Last night FC Barcelona took on seventh-place Real Betis and defeated them with an impressive, though slightly shaky, 4-2 scoreline. Betis pressed and attacked well, exposing the continuing frailties of Barcelona’s defense, but ultimately the blaugrana attack, led by Andres Iniesta and substitute Lionel Messi, proved to be too much for them.
After the victory against Real Betis (4-2) FC Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova said in his press conference that he is leaving for New York again on Monday.
Vilanova, who is still undergoing treatment, is expected to be back on Thursday so he will able to manage the team against Atlético Madrid on Sunday. Unfortunately for Tito, this is not the end because he reportedly has to go back to the Sloan-Kettering Memorial Hospital in June.
Super Messi 4-2 R. Betis
Summary of match: Messi changed here … and finished everything
VICTORY, VICTORY – WITH MESSI, CHAMPIONS
Barcelona two points from the title
Barça 4 – 2 Betis
Leo came on in the second half to score two goals to leave La Liga on the verge
Medical check: Today Tito travels to New York and returns on Thursday
MESSI, LIKE A CHAMPION
Champions on Wednesday if Madrid fail to beat Malaga
Barça 4-2 Betis
Messi, with two great goals, changed the game when he came on in the 56th minute with the score at 2-2
“Champions! Champions!” was sang loudly in the Camp Nou
The Barcelona women’s team crowned champions in San Mamés
totalBarça welcomes you all to the Liga game between FC Barcelona and Real Betis!
(Sunday May 5, 2012 @ 21:00 Barcelona time - Convert to local time). We also have the return of the Match Countdown Timer at the right side of the main page above the Search bar!
Éric Abidal and Sergio Busquets have both been cleared to play by FC Barcelona’s medical staff following training on Sunday morning, which was the final session before the visit of Betis this evening (21:00). The two players, along with Messi, were able to train normally with the rest of the group. Pedro, meanwhile, did specific training work separate from his teammates.
Cartoon of the Day: Sport
Barça and Madrid will have to drink to forget about Europe
Some will drink from a good cup … others will have to settle for a baby’s cup
Cartoon by Caye
TIME TO SEW UP LA LIGA
Barça should get even closer to wrapping up the title today with a win against Betis
Messi, who trained fully yesterday, could be the big difference
100 million transfer kitty: The usual 50 million budget each year + 50 million from sales
Ticking-off from Tito to Piqué: “I suppose the player that asked for changes did not think it could be he himself that could be changed”
TITO STALLS ON REVOLUTION
“There will not be big changes, we will do what we thought would work before Bayern”
Ticking-off for Piqué; “Perhaps he thought that he would not be one of the changes”
Barça – Betis; let’s win to be two points away from the title
Valdés out, Messi will have some playing time
Neymar’s advisers: If you go to Madrid, you will be another Robinho
Messi, emphatic: I have not been speaking more with Guardiola
Avoiding the blame-game for the time being, the main thing learned from the previous few matches is that errors cost games. Defensively, there were three errors committed throughout the second leg against Bayern Munich, and they all resulted in goals. Offensively… there was no end in sight. Pedro had a good shot on goal, in a single unexpected long distance attempt. Dani Alves broke through the box with no one covering him, but then hesitated to finish it, waiting for someone to break into the box, to pass it to. The problem is that the Bayern defense recovered during his wait. The rest of the attempts were either similar or less important.
There are many reasons as to why these displays happened, and there are many theories as to how they can be addressed, but the one sure thing is that regardless of the scoreline against Betis in La Liga, Barça will not claim the title on Sunday night.
Real Madrid had battled to a 4-3 score at the Bernabéu against Valladolid, and so pushes our party to at least next week, if we manage to draw and win our next two games (including Sunday’s Betis game). So how will Barça bounce back after the German hammering?
FC Barcelona’s first team was back at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper this Saturday morning. Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets were both able to train normally with the group. Defender Abidal was also able to continue working at the same pace as his teammates, as he had during Friday’s training session.
Bad news coming from FC Barcelona’s official website. Goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (31) is injured for tomorrow’s game against Real Betis.
Valdés reportedly has a foot injury, the same one which kept him from playing the Catalunya-Nigeria friendly in January. He has been officially ruled out of the game against Betis at Camp Nou so we will probably see José Manuel Pinto (37) between the sticks tomorrow.
After thousands of millions of liters of tears, Crybaby Doll Mourinho recognizes …
“Barça is the best team of the last 30 years.”
Cartoon by Caye
REINA FOR TWO YEARS
Barça think about Pepe as Valdés’ substitute while they look for a young and skilled goalkeeper
He would be the ideal goalkeeper for the transition: he knows the philosophy, is skilled, cheap and wants to come back
Madrid put pressure. Barça are waiting for a reply from Neymar as soon as possible
Mou, inflammatory. The coach showed his pride for having achieved the record Liga, attacked Casillas and said that Barça was the best team of the world
MOU’S SHOW
Poisoned “will” by Madrid’s coach
“I only regret not having signed Diego López on my first year here”
“In 21 years, there have been 18 coaches and only 5 Champions semifinals; Mourinho, that oh-so-bad coach, got 3 semifinals in 3 years
“Barça is, probably, the best team of the world of the last 20-30 years”
Madrid’s offensive to sign Neymar. Florentino, willing to pay 40 millions for compensation to Barça
Cesc wants to give it another try next season. He is sure that he is able to improve
With speculation abounding over who will stay and go this summer, another question often slips through the cracks, a problem specific to FC Barcelona: who will get promoted from Barça B? Every year, a couple of the club’s youngsters are given first team contracts and a chance to prove their worth. Last year, Cuenca, Fontàs, and Thiago joined the team. This year it was Dos Santos, Tello, Bartra, and Montoya. Next year, likely candidates for promotion are center-back Marc Muniesa, whose season was disrupted by a severe muscle tear this fall, midfielders Sergi Roberto and Rafinha Alcântara, and winger Gerard Deulofeu, crown prince of La Masia. Read on after the break to find out what challenges these youngsters might face in their development.
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