Granada vs FC Barcelona

Barcelona against pesky Granada

The score line suggests Barcelona barely noted the absence of Lionel Messi against the second-lowest ranked team in the league but that was far from the truth as Luis Enrique's side really had to scrap for the win at Granada, who made the most of their only real shooting opportunity to set up a nervy final 40 minutes.

Barca came through this test mainly thanks to Luis Suarez, who produced one of his best ever overall displays in the three seasons he has been with the Blaugrana, while Paco Alcacer also deserves credit for a hard-working and clinical display after replacing Rafinha when the game was only 17 minutes old.

Positives

Barca proved they can occasionally live without Messi by picking up just a second win from six league games in which their talisman has missed or failed to complete the contest.

Negatives

It was sad to see Rafinha go off so early and Luis Enrique will be hoping the knee injury which forced him off is not a serious one. Elsewhere, there should be concern that Granada were able to score with their only real chance.

Manager rating out of 10

5 -- Luis Enrique owes Suarez a favour as the coach would have had plenty of explaining to do had his side dropped points after he overindulged in rotations. He had already announced he was going to rest Gerard Pique, which made playing the unpredictable and only recently fit again Jeremy Mathieu over the ultra-reliable Samuel Umtiti an even more baffling move. The coach's persistence with Andre Gomes, this time at the expense of Andres Iniesta, is also starting to verge on the ridiculous, although it has to be said he made the right substitution in bringing on Alcacer for Rafinha.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 6 -- Had been barely tested before the equaliser and perhaps could have done better to put Jeremie Boga off when he shaped to shoot but he learned to command his box better later in the game.

DF Sergi Roberto, 6 -- Was back playing in a four-man defence for the first time in a month and was more cautious going forward than usual, leaving Jordi Alba to handle the bulk of the defence's attacking contributions.

DF Javier Mascherano, 6 -- A competent performance at the heart of the defence after a difficult couple of weeks away with Argentina.

DF Jeremy Mathieu, 5 -- A bizarre choice at the expense of the imperious Umtiti. Was caught out for the equaliser and made a number of misplaced passes, interrupting Barca's play from the back and he nearly risked conceding another goal with a careless pass.

DF Jordi Alba, 7 -- Was excellent on the ball, providing the beautiful through pass for Suarez's goal and displaying classy touches to link with the attack. He let himself down defensively for the equaliser, though, allowing too much space between him and Mathieu which Boga gleefully raced into.

MF Sergio Busquets, 6 -- Was a little slow and allowed Matthieu Saunier to get past him and play in Boga for the leveller.

MF Andre Gomes, 4 -- Yet again looked completely out of place in the team, unsure of his role and failing to do almost anything positive.

MF Ivan Rakitic, 7 -- Played some wonderful long passes from deep and worked far harder and effectively than Gomes. Provided the goal that killed the game off as well with a slice of help from a deflection.

FW Rafinha, NR -- Was working hard in midfield and helped start one promising attacking move but felt discomfort in his knee as early as the 10th minute, coming off after Alcacer had been given a few minutes to warm up.

FW Luis Suarez, 10 -- Rose to the occasion with Messi absent and was at the heart of all of Barca's attacks, playing with bruising power as well as pure class. Almost scored the most delightful of chips and tested Guillermo Ochoa for most of the first half before finally getting the better of the Mexican and his assist for Alcacer was a masterclass in hold up play.

FW Neymar, 6 -- Did not quite produce the worldly displays we have come to expect from him in recent weeks, contained by Granada's physical play. Was grateful to Suarez for carrying the team on his shoulders for a change, but in the end got his 100th goal for the club.

Substitutes

FW Paco Alcacer, 8 -- Easily his best performance in a Barca shirt, working hard and linking up brilliantly with Suarez as soon as he came on. Scored his first important goal for the club to restore the lead, later squaring to Neymar to add an assist to his splendid display.

MF Andres Iniesta, 6 -- Put Gomes out of his misery and provided the experience and class Barca needed to see them through what had become a tricky encounter.

MF Carles Alena, NR -- The academy player got his first taste of league action for Barca but few conclusions can be made from the three minutes plus stoppage time he got to play.

Courtesy:http://www.espn.in

Neymar reaches FC Barcelona Milestone

Barcelona made light of the suspended Lionel Messi’s absence to remain just two points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid as Neymar netted his 100th goal for the club in a 4-1 win at Granada.

