Monday, April 9th, 2012
Messi celebrates goal with Cesc Fabregas (Photo: REUTERS/Albert Gea)
Barcelona rallied from a goal down to defeat Real Zaragoza 4-1 at La Romareda on Saturday night, closing the gap at the top of the provisional La Liga standings to just three points with seven matches remaining.
The hosts came into the match riding a three-game winning streak, hoping to pull off the upset of the season and hand the reigning champions a potentially lethal blow in their quest to retain the league crown. But the blaugrana would not be denied; overcoming an early deficit to snatch the full share of points thanks to some timely saves by Victor Valdes and a brace from Leo Messi.
Guardiola rolled the dice in this one, as Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta started the match on the bench. An untested midfield trio of Keita, Thiago and Fabregas were given a rare run-out and struggled early on to control the game.
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Thursday, April 5th, 2012
Andres Iniesta celebrates goal against AC Milan in 3-1 victory and berth in Champions League semi-finals (Photo: AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
A pair of spot kicks and a second-half strike from Andres Iniesta saw Barcelona claim a 3-1 victory over AC Milan at the Camp Nou on Tuesday night, securing the Catalans’ passage to the semi-finals of the Champions League for the fifth consecutive season.
After being held scoreless in Italy last week, the defending champions made good on their chances this time around, ousting a determined Milan side in dominant fashion thanks to a 21-3 shot advantage and 62% possession.
And surprise, surprise, Lionel Messi made history yet again, becoming the youngest player ever to reach the 50-goal mark in the Champions League, while vaulting himself up to third place in the tournament’s all-time scoring charts with 51 goals. With his two strikes against Milan, the three-time reigning Balon D’Or winner has now recorded 14 goals in the Champions League this campaign, making him the highest scorer in tournament history in a single season.
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Thursday, March 29th, 2012
FC Barcelona leave Milan with a 0-0 draw and frustration with the match referee (Photo: GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images)
AC Milan frustrated Barcelona in its search for a vital away goal at the San Siro, holding the defending champions to a scoreless draw thanks to an inspired defensive performance and some lenient officiating from Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson.
With the loss of star center back Thiago Silva over the weekend, most analysts had this one ending with Christian Abbiati picking a few balls out from the back of his net. But give credit to Milan, in spite of all their injuries at the back and in midfield, they withstood the Barcelona barrage and at 0-0 have everything to play for at the Camp Nou.
The drought of goals marks the first time Barcelona have failed to score in a Champions League match in 2½ years, dating back to a scoreless draw with Rubin Kazan in November 2009.
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Monday, March 26th, 2012
Gerard Pique celebrates his goal in a 2-0 win over Mallorca (Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images)
Barcelona maintained the pressure on Real Madrid with an impressive 2-0 victory over a well-drilled Mallorca side at the Iberostar Stadium on Saturday evening to record their seventh consecutive win.
Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique provided the finishing touches, as the blaugrana ended the islanders’ four-match unbeaten run with a resilient multi-goal victory despite playing the majority of the second half with just ten men.
Pep Guardiola, being the experimental tactician that he is, opted to rest Xavi Hernandez ahead of this Wednesday’s Champions League clash with AC Milan, implementing instead a fullback-less starting lineup of Valdes, Mascherano, Pique and Puyol in defense. Sergio Busquets turned in a stellar performance, rotating seamlessly between the backline and his natural defensive midfield position, while Thiago, Iniesta and a lack-luster Cesc Fabregas were given the reigns to the midfield and Messi patrolled up top alongside Pedro and Alexis.
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Thursday, March 22nd, 2012
Messi makes history becoming FC Barcelona's all-time highest scorer in win against Granada (Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images)
Lionel Messi secured his place in Barcelona history with a sensational hat-trick performance in the Catalans’ 5-3 victory over Granada to become the club’s official all-time leading goal-scorer.
Since 1955 no man had reached the pinnacle of excellence achieved by Cesar Rodriguez in a Barcelona uniform, until Tuesday evening when a diminutive Argentine from Rosario lifted an impeccable chip over keeper Julio Cesar and claimed the throne for himself.
