After a tiring game against Valencia, the first team returned to training on Thursday morning. The session was a warm down after the cup tie, but the players also have to start thinking about the league game away to Atlético Madrid.
The cup kept the players busy this week, but there is little time for rest with a trip to the Calderón on Saturday. La Masía was the venue as the squad started working on making sure they can go to Madrid in the best possible shape. Bojan and the players that started against Valencia did less strenuous activities today than the rest of the team.

Messi and Deco work aside

After the usual drills, the players were divided into two groups, although Messi and Deco stayed in the gym to work on minor physical problems that are unlikely to affect their availability for Saturday. The injured Márquez, Oleguer (in the Camp Nou with a fitness coach) and Ezquerro carried on with their specific programmes.

Intense work for non-starters

The players that started on Wednesday night soon left for the dressing rooms, but Giovani, Iniesta, Edmílson, Thuram, Ronaldinho, Gudjohnsen and Sylvinho stayed on to practise moves and shooting, with goalkeeping duties served by Pinto and the reserve team’s Daniel Planchería.

They than played a short game on a downsized pitch. One team featured Edmílson, Sylvinho, Gudjohnsen, Ronaldinho and Planchería, who took on Iniesta, Giovani, Thuram, fitness coach Albert Roca and Pinto. Both sides scored hatfuls of goals.

 
Barça have been scoring some important late goals of late and this comes down having to the right mentality and the sheer desire to win.
Barça are still alive on three fronts and showing that they are willing to fight right to the end. In all of the last six outings Barcelona have managed to make good of potentially difficult situations.

The start

This sort of dynamic was first seen this year in the game at home to Osasuna at the Camp Nou. Xavi’s late goal managed to grab three important league points just as the game was about to end in a tie. Since then, things have just looked better and better.

The last quarter of an hour

The crunch period for these last games has regularly been the last quarter of an hour, when Barça have managed to show that they are never going to accused of being a team that runs out of ideas. Xavi’s 87th minute goal against Osasuna typifies this, as does the goal scored by the same player in the 75th minute against Sevilla, Ronaldinho’s 83rd minute penalty against Zaragoza and Messi’s winner at Celtic Park in the 79th.

Against Levante, Barça came into their own in the second half and scored a flood of late goals, while Xavi was once again there to grab a late equaliser last night against Valencia.

Unbeaten in 2008

Barça have played 15 games this year and have won 8 and drawn 7. Not a single defeat! In the league this has served to make up no less than 7 points on leaders Real Madrid, and in the cup they are in the semi finals and just have to get a good result at Mestalla to go through. In the Champions League, the win away to Celtic means a quarter final place is already in Barcelona’s sights.

 
Messi is pleased with the first team’s efficiency. He said that “the way we are playing, we can feel calm about going to any ground” and that the players “are more united than ever”.
The players know that their futures in the League, Cup and Champions league are still in their own hands. Messi has just made his 100th appearance and feels morale is high because “we have shown that we want to play well and that we can play well. The most important thing is that we are playing all of our games at a high level.”

Hardest bit yet to come

But he knows they have to be aware of where they stand and “we have to stay calm, because there are lots of games still to be played”. Mistakes at this stage could prove costly, and he pointed out that “Now comes the hardest bit. Every game, in whichever competition, is like a final. You can’t let down your guard at any time because if you do you can end up in trouble”.

First final at the Vicente Calderón

The first of these crunch matches comes on Saturday at the Vicente Calderón. The Argentinian is pretty sure that we won’t see a repeat of last year’s amazing 6-0 win. “It will be a very difficult game and I just hope we get the three points” he said.

‘Kun' Agüero’s contribution

His friend ‘Kun' Agüero may miss the game due to a muscle injury, and Messi has said that would be a pity because “it will be a nice game to play. He is a very important player for his team, and has a perfect understanding with Forlán”, and added that “it matters a lot whether he is on the pitch or not”.

 
Barça outdid Valencia in just about every aspect last night, but were matched in terms of what counts most: goals.
It is not often that two high ranking teams meet and there are so many huge differences between them in certain aspects of a game. Against Valencia, Barça maintained the excellent form shown in Glasgow and against Levante, and controlled the game. The big difference with respect to previous game was effectiveness, in that Barcelona failed to win the cup semi final.

70.57%n possession

Koeman’s side gave Barcelona all the possession, as they sought to create danger on the counter attack. Valencia enjoyed so little possession that the difference was extraordinary: 70.57% for the home side and 29.43% for the visitors. Barça also had far more shots on goal, 29 compared to just 2 for the others side. 14 of those 29 shots were on target, but only Xavi’s goal 4 minutes into injury actually hit the back of the net.

Valencia prove effective

That late cancelling out of Villa’s earlier goal from his side's only chance other than a poorly placed header from Helguera in a set play, finally levelled affairs. Barça had supplied 47 crosses into the area before that, compared to just 9 by Valencia, and were never caught offside. But Barcelona’s back line moved so far forward that three offside calls were made against the visitors.

It was clearly Barça all the way, but where they failed to outdo Valencia was in terms of goals scored, which meant a game they clearly deserved to win ended in a 1-1 draw.

 
Lionel Messi made his 100th official appearance for FC Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi final against Valencia on Wednesday and was outstanding as he created several clear chances for the home team in Camp Nou.
Despite being only 20 years go age, the Argentinian international has already reached a ton of games for the Blaugrana. Lining up alongside Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry, Messi was a constant menace for the Valencia defence and only some superb saves by goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand prevented him from adding his name to the scoresheet.

Hildebrand stands out

In fact, Valencia's German custodian was the key reason why Barça had to settle for a draw as he made ten saves. The hosts enjoyed 71 per cent possession and put the ball into the opposition area on 47 occasions. The only time that Hildebrand could not stop a shot was when Xavi found the smallest gap to steer home the equaliser in the 94th minute. It was the midfielder's fourth goal in the last six matches.

Koeman misses out again

Xavi's goal meant that Ronald Koeman failed to win at Camp Nou in his second attempt as a coach. The first game came when he was in charge of Benfica in the 2005-06 campaign when Barça won 2-0 en route to the Champions League final.

 
Frank Rijkaard remained confident that FC Barcelona would reach the final of the Cop'a del Rey after seeing his side equalise in the last minute of the first leg of the semi final against Valencia in Camp Nou on Wednesday evening.
The Dutch coach said that he felt the team "played a very good game" after seeing them dominate both the possession and chances and was pleased that "they did not stop trying until the final whistle". Xavi Hernández netted the leveller in the 94th minute and Rijkaard thought that his side "deserved a draw" but admitted that he regretted "not scoring one more goal".

Deserved draw

"After Barça continued to go forward throughout the game, Rijkaard said that he was pleased with "the good mentality, intense work and desire" shown by the players. For those reasons, the trainer has no doubt that "for all the hard work and effort we deserved to draw". Even when David Villa put the visitors ahead midway through the second half, Rijkaard was pleased that his players "did not let their heads drop and continued playing".

"The goals will come"

Having created numerous chances throughout, Rijkaard said that for that reason he was not disappointed "because we had a lot of possession of the ball and had a lot of opportunities to score". He also believes that "if we continue to play like this then the goals will come". Looking ahead to the second leg he continued: "There is still another game to go and we are confident of reaching the final and are looking forward to it."

Xavi and Messi

Once again, Xavi scored the decisive goal and Rijkaard singled out the midfielder for praise. "Xavi is a great player," he said. "Apart from the goal, he also played very well throughout." Lionel Messi played his 100th official game for the club too and the coach continued: "Messi also played very well. He created a lot of good chances. He is a great player and a real star."

 
The over-riding feeling among the players of FC Barcelona was that they should have won the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi final encounter with Valencia after creating so many chances.
Xavi netted a late equaliser to earn the team a draw after David Villa had put the visitors ahead with their only shot on target. That left the squad believing that a victory would have been more justified.

Gianluca Zambrotta:

"The result could have been much better for us. We had created a lot of clear chances. I think Barça deserved a bit more."

"Xavi is a great player. He is in excellent form."

"We had a good mentality. We have to continue like this. Now we are only thinking about the game against Atlético de Madrid because it is a very important league game."

"We played well as a team. Now we have to go to Valencia and win."

Andrés Iniesta:

"The results is a little unjust because we had so many chances."

"I was pleased with Xavi's goal and also because it has given us a even more chance."

"They were well organised and they managed to score against us."

"First we have Atlético de Madrid, then the Champions League, then another league game after that, so the next leg is a long way off."

Johan Neeskens:

"We are happy with the team's work. If we play like this again, I am confident we will reach the final."

"With the intensity with we played, I am sure that we will score goals in Valencia."

"We want continue our good run of form."

"Now we have to forget this game and think about Saturday. We will have to play well in Vicente Calderón to take all three points."

"Messi is an exceptional player. He played very well. It is incredible that at just 20 he has played in 100 matches. We expect him to now play another 100."

 
If he plays against Valencia on Wednesday, Leo Messi will have made 100 official appearances for FC Barcelona, which is some achievement for a player of just 20 years of age.
The youngster from Rosario but who grew up through the Barcelona youth system has done little but impress since breaking into the first team and is about to make his 100th appearance in official matches, taking into account games in the League, Copa de Rey, Champions League and different Super Cups.

