Training session in Manchester

Barça's 23 footballers train at Etihad Stadium

FC Barcelona trained at Etihad Stadium this Monday evening ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League tie against Manchester City. All 23 players named to the team participated in the session. It’s worth noting that Isaac Cuenca and Jonathan dos Santos, injured, stayed in Barcelona. 

Therefore, Gerardo Martino will have to cut five players from the team ahead of kick off, which is scheduled for 8:45 PM CET.

Directors’ dinner

At 8 PM (local time) the traditional dinner between directors of both clubs took place. FC Barcelona was represented by President Josep Maria Bartomeu, vice-presidents Carles Vilarrubí and Jordi Mestre, director Jodri Moix, Delegate to UEFA Amador Bernabéu, and sports director Andoni Zubizarreta.

The great myth about Barcelona’s brilliance

Every English player, manager and fan performs a sharp intake of breath when they see Barcelona's name come up against them in a Champions League draw.

It's a understandable reaction: coming up against the universally-acclaimed best team of the past half a decade provokes an understandable mixture of excitement and dread.

Excitement, of course, at pitting yourselves against the best of the best on club football's biggest stage; and dread at the near-certainty that they will rip you to shreds.

There's only one tiny flaw in that argument. It's simply not true. Not even nearly.

Manchester City are the latest English side to come up against Barcelona in the Chamions League, and they can take great heart from a plain analysis of the facts.

For the plain fact is that Barcelona have only won four of their last 15 matches against Premier League sides. In the same period they've lost five of their games, and drawn six.

Hardly the all-conquering Catalans of popular imagination, then.

The fear of Barcelona appears to come from that eight-match unbeaten run in the Pep Guardiola era. But Guardiola is no longer Barca boss, and even then they only actually won half those matches.

What is more, all of those victories apart from the 2011 final against Manchester United have been on home turf; they have not managed to beat an English team on English soil since their last-16 match against Liverpool in 2007 - almost seven years ago.

And even on home turf, they've been far perfect: in fact, in the 22 Champions League and European Cup matches in which they've faced English teams (dating back to 1960), they've won only 12.

Not exactly untouchable, eh?

In fact, though we hold up Chelsea's 2012 defeat of Barcelona in the semi-finals as an aberration, it is in fact par for the course.

And with City having apparently ended their mini-blip by coolly dispatching Chelsea in the FA Cup on Saturday, there is every reason to think that Barcelona will once again fail.

If they do, then perhaps next year it'll be Barca who fear drawing an English team, rather than the other way round.

Neymar trains with the rest of the squad

The Brazilian is close to full fitness after his ankle injury and joined in today's training with the rest of the squad. 

Neymar took an important step towards his return to the first team this morning when he joined in training with the rest of the squad for the first time since his knee injury. Last week, the Brazilian was back in training, but worked apart from the rest of the players on his recovery.

Focus switches back to the Cup

Tata Martino gave the players who featured in Sunday night’s win a gentle recovery session, as the focus switches to Wednesday night’s Spanish Cup semi-final second leg in San Sebastian. Carles Puyol, who missed the game in Seville  with lumbago, worked inside apart from the rest of the squad.

The squad will be back in training on Tuesday evening  - their last session before travelling to San Sebastian on Wednesday morning. Tata Martino will give a press conference after training, when he will also announce the squad for the Real game.

Pedro makes appearance number 250

Pedro made his debut on January 12 2008 and has become one of the team's leading attacking threats 

The Spaniard has scored some vital goals in finals such as the European Super Cup, the World Club Cup or the Champions League

Pedro Rodríguez made his Barça debut at the Camp Nou on January 12 2008 in a league game against Murcia, when he came on for Samuel Eto’owho had just scored twice in the 4-0 win. Six years later, Pedro marked game number 250 in a Barça shirt in the game against Seville.

Pedro has proved his worth under Guardiola, Tito Vilanova and Tata Martino, who have all leaned on the winger’s pace and skill, as well as an extraordinary scoring record.

Important goals

In seven seasons, Pedro has bagged 89 goals. He scored his first on 16 August 2009  in  the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Bilbao  - a goal that gave Barça the win. Twelve days later, his extra time winner against Shaktar Donetsk gave Barça the European Super Cup.

