Tuesday, December 7, 2010
FCB-Rubin Kazan: did you know ... ?
www.fcbarcelona.cat
Barça play Rubin Kazan at the Nou Camp in the final Champions League Group D game on Tuesday. Sure, you knew that, but did you know.....?
- Barça come into the game with top spot assured, but Rubin need to do better than Copenhagen to get through to the next round, as the Danes lead them by a point.
- Rubin Kazan and Chelsea are the only teams who have faced Guardiola’s Barça and remain unbeaten.
- Rubin pulled off one of the biggest surprises of last year when they beat Barça 1-2 at the Nou Camp, a defeat which didn’t stop Barça from finishing top of the group though. - That win remains the only time Rubin have won on the road in the Champions League.
- This could be the first time under Guardiola that the team finish the group stage unbeaten.
- With six goals, Messi is the competition’ second highest scorer alongside Mario Gómez (Bayern Munich).With one goal more, Samuel Eto’o leads the scorers.
- Messi is Barça’s leading goal scorer in the Champions League with a total of 31 goals in 49 games.
-Messi has also had the second highest number of shots in the competition this season (13).
- Piqué is the only Barça player under threat of suspension, whilst Pinto is again available after his two game ban. For Rubin, Kaleshin has seen two yellows so far. - Barça are the team with the highest average possession -70 %, followed by Bayern with 63%.
- Rubin Kazan’s star signing Carlos Eduardo, has met up with Dani Alves in the Brazilian squad.
- The Russian league finished on November 28th with Rubin third after a goalless draw in their final game with Lokomotiv Moscow, to maintain their unbeaten run of games in the second half of the season.
Out to beat Rubin this time
Jordi Clos
Barça, who are already qualified as Group D winners for the next round, close off the group stage with a home game against Rubin Kazan this evening (20.45 h, TVE1 i R@dio Barça), a team that they have yet to beat in their previous three meetings.
Tonight’s game may not have any relevance for Barça’s qualification for the next round, but Guardiola’s team always like to challenge themselves and tonight the objective must be to beat for the first time a Rubin Kazan team who have twice held them to a draw and last year beat them at the Nou Camp. History
The two teams were drawn together in the group phase last year and after a shock 1-2 win at the Nou Camp. Rubin then held Barça to a goalless draw in Kazan, with Coach Berdyev putting in place an impenetrable defensive system in both those games. This season, Barça went first to Kazin and were again held to a draw (1-1), which makes tonight’s game the chance for Guardiola’s team to record their first win against Rubin in four attempts, and in the process finish the group phase unbeaten.
Team news
Guardiola has decided to rest Alves, Xavi, Villa, Pedro and Keita for the game, with Gaby Milito also missing out through injury, and in their place he has brought in five youngsters from the B team: Bartra, Fontàs, Thiago, Jonathan dos Santos and Víctor Vázquez.
Form guide
Barça have hit top form over the last month or so and, discounting the Catalan Cup triangular, have won all of their last seven games, with 19 goals scored in the last four games and none conceded.
Kazan finished the Russian season at the end of November, finishing third, and are now completely focussed on a game they must take something from if they are to move forward in this competition. They are currently one point behind Copenhagen, who play Panathinaikos and must better the Danes’ result tonight if they are to go through.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Iniesta’s 2010
Iniesta’s story is one of a player who never gives up. Despite an injury marred 2010, Iniesta came into the South African World Cup in top form and his winning goal and celebration just showed what an honest player he is.
1 January: Iniesta is given the medical all clear after picking up an injury in the final of the World Club Cup on December 16th 2009.
19 January: Sets a record of 17 months without losing with Barça whenever he is in the team.
6 February: Still only 25, Iniesta makes his 200th league appearance – a 2-1 win against Getafe.
20 February: Gets his first goal of the season in his 300th game for the club, as Barça run out 400 winners over Racing.
27 March: During the 0-1 win over Mallorca, Iniesta suffers a small tear in his right thigh.
5 April: Again given the all clear to play by club doctors.
13 April: Suffers another muscle tear in training.
16 May: Iniesta re-appears as Barça lift their 20th La Liga title with a 4-0 win over Valladolid.
20 May: Vicente del Bosque names him in the Spanish squad for South Africa.
8 June: Suffers another muscle strain during the friendly between Spain and Poland, but is passed fit for the start of the World Cup.
16 June: Swiss full back Lichtsteiner hits him with a bad tackle that sees him limp off a Spain go down 0-1.
21 June: Misses Spain’s 2.0 win over Honduras.
25 June: Iniesta hits top form as he and Villa both score in the 1-2 win over Chile that sees Spain through to the knock out stage.
