FC BARCELONA

With a number of first team regulars missing due to injury and international commitments, plus the need to rest others to cope with the accumulation of matches, Guardiola has turned to the reserves to take the strain. Cristian Tello enjoyed a dream debut against Real Sociedad, playing the full 90 minutes and scoring a goal. He told us: "I was a bit nervous in the changing room when we were told the line-up but then I felt fine”.

Barça B forward Cristian Tello made his first appearance on Saturday and had a fantastic game, scoring Barça's first and proving to be a nightmare down the left wing for the Real defense. The 20-year-old was delighted with the win. Speaking to Barça TV after the match, he said: "It was a hard-worked victory but I'm very happy with my debut and even happier about the win".

"It was amazing to figure in the starting line-up in this team and play alongside such great players. My teammates are incredible, they're a tight-knit team." He revealed that he had no trouble in settling into the group: "It's not very difficult because in the reserves we try and play in the same style as the first team".

For their part, the older players have given Tello a warm welcome while Guardiola has been keeping an eye on his development: "He told me to go wide and try to go past players. I'm happy to have the boss's confidence". Goalkeeper Valdés posted a photo of Tello on Facebook and Twitter with the text: "A fantastic Tello scores his first goal for the first team! We have the best youth system in the world".

Isaac Cuenca, who is now officially part of the first team squad, is a good example for Tello to follow: "He's like a mirror because we have player together since we were kids and now he's arrived and got himself settled in. We all aspire to that".

A couple of seasons ago, Cristian Tello spent some time with Espanyol. They eventually offered him a first team contract, but Tello turned them down: "Espanyol offered me a deal with the first team but I already had an ambition and that was to make it here. It's hard to get over leaving Barça so when they offered to take me back I didn't think twice and worked hard to take my chances". (via FCBarcelona.cat)

• Thiago Alcántara has now made 50 senior appearances. 31 in La Liga, 5 in the Champions League, 10 in the Cup, 2 in the Spanish Super Cup and 2 in the World Club Cup.
• He's scored a total of 7 goals, (4 in the league and 3 in the Cup).
• He had the best pass completion rate against Real Sociedad: 89/98
• Barça broke a run of three consecutive draws
• The match showcased a lot of home-grown talent, with Barça starting with 8 players from the academy and Real 9.
• Real Sociedad have not won in the Camp Nou for 21 years.
• Barça had 70% of the possession and more than trebled the number of passes made by Real - 713 to 227.
• Barça produced 18 attempts on goal compared to Real's 8.
• Mascherano (19) and Adriano (15) topped the ball recovery rankings. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

Overall Rating 6.7

VALDES 8, ALVES 6, PUYOL 8, MASCHERANO 7, ADRIANO 6, DOS SANTOS 6, THIAGO 6, CESC 6, CUENCA 7, MESSI 6, TELLO 8 (MOM), BUSQUETS -, ABIDAL 6, PIQUE 6. (via SPORT)

The coach of Real Sociedad, Philippe Montanier, was satisfied with the game displayed by his team and made it clear that Barca deserved to win the match.

Philippe Montanier attended the press conference proud of his team's performance in the Nou Camp despite the defeat. "Barca deserved their victory, but in the end, with only one goal difference, I expected a draw. I am satisfied with the behavior of their players, but not the outcome, although we know it is very difficult here in Barcelona," has recognized .

The coach knew that Barça could pay at the end of the match effort in recent weeks: "I know that Barça is having a lot of games, I had to make many changes, but his game has been showing regularly." As for Messi, the French complained that his team controlling the world's best player for much of the game, but ultimately the star Barca managed to score and break a streak of three games without scoring. "It is true that the second goal was very difficult for us. We know that anything can happen Messi is a magician, but it is true that the work of my team has been very severe to wait until the final result set. "

"In the second half we were better with the ball, we had two or three good chances, enough against Barca. So it is a pleasure for me," the coach of La Real.

The players congratulated Cristian Tello for his excellent performance against Real Sociedad. The Barça squad is not focused on the decisive semifinal Cup match against Valencia.



