Although neither team really had much to play for the derby between FC Barcelona and Espanyol is always fiercely contested. It was given extra spice this week after a Barcelona shirt was hung on a local landmark. The Espanyol players also formed a guard of honour for the champions, while hoping to spoil the party.
Barcelona were not about to let that happen though, and dominated the game throughout. The 2-0 scoreline could have been worse for the home side if David Villa had packed his shooting boots, but in the end it didn’t really matter. He was involved in the build up to the opening goal from Alexis, who showed fantastic close control and finishing. (see highlights below). .....Read more here.......
There were stories in the Spanish press today suggesting that Tito Vilanova may be about to resign as the manager of FC Barcelona. There has been nothing said by the club of the man himself about this, but it is the interpretation of events and Tito’s manner at the Nou Camp last night that have caused the stories.
After Barcelona beat Valladolid on a rain drenched night in Catalunya, they were presented with their 22nd La Liga trophy, which Vilanova and Abidal were handed by the club captain Carles Puyol to raise aloft. Puyol gave a little speech saying that the health of those two was more important than the trophy and Vilanova then said the line that has caused a stir of conjecture. .....Read more here.......
It is maybe just as well that Barcelona have already secured the Spanish title, because we have seen the team struggle at times without the magic of Lionel Messi, and the number 10 of Barca and Argentina may have suffered a relapse of his recent hamstring problems against Atletico Madrid last night.
The 25-year old goal machine will be hoping that he recovers in time for the next three games, because he is just four goals short of the record he set last season in La Liga of 50 goals. It was Messi himself who decided to come off and it was not spotted straight away, because Vilanova had already used his three substitutes. .....Read more here.......
There has been a lot of talk in the media about Barcelona and what has happened to them recently. The fact that people see a Champions League semi-final loss as a disaster just shows how much Barca have dominated European football over the last few years. There have been two main thrusts to what football reporters and commentators have been saying.
The first is about it being the end of an era, not just for Barcelona but for the style of play known as tiki-taka. This is blatantly ridiculous, because the other main proponent of this style is Spain, the team that became the first ever to win three international tournaments in a row. .....Read more here.......
It seems as if every time Barcelona lose a game of football these days, the media go into a frenzy and suggest that the team is all washed up. The press have been proclaiming the death of tiki-taka football and the end of an era at the Nou Camp, but that is a ridiculous suggestion, especially when you consider that Barca could be crowned La Liga champions this weekend with five games to spare.
It will take a miracle for Barcelona to come back from last night’s 4-0 beating at the hands of the new German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. Barcelona at their best and at the Nou Camp can be irresistible, but Bayern proved last night what a good team last night and an away goal would leave Barca neding to score six, so the dream is over for another season. (highlights below)
Cesc Fabregas became the first Spaniard to score a hat-trick for Barcelona in over a decade as they cruised to a 5-0 victory over relegation threatened Mallorca. It was the first of the former Arsenal players career, but I’m sure that he didn’t mind it being overshadowed on the night by the return of Eric Abidal.
Most people thought 33-year old Abidal would never play football again. He has been out of the game for over a year after serious liver problems. An initial operation didn’t work, but his cousin donated part of his own liver to the player, and the operation was a success. He then made a quicker and fuller recovery than doctors expected and was passed fit to resume training earlier this year. .....Read more here.......
Despite having taken the Barcelona training session yesterday, Tito Vilanova was not in the dugout for the trip to Celta Vigo. He did pick the team, however, and obviously had the game against Paris Saint-Germain on his mind. David Villa, Iniesta, Busquets and Mascherano were on the bench, while injury and suspension meant that Puyol, Xavi, Alba and Valdes were unavailable. That meant a much weakened side, with some young players getting the chance to impress.
Starting Line Up;
Pinto
Alves, Bartra, Pique, Montoya
Song, Thiago, Fabregas
Alexis, Messi, Tello .....Read more here.......
