FC Barcelona News: 31 December 2014; Players Take Part in Last Training of 2014, Three Set to Return on Friday

Last training session of 2014 | FC Barcelona

Luis Enrique put the players through their paces in 2014’s final training session on Wednesday morning. Claudio Bravo, Luis Suárez, Rafinha, Douglas and Adriano were all present after their Christmas break, whilst Alves has been given permission to return on January 2, alongside Messi and Neymar Jr. Barça B youngsters Munir, Samper and Sandro also took part in the session.

FC Barcelona return to training | FC Barcelona

The Barça first team have returned to training following the Christmas break with a session that saw all the European players present plus a Javier Mascherano who has remained in Barcelona during the festive period. In total 14 first team players took part in the early evening session along with three players from the B squad, Munir, Samper and Sandro.

Lionel Messi is the only candidate for the Ballon d'Or, says Barcelona star Andres Iniesta - Goal.com

"For me, the only candidate I see is Leo," he told Marca. "Everyone has their opinion and they are free to express it. The Ballon d'Or is not decided by titles but by a vote of people who believe a player deserves it because they are the best. For me, the number one is Leo. Today and always."

Bartomeu on the CAS decision: There has been a great injustice | FC Barcelona

"A great injustice has been committed today: an injustice for Barça, for all the children and parents affected by this decision, for all the Club members and for football in general.We have always made it clear that we consider FIFA’s sanction to be disproportionate. This judgement by CAS, which ratifies FIFA’s decision, is not good for us and defies all sporting logic."

Barcelona's transfer ban explained: Youth players to get opportunity but silverware could suffer | Eurosport

FIFA issued the ban in April after the Catalan giants were found guilty of repeatedly breaking transfer regulations, and world football's governing body also rejected an appeal in August.After taking their appeal to CAS, which was also rejected, Barcelona face the prospect of having to keep their money in their pockets until 2016.

Top FC Barcelona videos of 2014 | FC Barcelona

The most watched videos on Barça's official YouTube channel over the past year.

The Scout's Notebook - Top 21 players under 21 - ESPN FC

A regular for the Barcelona B team over the last couple of seasons, Samper has long been considered one of La Masia's most promising young talents. A skilful and intelligent defensive midfielder with a passing range that has seen him likened to Andrea Pirlo, he has appeared for Spain at various age categories. His Barcelona debut came at home to APOEL Nicosia in September and there is interest from home and abroad in a January loan move.

Ancelotti has questions to mull over after Milan defeat - ESPN FC

The exhibition in Dubai was of much greater significance to Inzaghi than his occasional mentor; the Milan manager has picked up just six wins from 16 Serie A matches since taking the helm in the summer and he and his players were clearly keen on recording an eye-catching result. Milan are 14 points off the top of Serie A and without European football this season. Their 4-2 win over the European champions was more than convincing.

Torres eyeing Copa derby debut | Football Espana

"I’m very happy and excited to be back home and looking forward to it. I’ve never had much to say to the fans, they've told me everything," he told reporters at Madrid's Barajas airport. "The love they’ve given me has always been disproportionate to what I’ve been able to give the club.

From full-backs in midfield to diamond formations, reviewing 2014's football tactics - ESPN FC

While possession-based football was totally dominant a few years ago, recently there's been a shift and more emphasis upon attacking quickly and directly. European champions Real Madrid were the best example, with their 4-0 thrashing of Bayern Munich particularly memorable. Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Di Maria were all rampant on the counter during that part of the year.

Mexican international Miguel Layun joins Granada from Club America - Goal.com

Mexico international Miguel Layun is leaving Club America for Granada, the Mexican champion announced Tuesday. Layun was widely tipped for a move after the World Cup but stuck on with Las Aguilas for another tournament, making 17 appearances as the team captured the Apertura title.

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FC Barcelona News: 30 December 2014; Barça Express Unhappiness Over CAS Verdict, Busy January Awaits Players

FC Barcelona statement regarding CAS verdict | FC Barcelona

The errors that the Club might have committed, and which have been recognised and argued before the corresponding authorities are, in all cases, of an administrative nature and to a large extent have been caused by the existing conflict between the FIFA regulations and Spanish legislation, along with the Club’s conviction that it was acting correctly.

A busy January for FC Barcelona | FC Barcelona

2015 will kick off in busy fashion for Luis Enrique’s Barça side with 6 confirmed fixtures for the opening month of the calendar year, which could be extended to nine matches should they make it to the last eight of the Spanish Cup and their league game against Villarreal is played on Saturday the 31st. Three of the confirmed fixtures are against the same opponents, Elche.

More digital fans than ever for FC Barcelona in 2014 | FC Barcelona

More than 68 million new followers have added themselves to the more than 40 Barça social profiles on Facebook (9), Twitter (15), Instagram (2), LINE (6), Youtube, Dailymotion, Google+, WeChat, Sina Weibo, Tencent Weibo, TuneIn, BBM and Pinterest.

Most popular FC Barcelona videos on Vine of 2014 | FC Barcelona

Find out which videos have been a hit this year on the popular application

FC Barcelona B return to training | FC Barcelona

Barça B returned to training on Monday after the Christmas break as they prepare for Saturday's game at the Miniestadi against Las Palmas which kicks off at 8.00pm (CET). The good news was the return to training of Cameroonian Wilfred Kaptoum for the first time since recovering from a hamstring problem.

Gareth Bale not for sale at any price Real Madrid president says - ESPN FC

"We haven't received an offer from Manchester United or any other club for Gareth Bale," he said. "We wouldn't listen to any offers for Bale, regardless of the amount." He added: "I cannot imagine Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo, nor Gareth Bale. This is a unique player who has already given us a lot and is crucial to the future of the club."

Valencia and Benfica agree deal for Argentina international Enzo Perez - Goal.com

The Argentina midfielder will sign for the Spanish side on January 2 if he passes a medical in a deal reported to be worth 25 million euros. The Argentine has spent three-and-a-half years at the Portuguese giant, in which time he won the league once along with three other domestic trophies and reached the Europa League final twice. Perez also was part of the Argentina team which reached the final of the World Cup in Brazil.

Villarreal to let Cani leave | Football Espana

Villarreal have told veteran midfielder Cani that he is free to find a new club in the January transfer window. The 33-year-old has fallen out of favour with boss Marcelino this season, having started just five La Liga games, and the club has confirmed they are seeking a solution that will satisfy both the club and the player.

Cruz Azul announces Santa Cruz capture - Goal.com

Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz’s prolonged transfer from Malaga to Liga MX side Cruz Azul was confirmed Monday. The 33-year-old former Bayern Munich forward has signed a two-year deal with the Mexican side, announced Cruz Azul on its website.

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Court of Arbitration for Sport Dismisses Barcelona Appeal; Transfer Ban Upheld

BAD NEWS

Bad news for Barcelona. On Tuesday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has announced that the Catalan club's appeal of the FIFA transfer ban has been dismissed, which makes the ban to remain in force, meaning that Barça are officially banned from the market for the next two transfer windows.

The CAS has finished its investigation, and they agreed with FIFA's decision due to irregularities found in the signings of ten under-18 players between 2009 and 2013 made by the Blaugrana.

