Prematch time: FC Barcelona - Real Zaragoza

Ens hi deixem la pell - We give it all

It's comeback time, baby! Well, maybe not that critical, though, but we all want our Barça to be back. For what is worth, it has been only two matches and that may not constitute as a crisis, but it's election time at Barcelona's and anything can be used to disrupt the sensation that we still have the best team in the world.

Chygrynskiy back for sunday?

Luckily, we'll recover Henry and Chygrynskiy (has somebody thought of a nickname yet??) for this match. At least, they may play some minutes if all goes well. Also, Puyol has renewed his contract with Barça until 2013, that means all that crazy talk about him being in the Robinho's transfer package will be over.

We have some quotes for you:

Talking about end of an era it's quite silly.

-Xavi

My hopes where that Puyol would stay

- Txiki Begiristain

Barcelona it's not doing bad, they're just humans

- Juan Pablo Carrizo, Zaragoza's goalkeeper

(the picture is from FC Barcelona's new campaign Ens hi deixem la pell - We give it all, wich tries to encourage people to go to the matches and support the team as match attendance hasn't been that good, lately)

Barça Weekly Digest 2 (12th Oct to 23th Oct)

A bit late in the week, here it is our periodic news roundup:

Of course, this week we had two Barça matches, first of them against Valencia ( 0 - 0)

- Valencia drop first points after goalles draw with Valencia (the Guardian)
- Valencia deny Barcelona best ever Spanish league start (AFP)

Later in the week, on Tuesday, there was the Champions League match against Rubin Kazan, Barcelona lost 1 -2 in an unfortunate match

- Barcelona upset, 2-1, by Rubin Kazan in Champions League play (LA Times)
- Europe's Big Names Falter on Surreal Night (NY Times)
- Pep Guardiola ready to fight after shock home defeat (The Guardian)


What have been the consequences of this to poor result matches?

- Iniesta tries to water thinks down: There is no Crisis at Barcelona (goal.com)
- Alves blow for Barça (he'll be sidelined for 3 weeks) (Sky Sports)


But this weekend there's an opportunity for things to become normal again as Barça plays vs Zaragoza on Sunday. It's a bit early for some major news, there seems to be only medical related ones, but they are all positive:

- Dmytro Chygrynski Returns to Full Training For Barcelona (Goal.com)
- Medical: Henry recovers from injury (TotalBarça)

Let's have a look at how is Robinho soap opera going:

- Barcelona cool on move for City's Robinho (ESPN)
- Injured Robinho faces longer spell on Manchester City sidelines (The Guardian)

To finish with this, let's see other news on Barça's marketplace:

- Barcelona extend contract of Puyol for three more years (Lavanguardia in Spanish)
- Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas tops Barcelona's January shopping list  (Daily Mail)

That's all. See you next week.

Full time highlights: Barcelona 1 - Rubin Kazan 2 (Champions League)

1st goal in the 2nd minute of the second half. Barça's been attacking but has not been lucky enough. All our hopes are an the second half and that control of the ball play of Barça will tire Kazan's players.

Ryazantsev scores 1st goal in the 2nd minute of the first half

FC Barcelona 0 - Rubin Kazan 1 (Ryazantsev 2')

Ibrahimovic scores 1st Barça goal (47')

FC Barcelona 1 - Rubin Kazan 1 (Ibra scores 47')

Gokdeniz scores 2nd goal for Rubin Kazan (73')

FC Barcelona 1 - Rubin Kazan 2 (Gokdeniz 73')

Prematch: Barcelona - Rubin Kazan (Champions League)

Tonight we expect goals and good play. But you never know, this is the Champions League, and matches have to be fought from the beginning. I believe Barça players are willing to prove the draw against Valencia was just a bump on the road and that they are as fine as ever. Even more, it's a great opportunity to establish as group leaders and be half way to next round. Also, Ibra is back to the team after his absence in Valencia. He hasn't scored yet and this may be a great chance.