Earlier, Madrid consolidated their advantage at the top thanks to goals from Karim Benzema, Isco and Nacho to beat Alaves 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid still also have a game in hand and the two will meet at the Bernabeu in three weeks’ time.

“The games after an international break are always special because the players travel a lot and accumulate tiredness,” said Barca boss Luis Enrique.

“Playing away from home makes it even more difficult, but we overcame those problems very well.”

Barca could have used Messi’s precision in front of goal as they passed up a host of chances in the first-half at Nuevo Los Carmenes.

Luis Suarez’s first attempted chip over Ochoa came back off the underside of the bar before the Mexican denied Suarez with three saves in as many minutes.

The Uruguayan did eventually make the breakthrough when he sent a lovely dinked effort over the helpless Ochoa from Jordi Alba’s through ball.

Granada sent on Chelsea loanee Jeremie Boga at the start of the second-half and he took just five minutes to level as his pace proved too much for Barca’s cumbersome backline before finishing low into the far corner.

However, Barca retook the lead 13 minutes later when this time Suarez turned provider for Alcacer to net just his fourth goal since joining from Valencia in August.

Any chance of a Granada revival was ended when Uche Agbo was shown a second yellow card eight minutes from time.

Seconds later Barca make the game safe when Ivan Rakitic drilled into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

And Neymar rounded off the win with his 100th goal on his 177th appearance when he tapped home Alcacer’s cross at the far post.

At the Bernabeu, the European champions were grateful to Alaves’ wastefulness in front of goal as they moved a step closer to a first title in five years.

courtesy:http://www.hindustantimes.com

Leo Messi scores 40 goals for eighth year running

With at least 13 games still to play, the Argentinian has already hit the magic mark, and leads the goalscoring charts in Spain and Europe

The goals from Leo Messi keep coming thick and fast, and his latest pair in the 4-2 defeat of Valencia on Sunday mean that he has now achieved the incredible record of registering braces in 100 different games for Barcelona. And, of course, that’s not counting the times when he has scored three or more, of which there have been plenty!

That takes his season tally up to 41 goals in competitive matches. That means he’s racked up over 40 goals in every camapign since 2009/10. And the year before that he came close with 38...

No other Liga player can make the same claim, and we are also talking about the man with the overall record for official goals in a season – the 73 that the Argentinian poked away in 2011/12.

25 of his goals this term have come in LaLiga, making it nine seasons running that Messi has scored at least 20 goals in the domestic championship. His currently the top scorer in the competition, with team-mate Luis Suárez second on 21.

Leo is also the frontrunner in the chase for the European Golden Shoe with 50 points (Liga goals count double in the ranking), closely followed by Bas Dost of Sporting Lisbon, whose 24 goals amount to 48 points. Next in the list are Aubameyang of Borussia Dortmund (23 goals, 46 points) and Belotti of Torino (22 goals, 44 points).

Courtesy:www.fcbarcelona.com

FC Barcelona to make 2017 preseason tour to the USA -- WAR OF TITATS

International Champions Cup (ICC) USA

FC Barcelona will face Juventus, Manchester United, and Real Madrid in the fifth edition of the International Champions Cup (ICC) United States, a competition organized by Relevant Sports. Both the matchups and their respective dates were announced this Tuesday in an event held in New York, where the Club was represented by former player Juliano Belletti, as well as by Francesco Calvo, FC Barcelona’s Chief Revenue Officer.

FC Barcelona will play three games in this summer’s ICC. The first is set for 22 July versus Juventus — which Barça will soon be facing in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. Kickoff at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey is set for 6.00pm ET (12.00am CET on 23 July). The second match of the tour comes against Manchester United at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland on 26 July at 7.35pm ET (1.35am CET on 27 July). Barça’s third and final game will be against Real Madrid at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on 29 July at 7.30pm ET (1.30am CET on 30 July). The Barça–Madrid game, which was announced on 10 March in Miami, brings a historic rivalry to American shores for the very first time, making it just the second time ever that El Clásico will be played outside of Spain. The first was in Barquisimeto, Venezuela on 30 May 1982.

The ICC, which is being held from 19 to 30 July, has prepared an impressive slate of matchups with the participation of eight of Europe’s top teams. Besides Barça, Juventus, Manchester United and Real Madrid, the competition includes Paris Saint-Germain, AS Roma, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hostpur.

The International Champions Cup will also host matches in Singapore and China between 25 and 29 July. These games will feature Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, AC Milan and Inter Milan.