Pedro also played a key role in the World Club Cup win in 2009, with a last minute equaliser in the final against Estudiantes, before Messi’s extra time winner. In the Champions League he also got some vital goals, including one against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou in 2011 which sent Barça through to theWembley final, where he scored the opener against Manchester United.

Regular scorer

Hi excellent performances in the 2009/10 season  - when he scored 23 goals -earned Pedro a call up to the Spain team for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the following season he scored 22. Although he couldn’t match those figures in the next two campaigns - 2011/12 (13) and 2012/13 – he has already scored 16 in 35 goals and is looking to match those early season marks.

This season has also seen Pedro claim his first hat trick  - against Rayo Vallecano – something he then repeated against Getafe.

Focused on Sevilla

All of the available players trained this morning at the Ciutat Esportiva, and were joined by Sergi Gómez and Bañuz of Barça B, and Suárez from the youth team 

Neymar continued working separately from the rest of the squad

The first team’s next fixture is away to Sevilla at 9.00 PM CET on Sunday.Tata Martino has been training with all of the available players, although he already knows that Javier Mascherano will be out through suspension this weekend, while Jordi Alba’s presence in the Andalusian capital depends on the outcome of an appeal against one of the yellow cards he was shown against Valencia.

Friday morning was training as usual at the Ciutat Esportiva, although the players were joined by Barça B’s Sergi Gómez and Bañuz, as well as youth goalkeeperJosé Aurelio Suárez. And there was also an unusual touch when a rugby ball was produced for the warm-up session. While all of this was going on, Neymar worked out in isolation in a separate part of the field, as he continues his recovery from injury.

Barça have one more session before leaving for the Sánchez Pizjuán. That will be on Saturday morning at 11.00 AM CET, once again at the Ciutat Esportiva, after which Tata Martino will be holding a press conference to discuss Sunday night’s league match.

Jordi Alba appeal rejected

The full back will miss Sunday's game against Sevilla

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The Appeals Committee has rejected Barça’s appeal on Friday and Jordi Alba’s suspension stands. This means that the full back will be unable to play in Sunday’s game away to Sevilla. The player was sent off for two bookable offences in last weekend’s game with Valencia.

The defender has appeared in 10 league matches, 2 cup matches and both of the Supercup matches this season.

Pedro aware of importance of Sunday's game

The Canary Islander knows how little margin there is for error and that “Sevilla made it very difficult for us at home” 

On recent attendances at the Camp Nou, he doesn't think the kick-off times are helping but is “sure that the fans will respond”

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FC Barcelona have one the trickiest road trips of the league season on Sunday. They are heading for theSánchez Pizjuán and know that they are going to have to win after the serious setback of losing 3-2 at home to Valencia last week. “This game is of utmost importance” said Pedro Rodríguez in his Friday press conference. “We have a lot to play for. There is very little margin for error between now and the end of the season, we practically can’t afford to make any mistakes.”

The Canary Islander hasn’t forgotten the meeting between the two sides earlier this season at the Camp Nou, where “Sevilla made it very difficult for us” and that the Andalusians, seventh in the table, “are having a great season”.

Sometimes things work out better and sometimes they work out worse than you hope

Pedro Rodríguez admitted that the defeat against Valencia was a painful one. “It was a tough blow for us” he said. “But we need to look ahead. We’ll be trying not to drop any more points because any mistakes will be well punished … We’ll be doing all we can to ensure that things go to plan, but sometimes things work out better and sometimes they work out worse than you hope”.

The kick-off times don’t help. We’d prefer to play at 8 in the evening

He also discussed the issue of dwindling attendances at the Camp Nou of late. “Of course we notice it” he said. “It is not the same to play in front of a packed stadium of 90,000 spectators as it is to do it with 38,000. The kick-off times don’t help. We’d prefer to play at 8 in the evening … But I am sure the fans will respond as they always have done”.

To conclude, Pedro Rodríguez spoke about the form of Leo Messi and Neymar. On the Argentinian, he commented that “he seems motivated and keen to continue improving” while the Brazilian appears to be “happy because he can sense that he is recovering”.

If he is picked on Sunday, Pedro Rodríguez will be making his 250th appearance for the first team.

