“It was so many emotions at the same time. When I went onto the pitch it was amazing to see the Spotify Camp Nou. But I gradually got over the nerves and tried to feel as comfortable as possible,” he said.
“My team-mates helped me a lot too and I’m grateful to them. I am very happy to have broken the record, but I want to break a lot more.”
Barcelona Femeni have been crowned champions of Spain for the fourth season in a row.
Jonathan Giraldez’s side sealed yet another title on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Sporting Huelva, thanks to goals from Laia Codina, Jana Fernandez and Asisat Oshoala.
The win means the Catalans have 78 points from 26 games, still have a 100% record and have been crowned champions with three games left to play.
Barca have also scored a quite ridiculous 108 goals along the way, conceding just 5, which means they have a goal difference of +103.
With the league title in the bag, Barcelona can now turn full focus on trying to win the Champions League once again.
The Catalans are already through to the final and will discover whether they play Arsenal or Wolfsburg on Monday when the two teams meet in the second leg of their semi-final.
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Dembele and Christensen bring back the vibes
Well that was easy on the eyes.
With the league all but decided, it’s performances that are paramount now. A sign of positive things to come in the upcoming campaign.
Maybe some valuable information gleaned about who should stay, and who’s surplus to requirements.
Andreas Christensen made his impact felt right away, rising up with his bash brother in arms Araujo, and beating him in the air for a picture perfect header into the ground, opening up the festival of football against a formidable Betis team.
Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images
With a bit of luck, the Verdiblancos were soon down to 10 men, and the result was never in doubt.
What happened next, however, was months in the making.
Barca put their talents on display and had fun.
No overthinking, just trusting one another, and letting the football flow.
Raphinha must have felt the pressure of knowing Ousmane Dembele was coming on in the second half. This was his chance to prove he still has something to contribute, and he made sure to make his mark, with a killer assist, and trademark industrious run into the box for a goal.
Robert Lewandowski looked like himself again. With his team-mates stepping up to perform their roles around him, the Polish superstar did what he does best as a navigator of the final third, finding his spots in dangerous spaces, and could have had at least a hat-trick if his team-mates were a bit sharper in providing service.
Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images
The midfield quartet had a jam session, and the defensive line of the future showed once again what we can look forward to for years to come.
For me, with the game done and dusted, this one was about the return of Ousmane Dembele, and the introduction of Yamine Lamal to the world.
Dembele’s presence is a game changer.
The defense backs off, and the game opens up. The midfield has more space to operate, and the Frenchman is always the target man in transition.
He is an absolute joy to watch. A showman. Worth the price of admission on his own.
Photo by Joan Valls/Urbanandsport /NurPhoto via Getty Images
With Dembele playing, the field lights up with electricity. It’s fast, exciting, and unpredictable.
Maybe as fans, some of us have been a bit harsh on Barcelona in recent weeks.
The results haven’t been good, even while the league is locked up. Perhaps what frustrates so many of us isn’t just the dropped points, but how unattractive the games have been. Culers expect beautiful football from their beloved team.
Dembele brings that back. He reads the game like he’s playing in the matrix, two steps ahead of everyone else who simply can’t keep up. Granted, there is still room for improvement in front of goal, as he reminded us of with a botched tap in assist.
But his impact is undeniable, transforming the team into the best version of itself. Xavi’s backing of Dembele was courageous, and deserves recognition.
But Lamal was the real headline on the night. 15 years old and further proof that the Barca academy still produces the promise of greatness.
We have been dying to see this kid play, and the moment finally arrived.
The rest of the season may seem meaningless, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Barca can have fun again.
Fans can dream again if we get the chance to see more of Yamal.
Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
Players like Raphinha and Ansu Fati, who also deserves a shout out for his moment of brilliance, can be given one last opportunity to prove they have a future with the club.
How will Xavi manage things the rest of the way?
Will he shake things up, and try new players, and maybe some new ways of playing?
Or will he take the conservative route and go with what’s familiar?
If I’m tuning in, and I certainly plan to, I want to be entertained, and I want to see what the future looks like.
I have a feeling I’m not alone.
That was a fun Saturday night in the rain at the Camp Nou.
More of that please.
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Andreas Christensen was back in the starting XI for Barcelona after injury and on the scoresheet too, opening the scoring for the Catalans after just 14 minutes.
Raphinha was the creator, swinging in a cross for the center-back to head firmly past goalkeeper Rui Silva for his first Barcelona goal.
Christensen is one of football’s quiet men but there’s no doubting the emotion in his celebration.
It’s Christensen’s first goal at club level since scoring for Chelsea in the FA Cup against Chesterfield all the way back in January 2022 and his first league goal since 2017.
The Dane’s goal was the perfect way to celebrate his return to action and highlighted once again how he’s been a brilliant acquisition since arriving on a free transfer.
Camp Nou waves farewell to Joaquin
Over 85,000 Barcelona fans waved farewell to Joaquin on Saturday after the Betis winger announced earlier this week he was retiring at the grand old age of 41.
To put that in some kind of context, Joaquin was 26 when Lamine Yamal was born, and has a daughter who is older than the Barcelona starlet.
Joaquin took to the pitch ahead of kick-off and received a huge ovation from the fans packed inside the famous old stadium.
