Barcelona - NouCamp Faithful

[Cerberus]

Barcelona so strong sia.........

[lacoruna69]

Originally Posted by Bebertov

yes bad luck penalty was awarded in the 89th min otherwise it will be 3-0 and the winnings will be able to sponsor me for a few bonks ... Nonetheless I still manage to win some as 1-0 half time is the score..

GX GX!!

PTS is not easy....

[lacoruna69]

Real Madrid 1 - 3 Barcelona : Barca win El Clasico

Barcelona recovered from conceding the quickest El Clasico goal in history to end Real Madrid's 15-match winning run and strike a potentially decisive blow in the race for the Primera Division title.

Despite having lifted the trophy for three years in a row and enjoying both domestic and European dominance over Madrid over recent times, Pep Guardiola's men went into tonight's match as the underdogs, trailing the capital club by three points and having played a game more.

Madrid's form also justified their position as favourites and, when Karim Benzema cashed in on a Victor Valdes error after just 23 seconds, talk of a changing of a guard seemed fair.

But Barcelona showed why they are about to jet off for the FIFA Club World Cup as Europe's best side, hitting back with three goals that silenced the Bernabeau.

The first and third, scored by Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas, both came 60 seconds after two inexplicably glaring misses from Cristiano Ronaldo, while the second from Xavi came via a huge deflection.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[TheAnswer]

Sad to hear about David Villa and his injury. He's having a tough time right now and the injury is the last thing he needed.

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/334217?cc=4716

Magic Messi helps Barca conquer the world

Barcelona won the FIFA Club World Cup 4 the 2nd year in succession with a commanding 4-0 victory over Brazilian side Santos.

Lionel Messi scored twice 2 cap a brilliant performance, Cesc Fabregas & Xavi also got on the scoresheet in a 1-sided contest in Yokohama.

Barcelona, who were without striker David Villa aft he broke the shinbone in his left leg in their 4-0 semi-final victory over Al-Sadd. dominated fr the outset & the only surprise was tat they did not score more & took until the 17th minute to break the deadlock.

Messi had already had a shot saved by goalkeeper Rafael, with Thiago hitting the rebound straight @ the goalkeeper, b4 opening the scoring in some style.

Xavi brilliantly controlled a ball which looked 2 be behind him b4 playing a superb pass in2 Messi, who conjured up a cheeky chip over the goalkeeper tat found the net despite Bruno Rodrigo's desperate attempt 2 clear it off the line.

Xavi then got on the scoresheet himself aft controlling a cutback fr Dani Alves with his 1st touch & shooting beyond Rafael with his 2nd.

At the other end, Borges did manage 2 get a shot on target but saw his effort saved @ the near post by Victor Valdes, & seconds later Barca were on the attack again with Fabregas seeing his shot come back off the upright.

The former Arsenal captain was not 2 be denied on the stroke of half-time however, stabbing in the loose ball aft an Alves cross caused chaos in the Santos area.

With the result beyond doubt, Barca almost extended their lead in the 1st minute of the 2nd half as Fabregas saw his shot deflected inches wide, while Messi then had an effort saved by the legs of Rafael.

There was a carbon copy @ the other end as Neymar's shot was blocked by Valdes, but that was a depressingly rare chance 4 the Brazilian side.

And Messi completed the rout in the 82nd min when he was played thru by an excellent pass fr Alves.

Despite an uncharacteristically poor 1st touch, the Argentinian star still skipped around the goalkeeper & rolled the ball in2 the empty net.


http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...celona?cc=4716

Neymar left in awe of Barca

Neymar said Barcelona r "impossible" 2 defeat aft Santos were demolished 4-0 in the Club World Cup final.

2 goals fr Lionel Messi either side of strikes fr Xavi & Cesc Fabregas provided a convincing victory 4 the European champions as Neymar & co were unable 2 make their mark.

"It's impossible 2 stop Barcelona, but we r the 2nd-best team in the world & 4 us tat is a great reward," Neymar said.

Santos coach Muricy Ramalho offered a similar assessment of a Barcelona side he deems "invincible".

"Barcelona r the greatest team in the world," he said. "No team can live with them. They're unbeatable @ the moment. Losing 4-0 to them is no disgrace."

Pep Guardiola, who has now won 13 out of a possible 16 titles since taking charge @ the Camp Nou, was delighted with the performance.

"My players were like artists," Guardiola said. "Whatever they envisaged in their minds they were able 2 do on the pitch. It was an incredible performance."

On his tactics, he added: "We try 2 control the midfield & exploit space. We wanted 2 suffocate the supply 2 Neymar, who we know is a dangerous player, & 2 Borges.

"There is no special secret 2 our success. I m just blessed 2 work with such terrific players who 1 2 keep on winning. They deserve all the credit."

Messi, who was named player of the tournament, added: "It's beautiful 2 be world champions but it's a team effort. We often play like tat but becos it was a final it seemed more beautiful."

[lacoruna69]

Al-Sadd 0 - 4 Barcelona : Barca cruise into Club World Cup final

Venue : Yokohama, Japan

Adriano scored twice as Barcelona brushed aside the feeble challenge of Al-Sadd in Yokohama to set up a FIFA Club World Cup final meeting with Santos - but the win was overshadowed by a serious injury to David Villa.

The European champions were in complete control from the first whistle to the last, although they were given a helping hand by Al-Sadd goalkeeper Mohamed Saqr.

