How will Barcelona lineup against Bilbao in the Copa del Rey finals

• 

Barcelona will attempt to grab their first silverware this season when they face league rivals Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey finals.

The two teams have met several times in the final over the years. It will be the ninth time they have faced each other with barca having won six of the eight finals they have met in before. Barcelona is the only Spanish team to win the Copa del Rey more than any other club with a record of 30 times, while their opponents are second in the list with 23.

The Spanish giants saw their 19-match unbeaten league record ended by a 2-1 defeat to rivals Real Madrid on Saturday evening.

Let’s see how they might lineup:

• 

Philippe Coutinho, Ansu Fati and Neto are all out due to injuries. Sergi Roberto made his return from injury against Real Madrid in the second half but is unlikely to start in the final. Gerard Pique also returned from injury but could be given a chance in the other half. De Jong will continue in midfield with his partners Busquets and Pedri. Lionel Messi and Ousmane dembele will lead the attack for Ronald Koeman, while Braithwaite and Griezmann could come in off the bench if needed by Ronald Koeman.

Possible Xi (3-4-1-2)

Ter Stegen, Lenglet, Araujo, Mingueza, Dest, Jodi Alba, busquets, de Jong, Pedri, Messi, Dembele.

Barcelona goes top in Forbes list despite the Corona virus pandemic

• 

FC Barcelona have climbed top of the most valuable football clubs in the world, according to Forbes , knocking league rivals Ralmadrid off top spot.

Real Madrid were the richest football club two years ago when the list was last updated, but now behind Barcelona with a valuation of $4.76 billion (£3.46bn).

For the first time in the club’s history, the Catalan giant appear at the top of the Forbes list of the most valuable football clubs in the world with an 18% increase of a two year change. However, despite the financial problems barcelona are going through with the pandemic, the world’s top 20 clubs have seen an average 30 per cent increase in value over the past two years. Average revenue for the top 20 clubs was $441m for the 2019-20 season, representing a drop of 9.6 per cent from 2017/18, while average operating income declined by 70 per cent to $23m.

See the full rankings below:

1. Barcelona, (4.76 billion )

2. Real Madrid, (4.75 billion )

3. Bayern Munich, (4.21 billion )

4. Manchester United, (4.20 billion )

5. Liverpool, (4.10 billion)

6. Manchester City, (4.00 billion)

7. Chelsea, (3.20 billion)

8. Arsenal, (2.80 billion)

9. Paris saint Germain (2.50 billion)

10. Tottenham, (2.30 billion)

What Ronald Koeman and Lionel Messi said to the ref after El Clasico defeat

• 

Barcelona was defeated by league rivals Real Madrid on Saturday evening for the very first time since 1980.

Clasico referee Gil Manzano had a savage comment for Lionel Messi as Barcelona lost to Real Madrid.

Goals from Karim Benzema and Toni kroos were enough to bring down Ronald koeman’s men back to third spot despite a strike from Barcelona’s mingueza.

The Spanish giant were cheesed off with the officials after Madrid left back Ferland Mendy was accused of bringing down Martin Braithwaite in the penalty box. But the referee didn’t say anything and didn’t consult the VAR,with Barcelona players and coach losing their temper after the Real Madrid clash.

While the game was on, Manzano and Messi got into an argument where the referee savagely put the Argentine down when he said: “Referee show respect, speak well.”

Manzano replied: Do you know the rules of football or not? If you don’t, then I’ll explain them to you later.”

In the history of La Liga, Manzano remains the only Spanish referee to ever send Messi off in his professional career.

But the referee waved away protests and did not consult VAR, with Koeman losing his temper after the Real Madrid clash.

Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Koeman was less than pleased with the decision and hit out at the referees for not even consulting VAR.

“For me the penalty is very clear and everyone has seen it,” he told a post match interview with Marca.

“The way Martin falls, it has to be a foul. The referee may not see it, but we have a VAR for situations like this.

7“However, it is better not to say more. The team has been mentally good and we deserved a decision in the penalty situation.”

How should Barcelona lineup against Real Madrid in the El Clasico

• 

FC Barcelona will challenge Realmadrid at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on Saturday evening as they hope to grap all three points at the Spanish capital. The Catalan giant are in superb form in their domestic league, with 14 wins and one draw in 15 La Liga games which sees Ronald Koeman’s side in right position in the title race.

