Barcelona FC news

Barcelona continue to be linked with big-money moves for Alessandro Bastoni and Julian Alvarez this summer, with reports claiming the Catalans are working on a transfer worth €80-90 million.

However, the club’s ongoing financial problem remain an issue and the Catalans are yet to return to the 1:1 rule. La Liga president Javier Tebas has said the club are “on the right track” but it’s not known yet if they will get there before the summer.

According to Diari Ara, the club’s current situation means that Barcelona will need “significant sales” if they are to spend big this summer.

The report points out how playing extra games at Montjuic and the Estadi Johan Cruyff earlier this season hurt income, while the club are still awaiting funds from the sale of VIP seats.

Barcelona are therefore said to be willing to listen to offer to most of their players apart from vital stars such as Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Pau Cubarsi and Joan Garcia.

Two players are said to be on the “exit ramp” and they are Marc Casado and Ferran Torres. Casado has struggled for minutes in the current campaign and has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia throughout this season.

Ferran, meanwhile, is in a delicate situation at Barcelona. He’s out of contract in 2027 and a renewal has not yet been offered. He’s said many times in the past he has no intention of leaving but Barca surely won’t want to see him walk away on a free transfer next summer.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Preparations continue for Celta – FC Barcelona
The big news on Sunday was the return of Fermín Lopez. The midfielder was able to exercise normally, albeit wearing a protective mask, after taking a nasty knock in the Champions League quarter final second leg.

When and where to watch FC Barcelona v Celta – FC Barcelona
Our guide to the worldwide kick-off times and channels for the LaLiga match at the Spotify Camp Nou.

Olot 1-1 Barça Atlètic: Bitter draw – FC Barcelona
The Barcelona B team missed out on victory in La Garrotxa and were unable to fully secure a playoff spot with two games remaining.

Christensen rejects Barça’s first renewal offer – Mundo Deportivo
The centre-back received a reduced offer, but maintains his intention to stay and his agent continues negotiating. Due to his injury history, the Barcelona offer includes an option for another year depending on certain variables.

Ansu Fati leads Monaco’s comeback with a stunning goal – Mundo Deportivo
The player on loan from FC Barcelona reached ten goals this season with his goal against Auxerre.

Monaco says ‘yes’ to Ansu Fati but with conditions – Mundo Deportivo
The Monaco club would exercise the €11 million purchase option but wants to significantly reduce his salary.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

With Barcelona’s European journey having ended early at the quarter-final stage and with the La Liga title very close, it is natural to look ahead to next season and project what the Catalans need to do to take the next step in the Champions League.

The elimination to Atlético Madrid exposed the holes in the starting lineup and the squad at large and made it urgent for Barça to address two clear issues: their defense, which has lacked a real leader since Iñigo Martínez’s departure, and the striker position, which lacks a consistent and highly productive option.

Many names are being linked with a move to Camp Nou, and Barça’s finances must always be considered when it comes to their ability to execute the ambitious plans they have for the summer. But for the sake of this exercise, let’s assume the 1:1 rule is finally achieved and Barça have the muscle to sign (and register) a big-time center-back and a big-time striker to complete their lineup.

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

What is your dream Barcelona starting XI for next season?

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

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Back in training with a celebration – FC Barcelona
After a couple of days rest, the blaugranes are back in training for the upcoming midweek La Liga clash against Celta de Vigo, including a celebration of Tek’s birthday.

Joan Garcia set to enter the race for the Zamora trophy – FC Barcelona
Even though he is yet to reach the minimum number of matches to be considered, the Catalan keeper has the lowest goals conceded per game ratio.

Michael Carrick won’t rule out Marcus Rashford Man United return – ESPN
Michael Carrick has refused to rule out a Manchester United return for Marcus Rashford amid uncertainty over the England international’s future at Barcelona.

Fermín and Bernal absent from the pitch in Barça’s return to training – Mundo Deportivo
Fermín remained in the gym after receiving stitches on Tuesday following Juan Musso’s kick, and it is unclear whether he will play on Wednesday against Celta. Bernal hasn’t completely recovered from his ankle sprain, but he is expected to be available against the Galicians.