After putting in another fantastic performance in goal, Víctor Valdés said the game against Real Sociedad was difficult. “It’s been a hard day, it’s very cold, but we played well. It was a very close result, the supporters were suffering because of us but we fought until the end. In general terms, the team was on form,” said the keeper.

Valdés also praised Barça B’s Cristian Tello: “I want to congratulate him for his first goal with the first team, we have the best youth system in the world.”

The keeper highlighted the importance of winning tonight’s three points: “it’s important to win all the games that we have to play, we are in a situation that leaves us with no margin of error, we have to keep on winning three points each week and wait for Madrid to stumble.”

Lastly, he talked about the importance of the semifinals return leg of the King’s Cup. “We must play a good game. Valencia will come to score a goal and we must be careful until the end,” said the keeper.

Here are some of the statements made by the FC Barcelona players after the match:

Cristian Tello:

“We worked hard to win this match because we needed it. I have to thank the manager for the confidence that he gives me, I’m very happy.

“There’s a lot of Liga left and a lot of points [still in play]. We have to fight for the League until the end.

“We had a hard time but we managed to win the game, it was necessary. Real Madrid can lose and we must be ready [when they do].”

Dani Alves:

“We had the chances to score more goals, but in the end the game was difficult. We gave them a chance, and they came after the game after their goal. Despite that, we fought to win the three points.

“Leo Messi doesn’t only score goals. He’s a player that works so hard, he tries to do everything, and it’s all for the team. We’re very happy with his work regardless of the goals he scores.

“The wide full-backs didn’t have to attack as much tonight, we only had to be aware of counterattacks. Tello and Cuenca played a very good game.

“We’re very motivated for the game on Wednesday. We have the chance to enjoy another final, but we’re going up against a very difficult rival and we hope the supporters come to cheer us on.”

Adriano Correia:

“It was a bit difficult. It was a similar match that we played there [Anoeta], but we managed to win and we played a good game.

“We’re very pleased with Tello, he’s another player from the reserve side that’s succeeding with us. I hope he can stay.

“I’ve never been so cold. The pitch, after it was watered down, was frozen. Despite all that, we’re very pleased with the result and for the three points.”(via FCBarcelona.cat)

The Barça manager has won 160 matches on the FC Barcelona bench, the same amount as the Dutchman won between 2003 and 2008. Only Cruyff has more wins than Guardiola (250).

With the win this Saturday, Pep Guardiola brings his tally of games won on the FC Barcelona bench to 160. The manager has only conceded 44 draws and 18 defeats in his three and a half years at FC Barcelona. His record has allowed him to guide the first team to 13 titles out of 16 played since he was named head coach.

Guardiola equals Frank Rijkaard’s record of games won. The Dutchman trained Barça from 2003 to 2008. During that time he won 160 games, tied 63 and lost 50. Guardiola’s next challenge is to catch Johan Cruyff’s record of 250 wins (the Barça manager was at the Azulgrana helm for 430 official matches).

This Saturday was Guardiola’s 601st game with the first team. He played 379 in the Barça colours as a first-team player and against Real Sociedad he completed his 222nd match as the Barça manager. Guardiola, who made history as a player, is now making history as the Barça coach. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

The Barça manager highlighted the effort and the good football produced by his players tonight against Real Sociedad. Guardiola congratulated Tello, Cuenca and Dos Santos “because it’s not easy to comport yourself like they have [tonight], especially with all the added pressure”.



t the start of the press conference after the 2-1 win over Real Sociedad, Josep Guardiola wanted to thank the 53,000 fans that braved the freezing cold and came to the Camp Nou to cheer on the team. “I have reverence and gratitude for all of them,” he said. He then went on the congratulate Tello, Cuenca and Dos Santos “for the great match that they played.” The manager also expressed his eagerness “to get back some of the [injured] players little by little.” Guardiola noted that his curtailed squad is putting in a “titanic effort” each match especially considering the amount of injured first-team players.

“In the end we won by a short margin, and we could have tied, it’s true that we generated a lot of good football, and you go home with a strange feeling,” explained the manager. He insisted: “let’s see if we can get back some [injured] players. The players we have are putting in a titanic effort, and on Wednesday they have another do or die match that will decide if we can [play and] leave the Copa del Rey to one side so we can focus on the other two competitions. I hope we can play the final.”

That’s how Guardiola referred to the first goalscorer of the night: “[Tello’s] a pure winger, a bullet, very fast. He’s the type of player that’s very hard to find, he’s very young, and with time he’ll learn more things. He did a great job today.” He went on to praise the winger and Dos Santos, saying they both “played very responsibly.” He added: “they are better players now. Today we became stronger as an institution.”

Finally, when asked about Messi’s performance, the manger said “he’s as eager as ever. He self motivates. He could have scored four goals. As long as he’s feeling well, he’ll play. The pitch was a big stumbling block for him tonight. He scored an amazing goal after a very good pass from Dani.” (via FCBarcelona.cat)

The midfielder was carted off the pitch after a collision with a Real Sociedad player.

Sergio Busquets sustained an injury on the inside of his right knee that will require stitches. His recovery will mark his availability for upcoming Cup and League matches.

The Barça midfielder only managed to be on the Camp Nou pitch for seven minutes. He came in, replacing Carles Puyol, in the 68th minute, but after a collision with a Real Sociedad player he needed to come off the pitch. Piqué took the midfielder's spot. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

Barça overcame freezing temperatures and an injury to Busquets to beat Real Sociedad 2-1 at the Camp Nou tonight.

Barça prevailed over the difficulties that the weather and the Donosti team set them thanks to goals from Tello and Messi in each half in front of a 52.646 crowd who braved the Siberian temperatures at the Camp Nou. The negative for Guardiola's men was the injury to Busquets – just after he had come on in the second half.

The late goal for the visitors from Vela rounded off a game that Barça had begun with eight homegrown players and which served to put an end to a three game run of draws- two in the Cup and one in the league-and leave them still seven points behind Real Madrid in second place after the leaders beat Getafe earlier in the evening.

Messi and Ifrán both tested the keepers early on, but it was Barça- with Tello and Cuenca playing out wide and Dos Santos sitting in front of defence- who opened the scoring when on his debut, Tello got a subtle touch on 37 minutes to put away a great assist from Messi to beat Bravo in La Real goal.

Guardiola's team were ahead and dominating the match, but they were still missing a certain spark in the passing game that has characterised their best performances. Alves and Cesc both came close to making it two, but they both showed signs of the team's nervousness in front of goal and the narrow lead at half time was hardly a fair measure of the relative merits the two teams had shown so far.

Messi was again in the action after the break, but he looked to be out of luck, before he headed in an Alves cross on 72 minutes. Real Sociedad reacted quickly with a Vela goal just two minutes later to make it 2-1 with a quarter of an hour still left to play.

Guardiola now brought on Abidal and Busquets for Puyol and Dos Santos to try and close the game down, but the Catalan midfielder hardly lasted anytime whatsoever after banging into a la Real attacker on the edge of the box. After he was taken off to be replaced by Piqué, Barça took the sting out of the match and ran down the game to take the three points that keeps them seven behind the leaders. (via FCBarcelona.cat)


[Match Data]
Barcelona Valdés; Alves, Puyol (Abidal, m.76), Mascherano, Adriano; Dos Santos (Busquets, m.76 (Piqué, m.82), Thiago, Cesc; Tello, Messi and Cuenca.

Real Sociedad Bravo; Carlos Martínez, Mikel González, Iñigo Martínez, Cadamuro; Aranburu, Markel, Rubén Pardo (Llorente, m.78); Xabi Prieto (Aguirretxe, m.83), Griezmann; and Ifrán (Vela, m.58).

Goal: 1-0. M.9: Tello. 2-0, m.72: Messi. 2-1, m.74: Vela.

Referee: Clos Gomez (Committee Aragonés). He showed yellow card to Iñigo Martínez (m.34) and Llorente (m.88).

Incidents: 52,646 spectators attended the match in game for the twenty-second day match at the Camp Nou. They observed a minute's silence in memory of victims of Port Said (Egypt).

