Training at BayArena
This Monday afternoon Barça trained at the scene of Tuesday’s Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen. The 22 players in Guardiola’s squad for the game worked at the BayArena in a cold environment with a temperature hovering around zero degrees and some gently falling snow.
Sergio Busquets, who travels to Leverkusen without medical clearance, trained normally with the rest of the group. The session, open for the first 15 minutes to the press, was attended by president Sandro Rosell and sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, among others.
Source: fcbarcelona.cat; Images: Miguel Ruiz (FCB), Getty Images
C'mon guys give your best in tonight's game .. We will always stand behind you no matter what would be the final scoreline .. Once a cule always a cule <3
[ Forca Barca ]
No shaking. We'll beat Leverkusen over two legs.As far as I'm personally concerned , we're already heading for the quarter-finals.The first team to retain CL in 20 yrs will be Barca, this yr.
very good luck in your opinions.
God's willing
Amen, may GOD almighty help us. I believe GOD is with barca in Jesus name,amen.
Barring any disastrous injuries I think UCL is there for us to win.
As the coach of Bayer said it is very hard for any team to beat us over 2 legs, and if we reach the final with this team we can be very confident.
I think Pep should start resting Messi as well, as there is no point wearing him out in the Liga for what's most likely a lost cause.
It's unlikely to happen, but resting Messi might also trick some of the La Liga teams and help us win. All the teams think they've got FCB figured out without Xaviesta– the ball just goes right to Leo, where they then put up a wall of defenders. Giving some of our wingers more chances with the ball wll create width and throw things off. Heck, it's worth a try, even if the passing gets thrown off a little. And it will give some of the younger players more opportunities.
if pedro start again..we will lose today..
just sell or offload that bastar.d
u r a sick boy@pedrito!!!You call pedro(on injury week in week out) a guy that scored in all six competiotion finals tittle for the first and first promotion the A Team a bastard????..Comon run off to ur club site and stop writing thrash abt our heroes..Yu are the ****BASTARD here PEDRISHIT!!!
Visca Barca..Champion Pedro!!!
I usually don't bother to reply to your comments because they were all BS. But I'm with you on this. Pedro is no longer playing for the team. I still remember what he said. "I'll make FULL use of every minutes given to me." He proved to us he was for real in the Osasuna match by running around like a headless chicken and shooting wildly from way out. Reminds me so much of Tevez in the Copa America. After his horrible showings in the Osasuna game, I seriously doubt Pep will ever start him again.
@hoho,all Cules here agreed that Pedro has dropped form,infact 90% cules wil prefer Tello to Pedro..but does that warrant pedribastard to call our Heroes Bastard..is totally unacceptable,is the same pedrioshit dat said he is better than messi that messi is overated,the same pedridiot that said Pep is retarded,i can take any comments but to curse our Heroes is totally wrong..When this guys were on Form and won almost everythin we praised them why cursed and condemn them when things are bad,they need us now than ever..Rem,when ibra was messing up our play is the same Pedro that got discoverd at preseason that saved us…I won’t be suprised at all when u pple accused of Tello nxt seasons to come if he slip off form…pleessssss we are all Human and u can never tell me u are Perfect 100% on what u r doing in ur line of career too.. Visca Barca!!!
Dropped in form and a self-centred player are two different things. I've no problem in supporting players who aren't having a good spell, who makes mistakes and so on, but I can never tolerate players who are selfish. This is not the same Pedro we all know. From the start of this season, he knows he is not guaranteed a starting spot with the purchase of Alexis and Cesc. Hence, the selfish plays we often seen of him this season. He was trying too hard to show that he's better than both of them by keeping the ball too long and trying to do all by himself.
These guys are public figures they get paid ridiculous sums of money and if they're slipping we as the viewing public should have discussions about it. It is good to have a healthy debate, however it seems as though you're too biased, as you refer to players as your heroes , however it clearly prejudices your analysis and you come off as intolerant of other people's views. Some people refuse to be blinded by illusions of grandeur and simply seek the truth of the matter, and calling people names and saying they aren't true fans because hey disagree with you is ridiculous. Try attacking the substance of the argument as opposed to the individual expressing their opinion, as both Pedrito and hoho make compelling arguments about Pedro's fitness.
