Xavi like Forster to replace Valdes

Barcelona midfielder Xavi has said that Celtic and England goalkeeper Fraser Forster wouldn’t look out of place within the Barcelona squad.

Manchester United are thought to be extremely interested in signing the 25-year-old who has been impressive since joining the Scottish champions from Newcastle in 2010, firstly on loan before the deal was made permanent last year.

Forster has seemingly produced his best performances in the Champions League, in particular against Barcelona, once again producing a strong display in their narrow 1-0 defeat this season.

Xavi believes Forster would be a good replacement for current number one ‘keeper Victor Valdes who is on his way out of the Nou Camp, classing the Englishman as ‘world class’, the Daily Mail report.

“I think the players all know about the Forster interest - and it is a player we know very well,” said Xavi.

“I can't say that I watch him every week - but when we have played Celtic he has shown that he is a world-class goalkeeper.

“From what I have seen he has everything to succeed at a club like Barcelona - and with his Champions League performances for Celtic I am sure there will be more than one big club interested in him.”

Celtic manager Neil Lennon admitted that if a big club, like United or Barcelona, came in with an offer for Forster they would be left with no choice but to let him leave.

Alexis - the unheralded superstar

Barcelona have started the new season in ominous form, with the Catalan club still unbeaten in all competitions and dazzling the football community with their exhilarating style of play.
New boss Gerardo Martino has big shoes to fill after the considerable achievements of Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova, but it appears to be business as usual at Camp Nou.
It has been a great week for the Blaugrana, with victory in the first Clàsico of the campaign backed up by a 3-0 away win over Celta Vigo last night, maintaining their place at La Liga’s summit.
Despite Neymar winning much of the plaudits in the win over Real Madrid and Cesc Fàbregas netting twice on Tuesday night, Alexis Sánchez must be given credit for excellent form of late.
Following the Brazilian’s big-money addition over the summer, many predicted a campaign of limited opportunities for Sánchez, with even transfer rumblings of a move away from Camp Nou were being touted in speculation-hungry media sources.
However, the Chilean attacker has had a sparkling start to the new campaign, despite not always being granted a starting berth in the side. His strike against Celta was his seventh in nine games; only Lionel Messi has scored more for the Catalans this term.
Sánchez shot himself into the European limelight at Udinese, forming a mouth-watering attacking partnership with veteran Antonio Di Natale over five years and leading Francesco Guidolin’s side unexpectedly into the Champions League qualification berths.
Twenty goals in 95 Serie A appearances showed the former Cobreloa man’s eye for goal, while his pace and trickery made him one of the most exciting players in the Italian top flight.
A wrangle for the South American’s signature occurred throughout 2010 and in early 2011, with England, Spain and the top clubs in Serie A potential destinations.
In the end a move to Barcelona gave Sánchez the chance to prove himself on the biggest stage, and he has not looked out of place in the star-studded squad.
29 La Liga appearances in 2012-13 was a solid return to his debut campaign in Catalunya, with Sánchez showing glimpses of his incredible pedigree in patches. A lack of real consistency could be attributed to a struggle to command a run of games in the Barca starting XI, simply due to the sheer amount of attacking talent in the Blaugrana ranks.
This season has seen Sánchez seemingly mature, and he looks much more comfortable in the Barcelona ranks. The confidence that he displayed in scoring the decisive second goal against Madrid on Saturday was great to see, and he is certainly starting to live up to his superstar billing.
With 62 caps and 20 goals for Chile despite only being 24, Sánchez is proving himself to be an important man for club and country. With a World Cup on the horizon in 2014, Chile’s main man has a glorious chance to further his already substantial reputation.
Although the Chilean maestro has Messi, Neymar, Pedro and Cristian Tello to compete with for a starting berth in the Barcelona side, Sánchez is set to play a key role in the Catalan outfit’s quest for domestic and European honours this season. Seeing him in form and enjoying his football, the 24-year-old looks set to be just as much of a superstar as many of his illustrious team-mates.

Fabregas would have never moved to Man Utd

 

Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas finally put an end to all rumours and speculation suggesting he was intent on making a move to Manchester United during the summer transfer window in a recent two part interview with the Guardian. The former Arsenal man remained adamant that he had no plans to make a return to the Premier League in the summer and has always been fully focused on succeeding at Barcelona.
The Barca and Spanish star seemed to be on his way to Old Trafford at one point in the summer but the deal failed to go through, to the surprise of many.
Clear
The newspaper quoted him as saying “It’s not something I was even thinking about.
“I was always clear in my mind that I want to succeed at Barcelona and I’d give everything to triumph here.”
When asked about why United appeared to be so convinced that the deal was going to go through, the Barca midfielder added: “At no time did I say I wanted to go and I stayed out of it.
“I was surprised. I didn’t encourage them at all.”
With Fabregas so adamant that the deal was never on and he had little interest in the attention of the Manchester club, it is hard to understand why there was so much speculation over a possible move back to the Premier League.
Good start
Fabregas has made a solid start to the season and the only player to have spent more time on the pitch so far this term for Barcelona is Gerard Pique.
The former Arsenal captain failed to consolidate a place in the Barca first team under Pep Guardiola and went through periods when he was mainly used as a substitute since making his return to the Camp Nou in 2011.

Fabregas felt uncomfortable at times under his previous manager’s system and was worried about failing to live up to the expectations he had been expected to live up to.

The midfielder reaffirmed this in the interview with the Guardian, saying: “I would sometimes think, if I move from here, we lose the ball and I leave someone free, I’ll get a rollicking.”
The Spanish international appears to be playing his best football since making his move back to the club and he confirmed this in the interview with the Guardian.
Fabregas is quoted as saying: “The season’s started brilliantly.
“This coach [Tata Martino] lets me play the way that suits my qualities and I’m very comfortable, very happy.”
With things looking up for the Barca player, he may finally be able to rediscover the form which won him his reputation as one of the world’s best central midfielders during his time at Arsenal.

