FC Barcelona News: 21 September 2011; Tough Challenge Awaits Barça, Cesc Fabregas Wins Over Magazine

The toughest league fixture yet | FCBarcelona.cat
FC Barcelona are half way through a marathon run of 7 games in 23 days, and this is perhaps the toughest test of all. They are away to Valencia, where they will hoping to maintain the same amazing form displayed at the weekend against Osasuna. But it won’t be easy against a side that has won every game so far and is joint top of the Liga table.

The 18 available players picked | FCBarcelona.cat
All 18 of the currently fit players will be making the journey. The only missing names are those of Alexis and Iniesta, who are still on recovery programmes, and Piqué, who is now training normally with the rest of the squad, but has not been given medical clearance yet.

Barca president urges members to back Qatar deal - Yahoo! Sports
Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has urged members to back the club’s lucrative sponsorship deal with Qatar Sports Investment or risk the cash being invested elsewhere, including potentially in great rivals Real Madrid. Barca members will vote on the record five-year deal, worth as much as 170 million euros ($232 million), at a general assembly on Saturday

David Villa on the goal trail for Barcelona - ESPN Soccernet
Striker David Villa hopes his goals continue to earn points for Barcelona - with his old club and Primera Division leaders Valencia next in his sights. The 29-year-old will head to the Mestalla on Wednesday having scored twice in three league games, and once in the Champions League draw with AC Milan.

Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas wins damages over Arsenal article - ESPN Soccernet
Cesc Fabregas has revealed he has received an apology, retraction and damages after a magazine published an article claiming the Barcelona midfielder said he left Arsenal because he feared a prolonged trophy drought for the club.

40th anniversary of Fairs Cup victory | FCBarcelona.cat
This Thursday marks the 40th anniversary of FC Barcelona becoming the outright holders of the Fairs Cup trophy on September 22, 1971, thanks to a 2-1 win over England’s Leeds United at Camp Nou.

Is Spanish stronger? | Sky Sports | Guillem Balague
I'd suggest a better way of finding out how good the two leagues are is to look at the Champions League where the two clubs compete. If you look at the results of direct encounters between Spanish teams and English teams in the last five years, or even the last 10 years, then the La Liga teams have won more often. If you turned those results into a league then Spanish teams would win it.

Mourinho donates Ballon d'Or | Sky Sports | Home | Latest
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has decided to donate his Fifa Ballon d'Or World Coach of the Year award for auction in memory of his mentor Sir Bobby Robson. The Ballon d'Or will be sold to the highest bidder in an online auction next month.

Mourinho defends Real brawl | Sky Sports
The Portuguese boss is still stinging from Sunday's shock 1-0 defeat to Levante, during which Sami Khedira was sent off for a second yellow card imposed for shoving during an on-field fracas. Real have come under fire in the press for that scuffle, which Mourinho feels is hypocritical given the reaction to a similar incident when Spain met Chile earlier this month.