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FC Barcelona vs Sevilla: Alexis, ensures an in extremis win (3-2)

September 15, 2013 09:40 PM | ACN

An injury time winner from Alexis streched Barça's winning run in the league to 12 games and kept them top of the table. Alves and Messi put Barça ahead, before Seville pulled it back in the last 15 minutes. Neymar put in his best performance in a Barça shirt so far, constantly taunting the Seville defence and setting up Messi's goal. Gerardo Martino gave Cristian Tello his first start of the season, partnering Messi and Neymar in attack, whilst  Xavi returned to midfield alongside Iniesta and Sergio, who had recovered from the injury that kept him out of the international games.

Valencia – FC Barcelona: Three straight wins ahead of international break

September 2, 2013 10:17 AM | ACN

Barça made it three wins on the run to ensure the maximum nine points at the start of the season with a hard fought win in Valencia. Messi’s first half trick, together with another match saving performance from Valdés and the team’s defensive stability in the second half were key to the win. Messi had set up the game with three first half goals, before Valencia pulled two back just before the break and then put the pressure on Barça in the second half, as Martino’s side were forced to show their defensive skills.

Leo Messi, doubtful for Malaga due to a bruised thigh

August 22, 2013 05:53 PM | ACN

Tests have revealed that the FC Barcelona’s Argentinian player has bruised the femoral biceps tendon in his left thigh at the Spanish Super Cup’s first leg. Leo Messi was substituted at half-time in Wednesday evening’s match at Atlético Madrid as a precautionary measure after he complained of pain after taking a nasty knock. It is not clear yet whether he will be fit enough to feature in this weekend's Spanish League game away to Malaga. The FC Barcelona Medical Services have announced that they will be monitoring the player’s progress this week before deciding whether he will be fit to play on Sunday.

Atlético Madrid vs FC Barcelona: Neymar scores and the Camp Nou will decide (1-1)

August 22, 2013 02:16 PM | David R. Jover

Tata Martino's men come away with a one-all draw from the Vicente Calderón stadium in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup. Just as Martino predicted in the pre-match press conference, the tie between FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid will be decided at the Barça’s Camp Nou. The home team, who took the lead after 12 minutes thanks to a superb strike from Villa, took control of the game early on but loosened their grip as minutes ticked off the clock. Without Messi, who was brought off at the break due to thigh issues, but with Neymar, who was subbed in on 58 minutes, and Cesc, who came on for the Argentinean, Barça regained a little of its incisiveness. Neymar scored, his first official goal in the FC Barcelona strip.

FC Barcelona vs Levante: Barça’s sensational debut on the Spanish League campaign! (7-0)

August 19, 2013 01:57 PM | Jordi Clos

Tata Martino’s Barça has exploded into the Spanish League campaign with a stunning recital of football and goals. A sublime performance.  The players followed the roadmap laid down by the new Argentinean coach during his first few days: possession, moving the ball swiftly, pressure up field and verticality in recovery. Levante was so overwhelmed in the Camp Nou that after just 25 minutes they were already losing 4-0.  And 6-0 at halftime. A record. Barça dominated the entire 90 minutes and swept to victory with goals from Alexis, Messi (2), Alves, Pedro (2) and Xavi.

Barça’s positive record in Spanish league’s opening fixtures

August 16, 2013 06:29 PM | Marta Campderrós

FC Barcelona’s 2013/14 Liga campaign begins on Sunday, playing at home in the Camp Nou (19pm CET) in a match against Levante. Barça have won 14 of their last 20 Liga openers and there are plenty of reasons to feel confident that Barça will get off to another positive start. Last season, in Tito Vilanova’s first game in charge, Barça stormed to 5-1 victory against Real Sociedad. Puyol, Messi (2), Pedro and Villa got the goals that night.

Malaysia XI v FC Barcelona: Three more goals to round off the tour (1-3)

August 11, 2013 11:45 AM | Jordi Clos

Barça have brought the curtain down on the tour of Asia with a win against a plucky Malaysia XI. Cesc, Neymar and Piqué got the goals for Barça and Cesc limped off the pitch with an ankle injury. Messi was ruled out at the last moment with a thigh strain. Barça was always the better side in Kuala Lumpur’s Shah Alam Stadium but had to work hard to break through an efficient defensive performance.

FC Barcelona trains in Malaysia’s Bukit Jalil National Stadium

August 9, 2013 05:35 PM | David Saura

More than 10,000 fans watched the Catalan team prepare for tomorrow's friendly match with an all-star selection of Malaysian players. Leo Messi was once again the most acclaimed player of the squad. Barça players and the manager congratulated Cristian Tello for his call-up to the Spain national team. Jordi Alba, who didn’t train on Thursday, trained alongside his team-mates this evening. Pedro Rodríguez, who is recovering from a knock to his right calf muscle, was the only player to miss the session.

