clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

FC Barcelona News: 30 January 2014; Barça Reach Copa del Rey Semi-Final, Seydou Keita Returns To La Liga

David Ramos

FC Barcelona – Levante: Deluge of goals and to the semi-finals (5-1) | FC Barcelona
Reaching seven Cup semi-finals in eight years isn’t something a lot of teams can achieve, but Barça have done it. Tata Martino’s men claimed their spot in the penultimate round of the competition thanks to this evening’s 5-1 scoreline against Levante. The intense rain that fell on Barcelona wasn’t an obstacle for Adriano, Puyol, Alexis (2) and Cesc, all of whom got on the scoresheet against the Valencia-based side.

Martino is pleased with the intensity his players showed | FC Barcelona
Despite the 1-4 result from the first leg of the Cup tie against Levante, Barça took this evening’s second leg seriously (5-1). Tata Martino, after the match, said, "the first 15 minutes concerned me, not just because of the goal, it seemed as though we weren’t intense enough. But for the remaining 75 minutes we were intense."

FC Barcelona reach their seventh Cup semi-final in eight years | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona sealed passage to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey this Wednesday evening. It’s an occurrence that members and fans are used to seeing that in the last eight seasons FC Barcelona have reached the semi-finals on seven occasions. This year, Barça’s rival will come out of the quarter-final tie between Real Sociedad and Racing. In the last six of Barça’s semi-final berths, the Blaugrana have gone on to the final on three occasions.

Puyol scores again, one year later | FC Barcelona
Carles Puyol came back against Levante following his brief lay-off through injury. The central defender played the 90 minutes in his 591st offical match in a Barça shirt. He celebrated by scoring his sixth goal for the Club. It was over a year ago since the Captain last scored, on January 16 2013, in the Cup Quarter Finals first leg.

"We have to take advantage of the team's form" says Andrés Iniesta | FC Barcelona
After missing out on the team's last four matches due to injury, Andrés Iniesta returned to competitive play this Wednesday. "I felt good, my impression is that things are going well," said the midfielder. The Spaniard explained that he only played 45 minutes because "we had already agreed to the substitution" before kickoff. "You always have to temper your return and that’s what we did. I feel just as I did before, it’s about adding to the team," he said.

Sergi Roberto: "Everything has it's own rewards" | FC Barcelona
Sergi Roberto was the player invited to appear on the Barça TV program ‘El Marcador’ following the game against Levante, where Barça went through to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. This Wednesday, at the Camp Nou, the midfielder played his seventeenth consecutive match in a Barça shirt. It's for this reason that he is grateful for the confidence that coach Tata Martino has shown in him.

Barça warm-up in heavy rain | FC Barcelona
The warm-up this Wednesday at the Camp Nou was carried out in heavy rain. That's why the images are a little different to the usual ones. Here you have the chance to enjoy the Barça players warming up, before thrashing Levante 5-1 in the return leg of the quarter finals of the Copa del Rey.

Santos plan court action against Neymar Sr. over Barcelona deal - ESPN FC
Santos president Odilio Rodrigues has said his club intend to take Neymar Sr. to court to claim a share of a 40 million euro payment he received as part of his son’s move to Barcelona last summer. The transfer is currently under investigation by a Madrid court over the possible "diversion" of money, but Neymar Sr. defended his role this week, saying that all the money he received had been accounted for.

Rosell out, Bartomeu in: Barcelona's new era begins by Graham Hunter - ESPN FC
From 2004-05 onward, I have been a Rosell skeptic. Not an outright opponent but a disbeliever. Any football man, particularly someone who professes to have Barca at heart, who also detests Johan Cruyff's influence on the club and wishes to drive a wedge between the Dutchman and developments at the Camp Nou is, in my book, utterly deluded.

Calls grow for Barcelona to hold presidential election in summer - ESPN FC
Likely Barcelona presidential candidate Augusto Benedito has called for new elections at the club to allow its socios to clearly choose their new leader. Current president Josep Maria Bartomeu acceded to the top position when Sandro Rosell stepped aside last week amid the ongoing court investigation into the signing of Neymar, but he has stated clearly that he expects to keep that role until the current regime’s mandate ends in June 2016.

Josep Maria Bartomeu receives members of the Catalan Football Federation | FC Barcelona
A delegation from the Board of Directors of the Catalan Football Federation (FCF) led by their president, Andreu Subies, were in the presidential box of the Camp Nou this evening for the Cup tie against Levante. FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu and vice-president Jordi Mestre hosted the delegation.

From request number 109, to Manchester | FC Barcelona
This Thursday the draw, in the presence of a Notary, was held at FC Barcelona offices, for the 1,870 tickets that the Club has been allocated for its members, for the Champions League match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium (February 18 , at 20.45) . The cut-off number is 109, so from that number we will start to allocate the tickets available.

FC Barcelona and US Sassuolo agree to terms for Tonny Sanabria | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona and US Sassuolo have agreed to terms for the transfer of Tonny Sanabria. The total transfer sum could reach 12 million euros. 4.5 million euros are guaranteed and the rest, up to 12 million, are dependent on the player’s performance and his future value. The process to purchase the player started with AS Roma, but the transfer was closed with US Sassuolo.

Manchester City climb to the top of the Premier League | FC Barcelona
Manchester City won their eighth consecutive Premier League match this Wednesday and they secured the top spot of the table. Manuel Pellegrini’s men took advantage of Arsenal’s draw with Southampton (2-2) when they defeated Tottenham (1-5).

Garcia and Costa strike to set up Madrid meeting - Goal.com
[Raul Garcia] turned home a fine finish from 12 yards early in the second half after Aritz Aduriz had drawn the hosts level in the tie with a header shortly before the break. Costa beat the offside trap in the closing minutes before rounding the keeper and slotting home to ensure the holders' place in the last four.

Valencia sign Seydou Keita - Goal.com
Valencia have announced the signing of former Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita until the end of the season, subject to the completion of a medical. The veteran Malian midfielder had enjoyed a successful Liga career, first turning out for Sevilla in the 2007-08 season before moving to Camp Nou.

Valencia to loan out Andres Guardado, Helder Postiga and Darlon Pabon - ESPN FC
"Valencia have also reached an agreement, pending medicals, for the loans of Helder Postiga to Lazio and Andres Guardado to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, both loans with options to buy for those clubs at the end of the season. Postiga and Guardado have travelled today to Roma and Leverkusen, respectively, to undergo the relevant medical examinations, with the permission of Valencia CF."

Sign up for the newsletter Sign up for the Barca Blaugranes Daily Roundup newsletter!

A daily roundup of Barca news from Barca Blaugranes