Guardiola and Simeone, two similar paths

Both are 41 years old, played in Spain and Italy, they won League titles as players and managers and they both are coaches of the teams they played in when they were footballers

Simeone and Guardiola

Josep Guardiola and Diego Simeone, the two managers that will face off at the Vicente Calderón this weekend, have a lot in common. Despite the differences in how they manage their teams or how they played when they both graced the football pitch, the similarities between the two men are unavoidable. 

Many similarities 

To start, during their playing careers they both played in Spain (Guardiola for Barça and Simeone for Seville and Atlético Madrid) and Italy (Guardiola for Brescia and Simeone for Lazio, Pisa and Inter). Both have had similar successes on the pitch and on the bench: both players claimed League titles for their teams (Guardiola for Barça, Simeone for Atlético and Lazio) and as managers (Guardiola for Barça, Simeone for Estudiantes de La Plata and River Plate); they both claimed two titles in one year (Guardiola in the 1997/98 season and Simeone in the 1995/96 season with Atlético and the 1999/20 season with Lazio). 

Now, both men are managing the teams that they played for when they were footballers. To boot, both Guardiola and Simeone are 41 years old, they are only nine months apart.

Who is Simeone

When it comes down to it, are Guardiola and Simeone really that similar? “When he started in Argentina he stood out for his offensive football stance (he led Estudiantes de La Plata and River Plate to consecutive titles), but when he arrived in Italy, to rescue Catania from relegation, he bet on a much more conservative approach. This tendency, when at Racing Club in 2011, seriously hurt his credit with the fans and the press,” said Walter Vargas, journalist on the Estudiantes de La Plata beat, to fcbarcelona.com. 

Vargas added: “however, now that he’s on a path, Atlético Madrid’s path, where he has the love of the people that he earned when he was a player, Simeone is going through a third period [of his coaching career] where his most mature side should manifest. He’s a methodical professional, severe, he’s suspected of crossing the rigorous European line - ‘the only thing that I do not negotiate on is effort,’ as he said - and of forcing his tactical systems [on his teams], no matter what he’s a fantastic manager. He’s the type of manager that seeks to mix attitude with aptitude, intensity with technique, boldness on offence with a solid defence. Simeone and his Atlético Madrid will preserver in their search.”

Barça still preparing for Atlético Madrid

Another training session with all the available first teamers plus Cristian Tello of Barça B   The injured Villa and Afellay worked out in the gym

Guardiola, a l'entrenament d'aquest divendres / FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB

Barça are still getting ready for Sunday's away fixture at the Vicente Calderón against Atlético Madrid (21.30). They trained behind closed doors today on pitch number 2 at the Ciutat Esportiva. The session involved the same set of players that have been training all week, namely the eighteen fit members of the first team and Cristian Tello of Barça B.

While the 19 players worked out on the field, the injured David Villa and Ibrahim Afellay continued with their recovery programmes in the gym.

Further training on Saturday

The team's last session before facing Atlético Madrid will be on Saturday, once again behind closed doors at the Ciutat Esportiva, this time at 18.00. Afterwards, Pep Guardiola will be giving a press conference.

The FC Barcelona party will fly out from Barcelona to Madrid on Sunday morning, where the first encounter between Guardiola and Diego Simeone as opposing managers kicks off at 21.30.

Messi skill vs Nani HD

Messi, Atletico’s nightmare

The Argentinian has scored 17 goals against the team from Madrid in a total of 13 games, and has scored “hat-trick” in the last two matches

This Sunday Leo Messi will be face to face with his favourite victims: Athletico Madrid. Messi has scored

 17 times in 13 games, and has become the nightmare of the Madrid outfit.

14 in the League, and 3 in the Cup

Atletico Madrid is by far the team that Lionel Messi has scored more against, with 17 goals. They’re followed 

by Sevilla and Real Madrid with 13 goals each. Against Athletico, 14 goals have been in the League Cup and 

3 in the Cup, in 11 and 2 matches respectively.