Image: Media release about Barcelona transfer ban that CAS has already ready on their website #fcblive [via @bo_r92] http://pic.twitter.com/cTovE9VUTi

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) December 30, 2014

On their website, Barcelona released a statement expressing their disappointment at the decision, calling it an "excessive punishment for the Club":

The errors that the Club might have committed, and which have been recognised and argued before the corresponding authorities are, in all cases, of an administrative nature and to a large extent have been caused by the existing conflict between the FIFA regulations and Spanish legislation, along with the Club’s conviction that it was acting correctly.

Therefore, FC Barcelona considers the sanction to be completely disproportionate as it supposes an excessive punishment for the Club, when considering its trajectory and the circumstances of this specific case.

Source: FCBarcelona.com

That's the second decision going against Barcelona this year. In August, the CAS upheld FIFA's ban on Luis Suárez for the biting accident in the World Cup. Just four months later, another ruling hurts the Blaugrana.

From now until 2016, Luis Enrique will have to work with the same squad. His only options for additions are in Barça B, with Sergi Samper, Munir El-Haddadi, Sandro Ramírez and Adama Traoré considered the favorites to get promoted to the senior team, which becomes more likely after this decision.

What do you think, Barça fans? Is the decision fair? Does Barça possess a squad strong enough to win titles until next year?

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Doesn't matter who wants him, Sergio Busquets is simply not for sale

Despite big offers from the likes of Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, both the player and his club don't want to part ways

Widely regarded for many years as one of the best in his position, Sergio Busquets has been an integral part of Barcelona football since entering the first team in 2008. Back then, he was a controversial guy brought in by Pep Guardiola to anchor the midfield and provide solid foundation to the team. During the glorious period enjoyed by Barça in the Pep Era, 'Busi' was definitely one of the top performers on the team, and he solidified his position as a premier defensive midfielder.

Since last season, however, his untouchable status has been in doubt, with a considerable decline in his performances combined with the non-stopping ascension of Javier Mascherano. Busquets has been strongly criticized by analysts and Barça fans in general. The once defensive midfield rock is now (allegedly) a liability in his position. Many argue that his subpar level in the last few years has hurt the team's offensive output, since his ability to initiate the offense is not what it used to be when Guardiola was in charge. Many of the Barça faithful want him to be replaced, and some media members have already made Busquets the subject of transfer rumours.

But as far as the Barcelona board goes, Sergio is not for sale. According to many reports from various European outlets, teams like Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City have firmly expressed their desire of acquiring the 26-year-old, all of them willing to pay out Sergio's €150 million release clause and offer him giant wages and performance bonuses (PSG's offer is the most lucrative for the player, sources say).

However, both the board and the player have agreed to remain together for as long as Busquets wants. Basically, he'll only leave when he makes that decision. The club will never look to sell Sergio, because they see Busi as the future leader of the team. Sergio is currently Barça's fourth captain, and his leadership skills, on and off the pitch, make him almost unvaluable in the eyes of the club, from the president to Luis Enrique, who has used Busquets in 19 of the 27 official matches, proving that he still trusts number 5, despite rumors of trust issues between the coach and the player.

Many Barça players are involved in transfer rumours. Some are more likely to come to fruition, but in Sergio's case, none of the rumours will become reality. As long as he wants to, Busquets will be a Blaugrana.

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FC Barcelona News: 29 December 2014; Holiday Break Close to Ending, Catalonia Draw Against Basque Country

FC Barcelona's opening week of 2015 | FC Barcelona

Christmas vacation is almost over, and FC Barcelona will get back to the business of playing football with a training session on Tuesday, December 30th at 6.00 PM CET. They'll immediately begin preparations for their first match of 2015, a La Liga fixture, at Real Sociedad on January 4th. It will be the first time the team have trained since December 19th, a day before they beat Córdoba 5-0 in their last match of 2014.

Catalonia and the Basque Country draw 1-1 at San Mamés | FC Barcelona

The national teams from the Basque Country and Catalonia drew at one goal apiece at San Mamés in a friendly commemorating the one hundreth anniversary of the first match ever between the two sides. It was a festive evening, especially in a first half that saw all of the scoring.

Brazil star Neymar stars in strange new Japanese TV advert - ESPN FC

Slightly less unfathomable than Cristiano Ronaldo's bizarre "facial fitness" commercial which aired on Japanese television last year, Neymar has followed suit by starring in a weird and wonderful new advert for an "oily skin shampoo" brand.

Four FC Barcelona legends retired in 2014 | FC Barcelona

In 2014 there were four ex-Barça players, legends in fact, who retired from football. The four were Rivaldo, Carles Puyol, Thierry Henry and Éric Abidal. All of them won over the crowds at Camp Nou, finally hanging up their boots at the end of long careers. Only Puyol retired while still with the team.

Ben Lyttleton's review of the year: Godin the great | Eurosport

The six minutes of the World Cup semi-final in which Germany scored four goals against Brazil. It was incredible, yet not surprising, to see the World Cup hosts collapse like that but the clinical way that Germany continued to push and kept scoring summed up the power and glory of elite-level sport – as well as the pain of losing.

Fernando Torres heads back to Atletico Madrid on loan until end of next season | Sky Sports

The Spanish club confirmed the details on their website on Monday morning, just two days after AC Milan agreed to sign the 30-year-old striker from Premier League leaders Chelsea. Torres has spent the first half of the season on loan in Milan with the deal set to be ratified on January 5 when the Italian transfer window opens.

RFEF aided Atletico Madrid claim | Football Espana

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) helped Atletico Madrid with payments to the value of €11m, reports Marca. Atleti then planned to reimburse the RFEF via payments from UEFA from their participation in European competition, while it is understood that Los Rojiblancos are the only club to have received this type of assistance from the RFEF.

Sevilla star confirms Premier switch | Football Espana

Sevilla midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak has confirmed via Twitter that he will be moving to England in the January transfer window. The Poland international only joined the Andalusian outfit in the summer, moving from Stade de Reims for a reported €4.5m, but has impressed enough in La Liga this term to have had a host of clubs after his signature.

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FC Barcelona's December Player of the Month

Your chance to vote for Barça's Player of the Month for December.

With the players enjoying the winter break, we centurion our attention to the best performer of December.

The final month of the year was a good one for Barcelona, winning five out of six games and progressing in both the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.

However a disappointing 0-0 draw with Getafe extended the gap between Barça and leagued leaders Real Madrid.

Barcelona also scored 25 goals in the month, largely helped by an 8-1 Copa del Rey victory over Huesca.

So now is your chance to vote on who you think was the best player of the month. If you're feeling ultra-passionate leave a comment explaining who got your vote and why.

Voting closes on the 6th of January.

Sports & Games Lists on Ranker

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FC Barcelona News: 28 December 2014; LFP to Honor Lionel Messi With Tribute

Record-breaker Messi to receive LFP tribute at Barcelona v Atletico Madrid - Goal.com

Javier Tebes has confirmed that the LFP will pay tribute to La Liga's all-time leading goalscorer, Lionel Messi, at Barcelona's meeting with Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou on January 11. The Argentina international broke Telmo Zarra's record of 251 goals by netting a hat-trick in his club's 5-1 rout of Sevilla on November 22.

Winners and losers at Barcelona under Enrique's leadership - ESPN FC

Luis Enrique was given the incredibly difficult task of ensuring Barcelona returned to the very top of European football after a couple of disappointing years due to ineffective management, a lack of hunger and the inevitable passing of time.

Andrés Iniesta, before and after the game | FC Barcelona

What does Andrés Iniesta do to get ready for a game? What does he do when the game is over? The following short video gives an insider look at Iniesta's pre- and postgame routines. We followed him before and after Barça's 5-0 win over Córdoba at Camp Nou on December 20th, 2014.