29 June: Iniesta, Xavi and Villa combine for the only goal against Portugal that send s Spain into the quarter finals.
3 July: Once again sets up the winning goal on the win against Paraguay.
7 July: With Iniesta playing all 90 minutes, Spain reach their first World Cup Final.
11 July: Iniesta’s greatest moment as he scores the winner to bring the World Cup back to Spain with an injury time strike. His celebration involves showing his T-shirt on which is written a dedication to the much missed Espanyol captain Dani Jarque - ‘Dani Jarque, siempre con nosotros’.
12 July: Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero pays special praise to Iniesta before the team begin their celebratory parade through the streets of Madrid: “if the captain and the rest of the players will let me, I’d like to especially congratulate a person who represents like nobody else, the essence of good football and human quality. There is no better reference point for us than Iniesta. Thank you Andres for remembering Dani on such an unforgettable day”.
9 August: Iniesta, the only World Cup winner not called up for Spain’s friendly with Mexico, begins the pre-season with Barça, after just 29 days of holiday.
21 August: Plays his first game of the 2010/11 season, as the team come back from their first
leg defeat to beat Seville 4-0 in the second leg to take the Spanish Super Cup.
29 August: First league game and first goal of the season for Iniesta as he makes it 0-2 with a great goal in the 0-3 win against Racing Santander.
16 October: Another goal starts the comeback against Valencia (2-1).
11 November: Four months after his goal, Iniesta presents his T-shirt with his message to Dani Jarque to Espanyol in a wonderful gesture of solidarity.
20 November: Iniesta gets the second goal in Barça’s 0-8 win over Almeria. When Iniesta is free from injuries, nobody can stop him!
29 November: He sets up Xavi for Barça’s opening in the demolition of Real Madrid.
6 December: Iniesta is named amongst the three candidates for the FIFA Pilota d’Or. So far, he has played in every league game of the season.
Xavi’s 2010
Xavi Hernandez is Barça’s and Spain’s man in charge on the pitch, dictating the game with his brilliant passing and possession. It’s been a great year for the Catalan and below are some of the highlights.
13 January: The IFFHS names Xavi as the best midfield playmaker in the world for 2009. 13 January: A few hours later, a brilliant strike from Xavi wasn’t quite enough to avoid Barça being knocked out of the Spanish up by Seville.
23 January: Scores the opening goal in the 0-3 win over Valladolid.
6 February: Xavi scores again, this time in the 2-1 win over Getafe after the team had played with 10 men for more than half of the game.
15 February: Suffers a muscle injury in his right leg.
23 February: Xavi is back for the 1-1 draw in the first leg of the game against Stuttgart in the Champions League.
25 February: The Ajuntament de Terrassa, Xavi’s hometown Council, awards him the Medal of Honour of the City.
14 March: With the 3-0 win against Valencia, Xavi equals Migueli’s record of wins with the team -195- whilst playing 49 fewer games.
17 March: Xavi suffers another muscle injury and misses the second leg against Stuttgart(4-0)
27 March: Comes on for 30 minutes in Mallorca(0-1).
31 March: Xavi leads the team in one of their best performances of the season, the 2-2 draw with Arsenal, setting up Ibra’s second goal.
8 April: Xavi receives the Terrassa Medal of Honour.
10 April: Another exhibition at the Bernabeu where he sets up both Barça’s goals from Pedro and Messi in the 0-2 win.
17 April: Plays in his 10th derby game in the goalless draw at Cornellà-El Prat .
24 April: The 3-1 win against Xerez is Xavi’s 200th La Liga victory.
1 May: A brilliant free kick gives Barça their second goal in the 1-4 defeat of Villarreal and marks a massive step towards retaining the league title.
8 May: Xavi sees his fifth yellow in the 2-3 win at Seville and is suspended for the final league game against Valladolid.
16 May: The win in the final game gives Xavi his fifth league title – only Ramallets and Guardiola, with six, have won more.
20 May: Vicente del Bosque names him in the Spain squad for South Africa.
9 June: Barça and Xavi agree a contract extension until 2014 and possibly 2016. “I want to retire here”, he declares.
16 June: Plays full 90 minutes in shock defeat to Switzerland.
21 June: Plays 65 minutes in the win over Honduras (2-0).
25 June: Xavi leads Spain to 2-1 win over Chile to seal place in the knock out stages.
29 June: A lovely ball to Villa sets up the Spain striker for the only goal on the win over Portugal. Xavi is voted man of the match by FIFA.
3 July: Spain get through to the semis by beating Paraguay 1-0.
7 July: Xavi sends over the corner that Puyol heads home to book a place in the World Cup Final. The goal is a carbon copy of the 1-2 at the Bernabeu in the 2-6 win. Is again voted man of the match.