Aged just 20, Messi is the youngest player in club history to have clocked up a century of official matches.

Since his debut

It was on October 16, 2004 at the Lluis Companys that Lionel Messi came on for the first time as a Barça first team player. He scored his first goal 6 months later on May 1, 2005 against Albacete. That made him the team’s youngest ever goalscorer, although Bojan has since beaten that record. But from that point on, Messi has exploded as a player and is now considered one of the best in the world.

Goals galore

In his 99 official matches, he has scored no fewer than 41 goals, and is one of the most feared strikers in the football world. He has been on target 30 times in the league, 3 in the cup and 8 times in Europe. He is the top scorer so far in this season’s Champions league with 6 goals.

Such achievements are all the more impressive when we remember that Messi has missed large chunks of two seasons with 3 and 4 month injuries.

 
FC Barcelona have been getting better results than last season in the League, the Champions League and also the Copa del Rey.
More points, more wins, better goal difference, less losses. It’s all improvements for Frank Rijkaard and his players this season. It doesn’t matter what competition you talk about, with respect to last season, it is better news all round.

5 more points in League

After 25 matches, FC Barcelona has 54 league points following 16 wins, 6 draws and just 3 defeats. At the same stage last season, Barça had 14 wins, 7 draws and 4 defeats. Last season they had scored 50 goals, one more than this season, but Valdés had let in 22 goals, 5 more than this term, so the goal difference is better.

Better in Champions League

In the 2007/08 Champions League, Barça won 4 and lost 2 in the group stages and qualified for the second round with a game to spare. But last season, Rijkaard’s side only came second in their group behind Chelsea and didn’t secure qualification until the final day.

Barcelona are also well on course for a place in the quarter finals after winning 3-2 at Celtic Park. A very different story to last season, where Barça were in a tight spot after losing 2-1 at home to Liverpool in the first leg.

 
Valencia is the team Barça have met the third most often in the cup, and the Catalans have generally had the upper hand.
Barça and Valencia have crossed paths 17 times in the cup, and Barça have gone through 11 times. 14 of these meetings have been in the earlier rounds, and Barça have qualified 9 times as opposed to Valencia’s 5.

The sides have met in three finals, Barça winning in 70-71 and 51-52, and losing in 53-54. All of these were played in the years of the Franco dictatorship when the competition was known as the ‘Copa del Generalisimo’.

Games at the Camp Nou

This year’s meeting begins at the Camp Nou. Here, Barça have won 11 times in the cup, drawing once and losing just twice.

Overall, the sides have played 32 games, with Barcelona winning 18, drawing 8 and losing 8. They have scored a grand total of 71 goals and conceded 52 in those meetings.

 
Frank Rijkaard has added Deco and Henry to the squad for the Cup semi-final against Valencia after resting them for the league game against Levante. Sylvinho, Gudjohnsen, Giovani, Ronaldinho and Márquez (foot) are all excluded.
Rijkaard has chosen to rotate his squad and has brought back Deco and Henry while dropping Ronaldinho, Gudjohnsen, Sylvinho and Giovani. The squad list for the Spanish Cup is restricted to just 16 players as opposed to 18 in the league and the Champions League.

Cup king Henry

Rijkaard has included French striker Thierry Henry after his key performances in the previous rounds against Sevilla and Villarreal, when he scored the winning goals. He’ll be hoping for a repeat performance against Valencia.

Márquez injury blow

Meanwhile, Rafa Márquez is still suffering from pain in his right foot and is unavailable for Wednesday’s match. Jorquera, Oleguer and Ezquerro are also sidelined by injury.

 
Ronald Koeman is not counting out a surprise from Valencia at the Camp Nou even though he has to admit that Barça is the better football team at the moment.
Valencia coach Ronald Koeman has spoken to the press in Barcelona and has analysed elements of the Copa del Rey semi final on Wednesday at the Camp Nou. Koeman admits that Barça are back to their best, but neither is this the same Valencia that lost 3-0 at home to Rijkaard’s side. “Barça are favourites because they are on form and have players back. They are also in good spirits after regaining so much ground in the league, but the Cup is different. It is a very important game because we both want to get to the final. We are not discounting the opportunity of playing a good game and causing a surprise. Also this is a very different Valencia to the one that lost 3-0 in the league. We were going through a very bad spell back then and we have improved a lot in our latest games”.

Hard to stop Messi

Koeman was asked about Messi, often considered the biggest danger in the Barcelona squad. “We can’t condition our defence because of Messi’s presence. He is a very difficult player to stop because he gets past up to three players, but we mustn’t get obsessed with him. Barça have also recovered Eto'o, the defence is playing well, there are a lot of possibilities in midfield… We have to remember that this is a two-legged affair and plan this Wednesday's game right”.

 
Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard told his press conference that he expects a great game from Barça against a Valencia side that is starting to find its feet again.
FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard knows how important it will be to get a good result at the Camp Nou in order to make the Copa del Rey final. Wednesday night’s match is as decisive as any this season.

“Important to win at home”

After three rounds in which Barça played the second legs at home, this is the first time they will start at home in the Copa de Rey this season. For that reason “it is very important to do well and win in front of our fans against a big team like Valencia. I hope to see a good game from Barça”.

On Valencia, Rijkaard observed that “they are playing better lately. The team has some quality players and they will be hoping to get through the round”. He also said that he is delighted that the fans are happy, but that they should not start getting carried away, because nothing has been won yet.

Ronaldinho and Márquez left out

Only 16 players can be named for Cup games and so apart from the injured Márquez, there are no places for Sylvinho, Giovani, Gudjohnsen or Ronaldinho.

On Ronaldinho, the Dutchman commented that “we have a lot of players and of course I have to choose. I have spoken to him and he is fine. He is improving and on good form. But we have a lot of games in a row like the one with Atlético Madrid and so I would prefer him to sit out tomorrow’s game and train in the morning”.

Márquez is not yet fully fit and has been left out too, but the boss assured listeners that as soon as the Mexican is ready, he will be back on the squad list.

 
After the victory over Levante in the League, all eyes are now turning to the Spanish Cup. The first team has started getting ready for Wednesday’s game against Valencia with a preparatory recovery session which Touré Yaya did not take part in.
Frank Rijkaard’s men trained today, Monday, at the Masía and have started getting ready for their next match on Wednesday in the Camp Nou against Valencia in the first leg of the semi-finals of the King’s Cup. Touré Yaya, FC Barcelona’s Ivory Coast player, didn’t take part in the session as he has a sore back, and he stayed behind in the dressing room to receive treatment.

Training began with the usual warm-up exercises. Afterwards the squad split into two groups. Seven of the starting XI from Sundays’ game – Puyol, Xavi, Messi, Milito, Zambrotta, Ronaldinho and Sylvinho – did some running with the team’s fitness coach, while the rest of the players worked on passing.

Recovery circuit

Next up for the seven who had been running was a gentle recovery circuit, followed by some ball skills work in a relaxed atmosphere before returning to the dressing room one by one. Two of the players in the other group, Eto'o and Iniesta, also did a circuit before leaving the pitch as well.

Practice match

While goalkeepers Valdés and Pinto worked with goalkeeping coach Juan Carlos Unzué, the rest of the players did circuit training with and without a ball. The session ended with a practice match on a small pitch. Orange bibs were worn by Henry, Edmílson, Deco, fitness coach Albert Roca and Pinto. Gudjohnsen, Abidal, Thuram, Giovani and Valdés played without bibs.

 
Sylvinho says Barça has to keep on working hard in all three competitions. The Brazilian full-back admitted that “we didn’t expect to cut the gap by so many points in just one month.”
The thrashing of Levante which has brought Barça to within two points of League leaders Real Madrid has boosted morale among the players even more. Recent results and the way the team has been playing are cause to be optimistic, though the players themselves have never felt any other way. “We’ve always believed in ourselves,” said Sylvinho at today’s press conference. “Whether we’re nine points behind or just two like now, we have to believe in what we’re doing.” However, the Barça defender did admit that “we didn’t expect to cut the gap by so many points in just one month, even though we know the League is a long campaign and all the games are tough.”

Spectacular football

The team appears to have discovered how to play spectacular football again. Experienced players like Sylvinho know what it’s all about. “Results affect how a team develops. You can play well but if you lose you get slated and football is a game that goes in spells.” He went on to say that “we’re an attacking side and we take risks, but that’s the way we’ve always played.”

Pressure on Madrid

Sylvinho said he hadn’t watched Madrid slip up against Getafe live. “It’s not easy being on top,” he said, “as you have to play knowing that someone else is after you.” Despite not seeing what happened with Uche’s goal, he thinks that “it’s hard to picture, but I would say it’s more a case of quick thinking by Getafe than poor play by Madrid.”

Now the Cup

Barça are playing matches with barely a break at the moment, and on Wednesday it’s the turn of the King’s Cup when they take on Valencia in the Camp Nou in the first leg of the semi-final. “We’re playing for all three titles in 9 or 10 days. There’s still three months to go and each game is a final,” he said. “We need to take a different approach with the Cup and the Champions League.”

