Mallorca 0-3 FC Barcelona (Matchday 25 La Liga 2010/2011)

Lionel Messi, David Villa and Pedro eased Barcelona to a comfortable win over Mallorca at the Iberostar stadium this evening, to solidify their position at the top of La Liga.

Messi's first-half header set the Catalan giants on the road to victory, and finishes from Villa and Pedro in the second half ensured that Pep Guardiola's side take the three points, and temporarily extend their lead over Real Madrid.

The Islanders secured a creditable draw at the Camp Nou earlier in the campaign, and managed to contain the Blaugrana during a frustrating opening spell.

Lionel Messi combined with David Villa to create the best chance of the first half hour, but blasted his shot over the crossbar from the edge of the area.

A breakthrough became more inevitable as the match progressed, however, and a quality goal from the little Argentine broke the deadlock. A glorious lob through the centre found Messi, unmarked, who controlled on his chest before heading neatly over Dudu Aouate and into the net.

The flow of play continued in the same direction in the second half, and Mallorca simply couldn’t gain control of the ball. The Camp Nou club ruthlessly struck twice more within the space of ten minutes to clinch the points.

A Sergio Busquets through pass split the static home back line, putting Villa into the clear, and the Spaniard kept his cool to round Aouate and stroke the ball into the net.

On 65 minutes, it was three. Pedro cut in from the left flank and unleashed a vicious strike that nicked off the toe of Emilio Nsue and looped over the despairing dive of Aouate.

At that point, Guardiola withdrew the winger, along with Villa, allowing both players a rest ahead of the midweek trip to face Valencia, and introduced Bojan and Ibrahim Afellay into the action.

The match was effectively over, however, and the visitors kept the ball for the remainder of the match, continuing to frustrate Michael Laudrup’s side, who after going behind were always second best.

The win means that the champions extend their advantage at the summit to eight points ahead of Real Madrid’s match at the Riazor against Deportivo later this evening, while Mallorca remain in mid-table in the Primera Division.

FC Barcelona 2-1 Athletic Bilbao (Matchday 24 La Liga 2010/2011)

Lionel Messi's 25th goal of the La Liga season gave Barcelona a 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou on Sunday.

The Catalans went ahead in the fourth minute when Dani Alves cut the ball back into the path of striker David Villa, who powered the ball into the back of the net.

The home side maintained their slender advantage until the break, but five minutes into the second half Bilbao were level when Iraola converted a penalty past second-string Barca goalkeeper Pinto.

Messi made sure the Spanish champions did not drop points however, when he netted in the 78th minute by flicking in Alves' cross.

The win restores Barcelona's five-point buffer atop the league, after Real Madrid had cut the deficit to two points with a victory on Saturday.

A flying start ensured Sevilla came away with a 1-0 win against Hercules at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Striker Negredo was involved early for the hosts, firing a spectacular inside-out left foot strike in the ninth minute that was kept out only by the cross bar.

The 25-year-old Spaniard then provided a moment of brilliance to set up his side's goal, chesting the ball down to Serbian team-mate Ivan Rakitic, who fired home the winner in the 21st minute.

Osasuna ensured Espanyol's losing streak continued as Jose Mendilibar's men cruised to a 4-0 victory at the Estadio Reyno de Navarra.

Javad Nekounam struck a brace for the victors, before Lolo and Soriano added late goals to move Osasuna into 14th place on the table.

Bottom side Malaga denied fourth-placed Villarreal a first win in three matches with a late equaliser in their 1-1 draw at El Madrigal.

Argentine Marco Ruben put the home side ahead after 36 minutes, but the cellar-dwellers defied their position on the table by levelling in the 82nd minute through Uruguayan striker Sebastian Fernandez.

Elsewhere, a late penalty helped Racing Santander to a 1-0 triumph away to Getafe.

Racing's Pinillos converted the spot kick in the 88th minute, following Getafe defender Marcano's dismissal.

Deportivo La Coruna denied relegation-threatened Almeria victory in their 1-1 draw at Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos, with Aranzubia scoring a 90th minute equaliser for the visitors.

