Enrique: Difficult to rest Messi
Barcelona – Barcelona boss Luis Enrique suggested Lionel Messi will have to be rested for some of an April packed with huge clashes, but that even the Catalan giants would struggle without the “best player…
News
PSG boss gets ‘full support’ despite Barca horror show
Paris – Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery received the “full and entire support” of the club’s demanding Qatari owners on Friday despite presiding over its 6-1 Champions League humiliation at Barcelona. “Unai has the qualities…
Report: PSG ‘seemed dead’ on despondent flight back to France
While much of the attention following Wednesday’s historic result has focused on Barcelona and its star-studded squad, little consideration has been paid to Paris Saint-Germain on the heels of one of football’s worst collapses. Related:…
‘Apoteosico’: Spanish newspapers hail Barcelona’s comeback
It all happened in seven minutes and 17 seconds, but it will be remembered for a lifetime. Barcelona pulled off what was quite possibly the most spectacular comeback in the history of the Champions League…
10 craziest moments from 2nd half of Barcelona’s mesmerising comeback
The opening stanza in Wednesday’s absurd match set the stage, but it was the second 45 minutes (or 50, as it were) that elevated this encounter from exciting to historic. Six-one to Barcelona. Six-five on…
Watch: Ecstatic Messi celebrates wildly with Barcelona fans, pitch invader
Lionel Messi amazing reaction after Sergi Roberto’s winning Goal pic.twitter.com/EYVWljrud3 — Mfon Abel Ekene (@mfonabel) March 8, 2017 Quiet. Soft-spoken. Understated. Words so commonly associated with Lionel Messi certainly didn’t apply in light of Barcelona’s…
Enrique: Barcelona ‘risked everything’ in fearless fightback
If seven major titles weren’t enough of a leaving gift, Luis Enrique will now have one of the most legendary continental encounters to his name when he steps down from his managerial post at the…
Look: Barcelona players celebrate once-in-a-lifetime rally
It’s all smiles in the Barcelona dressing room following a comeback that each and every Blaugrana player will, or at least should, remember forever. After the Catalan side overturned a 4-0 first-leg deficit by crushing…
Anatomy of a goal: Barcelona’s midfield gets torched by PSG
: Rampant Paris Saint-Germain obliterates Barcelona in historic win The Blaugrana’s vaunted “MSN” frontline garners much of the attention around the club, and with good reason, but the midfield trio of Andres Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic,…
Enrique on ‘disastrous’ Barca loss: ‘We were clearly inferior’
Luis Enrique, in a curmudgeonly mood following Barcelona’s 4-0 loss at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, didn’t mince words when assessing his side’s woeful showing at the Parc des Princes. “It was a…
5 photos that capture Barcelona’s horrible, no good, very bad day
Barcelona equalled its worst-ever defeat in European competition by being on the wrong end of a 4-0 hammering at the hands of a dominant Paris Saint-Germain side on Tuesday. Related: Rampant Paris Saint-Germain obliterates Barcelona…
Ex-Barca director: There was ‘friction’ between Messi, Ibrahimovic
Marc Ingla, a former Barcelona director who now occupies a similar role at Ligue 1’s Lille, believes there was a “little friction” between Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Catalonia, hence the latter lasting just…
Enrique: Messi has ‘evolved into the total footballer’
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has praised Lionel Messi and his evolution beyond the classification as just a goal scorer. Proof of his growth as a footballer was exhibited during last weekend’s victory over Eibar when…
Who will break the Ronaldo-Messi award monopoly?