 
20 points from 8 games, thanks to 6 wins and 2 draws means Barça had the best record of all top flight teams over the first two months of the new year.
Frank Rijkaard’s side is the only unbeaten team in La Liga so far this year, while the other teams at the top of the table have all suffered more than one loss. Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid have lost 3 times, Villarreal and Sevilla have lost 2 and Espanyol have lost no less than 5.

20 points from 8 games

Barça have beaten Mallorca, Murcia, Racing, Osasuna, Zaragoza and Levante and drawn with Athletic Club and Sevilla, meaning just 4 of a possible 24 points have been dropped.
Such good results have allowed Barça to make up no fewer than seven points on leaders Real Madrid in just four games.

Leader in 2008

Barça top the league table based only on results after the Christmas break. They have 20 points, while Almería have 17 and Sevilla 16. Real Madrid are fourth on 15 points, ahead of Villarreal and Valladolid with 14 and 13 points respectively. At the other end of the table, Espanyol have just 6 points and Murcia a paltry 4.

Unbeaten in 3 competitions

But it is not just in the league that Barcelona are going well, for they have also managed to avoid defeat in the many Copa de Rey and single Champions League matches played this year. Last week they collected an important win against Celtic in Glasgow and they have also got through cup ties against Alcoyano, Villarreal and Sevilla.

 
To mention Levante is to talk about an unstable and wounded team whose only glimmer of hope has been their good results over the last few weeks.
But their salvation from relegation seems a tall order at the moment, with only 16 points they are 10 points adrift from the safety zone. The 2007/08 season has been a black one for Levante. After seven games with only one point, they sacked coach Abel Resino and appointed Giani De Biasi. The Italian needed 10 games to find the formula, and to convince his players that they can stay up.

Troubles

The club’s serious economic troubles have worsened the situation, with key players like Storari, Sàvio, Bruno, Riganó and Viqueira leaving during the winter transfer window. The remaining players aren’t on full salary, and the club’s economic situation is more talked about than its football. Obviously, the team hasn’t been able to fully focus on the job in hand, and with only 14 games left, salvation looks tricky

Worst league goal record

De Biasi’s team can’t rely on a good defence and a strong attack. They are the team who have let in most goals during the league (1.75 per game), as well as the team who have scored fewest (0.79 per game). What’s more, of their remaining 14 games, 8 are away ones, including visits to Bernabeu, Vicente Calderón and Sánchez Pizjuán. Levante are also the team who have picked up fewest points in away games: only 4 from a possible 44.

Things looking up

Things have been looking up recently for Levante fans. The team is looking more solid in midfield, and have been able to pull back, like they did against Murcia (2-3) and Osasuna (2-1).

Getting better

The team is getting better, but they still lack aggression in certain moments. Levante are the only team in the league yet to have a player sent off, which reflects a certain lack of tension to their game, and they’ll need something more to get anything from the game in Nou Camp.

 
Two close Barça victories. That’s the precedent of the Barça-Levante ties that have been played during the Rijkaard era, during the 2004/05 and 2006/2007 seasons.
During the Rijkaard era, Barça and Levante have only faced each other twice at Nou Camp, due to Levante going down one season to the Segunda A. On both occasions, against all expectations, Barça only won by the minimum.

First encounter

In the 17th league match of 2004/5, Barça received Shuster’s Levante, who were then 14th in the league. Deco opened the score in the 35th minute with a shot from a free kick. Then ex-Barça player Cofre got a pass from Ettien and smashed the ball into Rubén’s net.

Suffering till the end

It wasn’t until the 86th minute the Barça finally managed to get a goal back, when Eto’o scored from inside the box, enabling Barça to close 2004 unbeaten in Nou Camp.

Two wins from two games

In the 32nd match of the 2006/2007 season, Levante returned to Nou Camp after one season in Segunda A. They were 18th, whilst Barça were league leaders. Once again, it wasn’t the easy victory expected.

The first team only managed to scrape a victory thanks to an Eto’o goal in the 27th minute. The goal was disputed due to a possible offside from Ronaldinho, who made the goal for Eto’o. Barça created more chances, but no goal came, and the teams were fairly evenly matched on the pitch.

Going for a hat-trick

On the 25th day of the 2007/2008 season, Levante return to Nou Camp lying at the bottom of the league with 16 points, and with only one victory away from home. However, going on their past performances, Barça shouldn’t take anything for granted. The Valencian team will arrive at Nou Camp motivated with a desire to go against the odds.

 After being away in the African Nations Cup, the Cameroon player couldn’t have had a better return to Nou Camp scoring his first league hat-trick for the club.
The last time Samuel Eto'o played at Nou Camp was against Murcia, when he scored two goals. After a month away in the African Nations Cup, Eto’o returned to the stadium in the starting eleven.

8 goals in 7 games

What’s more, till now Levante has been a good team for Eto’o to play against, as he’s scored in every game against them. With Sunday’s hat-trick Eto'o continues his good run against the Valencian club. Also impressive is the fact that he has now scored 8 goals in the last 7 league games.

First league hat-trick

Since his arrival at Nou Camp in 2004/05, Eto’o has been a proficient goal-scorer, but it has taken him four years to get his first league hat-trick. It wasn’t the first time a Barça player has scored a hat-trick this season, and curiously, Henry got three against Levante in the first half of the season.

Xavi, best season for goals

Yet it was midfielder Xavi Hernández who opened the score line, netting a dead ball after brilliant play from Iniesta and Eto'o in creating the chance in the 14th minute. With this goal, Xavi now has 5 league goals – his personal best in a Barça shirt.

Since his arrival at Barça, Xavi had only scored a maximum of four league goals, in the seasons 2001/02 and 2003/04.

 
After thrashing Levante 5-1 in the Camp Nou, Frank Rijkaard said he was very happy with the performance of his players and he believes that the key factor in Barça’s recent form is that “we’re growing as a team”.
This Sunday Barça have maintained their excellent form from the match against Glasgow Celtic to trounce Levante 5-1. Rijkaard thinks that it is the team’s all-round strength that is helping it to get better with every game. “We’re growing as a team, as a squad,” he remarked.

Upping the work rate

As an example the Barça coach cited that fact that with the score line reading 1-0, “I thought that the team was looking a bit slow.” But then “I saw how both the defence and the midfield upped their work rate and that sort of thing spreads throughout the side.” For Rijkaard, one of the important things is that “the whole side gets into the game, from the keeper right up to the strikers.”

A team on a roll

Barça’s Dutch coach said that his team is “on a roll” and he’s not surprised that people are getting all excited again. As for the number of goals scored in recent matches, he pointed out that “we’ve been creating lots of chances and all we had to do was to work hard and make sure we started to convert them.”

Congratulations

After congratulating the side in general, the coach then specifically picked out the goalscorers in this evening’s game. Commenting on Xavi, who notched his fifth goal in the League, he said “he’s always been an extraordinary player. Recently he’s been on the top of his game and in the right place to make a big difference. He’s got everything. He’s always someone you can rely on.” As for Messi, Rijkaard noted that “he’s had a fantastic match, both in terms of his goal which came at just the right time and his passing and assists.” Turning to Eto'o, the Barça coach argued “he gives us goals, depth and the will to win.”

Levante’s performance

Finally, and in response to questions about how Levante played, Frank Rijkaard said that “they started pretty well, very organised, and when they equalised they thought they were in with a shout. But after Messi put us in front again, I think their heads began to drop.”

 
All the Barça players agreed after the game that the attitude of the team was very positive in the victory against Levante. The triumphs of recent weeks have given the squad a lot of confidence.
The game against Levante was more of the same following on from the match in Glasgow. In recent matches the side has not only been achieving key victories but also playing at the top of its form.

Andrés Iniesta:

“It was a very important match. They are bottom of the table, it’s true, but they really gave it a go.”

“We won and we played well. We played like we did on Wednesday.”

“Getting straight back to 2-1 gave us a breathing space.”

“We’re in a good position now. We have games non-stop, but the important thing is that the team believes in itself and is growing in confidence and playing the way we can play.”

“Eto'o is the sort of player every team wants to have. He’s just exceptional. Touré is also having a fantastic season. He gives you a lot of security and peace of mind.”

Leo Messi:

“It was a tough match that became even tougher when they equalised. But we played well and came back, just like we did in Glasgow.”

“The important thing is that things are going well for us. I’m really pleased with the way the team is playing.”

Xavi:

“We’re delighted with the win.”

“We’re feeling really confident now. The team is going well and morale is sky-high. We really believe in ourselves.”

“We have to take advantage of the fact that we’re on a roll at the moment.”

“I’m pleased to have scored five in the League. I’m playing further forward at the moment and I’m always looking for chances. I just need to hang in there and I reckon I’ll be able to score more goals.”

Gianluca Zambrotta:

“The first half was hard. We played quite well and in the right frame of mind. We’ve got to continue that way.”

“It’s great to have players back. We need everyone because we have a lot of games.”

“I just instinctively stuck out a hand in the area. It happens and I regret it. Sometimes you just make mistakes.”

Víctor Valdés:

“It was a tough game, especially in the first half. But we played really well. It’s been a great week for both results and good football.”

“We improved a lot of things in January. Both physically and technically we’re getting better all the time.”

 
The squad for the 25th league game against Levante includes the return of Bojan, Edmílson and Zambrotta, whereas Henry, Deco and Márquez are out.
Frank Rijkaard has most of his players available for the league game against Levante. The Dutch coach is giving Henry and Deco a rest. The injured Márquez, Ezquerro, Oleguer and Jorquera are also out. Bojan, Edmílson and Zambrotta are back in the squad.

Messi, congratulated

The team trained behind closed doors at Nou Camp on Saturday morning. Before the session began, Rijkaard gathered the squad to congratulate Messi on being awarded the Best Iber-American Player prize for 2006/07 by the press agency EFE.

 
Rijkaard asserted that in Glasgow Barça played “their best collective effort” but he doesn’t want his players to relax against Levante: “We have to come on in the right mindset”.
After a good two-month run, Barça are transmitting hope. Their display against Glasgow Celtic means we can face the decisive coming months with optimism. Yet Rijkaard doesn’t want to get too confident. “We have to make the most of the moment. We have to keep on. People shouldn’t take us for granted. But we have to come on against Levante in the right mindset. It’s great to receive praise, but it was just one game”.
The Celtic game Barça recovered their playing style on their return to European football last Wednesday. They returned to their roots. “The team played well and won. We want to play good attractive football and do the job well. It was their best collective effort. They showed courage”. Deco and Henry rested The Levante game is the start to what will be an emotional week, with a visit to Vicente Calderón in midweek in the King’s Cup semi-final first leg. Because of this, and the upcoming fixtures, Rijkaard has decided to rest Henry, who’s played in the last 11 games, as well as Deco. “It’s a good moment to value things. We’ve got a full calendar of games coming up, some difficult teams. At least for the first time in a while I’ve got 20 players to choose from”.

A good moment for Ronaldinho Rijkaard expressed his satisfaction with Ronaldinho’s performance at Celtic Park, and also said that his presence was important for team spirit. “He’s worked hard. The team played well in Glasgow, and so did he. He’s still got a lot to give”. The situation in the league Barça change the Champions League stage for the domestic one. They are only 5 points behind the leader and they have to focus on getting the maximum points possible. And then wait. “Madrid are top because they have played better so far. But we’re not giving in. We’re prepared to fight in any competition. The main thing is that we keep on winning our games. There’s no use always looking at what the other team is doing”. The Levante game Bottom placed Levante are Barça’s league opponents on Sunday. Paradoxically, their grave economic crisis has coincided with their being the fifth best team of the second half of the league, with 9 points from a possible 16. Rijkaard expressed his solidarity with the Levante players: “I hope they can sort things out for the players and the employees. When these things happen, it can bring the players closer. It could cause then to react on the pitch.

 
The Mexican defender took a knock at Celtic Park and will have to sit out the next league match. He is working hard to be fit in time for the cup game with Valencia.
The Medical Services have announced that Rafa Márquez has contusion in his right leg after taking a hit against Glasgow Celtic. But it is nothing serious, and he should be fine in time for the cup semi final against Valencia next Wednesday, but misses the weekend league fixture against Levante.

The Mexican played all 90 minutes at Celtic Park alongside Gaby Milito. He has been following an individual programme since the match and did not take part in the two training sessions held at La Masia.

 
The first team trained today in preparation for Sunday’s clash with Levante. Rijkaard was able to work with all of the players at his disposition, apart from Rafa Márquez.
After the important win in Europe, it is back to the domestic league and the game at the Camp Nou with bottom of the table Levante.
The session got under way with the typical drills although goalkeepers Víctor Valdés and José Manuel Pinto trained separately at this point with their own coach Juan Carlos Unzué.

Fitness and tactics

The squad then worked simultaneously on two areas. Groups of four players practiced shots on goals defended by Valdés and Pinto, while the others did an exercise that focussed on positions for creating pressure and recovering the ball. The eight players taking target practice were Eto’o, Xavi, Gudjohnsen, Giovani, Bojan, Sylvinho, Zambrotta and Edmílson.

Once this part was over, the players that started in Glasgow went jogging and sprinting before retiring to the changing rooms. The other players continued with fitness circuits and shots on goal.

 
Next week there will be two important games at the Camp Nou. Barça need three points from their league fixture with Levante and a few days later it’s back to cup against Valencia.
Barça are still alive on three fronts which means there will be games to play every three or four days. The next two are in different competitions. First there is Levante in the league and then there is Valencia in the cup, and for both games it would be great to see the stadium full.

More league

Levante are the first rivals, with kick off on Sunday at 19.00. Barça need to continue the good form shown away at the Romareda(1-2) to get the three points and maintain the pressure on Madrid, who play later that evening. Barcelona have been on top form at home this season, winning 11 of the 12 games played at the Camp Nou.

Back to the cup

Then on Wednesday at 22.00 the Camp Nou welcomes back Copa del Rey action as Valencia are the opposition in a tournament that has been on hold since January 31, when Barcelona saw off the Villarreal challenge. The return leg won’t be played until much later, on March 20, where Mestalla will decide which of these two sides will be off to the final against Racing or Getafe at the Santiago Bernabéu on April 18.

 
Víctor Valdés is aware of the dangers of the next league opponent who “have been getting results lately.” The keeper feels Barça’s confidence has risen after a series of good wins.
After the fine display at Celtic Park, Barça’s attention returns to the league. This weekend they face the bottom club, Levante, but Víctor Valdés, feels it is a game that requires the utmost caution. “Levante will be motivated at the Camp Nou. They’ve been getting results lately and have just had an important win against Osasuna” he said, before going on to comment on the off-the-field problems going on down in Valencia at the moment, claiming “Professionals always go onto the pitch to do as well as they can”.

Confident team

Valdés reflected on the club’s return to form, commenting that “We have gained confidence from the recent results, they were important. We have worked very hard since January. Things are getting better and Glasgow was not the only evidence of that." He also added that he simply loves playing "even when it's just in training."

No comparisons with Madrid

“The only calculations I will be making is how many games we win. We should not take any notice of the leader because we have our own commitments, and like theirs, they are not easy” said Víctor Valdés, who feels Madrid and Barcelona have their own individual ways of playing. He thinks they can make up the points difference at the top of table , but that things need to be taken “step by step”.

 
Leo Messi has collected a trophy this Thursday from the EFE agency that accredits him as being the best Iberian-American player of the 2006-2007 season.
The presentation of the award took place in the Camp Nou, and involved the presence of EFE agency president, Álex Grijelmo; the president de la Liga de Futbol Professional, José Luis Astiazarán; the president of Futbol Club Barcelona, Joan Laporta; the vice president for sport at Barça, Marc Ingla; and Barça’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain.

Most consistent player

The EFE agency believes that Messi was the most consistent player of the past season. He played 26 league games and was given an average score of 6.53 a game, which means he takes the baton from previous winners of the award, who include Sevilla right back Dani Alves, and 2004 winner Ronaldinho.

The president of the EFE agency, Álex Grijelmo, praised the way Messi plays and said he sets an example for all young people as “any kid, no matter what their size, can dream of becoming a world famous footballer”.

Laporta wanted to point out that “Messi is one of ours, he has been here for 12 years. He is an extraordinarily talented footballer who has grown up at Barça and who we hope to enjoy until the end of his career”.

A motivating trophy

Messi collected the trophy while watched by his parents and his captain Carles Puyol, and thanked his family for being there with him and commented that “this trophy gives me even more motivation to keep growing and learning”.

 
On Friday afternoon Thierry Henry took part in a promotional event, as well as taking the opportunity to talk about Barça’s present situation.
A lot of people were keen to see the French player on Friday afternoon in a promotional event which took place on Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona. Henry took time to talk to the media, stating that the team was going through a good moment, which also coincided with Frank Rijkaard recovering his resources with the return of Eto'o and Touré from the African Nations Cup.

Yet Henry was also clear about the fact that there was still a lot to do: “At last we’re all together, but we still haven’t won anything. We’re in the semi-finals of the Cup, doing well in the Champions League and five points behind Madrid. We’re going through a good moment, and with all the squad back, even better.”

The league situation

On Sunday, Barça kick off before Real Madrid, and if they beat Levante, Madrid could start their game only two points ahead of Barça. For Henry this is not important: “I don’t look at what Madrid do. We can do things and we’ll see later, but I don’t think about them.”

 
The fans of Glasgow Celtic and FC Barcelona behaved perfectly before, during and after the match, setting an example of sporting behaviour.
The knockout rounds of the Champions League inevitably create matches of great tension and emotion. But that doesn’t mean that the opposing fans can’t show by their behaviour that a healthy rivalry is possible and that football is, above all, a sport. Full of passion but a sport. Lat night, the 60,000 Celtic fans and the nearly 2,000 Barça fans packed into Celtic Park gave a perfect display of good behaviour and sportsmanship.