Cesc remembering Arsenal days

Many Arsenal fans harbour feelings of resentment towards former midfielder and captain Cesc Fabregas following his return home to Barcelona in 2011.
Some fans felt that Fabregas turned his back on the Arsenal faithful by returning to Catalonia after years of awful chasing from Barcelona. When Arsene Wenger finally decides to call it a day on his career he will surely look back at the failure to bring silverware to the Emirates with Fabregas as the captain of his team as one of his biggest shortcomings during his tenure.
Despite plucking him at just 16 years of age, Wenger was unable to build a team around the young Spaniard that could drag themselves over the finish line and get their hands around some silverware. Some may say Wenger was constrained financially because of the infamous 'stadium debt' but you really can't blame Fabregas for packing his bags and calling it a day the season after losing the Carling Cup final and getting knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter final stage.
Everybody is entitled to their opinion with regards to Fabregas, of course, but the man bleeds Arsenal. This is a man that took a penalty against Barcelona with a broken leg for he so loved the club (biblical business) and not only that, but he saw out the last 10 minutes of that game and tried his upmost to win it for his team.
Why all this talk of Fabregas? Well, he has given a very interesting interview in which he talks of his desire to return to the club one day and also of his fondness of the club that gave him the chance to develop into one of the best midfielders in the world.
He also touches on Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, saying of Ramsey that if he was still at the club that maybe the Welshman wouldn't be enjoying such a fine run of form.
Fabregas didn't turn his back on Arsenal. No, the unfortunate truth is that he identified that the club were showing a lack of ambition with too much emphasis on young players as opposed to striking a balance between youth and experience. For Wenger and Arsenal fans, Fabregas was the one that got away.

El Clasico buildup

El Clasico: Real Madrid beat Barcelona back in March with a winner from Sergio Ramos

Jasper Juinen

This weekend will mark the biggest fixture in Spanish domestic football - El Clasico. It's the clash between the country's two biggest sides, and this year, it really could go either way.
La Liga expert David Cartlidge runs through the big questions ahead of this weekend's clash.

How well have Barcelona/Madrid been performing?
Barcelona have been in considerably better form this season, and only this past weekend dropped their first points of the season in the league. A draw with Osasuna brought an end to a winning run of 8 games, in that time Tata Martino became the first coach in history to win his first 8 La Liga games. It’s an interesting start to the season because Xavi and Andrés Iniesta haven’t been as influential.
The three I’d single out at this moment are Cesc, Neymar and Sergio Busquets. It’s of course a given that Lionel Messi is influential. As for Real Madrid, well there are severe teething problems. There was a significant overhaul in the summer and while Barca also changed their coach the transition is more wide ranging with Los Meringues.
José Mourinho was such a big character and replacing that will always take time, even with someone of Carlo Ancelotti’s experience. Then there is the personnel brought in, and those that left – a certain German now with Arsenal has been missed. In time though, they’ll get there. They have an amazing squad.

What do the Spanish press make of Gareth Bale?
To be honest, Bale’s career at Real Madrid thus far has been too intermittent to make any real analysis. The injuries and fitness, plus the media furore surrounding him, have gotten in the way in this regard. As a player, they haven’t said much. As a person, they like him. He gave a great presentation when signing, and came across as being very charming. Very likeable.

This is Neymar's first Clasico, can he have an impact?
Yes, a massive one. Neymar has been sensational since his arrival, on and off the field. On it he’s worked hard, showed flashes of linking together with Messi and of course offered that individual quality. Off it he’s been humble, and just as the same with Bale, very likeable. Neymar’s settling in has been in a word - perfect.

Are Barcelona suffering from the lack of a proper number nine?
I think they could do with one, certainly. More pressing is the issue of a top-class centre-back though. Carles Puyol is war wounded permanently too and can’t reach the same levels as before as hard as he tries. Gerard Piqué needs a proper partner not just because he can’t be entirely trusted but because Puyol is winding down, but Barca genuinely is short in that position.
Thiago Silva would’ve been perfect, but Barca’s hierarchy are toying with the club at the moment. To answer your question properly though, a proper 9 would offer a different dimension to the system of Martino’s, and would combat teams who defend with deep blocks.

How is Diego Lopez keeping Iker Casillas out of the Real side?
By being very, very good. Diego Lopez hasn’t let anyone down, and José Mourinho’s decision to play him has been entirely vindicated. It was long ago. It doesn’t make Iker Casillas a bad goalkeeper, it just means right now the form player is ahead of him, justifiably so. It is sad though, from a neutral point of view, to see Casillas on the bench. I think the whole of Spain is sad, somewhat, no matter who they support. He’s a legend given his actions with Spain.

What are the weaknesses of both sides?
For Barcelona the limits within the squad. If they came up against a Bayern tomorrow they’d still be in serious trouble. If the game is 1-0 to Madrid, 10 minutes left, the options are rather light. Against Osasuna the sight of Sergi Roberto, Cristian Tello, Alex Song and Jonathan Dos Santos wasn’t enthusing. They need more depth, more quality and more options for the system. Real Madrid meanwhile, the transition is their main weakness. There is a lot of conversation and confusion with them on the pitch at any given moment. Some still don’t properly know their role in this team. This was highlighted in the defeat to Atleti, their city rivals.

How will both sides line up?
Barcelona: Valdés; Dani Alves, Puyol, Piqué, Adriano; Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta; Messi, Cesc, Neymar.
Real Madrid: López; Arbeloa, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Illarramendi, Khedira, Modric; Isco, Di Maria; Ronaldo.

