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Fabregas hat-trick as Barcelona demolish Mallorca - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
A hat-trick from Cesc Fabregas and a double from Alexis Sanchez saw a makeshift Barcelona side thump struggling Mallorca 5-0 and restore their 13-point lead at the top of La Liga. Lionel Messi missed out by virtue of a hamstring injury picked up in the Champions League draw with Paris Saint-Germain during the week and Barca boss Tito Vilanova also left out David Villa and Xavi as they prepare for next week’s second leg.
Roura: "Today is a special day" | FC Barcelona
Jordi Roura sat in the press room after the match against Mallorca in front of the assembled journalists, and before he took any questions he said, " I would like to highlight the importance of the match this Saturday. It was a special day. We were able to witness Éric Abidal’s return and, after many days, Tito Vilanova once again sat on the bench at the Camp Nou."
Éric Abidal makes his return to competitive play for FC Barcelona after recovering from liver transplant surgery | FC Barcelona
The Frenchman came on for Gerard Piqué and he played the last 20 minutes of the game. It’s been 406 days since the player had featured in a competitive match. His last match with the team was on February 26 of 2012 against Atlético Madrid, a few days later, on the 29th of the same month, the defender featured for his country against Germany in an international friendly.
Abidal: "I didn’t want to finish without playing again" | FC Barcelona
Abidal insisted in thanking all the people who had helped him come through, explaining: "without my family and all the others who helped me, I would never have achieved what I did". His cousin donated his liver to Abidal and he paid special thanks to him: "he’s the most important person. He’s never been in a hospital and he did it for me. "
Barcelona prove they are more than merely Messi - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
The World Player of the Year was ruled out with a damaged hamstring, the first league game he has missed through injury since the 2010-11 season, but Barca made light of his absence with a crushing 5-0 victory that maintained their 13-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid with eight games left.
Cesc Fàbregas celebrates his first hat trick for FC Barcelona | FC Barcelona
The midfielder once against played in the ‘false 9’ position, in Leo Messi’s stead. Despite his three goals, Cesc noted that "I don’t believe this was my best match, but in football what matters are the goals." On the position he played in, he said, "I’m comfortable playing that role, but that position belongs to the best player in the world. I’m a midfielder."
Xavi: "This generation can achieve further success" | FC Barcelona
Coming into the decisive stage of the season, Xavi Hernández has spoken about Barça’s current situation in an interview with www.uefa.com. The midfielder is optimistic about the second leg of the Champions League quarter final, is pleased that Tito Vilanova is back, has analysed the way the team in playing and added that he expects the team’s success to continue.
FC Barcelona B – CD Mirandés: Bittersweet draw (1-1) | FC Barcelona
In the second half, Luis Alberto fired Barça B ahead with an excellent free kick. The Blaugrana started to dominate the match and create goalscoring chances, but Mirandés, who were struggling to contain the home team, scored the equaliser against the flow of play.
Paris Saint-Germain star Thiago Silva may miss Barcelona clash - ESPN FC
Thiago Silva was not even included on the bench at the Stade de la Route de Lorient, and Ancelotti revealed the centre-back had sustained an injury during the 2-2 draw against Barcelona at the Parc des Princes. "He sustained a blow to his knee on Tuesday," Ancelotti told the media. "That's why he was not here."
Real Madrid put five past Levante - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Real Madrid secured a slightly flattering 5-1 win over Levante after goals from Gonzalo Higuain, Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil. The result extends Real’s unbeaten run in all competitions at the Bernabeu to 39 games and puts them four points ahead of city rivals Atletico Madrid in the race to finish second in La Liga.
Resounding win for Sociedad | Sky Sports Football
Real Sociedad opened up a four-point lead on their rivals for fourth place in the Primera Division with a resounding 4-2 win at home to Malaga. The hosts took a commanding lead in the first half thanks to a frenetic nine minutes in which they found the net three times, through Carlos Vela, Alberto de la Bella and Antoine Griezmann.
Pellegrini gets Malaga street name - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
The Chilean Coach has been in charge of the Boquerones since 2010, leading them to their first ever season in the Champions League. And mayor Francisco De La Torre Prados has revealed that the Andalusian city will mark the occasion by naming a street in the 59-year-old's honour.
Two-goal Castro sparks Betis rout of Granada - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Striker Ruben Castro scored twice and set up a third, becoming the joint-highest Spanish scorer in La Liga alongside Sevilla's Alvaro Negredo with 15 goals. With eight games left, Betis are level on 47 points with fifth-placed Champions League quarter-finalists Malaga who they trail due to an inferior head-to-head record.
Deportivo boost survival hopes | Sky Sports Football
Bruno Gama put the Galicians ahead early in the first half but Helder Postiga levelled from the penalty spot and then Paco Montanes put Manolo Jimenez's visitors ahead. However, Carlos Marchena equalised before half-time and Depor took the lead for a second time 10 minutes into the second half thanks to an own goal by Abraham Minero