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Tag: Barca

  • Barca edge closer to 27th La Liga title

    Barca edge closer to 27th La Liga title

    FC Barcelona forward Ferran Torres struck late in the first half to secure a 1-0 victory over third-placed Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday.

    The home side tightened their grip on top spot and moved a step closer to their 27th La Liga title.

    With eight games remaining, FC Barcelona moved to 76 points and extended their lead to 11 points over second-placed Real Madrid, while Atletico remained third on 60 points.

    FC Barcelona ended Atletico’s 13-game unbeaten league run thanks to a goal on the counter in the 44th minute and a fine performance by Marc Andre ter Stegen who made spectacular reflex saves from point-blank strikes by Antoine Griezmann, one in each half.

    “The team worked well, the fans supported us and we won, that’s what matters.

    “This victory gives us a lot of confidence going forward. Atletico were on a good run and in good shape, so that makes this win even more important for us,” Torres told reporters.

    FC Barcelona, who had struggled in their last three matches in all competitions without scoring, were dominated by Atletico early in the game.

    The visitors, who were on a six-game winning streak, sent the first warning early as Griezmann took advantage of poor control by Sergio Busquets on the edge of the area and unleashed an angled shot that crashed against the crossbar.

    However, FC Barcelona gradually became more aggressive and took control of the game, with striker Robert Lewandowski wasting two great chances midway through the first half.

    Just as FC Barcelona looked in full control, Atletico almost scored on a counter-attack led by Yannick Carrasco who ran down the left and put in a low cross for Griezmann, whose close-range strike was brilliantly stopped by Ter Stegen.

    FC Barcelona got the winner when Raphinha controlled a long ball down the right channel and crossed to the edge of the area where Torres calmly slotted past goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

    It was an entertaining match after the break with both teams missing several chances, including another outstanding save by Ter Stegen from a Griezmann strike and a sitter missed by Lewandowski when he was one-on-one with Oblak.

  • ‘I don’t like it’ – Xavi on Messi chants

    ‘I don’t like it’ – Xavi on Messi chants

    Barcelona manager Xavi had a mixed reaction with fans chanting ‘Lionel Messi’ during their 0-0 draw with Girona.

    The chants were made at the Nou Camp on Monday night as the PSG star is linked with a return to the Blaugrana.

    Xavi reacted, stating: “The mood is positive. I think people value where we came from but we still need to get this title.

    “As for Leo, I see that he generates illusion. They have been chanting his name for two games but we will see if it happens. Today I was watching a program on TV and I heard that it was the cheapest League in recent years. And this, to say the least, surprises me.

    “And it annoys me. We are in the post-Messi era, we are making a titanic effort and I don’t like it.”

  • Why I chose Real Madrid over Barca – Ozil

    Why I chose Real Madrid over Barca – Ozil

    Mesut Ozil has revealed why he chose Real Madrid over Barcelona when leaving Werder Bremen.

    At the age of 34, Ozil announced his retirement on March 22, 2023.

    He told Marca: “It was a decision between Real Madrid and Barcelona. And in the end it was not a matter of money.

    “I don’t know if this is known, but I visited Madrid and Barcelona at that time and the difference was José Mourinho. Mou gave me a VIP visit to Real Madrid. He took me to see the stadium and all the trophies they had won. That gave me goosebumps.

    “The visit to Barcelona was less enthusiastic and what was more disappointing is that Pep Guardiola didn’t bother to meet me. Before that trip I really liked Barcelona’s style of football and I could really imagine playing with them, but Madrid went all out. So José Mourinho was without a doubt the most important factor in my decision.

    “After my visits, my decision was one hundred percent clear: I wanted to be a Madridista.”

    Ozil also said: “The Madrid fans are really incredible. Even ten years after leaving Madrid, I continue to receive spectacular support and affection from the fans. It’s really amazing. I think we spent three very good years together, three years in which the fans enjoyed themselves and saw that I gave everything for the club. I’m going to be honest, I didn’t expect this support to continue for so long, so I can only thank the madridistas.”

  • Negreira case: Barca have never bought a referee – Iniesta

    Negreira case: Barca have never bought a referee – Iniesta

    Former Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta has dismissed claims of wrongdoing over the Negreira investigation.

    Now with Vissel Kobe in Japan, Iniesta is adamant his old club has done nothing wrong.

    Asked by Catalan radio RAC1 on Wednesday, Iniesta dismissed the accusations against his former club.

    “During my period at Barça (2002-2018), I never saw or heard anything strange,” assured the former Spain international.

    “I am absolutely convinced that Barça has never bought a referee.

    “The information is notorious, and I understand that you are looking at what happened and what didn’t.”

  • Militao own goal gives Barca advantage in Cup semi-final first leg

    Militao own goal gives Barca advantage in Cup semi-final first leg

    FC Barcelona take a slender advantage to Camp Nou after they beat Real Madrid 1-0 in their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday.

    An Eder Militao own goal was all that separated the two Spanish giants, with Carlo Ancelotti’s men having a lot of the ball.

    But they were unable to craft much in the way of goalscoring chances.

    Militao’s own goal was only the fourth this century in a Clasico.

    Three of them have favoured Barca, after Ivan Helguera’s in May 2002 and Raphael Varane’s in February 2019.

    Real Madrid may consider themselves fortunate not to lose by more, however.

    Ansu Fati inadvertently denied teammate Franck Kessie a certain goal in a second half largely dominated by the hosts.

    Karim Benzema had the ball in the net early on when he chested down a cross from Vinicius Junior and volleyed home, only to be flagged offside.

    In spite of Real Madrid dominating early on, it was FC Barcelona who took the lead in the 26th minute.

