Willian Admits Rejecting Chance to Move to Barcelona After Discussions With Family

Chelsea winger Willian has explained that he and his family’s desire to stay in London, as well as a variety of other factors, was the reason behind his decision to stay at Stamford Bridge rather than move to Barcelona last summer. 

The Brazilian was reported to be close to a move to Spain throughout the close season and, after the Catalan giants initially killed the rumours by signing international compatriot Malcom, the speculation briefly arose again in January.

Ultimately, the move didn’t come to fruition, and the 31-year-old has knuckled down to re-establish himself as a key player with some important performances under Frank Lampard in recent weeks. 

Willian

?And when asked why he opted to stay, the winger had a simple explanation. “The only real official offer I had came from ?Barcelona, last year, after the World Cup,” he told DAZN, as quoted by ?the Metro“Barcelona indeed presented an offer to ?Chelsea but it was rejected. 

“That was the only actual time I had to discuss something like this with my family, although we really love it here [in London]. So there were several factors that helped us in staying.”

His contract is up in 2020, however, with the likes of ?Barcelona and Juventus reportedly set to circle when his deal expires, should Chelsea fail to renew terms.

Willian,Noussair Mazraoui

Willian, however, has his heart set on a return to Brazil should he have to leave London, with Corinthians – for whom he made his senior breakthrough and played 17 times prior to joining Shakhtar Donetsk – looking like a preferred destination down the line. 

“If I have to return to Brazil, I’d like to play at Corinthians again,” he said. “It represents a lot, I was born and raised there, my footballing career began there when I was nine, I’ve spent my entire childhood there.

“I’ve been a Corinthians fan since I was little, even before I played there, my family also supports the club. 

Willian

“So when I got there all my relatives were very happy, and then, after I got to the first team, everyone was overjoyed.”


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Kante, Messi, Van Dijk – How Much Would it Actually Cost to Buy the World’s Best Players?

?Real Madrid hit headlines for the wrong reasons this week when rumours emerged of an extremely derisory planned bid for Raheem Sterling to the value of £70m cash plus Gareth Bale.

Once upon a time, £70m would have been considered a huge amount in the transfer market, even for elite clubs. But given the enormous inflation at the top end of the game, an offer of £70m plus a 30-year-old with a rapidly falling value of his own, rather seems like an insult.

How much would it actually cost if Real are serious about Sterling? In fact, how much would it take to buy several of the world’s other best players in this day and age?

Everything from quality, age, length of contract, marketability and more, determines what a club might sell for, with attacking players commanding higher prices than defenders.

From the perspective of what their current clubs might accept for them, here’s a speculative look at what the best footballers on the planet might actually cost to buy…


Cristiano Ronaldo

FBL-ITA-SERIEA-JUVENTUS-GENOA

Age: 34

Contract: 2022

Position: Forward

He’s won all there is to win at club level multiple times over, has scored more than 700 career goals, is among the best of all time and has more left in the tank than a typical 34-year-old. But Ronaldo has been more human than super-human since joining Juventus.

Potential Cost: £75m


N’Golo Kante

N’Golo Kante

Age: 28

Contract: 2023

Position: Midfielder

Perhaps not at quite the same premium of just 18 or even 12 months ago, Chelsea could still command a sizeable fee should they be willing to sell N’Golo Kante. He’s older now, while recent injuries have limited him – both of those things affect what he could be sold for.

Potential Cost: £90m


Jan Oblak

Jan Oblak

Age: 26

Contract: 2023

Position: Goalkeeper

If Oblak wanted to leave Atletico Madrid, he could easily do so if a club was willing to trigger the €120m (£103m) buyout clause written into his most recent contract. With goalkeepers not usually hitting their peak until later, that figure offers tremendous value.

Potential Cost: £103m


Kalidou Kouliably

Kalidou Koulibaly

Age: 28

Contract: 2023

Position: Defender

Koulibaly has a release clause in his Napoli contract that stands at €150m (£129m) and is due to become active in 2021. There is no ceiling to his value before then, but should a suitor come anywhere close, would the club really turn it down for a player who turns 29 in June?

Potential Cost: £115m


Robert Lewandowski

FBL-EUR-C1-BAYERN MUNICH-OLYMPIAKOS

Age: 31

Contract: 2023

Position: Forward

On current form at the start of the 2019/20 season, there is reason to argue that Lewandowski is right now the single best player in the world. He’s on course to set a new Bundesliga scoring record, although he likely has a limited shelf-life left at the very top.

