FC BARCELONA

Leo Messi has already scored 50 goals this season, 30 of them in La Liga. With 230 goals in official matches, he’s only 5 adrift of the record set by Barça legend César Rodríguez.

FC Barcelona’s Argentinian genius is only three goals away from breaking his personal goalscoring record, which he set last year, of 53 goals.

Furthermore, with today’s win at El Sardinero, Messi reached his 150 victory in the Liga wearing the Barça strip.

The Argentinian genius continues to score goals. He grabbed a hat-trick in his last match for Argentina. He netted five times in the Champions League match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Tonight, he scored a brace at El Sardinero. With today’s two goals, Lionel Messi has reached 50 goals this season, 30 of which have been scored in the Liga.

Messi is only three goals away from equalling his personal best record of goals scored in one season, which currently stands at 53. The Argentine, in all likelihood, keeping in mind that the end of the season is three months away, will break his own record.

In the Liga, Messi scored 34 goals in the 2009/10 season, his personal best in the domestic competition. This year, while still in the running for the Golden Boot award, he already has 30.

Every time Messi steps onto a football pitch he edges closer to FC Barcelona’s all-time top goalscorer record. César scored 235 official goals for Barça and Messi in only 5 adrift of the Barça legend with 230. This goalscoring machine just doesn’t stop and he’s only 24-years-old!

It’s worth taking a look at Messi’s stats to put things into perspective.

• Messi is the player that has needed the fewest games (202) to reach 150 victories in La Liga. Madrid’s Santamaría needed 208.
• Messi is the second player to ever score 50 or more goals in two consecutive seasons. Müller, with Bayern, scored 50 in the 1971/22 season, and 55 the next year.
• In the five big European leagues, Messi is the player the has passed the ball the most in the last third of the pitch (911). Xavi is second with 844.
• Messi has scored 16 goals in his last 6 games (including his match with Argentina). Last season he managed to score in 10 consecutive matches. (via FCBarcelona.com)

Andoni Zubizarreta avoided ruling on the future of technical and respect for the work called for arbitration.

Andoni Zubizarreta entered fully into the game of comparisons between Mourinho and Guardiola. Blaugrana sporting director was positioned and left no doubt about his performance at the junction of statements that both coaches have staged this weekend. "In this case, frankly, I'm not that seem Mou and Guardiola."

The executive denied that the club FC Barcelona has profiled this week the expected renewal of coach Pep Guardiola. "There is no condition to make it this week. I understand the interest of the media, but we expect a quiet week and it will play when you play, "he said.

As for the controversies have arisen in recent days, Zubizarreta showed his usual caution. Input on the subject of arbitration. "They are the most difficult part in this profession. They have people who support them and we must respect their work. "Finally, with regard to Real Madrid, also showed his starting point. "Real Madrid should give us the same. We must win our games and the rest see it on TV. " (via SPORT)

Andrés Iniesta highlighted the team’s effort against Racing: “we played a great game in a difficult stadium”.

Alves explained that the team’s objective is to “continue improving”.



Cesc Fábregas was pleased with the result against Racing Santander (0-2). “We put in a complete performance, always trying to play easy [balls], generating goalscoring chances and controlling the game. There is nothing easy in modern football,” said the Barça midfielder.

Cesc praises Messi

Cesc only had words of praise for Leo Messi: “he’s a different from any other player in the world, it’s a pleasure to play with him, having him in the team, because he gives you that extra confidence that a title winning side needs.” The Catalan player also talked about Messi’s personal side: “he’s a humble player, hard working, he loves football. He deserves everything that’s happening to him.”

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

Andrés Iniesta

“We played a great game in a difficult stadium .

“Sometimes the team gets in a rhythm, and this is a good one, we’ll try to keep it up until the end of the season .

“The most important thing is winning games, that’s what we try to do.

“We’re entering the decisive part of the season and we’re on form, there’s still a lot up for grabs”.

Dani Alves

“Our objective is to win matches.

“It’s very difficult to maintain this level. Each year you have to improve something to reach the objectives.

“We want to go out and enjoy football and the beauty of this sport, knowing that we represent the best football club.

“The team is doing well, we’re maintaining the equilibrium that we had in previous years, this is what keeps you on form in the competition”.

Cristian Tello

“This is always a complicated stadium to play in, they pressure you a lot here.

