Barcelona 5 Shakhtar 0

My prediction for the quarterfinal first leg CL match at Nou Camp:

Barcelona 5 Shakhtar 0

Both Messi and Villa will end their goal drought by scoring in this match!

Beautiful football once more!


Stay tuned for the match commentary! :)

Can Messi score 5 goals against Arsenal?

Nothing is impossible for the little Messiah from Argentina. If indeed Messi score 5 goals against Arsenal, one better than last year, the world will take note! And Barcelona will gain more supporters since EPL has the most viewers all around the world except Spain.

Barcelona will be without their top two central defenders, Puyol and Pique, similar to the second leg match at Nou Camp last year. As long as Barcelona midfielders control the game from the start, I see no big trouble at the back. Iniesta, well-rested against Zaragoza, will play a key part in this match together with Xavi. Maybe Xavi will score the first goal, just like the match against Real Madrid.

Again, Messi should take the center stage and all eyes will be on him to score five goals past Szczesny, the new goalie for Arsenal. Villa, fresher from little playing time against Zaragoza, will have the support of Messi, Xavi and Iniesta.

Fulltime score:
Barcelona 5 Arsenal 1

My prediction is Messi will score at least ONE hattrick in this match. :)

What's your take?


Enjoy beautiful football, one more time!!!

Barcelona vs Arsenal (9 March 2011, 3.45am Malaysia/Singapore time)

Barcelona is the King of Spain

Barcelona One Win Away From La Liga Title!

Barcelona 3 Deportivo 0

The Phenomenal Barcelona Dream Team!

Barcelona extends its lead to six points over Real Madrid after crashing Deportivo La Coruna by three goals to nil. Barcelona is going to claim its second consecutive La Liga title! Cheers!

After Real Madrid beats Almeria 2-1 yesterday, Barcelona now leads the Spanish League by three points. Barcelona will meet Espanyol tomorrow at Cornella, the first time the two teams play there. It would be a crucial away game for Barcelona, and we have a very strong and hard working team. :)



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Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Barcelona shows Real who's The Boss!

Next match - Barcelona vs Deportivo La C0runa

My prediction:

Barcelona 3 Deportivo 0

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Barcelona beats Deportivo La Coruna 3-0
MADRID (AP) - Barcelona edged closer to the Spanish title with a 3-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna at the league leader's Camp Nou Stadium on Wednesday.

Barcelona now has 83 points, while second-place Real Madrid is on 77 before its match against Almeria on Thursday. Valencia is third on 56 with Mallorca fourth, four points behind.

Barcelona's 19-year-old striker Bojan Krkic opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he collected a precise Xavi Hernandez pass in the penalty area and fired home.

The Catalan team pushed forward with several fast-paced attacks as the second half began, with Lionel Messi shooting just over the bar and Pedro Rodriguez sending a shot just wide minutes later.

Barcelona's second goal arrived in the 68th minute when goalkeeper Victor Valdes made a clearance which Rodriguez controlled in midfield before firing a long-range shot over Deportivo's defence and past stranded goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia.

Midfielder Yaya Toure completed the scoring when he chested the ball down and spun to smash a right-footed shot with such force that Aranzubia could only deflect it into the top of the net in the 72nd minute.

Barcelona Shows Real Who's the Boss

Barcelona took over the lead of the Spanish League by kicking out Real Madrid from the top of La Liga. Wooohooo!

Messi scored the first goal for Barcelona after a delicate one-two with Xavi. He could have scored hattrick if not for the poor finishing on 2nd and 3rd strike (just like the repeat of 1st goal). Nevertheless, to score against Real, when Ronaldo failed to beat Victor Valdes, was a satisfying result for Barcelona fans.

The second goal was also created by Xavi with a neat pass to Pedro, who perfectly controlled the ball and curled to the far left with his left foot, leaving Casillas in agony.

Man of the match - Xavi.

Again, Barcelona shows that team play is the way to play beautiful football.

Next match - Barcelona vs Deportivo La C0runa

My prediction:

Barcelona 3 Deportivo 0



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Barca vs Real Madrid - A Tactical Review

"Ronaldo looked like he is looking to show the world who is the better player, in the end showed the world that he is a seriously one dimensional player."

"Yesterday's match shows that Real Madrid has a long way to go to match this Barca side in terms of skill and grit."

"On a final analysis it was Real Madrid's inablility to work as a team that hurt them the most. There were individual performances but those weren't good enough. FC Barcelona worked really hard as a team, their defense is not considered as the best but they showed that they have the most resolute defense. Pedro and Alves failed to impose in first half, but there work-rate was exceptional. Real Madrid was shocked by the skill of Xavi and Messi creating the first goal and never recovered from it."

Read more: http://www.allaboutfcbarcelona.com/2010/04/barca-vs-real-madrid-tactical-review.html#ixzz0l2f0uk2V

The God's Given Lionel Messi

"It shouldn't have taken last night to realise it."

That's right!

Contemplating a move to Barcelona, Spain. :)

"Messi is the best player in the world, by a distance!" Arsene Wenger

And I have one for Messi too:

"The God's Given Lionel Messi"

We will never had enough of you!

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'Mythical, universal, the Lord's anointed one' - Spain hails Leo MessiAfter Lionel Messi's performance against Arsenal everyone agrees he's the best in the world - but what took them so long?

Leo Messi did something impossible last night. He got even better (and still he can play better!). He had scored in the Champions League final (what a header!), the Copa del Rey final and the World Club Cup final (with his chest! i think he's the first to score, purposely, with this technique!), emulated that goal from Diego Maradona, hit three in the clasico against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou, two at the Santiago Bernabéu, and scored two hat-tricks in a row. But he'd never scored four before. Until last night. Last night, even Marca and AS, the myopic leaders of the Madrid media dropped to their knees; last night, so did the English. They could ignore him no more. Last night, as El PaÌs, put it, "Messi ate Arsenal". (Messi Shrunk Arsenal) :D

AS has long been proud of its cagumetro - literally, crapping-yourself-o-meter - the tool used to 'measure' the fear they claim grips Barcelona fans every time Real Madrid rear into view, its needle furiously twitching before shooting up towards a million cagahertz. This morning, three days from the clasico, they're applying it to themselves. "Messi," declares the cover of AS, "is frightening". Inside, their headline chanted: "Messi! Messi! Messi! Messi!", while the inventor of this delightful device, Barça-baiter-in-chief Tomas Guasch, was busy saying a prayer: "Ay Manuel Pellegrini, may God guide you!" As for Marca, their cover asks: "And how do we stop this guy?"


It is a pertinent question. Booting him about doesn't seem to work; he just gets even more determined. And besides, it is easier said than done. A few weeks ago, the Mallorca manager Gregorio Manzano insisted that the only way was with a rifle.Last night, Arsene Wenger described him as "a PlayStation footballer". The Catalan daily Sport calls him "football's Picasso", insisting: "We're going to have to expand the dictionary to find new adjectives for him, because majestic, lethal, magic, incomparable and divine have all been used up." Its website implored fans: "Don't say football, say Messi." El Mundo Deportivo went for "mythical, universal, the Lord's anointed one." But most cut out the middle man. "There is," said El Mundo, "only one God: Messi".

Arsenal players, from left: 1"Is that going in??" 2 Its going innn!! 3 OMFM thats unbelievable!!!


But all that's not entirely new. It's less than two weeks since Spain's severe superlatives shortage was reported on these pages. Uncovering new adjectives is an impossible task. Victor Valdés was only the latest person to admit defeat, shrugging: "I can't find the words to define him - I'm just very proud that he's on my team." What was new was seeing Marca and AS lead with him on the cover, and Marca's cartoonist depicting Messi as a little green man with antenna on his head and long, horn-shaped ears under the caption: "From another planet".


So was the reaction from England, the unanimous acclaim. "Messi," said Wenger, "is the best player in the world - by a distance." At last everyone seemed to agree; 90 minutes against Arsenal had done the trick. Even Phil Thompson must have given in, despite recently declaring: "Wayne Rooney is streets ahead of Messi." (Which streets, Phil, which bloody streets?!) Yes, which blooody hell streets???

Watching the game on Sky, browsing blogs, reading reports, it's tempting to conclude that England discovered Leo Messi last night. What took you? A match against an English club, that's what. As if that's the only measure of greatness. It shouldn't have done. They shouldn't have discovered him against Arsenal; he has hardly been hidden away.

The winning "Phenomenal" team minus top two defenders

"I really don't want to compare Leo with any other player in the world because that other player would come off so badly - he's just so far ahead." That's what Xavi Hernandez said. A year ago. Yesterday he added: "A player like this only comes along every 30 years or so." (i dont agree with you Xavi, its once in a century!) Rafa Marquez said: "Messi has proven once again that he is the best in the world." The key words were 'once' and 'again'. They would say that of course. But does anyone doubt that they are right?


This is not the place to go over Messi's extraordinary qualities again, that's been done before. It is the place, though, to point something out...


What Messi did last night was brilliant. In fact, it was more brilliant that the goals alone suggest. Just look at the two he didn't score - the curler that clipped the top of the goal, the scamper through that ended with him hitting it into the side-netting. Look at the fact that he didn't just score the first two; it was his passes that made them as well. But, ridiculous though this sounds, last night's performance was not unusual. In fact, it is precisely the consistency of his brilliance that has seen it become almost mundane; he makes the ridiculous routine.


When he scored a hat-trick against Zaragoza a fortnight ago, one fan started shouting something about how brilliant he is. Pep Guardiola approached the fan and replied: "If it wasn't for him, I'd be a third division coach." Last night he became their all-time top scorer in the Champions League. He is top scorer in this season's La Liga. He has provided more assists than anyone else, too. Yesterday was his fourth hat-trick of the season. He has scored 119 goals for Barcelona and he's still only 22.


It is not just about the spectacular. Earlier this season, asked about the pressure on Messi after a 'poor' game, Guardiola insisted: "Messi can play badly as often as he likes." Thing is, Messi never plays badly, even when he plays 'badly'. Sometimes he is not spectacular, sure, but he is never poor. Take the first leg against Arsenal: most people will tell you that Messi did little, but he had more than twice as many shots on target than anyone else and played more passes than any Arsenal player. He even answers the cliché about tracking back and work-rate: Messi has committed more fouls than any Barcelona defender.


