President of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta takes the twenty-first century adage of “work hard, party harder” quite seriously. Prior to this week, Barca were facing the possibility of elimination at the group-stage of Champions’ League and were trailing La Liga leaders Real Madrid by one point. They however, turned things around. Over the week, Pep’s men earned a hard fought victory over arch rivals Real Madrid to regain the league leadership after pulverizing Inter Milan earlier to smoothen their path towards the Round of 16.

Laporta decided that grand happiness deserves grand celebration and let his hair lose in the Luz de Gas discotheque in Barcelona. He was seen drinking champagne and dancing on the night of El Clasico.

Source: Corriere dello Sport

Find a video recording of Laporta’s performance after the jump  :)

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Ibra: “Iker, there’s only so far you can see in the mirror.”

“You can now look at us through these binoculars.”

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1. The gallery mosaic that greeted fans and players at the Camp Nou on  Sunday was staged in commemoration of Barcelona’s 110th anniversary. The Catalan club was founded by Hans Gamper on November 29, 1899.

2. The most anticipated game of the season gathered 97,131 spectators, a new season record, topping last Tuesday’s 93,524 fans that watched the Barcelona-Inter Milan Champions League match/Eto’o’s homecoming.

3. Among those that watched at the Camp Nou were foreign dignitaries as well as Catalan actor  Eduard Fernández wearing an Alcorcón scarf, and legendary Belgian cyclist and long time Barcelona admirer, Eddy Merckx, who officially became a socio before the match  (he is member # 171, 070).

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The internet, such as social network Facebook, is abuzz with the news, images and comments made by the peaceful Barcelona midfielder Andrés Iniesta losing his composure and rushing forward at a provocative Cristiano Ronaldo in el Clasico, according to Catalan sports paper Sport, and most was seen as in support of his action.

On Facebook, a group calling itself ‘The day Iniesta told CR9 to shut up’ already has some 90,000 members. Besides this group, others such as ‘How I laughed seeing Iniesta shutting Cristiano up’ and ‘Iniesta silences the Poligonero (i.e. the contemptous)’ are also gaining a lot of support.

Iniesta was still angry at the end of the match when he told reporters: “It annoyed me that Cristiano told me not to dive because he is not exactly the best person to tell anyone that. He should not be accusing anyone whether they dived or not.”

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(The Scoreboard reads)

Those who only need ten (men) – 1

Those who need to invest 300 million more – 0

This is how their boat looks in our rearview

Speaking to Catalan sports paper Sport after Barcelona’s training session, the day after their win in el Clasico,  Zlatan Ibrahimovic said he is aware that his goal has left a mark on everyone, and being the player who brought down Real Madrid, is now ‘confirmed’ as the new hero of the Camp Nou.

Zlatan has to live up to a very intense expectation since he first arrived in Barcelona. In his official presentation, he was hailed by more than 50,000 fans in the Camp Nou. But he has repaid that faith soon after with goals after goals, and titles; The Spanish and European Super Cups, but nothing compared to the one he scored on Sunday.

The el Clasico at the Camp Nou was the Swede first big game in Barcelona colours and he acknowledged its significance: “I have scored in the AC Milan – Inter match before, but to do it in el Clasico feels a lot better, there is just no comparison.”

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The repurcussions of the latest El Clasico played between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid seem to have extended way beyond the lush green pitch of the Camp Nou and into the virtual turf of the internet. Cules online have made most of the victory the Blaugrana players have given them and have let their creativity run wild to take jabs at the team they most want to beat.

Read on after the jump to take a first hand look at their wacky creations.

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In the el Clasico post-match press conference held after the match, FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola admitted he was satisfied for having won the match and said the key to the Catalan’s team victory was “not to fade away” at any moment in the match especially after losing Busquets, and probably an allusion to the difficulties faced by his players in the first half too.

Speaking of the early domination by Real Madrid, Guardiola said, “We were caught between the lines, and we were not prepared. With Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Higuain playing in the space, they are a constant danger. We finished the first half well and were better in the second. I wouldn’t know what would have happened if we still have 11 players on the pitch”.

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FC Barcelona

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC: “The credit goes to Dani [Alves] who put an excellent cross into the middle. I just tried to hit it and it went in. It’s a great moment, in my first Clasico. It was a fantastic atmosphere, I’m really happy.”

