FC Barcelona News: 17 December 2011; David Villa Back in Barcelona, Barça Won't Sign Replacement for Injured Duo

Injured David Villa returns to Barcelona - ESPN Soccernet
Barcelona striker David Villa has returned to Catalonia ahead of his operation to repair the broken shinbone he suffered in the Club World Cup semi-final against Al-Sadd in Yokohama. Spain's all-time record goalscorer is expected to be sidelined for between four and five months after being carried off on a stretcher with a fracture to his left tibia.

Barca will not buy Villa cover - Yahoo! Eurosport
Barcelona are not planning to dip into the January transfer market to find a replacement for David Villa or their other long-term injury casualty Ibrahim Afellay and will promote youth players instead, a club vice president has said.

Overwhelming support for Villa through social media | FC Barcelona
The messages of support for David Villa, who will be out of action between four to five months due to a broken shinbone in his left leg, have been pouring in. Social media has been the tool of preference for many to send supportive messages to the striker. The Club’s Facebook page, for example, received over 2,000 comments and 20,000 "likes" on the story "Everyone with David Villa" in the first 24 hours after the post went live.

Barcelona stars pleased to avoid Russian clubs - ESPN Soccernet
Barcelona president Sandro Rosell was relieved to avoid the two Russian sides in the Champions League last-16 draw, while Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique claimed they were looking forward to playing in Germany.

A historic team that doesn't go out of style | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona’s rival in the last-16 of the Champions League is a team with a lot of history. A classic European team. Finalist in the Champions League 10 years ago and champions of the UEFA Cup in 1987/88, Bayer Leverkusen have made it a habit of finishing in the top spots of the Bundesliga year after year. Last year they finished second in Germany and they are currently in sixth place, eight points adrift of the leaders, Bayern Munich.

Head-to-head: Santos' Neymar vs Barcelona's Lionel Messi – who was better at 19? - Goal.com
In his way, however, stand Barcelona and their Argentine maestro Lionel Messi. 'La Pulga' is no stranger to teenage hype, having made his debut at just 17 years old back in 2004; and by the time he blew out the candles on his 20th birthday, the little playmaker had already established himself in football's group of elite stars.

Real's Butragueno: CSKA are a dangerous team - ESPN Soccernet
Emilio Butragueno, a director of nine-time European champions Real Madrid, does not believe CSKA will be a pushover as they were paired together in the Champions League last-16. Madrid will also have to contend with the conditions in Moscow and the artificial pitch at the Luzhniki stadium when they make the trip to the Russian capital.

Sevilla make a deal to sign Jose Antonio Reyes from Atletico Madrid - report - Goal.com
Sevilla have reached an agreement with Atletico Madrid that would see Jose Antonio Reyes return to his former club, according to Radio Sevilla. Reyes has fallen out of favour at the Vicente Calderon outfit and has consistently been linked with a move away from the Spanish capital, with Galatasaray reported to be suitors.