Carles Puyol makes daughter Manuela a member

Vice president Jordi Cardoner welcomed her to the OAB and gave her a shirt and a captain's armband

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After training on Friday morning, Carles Puyol headed for the Barcelona Supporters Services Office (OAB) to formalise the membership of his daughter Manuela, who was born on January 24.

The Barça player was welcomed by the vice president of the Social Area, Jordi Cardoner, who presented his new-born daughter with membership card 163,612. She also received first and second shirts with the name Manuela on the back. But the most emotional moment came when Cardoner produced the surprise gift of a specially made tiny captain’s armband, in honour of the current captain of the Barça first team, her father.

Happy birthday, Sergi Roberto

The player first team celebrating its 22 years

Neymar turned 22 on Wednesday, and today it is the turn of Sergi Roberto celebrated its 22 candles. The player arrived at the age of 14 years at the Masia FC Barcelona. The midfielder made ​​his debut in the 2010-2011 season under the orders of Pep Guardiola.

Training focus switches to Seville game

The squad’s focus switched back to the league, with the preparations for the visit to Seville on Sunday starting in this morning’s training session 

Neymar Jr continued to train apart and keeper Ortolà was the only B team player to join the session.

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Following the 2-0 win over Real Sociedad, the squad’s focus switches back to the league, with the preparations for the visit to Seville on Sunday starting in this morning’s training session. Tata Martino put his players through their paces at Pitch Number 1 at the Ciutat Esportiva, with those players who featured last night doing recovery work.

 B team keeper Adrià Ortolà joined the session, whilst Neymar continued his recovery work from the ankle injury that has kept him out of recent games.

source : FC barcelona

FC Barcelona have scored 100 official goals this season

Tonight's two goals allow the team to break the 100-goal barrier for the ninth consecutive year 

Messi (19 goals), Pedro (16) and Alexis (15) are the team's highest scorers so far this season

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Of the 100 goals, 59 were scored in the league, 24 in the Cup, 16 in the Champions League and 1 in the Spanish Super Cup. As far as the goal scorers, Leo Messi has scored 19, Pedro 16, Alexis 15, Cesc 12 and Neymar Jr 11. In total, 5 of the 15 players to score this season have netter at least 11 times. 

This is the ninth consecutive year that FC Barcelona have scored 100 goals or more in a season. Since the 2004/05 season, when the team netted a total of 84 goals, Barça have always broken the 100-goal barrier. The record of goals scored was set in the 2011/12 season when Barça scored 190 goals. 

Of Barça’s 100 goals, 47 of them have been scored in the first half and 53 in the second. The following is a detailed overview of Barça’s goals this year:

FC Barcelona-Almeria, Sunday March 2, 9.00PM CET

Barça face Almeria on Sunday night to close week 26 of La Liga. 

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  Almeria will visit the Camp Nou on March 2 / PHOTO: GERMÁN PARGA - FCB

It’s set to be a busy month before that for Barça , with the Champions League game against Man City and the Spanish Cup semi final against Real Sociedad, as well as a full league programme

FC Barcelona – Real Sociedad (Spanish Cup semi final first leg), Wednesday 5 February, 9.00 PM .

Seville – FC Barcelona (League), Sunday 9 February, 9.00 PM

Real Sociedad – FC Barcelona (Spanish Cup semi final second leg), Wednesday 12 February, 10.00 PM

FC Barcelona – Rayo Vallecano (League), Saturday 15 February, 8.00 PM

Manchester City – FC Barcelona (Last 16 Champions League first leg), Tuesday 18 February, 8.45 PM.

Real Sociedad – FC Barcelona (League), Saturday 22 February, 8.00 PM

FC Barcelona – Almeria (League), Sunday 2 March 9.00 PM

FC Barcelona – Manchester City (Last 16 Champions League second leg), Wednesday 12 March, 8.45 PM.

FC Barcelona to appeal Jordi Alba's red card

The FC Barcelona left back was shown two yellow cards in the match against Valencia this weekend

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  Jordi Alba. PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.

The Club have decided to appeal Jordi Alba’s red card to the Competition Committee. The FC Barcelona left back was shown his second yellow card on 77 minutes for “knocking down an opponent in a dispute for the ball,” according to  Pérez Montero’s post-match referee report. The defender was shown his first yellow card on 51 minutes.

source : fc barcelona