ANDRES INIESTA : (reacting to an on-pitch incident with Cristiano Ronaldo) “It disturbed me that Cristiano felt the need to tell me that I should not dive. Because he is not the most appropriate person to be doing such a thing.”… (commenting on the game) “It’s a great result and now we must stay focused and continue working.” Continue reading »

Original article @ http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/nov/30/ronaldo-ibrahimovic-real-madrid-barcelona

Posted by Sid Lowe

Monday 30 November 2009 13.06 GMT

This time, Iker Casillas wasn’t wearing his Iker Casillas face, the one that says “you call that a defence?!” This time, his defence was a defence. He was, though, wearing the face of an idiot. Up the tunnel and through the plywood door, chapel to the left, dressing room to the right, Dani Alves was wearing the face of a grinning simpleton, all glazed expression and cheeky smiles. Xabi Alonso was wearing the face of the disappointed, doe-eyed and sad, Pepe was wearing the face of Stanley Ipkiss, and Cristiano Ronaldo was wearing the shiny but not particularly happy face of someone who applies too much lotion. It was hard to see what kind of face Carles Puyol was wearing but he was probably smiling behind all that hair.

Manuel Pellegrini, meanwhile, was wearing what the Spanish describe as a face of circumstances, skin dragged down as if an invisible weight hung from his chin. His side had just produced their best league performance in the biggest match – an intense, high-tempo display in the clásico. One in which he insisted “we were better than them in just about everything”, in which Kaká showed flashes of his class, Alonso and Lass Diarra smothered Barça’s midfield, and Ronaldo looked dangerous; in which almost everyone played well, in fact. But still they had lost 1-0, despite playing almost half an hour with an extra man. Still they’d lost top spot; still Barcelona had secured their best ever start. Only two coaches had reached week 12 unbeaten before – Bobby Robson and Terry Venables.

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With their 1-0 home win against Real Madrid in last night’s el Clasico Round 1, Barcelona regained la Liga lead (30 – 28) after 12 rounds of matches. It was a match filled with uncertainty in the line-ups of both teams due to recent injuries and was a pretty balanced contest with the visiting side taking the early initiative but unable to capitalise on it.

The winning goal came courtesy of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 56^th minute.

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“Cristiano Ronaldo fell slightly short of his promised 10 or 20 goals”
Barcelona Right back defender Daniel Alves in the aftermath of his sides 1-0 win over arch rivals Real Madrid.

Barcelona have completed their usual matchday training session this Sunday morning at the Camp Nou pitch that involves all members of the first team except the still recovering Gabriel Milito.

During home games, it is common for Pep Guardiola to hold his final training session at the stadium, focusing on game strategy.

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According to Madrid based sports papers Marca and AS, though as yet has to be confirmed officially, Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has already named his starting eleven for tonight’s el Clasico match at the Camp Nou.

The papers claim French striker Karim Benzema will be sacrificed to make way for the recently recovered Cristiano Ronaldo, and captain Raul Gonzales will start from the bench.

If correct, according to the report, los Blancos will start the match as such: Continue reading »

In an analysis he made for France TV Canal Plus, former Real Madrid’s galactico and current Florentino Perez’s adviser, Zinedine Zidane confessed to his admiration for the footballing style practiced by Barcelona and acknowledged that in light of the Catalan side’s last Champions League win over Inter Milan (2-0), it will be very difficult to stop the Blaugranas, at least for now. And Real Madrid, in his opinion, is comparably inferior, and believes that only the ‘non-presence’ of Barcelona’s maestro midfielder Andres Iniesta can level the playing field.

The football exhibition displayed by a well-oiled Barcelona machine against Inter Milan has made an impact in Europe, according to Zidane: “I pray that players like Iniesta could not play against Real Madrid (this Sunday),” he declared, adding, “Playing the way they play, neither Real Madrid nor any else can stop them. It is almost impossible.”

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November 29, 2009, 19:00 CET – Camp Nou, Barcelona

Calderón: Florentino, our worst fears have become a reality, our nightmares have escaped the captivity of our dreams to torture us. Barcelona have ripped away from us the title of the best team in Espanya!

Pérez: Relax Ramón! This has happened many times before, Real will bounce back, as always.

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In the el Clasico pre-match press conference today, Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini, said his team is equal or better in stature than the Catalan side, and feels his team has the ability to beat Barcelona at the Camp Nou tomorrow night.

“Barcelona is not only Xavi, Iniesta and Messi, but is an established style,” Pellegrini opened the question and answer session, “Perhaps we lack the ease with which they play, but we can also dominate in possession and have more shot on goals than all of our past opponents.”

“I disagree with those who say that they play better than us. We have established that, because they are neither ahead in la Liga nor in the Champions League (10 points to 8). They neither score any more goals nor a fitter side. We are just different. Real Madrid plays well, though at times we got a bit stuck,” he added.

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In today’s el Clasico pre-match press conference, FC Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola thinks tomorrow match is going to be a balanced and hard fought match where both teams will press for the win: “Real Madrid is a team that places a lot of importance on keeping possession of the ball, likes to dominate a match and plays well on the counter-attack.”

“Away from home, they have only let in four goals all season and I think defence-wise, they are very strong. I have this feeling that they are going to be well organised,” he added.

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In an exclusive interview with Madrid sports paper Marca today, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema acknowledged the importance of his first ever el Clasico to his career.

Although in recent days there has been a lot of talk about Barcelona’s spectacular football and Real Madrid’s lack of style, the Frenchman is asking for patience from the media and fans, saying that “bit by bit the spectacle will come.”

Asked about Real’s prospect of beating the Catalan side on their home turf, Benzema said he is confident of his team’s chances this Sunday and is not concerned, “I’m afraid of neither Barca nor the Camp Nou.”

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In a press conference yesterday, FC Barcelona Brazilian right-back Daniel Alves said he thinks Real Madrid is relying too much on Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo to carry the team forward in this Sunday’s el Clasico, but admits is not concerned with his inclusion.

It seems that Cristiano Ronaldo will return this Sunday and adds a lot muscle (to Real Madrid).

He is a great player and very crucial (to them). They are placing a lot of expectation on him, but a team is made up of 20 to 22 players, and not just one. I prefer having a great team than having to rely on one player to get the win for us in every match.

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According to Madrid based sports daily Marca, Real Madrid players feel they are being unfairly treated by the media and some of their own fans after criticisms were hurled at them for playing badly against Zurich in the Champions League on Wednesday, even though they won the match by the lone  Gonzalo Higuain goal. And because of that they want to prove their doubters wrong and take their revenge by striking Barcelona a blow at the Camp Nou.

“We are going to shut a lot mouths” is the message that has come out of los Blancos dressing room ahead of their el Clasico clash, and they intend to redeem themselves this weekend.

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Real Madrid:
Casillas,
Sergio Ramos (72 van der Vaart), Cannavaro, Metzelder, Heinze,
Diarra, Gago
Robben (79 Garcia), Raul, Marcelo (59 Huntelaar)
Higuain

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In a press conference yesterday, FC Barcelona defender and captain, Carles Puyol said, just like the rest of his teammates, he is looking forward to win el Clasico but only seeking to secure the three points available.

“A match against Real Madrid always has its attraction, filled with great desire. I always want to win it and it comes at a good moment for us because the win against Inter gave us a lot confidence and morale. Both teams feel the pressure and I see a 50-50 chance for both teams.”

Touching on the team’s different playing ‘style’, the player just said that “everyone has his game philosophy” and what matters is the result at the end of the match: “What is crucial is for us to keep the ball, try to play our style of football and go for the win,” adding, “If Real Madrid is leading, it is for a reason. They have won almost all of their games.”

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Real Madrid:
Casillas,
Salgado, Metzelder, Cannavaro, Sergio Ramos,
Sneijder (36 Palanca), Gago, Guti (73 Garcia), Drenthe
Raul, Higuain (77 van der Vaart)

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FC Barcelona right-back Daniel Alves said he is looking forward to el Clasico this Sunday, according to Madrid sports paper AS. In fact, he admitted he still has fond memories of the 2-6 at the Barnebeu last May, and thinks every Real Madrid player will have an added motivation to reverse the fortune on Barcelona at the Camp Nou on the 29^th: “If I was a Madrid player, I would certainly be looking forward to come to the Camp Nou with revenge on my mind, but I believe they will come with a lot of respect (for us)”.

Alves also spoke of respect for the opponent and advocating caution because he is perfectly aware that in a clash of this magnitude, any outcome is possible. Nevertheless he has full confidence in his team: “As with the match against Inter Milan, we showed that Barcelona is a formidable ‘team’. We proved that despite injuries to key players, we were not troubled by a match as crucial as on Tuesday night.”

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Real Madrid:
Casillas,
Salgado, Sergio Ramos, Helguera, Roberto Carlos,
Zidane, Pablo Garcia (67 Julio Baptista), Beckham, Robinho,
Raul (58 Guti), Ronaldo

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Goals:

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Real Madrid:

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Hey culés,

It’s that time of the year again. El Clásico at the Camp Nou!
At totalBarca, we will be featuring videos of past significant clásicos all week long leading to the match on November 29th, 2009.
We’re going to kick off the campaign with a 3 part documentary that discusses the rivalry between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Keep an eye out for the Clásico Fever articles.

Enjoy,

OmarX

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