FC Barcelona, 18 players off to represent their countries

A total of 18 Barça players will be packing their bags, not to return to the Joan Gamper training ground until next week.

Sergi Roberto has thanked Barcelona manager Luis Enrique for playing “a large part” in his ascent to the Spain national team. 

After impressing for Barça in a range of positions this season, Vicente del Bosque named Roberto in his squad for this week’s friendlies against Italy and Romania.

“This season, Luis Enrique has given me confidence and I’m playing a lot, in whatever position that may be, midfield or right-back,” the midfielder said at a press conference on Monday. 

“If you play for your team and you do well, you have the chance to be recognised by the national team. Luis Enrique is a large part of the reason I am here and I’m really grateful to him.” 

Despite Euro 2016 in France being just around the corner, the Catalan isn’t looking to far into the future and is just focused on aiding La Roja over the next 10 days. 

“I am really grateful for the opportunity and I hope I can help the team,” he added. “It’s a dream for me to be here. We have to prepare for these games as if they were the European Championships and give our all.”

A total of 18 Barcelona players have been called up for their international sides over the next 10 days. While European sides will play two friendlies, the South American nations have important qualifiers for the World Cup in Russia in 2018. 

FC Barcelona international are: Gerard Pique, Marc Bartra, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto, Munir (Spain), Arda Turan (Turkey), Ter Stegen (Germany), Mathieu (France), Vermaelen (Belgium), Neymar, Dani Alves and Rafinha (Brazil), Leo Messi and Mascherano (Argentina), Luis Suarez (Uruguay) and Claudio Bravo (Chile).  A total of 18 FC Barcelona players will be packing their bags, not to return to the Joan Gamper training ground until next week.

Premier League clubs are interested in Marc Andre Ter Stegen

On the other hand, Adriano has put pen to paper on a one-year contract extension at FC Barcelona.

Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Claudio Bravo's battle to be Barcelona's goalkeeper has put Europe's biggest clubs on alert. The German has not shut the door to a possible exit in the summer, even though FC Barcelona don't want to let him go.

Various Premier League clubs are interested in him, with Manchester United the latest to join the list. According to the Daily Mirror, Ter Stegen's people have had an informal first contact with the Red Devils.

Borussia Dortmund would also like Ter Stegen, but the player is not intent on returning to Germany for now. He wants to keep developing in other leagues. Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp in charge, have been heavily linked with Ter Stegen.

On the other hand, Adriano has put pen to paper on a one-year contract extension at FC Barcelona.

The Brazilian defender's deal expired in the summer but he had the choice to add one additional year, which takes him up to summer 2017. He has duly done so, as foreseen by Sport, and FC Barcelona announced it on Wednesday afternoon.

Adriano has featured in 18 games this season, nine as a starter, and also scored in the 6-1 rout of Roma. 

One of the reasons he decided to stay was that his family are comfortable in the city and he gets along well with the rest of the dressing room - including the many Brazilians.

To conclude, FC Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez is in Munich to cast an eye over a potential Barcelona signing. He has travelled to Germany to take in the Champions League clash between Bayern Munich and Juventus, where he will get the chance to watch Joshua Kimmich live.

FC Barcelona want to see him play in a big game, as Wednesday night's game is against the Serie A leaders, to see just how far the 21-year-old has evolved. 

Robert feels he could prove to be the perfect option to replace Javier Mascherano one day due to the versatility he offers. 

He began his career as a central midfielder, but Pep Guardiola has converted him into a centre-back. He's good on the ball and would be able to fulfill Mascherano's role in the Barcelona squad. 

Pique and Jordi Alba celebrated FC Barcelona's win

Meanwhile, FC Barcelona boss said that he was also pleased with the performance of his players

Gerard Pique celebrated Barcelona's win over Eibar saying the team wanted to win the league as soon as possible athough he added that the title race hasn't been decided.

"Our objective is to finish the league as soon as we can, the situation is good and we have to continue in this line," he said in the Ipurua mixed zone. 

"We don't rule out any team that mathmatically can win the league, we know that there are two and a half months of competition left and that we're in a good position, but it's not over."

He added: "We played a good game in a difficult stadium. We were concentrating from the start, nobody relaxed."