Potential Cost: £120m


Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk

Age: 28

Contract: 2023

Position: Defender

There is no question that Van Dijk is far more valuable than the £75m Liverpool paid for him in 2018, but as a defender he will never be worth as much as attacking players. That is just how things work. But if Harry Maguire went for £80m, the Dutchman is easily worth close to double.

Potential Cost: £150m


Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi

Age: 32

Contract: 2021

Position: Forward

Messi will probably retire at Barcelona, even admitting this year that a dream to play for boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys probably isn’t feasible as he wouldn’t be keen on uprooting his family. But if someone wanted to buy him now, £150m might be a fair price.

Oddly, Messi has a clause that allows him to leave for free at the end of any given season.

Potential Cost: £150m


Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba

Age: 26

Contract: 2021 (+1)

Position: Midfielder

A contract that expires in 2021, albeit one that can be extended by 12 months, will limit what Manchester United could demand for Pogba in the transfer market. The Frenchman also arguably has plenty to prove as he has lacked consistency ever since returning to Old Trafford.

Potential Cost: £160m


Neymar

Neymar Jr

Age: 27

Contract: 2022

Position: Forward

The last two years have hurt Neymar tremendously. While €222m might once have seemed like a logical investment by Paris Saint-Germain, he has struggled badly with injuries and there are now questions being asked about his character and dedication.

The problem for PSG is that they will refuse to take a big loss, which may be inevitable.

Potential Cost: £170m


Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah

Age: 27

Contract: 2023

Position: Forward

Few Liverpool fans could have imagined that Salah would have been quite this good when he moved to Anfield from Roma in 2017. He’d never previously scored more than 20 goals in a season, and even a ‘down’ year in 2018/19 saw him net 27 times in all competitions.

Potential Cost: £190m


Sadio Mane

Sadio Mane

Age: 27

Contract: 2023

Position: Forward

Mane has been getting progressively better year on year since joining Liverpool, to the point where he eventually may be in a position to be considered Africa’s greatest ever player. He is arguably a better all-round player than Salah, although his marketing pull isn’t quite so huge.

Potential Cost: £190m


Harry Kane

Harry Kane

Age: 26

Contract: 2024

Position: Forward

To put it bluntly, Kane is a striker who has scored 169 since becoming a first team regular at Tottenham in 2014 and is still only 26, about to reach what should be his peak years. There is a risk of injury, but age also brings maturity when it comes to training and recovery.

Potential Cost: £200m


Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling

Age: 24

Contract: 2023

Position: Forward

That Real Madrid’s potential offer of £70m plus Gareth Bale for Sterling was deemed laughable when it was reported tells you the Manchester City star should command a much, much higher price. Remember that he’s only 24 and has added goals to his game since 2017.

Potential Cost: £230m


Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe

Age: 20

Contract: 2022

Position: Forward

Mbappe is only 20 years of age and is already so good that it is frightening to imagine the levels he might reach over the next ten seasons. Any investment in the player is for the long-term and transfer fees generally will only climb and climb.

Potential Cost: £300m


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Barcelona vs Celta Vigo Preview: Where to Watch, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News

?Barcelona will be aiming to get back to winning ways following two disappointing performances and results over the course of this week.

The Catalan side take on Celta Vigo this Saturday at Camp Nou, and a victory will almost certainly see them retain top spot in La Liga.

It has been a frustrating week for Barça, who slumped to a 3-1 defeat against Levante in their last match and failed to beat Slavia Prague midweek in the Champions League.

Lionel Messi

Celta Vigo have enormous problems of their own, finding themselves in the relegation zone having picked up only nine points from their opening 12 games and losing their last four matches.


Where to Watch

?

?When Is Kick Off? Saturday 9th November?
?What Time Is Kick Off? ?20:00 (BST)
?Where Is It Played? ?Camp Nou
?TV Channel/Live Stream? ?Premier Sports 2
?Referee? ?Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez

Team News

Luis Suarez

??Luis Suarez is still missing for ?Barcelona with the injury he sustained against Levante, while Jordi Alba is a doubt due to a minor injury picked up against Slavia Prague.

