FC Barcelona -- Més que un club!

[marky_83]

++++++++++++++++
A very good development, if you ask me.

This will mean more flexibility when building sides for Rijkaard.

agreed.

dos santos can drop to midfield, right? kasi after deco, wala nang matinong substitute sa creative midfield roles to support xavi/iniesta.

[nickng]

agreed.

dos santos can drop to midfield, right? kasi after deco, wala nang matinong substitute sa creative midfield roles to support xavi/iniesta.

Dos Santos is a monster, even if he looks like the teenager he still is. My friend saw him play at the Barcelona friendly in Hong Kong. If Barca doesn't manage to win either the La Liga or the Champions League this year, hindi na talaga namin alam kung anong ginagawa ni Rijkaard.

[vicaimmonen]

Di ba puede habulin si Alves ng Sevilla to sign for Barca? Hehe.

[marky_83]

^ chelski nga hindi maabot ang presyo ni alves eh..

[Verbl Kint]

Nike will have the newer Barça jerseys in by late September or early October. Medyo mahal nga lang.

Messi+Ronaldinho+Henry+Eto'o

I can't wait to see the FANTASTIC FOUR in attack, although we probably won't see it at the first game of the season. And you also have the prodigious Dos Santos and KrKic waiting in the wings. Wow, this will be a fantastic season, indeed!

Isang tulugan na lang!!

[kirk_hammett]

sinong may barcelona jersey? bentahan nyo naman ako! hahaha.

ako merong ronaldinho jersey kaso ayoko ibenta...hehehe

[marky_83]

mga pare may stock na ng barca jersey sa mga nike park outlets. 2800+ with unicef logo. meron ding manU and arsenal. i checked greenbelt and gateway, parehong meron the price is a lil steep pero ganun talaga ang mga presyo nun


anyway, im disappointed with the barca-racing game that ended in a draw. grabe walang goal ang fantastic four. bawi nalang next game

[kirk_hammett]

televised pa rin ba La Liga sa Solar Sports? Tuwing kelan?

[Verbl Kint]

Barca 3-1 Bilbao

With Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o sidelined due to a thigh injury, France striker Thierry Henry had a place in Barca's starting line up at the Nou Camp, but it was a familiar figure who opened the scoring.

The game was only eight minutes old when Ronaldinho drilled a free-kick into the top corner.

It was a monologue of Barca possession until Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz tripped Henry as he raced into the area onto a return pass from Ronaldinho in the 35th minute.

Barca's top scorer from last season slotted home the penalty and it was only Iraizoz's knees that denied Ronaldinho a hat-trick before break.

Henry hit the post after the restart but Bilbao struck back when Victor Valdes' punch from a free kick was volleyed into the empty net by Susaeta in the 70th minute.

Ivory Coast midfielder Toure made it 3-1 two minutes later when his rising shot from the edge of the area hit the crossbar, bounced down and out, and was signalled as a goal by the linesman amidst strong protests from the visitors.

Television replays showed the ball bounce on the line.

Red cards were handed out in the closing stages to Barca defender Rafael Marquez and Bilbao defender Koikili.


+++++++++++


Excellent form by Henry and Ronaldinho was at his usual best. Hitting the post twice and still winning by 3-1, Barça look ominous in attack.

[Verbl Kint]

Barca ease to Lyon win
By Andrew Scurr Last updated: 19th September 2007
SkySports

Barcelona began with a resounding 3-0 win over Lyon in the UEFA Champions League.

Lionel Messi was the star for Barca as he created the opener, which was put into his own goal by Francois Clerc, before scoring a deserved goal in the second-half.

Thierry Henry then registered his first goal for Barcelona in stoppage time as the 2006 champions got their Group E campaign off to the ideal start.

Messi magic

Deco worked Remy Vercoutre for the first time when he picked up the ball on the edge of the area and fired a quick shot, before Ronaldinho's goal-bound effort was deflected off-target.

The lively Messi created the opening goal on 21 minutes. The young Argentinean jinked his way into the Lyon area following a short corner and his dangerous ball across goal was diverted past his own goalkeeper by Clerc.

Kim Kallstrom saw a shot brilliantly blocked by Gianluca Zambrotta while Juninho wasted a well-positioned free-kick, but for the most-part Lyon were on the back foot in the first-half.

Messi should have got the goal he deserved before the break as he won possession in midfield to set up a quick passing move involving Deco, Henry and Ronaldinho.

Ronaldinho spotted Messi's run into space in the box and found him perfectly, but after bringing the ball down beautifully and beating Vercoutre with his low strike, the 20-year-old was denied by Clerc on the line.

