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Week of cup and league matches | FC Barcelona
For the second consecutive week, there is a midweek cup tie followed by a weekend league match. FC Barcelona will train on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for the second leg of the game with Getafe, to be played on Thursday at 22.00, and then train again on Friday and Saturday in preparation for the game on Sunday at Levante (19.00).
First training session of the week | FC Barcelona
After enjoying a day off on Sunday, the first team squad were back in training at the Ciutat Esportiva this morninig, as Tata Martino began to prepare for Thursday's Spanish Cup game against Getafe. The boss trained with aful squad, except for Gerard Piqué and Andrés Iniesta - the defender doing some specific recovery work and Iniesta training apart after the knock he picked up at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday night.
Leo Messi: seven consecutive Ballon d'Or top three finishes | FC Barcelona
Leo Messi won’t miss the 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or gala on Monday, seeing that the Argentinian has attended the event continually since 2007. Since then, Messi has always finished in the top three for the award.
Abidal: No problem with Barca - Yahoo Eurosport UK
Abidal left for Monaco after his Camp Nou contract expired but insists he does not hold anything against the Barca hierarchy. "I have no problems with [Sandro] Rosell, [Andoni] Zubizrreta or Barca," Mundo Deportivo reports him as saying. "I have an open door to be general manager of the Barcelona football schools." Abidal underwent surgery on a tumour on his liver in 2011 and later a liver transplant in 2012 and returned to playing little over a year later.
Barça B - Hércules CF: Excellent start to the year at the Mini (5-0) | FC Barcelona
Barça B cruised to victory in their first match of 2014. The team managed by Eusebio showed no mercy to their rivals and they secured the first three points of the year at the Miniestadi. Adama, who scored a goal and performed brilliantly on the right, Planas, who scored the opener, Denis Suaréz, who scored a brace, and Dongou secured the win for Barça B.
Manchester City lead the Premier League (0-2) | FC Barcelona
Manchester City secured another victory and the top spot of the Premier League. Manuel Pellegrini’s team had a hard time of it at St. James Park, but a goal from Dzeko at the start of the match, and another from Negredo at the end, were enough to see the Manchester team to the top of the table.
Madrid keep up pressure | Sky Sports Football
Real Madrid closed to within three points of the Primera Division leaders with a 1-0 victory over Espanyol at Estadi Cornella-El Prat. Centre-back Pepe headed home the only goal of the game at the start of the second half as Madrid took full advantage of the goalless draw between joint pacesetters Barcelona and Atletico Madrid on Saturday night.
Levante move up the table | Sky Sports Football
David Barral headed the only goal of the game for the home side from a set-piece corner in the 19th minute as Levante got a much-needed victory after losing six of their previous seven in La Liga. Barral did well to find the net as he leapt the highest among a mass of bodies to nod Andreas Ivanschitz's corner past Malaga goalkeeper Willy Caballero at the far post.
Vallecano earn valuable victory | ESPNFC.com
Rayo Vallecano picked up a much-needed 1-0 away win at neighbours Getafe but remain in the Primera Division relegation zone. Alberto Bueno scored the only goal of the game in the 29th minute in what was an even game of few clear goalscoring opportunities for either side.
Betis remain cast adrift | ESPNFC.com
Real Betis remained cast adrift at the bottom of the Primera Division standings after they were beaten 2-1 at home by Osasuna in a game which saw both sides finish with 10 men. Roberto Torres fired Osasuna ahead in only the second minute with Betis put under further pressure seven minutes before the break when Nono was sent off for his second bookable offence for a foul on Oriol Riera.