Roony Bardghji, with many suitors and Juventus leading the pack – Mundo Deportivo
The young Swedish winger could consider a loan move in June in search of more playing time away from Barça. Monaco, Porto and Betis are also interested in the 20-year-old forward.

Atleti still a ‘no’ on Julián sale – Mundo Deportivo
The Argentine striker is not for sale, sources at the club assure MD, and they also do not consider lowering the price by including Barcelona players like Casadó or Ferran Torres.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona appear set for quite the overhaul at the striker position this summer with Robert Lewandowski’s increasingly cloudy future and a clear need for a proven goalscorer after both Lewandowski and Ferran Torres struggled to provide consistent production for the Catalans.

Julián Alvarez is the number one priority for the summer, but Barça know that convincing Atlético Madrid to sell won’t be easy. Other big names such as Victor Osimhen have also been floated, but the latest reporting seems to suggest Barça are looking to lower cost options, with Atlético’s Alexander Sorloth and Mallorca big man Vedat Muriqi strongly linked with moves to Camp Nou in the last couple of days.

Sorloth has been a pretty consistent Barça killer going back to his days at Real Sociedad and especially at Atlético, while Muriqi is the second top scorer in La Liga this season and has shown a pretty impressive combination of height, power and finishing ability.

Both players are in their early thirties and still have a few good years ahead of them, and they appear to be serious targets if Barça are unable to get their dream move for Julián.

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

Alexander Sorloth or Vedat Muriqi: What’s your favorite Plan B striker for Barcelona?

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 were eliminated from the Champions League this week by Atlético Madrid, who have now knocked out the Catalans out of Europe three times in the last decade.

Diego Simeone’s side have also beaten Barça in the Copa del Rey this season and are one of the many teams who cause the Blaugrana plenty of problems. And every great sports team has a bogey side, that one team that is too tough to crack no matter how many times you face them.

Atleti certainly deserve to be on the list, especially for what they do to Barça in Europe, along with Bayern Munich and more recently PSG. There are also some bogey team candidates in La Liga such as Celta Vigo (especially away from home), Rayo Vallecano and, perhaps most surprisingly, Levante. Real Madrid are Barça’s biggest rivals, for sure, but the Blaugrana have been very successful in El Clásico this century so Los Blancos probably don’t fit in the bogey team category.

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

Who is Barcelona’s bogey team?

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’s search for a new striker has reportedly taken them back to Atletico Madrid and a certain Alexander Sorloth.

Reporter Matteo Moretto says that Barcelona have made a “formal inquiry” about Sorloth as they seek a replacement for Robert Lewandowski.

Barca have apparently turned to Sorloth as he has a similar profile to Lewandowski and could “adapt immediately” to Hansi Flick’s side, according to Radio Marca.

Julian Alvarez has previously appeared to be Barca’s top attacking target, but Moretto thinks that Sorloth is also on the club’s radar ahead of the summer transfer window.

Sorloth has 10 goals in La Liga this season and six in the Champions League. He also has a rather nasty habit of scoring against Barcelona and netted in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash.

Would Sorloth be a good signing for Barca? Share your thoughts on the latest from the rumor mill in the comments below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona and Hansi Flick are already looking ahead to the 2026-27 season and how to strengthen the squad despite the club’s continued financial difficulties.

Flick is said to want Barcelona to bring in at least one more player, with the rumor mill convinced that Alessandro Bastoni and Julian Alvarez are the two priorities.

And one of the big priorities for Flick is to bring in more experience, according to Sport. The Catalan daily reports that Flick loves working with his youngsters but feels the squad is a little unbalanced due to the proliferance of young players such as Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi, Fermin Lopez and Pedri.

24 – At 24 years and 347 days, @FCBarcelona have named their youngest ever starting XI for a UEFA @ChampionsLeague knockout stage match. Academy. pic.twitter.com/iNlYDt8qNE

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 14, 2026

The German coach feels he needs to add more leadership to the squad “in a specific age group, between 26 and 28 years old.”