El speaker del Camp Nou hace mención a la despedida de Joaquín como jugador profesional y el Camp Nou responde con aplausos pic.twitter.com/8Gr70dWkWx
Xavi had been full of praise for Joaquin ahead of the match too. The Barca boss said he thought he could have played for Barca and added he’s one of the best wingers he’s ever seen.
Unfortunately for Joaquin, it ended up being a tough night for Betis. Christensen’s early goal and a first-half sending off for Edgar Gonzalez allowed the hosts to run away with it.
There was another ovation when Joaquin did arrive in the second half, but he couldn’t finish the game as he sadly had to go off after suffering a knee injury.
Farewell, Joaquin.
Lewandowski reacts as Pichichi race hots up
Robert Lewandowski has been the favorite to lift the Pichichi all season but came under pressure before the match after seeing Karim Benzema cut the gap with a hat-trick against Almeria.
Benzema took his tally to 17 for the season in La Liga, just one behind Lewandowski before kick-off, which meant there was some pressure on the Poland international to respond.
Lewandowski ended a mini-drought last time out against Rayo and was on target again on Saturday night.
Jules Kounde was the creator this time with a ball in from the right, which saw Lewandowski produce a fine first-team finish to sweep the ball into the side-netting.
19 - Robert Lewandowski has scored 19 goals in LaLiga this season, the most by a player in his first campaign for Barcelona in the competition since Samuel Eto'o in 2004/05 (24 goals). Hunter. pic.twitter.com/odhDfqIa6Y
There’s been a fair bit of criticism for Lewandowski recently, but that’s goal number 19 for the season in La Liga which is an impressive return in his debut campaign.
Barcelona’s No. 9 is now two goals ahead of Benzema, but both players still have six games left to play and will fancy their chances of finishing top of the pile.
Raphinha’s numbers are stacking up
Raphinha ended Saturday’s match with another goal and another assist after another productive performane for the Catalans.
The Brazilian has been inconsistent, and at times frustrating, during his first season at Barcelona but his numbers really are stacking up.
He now has 11 assists for the season for Barcelona which compares well with other new signings at the Camp Nou.
11 - Last three players with the most assists in their first season at Barcelona in all competitions:
Neymar Jr - 11 in 2013/14.
Luis Suárez - 21 in 2014/15
RAPHINHA - 11 in 2022/23
There’s been plenty of speculation that Raphinha could be sold at the end of the season, partly because he’s one of the players in the squad who could demand a decent fee.
Yet Raphinha’s numbers may well ensure he ends up staying. If Barca do have to sell off a forward, then there’s no doubt the Brazilian’s statistics are far superior to those of Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati this season.
Lamine Yamal - the start of something special?
Saturday’s match was also notable as Barcelona fans got to see Lamine Yamal write his name into the history books by making his debut for the Catalans.
The teenager stepped off the bench late on at the age of 15 years and 290 days and went on to enjoy a bright few minutes on his first appearance for the first team.
There was a chance of a goal with a shot, which Rui Silva blocked, and then a chance of an assist too. A sweet chipped ball found Ousmane Dembele but the Frenchman couldn’t convert.
Raphinha and Xavi both heaped praise on the youngster after the game and it’s already very clear just how highly he’s rated within the club already.
Is this the start of something very special at Barcelona?
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Some HUGE praise from the coach
Xavi was full of praise for 15-year-old Lamine Yamal after the youngster made his debut for Barcelona in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Real Betis.
Yamal was a late substitute at the Camp Nou, replacing Gavi, and made history by becoming the youngest player ever to debut for Barca.
Here’s what Xavi said about Yamal after the win.
“I told him to try things and he did,” he said. “At 15 years old, just imagine it... He is special and he could have even scored tonight, but Rui Silva saved,” he said.
“He played with confidence and he showed what he is about. He has no fear and bags of talent. Some of his passes in the final third were really good.”
Xavi went on to compare Yamal with Messi and Ansu Fati and said there are similarities between the three players.
“He’s a similar player because he has that innate talent in the final third which is difficult to find,” he said.
“Lamine doesn’t seem like a 15-year-old, he’s very mature. He’s ready [to play] and he is training well. He can mark an era at this club as part of this team.”
Yamal will now be hoping for more first-team opportunities between now and the end of the season with Barca.
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A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and rumors
FC Barcelona 4-0 Real Betis: Closing in on the title - FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona have moved even closer still to the league title as they saw off Real Betis with relative comfort on Saturday at Spotify Camp Nou.Real Madrid had already beaten Almería earlier in the day, so there was no hope of extending their lead in La Liga. But it remains at 11 points and with just six more games to play, Barça need to win half of those to clinch the title mathematically.
Lamine Yamal: Record-breaking debut - FC Barcelona
What a night for Lamine Yamal. The Barça youngster came on for the last few minutes against Betis and at the age of 15 years, 9 months and 16 days, he has become the youngest player to play a competitive match for the club this century. Yes, even younger than Ansu Fati, who was a whole year older (16 years, 9 months and 25 days) when he played his first senior game, and who was also on the pitch today.
Barça Atlètic 1-0 Osasuna Promesas: Closer still to the playoff - FC Barcelona
Barça Atlètic have beaten Osasuna Promesas thanks to a Luismi Cruz free kick that stretches the unbeaten run to 12 games. Although the visitors certainly came into this game with plenty of ambition, the Barça reserves were able to dominate the possession, even it wasn't creating as many chances as they might have liked.
Xavi hails fearless Lamine Yamal on historical Barcelona debut - Football España
Xavi was full of praise for Barcelona’s history making teenager Lamine Yamal after their dominant 4-0 La Liga win over Real Betis. La Blaugrana stormed to a key home win at the Camp Nou on the back of losing 2-1 away at Rayo Vallecano in midweek action.
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Xavi handed the 15-year-old his debut at the Camp Nou
Lamine Yamal wrote his name into the history books on Saturday by becoming the youngest player ever to debut for Barcelona.
The forward arrived in the 82nd minute with Barcelona already 4-0 up and against nine men after Edgar Gonzalez had been sent off and Joaquin having departed with injury.
Yamal replaced Gavi for the final minutes, becoming the latest player to debut under Xavi at Barcelona, and wearing the No. 41. shirt.
The teenager had a chance to score within minutes of coming on. He was picked out on the left and went for goal but was denied by goalkeeper Rui Silva.
Minutes later and he almost had his first assist too. A little dinked ball over the top found Ousmane Dembele but the Frenchman couldn’t quite convert.
Plenty has been written about Yamal already in his short career, but this was certainly an exciting brief cameo on his debut..
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Barcelona sporting director Mateu Alemany has been asked about the club’s transfer plans ahead of Saturday’s game with Real Betis.
Alemany explained that the club think about transfers through the year but admits it could well be a busy summer at the Camp Nou.
“Although it seems that the market opens in summer, the obligation of the technical secretariat, of the sports management, is to be ‘non-stop’ analyzing what happens in the first team and in the lower categories throughout the year. We have been doing it and anticipating situations,” he said.
“When the season ends we will see what happens in exits and entrances. It will be an interesting summer, I’ll tell you.”
Source | Movistar
The rumor mill has been churning all year about possible ins and outs at Barcelona. The club are under pressure to reduce the wage bill and bring in income which means there could be several exits.
Yet Barca are also thought to be keen to strengthen at right-back, in midfield and up front. A host of names have already been linked, including a return for Lionel Messi.
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Rubiales didn’t want to get into discussing the feasibility of Barca signing Messi but did make it clear he wants to see the World Cup winner back in La Liga.
“If he returns to LaLiga he will be received with open arms,” he said.
“I was lucky to play against Leo Messi, but I don’t know if it’s good luck or bad luck because I had to mark him and he is a unique, spectacular, fantastic player, but I won’t get involved in his possible return either.
“In the end, all Spaniards and also Spanish football fans from outside the country want the best players to be in our league. Whatever happens, Leo Messi is unique in world football and I will always wish him the best.”
Barcelona reportedly with with La Liga this week to discuss a number of topics, including Messi and what it will take for the club to be able to make room financially for the GOAT.
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Join us for another Barcelona La Liga adventure!
WELCOME TO THE SPOTIFY CAMP NOU!!! The Greatest Stadium on Earth opens its doors for a massive La Liga match between visitors Real Betis and Barcelona, who come into this one looking for a bounce-back win after the midweek disappointment against Rayo Vallecano. Barça will also look to protect their double-digit lead the the top of the table and continue their march to the title, but Betis have proved to be a brutal opponent in recent seasons and always bring their A-game when meeting Barça. This should be fun, and you’re welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action. Vamos!
(Note: the comments will be open only when the team news come out, because our commenter people love commenting and sometimes there are too many comments in the comments section)
MATCH INFO
Competition/Round: 2022-23 La Liga, Matchday 32
Date/Time: Saturday, April 29, 2023, 9pm CET (Barcelona), 8pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 12.30am IST (India, Sunday)
We don’t have a lot of rules here, but there are a few things to keep in mind when joining our matchday threads:
Even if the referee sucks or we lose the game, watch the swearing. It’s just unnecessary. Also, don’t discuss illegal streaming links. Those who do it will be warned, and those who post links will be instantly banned. Finally, be nice to each other. This is a Barcelona community and we don’t need to offend one another.
Have fun with the game! Forever and ever, no matter the competition, VISCA EL BARÇA!
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Talks are ongoing
Barcelona are reportedly optimistic they will agree a new deal with starlet Lamine Yamal despite speculation to the contrary.
There have been rumors recently that Yamal’s future is getting complicated, not least because his family are Real Madrid fans. Yamal has also recently changed agent from Ivan de la Pena to Jorge Mendes.
Fabrizio Romano has the latest update on Yamal and says Barcelona are hoping they will be able to secure an agreement with the youngster soon.
Barcelona are optimistic to get new deal agreed soon for Lamine Yamal, La Masia gem born in 2007 who has been already called up by Xavi for the first team. #FCB
Yamal is widely regarded as the brightest young star in Barca’s academy and the club are hoping to sign him to professional terms this summer when he turns 16.
Xavi has called up Yamal to first-team training on several occasions this season and has also included him in his last couple of matchday squads.
The Barcelona manager has denied he’s called up Yamal in a bid to convince him to stay at the club, insisting he deserved his place after impressing in training.
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A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and rumors
PREVIEW | FC Barcelona v Real Betis - FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona suffered just their third defeat of the Liga season at Rayo Vallecano midweek. But despite that setback, their position is actually stronger than ever. Because Real Madrid had also lost, in their case to Girona the day before, the difference between the top two is still 11 points, but with one game fewer left to play.
