Barcelona FC news

Although it’s not been a vintage campaign so far for Barcelona by any means, there have been a handful of positives for Hansi Flick and the board to chew over.

Not least the most surprising of all, the productive form of Marcus Rashford.

The 28-year-old cut a forlorn figure at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim, to the point where you wondered if the England international was ever going to rediscover his best form.

When it was announced that Barca were taking him on loan with an option, not an obligation, to buy, eyebrows were certainly raised.

However, the structure of the deal always afforded the Catalans a win-win. Perform as expected and Flick could send him packing with a polite ‘thanks but no thanks.’

Exceed expectations, and the club were in pole position to hire Rashford permanently, for below market value.

The latter scenario has most definitely occurred, and to date, in 23 matches in all competitions, the wide man has come up with a more than acceptable seven goals and eight assists.

It isn’t just his output that already means the club could have a real conundrum come the end of the season, either, as he’s certainly given the squad something different.

Pure chemistry 🧪 pic.twitter.com/j65pkH8Xdz

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 17, 2025

Where once at United he was lackadaisical in possession or hunting down the opposition, since joining the Blaugranes he has been purposeful, direct and ready to fight for every ball.

He has more than justified his place in the team, whether as a starter or an impact sub, and – at worst – as a back-up to Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, he offers a significant presence.

Don’t forget too that he has played as the main striker at United with reasonable success. If both Ferran and Lewandowski (or any replacement) were to get injured, there’s no reason to think Rashford couldn’t be utilised in the middle of a front three. 

There’s just one major sticking point to any permanent move, of course, and the elephant in the room can’t be ignored.

Barcelona do have other priorities in the squad, particularly in defence, and with finances getting better but still not where they need to be, the club may not be able to afford him.

Even for a reported €30m/€35m (£26m/30m) fee, Deco is going to be hard-pressed to factor that into any transfer spend next summer.

Realistically, the two options that the club has are that they try and renegotiate the purchase price, knowing that United don’t want him, or allow him to leave with their good wishes and hope he doesn’t have a sensational World Cup that leaves Barca regretting their decision.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Fermin Lopez has hailed Barcelona team-mate Raphinha and spoken of just how influential the Brazilian is for the whole team.

Raphinha has been in sensational form in 2025 and his return to fitness has been a big boost for Hansi Flick’s side.

Lopez says that Raphinha’s intensity and hunger for the game is infectious and helps the other players at Barcelona.

“He has a lot of energy and he transmits that to the team. When he’s on the pitch and you see how he goes under pressure, how he gets unmarked, the intensity he has in every move he makes,” he told Sport.

“It spreads it to our colleagues and we all go with the same energy. And of course it was noticeable when he wasn’t there, he’s a very important player.”

Barcelona are currently top of the table in Spain and hoping to add more titles in 2026. Lopez says he’s hoping for another successful campaign and is dreaming of winning the Champiojns League.

“We are very competitive and we are going to try again,” he added.

“There’s a long way to go and we’re taking it step by step, but we want to be in the final and win it. Hopefully it can be. We have that dream, that goal of winning the Champions League.”

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Robert Lewandowski has seemingly set the record straight on a recent claim that Barcelona asked him to stop scoring in his first season at Barcelona so as to avoid paying a bonus to Bayern Munich.

Sebastian Staszewski wrote in his biography about Lewandowski that Barca asked him to not score in their final two games of the season otherwise they would have to pay Bayern a €2.5 million bonus.

Lewandowski has now been asked about the situation and had the following to say in a chat with Bogdan Rymanowski on YouTube, per Marca.

“There are some things that I don’t want to speak about. I respect FC Barcelona, and everyone who works there,” he said.

“I was aware of the club situation. Many things had to be resolved for the good of the club. In summary, it was a bonus. At that moment, Barça were looking at every single euro. It was not a small thing.

“For me it didn’t change anything, I had no problems with it, but I kept wondering if I should score or not.”

Source: barcablaugranes.com

There can’t be too many culers, if any at all, that would’ve predicted at the start of the season just how vital Eric Garcia and Gerard Martin would have become for Hansi Flick.

To date, Eric is the only player in the entire squad that has played in every game this season, and his recent contract renewal– and that of Gerard Martin – speaks volumes.

At one point, the former was more out than in at the club, and his brilliant showing whilst on loan at Girona had certainly seen his star ascend.

Perhaps seen as a jack of all trades but master of none at times, there didn’t really appear to be a future for Eric in any position.