@pedrito: i think you could be the bastard. Have you forgotten how pedro's first goal opened the floodgates at Wembley?Let's not be in any hurry to throw out our heros plsssssssssss.
You’re joking, Pedro puts the most pressure on the defense of our opponents. At the moment he is not 100% and it shows, but he needs to get into game mode. Pep has to give him minutes to get there and then sub him for the faster and more attacking Tello, when the opponent is tired.
Also Pedro has a habit of scoring against madrid at the Bernabeau.
Pique better be training hard… cuz against the germans he will come in very handy…
Nothing gives me much joy than to see Busi back on… We clearly have no player half as good as Busi for that position…
No more "get into Guardiola's head" cuz he probably just wakes up in the morning and puts all the names into a ballot box to determine his starting 11… And rightly so… cuz this boys are all damn good
Just give me my midfield trio plus Alves and you can let the ballot box tinker with the rest
I had hesitated to comment on the 3-2 result/report posts because I knew there would be many negative comments. Although I do agree such opinions are warranted at times. One thing however that we could see come from being 10 points behind Real Madrid is that Pep can allow a significant amount of playing time to B team players and the general bench warmers while resting more first team players for mid week Champions League matches. I also hope that Pep experiments more with the 343 formation in La Liga matches, maybe not always away from home though. I personally liked this formation, not exactly when it was first introduced but I do believe the team got the hang of it after a while. Either way I will always be behind Pep as long as he is in charge, some of his decisions have been questionable recently but no one questions Barcelona's trophy cabinet since Guardiola has been around. I'm excited to see how we play today, Leverkusen is a decent opponent. I watched quite a bit of Bundesliga last season and under Jupp they played some pretty good football. Personally I'm glad Ballack is out for the match too. Anyway can't wait, Visca Barca!
I actually hope he just sticks with 4-3-3. but maybe more Advanced and tweeked?
Messi as RW -> going to false 9, and Alves then running through the flank. This is also kind of a 3-4-3.
Because if we change the whole formation, it may not benefit our youth players.
The youth RBs and LBs will have to play more of an attacking role or they have to become CBs and I hope it doesnt happen.
Well of course I do hope we keep 433. It's a good, balanced system and with a player like Alves who can play anywhere up the right side of the pitch we do have flexibility with the formation during play. I guess maybe it's because we have played slightly different lately, or we have had a few off and unlucky games. CWC final is a good example of the 343 working well. I do agree with you though. I guess I meant to say I hope Pep "experiments" a bit with formations while he has the chance, although I would rather he just play 433 in the league if it means we have stronger performances in the Champions League. But the league is now Real Madrid's to lose, so Guardiola can use the opportunity to experiment so that next season we have a solid system in place. Not saying we don't already, I have full faith in the team. I just mean that the experimenting with 343 earlier in the season cost us at a time in which we couldn't afford to drop points, now however; we can.
Raul gave Barcelona a visit…that was nice of him
Source??
I don’t care how many points we are behind in la Liga…we shouldn’t give up yet till the end anything can happen…and that 343 isn’t working IMO!!
…sometimes
let's win 5:0 and then Pep can rest Messi and all
Nice pics, Xavi and Puyol in shorts and everyone else in long sweats, lol. I guess they aren't cold, lol.
That picture with Thiago by himself, wow didn't realize he was so cute.
It's nice seeing the players relaxed, hopefully they will do well tomorrow.
He is darn cute
. And Messi is smiling. Hopefully a good sign.
Do u guys stil rem this formation–
Alves-pique-puyol-Abidal
Srgio B
Xavi Iniesta
Messi
Pedro Villa
That formation won Man u,Thrash madrid 5-0 etc ..How i wish we can turn back the hands of time and keep up with the Winning gap score..I just want Tello,Alex and Messi to be in the starting line up and not forgetting the Mestro ..XAVI n INIESTA!!!!