Especially significant are the most recent precedents against Athletico Madrid. In the last two matches, both

 at the Camp Nou, Messi has scored two ‘hat-tricks’ (3-0 on 5th February 2011 and 5-0 on 24th September

 2011).

Before that Leo Messi had already scored a hat-trick at the Vicente Calderon in a match in the last 16

 of the Cup, on 6th January 2009. On Sunday he’ll have another chance to improve his scandalous figures.

U Remember This Match .

Barça 8 - Rel Mardid 0 (89/90)

Only Barça managed to win on the road in the away leg of the last-16 Champions League round

FC Barcelona is the only group winner that managed to win on the road in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 round 

Out of the eight games of the knock-out round of the Champions League, six ended in home-side victories, one in a draw and only one victory for a visiting side

The players after winning in Leverkusen / PHOTO: ARXIU FCB

FC Barcelona’s victory at the BayArena (1-3) was the exception to the rule in this round of Champions League matches. Pep Guardiola’s men managed to get a good result against Bayer Leverkusen, with two goals from Alexis Sanchéz and another from Leo Messi. The rest of the teams that finished first in their groups weren’t able to come away with a victory in their first knock-out game of the competition. 

Apoel, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich lost by one goal at Lyon, Marseillesand Basel. Benfica lost in Saint Petersburg but they managed to score two goals (3-2). Chelsea lost to Naples (3-1) and Arsenal had a similar fate at the San Siro (4-0). Lastly, Real Madrid managed to draw in Moscow (1-1). Therefore, Barça was the only team that managed to get an excellent result ahead of the return leg. The Catalans must close out their quarterfinal bid at the Camp Nou on Wednesday March 7th, at 20:45.

Preparations continue for trip to Calderón

Barça has trained with the same 18 first team players plus Tello as at Wednesday’s first session of the week 

Guardiola’s team is still focused on preparations for Sunday’s Liga fixture at Atlético Madrid (21.30)

19 futbolistes s'han entrenat aquest matí a la Ciutat Esportiva / FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB

FC Barcelona have worked out on Thursday morning on pitch number 1 at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper with all attention focused on Sunday's away game at the Vicente Calderón against Atlético  Madrid (21.30). Pep Guardiola used all the same players he had with him on Wednesday afternoon, namely the 18 available members of the first team plus Barça B's Cristian Tello. So, the only missing players were the injured Villa, Afellay and Fontàs.

Meeting between Rosell and Gates in Madrid

The FC Barcelona President met with Bill Gates this Tuesday with a view to strengthening relations in the fight against polio 

Sandro Rosell and Bill Gates / PHOTO: FCB

Sandro Rosell and Bill Gates held a private meeting, on Tuesday, in Madrid, just before a dinner where Bill Gatesinvited various members of society, in the context of a visit to transmit to the heads of State public institutions the importance of maintaining aid for cooperation, even in times of crisis.

In this regard, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UNICEF Spain have made public a survey where poverty and inequality between rich and poor countries are considered by the public to be the most important worldwide problems.

Sharing synergies

Rosell, who also attended the dinner hosted by Gates on Tuesday in Madrid, was able to strengthen ties with the philanthropist, and comment on progress in eradicating polio in the world, a struggle in which the Club is particularly involved, as a result of the agreement signed between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the FC Barcelona Foundation in July 2011.

There is very good news in relation to the total elimination of this disease. In fact, last January 13th it was one year since the detection of the last case of polio in India. Twelve months without the disease, which, although not assuming total eradication, is a very good sign in terms of achieving that goal.

'More than a Goal. End Polio'

Under the slogan 'More than a Goal. End Polio', FC Barcelona has been helping the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with its media power and global recognition, to facilitate the development of programs and news related to this disease. In fact, on 24th of October, World Polio Day, the two foundations produced a video to raise awareness of the disease, involving, in addition to Rosell and Gates, the first team manager, Pep Guardiola.

Barcelona's Xavi is the best player I played with, says Henrik Larsson

Former Barcelona attacker Henrik Larsson has stated that Spain international Xavi was the best player he played with during his career.

The Sweden legend had the talented playmaker as a team-mate during his spell at Camp Nou from 2004 until 2006, and is full of praise for the 32-year-old midfielder.

