FC Barcelona 5-0 Sevilla (Matchday 9 La Liga 2010/2011)

Barcelona completely dominated the first-half taking full advantage of their superiority bagging two goals. Lionel Messi was simply sublime for the home team and made an invincible tag team with partner David Villa.

Messi gave his side the lead before the game had even got going, tucking home the rebound from Pedro's cross.

The little Argentine wizard who was playing in the middle of a front three, caused havoc for his markers dropping deep to orchestrate from midfield and with Sevilla unaware who was meant to pick him up, the forward showed player after player a clean set of heels.

David Villa capitalised on his team-mate's gliding gracefulness on the field, receiving a pass from Messi and firing a wonderous shot into the top corner to make it two.

Abdoulay Konko was sent off for a second yellow card before half-time and there was no way back for los Nervionenses.

A gift of a goal for Dani Alves, a fine solo effort from Lionel Messi and David Villa late on sealed a comfortable three points for the Catalan giants.

Within one minute of the game Barcelona were twice close to taking the lead. David Villa and Messi linking up fluently down the right and the later chipped a dangerous ball in, which was cleared. Barcelona worked it back inside to Xavi but the midfielder clipped his shot agonisingly wide.

Great defending denied Barcelona once more just three minutes later but Sevilla couldn't clear their lines and paid the ultimate price. Herrera Javi Varas blocked the first chance but Lionel Messi made no mistake with the rebound, biding his time before applying the finish.

Sevilla were slow to get going but almost had a goal of their own in the opening ten minutes. Luis Fabiano was quick to find space in behind the Blaugrana defenders but slashed his shot wide of Victor Valdes' right post.

Messi and Villa were combining to deadly effect, the little Argentine in fine form releasing the Spanish striker between the two centre backs but the defenders were able to recover and force Villa wide of goal. Villa did finally test Javi Varas from a slightly tight angle after being found by a classy backheel, but his shot was tame.

Sevilla got their second chance of the game, Diego Perotti showing a frightful turn of pace on the right wing then picking out Diego Capel at the far post, but the left winger fired his volley into the body of Valdes and Xavi removed the danger.

David Villa doubled Barcelona's lead in the 24th minute with a outstanding finish. It was again Messi that ghosted past Romaric into space and played the ball wide to Villa, the No. 7 cut inside one defender and from a similar angle to his earlier effort, arrowed a swerving shot up and round the keeper.

Pedro continued to look dangerous down the left for the hosts and it was his speed and trickery which almost made the third goal for Xavi but Capel got tight to the midfielder to deny him.

As the game reached stoppage time, Sevilla were given a huge blow. Pedro flicking the ball round Abdoulay Konko, who had finally had enough, and the right-back kicked out at the winger with a lazy tackle. It was his second yellow of the night and an early bath for the French born defender.

The extra man advantage allowed Dani Alves to roam forward from right-back in the second-half after being very shrewd in his defensive work. The Brazilian getting his shot away after linking up with David Villa but it was straight at the keeper.

The defender however was gifted a goal minutes after his first chance. A terrible header from Romaric left his keeper in no man's land and Dani Alves latched on to the back pass to steer it past Javi Varas. The former Sevilla player graciously refused to celebrate with his team-mates.

With an hour gone, Pep Guardiola was able to rotate and rest some of his players, introducing Javier Mascherano and Bojan.

Barcelona were in no mood to hold back against their visitors. Messi picked up the ball just inside the Sevilla half and run to the edge of the area before placing a left footed shot low into the corner; it was a goal worthy of his performance.

Mascherano recovered his own mistake well with just over ten minutes left. The substitute gave the ball away in the middle of the park and then chased back 40 yards to block Alvaro Negredo's shot.

David Villa came a matter of inches from getting his second of the night. Messi played a neat ball through, Villa rounded the keeper but went too wide allowing defenders time to retreat and clear off the line.

With the last kick of the game, Villa did get his second. Messi again played his part feeding in Sergio Busquets. The holding midfielder squared it for Villa who picked his corner from the edge of the box to finish the night at 5-0.

The victory moves Barcelona back to within one point of La Liga leaders Real Madrid and went some way to closing the gap in the two sides' goal difference. Sevilla remain in sixth place, still in touch of Valencia, after los Che's slip up against Real Zaragoza.

Ceuta 0-2 FC Barcelona (32th Finals Copa del Rey 2010/2011)

Barcelona ensured there would be no Copa del Rey giant-killing this evening as they secured a professional 2-0 win over Segunda B minnows Ceuta in the first leg of their round of 32 tie.

First half strikes from Maxwell and Pedro put the Catalan side on easy street, and although there was no further scoring after the break, the two-goal cushion should be more than enough to see them through the second leg at the Camp Nou.