Neymar vs Bale

The great thing about El Clasico matches between Barcelona and Real Madrid are that they always carries so many subplots. In recent years we’ve seen clashes billed on the back of Jose Mourinho vs. Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo. Now, following a summer which has thrown up change at both clubs, there are two more exciting aspects to look forward to ahead of this season’s first Clasico at Camp Nou on Saturday.
Carlo Ancelotti and Gerardo Martino will be taking charge of their first Clasico matches, but it’s the involvement of big money signings Neymar and Gareth Bale which adds another string to the fixture’s already impressive bow.
And if one of those players is ready to produce the defining moment this weekend, the stage seems best set for Neymar; the Brazilian has enjoyed a successful integration into the Barca team so far, while over in the Spanish capital Bale has struggled with injury problems.
Almost certain to start on the left of Barcelona’s front three, Neymar will, in all likelihood, be facing Alvaro Arbeloa. It naturally prompts memories of Brazil’s success against Spain in the Confederations Cup final in the summer, when Vicente del Bosque withdrew his right-back at the break after he was given a torrid time by Neymar.
Regardless of that, though, Neymar’s start to life in La Liga should be enough to panic Arbeloa anyway. The 21-year-old has been, at times, electric running with the ball; his ability to stop and accelerate again has been instrumental in allowing him to complete 32 out of 56 take-ons in the league this season. Some teams haven’t been able to deal with him – notably Sevilla who fouled him seven times.

He’s not been selfish either, in fact at times he’s bordered on the opposite – 67.7% his passes have been made backwards. Of the 13 chances he’s created in the Primera Division, five have led directly to goals, while he’s also created one goal in the Champions League. Two goals may represent a disappointing return from his eight league appearances so far, but the Clasico wouldn’t be a bad place to add his third from what has been a noticeably unselfish start to life in Catalonia.
If life in Spain has been seamlessly adapted to by Neymar though, the same can’t be said for Bale. The Welshman has made just one start for Madrid, featuring from the bench on four occasions. And, despite his goal against Villarreal, he’s been unable to recreate the form that saw him score 21 goals from 133 shots in the Premier League last season.
Across his appearances in the Champions League and La Liga, Bale is yet to create a chance for his team-mates. His use of the ball has, understandably perhaps, been poor too; he’s completed just 69% of his passes in the league and completed none of four when he came on against Juventus on Wednesday night. He has shown brief glimpses of the blistering pace that saw him complete 59/138 take-ons for Spurs in 2012/13 though, completing 5/13 in the few minutes he has worn the Madrid white.

What went wrong against Osasuna?

One must realise that playing Osasuna at their ground (which is aweful anyway) was tough. They cut the grasses out straight away when Barca match looms around to cut down the passing rhythm. This makes passing aweful, as the players displayed it. There were chances after chances created but they werent reaching the players as the ball travelled faster. If it was Camp Nou, Neymar could have scored on a hattrick. He missed three out and out chances when he was one on one with the goalie only that the threaded pass went beyond him. Barca passing style depends on the type of ground they play. Many accuse Montoya was terrible in the attack, I would straightaway prefer him to Alves when it comes to defending. In attack everyone where on wrong boots so pin pointing Montoya is not fair. Ok he lost two balls when in position, but that was because no player was inside the "D" and once it was crouded out by the Osasuna defence. The two crosses he actually gave could put Alves into shame. The lad is just playing his second match in the season, meanwhile we always hand Alves more than a match to get back into his normal self. 
Defense was in safe hands but there crops a question as we are not depending on our full backs to score or assist. There were times when Adriano and Montoya were the only wingers in position as our actual wingers were busy in the middle. Pedro is seriously getting down. His "NO GOALS" is not a worry but him being invisible for most part of the game is worry some. Neymar was Neymar and no doubt about that. 57 million invested safely. Cesc was.. CESC actually. Its high time we realise Barca's tempo slows down with Cesc as False 9. He dont have the pace and artistry to play there. We need a striker, a number 9, and I would trust some of the Barca B lads to show up. Sandro or Sanabria (from Juvenil A). Buying old horses would just add onto the liability list that is exceeding in our team. Bartra and Puyol again showed we dont have to invest 40 million to learn how to defend. The blame I put is on Iniesta and Xavi. They were keeping the passing tempo but they werent setting up in that magnitude. We are yet to see the best of Iniesta, a player who just didnt had a bad day in the office till this season. I am shocked to see him not taking on defenders and still carrying the ball forward. He is loosing them now.
We seriously have to think about some of the alternatives when the pitch doesnt support our system. I blame the pitch more than the players, eventhough they should have stood up to the task. Osasuna player said before the match that they will crop out the grass to cut down their rhythm. We should have interpreted that in a different way. Its fine we drew but Barca drewing and Barca loosing is pretty much the same thing for the fans now. Its high time Barca realise it and introduce a plan B. We are seeing the same style that we displayed last year without Messi. Thats worry some as Bayern showed us. Dont the Barcelona team management have an analyst to figure this out? WE are loyal to our style but we have to adapt to alien conditions too.

AC Milan : Barca's arch rivals in Italy

AC Milan and Barcelona will meet for the third year in a row in the Champions League when they go head-to-head at San Siro on Tuesday.

The sides faced each other in the round of 16 last season, with Barcelona overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit by winning 4-0 at Camp Nou.
That win for Milan in the opening fixture was their first over the Liga giants since October 2004 - a run of seven fixtures.
Both clubs enjoy a storied past in the Champions League, meeting in the 1994 final when Johan Cruyff's 'Dream Team' were comprehensively dismantled by Fabio Capello's outfit 4-0.
Mario Balotelli is expected to miss Tuesday's clash due to a thigh injury, while Marco Amelia will make his first appearance since April in goal, with Christian Abbiati (calf) injured and Gabriel, who played in Saturday's 1-0 win over Udinese, unregistered.
Daniele Bonera, Mattia De Sciglio, Giampaolo Pazzini (all knee) and Stephan El Shaarawy (foot) are also set to miss the clash as Milan's injury woes persist.
Manager Massimiliano Allegri bemoaned the number of players unavailable to him, but is regardless targeting a vital win against Gerardo Martino's side.
He said: "We're still waiting to get players back namely Pazzini, Bonera, De Sciglio and Balotelli.
"It'll be tough against Barcelona but we have the right requirements to do well.
"There are three points available on Tuesday and they'll be important to get out of the group."
Barcelona failed to win for the first time under Argentine coach Martino on Saturday as they drew 0-0 with Osasuna, the first time in 64 Liga fixtures they have drawn a blank.
Martino has an almost full squad to choose from, with only Jordi Alba and Ibrahim Afellay (both thigh) unavailable due to injury.
Carles Puyol is likely to continue at centre-back, having made his first appearance since last season's 4-0 win over Milan at Osasuna on Saturday.
One man particularly keen to have a good game will be German referee Felix Brych, who will enter the contest having made headlines for all the wrong reasons in the Bundesliga on Friday as he awarded Bayer Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling a goal, despite the ball clearly passing through a hole in the side-netting on its way in.

