Internationals Round-Up: Spain defeats Henry, Alves and Messi win 9
It was international duty for most Barcelona players this past week. What follows is a round up of the matches our players participated in.
Tag Jonathan Dos Santos
Liga 1, Week 27: Barcelona Atlètic 1-1 UD Logrones 18
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
Marquez and Jonathan dos Santos called up for Mexico 4
FC Barcelona players defender Rafael Marquez (31) and midfielder Jonathan Dos Santos (19) have been convened by coach Javier Aguirre for Mexico’s friendly against New Zealand on March 3rd. Former Barcelona youngsters Giovani dos Santos (20) and Efrain Juarez (22) have also been called up.
Mexico national team coach Javier Aguirre yesterday summoned nine Mexicans playing in Europe and nine players from the Mexican league, for the friendly against New Zealand in Pasadena (USA).
The friendly against New Zealand will be the second of four that Aguirre has scheduled to observe his players before finally revealing his squad for the World Cup. Mexico won the first friendly against Bolivia (5-0) and two other friendlies with North Korea and Iceland are still pending.
Four youth players in training 13
Barca Atletic central defenders Marc Bartra (18), Marc Muniesa (17); midfielder Jonathan Dos Santos (19) and Juvenil A right back Albert Dalmau (17), all trained with the first team on Thursday to cover for the injured Alves, Abidal, Touré and Chygrynskiy.
The mystery about who will play at the Vicente Calderon on Sunday, has begun to unravel on Thursday morning at the Ciudad Deportiva Joan Gamper.
Injured players recuperating
Liga 1, Week 24: Denia 1-0 Barcelona Atlètic 12
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
Thiago and Jonathan return to Barca Atletic 8
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.
The Genesis of ‘four’: Barcelona’s impact on the beautiful game 16
This is a featured post. Please scroll down for all the latest news.
author: Didac Peyret
source: Soccernet
date: 02 February 2010
editing: totalbarca
Arsene Wenger believes that top clubs have to make compromises to ensure they play in their own recognisable style – he believes clubs have no hope of making their mark on history without implementing a clear philosophy on the field. For Wenger, the biggest and best sides have a responsibility to the game and must show others what can be achieved.
Everybody has now seen the success of such a model in place at Barcelona. Bringing together an unlikely mixture of art and efficiency, Barca have shown that it is possible to break away from the cautious tactics that have characterised the modern game to win every trophy available to them in 2009.
Youth players take part in wednesday training 2
Only seven players from the senior squad took part in a training game on Wednesday along with players from the reserves and the youth team.
Although Wednesday was a day off for the first team, seven players who feature rather less frequently in the starting line-ups took the chance to get in some extra practice together with youngsters from the reserves and the youth team.
First team players
Barcelona closing deals for Pique and young quartet 7
Barcelona chiefs are in advanced talks with central defender Gerard Pique (22) over a new contract.
Guardiola and eight other players namely Victor Valdes, Yaya Touré, Pedro Rodriguez, Carles Puyol, Lionel Messi, Eric Abidal, Andres Iniesta and Rafa Marquez have already renewed this year and now the ‘operation shield’ (as called in the Spanish media) will continue with the renewals of Piqué and the other homegrown youngsters.
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo says Pique is set to sign a new deal that will run until 2015 with his new buyout clause being set to £150 million.
European clubs interested in Jeffren, Gai, JDS and Thiago services 72
According to Catalan sports paper Sport, FC Barcelona technical secretary Txiki Begiristain is currently working on the future of four players whose career path with the first team is still undecided. The said players are Jeffren Suarez (22) who has yet to renew his first team contract – which expires at the end of the season, while Jonathan dos Santos (19), Thiago Alcantara (18) and Gai Assulin (18) are still on Barcelona reserves contract – also expiring in June, and have yet to sign any new contract with the club.
As reported by the paper, as per FIFA regulation, these players are free to negotiate with any clubs six months before their contracts end – that is since from 1 January 2010.
Guardiola: “The 4 canteranos chances of staying with us depend on their performances” 14
In one session of the press conference yesterday, FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola touched on the 4 cantera players’ potentials – Barca Atletic’s players that he enlisted as covers for the month of January. His message to them was clear: “Seize the opportunity and make full use of it.”
Guardiola ruling out any winter signings 10
Despite persistent rumours to the otherwise, FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is again reiterating that he is satisfied with the players that he has, and insists he can always summon Barca Atletic’s players to cover for any short-falls in the squad – as is the case during this African Nations Cup tournament period.
“If it was necessary, I probably would have considered signing someone, but for a month, it is not worth it. I am well served, I can’t complain. I have a good squad that can always be supplemented with reserve players. For a month, I prefer to give them a chance, and I know they will do well,” was his answer to a question during a press conference earlier today.
Confident that the cantera players can fill in for absences of Malian Seydou Keita and Ivorian Yaya Toure, Guardiola said Jonathan dos Santos (19) and Thiago Alcantara (18) will remain with the first team throughout the month of January as he has “great faith” in them. The coach is also enlisting the services of Victor Vazquez (22) and Gai Assulin (18), who were invited to train along, but will only be used when he needs them.
Picture of the Day: Jonathan Dos Santos 6
Jonathan Dos Santos making his La Liga debut, against Villarreal on January second, 2010.
(UPDATE) Four Atletic’s players told to report for first team training 22
UPDATE
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo reports that all the Americas players are now back in Barcelona except for Argentine Lionel Messi, who is given four extra days off by Pep Guardiola, and who still carries a slight discomfort in his right ankle. The last to arrive is Brazilian right-back Dani Alves, and he is expected to join the training session this afternoon, even though all players coming from across the Atlantic are not required to.
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(UPDATE) Atletic’s trio summoned during 2010 African Nations Cup 28
UPDATE
There seems to be some confusion over the third Barca Atletic member being summoned by Pep Guardiola with El Mundo Deportivo - as reported below – claiming Victor Vazquez (22) as the the player chosen, while the other Catalan sports paper Sport expecting Oriol Romeu (18), another midfield player.
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Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo reports that Barca Atletic’s midfielders Víctor Vazquez (22), Thiago Alcántara (18) and Jonathan Dos Santos (19) are the three reinforcements from the Barcelona Reserve side summoned by first team coach Pep Guardiola during the jam-packed month of January when he will be short of midfielders.
The Match: Valencia Mestalla – FC Barcelona Atletic 1-1 4
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.
Liga 1, Week 17: Barcelona Atlètic 4-0 Terrassa 24
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
Liga 1, Week 16: Lleida 1-2 FC Barcelona Atlètic 20
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
Liga 1, Week 15: FC Barcelona Atletic 2-0 Ontinyent FC 6
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