Barcelona - NouCamp Faithful

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Barcelona 2 - 2 Valencia : Barcelona's Messi equals Pele goal tally in home draw

Lionel Messi equalled Pele's all-time record of 643 one-club goals as Barcelona dropped more points with a 2-2 draw against Valencia at Camp Nou on Saturday.

Valencia took the lead through Mouctar Diakhaby's header on 29 minutes, but Messi pulled Barca level deep into first-half stoppage time.

Barca took the lead on 52 minutes, thanks to Ronald Araujo's acrobatic finish, but the home side were pegged back on 69 minutes as Maxi Gomez levelled for Valencia.

The result leaves Ronald Koeman's side eight points adrift of leaders Atletico Madrid, who have played a game less.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Real Valladolid 0 - 3 Barcelona : Barcelona cruise past Real Valladolid on record night for Lionel Messi

Barcelona made short work of Real Valladolid in a 3-0 La Liga win on a record-setting night for club talisman Lionel Messi on Tuesday.

Messi went into the match needing a goal to break Pele's mark for most with a single club and went close twice in the opening 20 minutes before setting up Clement Lenglet for a header to give Barcelona a first-half lead.

Barcelona doubled their lead in the 35th minute with Messi once again pulling the strings, playing Sergino Dest into the area to cross for Martin Braithwaite, who stretched out and poked home from close range to give the visitors a 2-0 break at the half.

Messi's record goal for Barcelona came midway through the second half when Pedri's cheeky flick gave his teammate clear sight of the goal and the Argentine made no mistake about his finish past Jordi Masip.

It was the Barca talisman's 644th goal with the club, eclipsing the 643 goals that Brazil legend Pele scored for Santos during his career.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 1 - 1 Eibar : Barcelona held by Eibar as Lionel Messi watches from stands

Barcelona were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw with Eibar in La Liga on Tuesday as Lionel Messi watched from the stands at the Camp Nou.

Ronald Koeman's side went into the game without the services of Messi, who was granted an extended holiday break by the Dutch manager earlier in the week to deal with an ankle issue.

Barca had the chance to take the lead inside of 15 minutes after VAR awarded them a penalty, but Martin Braithwaite skewed his spot kick wide of the goal and match remained scoreless.

The hosts dominated possession, but it was Eibar that had the better of the chances as Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made two solid saves to keep the scoreline at 0-0 going into half-time.

Barcelona came firing out of the gates in the second half, with an enlivened attack leading to a pair of near misses from Ousmane Dembele and Miralem Pjanic in the opening five minutes after the restart.

Despite the strong start, it was Eibar who would score first when Kike dispossessed Ronald Araujo and calmly slotted past Ter Stegen to stake the visitors to the lead just before the hour mark.

Dembele made amends for an earlier miss to draw Barca level when he chipped Eibar's Marko Dmitrovic from a fine run and assist by Junior Firpo.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Huesca 0 - 1 Barcelona : Barcelona rise to fifth in La Liga with win at Huesca

Barcelona edged La Liga's basement club Huesca 1-0 on Sunday courtesy of a Frenkie de Jong goal made by Lionel Messi in the Argentine's 500th league appearance for the club.

Dutch midfielder De Jong arrived at the far post to meet a Messi cross and score on the volley in the 27th minute to give the visitors a deserved lead after a rampant start.

But Ronald Koeman's side failed to take their many other chances and in the end were made to sweat for all three points.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Athletic Bilbao 2 - 3 Barcelona : Messi brace lifts Barcelona to win over Athletic Bilbao

Lionel Messi was at the top of his game as Barcelona earned a 3-2 win at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday to move up to third in La Liga.

Athletic got off to a dream start in their first match under new coach Marcelino when forward Inaki Williams latched on to a low through ball and raced towards goal, beating one defender before firing low into the net in the third minute.

Barca quickly responded, however, with a sensational team goal, Messi delivering a superb pass to pick out Frenkie de Jong by the byline and the Dutchman volleyed the ball back across the area for 18-year-old Pedri to head home.

Messi and Pedri combined beautifully to put Barca ahead, the youngster receiving a pass from the Argentine before returning it with a delightful backheel and Messi rolled the ball into the bottom corner in the 38th minute.

Messi struck again in the 62nd minute to finish off another brilliant team move and missed a couple of chances to complete his hat-trick, although Iker Muniain made for a tense finale by scoring for Athletic in the 90th.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Granada 0 - 4 Barcelona : Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann each bagged two goals as Barcelona eased to a comfortable 4-0 victory at Granada on Saturday.

Griezmann ended his goal drought of nine matches in all competitions as Barca closed the gap on the Madrid clubs at the top of the table.

Barca took the lead after 12 minutes when Griezmann reacted quickest inside the box and finished into the bottom corner.

Griezmann then turned provider when he set up Messi who curled the ball into the top corner.

Messi scored his second just before half-time with a stunning free-kick. The Barca captain has now scored 10 goals or more in La Liga for the 15th consecutive campaign.

