spanish league

The Barça Manager still insists that it is the Spanish League that matters most and that Levante won’t be an easy opponent. “Levante are on a bad run, but that sometimes works against you because they have nothing to lose” said Barça’s Assistant Manager Jordi Roura. In addition, he explained that Messi “has started training with the squad and he has dealt with his recovery period well and done everything he can to get fit again”.

Spanish League leaders power past Zaragoza, despite playing without Messi, Iniesta, Sergio, Piqué and Pedro. Thiago and Tello were on target for Barça, who were two up at the break and three up before the hour mark, as they brushed aside Zaragoza. FC Barcelona are 13 points ahead of Real Madrid with just 21 points left to play for.

Three goals from Cesc Fàbregas and a brace from Alexis gave Barça a 5-0 win over Mallorca in a game that marked the re-appearance of Eric Abidal after being one year out of the pitch due to a liver transplant. Furthermore, Tito Vilanova re-appeared at the Cam Nou bench after returning from New York where he received cancer treatment. The FC Barcelona fans warmly welcomed Vilanova and Abidal, in a true night to remember. So, with Tito back on the bench and Abidal on the pitch, Barça rounded off the perfect preparation for Wednesday night’s Champions League big game against PSG.

Leo Messi will miss the next Spanish League match after his injury in Paris, in the first leg of the Champions League’s quarters with the PSG. However, Messi’s availability after the weekend will depend on his progress and therefore he could be ready by Wednesday to face the PSG at the Camp Nou for the return leg. The last time Messi suffered a similar injury was on March 2008 against Glasgow Celtic and on that occasion he was out for five weeks.

An 88th minute equaliser by the home team meant Barça were held to a 2-2 draw in a game in which Leo Messi set another record by scoring in every Spanish League game for half a season. However it was Celta who opened the scoring after Orellana beat the Barça back line and set up Isca on 38 minutes. Furthermore, Abidal made a much awaited return on the bench.

On Saturday evening, Barça will travel to Galicia to play with Celta Vigo (18h CET). Shortly after the Catalans have their Champions League quarter final first leg at the Parc des Princes (Tuesday 2nd April at 20.45 CET), which are the main focuses of the week ahead. FC Barcelona will train six times, the first with the internationals still away, and the last in Paris, the day before they face PSG.

Barça beat Rayo Vallecano in a great game at the Camp Nou on Sunday evening, in which the Messi-Villa combination was the highlight for the hosts. FC Barcelona made a number of changes form the game against AC Milan and Rayo showed they were prepared to go toe to toe with Jordi Roura’s side. The Catalans finished 13 points in front again at the top of the Spanish League’s table.

Since the 2-0 result in Milan’s San Siro stadium, both sides have faced some tough games, but they come into the Champions League match on the back of league wins: the Catalans defeated Deportivo and the Italians, Genova. FC Barcelona need a three-goal-distance win on Tuesday evening to pass through the next Champions League tie. AC Milan have already arrived at the Catalan capital and, despite the first leg result, they are being cautious and refuse the favourite role considering Barça’s potential.

FC Barcelona got back to winning ways following the two painful defeats to Real Madrid, with a 2-0 victory over Deportivo. The three points bring the Spanish League title closer to the Camp Nou, with 11 games still to play this season. Goals from Alexis and Messi give Barça three important points ahead of next Tuesday’s AC Milan game, when the Catalans need a clear victory to continue their Champions League campaign.

At the press conference before the FC Barcelona vs Deportivo de la Coruña game, Barça boss insisted that the team had trained well this week and are keen to beat the Galician side: “to keep our lead at the top of the table”. After the two consecutive defeats against Real Madrid, FC Barcelona needs a morale boost against Deportivo in order to face AC Milan next Tuesday, a crucial and difficult match in order to continue their Champions League campaign. In the first leg tie, the Catalans lost 2-0 in San Siro and now they need an heroic victory at the Camp Nou.

The Barça goalkeeper will miss the next four Spanish League matches (against Deportivo, Rayo, Celta and Mallorca). Valdés was sent off just at the end of the Real Madrid – FC Barcelona clásico, when he protested the referee for a last-minute penalty. The FC Barcelona legal services will be presenting an appeal over the next few days against the verdict of the Spanish Football Federation’s ‘Competition Committee’.

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.

Tuesday’s painful Spanish Cup KO, Barça face Real Madrid again, this time in a League competition they are dominating - leading their great rivals by 16 points – a situation that leads Roura to insist on an optimistic message. The FC Barcelona coach is fully confident in his players’ “admirable attitude” ahead of Saturday’s match, which he reckons is: “a very important game”. “The League is the top prize and a good result on Saturday will be a great step forward”, he added. Furthermore, Roura admitted: “against Milan and Madrid we were not as inspired as usual, but that is no cause for pessimism”.

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.

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.