The Catalans will take on Juve in Group D of the competition, having lost at the quarter-final stage in 2016-17. Juve 12/1 to win Champions League Greek champions Olympiacos and Sporting Lisbon are also in the group alongside the two giants, after the draw was held in Monaco. Holders Real Madrid also take on familiar opposition in the shape of Dortmund, the pair meeting in Group H in a repeat of last year’s draw....
The 34-year-old superstar who currently plays at Japan’s Vissel Kobe had no intention “to upset anyone by displaying that photo,” according to a statement by his agency sent to AFP on Wednesday. “He would like to apologise to those people who may have felt offended,” the statement said. Iniesta’s picture on Twitter and Instagram posted on Sunday showed his family and a group of people in costumes, taking part in the Three Kings Day celebration also known as Epiphany, which is widely celebrated in Spain....
BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona’s Luis Suarez was at his ruthless best and also again caught up in controversy as he scored twice to secure a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final, first leg on Tuesday. The Uruguayan kicked out at defender Juanfran in the first half in an off-the-ball incident and, after equalising just past the hour mark, got a yellow card for striking Filipe Luis in the face moments before heading the winner in the 74th minute....
In case didn’t know… Phillipe Coutinho joined Barcelona for £142 million from Liverpool in the January transfer window of 2018 and is touted as the natural successor to Andres Iniesta. It began well enough for the Brazillian at the Camp Nou as he scored 10 goals in 22 appearances during his first half season with the club. However, he suffered from injuries and a poor form this season and started in just 13 LaLiga games....
Here is the latest from Camp Nou on 31st October 2020. Josep Maria Bartomeu points finger at Neymar Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu blames Neymar for the way his presidency panned out, according to OKDiario. The Blaugrana finished last season without a trophy despite sacking two managers. Neymar moved to PSG after the French side agreed to pay his release clause back in 2017. Despite winning the Ligue 1 in France, Neymar wanted to move back to Catalunya last summer....
The Argentine forward is on the bench for the Catalan club along with Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Sergio Busquets, Paulinho and Sergi Roberto as coach Ernesto Valverde picks a much-changed team for the visit of the Portuguese side. Luis Suarez is in the side, the Uruguayan starting alongside Paco Alcacer and Aleix Vidal in attack. In midfield, there is a rare start for Andre Gomes who is available again after injury, with Ivan Rakitic and Denis Suarez also included....
Now, Spanish newspaper AS reports that Manchester City have held talks with Messi’s representatives to try to lure the 30-year old to England. Pep Guardiola’s presence at City is the single biggest factor for Messi as the former helped Leo unlock his full potential around a decade back. The blue half of Manchester are reportedly willing to pay a whopping €400 million in January itself to sign the player. If Messi does not a sign the contract before January, then Barcelona will have a real fight on their hands to keep the Argentine....
Barcelona has been interested in securing Lautaro Martinez’s signature for several months now and seems to have made a breakthrough in the long-drawn transfer saga. Barcelona has been scouring the transfer market for a viable replacement for the ageing Luis Suarez and has arrived at the conclusion that Lautaro Martinez fits the bill perfectly. The young Argentine striker has been a revelation for Inter Milan this season and will certainly bolster Barcelona’s options in the final third should he make the move to Spain....
Now, the La Masia graduate completed the process by signing the contract and in doing so, will commit his peak years to his boyhood club. On extending his contract, Roberto said: The 26-year old further revealed that the team is where they want to be in every competition. Meanwhile, club president Josep Maria Bartomeu highlighted his history-making goal against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League last season as well as the assist to Lionel Messi at Bernabeu and said:...
Hence, the club is doing everything in its power to convince Messi and now Barcelona boss, Ernesto Valverde, has come up with 4 targets to ensure the 30-year old stays, as per Diario Gol. The first one on the list is obviously, Philippe Coutinho, for whom the Catalan club have been embroiled in a long transfer saga with Liverpool. Nevertheless, the Brazilian remains the no.1 priority for Barcelona with the remaining three being considered as alternatives....