The details of the tournaments were announced on Tuesday at Hudson Yards in New York, at an event attended by Juliano Belletti in his role as FC Barcelona ambassador. Belletti, who was the hero of the 2006 Champions League final in Paris, was accompanied by other ex-players — David Trezeguet (Juventus); Nemandja Vidic (Manchester United); Emilio Butragueño (Real Madrid); Gabriel Jesus and Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City); Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur); and Daniel Bravo (PSG) and Sebastián Nela (Roma). FC Barcelona were also represented by Chief Revenue Officer Francesco Calvo.

Courtesy:www.fcbarcelona.com

Neymar Jr, one short of 100 goals for FC Barcelona

In his fourth season at the club and after 175 official appearances, the Brazilian is about to take his goalscoring tally into triple figures

We all know that Neymar Jr has hit on one of his sweetest moments ever at FC Barcelona. Having just beaten his compatriot Ronaldinho’s tally of 94 he’s now one goal shy of his first century for the team, and after missing the game with Deportivo his first chance to that will be against Valencia at the Camp Nou on Sunday at 8.45pm. In doing so, he’ll become the third Brazilian to get 100 goals for Barça after Rivaldo (130) and Evaristo (105).

99 goals, a closer look

Since coming to Barça in the summer of 2013, Neymar Jr has made 175 official appearances, and his goals have included 63 in La Liga and 21 in the Champions League, although the first of all was in the Spanish Super Cup against Atlético Madrid.

Courtesy: www.fcbarcelona.com

Most Liked Picture for FCB

The image in the most 'liked' on the Club's Instagram account and is also now the most seen on Facebook with more than 56 million views

The photo captures the moment in which Leo Messi is lifted into the air by the fans at Camp Nou just seconds after Sergi Roberto’s decisive goal. The Argentinian is standing on the advertising hoardings, celebrating the goal that gave Barça a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with the fans.

The man who took the photo, Santiago Garcés, found himself just metres away from Messi. He ran from the photographers’ area to find a place behind the goal when he saw the Argentine celebrating the goal on his own. “I believed in the comeback and I stayed close to the fans,” explains the 41 year old Mexican photographer who has worked for Barça for four years.

The mayhem following the goal meant that photographers’ area was filled with fans and in midst of the pushing and shoving and even kisses from certain fans, Santiago Garcés was able to snap “around 50 photos” amongst which the best was the shot that has become the most popular ever at FC Barcelona in the new digital age.

Courtesy: www.fcbarcelona.com

Messi and at least 20 league goals, the tradition continues

Since the 2008/09 season, the Argentine has reached this figure in La Liga, the only man ever to do so on such a consistent basis.

He’s done it again. It is the ninth time that Leo Messi has reached 20 league goals in a season, a feat that is difficult to achieve once, let along year after year.

The Argentine star, as is customary, has kept up the tradition in the current league campaign with his 20th of the season coming against Atlético in the 2-1 win in the Calderón on Sunday. Messi is now top of the goalscoring charts in La Liga with 13 games remaining.

Messi has scored 20 or more goals every season since 2008/09, the only player ever to achieved such a distinction in the long history of the league in Spain.

Aside from being the current pichichi (top scorer in La Liga), two goals ahead of his team mate Luis Suárez, Messi also leads the way in the race for the European Golden Shoe. His 20 goals put him just ahead of PSG’s Edinson Cavani in the race to be the Continent’s top goalscorer.

Courtesy:www.fcbarcelona.com

Deportivo la Coruña 2-1 FC Barcelona: Back down to earth

Just a few days ago, Barça’s Champions League hopes were hanging on a miracle, while their Liga destiny was back in their own hands. But the miracle comeback against PSG has been followed by a disappointing 2-1 defeat at struggling Deportivo La Coruña, meaning Real Madrid can now move back to the top of the league table with a win against Real Betis later tonight.

Luis Enrique made five changes to the team that had made history four days earlier, two of those forced in the cases of Rafinha and Neymar Jr, the latter replaced in the frontline by Arda Turan.

Depor strike first

There was no need for Barça to score four goals in this game, let alone six, and there was a lack of urgency to the proceedings in the first half. They were back to their patient waiting game and as long as there was no score, Deportivo were happy enough with things as they stood. Understandable, considering they conceded eight in this fixture last season.

