The official FC Barcelona website report that Barcelona B defender and Spanish U-21 international Andreu Fontas (20) has extended his contract for a further season, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2011/12 season.
FC Barcelona official website reports that 17 players from the Barca B squad, with the exception of the ones called up for the European Under-19 Championships with Spain, will begin the preseason with the first team under the orders of Josep Guardiola on Monday.
FC Barcelona official website report that Guardiola is weighing his options as to promoting which Barca Atletic (now Barcelona B) defender for next season. The players now have a unique opportunity to prove themselves in the preseason in order to break through the first team ranks.
Catalan sports paper Sport report that Barca have today rejected Premier League club West Ham United’s bid to lure Barcelona Atlètic defender and Spanish U-21 international Andreu Fontas (20) to Upton Park.
Playing on a slippery pitch in atrocious condition, risk of an injury-causing clash of bodies is certain to happen, and it did last night for FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique against Tenerife. Having had to make a lunge in an attempt to block Alfaro from taking a shot on goal in the 14th minute, the Catalan player took a knock to his right knee and was visibly in discomfort throughout the rest of the first half.
Barca Atlètic drew 1-1 at the weekend against Espanyol B. They dominated the first half but failed to press home their advantage in a much more contested second half.
After a run of three games without a victory, Barca Atlètic won an intense game at Gramanet with Elvis and Benja on target for the team, who only began to suffer when Oscar scored an 88th minute goal for the hosts.
Barça Atletic conceded two early goals against Sporting, both scored by their forward Guillem, and despite constantly knocking at the opponent’s net, Luis Enrique’s lads were unable to conjure even a single point.
Barça Atlètic were held to a 1-1 draw against Logroñés, a rival who clearly came looking for a draw, which they achieved with a last minute equaliser, just when it looked as if Luis Enrique’s team would take the points.
Logroñés came looking for a draw, packing their defence and midfield in an attempt to stop their hosts from playing – something they achieved in the first 45 minutes in which Barca made a few chances, but were unable to get on the scoreboard.
Soriano on target again
The list of futbol draft awards 2010, for young Spanish players, has been revealed. 132 young players were selected for the award; Barcelona have 19 youngsters on the list. The list starts from a pool of 132 players, which is then drafted to 33, and then the best 3 players from each position are selected.
Defenders
The list didn’t include any Barcelona goalkeepers but constituted nine defenders. In the right back position there is Barca Atletic’s Martin Montoya (18) and Juvenil A’s Albert Dalmau (17), while for the left back position Juvenil A’s Carles Planas (18) was selected. For the right centre back position, Barca Atletic’s Marc Bartra (18) and Juvenil B’s Eduard Campabadal (16) were selected. For the left centre back position there was a place for Barca Atletic’s Marc Muniesa (17), Andreu Fontas (20), Juvenil B’s Sergio Ayala (16) and Barcelona loan-out player and Sporting Gijon defender Alberto Botia (21).
Midfielders
Barça Atlètic have beaten local rivals Sabadell 2-3 thanks to a goal from Soriano and two from Nolito during the second half. Despite trailing from the first half, the reserves reacted well after the break and fought back for a victory.
The Barça reserves, coached by Luis Enrique, stay in second place in the second division table 9 points behind leaders Sant Andreu, who they beat last week 2-1.
An early setback
Barça Atlétic moved into second place in the table after Jonathan Soriano scored twice to give them an impressive win against leaders Sant Andreu.
After tasting defeat last weekend against Denia the Blaugrana bounced back on Satudray to record a morale-boosting victory in the Miniestadi against a strong visiting outfit who have impressed throughout this season.
Luis Enrique’s team found their rhythm quickly and created several chances in an entertaining encounter that saw both teams give everything to try and win.
Barça Atlètic conceded an early goal away to Denia and despite controlling most of the game could not find a way through the packed local defence.
Barça Atlètic will go into next weekend’s match against the league leaders with a 12-point deficit. The defeat against Denia combined with Sant Andreu’s victory against Badalona (2-1) means that the Barça reserves are now third with 47 points, a point behind Benidorm in second place.
