Page 51 of 261 FirstFirst ... 41495051525361101151 ... LastLast
Results 501 to 510 of 2602

Thread: ►★ FC BARCELONA THREAD ★✿◄ Club with the Most Fifa Acknowledged Titiles ★◄

  1. #501

    Default


    Messi modest on Barça heroics

    (PA) Thursday 8 March 2012
    Print
    Email my friend
    Share



    Lionel Messi shrugged off another night of personal achievement to focus on helping Barcelona into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. The Argentinian became the first man to score five times in a game in Europe's premier club competition in another sensational solo display, as the defending champions eased through with a 7-1 thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen.
    Pep Guardiola's side were at their unplayable best, with young substitute Cristian Tello also scoring twice as they advanced 10-2 on aggregate. Messi, 24, was the undoubted star but he was quick to play down his own role to concentrate on the bigger picture.
    He said: "The most important thing tonight is that all these goals we scored take us one step closer to winning the Champions League, which is our objective. We went out there wanting to ensure qualification for the quarter-finals, and we achieved that.

    It's all about enjoying the moment - from how it went with Argentina the other week to how it's going right now for my club.
    Lionel Messi





    "I have always said that it's fantastic when things come off for you and you play well, but only if you meet your aims for the match. That's what happened against Leverkusen. The team played very, very well, the performance had some beautiful moments and we scored lots of goals."
    Messi's modesty failed to deflect attention away from another magnificent display. The FIFA Ballon D'Or holder earlier became the first man to score four times in two Champions League games - he also hit four against Arsenal in 2010 - before adding a fifth with a crisp left-foot finish from the edge of the area. Last night's haul, plus the recent hat-trick for Argentina against Switzerland, means Messi has scored 14 goals in his last five games for club and country.
    "It's all about enjoying the moment - from how it went with Argentina the other week to how it's going right now for my club," he told UEFA.com. "The sweetest part of it, for me, is that the team continues its run of form at the moment, winning games in style - that's the way to go as far as we can in the Champions League.
    "As for the draws for the next rounds, I don't care which opponents we end up facing or when. Any club which has reached this stage is only here because it has done its work very well, and whoever we draw are going to be tough opposition."
    Fabregas lauds all-time greatest
    Barcelona team-mate Cesc Fabregas claimed Messi is the best player ever to play the game. The midfielder said: "You can expect anything from Leo.
    "He is the best player in history, we have never seen anyone like him. He didn't play at the weekend and he wanted to do well. He enjoys being on the pitch and we are happy to have him
    VAMOS ARGENTINA
    VAMOS MESSIVAMOS MARADONA
    http://fat.gfycat.com/FinishedGenuineGar.webm

  2. #502

    Default

    Dutt hails Barça, defends German football

    (PA) Thursday 8 March 2012
    Print
    Email my friend
    Share



    Bayer Leverkusen coach Robin Dutt does not believe his side's 7-1 battering at Barcelona reflects badly on the Bundesliga and preferred instead to focus on the brilliance of the European champions.
    Barça were at their unplayable best, with Lionel Messi becoming the first player to score five times in one UEFA Champions League game as Leverkusen were brushed aside. Some critics were quick to suggest the result was an indication of how far German football currently stood behind that in Spain, but Dutt pointed out Barcelona were just as dominant domestically.

    They encompass the three big Ts of football: technique, tactics and team spirit. When all of these three elements come together at such a level, then you have got to admire it.
    Robin Dutt on Barcelona




    "It is not fair to question German football just because Leverkusen have lost 7-1 here," he said. "Valencia were in our group and they lost 5-1 to Barcelona, while other Spanish rivals have gone down 8-0 here.



    "We should not be doubting German football based on one defeat, which may feel bad but we must also recognise the quality of Barcelona. We have got to consider how you can manage to create a concept and a philosophy which makes you superior to such an extent. If you want to beat Barcelona, then everything has got to go right for you and nothing can go right for Barça."
    The result completed a 10-2 aggregate defeat for Leverkusen, who had won their last three Bundesliga matches to travel to the Nou Camp in confident mood.
    And Dutt says Barcelona's strengths should be recognised more than his side's apparent weaknesses.
    "I think it would be unfair to accuse my side of giving up," he told Sky television. "Barcelona became more courageous after scoring their second goal and they were able to play more freely.
    "You have got to recognise the strength of the opponents - they encompass the three big Ts of football: technique, tactics and team spirit. When all of these three elements come together at such a level, then you have got to admire it.
    "But I will hold back with my admiration. I respect and recognise their performance, but it hurts because we were their opponents today
    VAMOS ARGENTINA
    VAMOS MESSIVAMOS MARADONA
    http://fat.gfycat.com/FinishedGenuineGar.webm

  3. #503

    Default

    thank you all for the updates..

