Barcelona FC news

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has been full of praise for team-mate Marcus Rashford and says the Manchester United loanee “has everything.”

The forward has impressed on loan in Catalunya and it’s been reported that Barcelona are planning on activating the purchase option in his contract.

Lewandowski says that if Barcelona want to get the very best out of Rashford then have to make sure he’s full of confidence and belief.

“After a few training sessions, no. He has huge potential,” says Lewandowski. “He has everything. He has speed, he has technique, he has a shot, he has left foot, right foot, skills…” he told Sky Sports.

“But Marcus is the guy, if you give him confidence and he sees that you believe in him, he can give you back 200 per cent.

“He’s a very nice guy. We spoke because we are sitting in the dressing room beside [each other]. We also play ping-pong. I see that this guy is very kind, very nice guy but also because of this he needs someone standing behind him.”If he does have this confidence he can really play his best football and on the best level.”

Lewandowski as then asked who wins their ping-pong games and replied: “He improved but he couldn’t win any games against me! He has to change his opponent!”

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona’s injury situation has taken a turn for the worse with Frenkie de Jong, Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde all forced onto the sidelines over the last week or so.

The news has left Hansi Flick frustrated and planning talks with his staff to try and get to the bottom of the problem at Camp Nou.

“We have two more injuries and I’m not happy about it. We need to talk,” he said after Tuesday’s game against Atletico. “Because with Frenkie, we have three injured players. We need to talk to the medical team, to the staff, to prevent three players from getting injured in one week.”

Reports emerged earlier this season about tensions between the squad and the medical staff, with players not happy about some aspects of their recovery.

A new report from Mundo Deportivo now claims that the Barca players are “constantly worried” about the situation regarding injuries within the squad and have lost confidence in the staff.

MD add that “most of the players are training on their own with their own professionals” and that “something isn’t being done right.”

Hamstring injuries have been a particular problem for Flick’s side this season.

De Jong, Balde and Kounde are all out with hamstring issues, while Pedri, Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski have also been affected with the problem at different times during the campaign.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona announced on Thursday that Joan Laporta and Victor Font are the two official candidates for the presidency of the club ahead of the vote on March 15th.

Both candidates have presented the required number of 2,337 signatures to proceed, while Marc Ciria has fallen short and is out of the race.

Ciria, who had promised Hansi Flick transfer funds of €110 million and vowed to bring Lionel Messi back, presented 2,844 signatures but only 2,247 were valid, leaving him 90 short.

Electoral Board announce Joan Laporta and Víctor Font as candidates for the presidency of the Club pic.twitter.com/5Hml1FEJ3g

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 5, 2026

Laporta submitted 8,170 signatures (with 7,226 validated) and Font came up with 5,144 (and 4,440 validated).

The two candidates will now continue on the campaign trail ahead of the elections on March 15th.

Laporta remains the favorite to win and be re-elected. He beat Font last time in 2021, winning 54 per cent of the vote, while Font finished on 29.99 per cent and Toni Freixa took 8.58 per cent.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Kounde and Balde injury news – FC Barcelona
Both players were forced off due to injury during the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Atlético Madrid.

Inside View | Barça v Atlético Madrid – FC Barcelona
Our cameras captured all the goings-on before, during and after the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg at Spotify Camp Nou.

Spotify Camp Nou in full voice – FC Barcelona
The Barça fans helped the team almost pull off a miraculous comeback as the 12th man against Atlético in the Copa del Rey.

Marc Bernal flourishing – FC Barcelona
Catalan midfielder warranting a place in the first team after brace against Atlético Madrid.

Pride in the Barça squad after nearly achieving a miracle – Mundo Deportivo
Despite being eliminated in the Copa del Rey semi-finals by Atlético de Madrid, the players shared several motivational messages on their social media accounts looking ahead to the rest of the season.

Lewandowski is back and wearing a mask, thinking about Bilbao – Mundo Deportivo
The Polish striker, who missed the Atlético match due to the bone fracture he suffered in the inner corner of his left eye socket against Villarreal, was back in training on Wednesday with the San Mamés match in mind.