"Xavi is without a doubt the best player I have ever played with," Larsson said to Canal+.

"The way he moves without the ball and turns. He hardly ever loses the ball. He always gives the pass at the exact right moment."

The former striker then went on to discuss another Barcelona star in the form of Andres Iniesta, and stated that the 27-year-old has improved with help from Xavi.

"Iniesta was still on the rise when I played at Barca. I am sure that he has learned a lot from Xavi. The two of them always know what the other will do. It was a joy to see them play together," the Scandinavian admitted.

The 40-year-old Larsson is currently head coach at Landskrona in his homeland.

Barça Museum ends 2011 with record visitors and turnover

There has been an increase of 24% in the number of visitors and of 59% in turnover with respect to 2010 

A total of 1,626,990 people visited the Camp Nou Experience last year 

The Barça Museum is the third most visited in all of Spain 

PHOTO: ÀLEX CAPARRÓS - FCB

2011 was the best year ever for the FC Barcelona Museum. The figures were astounding, with a massive increase of 24% in the number of visitors and of 59% in turnover with respect to 2010.

A total of 1,626,990 people visited the Camp Nou Experience last year, the combined name for the Stadium Tour, the Museum and the multimedia space. That's the highest figure in the 27 years of the Museum's history, and which beats the previous record of 1,397,574 visitors in 2007.

That means that Barça Museum is the third most visited in all of Spain, only behind The Prado (2,911,767) and the Reina Sofía (2,705,529). In Catalonia, it is still ahead of the Picasso Museum in Barcelona and Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres.

Busiest month July

As usual, it was in summer that the visitors were most intense. The highest attendance in 2010 was July with 271,992 visitors. On just one day, July 14, there were an amazing 13,659 visitors, the most visitors the Museum has ever had on a single day.

This figures reflect the growth detected at the Museu President Núñez last year, when visits rose by 20%. 2010 was the year that the facilities were modernised and transformed with the establishment of the Camp Nou Experience, a new route around the stadium that allows visitors to discover, experience and thrill with Barça, its players and its historic achievements.

The improvements to the Museum have continued in 2011. There is a special display of the 16 titles won in the 2010/11 season by the football teams and the other professional sports teams. More space has also been dedicated to the Foundation on the first floor. An audiovisual display is the main attraction here, which explores the values promoted by the Foundation through its alliances, programmes and campaigns in Catalonia and around the world.

The new items for 2011 also include a section dedicated to the Barça players that have won the Ballon d'Or, with special attention given to Leo Messi. Much of the audiovisual and multimedia content has also been updated, with specially dedicated videos to the achievements of the Guardiola era.

First seven day rest of the season

This is the first time that the squad has been together for seven consecutive days 
without playing commitments. Traditionally, that’s a sign of a good result next weekend

La golejada 1-5 a Cornellà, després de set dies de preparació. FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.

This is the first time that Barcelona have had a full week in which to train for a match. 
Such a  packed fixture list has involved 43 official matches so far, meaning there has not been one 
instance of the players having a full week to prepare for a league game. Of the last ten times that
this had happened, eight of the following games have been won, and two ended in draws.

5 wins and a draw last season

The team had six weeks off last season. And the results straight after were almost always
 positive. There was a huge win at Almeria (8-0) and another at Espanyol, as well as wins
against Mallorca (3-0), Getafe (2-1) and Malaga (3-1), the last league game before going
 to Wembley. The only time they slipped up was drawing away to Sporting (1-1).

Atlético Madrid last loss

The two years before have also shown that a little rest works wonders for Barça. In 2009/10
they made no mistake against Valladolid (4-0), Valencia (3-0) or Racing (4-0), and drew
with Almeria (2-2). They haven't lost a game with seven days to prepare since February
14, 2010. That was against Atlético Madrid, the only defeat in the 99-point season, and coincidentally the next team Barcelona plays this time round.

