FC Barcelona News: 18 September 2011; Barça Trash Osasuna, Granada Record First Win of the Season

Osasuna pay for Barca's 'mini-crisis' - Yahoo! Eurosport
Osasuna caught the backlash from Barcelona's supposed 'mini-crisis' their coach Jose Luis Mendilibar said after his side suffered an 8-0 thrashing in La Liga on Saturday. The Spanish and European champions had been questioned after letting slip winning positions to draw 2-2 at Real Sociedad and at home to AC Milan by the same scoreline in the Champions League over the last week.

Eight-karat gold - how brilliant Barcelona dispelled doubts with Saturday night goal-fever at Camp Nou - Goal.com
Puyol's fitness remains key and Guardiola will hope to welcome back Pique, Alexis Sanchez and Andres Iniesta from injury while avoiding further casualties, but it is perhaps a measure of how great this team has become that back-to-back draws were treated with such disappointment and derision.

Our main aim is to avoid relegation - Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho - Goal.com
"If we keep playing this way we'll have a chance of winning tomorrow against a difficult opponent. We failed to win at their stadium last year. It will be difficult because they defend fiercely and well. Levante are a good side that's competitive and aggressive.We will have to play very well in order to win," he added.

Real Madrid's Raul Albiol looks set to join Malaga in January - report - Goal.com
Real Madrid defender Raul Albiol is close to agreeing a January move to ambitious Malaga, according to Radio Marca. The former Valencia man is reported to have reached an agreement to join the Andalusian club in January, with a three-year contract offered to the player.

Liga - Soldado puts Valencia top - Yahoo! Eurosport
La Liga top scorer Soldado, in the running for a place in Spain's Euro 2012 squad, tapped in at the back post after home keeper Juan Pablo could only parry a shot in the 30th minute. Valencia, held to a disappointing 0-0 draw at Genk in the Champions League in midweek, maintained their 100 percent league record with nine points.

Sevilla edge out Sociedad - Yahoo! Eurosport
A sluggish and scrappy opening period saw neither goalkeeper troubled as a tempestuous first half lacked any creativity or inspiration. But Kanoute's clinical finish in the 53rd minute gave Sevilla all three points in a fleeting moment of class.

Report: Mallorca v Málaga - Spanish Primera División - ESPN Soccernet
Martin Demichelis' first-half header was enough to hand Malaga a 1-0 win away at Real Mallorca. In a game of few chances Santi Cazorla was acrobatically denied by Dudu Aouate before Demichelis' header from Cazorla's cross was deflected in off Pablo Caceres.

Report: Granada v Villarreal - Spanish Primera División - ESPN Soccernet
Ikechukwu Uche's second-half header was enough to give Granada their first Primera Division win in 35 years after a 1-0 victory over an out of sorts Villarreal. The Nigerian striker, on loan at the Andalusian side from Villarreal, had earlier passed up the best opportunity of the first half but made amends early in the second with a fine header from Dani Benitez's cross.