Barcelona - NouCamp Faithful

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Barcelona 0 - 2 Hercules : Valdez brace sinks champions

Barcelona were left stunned as Nelson Haedo Valdez struck twice to give promoted side Hercules a famous win at the Nou Camp.

Valdez gave the Alicante-based outfit the lead when he poked home from a free-kick against the run of play after 26 minutes.

And the Paraguay forward, making his debut for the visitors, silenced the Nou Camp with a superb second on the hour to give Hercules a two-goal lead.

Barca attacked ceaselessly in the final half hour, but came up against an inspired figure in the Hercules goal. Keeper Juan Calatayud produced a string of fines saves to deny Lionel Messi, Pedro and David Villa as the visitors held on.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Barcelona 5 - 1 Panathinaikos : Barca survives early scare to rout Greeks

A Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona recovered from the shock of going a goal down against Panathinaikos to get their Champions League campaign off to a convincing start at Camp Nou.

Panathinaikos took the lead against the run of play through Sidney Govou in the 20th minute but Barca hit back in merciless fashion to take a 3-1 lead by half-time through two goals from the irrepressible Messi and another from David Villa.

Messi, having also hit the crossbar in the first half, spurned the chance to net his hat-trick in the 55th minute when his weak penalty was saved by Alexandros Tzorvas.

However, Messi recovered from that disappointment and set up two more goals for Pep Guardiola's side late on.

For the fourth, Pedro Rodriguez slotted in after the unlucky Messi had seen his shot strike both posts before falling perfectly to the Spain international.

Then, with the last action of the match, Dani Alves headed in Messi's magnificent scooped pass over the Greek side's overwhelmed defence.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Atlético Madrid 1 - 2 Barcelona : Messi injury mars win

Barcelona put their poor recent record at the Vicente Calderon behind them to end Atletico Madrid's 100% start to the Primera Division season - but there was an injury scare for Lionel Messi.

Barca had lost their three previous league visits to Atletico's home 2-1, 4-3 and 4-2 but they deservedly earned all three points on this occasion thanks to first-half goals from Messi and Gerard Pique.

Atletico had managed to equalise through Raul Garcia but they can have few complaints about the result and finished the game with 10 men when defender Tomas Ujfalusi was sent off late on following a challenge on Messi.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Barcelona 1 - 0 Sporting Gijon : Villa to the rescue for Barca

David Villa's goal just after half-time was enough to see off Sporting Gijon as Barcelona lumbered through another lethargic display in front of their home fans to win 1-0.

The Catalans failed to inspire again against a second-string Sporting side.

Away manager Manolo Preciado made eight changes and while Barcelona were without their star man Lionel Messi.

Sporting's fringe players proved, however, a resilient match for Barcelona who dominated possession but had to rely on Villa's 49th-minute strike after Dani Alves' through-ball gave him a rare sight of goal.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Athletic Bilbao 1 - 3 Barcelona : Barca left it late

Barcelona were made to work hard in the pouring rain at San Mames but secured a convincing 3-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao to move up to second place in the Primera Division.

The Catalans did not have things all their own way in an even first half but their task was made simpler after Fernando Amorebieta was dismissed for an ugly challenge on Andres Iniesta in the opening period.

Seydou Keita and Xavi both struck after the break to put Catalans in control, and even though Igor Gabilondo gave Athletic hope late on following David Villa's sending-off, Sergio Busquets clinched victory for the visitors in added time.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[IS_YOURS]

Originally Posted by Silver Wolf

team to be beat again.
congratulation to all Barcelona's fans here.

Bro,

I agree. With LM around, they will be really hard to beat for the CL.

[lacoruna69]

FK Rubin Kazan 1 - 1 Barcelona : A tale of two penalties

David Villa netted a second-half penalty to earn Barcelona a point from their trip to Rubin Kazan, who once again proved a frustrating opponent for the Catalan giants.

Villa slotted home on the hour-mark to cancel out Cristian Noboa's 30th-minute penalty for Rubin, with both goalkeepers coming agonisingly close to saving the respective spot-kicks.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Barcelona 1 - 1 Mallorca : Nsue shocks Barca

Emilio Nsue headed a shock equaliser to sting Barcelona as Pep Guardiola's fell three points behind Primera Division leaders Valencia after a 1-1 draw with Real Mallorca.

Lionel Messi gave Barcelona the lead after 20 minutes on his first league start since injuring an ankle in the 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid two weeks ago.

But young striker Nsue levelled for the islanders shortly before half-time and the home side struggled to find a way through in the second period.

Bojan Krkic hit the post late on, but the Catalans were below their brilliant best and will be disappointed to have dropped two points at home.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...nsfers&cc=4716

Pato: I'd only ever leave Milan for Barcelona

AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato may hv been linked with a move 2 the BPL, but he insists tat the only club he would leave Italy 4 would be Barcelona.

Pato is viewed as 1 of the best young strikers in the game as he has impressed since moving 2 the San Siro for €22 million in 2007 & ManC & Chelsea hv been monitoring his progress with a view 2 making a move in the January 2011 transfer window. However, Pato has distanced himself fr the reports, claiming tat he would only ever quit Milan for 1 team.

"I am honoured by ManC's interest, but I am a Milan player & I'm happy here," Pato said. "If 1 day I do leave Milan, I'd like 2 wear the Barcelona jersey. I think I'd only leave Milan 4 Barcelona."

Some reports hv suggested tat Barca already hv an option 2 sign the Brazilian aft they sold Zlatan Ibrahimovic 2 Milan in the summer.