One former Barcelona and Real Madrid player makes the point that when Ronaldo plays a pass, the first thing he does is demand it back. Messi is happy just to play, to keep it simple, to keep it moving (Thats the key - attitude). At the Camp Nou only one Arsenal player completed as many passes. Increasingly, Messi is not just scoring but - with Xavi, surely the finest midfielder Spain has ever produced - running games too. Sir Alex Ferguson admitted he was "surprised" to see Messi play centrally in Rome last season but he shouldn't have been. As one opponent puts it: "Messi is the best striker for his goals, the best winger for his dribbling, the best midfielder for his passes." That night in Rome Messi did what Messi always does: answered the questions asked of him. There is just one question left - the Argentina one. And on the evidence so far, he will end up answering that too.

Simply Genius!!!

They said he didn't do it in big games - although goodness knows how they had the cheek to say that; did the clasico and the cup final not count? - so he did it in the Champions League final. They said he had never scored against an English team, and after a game in Santander it had been noted that he could not head a ball. Guardiola replied: "I advise you not to question Leo. One day, he's going to score a great header and shut you all up." Everyone laughed. He scored with a towering header, outjumping Rio Ferdinand.


But still they wanted more, and more, and more. There seemed to be a strange, bloody-minded determination not to recognise him. So Messi provided it. He started racking up goal after goal but they said that anyone could score goals in Spain. So last night he became top scorer in the Champions League. For the second successive season. And, for those who had forgotten Rome, he obliterated Arsenal into the bargain. Now they're saying Messi is the best player in the world. It shouldn't have taken last night to realise it.

Messi 4 Arsenal 1

The title says it all!

Messi had at least six chances to score. He could have score doublehattrick, but still he's the top scorer now with 8 goals in the Champions League! Cheers!!

Enjoy!

Barcelona vs Arsenal - Match of the Week?

Barcelona will take on Arsenal at Nou Camp tonight (2.45am). This match stands to attract a lot of attention given beautiful football played by the teams, especially Barcelona, in the first leg last week. I would like to see Boyan get started alongside Messi and Pedro, after his solid performance against Athletico Madrid. Gasquet just need to be wary by not slipping the ball away again! -which made way for Arsenal to score their first goal.

Messi should take the centre stage and show us some great dribbling skills. LOL! My prediction is Messi to score 2 goals tonight.

Fulltime score Barcelona 3 Arsenal 1!

Good news for Barcelona, Iniesta is named in the squad against Arsenal!

Enjoy beautiful football! Peace!

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FC Barcelona vs Arsenal Preview - Let the Footballing Extravaganza Resume

Update : Iniesta named in the Squad to Face Arsenal
A week has passed since the Barca - Arsenal clash at the Emirates; meanwhile both teams won their corresponding League fixtures but still everyone is talking only about the match at Emirates. With the first leg ending at 2-2, the tie is still widely open. FC Barcelona slightly hold the upper hand with two away goals, but against a team like Arsenal, away goals may not matter. Both teams have a huge number of players out for this tie.

For FC Barcelona, captain Puyol is suspended along with Pique, Ibrahimovic is out of the second leg clash with an injury and Toure will be a doubtful starter. Meanwhile Iniesta is still recovering from his injury. Arsenal has a pretty bigger line of absentees - Gallas, Arshavin and Cesc Fabregas both are injured, the latter is anyway suspended for this leg.

Song is the latest one to be ruled out for the match at Barcelona. Arsene Wenger has announced the squad which will travel to Barelona - Manuel Almunia, Lukasz Fabianski, Nicklas Bendtner, Eduardo, Abou Diaby, Samir Nasri, Denilson, Fran Merida, Theo Walcott, Craig Eastmond, Tomas Rosicky, Armand Traore, Emmanuel Eboue, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen, Sol Campbell, Mikael Silvestre

Messi and Xavi are the key Players for Barca
Barca fans will be hoping that the team has taken some lessons from the late comeback of Arsenal at the Emirates, especially Gaurdiola. Arsenal players showed that they are a resilient group and will not give up on the task that easily. Coming back from two goals down to earn a draw, Arsenal definitely have the momentum to take on Barca. But it is also to be seen how much the last gasp victory against Wolves taken out of this young bunch.

Arsene Wenger has identified Thoe Walcott as his main weapon against Barca. That means he will be looking to attack through the flanks more than he did in the home leg. Theo Walcott is certain to start the match and his pace on the right flank could spell trouble for Barca. Against Wolves, he was on fire on the right flank. In that background I would like to see Guardiola employ the traditional 4-3-3 formation against Arsenal, rather than the 4-2-3-1. But there are some interesting problems facing such a decision, which I will explain later.

A 4-2-3-1 formation will see Abidal and Alves being left alone to deal with the pace of Arsenal on the flanks. Meanwhile Lionel Messi had an average match by his standard in the first leg ( only by his standard, otherwise had a good match), would be looking to show off his skills more effectively against Arsenal.


Read more: http://www.allaboutfcbarcelona.com/2010/04/fc-barcelona-vs-arsenal-champions.html


Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted that Pep Guardiolas Barcelona side is the best team he has ever seen.

Messi-ah in Great Great Form!

Wishlist:

Messi to win second consecutive FIFA World Footballer of the Year! with Rooney comes in second :)

Messi to sink Real Madrid in Santiago Bernabeu!!!

Messi to win second successive Champions League with Barcelona! :D

Messi to win La Liga league with Barcelona for second year in a row!!


and.........


Messi to guide Argentina to their first World Cup title in 24 years!!!!!



One-man scoring machine

Next up for the Lionel Messi show - Osasuna.