And yet, certainly this season and evidently in some of the last, he’s proved his worth to the team.

As solid as they come in a physical sense, he isn’t a player who will shirk any tackle, even if it literally means taking one for the team. The mask he currently has to wear is evidence of that.

His passing has improved immeasurably and, whilst he could time his tackles better on occasions, he represents a fearsome shield in front of the back four.

Not to mention he can fill in at centre-back and right-back as needed, whilst also providing a supplementary attacking presence from set-pieces.

The versatility that was once a potential handicap has now become a godsend for Hansi Flick, who knows he can rely on Eric to give his best in whatever position he’s asked to play.

Flick certainly seems to be moving players around a lot more this season, too, and Gerard Martin’s somewhat surprising conversion to centre-back is a prime example.

Destined to be Alejandro Balde’s back-up in the left-back slot, the 23-year-old has made the position next to Pau Cubarsi his own in a very short space of time.

Andreas Christensen’s future at the club looks increasingly uncertain, and with Ronald Araujo currently unavailable, Martin has looked a calm presence in the heart of backline.

In the club’s hour of need, Martin has stepped up and grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Right place, right time, you might say.

Both players have certainly been as important as any other in the club’s recent winning run, and in football you don’t change a winning team…

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Fermin Lopez has given a new interview over the Christmas period and has been talking about manager Hansi Flick and what he wants from him at Barcelona.

The 22-year-old has scored seven goals and contributed four assists so far this season in all competitions, and says Flick wants him to make the most of his attacking attributes.

“Well, he asks me for intensity, pressure, to be vertical, to be calm with the ball, not to lose balls, to step into the box, to shoot… The game I’ve always tried to make. And he gives you that confidence and I’m very comfortable with him,” he said.

Lopez also spoke about how Flick’s calmness and composure really helps the team after matches no matter what the result.

“The coach’s message is very positive and that is fundamental,” he added.

“Whether things are going well or when they are going badly, his message is always one of calm, of following our path and of doing what he asks of us, what we know how to do. Above all, to be united.

“The message in the dressing room is clear and we all feel it that way, we are all going together.”

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barça 2025 in photos – FC Barcelona
The best pictures of the year in the Blaugrana world!

The caring side of Marcus Rashford – FC Barcelona
Watch the English striker visit two Barça Foundation projects: a socially troubled school in Ciutat Vella and community centre in Zona Franca, both in the city of Barcelona.

Barça awaiting City Council approval to open the North Stand at the Spotify Camp Nou – Mundo Deportivo
The club has submitted all the necessary documentation and is awaiting a response regarding the possibility of hosting 62,000 spectators in the stadium.

Barça very pleased with the loan of Hèctor Fort – Mundo Deportivo
He is gradually gaining prominence and is becoming an increasingly important player for Eder Sarabia’s side.

Aitana: “My goal is to play again this season” – Mundo Deportivo
The best player in the world, currently injured, spoke about her recovery process. The Catalan midfielder emphasized that “I’m trying to take it in a positive way: it’s a break that life has given me to come back better and surely to enjoy time that I didn’t have before.”

Center-back Marcos Senesi is on Barça’s radar – SPORT
The 28-year-old left-footed defender could leave in the January transfer window if a transfer fee is paid. He is one of the players Barcelona has been monitoring.

Barça are keeping a close eye on Etta Eyong at AFCON – SPORT
The Blaugrana club is closely monitoring the striker’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations to assess his performance in his first major international tournament.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Pedri has emerged as one of the best players in the planet during his time at Barcelona and has now been asked to name the players he thinks are the very best.

The Barcelona midfielder went for two of his team-mates – Lamine Yamal and Raphinha – as he listed six stars as the world’s best right now.

“Mbappé, Lamine, Salah, Haaland, Raphinha or Julián Álvarez are the best in the world,” he told Esquire magazine.

“I want to play against all of them, except Lamine, who plays with us. Even more so with Haaland and Salah, because I haven’t faced them yet.”

Pedri is set to come up against the best players around next summer when Spain head to World Cup 2026. La Roja will be one of the favorites for glory and Pedri thinks it’s a tag they deserve.

“It’s not an exaggeration, no. Winning a World Cup is always very complicated, there are great teams,” he added.

“Argentina, the current champion, will be there. And also England, Germany, France and Brazil, which are always strong. But so are we.”