FC Barcelona - Valencia 19/02/2012 HD PhoTos

FC Barcelona - Valencia 19/02/2012

Pelé, the Brazilian living legend, praises Barça’s play style and places the Catalan Club alongside the best teams in the history of the sport

O Rei Pelé. PHOTO: fifa.com

Edson Arantes de Nascimento ‘Pelé’ talked about Guardiola’s Barça in an interview with FIFA. The Brazilian places the Catalan side amongst the best teams in the history of the sport: “I’ve been watching this Barça side a lot lately and they’re like Santos were in my heyday, or the great Benfica, Ajax, AC Milan and Real Madrid sides. They all set the standard in their day.”

O Rei Pelé is clear: “the key to their success was the fact they had settled line-ups over a long period of time. Don’t forget that Barça is the core of the Spanish team. There’s a connection there, just as there was between Ajax and the Dutch national team all those years ago and between Santos and Brazil.”

Let the ball roll 

Just in case there were any doubts about Pelé’s preferred style of play, the Brazil legend said: “this is the football people want to see and I really hope it’s the blueprint for the future. I really hope skill wins out over strength. Look at Germany. They play a much more technical game today, and that’s the football we want to see. We want to see the ball moving, not the players, and you only get that with teams that are really well organised. That’s they way Barça play today an that’s the way my Santos played. I was very lucky.”

Messi wonderful tattoo

Eric Abidal And Dani Alves DANCE Ai Se Eu Te Pego

Italian award for Xavi Hernández

The Barça midfielder is awarded the Bulgarello Número 8 award. The accolade is given out by the Italian Football Player Association with the support of FIFPro

Xavi with his award

Xavi Hernández received a new acknowledgement from the footballing world. Barça’s midfield maestro won the first edition of the Premio Bulgarelli Número 8, sponsored by the Italian Football Players Association with the support of FIFPro. The other finalists were Daniele de Rossi (Roma) and Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich). 

The award ceremony, well attended by well-known athletes, was held at the Palazzo Accursio in Bologna. However, the President of the Bulgarelli Association, Luigi Colombo, Italian Football Players Association President, Damiano Tommasi, and Secretary General, Gianni Grazioli, awarded Xavi his trophy at the Ciutat Esportiva. 

Jury chair, Capello

The selection of the three finalists was made by a jury chaired by the ex-England manager Fabio Capello. The jury is made up of historic ex-players like Luis Suárez, Gianni Rivera, Giovanni Trapattoni, Sandro Mazzola, José Altafini, Sergio Campana, César Prandelli, Damiano Tommasi, and Luigi Colombo. Journalists from Italian and international daily sports news outlets are also part of the jury.

Majestic Messi scores four as Barcelona routs Valencia

Lionel Messi scored four goals to inspire Barcelona to a 5-1 victory over Valencia on Sunday in the Spanish League, but the champion still remains 10 points behind leader Real Madrid.

Messi, playing his 200th game for the club, took his league goals tally to 27 for the season and 42 in all competitions although third-placed Valencia had stunned the Spanish and European champion by taking a shock early lead.

“The most important thing was that the team played like we did against Bayer Leverkuson in the Champions League in midweek when we won 3-1,” said Messi after his Camp Nou master class.

“There are lots of crucial challenges ahead and it's necessary to keep going like this.”

The pressure was on the Catalan side after defeat last weekend away to Osasuna and it got off to a poor start with Pablo Piatti giving Valencia the lead after nine minutes.

Martin Montoya, in the side with Dani Alves suspended, and Gerard Pique left Piatti unmarked and keeper Victor Valdes came and failed to reach a Sofiane Feghouli cross allowing the diminutive striker to tuck the ball in.

The home fans were becoming restless but Messi responded once again when his side needed him most with two goals in five minutes.

Adil Rami failed to clear a cross and Messi coolly finished from a tight angle.

The Argentine then got ahead of the Valencia defence to meet an Eric Abidal cross and while the keeper Diego Alves saved his initial shot, he was able to sweep in the rebound.

Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas were both denied by Alves while the former Arsenal player then hit the woodwork with an acrobatic effort.

The home side continued to push forward after the break with Alves stopping a Messi header with a wonderful save and Fabregas badly miscued before Messi gave Barca a cushion by firing in a rebound after another Alves block.