The top ten most read stories of 2014 | FC Barcelona

The year 2014 has produced no shortage of big news stories at FC Barcelona, and as the year draws to an end, here’s a countdown of the ten most viewed articles on the English language version of the club website at www.fcbarcelona.com.

How FC Barcelona has changed over its long history

Interactive: How FC Barcelona has changed over its long history in photos

Local pride at stake as Catalonia take on the Basque Country in friendly - ESPN FC

Organising the Catalan national team's annual New Year friendly is no simple task. La Liga's winter break provides a brief window for Spain-based players to work within, but other leagues have a less forgiving schedule. Those time constraints, combined with the delicate nature of playing against a national team FIFA does not recognise, means that Catalonia's big ambitions for the fixture are rarely met.

Real Madrid keeping tabs on teenage goalkeeper | Eurosport

Los Blancos’ underlined their commitment to nurturing young talents with the signing of Marco Asensio earlier this month, and they could be about to pursue another hot Spanish prospect. Carlos, 19, only broke into Tenerife, first team this season and is still on a youth contract, which expires in 18 months’ time and has a buyout clause of just €3m.

Modric named Croatian FOTY | Football Espana

Luka Modric has been named the 2014 Croatian Footballer of the Year thanks to his exploits with Real Madrid. Despite being currently injured, the midfielder played a key role in Los Blancos’ triumphant pursuit of a 10th European Cup last season to land the individual honour for a fourth time.

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres to make permanent move to AC Milan ahead of Atletico Madrid return | Football News | Sky Sports

The Chelsea striker is four months into a two-year loan deal at Milan but has scored just once, and reports have emerged in recent days of a move to the Spanish champions, where he rose from the youth ranks to club captain. A swap with Atletico's Italy international Alessio Cerci has been proposed and, according to Sky Sports' Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, the technicalities of that double loan deal mean Torres must first register permanently with Milan.

Valencia close in on €25m Perez | Football Espana

Valencia are closing in on the €25m capture of Benfica midfielder Enzo Perez, reports O Jogo. The Argentina international has long been linked with Los Che following Peter Lim’s takeover, and a fee now appears to have been agreed between both clubs.

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FC Barcelona News: 27 December 2014; Lionel Messi, Neymar Named in L’Équipe Ideal XI

Messi and Neymar named in L’Équipe Ideal XI | FC Barcelona

Leo Messi and Neymar have been included in the 2014 team of the year announced today by French sports daily L’Équipe. The full XI is as follows: Neuer (Bayern Munich), Lahm (Bayern Munich), Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Ramos (Real Madrid), Alaba (Bayern Munich), Xabi Alonso (Bayern Munich), Di María (Manchester United), Kroos (Madrid), Neymar (Barça), Messi (Barça) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Madrid).

Midfield trio show off their skills | FC Barcelona

Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta and Sergio Busquets were warming up for a training session earlier this year at the Ciutat Esportiva. They decided to see how long they could keep the ball in the air by passing the ball amongst themselves, but touching the ball with both feet each time. The result was captured on video and makes for incredible viewing.

Manchester City get 3-1 victory in the snow | FC Barcelona

Manchester City won at West Bromwich in a snowy affair on Friday afternoon, overcoming a football pitch turned white winter blanket to take the highly touted Boxing Day matchup by a score of 3-1. With the win, Manchester City, who will be facing FC Barcelona in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, managed to keep a firm grip on second place in the Premier League table, three points behind Chelsea.

Why everybody wins if Gareth Bale joins Manchester United from Real Madrid | Eurosport

Little over a year after trying to sign Gareth Bale for Manchester United, new Real Sociedad manager David Moyes recently found himself looking at players of a very different technical level. But more on Bale and renewed rumours of a move to United later. Moyes is keen to learn as much about Spanish football as possible, but he wasn't expecting what happened when he took a trip to watch the Basque Country’s highest placed team.

Fernando Torres 'could make second Atletico debut vs. Real Madrid' - ESPN FC

Fernando Torres could make his second debut for Atletico Madrid against city rivals Real Madrid on Jan. 7 should he make the move from AC Milan, according to reports in Italy and Spain. Torres, 30, is set to return to his boyhood club in the winter transfer window, with forward Alessio Cerci moving in the other direction.

Atleti on Castillejo trail? | Football Espana

Atletico Madrid are interested in signing Malaga starlet Samu Castillejo this January, reports AS. The 19-year-old has been one of the finds of the season in La Liga, consolidating his place in the Andalucians' first team with 14 appearances to his name and helping his side finish the first half of the campaign level on points with a European place.

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Report: Sergi Samper Could Be Used As Makeweight In Denis Suarez Deal

Rumours are circulating that FC Barcelona want to end Denis Suarez' loan at Sevilla FC early, and to do so they may be prepared to offer Sergi Samper in return

FC Barcelona might be under a FIFA-imposed transfer ban until January 2016, but don't think for a second that the transfer rumour mill has stopped churning out stories; quite the opposite in fact. We've been linked with moves for countless players in spite of our enforced embargo, and perhaps quite worryingly a number of our stars have been linked with an exit as well, even if we can't replace them for nigh on a year.

Alas, we didn't think we'd get off that easily did we? Of course, there are some stories that are deservedly ignored for their blatant stupidity, but there are others from select sources that deserve to be shared -- like this one from Catalan daily Diario Sport.

Perhaps in conjunction with today's big interview with FC Barcelona starlet and Sevilla FC loanee, Denis Suarez, there's a report in today's edition claiming that the hierarchy at the Camp Nou wish to cut Suarez' loan spell in Andalusia short. At present, Suarez has roughly 18 months left to run on his temporary switch to Seville, and the Blaugrana are reportedly keen on ending this loan after a single season, enabling the young midfielder to return to Barcelona a summer early.

Of course, anyone who has followed the rest of La Liga with any passing interest will know that Denis Suarez has established himself as a key player on Unai Emery's roster and as such, Sevilla will be hesitant to let Suarez go without much of a fight -- or at least gaining something else in return.

Enter Sergi Samper.

If reports in Diario Sport are to be believed, it may be Samper who holds the key to this operation, as the Barça B midfielder could "replace" Suarez in Seville for the second season of the loan. Indeed, Adama Traore is another name mentioned in the very same report. Both players would move on loan, returning to the Camp Nou in the summer of 2016, while Suarez would return in 2015.

What do you think Culés? Would this be a good deal?

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FC Barcelona News: 26 December 2014; Liverpool Interested in Adama Traore, Luis Suarez Talks About Barcelona

2014 at FC Barcelona in 7 minutes | FC Barcelona

2014 has been an intense year at FC Barcelona, and now’s the moment to reflect on the good and bad that has happened to the club and its players over the year. Messi has continued to break records wherever he treads, Xavi played his 700th game for Barça, there was a change of president, Valdés left the club and Puyol retired from active duty.

Luis Suárez finding it easy with Messi and Neymar | FC Barcelona

Luis Suárez is very much looking forward to the challenges that come with wearing the FC Barcelona shirt in 2015. In an in-depth interview with the club media, the Uruguayan has discussed how things have gone since the day that he was officially presented at the club.

Messi and Neymar in most seen FC Barcelona Dailymotion and You Tube clip | FC Barcelona

The first team squad recorded a video on November 27th to coincide with the presentation of Audi cars to the players. That video has become the most seen video on the official Dailymotion channel with nearly one million viewers and also on You Tube, where it has registered 5 million hits.