Spain will take on Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in the group stages and will be expected to comfortably make it through to the knockout stages.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona have enjoyed an entertaining start to the 2025-26 season and arrive at the winter break on top of the pile in Spain and on target to retain their La Liga trophy.

Of course the season hasn’t been all smooth sailing and there have been a few bumps along the way.

Yet Hansi Flick has some real quality players in his squad who have helped fire Barca back to the top of the table, so let’s see which stars have been shining brightest so far this season…

Pedri

Barcelona midfielder Pedri has once again been a cut above this season for Hansi Flick’s side. The midfielder simply makes the game look easy and Barca are a completely different side when he is in the team.

The stats say it all…

🔥 THIS GUY PASSES!

Pedri's the only player in La Liga to attempt over 1,000 passes. 956 of those were on the money 🎯#LaLigapic.twitter.com/JdtqQtftmS

— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 21, 2025

His performances mean the plaudits have continued to roll in from far and wide. “Pedri is undoubtedly Harry Potter” said Luis Enrique before the Champions League tie between Barcelona and PSG, while Paul Scholes has admitted the Barca star is his “No. 1.”

Meanwhile, Flick has gone for “fantastic, “incredible” and “top class” when talking about Pedri and may just be rapidly running out of adjectives to describe his midfield star.

Pedri missed the final game of 2025 with a knock but should be back in time for Barca’s next game. One thing’s for certain, if Barca are to win trophies this season they will need Pedri in the team.

Raphinha

Barcelona have been forced to cope without Raphinha for chunks of this season already but it’s been no surprise to see results improve when the Brazilian is in the team.

With Gavi still out injured, Raphinha seems to have taken over the role of being Barcelona’s heart and soul and his seven goals and three assists from just 11 La Liga games once again highlight his importance to the team.

Raphinha’s Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best snubs remain something of a mystery, although Barca fans really don’t need to be told exactly how good their No. 11 is.

“The decision is a joke,” is what Flick had to say after seeing Raphinha miss out, while the Barca coach’s heartfelt chat with Raphinha after the win over Alaves highlighted the great connection between player and manager at Camp Nou.

Eric Garcia

No one will really have expected to see Eric Garcia on this list at the start of the season but there’s no doubt he’s been absolutely vital in the first half of the campaign.

We already knew he was one of Hansi Flick’s favourites at Barcelona but he’s backed that status up with some excellent performances in a variety of positions this season.

Garcia has stepped up at right-back, center-back and in midfield and is not even letting a broken nose affect his performances right now.

He’s the only player to feature in every Barcelona game so far this season and has already been rewarded with a new contract with the Catalans.

“He could be captain in the future,” is what Flick has said of his versatile star, although Garcia was quick to play down such talk in typically humble style.

It’s all a far cry from the not-too-distant past when he looked destined to leave. Right now, it seems he’s one of the first names on the teamsheet.

Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal is another player who has been affected by injury issues this season but he has remained vital to Barcelona’s clause.

Still just 18, he ends the year with 21 goal contributions across all competitions in 2025-26. If you crunch the numbers that comes out at a rate of one for every 83 minutes  – impressive stuff.

Yamal has continued to star at a time when his private life is regularly making headlines and tensions between Barcelona and Spain have risen to boiling point over the way he’s been handled by the national team.

Indeed it’s easy to forget sometimes that Yamal is only 18 years of age, still wearing braces on his teeth and just at the very start of his career.

After a year where he finished second in the Ballon d’Or, who knows what 2026 will bring?

Joan Garcia

Joan Garcia didn’t have the smoothest start to his Barcelona career. Swapping Espanyol for Barca was also going to be a controversial move, while nudging Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen towards the exit door has also prompted plenty of debate.

Yet Garcia has adapted to life at his new club with the minimum of fuss and has simply let his football do the talking so far.

A knee injury has disrupted his campaign but he’s since returned and looks like he’s never been away.

Garcia was signed as a “market opportunity” that Barca couldn’t turn down. It’s looking to be a very, very good bit of business so far.

Did I miss anybody out? Tell us which Barcelona players you have been most impressed by so far this season in the comments below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Lamine Yamal is the king of dribbling – FC Barcelona
Lamine Yamal is already, at just 18 years old, one of the key members of the current Barça squad and one of the top players in world football after a spectacular 2025. The calendar year has seen the teenager establish himself as a fundamental pillar of coach Hansi Flick’s system and the statistics back up that appraisal.

