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Another memorable performance from Leo Messi destroyed Arsenal and put Barca through to another Champions League semi final. Messi scored all four goals as Barca swept aside the Londoners to win 6-3 on aggregate.

Barca stride on towards the final in the Bernabeu and tonight’s breathtaking display from the World Player of the Year, whose first half hat trick came after Arsenal had gone ahead, is bound to strike awe and admiration into the remaining teams in the competition. Guardiola’s choice of Milito and Marquez to replace the unavailable Puyol and Pique proved more than enough to keep any threat from Arsenal at bay and Bojan also played his part up front as Barca dominated and rounded off a great night with Messi’s late fourth goal to reach the semi finals for the third season on the run. (continue reading…)

Barca saw off Stuttgart 4-0 at the Nou Camp with Messi again to the forefront with two goals, whilst Pedro and Bojan grabbed the other two. Two-nil up after 20 minutes, Barca cruised into the quarter finals.

The reigning champions went into the game at 1-1 after the first leg, but there was no question of sitting on the result as a Messi inspired first 20 minutes saw them go two goals up. Dominating throughout, Guardiola’s team scored two more in the second half and sent a clear message to the rest of Europe – we are the champions!

Attack from the off

In front of a packed Nou Camp, Barca began strongly, as Guardiola sent out an attacking formation with Ibra on the bench and Henry, Messi and Pedro providing the ammunition up front.


Lehmann was soon in action saving from the front three, but the World Player of the year gave the German keeper no chance on 10 minutes when he took full advantage of the space created for him by Henry and Touré and weaved his way across the Stuttgart box before firing a left foot shot high into the net

Total control

With the game clearly going in their favour, Barca showed they could fight hard to regain the ball and then when they had it they were prepared to slow the game down and keep possession, patiently waiting for the chance to bamboozle the visitors’ defence. And that was just what they did for the second when Messi culminated a patient move by setting Touré Yaya free down the left to centre for Pedro, who put away the second with Lehman stranded at the near post. (continue reading…)

Despite winning a glut of team and individual honours in the past 12 months, Lionel Messi remains hungry for more as he gears up for FC Barcelona’s first knockout round trip to VfB Stuttgart.
Occasionally when truly great footballers achieve fame, wealth and success, the ingredient in their make-up which is most easily corroded is the powerful hunger which once fired their drive for supremacy.

If that were to apply to Lionel Messi then now would be the moment in question. His club, FC Barcelona, mounted a brilliant campaign to win the UEFA Champions League last season amid a torrent of trophies; the Spanish title, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

The Argentinian was also rewarded with a clean sweep of the most illustrious individual awards: being named in the UEFA.com users’ Team of the Year, winning the Ballon d’Or and rounding it off with the FIFA World Player of the Year gong.

Despite all this, Barcelona’s next opponents in their UEFA Champions League defence, VfB Stuttgart, should be aware that Messi remains ravenous for more of the same. “We have already written a page in history but we want to continue doing that,” he told UEFA.com. “We have to take advantage of this great team; all of us feel that. (continue reading…)

Barcelona striker Lionel Messi is very disappointed because his team eliminated from the Spanish Cup event. This defeat hurt him because Barcelona did not think going to eliminate.

Barcelona have just won six titles at the 2009 Seville painfully excluded from the last 16 of the Copa del Rey. On the second leg last night, Carles Puyol et al actually won 1-0, but it was not enough. With a 2-2 aggregate, “Los Rojiblancos” right away because of superior aggressiveness Barca goals in the cage.

“Painful for us (because) eliminated with this way. In the second half we seemed to go to the next round, but now we must go on,” said the World Player of the Year.

Messi added, he is confident his team could actually win the game, at least with the second goal. But the luck did not favor on us. Awesome performance of Sevilla goalkeeper, Andres Palop, making Zlatan Ibrahimovic shook his head. Messi also kick hit the post. (continue reading…)

For FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi 2009 will be an unforgettable year as the team completed a unique treble of trophies and the player was seen as the best in the world. Revista Barça spoke to the Argentinian forward about the last 12 months.
In an extensive interview Messi gave his thoughts on his rise to prominence from a star with incredible potential to a fully fledged match-winner as he helped Barça to win the domestic title and Copa del Rey as well as the Champions League in the same season, before starting the current campaign by lifting the Spanish and European Super Cups.

Flattering praise
In the poll for France Football’s coveted Ballon d’Or Messi received 90 of the 96 votes. “It is flattering to hear that because there are some other great players around, but it is also incredible,” he explained. “Since I was young I have dreamt about winning these awards. When I then reached the Barça first team I did not give them as much importance. But it is like a dream come true now for me and for my father because of everything that we have been through together.” (continue reading…)

Lionel Messi has been ruled out of the local derby against Espanyol this weekend after test results showed the extent of his ankle injury and he could also be doubtful for the FIFA Club World Cup semi final.

The Argentinian picked up the knock in the Champions League win in Kiev against Dynamo on Wednesday evening and has now been told he will be out for the Saturday game with the Blanc i Blau.

Second injury
It is the second time this season that Messi has been sidelined after he suffered a muscle injury in the game at San Mamés with Athletic Club that stopped him playing against Inter at Camp Nou. Already this term Messi has played 19 games, with 13 in the league, five in Europe and one in the Copa del Rey, and scored 12 goals. (continue reading…)

Sunday’s game against Real Madrid is Pep Guardiola’s number one priority, but at his press conference this afternoon he refused to commit himself to playing either Ibra or Messi. Guardiola also praised Sunday’s opponents’ record this season.

“This game is a priority for me – there is nothing more important for us”, according to Pep, “We’ve prepared it very thoroughly and the line up against Kiev hasn’t come into my reckoning”.

Messi and Ibra still doubtful
Despite that, Guardiola was unable to reveal whether Ibra and Messi would be playing against Madrid: “the doctors and I will decide on whether they play tomorrow, they’ve trained pretty well, but there are always risks with muscle injuries and they’ve not been back many days. We can win with Messi and without him. He’s a very important player and it’s better for us if he plays, but we’ll have a look at him tomorrow and make our decision”. (continue reading…)