The La Liga title has been all but confirmed for quite sometime, but a mid-week slip up from Real Madrid could finally confirm what many have known, or at least believed.
Although Tito Vilanova's side could already be crowned champions before their next match against Atletico Madrid, what started off looking like a brilliant campaign for the Blaugrana has slowly lost some of is bright spots.
From their first 18 matches, Barcelona looked destined for yet another record breaking season, if that was even possible, after what they had already accomplished with Pep Guardiola at the helm. The transition to Vilanova did not appear to cause any problems for the Catalans as they kicked off at a remarkable pace.
Not many people would have expected Barcelona to have gone out of the Champions League the way they did, but after watching those two very one sided matches, Tito Vilanova's side clearly has some weak spots.
Starting from the back, they have been struggling defensively for some time now, but with such a comfortable lead in La Liga, Puyol and Mascherano certainly will not be rushed back. Eric Abidal will likely get the start along side Pique, while Pinto should start in goal for Valdes who is out with a foot injury.
Keeping teams off the score-sheet has not been easy for the Blaugrana, and it could be very much of the same scenario on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola may not have taken the hot seat at the Allianz Arena just yet, but judging by Bayern's performance against Barcelona last week, the Spanish manager could be on his way to more success with his new club.
Munich's showing in the first match of this two leg affair was not only impressive, but it was beyond outstanding. How could it be that a team like Barcelona had been dominated and pushed around the pitch for 90 minutes?
The German side did their homework and knew that if they were going to have a chance of making it to another Champions League Final, they would need to be physical and force Barcelona to make mistakes.
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Barcelona want to believe that their Champions League dream is not over. They suffered the shock of the year at the Allianz Arena as Bayern Munich mercilessly hit them with four unanswered goals. Inevitably, Tito Vilanova’s coaching credentials have gone under scrutiny. Was Pep Guardiola’s successor right to play Lionel Messi for the full 90 minutes?
As things stand, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich could be set to play each other in the final of the Champions League at Wembley. After dismantling their respective Spanish oppositions in the coldest of fashions possible, there is a high probability of seeing an All-German UCL final for the first time ever.
If someone had told you that Bayern Munich was going to not only out perform Barcelona, but that they were also going to win 4-0, your initial reaction would have been of disbelief. Unfortunately for Barcelona, just four days later, the hangover of that heavy 4-0 defeat still hangs over their heads.
Not only was it a convincing victory for Bayern, but it may have shifted some prestige from the Spanish La Liga to the German Bundesliga. Could the Germans be on the verge of becoming a more powerful and entertaining league?
Regardless of anyone's opinion, Barcelona's Andres Iniesta believes that his side still deserves respect given what they have been able to achieve in recent years.
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The Allianz Arena will open its gates to host 2009 and 2011 UEFA Champions League winners Barcelona this Tuesday. The Germans are in devastating form and could argue being the best team in Europe currently.
Bayern Munich tonight, host Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at Allianz Arena in what many people have described as the poster game of the competition’s last four encounters.
The La Liga title may not be clinched mathematically just yet, but that will not stop Barcelona from having one eye on their mid-week clash with Bayern Munich. A 13 point lead in the domestic league has Tito Vilanova's side beyond cruise control, allowing them to potentially rest some players for their upcoming Champions League match.
Barcelona's first meeting with Levante this season ended very well for the Blaugrana. Despite not being able to score in the first half, Messi, Iniesta and Fabregas found the back of the net in the second 45 to give the Catalans a 0-4 victory away from the Nou Camp.
Barcelona's mid-week performance against a confident and promising PSG side may not have been their best, but at the end of the day, the Blaugrana booked their ticket into the next round. Knowing Bayern Munich is the next team in their way of a European Championship, Tito Vilanova's squad will have to focus on a Zaragoza side who will have no pressure on them Sunday.
The hosts have not managed to win a match in 2013, with their chances on Sunday not looking very promising. Their last victory came in December, when they defeated Bilbao away from home. A match against the current leaders of the La Liga may not be an ideal match to climb out of the relegation zone, but if anything, it should bring the best out of some of their players.
While the hosts Barcelona boast a squad regarded by many as one of the greatest ever assembled, the visitors are newly emerging force after the recent influx of massive finances.
PSG may have had a controversial first goal against Barcelona in the first leg, but at this point, all that matters is the 2-2 draw the Parisians will take with them to the Nou Camp on Wednesday night. A draw will do them no good, so needing to score will put some pressure on their players, but going up against an injury plagued Barcelona will give Ancelotti's men a glimmer of hope.
Unfortunately for Tito Vilanova, this big match will not have the presence of Javier Mascherano and Carles Puyol, who are both out due to injury. One other questionable player is Messi, who has been out with a thigh injury. His status for tomorrow's match is still unknown, although many believe he will be available.
Messi picked up a hamstring injury recently and is fighting hard to find fitness for the match against PSG.
It was not too long ago that Zlatan Ibrahimovic was representing the Barcelona colors, but on Tuesday night, he will get a chance to defeat his former side in a highly anticipated Champions League clash in Paris.
The Swedish international was supposed to miss out on this match after having received a red card against Valencia in the last knockout round, but PSG's request to cut down the length of the suspension will allow Zlatan to play on Tuesday. Having him available will be a big boost to his side, considering he has scored 31 goals in 37 appearances for the Parisians.
With Zlatan's return, Carlo Ancelotti will also welcome Ezequiel Lavezzi back into the squad, after the Argentinean sat out their last match against Montpellier.
Each generation of football fans have their own set of idols on the football field. They discuss them, adore them, sing for them, fight for them and applaud them through thick and thin. Football today is also graced by several names who give amazing performances every now and then, gaining respect from football followers the world over. However, there are few names in the history of football, let alone modern football, as big and as great as Lionel Messi’s.
For many, Messi is the best player football player ever to have been born. His talent is coupled with his performances on the field, and his achievements are enough to do the talking.
Barcelona's surprising, yet deserved defeat at the San Siro had many football personalities questioning the Blaugrana and whether or not they were beginning to fall off the pedestal. Their 4-0 victory in the second match at the Nou Camp should have been enough to silence some of those who were starting to question them.
Up next will be a Rayo Vallecano side that has not even slightly enjoyed their previous matches with the Blaugrana. From their last four matches with Barcelona, Rayo has been outscored 19-0. Those are not numbers that will give your squad confidence, but at least scoring a goal will be an improvement.
Miami Beach, Florida (March 11, 2013) – Barcelona vs Milan is one of those games that promises to get football fans out of their seats throughout the encounter. Millions of supporters are craving to watch this highly anticipated UEFA Champions League Last 16 second leg encounter live from the Camp Nou. However, not everyone is a ticket-holder. Hence, Live Soccer TV (@LiveSoccerTV) offers its users live streaming and TV schedule information to know where to watch Barcelona vs Milan live in 150 different countries on Tuesday, March 12, 2013.
Barcelona were left paralyzed in Italy in the first leg of this UEFA Champions League Last 16 tie. Two Ghanaian stars – goal scorers Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari – stole the spotlight away from the world’s most applauded footballer, Lionel Messi.
While many were surprised at the result of the previous fixture when these two sides met in the first leg, more surprises might await us when the two European giants meet again soon. The most absorbing part of this match will be the clash between attack and defence, as progression to the next round means a lot to both the competitors.
Lionel Messi is adored for his quiet behaviour. The diminutive Argentine often shies away from cameras and his private life is not something that is talked about in tabloids, unlike close rival Cristiano Ronaldo. That said, the world might never know if Messi is really sad at the moment as his Barcelona team mate, Dani Alves, suggests.