With a period of torrential rain not helping them to get into the flow, a Luis Suárez header and a skied opportunity for Andre Gomes were the best Barça had mustered before the first moment of true excitement came in the 35th minute, when Depor keeper German Lux managed to intercept what would have been a simple tap-in for Luis Suárez off a Sergi Roberto assist.

But just when Barça’s game was finally clicking into place, the only goal of the half came at the other end – the outcome of a corner after Ter Stegen had turned away Joselu’s powerful hooked drive with a spectacular save. Neither the Barça keeper nor two of his defenders were able to deal with the ensuing corner, and Joselu was there to thump it home.

Suárez levels

The circumstances were nothing like as adverse as they had been against PSG, but nevertheless, Barça were going to have switch back into comeback mode for the second 45 minutes.

And before the Riazor crowd had even settled into their seats after the break, the sides were level. Luis Suárez latched onto a stray ball and slammed it past Lux, and that was the Uruguayan’s 21st goal of the Liga season.

But whatever Pepe Mel has been doing since taking over at Depor, it seems to be working. Unfazed by the goal, the Galicians created as much danger as the Catalans for the third quarter of the game. Joselu’s blast that resulted in a fairly routine save for Ter Stegen was probably the best of the respective sides’ chances.

Back behind

Barça never managed to get their full grip on the game, and Depor were rewarded for their pluck with goal number two on 74 minutes. Like the first, it came from a corner, with Álex Bergantiños rising to head home.

Barça needed to call on the spirit of Wednesday night, but there are some days when everything goes right and other days when they simply don’t.

They piled on the late pressure to no avail. Luis Suárez was alone in the kind of position where he’s rarely known to fail, but Lux managed to get a foot in the way. There was hope in the dying minutes when Leo Messi prepared to take a free kick from the perfect position. It sailed narrowly over and Riazor celebrated as if their side had scored.

Indeed, they probably should have done in the dying seconds. Faycal Fajr was free on his own. Ter Stegen saved the first shot and Jordi Alba appeared from nowhere to clear the second off the line.

That was a let-off for Barça, but ultimately it made no difference. Three crucial points have gone begging in La Coruña, in a defeat that brings a gloomy end to a wonderful week, not to mention Barcelona’s unbeaten run of 19 league matches.

Courtesy:www.fcbarcelona.com

fc barcelona vs psg

What a match

FC Barcelona managed to complete the mother of all comebacks, becoming the first team to overturn a 4-0 deficit in the Champions League. It started brightly for Barcelona as they slowly but surely chipped away at PSG’s lead, building a 3-0 lead with goals from Luis Suarez, Layvin Kurzawa (OG) and Lionel Messi. Barcelona’s hopes of a spot in the quarter final took a massive dip midway through the second half when Edinson Cavani buried the ball for the all-important away goal. But through sheer will and determination Barcelona scored three goals in the dying stages of the match. Led by Neymar, who scored two goals to bring Barcelona within a goal, Barcelona had an unlikely chance to complete the impossible. And yet, they did just that. In the very last minute of added time, Sergi Roberto put Barcelona through to the next round.

Barcelona started the match with one thing in mind – the comeback, and the starting eleven showed that. Only three players, Samuel Umtiti, Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano in the back, and even those three seemed like extra attackers at times. PSG also started differently than they did in Paris. They were without arguably their best player of that infamous night, Angel Di Maria, and tactically they came into the game defending their lead, not trying to disrupt Barcelona like they did at Parc des Princes.

The Catalans went on the offensive from the opening whistle and they were rewarded with a very early lead as Suarez scored in the 3rd minute. It was dream start for Barcelona. The cross came from the right side, but it was intercepted by the PSG defense, however, it was poorly cleared. Suarez won the aerial duel with goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, heading the ball on goal, but it was seemingly cleared off the line by Thomas Meunier. However, the referee pointed to the midfield spot, confirming the opening goal. The goal was also confirmed by the goal-line technology.

Barcelona continued to attack, but PSG, despite starting very defensively, also showed plenty of attacking prowess, threatening a couple of times around the ten minute mark. First, Julian Draxler claimed for a penalty kick after his low cross hit the arm of the diving Mascherano, but referee Deniz Aytekin would have none of it. The French side continued to threaten from the ensuing two corner kicks, but Barcelona’s defense held its ground.

