Barcelona News Thread

[Magical20]

The League is back and Barca face Athletic Club Bilbao with the idea of changing focus and ensuring a win which would keep them at the top of the championship for another week.


Barça are right in the thick of the crucial weeks of the season, full of important games and with trophies to play for. The players are focused on the League and the game tonight against Athletic Club Bilbao. The blaugrana know that there are 3 crucial points to play for if they want to stay top, especially given that the very next game is away against second placed Seville.

Eto'o is back: The best news Barca have had is the return to the squad of Samuel Eto'o for the game against Bilbao. The Cameroonian has completed his recovery working both with the other squad members as well as alone. Once again Rijkaard can count on Ronaldinho, Messi and Eto'o, with the last two in great condition after their injuries, especially Messi who has had the chance to gain some degree of match fitness.

As well as Eto'o, Edmilson, Sylvinho and Ezquerro are also back in the squad. All three were rested against Liverpool. The two Brazilians could even be in the starting eleven, taking into account those missing and that they are physically fresher.

Three out: Rijkaard can't pick three players form the eleven that faced Liverpool on Wednesday. Firstly Belleti who will be out for 10 days with a twisted left ankle from the game against the Reds. The other two forced out are Deco and Zambrotta, both suspended. Deco got a red card against Valencia and the ltalian his fifth yellow. The other player out for this game is Marquez who will be rested with an eye to other important games in the near future.

Improvement under Mané: Since the arrival of Mané, Athletic Bilbao have noticeably improved. Before the arrival of the veteran coach, the Basques had played 13, winning only once against Nastic Tarragona (2-3). Since his arrival they have won 5, drawn 2 and lost 4.

Stronger away: Athletic Bilbao are also stronger away from their stadium San Mames. They have won 16 of their 25 points away from home, only 9 at San Mames. Their away form is; played 12, won 4, drawn 4, lost 4. They have also scored more goals away, 15, than at home, 11; and conceded fewer, 14 compared to 17.

[Magical20]

FC Barcelona's Dutch manager was felt satisfied with his team's performance, the image they put on and was especially impressed with the performances of Ronaldinho and Eto'o.

Rijkaard was extremely positive following the 3-0 demolishing of their Basque visitors, and congratulated his players saying that "the Camp Nou was grateful for the game they saw". But he had no desire to draw any comparisons with the Champions League clash with Liverpool saying "Barça played well and if we keep working hard this can continue, but winning one game does not mean we can afford to stop working. The team has had its wake up call and has shown today that they are ready to fight for everything."

The depth of Samuel Eto'o

The Barça coach did not mince his words in his praise for Samuel Eto'o. The Cameroonian was involved in all the goals, and Rijkaard joined in with the Camp Nou faithful in paying tribute to the star. "Samuel adds depth to the team" he said. "We had two players, him and Giuly, who did especially well. His presence, the way he plays, it attracts the opponent's attention, and that means he passes the ball more. It was all good news."

Still speaking about the recovered Eto'o, Rijkaard said he "put in a huge effort and now we need to go back and look at the way he is recovering. He had a serious injury and he might need more days than the others to recover from this. He needs to be protected because he is only human. He is very strong physically, but he hasn't played for a long time."

Thuram provides security

On a night of praise, Lilian Thuram also received good words from his boss: "Thuram is physically very good. He has come back from injury and did not want to play with the team until he was sure he was all right. His presence calms the team. It was a hard game for our defenders and they showed that they can control these situations. He is an important squad player."

Pure Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho did everything but score, and Frank Rijkaard also singled him out for comments "I am delighted for Ronnie, of course" he said. "I hope they have taken some pictures of his body, because I think he is fine. He delights the crowd and we are so happy to have players of such level."

Confident about cup

"The Zaragoza game will be interesting. It has nothing to do with the Liverpool match. The team has improved and some important players have recovered, so we will be able to go out there and cause a surprise".

[Magical20]

Against Athletic Bilbao we saw the best of Barça again. A special mention goes to Ronaldinho, who was especially motivated after all the talk of his being overweight this week.