“The team put in a very complete performance, we passed the ball from one end to the other, looking for spaces .

“We look to win the three points each week, we’re not focused on the advantage that Real Madrid have over us. We take it one game at a time.

“I’ve very pleased with the support people are giving me, I’m living a dream and I’m very thankful for the confidence the boss has shown in me”. (via FCBarcelona.com)

Álvaro Cervera (Equatorial Guinea, 09/20/65) debuts today as a technician at first, nothing less than Barça, after abruptly leaving the Recreation and Racing needed to take over the remainder of the season.

Returns to a club that was already played in two stages (84/87 95/97) and is a real redneck. Álvaro, who also played for Mallorca (87/92) and Valencia (92/95), might be the 'Dream Team'. He was about to play the orders of Johan Cruyff, but their preliminary agreement with FC Barcelona for 17 years was cut short through injury.

In 1992, Álvaro was close to signing for Espanyol and Real Madrid. Long ago he had suffered a serious injury in a collision with Fraile, then defense of Zaragoza, which was almost a year off the field. He stops and even reached the international Vicente Miera.

But his big break came in 1995 when Johan Cruyff wanted to incorporate to strengthen the attack Barca progress Txiki Begiristain. Álvaro, a southpaw born have a clear offensive ended contract with Valencia, about to turn 30, yllegó a preliminary agreement with blaugrana for two seasons.

However, the signing went to fret (see the edition of MD of July 1, 1995) and ended up at the Camp Nou. Álvaro had happened in Barcelona consultation with Dr. Josep Borrell with a sprained of the Lateral Ligament in his right knee and could not risk Barça. He feared that his recovery was very slow, resulting in damage to the preparation of the site.

Álvaro, Cantabrian adoption, returned to the Racing and drained his years as a player in Hércules, Águilas, Almería, San Fernando and Ontinyent, where he hung up his boots in 2001. Now go back to El Sardinero after leading the Catarroja, youth Villarreal, Castellón, Almansa, Alicante, Cultural Leonesa, Jaén, Real Union and Recreativo.

His signing by the Cantabrian club has occurred after splitting of the Recre, with whom he was traveling by bus to Almeria to meet your party Liga Adelante. (via MD)

A new record double and closer: thanks to two goals scored in a 2-0 Barcelona victory over Racing Santander, Lionel Messi took another giant step towards the consolidation as top scorer in the history of Barcelona.

The Argentine star and scored 16 goals in his last six official and confirmed a huge fitness over recent weeks. Thus, harvest and 230 goals in Barcelona and is located only five goals of César, so far leading scorer in club history.

The difference is that Messi reached its current figure at only 24 years, 312 games and eight seasons at the club, while Leon did at 35 years, 348 games and 13 seasons at Barcelona.

Thanks to his double in Santander, Messi dream ended one week since last Wednesday scored five goals in a 7-1 win against Bayer Leverkusen and became the only player to achieve such a feat since the Champions League changed format in 1992.

Messi's first goal in the victory against Racing came on 29 minutes when he received a good attendance of Cesc Fábregas in the area and defined with the goal almost empty. In the second half, former Arsenal player was fouled inside the penalty area and the 'Flea' converted a penalty with a cross shot.

Messi thus reached 30 goals in the Spanish league, two behind the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, who also scored a brace in the victory of Real Madrid's 3-2 win over Real Betis.

The Rosario star on Sunday wrote a new chapter in his love affair with goals from Barcelona. It reached 50 goals this season official and last but not least, is only three goals to achieve their best record in the same course, even when there are almost three months of competition. (via SPORT)

The Barça manager highlighted the team’s attitude and form after today’s match at El Sardinero. Guardiola also said that the game was “a bit complicated” because the pitch was not in optimal conditions.



Even though, in general terms, Barça dominated the match against Racing Santander, Josep Guardiola said that the game required his players to “play a very serious match.” According to the manager, his players had to put in a strong effort to take the three points seeing that the pitch at El Sardinero was not in good condition.

Guardiola highlighted the good work put in by his team seeing that Barça has a long list of “injured players.” A factor that “obligated” some of the players to “work harder” in order to accomplish the goal of finishing the season as well as possible. “We’ve been on form for a while. We have two and a half months left [in La Liga] and we’ll strive to have good performances in all of our matches,” he said.

