Sports

Carles Puyol, Daniel Alves, Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta, Lionel Messi and David Villa have all been included in the 23-man shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d’Or nomination.

Pep Guardiola is not taking anything for granted ahead of Tuesday’s cup game against third division Ceuta and insisted today: “it may not be the most important game of the season, but it is the most dangerous”.

The win in Zaragoza was the fourth on the run and marked the team’s best ever start to a season on the road. There have been five seasons when the team won their first three away games, but never before, their first four.

Barça travel to La Romereda to take on bottom club Zaragoza at 18.00 tonight for a game that promises plenty of emotion and excitement, with the fans no doubt hoping Leo Messi might just repeat his fantastic hat trick performance from last season.

Pep Guardiola is not taking anything for granted ahead of the game against Zaragoza and has insisted that their position at the foot of the table doesn’t mean anything. The boss also spoke about the physical problems affecting Valdés and Xavi.

With most of the players involved in Wednesday night’s game working out in the gym, just seven of the first team squad, together with five players from the B team, took part in this morning’s training session at the Ciutat Esportiva.

FC Barcelona have beaten Copenhagen 2-0 and thus leap to the top of Champions League Group D. Messi scored a goal in each half.

Xavi Hernàndez will be rested this weekend for the game against Zaragoza and will therefore be able to assist at the ceremony of presentation of the Premis Príncep d'Astúries in Oviedo.

Wednesday night saw Javier Mascherano back to his best as he dominated the middle of the park, both in attack and defence, putting an end to the run of games in which he’d not yet won a game as a member of the starting 11 with Barça.

Josep Guardiola believes that FC Barcelona will start to convert the chances that they create in every game after seeing his side have to wait until the 92nd minute to net a second goal against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday evening.

Leo Messi has scored his 31st international goal for Barça, thus equalling the record set by Rivaldo. He also ties Alcántara as the fifth highest scorer in club history.

The Catalan football player Cesc Fàbregas confirms that he will play in London next season, stating that to join FC Barcelona would be an "attractive move" for him

In the 76 years of the European Athletics Championship?s History, the competition has never taken place in a Spanish city. This year, Barcelona?s Olympic Stadium was chosen for 7 days of track and field.

Spanish team features no less than seven regulars from the Catalan champions. In a surprising week, Brazil and Argentina were sent home, while Spain reached semi-finals for the first time in its history.

FC Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola knew that by signing David Villa, the team would have a guarantee when it comes to scoring goals. The World Cup in South Africa is not proving them wrong.