TheNewsGuru

Tag: Barca

  • Mbappe breaks Messi Champions League scoring record

    Mbappe breaks Messi Champions League scoring record

    PSG star Kylian Mbappe has become the youngest player in Champions League history to reach 25 goals in the competition, breaking Lionel Messi’s record.

    Mbappe opened the scoring for PSG against Messi and Barcelona on Wednesday, netting from the penalty spot in the 31st minute of their last-16 second leg clash.

    At 22 years and 80 days, Mbappe broke a record Messi set aged 22 years and 286 days.
    Mbappe gave PSG a huge lead going into the second leg by scoring a hat-trick in the first leg at Camp Nou – a 4-1 win for the Ligue 1 giants.

    With his goal at home on Wednesday, Mbappe set yet another record in a game that ended in a 1-1 draw, with PSG advancing to the last eight through a 5-2 aggregate win.

    The striker has four goals against Barca in this year’s Champions League, becoming the first player to score that many goals against the Blaugrana in a single season of the competition.

    Goal

  • UCL: Easier facing PSG without Neymar – De Jong

    UCL: Easier facing PSG without Neymar – De Jong

    Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong insists they face PSG with optimism.

    De Jong knows that Barcelona face an uphill battle as they try to overturn their 4-1 first leg deficit against their Champions League round 16 opponents, but he believes the continued injury absence of Neymar helps the Catalan club out.

    The Brazilian won’t be able to face his former club due to his continue injury issues.

    “For me, he is one of the best in the world,” De Jong said in a pre-match press conference as he spoke about Neymar.

    “When he’s not there, it’s better or easier for us. I don’t know how to put it. But, without Neymar on the other side, it’s easier.”

    Asked about the tie as a whole and the likelihood of Barcelona achieving another comeback against the Parisians, four years and two days after the famous 2017 one, De Jong said this was the clear objective.

    “I don’t know if the 4-1 result from the first leg was fair, but we played poorly and we’re going in to this game to try to present a good image and to try to compete,” he said.

    “You always have to believe a comeback is possible, but we need to show it tomorrow on the pitch.

    “We’re always united and we’re achieving some good results of late. The unity was seen in the Sevilla matches. We’re going to Paris to try to win and compete.

    “We’re training well and, personally, I feel good, which is important. I want to keep this up as I’m happy.”

  • UCL: Neymar to miss 2nd leg clash against Barca

    UCL: Neymar to miss 2nd leg clash against Barca

    Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed Neymar will not face former club Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday after deciding to take no risks with the Brazilian’s fitness as he works his way back from an adductor injury.

    The 29-year-old forward has been out of action since picking up a knock in a French Cup clash with Caen on February 10.

    It had been suggested that a return to action could be made against Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League, as he is back in light training, but Mauricio Pochettino will not be calling upon the South American at Parc des Princes.

    PSG have stated in a team news update ahead of the meeting with Barcelona: “Sergio Rico is not participating in training this morning for personal reasons.

    “Neymar JR resumed partial training with the squad last week and will continue his individual recovery work. A new assessment will be made in the coming days.

    “Juan Bernat continues his rehabilitation and his personal recovery.

    “Moise Kean is still in isolation due to Covid-19.”

    Goal

  • Our emergency plan is ready – New Barca president

    Our emergency plan is ready – New Barca president

    New Barcelona president Joan Laporta says his first move will to place an “emergency plan” into action.

    Laporta beat Victor Font and Toni Freixa, with 55,000 members participating in the vote.

    After admitting he expected to win the election, he explained his first plans as president: “The first thing will be an audit but first I will meet the staff. The club has been rudderless and finally, we can make the necessary decisions.

    “We will do an audit and put our emergency plan into place to make Barça economically sustainable.”

  • ‘I’ll take this to my grave’ – Moriba on first Barca goal

    ‘I’ll take this to my grave’ – Moriba on first Barca goal

    Ilaix Moriba said he’ll never forget his first Barcelona goal and “will take it to my grave” after he scored in a 2-0 win against Osasuna on Saturday.

    The 18-year-old collected Lionel Messi’s pass on the edge of the area before cutting on his left foot and curling a wonderful effort into the top corner, doubling Barca’s advantage after Jordi Alba’s first-half strike.

    The win moved Ronald Koeman’s side to within two points of leaders Atletico Madrid, who take on their city rivals Real on Sunday.

    Moriba only made his senior debut in January against Cornella in the Copa del Rey, but impressed Koeman enough to stay in and around the first-team squad.

    He made his La Liga debut against Alaves at the start of the month, with Saturday’s clash against Osasuna just his fifth senior appearance.

    “Leo gave me a good pass and I don’t know how I cut and shot with the left, and thank God it went in,” he told Barca TV.

    “I will never forget this and I will take it to my grave. There’s competition for places but it doesn’t matter if you are young or not. If you play well you’re in the team.

    “The older players help us, give us advice, Leo tells me to get in the area as often as I can and get in positions to shoot.

    “I want to dedicate this goal to my father and La Masia, where I have learned a lot from.”

    Moriba also insisted that Barcelona had not given up on the title, despite leaders Atletico having two games in hand.

    “La Liga isn’t over for us,” added the midfielder, who at 18 years and 46 days is the youngest player to score from outside the box in La Liga this season. “We will fight till the end. That is the DNA they taught us at La Masia.”

    Goal

  • Tata Martino still unhappy with Barca treatment

    Tata Martino still unhappy with Barca treatment

    Mexico coach Tata Martino admits his time with Barcelona still burns.

    Martino spent just one year in charge at the Camp Nou, during Atletico Madrid’s title winning season in 2013/14, before stepping down from his role.

    “Big clubs always go through stages of conflict,” Martino told MARCA Claro, referring to the tough time the Catalans have endured off the pitch this season, before talking about coming in for criticism.

    “It [being criticised] happened to me at Barcelona. In 15 days I went from being good to being extremely bad.

    “I don’t know if it’s something that has to be accepted, but it happens.”

  • ‘Barca will have a problem if I don’t have a future’

    ‘Barca will have a problem if I don’t have a future’

    Ronald Koeman has addressed the ongoing speculation over his position at Camp Nou, insisting Barcelona “are going to have problems” if he doesn’t have a future at the club.

    Koeman was handed a two-year contract by Barca when he replaced Quique Setien in the hot seat back in August, but now finds himself under increasing pressure amid a turbulent 2020-21 campaign.

    It has been suggested that the Dutchman could lose his job when the club’s next president is elected later this month, and he has now admitted to being uncertain with regards to whether or not he will be given the chance to remain in charge through to 2022.

    “I have not spoken with anyone. We have to wait for who comes in as president and his plan,” Koeman told a press conference on Tuesday.

    “If I do not see an important future for me we are going to have problems, because I have one more year on my contract.”

    Goal

  • Barca presidential candidate: Only if I win will Messi stay

    Barca presidential candidate: Only if I win will Messi stay

    Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta has again declared he is the club’s only chance of convincing Lionel Messi to stay.

    Off contract in June, Messi was a star of the previous Laporta era and the latter insists the two men are close.

    “We may not be able to compete for money, but Messi is not ruled by money,” he said.

    “He wants to end his career as high as possible. With Messi, I have a relationship of esteem and respect. I’m sure if another candidate wins he won’t stay.

    “Messi will examine our proposal. There was a time when certain claims were disclosed that Messi was expendable…”

  • Laporta has Barca agreement with Arsenal fullback

    Laporta has Barca agreement with Arsenal fullback

    Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta has an agreement with Arsenal fullback Hector Bellerin.

    The Mirror says Laporta has held talks and has an agreement with the Gunners defender’s representatives to try to negotiate a fee with Arsenal to bring him back.

    Bellerin, who is also of interest to Paris Saint-Germain, arrived in North London as a 16-year-old and has gone on to play over 200 times for the first team.

    He remains under contract until 2023, but today’s report states ‘he is open to rejoining his old club and returning to his home city’ in the summer.

    However, that all depends on whether Laporta is voted in for a second crack at life as Barcelona president in the upcoming election.

  • Mikel Arteta on shortlist of Barca presidential candidate

    Mikel Arteta on shortlist of Barca presidential candidate

    Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta is eyeing Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

    While Laporta has insisted Ronald Koeman is safe should he win this week’s election, RAC-1 says he has plans to replace the Dutchman should things go south before the end of the season.

    And among the names on his shortlist is Arteta.

    The Gunners manager is a former Barca junior and impressing in his first manager’s job at Arsenal. Significantly, Arteta is close to Manchester City manager and former Barca coach Pep Guardiola.