  4. #504

    Default

    FC Barcelona vs Granada: Messi, simply the best (5-3)
    Roger Bogunyà


    Barcelona (FCB).- That’s eight out of eight for FC Barcelona, who defeated Granada this Tuesday at the Camp Nou in a game that will be remembered above all else for Messi. The Argentinean scored three goals that mean he has overtaken César to become the highest goalscorer in FC Barcelona history. After Xavi had made it 1-0 and Messi had added a second, nobody imagined that the second half of a rainy night at the Camp Nou was going to be so action-packed, in which Granada, like Betis earlier this season, managed to cancel out a two-goal deficit.




    It was then that Messi, cool as ever with another stunning finish, wrote the latest chapter of his amazing story. His goal not only knocked the wind out of a momentarily resuscitated Granada, but also marked his 233rd for FC Barcelona, more than even the legendary César. Tello then added another, before the Argentinean completed his umpteenth hat-trick to once again show why he is, quite simply, the greatest footballer in the world. Not even the third Granada goal, their second penalty of the night and which also saw Alves sent off, was enough to dampen the spirits on such a historic evening.
    The win is FC Barcelona’s eighth in a row and cuts the difference between themselves and Spanish League leaders Real Madrid to five points, although the latter have a game in hand, away to Villarreal on Wednesday night.
    Xavi early doors
    FC Barcelona only needed four minutes and one chance to go ahead. A nice piece of combination play was completed with a Cuenca cross from the left, off which Messi supplied the ball to Xavi, who came in from behind to score. Granada had barely touched the ball and the Catalans were already in front.

    Messi equals César

    Although five changes had been made to the squad that faced Sevilla, with a completely unfamiliar midfield without any of Busquets, Cesc or Iniesta, and with Keita and Thiago providing support for Xavi, FC Barcelona found little difficulty finding further chances to test Julio Cèsar. And they barely had to shift out of third gear to do it, with Alexis and Cuenca pulling the play out wide and creating plenty of space for Messi to do his work.
    Cuenca was also involved in the second goal, supplying a the cross for Messi to score with his first touch, taking a slight deflection off the Granada defence on the way. The crowd immediately responded by chanting the Argentinean’s name. And rightly so. He had just equalised César’s goalscoring record for FC Barcelona. History was in the making.
    Granada pull back level
    Barça conserved their energy for the rest of the half, and started the second in similarly relaxed fashion. Meanwhile, Granada were creating next to nothing in the way of threats. But following a free kick on the edge of the area after 55 minutes they managed to pull back to 2-1. It had been their first shot on target all game. If that goal had seemed hard on Barça, who had been providing almost all the football, the second, to make it 2-2, was even more so. Alves brought down Benítez, and the referee adjudged the incident to have happened inside the area and pointed to the spot, from which Siqueira made no mistake.

    Record breaker

    With rain now lashing down over the Camp Nou, the greatest player in the world stepped up to make his mark once again. A pinpoint assist from Alves was met by Messi, who beat Julio Cèsar with a sublime chip. Having already equalled César’s record, he had now gone one better to become the highest scoring Barça player in history. And what a goal to mark the occasion. Simply the best.
    Crazy ending
    Now 3-2 down, Granada didn’t seem to have any strength left to conjure up another response, and instead Tello added another to Barcelona’s tally, while there was still time for Messi to complete a hat-trick on what was already a historic night for him. It looked like it was all going to end 5-2, but then the Andalusians were awarded another penalty, this time for an Alves handball in the area, for which the Brazilian was red carded. The spot-kick was converted, and at least Granada can go away saying that they scored three goals at the Camp Nou, something nobody else has achieved this season.
    But little did it matter in the end. The game was already won, and the night belonged to just one man – the incredible Leo Messi. He’s already the highest goalscorer in FC Barcelona history, and still has many years of football ahead of him. He is both the present and future
    FC Barcelona vs Granada: Messi, simply the best (5-3)
    Roger Bogunyà


    Barcelona (FCB).- That’s eight out of eight for FC Barcelona, who defeated Granada this Tuesday at the Camp Nou in a game that will be remembered above all else for Messi. The Argentinean scored three goals that mean he has overtaken César to become the highest goalscorer in FC Barcelona history. After Xavi had made it 1-0 and Messi had added a second, nobody imagined that the second half of a rainy night at the Camp Nou was going to be so action-packed, in which Granada, like Betis earlier this season, managed to cancel out a two-goal deficit.




