barça

Barça’s Italian Lessons Get Rough Rewards at Old Trafford

First leg of the Champions League Quarter Final against Manchester United at Old Trafford was yesterday. This has been the boogeyman stage of Europe for Barcelona, where they have fallen in four of the last five years. The exception was the treble-winning three amigos side of 2015. Last year's upset win by Roma to knock…Read more Barça’s Italian Lessons Get Rough Rewards at Old Trafford

Barça Refuse to Lose to the Yellow Submarine

Barcelona were sitting on top of the league, ahead of Atlético Madrid by seven points as they took the field at Villareal's Estadio de la Cerámica. The so-called Yellow Submarine have been pretty abject this season, with relegation a possibility for the inconsistent, canary-colored team. Barça played three days ago in la Liga's return from…Read more Barça Refuse to Lose to the Yellow Submarine

For the Love of Messi, the Betis Fans Applaud

Messi's hat trick against Real Betis yesterday already has been laughed, cried, and marveled over. Around the world, response to the performance was instantly elevated to the pantheon of his finest showings by journalists and supporters. The most indelible reaction to Messi came from the Real Betis home fans at the Estadio Benito Villamarín in…Read more For the Love of Messi, the Betis Fans Applaud

Dembélé, Coutinho, and Paying Over the Odds for the Champions League

Barcelona played Lyon at the Nou Camp for the home leg of the Champions League round of sixteen. In the time since the scoreless first game of the tie in France, both Real Madrid and Atlético had been knocked out after failing to close the deal on their leads against Ajax and Juventus. Barça would…Read more Dembélé, Coutinho, and Paying Over the Odds for the Champions League

What, Me Worry? Barça Smash the Bernabeu

FC Barcelona played the first of two games in four days at the Santiago Bernabeú against eternal heels, Real Madrid. Though Barça frequently was on the back foot due to the endeavor of junior galactico Vinicius, the circles he dragged Nelson Semedo in did nothing to advance the merengue cause by way of goals. Valverde…Read more What, Me Worry? Barça Smash the Bernabeu

Messi’s Garden of Revenge

FC Barcelona went to Sevilla to play against la Liga's fifth ranked side a few days after meeting Lyon in the Champions League. Barça have been in a February lull (four draws and a 1-0 win against humble Valladolid throughout the month), and it seemed that the doldrums were continuing through the first half of…Read more Messi’s Garden of Revenge

Frustrating Return of the Champions League – Barça at Lyon

After weeks of waiting to get back into the glamour competition of Europe, the Champions league didn't quite deliver on the expectations that have been placed on it. Maybe some of the sourness is due to Messi's explicitly stated intent at the start of the season to win the UCL trophy this year after a…Read more Frustrating Return of the Champions League – Barça at Lyon

Narrow at the Nou Camp – Barça v Valladolid

The last game before the return of the Champions League: Valladolid in la Liga at home. Barcelona was rotated and a bit bruised. Valverde rotated Suarez, Rakitic, and Coutinho to the bench, while giving Dembélé, Arturo, Vermaelen and Kevin "Prince" Boateng the start alongside most of the usual suspects. So how did Valverde's team look…Read more Narrow at the Nou Camp – Barça v Valladolid

Showdown v Valencia – Nou Camp 2.2.2019

Yesterday Barcelona hosted Valencia at the Nou Camp. The game was a stormy mess of rage, weariness, and tension. Where are Barça right now? What kind of vibe is surrounding the team? Honestly, the season has been a very close one in la Liga--contrasting last year's relative cake walk through Spain--so the pressures made by…Read more Showdown v Valencia – Nou Camp 2.2.2019