Barça has made ​​this Saturday at noon at the Camp Nou a final test before receiving from the 22 hours, at the Real Sociedad As in recent days, the preparatory session was marked by low temperatures.

As usual on game days at the Camp Nou , the team led by Josep Guardiola has made ​​a final preparatory session, which started at 12.30 and has been closed, before receiving the 22 hours, Real Sociedad , which is the day number 22 of the competition of regularity. A game, this one, in which players will surely be the low temperatures that affect the city of Barcelona in recent days.

Since Friday afternoon, the Barcelona coach for this training has had with the 15 first team players that are available, as well as Jonathan dos Santos, Cristian Tello and Sergi Roberto . After the session, players will have lunch together on the premises of the Camp Nou and then have free time until the time of concentration in the stadium,

Tips before the cold snap

Then, at low temperatures, we give some recommendations to everyone attending the game this Saturday night at the Camp Nou between Barcelona and Real Sociedad. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

Barça has made ​​Saturday his last training before receiving Real Sociedad (22h) at the Camp Nou.

The sitting was closed and marked by cold, has had starring the homegrown Dos Santos, Tello and Sergi Roberto, who will complete with the first team available call for Pep Guardiola for the meeting.

The players eat together at the facilities of Camp Nou and then go to their homes respectios remain there until a couple of hours before the beginning of a game that can be the first one in the overcome azulgrana toward the attainment of the fourth serial League title. (via MD)

The team hopes txuri urdin no repeat performance of last season.

The Real Sociedad player Xabi Prieto has said that attending the Camp Nou on Saturday with the intention of trying to "make a stir" despite being aware that it is almost impregnable stronghold Blaugrana this season.

"Last year we got very complicated from the start in 15 minutes and we lost 2-0 and it complicates the game. You have to try that will not happen." La Real will try to bring even game to try to exploit some against and "give the stroke."

In this sense, the midfield genius Sebastian appealed to the surprise and constant work to get something positive from the game and get back to San Sebastian with a different feel than last year. "You go knowing that it is very difficult. Just have given a draw so far this season, until Betis had not conceded a goal and are probably the best team in the world. But we are hoping to be able to do something that has not got the rest and that illusion, "he said.

The Real Sociedad knows that the meeting will have to work hard and long to remove some of possession to Barcelona. "All teams would like to have more of the ball but against teams like Barca you conscious that this will happen or yes, go with the lesson learned and not so desperate, it's something you expect, you know, and when the recover a view to seize the moment, "he said about it.

About the trouble he was experiencing at the ankle, Xabi Prieto says he is better than I thought. Hopes that the inconvenience of training on Wednesday not prevent you from earning on Saturday at the Camp Nou. (via Marca)

Everything indicates that the side that comes out today is the same as tied in Valencia with the input of Valdes, Alves and Adriano.

Xavi Hernandez has all the numbers to continue on the bench tonight against Real Sociedad. The Terrassa and missed the first leg last Wednesday in the semifinals of the Cup in Valencia drag an overload in the soleus muscle that kept him from feeling comfortable on the pitch. And in Villarreal and suffered terribly, so Guardiola decided to replace him in the second half. The coach wants to have Xavi in ​​perfect condition facing the momentous Cup match to be played next Wednesday at the Camp Nou and thinking well in the demanding schedule that is coming to Barcelona in the coming weeks with outputs as Osasuna and Atletico Madrid also the return of the Champions League.

So for today Xavi points directly to the bench and just jump onto the field in case of urgent need.

Another that is also 'headdress' it is Chilean Alexis, dragging discomfort in the groin and a shoulder injury which had to be infiltrated in recent games to bear the pain. Guardiola also is considering seriously to rest ahead of this evening, so it would gain the possibility that whole Brazilian Adriano played at left back. In any case, depend on the feelings of the Chilean striker in the hours before the game against Real Sociedad.