Reports from Spain: Liverpool "officially" ask Barcelona about Adama Traore | Squawka News

According to reports in Sport, Liverpool have ‘officially’ shown their interest in Barcelona playmaker Adama Traore. Traore, 18, is highly-rated at Barcelona and is expected to have a big future at the Camp Nou. The Barcelona star can play on either wing but prefers to play on the right-hand side.

Fernando Torres' return to Atletico Madrid a 'done deal' | Eurosport

Torres is set to cut short his loan spell with AC Milan after scoring only one league goal in the first half of the Serie A season.Atleti, the club which gave Torres his professional debut in 2000, have been negotiating with both Milan and Chelsea, as the striker is still contracted to the Premier League leaders until the summer of 2015.

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FC Barcelona News: 25 December 2014; Players Wish Everybody a Merry Christmas, Guardian Top 100 List Released

A Merry Christmas from everyone at FC Barcelona! | FC Barcelona

In English, Catalan, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese and many other languages, the players from the Barça football and other professional sports teams have recorded this seasonal message for their fans around the world.

Ten from FC Barcelona in Guardian Top 100 | FC Barcelona

British newspaper The Guardian traditionally picks the best 100 players of the year around about this time, and this year no fewer than ten of them are from FC Barcelona. Leo Messi was named second, Luis Suárez, sixth, and Neymar, seventh.

From Zarra to Messi: The legend continues | FC Barcelona

For any Barça supporter, November 22, 2014, is a date to be remembered forever. Sevilla lost 5-1 at the Camp Nou, and three of the goals were scored by Leo Messi, who in doing so beat Telmo Zarra’s legendary record of 251 goals for Athletic Bilbao in the 1950s. That game took his tally up to 253, and there are plenty of years left for Messi to rack up plenty more goals on top of that!

Rock solid defence: 7 goals conceded in 16 games | FC Barcelona

One of the best features of Barça in the few months under Luis Enrique has been in defence. After 16 league games, the first team has only conceded seven goals, a record only surpassed by Bayern Munich, who have only let in four goals in 17 games in the Bundesliga.

Festive fixtures for Manchester City | FC Barcelona

For the majority of football leagues in Europe the action takes a break during the Christmas and New Year Holidays. However, for Barça’s opponents in the last 16 of the Champions League, Manchester City, that is certainly not the case. As is tradition in the Premier League the matches come thick and fast during the festive period with Manuel Pellegrini’s side facing three important fixtures in the space of just 7 days.

Barcelona Report Card - ESPN FC

With La Liga winding down for the winter break, who has starred for Barcelona and what does the second half of the campaign have in store? Here's a look at how Luis Enrique's men have fared so far.

Three Atletico Madrid talking points heading into 2015 - ESPN FC

Atletico Madrid go into the Christmas break in third place in La Liga, still in the title mix and in the last 16 of the Champions League. The Vicente Calderon faithful are full of holiday joy, and here are three talking points as we head into the new year.

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A Merry Barça Christmas

Hey, it's Christmas! Here's a cool video from Barcelona with players from all sports played at the club wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in many different languages.

It's Christmas! If you celebrate it, it's a good day to be with your friends and family. If you don't, just try to be nice today, okay?

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Chelsea Will Not Sign Lionel Messi; Unrelated: Sky Is Blue

One of the most improbable transfer rumours was unsurprisingly shot down today, as Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho confirmed that his club would not be signing Lionel Messi, as if we needed any clarification on the matter

Shock! Amazement! Disbelief!

These are just a few of the emotions I didn't experience today when I read that Jose Mourinho ruled out the signing of Lionel Messi yesterday. Speaking at length about La Liga and pretty much everything else that would grab the headlines with BT Sport, the Chelsea manager categorically denied that his club are in a position to capitalise on Lionel Messi's reported "unhappiness" in Catalunya. Obviously.

The reason? First off, Mourinho went down the Financial Fair Play route, stating that his club has to "follow certain rules, certain numbers, and we obviously have no conditions to buy. In this moment we cannot do", before adding, rather intelligently I might add, that "I don’t think they want to sell".

It's refreshing to hear Mourinho talk so candidly about this situation given his history with FC Barcelona; indeed a cynic might have suggested that Jose would have taken this opportunity to "stir the pot" and create some trouble over in the Catalan capital, but he didn't. Instead, he just told the truth and helped put an end to an entirely false transfer rumour.

Jose Mourinho and...logic? This might take some getting used to...

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Jesus Navas Talks About FC Barcelona Clash

FC Barcelona's UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie with Manchester City may be a couple of months away, but the build-up has already begun courtesy of Jesus Navas and his interview with Marca

Superiority complex. English Premier League. In the past few years, the two phrases have become all but synonymous in the minds of most level-headed football fans. In spite of the media frenzy that surrounds the Premier League and even the most monotonous of its matches, it turns out that football is actually played in the rest of Europe, and indeed in the rest of the world. If you're an avid Premier League watcher and disciple of BSkyB's dreadful Sky Sports coverage, that last line might come as a surprise, but it's true! There are a whole host of leagues in mainland Europe and shock horror, some of them are quite good, maybe even better than the Premier League.

Surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly given the influence of vast swathes of money, every player that swaps one of these leagues for a switch to the Premier League can usually be found eulogising about the superb quality and entertainment offered by the football in their new homeland. So much so, that they usually buy into the media hype and start sounding awfully stupid.

Example #56392: Jesus Navas

In two months, FC Barcelona will square off against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. Of course, the two teams met at the same stage last season and the Blaugrana emerged victorious. Comfortably. Over both legs.

Sure, there were worrying moments for Barça across the 180 minutes of football, but they were just that: moments. Their frequency was far outweighed by our periods of outright dominance, and when you consider that our dominance was rammed home in emphatic fashion as Dani Alves (our right-back) nutmegged Joe Hart (their goalkeeper), the tie really wasn't as close as some EPL-fanatics might make out.

Still, it's a new season so let's give them the benefit of the doubt and see what Jesus Navas has to say:

"I think it's going to be extremely evenly-matched"

Sounds about right, we're both good teams after all. Good start Jesus.

"It will be very different"

Probably. We've added Luis Suarez and shored up our defense while you've crippled your squad depth by placing far too much faith in an injury-prone Sergio Aguero.

"Last year's tie was decided by one-off moments"

Hmm, yeah, OK. If you call Lionel Messi playing well a one-off then sure. Oh, and we beat you convincingly twice. Not once. Twice.

"I think we have to remain focused at all times, not giving them any respite and going all out in attack"

*Checks the archive*

*Digs out old Jesus Navas interview ahead of last year's tie*

"The one thing we must do is play with high pressure and high tempo" - Jesus Navas, Feb 2014

You heard it here first folks! This year's tie will be different from last year's tie, because City are going to play in exactly the same way. Makes perfect sense really, thanks Jesus!

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FC Barcelona: All I Want For Xmas Is...

Here at Barca Blaugranes we're getting into the festive spirit and asking you, the community, what you would like the holidays to bring you, of course related to Barça!

Happy holidays to everyone from the crew here at Barca Blaugranes; like everyone else we've been busy getting into the festive spirit. OK, we're not posting Instragram pictures of our holidays like some of the FC Barcelona squad, but in line with the season we've been thinking about what we might like the winter break to bring us; of course from a Barça perspective.

Last year, one might have been wishing for a better defense, and Andoni Zubizarreta eventually obliged, albeit in his usual half-assed manner by signing Thomas Vermaelen, Douglas and Jeremy Mathieu. How about titles? Again, FC Barcelona pulled through, unless of course you don't count the Catalan Supercup as a proper trophy. Or those weird unnamed trophies we picked up in pre-season. I'm sure someone somewhere was hoping for a successful new head coach to replace Tata Martino too, so we got Luis Enrique! Oh, sorry Lucho. I don't mean to be harsh, really.

Still, as you can see, most of our wishes came true, so it's time to get thinking: if the festive break could bring FC Barcelona one thing, what would that be? And why, because let's face it, the reasons are the most important part of this exercise.

What about me I hear you ask? Well, from my point of view there's only one thing that matters enough to me: FC Barcelona winning the next time I'm lucky enough to see them in the flesh. After all, there are only so many times I can cope with witnessing a dramatic turnaround against a Madrid-based team. Selfish? Unless you want Barça to crash out of the UEFA Champions League against Manchester City, I'm sure this will be your wish too...

So then folks, what's your Barça-related Xmas wish?

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Report: Court of Arbitration for Sport "Likely" to Uphold FC Barcelona Transfer Ban

As Barcelona fans, we're not just waiting for the holidays to be over so the team can play again; there's another huge story going on that kind of affects our immediate future. The Court of Arbitration for Sport will decide whether or not they will uphold FIFA's decision of banning the Catalan club from making transfers for the next two windows. The CAS has until December 31st to announce their ruling, since the window opens the next day.

And if you're expecting a happy ending, well, don't be that excited. Sources told Barça Blaugranes that the feeling amongst Barça officials is that the CAS is "likely" to agree with FIFA's ruling, thus upholding the ban and forcing the club to stay quiet on the market for a full year.

Remember: the Blaugrana were found guilty of committing irregularities in the signings of TEN under-18 players; this is not similar to what happened to Chelsea in the Kakuta Case, as one could try to bring up. The Blues were found guilty of only ONE irregular U-18 signing, and they solved the situation by talking directly to the club who had the rights to said player. It was an easier, less complicated process, and Chelsea acted quickly to clear things up, and their ban was finally lifted.

Barça's case, unfortunately, is much more complex. The club's strategy of defense in this case has been a very interesting one: instead of trying to prove they didn't do anything illegal until they're found to be liars, they're basically saying: "Yes, we definitely did things wrong, but our history of doing things right is way more important. We understand that we didn't do things the way we should have, but we don't think it's fair to get punished over 10 irregular signings when signed hundreds of kids regularly, and we have taken care of them and made them successful human beings."

It's up to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to decide whether or not that's a good enough argument that could change their minds. If the report is accurate, they didn't believe Barça and we'll be stuck with the same squad for a year.

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FC Barcelona News: 24 December 2014; Nine Called up for Catalan National Team, Barca to Host Open Training

Nine from FC Barcelona picked for Catalonia | FC Barcelona

The manager of the Catalan national team, Gerard López, named his team on Tuesday for the friendly match with the Basque Country on Sunday December 28 at the new San Mamés (Bilbao). Nine of the squad are from FC Barcelona, namely Martín Montoya, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernández, Marc Bartra, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto, Jordi Masip of the first team and Sergi Samper of the reserves.

Monday the 5th of January, FC Barcelona open training session at the Minestadi | FC Barcelona

The FC Barcelona first team will carry out their traditional open training session on Monday the 5th of January at 11:00AM CET a the Miniestadi. The doors to the stadium will be opened at 9:30AM and as is custom Barça members can obtain free tickets (a maximum of 3 per member), whilst the price for the general public will 5 Euros per ticket. In both cases, members and non-members, will not be allowed into the Miniestadi without a valid ticket.

FC Barcelona 2014 statistics by competitions | FC Barcelona

In the year about to end, FC Barcelona played 56 official matches, in La Liga, the Champions League and the Spanish Cup. Here is a summary of how they did in each of the three major competitions.

Making a list of potential Christmas presents for Barcelona players and staff - ESPN FC

Barcelona ended 2014 with a powerful performance against Cordoba on Saturday and a 5-0 win, but fans will be wondering whether they have the quality to overcome a strong Real Madrid at the top of La Liga and really be a contender to win a first Champions League in four years.

Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez - Bags were packed for New York move - ESPN FC

"The season was over and I was disappointed to be on the bench for the game against Atletico Madrid and, with a new coach incoming with his own ideas and players, I felt that my time at the club was up," Xavi said in quotes translated by AS.

Barcelona want Neymar extension - agent - Goal.com

Reports earlier this week suggested the Catalan club were seeking talks with the Neymar camp in a bid to extend his deal at Camp Nou to 2020. And the player’s representative Wagner Ribeiro has backed that up, telling reporters in Brazil: "Of course Barcelona want to renew his contract. Until 2020? Yes."

Messi and Neymar photo session for the 'REVISTA BARÇA' | FC Barcelona

Leo Messi and Neymar, along with a group of youngsters, were the main starts of a photo session for the latest edition of the REVISTA BARÇA. The magazine focuses on the work of the FC Barcelona Foundation which includes partnerships with both the Leo Messi Foundation and the Instituto Projeto Neymar Jr.

Neymar opens the facilities at his social centre in Brazil | FC Barcelona

The inauguration was very much a public event with more than 100 accredited journalists in attendance along with Roberto Mourão, the mayor of Praia Grande. FC Barcelona’s representative was club director and Vice President of the FC Barcelona Foundation, Ramon Cierco.

Jose Mourinho - Chelsea couldn't afford Barcelona star Lionel Messi - ESPN FC

"Because there is at this moment the financial fair play and with the financial fair play we have to follow certain rules, certain numbers, and we obviously have no conditions to buy, as you were saying, a 'super amazing player' obviously paid with super amazing numbers that Chelsea in this moment we cannot do."

Suarez sends kids Xmas parcels | Football Espana

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has sent 500 Christmas parcels to children and their families back in his native Uruguay. A report in the Telegraph says the former Ajax and Liverpool man showed his generous side by sending the festive gifts to the Pereira Rosell hospital in the capital Montevideo, whilst also including a message on the packages.

Five excellent goals from the youth teams to end the year | FC Barcelona

The FC Barcelona youth team players end the year in style with nine victories and some great goals. Barça TV programme ‘Next Generation’ have selected the five best strikes for us here at fcbarcelona.com. Number five is from the U8 striker Marc Bernal who beats the keeper perfectly when clean through. Goal number 4 is from U10 D player Ahmed Utassy – he picks up a loose ball to fire home from inside the box.

'There is no controversy between Cristiano Ronaldo and Michel Platini' - Pedro Pinto - Goal.com

There is no animosity between Cristiano Ronaldo and UEFA president Michel Platini, according to the organization's spokesman Pedro Pinto. Real Madrid was angered in October when Platini went public with his views on this year's Ballon d'Or race, claiming that a World Cup-winning German deserved to take home 2014's prize more than holder Ronaldo or four-time winner Lionel Messi.

Valencia chase Everton striker | Football Espana

Valencia are ready to make a move for Everton striker Samuel Eto’o in the January transfer window, according to Mundo Deportivo,. The Cameroon international only joined the Toffees last summer from Chelsea and his current contract expires in June 2016, although reports in England claim that the 33-year-old was due to be offered a two-year extension at Goodison Park.

Athletic Bilbao extend Mikel Rico's contract to 2018 - ESPN FC

Athletic Bilbao say versatile midfielder Mikel Rico has agreed to sign a new contract that will keep him at the Basque club until June 2018. Athletic say the new deal includes a buyout clause of 35 million euros.

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Xavi Slams Cristiano Ronaldo; Says Lionel Messi Should Win Ballon d'Or

In a revealing interview with Catalan daily newspaper Diario Sport, Barça legend Xavi Hernandez disclosed his picks for this year's FIFA Ballon d'Or. Spoiler: Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't get his vote

Ah, Xavi. To think we came so close to losing you this summer when both on and off the field, we are so ill-prepared to let you go. Where would we be without your irreplaceable leadership in the heart of midfield; Cesc Fabregas and Ivan Rakitic have both tried to replicate your role here but they really haven't got close. And in your absence, who else would be so outspoken and fiercely Barça?

In an interview with Catalan daily Diario Sport, Xavi Hernandez spoke at length about his decision to stay at the Camp Nou and perhaps more pertinently, revealed who would have got his vote for the upcoming FIFA Ballon d'Or if he was Spanish captain.

Unsurprisingly, it was Xavi's teammate and all-round football deity Lionel Messi, but after Messi, Xavi rated the performances of Philipp Lahm and fellow Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano ahead of the rest of the footballing world. Including runaway favourite and Madridista darling, Cristiano Ronaldo.

'The thing is, Cristiano didn’t do much in the World Cup and I think that in the year of the World Cup that defines much of the season.' - Xavi

Observations:

1) Xavi and Neymar would have selected the same players in the same order. That's a wonderful sign.

2) Never change Xavi. Never.

3) Trolling level: infinite

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Report: Juventus FC set to make offer for Pedro Rodríguez and Martín Montoya

The Old Lady is all over Barça

Juventus is one or two players away from being an European title contender again. They're the strongest team in Italy by far, but they still struggle to be respected elsewhere. The right moves at the January transfer window might get them closer to the place where they'll get respected. And The Old Lady thinks that Barcelona provides them with the two right players they need.

According to multiple reports from Italy and Spain, Juventus have their eyes set on two players, specifically: Pedro Rodríguez and Martín Montoya. The former has been criticized over his bad performances in 2014, and his name has been all over the Rumor Mill, even though he is not expected to go away now that he's enjoying great performances at Barça.

Montoya, however, is almost a sure bet to leave the club. After being snubbed multiple times over the last few years, the right-back has informed the team that he no longer wants to be on the bench. Since his decision to leave has been known, Juventus have formally expressed their interest and they look set to make an official offer to formalize their intentions to acquire the player.

Barça are reportedly willing to accept the offer, but they'll have to wait until the Court of Arbitration for Sport decides whether or not they will cancel the ban that right now forces Barcelona to stay quiet and not make any sort of transfer move. If the ban is indeed nullified, then the Blaugrana will concede Montoya his wish, and he will be free to go anywhere he wants. Right now, it appears that Juventus are the front-runners.

Following his great performances in recent weeks, Pedro has publicly said that he doesn't want to leave:

Pedro: "I don't consider leaving. I feel good at Barça. I want to stay here, with my team-mates, and hopefully we'll have a good season."

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) December 22, 2014

That determination to continue at the club, combined with his recent showings on the pitch, will most likely mean that he won't go away in January. It looks like Juventus will have to look somewhere else to find the right player. This guy will not be Pedro.

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FC Barcelona News: 23 December 2014; Barça Kickoff Times Undergo Change, Changes Also Made to Barcelona Executive Structure

Change of time for trips to Deportivo (Liga) and Elche (Cup) | FC Barcelona

It has been announced by the Spanish Football League that the kick-offs of two Barça away games in January have been changed. The affected matches are the ones at Deportivo la Coruña in the league and Elche in the cup. The game originally scheduled to be played at Riazor on Saturday 17 January has been switched to Sunday 18 at 7.00 PM CET.

Last days of voting for Samba Gold | FC Barcelona

Neymar and Dani Alves are in the running for Samba Gold, an award for the best Brazilian footballers in Europe. They are on a shortlist of 30, and votes can be cast on the Sambafoot website from December 1 to 30. The winner will be announced in February.

Changes in the executive structure at FC Barcelona | FC Barcelona

Therefore, President Bartomeu has proposed to the Board of Directors that they sever the contract of the current Director General Antoni Rossich and replace him with the current managing director Ignacio Mestre. The new restructuring of the Executive will speed up the decision making process.

21 goals for FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou in December | FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona scored a total of 21 goals at Camp Nou during the month of December. The wins against Espanyol by five goals to one, Paris Saint-Germain (3-1), Huesca (8-1) and Córdoba (5-0) have allowed the blaugranes to end the month with an average of 5.25 goals per game.

Abidal unsure over Barca role | Football Espana

"As you know I always speak the truth and I didn’t end my career to return to Barca. I ended it because I felt it was the right time," said Abidal in an interview with RMC. "Having said that, I’ve got the chance to go to Barca, although I should also say I have an opportunity at Olympiacos and have also been approached by UEFA.

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos in no rush to sign new deal | Sky Sports

The Spain international has held talks with the European champions with a view to remain with Los Blancos after June 2017, when his current deal expires. "We've had meetings to speak about the contract extension but I'm not in a hurry," Ramos told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser. "I have two years left on my contract.

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Report: Adama Traoré set to leave in January; Premier League loan most likely

The young monster looks set for a move to get experience

We are ten days away from the start of the January transfer period. Despite being (for the moment) banned from performing any sort of transfer move, Barcelona are still the subject of numerous rumors about certain players leaving the club for another leagues.

One of the hottest rumors of this week is the likely move of Adama Traoré. It was reported earlier this week by Mundo Deportivo that club officials aren't ready to promote the 18-year-old phenom to the senior team yet, but higher ups want to see him develop quickly. The plan is to have Adama being a regular part of Luis Enrique's squad by August of next year, in time for the 2015-16 season.

To make their wish come true, playing the youngster at Barça B is not the best idea, since the competition at Spain's Second Division won't make him ready for a UEFA Champions League decision game, for instance. So the plan would be to loan the player this January for six months, see him develop at a stronger team/league, then bring him back to see if he is ready to play at Barça A.

The Premier League is always the favorite destination for Barça players to get better. The best recent example is Gerard Piqué, who was loaned to Manchester United, had a rapid growth in England and was brought back to Barça, where he became the best center-back in the world during the Blaugrana's most glorious period in the Pep Guardiola Era.

Another good example is Cesc Fàbregas. He became an Arsenal legend while growing into one of the best midfielders on the planet. Though he wasn't at his best at Barcelona, he still contributed a lot, and his current season at Chelsea showed that the decision to loan him from Barça as a youngster helped him get a lot better than he could have been if he just stayed at Barça B.

Speaking of Arsenal, they're the favorites to land Adama if the Catalan's decide to have him move elsewhere next month. Arséne Wenger has praised Adama in the past, and has already made multiple attempts to acquire the player, only to hear an emphatic "no" from the Blaugrana.

Now, however, the situation has changed a bit, with Adama making a successful debut with the first team a few days ago. Maybe moving him to the Gunners for six months can help Traoré develop into the monster he promises to be.

Do you agree? Or do you think that Adama should stay at Barça B?

