Jan 23, 2012

Messi hat-trick sinks Malaga; Barca - 4, Malaga - 1

Lionel Messi scored his first away hat-trick of the season to give Barca a comfortable 4-1 victory over Malaga. The match wasn't as comfortable as the score-line suggest. In the first half Malaga had some serious chances and ended as 1-0. Rondon scored the consolation goal for Malaga. All the goal in tonight's match were scored by South American players. But Barca came out roaring after the half and finished off the game. Guardiola rested some serious stalwarts ahead of the Clasico clash on Wednesday. Puyol started from the bench with Abidal, Pique, Mascherano and Alves forming the defense. The midfield saw Thiago, Iniesta and Busquets. The frontr trio also had a different look with Messi and Sanchez partnering Adriano. Victor Valdes captained the side with both Puyol and Xavi absent from the starting eleven.

Jan 21, 2012

Barca vs Malaga Preview

It's always tough to take your focus away from Clasico clashes. Hence Barca's visit to Malaga could be a herculean task in some aspect. First you have to get your feet back on the ground following a sweet victory at Bernebeu, then the big task - keeping the Wednesday's clash with real Madrid at camp Nou in the background. That makes the task in Guardiola's hand quite tricky, add to that the away form our team in this La Liga season. But the five point deficit at the top and the simple fact that we play ahead of Real Madrid shoudl be more than enough for us to be motivated. Traditionally following a Clasico victory, we always have don well in the next matches. So the basic idea would be to cut the lead at top to two points before Real Madrid face Atletic Bilbao. As you all know this fixture was supposed to be the first match of this season and was postponed due to the player's strike. But it is better for us to play them now than in the first week as we know exactly what to expect from them. Malaga FC is owned indirectly by the Qatar Royal family(or precisely by a distant relative of the King), Sandro Rosell would be a very happy to visit them following his own closeness to the Al Thani Family.
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David Villa Recovering Well

Video of David Villa in Gym

Jan 20, 2012

FC Barcelona Needs to Say "Enough"

Condemnation has been flying all over the media and internet for the acts of thuggery committed by Madrid players, especially their iconic defender Pepe. Pepe recently released a so called apology via Real Madrid official site. This is his official statement "I wish to say yesterday's incident with Leo Messi was unintentional, but I nevertheless want to apologise to him if he was offended because all I do is defend my team and this institution. I give my heart and soul, and the thought of hurting a colleague has never enetered my mind". It would have been better he stood by his action than releasing a statement like that. What the bloody hell he means by "if he was offended". His argument that it was unintentional does not hold any ground as world over everyone has been convinced that it was very much intentional. Pepe looked down to see where Messi's hand where and stamped on it. Even pro Madrid media houses AS and MARCA couldn't find any reason to justify that heinous act. The second line of the statement made me laugh and hit the floor. This video Pepe Kicking Getafe Player shows how much he care for fellow players. The bottom line is he has shown again and again that he always step on teh field with clear intentions of hurting his opponents - with the ball or without it. Jose Mourinho has whipped up so much frenzy against refereeing decisions that the officials are afraid to book him for his violent plays.