The rest of the team to leave the field tonight is not designed a priori to have many more in wicker basket, so in principle be repeated more or less blown up in Valencia in the Cup, except for Valdes Alves Pinto by Mascherano, along with the aforementioned Adrian Alexis.
All these vicissitudes that have developed during this course must have `What Guardiola to field a total of 24 players in twenty days of the season. Were 21 in the first and 22 in the second and third. Casualties by injury, especially, as well as the inevitable rotations, have meant that Pep has had to resort to more players than ever.

It is known that the helmsman of Santpedor likes working with short templates, as evidenced by the fact that in its first three years, after 20 league games, only a maximum of 22 ranked players. But now things have changed and the number of troops exceeds two men who have the confidence of the coach.

And of the 24 players that Pep has had in the league, 15 are from the quarry, 62.5%. A figure unthinkable a decade ago. The last to have been the alternative Deulofeu (debuted at Barcelona-Mallorca) and Tello (in the last game played at El Madrigal).

If we talk about championships integers (38 days), which had more presence of players was the first, 2008-2009, with 29. Of course in the past three days, with the title decided, the technician ushered in many new faces that were fogueando. In the 2009-2010 season over the course league with 24 players lined up and the next, 2010-2011, with 28. In this, as things stand, possibly exceeding the record of participation. But the coach did not shake the pulse because it relies on those below. (via SPORT)

Philippe Montanier, does not fear the match against FC Barcelona, ​​despite the opponent's body and lows of your team, and sees it as a "challenge" professional "a lot" for its players to challenge it.

Montanier before train his team in the final preparatory session of the meeting, said that the set of Pep Guardiola is a "high mountain" to be up and calls it the "best team in the world and perhaps in all history. "

"Every player wants to play and even for all teams win this mission seems impossible, we know that in football anything is possible", stated Coach Norman.

The French coach is not afraid of what might happen in the Camp Nou, where most teams thrashed out, and believes that moves to Barcelona "good template" to oppose the Catalans.

Montanier has also referred to the configuration of its staff following the movements during the winter, which has not registered inputs but outputs, which will "more space" and result, has secured the benefit of young people who call the door of the first team from the cantera. (via SPORT)

The Barça manager said that his players are aware that they cannot allow anymore points to slip by if they want to keep their title hopes alive. He also talked about Xavi’s improved fitness, saying that he deserved and needed a break. The midfielder was on the bench against Valencia.



From now until the end of the season, every game Barça plays will be crucial to keep title hopes alive on all three fronts: Cup, League, and Champions League. The team is seven points adrift from the top in La Liga and they cannot let anymore points slip by. Pep Guardiola was very clear in today’s pre-game press conference: “I will ask the players to be who they have been in the past. We know we’re almost past the point of no return. It’s not a time for words, it’s time to play the best we possibly can and win, taking it one game at a time.”

The Barça manager said he won’t be paying attention to the Getafe-Madrid match, which will be finishing up just before Barça takes the field. “We have to be concerned about winning our game, that’s the only thing we can do.” He went on to say: “our game plan is to do our job in the best way we can, like we always have. We’ll see how things go from now on.”

Despite the missed penalty against Valencia, the manager is clear: “Leo is a player that is always above average. He’s always ready to play, he’s very, very competitive. Sometimes he takes on responsibilities that he shouldn’t, but you know my opinion, he always plays well. He always scores goals or gives them,” he told the packed press room. Furthermore, Guardiola also highlighted the Argentine’s record from the penalty spot: “Messi’s statistics, taking the shot with so much pressure on him, are spectacular.”

The manager also talked about Xavi’s fitness, the midfielder was on the bench against Valencia midweek: “he’s better. The break was very beneficial. We all think that he can cope with everything, he’s very reliable, but he’s had four years without any breaks and sometimes the body asks you to stop a little. He was fit today.” Guardiola also praised Alexis, saying that the “effort he puts in brutal” seeing that he’s still struggling with clavicle pain.

On Real Sociedad, Barça’s rival tomorrow, Guardiola said, “they play the ball well from the back and they come at you from the wings and the middle.” He added: “they’ve only lost one game out of their last nine. They are a classic team and it’s great that they are in the Primera division.” Despite the very cold weather, the manager called on Barça fans to attend the Camp Nou tomorrow: “if they come, they should bring a coat. I hope they attend, but I understand [if they don’t], the forecast says it will be very cold.”

