Barcelona beat Malaga 2-1 last night with goals from Pedro and Messi. The match provided plenty of excitement, and although Barça easily controlled possession and had the opportunity to attack the Malaga goal time and time again, the score could easily have been higher as many of their shots went uncharacteristically wide.
With Real Madrid completely obliterating Tenerife, Barcelona remains just 2 points ahead.
After a cancelled training session on Wednesday, the squad was back at it yesterday ahead of the match against Malaga on Saturday.
Dani Alves seems to be recovering well and was back to full training, while Keita and Abidal spent their session in the gym for treatment of their injuries.
The Barça squad’s return to Barcelona from Stuttgart yesterday was delayed thanks to action by French air traffic controllers, resulting in a planned training session being cancelled.
Instead their next training session will start at 17:30 this afternoon ahead of the weekend’s match against Malaga.
FC Barcelona played a completely uninspired first half against Stuttgart last night, in which saw few opportunities for the visitors despite a massive possession advantage and were lucky to have just a single goal scored against them by Stuttgart.
However, after the break Barça did step up the the challenge. Whatever Pep Guardiola told them during the break worked as the team was visibly rejuvenated. And they didn’t have to wait long before Ibrahimovic scored and equaliser.
Although they didn’t walk way with three points, Barcelona will be happy with that result. It gives them an advantage going into the home leg and were lucky not to have gone two or three goals down to the Germans.
Tags: Ibrahimovic, Stuttgart
Pep Guadiola has warned his players that they need to up their game to make through this round of Champions League, saying “this standard won’t be enough to put us through to the quarterfinals”.
Barcelona travelled to Stuttgart yesterday and were training yesterday evening. Despite not yet being given the medical all clear, both Xavi and Alves were training with Iibrahimovic, who sat out Saturday’s match to rest a minor ankle injury; Abidal and Keita are both ruled out due to injury still.
Stuttgart are currently in excellent form, with a 6-2 win at the weekend and so tonight will be a real test for Barcelona.
Kickoff tonight is at 20:45 CET.
Tags: Alves, Ibrahimovic, Xavi
Goals from Iniesta, Henry, Márquez and youngster Thiago handed Barça three points at the Nou Camp on Saturday night, a great morale booster ahead of the Champions League clash with Stuttgart, who beat Koln 5-1 at the weekend.
With the Champions League match on Tuesday the squad had no time for rest yesterday and returned to training.
While Barça enjoyed a brief five point lead over real Madrid, the galacticos also had a high goal count, beating Villarreal 6-2.
FC Barcelona had a much needed confidence boost last night when they annihilated Racing de Santander 4-0 at the Nou Camp, putting them – temporarily at least – 5 points ahead of Real Madrid.
This week they face Stuttgart in the Champions League and are still blighted by injury problems.
Tonight at 20:00 FC Barcelona faces Racing de Santander at the Nou Camp, with both teams at less than full strength.
Barcelona beat Racing 4-1 back in September and last season drew with them 1 all at the Nou Camp before winning 2-1 in Santander. What do you think the result will be tonight? And with Real Madrid losing their Champions League match against Olympique Lyonnais during the week, what are their chances against Villarreal?
Tags: Video
This weekend Barça faces Racing de Santander, with both teams fielding under strength squads. In the previous three matches, Barcelona has beaten Racing twice and drawn once. While Barcelona is suffering in midfield, which could be a danger against a full strength team, Racing’s own injury and suspensions may negate this deficiency.
For Barça the players almost certainly missing the match are Alves, Xavi, Keita and Abidal. Touré Yayá is also unlikely to play, although there is a slim possibility he’ll be fit.
It’s not all bad news though, as returning to Barça will be Piqué and Marquez, who sat the last match out due to suspension.
Tags: Abidal, Alves, Keita, Márquez, Pique, Racing, Santander, Touré Yaya, Xavi
