Sports

Barça’s Copa del Rey title defence is over after losing at home to a Real Madrid side that knew how to take its chances. Despite FC Barcelona getting a good result in the first leg at the Bernabéu (1-1), the all-whites, spurred on by an early penalty, were highly effective at the back and lethal up front. Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals and Varane, Real Madrid’s third target. Jordi Alba pulled one back for Barça, but it was too little too late.

The Spanish Cup champions from the last two seasons meet this evening (21.00 CET) at the Camp Nou in the second leg of the Cup semi-finals, after the two teams drew 1-1 in Madrid. Barça Manager, Jordi Roura has a full squad available, whilst Iker Casillas is missing for the visitors. The clasico’s result at the Camp Nou could have a big effect on both side’s morale ahead of their upcoming Champions League games.

Speaking to the media after Monday’s training session, FC Barcelona Manager, Jordi Roura, insisted: “the team is really focussed and determined to get into another final”. On Tuesday FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will play the second leg of the Spanish Cup semi-final. Roura also reminded everyone that Barça’s style is non-negotiable: “we will be going out to win from the off”.

Goals from Villa and Messi at the start of the second half gave Barça a confidence boosting win after Botia had given Seville a first half lead. In the end, Barça took three more points in the chase for the Spanish League title and gave themselves a good result ahead of the upcoming games against Real Madrid, at the Spanish Cup, and AC Milan, at the Champions League. Barça made six changes from the team who started against AC Milan, with Montoya in at left back and Villa starting up front for the first time since his illness.

Throughout this week the Formula One Test Days have been held at the Montmeló racetrack, located in Greater Barcelona’s northern area. While all the teams try to optimize their performance capacity, Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso has been the fastest driver this week. The Circuit has been a hive of activity thanks to other parallel activities of the event, such as guided tours. The Formula One Test Days at the Catalunya Circuit are back next week between the 28th February and 3rd March, just two weeks before the Formula One official season starts in Australia.

Spanish Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso was the fastest driver this week at the Montmeló F1 circuit, leading the field Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the Formula 1 Test Days. However, the lap record was recorded by McLaren’s new driver, Mexican Sergio Pérez, who needed just 1 minute 21.848 seconds to complete the Catalan track.

FC Barcelona player Éric Abidal is once again available for Barça’s first team selection after recovering from a liver transplant last April. The Frenchman received the wonderful news after Thursday’s training session. In fact, since the 19th December, Abidal has been training with the rest of Barça players. In early October, he went with FC Barcelona physio Emili Ricart to spend several days in the Catalan mountains at the Vall d’Aran County, in the heart of the Pyrenees, to follow a specific training programme.

Two second half goals from Boateng and Muntari at San Siro have left Barça with a mountain to climb in the second leg of the Champions League’s last 16. The clash of titans at the San Siro has ended with AC Milan celebrating their 2-0 win over FC Barcelona as if they had won the title. The Barça forwards failed to create a single clear-cut opportunity and in defence allowed Milan to take practically the only two real chances they had in the entire game. On the 12th of March, FC Barcelona will be looking for yet another magnificent night in front of their own fans to turn around a tie that currently sees them in a very tricky situation indeed.

Milan is the venue for tonight’s Champions League second round match (20.45 CET) in which Barça will be without either of the injured Villa and Adriano. The ‘rossoneri’ and ‘blaugrana’ have eleven European Cups between them. Both teams are in excellent form going into tonight’s encounter at the San Siro.

The Barcelona Half Marathon took place on Sunday in the Catalan capital. At exactly 8.45 am the first group started out on its 21km run followed by two other groups, five and ten minutes later. Only one hour and four seconds later the first runner reached the finish line: Eliud Kipchoge, from Kenya. With a time of 1 hour, 7 minutes and 32 seconds, the first woman passed the finish line, Atsede Baysa, from Ethiopia. The 14,325 participants registered for the 2013 run set a new record in the race’s history.

Two second half goals from Leo Messi turned the result round after Ighalo had put a brave Granada ahead and gave Barça three more points in their title bid. With the World Number One leading the team though, Barça put in an impeccable second half performance and set things up nicely for Wednesday’s trip to San Siro, when the Catalans will be playing AC Milan at the Champions League last 16 first leg.

FC Barcelona go to Granada on Saturday for the first in a marathon series of five games in 14 days, including massive matches with Milan in the European Champions League and Real Madrid in the Spanish Cup. The Manager has said in the press conference before the Granada vs. FC Barcelona game that “we are in comfortable position in the league but that should be no excuse for any kind of relaxation”. “We’re into the nice part of the season when in a few days there are lots of things at stake. In terms of fitness and morale this is a good moment for us” commented Roura.

David Alegre, Quico Cortés and Roger Padrós are three Catalan field hockey players who were selected in the Hockey India League draft. All three have been representing Catalonia in this league’s debut season. The goalkeeper Cortés eventually won the HIL championship with his team, the Ranchi Rhinos. While 11 Catalan players were part of the draft, only three of them became HIL players. They have fought with their respective teams to win the league and have already flight back to their European clubs after a short but intense experience.

Barça Regal won the 23rd Cup in Club history this Sunday evening thanks to a superb performance in the final against Valencia Basket.This is the third Cup won by the Blaugrana of the Xavi Pascual era. Pete Mickeal was named the MVP of the final.

A great performance from Barça to beat Getafe with goals by Alexis, Messi, Villa, Tello, Iniesta and Piqué. In the absence of midfield maestro Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Leo Messi directed a free-flowing Barça attack while assistant coach Jordi Roura was able to rest some of his overstretched players. The game was the first morning kick-off seen in the Camp Nou for several decades.