Early goal
Barça Atlètic chalked up another home win on Saturday, thrashing Gava 5-0 with goals from Jose Rueda (22), Elvis Onyema (23), Nolito (23), Jonathan Soriano (24) and Gai Assulin (18).
After going 14 games unbeaten, 12 wins and two draws Barca Atletic lost 1-0 to Mallorca B a fortnight ago and only drew 2-2 with Benidorm in their next game, but they got back to winning ways with a convincing win over Gava at the Mini Estadi on Saturday.
Chances from the off
Luis Enrique’s team were making chances right from the start with Elvis shooting wide on 4 minutes after being set up by Montoya and Gai down the left and two minutes later birthday boy Rueda opened the scoring with a great long range effort.
Barca Atletic managed to garner only one point from their trip to Foietes. The reserves went ahead with goals from Benja and Soriano in the first half but Benidorm drew the game with two goals in the second half.
Barca Atletic failed to repeat their away victory of the previous season against Benidorm and had to settle for a draw, despite having entered the break with a comfortable lead (0-2).
Great first half
Seydou Keita, whose Mali team has been eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations, is due back in training on Thursday. Meanwhile, his team-mates went through their paces at the Joan Gamper Sports City on Wednesday morning.
The return of the African midfielder just two days before Barça travel to Valladolid’s Nuevo José Zorrilla will be welcome news for Josep Guardiola. Keita has missed the month of January due to his international commitments but should now rejoin his team-mates in training on Thursday. Barça’s other African star, Touré, is still involved in the tournament with Ivory Coast.
Andreu Fontàs
Barça Atlètic are unbeaten in 14 games, which beats the best streak so far under Luis Enrique, which was 13 last season. And they have also consolidated their second place, a point behind leaders Sant Andreu.
FC Barcelona Atlètic have won their last five matches in a row, at the Miniestadi after their latest win against Orihuela (2-0). The goals were scored by Edu Oriol and Bartra.
The reserve team, managed by Luis Enrique, have produced a good start to 2010, despite missing key players such as Jonathan Dos Santos, Thiago Alcántara, Gai and Víctor Vázquez, all of whom have been incorporated into the senior squad by Josep Guardiola.
LIGA 1, WEEK 18:
FC Barcelona Atletic managed only to draw their away game against Valencia Mestalla, who currently occupy the last place in the standings. Luis Enrique’s men failed to achieve victory against a team, that fought hard to earn their single point.
The Barcelona players enjoyed a high possession game, while Valencia were confined to defending for large parts of the game, which was played at their home ground. Despite controlling the game, the Barcelona players failed to create any clear chances in the initial stages of the game.
However, this changed gradually as the game went on, and in the 26th minute FC Barcelona open up the scoring. Fontas unleashed a superb shot outside the box, after a great cross from Rueda, which went behind the Valencia keeper.
Barça Atlètic have attained their eighth consecutive victory after beating Terrassa 4-0 with goals from Soriano, Armando and Thiago, as well as a ninth-minute own-goal from Canet.
Barça dominated from the outset, but Terrassa looked strong and prevented Barça from getting near the goalmouth.
Early goal
The first goal came in the ninth minute, when Terrassa player Canet put the ball into his own net after a cross from Jonathan Dos Santos.
A first-half fright
Barça Atlètic have racked up their second victory of the week after beating Lleida away. Nolito snatched the winner in the last minute after Soriano had got the first in the 32nd minute.
Barça Atlètic are going great guns in Second Division B and have beaten Lleida 2-1. The side showed they were up for the game right from the kick off as they put pressure on the home team’s goal and continued their run of excellent results.
Barça show superiority
Note: This game was originally to be played on 15th November 2009 but was later postponed to 2nd December 2009, due to a chronic shortage of players due to injuries and international commitments.
Barca Atlètic chalked up their sixth consecutive win with 2-1 victory over Alicante at the Mini Estadi on Wednesday night, which takes them up into the play-off spots and just 2 points behind first-placed Mallorca B.
Luis Enrique and Joan Barberá’s young team are in top form right now, not having lost since the 7th round of games, when they lost to Sant Andreu, and having won their last six games on the trot.
Barca Atlètic continued their rise in the league, after beating second placed Ontinyent 2-0 thanks to goals from Gai Assulin and Benja Martinez in the second half.
