Barcelona - NouCamp Faithful

[lacoruna69]

Barcelona 5 - 0 Mallorca : Fabregas fires Barca to victory with hat-trick

Cesc Fabregas scored the first hat-trick of his career as Barcelona moved closer to the Primera Division title on an emotional night at the Camp Nou that witnessed the return of Eric Abidal after a year out following liver surgery.

Fabregas commanded the spotlight in the injury-enforced absence of Lionel Messi, scoring three and setting up two for Alexis Sanchez as Barca romped home.

They were also inspired by Tito Vilanova, who was on the Nou Camp touchline for the first time since January after undergoing treatment for cancer.

However, it was Abidal's appearance that brought the Catalans to their feet with the Frenchman given a standing ovation when he replaced Gerard Pique in the 70th minute.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Barcelona 1 - 1 Paris Saint Germain : Messi inspires nervy Barca

(2nd Leg)
[Agg score : 3-3. Barcelona qualify through away goals]

Barcelona advanced to the semi-finals of the Champions League for the sixth consecutive year after battling back to draw 1-1 with Paris Saint Germain at the Camp Nou.

Javier Pastore gave the visitors the lead early in the second half but Pedro cancelled the goal out with 20 minutes remaining, helped by the appearance of Lionel Messi, who began the match on the substitutes' bench after injuring a hamstring in the first leg.

It meant Barcelona progressed on away goals after the tie finished 3-3 on aggregate.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Real Zaragoza 0 - 3 Barcelona : Tello's two sees off Zaragoza

Cristian Tello bagged a brace while Thiago was also on target as Barcelona eased to a 3-0 victory over Real Zaragoza at La Romareda.

Zaragoza came into the match having taken just 27 points from 30 matches and occupying 18th place.

And their performance replicated their standing as Tito Vilanova's team - 13 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid - dominated from the off.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Barcelona 1 - 0 Levante : Below-par Barca leave it late

Cesc Fabregas' 84th-minute strike earned a below-par Barcelona a narrow victory over Levante at the Nou Camp this evening to restore the Catalan club's 13-point advantage at the Primera Division summit.

David Villa had seen a 16th-minute penalty saved by Keylor Navas, and that looked like it would prove a costly miss as Barca - perhaps with one eye on Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich - struggled to break down a spirited Levante defence before Fabregas' late breakthrough.

The win left Barcelona 13 points clear of second-placed Madrid, who beat Real Betis 3-1 earlier this evening to briefly reduce the gap, and meant Tito Vilanova's side could win the title next weekend.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[David_Villa]

What happen to Barca in UCL...?

[lacoruna69]

Bayern Munich 4 - 0 Barcelona : Bayern batter Barca

Bayern Munich are on course for their third Champions League final in four years after a comprehensive and convincing 4-0 win over Barcelona in the first leg of the semi-final at the Allianz Arena.

Two goals from Thomas Muller and one each from Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben gave Jupp Heynckes' side an advantage which, added to the manner of their victory, leaves the Catalans little hope of turning things around at the Nou Camp next Wednesday.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Originally Posted by David_Villa

What happen to Barca in UCL...?

seriously....i thought it is going to be a close game....but a 4-0 white wash by the german tank is a bit hard to believe.

added the next day B Dortmund also whacked Real Madrid 4-1.

the only explanation i can think of is revenge.

the main core of Bayern's players formed the German national team. Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Gomez, Müller, Schweinsteiger....

they feel sore losing to Spain 1-0 both in World Cup 2010 and Euro 2008.

[lacoruna69]

Athletic Bilbao 2 - 2 Barcelona : Champagne still on ice for Barca

Barcelona will have to wait a little longer to get their hands on the Primera Division title after a last-minute strike from Ander Herrera saw them held to a 2-2 draw by Athletic Bilbao.

The visitors were out of sorts for an hour at San Mames and deservedly trailed to Markel Susaeta's first-half goal, but the introduction of substitute Lionel Messi swung the match as he scored one and teed up another for Alexis Sanchez.

And it looked like the points would go back to Barcelona until Herrera popped up to snatch a point for Bilbao.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[David_Villa]

Barca on the decline after 7-0 defeat by Bryan Munich!!!!

[lacoruna69]

Originally Posted by David_Villa

Barca on the decline after 7-0 defeat by Bryan Munich!!!!

Messi didn't play....i guess they are too dependent on him.

probably the end of tiki-taka play????

[lacoruna69]

Barcelona 0 - 3 Bayern Munich : Bayern bulldoze Barca to reach final

(2nd Leg)
[Agg score : 0-7. Bayern qualify for final]

Brilliant Bayern Munich completed a stunning Champions League semi-final mauling of Barcelona, beating them 3-0 on the night to progress 7-0 on aggregate, to set up a mouthwatering Wembley final against Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund.

Leading 4-0 from the first leg, Bayern were similarly clinical at the Nou Camp with second-half goals from Arjen Robben, Gerard Pique - who put through his own net - and Thomas Muller sealing a one-sided win over a sorry Barca side for whom Lionel Messi was an unused substitute.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[David_Villa]

Originally Posted by lacoruna69

Messi didn't play....i guess they are too dependent on him.

probably the end of tiki-taka play????

Many teams hv studied how 'tiki taka' works and worked towards countering it. ......

[lacoruna69]

Barcelona 4 - 2 Real Betis : Messi hits brace off bench

Lionel Messi came off the bench to score twice as Barcelona avoided a major shock against Real Betis at the Nou Camp.

The Argentinian took his goals tally to 60 for the season after coming on as a substitute with his side being held 2-2 by the spirited visitors and facing a real threat to their 13-month unbeaten home record in La Liga.

While the Catalan faithful revelled in Messi's display, his 35-minute cameo did little to dispel the growing - if unfair - theory that Barca are a one-man team.

Certainly the hosts looked shaky before his introduction, with Betis twice taking the lead through Dorlan Pabon and Ruben Perez.

Alexis Sanchez hit Barcelona's first equaliser while David Villa's 56th-minute header for 2-2 was his final contribution before he was immediately hauled off for Messi.

Within minutes Messi curled home a wonderful free-kick to hand his side the lead for the first time and leave many in the Nou Camp shaking their heads in disbelief.

But Messi was not finished there and moments later was applying the finish to a sublime team move that secured the points and means Barcelona can be crowned champions before they next kick a ball in anger should nearest challengers Real Madrid fail to beat Malaga on Wednesday and Espanyol next Saturday.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Originally Posted by David_Villa

Many teams hv studied how 'tiki taka' works and worked towards countering it. ......

well...it is still a work well playing style.

i still think it is the due to Bayern players getting more fired up in both legs.
probably due to the Spain humiliation.

can see Gomez, Lahm and Muller very fired up.
of course Miss Glassy Legs Robben was simply brilliant in both legs.

[lacoruna69]

Atletico Madrid 1 - 2 Barcelona : Barca celebrate title with win

Barcelona capped their title celebrations with a comeback win at Atletico Madrid that was only soured by an injury to Lionel Messi.

Barca were confirmed as champions on Saturday night when Real Madrid could only draw at Espanyol but initially looked set to mark the occasion with defeat as they trailed to Radamel Falcao's opener when Messi limped off on 67 minutes.

But by the time their talisman had reappeared, changed and showered, on the touchline Barca had snatched away victory.

Alexis Sanchez equalised on 72 minutes, following a one-two with Cesc Fabregas, before Gabi awkwardly turned a David Villa shot into his own net nine minutes from the end.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)