“Exploding Balloons”… with Szczęsny and Roony – FC Barcelona
Who can get the exact answer before the balloon goes back? Find out here, with plenty of laughs along the way!

Center-back casting: Barça define a profile and scour the market – Mundo Deportivo
Ideally, they’d like a center-back who plays on the left, with experience, leadership, and easy adaptation. The market is limited in this winter window: Otamendi, De Vrij or Senesi fit the profile, but they wouldn’t be easy to sign.

Guéhi-Barça: cooled down due to his high price tag – Mundo Deportivo
Barça followed him and there were meetings between the club and his agents, but he has very high offers from Bayern and Liverpool. There has been no contact between the two parties for several weeks now, and the center-back doesn’t want to wait much longer to resolve his future.

Norwich’s reaction to Barcelona’s interest in Ajay Tavares – Mundo Deportivo
Coach Philippe Clement expressed his opinion on the possibility that the young winger, who turns 16 this week, could wear the Barça colors.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona have finished off 2025 on top of the pile in Spain and with a four-point lead over Real Madrid in the title race.

It’s been a slightly different story in Europe, with Barca down in 15^th place in the Champions League and with work to do when domestic action resumes in 2026.

Here’s a look at what we’ve learned from the season so far…

Joan Garcia was a great idea

Barcelona signed Joan Garcia in the summer and there were plenty of raised eyebrows when the club’s interest in the Espanyol stopper was revealed. There was talk about it being a good ‘market opportunity’ and the goalkeeper duly arrived in deal worth €25m.

Garcia has gone on to prove to be a great bit of business for Barca and looks a real snip already. Injury has interrupted his campaign but he’s now back fit and has been given clear backing by Hansi Flick. The Barca boss has made it crystal clear that Garcia is his No. 1 this season and ahead of Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Wojciech Szczęsny in the pecking order.

Barca’s high line still a problem in Europe

Barcelona may be top of the table in Spain but in Europe it has certainly not be smooth sailing. Indeed Hansi Flick’s side look like they could miss out on automatic qualification to the knockout stages and may have to go through the play-offs instead.

The Champions League has brought some humbling moments for the Catalans. Newcastle were comfortably beaten at St James Park, but Chelsea handed out a lesson, while PSG enjoyed another win over Barca and Club Brugge managed a 3-3 draw in a wild game.

The performances have drawn plenty of criticism with Thierry Henry adamant Barca can’t win in Europe playing this way. Flick’s side may be able to outscore teams in La Liga but it’s not always been the same case in the Champions League this season.

Yet Flick’s not for changing and it will be interesting to see how he approaches the rest of their European fixtures.

Yamal looks good as a No. 10

Lamine Yamal has long been tipped to play as a No. 10 at Barcelona and was given the chance to show what he can do in the role against Real Betis.

It proved to be a masterstroke by Hansi Flick as the Barcelona teenager put in a brilliant performance as Barcelona ran out 5-3 winners in an exciting game.

“We asked him if he would like to play as a ‘10’ and he said yes,” said Flick afterwards. “Everything I saw of Lamine tonight was good. The connection with Roony. The most important thing was his defensive contribution. It was incredible.”

For now Yamal looks set to continue in his usual position on the right of the Barcelona attack, but we’ve certainly been offered a glimpse of Yamal as a 10 and it would be no surprise if he ended up there in the future.

Eric Garcia and Gerard Martin were worth hanging on to

Two of Barcelona’s unlikely heroes this season have been Eric Garcia and Gerard Martin who, let’s face it, have had to put up with plenty of criticism from fans during their time at the club.

Yet both players have managed to turn around their situations and have emerged as really important members of the squad.

The two stars have been fully backed by Flick and have both shown their versatility. Eric’s played across the backline and in midfield, while Martin has moved from left-back to central defence in recent weeks.

Both players have been able to secure contract extensions in 2025 and they’ve shown that, for now at least, they are worth keeping around the Camp Nou.

Rashford makes a strong case to stay

Marcus Rashford made it clear he was desperate to join Barcelona over the summer and was eventually granted his wish after a loan deal was agreed with Manchester United.

There have been plenty of question marks over Rashford since he arrived in Catalunya, but he has certainly posted some decent statistics and delivered a strong case to stay on.

Despite all the speculation about what might happen next with Rashford, it seems logical that Barca won’t make a decision on his future until nearer the end of the season.

