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Messi not in Barcelona squad for Zaragoza trip - Goal.com
Lionel Messi has been left out Barcelona's squad to face Zaragoza on Sunday evening, as have Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. The Argentine, who has won the Ballon d'Or four times in a row, missed last weekend's 5-0 thrashing of Mallorca due to a hamstring problem picked up in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final at Paris Saint-Germain, which finished 2-2.
Pedro the man in times of need | FC Barcelona
Commitment, capacity and goals. Pedro joined the first team in 2008/09, and since then has scored 66 goals for Barça. But the Canary Islander is particularly renowned for appearing just when it matters most. He’s scored some of the club’s most important goals in recent seasons.
Beckham's verdict: Messi is better than Ronaldo - ESPN FC
"They have similarities in their technical skills and talent, and it is amazing for football to have them both present, but Messi is simply the best player in the world," Beckham told Argentine news agency Telam. "He [Messi] is alone in his class as a player, it is impossible that there is another like him. He, like Cristiano Ronaldo, who is not at his level, are both above the rest."
Fit or unfit, Messi doesn't hold the key for Barcelona v Bayern - Goal.com
While the gameplan of passing the ball to Messi and seeing what he can do with it is probably one of the most effective weapons any team has, there appear far fewer alternatives available to Tito Vilanova than was once the case. No longer do they look quite the dominant force they did.
Andoni Zubizarreta: "We’ll see a lot of football in this semi final" | FC Barcelona
Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona, two great clubs, will meet in the Champions League semi finals. "We’ll see a lot of football in this semi final", said Andoni Zubizarreta shortly after learning of the draw. "It a game between two great teams with different styles".
Tito Vilanova not managing in Munich for first time | FC Barcelona
Tito Vilanova is returning to Bayern Munich’s stadium four years after sitting in the hotseat in the second leg of a Champions League quarter final. He took over as head coach because Pep Guardiola was suspended for protesting a clear penalty on Messi in the first leg at the Camp Nou.
10 things to know about Bayern Munich | FC Barcelona
Like Barça, they have won four European Cups: The first three came back-to-back in their golden era from 1974 to 1976, when the side was masterminded by Franz Beckenbauer (who is now their honorary president). They added the fourth in 2001.
Cristiano Ronaldo 'to be rested' - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Los Blancos are speculated as keen to ensure the No 7, who has 48 goals from 47 appearances this term, is in peak condition for the Champions League semi-finals, scheduled on April 23 or 24 and then April 30 and May 1.
Betis grab draw in six-goal thriller against 10-man Sevilla - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Substitute Nosa nodded home in the 89th minute at Betis's Benito Villamarin stadium, setting off wild celebrations among the home fans desperate for success against their bitter rivals. The draw leaves Betis in sixth place on 48 points with seven games left, still in with a good chance of qualifying for Europe, while Sevilla's bid for continental competition looks to be all but over as they remain stuck in 10th on 42 points.