Overweight? Out of form? All the other nonsense stories? Ronaldinho proved against Bilbao that there is nothing to worry about. He posted one of his best performances of his career, and claims that the criticism only served to motivate him more than ever. He hit the post twice, once from a free kick and another when he ran through a whole group of defenders and put his effort just over Aranzubia; he laid on the second goal for Eto'o and was the author of several other specular plays. All the Brazilian failed to do was score and that was his only disappointment. "Today was my son's birthday" he said. "And I wanted to score and do a special celebration".

The following are some of the most interesting comments made by the players after the game:

Ronaldinho

"I am very happy with the win, Eto'o returning and the way the team played so well. All that was missing was a goal. They worked well and now we just need to keep going forwards."
"Whenever I finish a game I always swap shirts with somebody. This week there have been a few stories about me being fat, but I feel fine and have no problem taking my shirt off. In fact, all that was said this week has helped to make me a better player."
"I never go onto the pitch assuming I am going to score. My job is to lay on assists for the others and to enjoy myself. But today being my son's birthday I wanted to score and do a special celebration."
"It was very important for the team to have Eto'o back. He is our reference up front. Me and he know each other very well and with just one glance we know what we need to do. It is very important to have him fully fit."
"We know we have a difficult month ahead and that winning today was important. Now we have Zaragoza and turning the tie around is going to be difficult. There is still some time before the Sevilla match and we have to take each match as it comes."
"Every day that goes by I am surer that I will be here for many more years. The people love me and I am sure that things will work out well."

Iniesta

"We needed the win today, especially to clean up our image. We played a good game and now we need this improvement to carry over to Zaragoza, or it won't have served any purpose whatsoever."
"Eto'o is out of this world and showed that again today. Samu transits so many things and the team felt that in a positive sense."

Gio

"I think we played a good game. In the first half we got three goals and we played well in the second too. The most important thing was getting the three points."
"Now we have some difficult weeks and today's result helps make us optimistic going into the Zaragoza game."
"I think Eto'o looked fine. He is working very hard in training and today he scored a great goal."

[Magical20]

Barca back to their best at the Camp Nou, cruising to a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao. A goal for Eto'o and a fantastic contribution from Ronaldinho were the basis for the victory, leaving Barca in a stronger position at the top of the league.

Barca not only won but also showed their class and dominance. And all that against one of the best teams away from home, Mane's Athletic Bilbao, and with 3 goals in the first 45 minutes. With Eto'o back in attack, Pujol and Thuram impeccable in defence, Iniesta in control of the midfield, Guily at his incisive best and an excellent Ronaldinho, Barca gave one of their best performances of the season.

Start your motors

Barca made it clear in the first few minutes that they intended to get the ball out to the wings and use their speed. Guily was the best example trying to surprise the defence with every attack. With Eto'o on the pitch creating and closing down space, Bilbao's defence started to leave gaps which Barca did their best to take advantage of. It was however Yeste who got a first shot at goal in the 13th minute, showing that Bilbao were determined to make Barca sweat for the 3 points. Both defences looked pretty secure in the opening stages with Bilbao well organised, while Pujol and Thuram as centrebacks gave little option to the potentially dangerous Urzaia.

The breakthrough

It was proving somewhat difficult for Barca to make clear chances on the goal defended by Aranzubia, and it wasn't until the 19th minute that Gio had a shot deflected wide. On 22 Guily skipped past Casa and his low cross was turned into his own net by Amorebieta under pressure from Eto'o, 1-0. Spurred on by the breakthrough, Xavi had a long shot stopped by Aranzubia a minute later, and then in the 29th minute converted an excellent Eto'o pass to make it 2-0.

Eto'o scores again

As the game continued the Cameroonian was gaining in confidence and increasingly looked like scoring. After a couple of failed attempts he broke the offside trap, latched onto a Ronaldinho pass and cooly took his time to slot a left footed shot past Aranzubia. After so many months anxious to see Eto'o score the Camp Nou celebrated as might be expected.

More space

Bilbao brought on a forward Aduritz for a midfielder Murillo, Mané making it clear that he wasn't giving up the game. This created more space across the pitch and gave Barca even more opportunity to take advantage. Iniesta took over the midfield, moving between lines with ease. He might have scored the fourth after a wonderful move ended with his shot rebounding off the post back onto his left foot, only for him to shoot high when it seemed easier to score. Barça were 100% in control, Thuram and Puyol weren't giving anything away at the back either.