Pep Guardiola took the opportunity to give his fringe players a run out, with Bojan, Seydou Keita, Javier Mascherano, Adriano and Pedro making up the backbone of the team.

Barca took immediate control of the game and tried to get at Ceuta down the wings. Pedro and Jeffren were particularly prominent, and were ably supported by flying full-backs Maxwell and Adriano.

And it was Adriano who was first to test Ceuta goalkeeper Nauzet Perez when he cut in from the right and curled a low effort at goal, but the home side's number one saved with ease.

It was no surprise when the deadlock was broken 16 minutes in. Maxwell played a neat one-two with Bojan and then rifled home from an acute angle to make it 1-0.

The Catalans continued to dominate and doubled their advantage ten minutes later. Left-back Maxwell turned provider this time as he swung over a deep cross which Pedro did superbly well to force into the net at the far post.

It should have been three shortly afterwards but Bojan side-footed against the cross bar from seven yards with the goal at his mercy after he arrived right on cue to meet Pedro’s inviting centre.

Ceuta had one real chance in the first 45 when the ball broke to Raoul Loe on the edge of the box, but the Frenchman‘s effort was weak and Jose Pinto blocked with his feet.

Despite Barcelona being in complete control – at one point they recorded 79% possession to Ceuta’s 21% - they failed to add to their tally and went in at the break 2-0 to the good.

The second half was a very low key affair in which both sides looked content with their lot. Barcelona appeared happy to knock the ball about and retain possession then make the occasional attacking burst.

Ceuta, on the other hand, kept ten men behind the ball in an attempt to stifle Barcelona and come away with a respectable scoreline.

Nauzet made strong saves to deny Adriano and Bojan in the only noteworthy incidents in the second 45.

Although it was hardly an inspirational evening, Guardiola will be pleased that his side negotiated a potentially tricky away tie in a professional manner.

The sides meet again on November 9, when Ceuta travel to Catalonia to face their illustrious opponents at the Camp Nou in the second leg of the tie.

Real Zaragoza 0-2 FC Barcelona (Matchday 8 La Liga 2010/2011)

A brace by Lionel Messi decided a fairly one-sided affair at La Romareda as Barcelona ascended to the top of the standings, albeit temporarily. The Argentinian opened the scoring in the waning minutes of the first half and added a second after the break, while Leonardo Ponzio saw red for the Aragons in-between.

Despite having the lion's share of possession, Barcelona looked unable to break down a resolute Zaragoza defence. Surprisingly the first real chance of the game fell to the hosts when in the 19th minute Brauilo was released through on goal, but scrambled what would prove to be the only clear-cut chance for his team.

On the other side of the pitch Pedro and Daniel Alves missed on the chance to put Barcelona ahead as the game was approaching half-time. A goal before the break did come for the Blaugrana, however, when in the 42nd minute Lionel Messi finished cooly past Antonio Doblas after some good play by David Villa.

Three minutes into the second half Leonardo Ponzio got himself sent off in a ridiculous way after a clip around the ear of Dani Alves. While the Brazilian defender did overplay in this situation, the red card's validity was out of question.

The red card saw Zaragoza withdraw even deeper in their half as the visitors continued to pass the ball around and retain possession for long periods. Lionel Messi, however, was not content with playing out the game and completed his brace with a wonderful finish in the 66th minute.

Zaragoza tried to mount a late comeback, but struggled to break the Catalans' solid defence with just ten men. Barcelona continued to dominate the game and had a few half-chances to score another goal, but could not blast more past Antonio Doblas as the game finished 2-0.

The Blaugrana's next league game is a home encounter against Sevilla, while Zaragoza visit Valencia.

FC Barcelona 2-0 København (Matchday 3 - Group Stage UCL 2010/2011)

Lionel Messi gave Barcelona a first-half lead against FCK

A crashing Lionel Messi drive in the first half and a late second from the same player gave FC Barcelona the victory over FC København which many expected, yet the 2-0 scoreline reflected a night of frustration and nerves.

The Danish visitors showed intelligence, patience and enormous stamina to stay in a game in which they occasionally looked ready to be swamped. Despite the fact that Daniel Alves hit a post late on, the more emblematic chance came when William Kvist attempted to lob stand-in Barcelona goalkeeper José Pinto from near the halfway line and almost succeeded. Only when Messi bundled in during added time to add to his fine opener were the points secured, lifting the hosts above FCK to the Group D summit.