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FC Barcelona News: 22 December 2014; Barça Considering Neymar Contract Extension, Bojan Krkic Sr. Speaks

Leo Messi goes left, and right too | FC Barcelona

Leo Messi scored once again in Barça's last game of 2014. He finished off the scoring in Saturday's 5-0 win over Córdoba, confirming his tendency this season to score goals with his right foot as often as he does with his dominant left. In La Liga, Messi has seven goals with his left foot, seven with his right and one header.

By the numbers: FC Barcelona's 5-0 victory over Córdoba | FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona beat Córdoba 5-0 in the last match of 2014. Coincidentally, it was a repeat of the last time the Andalusians visited Camp Nou in the return leg of the round of 16 in the 2012/13 Spanish Cup. Let's take a quick peek at Saturday's game, by the numbers.

Five things we learned in La Liga this weekend - Luis Suarez finally scores before winter break - ESPN FC

Barcelona's home game against Cordoba on Saturday was Luis Suarez's final opportunity of 2014 to end the "80 million euro summer signing still not scored in La Liga" narrative, which had been getting louder and louder through recent weeks in the Spanish and Catalan press.

Barca enter Neymar talks? | Football Espana

Barcelona have reportedly entered talks with Neymar over a contract extension, which would keep the Brazilian at Camp Nou until 2022. The attacker signed a five-year deal upon completion of his €57m transfer last summer, but Sport claim the club consider him to be indispensable and are keen to fend off rivals as negotiations with other suitors tend to begin two years prior to expiration.

FC Barcelona-City tickets on general sale | FC Barcelona

Tickets for the Champions League game on March 18 at the Camp Nou between Barça and Manchester City went on sale on Monday morning. Tickets are on sale to Club members and the general public, with a maximum of six tickets per person.

Bojan Krkic Sr. says son 'wasn't welcomed' by all at Barcelona - ESPN FC

"They were international stars," he told the newspaper. "They saw a little boy starting games. Sometimes, Ronaldinho was on the bench and Bojan starts. You can imagine, eh? Not easy. It became very difficult. He wasn't welcomed in by everyone."

Why did Cristiano Ronaldo snub Michel Platini? | Eurosport

Cristiano Ronaldo has clearly not forgotten Michel Platini's claim that a member of Germany's World Cup-winning squad should win the Ballon d'Or if this video is anything to go by.The UEFA president claimed earlier last month that Germany's World Cup win as a team means the individual award should go to one of them, as opposed to clear favourites Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.

Huge statue of Cristiano Ronaldo erected - and there's something slightly stiff about it | Eurosport

The life-size model of Ronaldo may not look too similar to the preened Real star, but it depicts him in his trademark free-kick pose and accentuates the forward’s admirable physique, with the figure-hugging kit enhancing every muscle on his body in a complimentary manner.No wonder he looks so happy with it…

Antoine Griezmann scores his first hat-trick | Sky Sports Football

Antoine Griezmann scored his first hat-trick for Atletico Madrid as the champions came from behind to win 4-1 at Athletic Bilbao. Mikel Rico had put the Basques ahead in the 17th minute at a highly charged San Mames, but Griezmann levelled for the champions right at the start of the second half.

Luciano Vietto scored twice as Villarreal beat Deportivo 3-0 | Sky Sports Football

Luciano Vietto scored twice as Villarreal claimed a 3-0 win over Primera Division strugglers Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday to keep the top four in their sights. Jonathan dos Santos opened the scoring for the Yellow Submarine in the 10th minute before a second-half double from Vietto sealed the win.

Liverpool loanee Luis Alberto scores a magnificent winner as Malaga claim a 2-1 comeback victory | Sky Sports Football

Liverpool loanee Luis Alberto scored a magnificent winner within seconds of coming on as a substitute as Malaga claimed a 2-1 comeback victory at struggling Elche. The hosts had taken the lead in first-half injury time thanks to a disputed headed goal by David Lomban that looked to be offside, but Malaga hit back just after the break through Ignacio Camacho, and then Luis Alberto hit the winner with 13 minutes left.

Granada are held to a 1-1 draw by Getafe | Sky Sports Football

Struggling Granada were held to a 1-1 Primera Division draw by Getafe at Los Carmenes on Sunday. Jhon Cordoba handed the hosts the lead five minutes before the break but Emiliano Velazquez struck back deep into the second half to earn Cosmin Contra's men a share of the spoils.

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Pedro Rodríguez: "I'm happy to be scoring"

The striker has been in top form lately, and he wants to keep it going in 2015.

After receiving a lot of criticism for his down year in 2014, Pedro Rodríguez seems to have found the good performances again. He has been in top form lately, and he was considered by almost everyone the man of the match in Saturday's win over Córdoba. Pedro scored and assisted once, and was a decisive presence on the pitch for Barcelona.

Following the match, Pedro was definitely happy with the team's performance, and he wants to keep his own momentum going in 2015:

"It’s a shame we drew with Getafe last week, but we are happy with this win. Next year we have to try to compete as hard as possible and get as high up the table as we can".

"I am happy to be scoring, the goals always come in the end. I’m comfortable with my team-mates, working hard, and training to win more confidence and get to play more".

"I don’t think it was harder for us in the first half, but they were more tired in the second and the pace was slower. We didn’t stop creating chances all game".

"Perhaps the situation should be different. We played well against Getafe but couldn’t get the win. It was different this time and we’re happy with the win because it was not as easy as the scoreline might suggest".

Source: FCBarcelona.com

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Jordi Alba: "I have a good feeling about this year"

The full-back played a very good match against Córdoba, and he expects 2015 to be better, not only for the team, but for himself

Jordi Alba was one of the stars in Barcelona's 5-0 win over Córdoba on Saturday. His offensive showing was off the charts, and his defensive performance was on point, as always. He certainly contributed a lot to the win.

After the game, Alba spoke in an interview, where he analyzed Barça's win and talked about his expectations for the new year. Here's a few highlights of his answers:

"We got an early goal, then created plenty more chances. We went down a gear after that, but the second goal put us back on track".

"I don’t think any team comes to the Camp Nou for a stroll, that’s just an opinion from an opposing manager. When it was 1-0 they caught us on the counter a few times and we weren’t settled until it was 2-0".

"We usually play better at the Camp Nou. We have the misfortune of teams playing very defensively when we go to their grounds, but we have more space here. On the road, we sometimes struggle to get into their area, to get in crosses, to shoot…. But the team is responding well".

"I’m fine personally. My first season was very good, in the second I struggled with injuries and situations that were a bit uncomfortable. I have a good feeling about this year, I’m fast and settled nicely into the team. When we get back from our holidays, we need to carry on like this".

"The team was united and knew how to be strong. In 2015, we have to continue these good vibes. The fans and the players have to be united".

Source: FCBarcelona.com

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Luis Suárez: "Not obsessed" with first La Liga goal

The striker is definitely happy with his first goal in the Spanish League, but he wasn't exactly dying for it

Despite playing a subpar overall match, Luis Suárez did what's expected of him: scored his first La Liga goal on Saturday's win over Córdoba, in Barcelona's last match of 2014. But differently of what one might think, he wasn't dying to score his first La Liga goal. He was actually pretty cool about it.

At least that's what he said at his post-match interview. Here's a few highlights of his answers:

On scoring his first goal: "I did break my duck but it was more important for the team to get the three points. Now we need to get some rest and start thinking about our next matches."