Pep's goal celebration in Mestalla

Pep Guardiola explained his celebration when Puyol scored the equalizer at Mestalla. The manager, pointed to the pitch with a hint of rage: “I wasn’t expecting the pitch to be so dry, but they have every right keep it like that. It’s their house, and they call the shots. We have to adapt.” (via FCBarcelona.cat)

The 15 available first-team players plus Dos Santos, Tello and Sergi Roberto, from Barça B, trained in the frigid cold. The team continues to prepare for their La Liga match against Real Sociedad (22.00).

This Friday, FC Barcelona completed their penultimate training session before the match against Real Sociedad. Pep Guardiola worked with 15 first-team footballers and three youngsters from Barça B (Jonathan dos Santos, Cristian Tello and Sergi Roberto).

Éric Abidal, who signed his contract extension with the Club, was congratulated by his teammates and coaches.

The team will train one last time tomorrow morning before the match. It will be a closed-door session at the Camp Nou at 12.30. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

Although he retired during the Cup match played in Mestalla, Alexis Sánchez can be another time to disposition of Guardiola this Saturday.

Guardiola will have the option to have again with Alexis Sanchez to the game this Saturday (22.00h) against Real Sociedad. Although it ended the match against Valencia with muscle aches, they will not be reason for Chile's need to rest and the player can be infiltrated again to mitigate prioblemas back, suffered in the quarter-final against Real Madrid.

Alexis should be a period of two weeks on the sidelines with an injured collarbone. However, last Saturday, three days after the clash against Madrid, came by surprise in the call for Guardiola to match Villarreal by lower late Pedro. The tocopillano was infiltrated and it even participated in this encounter.

He also made it - and as regular - in the game of last Wednesday in Valencia, but in the minute 58 retired with nuisances and was replaced by Dani Alves. SPORT.es has been told, these complaints are not crucial to rest on Saturday and could again be infiltrated, if deemed appropriate Guardiola. (via SPORT)

The Barça midfielder believes his team can cut into Real Madrid’s lead, saying that “over the years we’ve demonstrated a lot of things”.

Thiago Alcántara talked about the possibility of his team cutting into Real Madrid’s seven-point lead. The Barça midfielder is confident that La Liga trophy will once again reside at the Camp Nou at the end of the season: “of course we can fight back. Over the years we’ve demonstrated a lot of things." Thiago believes that in order to claim more titles the team must take it one step at a time and only focus on the next match. “I think in the short term, and that means focusing on Real Sociedad. We cannot be concerned with Valencia or Bayer Leverkusen [right now],” the Spanish-Brazilian midfielder. He added, “we set weekly challenges for ourselves.”

On the game against Valencia, Thiago said that “we didn’t capitalize on our chances. We had a lot of them and we simply didn’t finish them.” On the team’s lack of accuracy in front of goal, Thiago doesn’t believe that Barça depends solely on Messi and his goals: “Messi is a born winner. We have the best player in the world, we are not dependent on him but we must take advantage of his virtues.”

One of the highlights of the match was Carles Puyol’s double roulette. Thiago praised his captain for “showing his quality at Mestalla, a difficult ground ... I have to tip my hat to him and thank him because it was a beautiful thing for football.”

“Luckily he didn’t make the right call.” Thiago was honest when he was asked about the play where it appears that Pinto handles the ball outside of the Barça box. However, Thiago noted that “the referees, with their virtues and defects, do their job, just like players do.” (via FCBarcelona.cat)

Barça has become focused on the Real in a soft session yesterday holders also has had homegrown.

Barça has returned to work after a tie in the semifinal round of the Cup against Valencia . Barca team is refocusing on the League and get that next Saturday the Real Sociedad in the Camp Nou .

As usual, the headlines have played in Mestalla recovery. The session has been incorporated Jonathan dos Santos, Tello and Sergi Roberto, Barca B and Miguel Angel, Bagnack, Jordi Quintillà and David Babunski, the juvenil A.