BARCA NEWS....
LATEST:
Barcelona handed one-year transfer ban for breaking rules over international transfer of under-18s
Barca will appeal sanction for breaking rules in the case of 10 minors and fine of £306,000
Jordi Alba spoke to the Barça TV programme ‘El Marcador’ after the game on Tuesday and made it clear that he's relishing the return trip to the Calderon: "we'll have to go with all guns blazing in Madrid if we want to reach the semis - we'll need to put a really good performance. Atletico Madrid are a tough team to play and we've drawn every game with them so far".
Alba was philosophical about Tuesday’s draw: “on the negative side, we wanted to win and we didn’t, but on the positive side we did play well . We had possession in the forst half, but weren’t able to create many chances, which we certainly did after the break”.
Neymar's putting in a great season, He looks great to me
The Catalan also praised Atletico : “it’s true that they make it hard to play against them, they have some top quality players and they never stop running”.
Neymar what could prove a vital equaliser and his teammate backed him to succeed at the Club: “he’s putting in a great season, He looks great to me and he’s a player who’ll give the Barça fans lots to be happy about. The more the other team kick him, the more he likes to take on responsibility”.
Gerardo Martino completed his 50th match on the Barça bench this Tuesday evening, against Atlético Madrid. The Argentinian was presented as Barça’s manager on 26 July and since then he’s led the team to a Spanish Super Cup victory, and his men are in the hunt for the league title alongside Atlético Madrid, in the Champions League quarter-finals and in the final of the Cup.
Martino’s record at the Barça helm stands at 37 victories, 8 draws and 5 defeats in official matches. His men have scored a total of 136 goals (2.7 per game) and conceded 37 (0.7 per game).
These numbers are the second best in Club history when it comes to debutant managers. Only Helenio Herrera (1958/59) has a better record: 40 victories, 5 draws and 5 defeats. Pep Guardiola’s record is nearly identical to Martino’s: 37 victories, 8 draws and 5 defeats (133 goals scored and 42 conceded).
Marc Bartra the 23 year old is likely to feature prominently in the next few FC Barcelona matches. And these are no ordinary matches. The run-in to the end of the Liga season is going to be a close affair, with three teams still in contention. Not to mention the Spanish Cup Final against Real Madrid on April 16, and the second leg of the Champions League quarter final against Atlético Madrid on April 9, plus the semi-finals of the same competition should Barça qualify. It’s a big challenge for Bartra, but in his 47 previous first team appearances he has already proven himself more than capable of delivering the goods.