Puyol will play last game of his career for Barça against Atletico next week at the Camp Nou.
Messi: "We can't let the league slip away now"
Barcelona forward Leo Messi said that "a lot of outrageous things that were mostly lies" have been said over the last year about his future at the Catalan club and emphasised that his side cannot "let the league slip away" after Real Madrid's slip-up.
At an event for his foundation with Qatari telecommunications company Ooredoo –in which a new health cooperation project was presented– the Barça striker did not talk about his improved contract with the club, but pointed out that "a lot of outrageous things" had been said about him.
"A lot of things have been said during the year. A lot of outrageous things that were mostly lies. I'm fine", the Argentina captain said.
Messi's comments came after news was confirmed of his improved contract with Barcelona, where he will earn a fixed gross amount between €20 and €22 million.
However, Messi wanted to focus on the league and said that Real Madrid's draw against Valladolid yesterday has opened up Barça's chances of winning La Liga.
"We're better today than we have been in recent weeks. We have another chance to win La Liga and it's down to us. We have to take advantage of this situation and not let it slip away", he added.
Why Lionel Messi Could Be Talking His Way out of Barcelona
Lionel Messi is rightly lauded as the best player in the world, but are we beginning to see some signs of diva behaviour and expanding ego from Barcelona's numerouno?
Never one to noticeably rock the boat, the demands purporting to have come from Messi's camp prior to him signing a new contract are mind-boggling.
Per Rik Sharma of the Daily Mail, not only does Messi require an exorbitant salary of £16.5 million per year plus £3 million in bonuses, but he has also demanded that Barcelona turn their attentions to signing Manchester City's Sergio Aguero.
Not only that, but Messi also requires Jose Manuel Pinto to be given an extended contract.
Since when did the direction of a club's transfer policy fall to one of its players?
Incredibly, it would appear that Barca are willing to accede in order to keep their best player happy. According to Sharma's report, club president Josep Maria Bartomeu told Catalan TV station Esport3:
"We are being unfair to Leo. Our club members need to understand that we must take care of Messi.
He has made such an important contribution to this club and he will continue to do so. That’s why we have no doubt that he will lead the future of the club.
He is young, he is the best player in the world, and we believe in him."
The first part of Bartomeu's statement is perhaps the most worrying. "We are being unfair to Leo."
Messi has already had six contract renewals since his first team bow, and this most recent one will be the seventh in nine years.
Messi's first contract at 13, signed on a napkin. This most recent one will be the seventh of his professional career, in nine years.
Whatever fans think of the make-up of the current board, that certainly doesn't smack of being unfair to its best player. In fact, it would be more than fair to suggest that Barcelona have actually done everything they possibly could to keep the Argentine content.
To allow themselves to continue being held to ransom and dictated to is quite unpalatable. It's an oft-used phrase in football: "No one player is bigger than the club."
Such attitudes do make you wonder whether the constant rumours of a Messi departure to Manchester City—including this one fromAnthony Chapman of the Daily Express—is of the player's own doing, in order to force the club's hand.
It's not the first time that La Pulga has seemed to have wielded an inordinate amount of influence either.
If you recall at the time of Tata Martino's confirmation in the managerial role, there were suggestions, per Daniel Edwards of Goal.com, that Messi and his agent father Jorge had strongly recommended Martino over the other candidates in the running, one of whom was Luis Enrique. The inference from the Messi camp was clear.
With Alex Richards of the Daily Mirror and others now reporting that Enrique will be Barca's new manager after Martino leaves, you might imagine that he won't take too kindly to "advice" on any matters pertaining to transfers, or generally.
Might it be entirely possible, with the continued emergence ofNeymar next season, that we could see Messi dispensed with?
Will the continued emergence of Neymar see Barcelona consider what was previously unthinkable?
You can't have the lunatics running the asylum. With Messi continuing to get a little too big for his size eights, it could be time to collect the nice little £164 million bounty waiting to be claimed in the north of England.
Messi - Thiago Messi. Like father like son.
Messi makes a little fan from Senegal happy.
Lionel Messi plays down move away from Barcelona
Lionel Messi has taken issue with the Spanish press for debating his next career move while insisting Barcelona will not let the opportunity to retain the Primera Division title slip from their grasp.
Media speculation in Spain has linked the Argentina striker with a move away from Nou Camp - where he has won six La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies - in the summer amid apparent concerns over his happiness.
Yet, conversely, it has also been suggested Messi could soon sign a new bumper contract that would tie him to the Catalan giants until 2019.
The 26-year-old has, however, distanced himself from all the swirling rumours, stressing he is solely focused on helping Barca win their two remaining league games.
Quoted in Marca, Messi said: "They have said a lot of things during the year.
"Many atrocities have come out, most of them lies. I'm fine."
Following Sunday's trip to Elche, Barca host Atleti on the final day of the season and have a clearer path to snatching top spot given third-placed Real Madrid's failure to beat Real Valladolid on Wednesday.
Should Gerardo Martino's men finish the campaign level on points with Atleti, Barca will take the La Liga crown based on their superior head-to-head record against Los Rojiblancos.
"Today we are in a better position than in recent weeks," Messi added. "We can see that the possibility to win the league is there and depends solely on what we do.
"We must seize this opportunity and not let it escape us."
Neymar can be world's best player The Portuguese forward believes his Barca rival has great potential and touched on his nation's hopes for the World Cup next month.
The Catalans signed the 22-year-old from Santos for an estimated €87.2 million and he has scored nine league goals and picked up eight assists in his first 25 games for the club.
Despite Real Madrid's intense rivalry with the reigning Liga champions, Ronaldo thinks that the Brazil international will blossom into one of the world's elite stars.
"I see Neymar as a great player," he told SporTV News. "I think in recent times he has proven be a player with a great future.
"His adaptation into Barcelona was not the best, he had some problems at first, but I have no doubt that he has the potential to be one of the best players in the world or even the very best player in the world."
The 29-year-old was then asked about his country's hopes for this summer's World Cup in Brazil and he feels Portugal have been drawn in the hardest group in the competition, facing Germany, Ghana and USA.
"We're not the favourites," he said. "But we will try to enjoy it. We know that we have a complicated group, in my opinion it's the strongest in the World Cup.
"We have to go step by step. We have a big game against the Germans first and then we play Ghana and the United States to pass the group stage. Then we'll see."
Portugeezer! Ronaldo insists his home side can impress in Brazil, despite being drawn in the Group of Death
'We are not favourites, but we will go and try to enjoy ourselves,' he said.
'We know we have a difficult group phase, in my opinion the strongest in the World Cup, but we will go step by step.
'We have an important game against the Germans in the first game, and then we must play Ghana and the United States to get through the group. Then we will see.'
'His adaptation at Barcelona was not the best -- he had some problems at the start -- but I have no doubt that he has the potential to be one of the best players, or even the best player, in the world.'
High praise indeed from a player who rarely likes the limelight to be shifted from himself, especially if it's in the direction of his nemesis Lionel Messi.
All three players will be on show at the World Cup where, despite being drawn in the so-called Group of Death', Ronaldo is confident that his Portugal side will have an impact on the tournament.
Alexis: Barcelona still aiming for treble The Chile international has insisted nothing has changed in his side's hunt for silverware despite slipping further behind Real Madrid in the Liga title race.
Alexis Sanchez remains optimistic about Barcelona's chances of winning the treble this season regardless of the 1-0 defeat to Valladolid last weekend.
The reigning Spanish champions have dropped to third place in the league table following their unexpected loss, yet Alexis has stressed they are still determined to defend their domestic crown and claim success in the Copa del Rey and Europe.
"We are in the fight for all the titles. I am hungry to win and so are all my team mates - we want to win everything, the League, Champions League and the Copa del Rey," Alexis said at a press conference.