Saqr's hesitation presented the opener to Adriano, who fired a second under the body of the keeper to make it 2-0 at the break.

Seydou Keita and Maxwell added another two in the second half to complete a comprehensive win, but it was not all good news for the Catalans with Villa, who had been linked with a move away from the Nou Camp next month, taken off in the first half after suffering a fractured shinbone in his left leg.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Santos FC 0 - 4 Barcelona : Magic Messi helps Barca conquer the world

Venue : Yokohama, Japan

Barcelona won the FIFA Club World Cup for the second year in succession with a commanding 4-0 victory over Brazilian side Santos.

Lionel Messi scored twice to cap a brilliant performance and Cesc Fabregas and Xavi also got on the scoresheet in a one-sided contest in Yokohama.

Barcelona, who were without striker David Villa after he broke the shinbone in his left leg in their 4-0 semi-final victory over Al-Sadd. dominated from the outset and the only surprise was that they did not score more and took until the 17th minute to break the deadlock.



(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Espanyol 1 - 1 Barcelona : Barca frustrated by local rivals

Champions Barcelona conceded a damaging late equaliser against local rivals Espanyol to hand Real Madrid a clear advantage in the Primera Division title race.

Pep Guardiola's side came into the match six points behind Madrid following the challengers' win against Granada yesterday but were hoping to cut the gap back to three by beating their lowly neighbours this evening.

They looked on course to do so as Cesc Fabregas gave them a 16th-minute lead but after failing to build on the opener, Barca - who also had efforts correctly ruled out for handball and offside - conceded the equaliser with less than five minutes to go as Alvaro Vazquez dived to head home. Gerard Pique hit the bar with a late effort and Espanyol survived a penalty appeal for handball as Barca were left frustrated.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Barcelona 4 - 2 Real Betis : Messi and Sanchez on target

Barcelona kept alive their title defence as Alexis Sanchez and Lionel Messi scored crucial late goals after Real Betis had come back from two goals down.

Pep Guardiola's side had led through goals by Xavi and Messi inside the opening 12 minutes at Camp Nou before Ruben Castro pulled one back after half an hour and Roque Santa Cruz made it 2-2 in the second half.

The visitors had Mario sent off with 19 minutes remaining for a second booking before Alexis' shot restored the lead 15 minutes from time and Messi made it 4-2 with a late penalty.

The hard-fought win ensured Barca remain five points off leaders Real Madrid.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[jolenekoh]

r madrid is winning the treble this season. hala madrid!

[lacoruna69]

Real Madrid 1 - 2 Barcelona : Abidal winner

1st Leg

Eric Abidal proved an unlikely matchwinner as Barcelona came from behind to beat Real Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final at the Bernabeu.

Cristiano Ronaldo answered his critics for his poor performance against Barcelona last month by scoring the opener after 11 minutes, picking up Karim Benzema's pass before driving past Gerard Pique and firing low past Jose Manuel Pinto.

Barcelona took control for the rest of the first period but could not find a way through as Alexis Sanchez's header came back off the post and Andres Iniesta fired wide when well-placed inside the area.

But four minutes into the second half they were level as Carles Puyol headed home Xavi's corner.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Málaga 1 - 4 Barcelona : Messi nets hat trick

Lionel Messi scored his fifth hat-trick of the season as Barcelona posted a comfortable 4-1 victory at Malaga to stay five points behind Primera Division leaders Real Madrid.

Victor Valdes made three fine saves to prevent Isco giving the hosts the lead early on, but Barca took control just after the half-hour mark as Messi gave Willy Caballero no chance with a powerful header from Adriano's cross.

And the visitors made sure of the three points with two quickfire goals early in the second half as Alexis Sanchez fired home from close range before Messi got his second of the day with a wonderful run and finish.

The Argentinian completed his treble on 81 minutes as he again left the Malaga defence in his wake before slipping the ball past Caballero from a narrow angle, but Salomon Rondon did get a consolation for the hosts five minutes later with a neat finish after Valdes had parried Recio's effort.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Barcelona 2 - 2 Real Madrid : Barca through despite draw

2nd Leg (Barcelona wins 4-3 on agg)

Barcelona scraped into the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey with a 4-3 aggregate win over Real Madrid despite letting a two-goal lead slip at Camp Nou.

Pedro Rodriguez finished calmly at the end of a trademark run and pass by Lionel Messi before Dani Alves rocketed a shot in from the edge of the box with the last kick of the half.

But the visitors responded with two goals in four minutes themselves midway through the second period as Cristiano Ronaldo rounded Pinto to slot home before Karim Benzema took advantage of some slack Barca defending to equalise.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Villarreal 0 - 0 Barcelona : Barca loses ground yet again

Barcelona lost further ground on Primera Division title rivals Real Madrid after a goalless draw at relegation-threatened Villarreal.

The gap between the leaders and Barca now stands at an imposing seven points following Real's victory over Real Zaragoza.

Barca were particularly poor in the first half, during which Villarreal could have even taken the lead, while the second period saw them denied by a stout defensive performance and some good saves from Diego Lopez.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Valencia 1 - 1 Barcelona : Messi misses penalty

1st Leg

Lionel Messi had a penalty saved as Barcelona drew 1-1 at Valencia in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at the Mestalla.

The Argentinian wasted the chance to put the visitors in front after Carlos Puyol had cancelled out Jonas' opener for the hosts.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)