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Tag: Barcelona

  • Europa League: Why we lost to Manchester United – Barcelona coach, Xavi

    Europa League: Why we lost to Manchester United – Barcelona coach, Xavi

    Barcelona manager, Xavi has state4d reasons why his team lost to Manchester United in the Europa League on Thursday,

    Xavi said his side didn’t pay attention  to details and paid dearly to it.

    The Catalans arrived in the UK for the second leg of their Europa League Round of 32 clash with a 2-2 result.

    Manchester united defeated Barcelona by 2-1 at the Old Trafford and progressed to the round of 16 in the Europa league.

    Robert Lewandowski gave Barca the lead from the penalty spot, before United rallied back thanks to goals from Fred and Antony to win the tie.

    “Last season, it was impossible to compete.

    “This season was different. We competed well, but the small details make the difference.

    “We have to learn from our mistakes and be ready for next season,” Xavi told reporters after the game.

    Barcelona return to LaLiga action on Sunday at Almeria, before travelling to bitter rivals Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals on Thursday.

    Barcelona remains on course to win the La Liga title but have Real Madrid to contend with.

  • Ronaldinho announces 17-year-old son has signed with Barca

    Ronaldinho announces 17-year-old son has signed with Barca

    Brazil football legend Ronaldinho has announced son Joao Mendes has signed with Barcelona.

    The 17-year-old, who recently terminated his contract with Brazilian club Cruzeiro, plays as a striker, has a Spanish passport, and, like his father, is represented by his uncle, Roberto de Assis.

    In an interview with RAC-1, Ronaldinho virtually guaranteed the fact that the Catalan giants are going to sign his son.

    “With the arrival of my son at Barcelona I will be more present than ever at the club,” Ronaldinho declared.

    “I am never outside the club. Barcelona is part of my life.

    “Wherever I go I take Barcelona with me. With the arrival of my son at Barcelona I will be more present than ever.”

    When asked whether or not his son would play for the Catalan side, the Brazilian was unequivocal in his riposte.

    “Yes, he is coming now,” he added.

  • Barcelona, Real Madrid to slug it out in Copa del Rey semi-finals

    Barcelona, Real Madrid to slug it out in Copa del Rey semi-finals

    The Spanish el-Classico will be re-incarnated in the cope Copa del Rey semi-finals showdown between Rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona.

    The Copa del Rey semi-final draws was held on Monday, January 30th, 2023 and it pitched Real Madrid with Barcelona.

    The other semi-final game  will see Osasuna trade tackles with Athletic Bilbao

    The matches take place on four different dates in February, March and April with the Spanish FA having a schedule headache.

    Real Madrid are playing in the FIFA Club World Cup which begins on Wednesday and ends on Feb. 11, and then two legs of the Champions League last 16.

    Real Madrid and Barca meet in the first leg at Camp Nou on March 1 and will play the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu on April 4 or April 5.

    Osasuna will play Athletic Bilbao on Feb. 8 and March 1.

    The semi-final represents a chance for LaLiga and European champions Real Madrid to get revenge for their 3-1 loss two weeks ago in the Spanish Super Cup against FC Barcelona.

    The match took place in Riyadh few weeks ago.

    Barca are currently the league leaders after they moved on to 47 points with their 1-0 win at Girona on Saturday.

  • Barcelona defeat Real Madrid to emerge 2023 Spanish Super Cup champions

    Barcelona defeat Real Madrid to emerge 2023 Spanish Super Cup champions

    Barcelona have emerged champions of the 2023 Spanish Super Cup  after defeating Real Madrid by 3-1 on Sunday night.

    It was the first time the Super cup would be played outside the European soil.

    The match held at the Riyadh, international stadium in Saudi Arabia.

    Barça were the better team for virtually all of El Clásico, created big chances and were extremely efficient in front of goal to beat their main rivals and win the first title of Xavi Hernández’s career as Barça manager.

    Barça were the better team from the very beginning. They were organized, committed, intense, mature and confident in possession, and they defended very well as a team.

    The Blaugrana had the first big chance of the half on a rocket from Robert Lewandowski that was deflected onto the post by Thibaut Courtois, and Alejandro Balde narrowly missed the target on the rebound.

    Madrid did virtually nothing all half but they did have one chance on a cross from Ferland Mendy that found Karim Benzema all alone inside the box but the striker missed an easy header that should have been the opener. That turned out to be Los Blancos’ only dangerous moment of the period, and Barça dominated the rest.

    Barcelona were three goals up courtesy of Gavi, Lewandowsky and Pedri, before Benzema put one back for Madrid at the death to make the scoreline a little respectable.

  • Aubameyang can only play for Chelsea, Barcelona – FIFA

    Aubameyang can only play for Chelsea, Barcelona – FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association  (FIFA ) has banned Gabon forward, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from playing for football clubs outside of Barcelona and Chelsea.