For the last 10 years, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have held exclusive control of world football’s awards ceremonies, adding one trophy after another to their respective cabinets. Whether it’s the FIFA World Player of…
Ronaldo: I’d have more Ballons d’Or than Messi if we played together
Cristiano Ronaldo is convinced he would have more Ballons d’Or in his trophy cabinet than eternal rival Lionel Messi if the two played on the same team. The Real Madrid superstar won France Football’s high-profile…
Ballon d’Or voting: Messi 2nd, Griezmann 3rd; Vardy surprises in 8th
Shortly after Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned the world’s best player for the fourth time in his career on Monday, the complete list revealing the final 2016 Ballon d’Or rankings was released by France Football. Related:…
Ronaldo edges Messi to capture 4th Ballon d’Or of his career
For the fourth time in his glittering career, Cristiano Ronaldo has been recognized as the best footballer on the planet. After a year in which he led Real Madrid to a Champions League title and…
Champions League draw: Arsenal to play Bayern, Barcelona meets PSG
We were promised heavyweight tilts, and the football gods delivered, as the Round of 16 draw for this season’s Champions League was conducted Monday in Nyon, Switzerland. Familiar foes will lock horns, as the marquee…
Barcelona’s 583 passes set Champions League 1st-half record
It’s safe to say that Borussia Monchengladbach didn’t have a sniff in the opening stanza at the Camp Nou on Tuesday. Barcelona took its passing game to unprecedented levels, playing 583 balls around the park…
Watch: Messi closes in on Ronaldo’s record with slick goal
Lionel Messi is coming for Cristiano Ronaldo‘s record. The Barcelona magician gave his side a 1-0 lead Tuesday over Borussia Monchengladbach with a typically slick Blaugrana move, and with that tally moved to 10 in…
Ronaldo, Messi, Griezmann finalists for Best FIFA Men’s Player award
Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Antoine Griezmann have survived the chopping block, as the three superstars have been named finalists for Best FIFA Men’s Player of 2016. The award – now the governing body’s top…
Barcelona cruises past Celtic to clinch progression, top spot in Group C
As if there was ever any doubt. Barcelona is through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, a pair of goals from Lionel Messi seeing the Blaugrana defeat Celtic 2-0 on Wednesday in Scotland….
Watch: Neymar’s perfect lob sets up Messi for sweet finish
Neymar to Lionel Messi. Too easy. The prolific duo sliced Celtic open with ease in the opening half of Wednesday’s Champions League contest, the Brazilian clipping a perfectly weighted pass into the Argentine’s path, allowing…
Celtic’s Rodgers confused after reporter compares Messi to Nessie
A very unusual incident unfolded during Celtic‘s prematch news conference before it’s Group C clash with Barcelona, involving manager Brendan Rodgers and one Spanish journalist. According to ESPN FC’s Chris Wright, the journalist was clearly…
Messi, Neymar, Robson-Kanu highlight shortlist for FIFA Puskas Award
FIFA revealed the 10 nominees in the running for the 2016 Puskas Award, with Lionel Messi, Neymar, Saul Niguez, and Hal Robson-Kanu headlining the list of those in contention for the coveted title of best…
Report: Barcelona confident Messi will sign new contract
Barcelona remains confident that Lionel Messi will extend his stay and remain with the club beyond 2018 when his current deal expires. Despite reports suggesting Messi is prepared to see out the remainder of his…
Report: Manchester City denies talk of tunnel tussle with Lionel Messi
Manchester City has denied there was any altercation between one of its players and Lionel Messi after the final whistle of the club’s 3-1 defeat of Barcelona on Tuesday, reports ESPN FC’s Adriana Garcia. Spanish…
Enrique blames costly errors after City tops Barcelona
In spite of Barcelona’s encouraging performance to start the match, frustration got the better of Enrique after crucial mistakes cost his side a win during Tuesday’s Champions League encounter with Manchester City. Barca was on…
Watch: Messi, Barcelona cut City to shreds with perfect counter-attack
Defence to attack in an instant. After being on the back foot for the opening 20 minutes at the Etihad Tuesday – and being lucky not to concede what seemed to be a stonewall penalty…
Guardiola fears Messi’s ‘X-ray’ vision
Pep Guardiola doesn’t want his Manchester City side to be exposed by Lionel Messi once again on Tuesday night, warning his ranks of the pint-sized Argentine’s “X-ray” abilities. Barcelona ran out a 4-0 winner against…