The Argentine has rubbished reports that he has lost his passion for the game and might be open to a move away from Camp Nou Lionel Messi has insisted that he is “fine”, refuting claims in the media that he has been unhappy atBarcelona this season.
Both the Argentine's form and attitude have been openly questioned during what has been a difficult season for the Blaugrana, with some reports suggesting that the 26-year-old could be tempted by Manchester City's alleged interest in his services.
However, Messi says he remains content at Barcelona and lashed out at the media for fabricating stories about him.
“A lot of things have come out in the press over the past year, and practically all of it is nothing but lies. I am fine,” the four-time Ballon d'Or winner told reporters.
The forward's sole focus is now on helping Barcelona retain their Liga title, which looked all but lost after last weekend's 2-2 draw at home to Getafe.
However, Atletico Madrid's subsequent loss to Levante, coupled with third-placed Real Madrid dropping four points in the space of four days, means that the Blaugrana's destiny is now in their own hands once again.
Indeed, if Barca beat Elche away this weekend, Tata Martino's men can then clinch the title by defeatingAtleti at Camp Nou on the final day of the season.
“We are in a much better position now than we were a few weeks ago,” Messi enthused.
“There is a real possibility that we could win the league; it’s down to us. Winning the league depends on us alone; we have to make the most of the situation – we cannot let this chance slip away from us."
Barca currently trail the Rojiblancos by three points but given they drew at the Vicente Calderon earlier in the season, a win for the Catalans would see them crowned champions on account of a superior head-to-head record.
Ibrahimovic: Why sign Messi or Ronaldo when you have Zlatan?
The Ligue 1 outfit have been linked with audacious moves for Barcelona’s Lionel Messi or Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, the current Ballon d’Or holder, but the Swede responded cheekily when asked if his club should move for either.
“Why sign Messi or Ronaldo when you have Zlatan?” he responded on RMC’s ‘Luis Attaque’ show.
Ibrahimovic also believes that his side should have been strong enough to see off the challenge of Chelsea in the Champions League having earned a 3-1 advantage in the first leg of the quarter-final before slipping out on the away goals rule.
Asked if he had been able to play that match instead of watching on from the stands due to injury, would PSG have progressed, he joked: “For my ego, I will say yes. But from that tie, we should be able to enjoy the result of the first leg. That was a really good result. Even if the return leg was different and more complicated, we should have been able to hold on.”
The loss to Chelsea means that Ibrahimovic has still not won the Champions League, and while he does not consider the competition as something that might define his career, the 32-year-old is still hopeful that he will one day claim Europe’s greatest club prize.
“If I stopped playing football tomorrow, I would not say: ‘I did not win the Champions League so my career is a failure.’ On the contrary, my career has been fantastic. I enjoyed it and I continue to enjoy it.
“My favourite player was Ronaldo, ‘El Fenomeno’, the Brazilian. He did not win the Champions League either. That is why I am more relaxed.
“The team is improving. We cannot forget that it is only two years since the project began [at PSG]. Chelsea started 10 years ago. They were successful and won the Champions League after several attempts. We have already had some success. We’ve done better than last year.”
The defender could depart Camp Nou this summer and insists that this season will be a "disaster" if the Catalan giants fail to reclaim the league title
e unless there is a "change in energy" at the club.
The 31-year-old right-back joined the Catalan giants from Sevilla in 2008 and has won a plethora of trophies at Camp Nou, including four La Liga titles as well as two Champions Leagues and Club World Cups.
But the Brazilian, who has been linked to a move to Paris Saint-Germain recently, said that he feels hurt by the amount of criticism he and the team have received this term as they crashed out of the Champions League and continue to trail Atletico Madrid in La Liga. As a result, he claimed he could leave the club this summer.
"It’s very hard to get the chance to play for Barcelona and, whether people like it or not, I’m part of the history of this club," he told RAC1. "I need energy, it’s what motivates me; I’m an upbeat, happy person.
"I’ve always been like that, but because the results aren’t what people expect, they need someone to shoot at and I feel shot at. I really believe in energy, I live off this energy and, if you start to create negative energy, things don’t flow.
"If this energy doesn’t change, I’ll probably leave because it wears you down. If I'm to stay this summer, there has to be a change of energy."
Alves then turned his attention to his side's title run-in. With two weeks of the season remaining, they sit three points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid, who they face on the final day.
“If we don’t win the league, this season is a disaster," he said. “We’re getting too many chances, and you can’t let chances slip. I trust this team 100 per cent and I guarantee we won’t disappoint."
He further indicated that the speculation surrounding Luis Enrique taking over from current coach Gerardo Martino comes at an inopportune moment for the team.
"As a player I think he was phenomenal and as a coach he’s doing a very good job at Celta, but I think that at this club people are often too hasty. We’re still fighting for the title. People need to take things a bit more calmly, not rush things so much, because the season hasn’t finished."
He was then asked for his thoughts on his side's signing of compatriot Neymar.
"Very strange things happen here. Real Madrid were going to pay €100 million for Neymar, Barca get him for €57m and people say it’s an incredible amount. What’s incredible is that he came here when €100m was being offered."
ATLETICO MADRID SCHAKELT BARCA UIT DE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FC Barcelona is door Atlético Madrid uitgeschakeld in de kwartfinales van de Champions League. Daarmee maakten de voetballers uit Madrid een einde aan de heerschappij van Barcelona, dat de afgelopen zes jaar de halve finale wel wist te halen. De wedstrijd tussen de Spaanse topclubs Atlético Madrid en FC Barcelona, beide geleid door Argentijnse coaches, leverde spannend voetbal op. Na de 1-1 van vorige week zou de winnaar doorgaan naar de halve finales van de Champions League.
Atlético Madrid heeft sinds 1974 geen halve finale in de Champions League meer gespeeld, maar is in vorm en verloor dit seizoen pas één keer in het eigen stadion, dus FC Barcelona wist dat het spannend zou worden.
Koke Spannend werd het direct. Al na vijf minuten kwam thuisploeg Atlético Madrid op voorsprong door een goal van Koke. Op een kopbal van Messi richting doel na kwam FC Barcelona de eerste 20 minuten van de eerste helft niet aan de beurt.
Later in de eerste helft leek Barcelona zich enigszins te herpakken, en de wedstrijd bleef de volle 90 minuten spannend, maar écht gevaarlijk werden de Catalanen niet. Atlético miste desondanks meerdere kansen op een tweede treffer en de wedstrijd eindigde in 1-0.
World ►Year with most official titles: 2009, with 6: Copa del Rey, Liga, Champions League, Spanish Supercup, European Supercup and Clubs World Cup.
European►Only team to have played in every season of European competitions since they started in 1955.
► Team with most European trophies: 15 (4 Champions Leauges, 4 European Cup-Winners Cups, 3 Fairs Cup and 4 European Super Cups)
►Team with most European Cup Winners Cups: 4 (1979, 1982, 1989, 1997).
►Team with most Fairs Cups: 3 (1958, 1960 and 1966). Also won super final in 1971 to decide trophy outright.
►Team that have played most European finals: 17 (7 in European Cup / Champions League, 6 in Cup Winners Cup and 4 in Fairs Cup).
►Team with most European Cup-League doubles: 4 (1992, 2006, 2009 and 2011).
►Team with the most consecutive international games played scoring goals: 33 consecutive matches from November 24, 2009 until March 7, 2012).
►Team with the most consecutive Champions League games played scoring goals: 29 consecutive matches from November 24, 2009 until March 7, 2012).
►Longest scoring streak in La Liga: 169 goals were scored in 55 matches, from Round 22 in the 2011/12 season (04/02/2012) to Round 38 of the 2012/13 season (01/06/2013). This record equal’s the mark set by Arsenal, who scored 117 goals in 55 consecutive matches in 2002
Spanish►Only team, along with Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, to have always played in the First Division.