    Ferran Torres played in Kessie, whose shot went in off Militao after Thibaut Courtois had initially saved from the Barca midfielder.

    Vinicius saw an effort blocked by Ronald Araujo early in the second half, while the visitors should have doubled their lead 18 minutes from time.

    Kessie met Torres’ cut-back but saw his goal-bound shot deflected wide by substitute Fati with Courtois stranded.

    Nevertheless, Xavi’s men held on in spite of Real Madrid’s desperate late onslaught.

  • Osimhen speaks on Man Utd, Barca rumours

    Osimhen speaks on Man Utd, Barca rumours

    Napoli striker Victor Osimhen says he’ll consider his future at the end of the season.

    The Nigerian is being watched by Manchester United and Barcelona.

    But he said: “I just want to help my team to win matches and win trophies.

    “At the end of the season, we will see what is going to happen, but that is not up to me.

    “It is for the club to decide.”

  • Xavi admits injury concerns ahead of Man Utd clash

    Xavi admits injury concerns ahead of Man Utd clash

    Barcelona coach Xavi admits he has injury concerns facing Manchester United in their Europa League playoff second-leg.

    The tie is delicately poised following last week’s thrilling 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp.

    And Barca boss Xavi is facing a potential selection headache ahead of Thursday’s return fixture.

    Gavi’s yellow card in the first leg means he is suspended, while Pedri is also out after he limped off in the same game.

    But elsewhere, Xavi has been left sweating on whether key duo Robert Lewandowski and Frenkie de Jong will be match fit.

    The Barca gaffer said: “Frenkie de Jong and Robert Lewandowski played more minutes.

    “I think they have been playing a lot of minutes, that’s why I made the changes. The other day Pedri was injured, and we can’t afford more injuries.

    “Let’s prepare for Thursday’s game from tomorrow and see how tired they are.”

  • Lewandowski helps restore Barca’s 8-point cushion in LaLiga

    Lewandowski helps restore Barca’s 8-point cushion in LaLiga

    Robert Lewandowski on Sunday scored just his second Spanish LaLiga goal since October as FC Barcelona beat Cadiz 2-0 to restore their eight-point lead over title-holders Real Madrid.

    The 34-year-old added to Sergi Roberto’s opener as two goals late in the first half undid the Cadiz side.

    Cadiz had held their own for much of the Camp Nou clash and had two goals from Roger disallowed.

    Another clean sheet, FC Barcelona’s 17th shutout in LaLiga this season, puts Xavi’s side a step nearer the title.

    This was a seventh consecutive league victory, the third time they have had such a run under the leadership of their former midfielder.

    It sealed a double for the season, too.

    FC Barcelona had won 4-0 in September against the team who are now fighting a relegation battle, sitting just two points outside the bottom three.

    Cadiz thought they had made a 19th-minute breakthrough when a delicious pass over the top from Santiago Arzamendia, with the outside of his left boot, found Roger.

    The striker finished well but had strayed a foot offside, to FC Barcelona’s relief.

    Lacking service, Lewandowski barely had a sniff of goal until the 41st minute.

    This was when a cross from Ferran Torres on the right looked ideal for him to nod in at the far post.

    He was under pressure, though, and could not make a clean connection.

    The same duo combined as FC Barcelona struck two minutes later.

    Lewandowski’s stooping header from Torres’ clipped cross was kicked off the line by Isaac Carcelen but only as far as Sergi Roberto.

    He slammed it back into the back of the net from eight yards.

    Lewandowski drove in FC Barcelona’s second goal in first half stoppage time, a clinical low strike from 16 yards taking his haul to 15 in the league this season.

    The former Bayern Munich striker prodded a shot against the top of the bar early in the second half.

    Thereafter, Cadiz’s Roger had a second goal disallowed after finishing well from a corner, with team-mate Fali penalised for a nudge into Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

    The visitors perhaps had reason to feel aggrieved, and Cadiz kept pushing.

    Ter Stegen saved well from substitutes Fede San Emeterio and Chris Ramos late in the game, before Anthony Lozano headed against the left post.

    It was not to be their night.

  • Ancelotti accepts Barca too good in Supercopa final

    Ancelotti accepts Barca too good in Supercopa final

    Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti admits they weren’t good enough for defeat to Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana final.

    Gavi, Robert Lewandowski, and Pedri were on target as Barca beat Real Madrid 3-1, with Karim Benzema scoring a late consolation.

    “It was known that the team was not at its best,” Ancelotti told Movistar. “The game has shown some shortcomings. We will be back. It’s a blow, but you have to pick yourselves up and prepare for the next game.”

    He continued: “We gave away too much. The game started evenly, there wasn’t much rhythm. Once the scoring was opened, they had more confidence.

    “Avoiding giving gifts away comes first because we made it too easy for their first two goals. We have to play as a team and improve.

    “In order not to fail like this, we have to work harder. Against Valencia, we showed something defensively and today we made too many mistakes.”

  • I want Messi to return to Barca – Laporta

    I want Messi to return to Barca – Laporta

    Barcelona president Joan Laporta has declared he wants to bring back Lionel Messi from Paris Saint-Germain.

    Messi, 35, is off contract at PSG in June, though there’s claims he has informed the Parisians he wants to stay next season.

    Laporta, meanwhile, said today: “I want him to return to Barca, I want that. But it is not something that we can expect. He has just won the World Cup and that has made ‘Culés’ very happy because he has fought for it.

    “For us, he is the best player of all time. The club is in his heart and he will always be linked to Barca regardless of whether he returns as a player or not.

    “He is now a PSG player. But we would very much like him to return to Barca, so we have to look at it.”