TEAM NEWS Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola could play the same XI that won 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu last week. Goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto replaces Victor Valdes – the 36-year-old understudy has played every cup match this season. David Villa is out with a broken leg, while Mali’s Seydou Keita is away at the African Cup of Nations. Jose Mourinho has said controversial Real defender Pepe will play if fit….
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has made his side’s intentions clear at the Club World Cup – victory. The European champions open their campaign in Japan against AFC Champions League winners Al Sadd of Qatar on Thursday in the semi-finals, with questions being asked in the press over the importance of the competition given the La Liga outfit’s already congested fixture calendar. But Guardiola – who guided Barca to a win…
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola lauded Andres Iniesta as “unique” after the Spain international helped the Champions League holders ease past Viktoria Plzen. Iniesta, who has only recently returned from a hamstring tear, played a key role in the 2-0 victory at the Nou Camp, including scoring the opening goal in the 10th minute following a superb piece of skill. Guardiola said of the 27-year-old World Cup winner: “Andres, when he’s…
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola wants his side to forever show the desire that has brought them success and helped guide them to last night’s 5-0 win over BATE Borisov in the UEFA Champions League. Lionel Messi moved into joint-second place on Barcelona’s all-time goalscoring list as his double helped the defending champions to a comprehensive Group H win in Minsk. Guardiola’s side were 3-0 up at half-time thanks to an…
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola expects an in-form Valencia to give his side a stern test in Wednesday’s La Liga clash at Mestalla. Valencia are currently at the summit of the league table, with a perfect nine points from three games. Barcelona’s spirits are high after Saturday’s 8-0 demolition of Osasuna, but Guardiola noted that Unai Emery’s men pose an entirely different challenge. “Valencia are the league leaders right now and…
Karim Benzema is confident Real Madrid can strike the first blow of the season against fierce rivals Barcelona and win the Spanish Supercopa. Madrid head to Catalonia for the second leg knowing they will most probably need to beat their rivals after being held to a 2-2 home draw on Sunday. Jose Mourinho’s side were, however, the dominant team on their home turf as Barca were cast into an unfamiliar…
Barcelona hitman David Villa is keen to avenge last season’s Copa del Rey defeat to Real Madrid, despite the club’s victories in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. Barca pipped Real to the Spanish league title last term – their third in a row – and also eliminated their arch-rivals in the semi-finals of the Champions League. However, Los Blancos got one over the Catalan side when they defeated…
Leo Messi was wearing a dickie bow. Proof, some said with a smile, that he knew he was going to be awarded with a second successive Ballon d’Or – after all, Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta were only in ties. But he didn’t know: amid all the shock, the disgust and the pathetic patriotic paranoia, the man most surprised at Messi’s award was Messi. On his way into the gala,…