Visca Barca!!!
we beat manU with Masch not Puyol . but we beat our biggest la Liga rivals by 5 last year with this formation , real madrid and Espanyol and both games messi didnt score !!
very happy with the boys, we will win today by 4 goals to nil
Masch using the Force!
he can make the ball levitate!
Mascherano: "I am The ball"
Puyol is clearly practicing is next goal and Messi his new celebration
He's just getting used to the CL ball again.
lol @ masch
Pinto looking like a NINJA!!!
Every team that uses home grown or young players always goes through a transition! its ok if we lose la liga this year. we are already in the cup final which shouldn't be as tough as playing RM. as far as champions league goes we are far superior than any team out there!
Losing La Liga will only give the players more motivation to win it again!
Im sure in the coming years barca will be even better!
FORCA BARCA
I wish them best of luck in their remaining matches to the end of the season. Pep should bare this in mind that UCL is no child play, therefore he should dare not fielding kids lest he incur fan’s anger. We pay to watch good football.
Rubbish!!
I think shakira is draining pique,that’s why he looks undetermined at times on the pitch and let every opposition striker beat him effortlessly,because as I read she lives with him here in barcelona.pique is now more fashion conscious than playing football and its costing us heavily.He should step up his game and concentrate.SHakira is a good girl but she has to let gerrad focus.
Word…
Raul gonazalez just visited barcelona in their hotel and he wished them good luck! what a legend he is maybe ramos and pepe should learn from him….
Source please??
Few more great comments from Guardian readers:
1. I watch La Liga from quite far and am actually pleased that there will be another champion this season, even though I really like Barcelona and the way they play. Sure, I'd prefer it was Valencia who'd be winning but that's not going to happen anytime soon I suppose.
So I understand that the Madridistas and Barcelona haters here won't care about my opinions, but this season has been weird to say the least when it comes to refereeing. I simply refuse to believe that the refs are bought, or that they are even 'instructed' to favour Madrid. If I were to believe that I'd stop watching the game altogether, but in my opinion something has changed.
It's most evident when you look at how Mourinho was complaining about referees after most games last season, it didn't matter if Madrid won or lost. This season he's only complaining after the losses against Barcelona. So what has changed?
I wrote sometime ago after the Valencia game that La Liga just might have a good enought team to challenge the top two, but only if the referees start to perform. I think that still applies, the referees need to start performing and stop giving fans the perfect excuse to argue this way.
Most fans, especially the neutral ones accept that sometimes referees have poor games and at times their decisions might decide a game. This happens every couple of times in a season and usually the rule of thumb is that these performances even themselves out over a season.
This season, for me is an exception. Week after week the referees are giving out decisions that seem not only to favour Madrid, but also punish Barcelona thus giving even the "neutral" fans a sensation that something strange is going on.
2. How we miss Laporta! No matter how wrong the man may be he would stand up for the club and unite the club with his charisma. Rosell is such a characterless guy. With Laporta we would have put up a real battle.
Also, how ironic that the Madrid press is starting a witchhunt agains the French. When Barcelona were accused of doping by La Cope AND l'Equipe they would gladly add fuel to the fire. I guess Xavi and Puyol only count once they represent the glorious Spanish nation.
3. Real Madrids lead is due mainly to Barcas away form but also horrific ref calls against them this season. This weekend it was 2 goals called off. I've said more than once that THEY would not let Barca win 4 in a row and I am proved correct everytime.
Mascherano gets booked in the tunnel for protesting to the ref. He was allready on a yellow so he misses the next game vs Valencia.
Iker Casillas was also on a yellow card vs Barca. He told the ref to go party and drink with the Barca team in the tunnel and he got nothing. So much for refs not favoring Real Madrid…what a joke.
4. By the way, I was looking at the statistics for fouls etc in La Liga, and I saw that Madrid commit an average of 13 fouls per game but in the games against Barca it's about 30. Astonishing figures.
5. I have been thinking for a while that Pique has gone all Beckham: he has let the celebrity lifestyle get to him. He has also become the ultimate Barca hate figure for Madrid fans and their press ever since his five-finger goal celebration in the 5-0 humiliation of Mourinho's Madrid (it is often cited by the Madrid press as the real cause of the bad blood that has marked the Mourinho era). That and, to a lesser extent, the fact that his relationship with Shakira, which in the gossip programmes and magazines has come to overshadow Casillas's romance with the TV presenter with the green eyes and the amazing pout (I think Casillas's hair is thinning and he's no longer the pin up he was).
