Dinamo de Bucarest-FCB: Pre-season ends with Villa and Fontàs back (0-2) | FC Barcelona
The pre-season finished on a high note for Tito Vilanova’s team with both David Villa and Andreu Fontàs taking part in the team’s 0-2 win over Dynamo after their long injury layoffs. Leo Messi got an early goal, whilst Ibrahim Afellay got the second in injury time to give Barça the win in a game in which they were easily the superior side in terms of talent.
Tivo Vilanova: "The team is playing at a good level" | FC Barcelona
Tito Vilanova is optimistic after FC Barcelona’s five pre-season matches: "the team is playing at a good level ahead of the start of the Liga. We’ve had a group of players that have trained for two solid weeks. Others haven’t had that much time to prepare." The manager noted that the second group of footballers, the internationals, needed to get more playing time this Saturday.
Welcome back, David Villa! | FC Barcelona
After the match, the Azulgrana manager stated that "I spoke with the doctors and the physios and Villa was ready to play for at least 15 minutes. It’s very important for us to recover players, especially if they’re well-loved like Villa." Furthermore, the manager highlighted Villa’s role as vital to Barça’s strategy on the pitch. "Last year we missed him because he’s a player that guarantees goals. He’s very necessary," said Vilanova.
Villa: I can return better than ever - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
"My aim is not to be the player I was before, I want to be better," he told reporters. "We have to be patient, I have been out for a long time, more than I expected. "What I want now is to focus on the present and the future and forget the past. My job is to improve day by day."
Fontàs makes his return to competitive football | FC Barcelona
Andreu Fontàs has completely recovered from his right-knee ligament injury. The Azulgrana defender returned to competitive football in FC Barcelona’s last pre-season match of the summer, against Dinamo Bucharest. Fontàs played the better part of the second half against the Romanian team as he made his way onto the field, with the number 24 on his back, on the 62nd minute for Marc Bartra.
Jordi Alba: "It's an honour to play with these players" | FC Barcelona
Jordi Alba said that he’s in perfect condition to play tonight’s match and he talked about not being named to the Spanish national team for the next week’s international friendly against Puerto Rico. "The manager makes his list and it’s his decision. I played in the Olympics and now I’m not going, I can use the time to work with my Club."
Gica Hagi: "Messi is an example to the youngsters" | FC Barcelona
Agile and technical on the pitch, Gica Hagi is also elegant when in front of a camera. The best Romanian footballer of all-time praised Leo Messi: "I’m very happy to be able to see a player like him. He’s eager to win and to be the best, and off the field he’s honest and modest. He’s an example to youngsters."
Real Madrid ease to win over Celtic - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Jose Maria Callejon opened the scoring for Jose Mourinho's men after 21 minutes, while Karim Benzema scored the second with 23 minutes of the match remaining. The Spanish champions, fielding a full-strength team including Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, were rarely troubled by their Scottish opponents.