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Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona Report
Pedro Rodriguez kicked off the party with a goal inside the second minute of the match. Lionel Messi doubled Barcelona’s lead after 20 minutes with an unstoppable right-footed shot from a tight angle. Andres Iniesta made the killer pass leading to that goal. Pedro finished off Athletic Bilbao in the 25th minute with a low shot. Bilbao were left to chase the Catalans all over the pitch.
Xavi and Iniesta ensured Muniain had a miserable night despite all his efforts to put Athletic Bilbao in control of the game. Mascherano and Pique were like bricks in defence, leaving Fernando Llorente helpless in attack.
Barcelona vs Bilbao Copa del Rey final: A tribute to Pep Guardiola – Career recap
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“If there is something extra about this [Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona Copa del Rey] final, it is the possibility of winning the title for our coach [Pep Guardiola], the possibility of him winning yet another title and leaving with his head held high.”
Cesc Fabregas was in a confident mood while declaring this statement at a press conference in mid-May. Barcelona have won several titles during the last four years in an unprecedented manner. If this season is considered as a disappointing one it is purely because the judgement of the public is based on comparisons with the Blaugrana’s achievements between the 2008/09 and 2010/2011 seasons.
Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona Preview
Match analysis and pre-match quotes
There is so much at stake for both teams. The departure of Pep Guardiola has increased the hype ahead of the 2012 Copa del Rey final. It will be the 41-year-old’s last match in charge of Barcelona as coach. The public expects his players to play at their highest level since the motivation to dedicate the Copa del Rey title to Guardiola is there. However, the match comes at a rather bad time.
“We would have liked to play the match at an earlier date so that some of us could go on holiday, others could join their teams for Euro 2012 and others to prepare for their teams' World Cup qualifiers,” Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets explained during a pre-match press conference.
Will the departure of Pep Guardiola make things easier for Jose Mourinho in Spain?
What does the future hold for Barcelona with Vilanova as the new man in charge?
Pep Guardiola is going to part ways with his beloved Barcelona, but he will leave behind a legacy that many will argue was the best for any Barcelona manager. Over the past four years the world has witnessed a level of football that not many if any will be able to reproduce.
While manager of Barcelona, Pep has enjoyed 13 titles and depending on how things go in the final of the Copa del Rey, he could celebrate his 14th. In a matter of eight days, Barcelona not only saw the La Liga slip away, but they were eliminated from the Champions League at the Camp Nou by a 10 man Chelsea side.
Will Barcelona officially lose La Liga crown to Real Madrid on Matchday 36?
We have come to this point in the season where the league leaders’ closest rivals can only play for pride. Such is the situation for current La Liga champions Barcelona. On Wednesday night, the Blaugrana could official be dethroned by bitter foes Real Madrid.
Barca had done remarkably well to cut the 10-point gap at the top of the table to 4. However, their efforts came to nothing on April 21. Their 2-1 defeat in El Clasico at the Camp Nou practically killed their hopes of retaining the league title. How cruel to hand La Liga over to your enemies in your backyard!
FC Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola said to quit Nou Camp after the end of the season
Pep Guardiola is said to meet with his players on Friday prior to their weekend match against Rayo Vallecano to communicate his decision to them. The club is also expected to confirm the news and its consequences during the pre-match press conference.Guardiola has been linked with English clubs Chelsea, Manchester United and also the Three Lions. Nevertheless – having tasted ultimate success, the pressure that comes along with it and the pain that follows the inability to keep the momentum – the former Barcelona B coach might just opt to take a break from football.
The Telegraph quoted him saying after the Chelsea match: "I will speak with (assistant manager) Tito and see what we have to do.
Barcelona’s downfall means Real Madrid’s moment of truth has arrived
Camp Nou is falling apart
Football fans witnessed a spectacle like no other on April 24 in Barcelona as Chelsea beat the odds. Real Madrid’s eternal rivals had a numerical advantage over 10-man Chelsea following John Terry’s red card in the first period. Through Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta’s strikes, Barcelona also possessed a 2-goal lead until the Blues came back from the dead.
Ramires, who will miss the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League final through suspension, multiplied his efforts and netted a terrific strike on the stroke of half-time. After the break, Barcelona knocked incessantly for the gates of goals to open again and when Didier Drogba conceded a penalty, glory was there for Lionel Messi to clinch.
Where to watch Barcelona vs Chelsea - TV listings for 2011-12 Champions League semi-final.
The second leg of the Champions League Semi-Final between Current Champions Barcelona and challengers Chelsea will be kicking off later today in Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium. After a disappointing 1-0 loss at Stamford Bridge in the first 1st Leg for the Catalans, their hopes for retaining the Champions League Title is at risk unless they can overturn the first result.