Messi has been a one-man scoring act with his second hat trick inside eight days keeping Barcelona in the Spanish league race as the defending champions kept pace with Real Madrid on top of the standings with 68 points.

Messi leads Spain with 25 league goals and has 34 in all competitions after notching his fifth career hat trick in Sunday's 4-2 win at Zaragoza. His form has inspired suggestions that the 22-year-old is on course to becoming one of the all-time greats, alongside the likes of his Argentina coach Diego Maradona.

Coach Pep Guardiola said he'd run out of superlatives to describe Messi.

"He's so good that it's impossible for him not to be so involved in so much of the play," Guardiola said. "He's been one of the chosen ones for some time now."

The biggest question for Wednesday's opponent Osasuna is how to stop Messi after his dominating performance at La Romareda, where even the home fans were out of their seats.

Messi scored with his head before a highlight reel run that he called one of his greatest and added the second with a defender who he left on the turf with his quick feet tugging on his shorts. He took his third from a quickly taken shot that curled past goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez.

"I have no doubt that you can compare him (to Maradona) and that he's even better. He's so young and he has a fabulous future ahead," defender Daniel Alves said. "Let's hope he keeps on like this."

Barcelona president Joan Laporta called Messi the best player in the history of football, even if Messi hasn't been able to carry over that form into international play with Argentina.

"I don't know what the secret with Messi here is," Guardiola said. "I know that at Barca he's comfortable and that he's also the one who most wants to triumph with Argentina."

While Barcelona shines with Messi, the form of Madrid with Cristiano Ronaldo appears less inspired.
Madrid had to rally to beat Sporting Gijon 3-1 on Saturday.

Ronaldo has scored 15 league goals but the team is out of the Champions League and the league title is its only focus. It next plays in a derby match against Spanish capital neighbor Getafe on Thursday.

The contrast between the two teams is underlined by the behavior of their top players. Ronaldo has argued with teammate Xabi Alonso over penalty duties this year, while Messi let struggling striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic take Sunday's.

"What matters to me are trophies at the group level," Messi said. "The league and the Champions League are more important awards than individual ones."

Meanwhile, Sevilla will be without winger Jesus Nava (ankle) for up to four weeks and Diego Capel (leg) for at least 10 days as it prepares for Tuesday's game against last-placed Xerez.

Xerez has won two straight to give the team hope in its battle to avoid the drop although it is still eight points back of 17th-placed Zaragoza. Sevilla is winless in six with two straight losses to slump to fifth in the standings.

Valencia is without a number of injured regulars for Wednesday's game against Malaga as it looks to consolidate third place. Valencia is four points clear of Mallorca, which plays bottom-of-the-table Racing Santander. - AP

Video link: Messi sinks Zaragoza

Messi Fires Barca into QF of Champions League

Playing at his magical best, Messi collected a ball from Yaya Toure in the 13th minute and ran at the Stuttgart defense before firing a 20-meter, left-footed shot into the top corner of the net.

"He was so decisive," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said of Messi. "Every great has a tendency to influence his team, like (Michael) Jordan with the Bulls. He's the best. We wouldn't trade him for anybody."



Barcelona, Bordeaux into Champions League last 8

LONDON (AP): Inspired by the brilliance of Lionel Messi's two goals, defending champion Barcelona beat Stuttgart 4-0 on Wednesday to power into the Champions League quarterfinals as Bordeaux defeated Olympiakos 2-1 to also advance.

Pedro Rodriguez and Bojan Krkic also hit the target as Barcelona went through 5-1 on aggregate despite missing injured midfielder Xavi Hernandez.

Leading 1-0 from the first leg, Bordeaux scored a goal in the fifth minute from a bending free kick by Yoann Gourcuff. Kostas Mitroglou replied for Olympiakos with a long-range drive but Marouane Chamakh added an acrobatic headed goal for a 3-1 overall victory.

Barcelona and Bordeaux join Manchester United, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Lyon, Inter Milan and CSKA Moscow in the last eight.

The draws for the quarterfinals and semifinals will take place on Friday at UEFA headquarters at Nyon in Switzerland.

Three English clubs have made it to the semifinals in the past two seasons, but only Manchester United and Arsenal have survived to the last eight this time. With no seeding system to keep them apart, they could be drawn to face each other. The same applies to French clubs Lyon and Bordeaux.

Inter Milan is trying to win the title for the first time since 1965 and is coached by Jose Mourinho, who won it with FC Porto in 2004 and knocked out his former club Chelsea on Tuesday. Arsenal, Lyon, Bordeaux and CSKA have never won the competition.

Even without Xavi, who was out with a calf injury, Barcelona had too much talent for Stuttgart at Camp Nou.

Playing at his magical best, Messi collected a ball from Yaya Toure in the 13th minute and ran at the Stuttgart defense before firing a 20-meter, left-footed shot into the top corner of the net.

"He was so decisive," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said of Messi. "Every great has a tendency to influence his team, like (Michael) Jordan with the Bulls. He's the best. We wouldn't trade him for anybody."

Pedro added the second in the 22nd minute when he tapped in a low cross from Toure in a move started by Messi.

Messi made it 3-0 in the 60th when he turned a defender just outside the area and fired a low shot past goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

The Argentina star, who scored three times against Valencia in the Spanish league on Sunday, should have had another hat trick in the 86th minute when he dribbled past three men but rolled the ball wide of goal.

