-Puyol, 12-Van Bronckhorst (16-Sylvinho, 69');
20-Deco (24-Iniesta, 85'), 15-Edmilson, 3-Motta (7-Henrik Larsson, 66');
30-Messi, 9-Etoo, 10-Ronaldinho
Subs:
25-Jorquera, 2-Belletti, 7-Henrik Larsson, 16-Sylvinho, 14-Ezquerro, 24-Iniesta, 17-Marc Van Bommel

Yellow Cards : 5-Puyol 21', 23-Oleguer 86'
Red Cards : 3-Del Horno 37'
Goals : 3-Motta o.g. 59', 26-Terry o.g. 72', Etoo 80'
Chelsea FC 1 - FC Barcelona 2






UEFA Champions League 2006 First Knockout Round 2nd leg
FC Barcelona vs Chelsea FC
March 8th 2005
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)

Barcelona (4-3-3):
1-Valdes;
23-Oleguer, 4-Marquez, 5-Puyol, 12-Van Bronckhorst;
20-Deco, 15-Edmilson, 3-Motta;
30-Messi (7-Henrik Larsson, 25'); 9-Etoo, 10-Ronaldinho.
Subs:
25-Jorquera, 2-Belletti, 7-Henrik Larsson, 16-Sylvinho, 8-Giuly, 24-Iniesta, 17-Marc Van Bommel

Chelsea (4-5-1):
1-Cech;
20-Ferreira, 26-Terry, 6-Carvalho, 13-Gallas;
10-Joe Cole (29-Huth, 83'), 8-Lampard, 4-Makelele, 11-Duff (22-Gudjohnsen 58), 16-Robben;
15-Drogba (9-Crespo, 58').
Subs:
23-Cudicini, 7-Maniche, 9-Crespo, 14-Geremi, 22- Gudjohnsen, 29-Huth, 24-Shaun Wright-Phillips

Yellow Cards : 10-Joe Cole 12', 3-Motta 43', 5-Puyol 77'
Goals : 10-Ronaldino 78', Lampard 92'
FC Barcelona 1 - Chelsea FC 1



see the 1999-2000 tie here

see the 2004-2005 tie here

Pepe strikes again

Customer:
Relax, it's not that the drawer has gone mad with Photoshop...
It's just Pepe who did his thing with the cartoon.




Ramos:

The thing with Pepe? That was unintentionally, man. Maybe a penalty, ok. But he shouldn't be suspended for more than one game.

(click the cartoon to enlarge)

source:
cayecaturas.com
golsud.com

see more cartoons here

Sylvinho and Caceres not in Valencia list

Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola announced earlier today a list of 18 players for the 33rd league game against Valencia tomorrow evening at 8:00 pm.

The list:
Valdés, Jorquera,
Alves, Puyol, Piqué, Márquez, Abidal,
Xavi, Touré, Busquets, Keita, Gudjohnsen, Iniesta,
Messi, Eto'o, Bojan, Henry, Hleb

Pinto, Sylvinho and Cáceres -who had fever this week- are not included, like Víctor Sanchéz and Pedro, who will play with Barcelona Atlètic this weekend. Milito is still recovering from his injury. Yesterday, Barcelona Alètic players Longás, Rueda and Córcoles trained with the group.

This morning at 11 am, the team had a last training session. The players will gather at the stadium tomorrow at 10:30 am. One hour later, the plain will take off for Valencia, where they are expected to arrive at 12:25 pm.

Poll result - Man of the match: Sevilla

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


1. Iniesta 90%
2. The whole team 4%
3. Henry 3%




see full results here
see previous poll results here

[Valiente] Elche-Sevilla B

Spanish second division team Sevilla Atlético, the second team of first division club Sevilla, played last weekend their 33rd league game of the season, losing 2-0 against Elche.

Former Barcelona Atlètic player Marc Valiente (21) started the game and played the whole game.


Because Barcelona has the right to buy Valiente back at the end of this season (read more here), this blog will follow the performances of the central defender during the season.





Sunday 31 August - League game 1: Albacete-Sevilla Atlético 2-1
Injured. Valiente has pubis problems.

Sunday 7 September - League game 2: Sevilla Atlético-Salamanca 1-1
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Central defender.

Sunday 14 September - League game 3: Córdoba-Sevilla Atlético 1-1
Injured. Valiente has an ankle injury.

Sunday 21 September - League game 4: Sevilla Atlético-Rayo Vallecano 0-0
Substitute. Valiente plays the second half. Defensive midfielder.

Sunday 28 September - League game 5: Levante-Sevilla Atlético 2-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.

Sunday 5 October - League game 6: Sevilla Atlético-Real Sociedad 1-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Central defender.

Saturday 11 October - League game 7: Las Palmas-Sevilla Atlético 2-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.

Saturday 18 October - League game 8: Sevilla Atlético-Zaragoza 0-4
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Central defender.

Sunday 26 October - League game 9: Murcia-Sevilla Atlético 2-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.

Sunday 2 November - League game 10: Sevilla Atlético-Hércules 1-2
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Central defender.

Sunday 9 November - League game 11: Alavés-Sevilla Atlético 2-2
Starter. Valiente starts the game and is excluded in the 87th minute (2-2). Central defender. Red card.

Sunday 2 November - League game 12: Sevilla Atlético-Elche 0-2
Suspended. Due to red card.

