Barça made it eight out of eight in their record breaking start to the league season with a 4-1 win over
Valladolid at the Camp Nou tonight. Valladolid set a different task for Barça with an early strike and although Martino’s side soon equalised, it wasn’t until the second half that they finished the game off, with an unstoppable Neymar leading the fightback.
Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino held a press conference after the 4-1 victory over Valladolid. The Argentine evaluated Barça’s eighth consecutive victory in the league from a couple points of view: "In general, we lacked intensity in the first phase of the first half, they got behind us and we didn’t pressure enough." Martino also added: "What happened needs to be corrected because we won’t always be able to fight back ... conceding goals from set pieces is one of our current worries." Despite the analysis, Martino declared: "I really liked the second half the team put in."
Alexis Sánchez was one of the standout players against Valladolid thanks to his two goals and one assist. Adriano Correia praised the Chilean after the match for his excellent performance: "The goals have come to him because of his hard work and patience. He’s on excellent form." The Brazilian left back is pleased that he’s been able to play and remain healthy in the team’s past couple of games in Jordi Alba’s absence: "I’m very happy that I’ve been able to stay healthy, I’m working hard, I get the rest I need and I’m eating well, that’s all important in order to not pick up injuries."
After the 4-1 win against Valladolid, Marc Bartra appeared on the 'El Marcador' show on Barça TV to speak about how he has started the last three games, his form and things that the 22-year-old still has to improve. "Playing is a reward for all the years of work I have put in here. It’s a reward for my past record and right now my confidence is high, but not too high", commented Marc Bartra, adding that "any professional is calmest when he knows he’ll play, but all I can do is work hard in training and do the very best I can whenever I get a chance".
Cristiano Ronaldo scored deep in injury time to cap Real Madrid's incredible 3-2 comeback victory at Levante on Saturday, when his team went from losing, to drawing, and finally to winning in the last five minutes. "When Madrid plays football, it only needs five minutes to win a game," Madrid first-year coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
The German press have already described Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich as
Barcelona 2.0 and the frightening thing is that they will only improve. He passed the first European test since his appointment with flying colours and the thing I find bewildering is that it actually took a bit of heat off him. That stunning win over Manchester City was a huge statement of intent and when Guardiola remarked that his squad can get better, the rest of Europe should be fearing the worst.
FC Barcelona’s Ordinary General Assembly have given their support, with 94% of the vote, for the 2013/14 budget – 511 votes in favour, 12 against and 19 abstentions. The director general, Antoni Rossich, said that "the budget is realistic, rigorous and prudent." The Club forecasts a net revenue of 35.7 million euros after taxes, and earnings of 508.5 million euros and 457.7 million euros in expenses. Rossich explained that the budget was drawn up with the expectation that the first team will win the league title, reach the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey and the quarter finals of the Champions League.
Delegate members say "yes" to statute reform | FC Barcelona
The fourth point of order during the Ordinary General Assembly saw the Delegate Members vote on the Board of Directors’ Statutes Reform proposal. The changes principally affect the economic and social areas of the Club and they were approved by 320 votes in favour, 65 against and 35 abstentions. It’s worth noting that the measure needed a two-thirds majority vote from the assembled members in order to pass.
Rayo edge Sociedad on late penalty in La Liga
Real Sociedad lost their second game this week in agonizing fashion on Saturday, when Rayo Vallecano substitute Jonathan Viera earned and converted an 89th-minute penalty in the Spanish league. Sociedad had already fallen at Bayer Leverkusen to an injury-time free kick in the Champions League on Tuesday. The Basque side has gone winless in its last nine games in all competitions.
Sergio Agüero tops Real Madrid's January transfer shopping list | Football | The Observer
Real Madrid are considering a January bid for Sergio Agüero after the Manchester City striker was identified as the Spanish club's prime target at the start of the summer, ahead of Gareth Bale, who was bought for a world record £85.3m. Madrid made an inquiry about Agüero – who scored in Saturday's 3-1 win over Everton at the Etihad Stadium – and were told he would not be sold. They had also wanted to sign Neymar, who was then at Santos, and Radamel Falcao, who began the summer at Atlético Madrid, ahead of Bale.
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