"His ability is incredible when you consider his age," Stuttgart coach Christian Gross said of the 22-year-old Messi. "I think it's fair to compare him to (Diego) Maradona."

Began added the fourth with his first touch in the 89th minute after receiving a pass from fellow substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

While Mess's dribbling and shooting mesmerized his opponents in Barcelona, Bordeaux's big weapon was Gourcuff's spectacular free kicks.

From wide on the left in the fifth minute, he curled his shot over the goalkeeper and in off the inside of the far post. Gourcuff also hit the bar and post with a near identical free kick in the final minute of the first half.

Olympiakos' Matt Derbyshire put the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside.

The English striker was sent off in the 60th minute after his second yellow card.

Despite being down to 10 men, the Greek champions hit back and substitute Kostas Mitroglou equalized on the night with a powerful right-footed shot in the 64th minute. The game became 10 against 10 when Bordeaux's Alou Diarra was sent off for a lunging tackle five minutes later.

That meant a second goal for Olympiakos would have put the Greek club through on away goals. But Chamakh jumped highest to head home a leftwing cross in the 89th minute, tumbling over his opponent as the ball flew into the net.

Bordeaux has now reached the last eight of European football's most prestigious club tournament for the first time since 1988.

Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc said that having two teams in the last eight was a sign of a revival in domestic French football.

"You can think that because of the teams now qualified for the Champions League quarterfinals, and those doing well in the Europa League, that this proves that French football is in good shape," Blanc said.

"But to confirm this we will have to see how this develops over time to see if this can happen again, and to see how regularly French teams get through to the quarterfinals."

In Tuesday's games, Inter won 1-0 at Chelsea to advance 3-1 overall and CSKA reached the quarterfinals for the first time by beating Sevilla 2-1 and 3-2 on aggregate.

Messi the Youngest to Score 100 goals for Barcelona

Had some great games of football yesterday. Hope to improve more for the following games. Not 2 forget, Barca did a great job against Sevilla to go 5 points clear at the top of La Liga. Cheers!! Guardiola, sign ur contract now ok. :)

Barcelona 4-0 Sevilla: Messi Makes His Century As Barca Breeze To Victory

Barcelona eased to a 4-0 victory at the Camp Nou against Sevilla in a dominant performance. A Julien Escude own goal opened the scoring before Pedro doubled the lead, but some excellent goalkeeping from Andres Palop prevented the score from becoming embarrassing. Lionel Messi completed the scoring with two goals in the final 10 minutes.

The hosts started typically comfortably on the ball and could have taken an early lead when Thierry Henry set up Zlatan Ibrahimovic following a superb ball by Andres Iniesta, but the Swede could only shoot feebly wide from five yards.

Messi had a shout for a penalty in the 10th minute when Lolo appeared to pull him back in the penalty area, but referee Delgado Ferreiro waved away the appeals. Moments later, another excellent ball set Henry through on goal, but Palop raced out of his penalty area and blocked the shot well.
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The home side were dominating proceedings, knocking the ball around with ease on the slick surface, but were being frustrated by a solid Sevilla backline. In the 20th minute, Iniesta went on a mazy run that was almost Messi-esque before teeing up Dani Alves, but the Brazilian could only find the side netting.

Sevilla had barely been able to get out of their own half in the first 30 minutes and could easily have gone behind but Carles Puyol's header landed on top of the net from a Xavi corner. Just after the half hour mark, Messi hit a 20-yard shot that was deflected wide, and this time Puyol's header was blocked by Palop.

With 10 minutes until half time, the veteran keeper pulled off an excellent save from another deflected shot by Messi to tip it over the crossbar. Marc Valiente was struggling to deal with the Argentine's danger and was booked for a foul that would have been more at home on a rugby pitch.

As the rain continued to pour in the Camp Nou, Puyol slipped to allow Arouna Kone to have a sight on goal but his strike went out for a corner, Sevilla's first of the game. It was the 38th minute.

Nonetheless, the visitors were starting to come forward a little more as the half time whistle approached. Some good play by Kone and Jose Carlos set Jesus Navas through, but the angle was too tight to shoot and his touch was too strong as he attempted to round Victor Valdes. Despite some late Barcelona pressure, the half ended goalless.

Los Nervionenses made a double change at the break, with Diego Capel and Aldo Duscher replacing Jose Carlos and Valiente. Rafa Marquez also came on for the hosts after Puyol couldn't shake off an injury.

Kone nearly stunned the Camp Nou just after half time when he beat Marquez and Pique, but Valdes closed the angle and the ball was hooked clear of danger.

In the 49th minute, the hosts took the lead in fortunate circumstances. Marquez received the ball on the right wing and after Pique had got the slightest touch on the low cross, Julien Escude could only stab the ball into his own net.

It was nearly 2-0 two minutes later. Messi received the ball 35 yards from goal after a superb run by Dani Alves, but after running into the area Palop saved the Argentine's shot with his boot. Shortly after, Ibrahimovic played the ball back to Henry in the penalty area but the Sevilla keeper was able to make yet another save.

Ibrahimovic thought he had scored in the 54th minute, but he was correctly flagged offside after heading in from a matter of feet.

Barcelona were rampant, and the Camp Nou faithful were on the edge of their seats as the home side launched attack after attack. Manolo Jimenez took a gamble by taking off Abdoulay Konko for Adriano in an attempt to reverse the tide, but Henry continued to pose a threat on the left flank and tested Palop's reflexes in the 62nd minute.