Once again, Lionel Messi, with two goals, one of them from a penalty, was the man of the match. When asked about Messi’s penalty, Guardiola said that his team “controlled the entire match,” the penalty “wasn’t decisive.”

The Barça manager also highlighted Pedro’s performance: “he’s an important player. He has been, is and will continue to be important for this Club. He needs to do the work that he did today, he was perfect in every regard. Scoring goals is a matter of time.” He also talked about the good defensive work put in by the team, singling out Sergio Busquets, Valdés and Puyol. “Without the work of the whole team it’s impossible to keep a clean sheet,” said Guardiola.

When asked about the Champions League draw, which will take place this Friday, Guardiola said that to get to the final in Munich “you have to play against the best teams. All teams have their strong and weak points.” He also said that he would prefer to avoid AC Milan in the quarter-final draw, “because we have already played against them” in the group stages. “In the end the draw will decide” who we play against, said Guardiola. (via FCBarcelona.com)

BEST: Insatiable Messi. Barça won without breaking a sweat during his visit to Cantabrian land. In the 0-2 end had much to do a single player on his way to destroy all records have or might have in the state squad. With his two goals in El Sardinero, Leo Messi sum and 30 in this league, and is only five to match the brand's top scorer in club history, the legendary César. The Argentine was well supported by Pedro and pointed Cuenca, though fortune eluded both in front of goal. The latter and Iniesta smashed two balls in the post, bringing the number of shots on the campaign wood rises and ...To 21!. And finally, an arbitrator dared to whistle a penalty for Barça. Incredibly, was the first home ... and the fourth of the season.

WORST: Hardness Cantabria. Racing was limited to defense. And sometimes, he did so hard that nearly cost him an injury to his rival. Busquets and Cesc, for example, suffered in the flesh two entries of Francis and Babacar tremendous. Fortunately there was no damage to mourn, though his ankles could go very badly. And so there were several more actions. Another negative point of the crash was the poor condition of the grass, which prevented Barça deploy your game more comfortably. (via SPORT)

Leo Messi was again on target against Racing de Santander tonight, scoring both goals as the team extended its winning run to six games with a 0-2 win.

A goal in each half from the Argentinean was enough to give Barça the points and their sixth win on the run in a game they dominated from the off. Barça controlled possession and showed clinical finishing up front with Leo Messi adding to his five goals in midweek with two more that take him even closer to the Club's all time leading scorer Cesar, who he now trails by just five goals.

The win leaves Barça 10 points off the leader going into a week where they have no game until next Saturday's trip to the Sanchez Pizjuan to face Seville.

Guardiola showed his attacking intentions with his team selection, lining up with a three man defence made up of Alves, Mascherano and the fit again Puyol, and with Racing sitting deep and hoping to hold out for a goalless draw, Barça were soon in charge, commanding possession and controlling the game. It looked to be simply a matter of when rather than if the first goal would come.

Pedro had the first good chance, with a drive that just shaved the post before Iniesta rattled the woodwork and Cesc was only denied by the busy Mario in the Racing goal. The resistance could only last so long though, and when Xavi set up Cesc on the right, his pinpoint cross gave Messi a simple tap in to open the scoring.

Racing now went even further back into their shell, which simply allowed Barça more time on the ball to find a way through the hosts' packed defence and when Cisma brought down Cesc in the box after the break, Messi made no mistake from the spot for his 50th goal of the season.

With the game done and dusted, Guardiola rang the changes and gave Tello, Keita and Adriano a run out, with Cuenca, Xavi and Pedro coming off. (via FCBarcelona.com)


[Match Stats]
Racing de Santander: Mario Fernández; Francis, Álvaro, Bernardo, Cisma; Colsa (Adrián, min 62), Gullón; Arana, Diop, Munitis (Jairo, min 70); and Babacar (Stuani, min 46).

FC Barcelona Valdés: Alves, Mascherano, Puyol; Busquets, Xavi (Keita, min 83), Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas; Cuenca (Tello, min 73), Messi and Pedro (Adriano, min 87).

Referee: Carlos Del Cerro Grande (committee Madrid). showed yellow cards To Francis, Babacar, Cisma, Diop, Stuani and Álvaro for Racing.

Goal: 0-1, 29 min. Messi. 0-2, 56 min. Messi penalty.

Subs: Party of the 27 th day of the First Division League, played in the Fields de Sport in El Sardinero before 18,885 spectators. Before the match observed a minute of silence in memory of former player Cantabrian Racing and Real Madrid Marcos Alonso Imaz, 'Marquitos', for whose death the players wore black armbands Racing.

Video: http://youtu.be/2LPSwzF6ZNE

No choice to Barça to go out the lawn of the New Sardinero boots with good roads, all senses alert and full of ambition.

After the victory of Madrid did new controversy, the club will start the game to 13 points for whites and therefore need to win to stay until the last minute rushing their league title chances.

Barça should demonstrate against Racing the same competitive capacity deployed last Wednesday against Bayer Leverkusen and find what would be the fourth consecutive victory in the Nuevo Sardinero, where Guardiola's team won last season by a clear 0-3 .

To get the win, the azulgranas would add a fourth consecutive victory in what league you will, a fact that also helps explain why the Madrid leads with so much advantage in the standings. The blancos have won 20 of their last 21 games played in the league.

Its irregularity as a visitor, seasoned with arbitration as the Valencia-Barça, to mention just one case, have penalized.

After missing the last league match through suspension and Sergio Busquets, Messi returned to the league after giving a new exhibition in Europe. It does, moreover, in a field for the Argentine, as the 'Pulga' is particularly good for Racing: has scored ten goals in twelve league games, five in their field.

Also return to the starting captain Carles Puyol, who despite medical travel without the high points to the owner after improving their discomfort. The absence of Piqué through suspension and Abidal by injury cause the return of captain pleases necessary to form a rearguard of guarantees with Mascherano, Alves and Adriano.

The azulgrana midfielder only Thiago is low, so the trio of Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta appear in the game, but Keita could also involve some options as well as Cesc, but the midfielder of Arenys could accompany Messi and Pedro presumably holders in forward. (via SPORT)

6 pm, R@dio Barça, GolT and Canal+ Liga: Barça go for their sixth consecutive away win against Racing. The presence of Puyol is the main news in the Barça squad.

The New Sardinero will be a good test of Barça's current form. The team have put together a run of three league wins plus an imposing ride into the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Five wins in the last five encounters. The battle to maintain this winning streak– Barça are 13 points adrift of Real Madrid after the victory in Seville – will be played out in the New Sardinero, a ground Barça have found very favourable over the past three seasons.

Since Pep Guardiola took charge, Barça have won all of their matches away to Racing: 1-2 (2008/09), 1-4 (2009/10) and 0-3 (2010/11). It's been particularly fertile ground for Leo Messi, who scored five in the three games including Barça's 5000th league goal. The match also comes on the back of Messi's five-goal exhibition against Bayer Leverkusen (7-1), a feat that delighted fans across Europe.

The presence of Carles Puyol in the squad is the main news though the Barça captain has yet to get full clearance from Club doctors. However, Piqué (suspended) plus Thiago, Abidal, Alexis, Villa, Afellay and Fontàs (injury) are all discounted. With so many players missing or doubtful, Guardiola has a limited number of options, especially in defence, and has drafted in Tello, Muniesa, Sergi Roberto, Bartra and Montoya from the reserves.

It's been a difficult week for Racing Santander. The club, which currently sits second from bottom and three points adrift of safety, sacked manager Juanjo Gonzalez and brought in Álvaro Cervera, until then manager of Recreativo. The new man has had very little time to prepare his players and will also have to cope with the absence of goalkeeper Toño (suspended) and forward Acosta (injured). (via FCBarcelona.com)

Another scandal arbitration facilitated the victory of Real Madrid and Barça, played on defense but on a roll, you must meet the processing of Santander.

Betis last night put the scare in the body of Real Madrid at the Benito Villamarin, but not grabbed any point. Could, no doubt, but the substitute arbitrator, who replaced the injured Iturralde González, pointed to another scandalous no penalty at the hands of Sergio Ramos at the last minute. He whistled yes, but dissemble. In this quest to deliver the title to the whites, the arbitral proceedings are becoming more embarrassing. The comeback from Barça is a mission impossible.

The team Azulgrana does not have to, then, that the Racing win today as process his relentless pursuit and wait for another opportunity to cut numbers, if the referees do not adulterate the league more than he is. The conference, however, are depleted beyond repair.