2 points taken away from the clutches..

 

Even the return of Lionel Messi as a second half substitute could not inspire Barcelona to victory against Osasuna on Saturday evening. They were held to a 0-0 draw in Pamplona.

The Blaugrana were unable to equal Real Madrid’s record of nine consecutive victories to start a La Liga campaign. However, coach Gerardo Martino may be more concerned about his side’s inability to get on the scoresheet for the first time in 65 league encounters.
The visitors were undoubtedly the superior side throughout the 90 minutes, but it mattered little. Cesc Fabregas had the best of the rare chances his side created, but the Spaniard’s troubles mirrored those of his side. He was let down by his final touch.
In front of a baying crowd at El Sadar, Barcelona struggled for fluency and cohesion in the first half.
Neymar’s impressive individual runs—which only occasionally created clear-cut openings—were at odds with the attempts of Xavi and Andres Iniesta to create space with the passing in close quarters.
Time and time again, Barca edged into promising positions only to be just off the mark.
Fabregas was particularly guilty of this. He twice overhit through balls to Neymar that surely would have seen the Brazilian break the deadlock.
He demonstrated his frustration moments later when he threw out a hand to try and redirect a Martin Montoya cross that was agonisingly out of reach. He received a yellow card for the act.

 

The half-time break gave Barcelona 15 minutes to iron out whatever issue was afflicting them, but when they returned for the second stanza, the same problems were evident. Barcelona continued to dominate but were let down by their finishing.
Fabregas wasted the two best chances—the first, from Sergio Busquets’ lob, saw him underhit his own elevated attempt straight into Andres Fernandez’s hands.
Soon after, the No. 4 had another chance to open the scoring, this time from Xavi’s slide-rule pass. Even with time to settle himself on this occasion, Fabregas could only skew an unbalanced swipe well over the crossbar.
Martino's frustration mounted, and he turned to the trump card on his bench—Messi. Introduced with 20 minutes remaining, the Argentine’s presence immediately unsettled the Osasuna backline.
But Javi Arribas, who had been imperious all game, made Messi his personal responsibility and shackled him at every opportunity.

Better defenders than Arribas have tried and failed in that pursuit, of course, but Messi—still returning from the thigh injury sustained at the end of last month—did not appear to be 100 percent.

At no point was that more obvious than in his one true opening of the game, when he was played in by Xavi. Usually he would thump a first-time volley into the net, but on this occasion, he whiffed at his first attempt, lost his balance and then prodded a timid effort directly at Fernandez.
Another effort, from 25 yards, was similarly disappointing.
As the game entered the final five minutes, the crowd began to sense that a famous draw was in the offing. Their team did not disappoint, showing impressive defensive diligence to repel attacks, even as the likes of Adriano and substitute Cristian Tello edged into position.
With exactly 180 seconds of injury time completed, the referee blew the final whistle.
Barcelona had been held to a draw and will be off the top spot in the table if Atletico Madrid win in the day’s later kick-off against Espanyol.
"The point is insufficient," Martino said afterwards, according to Goal.com . "But I'm happy with the team's performance, because Osasuna can hurt you and do not often suffer defensively."

 

Player Ratings

Osasuna

Player	Rating
Andres Fernandez	7
Marc Bertran	7
Javi Arribas	9
Jordan Loties	7
Damia	7
Lolo	6
Miguel de las Cuevas	7
Sisi	n/a
Francisco Silva	6
Roberto Torres	6
Oriel Riera	6
Substitutes
Manuel Omwu	7
Francisco Punal	6
Oier	n/a

B/R

Barcelona

Player	Rating
Victor Valdes	6
Martin Montoya	5
Carles Puyol	6
Marc Bartra	6
Adriano	7
Sergio Busquets	6
Xavi	5
Andres Iniesta	6
Cesc Fabregas	6
Pedro	5
Neymar	7
Substitutes
Lionel Messi	6
Cristian Tello	6

B/R

What's Next?
Barcelona's attentions now turn to Tuesday's Champions League meeting with AC Milan before the small matter of Saturday's Clasico against arch-rivals Real Madrid.
Osasuna, meanwhile, have a full week to prepare for an away trip to Sevilla.

Osasuna vs Barcelona match result

Osasuna were superb defensively and took advantage of some requisite luck and Barcelona's inability to finish their chances to hold the league leaders to a scoreless draw at El Sadar Stadium.

Osasuna's day got off to a rough start as Sisi was forced off after suffering an injury either to either left hamstring or knee. He went down initially after planting his weight on the leg as he tried to beat Carles Puyol to a ball and lasted only a minute as he tried to play through. He was replaced by Manuel Omwu.
Los Rojillos responded well, though, and despite all the usual possession and pressure you'd expect to see Barcelona put on their opponent, Osasuna stood tall and kept the game scoreless. Cesc Fábregas, playing in Lionel Messi's false nine role, was particularly ineffective wasting several great chances created by Neymar, who was excellent in the first half.
Barcelona defender Marc Bartra had a glorious chance to break the deadlock one minute from the break after getting a free header six-yards from goal off a corner. Instead of directing the ball into the empty net, Bartra header shot upwards and well over the crossbar.
The frustration continued early in the second half for Barca as Osuana's defense continued to stand strong and more opportunities were wasted. In the 54th minute Martin Montoya's cross on a counter attack just missed connecting with a sliding Neymar at the far post. There was nothing between the Brazilian and the goal but air, but he couldn't reach the ball in time.
In the end Barcelona simply couldn't unlock the excellent Osasuna defense as the Blaugrana dropped their first points of the season and opened the door for Atlético Madrid to move into first place.
Osasuna: Fernández, Bertrán, Loties, Arribas, Damia, De Las Cuevas, Lolo, Torres, Silva, Sisi (Omwu 5'), Riera (Puñal 68')
Goals: None
Barcelona: Valdés, Montoya, Bartra, Puyol, Adriano, Busquets, Xavi (Messi 68'), Iniesta, Fàbregas, Pedro (Tello 76'), Neymar
Goals: None

Match result: Osasuna Vs Barcelona

Brazilian midfielder Neymar (C) couldn't find the net for Barcelona against Osasuna.