Rashford’s had a very decent first half of the campaign but is known for being ‘streaky.’ The big challenge for him in 2026 is to maintain his current form if he is to earn a permanent stay.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Marcus Rashford has been talking about his future and made it clear he wants to make his loan deal at Barcelona permanent.

The England international moved in the summer and has gone on to bag seven goals and eight assists. He says he’s gunning for glory this season and wants to continue past the end of the current campaign.

“Of course what I want is to stay at Barça. It’s an end goal, but it’s not the reason why I’m training hard and giving it my best. The purpose is to win. Barça is a huge, fantastic club, built to win titles,” he told Sport.

“I’m adapting very well to the club and the city. From the moment I arrived I felt that everyone welcomed me very well.

“For me, the reason I’m here is to help the team win trophies; Last season was fantastic, but in life everything happens very quickly, things change and the goal is to repeat the successes. I’m totally focused on this. With the staff and the teammates everything is fantastic, I can’t complain.”

Rashford is putting forward a strong case to stay at present but it’s still unclear if he will continue.

Hansi Flick has made it clear he’s a big fan of Rashford’s but financial issues continue to be a big factor in the club’s transfer plans.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

2025 Barça side scores in every LaLiga game, matching the 1943 side – FC Barcelona
The year 2025 is coming to an end for FC Barcelona with an historic achievement that sees a direct connection to the past. Hansi Flick’s side have managed to score in every LaLiga game played in the calendar year, a record only achieved once before in 1943.

Best Barça players of the last 25 years – FC Barcelona
2025 is coming to an end, and with it, the first quarter of the 21st century. So, it seems like a good time to take stock and look back at some of the great players who have worn the Barça shirt from 2000 to 2025… through their shirt numbers.

Pedri opens up: what he likes about Flick, a dream with Messi, and the great rivals – Mundo Deportivo
“Within the club, in terms of seriousness, many things have changed. He’s given the club a German touch,” the Canary Islander said about the Barça coach. “Of course I’d love to play with Messi again, without a doubt. He’s the best ever and he helped me a lot the year we played together,” he emphasizes.

The center-back Deco likes the most – SPORT
Several names are on Deco’s shortlist. They’ve been monitoring Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterberg and Spanish international Pau Torres, who plays for Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, but the player the Barça sporting director likes most is Marc Guéhi, the English international from Crystal Palace.

A flood of offers from MLS clubs for Lewandowski to leave Barça – SPORT
The Polish striker’s priority is to stay for another year, but he’s aware of the situation and is starting to listen to offers for the future. A few days ago, interest from the Chicago Fire of MLS surfaced, but now an offer from Orlando City has also emerged, as they too want him on their roster.

Monaco have reportedly ruled out signing Ansu Fati in June – SPORT
French journalist Romain Molina reveals that Monaco has already decided not to keep the player next season and therefore will not pay the €12 million purchase clause they agreed to when he was loaned out last summer.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona star Pedri has been quizzed on which teams he thinks have the best chance of winning the Champions League this season.

Hansi Flick’s side will be hoping to lift trophy, after making it to the semi-finals last season, but still have work to do to reach the knockout stages.

Pedri has now shared his thoughts on the competition and thinks there are several teams in contentions to be crowned champions of Europe.

“PSG, the current champions. Arsenal is also a very strong team. And I’d always include City and Real Madrid among the contenders,” he told Esquire magazine.

“One team I see as strong, and that has pleasantly surprised me, is Sporting Lisbon, where my friend Trincão plays. They play good football.”

Barcelona still have two games left to play in the league phase which will take place in 2026. Flick’s side face Slavia Prague first up and then wrap up their group campaign against FC Copenhagen.

Who do you think will win this season’s Champions League? Share your predictions in the comments below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona beat Villarreal 2-0 on Sunday in La Liga to ensure they sit tip of the pile at Christmas and with a four-point lead over Real Madrid.

Yet Sunday’s match wasn’t without a few defensive scares for Barcelona. Indeed television cameras have picked up Raphinha sharing his thoughts with Pau Cubarsi after the defender lost the ball and conceded a corner.

“You don’t always have to play pretty,” were the words from the Brazilian to the young center-back as he prepared to help Barcelona defend the set-piece.

Raphinha led by example once again in the win over Villarreal. He won and scored the penalty to break the deadlock and was within inches of adding a second when he hit the woodwork.

The Brazilian was also one of the first on the scene after Renato Veiga had wiped out Lamine Yamal with an ugly tackle.