Barça reaches the critical stage in a state of enviable shape. What is Pep, who yesterday in the same newsroom where Mourinho feels "love fucking" her foot forcefully stopped, and so is the team that will play today in Santander emotionally strengthened by the latest results and determined not to surrender . Another final this time caught the Azulgrana defense for low injury and suspension but very tuned after stringing five official victories in a row, the last of prestige against Bayer in the Champions League with a stellar Messi.

It will be a test to evaluate again the high level of commitment to the locker room. You have to pitch in because the defense goes cracked. Piqué was at Barcelona sanctioned and Abidal injured. A Puyol has plagued him the damn left adductor and will doubt until the last minute. With only two natural defenses, Alves and Adriano, Pep must resort once again to Mascherano and who knows if Busquets, as against Villarreal in the second round. That, or the plan B that embody the canteranos.

Ahead, are all but Alexis and Thiago, even in nursing. And many of them showing its best. In this final and decisive stage, Iniesta is at its perfect cooking. Like Xavi or Cesc.

In the Sardinero shiver with the return of Messi after his one-match ban against Sporting. It's worth paying a ticket to see a genius capable of scoring five goals in one go. On the pitch Cantabrian already made ​​history as the author of goal 5,000 in League.

Although it is fertile ground for his three victories, Pep has a major problem. The hiring of Álvaro Cervera in the last hours has prevented study it carefully in his office at Camp Nou underground. Some have told of their systems, but not enough. It will be up improvise.

Three wins, a lot of goals and Leo
Pep has faced seven times Racing, getting six wins and one draw. The only equaled, curiously, was the first time the team was measured Cantabria, in the Camp Nou as a turning point in the 2008-2009 season debut bathed in criticism. His three visits to El Sardinero resulted in wins and goals. A 1-2 with goals from Messi the first time. A 1-4 in the second time with another brace from Leo, one of Ibra and a Pique. Last season was a 0-3 win thanks to Messi, Iniesta and Villa. (via MD)

The team led by Josep Guardiola arrived in Santander where they will play against Racing tomorrow at 18:00. The team was received by 300 Barça supporters in Cantabria.

FC Barcelona commenced their trip to Cantabria this afternoon ahead of tomorrow's match Racing Santander (18:00). The Barça team left the Camp Nou at 18:15 for El Prat airport. The plane took off at 19:15 and was scheduled to land in Santander at 20:10. The team was received by 300 Barça supporters who didn’t want to miss their chance to see the first team.

The coaching staff and the 18 players named to the squad, plus Carles Puyol, who doesn’t have the medical all-clear, including vice-president Javier Faus, director Pilar Guinovart and football director Andoni Zubizarreta form the Barça expedition.

Upon arrival, the team went straight to their hotel, Hotel Real. On Sunday, after the match against Racing, the first team will return to Barcelona at 21:30. Their plane is scheduled to land in the Catalan capital at 22:40. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

The Barça manager has emphasised that winning 13 out of 16 titles is the merit of the players. “This is all down to the athletes, who have performed so well over the whole period”.

"Nobody’s gifted us anything. What we’ve won we’ve won with a lot of hard work”.

Turning to Sunday’s match, Guardiola told reporters that new Racing manager Álvaro Cervera added an unknown factor to the preparations.



Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Racing Santander, Josep Guardiola insisted that all the successes of FC Barcelona over the past four years are exclusively the responsibility of the quality and hard work of the players. However, he emphasised that the fact that Real Madrid lead the way in the league by a margin of ten points is also a reflection of their merit.

"Winning 13 out of 16 titles is all down to the athletes. In the end this game always belongs to the players. We've won because we've got some fantastic players. This is all down to the athletes, who have performed so well over the whole period". No doubt speaking with Jose Mourinho in mind, Guardiola made it quite clear that it is the players who win the titles.

Along the same lines, and bearing in mind recent comments by former Club vice-president Alfons Godall, Guardiola said: "Godall knows, as do Rosell and Florentino, that we have won because we've competed with hard work. It's very bad for football if the merit doesn't go to Messi and Cristiano. We've won so much because we've been better than the rest. If Madrid are ten points ahead it's because they've been better and we have slipped up. We accept responsibility. And if I say we won't win the league it's because making up that gap with Real Madrid is very difficult, as it is to referee."

However, Guardiola is used to this kind of pressure: "We've been like this for four years, always being under suspicion in everything we do for different reasons. This year's no exception. It's always for reasons that are not down to our team."