Lewandowski doesn’t have fond memories of playing with a mask: “It’s not fun, it was a tough challenge for me” – Mundo Deportivo
The mask will be a short-term solution for the Polish striker to continue playing. It’s not the first time Lewandowski has used this protection to return early. The forward already wore an orthopedic mask in May 2015 after suffering fractures to his septum and jaw, and in fact, he faced Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals wearing it.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona have confirmed Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde both sustained hamstring injuries against Atletico following the 3-0 Copa del Rey clash.

Kounde lasted only 11 minutes of the game before having to be replaced, while Balde come on but couldn’t finish the match as he also picked up a problem.

Here are Barcelona’s official statements:

“First-team player Jules Kounde has suffered a mid-belly hamstring (biceps femoris) injury in his left thigh. His recovery progress will determine his availability.

“First-team player Alejandro Balde has suffered a distal hamstring (biceps femoris) injury in his left thigh. Examinations indicate that the recovery process will take approximately 4 weeks.”

The news means that Barcelona are set to be without both players for games against Athletic Club, Sevilla, and Rayo Vallecano in La Liga as well as the Champions League round of 16 tie against Newcastle.

Hansi Flick will therefore have to make changes to his backline. Joao Cancelo is likely to continue in the starting XI, while Eric Garcia should return after being suspended for the midweek match.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

You can’t ask for much more than that if you’re a Barcelona fan.

Hansi Flick wanted his team to believe and give the chance at a remontada their all, and that’s exactly what they did.

They played with intensity, creativity, and a sense of urgency. All the ingredients you need to make a comeback possible when you come into the second leg of the semi-final down 0-4.

It came down to the final seconds, and looking back, the disallowed Pau Cubarsí goal at the Metropolitano made all the difference.

You can’t blame the effort or the tactics in this one. Flick will be pleased, and should be credited for the decisions he made to put his team in a position to make the impossible happen.

One thing seems clear though, comebacks like this aren’t magic. You also need to have the players on the field who can make the plays.

If there were questions before, I think they should now be answered, that Barcelona need to prioritize finding a striker over the summer. What they have at their disposal this season is holding back the team from reaching their potential.

Robert Lewandowski is 37 years old, and he wasn’t able to feature in the second leg after picking up an injury. Would it have made a difference? Maybe off the bench he could have been the one to poach the equalizer. As a starter, Barcelona needed legs, and he wouldn’t have been able to give them the intensity that they needed.

Ferran Torres, who got the nod, isn’t exactly a world class pressing machine either. At his best, he’s the shark, but on his off nights, which we see too often, he either disappears, or makes it into the highlights for missing goals he should have put away.

Ferran, if he sticks around, is a good super sub. But in the biggest matches, Barcelona should be realistic about what they can expect from him.

Marc Bernal was the goal scoring hero in this one. That’s incredible for the young holding midfielder who is back to his best after a long time away recovering from a tough ACL injury. He is currently taking his chance, with Frenkie de Jong away, to show that he has a future at the Camp Nou.

But this was a game for Barca’s number nine to show up. Unfortunately, he was nowhere to be found.

It’s not just the center forward position either. There are serious questions about the left full-back. Had Jules Kounde not gone down with an injury, I think Barcelona would have had a better chance at a comeback. João Cancelo continues to cook and show that he was a very useful winter signing.

The left wing, until Marcus Rashford finally came on, was struggling to create danger. Alejandro Balde I think does play better with a right footed left winger on the field, but I’m not sure he’s making a great case for himself this season as a player Barca should invest their hopes in.

These are lessons learned that will be useful for the men in suits to consider.

As a team, however, in the here and now, Barcelona should be thrilled by their performance. It was certainly pure entertainment from the perspective of a fan.

The “almost” comeback gets Barcelona back on the rails, and allows them to look forward to the Champions League and La Liga with confidence and momentum.

They are not a perfectly constructed team given the financial constraints at the club level, but Hansi Flick continues to get a heck of a lot out of the players who are available to him.

Barca fans, you have reason to believe that these guys are true contenders for the big trophies that are in front of them.

They may not have made it to the Copa del Rey final, but by taking seriously the improbable second leg of the semifinals, they have gained something more important.

They now have evidence that they can take on any challenge.

