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The German goalkeeper acknowledges that this is a big step forward in his career, after impressing so much for Borussia in his home city of Mönchengladbach. On Thursday he appeared in his first press conference and started with an apology. “I don’t speak very good Spanish yet, let alone Catalan” he said. But judging by the surprisingly confident way that he delivered those words in Spanish, it won’t be long before he does. “It was an honour for me to receive such an offer from a team that has been so successful in recent years" he told the media. FC Barcelona Sporting Director, former goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta, described the German player as “fast, agile, strong in the air and good in the one-on-one”.

Nike and FC Barcelona unveiled this Wednesday the new home kit for season 2014-15 season under the motto "Made to win", with stars from the present first team and the future of the club uniting as the side look to the future. From the famous La Masia to the iconic Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s footballers are synonymous for a unique playing style and philosophy for nurturing young talent to craft victory on the pitch. The home kit celebrates the return of the original Blaugrana for the 2014-15 season with a bold and classic look. The kits include Nike Dri-Fit technology and better fitting for comfort and performance. They are made with recycled plastic bottles; the shorts are 100% recycled polyester, the shirts are 96% and the socks are 78%.

Piqué’s contract, which runs until the end of next season (30 June 2015), has been extended for four more seasons. The Catalan defender has played 266 games for FC Barcelona in 6 seasons. He has scored 20 goals and has won 16 titles so far. The new contract will keep Piqué at the Catalan club until the end of the 2018/19 season and will be signed within the next few days. After coming up through the academy system, Piqué spent three years with Manchester United and another season with Zaragoza before returning to Barça in 2008, coinciding with the start of the Guardiola era.

FC Barcelona has announced the signing of the keeper from Borussia Mönchengladbach, Marc-André Ter Stegen, and the departure of José Manuel Pinto after six and a half years of service to the team. In addition, youngsters Gerard Deulofeu and Rafinha Alcantára will be returning to the Club after a year out on loan at Everton and Celta Vigo respectively. The Catalan winger and the Brazilian born midfielder both came up through the Masia and they have put in impressive performances on loan this year. Ter Stegen is one of the new signings for the 2014/15 Barça squad, announced by Football Director Andoni Zubizarreta and FC Barcelona's Board of Directors. On top of this, they also confirmed that José Manuel Pinto will no longer defend Barça’s goal now that his contract has expired.

The FC Barcelona Board of Directors have this evening confirmed  Luis Enrique Martínez as the new first team coach, replacing Tata Martino and following a proposal from Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta. Luis Enrique, 44 , will sign a two year deal. The new manager will sign his contract at noon on Wednesday and hold a press conference at 1:00 PM CET in the Auditori 1899.This wil be Luis Enrique’s third spell at FC Barcelona, after having arrived in 1996 as Player and coming back in 2008 as the Barça B's coach.

Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino stepped down as FC Barcelona’s manager after the match against Atlético Madrid. The Argentinian, who was accompanied by Andoni Zubizarreta, announced the decision in the post-match press conference.  “I announce the mutual decision with the club to no longer manage FC Barcelona,” he started. He continued by thanking, “regardless of today’s result,” the club for the support he received throughout the season. “I thank the club for everything its given me, I thank President Bartomeu, Football Director Zubizarreta and Sandro Rosell for having confidence in me.” He added: “I also thank the fans for their respect, and I thank everyone that worked with me and my staff, and I especially thank the players.”

Barça were finally unable to lift their fifth Spanish League title in six years, as Atletico Madrid held them to a 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou to win the league and condemn Barça to a second place finish. Only a win would do for Barça and the team pushed for it right till the end – when Pinto went up for a final corner – but despite going ahead through an Alexis goal in the first half, Godin’s headed equaliser after the break proved enough to give the visitors the point and the title.

The FC Barcelona Captain bowed out at an emotional event at the Camp Nou this Thursday afternoon, surrounded by Barça heroes, past and present. "It’s the end of an era, but there will be more and I hope to enjoy them as much as this one. Thank you all very much and visca el Barça!", stated Carles Puyol. The team's greatest captain leaves FC Barcelona after a fifteen year career in the first team that has brought him 21 titles. Recalling his time as a boy, playing football in the street with his brother and his friend Javi Perez, Puyol commented:"I came here as a boy and I’m leaving with a family who I’m really proud of".

This weekend Lewis Hamilton won the F1 race in Barcelona followed by Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg. The two drivers fought hard for the victory and Hamilton finished only 0.6 seconds ahead of Rosberg. Daniel Ricciardo, from Red Bull, completed the podium. Sebastian Vettel ended in fourth position, after starting the race 15^th. Hamilton is now leader of the championship. More than 200,000 people went to the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit to watch the F1 Grand Prix over the three days, 60% of which came from abroad.  

Atletico Madrid and Barça will fight it out for this season’s league title at the Camp Nou next weekend after both of them drew this Sunday evening and Real Madrid bid farewell to any hopes of challenging when they went down to Celta. Barça’s goalless draw at Elche was enough to keep them in with one last chance next week, with Atletico unable to get the win that would have give them the title, drawing 1-1 at home to Malaga.Barça dominated possession and territory against Elche, but were unable to convert that into goals.

If Barça win the remaining six points this season, the Blaugrana will retain the Spanish League crown! La Liga, just like life itself, presents us with a multitude of situations. When it looked as though the title was impossible for Barça after this weekend’s draw with Getafe, the Blaugrana were given a new chance to defend the title they won under the tutelage of Tito Vilanova. This Wednesday evening Real Madrid drew with Valladolid at the Nuevo Zorrilla (1-1), thus leaving the La Liga title in Barça’s hands. The fact that the Blaugrana host Atlético Madrid at the Camp Nou in the last game of the season means that Barça will have the chance to claim the title in front of the Camp Nou faithful.

The Camp Nou was witness to a game that produced a bitter twist right at the end. Lafita scored for Getafe in injury time and the draw leaves FC Barcelona with practically no hope whatsoever of winning their fifth league title in six years. Both Messi and Alexis had put Barça ahead, but the visitors found a reply both times, scoring with their only two serious attempts on goal.

FC Barcelona has already won the Spanish League Title, being undefeated so far this season, with 27 wins, without drawing or losing a single game. FC Barcelona handball team is on fire, but the league is not. No one knows this better than the Danish player Jesper Noddesbo, who shares the team with stars like Nikola Karabatic, Victor Tomás and Kiril Lazarov. Noddesbo came to the Catalan club in 2007 and has experienced how the sport and the club have changed over the last seven years in both good and bad ways.

The Japanese tennis player wins his first Godó Trophy in the 62^nd edition of the tournament. Kei Nishikori, ranked 17^th in the world, clinched his first clay court title after beating Columbian sensation Santiago Giraldo in straight sets and ascending five spots on the ATP rankings at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. After just an hour and thirteen minutes of play the fourth seed defeated his opponent 6-2, 6-2, becoming the first Japanese player to win the title. The Asian no. 1 becomes the first non-Spanish tennis player to lift the trophy in twelve years. A surprising turn of events saw several high profile players exit early in both the Men’s Singles and Doubles Championship. The Men’s Doubles surprised the crowd as Dutchman Jesse Huta Galung and French player Stéphane Robert paired up on Friday amazingly clinched their first title.

FC Barcelona, full of pride, fought back from a two-goal deficit to claim the three points in Sunday evening's game against Villarreal. Barça are still in content for the Spanish League title. The situation was critical in the Madrigal stadium. Emotionally shattered by the death of Tito Vilanova and the two goals for Villarreal pinned Barça back, but two own goals and a third from Messi proved enough to win the three points.