Guardiola was also very clear in his reply to comments made by José Mourinho: "Yes, he may have been referring to me. I hope he says the name next time. Everybody understood that he was going for me. We're alike in that we both want to win, there's no doubt about that. If I've behaved like him in other respects then obviously I'll have to change my ways. I don't feel that he's like me. There are words and images for anything. There are thousands of press conferences. Our paths are very different. We have always been honest. If in the end it really is like that I'll have to think harder and try to see where we've failed. My aim is not to put my Club and players in a bad light. I try not to make people ashamed of me as well as to generate a good atmosphere in my team."

Asked about recent insinuations that relations with the Spanish Federation could have an influence on the referees' decisions, Guardiola replied: "If that's the way it is, then the system of refereeing has a big problem. Barça and the rest of the teams have an obligation to maintain a good relationship with the Federation. Referees have been put under a lot of pressure and the president of the Spanish Football Federation should step forward and make a stand. He should come out and say that you win because of Messi, Cristiano and Mourinho, because if not it seems that you win because you're a friend of Angel Maria Villar (president of the Spanish Football Federation) and then we would have to talk about his buy-out clause".

As for Sunday's match against Racing Santander, Guardiola revealed that Barça has very little information due to the fact that manager Álvaro Cervera has only recently taken over: "We'll go there without much information. The only thing in our hands is to win our match in Santander. That's the only thing we can control. Santander is always a tricky ground and even more in the situation they're in".

Slow to retract false accusations

Finally, Guardiola gave his opinion on the legal proceedings following on from the false accusations of doping levelled at the Club's players by the COPE radio station. "They should have admitted they'd lied a few days after it happened instead of going to court. It's taken quite a bit. They could have admitted it a couple of days afterwards." He rounded off his remarks by pointing out that the programme is still on air. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

The captain has worked this morning at the same rate as their peers and join the call for 19 players to play against Racing on Sunday, without a discharge.

The low secure are the suspended and injured Thiago Piqué, Alexis, Abidal, Villa, Afellay and Fontàs.

Carles Puyol, even without the discharge, is the main novelty of the 19 men who travel this Saturday afternoon to face Racing Santander on Sunday (18 hours, and Canal + League Goltara). The call is: Valdés, Pinto, Dani Alves, Fabregas, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Mascherano, Keita, Sergio Busquets, Pedro, Adriano, Cuenca, Tello, Montoya, Bartra, Sergi Roberto and Muniesa.

Thus, the casualties are the suspended and injured Thiago Piqué, Alexis, Abidal, Villa, Afellay and Fontàs.

The team has been trained on Saturday morning at the Ciudad Deportiva Joan Gamper after taking rest on Friday. Puyol has worked to keep pace with his companions, who have prepared the match against Racing. However, Alexis and Abidal have recovery in the field outside the group, while Thiago has made specific job. It is expected that next week enter the field work with the group. Although its development is satisfactory, Thiago is low for the game against Racing. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

"I shake my legs," says Mario goal with just three games in 1 st.
"Having in my house Leo's shirt would be an honor," he says.

After seeing the humiliation suffered by the meta Bernd Leno and Bayer Leverkusen, riddled for Barça in the Champions (7-1), with a historic Five of a kind of Messi, few would want to be in the shoes of Mario Fernández Cuesta (Santander, 30 April 1988), a novel gatekeeper, with only 3 games for Racing in First, set to debut tomorrow in El Sardinero in the league against azulgrana the expulsion of Tono in Vallecas.

Despite his inexperience in the elite and the menacing presence of Hurricane Messi, Mario said in an interview with MD, that "I shake my legs," but is aware that will face "the world's best player by far "and" hard work. ""It is a meeting to enjoy. Since childhood I always dreamed of face to Barça and Real Madrid, and the time has come," said the keeper, full of "illusion."

Mario has in his retina the five goals that Messi is endorsed by Bayer. "I saw the game on television, but the summary of the goals. It's another level. Seems to have no weaknesses. If you lie down you 'sink' the ball, if you see that you throw on the one hand you fools on the other ... you never know what to do. "The goalkeeper Cantabrian confesses that "it would be an honor to have the Messi shirt in my house, but it makes me more excited to win the three points. Signed Messi me make two if we win by 3-2 goals."

Despite the delicate position of his team in the table (sophomore), the squad of Racing expected not to live the nightmare of Bayer at Camp Nou. "As I recall, the biggest win I have conceded five goals were subsidiary to the front of the Cultural Leonesa."