The caveat, of course, in spite of their short comings, is keeping Pedri, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha healthy and on the field.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

FC Barcelona 3–0 Atlético Madrid: Valiant effort falls short – FC Barcelona
In the end there was only a goal difference on aggregate over the tie as FC Barcelona beat Atlético Madrid 3-0 to fall just short of what looked like an impossible comeback in the Copa del Rey semi-final. Hansi Flick’s side put on one of their best performances of the season and had the visitors on the ropes for most of the match. Marc Bernal scored two and Raphinha put away a penalty, but no further goals ultimately came to force extra time.

HIGHLIGHTS | FC Barcelona v Atlético Madrid – FC Barcelona
All the action from the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final.

Hansi Flick: ‘We can be very proud’ – FC Barcelona
Coach Hansi Flick was proud of his side’s performance in which two goals from Marc Bernal and a penalty from Raphinha almost made the impossible seem possible.

200 games for Araujo with Barça – FC Barcelona
Defender Ronald Araujo has reached a double century of appearances for FC Barcelona. Coming on against Atlético Madrid in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final was number 200 for the Uruguayan with his debut coming back in October 2019 in a game at Spotify Camp Nou against Sevilla.

Raphinha: “I leave proud, now on to the league and the Champions League” – Mundo Deportivo
The Brazilian thanked the fans for their support and promised that “if we keep playing like this, we’ll have a spectacular end to the season.”

Bernal: “If they gave Cubarsí’s goal, perhaps we would be in extra time right now” – Mundo Deportivo
The midfielder, who was one of the standout players of the match with a brace, recalled the controversial incident that resulted in a goal being disallowed for Barcelona after more than six minutes of review.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona’s salary cap has increased by €81 million to €432.8 million following the close of the January transfer window.

The latest numbers have been crunched by La Liga and show that Barcelona’s financial situation continues to slowly improve.

Real Madrid remain the top team in LaLiga when it comes to having largest spending limit on players and transfers.

Los Blancos now have a spending capacity of up to €761m, still miles ahead of Barca on €432m and Atletico on €336m.

Barcelona’s limit has increased from €351m in September to €432m in March. The return of the first team to Camp Nou has helped, along with a new Spotify sponsorship deal that was signed at the end of last year and the strategic renewals of some players in the first team squad.

The Catalan giants are still outside the 1:1 rule but things are looking brighter, particularly with the capacity of Camp Nou set to increase to 62,000 hopefully in the coming weeks.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona sit four points clear at the top of La Liga after 26 games played of the 2025-26 season following Real Madrid’s surprise defeat to Getafe on Monday night.

Los Blancos had the chance to cut the gap to just one point but went down 1-0 thanks to a solitary goal for Martin Satriano. That’s now two defeats in a row for Madrid in La Liga.

It was a tough night for Barcelona’s biggest rivals, with problems starting to pile up for manager Alvaro Arbeloa.

Franco Mastantuono was sent off against Getafe and will now serve a ban, while Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras will also miss Madrid’s next game against Celta Vigo on Friday night.

Arbeloa is also without star striker Kylian Mbappe due to a knee injury, while Jude Bellingham and Eder Militao are still yet to return from muscle problems.

The situation makes good reading for Barcelona fans, although the gap may well be just one point again by the time they return to action at the weekend.

Madrid are at Celta Vigo on Friday night in La Liga, while Barcelona head to Athletic Club on Saturday.

So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is this:

How do you feel about the title race after Real Madrid’s defeat to Getafe?

Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your thoughts, predictions opinions and answers in the comments section below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

With the Finalíssima against Argentina scheduled to be held just over three weeks away, the recent conflict in Iran has UEFA and CONMEBOL scrambling as football in the Middle East has been paused in many countries. Qatar, the host for the cup match between the latest European and South American champions, is one of the countries that has taken a break from football due to security concerns.

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente said a venue change to keep the March 27 date intact is possible. It’s the last real gap in the calendar before FIFA World Cup prep kicks in, and playing it at the Metropolitano in Madrid could be a solution.

The other big story for cules, though, is whether Joan García’s absurd form finally forces De La Fuente’s hand. The Barça keeper is currently the most effective in La Liga. He has the numbers to back it up. So it’s no surprise that there’s growing noise about his inclusion, yet reports from El Nacional suggest De La Fuente has already promised his veteran heavyweights – Unai Simón, David Raya, and Álex Remiro – that he’s likely to stick to the established block that won the Euros.