►Only team to have won all the official competitions it has played in at least once: since the Copa Macaya (1902) to the Clubs World Cup (2009).
►Team with most official Spanish titles: 115.
►Season with most titles: 1951/52, with 5: Liga, Copa, Copa Latina, Trofeo Eva Duarte and Copa Martini-Rossi.
►Only Spanish team to win the treble: Won the Copa del Rey, La Liga and the Champions League in the 2008/09 season.
►Team with most Spanish Cups: 26.
►Winning the league title with the most amount of points: Barça win the 2012/13 league with 100 points, equalling the record set by Real Madrid in the 2011/12 season
►Maximum difference over the runner up: 15 points over Real Madrid in the 2012/13 season
►Only team to be at the top of the table from the first week of the competition to the last: In the 1984/85 and 2012/13 seasons, in addition to Real Madrid’s 1987/88 league campaign
►Longest winning period in La Liga: 16 games from game 7 to 22 in La Liga 2010/11.
►Team with most points and goals after the first half of La Liga: 55 points and 61 goals (17 wins, one draw and one defeat) by game 19 of La Liga 2010-11.
►Team with most goals scored in official competitions in a season: 2011/12, with 190 goals (114 in the league, 35 in the Champions League, 26 in the Spanish Cup, 5 in the Spanish Super Cup, 2 in the European Super Cup and 8 in the World Club Cup) in 64 games.
►Team with most goals scored in a calendar year in official competitions: 170 goals in 64 matches in the year 2011
►Team with the most goals scored away from home in one season: 2012/13, 71 goals (52 goals in the league, 8 in the Champions League, 10 in the Cup and 1 in the Spanish Super Cup) over 30 matches
►Team to score the most goals in the league in a calendar year: 52 goals in the 2012/13 season
►Team with the most goals scored away from home in the first half of the season: 35 goals in 10 matches away from home in the first half of the 2012/13 season
►Team with the most points won in a calendar year: 103 points in the years 2010 and 2012
►Team with the most victories in the league: 32 victories in the 2012/13 season, equalling the record set by Real Madrid in the 2011/12 season
►Most consecutive away wins: 13 games. Between September 21, 2008 and January 11, 2009, FC Barcelona got 13 consecutive away wins in official matches. There were 8 in la Liga (Sporting Gijón, Espanyol, Athletic Club, Malaga, Recreativo, Sevilla, Villarreal and Osasuna), 3 in the Champions League (Shakhtar, Basel and Sporting Lisbon) and 2 in the Copa del Rey (Benidorm and Atlético Madrid).
►Most consecutive wins on the road in La Liga: 10 games in la Liga 2010/11, winning away to Racing Santander, Atlético Madrid, Athletic Club, Zaragoza, Getafe, Almeria, Osasuna, Espanyol, Deportivo and Hercules. Also, the team won ten consecutive matches on the road in the 2012/13 season, against Osasuna, Getafe, Sevilla, Deportivo, Rayo Vallecano, Mallorca, Levante, Betis, Valladolid and Málaga
►Most consecutive games unbeaten away from home in la Liga: 23 away games from February 14, 2010 (At. Madrid 2 Barça 1) to April 30, 2011 (Real Sociedad 2 Barça 1), with 18 wins and 5 draws.
►Only team in Spanish League to have won all away games in the first half of the season: In la Liga 2010/11 won away to Racing Santander, Atlético Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Zaragoza, Getafe, Almeria, Osasuna, Espanyol and Deportivo. A total of nine games. Also, the team won ten consecutive matches on the road in the 2012/13 season, against Osasuna, Getafe, Sevilla, Deportivo, Rayo Vallecano, Mallorca, Levante, Betis, Valladolid and Málaga
►Only team to score in all away games in a league season: 19 games in la Liga 2010/11.