Before the match...

Before the match, the two sets of fans mixed freely around the stadium. Ten minutes before kick-off, a welcoming address was read over the loudspeakers in Catalan, emphasising the good relations that have always existed between the fans of the two clubs.

At the end of this speech, the Barça hymn was played and listened to with respect by the home fans and sung loudly by the Barça contingent. This was followed by ‘You'll never walk alone' and the stadium was filled with the colours of the scarves, ready for a great night of football.

...and after the match

At the end of the match, with the players already back in the dressing rooms, the Barça fans started to chant ‘Celtic, Celtic' and the few remaining Scottish supporters responded with a sincere ‘Barça, Barça'. The Barça players’ bus was also given a warm send-off by the local fans. A fantastic example of good sportsmanship.

 
Leo Messi not only gave an excellent performance against Celtic but his two goals catapulted him to the top of the ranking of goal scorers in this season’s Champions League with six goals.
Messi started the campaign with four goals in five matches in the group stage: against Lyon in the opening game, Stuttgart in the second matchday, against Rangers in the Camp Nou and another against Lyon.

A goal per match

His two goals on Wednesday night against Celtic mean that he has now scored six goals in six matches (he was rested for the match against Stuttgart in the Camp Nou).

Messi is now the highest scorer in this season’s competition ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Ibrahimovic (Inter) and Gerrard (Liverpool), who have five.

Eight goals in three years

Leo Messi is breaking all personal records in the Champions League. In the 2005-0606 season, when he broke through into the first team, he scored his first CL goal against Panathinaikos (5-0). The following year he scored away to Bremen (1-1). But this year, he has really exploded onto the European scene with six goals in six matches. That’s now eight goals in eighteen matches.

 
The players landed back in Barcelona at midday on Thursday and went straight to the Camp Nou for a training session.
The session started at about 3 pm shortly after the Barça party had arrived back at El Prat airport in Barcelona. Training focussed on warming down after the win against Celtic.

Márquez stays in gym

All available players took part in the session with the exception of Rafa Márquez, who picked up a knock in last night’s match and so stayed behind in the gym. Santi Ezquerro, who is continuing with his recovery programme, was also absent.

Barça B goalkeeper, Oier Olazábal, was also on hand to work out with goalkeeping coach Juan Carlos Unzué.

Shorter session for starting eleven

The eleven players that started last night’s match at Celtic Park were treated to a light recovery session. Abidal, Ronaldinho, Puyol, Iniesta, Milito, Messi, Deco, Touré and Henry warmed up with the rest of the squad and then did some jogging before returning to the dressing rooms.

Training match

The rest of the players continued with some ball control and passing exercises. The session ended with a training match on a reduced pitch. With the orange bibs - Xavi, Zambrotta, Edmílson, Eto'o, Valdés and recovery coach Albert Roca. Without bibs - Sylvinho, Giovani, Bojan, Gudjohnsen, Thuram and Pinto.

 
Speaking after training on Thursday, Andrés Iniesta told reporters at the Camp Nou that Wednesday’s victory over Celtic had been Barça’s most complete match this season.
There’s an upbeat mood among the players, as Andrés Iniesta made very clear: “Because of the comeback, our performance, the standard of football and the result – yesterday’s match was one of the most complete games I can remember this season”.

A long way to go

However, the Spanish international midfielder believes people shouldn’t get carried away by the win: “There’s a long way to go in the league. The Cup is up next and we still have to ratify this result on 4th March (the return leg). I hope yesterday’s image continues and that we can play more games with the same good football”.

Barça and Madrid

Asked whether things had changed between the two great rivals, Iniesta declined to make comparisons: “I don’t want to analyse the tendencies. We just want to carry on the same way because it’s non-stop with so many matches”.

No easy matches

Iniesta also commented on next Sunday’s match in the Camp Nou against La Liga’s bottom club Levante: “If we don’t work hard, then we’ll suffer. It’s true that Sunday’s match should be easy, especially from the perspective of yesterday’s result. But Glasgow is water under the bridge and now we must focus on Levante from today and until Sunday. Not taking Sunday’s match seriously would be a mistake”.

 
A Universidad de Navarra report considers FC Barcelona to have more media impact than any other club in the world. And their youth products, valued at 165 million euros, are way ahead of second placed Real Madrid on 81 million.
FC Barcelona has moved ahead of Manchester United in the ranking of football clubs’ media profiles. This was the finding of the ESIrg research group at the Universidad de Navarra, indicating the signing of Henry, the explosion of Messi and the emergence of Bojan as three of the main factors.

The report was presented at the Sport Business Centre in Birbeck (London University) and puts the Catalans ahead of Manchester United, A. C. Milan, Chelsea and Real Madrid, who are down to five after getting rid of so many of the notorious galácticos.

Individually, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo is now valued higher than Ronaldinho, second, while Messi leaps from twelfth to third. There are three Spaniards in the top twenty, namely Raúl, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, and Arsenal’s Cesc Fábregas.

The most valuable youths

The ESIrg group at the Universidad de Navarra also investigated the quality of the youngsters produced by major European clubs. They attribute the greatest success in this respect to FC Barcelona (165 million euros), Real Madrid (81 million) and A. S. Roma (67 million). Research has also shown that the youth players generate 16.6% of the total media value.

Although UEFA is implanting measures to promote youth football, Francesc Pujol, a professor at the Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales of the Universidad de Navarra, and the co-author of the report along with Pedro García del Barrio, considers that the best support this aspect could gain in Europe would be “a substantial review of the regulation for accounting for the values of players”.

 
Records, previous meetings, statistics. Here you will find everything you could wish to know about Celtic against Barça.
- Celtic won all three of their home games in the group stage this season, beating AC Milan (2-1), Benfica (1-0) and Shakhtar Donetsk (2-1).

- Barça were held to two draws, against Rangers and Lyon, while beating VfB Stuttgart in their trio of away games in the group phase of the Champions League this season.

- The last time that Celtic lost at home in the Champions League was when Barça won 3-1 at Parkhead during the 2004-05 campaign.

- Last season both teams went out at this stage last season as Barcelona were beaten over two legs by Liverpool, while Celtic were eliminated by AC Milan.

- Both teams are having similar seasons domestically, as Celtic and barça are second in the league and have not been beaten in 2008.

- Eight Celtic have made appearances in all six of the team's group games as Boruc, Caldwell, McManus, Brown, Donati, McGeady, McDonald and Hartley all being regulars. Of those, Boruc, Caldweell, McManus and Hartley played the full 540 minutes.

- In Frank Rijkaard's team only Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Ronaldinho have participated in every Champions League game so far. Not one of them played every minute, however.

- Celtic midfielder Scott Brown is the player that has committed the most fouls, 22 in total, in this seasons Champions League. The Scottish playmaker is suspended for the visit of Barcelona.

- No Barcelona players are suspended because of cards for the game, but if Lionel Messi or Touré Yaya are booked then they will miss the second leg in Camp Nou in two weeks.

- Rijkaard will not be on the bench at Parkhead on Wednesday as he is due to serve the second game of his two-match suspension after being sent off during the game in Lyon.

- Of the 16 team remaining in the Champions League this season, Celtic have had the least shots at goal, 22, in the competition while Barça have enjoyed the most with 48.

- The Scottish outfit are also the lowest scorers in the tournament having netted just five goals.

- If he plays on Wednesday then Eidur Gudjohnsen will be making his 50th Champions League appearance.

 
Barça’s win against Celtic was the Club’s one hundredth in the European Cup. Since the first win against CDNA Sofia (6-2) in the 1959-60 season, Barça has won 100, drawn 40 and lost 36 in 176 matches.
Barça have now become part of a select group of clubs that have reached 100 wins in the European Cup. The others are: Real Madrid (176 wins), Bayern Munich (115), Milan (111) and Manchester United (104).

Although Barça come in fifth in terms of the total number of wins, in terms of the percentage of wins against matches played the Club is in second place with 56.8%. Only Real Madrid have a better percentage record while Milan, Bayern Munich and Manchester United all trail Barça.

From CDNA Sofia to Glasgow Celtic

Since the victory against CDNA Sofia (6-2) up to the win against Celtic (2-3), Barça have played a total of 176 matches: 100 victories, 40 draws and 36 defeats. They have scored 335 goals and conceded 182.

64 of these wins in the European Cup/Champions League have been in the Camp Nou, 33 away from home and 3 on a neutral ground – the two finals and a tie-breaker played in the 1960-61 season against Hamburg in Brussels.

Two special victories

Without a doubt, the two most important victories came in the two finals won by Barça: at Wembley against Sampdoria (1-0), and in Paris against Arsenal (2-1)

Unlucky Galatasaray

Turkish club Galatasaray has had the misfortune to lose on five occasions to Barça, more than any other club. The first Barça win came in the 1993-94 season when Barça won comfortably 3-0 in the Camp Nou. The Turks were also drawn against Barça in the 1994-95, 2001-0202 and 2002-03 seasons. In the last tie played between the two clubs, Van Gaal’s Barça did the double, winning 0-2 in the Sami Yen (0-2) and 3-1 in the Camp Nou.