Pique also congratulated Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez who are fighting with Cristiano Ronaldo for the Pichichi. "However many more goals those two can score, the better it is for the team," he said. 

On the other hand, FC Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba said after Sunday’s win at Ipurua against Eibar that the secret to the side’s success and their charge towards the La Liga title “is that we all get on really well.”  Jordi Alba emphasised the team’s work rate against Eibar and celebrated the good run that the side are currently on - 11 straight wins in the league and 36 matches unbeaten in all competitions.  

“We’re doing well and we are enjoying a good dynamic. We want to win the league as soon as possible, but we know there is still a long way to go,” he added.

He also refused to rule Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid out of tracking Luis Enrique’s side down at the top: “While it’s still mathematically possible, you have to keep them in mind.”

To finalise, The FC Barcelona manager saw his side thrash Eibar 4-0 at Ipurua but said there would be nobody who believed the race for the league trophy will be over before it mathematically is.

"There are 30 points left to play for, the team knows that. We won't get distracted by thinking we're champions ahead of time," explained the coach.

He was also pleased with the performance of his players and, like after the Eibar game, explained that few teams can stop them in this form. They have now gone 36 games unbeaten. 

FC Barcelona is breaking records again

On the other hand, If everyone was at the level of Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona would win every title before each season started.

Being eight points ahead of the second-placed team, and 12 ahead of Real Madrid, would seem not to be enough for a FC Barcelona side for whom not even the sky appears to be the limit.

Luis Enrique's boys are beating records at the same rate at which they are winning matches. Not a day goes by without another milestone being passed. Having gone half the season without tasting defeat, Barcelona have now equalled the Spanish record of 34 games without losing in all competitions, notched up by Real Madrid under Leo Beenhakker.

In the 1988-89 season, Real Madrid had a run of 25 wins and nine draws, and now Barcelona have improved on those figures with a sequence of 28 victories and six draws.

On the other hand, If everyone was at the level of Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona would win every title before each season started. But no. There is only one Messi. Leo is unique and irreplaceable. He’s the best player in the world. And probably in history. And there is absolutely no-one at his level. Even the best of the ‘mortals’ are light years behind Messi, who in each game surprises us with works of art. 

On Sunday, Messi ‘invented’ a magical free kick. When FC Barcelona were losing, Leo stepped up, once more, and took responsibility, executing an inimitable set piece. It was the start of the comeback. The first step towards a victory which leaves FC Barcelona 12 points clear of Real Madrid and keeps them eight ahead of Atletico Madrid with just 12 games to go. 

Lionel Messi is capable of everything. Even of fixing his team-mates’ mess. But in contrast to Cristiano Ronaldo, he doesn’t brag about it. He doesn’t criticise other players’ errors. Even though he could. But Messi is not like that. Because for Leo Messi, the objective is for the team to do well above individuals. And Messi knows that if FC Barcelona win, Lionel Messi wins. For that reason, he serves up all his magic for the good of the team.

The Uruguayan international has plenty of personal motivation

Suárez's record against Arsenal reads three defeats, two draws and two wins in seven meetings. 

Luis Suarez's love affair with the back of the net is still going strong. He is the top scorer in Spain with 25 Liga BBVA goals, which also puts him out in front in the European Golden Shoe rankings, and has netted in his last seven appearances, which have yielded no fewer than a dozen goals.

Over and above his prolific scoring exploits, expert observers are also quick to praise Suárez's tireless pressing when the opposition try to bring the ball out, which plays a key role in helping FC Barcelona to win back possession high up the pitch. We also mustn't forget another of his qualities, his unselfishness: The 29-year-old is not hell-bent on finding the net himself and is just as happy setting up his strike partners, as shown by his high assist count.

Other impressive Luis Suarez attributes are his physical prowess and sturdiness, which enable him to hold off defenders and help explain why he is rarely injured, despite being one of the players used most often by Luis Enrique.

The Uruguayan has only missed seven games this season and none of them were because of injury: two were through suspension, while he was rested for the other five. 

Nevertheless, even though he himself hasn't been blunted, he is aware that fatigue threatens to take its toll on Barcelona and may have had a hand in their laboured performance in Las Palmas. As he put it afterwards, "It's no excuse, but everyone knows we've had a lot of matches in the past month and a half. What's important is that the team keep on picking up the points".

