FC Barcelona News: 30 October 2011; Return of the Manita, Rosell Disapproves of Midday Kick-offs

After three games in which FC Barcelona struggled to score, the team routed RCD Mallorca with a five star performance. A first half Liionel Messi hat-trick led the way while Isaac Cuenca and Daniel Alves added second half goals to complete the Manita. It was the first ever senior side goal for the Cuenca, while fellow youngster Gerard Deulofeu earned his first ever appearance for the first team at the age of 17.

Report: Barcelona v Mallorca - ESPN Soccernet
Lionel Messi's hat-trick led Barcelona to a resounding 5-0 victory over Real Mallorca at the Nou Camp. The Argentina forward netted three times in 18 first half minutes as his side quickly took control of the game. The second half brought a first senior goal for Isaac Cuenca and a superb late goal from Dani Alves to round off the scoring.

Guardiola highlights Messi’s consistency | FCBarcelona.cat
Speaking to the press ahead of the league game at the Camp Nou against Mallorca, Josep Guardiola has singled out Leo Messi for praise, saying that he has never worked with anybody who can produce brilliant football with such consistency as Messi.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi: It was crazy for people to say I was in a crisis for not scoring in three games - Goal.com
"The team played well again," he told Gol TV after the game. "We got quick goals and in the first half, the result was nearly confirmed. We have to continue this way. "It's crazy to say that after three games [without a goal] I was in crisis. I do not care whether I score or not, what matters is that the team win and continue to do so.

Barcelona's Sandro Rosell disapproves of midday kick-offs in La Liga - Goal.com
"I do not like to play at 12 because I am a football traditionalist," Rosell was quoted as saying by AS. "Camp Nou should only host matches in the afternoon or evening, but we will be supportive and will comply with the law, even if I do not like it."

Barca not in to mind-games | Sky Sports
Dani Alves believes that Barcelona will not enter into Jose Mourinho's mind games because they would lose. But the Brazilian wing-back says that winning on the pitch is where they can beat the Real Madrid boss.

Higuain fires Real top - Yahoo! Eurosport
Real Madrid moved top of La Liga courtesy of Gonzalo Higuain's ninth minute winner in a 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad at the Estadio Anoeta. Higuain gave Jose Mourinho's in-form Real Madrid the early lead in San Sebastian but the team that netted 28 times in their previous seven matches were denied another hefty win by the battling Basques.

Levante, La Liga’s David, Stares Down at Spain’s Two Goliaths - NYTimes.com
Levante plays in a city, Valencia, in which the team by that name dominates attention and media coverage. Levante practices at a sports complex 25 miles outside the city because it is cheaper there. Its top striker last season, Felipe Caicedo, who helped stave off relegation, was sold to help pay lingering debt.

Getafe's Real Madrid loanee Pedro Leon out for six weeks with knee injury - Goal.com
Getafe's Real Madrid loanee Pedro Leon will be sidelined for six weeks to recover from a knee injury. The 24-year-old attacker underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Saturday in a bid to repair damaged cartilage, a problem which was revealed at the beginning of the week.

Racing Santander coach Hector Cuper denies involvement in match-fixing ring - Goal.com
His lawyer Vicente Montes released a statement on Saturday emphasising his client had no involvement in the scandal, that allegedly affects an estimated 150 matches in South America, Italy and Spain. He also insisted that Cuper was ready to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities.