FC Barcelona News

There’s plenty of trivia behind Tuesday’s night’s clash between two of the biggest clubs in Europe, and here we pick out some of the best

This is the fourth time that Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona have been drawn together in an official tournament. Here are some key facts related with this latest encounter between two classic European clubs:   
 
– Barça’s overall record in European competition matches played in Germany is nine wins, ten draws and five defeats.
 
– It’s been eleven years since Barça were beaten on German soil. Since then, they have won five games and drawn three.
 
– Barça have never won an official match away to Bayern, their record being two draws and a defeat.
 
– In the 17 times that they have been drawn against German clubs in the knockout stages of a competition, Barça have qualified 13 times.
 
– Bayern have committed more fouls (137) and received more yellow cards (24) than any other team in the competition.
 
– Full back Alaba took only 25 seconds to score against Juventus, the seventh fastest goal in Champions League history.
 
– Neuer, Dante and Müller have played every game in the tournament so far for the Bavarian side, while the only ever-present for Barcelona has been Leo Messi.
 
– Bayern’s Luiz Gustavo, Dante and Lahm are all one yellow card short of a suspension, while  Piqué, Jordi Alba and Song are in the same situation for the visitors. Mandzukic and Adriano are suspended.
 
– The last time Bayern and Barça met each other was in last year’s preseason friendly. The Catalans won 0-2 at the Allianz Arena.
 
– The two teams will be meeting again this summer in a preseason charity match. By then, former FCB coach Pep Guardiola will have taken over on the Bavarian outfit’s bench.

Get all the information leading up to Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final away leg between FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich

NEWS

• 10 things to know about Bayern Munich

• Huge week ahead at Barça

• Munich welcomes Barça

• Zubizarreta: “It’s time to finish off the work we’ve done all season”

• Unbeaten in Germany for a decade

• Messi included in squad for Munich

• Xavi: “The team that imposes its personality will win the tie”

 • Roura: “The semi-final against Bayern will be decided by small details”

• Sergio Busquets: “Javi Martínez is the piece that Bayern needed”

Gerard Piqué is eager to take on Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena tomorrow for the Champions League semi-final and Barça B’s Jean Marie Dongou says that he hopes to break into the senior side one day

Piqué eyes Bayern Munich

“This is why we play football. These are the types of games we want to play,” said Gerard Piqué to the Madrid-based media outlet ‘AS’ in reference to tomorrow’s Champions League semi-final showdown with the 2012/13 Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

The FC Barcelona full back was then asked if he’s looking forward to a hypothetical final against Real Madrid. “We have enough to think about with Bayern,” said Piqué, “we’d be making a big mistake if we thought about the final. Last year we were in a similar situation and neither team [Barça or Madrid] made it past the semis.”

The biggest question swirling around tomorrow’s match is whether or not Leo Messi will be able to play. “I’m sure Bayern would rather him not play. I’d hate to be the guy that has to mark him. If anyone says it’s easy, they’re lying. I played against him when I was at Zaragoza, at that time he wasn’t half as good as he is now and I knew that the match would be completely different if he wasn’t on the pitch,” said Piqué. “We’d be dumb to think he wouldn’t have an influence on the match. He’s the best player in the world, he makes our job easier.”
 
Dongou, Barça B’s ambitious forward

Jean Marie Dongou Tsafack, also affectionately known as ‘Juan’ to his team-mates, made his Barça B debut last March when he was just 16 years old. He started his FC Barcelona career in 2005 and since then he’s become a crucial player in every Barça youth team he’s played in. But the Cameroonian youngster doesn’t hide his ultimate goal: to one day play for FC Barcelona’s senior side.

“For Tito Vilanova to call for you one day … that’s what everyone [at Barça B] hopes for. That’s why we’re here. That’s why we work so hard. We want to get the chance to make it to the first team and play at the Camp Nou. You have to take it one day at a time and work hard,” said Dongou to the Catalan daily ‘Sport’.

When he was asked what it’s like to live so far away from home, the youngster was quick to say that he’s adjusted perfectly to life in Barcelona: “I feel wanted here. I have the confidence of my coach and I’ll I do my best to maintain that trust. I’m at home here, I’m very comfortable.”

Alex Song completed an individual training regiment and did not join his team-mates on the pitch of of Bayern’s stadium

The FC Barcelona players completed their first and final training session at the Allianz Arena this Monday evening ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League semi-final showdown with Bayern Munich.

The session was marked by the absence of Alex Song, who stayed in the gym to complete an individual training regiment. The player will be able to feature against Bayern Munich tomorrow.

It’s worth noting that 21 players travelled to Bavaria, so Tito Vilanova and Jordi Roura will have to cut the squad by three players before kick off.

This is Barça’s first visit to the Allianz Arena since the summer of 2011, when the Blaugrana faced the German side in a pre-season friendly (0-2). It’s worth noting that Barça’s last official match at the Allianz Arena was in the 2008/09 Champions League quarter-finals, which ended in a one-all draw.

Jordi Roura expects the tie against Bayern Munich to be very intense, and he notes that his players “are very eager and excited to play”

“Messi is feeling well. It looks as though his recovery is on the right track. We’ll see how he feels during today’s training session and we’ll talk to the doctors [before we make a decision on whether or not he plays],” says Roura

Jordi Roura believes the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich has all the makings of being an incredible tie. “The two teams that have featured in the last four Champions League finals are going to play against each other,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a very equal tie, and it’s going to be decided by small details. Hopefully we’ll play the return leg at the Camp Nou like we did against Milan,” said the assistant manager.

Roura, when asked how Barça plan to defeat Bayern Munich, echoed Xavi Hernández: “tomorrow’s match will be very intense. The team that imposes its style of play will have the advantage. We know how difficult it will be, Bayern are having a spectacular season.”

Excited and eager to play

The assistant manager admitted that Bayern’s level of play over the course of the season has been brilliant, but he warned that his players are ready for the challenge: “we are a competitive team and we’re on form. We’re extremely excited and eager to play. We’ve qualified for six consecutive semi-finals, and that’s important. We’ve overcome a lot of adversities to get to this point. And now that we’re here, we intend to make it to the final.”

Messi, on the road to recovery

When asked about whether or not Leo Messi will feature against the Bavarian side, Roura noted that “he’s been feeling well. It looks as though his recovery is on the right track. We’ll see how he feels during today’s training session and we’ll talk to the doctors [before we make a decision]. Obviously, it’s noticeable if you can’t use a great player.” He added: “whether he players or not can mark this tie, but with that said, we’ve shown that we have a deep and talented squad.”

Roura also said that Barça’s starting team won’t be decided until the day of the match, but he didn’t rule out the possibility of naming Éric Abidal or Marc Bartra to the starting line-up.