6. I don't think you can mention a stat like that, Sid, and then try & play it off as anything other than (at the very least) fucking weird. no one in world football spends as much time around the opponent's box as Barça yet they are routinely denied good penalty shouts. Madrid, by contrast, will get a penalty for the softest offence against them. sometimes it doesn't even have to be in the box (see Getafe earlier in the year) and a penalty will be given!
yes, Real have repeatedly come back from 1 goal down lately, but it helps that whenever they're in trouble, the refs give them generous decisions (Mallorca scoring a 2nd that was ruled offside despite the guy being in his own half has to be the pick of the bunch). since the Sevilla game they've gotten help every single game it seems, ensuring they kept chugging through a brutal January & February schedule while Barcelona faltered.
Real's squad is superb, as you say, they are ruthless and penetrative all by themselves, so of course they will be unstoppable when they get regular help.
I mean, I don't want to cry conspiracy but isn't it odd how 90% of these very bad refs regularly make big mistakes that favour Real Madrid? that's just a little bit strange, no?
i bet you were reading that shit too much it has ruined your mind bro:D
stay focus on our match you'll find some release then^_^
I want to share this with others who might enjoy it. Very easy just to criticize then post a comment that is interesting to read.
Thanks a lot! I enjoyed it very much. Rather than going through each and every comments there, I just have to read the best ones you posted here.
You made very VALID points bro and I totally buy into it. You really make extensive research as it concerns Barcelona which is proven by the links you post here most of the time… Thanks for every of your comments. I do enjoy them!!
dont become like madridista who complains about ref.
Just 6 more matches to Munich! Here we start people, on the road for becoming the First Team to retain the UEFA Champions League, FC Barcelona!!!
COME ON GUY WE WILL ALSO BE BE HIND YOU. GO GET THE WIN
Csk moscow wil shock madrid UCL!
They are in pre-season and lost to mediocre Chinese team. I wish it can be true. But the scenario can be that Ramos/Pepe get wild and will be sent off. In this case CSKA has a chance.
i really want to see Barça facing real in this UCL, we'll knock them out again
If only
That's right, Mascherano! Talk to the ball. Put it under your spell. Yes Puyol, let the ball understand that when you are in the 18 yard box and you head it, it should fly straight into the net.
No Iniesta?
Visca Barca
Cabral (Levante): "We were robbed at the Bernabeu. There was a lot of talk about 10 points lead on Barça and the ref seemed a Madrid player"
@barcastuff
The truth is this corrupt refreeing started last season. It will help, if you all remember our strange game against Sevilla in Seville.
The good thing is we can all see the players keep giving their best. As long as they don't stop, in time, everything will work in their favour.
Who is to say that Madrid's bribery scandal will not be uncovered.
It may not be immediately, but I believe it will..
They look all set and ready to go. Hope we win. We Must win. :p
Xavi's ankle looks broken in the 14th pic…LOL
Everytime i see thiago I have to remind myself he is only 20 and that good!!
You know what I miss..? Is hearing that Catalan anthem after a game at tha Nou Camp. I havent heard it in a while. It is such a beautiful song and a rich part of Barca’s culture.
I don’t think we are in that bad a slump, jus tha high standards tha team has set that are making it seem as if its tha end or tha world. With all these injuries luck doesnt seem to favour us, but that can change at tha blink of an eye (an injured player can come back quicker than calculated, tha linesmen could make tha right calls, an unexpected player can step up, a rested Xavi and Ini can pass us to glory, opposing goalkeepers could allow us to Manita them… etc)
All of these are possible. And if any team can win this league with a 10 point disadvantage, Barca can (cules you know I’m right). We teach football giants how to play classy football (Manitas and all), we’ve won 6 trophies in 1 season!? And these Madrid cunts think they’ve earned tha right to gloat, ABOUT WHAT!?
Barca4Life!