Interviewed by news agency Europa Press, Thierry Henry wanted to put an end to recent criticisms about his fitness and his eye for goal by sarcastically saying, “It is true that I went without scoring for a long time, but I sometimes read that it was for six months. I didn’t know you can score goals while on holiday or injured. It’s unbelievable”.

Henry said even though he was pleased with his goal, he stressed that what really matters is the team: “I really wanted to score to help my team. It is hard when you’re out injured and not being able to do it, watching your teammates play and not being able to participate. I still have to regain my form though and when I do get to play again, I want to score more goals”.

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FC Barcelona regained their confidence by defeating Real Mallorca 4-2 at the Camp Nou last night. It is a football display not as fluid or as composed as they usually do since Pep Guardiola has pulled a surprise by doing wholesale changes to the team by resting four of his starting eleven; central midfield duo of Iniesta and Xavi, right-back Dani Alves and winger Messi.

The goals came courtesy of Pedro Rodriguez (2), Thierry Henry (1) and Lionel Messi (1, p.k.) for Barcelona, while Mallorca replied with goals from Jose Nunes and Keita Otchico.

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Catalan newspaper El Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic (28) has suffered an elongation in the muscle of his left leg and he will be out of action about a week. Ibrahimovic was hurt in the league match against Mallorca, in a situation which led to a penalty kick. Mallorca defender Josemi engaged to Ibrahimovic who soon noticed discomfort in his leg. Barcelona’s medical staff announced that Ibrahimovic will be sidelined for five to seven days. He is going to miss the second leg match against Cultural Leonesa in the Copa Del Rey next Tuesday. However, Ibrahimovic won’t miss any league matches, since there is no league round next weekend.

PEDRO CHIPS AWAY AT THE MATCH

Barça 4 – 2 Mallorca

Pedro made two goals which directed the leader to the worked triumph

Henry scored for the first time this season and Barça has finally received a penalty

Pep kept out four of the “cracks”: Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and Dani Alves.

Ibra, injured his leg, will be out for a week.

[Non Barça Related]

Madrid won by a hair’s breadth. Atletico 2 – 3 Real Madrid

Editor’s Note:

Ronaldinho scored a fantastic penalty last week against Real Madrid. He’s one of the greatest players ever to have worn our beloved Barcelona shirt and a personal all-time favourite along with Ronaldo (R9). He truly was a magical player and had his best years at FC Barcelona.

I had this video saved since days he was sold to Milan, so most of you might have seen it already.

Enjoy,

OmarX

A SUITABLE REACTION FOR A CHAMPION

Barça silences the criticism with 4 goals

Barça 4 – 2 Mallorca

Pedro, the leader of the revolution. Guardiola kept Messi, Xavi and Iniesta benched until the second half and Pedro pulled the team with two goals.

[Non Barça Related]

Casillas saves Real Madrid again. After Ramos’ sending-off, Atletico could have made a comeback from 0-3 down.

Henry has finally scored his 1st goal of the season and Pedro is proving his worth by an excellent performance.
We bring you the updated stats.

Barcelona has played 18 official games (10 in the Liga, 4 in the Champions League, 1 in the Copa del Rey, 2 in the Spanish Super Cup and 1 in the European Super Cup)

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The last time Thierry Henry scored a goal (in fact two goals) was on May 2 last year when he help Barcelona humiliate Real Madrid on their home soil in the last edition of the El Classico (2-6). Beset by never-ending injuries one after the other for the past six month, he found it hard to regain his form in the few matches he played in, according to Catalan sports paper Sport.

The last time Henry was in Pep Guardiola’s starting line-up was on September 26 at La Rosaleda at Malaga, when he injured himself. Since then, the striker has failed to start in a total of nine matches. His most recent brief recovery period was last month when he again hurt himself while playing for France in their World Cup qualifiers.

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Carles Puyol – Defender

The first to speak was Carles Puyol, and El Capitan could not hide his satisfaction: “because it was an important victory against a tough opponent that closed up (defensively) really well”.

Playing in place of Daniel Alves at right back, Puyol welcomed the rotations because “(even though) we leave out several of the best players in the world (on the bench), it just shows that the team is good”.

Finally, Puyol said he is pleased with the result because “we have to focus on adding three points every week to ensure that we still lead (the table) at the end of the season, which is imperative”. Continue reading »

British tabloid News of the World has today reported that Barcelona are readying a bid for Manchester United and English International striker Wayne Rooney (24) in a deal that would see Rooney become the world’s most expensive footballer.

