Sports

Beyond awards, individual or otherwise, for Leo Messi the “most important thing is that I continue to grow at Barça and I’d like to continue growing until the end”. The world’ number one player received this Monday in Barcelona his second Golden Boot, recognising him as last season’s top scorer in European leagues. Besides, 5 FC Barcelona players – Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Piqué and Busquets – are among the 23 candidates for the next FIFA Ballon d’Or award.

FC Barcelona laid down the law in Vallecas with a 0-5 win thanks to goals from Villa, Messi (2), Xavi and Cesc, after a pretty well balanced start. This way, the Catalan club stretch their best ever start to a season.

Ahead of the trip to Rayo’s stadium, FC Barcelona’s Manager praised Paco Jémez’s work as coach and warned: “they won’t just sit back and wait for us – they’ll go toe to toe with us”. Despite last season’s 0-7 win, Vilanova expressed his caution, believing: “this will be a very tough game”.

A Jordi Alba goal in the final minute of injury time sparked off celebrations at the Camp Nou. It was just reward for Barça against a Celtic side that only wanted to defend its early lead. Barça are now top of their Champions League group with a five-point lead over the Scots.

FC Barcelona and Glasgow Celtic go head to head in a match that will have a huge bearing on the final outcome of group G of the Champions League. Barça Manager, Tito Vilanova, will once again have to shuffle his defensive pack due to Busquets being suspended.

The FC Barcelona Manager considers that this Tuesday's match against Celtic at the Camp Nou is “very important” for Barça’s hopes of reaching the Champions League knock-out rounds. Vilanova knows that the match this Tuesday won’t be easy, and his main goal is making sure his players recover from the effort they put in against Deportivo on Saturday.

FC Barcelona won 4-5 at Deportivo’s Riazor with a brilliant performance of attacking football crowned by a Leo Messi hat trick and strikes from Jordi Alba and Chrisitan Tello.

FC Barcelona’s Manager warned of the difficulties facing the team in Deportivo’s Riazor: “it’s never an easy ground – especially with the players coming off the international break”. Tito Vilanova has no plans to make rotations in his team, with a number of players out injured.

If Barça and Real Madrid get through the previous rounds, they would meet in the semi finals on 23rd and 30th January. Defending champions FC Barcelona, will be taking on the Division 2B Alavés in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey. The first leg is on 31st October in Vitoria and the return at the Camp Nou will be on 28th November.

Barça’s young centre half was officially presented this Monday at his new club Mallorca, where he will stay on loan until June 30th. The Catalan player travelled to Mallorca the same day for a medical check-up and later he was presented as a new player of the Balearic team. Fontàs suffered a serious knee injury last season.

The FC Barcelona’s defender is recovering from his liver transplant and he is doing specific training work at the Val d’Aran County, which hosts a National Park. During his stay, where he will be following a specific plan, the French defender will be combining aerobic work with activities on the field, which will start to include exercises with the ball.

Points shared at the Camp Nou with two goals apiece from Messi and Ronaldo. Barça maintained their eight point advantage over Real Madrid at the Spanish League.

A wonderful game and goals from Alexis Sánchez and Cesc Fàbregas gained FC Barcelona their second win in their Champions League group stage. Benfica were outplayed for most of the 90 minutes, especially in the second half. Puyol was forced to withdraw with yet another injury and Busquets was sent off towards the end of the game.

Two historic European football teams, Benfica and Barça, will face off on Tuesday evening (20.45 CET) at the Da Luz Stadium for the second match of the Champions League group stage. On Sunday, FC Barcelona will play the domestic classico against Real Madrid at the Spanish League, in which the Catalans are 8 points ahead the All-whites.

Two goals in the last five minutes gave Barça the points in Seville in a thrilling match that saw them fight back from a 2-0 deficit and extend Barça’s unbeaten Spanish League start to six games.