FC Barcelona News: 25 August 2011; Ibrahim Afellay Returns to Training, Sergi Roberto Extends Contract

The five alternatives to Piqué and Puyol | FCBarcelona.cat
With Piqué’s calf injury and Puyol’s continuing absence, Barça are missing the main central defensive pair, but Guardiola still has a few quality options: Abidal, Fontàs, Mascherano, Busquets, and Bartra.

Barcelona's Ibrahim Afellay returns to training pitch - Goal.com
Barcelona have resumed some encouraging news from the treatment table as versatile midfielder Ibrahim Afellay has returned to the training pitch after spending the past few weeks on the sidelines due to injury.The Netherlands international sustained a hamstring problem in his side's 2-1 friendly loss against Manchester United and had since been unavailable.

Barcelona's Sergi Roberto extends contract to 2015, despite reported Chelsea interest - Goal.com
Barcelona starlet Sergi Roberto has signed a new contract at the Catalan club, despite reported interest from Chelsea. The 19-year-old has graduated from La Masia youth academy and featured in La Liga and the Champions League for Pep Guardiola's team in 2010-11.

La Liga - Barca continue preparations against Porto - Yahoo! Eurosport
Barcelona's unusual start to the season continues on Friday when the European champions seek their third trophy in 10 days, against Porto in the European Super Cup, before even starting their league campaign.

Messi’s pending challenge | FCBarcelona.cat
His smile tells it all. He’s come back really switched-on, motivated, and with the same desire to conquer the world. Messi will decide how and when he’ll do it. He doesn’t care how important the match is or who the opposition are. For him the word friendly is not in the dictionary. He’s the best, and makes all the difference.

La Liga - Fans back Mourinho as Real win friendly - Yahoo! Eurosport
Jose Mourinho was given the backing of home fans as Real Madrid downed Galatasaray 2-1 in the one-off Santiago Bernabeu Trophy match. Selcuk Inan opened the scoring for the Turkish side on 10 minutes but goals by Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema got the Spanish giants back to winning ways following last week's Supercopa defeat to Barcelona.

Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho insists Iker Casillas was rested and not dropped against Galatasaray - Goal.com
Reports from Spain suggested that Mourinho had consequently decided to drop his captain from his starting XI for the match against Galatasaray as he deemed his actions to be a lack of support, but the tactician has explained that he just wanted to give back-up shot-stopper Antonio Adan some valuable playing time.

Liverpool's Dani Pacheco back in Spain for Atletico Madrid loan - ESPN Soccernet
Liverpool have agreed a deal to send forward Daniel Pacheco on a season-long loan to Atletico Madrid. Pacheco, 20, spent three months of the 2010-11 campaign with Championship runners-up Norwich and has now returned to his homeland in search of further first-team experience.

Lamah joins Osasuna | LFP
Roland Lamah has joined Osasuna on a three-year contract from French outfit, Le Mans. The 23-year-old midfielder made his top flight debut in 2005 with Anderlecht has represented Belgium at Under-19 level.