The feeling is that Barcelona possess a great team with huge potential but that more experience is required to take “the definitive competitive leap.”

Barca lost experience at the back last summer when Inigo Martinez departed, while veteran striker Robert Lewandowski could move on at the end of the season when his contract expires.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

FC Barcelona official statement – FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona has submitted a complaint to UEFA regarding the refereeing performance in the Champions League quarter-final tie played against Atlético Madrid.

Focused on La Liga – FC Barcelona
Football always gives you another chance to prove yourself. Having gone out of the Champions League over two very tight and hotly contested quarterfinal legs, Flick’s side will be looking to use the disappointment in Europe to fuel a final push to win La Liga.

40 years since that night against Gothenburg – FC Barcelona
It was the 1985/1986 season European Cup semifinal return leg. There was magic in the air at Camp Nou, it was one of those days. After losing 3-0 in Sweden, Barça needed a miracle to go through against Gothenburg and dream about making it to the final for the first time in 21 years. The player who would come to the fore that night was Ángel Pichi Alonso.

Update on Patri Guijarro – FC Barcelona
Tests carried out today at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper today have confirmed that first team player Patri Guijarro has a sprained right ankle. The midfielder will miss the next match.

Barça would include one of their youth academy players in the Bastoni deal – Mundo Deportivo
Barcelona have proposed to Inter Milan that they lower the cost of signing their centre-back by offering Héctor Fort, who is currently on loan at Elche.

Pubill on the penalty claimed by Barcelona: “You can never award a penalty” – Mundo Deportivo
The Catalan defender for Atletico Madrid spoke about the controversial incident in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

Lewandowski speaks out about Barça’s offer: “The club already knows what I think” – SPORT
Barça have reportedly made their first contract renewal offer to the Polish player with only a few months left on his current deal.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Ronald Koeman has given his verdict on Hansi Flick’s Barcelona after seeing the team knocked out of the Champions League this week by Atletico Madrid.

Flick’s side were beaten 3-2 on aggregate over the two legs as their European dreams ended early once again, although Koeman is confident the German coach can win the Champions League for Barca.

“Yes, you can win the Champions League with the Flick model. The only thing is, if you analyze the matches, at key moments you can play with a very high defensive line but with effective pressure on the opponent,” he said.

“The opponents create three or four chances. It’s a very beautiful system, it’s a pleasure to watch them play, but on the other hand, the defensive system, if you don’t pressure the player with the ball, is very risky.

Koeman also feels that Barca can’t simply blame the referees for their European exit.

“I think it’s a bit of an exaggeration to blame only the referee in these two matches. In both sendings-off, they could have been red cards because they were the last man back,” he added.

“The uncalled penalty is another matter. It is all a bit exaggerated. Although I understand what it is like when you are on the pitch or involved as a coach, or like President Laporta. I had those thoughts for years too when I was a coach.”

Source: barcablaugranes.com

The 2025-26 Champions League semi-finals are now set with Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain the last four teams left standing in Europe’s premier club competition.

Barcelona’s involvement has sadly ended after a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Atletico, while bitter rivals Real Madrid were dumped out 6-4 by Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

Elsewhere, Premier League leaders Arsenal sneaked past Sporting to take their place in the last four and defending champions PSG eased past Arne Slot’s Liverpool to keep their hopes of retaining the title alive.

Atletico will now go on to play Arsenal for a place in the final, with PSG up against Bayern Munich in the other semi-final clash.

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

Who is going to win the 2025-26 Champions League?

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

Source: barcablaugranes.com

There’s no doubting that the current Barcelona squad have some great young players within it, and success is almost a given.

The Champions League remains out of reach at the moment, but if the team keep progressing and adds one or two new faces, there’s no reason why they can’t be Kings of Europe once more.

Of course, it’s going to take guts, dedication, desire and hard work to get there… all qualities that Gavi embodies.

The roar that greeted his return after another long injury lay-off said much about the way in which the 21-year-old is supported by culers.

A La Masia graduate, albeit one who came to the club via the Real Betis academy, Barca fans treat him as one of their own. It’s as if they see something of themselves in him.

