TheNewsGuru

Tag: Barca

  • I met with Pep Guardiola, but… – Laporta

    I met with Pep Guardiola, but… – Laporta

    Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta concedes a return for Pep Guardiola is now off.

    Guardiola won two Champions League titles with Laporta during the latter’s previous time as Barca president.

    There has been talk of Laporta trying to revive the partnership, but a new Manchester City contract signed by Guardiola last month has ended those hopes.

    Laporta recently met Guardiola at a function in Spain and he revealed: “He came to see us and have a good time.

    “I congratulated him on his renewal at City and I hope all is well for him because he is a friend.”

  • Messi equals Pele record with 643rd club goal

    Messi equals Pele record with 643rd club goal

    Lionel Messi equalled Brazil legend Pele’s record of 643 goals for a single club after scoring for Barcelona in Saturday’s draw against Valencia.

    The Argentine, 33, achieved the feat with a diving header just before half-time, immediately after his penalty was saved by keeper Jaume Domenech.

    Messi scored his first goal for Barca in 2005 against Albacete.
    Pele, 80, scored 643 goals in 19 seasons for Brazilian side Santos between 1956 and 1974.

  • Barca’s interim board demand Coutinho sale

    Barca’s interim board demand Coutinho sale

    Barcelona’s interim board are ready to green light the sale of Philippe Coutinho next month.

    The Brazil midfielder is regarded highly by coach Ronald Koeman, however ARA reports the board wish to immediately cash in.

    The board’s president, Carles Tusquets, has pushed for wage reductions and with Coutinho among their highest and the squad’s overload of midfielders, the Brazilian is being put up for sale.

    Coutinho was expected to leave Barca last summer after a loan with Bayern Munich, but his late season form with the Germans convinced Koeman to keep him on.

    However, now a move away is in the works and a return to the Premier League is favoured by the former Liverpool star.

    Arsenal and Tottenham were linked with the midfielder last summer.

  • Xavi shocks Barca: I’m not leaving until…

    Xavi shocks Barca: I’m not leaving until…

    Al Sadd coach Xavi has ruled out a return to Barcelona – for the next TWO YEARS.

    In a heavy blow to Barca presidential candidate Victor Font, Xavi has announced he doesn’t intend to leave Al Sadd until after the 2022 World Cup.

    He told Goal: “While the time will come for me to take a new step in my coaching career, for now I am trying to make the most of my time here and make the most of the opportunity to play a small part in the Qatar’s exciting journey towards 2022.”

    Xavi had been confirmed member of Font’s ticket ahead of next month’s election with it expected he would be replacing Ronald Koeman as Barca coach.

  • Barca prove too strong for upstarts Real Sociedad

    Barca prove too strong for upstarts Real Sociedad

    FC Barcelona finally made a statement of intent in what has been a chaotic season as they came from behind to beat La Liga leaders Real Sociedad 2-1 at home on Wednesday.

    Brazilian striker Willian Jose gave the visitors the lead from close range in the 27th minute, but FC Barcelona came right back at them, levelling four minutes later.

    This was when Jordi Alba smashed the ball into the top corner with his weaker right foot.

    The Catalans took the lead shortly before halftime when Frenkie de Jong arrived into the box and poked home a cross from Alba.

    Jong initially saw his goal ruled out for offside but then celebrated when it was awarded after a VAR review.

    Real Sociedad, missing David Silva and top scorer Mikel Oyarzabal, failed to rise to the occasion, yet they should have equalised several times.

    One of such moments was when Alexander Isak was thwarted by a fine tackle from FC Barcelona’s Pedri and a great save by Marc-Andre ter Stegen from close range.

    “It was our best performance of the season, I’m so happy with the attitude the team showed,” said Alba.

    “It’s difficult when you don’t have fans in the stadium, but we were still really motivated to win the game. Today, we saw a great Barca side, one that was ready to fight for every ball.”

    A second consecutive victory took FC Barcelona up to fifth in La Liga on 20 points after 12 games and knocked Real Sociedad off the top and into second.

    Atletico Madrid, who also have 26 points, sneaked up to the summit on goal difference but have one game in hand on FC Barcelona and three on Real Sociedad.

    FC Barcelona produced a commanding performance, especially in the first half, but went behind against the run of play.

    This was when Sociedad staged an elaborate move following a corner and Willian Jose appeared at the far post to nudge in a cross from Portu.

    They quickly got back into the game through Alba’s thumping strike and should have gone ahead.

    This was when Antoine Griezmann hit the woodwork against the side where he began his career before Martin Braithwaite lifted the ball over the bar with the goal gaping.

