Barcelona FC to set up its first African football academy in Lagos

Ambode-Barca
Spanish giants, Barcelona FC are looking to establishing its first African football academy in Lagos State. Representatives of the club paid a visit to Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode where they discussed the possibility of the partnership. 
Pledging his support, Ambode said, “this visit by FC Barcelona is coming at a point where I believe strongly that we have nothing else to say than to say we are committed into this partnership because we know the partnership will give us the first FCBEscola in Africa. I was made to understand that this is the first of its kind in Africa and so Lagos is priding itself as a major receptor of the next academy to be established in Africa.
“I know that this will create a very good platform for youth development, grassroots empowerment and also for the value of sportsmanship. We share the same values with FC Barcelona which are respect, courage, humility, social integration and community service.”

Henry Thierry explains how Arsenal can beat Barcelona

Arsenal Legend, Henry Thierry in his column for The Sun provided the Gunners useful tips on how to beat their visitors, Barcelona when they meet for their Champions League last 16 in London on Tuesday night. The Frenchman who also played for the Catalans believes Arsenal can repeat the feat of 2011 where they won the home leg 2-1. He wrote: 
“They have to accept they will probably only have 30 per cent possession and must be so efficient when they do get the ball. The whole team must defend more as a unit and the wingers must tuck in and play more in their own half. You very rarely get the chance to play against Barcelona so you must be prepared to sacrifice parts of your attacking game, home and away. 

“Arsenal must be brave on the ball. They need to stay compact, play on the counter and score every time they get in their penalty area. They can’t be exposed in the middle and must force Barcelona to run back 60 yards before they get the ball. If you allow them to stay in your half for wave after wave, it becomes almost impossible to defend.”

Barcelona sack player hours after signing him over offensive tweets.

Be careful of what you post on social media. A seemingly harmless tweet or Facebook post might make or mar you.
Sergi Guardiola, a player who was signed into Barcelona B team was sacked same day, as a matter of fact, 7 hours later following some offensive tweets he posted sometime 2013.
Three tweets were dug out by Spanish press. All translated in English.. 
1) ‘Up Real Madrid and to hell with Catalonia’
2) ‘Today to hell with Catalonia and up Real Madrid’.
3) I wouldn’t have Messi in my team – he just walks about… he spoils the way the team plays 
The club later released a statement on the issue.
“FC Barcelona has decided to terminate the contract signed with Sergi Guardiola, after finding that he had published offensive tweets about the club and Catalonia.”
 The distraught player told  Spanish radio station Cope  “I know I made a mistake. I apologise to Catalonia and Barcelona. I understand the decision, I’d do the same.
“I want to make clear I didn’t write those tweets. A friend took my phone and did it. It’s a misunderstanding.
“The tweets are from 2013, a joke from a friend, I didn’t even know the tweets existed.
“Barcelona have treated me very well. I understand their decision. Now I’m going home, we’ll see what happens.” the 24 year-old said.

Messi, Suarez fire Barcelona to third Club World Cup victory

An opener from Lionel Messi and a brace from Luis Suarez was enough to seal Barcelona’s Club World Cup title. The Spanish giants defeated River Plate 3-0 today at Yokohama to claim their 3rd global crown.

Ex Liverpool star, Luis Suarez who has been nothing short of exceptional for the team, scoring four braces in all competitions,  this season was awarded the Golden Ball – the best player of the tournament.

He also broke another record today. His two goals took Barcelona’s goal total for the calendar year to 176 as against 175 recoded in 2012.

 “The most important thing was to take the trophy, that was the only objective we had” The Uruguayan said.

Barcelona surpass Real Madrid as top all-time European scorers

Spanish giants, Barcelona have surpassed their fierce rivals on the goalscoring charts. The Catalan side who are having an impressive run this season netted in their 1,037th goal this season, just one goal more than Real Madrid who have recorded 1,036.