Barcelona may make changes from the side that drew on Tuesday, with a number of individuals fielding unimpressive displays.

Celta Vigo are without the attacking influence of both Rafinha and Santi Mina, while Kevin Vazquez and Claudio Beauvue are also sidelined.


Predicted Lineups

?

?Barcelona ?Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Firpo; Busquets, Arthur, De Jong; Fati, Griezmann, Messi.
?Celta Vigo ?Blanco; Mallo, Aidoo, Araujo, Olaza; Suarez, Beltran, Lobotka, Mendez; Aspas, Fernandez.

Head-to-Head Record

These two teams have faced off on 46 occasions in the past, in which Barcelona have been the superior side, winning 22 of the encounters. 

Arturo Vidal

However, Celta Vigo won the last match between the sides, a 2-0 home victory at Balaídos back in May 2019. 

Barcelona haven’t lost at home to Saturday’s opponents since 2014, and will be looking to continue their unbeaten record at the Camp Nou this season.


Recent Form

Barca have failed to win either of their last two matches, but still remain on top of La Liga and their ?Champions League group. Ernesto Valverde is coming under a lot of pressure at the moment, with questions being raised over his playing style.

Before their defeat to Levante last weekend, Barcelona had won seven games on the bounce and have still got a heap of quality across the pitch. Their home form is fantastic this season, with their midweek draw with Slavia Prague being the first dropped points at the Camp Nou this term.

Denis Suarez

Celta Vigo are struggling near the foot of the La Liga table this season. They have lost their last four league games, most recently a 1-0 home defeat to Getafe, a result which cost manager Fran Escriba his job. 

Oscar Garcia has been drafted in to take charge, and is walking into somewhat of a baptism of fire this Saturday at Camp Nou.

Here is how both sides have got on in their last five matches.

?Barcelona ?Celta Vigo
?Barcelona 0-0 Slavia Prague ?Celta Vigo 0-1 Getafe (03/11)
?Levante 3-1 Barcelona ?Real Betis 2-1 Celta Vigo (30/10)
?Barcelona 5-1 Real Valladolid ?Celta Vigo 0-1 Real Sociedad (27/10)
?Slavia Prague 1-2 Barcelona ?Alaves 2-0 Celta Vigo (20/10)
?Eibar 0-3 Barcelona ?Celta Vigo 1-0 Athletic Bilbao (06/10)

Prediction

Whilst it has been far from Barcelona’s best week, there is no doubt that they should comfortably beat a fragile Celta Vigo side. The hosts’ record at Camp Nou is immense and it is no easy place for any team to come, let alone a side in peril.

Lionel Messi

Luis Suarez will continue to be a big miss for Barça, and with Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele failing to impress lately, teenage sensation Ansu Fati? may be in contention to start.

Celta Vigo may have a sliver of hope, praying for a new manager bounce from Oscar Garcia…but more likely is an easy victory for Barcelona.

Prediction: Barcelona 4-0 Celta Vigo


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Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United: Pep’s Ride, Fergie’s Hiding & Football’s Impossible Standard

Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United is part of 90min’s 20 Greatest Matches of the Decade series. Follow the rest of the series over the course of the next few weeks.


?”Fasten your seatbelts, we’re going on a fun ride.”

Those were the words of Pep Guardiola during his unveiling as Barcelona first-team head coach at Camp Nou in August 2008.

It is a promise that was unequivocally delivered on as, over the next four years, ?Barcelona became quite possibly the greatest club side the world has ever seen; not only demolishing all before them but doing so with a brilliance and grace that redefined standards in modern football.

What’s more, they conquered the world with a spine of academy kids, local boys brought through La Masia, who cost nothing in transfer fees but provided an unparalleled connection between the fans and the club in a way that has seemingly been lost in the last 30 years of an increasingly globalised and commercialised sport. They even did it all with a charity emblazoned across their kit instead of a corporate sponsor, for God’s sake.

FC Barcelona's Spanish coach Josep Guard

The crowning moment, the peak of Guardiola’s ‘fun’ rollercoaster, came at Wembley on 28 May 2011, as Barcelona took on ?Manchester United in the Champions League final, the second time the two European colossi had met in the fixture in three years.

These were, without much argument, the best two teams in Europe, but the game – played out in the orange-tinted dusk at England’s home of football – was a jarring mismatch.

