Barca

Villa in shape to return for Barca's Copa QF

Barcelona had positive news on the injury front on Monday when David Villa returned to training and fellow forward Isaac Cuenca was declared fit after more than seven months out with a knee injury. ...  

Messi awarded Golden Boot as Europe's top scorer

Barcelona: Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was presented with his second Golden Boot award on Monday in recognition for scoring the most goals in Europe's domestic leagues last season. The 25-year-old Messi scored a Spanish-league record 50 goals for Barcelona, edging out fellow Spanish league star Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid by four goals. Messi dedicated the award to his team-mates, with Xavi Hernandez and Carles Puyol present for the ceremony...  

'Chelsea have unfinished business with Barcelona'

London: Frank Lampard believes Chelsea can claim victory against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final after reaching the last-four by defeating Benfica 2-1 on aggregate in the second leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. The Blues took a 1-0 lead into the quarter-final second leg against the Portuguese side and survived a late scare when Javi Garcia's equaliser put his side within a goal of progressing. Chelsea are 12/1 to...  

Barcelona won't win the league: Guardiola

Barcelona: Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has admitted that his team are unlikely to retain their La Liga crown, but vowed to continue fighting until the end of the campaign. The Catalans met heavy resistance from Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon on Sunday, but managed to edge the game 2-1 courtesy of a wonderful late strike by Lionel Messi after Dani Alves and Radamel Falcao had scored earlier on. "I...  

Guardiola still undecided over Barcelona future

Barcelona: Pep Guardiola still hasn't decided whether he wants to continue coaching Barcelona beyond this season. The 41-year-old Guardiola, who has won 13 out of a possible 16 titles since taking over the European champions nearly four seasons ago, said he would like to have made a decision already but he remains uncertain. "I would have liked to have made my decision earlier but it still isn't clear to me,"...  

Leverkusen players told to give up Messi shirts

Leverkusen: After seeing his defenders thoroughly outclassed by Lionel Messi, Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voeller was dismayed that his players squabbled over the souvenir when Messi gave the shirt off his back - at half-time. Messi scored one goal, set up another and hit a post in Barcelona's 3-1 Champions League win at Leverkusen on Tuesday night, when two of the home team's players were a little too keen...  

Mourinho plays down title talk despite lead

Madrid: Jose Mourinho attempted to play down title talk after fans and local media were left convinced his Real Madrid side would win La Liga after stretching their lead to 10-points with a 4-2 victory over Levante on Sunday. Cristiano Ronaldo rattled in his sixth hat-trick of the season as Real stormed back to win at the Bernabeu in some style, capitalising on second-placed Barcelona's surprise 3-2 defeat at Osasuna...  

Barcelona will keep fighting for the league: Alves

Leverkusen: Barcelona defender Dani Alves says his side will keep fighting for the Spanish title despite falling 10 points behind Real Madrid. Alves said on Monday, "As long as the title remains undecided, we'll keep fighting and we'll see what happens in the end." The Brazilian was acknowledged the "points difference is big" in the Spanish league and said his side would congratulate Madrid if they break Barcelona's three-year hold...  

Leverkusen pose physical test, says Guardiola

Leverkusen: Bayer Leverkusen hold a physical advantage over holders Barcelona and will be a tough nut to crack in their Champions League last-16 tie, Barca coach Pep Guardiola said on Monday. "They are a physically a stronger team than us and they will be stronger than us when we do not have possession," Guardiola told reporters ahead of Tuesday's first leg in Leverkusen. "They are dangerous from set pieces and...  

Guardiola defiant even as title hopes recede

Barcelona: Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola refused to concede the title after Saturday night's 3-2 defeat at Osasuna, but admitted that his side's hopes of catching Real Madrid at the top of La Liga have become "more complicated." The Catalans could have drawn within four points of the leaders with a victory at the Reyno de Navarra but, as their coach admitted, the defending champions now look set to fall 10...  

Mascherano sent off after Barcelona defeat

Barcelona: Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano was sent off in the tunnel following a heated confrontation with the referee after his side's 3-2 loss to Osasuna on Saturday. The former Liverpool man was yellow-carded on 88 minutes by Jose Romero for protesting a decision, but shortly after the game, he was shown a second yellow for a subsequent act of dissent towards the match official. Romero also added in his post-match...  

Real Madrid, Barcelona top soccer's rich list

London: Real Madrid and Barcelona are soccer's biggest moneymakers for the third straight year and look set to top their rivals for the foreseeable future. The annual review of soccer finance by Deloitte shows Madrid topping the list for the seventh straight year with revenue of $636.5 million for the year ending June 30, an increase of 9 percent from the previous 12 months. English champions Manchester United were again...  

Barcelona beat Valencia to enter Copa final

Barcelona: Cesc Fabregas scored one goal and set up another as Barcelona beat Valencia 2-0 on Wednesday to advance to the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao. Lionel Messi lobbed a long pass that Fabregas chased down and deftly chipped over goalkeeper Diego Alves for Barcelona's 15th-minute opener. And after Sofiane Feghouli left Valencia with 10 men late on after receiving his second booking, Fabregas set up Xavi Hernandez...  

Barcelona release Alexander Hleb from contact

Barcelona: Barcelona have reached an agreement with Alexander Hleb to release the Belarus midfielder from his contract. The 30-year-old came to Spain in the summer of 2008 but struggled to make any kind of an impression at Camp Nou. The former Arsenal player had been under contract with the Spanish and European champions until the end of the season. Hleb made 35 appearances for Barcelona during the 2008-09 season when...  

Barcelona feeling the pressure, admits Guardiola

Barcelona: Barcelona may finally be feeling the pressure that comes with being billed the world's best club, coach Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday. Guardiola spoke in rallying tones ahead of Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final at Valencia after the Spanish and European champions drew 0-0 at Villarreal to sit seven points behind league leaders Real Madrid. "Living with this constant pressure of having to win and win makes it hard,...  

Cuenca agrees contract extension with Barcelona

Barcelona: Barcelona forward Isaac Cuenca has agreed to extend his contract with the club. The Spanish and European champions say Cuenca agreed to a three-year extension that will run until the close of the 2014-15 season. The highly-rated 20-year-old's existing deal is due to expire at the end of the season and his situation has reportedly attracted the interest of a number of top European clubs, including Premier League trio...