Both sides gave early indications of how the absorbing match would develop. Having promised he would open the scoring, David Villa took just over three minutes to come within millimetres of doing so, turning and clipping an effort onto the crossbar from Messi's pass. Despite Iniesta taking almost complete control of the direction and tempo of the match, however, FCK proved that they had completely understood coach Ståle Solbakken's game plan, using every counterattack with thought, pace and confidence. It was the pattern for the entire night.

Messi had already headed into the hands of goalkeeper Johan Wiland from close range when he thundered in the opener on 18 minutes. Iniesta found an island of space in busy waters and slipped a nice pass to the Argentinian international, who took his tally to 28 goals from 47 UEFA Champions League outings from outside the area. His 29th would follow later.

When Iniesta pulled off a footballing Houdini trick to escape from Martin Vingaard and Claudemir it nearly brought the house down, but there was no second goal to put the game to bed. Unsurprisingly, FCK endeavoured to punish that fact as César Santin and, in particular, Dame N'Doye worked ceaselessly to find a surprise equaliser.

Alves, Messi and Villa all missed chances and, almost inevitably, they were nearly caught with a sucker punch when N'Doye used his power to shrug off Carles Puyol midway through the second half and unleash a blistering effort which beat Pinto – in for the ill Víctor Valdés – before cannoning off the bar. Santin then headed the rebound wide and Alves somehow slid in a block to prevent substitute Christián Bolaños scoring from five metres out as the scene was set for Messi to strike again.

Match statistics

Barcelona		København
2	Goals scored	0
7	Attempts on target	3
6	Attempts wide	4
1	Yellow cards	2
0	Red cards	0
8	Fouls committed	16
7	Corners	3
6	Offside	8
40' 13''	Possession (time)	22' 13''
64	Possession (%)	36

FC Barcelona 2-1 Valencia (Matchday 7 La Liga 2010/2011)

Pep Guardiola's men managed to claim the three points tonight as they disposed of league leaders Valencia on a fine night in Barcelona. Pablo Hernandez stunned Camp Nou with a goal in the first half to give the visitors a shocking lead before half-time, but Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol responded after the break to help the Catalans to victory.

Los Che started the game on the front foot and even managed to beat Barcelona for possession in front of a fully packed Camp Nou in the first thirty minutes. The Blaugrana had a few half chances through Xavi and David Villa, but they did not prove to be a sign of things to come from the hosts.

Valencia were growing in confidence and looked to exploit the space left by the rather negligent and frustrated Barcelona. The opener eventually came in the 38th minute when Pablo Hernandez converted a cross from Jeremy Mathieu in the centre of the box to give Los Che a deserved lead.

Two minutes later it was Pablo Hernandez again who was denied a certain goal by a wonderful intervention by Victor Valdes. Lionel Messi had a chance to claw one back in the last minutes of the first half, but his shot from inside the penalty area was parried by Cesar for what proved to be the final moment of interest before the break.

Barcelona were quickest out of the blocks after half-time and stormed back into the game through Andres Iniesta who coolly finished past Cesar after a delightful one-two just two minutes into the second half.

The goal certainly injected much needed optimism and urge in Barca's game as they were slowly starting to look like the juggernaut were are used to see. Cesar pulled off a miraculous save in the 59th minute when he somehow managed to block a bullet of a header from David Villa near his right post.

It did not take long for Barcelona to go ahead and four minutes later Carles Puyol headed a cross from Xavi into the net to score a goal reminiscent of his strike against Germany at the World Cup. Moments later David Villa missed a complete sitter after being released through on goal by Andres Iniesta.

It was all Barcelona from there on, but the Catalans could not round off the game with a third goal. Pedro Rodriguez missed a sitter in injury time and Lionel Messi had a goal disallowed second later as the game finished 2-1.

Following today's result Los Cules are joint top of La Liga together with Valencia before the remaining games from this round. Barcelona visit Real Zaragoza in eight days, while Los Che host Mallorca on the same day.

FC Barcelona 1-1 Mallorca (Matchday 6 La Liga 2010/2011)

Pep Guardiola's Barcelona will move to within a point of La Liga leaders Valencia if they overcome Real Mallorca at the Camp Nou.

The champions, normally so dominant at the Nou Camp, were stunned 2-0 by promoted Hercules last month and Mallorca, coached by former Barca player Michael Laudrup, became the latest side to check the Catalans' title defence.

Argentine forward Lionel Messi celebrated picking up his European Golden Shoe trophy by scoring the opening goal in the 21st minute, curling a shot into the corner of the net from just outside the penalty after Pedro's clever layoff.

Mallorca midfielder Gonzalo Castro forced a fine save from Victor Valdes on a rare foray by the visitors into the Barca half in the 42nd minute and they were level from the resulting corner. Gerard Pique and Gabriel Milito failed to clear and Emilio Nsue powered a header into the net.