With 234 goals to his name, Lionel Messi has now consolidated his status as the greatest player in the history of FC Barcelona. Let that thought settle for a moment. In the long and storied history of the club there has never been and perhaps never will be anyone capable of rivaling La Pulga. When measured against the legends of Ronaldo, Cruyff, Maradona and Ronaldinho, he emerges alone, for none of them can ever surpass what Leo has accomplished with this team: 3 Champions Leagues, 5 La Liga titles, 5 Spanish Super Cups, 2 European Super Cups, 2 Club World Cups, 1 Copa del Rey and 3 consecutive Balon D’or trophies all before his 25th birthday.
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Monday, March 19th, 2012
The team shows their support for Eric Abidal prior to their two goal won over Sevilla. (Photo: AFP PHOTO / CRISTINA QUICLER)
Barcelona kept the pressure on league leaders Real Madrid with an impressive 2-0 victory over Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday night, closing the gap at the top of the Primera Division standings to eight points.
This was the first match since it was announced that defender Eric Abidal would be undergoing career-threatening surgery for a liver transplant and both teams wore shirts of support in a heart-warming act of solidarity.
With Abidal’s life hanging in the balance, this match took on another dimension for the blaugrana, as the Catalans played with both passion and purpose to overcome the hosts with a dominant performance in route to their fifth consecutive victory.
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2012
Messi scores on a penalty in a two goal performance against Racing Santander (Photo: Reuters)
Another two-goal performance from Lionel Messi saw Barcelona topple Racing Santander 2-0 at El Sardinero on Sunday afternoon, closing the gap at the Primera Division summit to ten points with eleven matches to go.
The Argentine’s rich goal-scoring form continued, giving him 13 in his last five matches for the blaugrana, while bringing his season total to a spectacular 50 goals in all competitions. When you’re hot, you’re hot. And with only five goals now separating Leo from equaling club legend Cesar Rodriguez as the team’s all-time leading scorer, it becomes merely a question of who will be lucky enough to witness it in person.
Barcelona entered the match on the back of a historic seven-goal performance in the Champions League and looked every bit a team full of confidence. Indeed, with the Catalans averaging 70.1% possession in La Liga games this season and Racing averaging a league worst 38.6%, this one was destined to end in victory.
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Saturday, March 10th, 2012
Messi makes history with five goal performance against Bayer Leverkusen (Photo: AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Barcelona sealed their progression to the Champions League quarter-finals thanks to a historic five goal performance from Leo Messi in a 7-1 mauling of Bayer Leverkusen at the Camp Nou on Wednesday evening.
Somebody better get the aspirin ready in Leverkusen because Messi was a genuine headache for the Germans throughout the night, running riot to become the only player in Champions League history to score five goals in a single game. Think of it as “La Manita de Dios.”
La Pulga was a ghost who haunted Leverkusen in this tie, scoring an astonishing six goals over the two legs to bring his total to a record-tying 12 goals in the Champions League this campaign.
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Wednesday, March 7th, 2012
FC Barcelona vs Bayer Leverkusen (Photo: Barcaloco.com)
FC Barcelona host Bayer Leverkusen in the return leg of the Champions League Wednesday night. Barcelona hold a 3-1 advantage and look to move on to the final eight.
Bayer will have their work cut out for them as Pep Guardiola has his eyes set squarely on the Champions League trophy this season since it is looking more likely that the La Liga title is out of reach. Barcelona rarely concede at home and are coming off a nice win this past weekend against Sporting Gijon.
It will be key for Guardiola to keep his men motivated Wednesday night as they have been prone to not showing up for what looks to be easy matches this season.
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Wednesday, March 7th, 2012
Pique leaves the pitch following red card against Sporting Gijon (Photo: REUTERS/Albert Gea)
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is the governing body of football in Spain. Unopposed and all-powerful, they rule La Liga as judge, jury, and executioner when deciding a player’s fate. And apparently, they have their sights set squarely on Gerard Pique.
The defender’s post-match comments on his expulsion during Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Sporting Gijon seem to be garnering the disdain of Spain’s refereeing association, as reports indicate a formal denouncement to be issued to the RFEF in the upcoming days, with a likely suspension for the player following afterwards.
When asked after the match, the Spain international candidly replied, “I don’t think it was a red card, but you have to accept it, same as with penalties. Referees have the right to make those calls. I had a conversation with him (Velasco Carballo) during halftime and told him I thought he was wrong in his decisions not to call a penalty in the first half and I think…sometimes it becomes a personal battle and I just got the impression that the red card was somewhat premeditated, that he was looking for the most minimal excuse to give a card and that is not a good feeling to have as a player.”
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