Saturday 22 November - League game 13: Sevilla Atlético-Xerez 1-2
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Central defender. Yellow card.

Saturday 29 November - League game 14: Girona-Sevilla Atlético 1-0
Injured. Valiente has an injury.

Sunday 7 December - League game 15: Sevilla Atlético-Castellón 1-0
Injured. Valiente has an injury.

Sunday 14 December - League game 16: Gimnástic-Sevilla Atlético 3-1
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.

Sunday 21 December - League game 17: Sevilla Atlético-Eibar 0-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.

Sunday 4 January - League game 18: Tenerife-Sevilla Atlético 2-1
Starter. Valiente starts the game and is replaced in the 65th minute. Defensive midfielder.

Saturday 10 January - League game 19: Sevilla Atlético-Huesca 1-1
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.

Saturday 17 January - League game 20: Celta Vigo-Sevilla Atlético 2-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.

Sunday 25 January - League game 21: Sevilla Atlético-Alicante 2-3
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder. Yellow card.

Saturday 31 January - League game 22: Sevilla Atlético-Albacete 1-1
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.

Sunday 8 February - League game 23: Salamanca-Sevilla Atlético 6-0
Bench.

Saturday 14 February - League game 24: Sevilla Atlético-Córdoba 0-2
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.

Saturday 21 February - League game 25: Rayo Vallecano-Sevilla Atlético 1-0
Injured. Valiente has an ankle injury.

Sunday 1 March - League game 26: Sevilla Atlético-Levante 1-2
Injured. Valiente has an ankle injury.

Sunday 8 March - League game 27: Real Sociedad-Sevilla Atlético 1-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder. Yellow card.

Saturday 14 March - League game 28: Sevilla Atlético-Las Palmas 2-2
Substitute. Valiente replaces Cabral in the 56th minute (1-2). Defensive midfielder.

Saturday 21 March - League game 29: Zaragoza-Sevilla Atlético 4-0
Substitute. Valiente replaces José Carlos in the 52nd minute (2-0). Defensive midfielder.

Saturday 28 March - League game 30: Sevilla Atlético-Murcia 3-3
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder. Yellow card.

Sunday 5 April - League game 31: Hércules-Sevilla Atlético 8-0
Suspended. Due to yellow cards.

Saturday 11 April - League game 32: Sevilla Atlético-Alavés 1-1
Starter. Valiente starts the game and is replaced in the 68th minute. Defensive midfielder. Yellow card.

Saturday 18 April - League game 33: Elche-Sevilla Atlético 2-0
Starter. Valiente starts the game and plays for 90 minutes. Defensive midfielder.




Table
1. Xerez 63
2. Tenerife 62
3. Rayo 59
4. Hércules 59
5. Zaragoza 58
6. Salamanca 52
7. Real Sociedad 50
8. Levante 49
9. Castellón 46
10. Elche 45
11. Huesca 44
12. Gimnástic 43
13. Girona 42
14. Las Palmas 40
15. Murcia 40
16. Albacete 40
17. Celta 39
18. Córdoba 39
19. Alavés 32
20. Eibar 29
21. Alicante 28
22. Sevilla Atlético 13

The top three are promoted to the Primera División. The bottom four are relegated to the Spanish third division.

Pre-season will start in London

Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall has announced after a board meeting that Barcelona will start the next pre-season with a trip to London (read more here).

The squad will arrive on Tuesday 21 July and stay until Sunday 26 July and will play two friendly games at the new Wembley stadium: against English Premier League club Tottenham on Friday 24 July and against Egyptian club Al-Ahly on Sunday 26 July. Spanish news agency EFE claims that Barcelona already signed an agreement with sports marketing agency IMG, who will organize the two pre-season games.

Scottish tabloid The Scottish Sun claimed yesterday that Barcelona would take part in the so-called Wembley Cup on 26 and 27 July, with Celtic Glasgow chief executive Peter Lawwell confirming to the tabloid that his team would also participate: "The Wembley Cup is the first of its type at the new stadium, so we're delighted to be the first Scottish club to play there. It's a magnificent platform for Celtic to go and for our fans to go and support the team. So we're delighted about that."

Read more:
Barcelona to start pre-season in London
Barcelona reconsidering pre-season tour
Barcelona plans new US tour in 2009

[2008] Ben Arfa could be left wing back-up

this post was published exactly one year ago:


Barcelona sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain is still closely monitoring the situation of Olympique Lyon left wing attacker Hatem Ben Arfa (21).

The French international is both on and off the pitch uncomfortable in Lyon due to his bad relation with Olympique Lyon manager Alain Perrin and has announced that he will leave the French champion in the summer. Ben Arfa is believed to be able to add something to the Barcelona squad, but he would not be seen as a sure regular.

Begiristain already tried to transfer Ben Arfa three years ago, but although he could stay with Lyon on loan, the player didn't accept the offer (read more here). And when the loan deal on Barcelona midfielder Marc Crosas was signed last January (read more here), Begiristain asked to include an option to buy Ben Arfa in the contract, something that was rejected by Lyon.


Read more 24 April 2008 news:
Barcelona offer for Bosnian youngster Pjanic
Premier League clubs back in for Ronaldinho
Modric talking about Spain but on his way to England

The Pictures: Sevilla

(click on a picture to enlarge)

(click on a picture to enlarge)






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