Arsenal 2-1 FC Barcelona (1st Leg 8th UEFA Champions League 2010/2011)

Arsenal FC scored two stunning goals in the last 12 minutes to secure their first ever victory over FC Barcelona and give themselves the advantage in another high-class duel between these two European giants.

David Villa gave the 2009 UEFA Champions League winners the initiative midway through the first half and though Lionel Messi contrived to miss a couple of gilt-edged opportunities, it seemed it would be enough. Robin van Persie put his side level with a shot that wrong-footed Víctor Valdés before substitute Andrey Arshavin fired a dramatic winner.

Arsenal had promised a more resolute, mature proposition for Barcelona to deal with compared to the team that had almost lost last season's quarter-final in the first leg, going 2-0 down before mounting a fightback. The Gunners threatened first when Samir Nasri's free-kick narrowly cleared all his team-mates and carried through to Valdés.

Theo Walcott then overhit his pass to Van Persie following a scintillating run but the speedy winger was soon back on the prowl. This time his pass found Cesc Fàbregas who scooped a lovely ball to give Van Persie a scoring chance at the far post: Valdés did well to parry.

The visitors began to knit their passes together and there was something ominous in the space Daniel Alves was afforded and in Messi's hunger for the ball.

Messi and Villa combined with a couple of lovely touches which sent the former streaking through with only Wojciech Szczęsny to beat. Credit the goalkeeper, making his European debut, for spreading himself and forcing the world's supreme talent to steer his chip wide.

A swift Arsenal counter saw Fabregas loft the ball out of Valdés's reach but Éric Abidal was on hand to head away. It only proved the preamble to Barcelona's opening goal, however, with Messi and Villa swapping roles to devastating effect. Messi played the decisive pass to put the Spanish predator in the clear and this time Szczęsny could not keep it out.

Van Persie sliced another opening wide but these were becoming rare opportunities for the Gunners. After the break Arsenal tried all they knew to find their traditional smooth groove. Jack Wilshere fired off a shot at the start of the second half and Van Persie another 20 minutes in but they were no test for a keeper of Valdés's class.

In their desperation Arsenal became prone to giving the ball away. It nearly proved costly as Andrés Iniesta fed Messi but once more his luck was out as his shot flew into the side-netting. Then the game changed, Van Persie finding a gap between Valdés and his near post following an exquisite chip forward by Gaël Clichy.

The crowd roared their team on for a second and when Nasri broke away five minutes later Arshavin arrived on cue in the penalty area to shoot beyond the goalkeeper. There was late pressure on the home team but they survived and now head for the round of 16 second leg with plenty of confidence.

Barca braced for Arsenal battle

Barcelona forward Pedro is expecting Arsenal to provide a stern test for the La Liga title holders in Wednesday's Champions League encounter.

The two sides met in the quarter-finals last season, with Barca winning 6-3 on aggregate.

But the Spain international is expecting the Gunners to be a much tougher prospect at their Emirates Stadium home when they meet in the last 16 midweek.

"They have a great team, and we know that it will be a very difficult game. They have great players, especially in attack, fast and physical players. It will be a hard tie as both teams are in good form," Pedro said.

"They are in good form and have very good players like Cesc (Fabregas) and (Robin) van Persie. Arsenal are always hard opponents, and this game will be no different."

"Getting a good result away is always important for us. We know that it will be hard, but as always we will go out to win the game."

"We are hoping for a good result, and a win would be very positive for the second leg at home."

Pedro also played down renewed speculation about a bid for national team-mate Fabregas, pleading his ignorance about any potential move for the Gunners captain.

"I don't know. I hope so. He is a great player and was here before," Pedro said.

"We know that he can adapt to here. He has also expressed an interest in coming here, but there is no reason to talk about this."

"We are going to be playing against him and his team, but I hope that one day he can play here. He is a great player and we would all like him here."

Sporting de Gijon 1-1 FC Barcelona (Matchday 23 La Liga 2010/2011)

Barcelona could only take one point home from Asturias as an early goal and some resolute defending earned Sporting Gijon a hard-fought draw.

David Barral secured the lead for Sporting Gijon in the 17th minute, and it wasn't until the 80th minute that David Villa was able to cancel out the strike with a fantastic equalising goal. The Blaugrana kept seeking the winner but were unable to find it.