Moving on from Galatasaray, Milan, Porto and Sparta Prague have all lost four times to Barça in Europe’s top club competition. One of the most fondly remembered victories in recent years was in the San Siro against Milan (0-1) in the first leg of the semi-final tie that eventually sent Barça to Paris and the second European Cup in the Club’s history.

Biggest wins

Curiously enough, Barça’s very first win in the European Cup (CDNA Sofia, 6-2) is still the only time Barça have scored six goals in the competition. However, there have been plenty of comfortable victories since then, including 5-1 against Milan and 2-5 away to Wolverhampton (1959-60). Barça also scored five goals in the 1999-2000 season against AIK Solna (5-0) and Chelsea (5-1), and against Panathinaikos (5-0) in the 2005-06 group phase. Last season, Barça overwhelmed Levski Sofia (5-0), also in the group phase.

 
Rijkaard’s assistant was in charge of the team in Celtic Park as Frank Rijkaard had to serve out the second match of his two-match touchline ban. Neeskens told reporters that he was pleased with the result and the way the team had played.
FC Barcelona have taken a big step towards the quarterfinals with this win over Celtic but Johan Neeskens was also delighted with the all-round performance: “We’re happy with the win and the performance”.

Coming back from behind

Barça dominated the game from start to finish and were capable of equalising after the home side had twice taken a surprise lead: “We dominated the match. We had a lot of chances. But they took us by surprise and scored in their first attack. But even so, we quickly equalised”.

A tough opponent

Neeskens knew that it wouldn’t be an easy match: “Celtic hadn’t lost at home since Barça beat them three seasons ago. They were confidence”. But for Neeskens, one of the keys to the match was the control of the ball: “We dominated possession, especially in the second half”.

The return of Ronaldinho

After his injury layoff and a number of matches on the subs bench, Ronaldinho returned to the starting line-up. Johan Neeskens explained: “A prestigious match like this was a great moment to give Ronaldinho a place in the starting eleven. He played very well for the team. He’s on the right track”.

Although Messi and Touré are just one yellow card away from a suspension, Johan Neeskens explained that there had been no intention to force a card: “The important thing was to win this match. We only substituted Deco so that he didn’t get a second yellow card”.

 
Speaking after the win against Celtic, Carles Puyol told reporters that Barça had produced one of their performances of the season.
Milito, Messi and Valdés also echoed the captain’s words. Pressure up field, possession and fluency in their passing enabled Barça to push back Celtic into their own third of the pitch. And this time control of the game was rewarded by goals. The players believe that the win will boost their confidence ahead of some tough league and Cup games.

Here is a selection of the players’ post match comments:

Puyol

“The team played well, even when we went behind”.

“I think it was one of our best matches of the season”.

“This is the road to follow but we mustn’t think that we’ve got it all done”.

“We had to recover that pressure. It’s what has given us a lot of joy in previous seasons”.

“We never have any complaints about our fans, not just today”.

“I honestly didn’t know that Messi and Touré were one yellow card away from a suspension, but I’m sure they did”.

Messi

“I’m happy with the result”.

“This result will help us keep improving”.

“Now the important matches are coming up”.

Valdés

“It’s not a decisive result”.

“Barça clearly dominated the match”.

“That’s football. Celtic take full advantage of the direct game and that’s what they did today”.

“I think Barça had a great game. We dominated every facet of the game. It’s a fair result”.

“Winning here gives us a lot of confidence”.

“We need his (Ronaldinho) quality and he showed a little of what he can do”.

Milito

“We played a great match”.

“I think it was one of our best recent matches, and in a very hostile atmosphere. We reacted well”.

“The fact that we’re all available again after so long is very important. Now it’s the decisive time in the three competitions”.

“It’s difficult not to concede goals. The opponents also play and have their virtues”.

Iniesta

“We suffered because we were behind on the scoreboard but we transmitted a good sensation”.

“This will give us a lot of confidence in Europe and in ourselves. We’re back now to the league and the Cup – this doesn’t stop”.

“You could say that we’re taken a big step forward in Europe.”

Deco

“You can always improve”.

“The good thing is that we were able to come back from behind

 
Ronaldinho returned to the starting line-up against Celtic after an absence of two month. The last match he started was against Real Madrid on 23rd December. The Brazilian celebrated his comeback with a good performance.
Ronaldinho has made a gradual return to the team after injury. He played a few minutes against Villarreal in the Cup and against Osasuna, Sevilla and Zaragoza in the league, in all cases coming on in the second half. He made a match-winning contribution against Zaragoza last weekend and was rewarded with a place in the starting eleven against Celtic. He put in a good performance and created a lot of danger down the left flank of the Barça attack.

Touré Yaya also returns

Midfielder Touré Yaya, who played the second half against Zaragoza, also returned to the starting line-up in Scotland after missing a number of matches due to the African Cup of Nations. This was his first start since the away win against Mallorca (0-2) on 5th January.

Second defeat for Celtic against Barça

This was Celtic’s first home defeat in Europe since Barça won at Celtic Park on 15th September 2004. Barça’s win on Wednesday night came after Celtic had won all three of their group home matches.

Only away win

Barça are also the only team to win away from home in the first leg of the knockout round. Milan, Manchester and Chelsea all had to settle for away draws.

Messi, top scorer in Champions League

Messi’s two goals against Celtic have shot him to the top of the ranking of goal scorers in this season’s Champions League with six goals.

 
Over recent weeks Celtic have had a run of 8 straight victories, six in the Scottish Premier League and two in the Cup, scoring 23 goals in the process and conceding just two.
Glasgow Celtic come into their Champions League tie with Barça on the back of an excellent run of 8 victories in a row and a 100% record in 2008. However, despite six successive wins in the Premier League Gordon Strachan’s men are still second 4 points behind Rangers.

After qualyfing for the knockout stages of the Champions League, the Scottish outfit has played twelve games, ten in the League and two in the Cup, with the fabulous record of nine wins, two draws and just one defeat away at lowly Inverness (3-2).

On a roll in the SPL

Celtic are on a roll of 6 straight victories in the Scottish League. Gordon Strachan’s men began their winning streak at Dundee (0-2) before winning their next two matches at Celtic Park against Gretna (3-0) and Kilmarnock (1-0). Back on the road they won at Falkirk (0-1) and thrashed Aberdeen (1-5). In their last game before meeting Barça in the Champions League, Celtic strolled to a 3-0 home win against Hearts.

In the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup

Two out of Celtic’s eight victories have seen them reach the quarter-finals of the Cup. In the fourth round they had a competent win over Stirling Albion (3-0) and in the fifth round disposed of Kilmarnock (1-5).

McDonald, the goalscorer; McGeady, the sensation

Two of the reasons for Celtic’s winning streak are the goals of Australian Scott McDonald (six in the last four games) and the emergence of Aiden McGeady who at the age of 21 has become the young sensation of the Scottish outfit.

Scott McDonald has a tally of 18 goals in the League and alongside Dutchman Jans Vennegor of Hesselink leads Celtic’s line. McDonald is also coming into the match with Barça in great goal scoring form as he has found the back of the net in four matches in a row, with four goals in the League and two in the Cup.

Aiden McGeady, aged just 21, has become a key figure in Strachan’s side through his skill and ability to create danger down the left. McGeady made his debut for Celtic in 2004 and is now one of the idols of the Celtic Park faithful.

But Gordon Strachan has other quality players available including goalkeeper Boruc, Japanese midfielder Nakamura who’s a free-kick specialist, and centre backs Caldwell and McManus.

 
The FC Barcelona squad landed in Scotland at 13.00 (CET) and will train this afternoon at Celtic Park, the venue of Wednesday’s Champions League encounter.
Barça left El Prat at 10.30 in the morning on a flight to Glasgow, where they have a second round Champions League match on Wednesday against Celtic. Charter flight HOA-015 took two and a half hours, and the players were taken straight from the airport to the hotel where they will be staying.

The almost 200 passengers included about 80 fans that were welcomed by bright sunshine but chilling temperatures of 0 degrees. A further group of Spanish fans was waiting at the airport.

The squad was also joined by directors Marc Ingla, Joan Boix, Albert Perrin and Jacint Borras as well as technical secretary Txiki Begiristain.

Jorquera flies with team

Goalkeeper Albert Jorquera may be injured, but did not want to miss the trip to Scotland. A few days ago he said “it is some time since I felt part of the group dynamic and this is a special game, at a great ground, and I felt like making the journey. ”The player who was injured playing for Catalonia on December 29 then added that “I feel fine. Everything is developing as we hoped. I am at the initial stages and two months after my operation I have started working hard”.

He is still optimistic about his team’s chances of winning the league and said his personal target is now “just to think about recovering and being ready for the pre-season”.

 
Several of the Barça players already know what kind of atmosphere to expect at Celtic Park. One of those is Pinto, who played here for Celta Vigo in the UEFA Cup of 2002-03.
It was on November 28, 2002 and Celta Vigo met Glasgow Celtic in the third round of the UEFA Cup, A duel between two sides whose names both pay homage to their Celtic heritage. The Galician keeper was one José Manuel Pinto, now Barcelona’s reserve goalkeeper. “Apart from the atmosphere I remember a very even tie, both home and away" he recalled to www.fcbarcelona.cat.