Winning against Rubin would be a huge step

-Pep Guardiola

Russian teams are always dangerous

-Touré

I hope God will listen to our prayers

-Berdyev, Rubin Kazan's coach

It would be a mistake focusing only in Messi

-César Navas, Rubin player

Barça's sixth sense: Golden Ball Nominees

France Football magazine announced today the candidates for 'Golden Ball' trophy, an unofficial 'Best Player of The World' prize. There are six Barça players on the list: Thierry Henry, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, Touré Yayá, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Leo Messi. Other top players are ex-barcelona Samuel Eto'o, Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, Iker Casillas and Benzema, Arsenal's Cesc Fábregas or David Villa from Valencia. The winner is to be announced on the 1st of Decembre with a ceremony on the 6th.

Messi is said to be the favourite although France Football director thinks it will be close:

"Who can worry Messi? There is an internal competition at Barça, having Xavi, Iniesta and Henry. But, I advise, do not underestimate Cristiano Roando, who was awarded last year and may repeat this year"

Ballon d'Or winners

Full list of the candidates to Ballon d'Or 2009:

Andreï Archavine (Arsenal)
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United y Real Madrid)
Diego (Werder Bremen y Juventus Turin)
Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Edin Dzeko (Wolfsburg)
Samuel Eto'o (FC Barcelona y Inter Milan)
Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux)
Thierry Henry (FC Barcelona)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan y FC Barcelona)
Iniesta (FC Barcelona)
Julio Cesar (Inter Milan)
Kakà (Milan AC y Real Madrid)
Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
Maicon (Inter Milan)
Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Luis Fabiano (Sevilla)
Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
John Terry (Chelsea)
Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)
David Villa (Valencia)
Xavi (FC Barcelona)
Yaya Touré (FC Barcelona)

So, who do you think will win?

Related links:
- France Football Ballon d'Or

I'ts Quote time - Valencia 0 - Barcelona 0 Edition

Messi showed that he's human being, after all

-Keita

Draw was not a downer, we'll loose more points

We came here to win, but if we didn't it was because they have made it difficult enough

-Pep Guardiola

We did merit enough to take the three points

- Unai Emery, Valencia's coach

Our goalkeeper has been sensational. He deflected three near goal balls.

- Joan Laporta, Barça's president

Valencia 0 - Barcelona 0 : Goal less effort... still on top of the league

It was a no nonsense match, with Valencia offering a very physical but well thought contest against an apparently tired Barça. In the first half Valencia had the few main chances, putting Valdés on the spotlight as the best player of this half. With Messi and Pedro dissapeared, it was Xavi and Iniesta who put the main offensive effort.

On the second part, things didn't seem to change, with Pablo having a near shot by Valdes. As time passed, Barça began to appropriate the match, ending with over 60% ball possession and having some near misses from Messi and Pedro.

This is the first Valencia - Barça draw in 40 years, but lacking the goals, it had plenty of real football, with both teams giving it all for the win. Barça stays leader with one point difference to Madrid.

Valencia 0 - Barcelona 0 - Highlights

VALENCIA 0 - BARÇA 0

Valencia: César, Miguel, David Navarro, Dealbert, Bruno,
Pablo, Albelda (Maduro, m.89), Banega, Mathieu (Miku, m.71), Silva
(Baraja, m.90+) y Mata.

FC Barcelona: Valdés, Dani Alves, Puyol, Piqué, Abidal, Touré Yayá, Keita, Xavi (Busquets, m.80), Iniesta, Pedro (Bojan, m.78) y Messi.

Referee: Pérez Burrull (comité cántabro).

Sanctions: Valencia: Silva, David Navarro, Albelda and Banega.  Barcelona: Piqué and Alves.

Notes: Played at Mestalla before 50.000 spectators. Field in good condition. Players appeared on the field with a banner that read: "Poorness Zero. Rebel against poorness"

Related links:
- Barcelona drop first points after goalless draw with Valencia (The Guardian)
- Barça y Valencia empatan en un brillante partido (La Vanguardia)