Top 20

Barcelona (1,037 goals)
Real Madrid (1,036)
Bayern Munich (856)
Juventus (746)
Anderlecht (640)
Benfica (639)
Liverpool (612)
Milan (612)
Ajax (606)
Inter Milan (606)
Manchester United (594)
Porto (542)
Valencia (529)
Red Star Belgrade (507)
PSV (503)
Celtic (500)
Atletico Madrid (488)
Sporting Lisbon (463)
Rangers (461)
Club Bruges (458)

Barcelona win ECA club of the year award.

//
Spanish football outfit, Barcelona have been crowned club of the Year by the European Club
Association (ECA). Needless to say the Camp Nou giants clinched the award based on their phenomenal performance; ‎ winning the Champions League, La Liga and the Copa del Rey last season. Now in it’s 6th season, the event was set up in 2010  to acknowledge outstanding club performance.
//
The Best Community and Social Responsibility Programme Award went to Arsenal for their efforts in working with the local London community to tackle youth ‎unemployment .
Ukrainian club Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, picked the 2015 Best Sporting Progress Award for “their significant progress in European competition during the 2014/15 season”.
//
The fourth ECA award for 2015, Best Achievement went to Estonian side Levadia Tallinn for their “Together we move” scheme aimed at improving stadium accessibility for fans who require assistance dogs.‎

Claudio Bravo a doubt for Barca's clash with Atletico

Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is a doubt for Saturday’s Primera Division clash at Atletico Madrid after sustaining a calf injury. Bravo picked up the injury during training on Monday and the 32-year-old faces a battle to prove his fitness for the clash with Diego Simeone’s men.
A Barca statement on Tuesday read: “Analysis by FC Barcelona’s medical personnel has revealed that first-team goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has suffered a muscular injury to his right calf.

“The muscle in question is Bravo’s right soleus. He will be closely monitored over the coming days and his availability for this weekend’s match at Atletico de Madrid will be determined based on how the injury evolves.”

Bravo, who won the Copa America with Chile in July, started in Barcelona’s first two La Liga games and kept clean sheets. Should he fail to prove his fitness, Marc-Andre ter Stegen would make his La Liga debut for Barca. Ter Stegen, who joined from Borussia Monchengladbach last year, was Barca’s first-choice keeper for the Copa del Rey and Champions League last season.

Check out La Liga fixtures for 2015/2016 season

The 2015/2016 edition of the Spanish La Liga season kicked off yesterday, 21st August with a game between Malaga and Sevilla. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Athletico Madrid have games tomorrow. The League Champions will look to turn their defeat around when they face Athletico Bilbao having  beaten by the latter twice, it’s their third clash in a week . Real Madrid will take on newly promoted Sporting Gijon. Below are La Liga fixtures for the entire season.  the 2015/2016 La Liga season  promises to be 35 weeks of absolute entertainment and excitement. 
Like i mentioned a week ago, the Predict and Win Airtime segment has kicked off on this blog, all you have to do is to monitor the blog for the post, predict the scoreline of matches and win N1,000 airtime. Last week, no one got the scoreline for the Chelsea Vs Manchester City game as many believed Chelsea would thrash City.  

WHAT PEDRO'S MOVE MEANS FOR CLUB, COUNTRY AND LEAGUE

After several weeks of speculations and rumors over the future of Pedro Rodriguez and his next destination, he finally completed a move to Chelsea Football Club amidst interest from several other clubs. The movement of Pedro will have impact or consequence on alot of things but most prominently; his former club, new club, home country and the new league he just joined.
FOR BARCELONA: The arrival of Luis Suarez and Neymar Jr at Barca meant less playing time for the likes of Pedro given the amount spent on them, their pedigree and status. Worse still, they formed a lethal combo with Messi and tore apart whatever stands between them and the goal post.
Unarguably, the trio deserves to start every game provided they are fit and eligible but the big question is; what happens when they are not? 
The defeat in the first leg of the Super Cup final against Athletic Bilbao after six changes was made to the starting xi portrayed a genuine concern over the depth of the squad and quality of the bench. 
All of these makes the dedication and commitment with which they went about the sale of Pedro shocking. He is one of the few players that has shown time and time again that he can deliver whenever his called upon no matter how big the occasion is.
The poorest reply to having a young side that finished last in the second division, a poor bench and a transfer ban that won’t be lifted until January is selling an established player who may not be good enough to break into the best eleven but good enough to make a mark incase things go awry.  Just like Gab Marcotti put it, Pedro was Barca’s insurance if and when something goes wrong with MSN and the thing about insurance is that – it may seem irrelevant and somewhat needless but they day something goes wrong, one would be glad to have it in place.  It is hard to see how exactly the sale of Pedro profits Barcelona except for the million they got from it.