Defending La Liga champions Barcelona settled for a 0-0 draw against Osasuna, giving Atletico Madrid the opportunity to move the league summit with a victory over Espanyol on Saturday.
Barcelona defender Carles Puyol has made his first appearance since a seven-month absence while recovering from knee surgery.
The 35-year-old Spanish international was included in Barcelona's starting lineup for its game at Osasuna on Saturday after being cleared by team doctors earlier in the week.
Puyol's last appearance came on March 12 of last season. He has missed 27 matches for the Spanish champions since.
Puyol will now be hoping to recover his spot on Spain's national team for the 2014 World Cup.
Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino left Lionel Messi on the bench after he was also deemed fit to play after recovering from a muscle injury in his right leg. The match started as any other Barca match with controlled possession and quite build up. Many chances were created but not finalized as none reached the recipient it was supposed to. First half ended with a solitary shot on goal from Barca. Second half was more lively as shots followed after shots, chances followed after chances. Fabregas had two golden chances but he wasted both. Messi was brought on for Xavi on 68th minute but despite having two chances at goal, he couldnt bury them. Defense was in top shape as Puyol and Bartra holding themselves with the later being a stand out performer. No positives were there other than the committed comeback of Puyol and Messi and Bartra's continued awesomeness. Bitter draw. Two points dropped. Athletico Madrid breathing down the neck, Madrid winning through referees, all these stood up for one or the another reason for  a barcelona fan to be dejected about. The fact is that dropping points in La Liga is deemed as something unbelievable after the last years heroics. Anyway its time to dump all bad memories of the match and prepare for the two heavyweight clashes, one in the mid week against Milan and weekend one against the biggest enemy : Real Madrid. I hope, along with all the other Cules that we dont carry this form into those matches. Visca el barca....!!!!

For Barcelona's future defence, it is Bright as Bartra

FC Barcelona: The Future Is Bright. The Future Is Bartra.

When the transfer window was open, fans around the world hoped and prayed for a centre-back, befitting the Barcelona style. The Catalans bought Brazilian sensation – Neymar, but fell short when it came to a defender. Starting from Daniel Agger to Vincent Kompany to David Luiz and a host of other stars, Barcelona did not make the cut – for some it was the price, for others it was age, injuries and other aspects. Nonetheless, the club may not have stepped up their pursuit for a defensive cover when it mattered the most.

Then entered Tata Martino with his perspective of football, which was slightly different from the home-grown Barcelona managers. And then the club gradually decided not to invest in a centre-back and trust the options that had conceded 7 goals against Bayern Munich over 2 matches.

Carles Puyol, in the twilight of his career is no longer a reliable option over a span of about 50 matches. Age unfortunately has caught up with the captain and against fast players he is susceptible to a quick counter-attack. Gerard Pique too has failed to recapture his Champions League winning form, and Mascherano, despite the good work, is a makeshift defender, at the end of the day.

Marc Bartra, the 22-year old, 6-feet defender has been struggling for sometime to make the cut, but the persistence of the respective Barcelona managers with Javier Mascherano denied the youngster the chance to showcase his talent. However, the injury to Mascherano finally presented Bartra with a chance to step-up and prove his mettle.

One aspect that separates Bartra from the rest of the centre-backs in the squad is his pace – not the fastest, but faster than what Barcelona senior team has at their disposal. His benchmark performance against Celtic at the Celtic Park did allay fears about the future of the Barcelona defense. In fact, at the hostile Glasgow stadium, Bartra stood out and looked more at ease than his partner Gerard Pique. According to Squawka, Bartra had a pass success rate of 92% that night – more than Xavi and Iniesta. Only Sergio Busquets had a better rate than the young centre-back.

The ability to adjust to the quintessential Barcelona style and also the Rafael Marquez-esque direct style, gives Barcelona and Tata Martino a player who can contribute to the offense, directly from the defensive third of the pitch. His pace also enables him to move up the pitch and add to the numbers in the midfield, which reduces the propensity of the Barcelona midfielders to pass backwards to release the pressure. With Bartra in midfield, he can easily relieve Busquets and Xavi of the pressing by opposition and his pace also enables him to negate most of the counter-attacks, if not all – one aspect which Pique, Puyol, Busquets and Mascherano have failed at.

Marc also has the proclivity to move towards the right flank, where he can also assist Alves and perhaps Montoya in the future to build up the attack. His passing is as good as the usual Masia graduates and will enable Barcelona to add another dimension to their build-up game.

Standing at six feet, Bartra is good in the air and with age will only get stronger physically to combat the bullish offensive players. It is likely that with the arrival of Puyol and Mascherano, the La Masia graduate might just find himself at the sidelines a little too often, but Martino’s rotation policy should ensure that he gets enough time to develop into a fine defensive prospect for Barcelona for years to come.

In fact, Martino should also consider pairing Bartra with Puyol, once the latter regains full fitness. Playing a competitive match beside Puyol will me more of a learning experience for Bartra than playing with either Pique or Mascherano.

Bartra’s mental strength has been a huge asset for the team. It is reported that he has had life-coaching for the last three years and the results are there for everybody to see. He did not lose his composure or get frustrated (a la Thiago Alcantara) at the lack of opportunities. “They also serve who only stand and wait” – John Milton. Bartra perhaps is a perfect manifestation of this. His contract ends soon (1st January, 2014 to be precise) and it should Barcelona’s prerogative not to lose one of their stars, yet again.

