Just Barcelona News

The party started on the streets of Barcelona and all over Catalunya last night, with isolated pockets of celebration all over Spain and around the world. FC Barcelona were confirmed as winners of La Liga and the Spanish title holders for the fourth time in five years after Real Madrid could only manage a draw at Espanyol.

The troubles between the Real Madrid players and Jose Mourinho continued yesterday, with Cristiano Ronaldo being left on the bench after directing some abuse at Mourinho after scoring in midweek. He did come on in the second half as Madrid were struggling to get any control of the game. They should have been a lot more than one behind, but Espanyol missed a number of chances and an awful decision by the officials ruled out a perfectly good second.   .....Read more here.......

Barcelona are already 16 points ahead of their great rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Primera Liga. Even with 12 games left after tomorrow’s Clasico, there is very little chance of Barcelona losing the Spanish title this season. Jordi Roura and his players will be desperate for a good result at the Bernabeu, though, to banish the painful memories of the recent defeats by Madrid and AC Milan.   .....Read more here.......

The pain of defeat, and the manner of it, was written large over the faces of all the Barcelona players last night. There is no time to feel sorry for themselves, though, as the next game is another Clasico against Real Madrid, this time in the Primera Liga at the Bernabeu on Saturday.

Barcelona have hit a poor run of form at precisely the wrong time in the season, prompting suggestions that the players are tired from too many games and not enough rotation. The performance was similar to the one against AC Milan last week, with Barca looking slow and predictable, and Messi struggling to influence the play. Even the passing was not sharp, and very few chances were created.   .....Read more here.......

I know it seems like Lionel Messi has broken every goal scoring record that there is, but he still has a few to get. When Barcelona travel to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid tomorrow, for the first leg of the Copa Del Rey Clasico semi-final, the little magician will be looking to put his name to at least two more records tomorrow.

One of those records is purely personal, and that will soon be the only records available to the Argentinean forward. As it stands, the Bernabeu and the Vicente Calderon stadium of Athletico Madrid are equal top for Messi in away goals, he has scored eight in each of them. Obviously, if he hits the net tomorrow, the ground of Real Madrid will be his favourite, especially if we win.   .....Read more here.......

Barcelona were determined not to let a couple of games, including the first league defeat of the season, derail the Barca juggernaut, and a 5-1 defeat of Osasuna at the Nou Camp was just what was needed, especially with a visit to the Bernabeu coming up on Wednesday. Christiano Ronaldo had scored a hat-trick for Real Madrid in an earlier kick-off, but he will have had his day spoilt by Lionel Messi eclipsing his achievement once again and scoring four.   .....Read more here.......

With Barcelona sitting at the top of the Spanish Primera Liga, six points ahead of Athletico Madrid and 11 points ahead of Real Madrid, not many people expect them to fail to regain the Spanish title this season. The Catalan giants also qualified top of their group in the Champions league and are still in the Copa Del Rey.

After achieving a record start to a league campaign, it is clear that the change of management from Pep Guardiola to Tito Vilanova is not going to have an adverse affect on Barca, although we have still to find out how they might cope under pressure. Vilanova is very calm and collected,though, he would obviously be an excellent poker player and I would be amazed if he crumbled.   .....Read more here.......

Barcelona have two players in the final shortlist of three for the third FIFA Ballon D’Or award that will be decided in January. Lionel Messi is on course to win it for the third time in a row, while Andres Iniesta and Christiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid are the other two potential winners. Messi is odds on with the bookmakers, while Ronaldo is at 6/1 and Iniesta at 12/1.   .....Read more here.......

The race for the Ballon D’Or is heating up, and almost every player interviewed now is asked who they think should win it. Barcelona and Spain defender, Gerard Pique, is no different and he had not trouble giving his answer as Lionel Messi. Pique insisted that there was no favouritism to a team mate, or lack of appreciation through not playing with a player, as he reminds us that he was a team mate of Christiano Ronaldo when they were at Manchester United.

“I respect those who believe that Christiano Ronaldo deserves the Golden Ball, but I live with Leo and he is an Alien. Christiano is the best of the humans.   .....Read more here.......