The lie about Pablo Torre that Barça coach Xavi has knocked back - SPORT
Xavi Hernández has come out to clear up false rumours about Pablo Torre's situation at Barcelona. The young player is not getting too many minutes this season and some have seized on a rumour that points to the player's bad habits to justify his disappearance from the line-ups.
Barcelona midfielder Aleix Garrido signs new contract until 2025 - SPORT
Barcelona have secured the continuity of one of their most prized youth players. After making his debut with the first team while still a youth player, Aleix Garrido has signed a new contract until 2025. The midfielder will become a Barça Atlètic player next season and will have a release clause of €400 million.
Barça boss Xavi still not giving clues about possible Messi signing - SPORT
Xavi Hernández is still not giving too many clues about the possible return of Leo Messi to Barcelona next season. In the press conference prior to Saturday's match against Real Betis, the Barça coach insisted that the only important thing right now is to win LaLiga -- there will be time to talk about transfers.
Inter could opt for Fulham's Adarabioyo over Barça's Umtiti - SPORT
A few weeks ago, there was talk in Italy about the possibility of Inter Milan being interested in Samuel Umtiti to reinforce their defence and make up for the likely loss of Milan Skriniar. According to 'La Gazzetta dello Sport', the Nerazzurri would be willing to take on his salary, lowered after his latest renewal with Barcelona, provided he gets released for free.
Huge surprise among Barça TV staff as Catalan club axe channel - SPORT
FC Barcelona announced Thursday that they are closing Barça TV, whose contract expires on 30 June and whose future, as of today, is up in the air because nobody knows exactly what will happen to the 120 workers who form part of this television station.
Christensen not for sale but Barça will listen to offers for Kessie - SPORT
Xavi has been very clear. The coach wants to keep Christensen, despite the fact that Barça have already signed another centre-back for next season, Iñigo Martínez. However, there is a green light for the departure of Kessie, a player who has a good reputation in Italy and who may also receive proposals from the Premier League.
Javier Tebas: It's complicated for Barca to sign Leo Messi - SPORT
Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, insisted that it is difficult for FC Barcelona to sign Leo Messi for next season. Speaking on RMC's 'After Foot' programme, the head of the employers' association said that "as of today, I see it as complicated.
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How to watch on TV: ESPN Deportes (USA), Viaplay Sports 1 (UK), SuperSport (Nigeria), Sports18 (India), Movistar LaLiga (Spain), Not Available (Canada), others
How to watch online: ESPN+ (USA), LaLigaTV (UK), Movistar+ (Spain), others
Following a painful defeat away to Rayo Vallecano in midweek, Barcelona look to restore the good vibes and protect their double-digt lead at the top of the La Liga table when they welcome Real Betis to the Greatest Stadium on Earth on Saturday Night Fútbol.
The Catalans played one of the worst games of the season on Wednesday in Madrid, and it was one of those nights where absolutely nothing went right. Every team, even the best ones, has at least one or two of those a season, and the good news Barça weren’t impacted in the table with the loss thanks to Girona’s amazing win over second-place Real Madrid a day earlier.
But a losing streak is never fun, and the Blaugrana return home looking to remain safely on course for the title if they can get all three points. Madrid host Almería at home just a couple of hours before Barça and will probably win that one, which will momentarily cut the lead to eight points. So a win is paramount to retain their double-digit advantage and go into the final six games of the season without any concerns.
Beating Real Betis is no easy feat, however. Despite their recent run of form with only one win in their last five and three convincing defeats that have virtually ended their hopes of securing a Champions League spot next season, the Verdiblancos remain one of the toughest opponents in the league with great coaching from Manuel Pellegrini and a talented squad from top to bottom.
They gave Barça all they could handle twice in this calendar year, with the Blaugrana prevailing on penalties in the Spanish Super Cup after a wild 2-2 draw and getting three crucial points in Seville with a tight 2-1 win. They know how to make Barça uncomfortable in possession, they are quick and decisive when they have the ball and always play with incredible intensity.
They’ve won two of the last four meetings at Camp Nou, so they’re not afraid of Barça’s home in the slightest. They are bold, they are good, and they badly need a result. This will be a brutal test, but Barça are finally fully healthy and are expected to start their Gala XI, the team that played some exceptional football in January and February, for the first time in almost three months.
With Andreas Christensen back to shore up the backline and Ousmane Dembélé ready to bring back his magical powers up front, this team looks stronger and more creative, and ready to get a big win against a very good opponent and take another big step towards clinching the championship.
Let’s dance.
POSSIBLE LINEUPS
Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Balde; Pedri, Busquets, De Jong; Dembélé, Lewandowski, Gavi
The formula for Barça vs Betis at Camp Nou over the years is pretty simple: 90 minutes of high-quality entertainment and attacking football, plenty of goals and usually a pretty fun Barça win. And with the band back together, I’m thinking we’ll finally score a lot again and have a smile on our faces at the end of the night: 4-2 to the good guys.
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Xavi spoke about Garrido at his pre-match press conference ahead of Betis and says he’s already told the youngster he has a big future ahead of him.
“I think he has a lot of talent. When he was in the squad a few weeks ago I told him he can have a fantastic future at the club,” he told reporters.
Garrido has been at Barca since the age of 12 and has played alongside Gavi in Barca’s youth teams. The midfielder will be hoping he can follow in Gavi’s footsteps and go on to become a regular at the Camp Nou.