Future Barça players

Two other players were involved in that match who would later wear the Barça shirt. One was Sylvinho, the left back in that historic Celta side, and the other was Henrik Larsson, who left such great memories at the Camp Nou. It was the Swede who scored the only goal that night at Celtic Park (1-0). “It’s what I remember most about that game, how Larsson latched onto the end of a rebound in the six yard box and scored the winner”, remembers Pinto.

Celtic go through

Celtic won through on that occasion. At Balaídos, Celta won 2-1 but a Hartson away goal was enough to put an end to Lotina’s side’s run. French star Bobo Balde had a cracking performance, one that both Pinto and Sylvinho remember to this day.

 
In his press conference before the game with Celtic, Deco has said that he feels Barça are on fine form and knows they need to win on Wednesday, despite the fact that this tie is a two legged affair.
Deco feels that “recovering two such players as Eto'o and Touré is very important for us. Now almost all of the players are available to the coach and that will do us good. We all want to play, as is normal. And I don’t think that’s a problem. Not only that, but the whole team is working well together”.

“We have to attack but also be careful”

He feels that Barça need to stick to what they know in Glasgow and look for a win. “We don’t know how to play any other way. It is very important for us to avoid problems getting the ball forward, and keeping possession so that they can’t use their direct approach and always to be secure at the back” he said.

Deco cited the recent cup games with Sevilla and Villarreal as perfect examples of how to deal with two-legged matches. “There are two games and you shouldn't risk too much when you know there is a return leg. You have to attack but also be careful" said the Portuguese midfielder.

Dangers of Celtic

Deco does not think there is any one Celtic player that merits special attention, but that Barça should work on dealing with their direct approach and aggressiveness, especially when they have their fans behind them. “In terms of support, Celtic’s fans are among the strongest there are” he said.

He also expects Celtic to give the game everything they can for the entire 90 minutes. But he also knows that the Scottish side cannot afford to defend all the time, as at some point they are going to obliged to take some risks.

 
Barça have trained at Celtic Park, the venue of Wednesday night's Champions League clash with the Scottish champions. It was a bitterly cold evening in the biggest city in Scotland.
The Barça players have been given a chance to get used to the kind of conditions they will have to deal with in Glasgow on Wednesday night. Celtic Park may be a wonderful stadium, but the weather was anything but welcoming, and the players donned extra clothing to cope with the chilly conditions. But it does not look likely that the climate will take any dramatic turns for the better for Wednesday evening’s match.

Rijkaard keeps cards close to chest

After the usual warm ups and drills, the players were divided into groups to work on ball possession. The players then played a short match but Frank Rijkaard was keen not to give anything away as he mixed the players up so much that it was impossible to discern even the remotest clue as to what his first team plans might be for the Celtic match.

 
Glasgow Celtic face Barça on the back of an unbeaten home record, which for Johan Neeskens is merely “added motivation”. The Dutchman knows that a win in Scotland would work wonders for the Catalan outfit’s European aspirations.
Johan Neeskens appeared in the press conference in Glasgow because Frank Rijkaard is serving a suspension picked up after his sending off against the other side from the Scottish city, Rangers. He has to sit out two games, having already served the first at home to Stuttgart.

Match essentials

Neeskens commented that “it is important for us to play well and win here. Celtic have not lost at home and that is an added motivation for us.” The assistant manger went on to say that he appreciates the dangers in a Celtic side that contains such quality players as Mcgeady, Nakamura and Venegoord of Hesselink, plus a great goalscorer in McDonald.

“No room for comparisons”

Johan Neeskens did not want to fall into the trap of making comparisons between Celtic and Rangers, as they “are two very different opponents”. Neither did he think any major conclusions could be drawn from the four games played between the two sides back in 2005, as “a lot of things have changed since then.”

Eto'o and Touré

Neeskens also said the coaching staff were “very happy” to welcome back Touré and Eto'o, although “Barça does not depend on Samuel Eto'o, we are a team with quality in depth.” As for the Ivorian, Neeskens said he is “better physically than when he returned from Africa and he has proven that on the field of play”.

“We always play to win”

He also shunned any theories that his side would do anything other than go full out for the win at Celtic park. “Winning games is good for morale and we always go out to win and play well. The five points difference is very good and we are highly motivated to reduce the deficit, every game is important, and we want to win them all”, he said.

 
The Champions League is back with Barça taking on Glasgow Celtic. Eidur Gudjohnsen thinks this Wednesday’s game is really important.
After its two-month winter break the Champions League is back with the last 16 ties. Barça are taking on Glasgow Celtic, and speaking on Celtic TV Eidur Gudjohnsen said that the match was crucial. “It’s one of the most important games of the season. In the League we still aren’t where we want to be and that also makes the Champions League more important. We have to win the two matches and the tie.”

Only the best

But to get through to the quarter finals Barça need to play to their full potential and according to the Icelander that means getting the right attitude. “This part of the Champions League is bound to be tough because there are only top teams, like Celtic, left. We’ve got to be focussed and ready to battle it out as Scottish sides always give 100% for 90 minutes.”

Strength and effort

As happened in the group stage matches with Rangers and in clashes with Celtic in previous seasons, there’s no doubt it’s going to be a very physical encounter. That’s something else Gudjohnsen says need to be taken into account. “Scottish teams and in particular Celtic stand out for their strength and physical approach. They can play at a really high tempo, and although the two sides play in very different ways, I think it would be fair to say that we are better. However, they have a never say die attitude.”

The atmosphere

The setting for the first leg of the tie, Celtic Park, generates one of the best atmospheres in Europe. Gudjohnsen says this won’t intimidate the Barça players but instead will motivate them even more. “We’re not worried about playing there. In fact in this case we want to, because some of the guys who’ve played there say the atmosphere is fantastic. We have to enjoy the game and we shouldn’t worry about it. Everyone knows how passionate Celtic fans are and they should be proud about that.”

 
Eto'o and Sylvinho are the two new faces in the list of 18 players released by Frank Rijkaard for Wednesday’s match with Glasgow Celtic.
Eto’o and Sylvinho have been included in Barça’s squad for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie with Celtic on Wednesday. The two will travel with their team-mates to Scotland on Tuesday. Rijkaard announced the list of players after a training session behind closed doors today, Monday, at the Miniestadi. The coach has decided to leave out Edmílson, Bojan and Zambrotta.

An eagerly awaited return

Samuel Eto'o is back after having missed eight games, five in the League and three in the Spanish Cup. This is mostly because he has been away playing at the African Cup of Nations, though the Cameroon striker didn’t travel to Zaragoza for Barça’s match last Saturday due to a thigh strain he had picked up in the tournament. After three days of a personalised training programme, Eto’o now appears to be fit and raring to go.

If he does play in Glasgow, it will be Samuel Eto'o’s second match in this term’s Champions League. So far he has only taken part in the last game in the group stage against Stuttgart in the Camp Nou on 12 December. Before that match kicked off Barça had already mathematically qualified for the knock-out stages.

Sylvinho also returns after being given the green light by club doctors on Sunday. He had been sidelined with a sore right leg and so didn’t travel to either Seville or Zaragoza. The last time he turned out was in the away game at Athlétic de Bilbao.

Last session before leaving for Glasgow

The first team squad had its last training session this Monday morning before heading to Scotland tomorrow, Tuesday, for their Champions League last 16 clash with Celtic on Wednesday.

Although Rijkaard normally works behind closed doors on the day before a match, this time he opted to do it the day before travelling to Glasgow. He also chose to use the Miniestadi, which is unusual as the Camp Nou is normally used for closed-door training sessions. Barça are planning to have another session tomorrow, Tuesday, in Scotland at 7 pm.

 
Samuel Eto'o, who’s back in the squad after the African Cup of Nations, said at a press conference that he’s “happy” about how well the side is playing in defence and that what they have to do now is to “improve in attack”.
The Cameroon star thinks that that means the strikers need to raise their game. “Scoring more goals is really up to the lads up front as we’re already creating lots of chances,” he said. However, he is happy that Barça are conceding very few goals.

All about spells

Eto’o has been called up this Monday for the away leg of Barça’s last 16 tie in the Champions League after missing out on eight games while on international duty at the African Cup of Nations. He thinks that scoring goals is a matter of spells. “Sometimes you just don’t score that many goals. Goals come in spells. Any team and any player can have good spells and bad spells.”

Goals not a priority in Glasgow

On the same theme Eto’o said that scoring in Glasgow shouldn’t be the team’s priority. “The important thing is not to concede a goal,” he argued. “If we can get some ourselves, then all to the good.”

Physical condition

When asked about the shape he’s in, Samuel Eto'o said he felt “more or less okay” and with his usual desire to play. The Cameroon striker got back to Barcelona carrying a thigh injury, and said that even if he had arrived on Monday and not on Thursday, he still wouldn’t have played against Zaragoza.

