FC Barcelona News

The returns to action of Villa and Abidal, the support for Tito and Messi’s record are some of the best images

There have been all kinds of difficulties en route to FC Barcelona’s 22nd Liga title. Here we look back on an eventful year full of ups and downs in the form of ten particularly poignant images.

1) Villa scores on return

In the first game of the league season, against Real Societat (5-1), and after eight months out through injury, the Asturian returned to official duty, and marked the occasion by scoring the fight goal in an emphatic win.

2) Comeback at the Pizjuán

Two goals from Cesc and another from Villa in the final seconds turned 2-0 into 2-3 at the Sánchez Pizjuán. After beating Sevilla, Barça made it to six straight wins to start their campaign in perfect fashion.

3) Draw in the first Clásico 00

Game seven was at the Camp Nou, and was the first meeting with Real Madrid in the league. The game ended 2-2, with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo getting two goals each.

4) Nine goal festival at Riazor

The most spectacular game of the season has to Barça’s visit to Riazor in game eight. It ended 4-5, with Barça ending with ten men after Mascherano was red carded.

5) Eleven home-bred players

A first half injury to Alves, meaning he was replaced by Montoya, meant that FC Barcelona played with all eleven of their players being products of the club’s own youth system. Historic.

6) Dedicated to Tito

The last game of 2012 was on the road at Valladolid. It was the first match without Tito Vilanova, and his replacement Jordi Roura responded brilliantly, leading the team to a 3-1 win.

7) Half way with 56 out of 58

A 3-1 win at La Rosaleda, with some supreme football, meant FC Barcelona set a new record for the first half of a league season: 56 points out of a possible 58.

8) Anoeta: first defeat

A week later, in game 20, FC Barcelona lost for the first time in the competition. It came at Real Sociedad, and that was despite FCB taking an early 2-0 lead. Piqué was sent off.

9) Messi, half a season scoring

In Vigo, Leo Messi set a new record by going 19 consecutive matches scoring at least once in every game. In that time he notched up an unbeatable tally of 30 goals.

10) Abidal back

Frenchman Éric Abidal, who had been out of action for over a year, made his comeback at the Camp Nou on the day that also marked Tito Vilanova’s return to duty. It was like another title for Barcelona fans.

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The team met with high-profile X Games participants before this afternoon’s training session

Leo Messi worked with the team physio while Adriano, Alves and Abidal, worked apart from the group

FC Barcelona hosted some high-profile X Games participants this Wednesday afternoon. Tony Hawk (Skateboard), Jamie Bestwitch (BMX), Travis Pastrana (Rally Cross), Paul Roríguez (Skateboard), Kevin Robinson (BMX), and Bob Burnquist (Skateboard) chatted and exchanged gifts with Barça’s first team players before the team’s training session. The X Games, the biggest action sports event in the world, will kick off in Barcelona this Thursday and will run through Sunday.

Training session

The team returned to training this Wednesday afternoon after enjoying two days off (which the players used to celebrate the league title). The session served to prepare for Sunday’s match against Valladolid at the Camp Nou.

Leo Messi, whose hamstring injury was confirmed on Tuesday, worked with the team’s physio, while Adriano, Alves and Abidal trained apart from the team. It’s worth noting that the Frenchman didn’t feature against Atlético Madrid this weekend due to injury, while Adriano and Avles were subbed off against the Colchoneros as a precautionary measure.

Víctor Valdés, who had permission from Tito Vilanova, missed this afternoon’s session. The keeper continued his recovery from his plantar fasciitis injury this morning at the Ciutat Esportiva with the team physio.

 

The Catalan midfielder says that he’s “proud and pleased” with his seven La Liga titles, but he adds: “I didn’t win the titles, they were won by Barça”

“I’m in favour of making few changes. It seems as though we have to change everything, but that’s not the case,” explains Xavi

Xavi Hernández spoke to the press this afternoon at the Ciutat Esportiva ahead of the team’s first training session of the week. Barça’s second captain talked about the atmosphere surrounding the Club in the days following the team’s successful bid to reclaim the league title and his personal record of seven La Liga titles. “I’m proud and pleased that I’ve won seven Ligas. For me they are all important. This generation of players makes me very proud and it’s not as if I won them all, the league titles; Barça won them,” said the Catalan player, who declared that “this generation can win more titles.”

“I couldn’t have imagined more titles”

“As a Culé, I have a tendency to be more pessimistic. I could not have imagined winning so many titles. Our philosophy has yielded its rewards and I hope it continues to do so,” said Xavi. He added: “we’ve set the bar very high and now it seems as though what we do falls short [of that mark]. We are competitive, we have to evaluate what we’ve done. It’s not easy to win a title every season.

“We weren’t at our best in the crucial moments of the season. In decisive moments, like in the semi-finals of the Cup, we didn’t know how to kill off the tie against Real Madrid,” mused the Blaugrana captain.

Few changes

Xavi went on to say that he doesn’t look favourably on the idea of gutting the team next season. “I’m in favour of making few changes. It seems as though we’re in a terrible situation and that we must change the whole team. But we’re going through a good moment,” said the midfielder, who added that “I hope my level of play remains high in the next three years I have on my contract.”

Good atmosphere

“We were all enjoying the festive atmosphere of the champions parade. We’re proud that we won La Liga and that we got to share that with the fans … that’s what we’ll remember. Our intention is to show our fans a good time,” concluded the Barça captain.

Xavi’s profile

These are the five best goals of the weekend of May 11 and 12. Five goals to admire

Javi Espinosa, Dani Morer, Dani Olmo, Roger Vegas and Marc Carmona scored the five top goals of the weekend as chosen by the ‘Promeses’ show on Barça TV. The five best goals of the weekend of May 11 and 12. Champagne, or better put cava, football!