One year before, eight of Barcelona’s squad (six of their starting lineup against United) won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with Spain. Barça’s team were, for all intents and purposes, the world champions – only with the greatest player of all time in Lionel Messi, the world’s preeminent attacking right-back, Dani Alves, and Argentina’s captain Javier Mascherano thrown into the mix.

Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel M

Prior to the 2009 Champions League final in Rome – which United lost 2-0 – wary of the threat of Barça’s revolutionary tiki-taka football led by sickly-looking street magicians Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez, the Red Devils’ legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson warned: “They get you on that carousel and they make you dizzy with their passing.”

Pep’s ride was not fun for everyone.

“I didn’t agree [with our tactics]. I voiced my opinion, but at the time you’re confident in a man like Alex Ferguson,” United defender Rio Ferdinand recently told BT Sport, regarding his side’s tactics for the 2011 final.

“I said pressing them was going to be difficult, it’s hard. They did us in Rome. In that midfield in Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets, they probably had three of the top six players in the world.”

Barcelona did indeed make United dizzy again in 2011, with the Catalan side controlling near 70% of the possession in the first half and taking the lead after Pedro – king of goals in finals – slid into the bottom corner from an exacting Xavi through ball. 

Barcelona's Spanish forward Pedro Rodrig

Co-commentating on ITV, Andy Townsend remarked that Barcelona “aren’t that quick or that slick. There’s [just] too much room for top players.”

This was Barcelona at their flowing best. Xavi – dictating midfield on the night with subtle movement and mastery of deception – was less Der Kaiser and more Keyser Soze.

He and Iniesta always had room to operate, to pass or to find a shot. Their trick was to make it all look easy, like the opposition was failing to do the basics, when in reality they were performing at their geometric, ever-shifting best.

United equalised before half time as Wayne Rooney thundered in from the edge of the area, but there was a sense of inevitability to proceedings.

After the break, Barça continued in relentless fashion, pummelling Edwin van der Sar with shots, before a beardless, shaggy-haired, largely tattoo-free Messi rifled in from 20 yards on 54 minutes, after picking up the ball unchallenged – it was the Messi goal.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi (2nd R) vies wi

The knockout blow then came 15 minutes later as David Villa, the sniper with the sideburns and soul patch, curled one into the top corner past a hyperextended Van der Sar.

Guardiola, besuited on the touchline wearing the taut half-wince of a man expecting a balloon to be popped at any moment, broke into fist-pumping celebrations, growing more relaxed by the minute.

United fought back earnestly but were chasing shadows as their inferiority told. Sir Alex’s team, with greats of the game like Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Van der Sar and Ferdinand were at the end of their own ride, powerless in watching on as Barça continued their ascension. 

According to Andres Iniesta’s autobiography The Artist: Being Iniesta, Rooney approached Xavi around the 80-minute mark and said, “That’s enough. You’ve won. You can stop playing the ball around now.” 

From the United side that day, only Patrice Evra ever played in another Champions League final.

On the final whistle, Ferguson patted Guardiola on the back firmly and allowed himself a wry smile in defeat.

Barcelona's Spanish coach Josep Guardiol

“They do mesmerise you with the way they pass it,” the Scot said after the game. “They’re the best in Europe, no question about that. In my time as a manager, I would say they’re the best team we’ve faced. Everyone acknowledges that and I accept that.

“No one has given us a hiding like that. It’s a great moment for them. They deserve it because they play the right way and enjoy their football.”

?

Centre-back Gerard Pique, once of Manchester United, brought out a pair of scissors and cut down the Wembley goal nets as mementoes, carrying them across the pitch with a medal around his neck like a sort of heroic fisherman. 

Left-back Eric Abidal, who played the entire 90 minutes despite having had a cancerous tumour removed from his liver just months earlier, was invited to lift the trophy by captain Carles Puyol in an emotional moment for the club on its perfect night.

Barcelona's French defender Eric Abidal

After perfection, however, there’s only really one way to go. 

Ferguson, perhaps desperate to land one dig on the seemingly untouchable opponent, turned prophetic in his post-match comments.

“But how long it lasts,” he said. “Whether they can replace that team at some point. They certainly have the right philosophy, but it’s always difficult to find players like Xavi, Iniesta and Messi all the time.”

Eight years on, Barça are still trying to recapture that magic, as the old ways calcify and philosophies become murky and compromised in pursuit of success. 