    It was then that Messi, cool as ever with another stunning finish, wrote the latest chapter of his amazing story. His goal not only knocked the wind out of a momentarily resuscitated Granada, but also marked his 233rd for FC Barcelona, more than even the legendary César. Tello then added another, before the Argentinean completed his umpteenth hat-trick to once again show why he is, quite simply, the greatest footballer in the world. Not even the third Granada goal, their second penalty of the night and which also saw Alves sent off, was enough to dampen the spirits on such a historic evening.
    The win is FC Barcelona’s eighth in a row and cuts the difference between themselves and Spanish League leaders Real Madrid to five points, although the latter have a game in hand, away to Villarreal on Wednesday night.
    Xavi early doors
    FC Barcelona only needed four minutes and one chance to go ahead. A nice piece of combination play was completed with a Cuenca cross from the left, off which Messi supplied the ball to Xavi, who came in from behind to score. Granada had barely touched the ball and the Catalans were already in front.

    Messi equals César

    Although five changes had been made to the squad that faced Sevilla, with a completely unfamiliar midfield without any of Busquets, Cesc or Iniesta, and with Keita and Thiago providing support for Xavi, FC Barcelona found little difficulty finding further chances to test Julio Cèsar. And they barely had to shift out of third gear to do it, with Alexis and Cuenca pulling the play out wide and creating plenty of space for Messi to do his work.
    Cuenca was also involved in the second goal, supplying a the cross for Messi to score with his first touch, taking a slight deflection off the Granada defence on the way. The crowd immediately responded by chanting the Argentinean’s name. And rightly so. He had just equalised César’s goalscoring record for FC Barcelona. History was in the making.
    Granada pull back level
    Barça conserved their energy for the rest of the half, and started the second in similarly relaxed fashion. Meanwhile, Granada were creating next to nothing in the way of threats. But following a free kick on the edge of the area after 55 minutes they managed to pull back to 2-1. It had been their first shot on target all game. If that goal had seemed hard on Barça, who had been providing almost all the football, the second, to make it 2-2, was even more so. Alves brought down Benítez, and the referee adjudged the incident to have happened inside the area and pointed to the spot, from which Siqueira made no mistake.

    Record breaker

    With rain now lashing down over the Camp Nou, the greatest player in the world stepped up to make his mark once again. A pinpoint assist from Alves was met by Messi, who beat Julio Cèsar with a sublime chip. Having already equalled César’s record, he had now gone one better to become the highest scoring Barça player in history. And what a goal to mark the occasion. Simply the best.
    Crazy ending
    Now 3-2 down, Granada didn’t seem to have any strength left to conjure up another response, and instead Tello added another to Barcelona’s tally, while there was still time for Messi to complete a hat-trick on what was already a historic night for him. It looked like it was all going to end 5-2, but then the Andalusians were awarded another penalty, this time for an Alves handball in the area, for which the Brazilian was red carded. The spot-kick was converted, and at least Granada can go away saying that they scored three goals at the Camp Nou, something nobody else has achieved this season.
    But little did it matter in the end. The game was already won, and the night belonged to just one man – the incredible Leo Messi. He’s already the highest goalscorer in FC Barcelona history, and still has many years of football ahead of him. He is both the present and future of one of the most amazing football teams ever to grace this sport.


    of one of the most amazing football teams ever to grace this sport.

  5. #505
    FK Citizen reality's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Manjeri
    Posts
    6,954

    Default

    The British 'Daily Mail' newspaper are tipping Barcelona to make a £35 million summer bid for David Luiz.

  6. #506
    FK Citizen reality's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Manjeri
    Posts
    6,954

    Default

    Neymar to spearhead a new brand Barcelona - but it may be without Guardiola

    The Brazilian forward has rejected Real Madrid and looks set for a move to Camp Nou in 2013 - but his signing has much to do with a marketing strategy for both Barca and Nike



    EXCLUSIVE
    By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Editor
    Neymar is part of a grand plan for Barcelona. The Brazilian forward is edging closer to a move to the Catalan club after rejecting Real Madrid, Goal.com revealed on Tuesday. And his arrival at Camp Nou has everything to do with winning the battle with the club's eternal enemies - but as much off the pitch as on it.

    Barcelona were alerted to the possibility of a move for Neymar after talks with Madrid broke down last year, with president Sandro Rosell flying to Brazil on a charm offensive with the player and his father. And whereas Madrid chief Florentino Perez had told the youngster he must respect Real and that he would by no means be guaranteed a place in the first team at the Santiago Bernabeu, Rosell adopted an altogether alternative approach, telling Neymar he would be 'at home' at Camp Nou.

    Rosell has long been keen on recruiting Neymar. The Barca president is a former footballer himself, having turned out for Catalan club Hospitalet in the 1980s, but he made his name as a brilliant businessman, specifically in marketing and, intriguingly, with Nike.

    Rosell, now 48, was employed by Nike in 1996 and given one clear brief: to strike a shirt manufacturing deal with either Real Madrid or Barcelona. And following tough negotiations with the Catalan club, an agreement was signed.

    His next assignment was to popularise the brand in Brazil. Rosell moved to the South American country and worked closely with the national side to create a strong relationship, which culminated with the ultimate dream: a World Cup win for Brazil in 2002, wearing Nike shirts.

