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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.

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.

The four-time Ballon d'Or will be a Barça player through June 30 of 2018. Messi has signed his new contract with FC Barcelona, which adds two additional years to his previous contract, set to expire in June 2016. Messi, who joined FC Barcelona when he was 13 years old and made his first-team debut three years later, will be 31 when his contract expires.

Valdés, Piqué, Puyol, Alba, Busquets, Iniesta, Cesc, Pedro, Villa, Alexis, Messi, Mascherano, Alves and Adriano will play for their respective national teams on Wednesday in friendlies. Alexis Sánchez, who was named to Chile's national team, will make the shortest trip, seeing that his national team is set to play in Madrid. On the other hand, Spain, with nine Blaugrana named to the team, will travel the farthest. The Spanish side will play in Qatar against Uruguay. Carles Puyol could play his 100th match for the Spanish national team.

Valencia’s Mestalla stadium is never an easy place to take points from, but although it again proved a tough venue for Barça on Sunday, the Spanish League leaders came away with a valuable draw from a game with few chances in either box after a Messi penalty just before the break equalised Banega’s opener.

Barça managed a valuable draw at Real Madrid in Wednesday’s Spanish Cup semi final, but will feel short-changed after displaying superior football and creating so many wasted chances. Cesc made it 1-0 in the 50th minute, but without doing much to warrant it, Real Madrid snatched a draw with ten minutes to go.

Jordi Roura can call on his most important players for the match against Real Madrid. Los Blancos are without Casillas, Pepe (injured), Ramos, Coentrao and Di María (suspended). However, the Blaugrana know that Real Madrid, despite coming into the match with important absences, have always been a very dangerous side. Roura is aware that overconfidence could lead to a disastrous result at the Bernabéu. Barça coaching staff and the players have rubbished being called favourites for this Wednesday match, despite the 15-point lead FC Barcelona have in the Spanish League.

Jordi Roura, Barça’s assistant manager, has made it very clear that he expects Real Madrid to be highly competitive in the Spanish Cup semi-final’s first leg on Wednesday night. “These are very tight matches that are decided by small details”, he observes. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are facing the clasico in a very different situation: the Catalans lead the Spanish League, 15 points ahead the all-whites.

Four goals from Leo Messi and another from Pedro gave Barça a big win against Osasuna, who played with 10 men from the 26th minute. The victory put to bed any doubts after last week’s defeat to Real Sociedad. Such was Barça’s superiority that they were able to give a rest to some of their players ahead of this week’s tough schedule, with Wednesday’s ‘clasico’ against Real Madrid at the Spanish Cup’s semi-finals.

Barça players faced Malaga’s challenge playing a magnificent game, after the quarter finals’ first leg draw at the Camp Nou. The Catalans won 4-2 in Malaga and now they are through to a Copa del Rey semi final against Real Madrid. The first leg of the ‘clasico’ will be next Wednesday at 21.00 at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. Goals from Pedro, Piqué, Iniesta and Messi gave FC Barcelona the victory, after one of the finest examples of spectacular football.

Along with other cities such as Madrid, Seville or Zaragoza, Barcelona and the neighbouring town of Granollers have played host to the Handball World Championship which comes to a climax this weekend in the Palau Sant Jordi in the Catalan capital. Last night, local handball fans watched as Spain and Germany battled it out to reach Friday’s semi-finals. Spain won 28-24 in a team featuring FC Barcelona players Victor Tomás, Albert Rocas and Daniel Sarmiento and now face Slovenia in tomorrow’s semi-final clash.

Barça players Gerard Piqué and Carles Puyol were congratulated by their team-mates before this morning's training session to prepare for the Spanish Cup quarter final game to be played tomorrow. Piqué was congratulated for becoming a father, while Puyol was congratulated for extending his contract with the FC Barcelona.

The Barça striker will be available for the Spanish Cup quarter final’s second leg to be payed on Thursday against Málaga. Villa has been given the medical all clear to play on Tuesday, following his recovery from a calf injury.

An injury time winner for Real Sociedad put an end to Barça’s unbeaten league season, with Tito’s team going down 3-2 despite having been 0-2 up in the first half.