Fc Barcelona News, Injuries, and Transfers
Derby loss, Eto'o is staying, Evra is coming?? Abidal is out.
Fc Barcelona lost a tough derby match, at home, to Espanyol on Saturday. De La Pena struck twice to end the Blaugrana’s twenty-two game unbeaten streak. De La Pena scored his first with a free header, beating Victor Valdez to the back post, and then took advantage of a sloppy clear by the Fc Barcelona goalie, which a nicely placed chip to put immense pressure on Ten man Fc Barcelona. YaYa Toure managed to pull one back in the sixty-second minute with a neat side volley across the face of goal and into the back of the net. Fc Barcelona was not able to find the goal to tie it up despite immense pressure on Espanyol’s goal, and the game finished 2-1 in favor of the “other” team from Barcelona.
Barcelona are still in first, however their lead has been cut to seven points over eternal rivals Real Madrid. Eric Abidal cam off with a injury in the twenty-third minute, and after scans revealed a hamstring injury, it has be revealed that the Blaugrana left back will be out for eight weeks. Although this injury came at a very important time in Fc Barcelona’s season, Coach Pep Guardiola is confident that the other defenders will pick up the slack.
The main talking point of the derby match against Espanyol was the sending off of Fc Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita in the thirty-eighth minute for what looked like a tackle worthy of a yellow card at the most. After the sending off the came never found a good rhythm with Espanyol looking more interested in fouling, then playing soccer. After the game a few of the Fc Barcelona players and personal had some things to say about Espanyol’s tactics, and the referee
Xavi rapped, “It was wrong, I am not saying there is a deliberate campaign against Barca, but we lost because things beyond our control. The referee wrecked the match and also failed to allow the game to be played at a good pace. They should protect attacking teams. It is unfortunate that our opponents come here only to close up ship and not to play football.”
Lionel Messi echoed these statements, saying “The expulsion changed the game and it is important to talk about the red so they can not just come here and do what they want.”
Fc Barcelona Coach Pep Guardiola saw the defeat as a positive and explained, “Many people have long said that the Liga was won, but this defeat now will touch all of us.”
Fc Barcelona President Joan Laporta stated, “We played pretty rushed, but we have to forget this result as soon as possible and remember what we have been doing through the season.
The Fc Barcelona President also branded Espanyol’s lack of ambition as “nonsense” and that “They never wanted to play.”
He added, “We cannot relax, today we were the better team, but things did not go as planned.”
To add to the blow of defeat, on Thursday Fc Barcelona lost midfielder Andres Iniesta for two weeks after a leg injury in training on Thursday.
Fc Barcelona’s MLS bid In Miami, Florida has come under some doubts because of the global finical crisis. However the bid will go ahead as planned.
In good news both striker Samuel Eto’o and left back Sylvinho have both declared their desire to stay with Fc Barcelona.
"I want to stay here. I want to finish out the season and not leave," said Sylvinho.
Eto’o declared this weekend: “They say I have said many foolish things and there seems to be some interest in creating controversy where none exist. They have forgotten my contract runs until 2010 and that when I started this project with (Coach Pep) Guardiola, It was no for a single season. I do not want to leave, nor do I want to be sold.”
In transfer news Fc Barcelona has been rumored with making an offer for Manchester United left back Patrice Evra. With Brazilian twins Fabio and Rafael Da Silva seen as long term replacements, Alex Ferguson could be tempted to cash in on the outside back.
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