Champions League and clásico coming up

www.fcbarcelona.cat

The games against Inter Milan on Tuesday and Real Madrid on Sunday will determine the schedule for FC Barcelona’s week.

There are two huge games to end November at the Camp Nou. Inter Milan and Real Madrid are coming. First up is José Mourinho’s side at 20.45 on Tuesday, a game on which much of FC Barcelona’s Champions League hopes hinge.

Champions Monday

Inter Milan are in Barcelona from Sunday night, and will train on Monday at the Camp Nou. That will be at 17.30, when Samuel Eto’o will read the turf for the first time since he left for Italy. At 17.00, José Mourinho, another former FCB employee, will be giving a press conference in the Camp Nou pressroom.

Barça next

2009-09-15_ENTRENO_WEB_28.JPGAfter Inter have trained, Barça will be doing likewise. First, at 18.15, FC Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola and a first team player will be speaking to the press, and the session itself begins in the stadium at 19.00.

As for all home Champions League games, the squad will be staying at Hotel La Florida, Tibidabo. They will also train on the day of the match at 12.00.

Wednesday off and then Madrid

2009-10-27_ENTRENO_32.JPGIn such an intense week, the players will be getting a break on Wednesday, but then it will be back to work to start thinking about the visit of Real Madrid on Sunday at 19.00. The players will train on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper each day at 11.00

Sergio Busquets: “We have a final on Tuesday”

Anna Segura

The team knows that much of their Champions League survival hopes hang on Tuesday’s game with Inter. Sergio Busquets has called for the Camp Nou to fill for the game, which he has compared to a final.

“We’ll get through this” said Sergio Busquets who doesn’t want the fans to worry about all the absences in the squad just when they have such an important week ahead, with games against Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

Important game

The Barça squad knows how much depends on a good result on Tuesday at the Camp Nou. In fact, failure to win would seriously endanger their chances of going into the second round of the Champions League. Sergio said in his post-training press conferences that “We have a final on Tuesday. A duel against one of the best teams in Europe”.

Call for support

2009-11-22_TRANS_22.JPGThe fans have never faltered in their loyalty to the players, but Sergio Busquets knows that they will needed more than ever for this crucial encounter “We have no other option than winning. And we hope the fans respond. He has promised that the players will be giving it 200%, and knows that with the fans behind them, they will be stronger still.

Messi injury

Busquets also spoke about the injury to Messi, although it is still not clear just how serious it really is. “Whoever is available to play will be looking to get through this with all the enthusiasm we have.” He did admit that Messi would be an important loss, but felt they will be able to cover for his absence.

Small number for training

www.fcbarcelona.cat

After the draw at San Mamés, Barça trained on Sunday morning in order to regain strength ahead of the game with Inter. Six important players were missing.

The plane from Bilbao landed in Barcelona at 1.30 last night, but by noon the players were together again at the Ciudad Deportiva Joan Gamper for training as Guardiola turns his mind to the crunch game on Tuesday against Inter.

Six missing

2009-11-22_TRANS_29.JPGJosep Guardiola had to make do without Abidal and Touré, both out with influenza A. Márquez was also out, and pending confirmation, may have the same illness.

Ibrahimovic, who is still sidelined with a muscle injury, was also absent, as was Piqué, who worked out the gym.

But Leo Messi was also missing, having spent Sunday morning undergoing tests to find out how serious the injury he sustained last night at San Mamés actually is.

Gentle session for starters

2009-11-22_TRANS_38.JPGThe players that started the game last night concentrated on gentle recovery. As usual for post-match sessions, these players went through a different and shorter routine to their companions.

The reserve team players that also joined the squad in Bilbao, Fontàs and Jonathan dos Santos, also joined in. Oier Olazábal, one of the Barça Atlètic goalkeepers, also participated.

Alves: "We hope that things will improve"

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Daniel Alves reflected the mood in the Barça camp after the draw against Athletic Club on Saturday evening when he told the media "we hope that things will improve" after week when the club have been struck by injury and flu.

The Brazilian opened the scoring for the Blaugrana in San Mamés before Gaizka Toquero levelled and after the game looked ahead to a testing week. "We hope that it will be a good one," he explained. Even Real Madrid taking over the leadership of la Primera was met with a philosophical "these things can happen" from the full-back.

On Lionel Messi's injury, Alves was clearly concerned. "It is bad news because he is an important player for us but we need to know the extent of the problem," he added.

Defensive display

Alves netted his second goal of the league season, having already scored a free-kick against Atlético de Madrid in Camp Nou, and sought to explain why it was so difficult or Barça to find a winner. "As well as being a hard place to play, Athletic marked us tightly in a strong defensive display."