However, this certainly does not mean that the club should stop looking for a proper backup should Bartra succumb to any injury. While rumours have it that the club is tracking Colombian defender Eder Alvarez Balanta of River Plate, should they conclude the deal anytime in future, Bartra should still remain Barcelona’s first preference – perhaps even ahead of Pique.

River Plate are open to offers for the 20-year old Balanta, and have placed a price tag of €15 million on the Colombian. No matter how much he costs, Marc Bartra should get his due for his patience, perseverance and potential. It’s high time the Catalans start managing their academy products with the care that they deserve. Otherwise the day is not far when they will have to follow the model of Real Madrid and other nouveau riche clubs like PSG, Chelsea, Monaco, et al.

For Barcelona's future defence, it is Bright as Bartra

FC Barcelona: The Future Is Bright. The Future Is Bartra.

When the transfer window was open, fans around the world hoped and prayed for a centre-back, befitting the Barcelona style. The Catalans bought Brazilian sensation – Neymar, but fell short when it came to a defender. Starting from Daniel Agger to Vincent Kompany to David Luiz and a host of other stars, Barcelona did not make the cut – for some it was the price, for others it was age, injuries and other aspects. Nonetheless, the club may not have stepped up their pursuit for a defensive cover when it mattered the most.

Then entered Tata Martino with his perspective of football, which was slightly different from the home-grown Barcelona managers. And then the club gradually decided not to invest in a centre-back and trust the options that had conceded 7 goals against Bayern Munich over 2 matches.

Carles Puyol, in the twilight of his career is no longer a reliable option over a span of about 50 matches. Age unfortunately has caught up with the captain and against fast players he is susceptible to a quick counter-attack. Gerard Pique too has failed to recapture his Champions League winning form, and Mascherano, despite the good work, is a makeshift defender, at the end of the day.

Marc Bartra, the 22-year old, 6-feet defender has been struggling for sometime to make the cut, but the persistence of the respective Barcelona managers with Javier Mascherano denied the youngster the chance to showcase his talent. However, the injury to Mascherano finally presented Bartra with a chance to step-up and prove his mettle.

One aspect that separates Bartra from the rest of the centre-backs in the squad is his pace – not the fastest, but faster than what Barcelona senior team has at their disposal. His benchmark performance against Celtic at the Celtic Park did allay fears about the future of the Barcelona defense. In fact, at the hostile Glasgow stadium, Bartra stood out and looked more at ease than his partner Gerard Pique. According to Squawka, Bartra had a pass success rate of 92% that night – more than Xavi and Iniesta. Only Sergio Busquets had a better rate than the young centre-back.

The ability to adjust to the quintessential Barcelona style and also the Rafael Marquez-esque direct style, gives Barcelona and Tata Martino a player who can contribute to the offense, directly from the defensive third of the pitch. His pace also enables him to move up the pitch and add to the numbers in the midfield, which reduces the propensity of the Barcelona midfielders to pass backwards to release the pressure. With Bartra in midfield, he can easily relieve Busquets and Xavi of the pressing by opposition and his pace also enables him to negate most of the counter-attacks, if not all – one aspect which Pique, Puyol, Busquets and Mascherano have failed at.

Marc also has the proclivity to move towards the right flank, where he can also assist Alves and perhaps Montoya in the future to build up the attack. His passing is as good as the usual Masia graduates and will enable Barcelona to add another dimension to their build-up game.

Standing at six feet, Bartra is good in the air and with age will only get stronger physically to combat the bullish offensive players. It is likely that with the arrival of Puyol and Mascherano, the La Masia graduate might just find himself at the sidelines a little too often, but Martino’s rotation policy should ensure that he gets enough time to develop into a fine defensive prospect for Barcelona for years to come.

In fact, Martino should also consider pairing Bartra with Puyol, once the latter regains full fitness. Playing a competitive match beside Puyol will me more of a learning experience for Bartra than playing with either Pique or Mascherano.

Bartra’s mental strength has been a huge asset for the team. It is reported that he has had life-coaching for the last three years and the results are there for everybody to see. He did not lose his composure or get frustrated (a la Thiago Alcantara) at the lack of opportunities. “They also serve who only stand and wait” – John Milton. Bartra perhaps is a perfect manifestation of this. His contract ends soon (1st January, 2014 to be precise) and it should Barcelona’s prerogative not to lose one of their stars, yet again.

However, this certainly does not mean that the club should stop looking for a proper backup should Bartra succumb to any injury. While rumours have it that the club is tracking Colombian defender Eder Alvarez Balanta of River Plate, should they conclude the deal anytime in future, Bartra should still remain Barcelona’s first preference – perhaps even ahead of Pique.

River Plate are open to offers for the 20-year old Balanta, and have placed a price tag of €15 million on the Colombian. No matter how much he costs, Marc Bartra should get his due for his patience, perseverance and potential. It’s high time the Catalans start managing their academy products with the care that they deserve. Otherwise the day is not far when they will have to follow the model of Real Madrid and other nouveau riche clubs like PSG, Chelsea, Monaco, et al.

For Barcelona's future defence, it is Bright as Bartra

FC Barcelona: The Future Is Bright. The Future Is Bartra.

When the transfer window was open, fans around the world hoped and prayed for a centre-back, befitting the Barcelona style. The Catalans bought Brazilian sensation – Neymar, but fell short when it came to a defender. Starting from Daniel Agger to Vincent Kompany to David Luiz and a host of other stars, Barcelona did not make the cut – for some it was the price, for others it was age, injuries and other aspects. Nonetheless, the club may not have stepped up their pursuit for a defensive cover when it mattered the most.

Then entered Tata Martino with his perspective of football, which was slightly different from the home-grown Barcelona managers. And then the club gradually decided not to invest in a centre-back and trust the options that had conceded 7 goals against Bayern Munich over 2 matches.

Carles Puyol, in the twilight of his career is no longer a reliable option over a span of about 50 matches. Age unfortunately has caught up with the captain and against fast players he is susceptible to a quick counter-attack. Gerard Pique too has failed to recapture his Champions League winning form, and Mascherano, despite the good work, is a makeshift defender, at the end of the day.

