Barcelona - NouCamp Faithful

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Barcelona 3 - 1 Paris St Germain : Barcelona avenge Paris Saint-Germain defeat to top group

Barcelona avenged their September defeat in the French capital by beating Paris St Germain 3-1 at Camp Nou to claim top spot in Champions League Group F.

PSG's home victory over the Catalan giants saw them take control of the pool for the rest of the autumn but Barca made sure to seize the opportunity to leapfrog them in Wednesday night's return meeting.

An early opener from their former employee Zlatan Ibrahimovic meant they had to rally from behind and they would, with goals from Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez steadily tightening the hosts' grip on the game.

With 15 points from six games Barca claimed first place and therefore a last-16 encounter with a second-placed team from another group while PSG, who accrued 13 points, can expect to face the likes of Real Madrid or Chelsea.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Getafe 0 - 0 Barcelona : Barcelona frustrated by Getafe, lose ground on leaders Real Madrid

Barcelona slipped four points behind Primera Division leaders Real Madrid after drawing a blank on a damp and luckless afternoon at Getafe.

Luis Enrique's side could even have lost the game in the final seconds of stoppage time as substitute Alvaro Vazquez muscled his way towards goal, but the final whistle was blown before the striker could get his shot away, with the game ending 0-0.

The result means Real Madrid are guaranteed to be top of the table at Christmas, while Atletico Madrid could go level on points with Barcelona if they beat Villarreal on Sunday.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 8 - 1 Huesca : Barca demolished minnows in style

2nd Leg (Barcelona wins 12-1 on agg)

Barcelona demolished Huesca 8-1 at the Camp Nou in the second leg of the last 32 in the Copa del Rey. Pedro (hat-trick), Sergi Roberto, Andres Iniesta, Adriano, Adama Traore and Sandro Ramirez scored the goals for the Blaugrana, who enjoyed 75 percent of possession, created 26 goalscoring chances and attempted 23 shots, 14 of them on target.

With all due respect to the courageous visitors, this was definitely the easiest game of the season for the Catalans. The 4-0 advantage that the Blaugranas had already secured in the first leg, aided by their immense superiority in terms of squad quality and club budget, turned the game into little more than a high-intensity training session.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 5 - 0 Cordoba : Luis Suarez on target as Barcelona thrash Cordoba

Luis Suarez scored his first Primera Division goal and Lionel Messi hit a late double as Barcelona rounded off a difficult 2014 by thrashing minnows Cordoba 5-0.

Pedro got Barcelona off to a dream start by netting in the second minute and provided the pass for Suarez to double the lead early in the second half, with Gerard Pique and Messi scoring the final goals in the last 10 minutes.

The Catalans are now a point behind league leaders Real Madrid but have played one game more than Carlo Ancelotti's side, who took a break from league action to play the World Club Cup final against San Lorenzo.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Real Sociedad 1 - 0 Barcelona : Barcelona lose away to Real Sociedad for third straight time

David Moyes' Real Sociedad held on to record a narrow 1-0 victory over Barcelona as they returned to winning ways at a damp Anoeta on Sunday evening.

An early own goal from Jordi Alba was all the hosts needed as they held off a second-half onslaught from substitute Lionel Messi, with Luis Suarez also denied as Sociedad moved up to 13th in the Primera Division table.

Goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli and the Sociedad defence worked hard to keep the Catalans at bay during Moyes' eighth game in charge as Sociedad claimed their third home victory in succession over Barca, who remain one point behind leaders Real Madrid.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 5 - 0 Elche : Lionel Messi returns to form as Barcelona crush Elche

1st Leg

Barcelona shrugged off a turbulent few days as they romped to victory in the first leg of their Copa del Rey fifth-round tie, beating Elche 5-0 at home.

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu announced on Wednesday his decision to bring the club's elections forward by 12 months in order to recover "stability" following growing media reports of friction in the changing room and in the boardroom in recent times. A number of players are said to be unhappy with coach Luis Enrique's methods.

That came after Barca sacked sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta on Monday, while club stalwart Carles Puyol left his position as an assistant.

But all seemed well on the Nou Camp pitch on Thursday night as they thrashed Elche to put one foot in the quarter-finals.

It took 35 minutes for Neymar to break the deadlock, firing home after a neat pass from Luis Suarez, but the goal opened the floodgates.

Suarez got the second after a neat turn, and after Lionel Messi had a goal chalked off for offside, the Argentinian scored the third from the penalty spot after Neymar tumbled under the attentions of Enzo Roco.

Jordi Alba turned home Messi's pass for the fourth early in the second half and Neymar's deflected shot made it 5-0 on the hour-mark.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 3 - 1 Atletico Madrid : Lionel Messi and Barcelona too strong for Atletico Madrid

Barcelona responded to a turbulent week by producing one of their best performances of the season to beat champions Atletico Madrid 3-1 at the Nou Camp.

Neymar put the hosts ahead after 12 minutes and Luis Suarez doubled their advantage before the break.