• 

Ronald Araujo returned from injury and played against vallodolid in the second half, Barcelona’s manager Ronald Koeman, will probably make some changes as the Uruguayan man will be fit against third place Real Madrid.

Let’s see how they might team up:

Defense

• 

Marc Andre Ter Stegen will continue in goal for Barcelona. Ronald Araujo will replace Frenkie De Jong, Oscar mingueza and Clement lenglet will also play in there normal position at centre back. Gerard pique and Sergi Roberto are also available but could play in the second half.

Midfield

• 

De Jong will return to midfield and partner with Sergio busquets in defensive midfield, while Young Pedri will play as an attacking midfielder. Jodi Alba will continue in left back while Sergino Dest will play in the opposite flank at right back. Ilaix Morriba, pjanic and Puig are available for the substitute.

Attack

• 

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi will lead the team in attack, if de Jong returns to midfield, there will be only one player to partner with the Argentine, French winger Ousmane dembele has also proved to be a regular stater with his last-gasp winner against Real Valladolid on Monday. Griezmann, Braithwaite could come in as a substitute.

Possible XI: (3-4-1-2)

Ter Stegen; Mingueza, Araujo, Lenglet; Dest, Busquets, De Jong, Pedri, Alba; Messi, Dembele.

Dembele’s late stunner keeps Barcelona on track in the title race

• 

Barcelona are back in the second position and are one point behind league leaders Atletico Madrid who lost to Sevilla on Sunday night. A sixth continues win for Barcelona’s Ronald Koeman team took them back into second place and moved them on to 65 points, two above third-placed Real Madrid and one behind Diego Simeon Atletico Madrid.

The Spanish giant struggled against a solid defense of vallodolid, but thanks to Ousmane Dembele’s late strike that gave the home team a whopping three points in the title race.

Real vallodolid had a good chance to take the lead in the first half when Kenan Kodro headed against the bar, while Roque Mesa had two clear sights at goal from outside the box but failed to hit the target each time.

Barcelona struggled to create many chances in the first half and were denied before the end of half time when Valladolid goalkeeper Jordi Masip went down and to his right to steer a well-hit Pedri shot off the post.

The Catalan giant were given another chance in the last 10 minutes of the game when Vallodild’s Oscar Plano was sent off the field with a straight red card following his foul from behind on Dembele.

With time running, Dembele volleyed home in the last minute from Ronald Araujo’s tap-on to move his side up to 65 points from 29 games. Barcelona has now played 19 games unbeaten with 16 wins and 3 draws since December 2020.

• 

“This shows how difficult this league is and that we’ll have to really fight in every game to win it,” said Barça defender Clément Lenglet. “We faced a great side who played out of their skin, it was a really difficult game for us but an important victory. This run is all down to hard work, things weren’t clicking for us earlier in the season but now they are.”

Barcelona released squad list to face Real Valladolid

Barcelona’s Ronald Koeman has called up the 23 man squad to face real vallodolid as they visit the Spanish giant on Monday night Camp Nou. Barcelona have been given hope in La Liga after Atletico’s defeat at Sevilla on Sunday night.

• 

Here’s the list of the squad:

Goalkeepers

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Iñaki Peña, Arnau Tenas.

Defenders

Samuel umtiti, Ronald Araujo, Clement lenglet, Jodi Alba, Sergino Dest, junior firpo, Oscar mingueza.

Midfielders

Sergio busquets, De Jong, Pedri, Riqui Puig, Ilaix Moriba, Miralem Pjanic, Matheus Fernandes.

Forwards

Lionel Messi, Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele, Trincao, Martin Braithwaite, Konrad De La Fuente.

Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto are back to training from injury but not fit enough to play on Monday.

Ins and outs

Ansu fati, Coutinho,

Predicted Xi (4-3-3)

Ter Stegen, Lenglet, Mingueza, Dest, Jodi Alba, Pedri, Busquets, De Jong, Dembele, Messi, Griezmann

The match kicks off at 9pm CET (Barcelona), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 12.30am IST (India, Tuesday), 8pm GMT/WAT (UK & Nigeria).

Reports: Neymar stops contract renewal with PSG and keen to return to Barcelona

• 

Reports from Spain See’s Neymar has called a halt to renew his contract because he wants to play for Barcelona again. The Paris forward believes former teammate Lionel Messi is staying with the Spanish giant and wants a return to play along with him.

However the Spanish newspaper Ara report came after the Brazilian was sent off on Saturday as they were defeated by Lille that leaves them in second position in Ligue 1, three points off top spot.