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Here’s the latest from the Barcelona boss
Xavi has faced the press to discuss Barcelona’s next La Liga match against Real Betis at the Camp Nou on Saturday evening.
The boss spoke about the return to fitness of Ousmane Dembele and Andreas Christensen, Ansu Fati’s lack of game time and responded to reports about Pablo Torre’s attitude.
Here are the bests bits:
Xavi on Real Betis
Betis are a great team. Physically they are strong and play at a high level. Guido and William have a high level. Borja, Rodri, Ayoze, a high technical level. We will try to take the ball from them and be dominant. We come from worst game of the season but now we have another chance in LaLiga.
Xavi on La Liga
What felt like an eternity was last year, fighting to get second place. This season is not dragging at all; it makes me happy. I don’t get the media sometimes. I am enjoying myself in La Liga this season. I think we are competing well. Who would not have taken this position at the start of the year? I am having a great time. It doesn’t surprise me. I said it before, this is the most difficult club in the world. Winning 1-0 is not enough here. We have won 1-0 a lot this season playing well, but it’s not enough.
Xavi on Ansu Fati’s lack of game time
I see that Ferran and Raphinha are a little better than Ansu, also Robert. Ansu and the rest of the players are competing between themselves. He’s played, he’s been important, scored important goals. There is big competition for places at Barca.
Xavi on Barca’s dip in form
If we look at the last 20 games, it’s fantastic, but if we just look at the last four, it’s not. We have to react and regain sensations like we did against Atletico and that’s what we need to recover, our way of playing. Tomorrow is a key game to react against a really tough rival.
Xavi on Messi
We don’t know if Leo will sign or not. It’s too soon. We are focused on Betis, on winning this league. That’s important for us, for the club, the staff. We’ll see about future signings.
Xavi on Dembele
We have missed Ousmane. He is the best player we have in one-on-one situations. There are few better than him. His recovery has taken longer but he is back and he is happy. We will see if he can start on Saturday or come on. It’s great news to have him available.
Xavi on Christensen
Christensen, I asked for him, he’s my signing. We missed him a lot, playing from the back and his focus in defence. He’s always concerned about what could happen. He’s an incredible player even though people outside don’t value him as much. We missed him a lot and tomorrow he is available and 100%.
Xavi on Pablo Torre’s attitude
I’ve read different things about Pablo Torre that is fake news. He’s an example in the locker room, a professional, he works really well, is involved, loves football. He’s loved in the locker room. He’s a fantastic guy. The issue is that there is a lot of competition, he is playing minutes in the Barça first team and that is a lot. He is helping us. I hope he can be important and he has to be ready to participate.
Xavi on Aleix Garrido
I think he has a lot of talent. When he was in the squad a few weeks ago I told him he can have a fantastic future at the club.
Xavi on Joaquin
Joaquin is an incredible person, more than the player he is. He’s been extraordinary, an incredible talent, one of the best wingers i’ve seen in my career. I think he could have played for Barca, in the way we play, he would have adapted well to our philosophy. He’s a great person, a good team-mate. I love to talk about him.
Xavi on Raphinha
Raphinha is having a good season, with goals, numbers and hard work. He helps us press up front. He’s an intense player. Sometimes he’s frustrated because he wants to do everything perfectly. He’s an incredible player, always works hard and has a fantastic attitude towards successs here.
Xavi on Kounde’s position
We will have time to think about next season. He is adapting well to right-back. I know he’s a center-back but circumstances are what they are. He has to adapt to play as a right-back for the team and he’s playing well. It’s not his best position, he’s a center-back, he prefers to play there. He is helping us a lot in defence. Incredible as a right-back or a center-back.
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Barcelona did plenty of business last summer. They had a flurry of levers pulled left, right and center and moved for multiple attackers and defenders in 2022. Two of these players were Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen.
The Dane has enjoyed a great first season at Barca and the club reportedly are not willing to sell, despite rumors they could look to cash in on the center-back to ease financial situation.
It’s a different situation regarding Kessie though, with Barca willing to listen to offers for the Ivorian. He hasn’t been straight-up poor, he just hasn’t cracked the starting rotation over the likes of Pedri, De Jong, and Gavi. Although, who really could?
Given how that’s worked out for Kessie, Barca will look to cash in on him this summer. Personally, I would bet that attitude changes if İlkay Gündoğan doesn’t end up joining the club.
It seems like it comes down to Gündoğan being just a better midfielder than Kessie, and Kessie is excellent on his own merit. Barca will likely be able to fetch a decent sum for him.
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The duo are back
Barcelona have confirmed that both Ousmane Dembele and Andreas Christensen are fit and in the squad for tomorrow’s game with Real Betis in La Liga.
Dembele is back after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a thigh injury. The Frenchman hasn’t played since January but will be hoping for minutes against Betis.
The forward’s return will be a big boost for the team. Barca’s attack has struggled somewhat without Dembele with Robert Lewandowski in particular missing the attacker.
Christensen is also fit again after sustaining an injury while on international duty with Denmark last month. The defender has been impressive in his first season at the club and his return is another boost for Barca.
The Catalans head into Saturday’s match after suffering their third league defeat of the season last time out against Rayo Vallecano. Xavi’s side remain 11 points clear at the top but will be keen to get back to winning ways.