In a revelation of a report, it is stated that a proposed bid – believed to be worth around €95 million Euro – could well be considered by the English Giants due to their increasing debts.

It is stated that Barcelona see Rooney as a versatile player who can adapt to various positions including the wing, a position that the player slotted into in Rome when his side faced off against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League Final.

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Phew.

Once again – in dazzling fashion – Barcelona have silenced their recent critics with a thundering victory over a Mallorca side that lacked creativity and imagination as Barcelona demolished the islanders 4-2.

Barcelona will once again retain their lead at the top of La Liga for another round as Real Madrid are – as I speak – dominating their game against Atletico Madrid and are a certain bet to take home the 3 points.

Back to the game now, and what a game it was! Beautiful Barca is all you could say, it was vintage, it was attractive it had goals, it had it all!

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11′ P. Rodriguez [1-0]

20′ J.C. Nunes [1-1]

40′ P. Rodriguez [2-1]

44′ T. Henry [3-1]

87′ L. Messi (pen.) [4-1]

90′ A. Keita [4-2]

FC Barcelona secured a 4 – 2 victory at the Camp Nou against Mallorca. Pedro bagged a brace in first half, and was the architect behind Henry’s goal after a well taken free kick from the youngster. An in-form Ibrahimovic was rewarded a penalty kick in second half, which Messi slotted home.

The full match review is underway, but for now – you can catch the match statistics after the jump.

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FC Barcelona – RCD Mallorca
(Saturday November 7, 2009 @ 20:00 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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Asked about who he wants to win tonight by Mallorca’s official website, Eto’o said he has “a great affection” for both Barcelona and Mallorca, and for that reason he would not choose either one: “Right on the pitch center circle, so no one can say that I am more for one side than the other,” he said.

“My professional duties compel me to be here (Milan). We have the match against Roma, so the only chance I get to see the match is on TV. I will follow it closely,” confessed the Cameroonian striker, when asked if he wishes he could see the match at the Camp Nou.

Eto’o who has always reiterated his desire is to finish his footballing career at Mallorca, praised the Balearic club fifth position in the league.

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According to Sport, Barcelona squad has received an early Christmas present from Finnish children’s book author and artist Mauri Kunnas. The gift for Barcelona squad was his famous book “The magic of Father Christmas”, which have been translated into 29 languages and published in 31 countries. The author himself couldn’t hand over his work, so the translator and editor of the book Emma Claret got the honour to offer the gift for players and coaches in Ciutat Esportiva. She waited for the completion of the training and then had the opportunity to distribute the copies of the book. Claret herself was also excited about the meeting with Barcelona squad: “It was a fantastic experience. Those who have read the book have told me that they loved it.”

Barcelona’s youth system has always produced many quality players. One of these players is the young midfielder Sergi Roberto (17), whose performances in the U-17 World Cup have been spectacular. He scored a hattrick against Burkina Faso in the first playoff round and led Spain to the quarterfinals. Due to these performances, the creative midfielder has been called up to Luis Enrique’s Barcelona Atletic team to play some matches.

Sergi Roberto mentions two homegrown Barcelona players Xavi and Andres Iniesta, and Roberto intends to succeed like them and play in Camp Nou. “It would be a dream to be like Xavi or Iniesta. I play the same position and they are the ones I admire.” Sergi Roberto’s teammate in both club and national team Adria Carmona (17) said that getting to the quarterfinals with Spain was the best thing that has happened to him so far. “I thank you all for your congratulations. Now ask me to do three goals in the quarterfinals,” added the young winger.

Beset by financial trouble and in need of a reliable goal-getter as cover for often injured Fernando Torres, English Premiership side Liverpool is said to be ready to put Argentine Javier Mascherano (25) and Dutchman Ryan Babel (22) on the winter transfer market, according to Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo, even though this news is yet to be picked up by other news site. The paper has also claimed that Liverpool is ready to accept a starting bid of €25 million for Mascherano.

Looking to reinforce its midfield, especially in light of Seydou Keita and Yaya Toure’s participation in the African Nations Cup next January, Barcelona is said to have already tried to negotiate for Mascherano last summer, only to be steadfastly rejected by Rafa Benitez.

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