A never-say-die attitude and a ferocious will to win are part of the character traits that allow him to play the game right on the very edge at times.

Given how much time he’s spent on the sidelines in the past couple of years, it’s remarkable that he’s come back as good as new and is still not shirking a tackle.

He’d be forgiven for being a little reticent, but such a way of working clearly isn’t in his make-up.

Against Atletico Madrid, he proved once again that he can be a great foil for Pedri, and perhaps the 4-2-3-1 formation favoured by Hansi Flick on the night is the way forward if Gavi is to be handed a regular start.

The German coach is blessed with a plethora of superb midfielders, each with their own attributes, and trying to manage game time for the likes of Pedri, Marc Bernal, Frenkie de Jong, Fermin Lopez, Marc Casado and Dani Olmo, has to be one of his biggest headaches.

With Gavi now thrown into that mix, it complicates the issue further.

However, after such a stunning post-injury comeback, the player would feel rightly aggrieved to be relegated back to a bit-part player, coming off the bench later in games.

There’s no reason whatsoever for Flick to take Gavi back out of the starting line-up unless there is mutual recognition that he needs a rest or other concerns related to his fitness.

With the World Cup just around the corner, too, it’s fairly clear that the player will want to give himself the best opportunity of ensuring a place in the La Roja squad.

Ultimately, any decision rests with Flick, but he’d be a brave man to restrict Gavi’s game time now – and Barca would be worse off if he does.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

FC Barcelona’s Champions League stats – FC Barcelona
With the European adventure now over, here’s a look at the key stats from Barça’s Champions League campaign:

Lamine Yamal bids farewell to the Champions League with another record – FC Barcelona
Despite the painful defeat in the quarter-finals, Lamine Yamal ended his Champions League campaign setting yet another record. The teenager becoming the youngest ever player to record a combined total of 10 goals and assists in the same season.

VLOG | Atlético v Barça – FC Barcelona
Our cameras captured everything before, during and after a game in which Barça came close, but not close enough, to a heroic comeback.

Laporta: “The refereeing was a disgrace, unacceptable and intolerable” – Mundo Deportivo
The president-elect of FC Barcelona harshly criticized the refereeing after their European elimination.

Lamine’s message of commitment after Champions League elimination: “A promise is always kept” – Mundo Deportivo
The young winger posted a powerful message on his social media: “We’ll bring her to Barcelona.”

Henry points out Barça’s big problem: “They desperately need top-level defenders” – Mundo Deportivo
The former Arsenal and Barça striker warns of a structural flaw after the elimination at the Metropolitano: “It’s not just a bad night, it’s a fundamental problem.”

First decisions after the Champions League knockout: Barça accelerate the signing of Bastoni – SPORT
Barcelona wants to finalize the deal before June, otherwise they will have to explore other options.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona star Raphinha has apologised for a gesture aimed at Atletico fans in the wake of Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg clash in the Spanish capital.

Raphinha was spotted gesturing at home supporters after the final whistle and seemingly telling fans they would be knocked out in the next round of the competition.

The Brazilian, who was forced to sit out both games due to injury, has now responded on social media and explained his actions.

“I apologize for my gesture, which does not correspond with my values or my character. It was an act committed in a tense moment, in response to a fan who was disrespecting me,” he posted.

View this post on Instagram

Raphinha was also extremely critical of the refereeing after the match, claiming his team were “robbed” against Diego Simeone’s side.

Those comments could still land him in hot water, with local reports suggesting UEFA could sanction him for his outburst.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

WELCOME TO THE ESTADIO METROPOLITANO!!! The impressive home of Atlético Madrid in the Spanish capital is the site of the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie between the hosts and Barcelona, with Barça looking to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg to book a spot in the semi-finals. 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 UEFA Champions League, Quarter-Finals, 2nd Leg

First Leg Result: Barcelona 0-2 Atlético Madrid

Date/Time: Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 9pm CET (Barcelona), 8pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 12.30am IST (India, Wednesday)

Venue: Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain

Referee: Clément Turpin (FRA)

VAR: Jérôme Brisard (FRA)

HOW TO WATCH

On TV: TUDN (USA), TNT Sports 1 (UK), SONY TEN 2 (India), SuperSport (Nigeria), Movistar (Spain), others

Online: Paramount+ (USA), HBO Max (UK), Sony LIV (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

After a Champions League quarter-final first leg filled with talking points and controversy, Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone refused to comment on referees ahead of the return.