Barcelona came close early on, as Messi played a great ball to Iniesta in the 3rd minute. Iniesta fired a shot towards goal, forcing a great save from Pichu.

It was Sporting who eventually opened the scoring however, after David Barral scored a great goal in the 17th minute. He cut in from the left wing, exposing Diego Milito and he made no mistake in firing the shot past Valdes into the bottom corner.

Sporting did a fantastic job of defending their lead in the next few minutes, cutting out numerous through balls and stopping some deadly runs from Iniesta and Messi.

Barcelona did not look their fluid best in the first half hour. Gijon did a fantastic job of preventing them from creating chances, but in truth they should still have been able to create more than they did.

Afellay came close to levelling the game in the 29th minute, after picking up the ball from a wonderful passing move, and firing a shot from 20 yards just wide.

Sporting again came forward on the half hour mark, with David Barral charging forward into the box, but Pique made a vital tackle to deny the Asturians. De Las Cuevas was to the side of him, and the pass would have been a much better option to put
Gijon two up.

Barcelona began to control the game in the manner we have come to expect after half an hour, connecting well and dominating possession. Iniesta came devastatingly close to an equalising goal in the 33rd minute, making a lovely run from the left wing, and forcing another great
save from Pichu.

Despite being in control for most of the first half, Barcelona were unable to find an equaliser before half-time, and the half ended 1-0. Sporting looked good value for the lead at this point,
defending well and denying Barcelona the opportunity to turn their possession into goals.

Both sides exchanged chances in the opening minutes of the second half, with De La Cuevas and Villa both having a pop, but neither were able to trouble the opposition keeper.

Barcelona again came close on the 49th minute, with Villa and Messi exchanging passes in front of a packed defense, which they could find no way past.

The introduction of Pedro for the second half added some much needed energy to the front-three, with Messi and Villa seemingly feeding off of his energy and improving
vastly at the beginning of the half.

Barcelona came within touching distance of an equaliser in the 54th minute, after a great cross from Alves on the right wing found Xavi in the centre, but Pichu was on hand once again to make a vital interception.

Just minutes later Barcelona were denied again, as Messi unleashed a powerful effort from inside the box, both saved brilliantly by the Sporting custodian.

Sporting again threatened, but Valdes came out of the box to get the ball out of danger in elaborate fashion.

The Catalans, desperate for an equaliser, took a far more attacking approach after the hour mark, replacing Milito for Keita.

David Villa finally found the goal that the Blaugrana had been seeking with an audacious chip over Pichu, who was caught well off his line. The keeper had been having a fantastic
game, but will have to take at least some of the blame for the equaliser.

Pedro came close to taking the lead for Barcelona in the 87th minute, after some great play from Messi set him free, but he knocked the ball wide, inches from goal.

The referee played 5 minutes of injury time, allowing Barcelona the opportunity to win the game, but it was ultimately and opportunity they couldn't take, as the game ended 1-1.

The draw hands Real Madrid the opportunity to close the gap on Barcelona to just 5 points, should they beat Espanyol tomorrow night. Sporting will be happy to take a point from this difficult fixture, as a point can often make the difference in a tight relegation battle.

FC Barcelona 3-0 Atletico Madrid (Matchday 22 La Liga 2010/2011)

A fantastic Lionel Messi hat-trick ensure Barcelona picked up their 16th consecutive league win, in the process breaking a 50-year-old record originally set by rivals Real Madrid.

The Argentinian superstar opened the scoring on 17 minutes before doubling his tally 11 minutes later. His hat-trick was completed on 79 minutes with Barcelona easing to victory over a tame Atletico side.

The victory leaves the Catalan club 10 points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table with the capital club playing tomorrow against Real Sociedad.

As expected Barcelona settled the better of the two sides and scored the game's opening goal on 17 minutes. The magical Lionel Messi received a short pass from Dani Alves, jinxing his way infield from the right before unleashing a low drive past the out-stretched David De Gea from the edge of the box. La liga goal number 22 for the Argentinian wizard.