Luis Suárez's enduring form and energy are among the reasons why Barcelona will be in a confident mood going into their clash with Arsenal. The Uruguay international has plenty of personal motivation as he prepares to return to the Emirates, having not enjoyed the best of times against the Gunners during his time with Liverpool, not to mention the transfer saga over the North Londoners' failed attempt to trigger his buyout clause in the summer of 2013.

Leo Messi has no limits

Luckily, Barcelona can call on a ‘beast’ called Messi, who is capable of solving even the most difficult problems.

Leo Messi is the best football player in the world. And in history. And those who deny that are blind. Or don’t understand football. Or, simply, are Real Madrid fans incapable of recognising the reality: Lionel Messi has done so well at FC Barcelona that he has made Real Madrid’s most glorious pages look less significant. Because Leo Messi is a wizard. A genius. He demonstrates it in every game. Beating records and making incredible plays. Impossible for the rest of the mortals, but not for him, clearly. 

Plays like those that helped FC Barcelona beat Celta Vigo at camp nou. It was a difficult win and Messi played the lead role. He scored the first goal from a fantastic free kick and gave a ‘PlayStation’ assist for the second goal, scored by Luis Suarez.

He once again made it clear that he is a long way above any other player on the planet. His recital continued with another perfect pass for Neymar, which ended up with Suarez ‘robbing’ the Brazilian for another goal. And he emulated Johan Cruyff’s famous penalty by passing to Suarez from the spot. 

Barcelona have struggled in some recent games. With the exception of the hammering of Valencia, the Bluagrana made hard work of wins against Malaga, Atletico and even Levante. They have lacked fluidity and pressure and there have been individual errors. Fortunately, Luis Enrique’s side have shown their competitive spirit. They have won without playing well.

After wins for Madrid (4-2 against Athletic) and Atletico (1-0 against Getafe), FC Barcelona were obliged to win in order to maintain their lead at the top. And the Galicians, who won 4-1 in the meeting at Balaidos earlier this season, once again turned up against Luis Enrique’s side. Luckily, FC Barcelona can call on a ‘beast’ called Messi, who is capable of solving even the most difficult problems.

Neymar scores points against Super Bowl stars

While, the player most used by the FC Barcelona coach is midfielder Ivan Rakitic, who has only missed 13 of the 100 games in Luis Enrique's reign. 

FC Barcelona forward Neymar was one of the stars to feature - in one way or another - in Super Bowl 50. He wasn't involved in the event itself, but he did appear in one of the adverts - which are a big deal in America.

While the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers battled on the pitch, Neymar was present in an advert for fast-food chain Taco Bell. To air an advert during the Super Bowl costs five million dollars for every 30 seconds. 

Neymar's appearance was fleeting, but his message was clear: "The real football" in refence to Americans calling the sport soccer. The Brazilian could take part in the American Cup in the States this summer.

On the other hand, any FC Barcelona fan, asked about the player most picked by Luis Enrique, would answer: "Leo Messi". However, that is not the case. The player most used by the Asturian coach is Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic, who has only missed 13 of the 100 games in Luis Enrique's reign. 

The second most used, yes, is Lionel Messi who has only played two games less than the Croatian, on 85. In the group that have played 80 per cent or more, are Sergio Busquets, on 81, and Neymar, 80.

All the most used footballers in the top 10 form, logically, his gala XI. Further away from the top of the list are the goalkeepers, who get rotated with each other a lot. Claudio Bravo has played 58 times, Ter Stegen 38. Sergi Roberto is the most used outfield player beyond the top 10, having featured 51 times for Luis Enrique

To end, the Catalans face Valencia at Mestalla on Wednesday in their Spanish Cup semi-final return leg, with the tie all but decided. That is why Luis Enrique plans to rest some of his theoretical first-choice players. With that in mind, Barça B's Sergi Samper, Gerard Gumbau, Wilfrid Kaptoum, Juan Cámara and Daniel Romera all trained with the first team on Monday and some of those players could be named in the squad for Wednesday's trip to Valencia.