The 1-0 loss in London is a tricky result. The Catalans are forced to win this game in order to advance to the Finals. A draw will only suit the Londoners. If Chelsea score a single goal today, Barcelona will have to score 3 in order to advance. Surely, scoring at Camp Nou will be a priority for Di Matteo and his talisman Didier Drogba.
Champions League: Chelsea wary as Messi and Guardiola’s Barcelona remain confident
Barcelona enter tonight’s Champions League match against Chelsea with a 1-0 loss from the first-leg defeat in London to overturn. The competition’s titleholders have not beaten the Blues in their last 6 meetings but only a 2-0 margin victory at the Camp Nou would do. “We begin with a 1-0 disadvantage and we have 90 minutes to turn it around. […] I have no doubt that we will be in Munich, I have been thinking like this since the start of the season,” Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola revealed in Monday’s pre-match press conference.
“It is possible that we will have to score three goals [because Chelsea may score one]. I do not know if this [game] will be the biggest challenge since I have been a coach, but I always look at these matches with optimism because of the faith I have in these players.
Barcelona vs Chelsea: Catalans to exhibit the power of optimism in doable mission
Since Pep Guardiola took over as coach at the club, the Catalans have turned into football’s most powerful troop on the field. Led by Champions League top scorer Lionel Messi in front, Barcelona have absolutely no problem when it comes to scoring goals and tightening their defence at the same time.Impeccable techniques and a very strong mentality had initially made Barcelona look as favourites to grab the treble this season for the second time under their current tactician. The treble dream was meritoriously kept alive until last weekend – when Barca saw the gap at the top of La Liga table get expanded to seven points.
For many fans as well as Guardiola himself, this marked the end of their quest for the 2011-12 Liga title. Irrefutably, it was a decent, aggressive and relentless performance from Real Madrid that allowed them to secure 3 valuable points at the Camp Nou on Saturday.
Cristiano Ronaldo's world-class Real Madrid silence Barcelona in El Clasico 2012
Real Madrid have taken a gigantic step towards clinching the 2011/12 La Liga title. Jose Mourinho’s men are now 7 points ahead of the Blaugrana. Before the match, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola and midfield maestro Xavi Hernandez described El Clasico as a must-win battle.
“If they [Madrid] win or draw, La Liga is theirs,” Pep conceded at the pre-match press conference.
“We can only win and if not, they will be champions. I would then congratulate them and prepare for next year,” he added.
Echoing his manager’s thoughts, Xavi reportedly told the media: “If Barça win we will continue to have options in this league and if we lose, well, Madrid will have wrapped it up, so it is all or nothing.”
Watch Barcelona vs Real Madrid on TV - The Definitive Guide for tv channel listings for El Clasico 2012
El Clasico 2012 is taking place on April 21st at 2:00PM EST. It is likely to be the most watched league football match of modern times with an estimated 400 million viewers expected to tune in around the world.
The stakes have never been higher for a La Liga Clasico match as both teams have almost everything on the line in this Spanish derby, not to mention their pride.
Barcelona have the most to lose without a positive result, which for them can only be a home win. The Catalan side have made it a habit recenty by finding ways to beat the Madrid rivals no matter where the venue, but at home at the Camp Nou, Barça reign supreme.
For Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho, a draw will not hurt their La Liga title ambition. The Portuguese tactician has surely made his calculations that maintaining a 4 point lead will do just fine with only 4 fixtures remaining in the league.
Both Spanish giants come from mid-week European Champions League semi-finals defeats. Barcelona lost to Chelsea 1-0 in London, whereas Madrid lost to Bayern Munich 2-1 away from home. Both Barca and Madrid will be looking to return to winning ways on Saturday.
El Clasico 2012: Do or die for Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho and Barcelona
Jose Mourinho: Flop against Barcelona
Almost everyone can associate greatness, expertise, charisma and creativity to Jose Mourinho and his work as a professional coach, but only few can deny the fact that he has not very often exhibited his sharpest characteristics in Barcelona’s Camp Nou.
An unbroken curse
Mourinho first met Barcelona at the Camp Nou in February 2005, when Maxi Lopez and Samuel Eto’o humbled his Chelsea side 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. There were improvements in March 2006 when the Portuguese manager – then still in London – saw his boys come from a goal down to draw 1-1 in the Round of 16.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid Preview
Team News
The good news for neutrals is that there are no major absences. For Real Madrid, defender Ricardo Carvalho is a doubt. Meanwhile, Eric Abidal, David Villa and Andreu Fontas are the three men on Barcelona’s list of excluded players. Fresh reports indicate that Alexis Sanchez is doubtful but the former Udinese striker may shake off his injury worries in time to play in El Clasico.
