FC Barcelona News: 20 February 2012; Barça Dominate Valencia, Messi Celebrates Milestone With Four Goals

Barcelona 5-1 Valencia: Valencia do their Nou Camp usual – start well, then tire in second half | Zonal Marking
Lionel Messi hit four goals as 2nd-placed Barcelona thrashed 3rd-placed Valencia. Pep Guardiola was without the suspended Daniel Alves, so Martin Montoya played at right-back. Xavi Hernandez was only fit enough for the bench. At the back, Gerard Pique returned after being left out in the 3-1 Champions League win over Leverkusen in the week.

Messi scores 4 goals to celebrate his 200th game | FC Barcelona
Lionel Messi gifted the 74,240 Camp Nou spectators with 4 goals on the day played his 200th game for FC Barcelona. When it looked like Messi would close out the match after scoring his 15th hat-trick for Barça, he subtly chipped Diego Alves for his fourth after Sergio Busquets brilliantly assisted the Argentine.

Guardiola: "This team dignifies football" | FC Barcelona
After putting on a masterclass display against Valencia, Josep Guardiola praised his players. For the manager, it’s a "privilege" to be able to watch Barça play football. "We’re so lucky to be living in a time when these players play. This team dignifies the sport," said Guardiola when asked about his take on his team’s performance.

Barcelona allow Pep Guardiola time to decide future - ESPN Soccernet
Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta says the club is happy to give Pep Guardiola all the time he needs to make a decision over his future. "Pep knows he has all the confidence of the club and the team," he told Canal Plus. "He's asked for time and that is not a problem. We have given him no deadline - and nor will we. He has our trust.

Lionel Messi: "I have the confidence of those that matter, that makes me happy" | FC Barcelona
After putting in a majestic performance against Valencia, scoring four of Barça’s five goals (5-1), Lionel Messi said, "the truth is that I’ve been very calm. My teammates, manager and the people that are important to me have confidence in me, and that makes me happy," said the Azulgrana player.

Real Madrid to face CSKA Moscow without Di Maria - Goal.com
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has received some disappointing news from the treatment table in the build-up towards the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie with CSKA Moscow, as Angel Di Maria will miss the game due to injury.

Cristiano Ronaldo equals Juanito as he climbs up Real Madrid's all-time goalscoring charts - Goal.com
Cristiano Ronaldo rose to joint-13th in Real Madrid's all-time list of goalscorers with his header in Saturday's 4-0 victory against Racing Santander. It was Ronaldo's 121st goal in 123 competitive matches for Madrid, which saw him equal the total of Juanito, who made 401 appearances for the club between 1977 and 1987.

Jose Mourinho says Champions League success will not affect future - ESPN Soccernet
Jose Mourinho insists success in the Champions League will have no bearing on his Real Madrid future and believes winning the league would be a greater achievement. Mourinho had seemingly intimated that he planned to leave Madrid at the end of the season, having grown tired of the behind-the-scenes politics and in-fighting at the club.

Valencia star runs himself over - Yahoo! Eurosport
"The player Ever Banega has suffered an accident with his own car after training on Sunday when he received a trauma to his left leg that caused a fracture to his tibia and the perone bones," Valencia said in a statement. The club said the break had not been clean, the area was inflamed, and after hospital checks that surgery would take place on Monday.

Atletico Madrid's Diego could miss Lazio clash - report - Goal.com
Atletico Madrid could be forced to make do without the services of Diego for their Europa League last-32 second-leg clash with Lazio on Thursday.The former Brazil international was forced off after 61 minutes of Sunday evening's La Liga match against Sporting and, according to AS, the player has been diagnosed with a muscle tear in his right thigh.

Liga - Bilbao down Malaga to go fourth - Yahoo! Eurosport
Three goals in three second-half minutes fired Athletic Bilbao to a 3-0 home win over Malaga that moved them up to fourth in La Liga. The Copa del Rey finalists were lucky not to concede in a first-half dominated by Malaga at San Mames, but scored with almost their first clear sight of goal in the 58th minute.

Lopo blow | LFP
Getafe defender Alberto Lopo suffered a serious injury during the Week 24 Liga BBVA meeting with Espanyol. As he was attempting to block a shot from Coutinho, he fell and suffered a fractured to the humerus bone in his left arm. The player is almost certain to miss the remainder of the campaign.