[lacoruna69]

Barcelona 2 - 1 Valencia : Puyol completes Catalans comeback

A Xavi-inspired Barcelona came from behind to beat pre-match Primera Division leaders Valencia at the Nou Camp and move above Unai Emery's side at the top of the table ahead of Real Madrid's clash away to Malaga.

Second-half goals from Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol - both set up by the returning Xavi -turned the match around after Pablo Hernandez had given the visitors the lead eight minutes before the break.

It was hardly a classic performance from the hosts, but a deserved success in the end.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 2 - 0 FC Copenhagen : Messi fires for Barca

Lionel Messi struck two hugely contrasting goals as Barcelona climbed to the top of Champions League Group D after squeezing past erstwhile leaders FC Copenhagen at the Nou Camp.

Messi broke the deadlock with a thunderous effort in the 19th minute to cap a fine opening from Barca, but the hosts struggled to finish off their in-form opponents and survived a number of second-half scares before the Argentinian ace tapped home from close range in stoppage time to secure the points.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Real Zaragoza 0 - 2 Barcelona : Messi fires for Barca again

Lionel Messi was the inspiration once again as Barcelona beat Zaragoza 2-0 in the Primera Division this evening to preserve their perfect away record in the league.

The Argentina winger struck a goal in each half to take his season's tally to 12 in all competitions and match the double he produced in Wednesday night's Champions League match at home to FC Copenhagen.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?...=ESP.1&cc=4716

Messi inspires as five-star Barca cruise

Lionel Messi & David Villa bagged 2 goals apiece as Barca cruised 2 an impressive 5-0 win @ home 2 10-man Sevilla @ the Nou Camp 2 stay within a point of leaders Real Madrid.

Messi gave Barca the lead aft jz 4 mins & Villa struck a fine 2nd midway thru the 1st half.

Sevilla finished the half with 10 men aft Abdoulay Konko was sent off.

Alves then put the result beyond doubt with the 3rd shortly in2 the 2nd period, b4 Messi scored a fine 4th aft 64 mins & Villa completed the rout rite @ the end.

Barca coach Pep Guardiola welcomed back Xavi 2 his starting 11 aft the Spain midfielder recovered fr a troublesome Achilles problem tis week.

The Catalans travel 2 Denmark 2 face FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday, but Guardiola fielded his strongest possible side 4 tis match.

Having seen fierce rivals Madrid come back 2 beat Hercules 3-1 immediately b4 tis match, Barca knew only a win would keep them in touch with the league leaders.

And it never looked in doubt aft Messi slotted home the 1st early on.

There were only 4 mins on the clock when stand-in Sevilla keeper Javi Varas parried Pedro's cross & Messi was there 2 slot home the rebound 4 his 13th of the season.

It was an unlucky 13 4 Sevilla, who beat Barca here in the Copa del Rey last season but had only won 1 of 66 matches against the Catalans @ the Nou Camp prior 2 this encounter.

Luis Fabiano drilled wide 4 the visitors & Diego Capel shot straight @ Victor Valdes fr close range as Gregorio Manzano's side sought a way back in2 the game.

But tat looked unlikely as Villa ended his recent scoring drought with a fine 2nd halfway through the 1st period.

Messi advanced down the rite & laid the ball off 2 the Spain striker, who cut in2 the area & sent an unstoppable angled drive in2 Varas' top rite-hand corner.

Villa received the plaudits fr a delighted Nou Camp crowd & came close again mins b4 the interval, when his low drive was pushed wide by the busy Varas.

Things became even more difficult 4 Sevilla jz b4 the break as Konko hacked down Pedro & was shown his 2nd yellow card of the nite.

And 2 make matters worse still, Ndri Romaric gifted the home side a 3rd 7 mins in2 the 2nd period.

The Ivory Coast player headed back 2 keeper Varas, but Alves read the pass-back & raised a leg 2 poke home fr well inside the area.

The Brazil full-back - who looked embarrassed 2 score against his former club - appeared 2 be in an offside position, but it did not matter becos the ball had been played thru by a Sevilla player.

Bojan Krkic & Javier Mascherano came on 4 Pedro & Xavi with half an hour left, but the 4th goal came fr a predictable source - Messi.

The Argentinian won the ball back in midfield, waltzed thru a crowd of players & slid a low shot past Varas jz inside the post fr the edge of the box 2 make it 4-0.

Messi was looking 4 his 2nd hat-trick against Sevilla tis season, having bagged 3 in the 4-0 Supercopa win here back in August.

He had 2 be content with 2 tis time, despite Barca controlling the game late on.

Villa saw a shot cleared off the line in the closing stages, but added his 2nd - and Barca's 5th - rite @ the death as he drilled a low left-footed drive past the hapless Varas.

Barca remain a point behind Real @ the top of the table, while Sevilla stay in 6th 4 now, but could be overtaken by Getafe & Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

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FC Copenhagen 1 - 1 Barcelona : Barca held by gutsy Danes

Barcelona will have to wait to book their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League after being held by FC Copenhagen at the Parken Stadion this evening.

Barca knew a victory in Denmark would guarantee themselves a place in the knock-out stages and the two-time reigning Spanish champions looked on course to achieve that after taking a 31st-minute lead through Lionel Messi.

However, second-placed FC Copenhagen went down the other end and drew level almost immediately through Claudemir to earn a share of the points - although they survived a big let-off in the final minute when Barca substitute Pedro Rodriguez hit the post.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[Lionel Messi]

a very disappointed result in the CL.