“If he’s [Guardiola’s] really considering that [leaving Barcelona], he’ll never have this experience again, that’s for sure,” Ferguson added knowingly. 

2011 was the hiding that Sir Alex had never had before. It was also the culmination of a ride of near-perfect football that set unattainable expectations which the club, and sport, are still failing to live up to.


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Slavia Prague Keeper Ondrej Kolar Slams Barcelona Stars for Post-Match Tantrum

?Slavia Prague goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar has criticised Barcelona’s stars following his sides hard-fought goalless draw at the Nou Camp after they refused to shake hands and swap shirts after the contest.

On Tuesday night Barcelona struggled to break down their Group F opponents and had to settle for a point to keep them top of the group. It was the first time in 46 home games though that Barca had failed to find the net and after the clash many of the home players stormed off without acknowledging their opponents which, in turn, angered the Slavia Prague squad.

In fact, only Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been singled out for praise in congratulating the Czech side, with Kolar unimpressed with the attitudes of Lionel Messi and co.

Marc Andre Ter Stegen

As quoted by ?iDNES.cz, when discussing the issue Kolar stated: “He [Ter Stegen] was waiting for me inside the tunnel, he stopped me and said he hadn’t seen such a good goalkeeping performance for a long time and that it was a pleasure to watch me play well with my feet.

“He waited for me after the match, which I take as the ultimate award. To hear such praise from such a good goalkeeper, I had goose bumps. It was an amazing experience, but some of the other players…

“Messi and the others just left – some of them didn’t even shake our hands. It was sad. We were all looking forward to meeting these big players, we wanted to swap jerseys after the match, but they didn’t behave very well.”

Ondrej Kolar,Lionel Messi

While clearly frustrated to an extent by the attitudes of many in the ?Barca team, he did reveal that it was one of the greatest nights of his life, as Kolar picked up a clean sheet at one of football’s most iconic grounds.

“I live for football, playing at stadiums like this is the greatest thing for me. We were all looking forward to it – it’s every boy’s dream. And to have such a good game here? Amazing. To keep a team like this from scoring doesn’t happen to everyone.

“We’re the first team in a long time to keep a clean sheet here, everyone knows that Barcelona is a goal factory. We survived a few hectic moments but it’s a pity that we didn’t score. I felt like we could have won.”

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The 4 Clubs Surpassed as Barcelona Extend Unbeaten Home Record in the Champions League

Barcelona ?have extended their unbeaten streak in home Champions League matches to 34 games, the longest in the competitions history.

The Catalans laboured to a draw against lowly Slavia Prague, with the away side limiting Barcelona to half-chances, and spurning opportunities to win the game themselves. However, a 0-0 draw has seen Barcelona continue to maintain the Camp Nou as a fortress.

Famous victories, such as their 3-0 beating of both Liverpool and Manchester United last season, 4-0 against Manchester City in 2016 and the infamous 6-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain have shown how tenacious ?Barcelona are on their own turf.

Lucas Digne,Ivan Rakitic,Neymar Jr,Luis Suarez,Sergi Roberto,Gerard Pique,Lionel Messi

Their last ?Champions League home defeat came against Bayern Munich in 2012/13 season, when Barcelona were pummelled 3-0. Bayern went on to win the competition, and it kicked the home side into gear.

But which clubs did Barcelona overtake to achieve this feat?


Juventus – 23 (02/10/2013 – 03/04/2018)

Paul Pogba

??Juventus were a force to be reckoned with in the mid-2010’s. As they moved to the Allianz Stadium, they brought some excellent European form with them.

During this period, they reached two Champions League finals, and lost both. However, during their 2017 run, they beat Barcelona, Monaco and Porto at home, only conceding once. They were beaten 4-1 in the final by Real Madrid, but it shows how far a team can go when they make their home turf a fortress.

Their unbeaten run was unfortunately halted by Madrid, as Ronaldo scored an incredible bicycle kick to help in Los Blancos’ 3-0 drubbing of the Italian giants. Since then, they have struggled to get going at home, with two losses in the seven games that followed.


Manchester United – 23 (27/09/2005 – 03/11/2009)

Dimitar Berbatov,Wayne Rooney,Nemanja Vidic

The nostalgia hits hard when this kit pops up, but the team was not too bad either. ?Manchester United made Old Trafford the most difficult place to go in Europe in the late 2000’s.