Soon after the restart Messi missed a glorious chance when fed in by Deco as he skewed an attempt well over the bar.

Sidney Govou was guilty of a worse attempt with Lyon's best chance as Nadir Belhadj's cross was perfect for the striker but he sent his header sailing high over Victor Valdes' goal.

Vercoutre kept Lyon in the game with good saves from Henry and Deco twice, but the goalkeeper was unable to deny Messi his goal in the 82nd minute.

Barca's young talent

Deco and substitute Andres Iniesta linked up on the edge of the Lyon area and the latter laid the ball on a plate for Messi who slotted a first-time shot into the bottom corner.

Messi was replaced with two minutes remaining and Champions League history was made as 17-year-old Bojan Krkic became the competition's youngest ever player.

It was another youngster, Giovani dos Santos, who set up Henry's goal in stoppage time as his initial shot was saved and the former Arsenal man made no mistake with the follow-up.

[Verbl Kint]

Barca mark 50th birthday with win
CNN.com



BARCELONA, Spain -- Barcelona marked the 50th anniversary of their magnificent Nou Camp stadium with a vital home win over likely title rivals Sevilla on Saturday.

Two late goals by Argentine international Lionel Messi sealed victory with Frederic Kanoute scoring a consolation goal for the visitors in injury time.

The victory lifts Barcelona into second place in the Spanish Primer Liga standings, one point adrift of champions Real Madrid but having played a game more.

Real play Valladolid on Sunday as they bid to continue their perfect start to the season with three wins in three games.

It completes a fine week for Barcelona, who beat Lyon 3-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday, and eases the pressure on coach Frank Rijkaard after a stuttering start to the season.

After a spectacular ceremony to their stadium's half century, Barcelona made a strong start and new signing Thierry Henry came close to his first league goal after being set up by Andres Iniesta.

Sevilla also carried a threat and Renato saw his 20th minute header rebound off the post.

Henry came even closer to scoring after the break as his 71st minute effort was pushed on to the post by Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop, but the breakthrough followed quickly and the former Arsenal man was involved.

He found Messi at the far post who controlled instantly before scoring with a brilliant scissors kick.

Six minutes later Barcelona doubled their lead after substitute Giovani won a penalty and Messi duly converted for the spot kick.

Slack marking in the home defense saw Kanoute capitalize, but it was not enough to prevent a home win.

[vicaimmonen]

Iba talaga talent nitong batang ito. He can do a lot of things with the ball and whenever he sees the opportunity, he knows what to do with it. Ano ba usual formation ngayon ng Barca? Do they still use the 4-3-2-1? Or more of the double holding midfield (4-2-3-1)?

[Verbl Kint]

Away success for Barca and Rangers

LONDON, England -- Barcelona and Rangers both have 100% records in Champions League Group E after registering impressive away victories on Tuesday.

Spanish giants Barcelona followed up their opening 3-0 victory at home to Lyon with a 2-0 win against Stuttgart.

Second-half goals from club captain Carles Puyol and in-form winger Lionel Messi were enough to put Frank Rijkaard's side on top of the table on goal difference ahead of Scotland's Rangers, who thrashed Lyon 3-0.

Puyol, who came on as a seventh-minute substitute for the injured Rafael Marquez, netted in the 53rd minute after keeper Raphael Schafer and Pavel Pardo failed to deal with Ronaldinho's header from a corner.

It was a big blow for the Germans, who were thwarted four times in the first half by Barca keeper Victor Valdez.

Mario Gomez had two headers blocked from close range, while Arthur Boka was also twice denied.

Puyol went off injured before Messi gave the visitors a comfortable lead in the 67th minute when his shot was deflected past Schafer off Pardo following a cutback by Thierry Henry.

Ronaldinho, back in the team following a calf injury and much speculation about his future, was named skipper with Puyol starting on the bench.

And Deco almost gave the Catalans a fifth-minute lead when he hit the post after linking well with Messi, who has now scored seven times in as many matches this season.

[Verbl Kint]

Barcelona 3 Atletico Madrid 0: Messi's magic starts another rout for Barça

By Pete Jenson at the Nou Camp
Independent, UK

They were slow off the blocks but Barcelona are now fully in their stride and it is difficult to see who might knock them out of it. It was certainly too big a task for Atletico Madrid who were well beaten inside the first 45 minutes of this encounter here last night.

The Barcelona, coach Frank Rijkaard, recalled Ronaldinho after a three-match absence – three games in which Barça had scored 10 goals and collected maximum points.