An angry Raphinha was quick to approach the Villarreal bench to protest at the foul which ultimately led to a red card and the Yellow Submarine being forced to play out the game with 10 men.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona are currently thought to be mulling over their defensive options after losing Andreas Christensen to an ACL injury.

The Dane is expected to be sidelined for several months in what is a real blow for club and player. As Barca are also without Ronald Araujo currently, it leaves the Catalans short at the back.

Hansi Flick has said he’ll talk to Deco about the possibility of recruiting in the January transfer window, meaning speculation is rife that Barca could add a new center-back.

According to Diario Sport, Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi is Deco’s top choice for the position. The Barca chief prefers Guehi to other targets such as Nico Schlotterberck and Pau Torres.

However, Guehi has also attracted interest from a host of top clubs across Europe which means competition for his signature is fierce.

Guehi is now into the final year of his contract and is expected to leave Selhurst Park in the summer.

He’s unlikely to move in January but is able to talk to overseas teams from the start of the year and looks to have his pick of clubs right now.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Hansi Flick’s fulfilled prophecy – FC Barcelona
On 25 November, at Stamford Bridge, Barça were beaten 3–0 by Chelsea in the league phase of the Champions League. The crushing defeat proved to be a turning point in the team’s season. In the press room afterwards, Hansi Flick delivered a message that, as the weeks have passed, has come to sound very much like a prophecy.

What’s happened when Barça were winter champions? – FC Barcelona
Even though two matchdays still remain before the end of the first half of the LaLiga season, FC Barcelona have already been crowned winter champions mathematically. In other words, they are guaranteed to finish the first half of the domestic campaign top of the table. So, it’s a good moment to look back at what has happened in recent years when Barça have reached this stage of the season as Liga leaders.

Rafinha announces retirement – FC Barcelona
Everything comes to an end, and Rafinha’s career as a footballer has now reached its final chapter. In a video shared on his social media channels (featuring images from his time at La Masia and the Champions League triumph with FC Barcelona in the 2014/15 season) the Brazilian announced that he is hanging up his boots at the age of 32.

Bastoni has some fun with a wink to Barça – Mundo Deportivo
The Italian footballer reacted with a ‘like’ to a comment on one of his posts where people were asking him to sign for the Blaugrana.

Rudi Völler urges Ter Stegen to resolve his future – Mundo Deportivo
“It doesn’t matter if it’s in Barcelona or somewhere else; in the end, he has to play,” said the sporting director of the German national team.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is reportedly willing to offer Andreas Christensen a new contract to keep him at the club after his current deal expires in the summer.

Christensen has just been ruled out for several months with a partial ACL tear, putting more doubts over his future with the Catalan giants.

According to Què t’hi Jugues, Laporta has already decided he’s willing to extend the Dane’s contract in what will be seen as a very generous gesture if it proves to be accurate.

Christensen has said on several occasions this season that he wants to stay at Barcelona, but his injury record has led to doubts over whether he will continue.

The center-back has struggled to stay fit throughout his time at the club and his latest injury is yet another blow for club and player.

Christensen isn’t now expected back for another four months, and there has been speculation that Barca may now dip into the transfer window to bring in a replacement this winter.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been told he needs to be playing regular football if he wants to be Germany’s No. 1 at the 2026 World Cup.

Ter Stegen is back to full fitness after surgery and made his first appearance of the season in Barcelona’s Copa del Rey win over Guadalajara.

However, Hansi Flick made it clear that Ter Stegen was only back for that one match, and it’s currently unclear what will happen next with the goalkeeper.

Germany sporting director Rudi Voller has now been talking about the situation and has sent a clear message to Ter Stegen.

“It doesn’t matter if he stays at Barcelona or goes somewhere else, in the end he has to play,” he told Kicker.

“And then we’ll all be happy for him if, after many years as a world-class goalkeeper in Manuel Neuer ‘s shadow, he gets the chance to be between the posts at a World Cup.”

There have been whispers of interest in Ter Stegen ahead of the January window. Aston Villa are believed to be interested, while the German is also said to have attracted interest from clubs in Turkey.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Villarreal 0-2 FC Barcelona: Winning end to 2025 – FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona go into the Christmas break four points clear of Real Madrid after a solid 2-0 victory at the home of Villarreal, a result that is doubly important because it also puts some distance between themselves and today’s opponents, who with two games in hand are very much part of the title chase.