Thailand v FC Barcelona: Barça dazzle in its Asian tour’s kick off (1-7)

August 7, 2013 06:57 PM | ACN

Neymar scored his first goal for FC Barcelona to break the deadlock in Bangkok against the Thai national team. The other scorers were Messi (2), Pedro (3) and Alexis in a game that was over by halftime (5-1). On Wednesday, Barça played the fifth of the series of friendlies and they are getting better and better under Tata Martino as the 2013/14 season goes on. FC Barcelona’s next step will be Malaysia.

Barça’s football for peace in Tel Aviv

August 5, 2013 12:41 PM | ACN

Palestinian and Israeli children, some disabled, enjoyed a day they’ll never forget in front of a packed Tel Aviv’s Bloomfield Stadium with FC Barcelona. The second and final clinic in the Holy Land for the so-called ‘Peace Tour’ – before the Catalan team heads for Asia – was followed by a somewhat more intense training session than in Dura, in the West Bank. During Sunday evening’s clinic in Tel Aviv, Leo Messi was accompanied by Mohamad, a 17-year-old from Palestine, and Assael, a 19-year-old from Israel.

FC Barcelona v Santos: Gamper of goals and high hopes (8-0)

August 2, 2013 11:09 PM | Roger Bogunyà

Barça thrashed Santos by an incredible eight goals to nil in the 48th edition of the Joan Gamper Trophy. The goals came from Messi, Léo (og), Alexis, Pedro, Cesc (2), Adriano and Dongou. It was the Camp Nou’s first chance to see FC Barcelona’s new manager, Tata Martino, and the star striker, Neymar Jr. The stadium also bade a final farewell to one of the biggest legend’s in club history, the great keeper Antoni Ramallets, who died on Tuesday.

Lechia Gdansk vs FC Barcelona: Neymar makes debut as Barça draw in Poland (2-2)

July 31, 2013 02:27 PM | Jordi Clos

Barça drew away to a defiant Lechia side with goals from Sergi Roberto and Messi, both times to cancel out earlier efforts from the home side. July 30, 2013 is a date Barça fans will remember for two reasons. The first is a sad one, for one of the greatest players ever to represent FC Barcelona, Antoni Ramallets, passed away. A minute’s silence was respected in his honour in Gdansk, and the players wore black armbands. However, it was also the day Neymar, FC Barcelona’s new Brazilian star, made his first appearance for the team, playing 15 minutes in the friendly in Gdansk.

Valerenga v FC Barcelona: Oslo sees first Barça win of 2013/14 preseason (0-7)

July 27, 2013 09:51 PM | Roger Bogunyà

Barça cruised to victory against Valerenga in the second game of the 2013/14 preseason. FC Barcelona’s seven goals were scored by Alexis, Tello, Messi, Dos Santos, Dongou (2) and Joan Román. The Catalan team’s new manager Tata Martino was watching from the stands in the Ullevaal Stadium. Barça got off to a storming start. After just thirteen minutes they had already found the Valerenga net three times. All three goals involved Leo Messi.

Tata Martino: "FC Barcelona has a lot to win"

July 26, 2013 07:44 PM | Pau Campaña

The new Barça Manager has signed his two-year contract this Friday morning and has hold his press conference as the Catalan team coach. Tata Martino feels maintaining the team’s hunger to win is the key to ensuring the success continues. “At Barça, the shirt alone is enough to motivate”, said the Argentinean when asked to describe his feelings about the challenges ahead. Tata also spoke about the players he is taking over. “If Messi and Neymar can’t work together, that’s because the coach has a problem, not the players” he said.

Leo Messi and his father to be interrogated by the judge next September over alleged fiscal fraud

June 21, 2013 12:49 AM | CNA

Last week Lionel Messi and his father Jorge Horacio Messi were formally accused by the Spanish Public Prosecution Office of having evaded €4 million in taxes regarding his image rights between 2007 and 2009. The judge in charge of the case has decided to indict the FC Barcelona player and his father. She has asked them to come to the court with their lawyers on the 17th of September to be interrogated, in order to decide whether she will formally accuse them or not. Messi’s lawyers issued a press release in which they stated the player’s will to cooperate with the judicial process and added he will pay whatever he is told. However, they also insisted on Messi’s innocence, emphasising they “are sure” he has already honoured his fiscal obligations. In addition, the Argentinean player released a statement last week fully denying the accusations.