Barca started the game very focused and did not allow Ontinyent to get into their stride. For their part, the visitors pressured high up the pitch trying unsuccessfully to stop Barca’s fast passing game.
First chance
It is reported on the club’s official website that Barcelona’s Mexican central defender Rafael Marquez is ‘suspected’ to have contracted the H1N1 virus, pending confirmation from the club’s medical staff. If verified, he will be the third first team player out due to the illness after Eric Abidal and Yaya Toure.
Marquez has complained of being feverish this morning and will now be unavailable for tonight’s game against Athletic Bilbao at the San Mames. With his absence, Pep Guardiola has had to summon Barca Atletic player, Andreu Fontas (20) to replace him.
The squad began preparation for the Copa Del Rey fixture against Cultural Leonesa tonight with seven players from the first team unavailable due to various injuries and international commitments.
Guardiola called up three Barca Atletic players, Jonathan dos Santos (19), Oriol Romeu (18) and Andreu Fontas (19), to train with the first team and may include all three of them in the final squad depending on the requirement.
Jonathan dos Santos and Andreu Fontas have already made their debuts with the first team and also had their pre-season with the first team whereas this would be the first senior call up for the Spanish youth international and Barca Atletic defensive midfielder Romeu, if he does indeed make it to the final squad.
Barça Atlètic, managed by Luis Enrique, have scored a well-deserved 0-2 win over cross-city rivals Espanyol B.
The first half hour belonged pretty much to the home side and Espanyol B had as many as four clear chances to take the lead. And with the Barça players forced back into their own half a well-organised Espanyol defence had little work to do.
First chance, first goal
Barca Atlètic chalked up their fifth game on the run without a defeat by beating local rivals Gramanet, despite playing without a number of regulars.
Barca started strongly and Jonathan Soriano had a great chance early on with just the keeper to beat, but couldn’t put it away, but on 27 minutes they were ahead after captain Rueda rounded off a great move, latching onto a cross from Edu Oriol.
Rueda was again on target 10 minutes later with a shot from outside the box to make it 2-0 and Soriano and Dos Santos could have finished the game off with chances before the break .
Barca Atletic yesterday saw the return of its five players who traveled to Leon on Wednesday to play in the first leg of the knockout stage of the Copa del Rey against Cultural Leonesa. For one player, Andreu Fontas Prat (19), happy news awaited him at the club’s offices; an improvement to his contract, Catalan sports paper Sport said.
The Banyoles-born player signed an upward revision to his current contract, corresponding with his new status within the team. A year ago, Fontas barely featured in Luis Enrique’s plans but he is now seen as a regular for Barca Atletic, and is being valued by Pep Guardiola as a serious cover for his defense.
Barca Atletic chalked up their third win on the road with a hard won 0-2.
Although the host’s early pressing forced Luis Enrique’s team into playing some unfamiliar route one football, they gradually began to impose themselves and begin to roll out their trademark passing game.
Opening goal
Elvis was subbed off 14 minutes after pulling up with a muscle strain and Soriano came on after his own two week injury layoff.
Barca began to create chances with Jonathon Dos Santos creating the first two opportunities and then making the pass to Nolito to score in the 37th minute with a wonderful piece of control before firing past the keeper.
Barca Atletico have have drawn their ninth game of the season against Alcoyano on Saturday at the Mini Estadi.
Many players missing
As has been the case so far this season Luis has again not been able to count on many of his troops. Marc Muniesa (17) and Sergi Roberto (17) were on international duty with the Spain U-17 while Thiago Alcantara (18), Victor Vazquez (22), Jonathan Soriano (22) have being out injured. Luis Enrique decided to replace young Marc Muniesa, Sergi Roberto with Andreu Fontas (19) who himself has just got back from Spanish U-20 duty and Ilie Sanchez (19) respectively.
Alcoyano opens the scoring
Alcoyano opened the scoring in the 2nd minute of the game with a goal by Victor Curto after a defensive mistake due to the lack of understanding between new defensive pairing Fontas (19) and Bartra (18). The reserves reacted quickly and showed first signs of warning in the 7th minute, as Joanthan Dos Santos (19) played Nolito (23) with a great through ball but he could not finish.
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