Valdés: "The league is long"

2009-11-21_PARTIDO_27.JPGGoalkeeper Víctor Valdés was not happy to have seen two points slip out of Barça's grasp which allowed Real Madrid to take over at the top. "The league is long but we cannot drop too many points along the way," he explained. "It is a shame that Madrid will come to Camp Nou as leaders.

This is not looking good at all, we can't afford to be out of the champions league, not so soon at all,

honeric01:

This is not looking good at all, we can't afford to be out of the champions league, not so soon at all,

my broda no be small oh, well it is not over until is over, super qualify for 2010 WC, dramatically, Startling ,so shall we do it in Jesus Name say Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

scantee:

my broda no be small oh, well it is not over until is over, super qualify for 2010 WC, dramatically, Startling ,so shall we do it in Jesus Name say Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our small boys can't match with that inter team oo, they are just too strong for the likes of jeffren to match oo

Vote of confidence

Sandra Sarmiento

Pep Guardiola’s Barça squad has a habit of overcoming the most difficult circumstances in the Champions League.

Group F is the tightest in this season’s Champions League, with just 2 points separating Inter in top spot and Dynamo Kiev in fourth. Barça, who are currently in third place, play hosts to Inter Milan knowing that they need a win to bring the knockout stages a little nearer. The team that has won five trophies under the guidance of Pep Guardiola has remained true to its footballing style and deserves the full support and confidence of the fans.

Lyon - a defining moment

WEB_15.jpgLast season’s CL tie against Olympique Lyon was one of the defining moments so far of the Guardiola era. Barça had lost the local derby against Espanyol, drawn in Gerland thanks to a goal from Frenchman Thierry Henry and then lost in the Vicente Calderón. It was one of the trickiest moments of the season. Barça needed a win to take them through to the Champions League quarterfinals – and they got it!

Champions League absentees

The problems continued to pile up for Barça even in the final. The squad travelled to Rome for the final on 27th May with Márquez injured, Abidal and Alves suspended, and Henry and Iniesta still struggling with injury. Despite all these problems, Barça produced a superb team effort to beat Manchester United and lift the trophy.

The same situation 3 years ago

FCB_-_WERDER_BREMEN_19.jpgIn 2006, after the Paris final against Arsenal, Barça played host to Werder Bremen for the last match of the group stage. Just like now, Barça were in third place, behind Mourinho’s Chelsea and Werder Bremen themselves. Only a win would guarantee qualification for Barça. A marvellous free kick by Ronaldinho and another goal from Gudjohnsen gave Barça the three points.

we will do it again and again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Amen

Milito warns not to mess with Messi

Diego Milito might prefer Lionel Messi to take no risks with his groin injury this week and to miss FC Barcelona's enthralling Matchday 5 meeting with FC Internazionale Milano, noting that his Argentina team-mate is "the best, most decisive player in the world".

Quick recovery
The Inter striker knows Messi well from their time together with Argentina, and is well aware of the damage he can do in the UEFA Champions League. Barça's main man picked up a minor groin strain in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Athletic Club Bilbao and his presence in what could be a decisive Group F meeting will remain in doubt until kick-off. Milito wishes Messi a quick recovery but knows that his participation or absence could be a deciding factor.

'Extraordinary'
"Without a doubt Messi is the best, most decisive player in the world," argued the Inter striker, who has scored nine goals in thirteen matches in all competitions this season. "Leo can win a game on his own at any moment because he's extraordinary. Playing with him every weekend must be a joy. I know because I've had the pleasure of training and playing with him for our country. I know him very well and know exactly what he's capable of."

Injury agony
Setting aside the importance of the meeting, and the fact that Inter were beaten 3-0 the last time the two sides played in the UEFA Champions League at Camp Nou, Milito knows exactly why Messi looked so downcast and upset when he came off the pitch in Bilbao on Saturday night. Messi has already had two UEFA Champions League campaigns wrecked by similar injuries, in 2005/06 and 2007/08, missing Barça lifting the trophy at the Stade de France in the former year after their 2-1 defeat of Arsenal FC. "Leo has had to complete the transition from boy to man very quickly and so much has happened to him already – particularly bad injuries," said the 30-year-old. "At Barça they protect him very intelligently but Leo has also overcome his difficulties in a very mature way."