Mario admits that "prefer another opponent more affordable now. It is difficult to play against Barça. Can do well and take five or six goals. Have to pose a tough encounter, but without violence, make a game very uncomfortable, like other teams who have received at Barça. "

According to Mario, Racing to play with "caste and race," as in those not so distant historic victories in the Sardinero against azulgrana. "I witnessed in the stands a 5-0, 4-0 or 3-0 I will never forget, even before there was much difference of Barcelona or Madrid to the rest", says the goal, which defines his colleague Víctor Valdés "a porterazo, the one that has evolved in recent years."

Mario (1.85 m.) Debuted last year in 1 st (Sporting-Racing, 2-1) and this has two more games away from home: Levante (1-1) and Ray (4-2). In total, 267 minutes to stop a Messi beating all records. (via MD)

This Sunday’s match is Pep Guardiola’s fourth match against Racing Santander as first-team manager; the Catalan has never lost to Racing in Santander.

Pep Guardiola will go to the Sardinero for the fourth time as manager of FC Barcelona’s first team. In his past three visits he’s led his team to three victories.

Last season, on Matchday 1 of La Liga, Barça beat Racing 0-3, with an early Messi goal on three minutes, and two more from Iniesta and Villa. In the 2009/10 season Barça was victorious in Santander (1-4) as well. Guardiola’s men conceded a goal to Óscar Serrano on 72 minutes, after Ibrahimovic, Messi (2) and Piqué netted for the Azulgranas.

Finally, in Guardiola’s first match at El Sardinero as manager, in the 2008/09 season, the Azulgranas won by 1-2. Zigic put his team in front but Messi, with two goals, overturned the home side’s advantage. (via FCBarcelona.com)


[Results at El Sardinero]

10/11 Season- Machday 1 - 29/08/2010. Racing 0 - 3 Barça (Messi, 3; Iniesta, 32; Villa, 62).

09/10 Season –Machday 4 – 22/09/2009. Racing 1 - 4 Barça (Ibrahimovic, 19; Messi, 23; Piqué, 26; Messi, 63; Óscar Serrano, 72).

08/09 Season- Machday 21 - 01/02/2009. Racing 1 - 2 Barça (Zigic, 55; Messi, 65; Messi, 81).

The penalty for Piqué and Puyol and Abidal doubt the pair can force Busi-Mascherano or defense of three.

Adverse circumstances, as the penalty for red Piqué showed Velasco Carballo and Puyol and Abidal doubt for his sore muscles may force Pep Guardiola to improvise the defensive line, something that has been forced often.

If neither Puyol or 'Abi' are able to play, Guardiola could go for the tandem composed of Busquets and Mascherano or a defense of three, but hardly made ​​up of three 'small people', Alves, Mascherano and Adriano. Busquets is in fact the only option for a high profile defense if not recovered Puyol and Abidal.

The Gaul defender is practically ruled for Santander, as just ten days have elapsed since the injury, with the France team, and a recurrence is premature.

Puyol, who simply suffer some discomfort, more options to travel to Santander and that between today and tomorrow decide whether he plays or not. In any case, if ultimately not play in El Sardinero, Sergio Busquets has many issues to delay their position and play at center alongside Mascherano, with Keita as center half. This pair of power, however, played as Barça-Milan from the Champions league and the result was not encouraging.

Guardiola also can opt for a defense of three, leaving Busquets ahead as defensive midfielder and always ready to come down to support Mascherano, but would more than like Pep advance Dani Alves and put Mascherano as a side with Busi on the axis of the rear.

Alves physical strength as would enable winger placed, so that the defense would be three or four depending on the circumstances. In the Calderón Barça and played well and given that the Racing attack with very few troops, is a possibility to consider. The good form of Keita of Mali permits placing the center as a means.

Another alternative is to dip into the subsidiary. Muniesa played a few minutes to Bayer, but as a winger. Pep ultimately must improvise a couple of new plants, as has arranged from parties as decisive as the final in Rome (Piqué, Touré) or the European Super Cup against Porto (Mascherano, Abidal). (via MD)

After Juan José Gonzalez destituación, Racing has named Álvaro Cervera, so far coach of Recreativo as the new coach.

The previous coach of Recreativo de Huelva, Alvaro Cervera, is the new coach of Racing de Santander, following the agreement reached with the Cantabrian club, once detached from the Andalusian team.