García has been a wall, preventing 7.68 goals more than the “expected goals” (xG) models say he should have. Even with those numbers, De La Fuente remains non-committal about a call-up.

He did reveal a private conversation he had with the keeper during a recent injury spell. “In a moment that he was doing very well, he got injured,” De La Fuente explained. “I spoke with him and told him, ‘continue on your path, do not listen to what the media is saying.’”

“Of the ten best goalkeepers in the world, six are Spanish,” De La Fuente commented, meaning some great ones would miss out.

One Barcelona player that will for sure be included is Lamine Yamal. After his hat-trick against Villarreal, the teenager admitted he hadn’t been happy on the pitch a few months back. De la Fuente was blunt about the pressure, saying, “I celebrate him a lot, I also know that he has had a very bad time.”

Yamal has been branded a party boy and unfocused by some sections of the media. “He has been treated very unfairly. It would be more unusual for an 18-year-old to not have a party sometimes,” the boss said.

He pointed out that people see the talent but ignore the three hours of training followed by sessions with personal trainers, nutritionists, and psychologists. For De La Fuente, the fact that Lamine is smiling again is the “best news,” praising the “mental strength” required to endure that level of scrutiny at 18.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Last session before Atlético Madrid – FC Barcelona
This Monday, the FC Barcelona squad held their morning training session on the Tito Vilanova pitch at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper to finalise preparations for the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Atlético Madrid.

When and where to watch FC Barcelona v Atlético Madrid – FC Barcelona
Our guide to the international kick-off times and TV channels as the Blaugranes seek a comeback in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg.

Hansi Flick: ‘Anything is possible’ – FC Barcelona
Hansi Flick is approaches realistic about his team’s chances in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals with Atlético Madrid, but also had a message full of ambition and hope in his pre-game press conference. “We have the hunger to achieve it and I want to see desire” he said. “But we must also keep a clear head.”

Flick’s message to the dressing room before attempting a comeback against Atlético – Mundo Deportivo
The German coach told the team what he said immediately after the 4-0 defeat at the Metropolitano: that they must approach the return leg as two matches in one and win each half 2-0, something achievable.

The reason for Marc Casadó’s latest absence – Mundo Deportivo
Hansi Flick explained that the midfielder was unable to complete all of last week’s training sessions because he was suffering from vomiting, but he is now available for selection.

Nagelsmann: “Ter Stegen’s situation is tragic, it was his turn” – Mundo Deportivo
The German coach regrets the goalkeeper’s situation, but warns, with the World Cup on the horizon, that “he has played extremely little in a year.”

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid meet again on Tuesday night for the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg match.

Atletico head into the game already 4-0 up on aggregate and heavy favourites to make it through to a final against Athletic Club or Real Sociedad.

But Barcelona haven’t given up hope just yet. The club have history when it comes to stunning comebacks – just ask PSG – and Hansi Flick and his players have been talking up their hopes of another special night at Camp Nou.

Lamine Yamal says it’s a case of “1% chance, 99% faith” for Barcelona– but is he right? We want to know your predictions for tomorow night and if you think Barcelona can make it through.

So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is this:

Can Barcelona pull off a stunning Copa del Rey comeback against Atletico?

Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your thoughts, predictions opinions and answers in the comments section below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick spoke to the press on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s massive Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Atlético Madrid, as Barça look for a miracle to overturn a four-goal deficit and reach the Spanish Cup Final for the second year in a row.

The coach spoke about what is needed in order to make the comeback a reality, and also addressed Robert Lewandowski’s freak eye injury and the incredible form of Lamine Yamal. Here’s a summary of Flick’s best quotes:

---

On the comeback attempt

“It’s always better to think about the first goal first. We have to be smart. We’ll be hungry to get it, and I want to see that hunger. We saw a completely different team in the last match, a lot of intensity in the game. We have to play together, as a team. That’s the key.

“I think everyone knows we’re four goals behind and we want to make the impossible possible. We’re not going to give up. It’s an important match. We have to believe.”

On Lewandowski’s injury

“We have to accept it and deal with it. We weren’t very lucky because he turned around and collided with an opponent and then scored… It’s always problematic not having a player like him, but the team always manages it well. This will give other players a chance to prove themselves.”

