Barça got the job done with an excellent result in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi final against Almeria. Goals from Messi (2), Villa and Pedro in the first half and a late strike from Keita have FCB as good as in the final.
Pep Guardiola expects the game with Almeria to be tough. The manager knows how important this week is and just how special the Cup is.
It was another party night at the Nou Camp tonight as Barça began the second half of the season with a convincing 3-0 win over Racing, who were chasing the game from the very first minute.
A Spanish police trade union has complained to the government for not teaching Catalan to police agents. While money is being invested in simultaneous translation in the Senate, there is no way to help police stationed in Catalonia integrate socially, claims the police union CEP.
Josep Guardiola has warned that Racing are capable of causing Barça problems if his team fail to play with maximum concentration. The boss also commented on Alves’ and Pinto’s situation.
Barça have qualified for the semi finals of the Copa del Rey despite losing 3-1 at Betis. All of the goals were scored in a gripping first half, with Messi on target for Barça and also missing a penalty. It’s the first time FCB have lost since September 11.
Half the job done, half the job left to do. FC Barcelona, following the 5-0 first leg win, are off to Seville tonight (22.00, La Sexta and R@dio Barça) to settle qualification for the cup semi finals. Alves and Puyol are the only players missing.
For the first time in the post Franco era, Catalan, Basque and Galician will be spoken at the Spanish Territorial High Chamber’s plenary sessions. Although the languages will still be banned in the Government’s control sessions at the Senate, from now on they will be allowed in the Senate’s regular plenary sessions. Although these languages are official in many parts of Spain, up till now, only the Spanish language was permitted to be used in the Senate. Using these other official languages in Spanish-level institutions like the Senate is an historic claim from a wide range of Catalan society.
Barça thrashed Malaga 4-1 after another sublime first half performance and finish the first half of the Championship stronger leaders than ever. Iniesta, Villa (2) and Pedro were on target for Guardiola’s men as they ran up their 13th successive leag.
Prices increased by 7 decimals last December. The monthly price increase was of tobacco and transport.
Lionel Messi crowned his triumph in winning the Ballon d'Or this week by hitting a stunning hat-trick as FC Barcelona took a huge stride towards a place in the Copa del Rey semi finals with victory over Real Betis.
Barça receives Betis in the quarter finals of the Copa del Rey (22.00 pm) two days after being the main attraction at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich. Leo Messi will be sharing the trophy with fans before kick off.
FC Barcelona have won at Riazor with goals from Villa, Messi, Iniesta and Pedro, three in the second half. That’s their ninth away win and takes them up to 49 points.
Up to 1.000 French have applied for dual citizenship in a move to 'honour' their relatives, who suffered the consequences of the war and were sent into exile
Barça will start 2011 without Messi, Puyol or Piqué against Levante, three of the most regular members of the first team.