11 July: Leads Spain’s final win, playing the full 120 minutes in the 1-0 win over Holland.
12 July: Xavi finishes the 2010/11 season with an astonishing 63 games played.
12 August: With his summer holidays over, Xavi joins up with the squad for pre-season training.
16 August: Together with Valdés, Piqué and Messi, he is named as one of the 12 players selected for the UEFA awards.
18 August: Marks 12 years since his debut with the first team against Mallorca.
21 August: Makes his season debut by winning another title, the Spanish Super Cup, as the team come back from a 3-1 first leg defeat to beat Seville 4-0 at the Nou Camp.
25 September: Scores in the 1-3 win at San Mames.
1 October: Suffers an Achilles tendon injury which keeps him out of the next few games.
5 October: Wins the first edition of the Catalan Sports Prize.
6 October: Xavi again received honours from the Ajuntament de Terrassa.
16 October: A brilliant one-two with Iniesta equalises in the 2-1 win over Valencia.
22 October: Xavi misses the game in Zaragoza and is the club’s representative in picking up the Premio Príncepes d’Astúries as part of the Spain team.
29 November: Scores the opening goal and dictates play throughout in Barça’s 5-0 thrashing of Real Madrid.
6 December: Xavi is named as one of the three candidates for the FIFA Pilota d’Or.
Guardiola: "the job is done”
Anna Segura
In his pre-match press conference, Pep Guardiola admitted that the Rubin game was not quite as important as the previous group games, given that “the job is already done” and Barça are guaranteed top spot.
Quizzed about his squad selection, with six first teamers absent Guardiola insisted however, that: “we have to keep up our good form and I want everyone to participate. We are group winners again and the job is done, but out of respect, we will trying to play our dynamic game and making the maximum number of chances”, the boss explained.
Balón de Oro success
The Balón de Oro nomination of Iniesta, Xavi and Messi is according to Guardiola “a tremendous success of an enormous dimension. They’ll share it with the rest of the squad because they’ve all contributed”. Guardiola also had words of praise for Iniesta and Xavi’s Spanish managers Del Bosque and Aragones: “who also played their part in this”. As to his own nomination as Manager of the Year, Guardiola commented: “the theory that Barça is good for us all continues to be true”. Pamplona
Guardiola was again questioned about Saturday’s travel arrangements to Pamplona and the criticism that has been aimed at himself and the club and he was adamant: “everyone gave their opinion and after the game I set out exactly what happened. The Club and the Federation ratified what I said. I don’t feel isolated on this, I feel very protected”.
Abidal: “we always play to win”
Aida Soriano
Speaking ahead of tomorrow night’s game against Rubin, Éric Abidal, insisted that even though classification is already assured, “it’s important that the team keep on winning”.
“They are a difficult team to play against and to beat” according to the French defender, who continued: “they sit back and soak up the pressure and then hit you on the break”.
“We’ll do everything to win”
Top spot may already be in the bag, but Abidal was adamant that “the Champions League is special and we always play to win. We are playing well and will do everything to win this game. We are professionals and football is our job. We are on a good run and it’s important that we keep winning”. Pamplona trip
Abidal was also quizzed about the events surrounding last Saturday’s trip to Pamplona and he commented: “these things happen. We are just footballers, we waited and finally went by train and coach –it was no problem”.
Happy for Messi, Xavi and Iniesta
Abidal also took the opportunity to congratulate his three team mates who have been nominated for the FIFA Pilota d’Or 2010 :“it’s important for them and a just reward. They are key players for us and we are very happy because one of the three will win the prize. We’ll be happy for whichever one of them wins”. Best manager? Guardiola
Although he has no favourites amongst his three team mates (“if I could I’d give it to all three of them. They are all great players and should win”), Abidal was very clear about who should win the Manager of the Year award: “I’d choose the boss because he’s my coach and the best manager there is”.
“I want to stay here”
Finally, Abidal commented on his contract negotiations: “my contract finishes in 2012. I want to stay here, I feel good and this is the best team in the world”.
Three Standard Bearers for Barça style
Jordi Clos
Leo Messi, Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta all have the Barça DNA firmly stamped on their footballing characters. They all joined Barça as children and have reached the top of the football world at the club of their lives.
The Barça team who won the six titles and last year’s 99 point league and which continues to dazzle the world with its precise football, cannot be understood without looking at Leo Messi, Xavi Hernàndez and Andrés Iniesta. Barça’s style, admired all over the world, is all about attack and possession and it would be hard to find players who have better internalised that philosophy than these three Barça youth team products.