FOR CHELSEA: A run of three games without a win, shambolic display against city and front line that consists of a striker that has now taken to fighting rather than scoring and disappearing wingers highlights the need for new injection.  Chelsea have not had it easy since the commencement of the season and the side cries for renewed motivation, fresh legs and quality. 
In Pedro, they may have found answers to certain problems. He is a forward-minded player who scores effortlessly, dribbles well and as well plays with the team. Moreso, Pedro isn’t a kind of player that disappears or fits into the pocket of defenders, rather, he is knows to always deliver!

Huge wealth of experience, immense quality, number of European titles and a world Cup medal all at €30Million is sure a good bargain. I mean, we know of someone that only boasts of prospect, few goals /assists and a number of kids but cost £50Million.
FOR THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: The English Premier League is by far the most competitive and glamorous league in the world and this is a result of the stars it parades who inevitably provides premium entertainment in goals, dribbles and style. This doesn’t only increase its fan base but also attracts players from leagues across Europe. The addition of Pedro adds to that and fans of the league may as well be ready for an increased dose of entertainment.
However, the signing of Pedro (and a few others from other leagues) also adds to the growing concern of foreign influx into the league which has led to the dearth of home grown talent.
The home grown rule designed by the England FA to compel clubs to sign or include home grown players in their squad won’t mean much if these players don’t get to play. It forfeits the intention of the rule and in the long run, renders it ineffective.

Just like Biola Kazeem put it in a twitter chat with a blog recently (read it here ), the EPL’s success is a blessing and a CURSE and that sums the consequence or impact of Pedro’s addition to the league.
FOR SPAIN: The first thing that comes to mind at the mention of the Spain National team isn’t the exciting and talent-ridden squad that won the world Cup in South Africa but an ailing, disjointed team that was dumped out in the group stage in Brazil.  There is no gain-saying that Spain needs new, fresh legs with more zeal, motivation and hunger for success. 
Truth be told, there are talent but questions can be raised over experience, exposure and club playing time.  Summarily, the lack of playing time for players like Pedro hurts the National team.  At 28, Pedro doesn’t qualify as a ‘young talent’ but his quality, wealth of experience and knowledge of the tactics and game plan of the squad is priceless and hugely needed. 
His move to Chelsea means less time on the bench and more time on the field of play where he can regain confidence, fitness and form. With Euro 2016 just around the corner, Spain have every reason to smile at this move.

Adeshina Peter
You can follow him on Twitter via @shina_pitta

Athletic Bilbao stuns Barcelona

Athletic Bilbao thrashed European champions, FC Barcelona 4nil in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup at San Mames. Mikel San Jose opened the scoring after just 13 minutes with a screamer. The midfielder capitalized on an error from Ter Stegen to score from the center circle.
Arits Aduriz then went to to bag a hat trick to seal an emphatic win for Bilbao as they head on to the second leg.
It is the second time in two matches that Barcelona have conceded four goals, after their 5-4 victory over Sevilla in the Uefa Super Cup. Luis Enrique have however taken responsibility for the surprise loss owing to the significant changes he made in the squad. Luis Enrique said the changes were required after Sevilla took Barca to extra time three days earlier.

“There were a lot of changes but it had to be that way after playing for 120 minutes [on Tuesday],” the manager said. “I have made changes to the side and I accept the responsibility for the loss without hesitation.”
However, Luis Enrique was not giving up Barcelona’s quest to win six trophies in 2015, saying Barcelona can still win the Super Cup at the Camp Nou on Monday.
Open chat