Barça suffered more than expected to win a bad tempered game with Mallorca. Barça went a goal down early on before Thierry Henry equalized on the half hour. Then Andres Iniesta came on as a second half substitute after two months out injured to score the vital second goal with fifteen minutes remaining and then Toure Yaya scored one of the goals of the season in injury time to wrap things up. 

Pep Guardiola gave a place to Victor Sanchez at centre half which meant Carles Puyol moved to right back in place of Dani Alves who started on the bench. Alex Hleb came in for Leo Messi who was rested and watched the game from the directors box with the Argentinian team manager Diego Maradona who had flown in to watch Messi play.

The game was very slow...

Barça finished the year with a heroic 1-2 victory over Villareal which leaves takes us into the christmas break with a massive ten point lead at the top of the table. Goals from Seydou Keita and Thierry Henry turned the game in Barça's favour after Cani had given Villarreal the lead just after half time. Gerard Piqué was unfairly sent off for two yellow cards but Barça's ten men held on for the last twenty minues to clinch the three points. 

Pep Guardiola surprised by leaving Toure Yaya on the bench but Sergio Busquets did well in his place as Barça generally dominated in midfield. Keita came in for Eidur Gudjohnsen, and Gerard Piqué replaced the injured Rafa Marquez.

Barça had more control in the first...

Barça suffered more than many people expected to overcome a Real Madrid team who came to defend but who might have taken more from the game had Drenthe or Palanca converted one of the two one-on-one chances that they had. Victor Valdés came to the rescue on both ocassions to deny Madrid the lead. Two late goals from Samuel Eto'o, who had earlier had a penalty saved, and Leo Messi gave Barça the victory which sees us now twelve points clear of Madrid which will be very difficult for them to recover. 

For the first twenty minutes it looked as though Barça were going to completely dominate the game. Messi had the first chance in the 6th minute going past Ramos with ease and forcing a...

Sorry people, it seems that whenever I mention how many games we are from breaking a record we then lose that run. Today's defeat brought to an end a 20-match undefeated run, but the consolation is the game really meant very little and we were without all our best players. In fact you can almost guess the team Pep Guardiola has in mind for the Real Madrid game by looking at who didn't start today. We still finish top of the group but tonight we learn that two of our possible rivals in the last 16 are Chelsea and Inter Milan. Pep versus Mourinho would certainly be an interesting one!

I have to admit that I probably wouldn't have bothered to watch tonight's game if it wasn't for the blog, but I was also interested to see how the youngsters would do and today we saw a first team debut for...

Barça go into next weekend's clasico with a six point advantage at the top of La Liga after another fantastic performance to beat Valencia 4-0. With the absence of Samuel Eto'o, Thierry Henry rose to the occasion to score his second hat-trick in Barça colours with Dani Alves adding the other. Barça were so superior today that Victor Valdés hardly had a save to make and Valencia's dangerman David Villa hardly had a sniff of goal. We also had the biggest attendance of the season so far with just under 83,000 fans to witness the display 

There were not many surprises in Pep's team...

Barça continued their incredible winning streak away from home with a 0-3 win at the Sanchez Pizjuan that put Barça six points clear at the top of the table tonight with Villarreal and Valencia playing tomorrow. The scoreline suggests an easy win and in the end it was, but Sevilla had the edge in the first half and Barça needed a bit of luck to go in at half time in front through Samuel Eto'o's goal. The second half was totally controlled by Barça and two late goals from Leo Messi sealed the victory.

The defences were generally on top early on with the first real chance falling to Luis Fabiano in the tenth minute but he volleyed over....

Barça got the season back on track tonight with a 2-5 win in Lisbon earning first place in Group C which means an easier draw in the last 16.  Since losing to Numancia at the end of August Barça have now clocked up 9 away wins on the trot, five in La Liga, three in the Champions league and one in the Copa del Rey. Leo Messi returned to the team and talk about Messi dependence will no doubt continue as he played a part in the first two goals and scored the third shortly before being substituted. With Messi off the pitch Barça conceded two goals in two minutes to put Sporting back in the game, but Barça reacted well with two more goals to seal the win.

Pep Guardiola made six changes to...

Barça arrived in Lisbon today with 18 players including Leo Messi ready to fight for the win that will guarantee us top spot in Group C of this season's Champions League. Rafa Marquez also returns but there is no place for either Carles Puyol or Toure Yaya who Pep Guardiola has decided to give a rest. Barça lead the group on 10 points with Sporting just a point behind, both teams have already qualified for the last 16, but tomorrow's game could well determine which of the two finishes top. Three points will earn us first place while a draw will leave us needing a victory in the last group match at home to Shakhtar Donetsk on December 9th, if we lose, however, we will have to hope that Basle do us...

It couldn't go on for ever. Barça's winning streak came to an end this evening as we could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Getafe. It might have been worse as Getafe led through a 19th minute goal from Manu del Moral and were close to a second just before Seydou Keita equalised for Barça twenty minutes from the end. Many will remember the absence of Leo Messi but it does not explain the below-par performance of many of the other players, Bojan starting his first league match of the season was particularly disappointing filling in for Messi on the right, he looked terribly upset after he was substituted and I have to say I am worried about whether he is over affected by the pressure of playing at the top...

Second half goals from Leo Messi and Seydou Keita gave Barça a hard-earned victory in Huelva tonight that moves us three points clear of Villarreal at the top of the table and five points clear of Real Madrid and Valencia. Let nobody be fooled: this was not an easy game, Recreativo defended well for most of the game and also threatened with some dangerous counter-attacks, in Sisi, Adrian Colunga and Camuñas they have a lot of talent and Barça had to put in a good performance, especially good in the second half, to come away with the three points.

For the first twenty minutes Barça had a lot of possession without getting close to...