Messi nearly doubled his and Barcelona's tally on 22 minutes when Andreas Iniesta slid a perfectly weighted through-ball to the world player of the year. Uncharacteristically, Messi smashed the ball wide of De Gea's post.

The talismanic wideman made amends for his earlier miss when he scored his second of the evening on 28 minutes. David Villa's pass appeared to be intercepted by Tomas Ujfalusi but the Czech defender inexplicably knocked the ball into the path of Messi who made no mistake in slamming it past the helpless Atletico 'keeper.

Barcelona continued to dominate the game and Villa could have had a goal of his own. The Spanish international picked up the ball on the left side of goal before sending a curling effort towards goal which just sneaked wide of the post, a real let off for Atletico.

Los Rojiblancos were much improved in the early stages of the second half and should have pulled a goal back on 53 minutes. A pacey counter-attack led to Sergio Aguero squaring the ball to half-time substitute Diego Forlan. The Uruguayan striker had an open goal to aim for with Victor Valdes on the ground but his 15 yard effort was brilliantly cleared off the line by Gerard Pique.

Messi came close to his hat-trick on 72 minutes when he met Maxwell's looping cross with a powerful header that required De Gea to produce an acrobatic save to tip the ball over the bar.

Messi did not have to wait long to grab his hat-trick as the superstar made it three on 79 minutes. The La Liga top scorer laid the ball to Villa who saw his close range effort parried by De Gea. Messi was on hand to knock the ball into an empty net from two yards out.

The champions travel to Sporting next weekend while Atletico entertain Valencia

Almeria 0-3 FC Barcelona (2nd Leg Semi Finals Copa del Rey 2010/2011)

Barcelona and Real Madrid set up a tantalising Copa del Rey final after both posted wins in their semi-final second leg matches.

Leading 5-0 after the first leg with Almeria, Barca scored another three goals in the away leg to run out comfortable 3-0 winners at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos.

Despite resting Lionel Messi, Xavi, David Villa and Andres Iniesta, Pep Guardiola's men still had far too much firepower for Almeria, who they thumped 8-0 in their last league meeting on November 20.

Brazilian defender Adriano opened the scoring after 34 minutes before Thiago Alcantara doubled the advantage eight minutes after half-time.

Dutch midfielder Ibrahim Afellay added the third after 66 minutes as Barca progress to just their second Copa del Rey final in 13 seasons.

Real Madrid were less convincing in their semi-final, and after enjoying a 1-0 away win over Sevilla in the first leg they posted a 2-0 victory on Wednesday.

Germany international Mesut Oezil opened the scoring in the 82nd minute before substitute Emmanuel Adebayor scored on his home debut to seal a 3-0 aggregate result over the holders.

The April 20 final will be Real's first in the Copa del Rey since their 2004 defeat to Real Zaragoza.

Guardiola aims to kick cup habit

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola wants to improve his side's poor recent performances in the Copa del Rey by securing a spot in the final on Wednesday.

After scoring a 5-0 rout in the first leg clash with Almeria, Barcelona are a near certainty to progress to the final when they travel to the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos.

Guardiola is keen for a repeat of the 2008/09 season, when his side scored its first cup triumph in 11 years.

"Tomorrow is a good time to reach the Copa del Rey final, which we have only done once in three years," Guardiola said.

"That is the aim, and the opportunity is there. We are all pushing to get to the final. Few players haven't been part of this campaign, so tomorrow we will decide who plays."

"The best way to go through is to go out to win. Not focusing on the result from the first leg and going out to win is the best way to get through."

"The best form of defence is attack, and the only thing I want us to do is attack. We are going for it, so don't be surprised if we win comprehensively. That is what we will try to do."

Despite leading Real Madrid by seven points in La Liga, Guardiola insists he will be taking nothing for granted as the season enters the serious end.

"A manager as prestigious as (Real's Jose) Mourinho, who is so competitive, won't give up on anything in January," Guardiola said.

"He won't give up on anything until the end. We had a first half of the year with only one loss and one draw."

"It is a good first half and a good start to the second that we are having. But in order to win we will need another 51 points."

"There are no guarantees that we are going to do that. In football, what you have done before doesn't guarantee anything."