A great move

In the 59th minute Ronaldinho beat three players in a magical display of skill and from an impossibly tight angle chipped the ball over Aranzubia, only to see the keeper get a fingertip touch to the ball, enough to send it on to the bar. Fantastic stuff. Eto'o couldn't help but laugh and hold his head in his hands at the show of skill from his teammate. Soon after Eto'o was taken off to rapturous applause, replaced by Messi.

Cruising

With the result no longer in doubt, Ronaldinho took over. Everytime the number 10 got the ball the crowd waited in expectation to see which trick he'd pull off. And he didn't disappoint. Treading in the ball, backheeling he left the defence in tatters. More good news for Barca when Sylvinho came on for Edmílson, his first outing after a month long injury. Gio moved into the middle and the Dutchman gave even more attacking options. The dying moments saw Barca cruise to victory, Ronaldinho and Messi showing what they can do and the Camp Nou enjoying every minute. Barca are back to their best.

[Magical20]

FC Barcelona became outright leaders of the la Primera after the convincing victory over Athletic Club Bilbao. The win moved the Blaugrana two points clear after Sevilla, Real Madrid and Valencia all drew.

With 49 points and a goals record of 49 scord and 20 conceded, Barça showed this weekend that they are the in-form team in the top flight. The 3-0 victory over Athletic came thanks to a dominating display of quick passing football that saw Frank Rijkaard's team return to their best. Samuel Eto'o was back in action also and Ronaldinho put all the media criticism behind with a strong performance.

32 points in Camp Nou

The victory at the weekend reinforced the statistics of how powerful Barça are in their own stadium. With 32 points won at Camp Nou, the team have the best home record of any team in the division.

More than a year unbeaten at home

The last time that FC Barcelona lost in front of their own fans in a league encounter was on February 5, 2006 when Atlético de Madrid recorded a victory. That record of remaining unbeaten for just over year has helped the team maintain the push for a third consecutive title.

Next weekend, Rijkaard takes his team to fellow championship contenders Sevilla, where he will be hoping to end a run of five away games without tasting victory in the league. There is the matter of the Copa Del Rey to come in midweek as Barça travel to Real Zaragoza for the quarter final, second leg.

[Magical20]

Ludovic Giuly recognised that the return of Samuel Eto'o gave the FC Barcelona team a lift on Sunday. The Frenchman was reflecting on the win over Athletic Bilbao after the squad had enjoyed a day of recuperation at the Hotel Le Meridien Ra.


The Blaugrana winger is optimistic about the forthcoming run of testing encounters that the team will play over the next two weeks. "We want to win everything," he said. "The game on Sunday has boosted our confidence and now we have two very difficult weeks and that is why it was good that we played like we did against Athletic."

Inspirational duo

After starting the game at the weekend, Giuly reflected on the outstanding performances of Eto'o and Ronaldino, as the duo proved to be inspirational in the win that took Barça two points clear at the top of the league: "We needed to react well," the former Monaco star said. "If Samuel and Ronaldinho are in good form then that is great for the tam team because we have a tricky period coming up where we will need a winning mentality so that things go well for us.

The victory against Athletic has been great for the squad and for our mentality." Giuly was also in imperssive form on Sunday evening, but he was maintaining his modesty as he stated: "I have been playing the same way for three years. I feel physically and mentally great at the moment."

Reflecting on the difference in the way

Barça played at the weekend and against Liverpool, he continued: "It is impossible to compare them. Against Athletic we had seven different players in the team and that proves what a big squad we have, but you cannot compare tha two matches in any way." Like a final Looking ahead to the second leg of the quarter final Copa Del Rey clash with Real Zaragoza on Wednesday, Giuly is confident that the team can turn around the one-goal deficit. "It will be like a final," he stated. "It is a difficult place to go and we always have problems there. Not only will that game be tough, we also have the hurdle of overcoming the result from the first leg. We shall see whether we are capable of coming back or not, but if we do then it will set us up for the future."

[Trim]

Barcelona midfielder Xavi believes that the 2-1 Copa del Rey win at Zaragoza, and the 3-4-3 used so well, could form the basis of the team's approach at Anfield.

