Álvaro Morata had agreed to join FC Barcelona, and the Catalans wanted him, but it wasn’t to be. Despite Juventus seeming open to parting with the Spanish forward, and Xavi reportedly asking for him, and the player himself supposedly agreeing to it, the move broke down.
Morata was simply on loan to Juve, and the parent club - Atlético Madrid - were unwilling to sanction the move.
Barcelona instead went for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who arrived on a free transfer.
Right now, it looks like it’s worked out for everyone. Juventus are happy with Morata’s performances, while Aubameyang has gotten off to high-scoring start. You can also add that Arsenal, the club that let Auba go for free, are doing well at the moment.
So, plans have changed. Barcelona are reportedly no longer interested in Morata, while Juve, far from wanting to get rid of him, want to make his move permanent.
Morata has continued to be a key player for Juve even after the signing of Dušan Vlahović. Rather than losing his place to the latter, Morata has developed a partnership with the new striker.
It is said, however, that Juve are not willing to pay the 35 million clause previously agreed to make his loan move permanent. Instead, they are hoping to keep Morata but at a lower price.
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Joan Laporta still hopes the winger will stay
FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has spoken regarding the situation with Ousmane Dembélé. The French winger has a contract expiring at the end of the season, but he performed well in the last match.
Dembélé refused to accept Barcelona’s terms to extend his contract over the winter, with rumors suggesting the forward would be permanently benched by the club.
Barcelona’s manager, Xavi, has stuck by Dembélé despite resentment from some sections of the media and the fans. He was a key decision maker in terms of allowing Dembélé to continue playing this season.
Against Athletic Club, Dembélé scored one and assisted two in a 4-0 victory. He seemed motivated to contribute, and his hug with Xavi after his goal also showed there was some genuine affection there.
“Dembélé knows our offer and we have always wanted for him to stay, we hope that in the end, he thinks about it again,” Laporta said.
In addition, the president spoke of Pedri, who sparkled in the Catalans’ win as well.
“Pedri is called to be one of the best players in the world, if not the best, but he knows he has to work a lot,” he said.
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The Brazilian is impressed by the teenager
All of us have been impressed by Pedri over the last year. The 19-year-old midfielder has impressed in all facets of the game and yet continues to amaze even the most experienced eyes, like veteran full-back Dani Alves.
The Brazil international commented on the performance from Pedri over the weekend. He, like the rest of us, was amazed by the Spaniard’s effort in the 4-0 win over Athletic.
“Through luck, I have been with people of that level, but he is one who is most assimilated to those,” he said
“I have had to luck to be able to live with them. We are seeing a player who is amazing.
Barcelona coach Xavi also joined in with the Pedri admiration after the match, comparing him to Andres Iniesta and also saying, “If we’re talking about pure talent, Pedri is the best in the world.”
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Sunday’s 4-0 win over Athletic saw Barcelona complete a tricky set of February fixtures and pick up another resounding and impressive win.
The Catalans have put four goals past Atletico, Valencia, Napoli and Athletic this month, winning all four games, to boost their chances of a top-four finish and Europa League glory.
The other two matches played ended in a 2-2 draw at Espanyol and a 1-1 first-leg draw against Napoli. Yet don’t forget that was also a game where Barca missed a hatful of chances.
All of which means Barca is a very different place from earlier this season. The goals are flowing, Xavi has the team really playing and now the results are coming too.
Bring on the rest of the season.
Barcelona manage an actual clean sheet
There were plenty of positives from Sunday’s win, not least the sight of Barcelona keeping an actual clean sheet. That’s the team’s first shutout for over a month and only their third of the year so far.
It’s worth remembering that Barca did face an Athletic side with one eye firmly on their Copa del Rey tie with Valencia. So much so that the Williams brothers did not appear until the latter stages of the second half.
Yet Barca had the game tied up by the time Ousmane Dembele made it 2-0 on 73 minutes. The Frenchman then set up goals for substitutes Luuk de Jong and Memphis Depay to add some real gloss to the scoreline.
However, there’s no doubt that Barca were in complete control throughout. The Catalans ended the game with 72% possession, managed 17 goals attempts and completed 719 of their 788 passes during the 90 minutes.
Auba can’t stop scoring but Ferran keeps missing
Barcelona’s first goal had come, once again, from the foot of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who made it five in his last three games for his new club after pouncing in the penalty area.
Gerard Pique had headed a corner onto the crossbar but it was Aubameyang who reacted quickest to slot the ball home and continue his fine start to life at the Camp Nou. Signed on a free transfer, the Gabon international already looks a great addition to the squad.
It was a different story altogether in front of goal for Ferran Torres. The new-boy once again had chances to score but once again could not find the back of the net despite his best efforts.
The clearest chance came in the second half when he won possession high up the field, raced forward and only had Unai Simon to beat but saw his shot saved. Xavi is confident the goals will come for Ferran but it’s just not happening right now for the forward.
Should Barca try to keep Dembele after all?
One player who certainly did find the back of the net against Athletic was substitute Ousmane Dembele who smashed home the hosts’ second with a brilliant finish for his first goal of the season.
Dembele actually replaced Ferran on 67 minutes, after Xavi started Adama Traore over the Frenchman again, and was once again greeted by whistles. This time they didn’t last long as Dembele quietened his critics very quickly with a superb showing.
Not content with making it 2-0, the 24-year-old then laid on a goal for Luuk de Jong to make it 3-0 before grabbing another assist in stoppage time for Memphis Depay on his return from injury.
This was Dembele back to his best which will undoubtedly prompt questions of whether Barca should try to keep him after all.
Xavi’s already made it clear he thinks Dembele can be important for Barca, while we don’t really know what the forward actually wants.
It’s also not clear if Barca will make another effort, but much may depend on whether Dembele can stay fit and firing for the rest of the campaign.
Pedri puts on a show
Dembele wasn’t the only player putting on a show at the Camp Nou as 19-year-old Pedri once again demonstrated why his manager keeps waxing lyrical about the midfielder.
“If we’re talking about pure talent, Pedri is the best in the world,” he said after the match. It didn’t stop there either, as Xavi went on to admit the youngster reminds him of none other than Andres Iniesta.
The Barcelona coach knows all about being a world-beating midfielder and his clear delight at coaching Xavi speaks absolute volumes.
The Camp Nou loved Pedri’s performance too, particularly that nutmeg in the second half which had the 69,770 supporters in attendance on their feet.
Pedri pulled the strings all night for Barcelona in a performance that belied his years. He ended up with a pass accuracy of 93%, played 8/8 accurate long balls, completed 3/3 dribbles, won two tackles and 8/10 duels. And the scary thing is (if you’re not a Barca fan at least) is he doesn’t even turn 20 until November.
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A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and rumors
FC Barcelona 4-0 Athletic Club: Four goals again! - FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona have beaten Athletic Club 4-0 on Sunday evening to hold onto fourth place in La Liga and move to within just one of third-placed Real Betis. Following impressive wins against Valencia and Napoli, this week’s amazing form continued with a third consecutive four-goal display.
Third win in a row - FC Barcelona
The 4-0 win over Athletic Club at Camp Nou on Sunday made it three wins in a row for Xavi Hernández's team following on from excellent away wins at Valencia (4-1) and Napoli (4-2) in the Europa League.
CD Alcoyano 2-3 FC Barcelona B: A win at last - FC Barcelona
Awin is always a great way to put smiles on faces. Barça B have broken an 8-game winless spell with victory at a tricky venue in which the three forwards, Peque, Abde and Jutglà all shone in collecting three points that do wonders for the team’s league position.
Pedri on back-heeled nutmeg: I was screwed if I lost the ball! - SPORT
Pedri Gonzalez put on an exhibition against Athletic Club. He was spectacular, but his comments after the game were very measured. The Barcelona midfielder produced some amazing moments, such as a back-heeled nutmeg that brought Camp Nou to its feet.
Dembele quietens the whistle with a golazo and two assists - SPORT
There's a division of opinions at Camp Nou regarding Ousmane Dembele. On Sunday against Athletic Club, the Barcelona forward was whistled when he came on in the second half. The first time the Frenchman touched the ball, there was a mix of whistles and applause. But it didn't take long for things to change from there.
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Stunning cameo from the Frenchman
A part of me remains incredibly frustrated with Ousmane Dembele.
Picture the scene four years ago when he signed for Barcelona. Imagine if he had regularly produced performances of the type that we saw from his cameo appearance against Athletic Club.
We would be talking about a world beater who needed to be kept by the Blaugranes at all costs.
Instead, whilst his injuries are just sheer bad luck, we’ve never really seen the best of the Frenchman other that in fits and starts.
Since Xavi has shown faith in him, he has repaid that trust handsomely, and his goal and two assists against a stubborn opponent turned the game on Sunday night.
He was, frankly, magnificent.
Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images
If Barca could be assured of that Dembele week in and week out, then there isn’t even an argument that not only does he deserve a regular starting spot but, arguably, is worth the spend from the club’s perspective.
When he’s on his game, he is one of very few players in world football that gets bums off seats. A player that, when he has the ball and there’s plenty of space for him to run in, there’s an audible gasp from the stands.
Football supporters aren't stupid. They know the danger that Dembele possesses in those boots.
Pace, comfortable on both feet, can go inside or outside with ease and has an eye for goal. Xavi even has him tracking back in defence.
But there’s the frustrating part for me. Why is he only showing this face now? When he’s in the shop window. Where has this Dembele been for long periods of his contract?
Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images
In many ways, these next few months will be something of a double-edged sword for both player and club.
If he can stay free of injury and help Barca to the Europa League title and/or a top three or four finish, there’s every reason to believe that the board may try again to have him sign on the dotted line.
For Dembele himself, he will see the potential that the squad now has and as one of the more senior members of the side, he’ll have the responsibility of shaping the club’s immediate future.
Of course, if it’s only about money, then he’ll likely move on to pastures new.
Should that happen, then the only shame will be that he was never truly able to show his absolute best for anything other than a brief time at the Camp Nou.
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Another great win for the Catalans
Barcelona coach Xavi talked about Ousmane Dembele and Pedri after Sunday’s impressive 4-0 win over Athletic at the Camp Nou.
Dembele came off the bench and scored his first goal of the season before adding two assists in an eye-catching cameo.
Xavi was asked about Dembele after the match, and specifically if he thought he could stay at Barca, but didn’t want to talk too much about his future.
“This is not my business. In football nothing can be ruled out. It is a matter for Dembélé and the club, what I am is happy with him because he is a professional,” he said.
“He has made the difference. I see many conditions. Today we have seen the Dembélé that we want and that we all want.”
Xavi then went on to praise Pedri yet again for another impressive display in midfield for the Catalan giants alongside Sergio Busquets and Gavi.
“Aside from the nutmeg, which is a small detail, it’s how he understands the game, goes between the lines and goes behind the midfield pivots,” he added.
“He reminds me a lot of Andrés Iniesta. If we’re talking about pure talent, Pedri is the best in the world. He is a wonderful player. I haven’t seen many talents like him.”
Barcelona now have a week off before their next match which is a trip to Elche in La Liga.
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The midfielder also went on to play a role in Barca’s third goal, scored by Luuk de Jong after a cross from Ousmane Dembele. Memphis Depay then completed the scoring from another Dembele assist in stoppage time.
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Excellent performance, very good goals, three more points. Great night.
Barcelona finished the month of February in style and will remain in the La Liga Top 4 for another week thanks to a dominant 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at Camp Nou. Barça faced a weakened opponent but stayed professional and played solid football for 90 minutes, and scored four excellent goals to pick up three more points and continue to look strong in the race for a Champions League spot.
FIRST HALF
Marcelino García Toral made several changes to the Athletic side looking ahead to next Wednesday’s Copa del Rey semi-final, so his gameplan with such a weakened team was to try and frustrated the Barça attack and take a 0-0 into the second half. And he very nearly succeeded in that strategy.
Despite having over 75% possession throughout the first half, Barça were not at their best offensively and struggled to create many meaningful attacks thanks to a mixture of their own wastefulness in the final third and a good, solid defensive structure by the visitors. Over the entire half Barça only created one real chance through open play, with Gavi finding himself all alone inside the box after a pass from Ferran Torres but missing the target completely and sending the ball high into the Camp Nou sky.
Even though they didn’t have any of their best attacking players on the pitch in the first half, Bilbao had their moments thanks to some defensive lapses by the Barça backline who didn’t choose the best times to step up their pressing and left big spaces that would have been exploited by a more talented team.
As we inched closer to halftime, it seemed as though Athletic would find a way to keep Barça away from their net, but the Blaugrana found the breakthrough on a set piece: Dani Alves sent a corner into the box, Gerard Piqué sent a powerful header into the crossbar, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reacted quicker than everyone and volleyed home the opener.
At halftime Barça were not really at their best but still had a crucial one-goal lead, however they needed to step up their level because Athletic would not give up and had the chance to bring their big guns off the bench in the second half.
SECOND HALF
Barça remained the dominant side to start the second half, dealing well with a higher press from Athletic and having better control of the opposition’s counter-attacks, and they should have made it 2-0 when Ferran found himself all alone in front of the goalkeeper after a mistake by the Bilbao defense, but he shot it straight at Unai Simón and missed a big chance.
Torres was soon replaced by Ousmane Dembélé, who came on alongside Frenkie De Jong to try and put the game to bed. Both had an immediate impact with their movement and quality on the ball, and Dembélé scored an absolutely sensational goal with a rocket into the roof of the net from a tight angle inside the box to double Barça’s lead.
Athletic sent Iñaki Williams onto the pitch hoping their star striker would bring some kind of spark off the bench to make the game interesting in the final minutes, but Barça had things well under control and and added two more goals thanks to two fantastic assists by Dembélé, who put it on a plate for both Luuk De Jong and Memphis Depay to score off the bench in added time.
The final whistle came, and the Blaugrana continue to hold on to fourth place and have a game in hand on all the teams around them in the table, and they look better and stronger under Xavi wtih every game.
As Eminem would say, Barça’s back. Tell a friend.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Alves, Araujo, Piqué, Dest; Gavi (F. De Jong 67’), Busquets (Nico 86’), Pedri; Adama (Memphis 82’), Aubameyang (L. De Jong 86’), Ferran (Dembélé 67’)
Goals: Aubameyang (37’), Dembélé (73’), L. De Jong (90’), Memphis (90+3’)
Athletic: Simón; Lekue, Vivian, Yeray (Martínez 46’), Balenziaga; Zarraga (N. Williams 67’), Vencedor, Vesga (García 67’), Serrano; García (Sancet 46’), Villalibre (I. Williams 77’)
Goals: None
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Join us for another Barcelona La Liga adventure!
WELCOME TO CAMP NOU!!! The Greatest Stadium on Earth is the site of a huge Sunday night La Liga clash as Barcelona welcome Athletic Bilbao for what is always one of the marquee games in the league season. Both teams come into this one in great form, with Barça looking especially good in their last three games with very good performances and plenty of goals. 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: 2021-22 La Liga, Matchday 26
Date/Time: Sunday, February 27, 2022, 9pm CET/WAT (Barcelona & Nigeria), 8pm GMT (UK), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 1.30am IST (India, Monday)
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández
VAR: José Luis González González
HOW TO WATCH, STREAM LA LIGA ONLINE
How to watch on TV: Not Available (USA, Canada), LaLigaTV (UK), SuperSport (Nigeria), MTV (India), Movistar LaLiga (Spain), others
How to watch online: ESPN+ (USA), LaLigaTV (UK), others
Matchday Thread Rules
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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A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and rumors
PREVIEW: FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - FC Barcelona
There’s a very positive vibe at FC Barcelona right now. A fabulous display to beat Valencia 4-1 in La Liga was followed by perhaps the best performance of 2021/22, a 4-2 win in Napoli that ensures a Europa League last sixteen tie with Galatasaray.
Philippe Coutinho reveals he doesn't regret leaving Liverpool to join Barcelona - Football Espana
Philippe Coutinho has revealed that he doesn’t regret leaving Liverpool to join Barcelona despite the fact that the move has been a disaster. The Brazilian playmaker is currently on loan at Premier League side Aston Villa until the end of the season and has a year to run on his Barcelona contract after that.
Xavi on Auba's goals, Adama's maturity and “world class” Ferran - SPORT
Xavi Hernandez took advantage of Saturday's pre-Athletic Club press conference to analyse Barcelona's new signings. The Barça coach is satisfied with the contributions made so far by Ferran Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Adama Traore and Dani Alves.
Camp Nou mutes the Lions' roar in recent times - SPORT
Barcelona's history with Athletic Bilbao is well-documented. Along with Real Madrid, they are the teams that have never been relegated. Los Leones come to Camp Nou on Sunday night.
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Xavi Hernández has called up 23 players for Sunday’s clash
The next Barcelona match is upon us! The Blaugrana welcome Athletic Bilbao for a big La Liga game at Camp Nou, and Xavi Hernández has called up the following 23 players for Sunday’s clash:
Goalkeepers: 1. Marc-André ter Stegen, 13. Neto, 36. Arnau Tenas
Defenders: 2. Sergiño Dest, 3. Gerard Piqué, 4. Ronald Araujo, 8. Dani Alves, 15. Clément Lenglet, 22. Óscar Mingueza, 24. Eric García
Forwards: 7. Ousmane Dembélé, 9. Memphis Depay, 11. Adama Traoré, 12. Martin Braithwaite, 17. Luuk De Jong, 19. Ferran Torres, 25. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
There is some very good news for this one as Memphis Depay is back after missing the better part of the last two months with a persistent hamstring issue. Also back from a hamstring is Clément Lenglet, and another returning man is Dani Alves who is finally available again after a suspension. There are still several absences, however, with Ansu Fati (hamstring), Sergi Roberto (thigh), Samuel Umtiti (foot) and Alejandro Balde (ankle) out through injury while Jordi Alba misses out through suspension.
Predicted starting XI (4-3-3):
Ter Stegen; Alves, Piqué, Araujo, Dest; F. De Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Adama, Aubameyang, Ferran
The match kicks off at 9pm CET/WAT (Barcelona & Nigeria), 8pm GMT (UK), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 1.30am IST (India, Monday), and you can join us to watch and comment all the action.
VISCA EL BARÇA!
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Date/Time: Sunday, February 27, 2022, 9pm CET/WAT (Barcelona & Nigeria), 8pm GMT (UK), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 1.30am IST (India, Monday)
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández
VAR: José Luis González González
How to watch on TV: Not Available (USA, Canada), LaLigaTV (UK), SuperSport (Nigeria), MTV (India), Movistar LaLiga (Spain), others
How to watch online: ESPN+ (USA), LaLigaTV (UK), others
Following a sensational win over Napoli to book a place in the Europa League Round of 16, Barcelona return to action this weekend when they welcome historical rivals Athletic Bilbao to the Greatest Stadium on Earth for some Sunday Night Fútbol.
Barça’s win in Italy on Thursday was the least exciting part of that night in Naples. It was the Blaugrana’s performance that truly caught the eye, with goals scored in all kinds of ways, great pressing and dominant midfield play. It’s the type of football Barça fans are used to seeing, and it was on full display on the road against one of the best teams in Europe.
That win was the latest in what has been a very successful February for the Catalan giants. This really was a season-defining month because of the number of big matches against high-quality opponents, and apart from the local derby against Espanyol it is safe to say Barça have passed the February test with flying red and blue colors so far.
But there is one more big game left in February against the always brutal Athletic Bilbao. Marcelino García Toral’s side eliminated Barça from the Copa del Rey last month and have been in fantastic form since, knocking out Real Madrid from the Cup and absolutely destroying Real Sociedad in the Basque Derby last week.
Athletic know exactly how to make it tough for Barça, but they haven’t been successful at Camp Nou in a long time which will make Los Leones even hungrier to get a result on Sunday. Barça’s form has been stellar but one bad game can undo all the great work, and Xavi’s men can’t afford any slip-ups in the Top 4 race.
Barça have at least one game in hand over all the teams around them in the Champions League hunt, so they truly control their destiny and will be in excellent position with a win on Sunday. It’s about replicating the level of performance from the last few games, creating and taking good chances and being patient against one of the toughest defenses in the country. This should be good.
Let’s dance.
POSSIBLE LINEUPS
Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Alves, Piqué, Araujo, Dest; F. De Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Adama, Aubameyang, Ferran
It’s Athletic and they’re never fun to play against, but Barça are much better against them at home and I’m confident the team will carry the momentum from the last three games and continue to control their destiny in the league: 3-1 to the good guys.
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The Dutchman remains Barca’s top scorer this season but faces a real battle for minutes now Adama Traore, Ferran Torres, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are at the club.
Xavi did talk up Memphis at his pre-match press conference ahead of the game with Athletic and insisted he can still be an important player for the Catalans.
Lenglet is also fit again after hamstring trouble and may also find it difficult to get first-team minutes between now and the end of the season.
The Frenchman has slipped down the pecking order at the Camp Nou and looks to be behind Gerard Pique, Ronald Araujo and Eric Garcia when it comes to center-backs.
The duo’s return is still good news for Xavi and boosts his options further. It also means Barca’s injury problems are continuing to ease with only Sergi Roberto, Samuel Umtiti and Ansu Fati currently sidelined.
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Here’s the latest from the Barcelona boss
Barcelona boss Xavi faced the press on Saturday to talk about his team’s next La Liga match against Athletic Club at the Camp Nou.
The coach spoke about the match, offered an update on Memphis Depay and Clement Lenglet and also praised Frenkie de Jong and Sergino Dest.
Here are the best bits:
Xavi on Athletic
I don’t think we will see them change many things. Marcelino has a clear idea of how he wants to play. He’s a great coach. His teams are very physically strong. They sit back and defend very well. They are difficult opponents, they beat us last time. We need to consolidate all the good things we are doing. We are a different team from when we last faced them.
Xavi on Memphis and Lenglet
They are training normally. They are 100%, unless anything unexpected happens they will be ready for tomorrow. There is more competition in the entire team but Memphis will be important for us, same as Clement Lenglet. It’s good for me to have more players to choose from and for the players to improve, make sure they give their all. They are two important players and it’ll depend on them.
Xavi on Laporta’s celebrations against Napoli
I think it’s good. We have to be excited but also realistic and remain humble, continue to work. We need to consolidate our improvement in tomorrow’s game. It’ll be a final. I still have the same speech from when I arrived. Winning La Liga will be very difficult but I don’t want to discard it either. I’m happy the president is excited.
Xavi on how he’s feeling
I’m also very happy when I see the fans outside the training ground and in town. It makes me happy. We will continue to work, with the same sacrifice and humility as before, and leave it all out on the pitch. At Barca, only the wins count, we can’t draw. We need to make sure our fans are proud of us for giving the maximum effort. I think that’s how the fans are feeling now. We have a team that will give their all. Recently the Camp Nou has been a spectacle, the fans are with us and we appreciate their support.
Xavi on if this is the Barca he wants
We need to improve, we need to improve in many aspects. We still lose a lot of unnecessary balls. We need to be embarrassed by losing these balls. We need to be responsible for our actions and defend better. Defend better from set plays. We have a lot of points we need to improve but it’s also evident we are improving a lot. So we need to continue to work, give our all, continue down this road and try to improve. We can’t say that we’re at a very high level at the moment. At some moments yes, but other moments not so much. We still have room left for improvement.
Xavi on Frenkie de Jong
Firstly, I want to talk about his personality. He’s very self-critical, he’s very motivated. When asked, he said he could play much better. It’s very hard to play better than the game he played last time against Napoli. He’s able to keep up this level and make the difference, to try shots from outside the box. He receives a lot of criticism but he’s in form right now, very capable, we work with him individually with a lot of videos. He’s very humble and it’s hard to find a player like him. He’s an excellent football player.
Xavi on Auba’s goal against Napoli
Everything counts, playing well, winning on and off the pitch. I know where I’m at. I’m at the best club in the world where you can’t just win, you have to play well. Which is why we talk about these 22, 23 touches, that’s what people like. We want to implement the style again that made us great. We can win or lose but we want the people to identify with the style of play, that’s fundamental. We continue to work on this. I know this week I received praise, but we know next week the opposite can happen.
Xavi on Inaki and Nico Williams
Both Nico and Inaki Williams are very fast players. On the counter they know how to take advantage of the spaces. We need to try and stop them, so they don’t hurt us on the counter. It will be very difficult because they are very fast, they understand the spaces very well. They are not just physically gifted, but technically able to generate plays themselves or for the team. We are talking about a very good Athletic team.
Xavi on if Barca conceding too many
Yes we need to improve in that area. We need to make sure we leave the scoreline at zero. We know opponents also play but we have to close down our goal, receive less chances from our opponents. Sometimes we lose our concentration at important moments. We can improve in many areas, but particularly in that area.
Xavi on his attack
Nowadays most of the teams defend very well and it’s hard to score goals. You need to try and open up the defense a little more and attack them using players like Adama, Ferran and Auba. For us it’s incredible, not just from a goalscoring perspective, but also how they generate chances, how they understand space. Ferran, even though he’s young, he is already experienced, like Adama and Auba which is why they are having such a big impact.
Xavi on Puyol’s bet that he’ll win Barca the league
Whether or not we win the league I will go out for dinner with him anyway because he’s a great friend of mine and he has a lot of trust in me and that makes me happy. He’s a very positive guy. I would have loved to have him in the dressing room. He’s spectacular, I thank him and we’re going to fight for this. We know the difficulty of the task in hand, we are down a lot of points, we don’t depend on ourselves, but we’ll try until it’s mathematically impossible.
Xavi on Sergino Dest
Sergino is doing great. The last month, he’s been playing very well. We’ve corrected a lot of things from him defensively, also in offense he provides a lot. The other game he also tried to shoot. He’s good and we appreciate his efforts. When I arrived he was a little injured, he wasn’t comfortable. Now he’s 100% and he has the level to compete here. There’s competition in his position but it’s up to them.
Xavi on January signings
Auba hasn’t surprised me, he’s been showing it his entire career. He works hard with a lot of humility. Adama has surprised me in his decision-making abilities sometimes. We saw that his decision-making wasn’t the best but now it is. Ferran, I asked Alemany for that signing. He’s spectacular, he’s incredible, the work he provides and how he works for the team, how he associates with his team-mates, we are talking about a player of top level, perhaps he’s the one who has surprised me the most. I liked him before, he’s a fantastic signing, of course we want goals from him. But I can tell you he’s a marvellous football player.
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The captain’s contract expires in 2023
Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets is reportedly open to a move to the MLS to play for Inter Miami before he decides to hang up his boots.
According to Onze, Busquets fancies the idea of being reunited with former team-mates Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi in Miami.
Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano reckons Inter Miami may not be the only MLS club interested in the Barca captain.
MLS clubs are approaching Sergio Busquets since July 2021. He decided to wait and turn down the opening proposals as he only wanted to stay at Barça. #FCB
…but MLS clubs will try again to tempt Busquets, in particular Inter Miami - as expected & confirmed by @xavicampos ⤵️ https://t.co/nOikQdmWeW
Messi and Suarez have long been linked with a move to David Beckham’s MLS franchise once they’ve decided their time in Europe is over.
The report reckons Busquets also fancies the idea too, particularly as the three players and their families all enjoy a close relationship.
Any move wouldn’t happen for a while yet, certainly not before the 2022 World Cup which takes place at the end of this year in Qatar.
Busquets’s contract at Barcelona expires in 2023, when he will be almost 35, which means he could depart to the MLS as a free agent at the end of next season.
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Philippe Coutinho has been talking about his big-money move to Barcelona and has insisted he does not regret joining the Catalan giants despite the struggles he has endured at the Camp Nou.
The Brazil international swapped Liverpool for Barca in January 2018 for a reported fee of £142 million but has failed to live up to his huge price tag and is currently on a second loan spell away from the club.
Coutinho has spoken to ESPN about Barcelona and offered the following response when he was asked if he regrets his decision to leave Liverpool and head to the Camp Nou.
“No. At certain times we have to make decisions, and one of my big dreams was to play for Barcelona,” he said.
“At that moment I decided to make that decision, but always with great affection, respect and gratitude for Liverpool and for the friendships over the years I’ve been in the club.
“At that moment I had a decision to make and I don’t regret it.”
The 29-year-old is currently playing for Aston Villa and has enjoyed a bright start to life back in the Premier League, scoring twice and picking up two assists in five games.
Coutinho admits he was keen to head to the English top flight and is enjoying life at Villa Park.
“I am very happy. It was my wish to return to play here in England and play in the Premier League once again. I’m having this opportunity and I’m very happy,” he said.
“It’s what I expect. I work hard every day to play well and give good results for the club I play for.
“Of course, I really wanted to return to the Premier League, I am at a great club that makes me very happy. All the players are giving their best so that we can achieve our goals as a team. I always work to make things work out. What I want most is to play well for the team I’m defending. Sometimes it doesn’t and there’s no way to explain it.”
Coutinho’s deal at Villa Park runs until the end of the season and does include an option to buy which is thought to be around €40 million.
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FC Barcelona to play Galatasaray in Europa League round of 16 - FC Barcelona
Following Friday’s draw at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Barça have learned that their opponent in the round of 16 of the Europa League will be Galatasaray. The first leg will be played at the Camp Nou on Thursday 10 March (9pm CET) and the return leg will be played in Istanbul seven days later on Thursday 17 March (6.45pm CET).
February goal frenzy - FC Barcelona
Barça have certainly hit their goalscoring form. This February has seen them hit the net 15 times in five games, with the game against Athletic Club at the Camp Nou this Sunday still to come (9.00pm CET).
Barça's dressing room see themselves as favourites in Europe - SPORT
Although Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez wants prudence, humility and calm after the big win at Napoli, the truth is the players are hugely optimistic and the players believe they are among the favourites to win the Europa League.
Wink from Barcelona chief Joan Laporta at Erling Haaland - SPORT
Barcelona president Joan Laporta said on Friday that he is very satisfied with the work done by the club during the winter market and the challenge is to do better still in the summer. What about Erling Haaland?
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Barcelona look to finish off an excellent month of February when they welcome Athletic Bilbao to Camp Nou in a crucial La Liga clash.
Barça booked a ticket in the Europa League Round of 16 thanks to a sensational win over Napoli in Italy, in what has been described by most as their best performance of the season. Xavi Hernández has his team firing on all cylinders, but that momentum can be quickly stopped by a very tough Athletic Bilbao side.
The Blaugrana need all three points to continue to control their destiny in the league, but Los Leones will look to make it difficult. Let’s see how Barça could line up on Sunday.
Defense
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Xavi has been dealing with depth issues in the backline throughout the month, which makes the recent run of results even more impressive. But there is a crucial reinforcement coming this weekend with the return of Dani Alves, who is finally available again after missing two games through suspension.
Alves’ return provides Xavi with an interesting selection headache because of the in-form Sergiño Dest, so three full-backs are all deserving of a start this Sunday. But Alves was the undisputed starter at right-back before he was suspended, and he probably walks right back into the team alongside Gerard Piqué, Ronald Araujo and Jordi Alba.
Midfield
Photo by Franco Romano/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The entire Barça team was impressive against Napoli, but the midfield was especially good with their pressing, ball recovery, ball progression and chance creation. Frenkie De Jong was wonderful all game and is enjoying some of his best football since joining Barça, and there’s no chance he gets dropped right now.
There’s a full week of training following this Sunday so there isn’t a need for rotation, so the likes of Sergio Busquets and Pedri will most likely stay in the team. Nico González and Gavi also deserve to play, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see either of them in the lineup.
Attack
Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Adama Traoré (and his muscles) continue to impress every time he plays, and that was again the case against Napoli. Adama and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have been great fits since joining in January, and they are big reasons why Barça’s attack looks so strong at the moment.
Ferran Torres has struggled over the last couple of games, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him dropped on Sunday for someone like Ousmane Dembélé or Gavi if Xavi decides to go with four midfielders.
Possible XI: Ter Stegen; Alves, Piqué, Araujo, Alba; F. De Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Adama, Aubameyang, Ferran (4-3-3)
How do YOU think Barcelona should line up against Athletic? Let us know your thoughts, predictions and teams in the comments below!
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Against better opposition, the team showed the same problems but still found a way to not lose
It was more of the same for Barcelona’s youth affiliate last weekend as Barça B welcomed Albacete to the Johan Cruyff Stadium for another Third Division match as the young Blaugrana look to avoid a relegation fight.
Albacete have been one of the best teams in the division all season, and Barça were far from favorites despite playing at home. But it was a great start by the Catalans with a great finish by Ferran Jutglà, and for a while it seemed we were headed for the kind of season-changing victory Barça have craved for the last two months.
But the same problems that have plagued Sergi Barjuan’s side all season came back to bite them: a lack of converting their chances followed by several defensive lapses eventually led to Albacete going in front in the second half, and a weeekend in the relegation zone seemed inevitable.
But in the 94th minute, Lucas De Vega scored a crucial equalizer to salvage a point and give Barça B at least some good news.
Així va ser l'empat Albacete al Johan Cruyff (2-2)
This was a somewhat acceptable result given the quality of the opposition and Barça’s current form, but this game was there for the taking and Barça couldn’t finish it. That has been their biggest problem all season, one they haven’t corrected and one that will probably cost Barjuan’s job in three months.
Barça are now just one point above the relegation zone, and really need a result away to Alcoyano on Saturday to try and avoid the fight at the bottom. But that is their reality at this point: a miracle comeback to the top of the table is out of the question entirely, and it’s now about finding a way to be consistent enough to not go down to the Fourth Division. Tough times.
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FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain are mentioned as the main competitors to land the Norwegian.
Haaland is said to be weighing making a decision soon, with the intent to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer. In fact, it is rumored that he will make a decision in March after talking to his agent and to his family.
City have been on the lookout for a new striker after failing to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur last summer. Pep Guardiola’s men are already one of the world’s best teams, but they could take another level with Haaland.
Barcelona are on the ascendancy and are said to be looking to make Haaland the centerpiece of their return to glory. Real Madrid, meanwhile, are keen on pairing up Kylian Mbappé with Haaland should they sign the former. Or, failing that, they could sign Haaland as an alternative if Mbappé does not move from PSG, as widely expected.
But if Mbappé does move to Madrid, PSG would be extra motivated to sign Haaland as a replacement.
There have been rumors of interest from other clubs, such as Bayern Munich, but at the moment, those four are considered the strongest linked.
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Barca rolled back the years on Thursday with an epic, attacking performance against Napoli that resulted in an impressive 4-2 win and safe passage to the last 16 of the Europa League.
The Catalans have struggled in Europe recently, particularly away from home, but the team put on a show with Xavi’s plan to press high and dominate the ball clear to see. It wasn’t quite the Barca of old, indeed it was quicker and more direct, but the feeling was the same.
There were some superb goals too. The first came from a lightning quick counter (when was the last time you saw Barca do that?) which involved Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang feeding Adama Traore who found...Jordi Alba overlapping on the right to finish the move.
Barca’s second goal came from a wonderful effort from the improving Frenkie de Jong (more on him later), while Gerard Pique even got in on the goalscoring action before Aubameyang helped himself to another in the second half.
Pique probably summed it up best after the match when he explained how Barca have “gone back to our origins, something we maybe had stopped doing recently.”
The defender also added, “It’s a message for everyone, for us and for people on the outside, that little by little we’re on our way back. We’re on the right path.”
Frenkie puts on a midfield masterclass
It’s difficult to single out one player for praise after the win in Napoli but Frenkie de Jong certainly caught the eye, not just for his goal but for his absolute masterclass in midfield he put on at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
The Dutchman was been scrutinizised, criticized and there have even been suggestions Barca should think about cashing in on him this season. However, this was the sort of display that showed just how good he is and even ended up with Xavi calling him a “genius” after the game.
De Jong goal’s was a brilliant effort, his stepover for Barca’s fourth was also pretty tasty and he also completed 71 of his 76 passes (that’s a 93% success rate) while also creating three chances for his team.
Jordi Alba’s on fire
Jordi Alba is another player who is frequently criticized but the left-back has hit a fine run of form and added another goal to his collection at Napoli. That’s now two goals and two assists in his last five games for the Catalans.
Jordi Alba’s last five games for Barcelona:
⚽️ vs. Atlético
️ vs. Espanyol
❌ vs. Napoli
️ vs. Valencia
⚽️ vs. Napoli
The 32-year-old may face increased competition for his place next season but for now seems to be thriving under Xavi and certainly enjoyed himself in Italy.
“I think we played a great game. We are on a great run of results and play. In the end we conceded too many but well, we have to be happy and move on,” he said afterwards. “Those were four very nice goals but what matters is that they go in! We have to believe in ourselves. Playing like this will bring great results.”
Barca’s new boys continue to thrive
Barca’s new signings also continue to thrive after arriving in January. Adama Traore had another fine game, picking up two assists, and causing all sorts of problems with his willingness to dribble.
The loanee does still have a few clumsy moments but is continuing to look an astute signing and justified his perhaps surprise inclusion in the starting XI ahead of Ousmane Dembele.
Adama Traoré’s game by numbers vs. Napoli:
88% pass accuracy
40 touches
6 touches in opp. box
5 duels won
5 crosses
4 ball recoveries
3 take-ons
2 chances created
2 assists
Ferran Torres failed to find the back of the net again and was guilty of some wayward shooting but continues to play an important role. The Spain international’s ability on the ball, willingness to press and link the play are a big part of the team’s improved form.
And then there’s Aubameyang who seems to love the Europa League. The 32-year-old took his tally to 23 goals in 45 Europa League matches with a sensational finish which also continues his great start to life at Barca.
Four goals in his first five Barcelona appearances is the best start Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has made for a club in his career pic.twitter.com/AO22tRjMKG
All of which means Barca have now scored four goals against Atletico, Valencia, and Napoli. Thursday’s win also saw the Catalans score more than two goals away from home in a European tie for the first time since 2016.
Ter Stegen doubts remain
Photo by Carlo Hermann/KONTROLAB/LightRocket via Getty Images
There weren’t too many negatives from Thursday’s performance, aside from a late booking for Gavi that will bring a one-match suspension, but Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s performance was something of a worry.
The goalkeeper was grilled at his pre-match press conference about the criticism he has received this season and insisted he was calm about his form and always analyzed his performances after games.
Ter Stegen may look back now and wonder why he decided to come flying out of his goal to take on Victor Osimhen. The goalkeeper ended up trying to pull out of the challenge but still conceded a needless penalty because of his rash decision.
Lorenzo Insigne’s resulting spot-kick made it 2-1 which offered Napoli hope when Barca really should have been out of sight. Fortunately for Ter Stegen, the visitors managed to regroup and put the game to bed but it’s another poor moment of judgement from the stopper.
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The draw was made on Friday
Barcelona will take on Galatasaray in the last 16 of the Europa League after being paired with the Turkish side in Friday’s draw in Switzerland.
The game will see Barca come up against goalkeeper Inaki Pena, who moved to Gala on loan in January, as well as former assistant coach Domènec Torrent and Arda Turan.
Barca secured their spot in the last 16 by beating Napoli over two legs in their playoff, while Gala finished top of their Europa League group.
However, the Turkish side are having a tough season domestically. The team are currently down in 13th place in the table and have won just eight of 26 matches.
The first leg will take place at the Camp Nou on Thursday, March 10. The two teams will meet again in Turkey one week later. The winners progress to the quarter-finals of the competition.
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Barcelona midfielder Gavi will miss the first leg of the team’s last 16 tie due to suspension after picking up his third booking in Europe this season late on at Napoli.
Jordi Alba spoke out after Barca’s win over Napoli. He said, “Barcelona is always Barcelona! In good times and bad. We have to be together. People are enthusiastic.”
Ousmane Dembele left his shirt in the dressing room at Napoli. A member of staff had to run and get it before the Frenchman came on in the second half.
Barcelona are keeping tabs on Real Madrid’s sponsorship deal with Adidas to see how much money their rivals will make on the deal with a view to their own agreement with Nike.
Barcelona will have had every team left in the Europa League sitting up and taking notice after Thursday night’s performance at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Progress is very definitely being made by Xavi and everything came together perfectly against Napoli.
Forget the pretty passing carousels for which the Blaugranes have become known, though they were a visual feast nonetheless.
It was the relentless nature of the pressing that was the singular most decisive part of the 90 minuets.
The harrying and hunting down of the opposition in packs was straight out of the Guardiola playbook and the Serie A giants didn’t know what had hit them.
Photo by MB Media/Getty Images
That’s how you win football matches, and coming so soon after the Valencia victory, it has given Xavi a huge platform from which to build.
The coach deserves huge credit for his tactics on the night.
Brave, forward-thinking and risky they may have been - there aren’t many teams that can take the game to Napoli at home and come out so on top - but sometimes risk brings reward, and Barca are getting their dues.
There are still some decent sides left in the competition, and both Betis and Sevilla will provide the sternest of opposition if Barca do end up coming up against their La Liga brethren.
However, if this last seven days has taught the club and its supporters anything, it’s that Barca are very definitely on the way back and they should fear no one.
Special mention for Busi who once again showed the world that simplicity is genius.
Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images
Nothing fancy from the captain, but a performance of masterful quality before he was replaced.
Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique also led by example, but every player worked his socks off and deserved to end the game on the winning side.
Momentum has been mentioned before in this column, and I make no apology for doing so again. It’s with the Blaugranes, and that’s a great feeling to have approaching the business end of the season.
Confidence is high, players are purposeful in their work, and Xavi is perfectly conducting the orchestra, only this time it’s from the dugout rather than the midfield.
If the team can continue at this level, then don’t rule out silverware as well as a finish in the Champions League places by the end of the 2021/22 campaign.
It would be the least some of these players deserve after the worst period in club history.
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The coach is a happy man
Xavi hailed Barcelona’s win over Napoli as the team’s “most complete” performance of the season after seeing his team run out 4-2 winners at the Diego Armanda Maradona Stadium.
The visitors got off to a great start thanks to goals from Jordi Alba and Frenkie de Jong to put the visitors in charge of the tie.
Lorenzo Insigne did pull one back from the penalty spot but Gerard Pique added a third before half-time and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck on the hour.
Xavi was full of praise for his team after the match and offered his thoughts on where it had all gone right for the Catalan giants in Naples.
“Perhaps this was the most complete performance of our season. We wanted to dominate and we did,” he said.
“I’m happy about the effort we put in and with the football we played. The result is fair. I am very happy for the players and this is the way forward. We are on the right road.
“We pressed well, high up, whenever we lost the ball…just like we did at home.
“Napoli pressed high up and spaces were available in behind them. From defending a corner we made a textbook counterattack.
“We took advantage of our fast players. We understood how to create and use a ‘free man’. I’m very happy for the team.”
The Barcelona boss also tried to downplay suggestions his team are now favorites for the trophy after such a convincing win. The Catalans will discover who they will play in the next round on Friday when the last 16 draw is made.
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Barcelona booked their place in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday after seeing off the challenge of Serie A side Napoli in their play-off tie.
Xavi’s men could only draw 1-1 at the Camp Nou in the first leg but ran out 4-2 winners in the return to seal their qualification to the next round.
Barca will discover their next opponents on Friday, February 25 at 12:00 CET in Nyon, Switzerland.
The eight group winners from the group stages will be seeded and will be drawn against the eight winners from the play-offs.
And here’s who Barca could face next:
Crvena zvezda
Eintracht Frankfurt
Galatasaray
Bayer Leverkusen
Lyon
Monaco
Spartak Moskva
West Ham
The group winners will play their second legs at home. The first legs will take place on Thursday, March 10 with the return legs scheduled for the following week.
Who would you like to see Barca draw in the next round? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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Barcelona booked their place in the last 16 of the Europa League with an impressive 4-2 win over Napoli at the Diego Armando Stadium. The visitors scored three times in the first half to take charge of the tie and finished the job after the break in a very impressive display.
FIRST HALF
Barcelona were sensational in the first half and needed just eight minutes to take the lead in the tie. A truly dreadful Napoli corner was pounced on by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who led a quick break.
The striker then found Adama Traore who ran straight at the Napoli defenders before laying it off to Jordi Alba to finish expertly. Another goal followed five minutes later and was even sweeter.
This time it was Frenkie de Jong who found the back of the net. The Dutch midfielder curled home a simply gorgeous shot from outside the penalty area to put the visitors completely in charge of the game.
Of course it’s Barca so it couldn’t be as simple as that. Marc-Andre ter Stegen gave a penalty away after rushing off his line and clumsily colliding with Victor Osimhen. Lorenzo Insigne made no mistake from the spot.
Yet Barca weren’t finished there and responded well, adding a third just before half-time through Gerard Pique. Napoli made a mess of defending a corner which saw the ball come back into the area and to Pique who swept the ball home.
SECOND HALF
The second half was a little calmer but saw Barca extend their lead just before the hour mark with another fine goal. Adama Traore was once again involved as he crossed from the right, Frenkie de Jong stepped over the ball and Aubameyang fired into the top corner.
Xavi quickly opted to replace captain Sergio Busquets after seeing his team score a fourth goal against Napoli. Gavi was sent on for the final 30 minutes and was followed by Nico, Ousmane Dembele, and Luuk de Jong. We even saw Riqui Puig for the last 10 minutes.
Napoli did get the ball in the back of the net again late on through Politano after Nico was caught in possession inside his own penalty area but it was to prove only a consolation for the hosts on a great night for Xavi and his men.
Photo by Mattia Ozbot - Inter/Inter via Getty Images
Join us for a huge Barcelona European adventure!
WELCOME TO THE DIEGO MARADONA STADIUM!!! The legendary home of Napoli named after its most legendary player is the site of a huge European match as the hosts and Barcelona meet for the second leg of their Europa League Playoff tie. After a thrilling 1-1 draw at Camp Nou last week, both teams come into this one hoping to book a ticket in the Round of 16 and we should get a cracking game. This will 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)
LIVE BLOG
LINEUPS
BARCELONA
Starting XI: TBA
Substitutes: TBA
NAPOLI
Starting XI: TBA
Substitutes: TBA
MATCH INFO
Competition/Round: 2021-22 Europa League, Playoffs, Leg 2
First Leg Result: Barcelona 1-1 Napoli
Date/Time: Thursday, February 24, 2022, 9pm CET/WAT (Barcelona & Nigeria), 8pm GMT (UK), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 1.30am IST (India, Thursday)
Venue: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples, Italy
Referee: Sergei Karasev (RUS)
VAR: Pol van Boekel (NED)
HOW TO WATCH, STREAM EUROPA LEAGUE
How to watch on TV: TUDN (USA), BT Sport ESPN (UK), SuperSport (Nigeria), SONY TEN 2 (India), Movistar Liga de Campeones (Spain), others
How to watch online: Paramount+ (USA), BT Sport Live (UK), Movistar+ (Spain), others
Matchday Thread Rules
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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