Griezmann grabbed his second of the match after 63 minutes with a half-volley from a tight angle.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Real Sociedad 1 - 1 Barcelona : Messi-less Barcelona reach Supercopa final on pens.

(Barcelona wins 3-2 on penalties)

Barcelona advanced to the Spanish Supercopa final after defeating Real Sociedad 3-2 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

The Catalans played Wednesday's semifinal in Cordoba without the services of captain Lionel Messi, who was ruled out with an undisclosed injury that saw him subbed out of last week's league win over Granada.

Barca advance to the final of the tournament -- which features the winners and runners-up of last season's La Liga and the Copa del Rey -- with the other semifinal set for Thursday against Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao in Malaga. The final will be held at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville on Sunday.

Barcelona took the lead in the first half with Frenkie de Jong's acrobatic header, after Antoine Griezmann picked out his Dutch teammate for the lovely goal.

But La Real equalised the affair in the 51st minute when VAR confirmed the ball hit De Jong's arm on a cross into the box, with Mikel Oyarzabal converting the successful kick from the spot.

Both teams went back and forth with several good looks for the duration, but neither side were able to find the second goal before penalties decided the match.

Both De Jong and Griezmann missed their attempts in the penalty shootout but Ousmane Dembele, Miralem Pjanic, and Ricard Puig were successful in their chances. Mikel Merino and Adnan Januzaj converted for the Basque side.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 2 - 3 Athletic Bilbao : Messi sent off for violent conduct as Athletic Bilbao shock Barcelona to win Supercopa

(After Extra Time)

Lionel Messi was sent off for the first time in his Barcelona career in the closing stages of extra time as they lost 3-2 to Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Supercopa on Sunday.

Messi, who returned to the starting lineup after missing the semifinal victory over Real Sociedad through injury, was dismissed after striking Asier Villalibre in the final minute.

The Argentine had been heavily involved in a more positive way as Barca took the lead five minutes before the break.

Messi's goalbound effort was blocked, falling to the feet of Antoine Griezmann, who netted the first of his two goals.

Bilbao's riposte was immediate as Oscar De Marcos met Inaki Williams' cross two minutes later to send the sides in level at halftime.

Raul Garcia had a header disallowed for offside by VAR after the restart as Bilbao enjoyed the better chances in a tense affair.

However, French forward Griezmann looked to have won it for the Catalans with a goal against the run of play 14 minutes from time, only for substitute Villalibre to volley home in the 90th minute to send the game into the extra period.

Three minutes into the additional half hour Williams curled a stunning effort into the far corner from the edge of the box to win the match for Marcelino Garcia's side.

The victory brought a third Supercopa title for the Basque side and their first silverware since they claimed the same trophy in 2015 with a 5-1 aggregate win over Barca.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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UD Cornella 0 - 2 Barcelona : Barcelona defeat Cornella in extra time, advance to Copa del Rey last 16

(After extra time)

Extra-time strikes from Ousmane Dembele and Martin Braithwaite allowed Barcelona to edge past stubborn third division neighbours Cornella 2-0 and reach the last 16 of the Copa del Rey on Thursday.

Barcelona missed two penalties in normal time, with midfielder Miralem Pjanic being thwarted late in the first half by Cornella keeper Ramon Juan before Dembele hit straight at the feet of the 21-year-old in the 80th minute from yet another spot kick.

Dembele made amends with a vicious long-range strike in the second minute of extra-time which Ramon Juan got a hand to but was powerless to prevent it rocketing into the net.

Danish forward Braithwaite, who had missed a clear chance to win the game late in normal time, then sealed a nervy Barca victory moments after Cornella's Albert Estelles had been sent off.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Elche 0 - 2 Barcelona : De Jong goal, assist earns Barcelona important win at Elche

Barcelona secured an important 2-0 win at Elche to keep pace at the top of La Liga.

Frenkie de Jong and Riqui Puig scored at the end of each half to secure the points for Ronald Koeman's side .

Barca were without captain Lionel Messi who was serving the second of a two-game ban for his red card in last weekend's Supercopa final.

Barca were dominant from the first whistle but Ronald Araujo and Antoine Griezmann missed close range headers early on.

However, De Jong opened the scoring just before half-time as he reacted quickest to score an easy tap-in.

The hosts came close to scoring an equaliser 10 minutes into the second half but Marc-Andre ter Stegen produced a great save from Emiliano Rigona.

Barca wrapped up the points in stoppage time when De Jong set up Puig to score a second.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Rayo Vallecano 1 - 2 Barcelona : Lionel Messi returns to lead Barcelona past Rayo Vallecano in Copa del Rey

Barcelona needed a second-half comeback to beat Rayo Vallecano 2-1 in the Copa del Rey round of 16 and advance to the quarterfinals on Wednesday night at the Estadio de Vallecas.

Lionel Messi was back in the Barca XI after serving a two-match ban for a red card he received in their Spanish Supercoppa loss to Athletic Bilbao on Jan. 17.