An inspired Leo Messi had been the major reason why the Brazilian had not been missed and Messi it was who jump-started this display. After 10 minutes he was a hero in his own penalty area with a last ditch tackle on Mariano Pernia just as the full-back was about to shoot. For Pernia it was the first and last time he had the Barcelona forward on the back foot.

The sometime Spain international left-back, was turned inside out by the Argentine throughout the first half and booked after a late challenge on 14 minutes.

Seconds later Messi's dominance of Pernia brought about the first goal. He skipped past him after running onto a pass from Deco. Messi's cross was too close to the goalkeeper Christian Abbiati but the Italian spilled it and Deco, who had continued running after his pass started the move, finished from close range.

A majestic Messi pass then set up Henry only for the Frenchman to shoot wide before it was Ronaldinho's chance to combine with Barcelona's No 19 with the move that extended the home side's lead.

The two worked the tightest of one-two's on the edge of the Atletico Madrid penalty area and Messi finished with a shot inside Abbiati's left-hand post for his sixth league goal in six league games.

A big scare for home fans came when the captain Carles Puyol, starting his first game for four months after recovering from a knee injury, needed attention. Despite worried groans from home fans it was to a head wound and not a recurrence of his injury.

Barcelona should have gone in three up at the break. First Ronaldinho shot wide after another fine Messi pass then Deco was beaten by the bounce as he tried to finish an exquisitely lofted pass from Henry.

Atletico Madrid swapped the disappointing Jose Antonio Reyes for Maxi Rodriguez early in the second half and the substitute stung Victor Valdes' hands with a shot from distance that he had to palm away for a corner.

But at the back Atletico's defence were still seeing stars from the first half and Deco, Puyol and Henry all had the chance to extend Barcelona's lead.

For all his running the ball was not quite dropping for Henry and, when it did, Abbiati was there to deny him – getting down low to his left to turn the Frenchman's shot round the post.

The visitors' keeper was at full stretch again to keep out Deco's drive minutes later as Barcelona looked for a score to reflect their dominance. Henry was taken off with four minutes remaining to rapturous applause, just as had Ronaldinho just moments earlier.

Both continue to live in the shadow of Messi, who hit the post with the clock running down, but for as long as Barcelona are this emphatic that is something they will happily accept.

Giovanni Dos Santos, the man who replaced Ronaldinho, crossed for Xavi to make it three at the death.

Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes, Oleguer, Puyol, Milito, Abidal, Xavi, Iniesta, Deco, Messi, Henry (Krkic, 86), Ronaldinho (Dos Santos, 81). Substitutes not used: Crosas, Gudjohnsen, Jorquera (gk), Sylvinho, Thuram.

Atletico Madrid (4-4-2): Abbiati, Seitaridis, Pablo Ibáñez, Ze Castro (Eller, h-t), Pernia, Reyes (Rodriguez, 55), Maniche, Raul Garcia, Simao, Aguero (Luis Garcia, 63), Forlan Substitutes not used: Lopez, Falcon (gk), Jurado,

[Verbl Kint]

Henry And Messi Guide Barça To Victory
Goal.com

FC Barcelona 2 - 0 UD Almería

Thierry Henry scored his first goal for five matches and Lionel Messi netted a late penalty to give Barça victory over Almería in a comfortable home win for Frank Rijkaard's side on Sunday evening.

While the difference between the two teams on paper may have suggested a rout, the visitors made life difficult for their opponents and the Blaugrana will accept the points after a calm passing display brought them victory.

It may not have been inspiring, but it was comfortable and only in the final minutes when Messi was introduced did things spark into life as he began to run at defenders and carve open a stubborn defence.

Almería caused Real Madrid problems and they had done their homework again here as Unay Emery set his side up to nullify Barça's strongest points and the tactic was effective enough to frustrate the home team for long periods.

With Touré Yaya back in the team, Andrés Iniesta returned to his more attacking role alongside Xavi, while Carles Puyol was back in the centre of the defence as Gianluca Zambrotta played for the first time since late September.

Barça looked to use Ronaldinho down the left in the opening half, but he was pushed out by two markers time and time again, while Dos Santos incurred the same treatment after the break.

The Brazilian did find a way through in the 16th minute, but his flash shot that squeezed between two players was comfortably caught by David Cobeño.

Fernando Soriano followed Álavaro Negredo in testing Víctor Valdés, but neither shot was likely to beat the Catalan keeper as clear chances remained few and far between in the opening period.

Cobeño was called into action again when Ronaldinho's free-kick span in towards him, but as he came to collect he misjudged the bounce and ended up clearing the danger by chesting the ball away.

Moments later the keeper was picking the ball out of the back of the net as a Barça attack finally found its' way through in the 36th minute.