No problems with La Romareda

Turning to the Zaragoza-Barça game, he said that he didn’t harbour any resentment towards the Zaragoza fans after the racist chanting he was subjected to three years ago: “We shouldn’t be talking about that as it’s time to move on.” Eto’o said that if he could choose a game to play in, it would be the one in La Romareda.

Arrival in Barcelona

Samuel Eto'o also explained why he didn’t get back to Barcelona until Thursday. “I played in the final on Sunday and then we went to Cameroon, where there was a reception for us on Monday. On Tuesday I was supposed to catch a flight to get to Barcelona on Wednesday, but then something happened that meant I couldn’t make it that day and the club gave me permission to arrive on Thursday.”

The Barça frontman admitted that after the African Cup of Nations and the long return journey, “I was absolutely knackered and just wanted to sleep.” Now he’s back and ready to play in Glasgow where he made his European debut for Barça four years ago.

 
The game against Zaragoza was the first League encounter this season in which Andrés Iniesta hasn’t been on the pitch. Up until then the former youth team player had only missed out on the return leg in the last 16 of the King’s Cup.
After a run of 23 League matches, Andrés Iniesta has had a day off. The midfielder was the only outfield player to have played in all the fixtures so far in the 2007/08 League campaign and only goalkeeper Víctor Valdés has more game time. The break means that Iniesta will be fresher for the important clash with Glasgow Celtic on Wednesday in the Champions League.

The other missed match

Up until now Iniesta had only missed the return leg in the last 16 of the King’s Cup against Alcoyano. As the tie had virtually been settled in the first leg which Barça won 0-3, Rijkaard decided to leave Iniesta on the bench for the whole game. In the Champions League he played in all 6 matches in the group stage, while in the King’s Cup he has made an appearance in five out of six. That makes a total of 34 official matches for Barça in the last six and a half months.

Always ready

Ever since he’s been in the first-team squad, Iniesta has been one of the players most used by coach Frank Rijkaard, as can be seen from his record in the League. After 6 games in the 2002/03 season and 11 in 2003/04, the midfielder played in 37 in 2004/05. In the 2005/06 season he turned out 33 times, while last year he was again the most-used outfield player in the League playing in 37 out of 38 matches.

 
Back from Zaragoza and straight into training. That’s been the order of the day this Sunday morning for the first team in a light recovery session. Five players from other Barça sides took part as well.
The five consisted of three from Barça B and two from the under-18 A side. The Champions League ball was used at the session, as after the victory over Zaragoza on Saturday attention is turning to the European campaign. Manager Frank Rijkaard will be able to call on Zambrotta and Sylvinho who were given the green light by club doctors today, Sunday.

Reserve and youth players

The Barça B players at the first team session were left winger Eneko, midfielder Rueda and right back Fali. The under-18 A side contributed right back Álex (18 years old) and midfielder Ilie (17 years old). They all took an active part in training.

Recovery session

They were joined by the first team squad minus Edmílson, who was working out in the gym, and Eto'o, who did his own session alone before his team-mates. The session focussed on physical recovery and many of the starting XI from La Romareda (Puyol, Milito, Márquez, Henry, Abidal and Valdés) spent most of the time doing tempo runs with the fitness trainer.

Zambrotta and Sylvinho get green light

Zambrotta and Sylvinho also trained, having been cleared by club doctors today Sunday, and will be available for Frank Rijkaard for Wednesday’s match in Glasgow. The Italian had picked up a thigh strain playing for Italy in a friendly ten days ago, while the Brazilian also had a sore right leg.

 
Thierry Henry has decided to make a statement at a press conference to clear up reports that have appeared in the media in recent days. The Frenchman said that he was very “comfortable and happy” at FC Barcelona.
Henry, who scored Barça’s first goal at Zaragoza on Saturday after a superb piece of control, appeared at a press conference this Sunday morning to clear up some misinterpretations that have appeared in the media since his last press conference on Thursday.

Below is Henry’s statement in full:

“I only wish to say that I am very comfortable in this side and that I am very happy. I have seen things that I don’t like. I talk with every one in the squad and I’m always kidding around but that’s it. I said the other day that I’ll play wherever the coach decides I should, but then the day afterwards I read things that I had not said, interpretations made by people supposedly speaking for me. So I would like to repeat that I am happy and comfortable with this team. The coach asked me if I can play on the wing or in the centre and that is his decision.”

 
Victory in La Romareda has really boosted the team’s morale. Xavi spoke about the attitude of the players in the game with Zaragoza and said that at last a bit of luck has come their way.
Xavi Hernàndez was very upbeat about the victory over Zaragoza in La Romareda and at the press conference after this lunchtime’s training session he highlighted the mentality and attitude of the team: “The team had a terrific attitude. We were gunning for the three points right from the off. We knew that Madrid had lost in Seville and we had to do the business. Lucky? Well, we did have a slice of luck but about time too, and the team was very positive throughout the game.”

Still a long way to go

Xavi doesn’t reckon that the Real Madrid players will be worried because Barça has picked up four more points than them over the last three games. The midfielder thinks that there’s still a long way to go in the League and a lot can happen: “I don’t think Madrid will be getting nervous. Obviously we hope they continue to slip up as their run of victories just wasn’t normal. We’ve got to keep on taking advantage of all the chances we get to cut their lead, just like we’ve been doing lately, and show that we are after that League title.”

Can do even better

The Barça midfielder admitted that Barça could play better and that how they played in the first half at La Romareda is the way to go. “At this stage in the League the most important thing is to pick up the three points,” he said. “I don’t care how we do it. We have a very clear philosophy of playing football but we can’t always put it into practice. It’s true that in the second half we lost control of the game, but in the first half the team really went for it against tough opponents.”

 Ronaldinho slotted home the penalty that gave Barça victory against Zaragoza in La Romareda. The Brazilian was on the pitch for 20 minutes and his contribution was decisive.
Ronaldinho came on in the 73rd minute at La Romareda to replace Giovani. Zaragoza and Barça had one goal apiece at the time and the Catalans were finding it hard to create the chances that could put them back in front. Something special was needed, and it came in the shape of Ronaldinho. The Brazilian was only on the pitch for twenty minutes but he turned the game around. One of the first times he touched the ball was to put through Thierry Henry and the Frenchman’s shot went only just over the bar.

Ronaldinho’s seventh goal in the League

In the 81st minute the referee blew for a penalty to Barcelona, and Ronaldinho didn’t think twice. As he usually does he shouldered the responsibility at a key point in the game. He hadn’t taken a penalty for more than two months but the Brazilian kept his cool and hit the perfect spot kick: he sent keeper César the wrong way and made it 1-2 to Barça. It was his seventh goal in the League.

His last was also a penalty, against Deportivo in the Camp Nou on 9 December, and equalised an initial strike by the Galician team. Barça ran out winners in that game 2-1. His goal against Zaragoza was even more decisive as it leaves Barça five points off the leader when only three games ago Real Madrid were ahead by nine.

 
Barça’s opponents this evening, Zaragoza, have had a very uneven season so far which has been enough to cost previous coach Víctor Fernández his job. The side is now managed by Jabo Irureta.
Jabo Irureta’s main doubt is whether Brazilian Ricardo Oliveira will be available this evening. A bout of flu meant that the striker, on loan from Milan, has not been able to train practically all week. If Oliveira cannot play, Óscar González will partner Diego Milito up front.

Starting XI virtually decided

In Wednesday’s training session Jabo Irureta organised a training match at the club’s sports complex with what is likely to be the starting line-up for this evening’s game with Barcelona. In goal will be César. Diogo and JuanFran will be at fullback with Ayala and Sergio in the centre of the defence. In midfield Zapater might come in at the expense of ex-Barça player Celades. Gabi and Sergio García will be playing wide, while Diego Milito is a fixture. All that’s left to decide is whether Oliveira or Óscar González will play alongside him.

Only the League

Zaragoza were one of the most promising sides at the start of the season. They were in the UEFA Cup and players like Diego Milito, Ayala, Aimar, D’Alessandro, Matuzalem and Gabi meant that the Romareda faithful were looking forward to a good campaign. Getting knocked out of the first round of the UEFA Cup, Matuzalem picking up an injury and training ground bust-ups between D’Alessandro and Aimar made things start to turn sour. Elimination from the Spanish Cup led to the sacking of Víctor Fernández and the resignation of Ander Garitano ten days later. The club also decided, in addition to changes in the coaching staff, to transfer D’Alessandro to an Argentinean side.

UEFA Cup is only goal

Zaragoza are five points off a UEFA Cup spot, and now under Basque coach Jabo Irureta they know that the best they can hope for come May is to qualify for Europe’s second club tournament next season.

 
Thanks to the win against Zaragoza by 1-2 and Madrid’s defeat by Betis, Barça has cut the gap with the leader to 5 points. But even though his side is edging closer, Rijkaard still says that “we’re not looking at Madrid”.
The first team has gained an important victory in La Romareda which after Real Madrid’s slip-up against Betis (2-1) means that the gap between the two is now down to five points. Yet Frank Rijkaard insists that neither he nor his players are looking at Madrid and says that the most important thing for Barça is “to win all the games we have left”.