Despite their talisman's return, Barcelona could not find a way through in an opening 45 minutes they dominated, twice hitting the post and forcing Rayo keeper Stole Dimitrievski into a good save from an Antoine Griezmann strike as the half wore on.

Rayo took a surprising lead shortly after the hour with a tap-in from Fran Garcia when Barca keeper Neto spilled a save right into his path in front of goal.

The lead was short-lived, though, as Barca drew level through Messi on a counter-attack when the Argentine was left with the easiest of back-post finishes thanks to a nice cross from Griezmann.

Soon after, Barcelona took the lead as Jordi Alba set up Frenkie de Jong for another close-range finish that put the visitors in position to see out the tie and book passage to the quarterfinals of Spain's annual cup competition.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 2 - 1 Athletic Bilbao : Messi hits goal 650 as Barcelona get revenge on Athletic

Lionel Messi scored his 650th goal for Barcelona while Antoine Griezmann struck the winner in a 2-1 home success over Athletic Bilbao in La Liga on Sunday, avenging a defeat by the Basque side in the Spanish Super Cup final.

Messi curled in a stunning free kick after 20 minutes for his milestone goal on the same day the club pledged to sue Spanish newspaper El Mundo for publishing the full details of the Argentine's contract.

Athletic, who had won their previous five matches in all competitions in a flying start under new coach Marcelino, failed to get going but levelled in the 49th thanks to an own goal.

Jordi Alba tried to prevent Athletic's Oscar de Marcos reaching a cross but instead prodded into the Barca net.

The hosts struggled to respond but finally restored their lead in the 74th when Griezmann, who had scored twice in the 3-2 Super Cup final defeat, arrived in the box to knock home a cross from defender Oscar Mingueza.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Granada 3 - 5 Barcelona : Barcelona overcome upset-minded Granada to reach Copa del Rey semis

(After Extra Time)

Barcelona needed a rousing comeback and extra time to beat Granada, 5-3, and advance to the Copa del Rey semifinals on Wednesday.

Despite Barca dominating the opening half-hour, Granada scored totally against the run of play in the 33rd minute when a Samuel Umtiti giveaway in the Barca box led to a cross and easy tap-in finish for Newcastle loanee Kenedy.

The home side then doubled their advantage immediately after restart when veteran forward Roberto Soldado raced in behind the Barca defense and confidently beat Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Ronald Koeman threw on Sergino Dest, Ousmane Dembele and Martin Braithwaite in hopes of turning his side's fortunes around.

Antoine Griezmann helped pull a goal back two minutes from time when his lunging poke of a lobbed Messi pass hit the post and then goalkeeper Aaron Escandell before crossing the line.

Messi hit the post moments later but Barca found a dramatic equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time. Jordi Alba nodded home Griezmann's cushioned header of another inch-perfect cross from Messi.

The game then went into extra time where Barca struck first through Griezmann but Fede Vico answered back from the penalty spot three minutes later after Dest barged down Carlos Neva in the area.

But Barca finally took the lead for good in the 108th minute -- Frenkie de Jong sweeping home after Escandell parried a right-footed shot from Messi into his path -- and then put the finishing touches on a satisfying win two minutes from time when Alba wonderfully volleyed home from an angle.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Real Betis 2 - 3 Barcelona : Barcelona beat Real Betis with Messi, Trincao goals

Lionel Messi came off the bench to haul Barcelona back from a goal down against Real Betis to win 3-2 but it was winger Francisco Trincao who snatched victory by choosing the perfect moment to score his first goal for the club.

Barca coach Ronald Koeman took the surprising decision to leave Messi and the in-form Frenkie de Jong out of his starting lineup, perhaps with next week's Copa del Rey semi-final first leg at Sevilla in mind, and saw his side fall behind to a Borja Iglesias strike on the counterattack in the 38th minute.

Messi levelled for Barca in the 59th, less than two minutes after coming on, and then helped his side find a second goal by releasing Jordi Alba with a sumptuous pass which led to Betis defender Victor Ruiz sending the ball into his own net.

Ruiz made amends by powering in a header from a Nabil Fekir free kick in the 75th minute but Portuguese Trincao had the final say, smashing a shot from just inside the box in off the crossbar in the 87th to finally get off the mark for Barca in his 17th appearance in all competitions.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Sevilla 2 - 0 Barcelona : Sevilla stun Barcelona in first leg of Copa del Rey semifinal

(1st Leg)

Sevilla defender Jules Kounde scored an extraordinary solo goal and Ivan Rakitic struck against his old side in a 2-0 win over Barcelona in a Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on Wednesday.

French centre back Kounde opened the scoring in the 25th minute, dribbling from his own area and playing a one-two with a teammate before bursting past four Barca players to confidently slot past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

he Barca keeper made a superb save to prevent Sergio Escudero doubling Sevilla's lead at the end of the first half but Croatia midfielder Rakitic made sure of the victory with a thumping finish into the roof of the net in the 85th minute.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)