With their 2-0 home win against Inter Milan last night, Barcelona not only won three points, but due to the other Group F clash between Rubin Kazan and Dynamo Kiev ending with a 0-0 stalemate, have almost secured their qualification for the last-16 round, as long as they don’t lost their last group match against Kiev by three clear goals. It was a match that did not favour Barcelona because of the absences of key players due to injury and illnesses but one Guardiola have said he will not accept as an excuse, and determined that their replacements are equally as good; and how right was he.

The goals came courtesy of Gerard Pique for Barcelona in the 10^th minute and Pedro adding the second sixteen minutes later.

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MAGNIFICENT!

Barça 2 – 0 Inter

Without Ibra and Messi, Barça beat Inter with a great first half

Guardiola won the tactical fight against Mourinho

Piqué’s and Pedro’s goals almost qualify Barça

Barça reinforces their great footballing philosophy will face Madrid next.

93,524 spectators, great response from the fans.

Leaders!

[Non Barça Related]

Cristiano will test himself today to see if he will be able to play in “el Clásico”.

A CHAMPION’S VICTORY

An exhibition display and a victory without Ibra and Messi.

Piqué and Pedro scored and even Mourinho accepted Barça’s superiority

Leaders, virtually qualified. (Barça 8, Inter 6, Rubin 6, Dinamo 5)

(In the picture:) Piqué celebrates his goal, which opened the scoreline and a Barça’s feast (it means  Barça played very good yesterday).

[Non Barça Related]

First European surprise: Liverpool fails to qualify.

Madrid – Zurich (20.45/TV3). Cristiano returns but will only play a few minutes.

A study by the Economic Research Group, University of Navarra, Spain reveals that FC Barcelona paid Inter Milan the actual market value for Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer and so do, it seems, Real Madrid’s signings of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka.

The two clubs spent 228 million euros for these three players, an amount that conforms to their correct market (non-adjusted) value of 204 million euros, according to data from the group, which calculates the (adjusted) market price using an innovative method based on the media value of the players and club’s prestige involved in the signing.

Barcelona, who paid, according to the research, 69.5 million euros for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is paying 11.5 million euros more than his non-adjusted market price of 58 million euros. However, when calculated against the media influence (impact) of the deal, the group said the amount is about right.

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What an incredible night and a fine performance by our players! Pique and PEDRO on the scoresheet again!

Barcelona has played 21 official games (11 in the Liga, 5 in the Champions League, 2 in the Copa del Rey, 2 in the Spanish Super Cup and 1 in the European Super Cup)

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10′ G. Piqué [1-0]

26′ P. Rodriguez [2-0]

After an enthralling first half, FC Barcelona managed to secure top spot in their Champions League group. Barcelona took the lead through Pique after an well taken corner, and Pedro poured the misery on the Italian giants with a brilliant goal from an Alves assist.

FC Barcelona now leads the group, with Inter in second place. Rubin Kazan is third, with Dynamo Kiev trailing close behind.

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FC Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola did not give any clues about a possible starting lineup for tonight and have included the recently injured Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the list; waiting to see how their conditions evolve in the last hours before the match.

Meanwhile, Eric Abidal has already completed his quarantine period and will be discharged this morning, but will only play depending on the condition of his earlier thigh injury.

Guardiola has also enlisted the services of two Barca Atletic players, Andreu Fontas (20) and Jonathan dos Santos (19), to cover for the absent and doubtful players.

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Inter Milan Cameroonian striker, Samuel Eto’o  yesterday said he is happy to be able to return to the Camp Nou tonight and look forward to measure himself up against his former team in an interview with the Spanish state-owned television channel TVE. Here is the rest of the interview:

Pep Guardiola said the reason for you leaving the Camp Nou was that he had a ‘feeling’ about you and your relationships within the dressing room (referring to Pep Guardiola’s reply to a question about his decision to swap Eto’o for Ibrahimovic a few months ago).

But how can he have a ‘feeling’? I’m not a woman. I’m not Penelope Cruz (sarcastically). Please be fair and don’t try to manipulate matters or see something that is not there.