23 games and two finals saw United find their rhythm in the Champions League, with an exceptional squad. Teams such as Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan and Roma all came to Old Trafford and could not break Sir Alex Ferguson’s side down.

Rooney and Ronaldo conquered all that came to the Theatre of Dreams during this period, so it is no surprise that this streak came to an end when the Portuguese winger left.

Besiktas were the team to put paid to United’s home dominance as they snatched a 1-0 victory in 2009, just a few months after the Red Devils had been beaten in the Champions League final by Barcelona.


Arsenal – 24 (14/09/2004 – 05/05/2009)

Thierry Henry

Although this was during a golden period for ?Arsenal, it is quite surprising that they managed to maintain an unbeaten streak through a transition to a new stadium.

This streak began just after their ‘Invincibles’ season, so the potential was clearly there. They reached the final during this period, but were downed by Barcelona at the final hurdle. However, they only conceded one home goal during the entire campaign, which was a fitting way to say farewell to Highbury.

Unfortunately, their unbeaten home run was ended by Manchester United, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a bullet of a free kick in 2009. The other goals came from Ji Sung Park, and another from Ronaldo.

Arsenal arguably should have won the Champions League that year, but you can only commend their tenacity to keep the streak going across two different grounds, even if that seems a distant memory in 2019.


Bayern Munich – 29 (04/03/1998 – 02/04/2002)

Bayern Munich team photograph

Ironically, the team that last beat Barcelona at the Camp Nou held the previous record. ?Bayern Munich’s team between 1998 and 2002 was a spectacle. Two Champions League finals in this period, one win and one loss, showed how deadly this side really was.

The foundation of this side’s success was duly down to their home form. Going unbeaten against Arsenal, PSG and Manchester United on the way to their 2001 Champions League victory showed how much class oozed from this side.

Not many teams had luck getting past Oliver Kahn and Lothar Matthaus, and no chance of stopping Carsten Jancker up front.

Their unbeaten run was put to an end by Deportivo, as they came away from Munich with a 3-2 victory in April 2002. Bayern then lost their next home game to AC Milan, and were subsequently dumped out of the Champions League.


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Jordi Alba Set for Month on Sidelines Following Injury Relapse in Barcelona Draw With Slavia Prague

?Jordi Alba could be set to miss up to a month of action after suffering a hamstring injury in Barcelona’s 0-0 draw with Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The draw was a disappointing one for Barça, who – despite extending their unbeaten run at home in the Champions League to 34 games – were ineffectual against a well-organised but ultimately much weaker opponent.

Injury was added to insult after the game as Barcelona confirmed that Alba, who was substituted at half time, had suffered a reoccurrence of a problem in his left hamstring.

FBL-EUR-C1-BARCELONA-SLAVIA PRAGUE

A ?club statement reads: “[Alba] was replaced at half time in the game between Barça and Slavia Prague due to a problem in his left hamstring. Tests have confirmed that the Barça number 18 has suffered a relapse of his left hamstring injury. The player is unavailable and his recovery will dictate his return to action.”

Alba missed three weeks earlier in the season after picking up the same injury in the ?Champions League clash with Dortmund. However, Catalan outlet ?SPORT predict that the 30-year-old left-back could be out for slightly longer this time, putting his estimated recovery time at around a month as Barça exercise caution.

They claim that the club will be ‘extra precautious’, after failing to properly ease the player back into the first team last time.

Jordi Alba

Summer signing Junior Firpo is expected to deputise in the meantime, with SPORT not expecting to see Alba again until at least the home tie against Dortmund in the Champions League on 27th November.

Despite the underwhelming display on Tuesday, ?Barcelona remain on course to qualify from Group F for the knockout rounds. Ernesto Valverde’s side have eight points from their opening four games, while one win from their final two fixtures (home to Dortmund and away to Inter) will see them into the last 16.

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Barcelona 0-0 Slavia Praha: Report, Ratings & Reaction as Spirited Czechs Leave Barça Frustrated

?Barcelona have thrown qualification from Group F wide open after drawing to beat Czech outfit Slavia Praha at the Camp Nou, failing to win for the second time in just four days following Saturday’s 3-1 loss at Levante.