On Lamine Yamal’s form

“The important thing is that the team is plugged in. Lamine’s first goal came after a very good recovery and pass from Fermín. Lamine has the quality to be in the right moment. After the goal, he played wonderfully, I loved it. We need everyone, not just Lamine.”

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona take on Atletico Madrid next time out in the Copa del Rey, needing to score at last four goals to keep alive their hopes of reaching the final once again.

One reason for optimism for Hansi Flick’s side is the return from injury of Pedri. Barcelona’s little magician is expected to start the game and has been giving fans reasons to believe ahead of the game.

“Last year against this same opponent, we managed to score four goals in seventy minutes,” he told TV3.

“If any team can do it again, it’s us. We have a young squad, and that also means a touch of recklessness and madness. We believe in our chances until the very end.”

Pedri also says he’s feeling good after making his return. He’s featured as a substitute in the wins over Levante and Villarreal but is now angling for a start.

“Good. I’ve played over half an hour in two matches, and I’m eager to play more,” he added.

“These two matches have helped me get back into the rhythm of competition.

And Pedri is also hoping for a little help from the home crowd on Tuesday night.

Asked for one final message for fans, he said: “I’ll be waiting for you at Camp Nou. I’m sure that together we’ll give it our all and win this semi-final.”

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona have been hit with some more bad news on the injury front as striker Robert Lewandowski has been ruled out of Tuesday’s Copa del Rey clash with Atletico due to injury.

Hansi Flick’s side head into the game needing plenty of goals after losing the first leg 4-0 but will have to make do without Lewandowski.

The striker has been ruled out of the game due to an injury sustained against Villarreal.

“First-team player Robert Lewandowski suffered trauma during yesterday’s match against Villarreal. The tests carried out today have diagnosed a bone fracture on the inner side of the left eye’s orbit,” the club said in a statement.

“The player will be sidelined for Tuesday’s match against Atlético de Madrid.”

𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 ‼️

First team player Robert Lewandowski picked up an injury in the recent game against Villarreal. Tests have diagnosed a fracture of the left eye socket.

He will miss the game against Atlético Madrid. pic.twitter.com/I54nE94rs8

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 1, 2026

The news will be a real blow to Barca and means that Lewandowski will join Frenkie de Jong on the sidelines for the big match.

Ferran Torres may therefore start again in attack, although Marcus Rashford may also be an option. The good news for Flick is that Lamine Yamal heads into the game fresh from scoring a hat-trick, while Pedri is fit again and expected to start.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona’s 4-1 win over Villarreal on Saturday saw Lamine Yamal score a hat-trick and Pedri put in another magical showing off the bench.

Indeed Villarreal star Santi Comesaña has revealed how the Yellow Submarine ended up giving up hope after one particular piece of play by the substitute.

“With Pedri, the game stopped being end-to-end. Barça had much longer spells of possession, they didn’t make us chase them,” he told the media.

“He threaded the pass for the 3-1 goal that went through three defensive lines and that’s when we kind of gave up. We tried, but we lost our conviction.”

Comesana also had some kind words for Yamal and admitted that the teenager seems to love coming up against Villarreal.

“He has a habit of playing great games against us. Sergi Cardona had Moleiro’s help, but stopping players like that is very difficult,” he added.

“The second goal, for me, was a fantastic goal. He also finished the other two very well. But he was constantly taking on defenders.”

Yamal’s three goals saw him score his first career hat-trick for Barcelona, becoming the youngest player to manage the feat in La Liga in the 21st century.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

FC Barcelona 4-1 Villarreal: Lamine leads the way – FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona will be spending at least another week at the top of the La Liga table. There have been all kinds of ups and downs in clashes with Villarreal in recent years, but Saturday’s installment, against a team currently sitting in third place, was a fairly comfortable ride.

HIGHLIGHTS | FC Barcelona v Villarreal – FC Barcelona
All the action from the La Liga clash at Spotify Camp Nou.

First hat-trick for Lamine Yamal with Barça – FC Barcelona
First match ball taken home for Lamine Yamal after recording his first ever hat-trick in an FC Barcelona shirt. There are not many adjectives left to describe the teenage forward as he put in another memorable performance with his three goals in the 4-1 win over Villarreal at the Spotify Camp Nou.

Hansi Flick: ‘That’s what we need’ – FC Barcelona
The German coach was delighted, “not just with the result, but with the way we played.” And although it would have been easy to focus solely on Lamine Yamal’s hat-trick, Flick was keen to highlight the collective effort.

Hansi Flick: 100 games as FC Barcelona coach – FC Barcelona
Hansi Flick has reached his century. The game against Villarreal was his 100th in charge as Barça coach and the German in that time has won over the hearts and minds of the fans.

Valencia Mestalla 0-2 Barça Atlètic: Brace from Joaquín Delgado for the win – FC Barcelona
Hard fought victory for Barça Atlètic away from home against Valencia Mestalla with a late brace from Joaquín Delgado earning them a valuable three points. The win allows Juliano Belletti’s team to remain in contention in the play off zone of the Segunda Federación.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona have opened up a temporary four-point gap at the top of the La Liga table thanks to a dominant 4-1 win against Villarreal at Camp Nou on Saturday afternoon. Barça were the better team for the vast majority of the game and secured a deserved victory at home against the third best team in the league, and Lamine Yamal scored the first hat-trick of his career to lead the Blaugrana to an excellent win and celebrate Hansi Flick’s 100th game in style.

Reactions & Observations

• The opening 45 minutes against the third best team in the league were about as encouraging as you can get from a Barça perspective. Apart from one or two moments where the visitors got in behind the high line, the Catalans were excellent in all areas from ball control to chance creation and, crucially, their ability to contain counter-attacks and constantly catch Villarreal in offside positions.
• Lamine Yamal was the star of the show throughout the half as he thoroughly dominated left-back Sergi Cardona and created chace after chance, and the second of his two goals was a masterpiece of dribbling combined with one of the best strikes you will see all season. It was a truly special goal, and the icing on the cake of a brilliant first half from the teenager.
• Fermín López assisted both of Yamal’s goals and also had a really strong showing himself, playing a complete game as a right-sided centeral midfielder in a 4-3-3 and doing tons of work with and without the ball.
• Marc Bernal was given a big responsibility to play as a single pivot in the system and had a solid opening half, losing possession a couple of times but ultimately doing a pretty good job of controlling the pace and passing the ball accurately into good areas.
• Things did not start well in the second half as Pape Gueye scored after a corner to bring Villarreal back into the contest, and the visitors had some dangerous counters in the first 10 minutes of the period. Barça struggled to keep the ball and started to look vulnerable at the back again, and there was a feeling they could throw away a well-earned lead.
• But Hansi Flick didn’t waste any time and sent on Pedri from the bench before the hour mark, and The Wizard’s introduction completely changed the game: Pedri regained control of the game by himself, constantly getting on the ball and making sure his team wouldn’t lose it. That helped slow down Villarreal’s momentum, and the Catalans were back in charge.
• Pedri’s best contribution was still to come, though, as he played an outrageous through ball to find Yamal all alone in front of the goalkeeper, and Lamine completed the first hat-trick of his career with a gorgeous finish to restore Barça’s two-goal lead.
• Flick was able to rest some of his key players in the final minutes with the upcoming game against Atlético Madrid in mind, and Robert Lewandowski added the finishing touch with a tap-in from a Jules Kounde assist in added time to make it 4-1 and send the crowd home happy.
• This was a really a comfortable win in which the Catalans were by far the better side for 80 minutes and earned all three points in impressive fashion. Lamine will deservedly take all the headlines, but this was a really good team performance against one of the top teams in Spain. Another step in the right direction.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

WELCOME TO CAMP NOU!!! The Greatest Stadium on Earth is the site of another crucial La Liga match for Barcelona as the leaders face an excellent Villarreal side looking for three huge points to retain top spot in the table for another week. 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 26

Date/Time: Saturday, February 28, 2026, 4.15pm CET/WAT (Barcelona & Nigeria), 3.15pm GMT (UK), 10.15am ET, 7.15am PT (USA), 8.45pm IST (India)

Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Referee: Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos

VAR: Mario Melero López

HOW TO WATCH

On TV: ESPN Deportes (USA), SuperSport (Nigeria), Movistar (Spain), others

Online: ESPN+ (USA), LaLigaTV (UK), FanCode (India), Movistar+ (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

FC Barcelona to face Newcastle United in the Champions League Last 16 – FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona have been drawn against Newcastle United in the Champions League Last 16. The first leg will be away from home at St. James’ Park on Tuesday 10 March, kick off 9pm CET, and the second at Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday 18 March with kick off at 6.45pm CET.