But Barcelona weren’t pinned back for long as they quickly returned to attacking ways, but creating scoring chances was difficult. PSG, at times, defended with all eleven players inside their own 30-yards and it proved to be a tactic that caused Barcelona problems – as has been the case numerous times in the past. Still, Barcelona often tried their luck down both flanks and from one such attack Neymar came within inches of scoring, as his long range effort from the left side barely missed the target.

The Catalans continued to buzz around the PSG penalty area, but getting anywhere near Trapp continued to be a tall task, and all shots Barcelona were able to get off were from distance, the next one came from Andres Iniesta but that one too missed the target. On the other side, PSG relied on Barcelona’s mistakes in transition to start their own attacks. Those mistakes weren’t plentiful, but there was enough of them keep the Barcelona defense on their toes.

Creating clear-cut scoring chances was clearly a problems for the hosts, but regardless of that, the Catalans managed to double their lead before the halftime break, in the 40th minute – again from a broken play up front. The play started with a lovely combo on the left featuring Neymar, Suarez and Andres Iniesta. From a lost possession deep in the area, Iniesta masterfully stole the ball away from Marquinhos and quickly sent a hopeful ball in front of Trapp. There, Kurzawa reacted poorly, connecting terribly with the ball, sending it into the back of his own net.

Barcelona launched one last assault in the remaining time of first half, which was extended by three minutes, but the visitors were able to hold their ground and go into the break still up two goals on aggregate.

The start of the second half was again from Barcelona’s dream scenario. While PSG started the half higher up the pitch, the Catalans quickly pinned the hosts back and after a dangerous pass into the penalty area, Meunier was put in a terrible spot as he stumbled forward into the path of Neymar who went down. Aytekin waved play on, but the referee behind the goal had a better look of the play and a penalty kick was awarded. Messi took responsibility and powered the ball to Trapp’s right. Trapp guessed right, but he was too late to the spot to make the save.

Barcelona were now only one goal away from leveling the score on aggregate, but a solitary PSG goal would change everything for the hosts. And Cavani came within inches of doing just that but was denied by the post. The low cross was delivered by Meunier who easily skipped past the defending Neymar and found Cavani in the middle who escaped Mascherano. Cavani’s tipped shot beat Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but not the post.

PSG were feeling the heat and Unai Emery quickly made a very telling substitution, replacing Lucas with Di Maria. It was a sign that the visitors were going for the all-important away goa that would extend their lead to three. And the Parisians didn’t have to wait long for that to happen. In the 62nd minute a seemingly harmless free kick was taken long from near the midfield spot. Deep inside the Barcelona area Kurzawa won the duel and headed the ball right into the path of Cavani who powered the ball just under the crossbar to put Barcelona on the brink of elimination.

Two minutes later Cavani would have an even better looking chance to put the game completely out of reach, but one-on-one with ter Stegen he couldn’t get the ball past the outstretched leg of ter Stegen. Moments later, Luis Enrique made his first change of the match, taking off Iniesta, with Arda Turan taking his place.

Cavani’s goal completely changed the landscape and Barcelona, who almost climbed completely up the mountain just found out that the mountain had an even higher peak. Barcelona continued to attack, but some of the hunger from earlier in the game was gone and PSG looked content to defend. Emery even shored up his defensive ranks by bringing on Serge Aurier in place of Draxler.

Barcelona made two more substitutions in an effort to make the impossible possible, both times midfielder for midfielder, with Rafinha and Rakitić making way for Sergi Roberto and Andre Gomes. Barcelona’s chances received a tiny boost in the 88th minute when Neymar brilliantly took a free kick from the left side to make it 4-1, but Barcelona still needed two.

The next one came in the 90th minute as Marquinhos brought down Suarez inside the penalty area for a penalty kick. Surprisingly, it wasn’t Messi who stepped up, but it was the man who started the second comeback - Neymar. After a couple of stutter-steps the ball was in the back of the net, but surely time would run out before Barcelona would score the winning goal.

Barcelona sent everybody forward, even ter Stegen, but PSG’s defenders cleared away everything – until the last minute of added time. Seemingly every single player on the pitch was in the area, but somehow Roberto escaped coverage and eluded the offside trap to get on the receiving end of Neymar’s perfect cross, and with a magical touch sent the ball into the back of the net to complete the comeback of all comebacks. Barcelona scored two goals in added time, three from the start of the 87th minute to win themselves a place in the quarter-final of the Champions League. Who they will face there will be determined at a draw held on 17 March.

Courtesy:www.barcablaugranes.com