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FC Barcelona v R.Sociedad: Barcelona in festival mood (4-1) | FC Barcelona
And it all happened on the day that the city was celebrating its patron saint, the Mercè festival, and in emphatic style. The first 22 minutes saw a barrage of goals from Neymar, Messi and Busquets, and from then on it was complete dominance from the home side, with the visitor’s solitary goal doing nothing to worry the Camp Nou faithful.
Gerardo Martino: "I'm very satisfied with the team" | FC Barcelona
Gerardo Martino is pleased with his team after this evening’s convincing 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad. "I think we played a good match, especially in the first half. I’m satisfied with the team," said Martino, who added that "we aim to play like this always, but it’s not easy. We also aim to work in other variables like changes of pace and a more vertical approach."
Mascherano out for up to two weeks - FIFA.com
Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano will miss his side's UEFA Champions League trip to Celtic next week due to a hamstring injury. The Argentine international limped off after just 35 minutes of Barça's 4-1 win over Real Sociedad on Tuesday night and tests carried out on Wednesday confirmed that he will be out for up to two weeks.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi denies making disrespectful gesture | Sky Sports
"I didn't mean to make any gesture when Martino took me off," Messi said on his official Facebook page. "Nobody likes to be out, but we must accept it because it is the best for our team. What I will not accept is that certain media tell lies about any situation that happens around me."
Marc Bartra: "I needed a goal like this because it give me confidence" | FC Barcelona
Marc Bartra was one of the goal scorers this evening after he seized on Messi’s cross in the second half of the match against Real Sociedad. That was the defender’s second goal for Barça, his first was in May of 2011 against Málaga. "I needed a goal like that because it gives you confidence. It will help me to not let up and to keep on going."
Piqué glad to have set an example | FC Barcelona
Gerard Piqué, told ‘El Marcador’ on Barça TV that "it was game that set an example for what we want to do. We struggled at Vallecas and against Ajax, but the conditions were right this time … Perhaps that was the best of us, we constantly looked for goals. That was generally speaking a great match and against a Champions League team".
Barcelona's win over Rayo Vallecano is a microcosm of La Liga's problems - SBNation.com
Barcelona's 4-0 defeat of Rayo Vallecano on Saturday probably didn't set off many alarms in the football world. We're not surprised when Barca defeats a fellow La Liga competitor by a large margin, but in watching this particular match it was hard not to be left with sickening reminder that this is the best we can hope for in Spain.
Costa brace keeps Atletico perfect | ESPNFC.com
Diego Costa scored twice as Atletico Madrid kept pace with Barcelona at the top of the Primera Division table with a 2-1 victory over Osasuna. Both Atletico and Barca have not dropped a point in six league games so far and the capital club were on course to their latest success when Costa struck twice in seven first-half minutes.
Liverpool target Diego Costa hunting down Messi and Barcelona | Pitchside Europe - Yahoo Eurosport UK
While Lionel Messi has, as usual, been hogging the headlines in the early weeks of the La Liga season, another South American, Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa, has hit a rich vein of form to join the Argentine on seven goals at the top of the scoring charts.
Carlo Ancelotti says Gareth Bale will be fit for the Madrid derby | Sky Sports
The world's most expensive player had been due to make his Bernabeu bow in last weekend's clash with Getafe but felt a tweak in his left thigh during the warm-up and was left out by Ancelotti. Bale underwent tests at the Sanitas hospital in La Moraleja where, according to a medical statement from the club, it was confirmed the Wales international was suffering from muscle fatigue.
Valencia drop Rami following outburst - ESPN FC
Adil Rami has been dropped from Valencia’s squad for Wednesday’s La Liga game at Granada after publicly criticising both his team-mates and coach Miroslav Djukic. Rami had travelled to Granada with the squad on Tuesday evening, but was packed off back to Valencia on an early flight Wednesday morning after his outburst became known.
Wait continues for Almeria | Sky Sports Football
Almeria are still without a win this season as Malaga claimed a 2-0 victory at La Rosaleda. Fernando Tissone and Francisco Portillo were on target as Malaga made it four games without defeat after their sluggish start to the season.
Levante held by Valladolid | Sky Sports Football
A bad-tempered match saw one red and five yellow cards with Valladolid's French left-back Zakarya Bergdich given his marching orders in the 44th minute with the score at 1-1. But Levante were unable to capitalise on playing half the match with an extra man with Andreas Ivanschitz failing to convert a match-winning penalty after Bergdich had gone.