    They kept at it, though, and were rewarded when Dutch midfielder De Jong scored his first goal of the season.

    Griezmann missed an even clearer chance to score in the second half, while Lionel Messi continued to show signs of a lack of sharpness.

    FC Barcelona faced a nervy ending but pulled off a win that will lift their morale and revitalise their hopes of joining the title race.

  • La Liga: Barca players brand one teammate ‘Judas’

    La Liga: Barca players brand one teammate ‘Judas’

    Barcelona’s locker room is suffering a major split over the board’s demands for pay-cuts.

    Barca’s interim board have been pushing for the players to accept pay-cuts to help the club through the impact of the Spanish government’s lockdown.

    Gerard Piqué, Clément Lenglet, Frenkie De Jong and Marc-André ter Stegen have offered to negotiate separately their wage reductions – something which has upset their teammates.

    Journalist Lluis Canut, reporting for TV3, says the other players of Barcelona did not appreciate these extensions for Pique, Ter Stegen, De Jong and Lenglet – and that they were offered new deals before the general agreement on lowering wages.

    An anger so important that one of these four players in question, whose identity was not disclosed, has even been called “Judas” by some of his teammates.

  • ‘Xavi will be Barca boss, it’s in his DNA’

    ‘Xavi will be Barca boss, it’s in his DNA’

    Barcelona legend Xavi has been tipped to return to Camp Nou as a coach in the near future.

    Presidential elections are due to be held at Barca on January 24, with a few of those in the running suggesting that they would look to take Xavi back to Camp Nou if given the chance to do so.

    Saviola believes it is only a matter of time before the World Cup winner, who made 767 appearances for the Blaugrana in his playing days, embraces the opportunity to fill a demanding post.

    “I think he will end up coaching Barcelona, it’s his DNA,” former Barca star Saviola told Radio Marca.

    “He’s developing as a coach to gain experience and prepare for taking over at Camp Nou. I am sure he will choose when and how he returns to Barcelona.”

  • Neymar cools Barca return talk

    Neymar cools Barca return talk

    PSG star Neymar insists he’s never considered leaving the club.

    Neymar continues to be linked with a return to Barcelona.

    But he says: “I am very happy here in Paris.

    “I am very happy at the club, with my teammates. The idea of leaving does not cross my mind.

    “We need to talk. We have a very good relationship, I am very happy at Paris Saint-Germain.”

  • UCL: Ronaldo outshines Messi in Barca win

    UCL: Ronaldo outshines Messi in Barca win

    Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties to take his Champions League goal tally to 134 as Juventus beat Barcelona to seal top spot in Group G.

    Ronaldo sent Marc-Andre ter Stegen the wrong way after being fouled by Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo.

    Juve doubled their lead through Weston McKennie’s bicycle kick before Ronaldo added his second from the spot after Clement Lenglet handled.

    It is Barcelona’s first defeat in a group game since 2016.

    They started the day with a three-point cushion over Juve but finish second and will be unseeded in next Monday’s last-16 draw.

    Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, regarded as the two greatest players of their generation, were facing one another for the first time since May 2018.

    While Ronaldo scored two, Messi was frustrated by 42-year-old Juve keeper Gianluigi Buffon, who made a string of fine saves.

  • Ronaldo shines as Juventus humble Messi’s Barca 3-0

    Ronaldo shines as Juventus humble Messi’s Barca 3-0

    Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties at Nou Camp as Juventus thrash Barcelona 3-0 to top Group G of the Champions League.

    He won the battle of supremacy against his fierce rival, Messi, who failed to score at home against the visitors.

    Ronaldo put Juventus in the lead on 13 minutes through a penalty.

    He sent Marc-Andre ter Stegen the wrong way and fired the penalty into the middle of the goal.

    On 20 minutes, Juan Cuadrado doubled the visitors’ lead, making it 2-0.

    He played a terrific cross over to Weston McKennie, who found some space inside the box and puts the ball into the back of the net.

    On first half added time, Lionel Messi went down under a challenge in the box, but the referee immediately waved away the appeals from all players.

    Ronaldo compounded Barcelona’s misery with a third goal for the visitor on 52 minutes.

    He won the battle of wills and sent an unstoppable penalty past Marc-Andre ter Stegen into left side of the goal.

    Juventus made it 4-0 on 75 minutes, but the goal was ruled offside by VAR.

    Leonardo Bonucci scored the disallowed goal after an assist by Cristiano Ronaldo that allowed him to tap in the ball into an empty net.