    Brazilian charm | Barca believe Neymar can be a commercial success - like Ronaldinho


    Back in Barcelona a year later, Rosell used his marketing skills to help former friend Joan Laporta to the Barca presidency, overseeing a clever publicity stunt as the Catalans claimed the would-be signing David Beckham, but instead used his army of contacts in Brazil and close personal rapport to bring in Ronaldinho - a signing that changed the modern history of the club.

    Something similar is now being planned with Neymar. Spectacular success on the pitch has brought fantastic financial rewards off it for the Catalan club, but Barca still trail Madrid in the Deloitte rankings for the world's richest club. Neymar, it is thought, can change that.

    Nike's contract with Barcelona is set to expire in 2013, and although there is no question of the club looking around for another kit manufacturer, both parties are keen to maximise the potential of an already profitable partnership.

    As well as supplying shirts and sportswear, Nike boast contracts with a number of Barcelona players, including Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol and Andres Iniesta. Crucially, however, Lionel Messi left the North American company to sign for Adidas in 2006, while Xavi and David Villa also represent the German mark. Cesc Febregas, meanwhile, recently ditched Nike in order to sign up with Puma.

    The players still on their books are not high-profile enough to boost the brand on a world level, as Cristiano Ronaldo has done for Nike at Real Madrid, albeit sporting Adidas kits with his club side, or Wayne Rooney at Manchester United. In fact, Iniesta was not even included in the firm's World Cup advertising campaign, with a hastily arranged press conference in Barcelona organised only after the midfielder had netted the winning goal for Spain in South Africa. Since then, Nike have been pushing Barca to sign one of their elite players for several seasons, only to be frustrated as the Catalans looked elsewhere.

    Neymar, though, is already one of the world's most marketable sportsmen and, more importantly, he is a Nike player. The young forward, who turned 20 last month, is seen as a perfect product not only for his spectacular skills on the pitch, but because of his charisma off it - his Mohican hairstyle, his love for dancing and tendency to hit the headlines even when he is not playing football. The youngster already boasts eight sponsorship deals, supplementing his already lucrative playing contract worth around €7m per year.

    Coach Pep Guardiola, however, has his reservations where Neymar is concerned. The Barca boss is unsure the forward is needed at Camp Nou, especially given the emergence of Cristian Tello and Isaac Cuenca, as well as the successful adaptation of Alexis Sanchez. The Catalan coach is also uneasy when presented with players who can upset the harmony of a dressing room, highlighted by his prickly relationships with Samuel Eto'o and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Neymar falls into that category, having sparked a series of controversies in his homeland and once even refusing to pass to his team-mates after he was not allowed to take a penalty himself.


    Guardiola previously encouraged his players to sign up with Nike, where his brother Pere worked until last year in the public relations and marketing department. Guardiola is not against the acquisition of Neymar, but is unsure whether the Brazilian fits the team's most pressing needs.

    That, however, is unlikely to be a problem because Guardiola is expected to remain for just one more year at Camp Nou before departing to pastures new or taking time out in a well-earned sabbatical season.

    In the meantime, Rosell and his board strive to make Barca the world's biggest brand off the pitch, together with a growing group of sponsors, led by Nike, and the Barca president is in constant contact with former Nike colleague Andre Curi, now at Traffic (a company specialising in the transfer of Brazilian players), over Neymar, with the businessman in Barcelona just last month for talks with the Catalan club.

    Behind the scenes at Barca, it is hoped and believed the Brazilian can be the next Ronaldinho at Camp Nou, helping the Spanish and European champions surpass Madrid as the world's richest club, while maintaining the side's spectacular success on the pitch as well.

    So, a new-brand Barca is already in the making, with or without Guardiola, and the new project on and off the pitch is set to be spearheaded by Nike - and by Neymar.

  7. #507

    Default

    Guys, looking at the game I still believe that Barca should strengthen their defense. A few more defenders would be ideal, not make-shift defenders like Mascherano. I dont blame Mascherano. He is good in his position and I believe he is better than Busquets too in that defensive midfielder role.

  8. #508

    Default

    A statement on Madrid's website read: "Real Madrid will face Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Saturday, April 21 at 2000 in the 35th round of the season."

  9. #509

    Default

    Barcelona's Andres Iniesta is just one game short of the 400 mark and he could make that with the game against Levante or Chelsea.

  10. Likes reality liked this post
  11. #510

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by hitman87 View Post
    Barcelona's Andres Iniesta is just one game short of the 400 mark and he could make that with the game against Levante or Chelsea.
    Thanks Hitman. Let's salute this priceless jewel of FC Barcelona.
    Iniesta is nothing short of a phenomenon.
    "If the ball is a crying toddler, then Andres Iniesta's first touch is a lullaby..."

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •