الاثنين، 31 أكتوبر 2022

Xavi talks Lewandowski, UCL and January transfers

Valencia CF v FC Barcelona - LaLiga Santander — Photo by Francisco Macia/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Here’s the latest from the Barcelona boss

Xavi has been talking all things Barcelona ahead of his team’s final Champions League match of the season against Viktoria Plzen.

The Barcelona boss spoke about his team, offered an update on Robert Lewandowski and gave a few clues as to which players would get a chance on Tuesday.

Here are the best bits:

Xavi on the Champions League

We have nothing to play for in terms of changing the standings. That’s our reality. We want to still play a good game and enter a positive dynamic and leave the Champions League with good sensations. It’s important for the players who have not enjoyed many minutes. Every game for Barca is an opportunity.

Xavi on players being worred about injuries before the World Cup

There’s always a risk of injury. They can happen. We still have 11 days until they leave. I want my players to be 100% for every game.

Xavi on patience

We need to insist about what we believe in. There’s no time for doubts. We are in a situation we don’t want to be in but we can’t doubt. The players are very positive. I think we are going in the right direction. It’s just a matter of time. Titles won’t be won until 2023 so we need to wait until then to see if we have options to win. We are good in the league, we tried to compete in the Champions League, in a tough group, it wasn’t to be. Last year we weren’t able to compete but this year we showed we can. Every little step is a step in the right drection.

Xavi on Barca

Being at Barca is a rollercoaster of emotions. We drew against Rayo and everything fell apart and then we beat Real Sociedad and everything was fantastic. We played great games Villarreal and Athletic. I think we have been in a good dynamic in La Liga, we are playing good football and there is a clear identity of what we are. We can’t lose our identity.

Xavi on motivation

I’m motivated even if it was a friendly. We are privileged to be here. The players who have fewer minutes must show the coach is wrong. And the young players must show they have a place.

Xavi on Lewandowski

He has a little discomfort in his back. He was on the list, but he complained about his back and we preferred that he rest. He will be fine for the next match.

Xavi on Inaki Pena and Pablo Torre

The idea is that both play. There are players with a lot of fatigue and discomfort. Those who have had fewer minutes will play.

Xavi on Lewandowski’s comments about knowing how to win

He is absolutely right. Knowing how to compete at the right time and dominate when you’re ahead is important. But this has nothing to do with the style or the idea. He means knowing how to compete at certain moments. We’ve lacked maturity and strength as a team.

Xavi on January transfers

It’s still early. There are three games left and then a month and a half to plan the winter market. We’ll sit down with the president and the sports management and see what we can sign and we’re not ruling anything out.

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Gerard Pique on Spain’s 55-man World Cup list - report

By Unknown 11:02 ص No comments

The defender has retired from international football

There have been plenty of strange decisions regarding the Spain World Cup squad as of late, hello David De Gea, but one of the more interesting ones is a report from Sport. The report details that none other than Gerard Pique is in the running to make the final squad.

Pique is apparently on Luis Enrique’s 55-man list for the tournament, although it would be a big surprise if he was still in the squad when the coach makes the final cut ahead of the finals.

Leading the reason why this is strange is that Pique is officially retired from international duty. Now, if he was asked to come back, I have no doubt that he would be willing. Especially given the playing time he’s had at Barca this year, he should be fresh.

Now, what Luis Enrique has seen from Pique this year that would lead him to believe he’d be helpful on the pitch is beyond me. Pique has looked a shell of himself this season but that hasn’t stopped Enrique from considering the man it seems.

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Lewandowski not surprised by Barcelona's struggles

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The striker says patience is needed

The flailing of Barcelona in European competition this year may come as a surprise to some, myself included. One man who isn’t shocked by what’s happened to Barcelona at the top levels this year is one Robert Lewandowski.

The Poland international striker has been in scintillating form for most of the year but was more than willing to chat about Barcelona’s struggles this year in an interview over the weekend.

“We are evolving. I did not expect to arrive and that everything would go well in the first season. I insist, it is a process that requires time and patience,” he said.

“Barça should be in the round of 16. Before coming to Barcelona I was already aware that the first season could be harder than it should be. We are in a process of reconstruction that needs time, we have to be more patient.

“With everything that Barça have suffered in recent years, you cannot expect everything to change in a month. It needs time and it will no doubt improve.”

Lewandowski | Source

Expectations were certainly high that Barca could challenge at home and in Europe this season. Xavi’s side won’t win the Champions League in 2022-23 but are now just one point adrift of Real Madrid in La Liga and will hope to go all the way in the Europa League.

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FC Barcelona News: 31 October 2022

By Unknown 4:03 ص No comments

Chelsea FC v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League — Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images

A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and rumors

Lewandowski and Ter Stegen in the groove - FC Barcelona
Lewandowski and Ter Stegen continue to grab the headlines at FC Barcelona. Both players are key to Xavi's plans, with the stats also backing this up, after they extended their respective runs in the win at Valencia (0-1).

Medical updates on Eric and Kounde - FC Barcelona
The Catalan centre back has an external obturator muscle strain in his left hip while the French centre back has a biceps femoris muscle strain in his left thigh

When and where to watch Viktoria Plzeň v FC Barcelona - FC Barcelona
Barça travel to the Czech Republic for the final Champions League group stage game to face Viktoria Plzeň at the Doosan Arena on Tuesday, 1 November, kick off 9pm local time. If you need to know what time that is where you are in the world, this page should help you to do just that.

Barcelona recover their hope for La Liga! - SPORT
Barcelona left the Bernabeu beaten in the Clasico hurt by the big disappointment of that game and their draw with Inter which left them basically out of the Champions League. In Madrid, they slipped in La Liga and lost some of the hope that that project garnered in the summer.

Tying down Alejandro Balde a priority for Barca - SPORT
Barcelona youth players are the big plus from this season. The club have managed to get a lot of quality talent at a young age and Alex Balde, the left back, is one of those who is shining. His deal expires in 2024 and the sports area want to tie him down by the end of the year, it's an absolute priority.

Pique and Marcos Alonso will be Barça's 'forced' defence in Plzen - SPORT
Nothing is at stake for Barça this Tuesday in Plzen, where they will close the group stage of the Champions League knowing they are out of the top continental competition. Xavi Hernández, as expected, will make many changes and will give opportunities to those who have had fewer minutes this season and perhaps also to the youngsters from the academy.

Ngolo Kante on Barcelona radar as Chelsea negotiations continue to stall - Football España
Barcelona’s hunt for a new option to operate at the base of their midfield continues and as they work out the finances involved with missing out on the knockout stages of the Champions League, potential free transfers might play an important role in their winter window and next summer.

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Inter Miami tipped to win race to land Lionel Messi

By Unknown 3:02 ص No comments

Paris Saint-Germain v ESTAC Troyes - Ligue 1 — Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

The MLS side are ‘increasingly confident’ of signing the GOAT

Lionel Messi continues to be linked with a return to Barcelona when his PSG contract expires at the end of the season but the latest update suggests he could be off to Inter Miami.

The MLS side are said to be “increasingly confident” of landing the GOAT at the end of the current campaign, as reported by David Ornstein at The Athletic.

Messi is thought to have several options for next season but “the most advanced of those options is understood to be Inter Miami.”

The report even goes as far as to say that the club “now expect Messi to arrive and hope he will sign in the coming months.”

Talks between both parties have been ongoing for “a couple of years” and are expected to continue again after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Messi’s family already own a property in Miami and the city is said to be “a source of attraction” for the 35-year-old’s family.

The GOAT is currently enjoying a superb season with PSG after a largely underwhelming first campaign in the French capital after his shock move.

Messi has seven goals and 10 assists in 12 Ligue 1 games and four in four in the Champions League for Christophe Galtier’s side.

Reports have claimed that Joan Laporta will try to bring Messi back next year and vice president Eduard Romeu has even said the club will be able to make it happen financially.

Messi’s not expected to make a decision until after the World Cup. The GOAT will be gunning for glory with Argentina in what will be his last chance to win the tournament.

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How will Barça line up against Plzen?

By Unknown 2:02 ص No comments

Barça finish the group stage in the Czech Republic

Barcelona play the most meaningless game of the entire season on Tuesday evening when they travel to the Czech Republic to face Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League group stage finale.

Barça’s loss to Bayern Munich last week sent them to the Europa League for the second straight season, but they’ll still hear the Champions League anthem one more time against one of the worst teams in the competition’s recent history.

Plzen come home for their final game in Europe this season and will look for a famous result in front of their fans against one of the biggest clubs in the universe. Here’s how we think Barça will line up on Tuesday.

Defense

FC Barcelona v Manchester City - Friendly Match

Xavi Hernández is expected to leave out all of the players who have played big minutes recently, with some of them not even making the trip. Big names will be rested in this one, but the back four essentially picks itself.

Jules Kounde and Eric García both left the game against Valencia injured, and while neither is expected to be serious there is no chance the two starting center-backs will play in this one. Andreas Christensen might be medically cleared but won’t be risked from the start, and Alejandro Balde is a starter now and is expected to be rested as well.

That leaves only four defenders: Héctor Bellerín at right-back, Gerard Piqué and Marcos Alonso at center-back and Jordi Alba at left-back. They are the most likely starters, and expect backup goalkeeper Iñaki Peña to also be given a rare start to give Marc-André ter Stegen a much-needed night off.

Midfield

FC Barcelona v FC Bayern München: Group C - UEFA Champions League

Pedri will be one of the players to be given a night off, and the Spaniard might not even make the trip. Sergio Busquets is suspended, so Marc Casadó and Álvaro Sanz will be called up from Barça B to make up the numbers in midfield.

Casadó and Sanz are unlikely to start, and with Pedri getting a rest there are only three midfielders left: Frenkie De Jong, Gavi and Franck Kessie. De Jong has been playing more minutes in his best position lately, and will do so once again if he starts on Tuesday. Kessie hasn’t played a lot this month and needs to get in rhythm, and Gavi will probably not play all 90 minutes but is still expected to start.

Attack

Robert Lewandowski will be given a much-deserved night off on Tuesday, and won’t travel with the squad either. Memphis Depay could be given the medical green light for this one, so Lewandowski’s backup will likely be making the trip.

But Memphis’ case is similar to Christensen and the two won’t be risked from the start in their return from injury, and Ousmane Dembélé won’t start this one. That leaves a front three of Raphinha on the right, Ansu Fati on the left and Ferran Torres through the middle. That is an interesting combination that we haven’t seen yet this season, with three attacking players that need minutes and confidence right now.

Possible XI: Peña; Bellerín, Piqué, Alonso, Alba; Kessie, De Jong, Gavi; Raphinha, Ferran, Fati (4-3-3)

How do you think Barcelona should line up against Viktoria Plzen? Let us know your thoughts, predictions and teams in the comments below!

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Kessie’s agent slams rumors midfielder wants to leave

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FC Barcelona v Bayern Munchen - UEFA Champions League — Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images

The midfielder only arrived in the summer

Franck Kessie’s agent has hit back at rumors the midfielder is already looking for a way out of Barcelona after struggling for game time.

The Ivorian only arrived in the summer but there have been reports he wants to head back to Italy in order to play regularly.

Kessie’s agent, George Atangana, has been asked about the speculation and reckons it’s not true and the midfielder is still adapting to life at Barca.

“They are fake news, totally false,” he said. “Kessie is very happy at Barça. He’s only been at the club for a few months and is still in the process of adapting to the team and the Barça style of play, which is different from other clubs, and, therefore, it takes time.

“Kessie will continue working to earn a place in the team. He is not a player who gives up easily. He had other offers in the summer and bet heavily on Barça.”

Source | Mundo Deportivo

The 25-year-old has only started twice for Barca this season and faces a real battle for minutes with Sergio Busquets, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Pedri around. However, he is likely to feature in midweek when Barca take on Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League.

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Lewandowski is the key to La Liga success for Barcelona

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In the right place…

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Again.

Robert Lewandowski just has that instinctive knack of being in the right place at the right time, and on this occasion, his intervention was worth all three points against Valencia.

There are very few players in world football that can be described as genuinely elite, and despite his advancing years, the Poland international very definitely falls into that bracket.

Give him the ball and invariably he will score. It’s as simple as that.

Elite level of fitness, elite mentality and elite in his remarkable consistency when it comes to executing chances.

At Mestalla on Saturday, the chance was laid on a plate for him, and that’s the way to get the maximum from him; service.

Get those wide men working and delivering and Lewy will easily hit the 40-goal a season mark.

What really sets him apart is his work rate of course.

Not a show pony who is more interested in preening rather than probing the credentials of the opposition defence, the striker is more than happy to get stuck in and put in a shift.

Leading by example and then some.

As signings go, at this stage in any event, things couldn’t have been much better. Often described as a ‘killer,’ now Barca fans can see up close the full array of skills that the big man has, and how effortlessly he puts them into practice.

Tap-ins, headers, volleys, shots on the turn… Lewandowski has them all in his armoury.

Lest we forget that the move to Catalonia was a huge risk on the players part too. Could he really do the business in another elite league? Why even attempt to do so when he had it made in Bavaria?

His willingness speaks volumes about his desire. A desire which has already seen him ruin many La Liga defences this season.

Even if his Camp Nou career only lasts for a couple of seasons, his experience and nous will be invaluable for the likes of Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres.

Youngsters who will have already learned a lot about movement off the ball, where and how to find space etc.

All in all, Lewy’s transfer has been an unqualified success and long may it continue.

If the Blaugranes are able to march on to their first league title in a few seasons, it will have Robert Lewandowski’s name stamped all over it.

That’s worth €50m of anyone’s money…

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Barcelona offer injury updates on Eric and Jules Kounde

By Unknown 11:02 ص No comments

Valencia v FC Barcelona - La Liga Santander — Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images

The two players have been ruled out

Barcelona have offered updates on Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde after both players were forced off during Saturday’s win over Valencia.

The Catalans have confirmed the nature of both injuries but have not said how much time either player will miss. However, it seem both players have only suffered minor muscle strains and should be available for next Saturday’s La Liga match against Almeria.

“Tests carried out this morning, Sunday 30 October, concluded that first team player Eric Garcia has an external obturator muscle strain in his left hip. He is not available for selection and his recovery will determine his return.

“Tests carried out this morning, Sunday 30 October, concluded that first team player Jules Kounde has a biceps femoris muscle strain in his left thigh. He is not available for selection and his recovery will determine his return.”

Source | FC Barcelona

The injuries mean that Xavi will have to make changes to his backline for Viktoria Plzen in midweek. Gerard Pique is likely to start and could partner Marcos Alonso or Andreas Christensen at center-back. The Dane has been out of action since the start of the month but is expected back shortly.

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Raphinha’s never give up attitude rescues Barcelona

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The Brazilian’s moment of quality shows he has much more to give

The beginning of life at Barcelona for Raphinha has been a curious case.

Many fans and pundits compare him to Ferran Torres.

Both came at a steep cost, and at the request of Xavi as wingers who could fit his system. More on that in a minute.

Their past jobs, however, couldn’t have been more different.

Ferran struggled to break into the Manchester City lineup. In spite of receiving praise from Pep Guardiola for his professionalism and intelligence, he could never surpass the world class talent in front of him.

Playing for Pep had its benefits though, providing an education that made it easy for him to adapt to the Barcelona system once he arrived.

Raphinha burst onto the world stage as a star under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United. Later on, when Bielsa was replaced by Jesse Marsch, the Brazilian was the main reason his club was able to avoid relegation.

Brentford v Leeds United - Premier League

No one can deny Raphinha’s accomplishments in England. He was a creative force on the field, and one of the very best players in the Premier League. You’d think if he can do it there, he can do it anywhere.

So what’s the difference? Why was he so successful under Bielsa and Marsch, while looking like a shell of himself under Xavi?

Like Philippe Coutinho before him, the answer is the system, and the Barca way of playing couldn’t be any more different than the show El Loco produced at Elland Road.

Like Coutinho, Raphinha is overflowing with quality. Unlike his Brazilian compatriot, Raphinha also has power, physicality, and a competitive drive to win games.

That’s what we saw against Valencia on Saturday. Even while his struggles on the wing continued, Raphinha didn’t give up.

He knew how important this game was to Barcelona’s chances of staying in step with Real Madrid to compete for a La Liga title that is a must win for the club at this point.

Raphinha is a competitor. He fights hard until the end, and you can’t question his commitment to the badge on his shirt. If you ever need a reminder, just recall this image of him celebrating with fans after saving them from relegation at the death.

Raphinha also has the skill to do something big at any moment. As the minutes were counting down on Saturday, and you sensed many of the Barcelona players were already throwing in the towel, Raphinha kept going and made the perfect pass to find the finisher.

More of this please. But in order to do that, you need to give some of these great players the freedom to step outside of a system that isn’t clicking at the moment.

Enter Xavi.

The good news, unlike in years past, Barcelona is finding ways to win games domestically, even when their performances are bad.

When all is said and done, and you look back at the season, these are the moments that win the titles.

Just ask Real Madrid who have plenty of bad games, but unlike Barcelona, they historically find a way to pull through.

Why? In part, because they usually aren’t married to a system. Down the stretch, they are able to rely on the talent on the field, instead of reverting back to patterns of play that haven’t been working.

For a player like Raphinha to be successful, he needs more freedom. Right now, he is shackled to a structure that makes it predictable and easy for opponents to defend him.

Frankly, it’s the same for Ousmane Dembele. This is another player who, like Raphinha, has a unique mix of skill and raw physical ability, and who is more flexible tactically than Xavi has given him credit for.

Maybe it’s time to experiment with inverted wingers?

Wing backs?

So long as Xavi develops the courage to try something new, I’ll be encouraged. Because right now the system itself is what’s holding the team back.

But for now, Barcelona fans will be happy to see that the team continues to win in La Liga.

1-0 results against Valencia, Mallorca, and Celta Vigo, while frustrating, are also a sign of a team that’s ready to make a run, assuming this is them on their off days.

But this team is capable of so much more.

Raphinha in particular is not a player to give up on. Barcelona needs the fighters, and we also want the players capable of sparkling, because we expect to be entertained by our football as well.

I have a feeling that Raphinha will show just what he is capable of at the World Cup as Brazil makes a deep run in the tournament. In fact, he may be one of the most important players on that team.

If he can do it there, under the pressure of such a demanding national team, he can succeed at Barcelona too.

Xavi doesn’t need to build a system around him, but he should at least make sure his system isn’t holding his players back.

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Jules Kounde offers injury update after going off at Valencia

By Unknown 8:02 ص No comments

The defender has some good news

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde played down injury fears after going off against Valencia in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Mestalla.

The Frenchman joined Eric Garcia in being forced off the pitch after picking up a problem but does not think it’s anything serious.

“I’m doing fine, it doesn’t seem like anything serious, it’s an overload,” he said.

“We’re on a crazy path with so many games, every three days, but we have to look after ourselves. I think there are too many games, but we are not in charge.”

“It was very difficult. Valencia were very good. They were aggressive and pressed to try and take the ball off us and block our passes. It was importanat to win. Doing it here is always hard but the team deserved it.”

Source | DAZN

Kounde’s comments come as a relief as Barca have struggled with injuries, particularly in defense this season already.

It seems unlikely the Frenchman will be risked in midweek against Viktoria Plzen but hopefully he will be available for Barca’s clash with Almeria on Saturday.

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FC Barcelona News: 30 October 2022

By Unknown 3:02 ص No comments

PSG vs Troyes AC: French Ligue 1 — Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and rumors

Valencia 0-1 FC Barcelona: Lewandowski late show rescues three golden points - FC Barcelona
Lewandowski goal in injury time rescues three golden points from an intense game at Mestalla

Eric Garcia suffers groin strain - FC Barcelona
Eric Garcia was forced to leave the field shortly before half-time in Saturday's game with Valencia after feeling pain in the groin. Further tests will be required to determine the full extent of the injury.

Xavi: "This win is priceless" - FC Barcelona
Raphinha, De Jong, Kounde and coach Xavi Hernández value the victory at Mestalla

Raphinha: Teams that want to win the league have to fight until the end - SPORT
Brazilian forward Raphinha was one of the protagonists of Barcelona's victory at the Mestalla against Valencia as he set up Robert Lewandowski to score the only goal of the match late on.

Barcelona hoping to sell Memphis Depay in January - SPORT
Barcelona are preparing for the January market. Xavi has said himself that the sporting side are already working on it. Before any players can arrive, some must leave.

Alejandro Balde has offers from Premier League sides - SPORT
Alex Balde has become one of the good news stories of the season. The youth player is the club's starting left-back ahead of Marcos Alonso and Jordi Alba. Balde's explosion has not gone unnoticed in the Premier League and two clubs are alert to see what happens with his Barca renewal.

Barcelona’s plan to sign Leo Messi in January - SPORT
Taking advantage of being in the 1 to 1 La Liga spending rule at the moment, Barcelona are thinking about accelerating a potential return for Lionel Messi to the winter window. Just after the draw with Inter Milan which left Barcelona with one foot out of the Champions League, president Joan Laporta announced he had a plan with Lionel Messi.

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Raphinha praises Barca’s fighting spirit after Valencia win

By Unknown 10:02 م No comments

The Brazilian set up Lewandowski for the winner

Raphinha praised Barcelona’s fighting spirit after coming off the bench and teeing up Robert Lewandowski for the winner against Valencia on Saturday.

The Brazilian has been forced onto the sidelines in recent games but played a key role at Mestalla and spoke about the importance of the result after the match.

“We knew the importance of the game and the importance of picking up three points.

“The teams that want to fight for the title have to fight until the last minute and that is what we have done,” he said.

“We were able to get the victory. It was hard fought. We had to fight for every ball until the last minute.

“Valencia are a great team, you have to respect them a lot. They played a good game, but we were able to get the three points.”

The win puts Barcelona back on top of La Liga but they will be knocked off top spot on Sunday if Real Madrid avoid defeat against Girona.

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Xavi says Barcelona were anxious against Valencia

By Unknown 6:02 م No comments

The Champions League defeat was a factor

Barcelona coach Xavi felt his side played with anxiety against Valencia after being knocked out of the Champions League in midweek.

The game looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw until Robert Lewandowski scored the winner in stoppage time for the visitors.

Xavi spoke about the match after the final whistle and felt his team had deserved to win even if they were a little inhibited at Mestalla.

“We played with a little bit of anxiety. The Champions League has affected us a little,” he said.

“We played well, but after three quarters the decision-making was bad and it was the result of anxiety.

“I am happy for the victory, the players deserve it. It gives us confidence and morale, we become leaders. We want to finish well (before the World Cup), as high as possible, and put pressure on Madrid.”

Xavi also played down injury fears about Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde, who both went off injured, and is hopeful the duo have not suffered serious injuries.

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Garcia and Kounde forced off injured for Barca

By Unknown 3:02 م No comments

Valencia vs Barça: LIVE BLOG!

By Unknown 9:03 ص No comments

Valencia CF v RC Celta de Vigo - La Liga Santander — Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images

Join us for another Barcelona La Liga adventure!

WELCOME TO THE ESTADIO DE MESTALLA!!! The spectacular home of Valencia is the site of a huge La Liga game between the hosts and Barcelona, who come into this one looking to rebound from the painful defeat with a crucial victory in the league that will keep them close to leaders Real Madrid in the race for the title. But Valencia always provide a brutal test in front of their amazing fans, and this won’t be easy for the Catalans. This should be fun, and you’re welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action. Vamos!

(Note: the comments will be open only when the team news come out, because our commenter people love commenting and sometimes there are too many comments in the comments section)

MATCH INFO

Competition/Round: 2022-23 La Liga, Matchday 12

Date/Time: Saturday, October 29, 2022, 9pm CET (Barcelona), 8pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 12.30am IST (India, Sunday)

Venue: Estadio de Mestalla, València, Spain

Referee: Ricardo De Burgos Bengoechea

VAR: Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva

HOW TO WATCH, STREAM LA LIGA

How to watch on TV: ESPN Deportes (USA), Not Available (UK, Canada, Spain), SuperSport (Nigeria), Sports18 (India), others

How to watch online: ESPN+ (USA), LaLigaTV (UK), DAZN (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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FC Barcelona News: 29 October 2022

By Unknown 3:02 ص No comments

FC Salzburg v Chelsea FC: Group E - UEFA Champions League — Photo by Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and rumors

PREVIEW | Valencia CF v FC Barcelona - FC Barcelona
Following disappointment in the Champions League, Barça’s attention now switches back to Liga, which has generally been a much happier story thus far with just one defeat in 11 games, including two very sold 3-0 victories over Villarreal and Athletic Club in the last two outings.

The squad for Valencia v FC Barcelona - FC Barcelona
The games continue to come thick and fast for Barça with a trip to Mestalla on Saturday, kick off 9pm CEST, to face Valencia in La Liga. Xavi Hernández's team need a win to keep on the heels of leaders Real Madrid in the table.

The lowdown on Valencia CF - FC Barcelona
After three games in a row at Spotify Camp Nou, Barça now make the relatively short trip south to take on Valencia. Here’s our lowdown on the club they call Los Che.

Xavi: 'We are now completely focused on the league' - FC Barcelona
The Barça coach expects a Valencia side who will make life difficult in Mestalla under coach Gattuso

Ansu may get a golden chance at Mestalla - SPORT
The visit to Mestalla could be a big opportunity for Ansu Fati. Although we are waiting for Xavi Hernandez to confirm his plans, it could well be Ansu’s 75th appearance for Barcelona - and just his fourth start of the current season.

Barcelona, not happy with Memphis Depay and Raphinha - SPORT
Some at Barcelona are not happy with the attitude of Memphis Depay and Raphinha. The Dutch player has taken longer than estimated to come back from injury after a hamstring problem, and some are suspecting he’s thinking more about the World Cup than the Barca calendar.

Barcelona reach agreement with Endrick's camp - SPORT
Barca are not out of the battle for Endrick, the 16-year-old rising star at Palmeiras. PSG are in the lead and the Madrid media cavern is already announcing with great fanfare that Florentino Perez will fight with the Qatari-owned sports club for Endrick.

Jorginho's commitment to Barcelona as Chelsea contract runs down - SPORT
Chelsea midfielder Jorginho is one of the most wanted players on the market because the 30-year-old is available on a free next summer when his contract at Stamford Bridge expires.

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Xavi Simons: Barca don’t spend much time in the gym

By Unknown 4:02 م No comments

PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal FC: Group A - UEFA Europa League — Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

The club’s former wonderkid has shared his thoughts

PSV midfielder Xavi Simons is no stranger to how things were run at Barcelona.

The youngster was one of the club’s most highly-rated talents but moved to PSG in 2019 after his contract expired. Simons has since moved to the Netherlands to play at PSV and wasn’t shy about the differences of training styles at clubs.

“Believe me, at Barcelona you don’t do a lot of work in the gym, you work with the ball, but not in the gym,” he said.

“When I went to PSG, I discovered that there they worked in the gym. I saw the differences directly: the French league was very physical.”

Simons | Source

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard from ex-players that training intensity at Barcelona wasn’t what it needed to be in previous years. That seems to be changing under Xavi so hopefully, the gym is getting well used.

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Podcast: Who’s to blame for Barca’s European embarrassment?

By Unknown 2:02 م No comments

Chatting with Nick Batlle

Today on the Barca Blaugranes podcast, I’m joined by Nick Batlle to chat about Barcelona’s horrid week. The Blaugrana were officially knocked out of the Champions League and then went out and embarrassed themselves against Bayern Munich, yet again. With a Clasico loss and now Europa League football on the agenda once again, the past couple of weeks have been horrid for Barcelona and Xavi. Who’s to blame?

You can check out the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more here.

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Kante the new favorite to replace Busquets at Barca - report

By Unknown 10:02 ص No comments

The hunt continues....

Barcelona’s search for a new midfielder to replace Sergio Busquets continues with Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante reportedly the new favorite.

Kante is apparently the preferred choice among the sports management and coaching staff, according to Relevo.

The 31-year-old Frenchman is one of several midfielders to have been linked with a Camp Nou move.

Ruben Neves has previously been a favorite, according to the rumor mill, as has Martin Zubimendi. Enzo Fernandez has also been mentioned in recent weeks.

Kante has enjoyed a brilliant career in the Premier League, winning the title with Chelsea and Leicester and also helping the Blues to the Champions League.

The midfielder was also part of the France squad that won the 2018 World Cup but is set to miss the tournament in Qatar due to injury.

Indeed Kante has struggled with injury recently which may be of concern to Barcelona if he really is a target for the Catalans.

The rumor mill thinks Barca will try hard for a new midfielder in January, particularly after going out of the Champions League early for a second straight season.

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Quique Setien says he regrets not leaving Barcelona sooner

By Unknown 9:03 ص No comments

Barcelona v Bayern Munich - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final — Photo by UEFA Handout/UEFA via Getty Images

‘There are things you can’t change because they are so established’

Ex-Barcelona coach and Villarreal boss Quique Setien chatted about his former club this week. Setien made it clear that he regrets how things went at Barcelona but makes it clear how the dream of coaching Barcelona wasn't as expected.

“Barca was the team I had always dreamed of coaching, but if you see there are things you can’t change, you should leave,” he said.

“But it is an opportunity you have dreamed of forever. And arriving through one door and leaving through another the next month like [Jose Antonio] Camacho did [at Real Madrid in 1998]...

“There was a moment I thought about it, but you overcome those moments. If there are things that don’t fit, you should not be a hypocrite and you should go.

“When you arrive at a club that has been winning everything for 14 years... there are some habits that I had never seen.

“There are things you can’t change because they are so established and it is not an easy situation. It was a huge learning experience. I would do it again, without a doubt. You learn from everything to get better in the future.”

Setien | Source

There’s no doubt that Setien came at an unfortunate time in the club’s history, but when your dream club comes calling, you answer the phone.

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Xavi talks Nico, Balde and Pedri ahead of Valencia

By Unknown 7:02 ص No comments

Here’s the latest from the Barcelona boss

Xavi was back in front of the press on Friday to discuss all things Barcelona ahead of Saturday’s La Liga clash against Valencia.

The Barcelona boss spoke about several of his players, picking his team up after defeat to Bayern, and how he’s feeling at the club right now.

Here are the best bits:

Xavi on Valencia

It will be an attacking, intense and very defensive opposition. It’s a team that pushes really well. They attack really well, it will be exciting for the fans, the coaches will have to suffer a bit more. But we shouldn’t forget we’re in a really good dynamic in the league. We need to move on from the Champions League.

Xavi on using four midfielders

It depends on the game and what we want at that moment. We have more control of the game, more dominance and we don’t lose as many balls. It is an alternative that we can use.

Xavi on his message to the players

We have talked about changing the chip and that we are in a good dynamic in La Liga. We have been self-critical but we have been lacking in the big games. We have to turn the page and think about La Liga. We are fighting for the title and this is the dynamic to follow. We are together in the changing room and tomorrow is a great moment to react.

Xavi on picking his team up

I’m still positive. It’s a big blow in the Champions League, but we can have a good season. We’re in a good dynamic in La Liga, beating strong rivals. Tomorrow is another test. We have to show pride and character.

Xavi on Nico Gonzalez

We’re following him and he’s made significant growth. He’s doing perfectly because it’s practically the same system. He’s at Valencia and he has competition, but he’s being important. He decided to go play and get minutes and he will get get them.

Xavi on the World Cup break

We think that there are two seasons in one. We will be a month and a half without competition. Nobody has experienced it before in football. We will try to adapt.

Xavi on Gavi

He’s fine, he has a small knock but he never complains. He always wants to play. He’s available tomorrow, but we’ll see what he can play.

Xavi on Pablo Torre

He’s playing really well. He hasn’t let his head drop. He’s a very strong player. He can play between the lines, he can shoot, the problem is he hasn’t had many minutes. He will go on and play, we have a lot of confidence in him, and he’s a player that will be great.

Xavi on the ‘fear clause’ in Nico’s contract

I spoke with Nico and I thought he would have minutes here, but he wanted to play more. He’s our player. It’s a good decision by the club. We trust Nico a lot and we don’t want him to harm us. It’s a positive point and it’s a decision that we made.

Xavi on Barcelona’s patience

We will not stop working and I feel total confidence in the project. It is not what we expected. We have very high expectations and we have lost the Champions League. We are not in a good situation, we have to put up with the criticism and keep working. I have the confidence of the president, the board, Mateu and Jordi. I have no choice but to continue working.

Xavi on Balde

He’s at an extraordinary level. He’s shown a lot of maturity in the match, has great potentially, physically, technically, tactically, he’s improving a lot. He has great potential for the present and the future.

Xavi on if Nico could return in January

Yes, why not? We’ll talk to him. There’s still time for the winter market and we’ll have a break to work on it. We’ll decide how the team is doing. Now we’re focused on the four remaining games.

Xavi on Memphis and Christensen

They are pretty much ready. We will try and have them ready for Tuesday. To give them minutes without risk. We will maybe see them play against Almeria.

Xavi on Pedri

I see him happy, he is a key footballer for us. He has everything to succeed and he has to make the most of his potential. Despite being eliminated from the Champions League, he’s at a great level

Xavi on Bellerin

Sergi Roberto and Hector have a similar profile. He looks good physically. In the last game we all suffered.

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FC Barcelona News: 28 October 2022

By Unknown 3:02 ص No comments

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leicester City - Premier League — Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and rumors

Thursday recovery session - FC Barcelona
The morning after losing 3-0 at home to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, the FC Barcelona returned to training at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.

When and where to watch Valencia v FC Barcelona - FC Barcelona
LaLiga returns on Saturday and Barça travel to the Mestalla stadium to play Valencia (kick off 9.00pm CEST) - always a tough game on the road, but the Catalans will be expecting to continue their good form in the league.

Rosengärd 1-4 Barça: Second group stage win - FC Barcelona
Another three points in the bank. Barça beat a combative Rosengärd 1-4 with braces for Aitana and Mariona for their second group stage win from two in the Champions League group stage. The Catalans dominated the game, particularly the first half, and Marta Torrejón became the first player to reach 63 games for the club in the competition.

Barcelona preparing reinforcements for Xavi in January - SPORT
The president of Barça, Joan Laporta, already said it a few days ago: Barça are ready to strengthen in January and the decision has already been made to try to go out on the market to sign a minimum of two players.

Riyadh will once again host Spanish Super Cup in January 2023 - SPORT
Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, will once again host the next edition of the 2023 Spanish Super Cup, which will be held from January 11 to 15, repeating the 'Final Four' format played in the last two seasons.

Thierry Henry: If Barca had another coach, the volcano would erupt - SPORT
Barcelona’s situation in Europe is leaving nobody without an opinion. The Catalans are out in the group phase, once again. One of those who analysed the situation was Thierry Henry. The former Barcelona player confessed that “the volcano would erupt” if another coach was in charge than Xavi.

Barcelona begin to negotiate January exits of Pique and Alba - SPORT
Barcelona want to improve the team again during the January window and it is considered essential there are exits in the coming months. The club has already begun to negotiate the departure of Gerard Piqué and Jordi Alba for and they hope to reach an agreement with both players so that they leave.

There is too much noise around Barcelona forward Ansu Fati - SPORT
There is too much noise around Barcelona Ansu Fati. That the player is impatient and wants to play more, that his camp are worried and even that Jorge Mendes, his agent, has warned the club if they don't change his status in the team, they will consider leaving next summer.

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‘We will fight’ - Kounde responds to Barca’s loss to Bayern

By Unknown 8:02 م No comments

Still plenty to play for this season

Jules Kounde has reacted to Barcelona’s Champions League exit and sounds pretty upbeat.

The Catalans were knocked out on Wednesday when Inter beat Viktoria Plzen. Xavi’s side then slipped to a 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich.

Kounde admits it’s deeply disappointing to go out of Europe’s top competition but insists there is still plenty left to play for this season.

“Very disappointed with this match and our run in this competition,” he wrote on Twitter.

“We were not able to respond to the demands of the Champions League.

“But there are still many beautiful things to fight for, and we will fight. Thanks Culers for your unfailing support.”

Muy decepcionado con este partido y nuestro recorrido en esta competición.
No fuimos capaces de responder a las exigencias de la Champions.
Pero todavía queda muchas cosas hermosas por las que luchar, y lucharemos.
Gracias Culers por vuestro apoyo indefectible #TrustTheProcess pic.twitter.com/z0iC8z47xY
— Jules Kounde (@jkeey4) October 27, 2022

Kounde and Barcelona must bounce back again at the weekend against Valencia at Mestalla.

Yet the Catalans giants have been in good form in La Liga with big wins against Villarreal and Athletic in their last two matches.

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Laporta not blaming Xavi or Barca players for UCL exit

By Unknown 5:02 م No comments

FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - LaLiga Santander — Photo by Joan Valls/Urbanandsport /NurPhoto via Getty Images

Time to look forward

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has been doing his best to put on a brave face after seeing his team knocked out of the Champions League despite a summer of big spending.

Laporta and his board pulled a series of levers in order to bring players such as Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde to the Camp Nou but will now drop into the Europa League.

The Barcelona president spoke after the match and insisted he wasn’t blaming the players or Xavi for the team’s failure in Europe’s top competition.

“It’s a shame, but you can’t blame the players or the coach for anything. We have to look forward, because we have La Liga and other competitions left,” he said.

“This is a young project in which from the beginning we knew we were going to have ups and downs. The league remains and we have to show that we continue.

“La Liga is very important and we have it close. The message is to look forward. This has already happened.”

Barca’s hopes of silverware this season now lie in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Europa League. The team made it to the quarter-finals of the Europa League last season before being knocked out by eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt.

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Memphis & Christensen not expected to return against Valencia

By Unknown 1:02 م No comments

FC Barcelona v FC Viktoria Plzen - UEFA Champions League — Photo by ADRIA PUIG/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The duo are still not fully fit

Barcelona head to Mestalla on Saturday to take on Valencia in La Liga but are still expected to be without Andreas Christensen and Memphis Depay for the match.

The duo had been tipped to return to action this weekend but it seems the fixture will come too soon for both players, according to Diario AS.

Barca are said to be a bit surprised by how long it is taking both players to return to full fitness after injury.

Christenen suffered an ankle problem at the start of the month and was expected to be out for three weeks but is still not quite ready.

Meanwhile, Memphis picked up a problem on international duty at the end of September and has already missed over a month of action.

Barca think that both players may be taking their recoveries very carefully indeed in order to avoid any relapses which could see them miss the World Cup.

The Catalans have four more fixtures before domestic competition is due to pause for the competition in Qatar with ganes against Viktoria Plzen, Almeria, and Osasuna to follow Saturday’s match.

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Barça hoping Piqué and Alba will leave in January - report

By Unknown 11:03 ص No comments

Negotiations are reportedly taking place

The fallout from Barcelona’s early Champions League exit appears to have begun in earnest with reports already flying about regarding the futures of several players.

Diario Sport are reporting that Barcelona are already negotiating with Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba about the possibility of a January exit.

Both players have slipped down the pecking order this season and are no longer guaranteed starters under Xavi at the Camp Nou.

The report reckons Barca will have to pay out €145 million if both players see out their contracts but are hoping to reach some sort of agreement with the duo.

Pique has previously said he’d step aside if he’s no longer wanted at the Camp Nou and has only really played this season due to the injury problems Barca have suffered in defense.

Meanwhile, Alba has lost his place to teenager Alejandro Balde and also has competition from summer signing Marcos Alonso for his spot.

Sport reckon the left-back does not want to leave, and he’s already admitted he was pretty annoyed by the exit rumors that appeared at the end of the last transfer window.

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Barca ‘volcano would have erupted’ without Xavi in charge - Henry

By Unknown 9:03 ص No comments

The Frenchman is backing the coach

Former Barcelona striker Thierry Henry has backed Xavi and says the club would be in a worse situation without the midfielder in charge.

Xavi is in the spotlight after Barca failed to qualify from the group stages of the Champions League in midweek for the second season in a row.

Henry says Xavi has a lot on his plate being Barcelona boss but thinks things would be a lot worse if the club legend were not at the helm.

“Look at the end of the day result matters, we’ve seen it with Steven Gerrard. The problem at Barcelona is that you don’t have time,” he said.

“But yeah, let me tell you if it was another coach right now at Barcelona, dealing with what’s happening, it would have been a volcano even more than what it is... the volcano would have erupted. But because it’s Xavi, it’s kind of okay.”

“They are second in the league. We all know [Robert] Lewandowski should have scored at Bayern but it’s not his [Xavi] fault that Lewandowski missed three chances and it’s not his fault if they didn’t call the penalty on [Denzel] Dumfries, but you’re the coach at Barcelona and you’re going to be judged.

“Barça have gambled on the Champions League and they need that money because of what they did in the summer.”

Source | CBS Sports

An early Champions League exit will prove costly for Barca both on and off the pitch, but Xavi must now rouse his troops for Saturday’s trip to Valencia.

The Catalans are only three points behind Real Madrid in La Liga and can’t afford to fall further behind if they are to challenge for the title.

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FC Barcelona News: 27 October 2022

By Unknown 3:02 ص No comments

A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and rumors

FC Barcelona 0-3 Bayern Munich: Disappointing exit from Champions League - FC Barcelona
The mood was despondent enough in the Barça camp before this game had started. The miracle all hopes had been pinned on had not happened. As everyone had feared, Inter Milan had beaten Viktoria Plzen, and beaten them soundly, 4-0.

Xavi: 'It's a tough moment' - FC Barcelona
Post-game reactions from Pedri and the Blaugrana coach after the defeat against Bayern München (0-3)

Ter Stegen on 'disappointment' of 'painful' Champions League KO - SPORT
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen spoke of the disappointment and pain at being knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday.

Xavi Hernandez admits Barcelona could not compete with Bayern Munich - Football España
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez reflected the mood at Camp Nou after another 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich and their elimination from the Champions League, sombre and melancholy. Inter’s win over Viktoria Plzen, which the Barcelona players watched as a group before their own fixture with Bayern Munich, had confirmed their exit from the Champions League. In 2023 they will drop into the Europa League for the second straight season.

Uruguay chief expects Ronald Araujo to make World Cup - Football España
Uruguay seem confident that Ronald Araujo will be fit for the World Cup in Qatar. The Barcelona defender is currently recovering from surgery after a muscle problem suffered on international duty at the end of September. The diagnosis given by many was that it would take him around eight weeks to recover, ruling him out of the first week of the World Cup.

Quique Setien admits to losing his way at Barcelona - Football España
Villarreal presented new manager Quique Setien to the press after he was appointed on Tuesday evening. The Cantabrian seemed keen to get underway and was enthusiastic about working with at a club like Villarreal.

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Pedri on group stage exit: We cannot compete in the Champions League

By Unknown 5:02 م No comments

The midfielder did not hold back on his post-match comments

Barcelona midfielder Pedri faced the media after the team’s embarrassing 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich, which combined with Inter Milan’s victory earlier in the day, ended Barça’s Champions League journey in the group stage with a game to spare.

It’s the second year in a row that Barça don’t make it past the group phase, and will once again play in the Europa League Playoffs starting in February. Pedri did not hold back in his post-match comments and said the team is not ready to compete at the highest level yet, but promised the side will fight for an European trophy this season even if it’s not the one they wanted.

“Of course this is a failure. Barça must make it past the group and we didn’t do it because we don’t deserve to continue in the Champions League. We are a very young team with a lot of margin for improvement, we have made great signings, but we cannot compete in the Champions League and it has been a big disappointment.

“We are missing a lot of things. We must be self-critical. We’re certain that we deserved more in the match in Munich, in Milan there were a couple of circumstances... but after seeing what happened tonight it is clear that we are not ready to compete in the Champions League.

“We need to be more calm with the ball in attack, it’s one of the biggest areas of improvement for us. And beyond the mentality, you can see Bayern are very strong physically and winning duels is very important in this competition. We have to improve many things.

“Xavi told us to show pride, he told us the supporters were with us and we had to show our strength at home, but it was very hard to play after knowing Inter had won. Now we have to give everything in the Europa League.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo

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Barça 0-3 Bayern: Recap

By Unknown 2:02 م No comments

FBL-EUR-C1-BARCELONA-BAYERN — Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images

A truly awful way to lose in Europe again

Barcelona alredy started Wednesday’s game against Bayern Munich eliminated from the Champions League with two group stage matches to spare, but proved against the Germans that they might just be Europa League level thanks to an awful 3-0 loss at the Spotify Camp Nou. The Blaugrana had zero fight, zero intensity and zero creativity in attack, and comfortably lost to a Bayern side that barely had to try for the entire 90 minutes.

FIRST HALF

The dejected, depressed body language of the Barcelona players during the Champions League anthem was a sign of things to come. The first 45 minutes were absolutely pathetic from a team that was clearly impacted by Inter Milan’s win and couldn’t muster any energy or intensity at all.

Only Ousmane Dembélé showed any real fighting spirit, and Robert Lewandowski was the only other playing willing to deal with Bayern physical play and at least attempt to be a threat. The Germans never needed to try that hard, and they still created big chances and found the back of the net against a terrible Barça defense.

The first goal came from a glorious through ball by Serge Gnabry to find Sadio Mané, who easily beat Héctor Bellerín for pace and chipped the ball over Marc-André ter Stegen to give Bayern the lead; 20 minutes later, a similar counter-attacking goal with another assist from Gnabry and a good finish by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.

Barça were almost given a lifeline just before hlaftime when Lewandowski went down under a challenge from Matthijs De Ligt, and referee Anthony Taylor gave a penalty before going to the VAR monitor and changing his mind despite not seeing any clear and obvious evidence to reverse his call.

At halftime a depressing Barça were deservedly down two goals against a Bayern team that barely needed to try, and unfortunately there were still 45 minutes to play.

SECOND HALF

Xavi Hernández, for reasons known only to him, made no changes at halftime and watched his team get even worse for 15 more minutes before deciding to make substitutions, but the game was beyond done at that point and Barça had absolutely no answers against a Bayern team that continued to sleepwalk their way to an easy win.

There was some slight improvement to the attacking play in the final 20 minutes once Ansu Fati came on, but nothing that truly scared the Germans. The final moments were legit depressing to watch, with a Barça side running after the ball like school kids while Bayern just passed it with ease just waiting for the end of the game.

There was still time to make things worse, however, as the visitors had a late corner and Benjamin Pavard found himself all alone inside the box to score Bayern’s third with the last touch of the game.

The final whistle came to finish Barça’s Champions League journey with another European embarassment. These have become the norm over the last half-decade, and this team is truly terrible to watch in continental play. What a horrible night.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Bellerín, Kounde (Eric 68’), Alonso, Balde; Kessie, Busquets (Ferran 59’), De Jong; Dembélé (Fati 68’), Lewandowski (Torre 82’), Pedri (Raphinha 59’)

Goals: None

Bayern: Ulreich; Mazraoui (Stanisic 79’), Upamecano (Pavard 63’), De Ligt, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka (Sabitzer 46’); Gnabry, Musiala (Gravenberch 67’), Mané; Choupo-Moting (Müller 63’)

Goals: Mané (10’), Choupo-Moting (31’), Pavard (90+5’)

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Barcelona officially knocked out of UCL as Inter dominate Plzen

By Unknown 12:02 م No comments

FC Internazionale v Viktoria Plzen: Group C - UEFA Champions League — Photo by Mattia Ozbot - Inter/Inter via Getty Images

Barça’s journey in Europe’s top competition is over

Barcelona have been officially knocked out of the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League with two group stage games to spare as Inter Milan thouroughly dominated Viktoria Plzen at San Siro in the early kickoff in Group C, easily winning 4-0 and clinching a spot in the Round of 16 in front of their home fans.

Because of Plzen’s loss, Barça are now guaranteed to finish third and will play in the Europa League Playoffs next February once they find out their opponents in next week’s draw.

⏰ RESULTS ⏰

Inter qualify for round of 16 in style

Porto through if Atlético don't win tonight...#UCL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 26, 2022

Plzen tried desperately to survive the Inter pressure and found themselves still tied 0-0 after the first 30 minutes, but a Henrikh Mkhitaryan header put the home team ahead and the floodgates were quickly open. Edin Dzeko made it 2-0 just before halftime with a tap-in inside the six-yard box, but there was more to come in the final period.

Dzeko doubled his tally on the night with an easy left-footed finish for the team’s third, and Romelu Lukaku came off the bench on his return from injury and scored an excellent goal to make it 4-0 and seal the deal.

Inter’s victory takes them to 10 points in Group C which ensures they are through even if they lose in Matchday 6 and Barça win their final two matches. If both teams end up equal on points, Inter have to head-to-head advantage over the Blaugrana and thus are guaranteed to finish second thanks to the tie-break rules.

Barça will face Bayern Munich at the Spotify Camp Nou in a few minutes, and because Plzen are already eliminated there is nothing to play for in the last two games other than pride. Barça will be in the Europa League next year, a sad ending to a Champions League campaign that began with a lot of excitement after the big summer signings.

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Barça vs Bayern: LIVE BLOG!

By Unknown 10:02 ص No comments

FC Barcelona v FC Internazionale: Group C - UEFA Champions League — Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images

Join us for another Barcelona European adventure!

WELCOME TO THE SPOTIFY CAMP NOU!!! The Greatest Stadium on Earth is the site of Barcelona’s final home game in the UEFA Champions League group stage as they welcome Group C leaders Bayern Munich for Matchday 5. Barça will most likely already be eliminated from this one before it even begins if Inter Milan beat Viktoria Plzen in the early kickoff, but Barça will still be looking for a big win against the German champions in front of the home crowd. This should be fun, and you’re welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action. Vamos!

(Note: the comments will be open only when the team news come out, because our commenter people love commenting and sometimes there are too many comments in the comments section)

MATCH INFO

Competition/Round: 2022-23 UEFA Champions League, Group C, Matchday 5

Date/Time: Wednesday, October 26, 2022, 9pm CET (Barcelona), 8pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 12.30am IST (India, Thursday)

Venue: Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Referee: Anthony Taylor (ENG)

VAR: Stuart Attwell (ENG)

HOW TO WATCH, STREAM UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

How to watch on TV: TUDN (USA), Not Available (Canada), BT Sport 5 (UK), Canal+ Sport 4 (Nigeria), SONY TEN 2 (India), Movistar Liga de Campeones (Spain), others

How to watch online: Paramount+ (USA), BT Sport.com (UK), Movistar+ (Spain), Sony LIV (India), 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:

Have fun with the game! Forever and ever, no matter the competition, VISCA EL BARÇA!

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FC Barcelona News: 26 October 2022

By Unknown 3:02 ص No comments

A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and rumors

The squad for FC Barcelona v Bayern Munich - FC Barcelona
Spotify Camp Nou is the venue once again on Wednesday for Match Day five of the Champions League with Bayern Munich the visitors, kick off at 9pm CEST. The clash could be key for Barça's hopes of making it out of the group stage with everything depending on the result of the day's earlier game in the group between Inter Milan and Viktoria Plzen.

Xavi: 'Whatever happens in Milan, we have to compete' - FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona will go into their Champions League clash against Bayern Munich knowing whether they still have chance of qualifying for the last sixteen, or whether it's a lost cause. What happens between Inter Milan and Viktoria Plzen in the game before is not in their hands. So how is the manager approaching a game with so much uncertainty attached?

Eric Garcia looking for '100 per cent focus' - FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona defender offers his opinions ahead of the Champions League class with Bayern Munich

Pedri: 'There's still a tiny bit of hope in the Champions League' - FC Barcelona
Barça take on Bayern Munich in what may or may not be a lost cause at Spotify Camp Nou. Pedri discussed the game and the situation at the club in general in an interview with Marca. We pick out some of the best bits.

Barça's Xavi: We will watch Inter vs. Viktoria together in dressing room - SPORT
Xavi Hernandez explained on Tuesday that the Barcelona squad will all watch the Inter-Viktoria Plzen game in the dressing room on Wednesday before their match against Bayern Munich.

Barça's Eric Garcia: Criticism and lack of respect does not affect me - SPORT
Barcelona defender Eric Garcia says the criticism he receives does not affect him. The Spain international is often singled out when things don't go well for Barça and that was again the case recently after the draw with Inter Milan and the loss to Real Madrid.

Alejandro Balde will be the next Barça player to renew his contract - SPORT
A lot of progress is being made with Alejandro Balde, the left-back who has been given an opportunity under Xavi and is making good use of his playing time. His contract ends in 2024 and an extension until 2027 is well on track.

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Barça squad named for Bayern

By Unknown 1:02 ص No comments

FC Barcelona v Villarreal CF - LaLiga Santander — Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Xavi Hernández has called up 21 players for Wednesday’s clash

The next Barcelona match is upon us! The Blaugrana welcome Bayern Munich to the Spotify Camp Nou for their final home game of the Champions League group stage, and Xavi Hernández has called up the following 21 players for Wednesday’s clash:

Goalkeepers: 1. Marc-André ter Stegen, 26. Iñaki Peña, 36. Arnau Tenas

Defenders: 2. Héctor Bellerín, 3. Gerard Piqué, 17. Marcos Alonso, 18. Jordi Alba, 23. Jules Kounde, 24. Eric García, 28. Alejandro Balde

Midfielders: 5. Sergio Busquets, 8. Pedri, 19. Franck Kessie, 21. Frenkie de Jong, 30. Gavi, 32. Pablo Torre

Forwards: 7. Ousmane Dembélé, 9. Robert Lewandowski, 10. Ansu Fati, 11. Ferran Torres, 22. Raphinha

There were some bad news for Barça in an otherwise great night against Athletic Bilbao as Sergi Roberto suffered an ugly-looking shoulder injury that will keep him out of the team for the next four weeks, and Roberto joins Ronald Araujo (groin), Andreas Christensen (ankle) and Memphis Depay (hamstring) on the list of players missing this one.

Predicted starting XI (4-3-3):

Ter Stegen; Kounde, Eric, Alonso, Alba; De Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Dembélé, Lewandowski, Ferran

The match kicks off at 9pm CET (Barcelona), 8pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 12.30am IST (India, Thursday), and you can join us to follow and comment all the action.

VISCA EL BARÇA!

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Barça vs Bayern: Preview

By Unknown 9:02 م No comments

Barça face the German champions at home looking for a big win even if the game means nothing

FC Barcelona (3rd, 4pts) vs FC Bayern Munich (1st, 12pts)

Competition/Round: 2022-23 UEFA Champions League, Group C, Matchday 5

Barcelona Outs & Doubts: Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Sergi Roberto, Memphis Depay (out)

Bayern Outs & Doubts: Manuel Neuer, Leroy Sané, Lucas Hernández, Bouna Sarr (out)

Date/Time: Wednesday, October 26, 2022, 9pm CET (Barcelona), 8pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 12.30am IST (India, Thursday)

Venue: Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Referee: Anthony Taylor (ENG)

VAR: Stuart Attwell (ENG)

How to watch on TV: TUDN (USA), Not Available (Canada), BT Sport 5 (UK), Canal+ Sport 4 (Nigeria), SONY TEN 2 (India), Movistar Liga de Campeones (Spain), others

How to watch online: Paramount+ (USA), BT Sport.com (UK), Movistar+ (Spain), Sony LIV (India), others

Following a dominant win over Athletic Bilbao at the weekend to continue their good run in La Liga, Barcelona return to European action for the final home game of the UEFA Champions League group stage when they welcome German champions and Group C leaders Bayern Munich to the Greatest Stadium on Earth on Wednesday night.

Because of Barça’s disaster against Inter Milan two weeks ago, this has essentially become a meaningless game and it will be officially meaningless if Inter beat Viktoria Plzen in the other game in Group C and clinch a place in the Round of 16. That match at San Siro kicks off two hours earlier, so Barça will already know their fate in Europe before kickoff against the Germans.

Barça seem destined for a second straight season in the Europa League, a huge disappointment after a summer of great signings and big optimism. Xavi Hernández is yet to pass a big test in continental play, and the two bad nights against Inter have cost the team in the worst way.

The Blaugrana come into this one with nothing to lose, especially if their elimination is already sealed. We don’t know if the result at San Siro will impact Xavi’s team selection and whether or not we’ll see a weaker side to preserve bodies for the big league match away to Valencia at the weekend, but regardless of which team is on the pitch the Catalans must show some improvement.

The two big wins over Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao helped bring some positivity back in the camp, and a third straight victory and a good performance against the mighty Bavarians would improve the mood even more as Barça look for a strong finish to the pre-World Cup calendar.

Bayern are virtually guaranteed to finish in first place and will officially clinch that position with a point at Camp Nou, so they still have something to play for in this one. Thomas Müller and Co. would love to officially send their former teammate Robert Lewandowski to the Europa League, so expect a strong team and a strong performance by the Germans.

It is hard to really, really care about this one since it will mean very little once Inter get the job done in the early kickoff, but maybe it will become a gigantic match if Plzen do the unthinkable. We don’t really know how much this one will matter, but it would be nice to see Barça beat Bayern for a change.

Let’s dance, I guess?

POSSIBLE LINEUPS

Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Kounde, Eric, Alonso, Alba; De Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Dembélé, Lewandowski, Ferran

Bayern (4-2-4): Ulreich; Mazraoui, Upamecano, De Ligt, Davies; Kimmich, Sabitzer; Gnabry, Müller, Musiala, Mané

PREDICTION

Bayern don’t really need a result but will try to win this one anyway, and Barça will probably be eliminated when the game starts and have nothing to lose. I expect a fun game with loads of chances, and a strong performance from the home team to keep the good vibes going. And since Bayern won’t have Neuer, we might actually score: 3-2 to the good guys.

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FC Barcelona (3rd, 4pts) vs FC Bayern Munich (1st, 12pts)

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