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FC Barcelona News: 4 April 2011; Champions League Facts, Three Injured Players Back In Training

VILLARREAL, CASTELLON - APRIL 02:    Thiago of Barcelona in action during the La Liga match between Villarreal and Barcelona at El Madrigal on April 2, 2011 in Villarreal, Spain.  (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
VILLARREAL, CASTELLON - APRIL 02: Thiago of Barcelona in action during the La Liga match between Villarreal and Barcelona at El Madrigal on April 2, 2011 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
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Barca's second-string, where Alcantara has spent most of the season, also picked up a victory, and he was quoted as saying by AS: "Saturday was a great day for me with the win of Barcelona B and Real Madrid's loss against Sporting. However, the title race isn't over just yet.

Valdés made just 3 saves in the 95 minutes of the Villarreal game, but all of them were excellent and vital stops. The first two came from Rossi and stopped Villarreal from opening the scoring, whilst the third was at the end of the game, when he kept Cazorla from equalising. Three decisive saves from one of the best Barça players on the night.

The session saw the return of Maxwell and Pedro, who both missed the trip to Villarreal, as well as Puyol, who again worked apart with physios Paco Seirullo and Lorenzo Buenaventura. Another welcome return was made by Abidal, who visited his teammates on Friday for the first time since his operation and who today put on his track suit to stroll around the pitch.

On Sunday, April 3, at 15:00, the airliner, with Shakhtar players on board and delegation headed by Sergiy Palkin, departed for the capital of Catalonia. 25 Players made the trip

The team that has knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League in the last seven seasons has gone on to lose their next knockout match.

"I'm not sure that Barcelona and Real Madrid will meet each other in the semi-finals of the Champions League," Cruyff said in his weekly column in El Periodico de Catalunya. "It's Barcelona I worry about. I really don't know what to expect from Shakhtar. Tottenham's style will be just perfect for Madrid, but Shakhtar are a very different team. They are a lot more dangerous."

“Most likely he [Eduardo] will be ready. In the match against Illichovets, in principle, he could have played but after consulting with the doctors we decided against the risk,” said Lucescu. "In the past two days, he has worked with the main group and trained well."

The 47-year-old has had time to reflect on his comments and has issued an apology to anyone offended by his prediction. "Barca value solidarity, humility and hard work. I did not want to offend anyone and I apologise if I have done so," Rosell told AS.

Real Madrid have won none of their last five Champions League games (drawn one, lost four) against English teams and failed to score in the last four.

"I have been playing in England for five years, I had the chance to play in France for a couple of years, so it is a good time for me to play in Spain," he said. "If I have the chance to go back to England one day, why not?

"After the match, [Jose] Mourinho knocked on the dressing room door. He shook my hand and congratulated me and the lads. That is a gesture that I would like to publicly acknowledge and thank him for," Preciado said.

Mata, who was strongly linked to Barcelona last summer, is said to be attracting a great deal of attention from both Manchester clubs. City are reported to have been keeping close tabs on Mata's displays in recent months. But Valencia president Manuel Llorente has made it clear he is not looking to sell - having been forced to sell prized assets David Villa and Silva last year.
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