Match analysis - What is at stake
Los Blancos and the Catalans will have their best players fit. However, we may not witness a game of high tension as both teams have scores to settle in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
Where to watch Chelsea vs Barcelona - TV listings for 2011-12 Champions League semi-final.
The Chelsea vs Barcelona Champions League Semi-Final kicks off today at 14:45 EST / 20:45 CET and will be watched by millions of football fans all over the world. Barcelona fans believe that winning the Champions league is unavoidable with the current group of players, philosphy and coach that defines Barcelona today. In addition, Barcelona are in lethal form especially Lionel Messi who has scored 63 goals this season in all competitions.
Chelsea have had quite a roller-coaster season that has been a true test of character, but since the departure of the Portuguese coach Andre Villas-Boas, Chelsea have flourished. They have only lost one match in their last 12, (March 21. Away to Manchester City). They have regained their winning touch and confidence having won 9 of the 12 and having drawn twice (Tottenham - March 24 and Fulham - April 9) under the guidance of Roberto Di Matteo.
Chelsea vs Barcelona and Mourinho’s prediction: Are Barca sure Champions League finalists?
It was just after Real Madrid’s qualification into the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League that Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho began what appeared to be mind games with rival Pep Guardiola, as he downgraded Chelsea’s status by overly elevating the Catalans prior to their meeting at the Stamford Bridge.
“It could be Bayern or Barcelona,” the BBC quoted him saying. “I just don't think it will be Real Madrid v Chelsea and we know why.”
"Barcelona aren't the favourites, they are super-favourites."
Such a statement – especially from a football personality as experienced as Jose Mourinho – cannot be instantly substantiated. One can even question the level of sincerity behind this statement.
Exaggeration of opinion? Perhaps, but it is easier to believe that the Real Madrid manager was simply trying to make one or several points implicitly.
Levante vs Barcelona: I’m not resting players for Chelsea match – Pep Guardiola
At this point, it is vital for the Catalans to extend their tally game by game, if they are to keep the pressure on Los Blancos. This simply means that they are compelled to make extra efforts in the remainder of their league campaign so as to stay in contention for La Liga title.But unfavourably, Barcelona are met with such a demanding task at a wrong moment in their season. In fact, between April 18 and April 24, Barca will be playing twice against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League semis and once against Real Madrid in La Liga’s last Clasico in the on-going term.
Surely, physical form and behaviour are two factors that will partly determine whether the Catalans will come out of their “tough 6 days” on a positive note. Under normal circumstances, it would have been fair enough for Pep Guardiola to rest some of his players against fifth place Levante.
The Madrid-Barcelona La Liga race: Could Pep-Mou mind games & Valencia shake it?
The Catalans could reduce the gap to only three points before Los Blancos lock horns with Valencia on Sunday. Barcelona will face Real Zaragoza away from home on Saturday with the favourite tag on their forehead. They are poised to claim their ninth consecutive victory in La Liga. Meanwhile, Real Zaragoza are battling for survival and the Catalans might only worsen their case.
Like Barcelona, Real Madrid are in great form. They have scored 18 goals in their last 4 games in all competitions. This record includes their 3-0 and 5-2 hammering of APOEL Nicosia in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
In La Liga only, Real Madrid have netted 10 times in their last 2 fixtures. The momentum is back at the Santiago Bernabeu after the recent stumbles at home to Malaga and away to Villarreal.
Barcelona vs AC Milan: No need for Barca to worry after 0-0 draw
Scoring away from home would have undeniably been ideal for the Catalans – who unsurprisingly managed to obtain a clean sheet in Italy last Wednesday. Certainly, it would have enabled them to focus on a midfield battle at least in their return-leg match, as they could have then allowed themselves to concentrate on Milan’s anticipated aerial attacks.Without doubt though, a quality pitch in the first leg would have more than likely thrown the encounter in Barcelona’s favour. But considering the massiveness of this very Champions League matchup, there can be no margin for excuses.
“To win the Champions League, you have to overcome a lot of things. That's what makes some sportsmen better than others,” Telegraph quoted Pep Guardiola saying after the goalless draw.
"I'm not trying to play like Guardiola or Barca" insists Roma coach Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique affirmed to the press that it is impossible to make his current side play like European champions Barcelona.Enrique, who coached Barcelona "B" before joining Roma, insisted that he is not trying to replicate Josep Guardiola's widely acclaimed model, ahead of his side's crucial clash with lowly Novara on Sunday.
"I am not trying to play like Guardiola or Barca," declared Luis Enrique. "Repeating that model with those players, with that culture, is impossible."
The former Barcelona midfielder also took pressure off himself and off his players when asked whether Roma could finish the season in third place, despite their evident lack of goals.