Álvaro Cervera Betis will be linked to the club until 30 June, as reported this afternoon in a brief statement Racing.

The new coach replaces Juan José González, who was dismissed Wednesday by the bankruptcy administration and the director general of the organization, Antonio Corino.

The Racing said then that the decision to dispense with González was "best for the team" and announced his intention to seek a replacement as soon as possible. (via SPORT)

FC Barcelona has trained this morning with the aim of recovering the players to begin preparations for Sunday's game in Santander.

Guardiola has worked with 14 first team players available and Tello, Muniesa, Sergi Roberto, Bartra, Montoya and Dos Santos, of Barça B.

The football player Justin Tuck, who won the last Super Bowl with the New York Giants, has continued training with carefully.

After the exhibition on Wednesday at the Camp Nou against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, the team has returned to training this Thursday morning in field 2 of the Ciudad Deportiva Joan Gamper. As usual the day after a match against Bayer owners have done recovery work. The rest, with Tello, Muniesa, Sergi Roberto, Bartra, Montoya and Dos Santos, B, have completed a more intense session. The aim is to recover the players to begin preparing the Sunday League match in the field of Racing Santander (18 hours).

Two of the injured players, Alexis and Puyol have jumped into the grass practice field to continue their recovery efforts.

The football player Justin Tuck, who these days is in Barcelona to attend the Global Sports Forum, has closely followed the training on Thursday. Tuck, who won the last Super Bowl with the New York Giants, the game was live on Wednesday at the Camp Nou and wanted to greet the first team players. He was so surprised with the five goals from Messi that when he saw made ​​him a bow.

Víctor Valdés, great football fan, has exchanged the shirt with the defense of the New York Giants, who already has two Super Bowls under his belt. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

The Barça reserve side broke their two-game losing steak away from the Miniestadi after earning a valuable point in Huelva. The game ended in a nil-all draw, a result not unlike the 2-2 from the first half of the season.

The team led by Eusebio Sacristán were not able to take the three points from Huelva but they did secure a notable draw that breaks their poor run of results away from the Miniestadi. The Azulgrana reserve side is a bit unlucky away from home, they haven’t won outside of Barcelona since November 19th.

The first half started with both teams equally matched, in the first 10 minutes tried their luck, but to no avail. As time went on, Barça managed to control ball possession and the first real chance feel to Rodri, thanks to a good pass from Rafinha, but the ball was cleared by the rival defence.

Despite controlling the ball, Álvaro Cervera’s team also created danger in the Barça area. The best goal scoring chance for Huelva came on 26 minutes when Berrocal, taking advantage of Segi Gómez’s indecision, had a one-on-one with Oier; the keeper did well to deny the Andalusian’s first goal. In the next play, Sacristán’s men almost scored the first goal of the night with. Rafinha shot with his right foot and the ball skipped wide of the goal.

After 30 minutes, Recreativo moved their lines up the pitch and they upped their pressure on the Barça back line. The defence was struggling in their attempts to cut off the Recreativo offence led by Álamo. After a first half dominated by Barça and Huelva creating chances on the counterattack, both teams went to their dressing rooms with 0-0 on the scoreboard.

The second half was a replica of the first. The Azulgranas were faithful to their style of ball possession play, but they couldn’t create enough danger to break the deadlock. Recreativo tried to take the three points as well; they came close when Aitor, on 49 minutes, unleashed a shot but Oier, once again, was impassable on goal. Álamo kept on harrying the Barça defence, but the Catalans stood firm.

Deulofeu had a clear chance on 59 minutes, but the Andalusian defence denied the Catalan. He had another chance minutes later but his shot sailed wide. The game came to an end and both teams earned a point apiece.

Barça B will take on Sabadell next week. (via FCBarcelona.com)


[Match Stats]
Recreativo: Manu, Córcoles, Martínez, Bonaque, Vega, Arcas (Zambrano, min 72), Álamo, Matamala, Aitor, Sánchez (Jesus Rubio, min 77), Berrocal (Sergi E., min 55).

FC Barcelona: Oier, Montoya, Bartra, Sergi Gómez, Planas, Sergi Roberto, Dos Santos, Espinosa (Lobato, min 77), Deulofeu (Dongou, min 84), Rafinha i Rodri (Kiko Femenía,, min 61).

Referee: López Acera.