Dos Santos broke into the area and Cobeño raced off his line to block the Mexican youngster, only for the ball to fall kindly for Henry as he was left with the simple task stroking the ball into an unguarded net.

The relief on his face was palpable and the celebration in the corner of the pitch was evidence that all the talk of his lack of goals was obviously beginning to affect him.

There were no more efforts on goal until six minutes after the break when Albert Crusat beat Rafa Márquez, who had come on for Puyol at half-time, but his header flew well wide of the target.

Almería had come out looking more determined and they were enjoying a short spell of pressure but were coming up against the same problems as Barça as they lacked space or the inclination when arriving at the opposition area.

The crowd were lifted slightly on the hour mark when Touré went on a powerful run and were virtually out of their seats when Iniesta curled a shot towards the far corner which Cobeño did well to keep out.

Eidur Gudjohnsen was then brought on by Rijkaard, but the most influential decision of the game came when Meessi was introduced in place of Ronaldinho and the Argentinian injected some much needed pace into the game.

Negredo thought that he should have had a penalty when he was barged off the ball by Márquez and will have been even more infuriated when Barça were awarded a spot-kick moments later for an even lesser offence.

Dos Santos raced towards the by-line before appearing to wait for contact from Bruno before throwing himself to the floor and winning his side a vital spot-kick.

Messi showed no mercy as he guided the ball down the centre as Cobeño dived out of the way and Barça were on course for all three points with ten minutes of the game remaining.

In the closing minutes Dos Santos slid a shot just past the far post after being fed by Henry, before the French forward tried himself with a trademark run that ended with him aiming for the far corner, but with not much pace on the shot Cobeño saved.

Lucas Brown

[Verbl Kint]

Ronaldinho Shines As Barcelona Outclass Betis
FC Barcelona 3 - 0 Real Betis

Ronaldinho scored twice and enjoyed himself as he returned to form to help Barça ease to victory against a timid Real Betis outfit in Camp Nou on Sunday evening.

The Brazilian superstar has had to endure month of criticism as he has struggled for fitness and form, but Héctor Cúper's side were the victims as he bounced back with a confident display.

Thierry Henry opened the scoring in the first half, before Ronaldinho netted two trademark free-kicks in the second period and linked up well with Lionel Messi, who also had another impressive performance.

Frank Rijkaard may have claimed that he told his players to forget about playing fancy football and to role up their sleeves and battle, but they evidently did not listen.

Unlike in recent weeks, Barça were enjoying their game and that belief allowed the forward players to produce a range of tricks and slick passing moves, while the defence and midfield stayed firm and comfortably repelled every Betis attack.

It was evident early on that the visitors were attempting to employ the traditional tactic to stop the Blaugrana by keeping two banks of four back, while tryig to find their forwards on the break.

In the opening minutes, Barça were closed down and hurried into making passes in the midfield, but instead of slowing the game down, the hosts raised their game and drove themselves forward.

The first clear chance of the encounter arrived after 16 minutes as Xavi whipped a cross into the centre of the area and Henry connected well, but Ricardo made a good save to tip the Frenchman's downward header away.

Edu then registered Betiis' first effort minutes later, but Víctor Valdés was set to be rarely tested throughout the entire match, if at all.

Henry was looking lively and he was set free down the right of the area before trying to beat Ricardo inside his near post, only for his drive to cannon back off the woodwork.

Before Braça opened their account, Messi came more and more into the game and he was beginning to cause havoc down the right flank with his attacking runs.

In the 33rd minute the first goal arrived as the home side passed the ball confidently round at the back as Betis closed in before an incisive break saw Touré Yaya feed Iniesta on the left and he in turn fed Henry.

The Frenchman sped clear of his marker before calmly slotting the ball past Ricardo, who had appeared unsure whether to come out further or retreat to his line.

Betis came out after the break with a renewed verve in their step, but just seven minutes into the second half Ronaldinho ended any hopes they had of taking anything from the match.

The Brazilian stood over a free-kick slightly to the right 25 yards from goal and curled his drive over the wall and into the top near corner of the net.

It was a superb strike and one that the pressurised superstar celebrated with a broad smile as he envisaged all the critics having to put their pens away for the first time in weeks.

Henry then spurned a glorious chance minutes later as Ronaldinho clipped the ball back for Xavi from the by-line, after linking well with Messi, and Xavi fired a volley which Ricardo palmed upwards and Henry looked to have the simple task of nodding home from close range, but the French striker headed wide from six yards out.

Clear chances were difficult to create as Betis maintained their defensive stance, but Barça were now attacking at speed and producing their full range of flicks and tricks to lift the crowd.