"The match against Zaragoza can serve as a guideline," said Xavi looking ahead to Liverpool, where Barcelona need a 2-1 win to take the game into extra time, and a better one to qualify outright.

"We will not have the surprise effect of the other day, but it can work because we have to attack, and conceding one would not be too bad.

"We do not have any choice but to attack, because we have an unfavourable result from the first leg.

"We need to approach the game with the mentality to score three goals."

"The system is good as long as there is communication, and we all know our functions. We know that we can play with a 3-4-3.

"To attack, to score, to win, that is what matters to us.

"We know that it is going to be difficult to win, but the spirit in the team is very high because we are the defending champions."

However, he did admit that Rafa Benitez's counter-attacking tactics could be very dangerous: "Benítez will use very intelligent tactics, because he knows that Liverpool have a favourable scoreline."

Goal.com - Xavi Talks 3-4-3 And Liverpool

[Trim]

Lilian Thuram and Deco return to the Barcelona squad for the trip to Liverpool, after missing Saturday's potboiling 2-1 defeat to Sevilla.

Lilian Thuram's return will assure many Barcelona fans, after the Catalans once again looked ragged in defence when pressured by Sevilla at the Ramos Sanchez Pizjuan yesterday.

Deco also returns to the squad, though it is unclear whether he will start ahead of Iniesta and Xavi, or whether all three will, against the Reds.

One surprise, however, is Sylvinho being picked ahead of Gio van Bronckhorst, who has been a regular in Rijkaard's Champions League schemes.

Thiago Motta, Santi Ezquerro and Juliano Belletti have also been left out of the squad.

Frank Rijkaard has used three different formations in three games, and few have a clue as to which one he will go for against Liverpool.

The odds still are on his trusted 4-3-3, but with Eto'o starting up front - the team that started in the 3-0 win over Bilbao. However, that would leave one of their three creative midfielders on the bench [Deco was suspended then, Xavi and Iniesta had one of their best games].

Squad

Goalkeeper: Valdés, Jorquera

Defenders: Puyol, Thuram, Zambrotta, Oleguer, Sylvinho

Midfielders: Xavi, Iniesta, Márquez, Edmílson, Deco

Forwards: Giuly, Saviola, Ronaldinho, Messi, Gudjohnsen, Etóo

Goal.com - Thuram And Deco Return For Liverpool Clash

[BlackNess]

you Barca fans need a new goalkeeper its an absurd that a top class giants like barca who is for sure is one of the best 5 Clubs in the World
have a bad goalkeeper like Valdez !!!!
Think about it

[lionel]

Originally Posted by BlackNess

you Barca fans need a new goalkeeper its an absurd that a top class giants like barca who is for sure is one of the best 5 Clubs in the World
have a bad goalkeeper like Valdez !!!!
Think about it

you're totally right!
but, we're taking care about that... we bought Ustari from river plate, a young goalkeeper that is expected to be a premanent keeper and to become one of barca's symbols!
he's still very young, so I dunno if he'll take valdez's place from next season, but it's absolutely calming me to think we are going to have a good goalkeeper at last

[BlackNess]

lool you will never feel that the man in front of the net is Oliver Kahn The Greatest GoalKeeper ever
what a Joy
Keep dreaming about this !!

[lionel]

oliver kahn is only one!
but anything is better than valdez

and from what I heard, this Ustari is oliver's type, a rude fighter(namrood). lol

[BlackNess]

waiting to see him !!!!

[Pat Murphy]

Originally Posted by lionel

you're totally right!
but, we're taking care about that... we bought Ustari from river plate, a young goalkeeper that is expected to be a premanent keeper and to become one of barca's symbols!
he's still very young, so I dunno if he'll take valdez's place from next season, but it's absolutely calming me to think we are going to have a good goalkeeper at last

I heard a rumour yesterday that Villarreal may have jumped in front of us and nicked Ustari. Don't know how to feel about that especially as it seems we are decided on signing 36 year old Molina on a free transfer (weird one I know).

Villarreal don't really need Ustari in my opinion as Viera is a good keeper and they have Barbosa on the bench so that's 3 promising South American keepers.