Betis head into the weekend in sixth place in the table but with just one win in their last five La Liga matches. Barca won 2-1 earlier in the season when the two teams met at the Benito Villamarin Stadium in La Liga.
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A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and rumors
FC Barcelona 1-1 Chelsea: Eindhoven, here we come! - FC Barcelona
It was quite some battle, but Barça have done it and they'll be appearing in yet another UEFA Women's Champions League Final, this time in Eindhoven. Thursday's game in front of a fabulous atmosphere at Spotify Camp Nou ended 1-1, but the 1-0 win in the first leg at Stamford Bridge means the Catalans advance 2-1 on aggregate.
Legendary: Fourth UWCL Final in five years! - FC Barcelona
After drawing 1-1 with Chelsea in front of an amazing atmosphere at Spotify Camp Nou, and thus winning the tie 2-1 on aggregate, the Barça women's football team are through to the Champions League Final on June 3 in Eindhoven. This is the fourth time in five years and the third in a row that the Catalans have made it through to the final, taking what was already a legendary team to the next level.
Christensen back with the squad - FC Barcelona
The morning after the defeat at Rayo, the FC Barcelona squad was back on the training ground this Thursday morning as thoughts switch to the next game, the 9pm CEST kick-off against Betis at Spotify Camp Nou.
When and where to watch FC Barcelona v Real Betis - FC Barcelona
Just three days what was hopefully just a momentary setback at Rayo Vallecano, FC Barcelona entertain Real Betis in an evening kick-off local time at 9pm. This guide shows what time that will be in selected countries and regions around the world so you can be sure you can catch the action.
Debate at Barca over the signing of a right back - SPORT
Barça are continuing to plan for next season and the club is already debating the need to bring in a top-class right-back. Xavi Hernández knows that he will not be able to fulfil all his wishes and prioritised the arrival of a defensive midfielder in addition to Gundogan, but in the sporting department it is clear that a top-level specialist in that position must be brought in. There are advanced options and now everything indicates that it will become a priority.
Barca and La Liga meet to discuss the potential return of Leo Messi - SPORT
Barça are still working to fit all the pieces together so that Messi can return to the club in June. According to 'El Chiringuito de Jugones', there was a meeting between members of La Liga and Barça to study the feasibility of his return.
Xavi's Barca wave goodbye to 100 point record - SPORT
Xavi Hernández will not match Tito Vilanova's record with a three-figure league points tally. After yesterday's defeat at Vallecas, FC Barcelona can reach, at most, 97 points, which would be a fantastic number, of course. But the truth is that the last few weeks of Xavi's team's performances have ruined a possibility that was wide open and very feasible just a month ago.
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After a very bad night in Madrid and a painful defeat to Rayo Vallecano, Barcelona return home for more La Liga action as they look to protect their 11-point lead at the top of the table when they welcome Real Betis to the Spotify Camp Nou.
The Catalans wasted the chance to effectively end the title race in midweek and played one of their worst games of the year in the capital, but have a chance to come back home and return to winning ways to continue their march to the trophy.
But it won’t be easy as Betis remain one of the best teams in the league and pushed Barça to the limit in both of their meetings this season, once in the league and once in the Spanish Super Cup. Here’s how we think Xavi Hernández will line up his troops for battle on Wednesday.
Defense
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The manner of the defeat on Wednesday was much worse than the result, given the loss didn’t impact the title race in any meaningful way. But the performance was concerning, and it was one of those nights where nothing went right no matter what the players or the coach tried.
The good news is Barça get serious reinforcements for this one: Xavi has already confirmed two key starters will be medically cleared to play, and all signs point to both starting on Saturday. One of them is Andreas Christensen, one of the team’s best players all season who has been a big miss at the back since his calf injury.
Christensen return should also bring back the “BACK” quartet that dominated the league in January and February, with Jules Kounde at right-back, Ronald Araujo alongside Andreas in the middle and Alejandro Balde at left-back.
Midfield
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Sergio Busquets missed the trip to Vallecas through suspension and his poise and command in midfield could have definitely help, so having the captain back is very good news. His comeback also gives Xavi the chance to finally revisit his favorite formation with Frenkie De Jong and Pedri in midfield and Gavi as a false left-winger.
That specific four-man midfield combination was the main ingredient in Barça’s best stretch of play this season in the six weeks between the beginning of January and the middle of February before crucial injuries started hitting the squad. It might take a while for the rhythm to return, but just having the band back together will help the team look like itself again.
Attack
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The second big return from injury expected for this one is Ousmane Dembélé, who had his recovery very carefully managed to make sure he would be 100% fit when returning. The Frenchman could have easily played against Rayo but was saved for this weekend, so it’s safe to assume he starts on Saturday and plays around 60 minutes.
Robert Lewandowski scored and was one of the very few Barça players who were not terrible on Wednesday, and the Pole will be looking to score in consecutive league games for the first time since last October.
Possible XI: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Balde; Pedri, Busquets, De Jong; Dembélé, Lewandowski, Gavi (4-3-3)
How do you think Barcelona should line up against Real Betis? Let us know your thoughts, predictions and teams in the comments below!
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However, La Liga’s chief now says it will be very complicated for Barcelona to incoporate Messi due to their financial issues.
“If you ask me the question today, Messi’s return to Barça is very complicated,” he said.
