FC Barcelona 2-1 Getafe (Matchday 29 La Liga 2010/2011)

Barcelona claimed a slender 2-1 win over Getafe in a typically dominant display of possession and penetration. A 25 yard screamer from Dani Alves set the hosts on their way in the first half as Bojan added a second but Manu del Moral made his opponent's grind out the win in the end.

The Catalans wasted no time carving up the Getafe defence as Xavi was busy assuming his normal role as the conductor of this harmonised orchestra. Only eight minutes in, his clipped ball was chested down by the irrepressible Messi but his bicycle kick was volleyed straight at Jordi Codina in the away side's goal.

Less than 10 minutes later, Dani Alves broke the deadlock in style. A corner was half cleared by Cata Diaz and Alves thundered home a viciously swerving half-volley into the back of the net to send the Camp Nou faithful wild.

Some mesmeric runs by Messi and Iniesta should've produced more goals but a killer instinct was visibly lacking from the hosts. Javier Arizmendi was the only positive for Getafe as his intricate dribbling gave Adriano some bother down the right flank. Twice in the space of seconds, though, Iniesta and Bojan came close to doubling Barca's lead but both contrived to miss their opportunities, the latter placing his shot inches over the bar.

The onslaught continued throughout with David Villa's penetrative runs giving Michel's men the greatest cause for concern as chances galore were being created. Los Azulones would have been very grateful to go in at the break only a solitary goal down as Pep's men stamped their authority immediately after the restart.

Barcelona took the iniative to attack straight into the second half as they passed relentlessly, probing and looking for an opening. Messi only took five minutes to conjure up a chance for Bojan and the 20 year-old duly took the opportunity via a wicked deflection to put the game out of reach for the visitors. By now, it was a case of damage limitation for Getafe as they waited to be picked apart by the Catalans.

The teasing passing game of Barca had Michel's team beleaguered at the best of times but in the 70th minute, the deficit was nearly halved while the hosts momentarily took their foot off the pedal. Manu managed to head wide off the target and the gilt-edged chance evaporated in an instant.

However, the striker would get another chance but it proved too late. Mosquera's cross was clinically converted with the inside of the Manu's foot precisely into Valdes' far top corner. Barca eventually closed out the finals minutes of the game but broke some sweat towards the end.

The win streches Barcelona's lead in the Primera Division title race to eight points until Real Madrid kick-off later tonight. Getafe remain in 11th place on 34 points despite their endeavours.

Sevilla 1-1 FC Barcelona (Matchday 28 La Liga 2010/2011)

Barcelona's lead in La Liga has been cut to just five points after the Spanish champions were held to a 1-1 at Sevilla on Sunday.

But the visitors will rue a costly mistake from Sergio Busquets, whose infringement during Lionel Messi's eighth-minute free kick ensured the resulting goal would be ruled out.

Substitute Bojan Krkic had put Barca ahead on the half hour with his first goal in three months, but Sevilla midfielder Jesus Navas stole a point for the hosts with an equaliser four minutes after the restart.

Bojan, who replaced injured striker Pedro in the 14th minute, calmly slotted into the net after Dani Alves brought down Andres Iniesta's high cross and slid his pass across for the 20-year-old starlet.

Barca should have gone into the break more than one goal ahead given the chances they were afforded, and Navas made them pay early in the second half after rising highest to meet Alvaro Negredo's floated cross.

The Spanish champions again had the better of the opportunities, with Iniesta hitting the bar and Sevilla clearing a shot off the line, but Barca's lack of finishing touch proved their undoing as they surrendered two valuable points.

The result means Real Madrid are now within five points of the league leaders, while Sevilla remain eighth but move within two points of the Europa League places.

Elsewhere, Villarreal suffered a setback in their pursuit of the top three when they were held 1-1 at home by nine-man Sporting Gijon.

Giuseppe Rossi put Villarreal ahead in the 29th minute, but despite losing defenders Jose Angel (65th minute) and Rafael Sastre (90) to red cards Sporting were still able to match it with their opponents.

Not only that, they were also able to level in the dying seconds thanks to a spot kick from Diego Castro.

Villarreal remain three points behind third-placed Valencia and a Champions League berth.

In other results, Mallorca's unlikely European hopes were dented with a 1-1 draw at Levante, while Espanyol trumped 10-man Deportivo La Coruna 2-0 to climb to fifth on the table.

Ten-man Osasuna kept their dream of top-flight survival alive by defeating Racing Santander 3-1, and Malaga also boosted their hopes of staying up with a plucky 2-0 win at Real Sociedad.

Barcelona move to buy first option for Pastore

Barcelona have moved to buy first option on Palermo star Javier Pastore.

Sky Italia says Barca have already approached Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini about a price for first refusal on the exciting Argentina midfielder.

Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City are also intensifying their interest in Pastore this year.

It's suggested Barca want to be alerted should Real Madrid come knocking on Zamparini's door for the midfielder. The Spanish champs are desperate not to see Pastore move to Madrid in the summer.

