Sports

FC Barcelona player, Leo Messi, destroyed Mallorca with a first half hat trick to set up a comfortable win, rounded off after the break with two cracking goals from Cuenca and Alves.

Both the Barça centre backs will be able to play against Mallorca after being declared fit at the end of today’s training session. That means Guardiola has 19 players to pick from including the reserve team’s Isaac Cuenca.

Cesc Fàbregas came out in defense of Leo Messi and believes that he’ll soon get back to scoring goals as usual: "He’s very humble, always gives everything for the team, and loves the club. There’s nothing more to say".

Barça neat Granada by a single goal and for 24 hours at least they are back on top of the Spanish League. Xavi got the goal with a fantastic free kick while Pedro was taken off injured and Jaime and Benítez were sent off for Granada.

FC Barcelona drew with Sevilla in a game that they did everything they could to win, but came up against an inspired Javi Varas. The visiting goalkeeper saved a penalty from Messi in injury time

FC Barcelona overcame Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League by just 2-0. Barça were the much better team for the whole match and created lots of chances, but had to work really hard to break down the visitors.

Barça have never won the third and fourth matches of the group stages of the Champions League under Guardiola. Tonight they will be hoping to change that as FC Barcelona face the little-known Czech outfit Viktoria Plze? (20.45 CET).

Barça’s playmaking general has made his best start to a season as a goal scorer with three goals at the start of the Spanish League campaign.

Two goals from Messi and another from Xavi gave FC Barcelona a win over Racing Santander at the Camp Nou. With Iniesta back in the team, Barça stay top of the Spanish League table for another week.

FC Barcelona will open their Copa del Rey challenge with a local derby against L’Hospitalet, a small team from Greater Barcelona, playing at the third division (called Division 2B). The first leg will be on November 9 and the return at the Camp Nou on December 21.

FC Barcelona may be the team to supply the most players to the European Championship for 2012. Between Spain, France and Holland, the club has twelve players due to take part in Ukraine and Poland next summer.

Barça have scored 37 goals this season, and 26 of those have been scored by products of FC Barcelona’s own youth system. Eight were scored by imported players, and three were own goals.

Two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol joined Barça Regal for training this Thursday, alongside his brother Marc Gasol. The two will train under Xavi Pascual whilst the NBA lockout continues. Pau Gasol hopes to be able to play with Los Angeles Lakers soon, but meanwhile he will train with FC Barcelona Regal.

Audi and Barça have agreed to the extension of the sponsorship agreement until 2014. Audi will be allowed to use FC Barcelona’s image and the German brand will be Barça’s official car. Audi has been one of Barça’s official sponsors since the 2006-07 season.

Iniesta has recovered from the hamstring injury sustained in the Champions League against Milan. The midfielder was given medical clearance after taking part in a training session involving mainly Barça B players.