FC Barcelona women's team make history

FC Barcelona’s women’s team continue blaze their way into the history books. This is the first time that a team from the Spanish league has made it this far in the Champions League.

The team managed by Xavi Llorens came into the match in Zurich with qualification to the quarter-finals nearly secured. On Sunday, Barça defeated their Swiss rivals by 3-0 at the Miniestadi. This Wednesday, knowing that qualification was close, Barça were calm even though they conceded the first goal of the match.

Goals from Ruth, Corredera and Jelena were enough to overturn Zürich Fauen’s opener and push the tie beyond the Swiss team’s reach. The draw for the next phase of the competition will take place on November 21, and Champions League play will resume in March. Read more about youth soccer camps.

FC Barcelona is the first team in Spanish football to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, a truly historic feat.

Four FCB Escola managers are in Antalya to train Turkish children in FC Barcelona's training methodology

In cooperation with FC Barcelona’s official partner AVEA – a Turkish telecommunications company – FCB Escola Avea Camp officially opened up this Thursday in Turkey. 

The city chosen to host the Campus is Antalya, in the south of the country. Over 100 players from around the Turkey converged to participate in the camp. In addition, many of the participants are orphans from local orphanages thanks to AVEA’s Social Corporate Responsibility programme and FC Barcelona’s commitment to social responsibility. Read more about FCB Escola.

Four FCB Escola managers made the trip to Turkey in order to teach FC Barcelona’s training methodology to the participants.

Throughout the week, the players have shown a very high level of play, which allows them all to enjoy football. The participants train for three and a half hours a day, where Barça’s tactical and technical concepts are taught. Values like respect and teamwork are always part of the training regiment. 

14 FC Barcelona players, present in the team training

After being given permission to miss Wednesday's training session, Adriano was back under Tata Martino's orders this morning as Barça's denuded first team squad worked out at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. 

Alongside the 8 available first team players -Pinto, Oier, Puyol, Montoya, Adriano, Xavi, Cuenca and Tello,  4 Barça B youngsters, Patric, Masip, Denis Suárez and Ilie, and 2 Youth A players, Adama and Sanabria also took part. Read more about FCBescola camp.

Cesc Fàbregas and Gerard Piqué, worked apart from the rest of the group on the training ground, whislt Leo Messi, Jordi Alba and Ibrahim Afellay were doing phsyio as part of their recovery programmes.

FCB Time Rush, FC Barcelona’s new mobile application

This application is available for smartphones that operate on the iOS platform, the application will soon be available for Android phones.

FC Barcelona’s new mobile application is here: FCB Time Rush. This application is available for devices that operate on the iOS operating system, it will soon be available for Android devices. Read more about FCB soccer camps.

Rediscover FC Barcelona’s history in a playful and interactive world. FCB Time Rush offers users the chance to take on different challenges, compete against rival teams and recover the trophies Barça have won throughout its history. 

FCB Time Rush takes you to the year 1899 and then brings you back to present today. You will be tasked with finding trophies that have been hidden throughout the streets of Barcelona. In addition, each Barça member and fan can create his/her own character as he/she races through the levels collecting coins. Characters can also find additional prizes that give them more speed, power and stamina. 

Jordi Alba returns for training

FC Barcelona players that are not away trained today at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. 

The big news was the return of Jordi Alba, who was back training on the pitch for the first time since October 10, the day that the 24-year-old tore fibres in his left femoral biceps injury. Read more about 

FC Barcelona escola.

Gerard Piqué also worked out alone, while Cesc Fàbregas was able to complete the warm-up with his team-mates. Xavi Hernández also did specific exercises in a session where the players were joined by youth team members Adama, Godswill, Pedro Godoy and Sergi Palencia.

FC Barcelona arrived in Seville

The FC Barcelona squad has arrived in Seville. The team faces Betis at the Benito Villamarín at 21.00 tonight in round 13 of La Liga.

The 18-man squad is accompanied by Club Vice-president Javier Faus, board members  Pilar Guinovart and Silvio Elías and Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta.

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The players will stay at the team hotel – The Hotel Gran Melià Colón until this evening, when, after a short tactical talk, they will leave for the Benito Villamarín.

Piqué doubts if he will be considered for Betis

After beating AC Milan to guarantee themselves a place in the last sixteen of the Champions League, the Barça squad returned to work today at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.

The starters against the Italian outfit went through the usual post-match recovery routine, apart from Sergio Busquets and Gerard Piqué, who had specific exercises to do.

Piqué underwent tests today on his groin trouble, and developments over the next few days will determine whether he is fit enough to be considered for selection against Betis at the weekend.

 Today’s session also featured Ilie, Samper, Sergi Gómez and Espinosa of the B team as Barça started making preparations for Sunday’s clash away to Betis , the last game before the international break.

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Gerard Piqué is pleased with FC Barcelona

After defeating Espanyol per 1-0, Gerard Piqué appeared on the ‘El Marcador’ show, on Barça TV, to discuss the team’s excellent form. 

He said: “I know that people want us to play well and score lots of goals, but that’s not always possible”. There are only about 15 really good games a year. We have to keep intelligent. 

We’re very practical. Perhaps we haven’t played very well, but the results have still been very good”.

FC Barcelona has only conceded seven goals in 12 league games, and Piqué has commented that “the team has learned to cope with pressure on the defence and we’re not letting in many goals. 

That’s because we’re doing things right. As for myself, I’m fine. It’s my sixth year in the team and it’s all going well”.

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Pedro Rodríguez defends from criticism

Pedro Rodríguez gave today a press conference at the Ciutat Esportiva, in which he declared to be surprised about the way that people have to criticise the game of FC Barcelona. He stated: “People are being very unfair to the team. We are doing fine and they should appreciate that we are playing good”.  

However, he added: “We have to improve a few things but I think they will finally come. We’re happy with the results and the way we are playing and that’s what matters. What really matters is for the team to carry on winning and playing well.”

Pedro also spoke in defence of his team-mate Leo Messi. “His stats and his performances are spectacular, as they are every year. He wants to keep helping the team as he has done over the last few seasons. Messi is the one who makes the difference.”, he said. In fact, Pedro added that the way the team is playing this season means that “other players are getting more chances in front of goal, and that’s good for the team”.

Moreover, Pedro admitted that the man who has most improved his goalscoring form has been Alexis. Pedro is delighted about that and adds that such a strong contender for a place in the FCB attack “is a challenge for me too, it means I need to compete and train harder than ever”.

Pedro insists in that he has not the slightest intention of leaving the club. “I have been here for a long time and this is where I want to be. They have always treated me very well here”.

Barça’s next game is on Wednesday against AC Milan at the Camp Nou in the Champions League. Pedro stated: “They are a historic team, with great players and they’ll be a hard team to play against”. We’ll have to be careful, because this’ll be a hard game even though they are not at their best right now.”

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FC Barcelona gets ready for the game against AC Milan

The squad for tonight’s game against AC Milan at the Camp Nou is made up of 20 men who had their final training session at the stadium this morning at 11:30. 

It was a gentle session in which Gerado Martino put the finishing touches of his plans for the clash with Milan.

At 13.30, the squad set off for the team hotel – The Princesa Sofia - where they will have lunch and rest. At about 19.00, they will then come back to the stadium for the 20.45 kick off.

Read more about FCB Escola Camp