Messi completed his hat-trick with 15 minutes to go and then notched up his 42nd goal of the season after running clear of the defence and clipping the ball over the keeper.

With the Valencia defence in disarray substitute Xavi Hernandez lobbed the ball over the keeper for the fifth in injury time.

Despite the rout, Barcelona is still struggling to retain its title after Real Madrid had swept past Racing Santander 4-0 on Saturday.

Milan back on top

AC Milan stormed back to the top of Italian League with a 3-0 win at lowly Cesena on Sunday as it made light of the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

In two games since the big Swede has been suspended for slapping Napoli's Salvatore Aronica, Milan has won.

Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari, on his debut, and versatile Dutchman Urby Emanuelson both scored their first goals for the club with Robinho adding the third as Milan went a point clear of Juventus, although having played a game more.

The results:

Spanish League: Granada 4 (Lopez 12, Jara 57, Uche 60, 86) bt Real Sociedad 1 (Gonzalez 10); Athletic Bilbao 3 (Amorebieta 58, Dominguez 60, Toquero 61) bt Malaga 0; Real Mallorca 4 (Victor 41, 65, Marti 53, Nunes 67) bt Villarreal 0; Sporting Gijon 1 (Eguren 37) drew with Atletico Madrid 1 (Canella 20-og); Levante 3 (Barkero 49-pen, Ruben Suarez 78, 90+1-pen) lost to Rayo Vallecano 5 (Bangoura 34, 69, Diego Costa 62, 63, Delibasic 84); Barcelona 5 (Messi 22, 27, 76, 85, Xavi 90+1) bt Valencia 1 (Piatti 9).

Italian League: Cesena 1 (Pudil 65) lost to AC Milan 3 (Muntari 29, Emanuelson 31, Robinho 55); Genoa 0 lost to Chievo 1 (Thereau 30); Lecce 4 (Muriel 32, Di Michele 68-pen, Cuadrado 82, Brivio 90) bt Siena 1 (Del Grosso 25); Novara 0 drew with Atalanta 0; Palermo 5 (Barreto 9, Donati 19, Silvestre 41, Budan 46, Miccoli 50) bt Lazio 1 (Kozak 84); Roma 1 (Borini 26) bt Parma 0; Udinese 0 drew with Cagliari 0.

Messi scores 4 goals to celebrate his 200th game

Messi scored four of Barça’s five goals against Valencia on the day he played his 200th game for FC Barcelona 

It’s the second time the Argentine has scored four goals in a match. The first time was against Arsenal in the Champions League (April 6, 2010)



Lionel Messi gifted the 74,240 Camp Nou spectators with 4 goals on the day played his 200th game for FC Barcelona. When it looked like Messi would close out the match after scoring his 15th hat-trick for Barça, he subtly chipped Diego Alves for his fourth after Sergio Busquets brilliantly assisted the Argentine. It was Barça’s, and his, fourth goal - which keeps him in the running for the Pichichi award. Messi has scored 27 goals in the Liga so far, Cristiano Ronaldo has 28.

Second time Messi has scored four 

This isn’t the first time that Messi has bagged four goals. The first time was also at the Camp Nou, but in the Champions League against Arsenal. The Argentine fired four past the Arsenal keeper in the 2009/10 quarterfinal. The last Barça player to score four goals in the Liga wasSamuel Eto’o, on Nov. 8 2008, in the game against Valladolid. 

44 goals in 39 matches

Messi has played 3,421 minutes so far in all competitions this season, which is about 39 games (almost as many games that are played in the Liga). In this time, Messi has scored 44 goals - 27 in the Liga, 2 in the Cup, 7 in the Champions League, 3 in the Spanish Super Cup, 1 in the European Super Cup and 2 in the Club World Cup. In total, the Argentine scores 1.15 goals per game. 

In his 200 Liga games, Messi has 146 goals. An incredible statistic for a player that is only 24. He’s the youngest Barça player to each the bicentennial mark, and the 12th youngest to do it in Spain’s top flight.