Goal scoring machine
Messi came to Catalonia from his native Argentina in 2000 when he was just 13. His silky left foot soon took him through the various youth teams before making his official debut in October 2004 under Frank Rijkaard. He won himself a regular place the following season, although injury kept him out of the end of the campaign. Despite his tender years, he was second in the 2007 and 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year Awards and after leading Barça through their fantastic 2009 season he was finally voted Player of the Year, as well as winning the Balon de Oro. Messi’s goal scoring ability, he is the current Golden Boot holder, has increased with his development as a top flight player and as well as having superb technical ability, he has shown himself to be especially lethal in quick passing movements with his teammates - something so typical of Barça’s football. Used by Guardiola as a winger and as a deep lying forward, he’s unstoppable in one on one situations and is obsessed with scoring and making goals. At 23, he is the fifth highest scorer in the Club’s history and its leading international scorer.
Vision and Precision
Xavi signed up with Barça in 1991 when he was just 11 years old. Seven years later, thanks to a meteoric rise through the club’s youth teams he made his first team debut under Louis Van Gaal. Since then he has won the confidence of every coach who’s come to the club, first as a deep lying midfielder and then as a more attacking distributor. Xavi is a great reader of the game and knows how to impose his rhythm with his great vision and precise passing. Xavi has become an extension of boss Pep on the pitch and almost all of Barça’s play goes through him. He is currently the team’s second captain and is closing in on Migueli’s all time appearance record for the Club.
Class and versatility
Andrés Iniesta came to the Masia in 1996 when he was 12 years old after impressing in the Brunete Tournament with Albacete. He was always marked out as something special and he made his debut in October 2002, when Van Gaal was again in charge. Like Xavi, he began as a playmaker, but he has developed great versatility over the years and Guardiola uses him out wide as well as in the middle and even in the hole behind the strikers. Decisive at the World Cup
Iniesta has become much more of an attacking force. He beats a man with uncommon grace and has proved himself a scorer of vital goals such as the Champions League semi final winner at Stamford Bridge in 2009, or last summer’s World Cup winning strike against Holland for Spain. Both Xavi and Iniesta were decisive in that tournament, just as they had been in the European Championships won two years earlier.
Three Barça players in Balón de Oro Final
www.fcbarcelona.cat
Leo Messi, Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta have been named as the three finalists for the FIFA Balón de Oro 2010 award. Barça have made history with three home grown players in the top three spots.
Just as in 2009, the Balon De Oro will be coming to Barca, as the three Masia graduates took the three finalist spots in this year’s award announced at lunchtime today in an event in Paris. Ex France international Jean Pierre Papin read out the shortlist.
The final award ceremony will take place on January 19th in Zurich when the winner will be announced. Following on from Sacchi’s Milan
Barça are the second club to get all three top spots in the award, following on from Arrigo Sacshi’s AC Milan who in 1998 were represented by Basten, Gullit and Rijkaard, with Basten, Baresi and Rijkaard repeating the feat the year after.
Messi, 2009 winner
The last winner of both the Pilota d’Or and the FIFA World Player before they joined this season, was Leo Messi, Xavi and Iniesta were both finalists in both awards last year too.
Guardiola candidate for Manager of the Year
Anna Segura
Pep Guardiola has been chosen by FIFA and France Football as a candidate for the 2010 Manager of the Year award, alongside Vicente del Bosque and José Mourinho.
As well as the unprecedented success of the three Masia trained candidates for the Player of the Year award , Barça also received recognition in the manager’s category, with Guardiola joining Spain’s Vicente del Bosque and ex-Inter boss José Mourinho, now at Real Madrid.
Ambition
After the historic 2009 that saw Barça lift six titles, Guardiola showed himself more than capable of maintaining the team’s level with an ambitious and winning group of players who took the Spanish Super Cup and the Spanish League with a stunning 99 points, to make it 8 out of a possible 10 titles won over two seasons. More recognition
This is the first time that FIFA and France Football have made a Manager of the Year award, but since taking over at the club in the summer of 2008, Guardiola has already taken the Miguel Muñoz award given to the best Spanish manager in 2009 and 2010, the Premi Don Balón 2009, Onze d’Or 2009 and been voted the best manager of 2009 by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).
Five B players in squad for Tuesday
www.fcbarcelona.cat
Pep Guardiola has called up five B team players for the Champions League game against Rubin Kazin on Tuesday night. Five first team players will be rested, with the injured Gaby Milito again missing out .
Marc Bartra, Andreu Fontàs, Thiago Alcántara, Jonathan dos Santos and Víctor Vázquez are the five youngsters called into the squad for Tuesday night’s game at the Nou Camp, with Alves, Xavi, Villa, Pedro and Keita given a rest.
Milito works out on pitch
As well as the five players rested, Gaby Milito also misses the game, as after working out on the training pitch today he continues his recovery from the calf injury he picked up in the Spanish Cup game against Ceuta. Overnight stay in hotel
Barça are already through to the knockout stages as Group D winners and will stay overnight at a local hotel on Monday. The players have been called into the stadium for 20.15 tonight and will leave for the hotel at 20.30 with a training session at the Nou Camp scheduled for Tuesday.