In the 67th minute there was mayhem in the Sevilla penalty area. Messi was free in the box and brought another save from the outstanding Palop, before the next shot was blocked and Ibrahimovic's shot was cleared off the line. Substitute Pedro then had a chance after Abidal's cut-back found him 10 yards out, but it was straight at Palop.

The Sevilla keeper was finally beaten for a second time with 20 minutes to go. The pass from Xavi was perfect as Marius Stankevicius tried to step up for offside, but Pedro raced clear and chipped over the advancing Palop.

Sevilla looked a beaten side, and were content to sit back and let Barcelona knock the ball around between themselves to the rhythm of the olé's coming from the crowd.

As the game ticked into its final 10 minutes, the fans were growing impatient as they waited for the third goal, which arrived in the 85th minute. Messi picked up the ball from another Dani Alves cross and could barely miss from 10 yards out to score his 100th goal for the club.

The frustrations of los Nervionenses' stopper were plain to see as the hosts continued to caress the ball around the pitch. Kone had a shot blocked in the 90th minute, but the threat from the visitors had been negligable throughout.

The game was wrapped up in the 91st minute when Abidal played Messi through, and the world's best player slid the ball effortlessly past Palop. It was a sublime performance from the Spanish, European and world champions as they brushed the Champions League contenders aside.

Messi's First Hattrick of the Season!

Messi hat-trick leads Barcelona, Madrid also wins

MADRID (AP) - Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona routed Tenerife 5-0 on Sunday to maintain its two-point advantage in the Spanish league after closest rival Real Madrid also won, beating Mallorca 2-0 thanks to goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Esteban Granero.

Alejandro Alfaro had three good chances to put the hosts ahead but the Tenerife striker hit the crossbar on the first occasion and goalkeeper Victor Valdes foiled his other two efforts from inside the area.

Those missed chances proved costly as Messi scored the opener in the 36th minute after receiving the ball from Bojan Krkic inside the area.

The recently crowned world player of the year then turned provider, as it was his free kick from the right that Carles Puyol headed home in the 44th and, a minute later, Andres Iniesta broke out of the midfield, spotted Krkic down the left side and the teenage striker again set up Messi for an easy tap in.

The Argentina international joined Valencia's David Villa as the league's joint leading scorer with his 12th goal of the season to complete his hat-trick in the 75th after curling a left-footed shot from outside the area over goalkeeper Sergio Aragoneses into the top corner. Ezequiel Luna completed the rout with an own-goal in the 85th.

In contrast to the balmy weather at Tenerife's Heliodro Rodriguez Lopo stadium, Higuain helped Madrid keep the pressure on Barcelona with a victory in steady snowfall in the Spanish capital.

The Argentina striker darted in from the right and across the edge of the area before curling a left-footed shot around goalkeeper Dudu Aouate into the top corner for his 11th goal of the season.

Higuain then slipped past his defender in the 50th and crossed to Granero who volleyed past Aouate from close range.

Elsewhere, Valencia beat last-place Xerez 3-1 to stay third, while Deportivo La Coruna was a 1-0 winner over Osasuna. Barcelona leads the table with 43 points, Madrid has 41, Valencia 35, Deportivo 31 while Sevilla and Mallorca are both on 30. Madrid welcomed Kaka back from injury in a high-tempo game played in blustery conditions at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"It was a complicated game not only for the weather conditions but for team changes, like the additions of (Fernando) Gago and Kaka, who had a great game against a very motivated rival," Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini said. "We played a very complete game."

Jose Maria "Guti" Gutierrez returned for the first time since October, replacing Xabi Alonso in the 84th after the Madrid midfielder limped off. Alonso and Rafael Van der Vaart, who came off for Granero in the 21st to a calf injury, will undergo medical scans on their injuries.

A minute's silence was observed for the three people who died during an armed attack on the Togo team bus at the Africa Cup on Friday.

At the Chapin Stadium in Xerez, Juanma Mata put Valencia ahead after 11 minutes before Carlos Calvo equalized for Xerez in the 25th from a counterattack.

Valencia regained the lead in the 33rd as David Villa drew the defense before crossing to David Silva, who looped a left-footed shot over Soares. Carlos Marchena sealed the win in the 69th as the burly defender burst into the box and fired a dipping shot over Soares.

"In any other season, with this amount of points, we could have been leading or close to it," Valencia coach Unai Emery said after his side left Xerez rooted to the bottom of the table after its sixth straight defeat. Deportivo maintained its bid to qualify for European competition next season as Juan Rodriguez scored the only goal of the game against Osasuna in the 50th, swiveling to meet Andres Guardado's center.

Osasuna was reduced to 10 men from the 67th when midfielder Javad Nekounam was red carded. Fernando Llorente scored a 79th-minute penalty to rally Athletic Bilbao to a 1-1 draw at Malaga, which went ahead from Welington's 48th-minute header.

Diego Castro's 39th-minute goal saw Sporting snap a four-game winless run with a 1-0 win over Getafe, whose three-game winning streak ended.

Fernando Marques jumped on a loose rebound in the 71st to score the winner in Espanyol's 2-1 victory over Zaragoza. Joan Verdu took advantage of a goalkeeping error to put the hosts ahead in the 13th before Javier Arizmendi equalized for Zaragoza, which stayed second bottom, in the 40th.