    The Gabonese desire to play for Atletico Madrid has now met a brick wall owing to the ban placed on him by FIFA.

    Recall that Aubameyang moved to Stamford Bridge from Barca in the summer while Thomas Tuchel was still in charge of the team.

    But the Gabon striker  has struggled for game time under Chelsea’s new coach, Graham Potter.

    The height of it was Potter bringing on Aubameyang in the fourth minute against Manchester City last week and taking him off in the 67th minute.

    Not pleased with the arrangement and lack of game time at Chelsea, Auba is planning his way out.

    Soccer pundit and trasfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, tweeted on Wednesday: “Aubameyang can’t play for any other club than Barcelona & Chelsea due to FIFA rules. 100% confirmed.

    “Been told Barça would love the idea to bring Auba back… but only if it’s 100% free transfer, different salary terms and only if Memphis Depay leaves (Atléti want him).”

  • Transfer: Barca offer Memphis Depay to Newcastle

    Transfer: Barca offer Memphis Depay to Newcastle

    Premier League side Newcastle United are considering a move for Barcelona star Memphis Depay.

    The Dutch forward, who starred at the World Cup for his country, is likely to be available for a modest fee this winter.

    Depay is out of contract in the summer, which means Barca are ready to do a cut-price deal in January.

    Per Sport in Spain, Barca have approached Newcastle and offered them Depay.

    A bid in the region of £13 million would be enough to get a deal done, per the source.

    Newcastle are said to have serious interest in Depay, as Financial Fair Play regulations mean that lavish spending may not be possible for the club this winter.

  • The differences between Xavi and Enrique – Ansu Fati

    The differences between Xavi and Enrique – Ansu Fati

    Barcelona attacker Ansu Fati says there are differences between Barcelona manager Xavi and Spain’s coach Luis Enrique.

    Fati has scored 22 goals and added nine assists in 78 career games for Barcelona, while he has also netted twice in six caps for Spain and made his World Cup debut in their final group game with Japan.

    Ahead of La Roja facing off against Morocco on Tuesday, the 20-year-old also spoke about the differences between his club coach, Xavi, and the national team coach, Luis Enrique.

    Fati said: “I think every coach has their own way of seeing things. Everyone has their own way of being, explaining and playing.

    “In the end, Luis Enrique and Xavi are different, but because one is coaching a club and another a national team. I see them both differently.”

  • Robert Lewandowski hit by heavy suspension

    Robert Lewandowski hit by heavy suspension

    Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has been hit by a three-match suspension after being sent off in victory over Osasuna last week.

    The Pole has been punished for gesturing towards ref Jesus Gil Manzano as he left the field with claims suggesting the match official was on drugs.

    Lewandowski, reports Cadena Cope, will now receive a three-match ban for his actions.

    Gerard Pique, meanwhile, has received a four-match ban for abusing Gil Manzano at halftime. The ban is anecdotal as the match marked Pique’s last of his career.

  • A dream to play with Lionel Messi – Lewandowski

    A dream to play with Lionel Messi – Lewandowski

    Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has said it would be a dream to play with Lionel Messi

    The PSG attacker has been linked with a return to Barca next summer.

    Lewandowski told Marca: “Messi is absolutely brilliant with the amazing passes he plays to the striker.

    “If you think about Messi, he has this brilliant connection with strikers. He knows how to put the ball into the box, between the lines… he’s the best in the world at that. I don’t know what’s going on right now, but for a striker it would be a dream to play with Lionel Messi for sure.

    “If look at football for the past 10/15 years, the main two figures have been Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and, in the end, if you think about who deserves to win this World Cup, these two names always pop up. They are legends.

    “But on the flip side, this is football and you can never say what is going to happen because it’s a dramatic and unpredictable game. But in Messi’s case, it’s impossible for his achievements to be replicated as his amazing story continues. Now he’s dreaming to win the world cup. For him, that’s the big challenge. He wants to now win the World Cup with Argentina, but this is a World Cup and you can never know what is going to happen.”

  • La Liga: Pique, Lewandowski red-carded in Barcelona’s 2-1 over Osasuna

    La Liga: Pique, Lewandowski red-carded in Barcelona’s 2-1 over Osasuna

    Polish striker, Robert Lewandowski and  35 year-old Gerard Pique who recently called it quit as a professional footballer were red-carded in Barcelona’s 2-1 over La liga rival Osasuna on Tuesday night.

    Lewandowski was booked for the second time in the encounter for a foul on David Garcia in the 30th minute but Pique who was on the bench received red card from the center referee for arguing with match officials at half time.

    Barca trailed Osasuna 1-0 when Lewandowski was sent off. But Pedri levelled for the visitors despite being a man down.

    Raphinha scored the winner on the 85th minute via a powerful header to secure three maximum points for the Catalan giants.

    The result meant that Barcelona will top the La liga table till next year when the league will resume.