Hansi Flick: ‘We must keep working to win’ – FC Barcelona
Another domestic test awaits in what will be a landmark afternoon for Hansi Flick. Saturday’s clash with Villarreal at Spotify Camp Nou will be his 100th game in charge of FC Barcelona.

Rashford: everything agreed with Barça and it only depends on ‘fair play’ – Mundo Deportivo
Assuming the €30 million purchase option is activated, the Catalan club already has the salary agreed with the Englishman since the loan was finalized in July. The 30 million would be paid to Manchester United in three annual installments of 10 million.

Laporta warns: “The English teams are used to knockout tournaments” – Mundo Deportivo
The former Barcelona president believes the tie against Newcastle will be “complicated, but we have a very talented team that is starting to gain experience.”

Rakitic: “Barça are the favorites and can win this Champions League” – Mundo Deportivo
“Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are game-changers and you can see there’s a good group, and that’s the first step to achieving great things,” said the former Barcelona player, who made the draw for the Round of 16.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona received some bad news on Thursday with the confirmation of a potential six-week absence for Frenkie de Jong after the midfielder suffered a hamstring injury that will likely sideline him through the March international break.

It’s certainly a big blow for Barça as the Dutchman had been one of the team’s most consistent performers all season, and he’ll be missed during a massive stretch of games in three different competitions, including both legs of the Champions League Round of 16 against Newcastle.

But his coach is still confident the rest of the team can make up for Frenkie’s absence. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Hansi Flick spoke about the window of opportunity that has been opened for other players to stake their claim for a spot in the lineup in De Jong’s place, and the coach is positive there is enough quality and tactical variety to help sustain the loss of one of the team’s best players.

“We don’t like it when a player can’t play, especially a player of Frenkie’s quality. It’s not an easy time, but it also gives us the opportunity for other players to play. I focus on the positive.

“All teams have problems, and that’s what we have to manage. We have a lot of quality in the squad and various options to play with. I see it as other players getting opportunities; we’re focusing on what we do have available.”

The return of Pedri is an absolutely massive boost after Frenkie’s injury, and keeping The Wizard fit during this stretch should be the number one priority. Pedri’s partner will have a lot of responsibility to try and replicate not only Frenkie’s impact but the chemistry he’s built with Pedri over time, and the likes of Marc Bernal, Marc Casadó and even Eric Garcia will all be given huge opportunities during what is undoubtedly the most important month of the season.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick had a very Hansi Flick reaction to the news that his team will face Newcastle in the Champions League Round of 16.

The coach spoke to the press just minutes after the draw on Friday, and the big takeaway is the fact that Barça are in the side of the bracket that avoids almost all of the European powerhouses and perceived favorites for the trophy, and Flick was asked if he was happy to avoid PSG and in theory get a more favorable path to the Final.

Flick’s answer is exactly what you’d expect:

“I’m not celebrating that we didn’t draw PSG. Every game is important and never easy, this is the Champions League. Newcastle have a fantastic team, we saw it in their last games but also when we played there, so it’s not easy. For me, it’s always about respect for the opponent. Everyone wants to reach the final, including us, but Newcastle are also looking for that.

“All the Champions League teams are very good and have great quality. Playing against Atlético or Tottenham if we get through is also very difficult. It’s fantastic to have this opportunity, but we have to respect all the teams.“

And Hansi is absolutely right to approach not only Newcastle but all the other possible opponents with the maximum amount of respect. Barça haven’t been anywhere near their best in Europe this season and are still picking up the pieces after a couple of awful results recently, and they don’t have a lot of time to fix their issues as the first leg against Newcastle takes place in less than two weeks.

There’s no denying that Barça were lucky in the draw and will have a much easier path than the likes of PSG, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Manchester City or Real Madrid, but there truly is no easy game in the Champions League, and Barça still need to prove they can rise to the occasion in that competition this season.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Preparations for Villarreal match continue – FC Barcelona
Preparations continue for FC Barcelona regarding the match this weekend against Villarreal (kick-off 4.15pm CET on Saturday). The Blaugranes were in for another training session on the Tito Vilanova pitch at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, with all eyes on the tough La Liga clash.

When and where to watch FC Barcelona v Villarreal – FC Barcelona
International viewing guide to the upcoming fixture at Spotify Camp Nou.

Frenkie de Jong injured – FC Barcelona
First team player Frenkie de Jong injured his outer lower right hamstring this morning in training. Tests confirm he is expected to take five to six weeks to recover.

Hansi Flick: ‘We will never give up’ – FC Barcelona
When Hansi Flick speaks, FC Barcelona fans listen attentively. He is one of the authoritative voices of an FC Barcelona that thrills the Blaugrana fans with their play and titles. Since he became the coach, the team fight each match with character and never give up. Attributes the coach himself expressed during an interview with a backdrop of the Tito Vilanova pitch.

Goals being spread around – FC Barcelona
The goals keep coming for Barça. Hansi Flick’s side are already known for their attacking approach and goals, but what’s more, the goals are actually being spread around. FC Barcelona now have no fewer than 15 different goalscorers during this 2025/26 season, across all competitions, a stat that can only be matched by Levante and Sevilla in La Liga.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick celebrated his birthday in the week and will hit another personal milestone on Saturday against Villarreal in La Liga, as the German coach will take charge of the Catalan giants for the 100th time in all competitions.

Flick is only into his second season as Barcelona boss but has already guided to the club to four trophies and still has the team (just about) fighting on all fronts this season.

The Barca coach has a record of 74 wins, nine draws and 16 defeats in his 99 games in charge of the club. Another win will see him become the manager with the second-most victories after his first 100 matches in charge of the Catalan side. Luis Enrique tops the pile having managed 80 wins from his first 100 games but Flick’s not too far behind.

A victory would certainly be a sweet way for Flick to mark his century. He may not have been at the club for that long but he’s already become much loved by players, staff and fans alike.

Even Joan Laporta has fallen deeply for the German coach and says he wants him to stay for as long as he likes.

“If I become president again, he’ll stay until he decides to leave,“ he said.

“He knows the club very well and will have even more experience. He didn’t want more years of experience, but he’s the ideal coach for Barça right now, and thanks to him we’re experiencing a very sweet moment.”

Of course we don’t know how long Flick will stay. He’s said he’s no fan of long-term contracts and is currently in a job that is well-known for having chewed up and spat out many of his predecessors.

Yet Flick has been happy to speak publicly and genuinely about his love for this club and the city. His obvious disappointment at seeing Dro Fernandez leave – “I loved this boy” – spoke volumes. His refusal to criticise his decision to move on even more so.

He’s also managed to rise about the infamous entorno so far and has guided the team with real class, composure, passion and good humor. A true gentleman. His first 100 games in charge of Barca have brought incredible highs, a few lows, plenty of wonderful memories and many, many wins over Real Madrid.

Here’s to Hansi’s next hundred.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Back to work – FC Barcelona
The week’s training is under way at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper following Barça’s win last weekend in La Liga against Levante at Spotify Camp Nou. After a two day break the squad now turns its attention to Saturday’s next test in the league, also at home, against Villarreal, kick off 4.15pm CET.

Raphinha: ‘It’s difficult but we believe we can come back’ – FC Barcelona
Barça’s Brazilian star shows himself to be optimistic about the team’s chances in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final against Atlético.

Lamine Yamal receives Aldo Rovira award for the 2024/25 season – FC Barcelona
Further recognition for Lamine Yamal, as he has been chosen by a panel of journalists from different news outlets to receive the Aldo Rovira award. It is the second time in a row the Blaugrana star has received the award.

Castellón B 2-2 Barça Atlètic: Comeback and a point – FC Barcelona
Barcelona salvaged a point in Castellón after coming back from two goals down in the first twenty minutes.

Bastoni prefers Inter and is moving away from Barça – SPORT
Despite his name continuing to appear on Barcelona’s transfer wish lists, the reality is that the signing is becoming increasingly complicated. According to recent reports from Matteo Moretto, a journalist specializing in the Italian transfer market, Inter Milan have no intention of parting ways with their defensive stalwart.

Source: barcablaugranes.com