The former barca player has made it clear that he wants to return to Barcelona during this summer transfer window.

The 29-year-old has been open in his desire to reunite with the Argentine, with many reports at the turn of the year linking Messi with a move to PSG.

• 

Lionel Messi and Neymar form a lethal friendship inside and outside the pitch

Neymar scored 105 goals and provided 76 in 186 games for Barcelona before making a world record signing to Paris Saint Germain in 2017.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi rated top player in Europe

• 

Lionel Messi has been considered as the best player in Europe by CIES Football Observatory.

The Argentine started the 2020/2021 season firly, failing to score from an open play for nine continuous games in all competitions. The Barcelona Talisman was notably some way off his ethereal best during the early months of Ronald Koeman’s tenure.

Since the turn of the year, Leo has been in lethal form for Barcelona bragging 16 goals and 7 assist in 13 games. The Argentine pushed his 6 goals to 29 (23 in the lig, 5 in the UCL, 1 in the Copa del Rey), and recorded 11 assists to his name since then.

Lionel Messi statistics in 2020/2021 with Barcelona in all competitions

37 games

29 goals

17 assists

221 shots (106 on target)

101 chances created

181 dribbles completed

2530 passes (86% accuracy)

21 tackles

79 balls won back

99 times fouled

Top rated player this season

1.Lionel Messi (92.5)

2. Robert Lewandowski (89.5)

3. Joginho frello (89.5)

4. Rùben Diaz (89.4)

5. Cristiano Ronaldo (89.3)

6. Nabil fekir (87.6)

7. Toni kroos (87.6)

8. André Silva (87.4)

9. Lorenzo insigne (87.0)

10. Jason Sancho (86.4)

How will Barcelona lineup against Real Valladolid?

• 

Barcelona will return to league games as they hope to continue their winning streak to keep the title race alive as they welcome 16th place real vallodolid. Barcelona are currently second, four points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid.

The Catalan giant are in good form with 12 wins out of 13 league games this year, only dropping points on one occasion in the draw against Cadiz.

Let’s see how they might lineup:

Defense

• 

Marc Andre Ter Stegen will continue in goal for Barcelona. The German stopper didn’t have enough minutes during the international break. Clement Lenglet will retain his position in Centre back along with Oscar Mingueza.

Spain’s international Jodi Alba will play at the left back, the Barcelona defender assisted twice in the 2-1 win over Georgia during the international break. Sergino Dest will play in the opposite flank at right back. The right back scored his first international goal in the friendly against Jamaica.

Midfield

• 

FC Barcelona player Pedri in action during the international break

Ronald Koeman will stick to his favorite trio consisting of Sergio busquets, Pedri and de Jong. Pedri played his first game against Greece and became the sixth youngest footballer to debut with the Spanish senior side. De Jong will return back to midfield, the Dutch man has been used in the central defense in recent games but will likely switch to his main position in midfield.

Attack

• 

Griezmann will continue in the starting lineup against Valladolid, the French man produced some fine performances during the international break. Ousmane dembele will be starting on the left hand side of the attacking trio.He has been a regular stater for Barcelona since 2021. Lionel Messi is also available in the attacking trio. The Argentine has been in good form for Barcelona this season. He has produced 12 goals and 6 assist in his last 10 games.

Predicted Xi: (4-3-3)

Ter Stegen, Clement Lenglet, Mingueza, Jodi Alba, Dest, de Jong, Busquets, Pedri, Messi, Dembele, Griezmann.

Ansu Fati prepared for recovery as he undergoes third surgery

• 

It’s been four months, the Barcelona youngster has been with the nursing table, fighting a meniscus tear in his left knee. Since November 7th, he has undergone two surgeries but things has not gone to plan. After serious concerns of development, it has been decided that a third surgery is necessary to reduce the swelling.

The Barcelona forward was taken to his Instagram page to give an update on his injury.

Here’s what he’s had to say.

“A few years ago I had a serious injury, a fractured tibia and fibula, I spent almost a year without being able to play. There were many days of suffering and pain, but also a lot of learning, it helped me to appreciate the little details. With my family and all the professionals who helped me at that time, I promised myself to keep going and work harder than ever to do what I like the most !! Unfortunately, now I have to live a similar situation, which I will face with the same mentality. I want to thank all those people who follow me and support me on a daily basis. Football is my life and no matter how many obstacles there are, I will always have the illusion of continuing to fight for my dreams …”