“I’m thinking about my team, not the referees,” the manager stated. “They have a very difficult match ahead of them. With every match that brings us closer to the final, the pressure mounts, becomes extreme, because the stakes keep rising. Honestly, I’m not thinking about them.”

FC Barcelona protested an ambiguous situation where an Atlético player, Marc Pubill, handled the ball in the box after a goal kick. The referee interpreted that the ball was not yet in play when he did so. Precedent in the UEFA Champions League was split. In some cases, a penalty has been given in previous incidents of the same nature. In other cases, the ref waved it off.

Barcelona have a big task ahead as they trail 0-2 and must play away from home to advance in the Champions League. Atlético will rely on their vaunted defense to secure progress past the Catalans, something the capital club has achieved in the past in this competition. Simeone’s words come as Atléti recently launched a campaign on social media exposing what they perceived as favoritism from the refs towards their crosstown rivals, Real Madrid.

The manager did not dwell on the topic much. He instead turned his attention to his team. “We are convinced of what we need and what we are going after. We have to play the way we have been competing against them; we know they are a very good opponent, but we also know our objective, which is to advance,” he explained.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona are back in Champions League action on Tuesday night when they face Atletico in the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Hansi Flick’s side need to turn around a 2-0 first-leg loss to proceed to the semi-finals of the competition and head into the game after beating Espanyol 4-1 in the derby in La Liga.

There are three other ties taking place in the Champions League this season. Holders PSG are in good shape to go through after beating Liverpool in their first leg, while Bayern hold the advantage over Real Madrid.

Premier League leaders Arsenal will also be expected to make it through and will face either Barcelona or Atletico in the last four.

Here’s how the ties look at the halfway stage:

Atletico Madrid (2) vs Barcelona (0)

Liverpool (0) vs PSG (2)

Bayern (2) vs Real Madrid (1)

Arsenal (1) vs Sporting (0)

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

Can Barcelona stage an epic comeback and knock out Atletico – and which other teams will make it through to the semi-finals?

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

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Recovery after derby victory over Espanyol – FC Barcelona
After the derby win against Espanyol at the Spotify Camp Nou and ahead of the trip to Madrid for the Champions League quarter-final return leg, the FC Barcelona squad were in for a post-match session Sunday at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.

900 La Liga wins at Spotify Camp Nou – FC Barcelona
The 4-1 win over Espanyol on Saturday at Spotify Camp Nou was memorable for various reasons. The victory allowed Barça to stretch their lead at the top of the table in La Liga to nine points over second placed Real Madrid and also it was victory number 900 for the team in the league at the famous stadium.

Ferran Torres one of the top 50 Barça goalscorers all-time – FC Barcelona
The goals for FC Barcelona keep flowing, as Ferran Torres now has 62 goals in 201 competitive matches, placing the Spanish forward among the top 50 all-time goalscorers for the Club.

Barça Atlètic 3-1 Espanyol B: Reserves also win derby – FC Barcelona
The derby against Espanyol B saw the three points go to Barça Atlètic (3-1), as Juliano Belletti’s side followed the first team’s win with their own victory against their local rivals at the Estadi Johan Cruyff.

Barça take it easy with Gerard Martín and Marc Bernal, still absent from training – Mundo Deportivo
Monday’s training session at the Metropolitano should confirm Flick’s optimism regarding the centre-back’s availability against Atlético. The midfielder faces a very difficult situation as he has not yet recovered from the ankle sprain he suffered in the league match against Atlético Madrid eight days ago.

Flick, Deco, Lamine, Gavi, Balde and Araujo, at the Johan Cruyff Stadium watching the reserve team derby – Mundo Deportivo
The first team coach arrived accompanied by his assistants Marcus Sorg, Heiko Westermann and Arnau Blanco.