“We have to see how that will evolve but several conditions would have to be met, Barça players would have to leave, there would have to be a reduction in wages. And then you have to know what salary Messi would have at Barça.
“Barça is not like PSG, which has a gas and money tap which allows it to have a large payroll. As we speak, it’s complicated for Messi to return to Barça.”
Barcelona are thought to have met with La Liga officials this week to discuss the possibility of trying to bring Messi back to the club.
The rumor mill is already getting pretty excited about the prospect of the GOAT heading home, but there’s certainly no guarantee it will actually happen.
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AZ Alkmaar’s top scorer this year made it clear where he would like to play in the future. The 19-year-old Mexx Meerdink said in an interview this week that Barcelona would be the club that he wants to play for in the future.
The Dutchman has performed incredibly well for the club and netted nine goals in six games of European youth competition for AZ Alkmaar. The future for him is bright, and if he continues to develop, it seems like Barcelona would be his target.
When someone scores an excess of goals in Europe and lists Barca as a dream club, they’re going to take notice. Now it’s just time to see him develop further and Barca may make a move.
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Barcelona coach Xavi warned his team they’d face a tough test against Rayo ahead of the game, speaking about the hosts’ intensity and the difficulties of playing at Vallecas in his pre-match presser.
Yet the Barca players simply didn’t heed Xavi’s warning. They failed to match Rayo’s intensity, struggled to create chances and were deservedly beaten.
It shouldn’t have come as a surprise either. Rayo beat Barcelona home and away last season and held out for a goalless draw at the Camp Nou on the opening day of the campaign.
Barcelona were coming off a good result against Atletico too and knew they’d move 14 points clear of Real Madrid with a win but never really got going. Once again there was a lack of creativity and Barca seemed to run out of ideas entirely.
Xavi admitted he was really annoyed to lose this one and it’s easy to see why. The Barcelona coach knew exactly what was coming on Wednesday but still couldn’t prevent his team slipping to just a third league defeat of the campaign.
No 100 points but title still beckons
Barcelona’s defeat to Rayo means that Xavi’s side can’t reach the magical 100-point mark for the season, although they still remain in complete control of the title race.
A 14-point lead with just seven games left to play would have been very nice, but 11 points is still a very healthy gap to Real Madrid and the chasing pack.
Barcelona now have two home games in a row and need to get back on track quickly. Real Betis are up next on Saturday followed by a visit from Osasuna.
Xavi’s side have enjoyed a strong league campaign, as the table shows, but their form has been iffy for a little while now and it’s difficult to know just how good they are.
Andreas Christensen and Ousmane Dembele are both expected back against Betis, which should be a big boost, and will hopefully help Barca make a strong finish to the season.
Time for Gavi to take a break
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Barcelona struggled all over the pitch on Wednesday, with Gavi in particular having a really tough night at Vallecas.
The 18-year-old was booked again, lost the ball far too often and you couldn’t help but think that he’s well overdue a break.
Gavi has already played 50 matches in all competitions for club and country this season, an incredible amount, especially for such a young player.
He’s become less efficient in recent games, and has also been booked in four of his last five matches, which perhaps highlights a growing frustration.
Barca struggled against Rayo’s intensity, one of Gavi’s key assets, which only reinforces the idea that the youngster could do with a breather.
Xavi does have plenty of midfield options at his disposal too, making his decision to keep on playing Gavi week after week even more frustrating.
Lewandowski ends worst Barca drought
Robert Lewandowski headed into this match without a goal in his last four games. He eventually ended his drought in the second half, scoring his first goal in 467 minutes for Barca - his worst drought since joining the club.
The Poland international might have had one in the first half too, but a tight offside call saw him denied.
Lewandowski’s form has come in for scrutiny, and a fair bit of criticism since the World Cup, but he still leads the goalscoring charts in La Liga on 18, four ahead of Karim Benzema, his nearest challenger for the Pichichi.
Lewandowski actually has 24 for the season in all competitions which works out to a goal every 118 mins, despite the difficulties he’s had since the World Cup.
Yet for all his goals there’s no doubt that Lewandowski still isn’t quite right. Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres and Raphinha have all struggled to shine in attack alongside the Pole, and you imagine he can’t wait for Dembele to return.
With Dembele on the pitch, Lewandowski has scored 22 goals in 23 games (which works out to 0.96 goals per game). When Dembele is not there the rate drops to just 6 in 15.
Will Barca buy a right-back this summer?
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Jules Kounde featured again at right-back for Barcelona on Wednesday but put in arguably his worst showing since joining from Sevilla. He was at fault for both goals and looked uncomfortable all night long.
Debate has raged in the rumor mill all season regarding whether Barca will go for a right-back this summer but they really need to as Kounde is not the answer.
The Frenchman has done a fine job on the flank but his best position is in the middle, and you get the feeling he’s longing to get back to what he does best.
Xavi has spoken about the issue and highlighted how Kounde, Araujo, Balde and Sergi Roberto can all play at right-back which suggests it’s not a priority.
Barca do look set for an intriguing summer transfer window. Right-back remains a big issue but will the club bring in a defender or focus their priorities elsewhere?
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The boss is not impressed
Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez admitted he was really annoyed at seeing his team lose 2-1 to Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Wednesday.
The Catalans had the chance to move 14 points clear with a win at Vallecas but instead suffered just a third league defeat of the campaign.
Here’s what Xavi made of it all afterwards.
“We didn’t play well, we were never comfortable in the game. The chances we did have, we did not take and then the second goal really penalised us,” he said.
“We tried until the end, but Rayo are worthy winners. They press really well and we were never comfortable. The result really annoys us but it’s another game week down.”
Barca still boast a very healthy lead in La Liga but Xavi has warned his players that the title is not won just yet.
“The message is simple: there is still a long way to go. Nothing is done yet. LaLiga is not won, I have said it many times. It will take a lot to win it,” he added.
“Every game away from home is a battle. Madrid are losing games, Atletico are having to scrap to win, we have lost... but we are annoyed because this was a really good opportunity to extend the gap.”
Barcelona will now aim to get back on track on Saturday against Real Betis at the Camp Nou.
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City of Barcelona derby on Sunday 14 May at 9pm CEST - FC Barcelona
The Spanish Football League (LFP) has announced the kick off times for the city of Barcelona derby between FC Barcelona and Espanyol. The game will be played at the RCDE Stadium on Sunday 14 May at 9pm CEST with a possible league title at stake for the blaugranes depending on previous results.
AZ hitman Mexx Meerdink wants to play for Barcelona - SPORT
Mexx Meerdink, AZ Alkmaar's top scorer who has just won the Youth League, dreams of playing for Barça one day. This is what he confirmed on the Dutch television programme 'Khalid&Sophie', where he was very clear in his answer: "The club I would like to play for? Barcelona".
Barça keeping close eye on emerging crop of Brazilian centre forwards - SPORT
Brazil has regained continental hegemony at grassroots level by winning the South American Under-20 Championship and, this past Sunday, the Under-17 Championship. A deserved double, achieved in a matter of two months, with the same common thread: a scoring capacity personified in two No.9s of an impressive projection, Vitor Roque (18 years old) and Kaua Elias (17 years old), stars in both competitions.
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However, there is still no agreement between the two parties.
A former Barcelona youth player, Martínez has been one of the revelations of this season in La Liga playing at right-back. That’s a position that’s a problem for Barcelona, as they don’t have a recognized top right-back and Juan Foyth recently was seemingly ruled out as a transfer target.
Atlético have made a strong push for the 19-year-old, and it’s said that they are optimistic that they will find a mutually agreeable price. His release clause is set at 20 million euro, but the colchoneros are hoping to agree a deal that’s a bit lower than that.
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It’s understood Juventus will let Leandro Paredes go and could see Kessie as an alternative.
There have been talks of a possible swap deal for the midfielder. One possible name is Marcelo Brozović from Inter Milan. It remains to be seen what kind of offers the other clubs would be willing to put up.
However, Barcelona would rather get cash for the player unless there is a player that really interests Xavi coming the other way in a player exchange..
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The best and the worst from a horrible night in Madrid
Barcelona could not extend their lead at the top of the La Liga table and wasted the chance to end the title race thanks to a bad 2-1 loss to Rayo Vallecano in Madrid on Wednesday night. Barça were never in the game and deservedly lost to an excellent Rayo side, and the only good news for the night are that the Blaugrana remain 11 points clear with seven games to go.
Here are the winners and losers from Wednesday’s action.
Note:Applying the labels “winners” and “losers” is not intended to be a judgment on the talent or character of any of these players. It’s just a simple way to grade their performance in a single game. No disrespect is intended.
Winners
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Rayo Vallecano left-back Fran García: Because the entire Barça team was terrible on the night, the only winner is a player from the opposition. Fran García has been one of Rayo’s best players all season and is only 23 years old, and his stock was raised tremendously with this performance. He was dominant defensively, completely shutting down Raphinha with tight, physical defense and used his pace and strength to always be an option going forward, and it was his desire and intensity that led to him winning the ball from Frenkie De Jong and scoring the game-winning goal on the night. A fantastic performance from a very underrated player, who might have caught the eye of some big teams as we enter transfer season.
Losers
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Raphinha: As a fellow Brazilian who loved watching him at Bordeaux and especially Leeds United, I had big hopes for Raphinha and had been willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in his first season playing for the club of his dreams. But the season is very close to its completion and there is just no path for Raphinha to become a truly reliable option for his team.
Xavi Hernández’s tactics don’t exactly help a Barcelona wing player who is entirely responsible for dribbling past multiple defenders with little to no help for 90 minutes, but Raphinha doesn’t help his own cause with zero effectiveness with his dribbles and one bad decision after another when it comes to end product. Compare that to Ousmane Dembélé, who under Xavi has consistently won his matchups and been a real threat for the majority of the time, and it’s clear that Raphinha isn’t in the same class as his teammate.
The excellent performance against Atlético Madrid was one of the very few good games he’s had for Barça, and the bad nights are way more constant than even the solid ones. Big investment was made and Raphinha has simply not lived up to it. He still has a market in England, and I honestly would not be opposed at all to him being sold after one season.
Gavi: This was one of those nights when Gavi truly looks like a kid, making way too many bad decisions and being way too physical and almost baiting the referee into sending him off with unnecessary hard fouls and tackles. He was nearly invisible in attack along with all of his other teammates, but his outbursts really shine brightly when he can’t play well to balance out the craziness. I’m still a huge fan and think he’ll eventually figure everything out, but this was a bad night.
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