On Saturday, Atletico Madrid won 4-0 at Valladolid, Almeria rallied for a 1-1 draw against Villarreal and teenager Sergio Canales scored both goals as Racing Santander beat Sevilla 2-1.

Messiah is going 2 retain his FIFA World Player Award! :)

Barcelona is the King of World Football

Barcelona - The Phenomenal Team of 2008/2009

In what looks like a one-sided football match, Barcelona failed to capitalise on its attacking strength to beat Estudiantes by a big margin. Instead, Estudiantes scored a goal to take the lead from probably the only scoring chance for the underdog in the entire 90+15 minutes. That's football. Its not only superior team game that matters, but luck plays a part too. If not for the equaliser goal by Pedro in the last few minutes, Barca could have fly home greatly disappointed by the only loss in six finals.

The match ended 1-1 for the normal playing time. Barca again dominated the extra-time game with some good chances to score but suffered from poor finishing. In the second half of extra time, Barca finally takes the lead for the first time. Alves delivered a superb cross from the right and Messi surged forward and chested the ball into the net with the goalkeeper watching in awe!

It was once more a great goal scored by Messi. He had scored with the usual legs and head, plus the unusual hand and now chest. Next on would be his ass I jokingly guess. With the victory, Barca has set new record in the world football with six titles in all competitions they have competed for - King's Cup, Spanish Super Cup, La Liga, Champions League, European Super Cup and World Club Cup!

Guardiola burst into tears at the end. Its unbelievable for him, so as to Barcelona players as well as for many football fans around the world including me. To set the record straight after only in his first year managing Barcelona, the young coach deserved to get the highest accolade from his country and also his football club. And now I can proclaim that Barcelona is the "King of World Football"!

A little suggestion: Malaysia football team which won the gold medal in Laos - SEA Games - should be rewarded with a friendly football match with Barcelona next year. And I most probably wouldnt turn down the chance to watch the game.

Another thing: Lionel Messi is going to become a football legend in the next few hours. FIFA World Footballer of the Year 2009, probably the best ever, is...




Confirmed! FIFA World Footballer of the Year 2009 is Lionel Messi! - click to view

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News recap:
Messi the hero in Barca’s first Club W-Cup triumph

“We played formidably, it was a victory we deserved. Six titles in a year is unequalled,” coach Pep Guardiola told a news conference, referring to his team’s Champions League, La Liga, King’s Cup, Spanish Super Cup and European Super Cup wins.

Messi Wins European Footballer of the Year 2009 Award

As expected! :)

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Messi wins Golden Ball award

PARIS (AP): Argentina's Lionel Messi has won the Golden Ball awarded to the European Footballer of the Year, becoming the sixth Barcelona player to take the award and the first since Brazilian Ronaldinho in 2005.

Messi beat last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo into second place while Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez finished third in the poll results released by France Football magazine early Tuesday.

Hailed by Argentina great Diego Maradona as his successor, Messi won an unprecedented treble in Spain last season with Barcelona as the Catalan side swept the Champions League, the Spanish title and the Copa del Rey.

The 22-year-old Messi, the first Argentine to win the prestigious trophy, was the top scorer in last year's Champions League with nine goals, including his superb header in the 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the final.

Messi, who tallied 473 of a possible 480 points, largely dominated the voting and won with a record-margin of 240 points. Real Madrid winger Ronaldo had 233 and Xavi had 170.

"Honestly, I knew that I was among the favorites because Barcelona had a fruitful year in 2009," Messi was quoted as saying by the magazine. "But I didn't expect to win with such a margin. The Golden Ball is very important to me. All the players who won it were great players, and some great players never won it."

Barcelona had three players in the Top 5 with Andres Iniesta taking fourth ahead of former Barca player Samuel Eto'o.

In an outstanding season, Messi netted 38 goals in 51 games in all competitions, often leaving defenders in his wake with a combination of speed, exceptional dribbling abilities and his effective left-footed strike.

Messi, who leads Argentina to next year's World Cup in South Africa, recently signed a new contract with Barcelona through 2016 and has a buyout clause of 250 million euros ($368 million) included.

Messi had a good start to this season - already scoring nine goals - and put on a great display to help his club defeat archrival Real Madrid 1-0 last Sunday. "It won't be easy to confirm after a year like the one we just went through," Messi said. "I hope the next one will reach the same standards. But to win the Golden Ball two years in a row is not an easy thing."

After starting club football in 1995 at Argentina's Newell's Old Boys, Messi, who suffered from a growth hormone deficiency when he was a child, joined Barcelona's Under-14 team in 2000 after the Spanish club offered to pay for his treatment.

The diminutive forward - 1.69 meters and 67 kilograms (5-feet-7; 148 pounds) - was part of the Argentina team at the World Cup 2006 before claiming the Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008.

France Football's award was decided by an annual poll of football journalists from a shortlist of 30 players.

The 24-year-old Ronaldo won the Premier League title with Manchester United in 2009 before signing with Real Madrid for 93 million euros.

Named best player at the 2008 European championship, where Spain won its first major title in 44 years, midfielder Xavi was also a key element in Barcelona's treble in 2009, playing 35 Spanish league games and 14 of the 15 European matches of his club.

FIFA World Player of the Year 2009 - Lionel Messi?