On whether he was obsessed about the scoring drought: "I know I am a striker and I have to score goals" he continued. "But I was sure that with my team-mates’ help I’d eventually get one. I wasn’t obsessed with it because I knew I was helping the team to get good results. Of course it’s always important to get goals in the league, but I wasn’t panicking."

On his personal 2014: "Things have happened to me that I would rather forget but I’m also happy to have come to the best club in the world. It was always my dream."

Source: FCBarcelona.com

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Andrés Iniesta: "Good football will bring us titles"

One of the stars of Barça's 5-0 win over Córdoba, Iniesta was happy with the team's performance, and he expects a good 2015

Andrés Iniesta was one of Saturday's top performers, as he played a complete match, on and off the ball, and helped Barça to achieve a very good 5-0 win over Córdoba to finish 2014 on a high note.

Speaking to BarçaTV after the match, Iniesta was satisfied with the team's showing in the win, and he is positive about what 2015 can bring to the team.

Here's a few highlights of his interview:

On the win against Córdoba: "Objective achieved. It was very positive to end the year with a win, especially at home. We need three points from very game."

On the team's improvement: "The team is on an upward spiral and getting better in every aspect of our game. In the second phase of the season we’ll be trying to get to our peak because we have had time to get into our rhythm ... We are now going to recharge our batteries and come back fresh and ready for our next challenges."

On his expectations for 2015: "I hope we can enjoy good football. That’s what will bring us titles. All going well, this team’s good work will end up bringing us trophies."

On his own performances this season: "I have felt important to the team and club for a long time. Right now, I’m just training hard and playing to help the team."

Source: FCBarcelona.com

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Luis Enrique: "A lot to look forward to" in 2015

The boss is excited about the second half of the season and what it can bring. He is also happy about the 5-0 win against Córdoba

Barcelona players and coaches are officially in vacation following the 5-0 win against Córdoba. They'll have two weeks to rest and enjoy the holidays before entering the decisive second half of the 2014-15 season.

After the Córdoba match, coach Luis Enrique spoke in the post-match press conference, and he talked about what he expects for 2015, as well as the team's showing in Saturday's win, especially the performances of Pedro Rodríguez and Martín Montoya.

Here's a few highlights of his answers:

On his team's identity: "Of course we can shoot, we’re emphatic and we have players up front who can score goals, Neither do we concede that many. It’s an interesting cocktail. It might not be enough to put us top of the table, but it’s interesting none the less.

On being behind Real Madrid in the table: "There is no need for self-mutilation of self-flagellation just because we’re four points behind Madrid if they win their game. I can’t see anything negative or that I should be worried about.

On the holiday break and 2015: "The rest will do us good. We’ll be coming back with our mental batteries recharged and ready for what we have to come. We’ll be immersed in three different competitions, so there’s a lot to look forward to.

On the match against Córdoba: "Córdoba played a very similar way to most of the teams that have come to the Camp Nou. They held back, kept it tight and didn’t generate many chances. It was still close until our second goal and then the game opened up.

On Montoya: "It’s a difficult situation for the players that aren’t getting many games. Montoya is good enough to play in any game because he’s won that right. When he has played, he’s looked very good to me. In my view, any player can change the situation.

On Pedro: "He’s a top performer. He was finding it hard to get goals early on in the season, but the Pedro we’ve got now is very hard to stop."

Source: FCBarcelona.com

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FC Barcelona News: 21 December 2014; Barca End Calender Year with Win, Players Begin Holiday Break

FC Barcelona v Córdoba CF: Five goals to end the year (5-0) | FC Barcelona

Christmas came early at the Camp Nou as Barça feasted the fans with a five-goal display against Córdoba that will put plenty of pressure on leaders Real Madrid, who have no game this weekend due to the Clubs World Cup.

The three points matter more to Suárez than his goal | FC Barcelona

Barça ended 2014 with a 5-0 win against Córdoba. Luis Suárez was one of the protagonists after scoring his first league goal for his new club, but afterwards commented to the press that "I did break my duck but it was more important for the team to get the three points. Now we need to get some rest and start thinking about our next matches."

Pedro's scoring run continues | FC Barcelona

It only took a minute for Pedro Rodríguez to wonderfully control a pass from Rakitic and open the scoring for Barça against Córdoba. And that came just a few days after the Canary Islander got a hat-trick against Huesca in the Spanish Cup.

Luis Enrique looking forward to a wonderful new year | FC Barcelona

Speaking to the press after the 5-0 win against Córdoba, Luis Enrique expressed his pleasure at the way the team is developing. "Of course we can shoot, we’re emphatic and we have players up front who can score goals" he said. "Neither do we concede that many. It’s an interesting cocktail. It might not be enough to put us top of the table, but it’s interesting none the less."

Everything's getting better for Iniesta | FC Barcelona

Barça saw out 2014 with a 5-0 win over Córdoba at the Camp Nou and when it was all over, Andrés Iniesta was the guest on Barça TV’s post-match show ‘El Marcador’. "Objective achieved" he said with a smile. "It was very positive to end the year with a win, especially at home. We need three points from very game."

Bartomeu toasts first team for Christmas | FC Barcelona

After the final whistle against Córdoba, Josep Maria Bartomeu went down to the dressing room to toast his players and coaches ahead of the Christmas break and to wish them all the very best for 2015. The first team now get to enjoy a holiday until Tuesday December 30, when they’ll be due back for training at 6.00 PM CET. FC Barcelona’s next fixture is on January 4 away to Real Sociedad, kick off at 9.00 PM CET.

A year to forget - Barcelona will be happy to see the back of 2014 - Goal.com

It has been a year to forget for Barcelona. The Catalan club has been hit with problems on and off the pitch over the last 12 months and, after making its final fixture of 2014 a 5-0 win Saturday, Barca will be happy to see the back of it.

Real Madrid crowned champions after win over San Lorenzo in Marrakesh | Sky Sports Football

Real Madrid landed their fourth title of the year by beating San Lorenzo 2-0 to clinch the Club World Cup and a 22nd straight victory. The European champions defeated the Argentinian side in Marrakesh on Saturday night to add the global crown to their Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Copa Del Rey triumphs.

Paco Alcacer's goal earns Valencia all three points at Eibar | Sky Sports Football

The Spain international walked the ball into the net with half an hour gone and the goal proved enough to see off the Basques and give Nuno Espirito Santo's side a second-straight win in the league, taking Los Che above Sevilla and up to fourth spot in the Primera Division.

Sergio Garcia shines as Espanyol beat Rayo Vallecano 3-1 | Sky Sports Football

Garcia opened the scoring in the ninth minute, punishing a Rayo mix-up at the back with a well-taken finish, before Leo Baptistao's close-range effort just prior to the interval drew things level. The visiting skipper then provided the cross from which Lucas Vazquez converted a header in the 76th minute.

Last-gasp penalty sees Levante snatch 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad | Sky Sports Football

David Moyes was denied his maiden away win as Real Sociedad boss and the club's first in the Primera Division since April as they drew 1-1 at Levante after conceding a stoppage-time penalty. Sociedad led from the 48th minute when Sergio Canales converted from Xabi Prieto's cross.

Pepe Mel's return to Real Betis confirmed | Eurosport

Mel has agreed a contract until the end of the season with the option for a two-year extension should Betis be promoted to La Liga.A Betis player in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Mel previously sat on the bench between July 2010 and December 2013, overseeing promotion to the top flight and qualification for the Europa League.

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