Eight wins a row by two or more goals – FC Barcelona
Hansi Flick’s FC Barcelona continue to underline their attacking power and their love affair with goals. With the 2-0 win away to Villarreal, the team have now won their last eight LaLiga matches by a margin of at least two goals, equalling their best run since 2017.

Flick: ‘It’s great to see us playing well’ – FC Barcelona
The Barça coach and midfielder Frenkie de Jong react to the win over Villarreal in La Liga.

Hansi Flick’s squad to return to training on 29 December – FC Barcelona
After the win over Villarreal, the squad will have a break over the holidays and will be back before New Year for an open doors session at the Estadi Johan Cruyff.

Andreas Christensen injury news – FC Barcelona
The first team player Andreas Christensen has a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee as the result of an unfortunate twist of the knee in Saturday’s training session. After tests carried out on the player, a conservative course of treatment has been chosen.

Alavés 1-6 Barça: Comfortably through – FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona Femení wrapped up 2025 in the best possible fashion, booking their place in the quarter-finals of the Copa de la Reina with an emphatic 6–1 win over Alavés at the Ciudad Deportiva Luis Compañón. The Blaugranes dominated from start to finish, putting the finishing touch on an outstanding year.

Atlètic Balears 4-4 Barça Atlètic: Valiant draw to end year – FC Barcelona
Sometimes a point feels like much more. Barça Atlètic managed to come back from 3-0 in the first half and again from 4-2 in the second to return from Palma with a very deserved draw against Atlético Baleares (4-4). They might have also won it at the end, but Belletti’s side showed a never say die spirit to claim a point to go into 2026 with optimism.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick offered a brief update on Andreas Christensen’s knee injury ahead of kick-off on Sunday at La Ceramica against Villarreal.

The Catalan giants have confirmed the Denmark international has suffered a partial ACL tear and has been ruled out for the foreseeable future.

Flick was asked about the defender before the game against Marcelino’s side and admits he will be missing for some time.

“I think he’ll be out for the next few months. He was playing at a high level. He gave us stability in defense. He was a good option, but now he’s out,” he told DAZN.

Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin will line up at Barca’s central defensive pairing again at Villarreal, with Flick praising both players ahead of kick-off.

“Cubarsí, at 18, seems very mature. He’s always calm, gives us defensive stability, and creates chances from the back. He gives us a lot,” he said.

“You always know what Gerard Martín is going to give you. His improvement is very good. I’m grateful for the stability he offers us. I appreciate him a lot.”

News of Christensen’s injury means that speculation is already rife that Barcelona may try to sign another defender in January to boost their options at the back.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona have offered an update on Andreas Christensen’s fitness after he was ruled out of Sunday’s game against Villarreal due to injury.

The Dane was a late withdrawal from the travelling squad after sustained a problem in training before the match and it’s now been revealed he’s suffered a partial ACL tear.

Here’s the club’s official statement:

“The first team player Andreas Christensen has a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee as the result of an unfortunate twist of the knee in Saturday’s training session.  After tests carried out on the player, a conservative course of treatment has been chosen.   The player’s recovery time will depend on his progress.”

There’s no date given yet for when Christensen may return but early reports suggest he will miss several months which is a huge blow for club and player, particularly as he’s out of contract next summer.

Christensen’s injury also leaves Barca short in defence and means the club could potentially look to add a player in the January transfer window.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

WELCOME TO THE ESTADIO DE LA CERÁMICA!!! The stylish home of Villarreal is the site of a massive La Liga match between the hosts and Barcelona, who come into this one looking to finish 2025 with an eighth consecutive league win, but it won’t be easy against the Yellow Submarine who are on fire in the league, having won their last six in a row. This should be all kinds of fun, and you’re welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action. Vamos!

LINEUPS

To be announced.

MATCH INFO

Competition/Round: 2025-26 La Liga, Matchday 17

Date/Time: Sunday, December 21, 2025, 4.15pm CET/WAT (Barcelona & Nigeria), 3.15pm GMT (UK), 10.15am ET, 7.15am PT (USA), 8.45pm IST (India)

Venue: Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal, Spain

Referee: Javier Alberola Rojas

VAR: Valentín Pizarro Gómez

HOW TO WATCH

On TV: ESPN Deportes (USA), Premier Sports 1 (UK), SuperSport (Nigeria), others

Online: ESPN+ (USA), Premier Sports Player (UK), FanCode (India), DAZN (Spain), others

Matchday Thread Rules

We don’t have a lot of rules here, but there are a few things to keep in mind when joining our matchday threads:

Even if the referee sucks or we lose the game, watch the swearing. It’s just unnecessary. Also, don’t discuss illegal streaming links. Those who do it will be warned, and those who post links will be instantly banned. Finally, be nice to each other. This is a Barcelona community and we don’t need to offend one another.

Have fun with the game! Forever and ever, no matter the competition, VISCA EL BARÇA!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Final session before trip to Villarreal – FC Barcelona
The Blaugranes completed Saturday’s session at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, the final workout ahead of their final game of 2025. After the session the squad headed off to Villarreal where they will spend the night before Sunday’s 4.15pm CET kickoff.

Hansi Flick: ‘We have big goals this season’ – FC Barcelona
“Every game is tough.” That was how Hansi Flick opened his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s Villarreal v Barça clash at the Estadio de la Cerámica.

The magic of Barça reaches children in hospital – FC Barcelona
Led by Institutional Vice-President Elena Fort and several members of the club’s board, the FC Barcelona men’s first team squad and coaching staff paid their traditional Christmas visit to children’s hospitals this Friday, a charity initiative organised every year by the Barça Foundation.

Rashford: ‘This will give them strength’ – FC Barcelona
Robert Lewandowski and Marcus Rashford speak to the media following their traditional visit to local children’s hospitals.

Flick’s impassioned defense of Raphinha: “His exclusion from the FIFA XI is a joke” – Mundo Deportivo
The Barça coach closed his press conference with a shower of praise for the Brazilian after he was not included in the best team of the season despite scoring 34 goals and providing 22 assists.

Confirmed: Flick rules out Pedri for Villarreal – Mundo Deportivo
“He won’t be available. I’m not happy about this. He’s injured,” admitted the Barcelona coach, who hopes to have him back for the derby against Espanyol on January 3rd.

Christensen wants to stay, but Barça have not yet made a decision – Mundo Deportivo
Before considering a possible contract renewal, which would involve a pay cut, the club want to see if the Dane can maintain the level of performance he showed in Guadalajara.

Aston Villa keeping a close eye on Marc-André ter Stegen – Mundo Deportivo
The English club sounded out Barcelona over the goalkeeper’s situation and fitness, amid growing concern about the condition of “Dibu” Martínez.

Villarreal will host Barça in a critical situation – Mundo Deportivo
The ‘Yellow Submarine’ face the visit of the Blaugrana with seven injured players, two called up for AFCON and two other key players being carefully monitored.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick did not hold back on his criticism of the decision to leave Raphinha out of the recently announced FIFA The Best World XI.

Two Barça players did make the final cut as Lamine Yamal and Pedri were included in the XI, but the absence of Raphinha was notable despite the Brazilian’s incredible contributions, especially in the Champions League, and Flick called the decision “unbelievable” and “a joke”.

“For me, it’s unbelievable. It’s not a big deal because I don’t think much about the best eleven, but FIFA’s decision is a joke. When I saw that Raphinha wasn’t on it, it was incredible. He was very important for us last season. He made 22 goal contributions in the Champions League, in the top competition. If you look at the goals and assists and his influence, it was incredible. It’s not fair to him. It’s a joke. I can’t believe he’s not in the best eleven in the world. After the season, he deserves it. It’s unbelievable.”

You can easily argue that no player in Hansi Flick’s career as a manager has made as big of a jump from good player to superstar as Raphinha did, and the Brazilian has a very special relationship with Flick that is clearly reciprocated.

And regardless of what FIFA or France Football think, the streets will truly never forget that Raphinha was the best player in the world in the 2024-25 season.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has confirmed that Pedri won’t play on Sunday against Villarreal after picking up a minor injury.

The loss of the midfielder for Barcelona’s final game of the calender year is a big blow, and Flick is not at all happy about the situation.

“No he’s not available. I am not happy about this, but it’s part of football. He’s injured, but I think for the next game he’ll be ready,” he told his pre-match press conference.

“He has hamstring problems, but the risk is very high. He could play, but the risk is high.

“We have to take care of him and make sure he gets treatment. We can’t take any risks. It’s the best thing to do right now. We need him for the upcoming matches against Espanyol and the Super Cup. We have to adapt because we have a lot of quality in the team.”

Pedri’s absence will be a huge blow for Barcelona as the Catalans try to close out the year with a win.

Barca head into the game four points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table. Los Blancos take on Sevilla in their final fixture of 2025 later on today.

Source: barcablaugranes.com