18 in squad to face Athletic Bilbao | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona were at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper today for the final training session before the trip to Bilbao to play Athletic Club. Gerardo Martino was missing Carles Puyol, who has a knee injury, but had all of his other fit players at his disposition on Saturday morning.
Cesc expecting brilliant reaction | FC Barcelona
The team now has the chance to prove that that was just a one-off and, as Cesc himself insisted, there is no need to over-dramatize things. That chance is on Sunday against Athletic Bilbao, where Cesc expects "the team to give it one hundred per cent and respond brilliantly … We have to demonstrate our ability to win matches and our mental capacity to react to defeats."
Incredible: Alexis' skills at training session | FC Barcelona
Alexis Sánchez shows off his skill by getting up onto his feet without the ball touching the ground
Nine great games in Bilbao | FC Barcelona
Sunday brings yet another meeting between Athletic and Barça, two of just three clubs that have never been relegated from the Spanish first division. Matches between the two are steeped in history and rivalry, with plenty of goals and anecdotes to look back on.
114 years of history | FC Barcelona
On November 29, 1899, Joan Gamper and eleven other men (Otto Kunzle and Walter Wild from Switzerland, John and William Parsons from England, Otto Maier from Germany, and Lluís d’Ossó, Bartomeu Terradas, Enric Ducal, Pere Cabot, Carles Pujol and Josep Llobet from Catalonia) met to form an association whose emblem was the city’s arms: Foot-ball Club Barcelona.
Barcelona still Messi-dependent as Madrid manage without Ronaldo - Goal.com
It was all about Cristiano Ronaldo. Some 45,000 Real Madrid fans donned masks on Wednesday night to pay tribute to the Portuguese, while the ultras at the Santiago Bernabeu called for the Ballon d'Or to be awarded to their star man. But like Lionel Messi for Barcelona the night before, Ronaldo was absent through injury.
Ancelotti refuses to risk Ronaldo against Valladolid - Goal.com
Ronaldo was initially expected to return to the match squad for this weekend's encounter with Valladolid, but Ancelotti has announced that the 28-year-old will remain on the sidelines. "Ronaldo is fully recovered. He took part in training, but did not look entirely comfortable. That's why we have decided not to take any risks," Ancelotti said at a press conference. "Angel Di Maria will take his place against Valladolid."
Malaga earn late point | Sky Sports Football
Promoted Villarreal had looked set to move to within four points of third-placed Real Madrid thanks to a first-half goal from Bruno Soriano. However, with three minutes of stoppage time played, Malaga captain Weligton headed home a corner to snatch a 1-1 draw for the visitors.
Getafe edge past Levante | Sky Sports Football
Getafe moved into sixth place in the Primera Division as a Pedro Leon goal was enough to guide them to a 1-0 win over Levante on Friday. Pedro struck in the 79th minute after a match which was short on attacking quality. While victory moved the hosts above Real Sociedad, it leaves Levante in a precarious position as they suffered a fourth successive loss.