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
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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
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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
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The two January ’signings’ of Pep Guardiola for the first team, have returned to the reserves. Thiago Alcantara (18) and Jonathan dos Santos (19), were both seen training under the command of Luis Enrique at the Ciutat Esportiva on Monday morning and will be available for Barca Atletic’s next game against third division club Denia.
Earlier this year Pep Guardiola called up the two midfielders, along with Victor Vazquez (22) and Gai Assulin (18), to cover up the absences during the African Cup of Nations. Gai and Vazquez spent two weeks with the first team before eventually returning to the reserves, while Thiago and Jonathan continued for two more weeks (read more here).
The return of Keita and Touré from the Africa Cup of Nations, in good condition and the recovery of Sergio Busquets from the left kidney brusing he suffered, eventually led to the return of both the homegrown youngsters to the reserves as their chances to gain minutes with the first team have decreased considerably. Guardiola feels its better for the duo to continue accumulating minutes with the reserves rather than staying inactive for too long.
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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.
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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
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Spanish news site, ‘Diario El Confidential’, claims that La Masia youngster and FC Barcelona Atlètic central defender, Marc Bartra, has in recent days been offered to Real Madrid. Advisers of the youngster, who turns 19 on January 15, and whose contract expires on June 30, 2011, are reportedly concerned over the club’s future plans for the player and have now taken measures to secure his professional future.
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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.
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Barcelona Atletic defender Marc Muniesa has overcome the discomfort he has had in his ankle and has been training at full intensity all week. Muniesa is likely to start the game against Badalona this Saturday at 17 hrs CET. Muniesa returned from the Under-17 World Cup that was held in Nigeria with a slight discomfort in his ankle, but was still played in the game against Villarreal Villajoyosa despite feeling a slight pain in his ankle which had thus aggravated and ruled him out of action ever since.
The only other players unavailable for the weekends game against Badalona are central denfender Marc Bartra (18), who was sent off in added time against Orihuela, as he recieved a second yellow card along with long term casuality James Sobregrau (23). Bartra could strengthen the Juvenil A side, who will play this Sunday at 12 hrs CET, in the field of Casablanca Stadium in Zaragoza. In addition to the return of Muniesa, the coaching staff also have Armando Lozano (25) and Ivan Benitez (21), as potential substitutes at the centre of the defense.
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.
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Barça Atlètic won their seventh game of the season at Vila-Joiosa thanks to a goal in injury time. They left it late, having squandered several chances to settle the win earlier on.
Luis Enrique’s side are in the top half of the table with seven wins and 24 points, with a game in hand, after this important win on the road at Vila Joiosa.
First threats
Barça went straight onto the attack from the outset. Playing in a well-structured formation, it was Benja (20) who produced the first threat against the Valencia based side by making a penetrating run through the defence, but his one on one with the goalkeeper saw Nico turn the ball behind for a corner.
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Right after the signing of Rafael Marquez’s contract extension next week, FC Barcelona Technical Secretary, Txiki Begiristain is set to work on the contracts of three of Barca Atletic’s main jewels; midfielders Thiago Alcantara (18), Jonathan dos Santos (19) and forward Gai Assulin (18), whose contracts are set to expire on June 30, 2010, reports Catalan sports paper Sport.
Thiago and Jonathan’s contracts have already been prepared for weeks without any major hiccups in the negotiations, and only need to find a suitable date to make them official.
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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
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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.
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Barcelona have dispatched a couple of scouts to watch Benik Afobe (16) currently in Azerbadjan with the England Under 17 side according to an unconfirmed report from an Arsenal fan blog. The representatives witnessed Afobe score two goals and create two for England in their 2-6 victory over Azerbadjan. His performance earned him the Man of the Match award. The way he performed certainly didn’t scare the scouts away. Barcelona is apparently ready to give him an offer to play for Barca Atletic under the guidance of Luis Enrique. On his 17th birthday Arsenal offered him a professional contract, but Barcelona is supposedly ready to raise his wages to £5.000 a week.
Catalan sport tabloid Sport has reported that Barcelona Atletic forward Ruben Rochina(18) has torn a medial meniscus in his right knee that will force him to undergo surgery. The surgery will keep him out of action for a minimum of two months meaning his return can’t be expected until the beginning of next year(2010).
Rochina was partaking in a friendly match with the Juvenil A team against Santfeliuenc -a game in which Rochina had already scored- when the player was brought to the ground after he felt the tear.
Rochina is the third Barcelona Atletic player to undergo a surgery this season after Thiago and Jaume Sobregrau Mitjans.
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Speaking in an interview following Barca Athletic’s 3-0 win against Sabadell on Sunday, Barça Atlètic midfielder and Mexican international Jonathan Dos Santos (19) has reiterated his commitment to the Catalan club: “My goal is to be at Barça Atlètic, adding up the minutes and the points. God willing, within a short or long term I hope to be with the first team.”
Dos Santos spoke with Catalan newspaper Sport about his experiences as a Barcelona player stating that he would never forget having played with the first team in their pre-season last summer, but his place at the moment is with Barça Atlètic.
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Barcelona Atletic has yestecrday achieved their first home win of the season at the Mini Estadi, 3-0 against Sabadell.
Jonathan Soriano opened the scoring for the hosts in the 22nd min by latching on to a header from Sergio Roberto following a set piece situation and Marc Muniesa scored the second just before half time with a header following a corner. Nolito, who came on as a substitute at halftime replacing Gai Assulin , sealed the victory in the 79th minute.
It was all in all a comfortable victory for Luis Enrique’s lads as the away side were kept at bay throughout the game.
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