Barcelona Beats Real Madrid 1-0.
Man of the Match - Carles Puyol! If you watch the match, you should know better. :)

Barcelona didnt play very well (but still worth the sleepless night coz they play well but not phenomenal), but still they managed to score a spectacular goal through Ibrahimovic, thanks to a superb cross by Dani Alves. Messi was well guarded throughout the match. Its amazing to watch him play, how easily he dribbles the ball past Real players. All in all, Messi is the very firm favorite to win Ballon D'Or 2009 today and next.. FIFA World Player of the Year 2009. Woohoo...

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Messi display worthy of Ballon d'Or
By Phil Seery (AFP) – 1 day ago

MADRID — Lionel Messi is poised to collect the Ballon D'Or accolade on Tuesday and the Argentine showed why with a mesmerising display to help Barcelona defeat Real Madrid 1-0 in a sizzling 'El Clasico' at Camp Nou on Sunday.

Substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the winning goal on 56 minutes but with the world watching on Messi stole the show with his his mazy runs, clever turns and incredible close control all the more impressive given that he was a doubt for the match with a thigh injury.

Messi, still only 22, scored in the previous two Clasicos - which finished 2-0 and 6-2 in Barca's favour - but could not cap his stellar display with a goal with Iker Casillas denying him with a wonder save in the closing stages.

"I came off against Athletic Bilbao as a precaution but came back tonight and fortunately we got the right result," said the softly-spoken Messi.

"We couldn't find space in the first half but in the second half we got better and the result we wanted.

"The win over Inter Milan (2-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday) was important for us to stay in the competition and now we have beaten Real Madrid who are a top side."

Champions Barca now lead Real by two points at the summit and can stretch that to five points with victory over Xerez on Wednesday in a match brought forward due to Barca's World Club Championship commitments in Abu Dhabi in mid-December.

Treble winners Barca are unbeaten in the league since the penultimate day of last season and lie top of the table but goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who produced a crucial save from Cristiano Ronaldo, said there was no room for complacency.

"Real played on the counter attack at times but with real quality," said Valdes.

"The Spanish league is the best in the world and complicated to win. It is not just Real Madrid there are other such as Sevilla."

Midfielder Xavi, one of four Barca players shortlisted for the Ballon D'Or, paid tribute to Real and saluted his team-mates for a determined defensive display.

"It was a physical game but a great spectacle," said Xavi. "Real have a great team as well and a lot of talent up front.

"Madrid are always a competitive team. In all my years in football they have always had a team that can compete at the highest level.

"It was a great defensive display from the whole team to keep them out and get a very important win."

Messi Steers Barca to First Win in Champions League 2009/2010

Barcelona beats Dynamo 2-0 in Champions League

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Lionel Messi and Pedro Rodriguez scored Tuesday to help defending champion Barcelona beat Dynamo Kiev 2-0 and move top of Group F in the Champions League.

Messi scored in the 26th minute when he received Andres Iniesta's pass and cut in from the right before delivering a powerful low shot that goalkeeper Olexandr Shovkovskiy couldn't keep out.

Substitute Pedro doubled Barcelona's lead in the 76th with a low left-footed shot from Zlatan Ibrahimovic's pass.

Playing its first home game in this season's competition, Barcelona's winning margin could have been larger but for Shovkovskiy's series of saves.

"It's an important win. It's always important to win your home matches in the Champions League," Pedro told Spanish state TV.




In Tuesday's other group game, Rubin Kazan drew 1-1 with Inter Milan.

After two rounds, Barcelona has four points, while Kiev has three. Inter Milan follows with two points, one more than Rubin.

"It's better to be the leader as quickly as possible because we are in a tough group," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said. "This Tuesday's win is really important. We've taken a small step towards qualification for the second round."

Kiev coach Valeri Gazzaev said Barcelona "was at another level."

We did what we could. We started playing on the counterattack and there were times when we had a chance but that disappeared when we lost the ball," Gazzaev said, speaking through an interpreter.

Barcelona lacked the injured Thierry Henry, although this provided Iniesta with a place in the starting lineup for the first time since the Champions League final, when the Catalan team beat Manchester United 2-0.

Kiev included Andriy Shevchenko on his 33rd birthday despite a doubt over an eye injury. The striker scored a hat trick at Camp Nou in Kiev's 4-0 win in the competition 12 years ago.

The Ukrainians, who beat Rubin 3-1 in its opening group game, made a lively start with Gerson Magrao sending an angled shot narrowly wide after three minutes.

However, the visitors were fortunate in the 15th minute when a penalty was not awarded despite Iniesta's shirt appearing to be tugged by Yevgen Khacheridi.

Messi's goal led Barcelona to control the game until the interval, with Messi and Ibrahimovic a constant threat to Dynamo's defense but repeatedly thwarted by Shovkovskiy.

Ognjen Vukojevic had a goal disallowed in the 40th, with Artem Milevskiy ruled narrowly offside, to remind Barcelona that Kiev was still in contention.

After Iniesta was replaced by Pedro at halftime, Barcelona continued in charge but initially found goal chances harder to create.

However, Barcelona came close in the 64th when Khacheridi headed just wide of his own goal, and three minutes later Shovkovskiy produced an impressive diving save to deny Ibrahimovic.

Dynamo almost reduced the deficit in the 88th when Milevskiy sent the ball over the advancing goalkeeper Victor Valdes - and narrowly over the Barcelona goal.


Source: http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/10144214/Barcelona-beats-Dynamo-2-0-in-Champions-League