FC Barcelona 3-1 Arsenal (2nd Leg 8th UEFA Champions League 2010/2011)

A controversial red card helped Barcelona through to the last eight of the Champions League after a 3-1 win over Arsenal on Tuesday.

Lionel Messi nabbed his seventh and eighth goals of the tournament and Xavi added another for the Catalan giants, who turned around a surprise 2-1 defeat at the Emirates in their opening leg to clinch the last-16 tie 4-3 over Arsenal.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will feel aggrieved by Robin van Persie's undeserved sending off after the Dutchman racked up a second caution, but in truth Arsenal were not much for the contest after failing to produce a single shot on target.

The opening period also saw the Gunners lose goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to a finger injury sustained while collecting a Dani Alves free kick, although replacement custodian Manuel Almunia saved Arsenal from humiliation as Barcelona took a complete hold of the game in the final stages.

Almunia had his hands full immediately after his entrance as Messi threatened often, while David Villa cut back a shot on too tight an angle and Adriano tested out the near post as Barca repeatedly pushed down the left.

Van Persie, frustrated by a lack of opportunities up forward, took umbrage to Barcelona accusations that Jack Wilshere was feigning injury and remonstrated with Eric Abidal, before seeing yellow for shoving his hand in Dani Alves' face.

The incident incited the Camp Nou crowd into song, and they only grew louder as Messi put the hosts ahead with a moment of sheer brilliance.

Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas was at fault in the goal, attempting a clever back-heel that was easily picked off by Andres Iniesta and played forward to Messi, who bobbled the ball over the oncoming Almunia and smashed a left-footed volley into the net.

The Gunners entered the dressing rooms looking downcast, but eight minutes after the break they had an unlikely equaliser.

It came from Samir Nasri's corner kick, which floated in at the near post and glanced off Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets for an own goal.

But their joy was short-lived as Van Persie was sent off six minutes later, referee Massimo Busacca harshly producing a second caution after the Dutchman ran on after being called offside and blasted wide of the goal.

Van Persie pleaded with Buscacca, protesting that he did not hear the offside call about the noise of the Camp Nou, but to no avail.

The sending off sparked Barca into action and they had soon levelled the tie at 3-3, with Iniesta playing forward and sliding a pass to Villa, whose brilliant one-touch worked Xavi into the box for a neat side-footed finish past Almunia.

Two minutes later it was all over for Arsenal, Messi wresting the advantage in Barca's favour with a cool finish from the spot after Laurent Koscielny tripped up Pedro in the area.

Almunia kept the Gunners in the contest with a number of fine saves, but substitute Nicklas Bendtner gave Barca a scare with a late surge into the area, but his first touch was poor and Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes came off his line to intercept the Dane.

FC Barcelona 1-0 Real Zaragoza (Matchday 27 La Liga 2010/2011)

Barcelona moved 10 points clear of Real Madrid in La Liga with an uncharacteristically staid 1-0 win over Real Zaragoza on Saturday.

Seydou Keita was the unlikely hero at the Camp Nou, notching just his second goal of the season two minutes from half-time to secure Barca's fourth straight league victory.

Barca was lacklustre in the first half before Lionel Messi sparked the Spanish champions into action, sweeping a cross to Keita at the far post for the Malian defender to tuck past Zaragoza goalkeeper Dolbas.

It was just reward for Keita, who had earlier had a goal controversially disallowed for offside.

Pep Guardiola was a less animated figure than usual on the touchline, the Barca boss still suffering from a back injury that necessitated his hospitalisation on Thursday.

Real Madrid will have a chance to reduce the gap to seven points when they take on Racing Santander on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Villarreal's top-three hopes suffered a blow with a 3-1 loss at Atletico Madrid.

Jose Antonio Reyes put Atletico in front five minutes in with a fine curling effort from 20 yards out, but Giuseppe Rossi drew Villarreal level with a left-footed redirection of Santi Cazorla's free kick after 33 minutes.

But Atletico responded after the break with quick goals to Sergio Aguero (69) and Diego Forlan (72), the former played in to the area by Filipe Luis for an easy finish and the latter converting from close range on Reyes' good work.

Finally, Pablo Hernandez scored in either half as Valencia ran out 2-1 winners at Mallorca, leaving the visitors well placed to clinch third spot behind Barca and Real.

Valencia 0-1 FC Barcelona (Matchday 26 La Liga 2010/2011)

Lionel Messi's goal glut continued as Barcelona opened up a 10-point lead in La Liga with a 1-0 win at Valencia on Wednesday.

Messi, who has scored 42 times at club level across all competitions this season, tucked a 77th-minute goal past Valencia goalkeeper Vincente Guaita to leave Real Madrid trailing by 10 points on the Spanish table.

Valencia, meanwhile, fall 20 points clear of the league leaders in third place after seeing their 11-game unbeaten run brought to an end.

Barca's win, their 23rd straight unbeaten result in La Liga, was Pep Guardiola's first at the Mestalla as manager.

Messi was uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal, failing to convert three gilt-edged chances, each from within eight yards, and spraying another over the crossbar.