Goal record
Whether or not Barça's No10 makes the showdown, the balance of power in Group F – where leaders Inter are separated from fourth-placed FC Dynamo Kyiv by only two points – will change dramatically if either José Mourinho's or Josep Guardiola's team can carve out a win. Milito may be the key man. "I'm lucky enough to have done well against Barça during my time with Real Zaragoza," he recalled. "They are an interesting opponent who play good football but they always allow chances for their opponents. A team which attacks as much as Barça do usually leave space at the back. I just hope that I do as well I normally do against them."

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=922869.html

Honerico

how is Yaya now?

honeric01:

Our small boys can't match with that inter team oo, they are just too strong for the likes of jeffren to match oo

That is my worry too, my broda. But I'm hoping the camp Nou faithful show up in full force tomorrow. I know if we play our A game we'll come through. I just hope we don't make any silly defensive mistakes.

To be honest I don't want us to risk Messi. I'll rather risk an early exit from the CL than a long term Messi injury. We just won five trophies so ending up with one or two this season won't exactly be a disaster. Sometimes we just have to be careful how we deal with these types of situations.

mukina2:

Honerico

how is Yaya now?

u dey ask me cutie-pie ? nobi u kiss am ? na me suppose dey ask u wetin u do to yaya and why he's yet to be fit.

Krayola:

That is my worry too, my broda. But I'm hoping the camp Nou faithful show up in full force tomorrow. I know if we play our A game we'll come through. I just hope we don't make any silly defensive mistakes.

To be honest I don't want us to risk Messi. I'll rather risk an early exit from the CL than a long term Messi injury. We just won five trophies so ending up with one or two this season won't exactly be a disaster. Sometimes we just have to be careful how we deal with these types of situations.

He should at least play few minutes tomorrow, even if it's 15 minutes to the end of the match (that's if we are not having a good result).

Krayola:

That is my worry too, my broda. But I'm hoping the camp Nou faithful show up in full force tomorrow. I know if we play our A game we'll come through. I just hope we don't make any silly defensive mistakes.

To be honest I don't want us to risk Messi. I'll rather risk an early exit from the CL than a long term Messi injury. We just won five trophies so ending up with one or two this season won't exactly be a disaster. Sometimes we just have to be careful how we deal with these types of situations.

we must conquer

@ Kray

Is Ibra okay to play tommorow
Make we rest messi for El classico jare

shitty translation but i tried to edit it to make a bit of sense

Guardiola: "Without Ibrahimovic and Messi we can win"

Pep Guardiola will not know until this Tuesday if you can count on Messi and Ibrahimovic to Inter Milan. The Barcelona coach will be watching his two stars to a few hours before the decisive match at Camp Nou ,


Guardiola does not want excuses

Ibrahimovic trained with the group , but not Messi

Guardiola will take the decision to play them or not according to what the club doctors say on Tuesday. "We will do everything possible to make them available" he admitted in his press conference Monday.

Barca coach assumes that without the Argentine and Swedish - "As would happen to the Lakers without Kobe Bryant" - Barça is "less strong". But does not want its low potential to serve as excuses in case the result is not what we want: "Do not complain if they do not play. If we do not win, it will not be because of that."

"They are two very important players, but here we have always done everything together. If you do not able to play our ideal 11 we have pass options. Others will play to win, nothing happens, people smile and encourage that is what we need. Fans have never failed us, we have always had their support, "he said.

Guardiola justified its decision to start with Messi on Saturday against Athletic instead to rest him because he was fully capable to play: "Leo had rested the last few games, had trained, and we were playing without a '9 '. We had many absences, and it was important to win at San Mames. Everyone knows the club and its fans, I think we can win (without him), I have no doubt. "


Barcelona does not want the coach to assess which of the next two games Tuesday-Inter and Real Madrid on Sunday, is the most important: "The game is played is always the most important. This one is more important, for now" .

Also praised the quality of Inter, who recalled that team "has won the league four years, has to José Mourinho, coach of high standing, a lot of system changes during the game, and although there is no Italian player, all are international in their selections, is a team with potential.

Barca coach is clear that in the Champions League there is little margin for error, as qualifying for the knockout stages through to score four points in the two games left: "We came up with possibilities, it depends on us."

Guardiola also avoided ruling on whether or ultra-defensive Inter expects more ambitious than in the first round match at San Siro: "In the first game, there we created problems and the second was more to the contras. Inter, as a big team that is capable of playing in every way: the counterattack, even aerial balls , When Motta, Cambiasso, Eto'o, Milito, and faced the Bologna what they can do. "

The coach also admitted to having a good relationship with his counterpart 'boamusic' José Mourinho, whom he had as coach at Barca during his time as a player, with Louis Van Gaal in the dock: "It was a pleasure working with them, I have very good relationship with him. "

"Mourinho knows that the game is important. It's a team that has won some important things, and they yearn to go ahead in Europe. So it will be highly competitive," he said.

"We're going out to win, to attack, there is no other way to play here," he said. He recalled that the only player not called up on Tuesday at the Camp Nou is Touré Yata, suffering from influenza A.

Ibra trained today so he may start tomorrow. It'll most likely be a last minute decision.

I bliv Ibra would play and yaya even messi might play some mins, we will conquer, The power of Barca!!!

Yaya is definitely out.

Mehn wetin una do for swine flu?

I really think y'all need to run on top of water and walk on thin air and pull all the stops to beat Inter. Going out of the group stage would be a disgrace for defending champions and IMO this game is even more important than the El Classico cos a victory would give y'all the swag to take on Madrid

The Spanish league is more important than the ucl to me, we must let Madrid and the rest know their places so we must rest messi for the El classico

honeric01:

The Spanish league is more important than the ucl to me, we must let Madrid and the rest know their places so we must rest messi for the El classico

yeaaaaaaaaaa man

Messi and Ibra train at the Nou Camp

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Messi and Ibrahimovic trained with the rest of the squad at the Nou Camp on Monday night and form part of the 19-man squad for the game.

Barca had a 15-minute open training session at the Nou Camp before the whole squad moved onto the Hotel Florida where they will stay the night and remain up until just before kick off time.The injured Abidal, Touré and Milito,as well as the cup tied Chygrinskiy, were the only players not on the bus to the hotel.

Guardiola sweats on Ibra and Messi

2009-11-23_ENTRENO_18.jpgLeo Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic came out onto the pitch after the rest of the players and both trained apart from the rest of the group. Both have niggling injuries and their presence in the starting line up will be in doubt until Tuesday - Guardiola insisting that he'll not choose whether to play them until the last moment.

Márquez Okay

On the plus side, Rafa Marquez trained with the rest of the players after having missed the trip to Bilbao at the weekend. It's been confirmed that he doesn't have swine flu and was able to rejoin the full squad for training.

Abidal back with squad on Tuesday

Both Touré and Abidal do have swine flu, though the Frenchman is likely to join the rest of the squad for Tuesday lunchtime training once his isolation period is over.

Two youngsters

The two youngster who were called into the squad for the Bilbao game -Andreu Fontàs and Jonathan dos Santos are again in the squad for the Inter Milan match.

yee that is good news forza FCB

The match starts in 5mins. . . thankfully rubin and kiev played a draw so we need 2 iron out inter. . . forza barca!

Forza Barca!! we did it again now we top the group and we can face the el classico sharply. . .bring on madrid

Hehehehehhe!!!! wizardry_footballism.

Y'all coasted from start to finish and made the game look ridiculously easy. If there is one thing Pep has brought to Barca its the squad depth and the ability to thrive regardless of who's missing

@Krayola
Abeg beg Pep make im sell P-Rod (Pedro Rodriguez) for us we would give you Eboue,Bendtner and Diaby. And no worry we won't claim Wenger developed him when he becomes one of the best in the bidness, that boy is a gem

haha. When I see a certain monsieur Fabregas on that list we can start formal negotiations

People i no fit lie, i nearly get high BP before the game,but thank God for pique goal.
i wonder what madrid fans will be thinking now,ibeg they should beg madrid to play C.ronaldo o!
i dont want to hear complains after the game,lol.
congratz people it was a well deserved win.
forza barca

A-40:

Y'all coasted from start to finish and made the game look ridiculously easy. If there is one thing Pep has brought to Barca its the squad depth and the ability to thrive regardless of who's missing

@Krayola
Abeg beg Pep make im sell P-Rod (Pedro Rodriguez) for us we would give you Eboue,Bendtner and Diaby. And no worry we won't claim Wenger developed him when he becomes one of the best in the bidness, that boy is a gem

laughing in Spanish kililikilpililpiikiiilikkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk NO

ogazi007:

People i no fit lie, i nearly get high BP before the game,but thank God for pique goal.
i wonder what madrid fans will be thinking now,ibeg they should beg madrid to play C.ronaldo o!
i dont want to hear complains after the game,lol.
congratz people it was a well deserved win.
forza barca

my guy we have done it.

Yesterday was one of the best days for barca, we turned inter to a team b and mourinho couldn't but to accept defeat with his tail in between his legs. I so much love Barca, thick or thin, i will remain loyal. i was just too happy that i started calling all my friends asking them if they are watching the match, they all were praising my team, accepting that we are the best in Europe and probably in the world.

Yes ooo. . . all dem boys thwartin me ate their words forza barca

Barca deserves to be respected.