The tie was in a deadlock until the 85th minute when Luis Suarez breathed life in the game. A minute later Lionel Messi netted his 33rd LaLiga goal this season to make the score 2-0. With the loss, Atleti has to climb an 11 point deficit with only 7 games to go. Diego Simeone is yet to beat Barcelona in the league. The Blaugrana will next face Manchester United mid-week in the Champions League, with the league almost wrapped up....
Dallas used a big offensive game by J.J. Barea and a big defensive play by Dirk Nowitzki to secure a critical 88-86 win over the Rockets. MORE: 23 most-hated players in league history | Sam Hinkie made the NBA better by destroying 76ers It was a huge night for the Mavs, who maintain a two-game lead over the ninth-place Rockets in the Western Conference playoff standings. It was an equally big loss for the Rockets, who are now a full game behind the Jazz for the eighth and final playoff spot....
Aleksander Barkov scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, and the Panthers beat the New York Islanders 4-2 on Saturday night. Troy Brouwer, Mike Hoffman and Denis Malgin also scored for the Panthers, who won their third straight. Roberto Luongo made 29 saves for his third straight win after missing nearly a month with a knee injury. “I think we’re finding a pretty good rhythm,” Luongo said. “Heading into the third period we have that confidence that we’re going to pull it out, whether they’re tied, ahead or trailing....
Baroda, who had got the better of Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy group league earlier in the season, once again proved they were the better of the two sides in the shortened version of the game. Baroda rattled up an imposing score of 210 for 3, powered by half centuries by wicket-keeper and opener Urvil Patel (50 in 29 balls) and captain Deepak Hooda (66 in 39 balls), who struck eight fours and one six, besides a breezy knock of 44 not out in 26 balls, studded with three sixes and a four, by Krunal Pandya....
Fans who picked up Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition will have previously had a chance to get an idea of how the S.T.A.R.S. Alpha team member played. Barry has one of the most powerful context melee kills of all the The Mercenaries 3D characters with his headbutt. In fact, most of Barry’s melee attacks are incredibly powerful and his prone enemy move, Miranda Rights, is pretty awesome (he shoots them with a ....
The leaders reached 32 games without defeat in the top flight with a 6-1 thumping of Catalan neighbours Girona at Camp Nou on Saturday. Luis Suarez completed his hat-trick after Lionel Messi’s brilliant first-half brace and Philippe Coutinho scored his first league goal for Barca in spectacular fashion. The run matches that of Real Sociedad back in 1979-80. Barca’s run surpasses their previous club record of 31 games in a row without defeat, which was set back in 2010-11, when Pep Guardiola’s side won 27 games and drew four between matchday three and 33 of the season....
Their draw to away to Sevilla brought them level on points with fierce rivals Real Madrid in the LaLiga Santander title race. When they reached a point where they could not afford to drop any further points, they suffered another significant blow to their hopes with a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo. Currently sitting two points behind Real Madrid, the Catalans face a complicated set of circumstances until the end of the season....
The 26-year-old is a product of the famed La Masia academy system, having made a senior breakthrough in his native Catalunya. He was, however, to make just two first-team appearances for Barca before moving to England to link up with Chelsea. His efforts since then have taken him to Southampton and sparked talk of a potential second stint at Camp Nou, but Romeu insists he is happy at St Mary’s and unaware of any interest from afar....
Two goals from Luis Suarez and Paulinho’s late strike helped the Catalans extend their lead at the top of La Liga to seven points, although Valencia can recoup the difference with victory against Espanyol on Sunday. 12/5 for draw in Madrid derby But one of the most striking aspects of Barca’s play this season is their ability to shut out other teams, and so it proved again. Another clean sheet for Marc Andre ter Stegen means the goalkeeper has conceded just four goals in Barca’s opening 12 games, a club record in La Liga....
The champions failed to capitalise on La Liga leaders Real Madrid surrendering a late lead against Atletico Madrid as goals from former Barca forward Sandro Ramirez and Jony secured maximum points for the hosts at La Rosaleda. Barca had Neymar sent off in the second half, the Brazil star earning a second booking for a strong challenge on Diego Llorente after he had earlier been cautioned for delaying a free-kick by tying his laces....
