Ajax v FC Barcelona: First defeat (2-1) | FC Barcelona
It was Ajax who inflicted the first defeat on Gerardo Martino since he has been on the Barça bench. The Dutchmen went 2-0 up in the first half, but a red card for Veltman and a converted penalty for Xavi could have changed the match at the start of the second. But despite pressing hard for an equaliser, luck was not on FCB’s side tonight at the Amsterdam Arena and it all ended 2-1.
Tata Martino: "We all have to reflect on this" | FC Barcelona
Tata Martino fell just short of beating the 21 game unbeaten record set in 2011/12 season. After tonight’s defeat against Ajax, the boss insisted his side had lacked intensity during the first 45 minutes and also explained: "Ajax came out more fired up and it wasn’t easy for us. It was a different matter in the second half – we played more like what we expect from Barça"
Puyol: "They were more intense in the first half" | FC Barcelona
Club captain Carles Puyol believes the key to the defeat in Amsterdam lies with the fact that: "they came out more intense from the start and were up for it more, particularly in the first 25 minutes or so. If we want to win in Europe, we can’t start games like that".
Fabregas: It didn’t work out | Football Espana
"We did plenty of running, it was not a question of the wrong attitude or a lack of commitment - it just didn't work out," considered Fabregas to UEFA’s official website after the game. "During half-time there was no panic, we spoke a lot about our positioning and how we could improve it, but we still weren't able to turn the game round in the second half.
Patric and Adama make their Champions League debuts | FC Barcelona
Even though the game ended in defeat, tonight’s game will be a special memory for Patric and Adama in the future – with both players making their European debuts for the Club. Both youngsters came on in the second half – Patric for Puyol 26 minutes from the end of the game and Adama for Cesc with just over 10 minutes left to play.
FC Barcelona-Elche set for January 5th at 16.00 | FC Barcelona
Barça's first game of 2014 will be against Elche in week 18 of La Liga on Sunday January 5th , kicking off at four in the afternoon. Elche curently lie 10th in the league on 17 points.
Zenit St Petersburg draw 1-1 with Atletico Madrid | Sky Sports Football
While Zenit enjoyed the lion's share of possession, Atletico were clinical, Adrian pouncing to put them ahead in the 53rd minute. However, a fluke goal when highly-rated goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois completely miscalculated a straightforward tip-over from Toby Alderweireld's defensive header saved Zenit in the 74th minute.