FC Barcelona News: 1 April 2012; Barça Victorious Against Athletic Bilbao, Valdes Equals Rexach

FCB-Athletic Club: Top quality victory (2-0) | FC Barcelona
Barça v Athletic Bilbao was as good a game as people had expected, with both teams showing why they are getting so much praise of late. These are two sides that like to keep possession of the ball, and in that respect it was Barça that came out tops – something which clearly unsettled their Basque visitors. The home side had all the chances in the first half, and also the only goal, an absolute beauty from Iniesta.

Guardiola: "Athletic Club Bilbao take you to the limit" | FC Barcelona
Josep Guardiola considers that Athletic Club Bilbao, keeping their Europa League match this week in mind, gave "a lesson to all athletes on how to manage situations, with or without difficulties." The Barça manager said that Barça "put in one of the most brilliant defensive displays" in memory in order to beat Bielsa’s team.

Valdés equals Rexach with 449 matches for FC Barcelona | FC Barcelona
Against Athletic Club, Víctor Valdés played his 449th match for Barça which allows the keeper to draw level with Carles Rexach as the fourth player with the most games played for FC Barcelona. The keeper made his debut on September 1st 2002 under Louis van Gaal, in the match the pitted Barça against Atlético Madrid; the game ended in a two-all draw.

Iniesta: "We'll have our chance in La Liga" | FC Barcelona
Three more points in La Liga were secured ahead of the decisive Champions League quarterfinal match against AC Milan this Tuesday. Barça restored the six-point gap with Real Madrid after the Catalans beat Athletic Club 2-0. The players highlighted the importance of tonight’s victory as the team is now on an eight-match winning streak in La Liga.

Fabregas fit to face AC Milan - Goal.com
"Cesc had a problem in the sacrum [a large, triangular bone at the base of the spine] on Thursday," the Blaugrana boss told reporters after Saturday's 2-0 victory over Athletic. "We've dealt with it and today he was better. So, even though we were forced to leave him out [against the Basques], he will there against Milan on Tuesday."

Tribute to Leo Messi | FC Barcelona
The Club organized the tribute for the Argentine to coincide with tonight’s match against Athletic Club. First, an event was scheduled for the family of César to hand over the honour to Messi’s family. The symbolic transfer of the historic record was made with a Barça jersey and President Sandro Rosell gave signed boots from both the goal scorers to the families of both footballers.

Lionel Messi is under too much pressure in Argentina, says Bielsa - Goal.com
"Messi is a completely proven player. And you know what Argentines do with people we admire? We subject them to a number of tests that nobody can pass, unless you are a world champion, like Diego Maradona," Bielsa said during a press conference. "Messi will go through this process. We also show our affection with conjecture, putting in doubt everything we love and value."

Liga - Benzema wonder goal as Madrid hit 100 - Yahoo! Eurosport
A stunning volley from Karim Benzema was the highlight of a brutal 5-1 win away at Osasuna as Real Madrid continued their march towards the Spanish title and notched up 100 goals for the season in La Liga.

Report: Málaga v Real Betis - ESPN Soccernet
Sitting fourth prior to kick-off and level on points with faltering Valencia in third, Manuel Pellegrini's men could have moved clear into the guaranteed spots with a win, owing to Valencia not playing until Sunday night. However, first-half goals from Ruben Castro and Jose Dorado ensured a miserable night was had by most at La Rosaleda.

Zaragoza steal last-minute win - Yahoo! Eurosport
Helder Postiga had put Zaragoza ahead eight minutes before half-time, but Sebastián Eguren had levelled things for the hosts five minutes into the second period. That goal looked good enough to give the hosts a point until Lafita struck in the dying seconds of the match to leave Gijon rooted to the bottom of the table and boost Zaragoza's hopes of beating relegation.