The experienced French referee Turpin will referee the Atlético-Barça match – Mundo Deportivo
It will be the sixth time he has refereed Barcelona, ​​who lost in Rome and Manchester with him without any refereeing interference, and the ninth time he has refereed Atlético Madrid.

Inter make a move and secure a potential replacement for Bastoni – Mundo Deportivo
Reports in Italy claim that Inter Milan have already reached an agreement to sign Bosnian left-footed centre-back Tarik Muharemovic, 23, from Sassuolo.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona moved nine points clear of La Liga on Saturday by beating Espanyol 4-1 at Camp Nou in a game where Hansi Flick resisted the urge to rest key players such as Lamine Yamal and Pedri.

Both players ended up playing 90 minutes in the match, with Flick admitting after the game he had wanted to take off Yamal in the second half but had decided not to after Espanyol made it 2-1.

Flick has been reluctant to rest Yamal all season, with the teenager having played 43 games already in all competitions for the Catalan giants.

Meanwhile, fringe players such as Marc Casado and Roony Bardghji are finding game time hard to come by, and Dro Fernandez has already moved on in search of regular minutes at PSG.

Barcelona’s win against Espanyol came just days before Barca are due to face Atletico again in the Champions League quarter-final second leg, with Diego Simeone making 10 changes to his team for their game with Sevilla on Saturday.

Simeone’s decision was easier to understand, as Atletico aren’t fighting for the title, but it does mean his key players should be fresher for the big game next week in the Spanish capital.

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

Does Hansi Flick need to rotate his players more at Barcelona?

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

Source: barcablaugranes.com

La Liga is going retro this weekend as part of a special matchday which will see the majority of Spanish clubs wear kits inspired by the past.

Sadly, Barcelona aren’t set to be involved for logistical reasons (although maybe they could just wear those Ronaldinho ones from the other week – just a thought) but it still gives us an excuse to look back at some of the best shirts the Catalans have worn over the years.

Barcelona have no shortage of epic kits that fans have enjoyed, with the half and half designs always popular, while my vote goes to the 2010-11 masterpiece which also brings back great memories of some incredible football.

Barcelona Home Shirts 🤩

All of their home shirts since 1978!

Which has been their best? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/aFI7xaWlMQ

— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) April 30, 2023

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

La Liga Retro Day: What’s your favorite ever Barcelona shirt and why?

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

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Ready for the derby – FC Barcelona
One more day to go before it’s derby day at Spotify Camp Nou. Hansi Flick gathered his troops for one last time at the Ciutat Esportiva this Friday morning with Champions League thoughts put on hold for the moment as they prepare for the Saturday fixture at home to RCD Espanyol.

When and where to watch FC Barcelona v Espanyol – FC Barcelona
Our guide to the worldwide kick-off times and channels for the LaLiga derby at the Spotify Camp Nou.

Meeting between Flick and Manolo – FC Barcelona
Hansi Flick and Manolo González shared a friendly moment on the Tito Vilanova training field. Smiles all round as they posed for the media and held up the shirts of their respective sides ahead of the latest La Liga showdown.

Recent city derbies at Spotify Camp Nou – FC Barcelona
The last time Barça faced RCD Espanyol at their home ground was on 31 December 2022, Week 15 of the league season.

Milan, a new suitor for Lewandowski – Mundo Deportivo
Reports indicate that there have been contacts between representatives of the Barcelona striker and the Milanese club to gauge each other’s intentions. This interest would add to that of Juventus in Italy, Chicago Fire in the United States, and several Saudi clubs.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

VAR is in the spotlight once again in the wake of Barcelona’s first leg Champions League defeat to Atletico in their quarter-final clash at Camp Nou.

Hansi Flick was left furious afterwards as Marc Pubill somehow escaped conceding a penalty and receiving a second yellow card for a handball.

He told Movistar: “I don’t know why VAR hasn’t been used. The referee … I think he’s brilliant. We all make mistakes, but what’s the point of VAR?

“I just can’t understand it. It should have been a penalty, a second yellow and a red card as he already had a booking. This is exactly what shouldn’t happen.”