It was a slow start from the hosts and Slavia Praha actually had the best chances in the opening 10 minutes, offering problems on the counter-attack by using the pace of Peter Olayinka and Petr Šev?ík.

Nicolae Stanciu saw a goal-bound deflected away from Marc-André ter Stegen’s net by his striker, while Lionel Messi had an outstanding solo effort denied by the underside of the crossbar during a rare attack from Barcelona.

FBL-EUR-C1-BARCELONA-SLAVIA PRAGUE

The Argentina international saw another chance saved just before the break, while the visitors also had a goal ruled out with the last kick of the first half, while Barcelona had one of their own chalked off by the offside flag shortly after the restart.

Goalkeeper Ond?ej Kolá? produced world-class save after world-class save to extend Barcelona’s search for an opening goal, with Slavia Praha ultimately holding out for an impressive and deserved point in Catalonia.


Barcelona

Key Talking Point

Last month’s 2-1 win at Slavia Praha – where the hosts had 24 shots to Barcelona’s 13 – was clearly still fresh in the mind of Ernesto Valverde’s side, while another defeat against Levante on Saturday left Barça struggling to really get going.

Gerard Pique,Peter Olayinka

Barcelona grew into the match and started to exploit Slavia’s high defensive line, but their only joy in attack came when Ousmane Dembélé combined with an overlapping Nélson Semedo, with Jordi Alba and Antoine Griezmann left as bystanders in the first half.

Chances came Barcelona’s way as they continued to exploit Slavia’s high defensive line, but Valverde’s side just couldn’t find a way past an in-form Ond?ej Kolá? and were unsurprisingly jeered off the pitch by fans in Catalonia following another performance that was below par.


Player Ratings

Ter Stegen (6); Semedo (7), Pique (6), Lenglet (7), Alba (6); de Jong (7), Busquets (6), Vidal (6), Messi (7), Griezmann (6), Dembele (5).


Substitutes: Roberto (7), Fati (6), Rakitic (6).


Star Man

There’s little doubt that Slavia Praha’s Peter Olayinka and Ond?ej Kolá? were the real stars at the Camp Nou, although that was largely a result of centre-back Clément Lenglet being the only defender to stop the visitors counter-attacking.


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Gerard Piqué and Nélson Semedo both picked up early yellow cards and were treading on eggshells for the remainder of the match, while Jordi Alba’s poor performance saw him substituted at half-time.

Thankfully Lenglet was back to keep Slavia Praha out throughout the game, but Barcelona were living life on the edge and once again walked away from a match against the Czech giants counting their lucky stars for simply not losing the game.


Slavia Praha

Player Ratings

Kolar (8); Coufal (7), Kudela (7), Frydrych (6), Boril (5); Sevcik (7), Soucek (7), Traore (6), Stanciu (7); Masopust (6), Olayinka (8).


Substitutes: Tecl (5), Husbauer (6), Provod (N/A).


Looking Ahead

Barcelona will look for a huge improvement in their performance when they walk back out at the Camp Nou this weekend against Celta de Vigo, before most first-team players head off for international duty.


For more from Ben Carter, follow him on Twitter!

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River Plate Manager Linked With Barcelona as Pressure Grows on Ernesto Valverde

River Plate manager Marcelo Gallardo could be in line to succeed Ernesto Valverde at Barcelona if results don’t pick up soon, according to one report in Spain.

Valverde’s future is under the microscope once again, after the weekend’s surprise loss to Levante – Barça’s third in La Liga this season already – has left a demanding fanbase questioning his ability to remain as manager for the foreseeable future. 

Though they may be reigning La Liga champions and top of table after 11 games in 2019/20, Valverde has come under pressure for his side’s collapse at the end of last season as ?Barcelona lost the Champions League semi-final to Liverpool and Copa del Rey final to Valencia.

Ernesto Valverde

According to El Chiringuito and as quoted by Marca, 43-year-old River Plate boss Gallardo is on the list of possible replacements should Valverde’s position become untenable.

In his five years at River, Gallardo has won ten trophies, seven of which have been international, including the 2018 Copa Libertadores, famously beating arch-rivals Boca Juniors in the Superclasico final.

The River Plate manager faces another Copa Libertadores final later this month, with River looking to become the first side since to win back-to-back Libertadores titles, since rivals Boca in 2000 and 2001.