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FC Barcelona – Inter Milan
(Tuesday November 24, 2009 @ 20:45 Barcelona time – Convert to local time)

Chat Link: http://fcbarcelona.hopto.org/

Facebook Application: http://apps.facebook.com/fcbarcelonachat/ (direct chat through Facebook)

Have you ever sat in front of your TV or computer while you were watching a FC Barcelona game and hoped you could share your excitement, feelings, and opinions with other fans LIVE as it happens?

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Goals:

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20:45 CET – Tuesday, November 24, 2009. Camp Nou, Barcelona

Fingers scraping against a chalkboard, a piercing scream as one is being tortured, the sounds of never ending bomb raids during a war. These sounds are among those that make a persons blood curdle, they send a shiver down ones spine and make one wish to be out of whatever situation they are in which contains one of the above.

“You know what you have to do.”

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In yesterday’s Champions League pre-match press conference, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said he will only make the decision to play Messi and Ibrahimovic under the advice of the club’s doctors a few hours before the match but “will do everything possible so that they are (able to make the final 18-player list).”

Pep Guardiola however believes that his team can win against Inter without the two players in the starting line-up: “They are two very important players (to the team) but here, we have always done everything together (as a team). If they can’t play, we have other options equally capable.”

The Blaugrana coach admitted that without both players, the team would be “like the (NBA team) Lakers losing Kobe Bryant,” but will not use them as an excuse for any failure: “There’s no grief if they cannot play. If we don’t win, that is not going to be reason.”

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WE WILL WIN TOGETHER

The team, with Ibra and Messi (yet doubtful), wants support from every culés for tonight’s match, which is vital.

Barça – Inter, a Champions final (20.45/TVE-1)

The match’s morbidity is on the benches.

Guardiola: “We’re dying to win”

Mourinho: “Football world wants Barça to qualify”

Rubin Kazan – Dinamo Kiev (18.30h/ Gol TV). A draw in that match will be the best (result) for Barça.

IBRA, YES

Barça - Inter, 20.45h/TV-1

Camp Nou will be a “clam” (clamor) in this Champions ”finalísima” (it’s called “finalísima” to a match as vital as the final but which is not the final)

The Swede will lead the attack trying to get a vital victory

Rubin – Dinamo match, which is played earlier, will shape the duel

Messi, in the squad. He longs to play, but Guardiola doesn’t want to take risks

[Non Barça Related]

Cristiano, in the starting lineup “por decreto” (because the bosses or marketing people say so)

This November has been hectic for Barcelona, and its gonna keep on getting tougher. I have to say that Barca is on thin ice now. Having to worry about two games that are surely going to stop the world in one week, is a heavy burden to behold. Ibra’s injury, Messi’s pain, and the Swine Flu outbreak has Guardiola thinking on his toes. Who will he put on the field on Tuesday against Inter De Milan? Who is he going to rest for Sunday’s Classico against the Galacticos? Well his tactics better be correct, and the mentality and determination of the players should be at its all time high. For if they mess up here, the result of not going to the next round of the Champions League, and the fact of being 4 points behind of Real Madrid is possible.

The match against Athletic Club De Bilbao last Saturday could not have been worse. Once again Barca got chance after chance but they lacked the finesse, the finishing touch. Messi’s one on one with the goalkeeper could have made the difference, or perhaps Iniesta’s clearing of the defense, where he unluckily flew the ball. Cruyff was correct: “Barca needs to score and not demonstrate.” Out of the four games Barcelona has missed many chances. Out of these four games Barcelona has managed to score 10 goals and only receive 3. They scored 5 in the Copa Del Rey against Cultural Leonesa, and the other 5 in La Liga (4 against Mallorca and 1 against Bilbao). But where Barca needs to score is in the Champions League. At this current moment Barcelona finds themselves in third place in their Champions League Group F. If they manage to win against Inter tomorrow and not miss any more chances. They can rise to first place with 8 points. If they lose, Inter stay in first place with 9 points, and Barcelona better be praying they win against Dynamo Kiev and that Rubin Kazan loses.

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