Category: News

Summary of FC Barcelona’s 2012/13 Champions League debut at the Camp Nou. The Azulgranas beat Spartak Moscow (3-2) to claim their first three points of the competition

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After two days off, the team managed by Tito Vilanova trained this Tuesday afternoon in preparation for next Saturday’s match at the Sánchez Pizjuán

All the available first team players participated in the session. Barça B’s Tello and Sergi Roberto also trained with the first team

The first team returned to training this Tuesday afternoon to prepare for next Saturday’s match at the Sánchez Pizjuán. The players, who had two days of rest after last Saturday’s victory over Granada (2-0), are getting ready for the first of three games (Sevilla, Benfica and Real Madrid) on the schedule for next week.

All the available first team players trained at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, including Barça B’s Tello and Sergi Roberto.

Adriano trains apart from the group

The Brazilian defender, who asked to be subbed out of the match against Granada this weekend due to muscle problems, trained apart from his team-mates this afternoon. Puyol, Iniesta and Piqué worked out in the gym as they continue to recover from their injuries. The next training session is scheduled for this Wednesday at 10.00.

Sergio Busquets is grateful for the support he has received from the Barça coaches, and modestly claimed that “I don’t feel like a first choice player, that depends on your performances and if you don’t work hard you don’t play”

Sergio Busquets is once again a regular in the centre of the Barça midfield, as he has been since he joined the first team in 2008. Speaking at a Nike promotion, he thanked both Vilanova and Guardiola for their support. “It is important to trust your coach” he said. “And I always have done, both now and before, even though I never feel like an automatic first choice player. That depends on your performances and if you don’t work hard you don’t play”.

Busquets also spoke about two fellow central midfielders that are frequently moved back into defence. “We need players at the back and they were chosen” he explained. “Mascherano adapted to the role very well and Song is doing the same”. He added that the Cameroonian still needs time to get used to his new team, but doesn’t believe that they are in direct competition with each other. “We are all here to help the team and win points” he said, adding that “I’m ready to play wherever the boss asks me to”.

Long way till clásico

There are games against Sevilla and Benfica before FCB meet Real Madrid on October 7, and the former are the ones that matter right now to Busquets. “We have two games ahead of us, so there’s still some time to go” he observed. “That game won’t decide anything, it’s still too early. It’s great to have put some distance between us, but the league season is a long one. Last year Madrid strung together a long series of wins and we are going to have to do the same thing”.

He was also asked about the apparent argument between Messi and Villa during the Granada match. Said Busquets, “the incident was just part of the game. Messi is the same as ever, he wants to win. We all want to win, but strikers also want to score goals”.

After his goal against Granada, Xaxi has now scored in 13 of the 15 seasons in which he has been playing for the first team, a club record

Last year he set a personal best (10) for goals in the domestic championship

Xavi Hernández opened his goalscoring account in La Liga 2012/13 last Saturday with the only goal of the match against Granada. It was his first of the season, but also means that he has now scored in 13 separate campaigns since making his first team debut in 1998. Not even club legends like César Rodríguez and Carles Rexach have managed to do that.

Record breaking season

Xavi Hernández was moved into a more attacking position when Frank Rijkaard took over as manager in 2003/04. That meant that although he was still the central playmaker, he also had more chances to shoot on goal. His goalscoring rate has generally increased since then, and his 10 goals in 31 games last term was even better than his personal best of seven in 2007/08.

Unforgettable goals

Saturday’s goal against Granada was one of many vital scoring contributions the Catalan has made in his time at Barça. His first ever goal came in 1998 at Valladolid, and helped enormously towards the eventual title win under Louis van Gaal. He has also had the honour of scoring against Real Madrid. In 2004, he got FCB’s second in a 2-1 win at the Bernabéu, coming from a volley after an incredible assist from Ronaldinho, and he also opened the scoring on the night of the 5-0 win in 2010.

Barren years

It is a long time since Xavi failed to score any goals in a Liga season. The last time was in 2005/06 when he only played 16 games because of knee injury. His other empty year was 1999/00, his second in the first team, when he was competing for a place with future manager Pep Guardiola and only played in 24 games. In total, in 419 appearances, the midfielder has scored 49 times.

A lot of images about blaugrana’s week: Leo Messi, Tito Vilanova’s birrthday, Thiago, Champions League and more in the weekly highlights

Photos day at Palau Blaugrana

Quit smoking with Barça

Happy birthday Tito

Jordi Alba returns with group

Road to Wembley

Thiago: “It’s a very, very good start”

Rosell gives positive overview of 2011/12 season

Messi: “We’ve got a spectacular squad”