Marcelo Gallardo

Gallardo, who was appointed in 2014 with River still recovering from their shock relegation in 2011, is the most successful coach in the club’s history and was nominated by The Best FIFA Men’s Coach in 2019.

Gallardo has done a magnificent job at the Buenos Aires club, managing to rebuild and succeed despite losing key players such as Sebastien Driussi to Zenit. The former Monaco and Argentina attacking midfielder has loaned in players such as Juan Fernando Quintero from Porto and bought the likes of Lucas Pratto and goalkeeper Franco Armani, in what has been a phenomenal turn around for the Argentine giants. 

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Barcelona vs Slavia Prague: 6 Key Facts & Stats to Impress Your Mates Ahead of UCL Clash

Barcelona are back in Champions League action on Tuesday, hosting Slavia Prague as they look to cement their stranglehold on Group F.

A win would put Barça in a very strong position to qualify for the knockout stages ahead of trickier games against Borussia Dortmund and Inter, who square off in the group’s other fixture.

The pressure is on manager Ernesto Valverde following a loss at Levante in La Liga on Saturday, even though the Catalan side had won their previous seven games in all competitions. 



Barcelona Starting Lineup: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Vidal, Busquets, De Jong; Messi, Griezmann, Dembele.

Slavia Prague Starting Lineup: Kolar, Coufal, Judela, Frydrych, Boril, Soucek, Traore, Masopust, Stanciu, Sevick, Olayinka.


Slavia Prague prop up the bottom of the group with a solitary point – picked up at San Siro on the opening matchday.

So, ahead of kick off, here are a few facts and stats to get you in the mood, courtesy of Opta…


?You’ve Got No History

FBL-EUR-C1-SLAVIA-BARCELONA

These teams have only ever faced each other once before, coming earlier this season.

?Barcelona beat Slavia Prague 2-1 at the Sinobo Stadium in October, with Lionel Messi’s strike and Peter Olayinka’s own goal cancelling out Jan Boril’s equaliser.


Camp Nou’s a Fortress…

FC Barcelona v Inter: Group F - UEFA Champions League

It’s not often that Barcelona lose games in the Champions League at Camp Nou.

The Catalan giants have been defeated just once in their last 55 UCL home games, winning 46 of those matches. Their current unbeaten run of 33 games is the longest in the competition.

Bayern Munich were the last team to win at Camp Nou in Europe’s elite club competition, back in May 2013 when they smashed their hosts 3-0 to complete a 7-0 aggregate victory.


…And Lionel Messi Is Barça’s General

Lionel Messi

You know that Lionel Messi kid? That guy everyone reckons can do the thing with the ball really well?

Turns out he’s either scored or assisted in each of his last 13 Champions League group stage starts at Camp Nou (22 goals, seven assists), which is a pretty good record as it goes.

The last time he failed to do so was against Celtic back in October 2012.


Gotta Start Somewhere

Peter Olayinka

Poor ol’ Slavia Prague.

The Czech side are yet to win an away group stage game in the Champions League. For context, this is only the second time they have reached this stage of the competition, often dropping out in the qualifying and play-off rounds.

Slavia are winless in their last four away games previously – drawing and losing two apiece.


Best of Friends

Lionel Messi,Sergio Busquets

“I wanna be your best friend

Don’t want you to be my girl

I wanna be your best friend

Don’t want you to be my

I don’t want you to be my…”

Those are some lyrics from the song ‘Best of Friends’ by Palma Violets. 

And that’s what ?Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets are. Best buddies. Probably.

Barça have never lost a Champions League match at Camp Nou when both Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi have started (W33 D5 L0), while Busquets is unbeaten in his last 45 starts at Camp Nou in the competition (W39 D6 L0). Messi is unbeaten in his last 43 (W38 D5 L0).

They’re both in the squad for Tuesday’s game.


Gegenpressing, But in Czech?

Peter Olayinka

If there’s a strength in Slavia Prague’s game that Barcelona ought to be aware of, it’s their pressing from the front.

They’ve regained possession in the final third on 32 occasions across the opening three matchdays – at least three more times than any other side in the competition this season (Red Bull Salzburg and ?Manchester City, 29 each).

Ernesto Valverde’s side may be able to play through Slavia’s pressing, but it should make for entertaining viewing regardless.


For more from Jude Summerfield, follow him on Twitter! 

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