Marc Bartra, the 22-year old, 6-feet defender has been struggling for sometime to make the cut, but the persistence of the respective Barcelona managers with Javier Mascherano denied the youngster the chance to showcase his talent. However, the injury to Mascherano finally presented Bartra with a chance to step-up and prove his mettle.

One aspect that separates Bartra from the rest of the centre-backs in the squad is his pace – not the fastest, but faster than what Barcelona senior team has at their disposal. His benchmark performance against Celtic at the Celtic Park did allay fears about the future of the Barcelona defense. In fact, at the hostile Glasgow stadium, Bartra stood out and looked more at ease than his partner Gerard Pique. According to Squawka, Bartra had a pass success rate of 92% that night – more than Xavi and Iniesta. Only Sergio Busquets had a better rate than the young centre-back.

The ability to adjust to the quintessential Barcelona style and also the Rafael Marquez-esque direct style, gives Barcelona and Tata Martino a player who can contribute to the offense, directly from the defensive third of the pitch. His pace also enables him to move up the pitch and add to the numbers in the midfield, which reduces the propensity of the Barcelona midfielders to pass backwards to release the pressure. With Bartra in midfield, he can easily relieve Busquets and Xavi of the pressing by opposition and his pace also enables him to negate most of the counter-attacks, if not all – one aspect which Pique, Puyol, Busquets and Mascherano have failed at.

Marc also has the proclivity to move towards the right flank, where he can also assist Alves and perhaps Montoya in the future to build up the attack. His passing is as good as the usual Masia graduates and will enable Barcelona to add another dimension to their build-up game.

Standing at six feet, Bartra is good in the air and with age will only get stronger physically to combat the bullish offensive players. It is likely that with the arrival of Puyol and Mascherano, the La Masia graduate might just find himself at the sidelines a little too often, but Martino’s rotation policy should ensure that he gets enough time to develop into a fine defensive prospect for Barcelona for years to come.

In fact, Martino should also consider pairing Bartra with Puyol, once the latter regains full fitness. Playing a competitive match beside Puyol will me more of a learning experience for Bartra than playing with either Pique or Mascherano.

Bartra’s mental strength has been a huge asset for the team. It is reported that he has had life-coaching for the last three years and the results are there for everybody to see. He did not lose his composure or get frustrated (a la Thiago Alcantara) at the lack of opportunities. “They also serve who only stand and wait” – John Milton. Bartra perhaps is a perfect manifestation of this. His contract ends soon (1st January, 2014 to be precise) and it should Barcelona’s prerogative not to lose one of their stars, yet again.

However, this certainly does not mean that the club should stop looking for a proper backup should Bartra succumb to any injury. While rumours have it that the club is tracking Colombian defender Eder Alvarez Balanta of River Plate, should they conclude the deal anytime in future, Bartra should still remain Barcelona’s first preference – perhaps even ahead of Pique.

River Plate are open to offers for the 20-year old Balanta, and have placed a price tag of €15 million on the Colombian. No matter how much he costs, Marc Bartra should get his due for his patience, perseverance and potential. It’s high time the Catalans start managing their academy products with the care that they deserve. Otherwise the day is not far when they will have to follow the model of Real Madrid and other nouveau riche clubs like PSG, Chelsea, Monaco, et al.

For Barcelona's future defence, it is Bright as Bartra

FC Barcelona: The Future Is Bright. The Future Is Bartra.

When the transfer window was open, fans around the world hoped and prayed for a centre-back, befitting the Barcelona style. The Catalans bought Brazilian sensation – Neymar, but fell short when it came to a defender. Starting from Daniel Agger to Vincent Kompany to David Luiz and a host of other stars, Barcelona did not make the cut – for some it was the price, for others it was age, injuries and other aspects. Nonetheless, the club may not have stepped up their pursuit for a defensive cover when it mattered the most.

Then entered Tata Martino with his perspective of football, which was slightly different from the home-grown Barcelona managers. And then the club gradually decided not to invest in a centre-back and trust the options that had conceded 7 goals against Bayern Munich over 2 matches.

Carles Puyol, in the twilight of his career is no longer a reliable option over a span of about 50 matches. Age unfortunately has caught up with the captain and against fast players he is susceptible to a quick counter-attack. Gerard Pique too has failed to recapture his Champions League winning form, and Mascherano, despite the good work, is a makeshift defender, at the end of the day.

Marc Bartra, the 22-year old, 6-feet defender has been struggling for sometime to make the cut, but the persistence of the respective Barcelona managers with Javier Mascherano denied the youngster the chance to showcase his talent. However, the injury to Mascherano finally presented Bartra with a chance to step-up and prove his mettle.

One aspect that separates Bartra from the rest of the centre-backs in the squad is his pace – not the fastest, but faster than what Barcelona senior team has at their disposal. His benchmark performance against Celtic at the Celtic Park did allay fears about the future of the Barcelona defense. In fact, at the hostile Glasgow stadium, Bartra stood out and looked more at ease than his partner Gerard Pique. According to Squawka, Bartra had a pass success rate of 92% that night – more than Xavi and Iniesta. Only Sergio Busquets had a better rate than the young centre-back.

The ability to adjust to the quintessential Barcelona style and also the Rafael Marquez-esque direct style, gives Barcelona and Tata Martino a player who can contribute to the offense, directly from the defensive third of the pitch. His pace also enables him to move up the pitch and add to the numbers in the midfield, which reduces the propensity of the Barcelona midfielders to pass backwards to release the pressure. With Bartra in midfield, he can easily relieve Busquets and Xavi of the pressing by opposition and his pace also enables him to negate most of the counter-attacks, if not all – one aspect which Pique, Puyol, Busquets and Mascherano have failed at.

Marc also has the proclivity to move towards the right flank, where he can also assist Alves and perhaps Montoya in the future to build up the attack. His passing is as good as the usual Masia graduates and will enable Barcelona to add another dimension to their build-up game.