Ronaldinho sent another free-kick over the wall, but this time it flew inches wide of the near post before Messi decided to go solo.

The Argentinian turned away from his marker on the halfway line and attacked the Betis area at pace before skipping away from Lima down the right and clipping a first-time shot aiming for the far corner of the goal, but the effort skimmed wide of the post.

Confidence was high in the home team and Ronaldinho showed that he was flourishing as he attempted an overhead kick only to send his effort over the bar and then land awkwardly on his shoulder.

Rijkaard obviously sensed that the Brazilian would not fancy coming off and left him on and the move had one final devastating result.

In injury time, Ronaldinho stood over the ball on the left of centre outside the box and strode forward to power the ball through the wall and into the net via the near post.

It was the final kick of the game and a perfect way to round off a long overdue performance from the Barça star.

Lucas Brown, Goal.com

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=469565

[Verbl Kint]

Barcelona stroll to victory over Rangers
22:46 GMT, Wed 7 Nov 2007
Reuters

BARCELONA, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Goals from Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi earned Barcelona a 2-0 win over outclassed Rangers in their Champions League Group E match at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

Former Arsenal striker Henry put Barca ahead in the sixth minute when he bundled the ball in at the far post with a little help from his arm. Messi also pounced just before the break after Ronaldinho had sliced through the Scottish team's defence.

The win left the Catalans firmly in control of the group with 10 points from four games.

Rangers remain second with seven points, one ahead of Olympique Lyon, despite suffering their first defeat. Walter Smith's men are assured of at least a place in the UEFA Cup.

"This was a game we could have won 5-0 or 6-0," Barca coach Frank Rijkaard told a news conference.

"But in general I'm very happy with the result. This was an important step forward."

Smith was philosophical about the defeat.

"We're always disappointed to lose but we can't have any complaints given the way the game went," he said.

"We are delighted we will be playing European football after Christmas, given how hard this group was."

Rangers had never won in Spain against Spanish opposition and that did not look like changing once Barcelona had taken the lead after Ronaldinho picked out the unmarked Messi in the area with a clever lofted pass.

The Argentine headed across the face of the goal towards the far post where the sliding Henry scored.

Barca almost extended their lead when midfielder Andres Iniesta skimmed the post with a curling shot after Messi had surged towards the Rangers area.

REFLEX SAVE

Ronaldinho went even closer when he turned and shot from the edge of the area but keeper Allan McGregor produced a great one-handed reflex save to tip the ball over the bar.

It was only a matter of time before Barca claimed their second.

Ronaldinho exchanged a lightning one-two with Messi on the edge of the area, had a toe-poke shot blocked by McGregor and the Argentine was on hand to side-foot into the net.

It was one-way traffic after that with Barca passing the ball around at leisure, pinning Rangers back and only failing to extend their advantage because of fine goalkeeping by McGregor.

Xavi went close with a searing shot that took a deflection at the start of the second half and Messi was denied by McGregor's foot after he nutmegged David Weir.

Rangers's only chances came in the closing minutes, Jean-Claude Darcheville having a powerful free kick saved by Victor Valdes and Nacho Novo striking a well-timed volley at the Barca keeper.

(Writing by Simon Baskett in Madrid, editing by Rex Gowar)

[marky_83]

barca needs to solve their road woes. maybe a little counterattacking football might help. mashadong nababasa na ang galaw natin eh. and i knew it. so far henry is doing a shevchenko. eto'o please come back!

[Verbl Kint]

Barca is only four points away from the Primera Liga leaders.

In other news:

Ronaldinho not going say Barcelona

BARCELONA, Spain -- Ronaldinho will not be leaving the Nou Camp during the January transfer window, Barcelona supremo Joan Laporta has insisted.

The Brazil forward has been linked with Chelsea and AC Milan, but club president Laporta said after the 2-1 triumph over Deportivo La Coruna that Ronaldinho is staying put.

"We are not going to sell Ronaldinho," he said. "We are not in contact with any other team (about selling him)."

The 27-year-old Ronaldinho, who is in his fifth campaign with Barcelona, is under contract until the end of June 2010.

His penalty equaliser five minutes before half-time against Depor was his sixth goal of the season. The win leaves Barca second in La Liga, four behind Real Madrid.

From cnn.com

[marky_83]

great game by onree against murcia glad that he proved me wrong during the game

look out madrid, the way you guys are grinding out results; usually resorting to the heroics of iker and ruud, your luck's gonna run out. grabe dapat ma injure ang isa sa kanila. we have suffered enough bec of injuries.