► Biggest away win in la Liga: UD Las Palmas 0 - FC Barcelona 8 (25/10/1959) and UD Almeria 0 FC Barcelona 8 (20/11/2010).
►Longest scoring period in a season: 34 consecutive games in season 2009-10 (27 in Liga, 5 in Champions League and 2 in Clubs World Cup).
►Longest unbeaten run in official matches: 28 games en season 2010/11 (23 wins and five draws in 17 games in Liga, 5 in Copa and 6 in Champions League).
►Most wins in a season: 47 wins in a total of 64 games in official competitions in season 2011/12.
►Best average number of goals a game in first half of La Liga: 61 goals in 19 games at halfway stage of La Liga 2010/11 (average 3.2 per game).
►Most consecutive match days scoring away in La Liga: 26 days (from May 1, 2010, on day 35 of Liga 2009/10 until November 6, 2011, on day 12 of Liga 2011 / 12), with a record of 18 wins, 7 draws and 1 defeats, 61 goals for and 20 against.
Club records►Biggest attendance at Camp Nou: 120,000 for FC Barcelona v Juventus. Quarter final of the European Cup, first leg (5/03/1986).
►Most consecutive Ligas: 4 (1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94). (National record: Real Madrid, 5 consecutive Ligas between 1960 and 1965 and between 1985 and 1990).
►Maximum difference over the runner up: 15 points over Real Madrid in the 2012/13 season
►Longest unbeaten run in la Liga from first game: 21 first games of La Liga 2009/10, with 17 wins and 4 draws. (National record: Real Sociedad, 32 games unbeaten in la Liga 1979/80).
►Longest unbeaten run in la Liga: 31 games from 3rd to 33rd of La Liga 2010-11 (national record: 32 games by Real Sociedad in la Liga 1979-80).
►Most points in second half of La Liga: 50 points in la Liga 2009/10 (national record: Real Madrid, 52 points in second half of La Liga 2009/10).
►Leagues where Barça have scored in every round of the competition: 1932/33 (18 rounds), 1940/41 (22 rounds) and 2012/13 (38 rounds).
►Team with the most goals scored away from home in one season: 2012/13, 71 goals (52 goals in the league, 8 in the Champions League, 10 in the Cup and 1 in the Spanish Super Cup)
►Liga with most goals scored: 2011/12, with 114 goals in 38 games. (National record: Real Madrid, 121 goals in la Liga 2011/12).
►Best goals per game average in La Luga: 3,2 goals a game in the 1958/59 season (96 goals in 30 games). National record – Athletic Bilbao with 4.05 goals in the 1930/31 season with 73 goals in 18 games.
►Liga with most goals scored at home: 2011/12, with 73 goals. (National record: Real Madrid, 78 goals in la Liga 1989/90).
►Most goals scored halfway through the season: 64 goals in 19 matches halfway through the 2012/13 season (Spanish record is currently held by Madrid, 67 goals halfway through the 2011/12 season).
►Liga with Least goals conceded: 1968-69, with 18 goals in 30 games. (National record: Real Madrid, 15 goals conceded in 18 games in la Liga 1931/32).
►The longest run of consecutive matches without conceding a goal: 32 matches, 2011/12 season (19 in the Liga, 5 in the Champions League, 5 in the Cup, 2 in the Club World Cup and 1 in the European Super Cup).
►Longest unbeaten home run in la Liga: From game 25 of 72-73 (4-3-1973) to game 21 of 76-77 (20-2-1977), a total of 67 games played, with 55 wins and 12 draws, 155 goals for and 37 against.
►Longest home winning period in la Liga: 39 games between game 22 of 1957-58 (16-2-1958) and the eighth of 1960-61 (6-11-1960).
►First half of La Liga unbeaten: 19 games of La Liga 2009-10 (15 wins and 4 draws).
►Most home wins in a Liga season: 19 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat in la Liga 1986/87.