Standing at six feet, Bartra is good in the air and with age will only get stronger physically to combat the bullish offensive players. It is likely that with the arrival of Puyol and Mascherano, the La Masia graduate might just find himself at the sidelines a little too often, but Martino’s rotation policy should ensure that he gets enough time to develop into a fine defensive prospect for Barcelona for years to come.

In fact, Martino should also consider pairing Bartra with Puyol, once the latter regains full fitness. Playing a competitive match beside Puyol will me more of a learning experience for Bartra than playing with either Pique or Mascherano.

Bartra’s mental strength has been a huge asset for the team. It is reported that he has had life-coaching for the last three years and the results are there for everybody to see. He did not lose his composure or get frustrated (a la Thiago Alcantara) at the lack of opportunities. “They also serve who only stand and wait” – John Milton. Bartra perhaps is a perfect manifestation of this. His contract ends soon (1st January, 2014 to be precise) and it should Barcelona’s prerogative not to lose one of their stars, yet again.

However, this certainly does not mean that the club should stop looking for a proper backup should Bartra succumb to any injury. While rumours have it that the club is tracking Colombian defender Eder Alvarez Balanta of River Plate, should they conclude the deal anytime in future, Bartra should still remain Barcelona’s first preference – perhaps even ahead of Pique.

River Plate are open to offers for the 20-year old Balanta, and have placed a price tag of €15 million on the Colombian. No matter how much he costs, Marc Bartra should get his due for his patience, perseverance and potential. It’s high time the Catalans start managing their academy products with the care that they deserve. Otherwise the day is not far when they will have to follow the model of Real Madrid and other nouveau riche clubs like PSG, Chelsea, Monaco, et al.

For Barcelona's future defence, it is Bright as Bartra

FC Barcelona: The Future Is Bright. The Future Is Bartra.

When the transfer window was open, fans around the world hoped and prayed for a centre-back, befitting the Barcelona style. The Catalans bought Brazilian sensation – Neymar, but fell short when it came to a defender. Starting from Daniel Agger to Vincent Kompany to David Luiz and a host of other stars, Barcelona did not make the cut – for some it was the price, for others it was age, injuries and other aspects. Nonetheless, the club may not have stepped up their pursuit for a defensive cover when it mattered the most.

Then entered Tata Martino with his perspective of football, which was slightly different from the home-grown Barcelona managers. And then the club gradually decided not to invest in a centre-back and trust the options that had conceded 7 goals against Bayern Munich over 2 matches.

Carles Puyol, in the twilight of his career is no longer a reliable option over a span of about 50 matches. Age unfortunately has caught up with the captain and against fast players he is susceptible to a quick counter-attack. Gerard Pique too has failed to recapture his Champions League winning form, and Mascherano, despite the good work, is a makeshift defender, at the end of the day.

Marc Bartra, the 22-year old, 6-feet defender has been struggling for sometime to make the cut, but the persistence of the respective Barcelona managers with Javier Mascherano denied the youngster the chance to showcase his talent. However, the injury to Mascherano finally presented Bartra with a chance to step-up and prove his mettle.

One aspect that separates Bartra from the rest of the centre-backs in the squad is his pace – not the fastest, but faster than what Barcelona senior team has at their disposal. His benchmark performance against Celtic at the Celtic Park did allay fears about the future of the Barcelona defense. In fact, at the hostile Glasgow stadium, Bartra stood out and looked more at ease than his partner Gerard Pique. According to Squawka, Bartra had a pass success rate of 92% that night – more than Xavi and Iniesta. Only Sergio Busquets had a better rate than the young centre-back.

The ability to adjust to the quintessential Barcelona style and also the Rafael Marquez-esque direct style, gives Barcelona and Tata Martino a player who can contribute to the offense, directly from the defensive third of the pitch. His pace also enables him to move up the pitch and add to the numbers in the midfield, which reduces the propensity of the Barcelona midfielders to pass backwards to release the pressure. With Bartra in midfield, he can easily relieve Busquets and Xavi of the pressing by opposition and his pace also enables him to negate most of the counter-attacks, if not all – one aspect which Pique, Puyol, Busquets and Mascherano have failed at.

Marc also has the proclivity to move towards the right flank, where he can also assist Alves and perhaps Montoya in the future to build up the attack. His passing is as good as the usual Masia graduates and will enable Barcelona to add another dimension to their build-up game.

Standing at six feet, Bartra is good in the air and with age will only get stronger physically to combat the bullish offensive players. It is likely that with the arrival of Puyol and Mascherano, the La Masia graduate might just find himself at the sidelines a little too often, but Martino’s rotation policy should ensure that he gets enough time to develop into a fine defensive prospect for Barcelona for years to come.

In fact, Martino should also consider pairing Bartra with Puyol, once the latter regains full fitness. Playing a competitive match beside Puyol will me more of a learning experience for Bartra than playing with either Pique or Mascherano.

Bartra’s mental strength has been a huge asset for the team. It is reported that he has had life-coaching for the last three years and the results are there for everybody to see. He did not lose his composure or get frustrated (a la Thiago Alcantara) at the lack of opportunities. “They also serve who only stand and wait” – John Milton. Bartra perhaps is a perfect manifestation of this. His contract ends soon (1st January, 2014 to be precise) and it should Barcelona’s prerogative not to lose one of their stars, yet again.

However, this certainly does not mean that the club should stop looking for a proper backup should Bartra succumb to any injury. While rumours have it that the club is tracking Colombian defender Eder Alvarez Balanta of River Plate, should they conclude the deal anytime in future, Bartra should still remain Barcelona’s first preference – perhaps even ahead of Pique.

River Plate are open to offers for the 20-year old Balanta, and have placed a price tag of €15 million on the Colombian. No matter how much he costs, Marc Bartra should get his due for his patience, perseverance and potential. It’s high time the Catalans start managing their academy products with the care that they deserve. Otherwise the day is not far when they will have to follow the model of Real Madrid and other nouveau riche clubs like PSG, Chelsea, Monaco, et al.