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FC Barcelona News: 26 October 2013; Tata Martino Names 20 in El Clasico Squad, Barça Reveal Samba Sponsorship Deal

By Bostjan Cernensek
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid: The passion returns | FC Barcelona
With both teams pretty used to facing each other quite frequently over recent seasons, this evening’s game looks set to answer quite a few questions, not least because Barça and Real Madrid have gone eight months without facing each other – since March 2 . With recent seasons featuring regular clashes between the two, there’s not been such a gap between games since 2010. Now though, the teams are back - and so too is the passion.

20-man squad for Real Madrid | FC Barcelona
Tata Martino has called up 20 players for his first Clasico in charge of the team. The Argentinean has called up all the available squad, with the exception of Cuenca and Oier, whilst Jordi Alba, Dos Santos and Afellay are all out injured.

Martino: "the Clasico creates great excitement in me " | FC Barcelona
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s big game, coach Gerardo Martino admitted: "the game creates great excitement in me and determination to do things right and win the game". According to Martino: "in order to have any chance of winning, Barça have to play well", whilst insisting: "we must avoid losing possession in our build up", if they are to stop Madrid’s lethal counter attacks..

The story so far for FC Barcelona and Real Madrid | FC Barcelona
They do say that it matters not a hoot what kind of form Barça and Real Madrid have shown prior to a clásico. In these games, the formbook goes out of the proverbial window. But it doesn’t hurt to have a glance at their recent form ahead of the clash of giants at the Camp Nou. So here we analyse their stats in the first nine games of the Liga season.

Stoichkov, Sabella, Anderson and Karabatic on the clásico | FC Barcelona
Two former Barça players, the current Argentina manager and one of the stars of the handball team have given their ideas about Saturday’s clásico at the Camp Nou. Here we take a look at what Hristo Stoichkov, Alejandro Sabella, ‘Sonny’ Anderson and Nikola Karabatic have to say about the match.

Evaristo de Macedo: "Barça v Madrid is a unique rivalry" | FC Barcelona
Evaristo de Macedo played for FC Barcelona from 1957 to 1962, and 50 years later he is still remembered as one of the finest players to have ever worn the famous jersey. His titles at Barça included two leagues, one Spanish Cup and two European Fairs Cups.

Sponsorship agreement with Samba in Saudi Arabia | FC Barcelona
This Friday, FC Barcelona unveiled a sponsorship agreement with Samba Financial Group (known as SAMBA), the most important financial group in Saudi Arabia, for an initial period of three years. This agreement will make Samba an Official Sponsor and Official Bank of FC Barcelona in Saudi Arabia.

Wedding at the Camp Nou 48 hours before the clásico | FC Barcelona
For several years, the Camp Nou has not just been hosting football matches, but also others events, including weddings. And on Thursday evening, just 48 hours before the clásico, Kenya Kishimoto and Nozomi, a Japanese couple with a passion for football and Barça in particular, tied the knot in the stadium. The civic ceremony was attended by a small group of people on the Barça field.

Who’s best: Messi or Ronaldo? | Pitchside - Yahoo Eurosport UK
The segment in Harry Hill's TV Burp where the host plucks two obscure characters from our television screens and screams "fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight" has perhaps become an overused reference point in recent years. However, when it comes to El Clasico it feels particularly apt to throw Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo into a locked room and force them to pit their wits against each other.

Liga - Counter could be key to 'Clasico' win, Ancelotti says - Yahoo Eurosport UK
Victory for Real at the Nou Camp would put the Spanish giants level on 25 points from 10 matches and represent Barca's first reverse this season as well as giving the Real players a significant psychological boost in the title race.

Microsoft in Bernabeu naming talks - Yahoo Eurosport UK
Club president Florentino Perez has confirmed his intention to decide on a renovation project for the stadium by the end of this month. Looking to begin work as soon as next year to improve aspects of the 85,000-seater stadium, Perez has commented that he is also on the hunt for sponsorship of the project and that this may include naming rights on the 66-year-old venue.

Valladolid impress on the road | Sky Sports Football
German winger Patrick Ebert got the ball rolling by scoring an impressive goal from distance after half an hour and then Javi Guerra doubled the lead before half-time. Any hope the hosts had of a second-half comeback swiftly vanished when Dani Larsson made it 3-0 on 48 minutes.

Sisi surgery next month | Football Espana
Osasuna midfielder Sisi will undergo surgery on a knee injury sustained last week in approximately three weeks’ time. The 27-year-old suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and torn medial meniscus in his left knee whilst in action for his side against Barcelona in Week 9.

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