Barcelona have since submitted a formal complaint to UEFA in protest at the “grave lack of intervention by VAR” after the incident which they feel was a “major error.”

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

How do you feel about VAR? Is it time to make changes, scrap it altogether or something else entirely?

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

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona have issued a statement to confirm they have submitted a formal complaint about the refereeing during Wednesday’s Champions League defeat to Atletico.

The Catalans have been left furious by the decision not to send off Marc Pubill and award Barcelona a penalty for a clear handball.

Here’s the statement:

“FC Barcelona inform that the Club legal services have submitted a complaint to UEFA today regarding the events in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Atlético Madrid. The Club considers that the refereeing did not adhere to the current law, directly influencing how the game progressed and the result.

“The complaint centres around a specific action. In the 54th minute of the match, after play had been restarted correctly, an opponent player picked up the ball in their area without being shown the corresponding penalty. FC Barcelona understands that this decision, along with a grave lack of intervention by VAR, represents a major error. Accordingly, the Club has requested an investigation be opened, access to refereeing communications, and where applicable, official acknowledgment of the errors and the adoption of the relevant measures.

“Along these same lines, FC Barcelona consider that this is not the first time in recent editions of the UEFA Champions League that unfathomable refereeing decisions have had a detrimental effect on the team, creating a clear double standard and preventing competing against other clubs on a level playing field.”

Acting president Rafa Yuste had previously explained why the club were taking such action.

“With the technical and electronic resources we have in society, such as VAR, I don’t understand why a clear penalty, in my opinion, wasn’t awarded against Atlético Madrid. I say this with all due respect to everyone. Whether intentional or not, the play is crystal clear,” he told reporters.

“I don’t want to go into detail about the refereeing. There’s a very important second leg. We have to focus on the fact that a comeback is very possible, and we believe it is. Now we have a very important match against Espanyol, and as president, I don’t want anything to disrupt the concentration that the club, players, and staff need for this match.”

“We at the club are considering issuing a statement. And we can’t forget—sometimes memory is very short—that something similar happened to us in the Cup at Atlético’s stadium. We have to denounce it because otherwise there won’t be any improvement. Everyone makes mistakes, but it’s happening too often and we can’t let it go.”

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Lamine Yamal has sent out a defiant message in the wake of Barcelona’s defeat to Atletico in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

Barcelona are 2-0 down to Diego Simeone’s side ahead of the return fixture in the Spanish capital next week, but Yamal isn’t giving up hope yet.

“This isn’t over, culers We’ll give everything in the second leg. All together, always,” he posted on Instagram.

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Yamal caused Atletico problems on Wednesday night and drew plenty of praise from manager Hansi Flick after the game for his performance.

“Of course, he’s disappointed – everyone was disappointed,” Flick said. “But Lamine played a fantastic game, from the beginning to the end, in the defence and in the offence.

“He had one-v-one situations, he had three, four, five players around him. It’s unbelievable.””I said it yesterday, he’s 18 years old, and, for me, he’s doing a fantastic job. We have to support him. Not make so much noise about things. 

“He’s 18 years old, come on! For your country [Spain], he will be one of the best players ever.  The referees, they have to protect him. This is why everyone goes to the stadium, everyone wants to see football, from these players. [Kylian] Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Lamine, Pedri.”

Barcelona will need Yamal at his best again next week if they are to prevail, but he’ll also need help from his team-mates – particularly with Raphinha still out injured.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona’s Champions League hopes suffered a blow on Wednesday as Hansi Flick’s side lost 2-0 to Atletico in the first leg of their quarter-final tie 

The game between the two La Liga sides was once again full of controversy, with Pau Cubarsi seeing red and Koke somehow avoiding an early bath.

Barca were also furious after the game as they felt Marc Pubill should have been sent off and conceded a penalty for handball in the second half.

The Catalans now need to stage a memorable comeback if they are to make it through to the semi-finals.

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

How do you rate Barcelona’s chances of knocking out Atletico and what will be key to their comeback hopes?

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

Source: barcablaugranes.com