piqué

Barça aim for a historic fight back against AC Milan to stay in the Champions League. The Catalans attempt to turn around the 2-0 defeat in Milan and earn a place in the last eight of the competition. This generation of FC Barcelona players have won everything in the game, with few records left to beat and just one big challenge ahead of them – to come back from a losing position in a European tie. Xavi Hernàndez is Barça’s main doubt for the game.

A goal from Ramos with eight minutes left saw Real Madrid take a rather grey Clasico after Messi had equalised Benzema’s opener in the first half. Valdés was sent off after the final whistle after remonstrating with the referee who denied Barça an apparently clear late penalty when Adriano was brought down in the box.

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.

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.

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.

The Cercle d’Economia, the main Catalan economic forum open to businesspeople and academics, has published an opinion note on the political context following the last Catalan elections. In the note, the Cercle asks the Spanish Government “to talk” about the Catalan self-determination and “to reform” the Constitution accordingly. The Cercle does not explicitly back an independent Catalonia but it supports a deep reform of Spain’s territorial organisation and the finding of a negotiated solution for both parties, which may be reached through a legal referendum. In addition, the Cercle asks for a review of Spain’s internal distribution of the deficit targets among government levels and to increase those of the Autonomous Communities.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Barça host Alavés in the Round of 32 return leg of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday (21:30 CET). Barça claimed a 0-3 victory in the away leg. Tito Vilanova, who will rest five key first team players, has named five Barça B men to the side.

Barça’s Boss insisted that Messi, who missed training this morning as his first son was about to be born, will be available for Saturday’s game against Celta de Vigo. Vilanova also stated that Piqué “will be back in training with the rest of us in a few days’ time”.

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.

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.