Mario Mandzukic pulled one back for Diego Simeone's side after Lionel Messi had given away a penalty but the Argentinian sealed the points for the Catalans late on with a close-range finish.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Elche 0 - 4 Barcelona : Barcelona cruise into Copa del Rey Quarter finals

2nd Leg (Barcelona wins 9-0 on agg)

Leading 5-0 from the first leg, the Catalans were ruthless, despite sending out a young team. Jeremy Mathieu's superb curling free kick opened the scoring in the 21st minute and Sergi Roberto doubled the lead with a fine strike just before half-time.

Three minutes later, though, Pedro netted a penalty to send the side into the break 3-0 up.

With such a huge lead, the second half was largely academic, but Adriano popped up with a header in the final minute to make it 4-0 and put the gloss on a win that nearly reached doubled figures over the two legs.

Barcelona will meet Atletico Madrid in the Quarter finals

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 4 - 0 Deportivo La Coruna : Lionel Messi grabs hat trick

Lionel Messi once again responded to speculation about his Barcelona future with a sensational performance on the pitch, scoring a hat-trick as the Catalans trounced Deportivo La Coruna 4-0.

The Argentinian sounded the alarm bells last week by declaring at the FIFA Ballon d'Or ceremony that he did not know where he would be next year, but gave Barca a two-goal advantage at the break at Riazor and then completed his treble in the second half.

A late own goal by defender Sidnei compounded struggling Depor's misery.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 1 - 0 Atlético de Madrid : Lionel Messi grabs winner

1st Leg

Barcelona achieved a hard-earned 1-0 home win against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarterfinals. Lionel Messi scored for the Blaugrana, who enjoyed 71 percent of possession, created 12 goal-scoring chances and attempted seven shots, four of them on target.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Elche 0 - 6 Barcelona : Lionel Messi and Neymar lead Barcelona rout against Elche

Lionel Messi and Neymar each scored braces as Barcelona eviscerated struggling Elche 6-0 to keep the pressure on leaders Real Madrid.

The Catalans needed 36 minutes to break the deadlock through Gerard Pique but dominated the second half, particularly after Elche midfielder Faycal Fajr was sent off in the 57th minute.

Neymar and Messi then set about ravaging their opponents, while Pedro scored the final goal of the game in injury time.

This is the last time the two sides will face each other this season and Elche must be relieved to see the back of the Blaugranas, having conceded a total of 18 goals and scoring none in the four times they have met.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Atletico Madrid 2 - 3 Barcelona : Neymar fires Barcelona past nine-man Atletico Madrid in Copa del Rey

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

Barcelona came from a goal down to defeat nine-man Atletico Madrid 3-2 in a feisty Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg clash at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday.

Fernando Torres opened the scoring for the hosts in the first minute with a low strike that went in off the post from 20 yards out but Barca were back on level terms within 10 minutes when Lionel Messi linked up with Luis Suarez to put Neymar through.

Raul Garcia edged Atletico back in front with with a 30th minute penalty before an own goal by Miranda (38og) and second score for Neymar (41) gave Barca the lead.

Atletico midfielder Gabi was sent off in the 45th minute, and following the restart Arda Turan was booked after throwing his boot in the direction of an assistant referee after not winning a foul as the contest hotted up.

Mario Suarez also saw red six minutes before the final whistle after his second bookable offence, with Atletico unable to find a late equaliser on the night.

It meant Barca progressed 4-2 on aggregate, following a 1-0 win in last week's first leg at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona will meet Villarreal in the semi-finals.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 3 - 2 Villarreal : Lionel Messi settles score in entertaining win over Villarreal

Lionel Messi scored a brilliant winner as Barcelona twice fought from behind to beat Villarreal 3-2 in an entertainment-packed clash at the Nou Camp.

Villarreal, unbeaten in any competition since the start of November, were briefly on course for their first win over Barca in 12 attempts thanks to goals from Denis Cheryshev and Luciano Vietto, which sandwiched a Neymar equaliser.

However, Barca then struck twice in quick succession during a frenetic start to the second half to record an eighth successive win in league and cup, Rafinha drawing the teams level before Messi curled home a stunning 20-yard strike.

Villarreal pushed for an equaliser as the game swept from one end to another, but Barca held firm to remain a point behind Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Athletic Bilbao 2 - 5 Barcelona : Barcelona capitalize on Real Madrid slip

Barcelona took full advantage of Real Madrid's heavy defeat in the capital-city derby to close the gap at the top of the Primera Division to a single point on Sunday night.

Lionel Messi had a hand in all of Barcelona's goals, scoring one, as they trounced Athletic Bilbao 5-2, with strikes from Luis Suarez, Neymar, Pedro and an Oscar de Marcos own goal taking the Catalan giants clear.

Mikel Rico and Aritz Aduriz notched for Bilbao, but they never looked capable of springing an upset against Luis Enrique's side.

The win takes Barcelona up to 53 points and right onto Los Blancos' coattails after they lost 4-0 to third-placed rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 3 - 1 Villarreal : Omnipresent Messi puts Barca on cusp of Copa final

1st Leg

Barcelona achieved a crucial 3-1 win against Villarreal at the Camp Nou in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals. Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique scored the goals for the Blaugrana, who enjoyed 71 percent of possession, created 17 scoring chances and attempted 12 shots, six of them on target.

While the return match at El Madrigal will certainly be a challenge, especially considering the valuable away goal by Manu Trigueros, this positive home result makes the Blaugrana the clear favourite to progress to the final.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)