►Most away wins in a La Liga season: 14 games in the 2010/11 season (14 wins, 4 draws and one defeat in 19 games). National record -16 wins in the 2011/12 season by Real Madrid)
►Liga with most points: 99 points in the 2009/10 season. National record - Real Madrid in the 2011/12 season.
►Most wins in a La Liga season: 31 wins in the 2009/10 season. National record – Real Madrid with 32 wins in the 2011/12 season.
►Best goal average in a La Liga season: +85 in the 2011/12 season. National record -+89 in the 2011/12 season.
►Team with most away points in a La Liga season: 46 in the 2010/11 season, with 14 wins, 4 draws and one defeat. (National record: Real Madrid, 121 goals in la Liga 2011/12).
►Liga with fewest defeats: Only one defeat in la Liga 2009/10 (in game 22 with Atlético Madrid by 2-1). National record: Athletic Club and Real Madrid unbeaten in Ligas 1929/30 and 1931/32 respectively.
►Longest scoring run in la Liga: 36 games between the ninth of 1942/43 (22-11-1942) and the 18th of 1943/44 (6-2-1944).
►Longest scoring run in la Liga at home: 88 games between game 22 of la 1951/52 (02/10/1952) and the 18th of 1957/58 (01/19/1958).
►Longest scoring run in all competitions: 36 games between the ninth of 1942/43 (22/11-1942) and the 18th of 1943/44 (6-2-1944) and 8 Cup games in 1942/43. 44 games in 139 games (106 in La Liga and 33 in the Cup)
►Team with most away goals scored: 49 goals in the 2010/11 season(National Record, Real Madrid in 2011/12)
►Biggest home win in la Liga: FC Barcelona 10 - Gimnàstic Tarragona 1 (11/09/1949).
►Biggest win in the Cup: FC Barcelona 10 - Basconia 1 (08/04/1962).
►Biggest win in any competition: Copa Macaya: Tarragona 0 - FC Barcelona 18 (03/17/1901). ►Biggest win in friendly: Smilde (Holland) 1 - FC Barcelona 20 (6-8-1992).
►Most consecutive wins in European Cup / Champions League: 11, in season 2002/03.
►Longest run of consecutive wins in games in official competitions: 18 games in season 2005/06 (13 in Liga, 3 in Champions League and 2 in Copa del Rey) between 22/10/2005 and 22/1/2006.
►Longest run of games unbeaten in European competitions: 17 games, between seasons 1988/89 and 1992/93 and also between seasons 2005/06 and 2006/07.
►Biggest home wins in European competitions: FC Barcelona 8 - Apollon Limassol (Cyprus) 0 (European Cup Winners Cup, 15/09/1982); FC Barcelona 8 - Matador Púchov (Slovakia) 0 (UEFA Cup. 15/10/2003).
►Biggest away win in European competitions: Hapoel Beer Sheva (Israel) 0 - FC Barcelona 7 (UEFA Cup. 12/9/1995).
►Biggest win in European Cup/Champions League: FC Barcelona 7 – Bayer Leverkusen 1 (first leg of Champions League Last 16 2011/12, 07/03/2012).
►Biggest away win in Champions League: Basle 0 -FC Barcelona 5 (22/10/2008) BATE 0 FC Barcelona 5 (28/09/2011).
Media speculation in Spain has linked the Argentina striker with a move away from Nou Camp - where he has won six La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies - in the summer amid apparent concerns over his happiness.
'We have an important game against the Germans in the first game, and then we must play Ghana and the United States to get through the group. Then we will see.'
The Chile international has insisted nothing has changed in his side's hunt for silverware despite slipping further behind Real Madrid in the Liga title race.
Lionel Messi has insisted that he is “fine”, refuting claims in the media that he has been unhappy atBarcelona this season.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has suggested that Paris Saint-Germain do not need to sign another superstar while he is at the club.
ATLETICO MADRID SCHAKELT BARCA UIT DE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE