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Spanish La Liga Teams:  Real Sociedad v FC Barcelona. Date:  25 November 2016 Venue : Estadio Municipal de Anoeta FC Barcelona will be looking to keep the pressure on Real Madrid when they take on Real Sociedad at the Estadio Municipal de Anoeta. The match is scheduled to get underway at 21h45. The Catalan giants come into the clash on the back of a 0-0 draw with Malaga in their last La Liga encounter. While, they defeated Celtic 2-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday thanks to a brace from Lionel Messi. The La Liga champions are still without Andres Iniesta, Samuel Umitit and Jordi Alba. Sociedad, meanwhile, are riding high at the moment, having won their last four league matches and only conceding one goal in the process. The hosts will be without the services of Jon Gaztañaga, Bergara and Rubén Pardo. All three players are injured. Here's how they line up: Sociedad:  Rulli; C.Martínez, Navas, Iñigo, Yuri; Illarra, Zurutuza...

The Real Sociedad boss was not popular with everyone during his time at Barca B, but the Asturian believes he has what it takes for the top job at Camp Nou. Luis Enrique has still not renewed his contract. The Barcelona boss is not the least bit concerned, however, and had no problem talking about possible successors in the possible event that he were to leave the Catalan club at the end of the season. There has even been scant talk of possible replacements for the Asturian coach so far, as it is well known that former players Ernesto Valverde and Ronaldo Koeman are considered as options for the Barca bench in future. On Saturday, though, Luis Enrique added another name to the list: Eusebio Sacristan. "Eusebio is a coach who is super prepared," he said. "I know him well because I was with him in my last year as a player." That was in 2003-04, with Frank Rijkaard in charge at the Catalan club and Sacristan part of his staff. "Eusebio shares Barcelona's f...

The current champion of Spain, Barcelona is trying a sensational transfer in La Liga. According to what was reported in Catalan 'Mundo Deportivo', Barcelona is working to transfer Madrid midfielder Isco. Isco is not enough room at Real Madrid and has often said he wants to play more. Catalans see the Spaniard as an adequate replacement Andres Iniesta who is having problems with injuries. 24-year-old Isco has always been spare in Madrid choice and this situation is nothing like the player. Barcelona is trying to convince Real Madrid with an offer of 45 million euro free to leave Isco. If this transfer will happen, then Isco would become the most hated players of Real Madrid fans.

The former Netherlands international is adamant his club have no intention of luring Neymar away from Barcelona by using his ongoing legal problems. Paris Saint-Germain director of football Patrick Kluivert is keen to sign a high-profile player, but has stressed he will not try to take advantage of Neymar's legal woes at Barcelona. The Ligue 1 champions have continually been linked with a big-money move for the 24-year-old, who is regarded as one of the top talents in world football. Neymar penned a new deal with Barca in October, but his 2013 transfer from Santos to the Camp Nou continues to face scrutiny in Spain. On Wednesday, prosecutor Jose Perals requested a two-year sentence and a €10million fine for Neymar and his father, along with the same fine and a one-year prison term for his mother, on the grounds of alleged corruption in the Brazil captain's move from his homeland to LaLiga. But Kluivert says the latest development will not prompt PSG to revive their i...

Lionel Messi has been the catalyst of Barcelona's success over the years and the club are looking to tie him down on a long contract. Lionel Messi's future has always been a talking point as a host of clubs have lined up in recent years to lure the best player in the world away from Camp Nou. Not many can actually afford to price him away from the Catalan giants but recently there were a lot of rumours going on in Spanish papers about Messi wanting to leave Barcelona and search for greener pastures. A recent report has suggested that the Argentine and the club will hold contract talks after their game with rivals, Real Madrid and it is expected that the Catalans are offering Messi 'a contract for life'. Lionel Messi has been the catalyst of Barcelona's success over the years and the club are looking to tie him down on a long contract to put an end to all the rumours. His current contract runs out in the summer of 2018 and there were also a lot of talks ong...

FC Barcelona will be facing Real Sociedad once again tonight in Anoeta. Many are asking if they will be able to break the curse this time. THE ANOETA CURSE The famous FC Barcelona Anita curse started in 2007, the last time Barca won against Real Sociedad. They went to San Sebastian in La Liga that year and won with three points after Alfred Iniesta and Samuel Eto’o scored. However, that will also be the last time they would win against La Real in Anoeta. It has been a strange phenomenon for the Blaugrana. FC Barcelona has been dominating the La Liga in various fields with remarkable victories almost everywhere. However, when they come to Anoeta, they crumble. In 2011, Barca led by 2-0 after Xavi Hernandez and Cesc Fabregas each scored a goal. Surprisingly though, they crumbled in the second half and managed a 2-2 draw. During the 2012-2013 season, La Real once again got the better of them with a 3-2 score. CURSE NOT TRUE A lot of people might believe that the Ano...

Barcelona will taste victory in a field where it has won the full nine years and it needs more than ever before El Clasicos Catalans on December 3 Place: Anoeta, San Sebastian Time: November 27 (Sunday), 20:45 News about team Real Sociedad No changes for the home side, who are in fantastic form at the moment. Ruben Pardo and Markel Bergara are still injured, which means that David Zurutuza, Xabi Prieto and Asier Illarramendi will undoubtedly start off from the beginning. Mikel Oyarzabal Illaramendi and only people are the most advanced in the home lineup. Barcelona Gerard Pique is fully recovered and will start the game alongside Javier Mascherano in central defense for the team win. Denis Suarez will be in the position of Andres Iniesta who remains injured, with Luis Suarez on standby and back after suspension. Suarez will lead the attack with Messi and Neymar. analysis Real Sociedad has won four consecutive games in La Liga taking Gijonit 12 point...

Bridge, reinventing himself as a wing-back in Chelsea's new 3-4-3 system and producing a series of impressive performances during the six-game winning streak that has seen the Blues surge to the top of the Premier League. A report in Spanish newspaper sports on Friday claimed that Barcelona have scouted Moses three times this season and are considering him as a potential solution to their right-back problem. But Conte believes it is too early to talk about the January transfer window, and wants his players to concentrate on maintaining their recent form. "About Victor, I repeat, it's important to be focused on the present," Conte told a news conference. "It's important to be focused game by game. Now we are doing very well. But, for me, I don't want to think that my players see 'so long' [into the future]. "I like to think my players are focused on the present, not the future so long-term. We have just started in this league and, aft...

Barcelona have been accused of being too dependent on Lionel Messi in recent weeks, but he hit back at the idea his side struggle to be at their best without him. Messi missed last weekend's goalless draw with Malaga but returned to action to score twice in the win against Celtic on Wednesday. Brenden Rogers suggested after the game that the result may have been different if the Argentine had switched sides. The accusations are not new, but they had quieted in recent seasons following the signings of Neymar and Luis Suarez. However, results over the course of the campaign have once again led to suggestions that Luis Enrique's side are over-reliant on Messi. "I don't consider talk of Barca being Messi-dependent to be praise or a concern because it's not the case," the 29 year old said at an event in Barcelona on Thursday. "I'm in the best team in the world, [Barca] don't depend on one player." Messi's two goals at Celtic Park, whi...

All smiles following the 2-0 defeat of  Celtic  on Wednesday night, the players then made their way to  Glasgow Airport  for the return flight to  Barcelona . As ever, there were plenty of people there to see them off, and there were two young children that stood in particular among the crowd, dressed in their Barça gear and eager to catch a glimpse of their heroes They cried out the names of all the players as they passed by, and that of  Luis Enrique  too. The manager was the first to stop and sign an autograph, followed by  Ter Stegen  and  Arda Turan . And then  Neymar Jr, Messi  and  Luis Suárez appeared. All three members of the trident stopped to speak to the two lads, sign autographs and even pose for photographs.

Barcelona secured first place in the group with a 2-0 win over Celtic, and thanks in part due to Manchester City failing to win. Midfield Battle The midfield was the key battleground, and Barcelona’s control of it was a major factor behind the result. Early on in the match, Celtic tried to apply heavy pressure in the middle to disrupt Barça’s passing from the back. This basically ended up being an individual battle between Sergio Busquets and Scott Brown. Busquets came out ahead, as he usually does, and dominated the tempo of the match. Therefore, opening up the passing lanes to the front three which gave them the necessary chances to break open the Celtic defense. However, this didn’t stop Celtic from having chances due to the suicidal defending at times from Barcelona. The reassuring presence of Busquets was important because André Gomes still doesn’t seem to fully understand the defensive side of his role. Also, Ivan Rakitić deserves a mention due to his underapprecia...

Jose Mourinho has distanced Manchester United from an unlikely swoop for Lionel Messi, by saying he hopes the Barcelona star stays at the Nou Camp until he retires. Mourinho was quizzed on Wednesday over whether he would consider a move for Messi, should the Argentine forward become available. Messi has been linked with a Barcelona exit as new contract talks continue. But Mourinho, a long-term admirer of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner from afar, says he thinks it would be 'beautiful' to see the 29-year-old remain a one-club man for the rest of his career. Manchester City have been the club consistently linked with Messi, with a potential reunion with former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola regularly mooted. Mourinho, though, sees only one footballing home for the player.  'Every season the same story, every season he (Messi) is going to leave and he never leaves and I honestly hope he never leaves,' Mourinho said. 'I think he belongs to Barca and t...

A Spanish court has called for Neymar to serve a two-year prison sentence for his role in a corruption case revolving around his move to Barcelona in 2013. The 24-year-old joined Barca from Brazilian club Santos, but the deal has been dogged by allegations after investment company DIS - which owned 40 per cent of Neymar's transfer rights - claimed it did not receive all the money it was due from his move to La Liga. Former Barca president Sandro Rosell resigned in 2014 over the controversy, but now Judge Jose Perals has also called for him to serve a five year prison spell - and demanded Barcelona FC pay a €8.4million (£7.2m) fine. The club had previously agreed a deal to settle the case in June when they paid a £4.7m fine, but that ruling was overturned by Spain's public prosecutor in September. Neymar himself is unlikely to ever actually have to serve any prison time - Spanish law means any sentence of under two years is usually suspended - if it...

STANDINGS LEAGUE STAT Madrid:  FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid need to find their identity and their form when they play their respective Champions League football games on Wednesday night. Barcelona will welcome Lionel Messi back into the side for the visit to play Glasgow Celtic, but need to show they are more than a one-man team, while Atletico Madrid have an identity crisis to overcome when they entertain PSV Eindhoven, reports Xinhua. Atletico have already assured their place in the last 16 of the competition, but last season' s beaten finalists are still reeling from the 0-3 home defeat against Real Madrid on Saturday night. That defeat showed how Atletico have changed since their painful defeat on penalties to their neighbours in the 2016 final. While Atletico head coach Diego Simeone has swapped steel for style with the team playing a more aesthetic passing game, the problem is when plan 'A' doesn't work, they now lack the defensive meannes...

Lionel Messi is set to return from illness for FC Barcelona ahead of their UEFA Champions League Group C showdown with Celtic at Celtic Park on Wednesday. Messi was absent at the weekend as, despite playing against nine men, Barca were only able to register a 0-0 draw with Malaga at the Nou Camp and subsequently fell four points behind leaders Real Madrid in LaLiga. Luis Suarez was also missing through suspension for Luis Enrique's men, who struggled to manage without the full compliment of their envious MSN strike force. However, the former Liverpool striker will be available for selection once more as he makes his return to the UK. Having Messi and Suarez back in the ranks will certainly be a boost for the Catalan Giants, who thumped Celtic 7-0 in the reverse fixture on matchday one and will secure their progress to the Last 16 with three points here. Nevertheless, they will have to make do without the services of Andres Iniesta, Jeremy Mathieu and Samuel Umt...

After Lionel Messi reportedly stalled contract talks with FC Barcelona, an unnamed club has now apparently offered him R1.5 billion to snub a new deal at the Camp Nou. The Argentine's current contract expires on 30 June 2018, and Barcelona are in the process of negotiating to extend his deal, as was confirmed by club president Josep Maria Bartomeu recently. However, Messi was reportedly not happy with the Blaugrana's latest offer, with teammate Neymar's overall new package apparently putting the Brazilian in the same salary bracket as the Albiceleste captain. Another reason is the ongoing court cases against the superstar and his family in Spain, which have alerted interested clubs. Recent rumours have seen Messi being linked with a reunion with his former boss Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, but a new report claims an unnamed club has now entered the picture. According to  El Mundo , the mystery club are prepared to offer Messi €100 million (R1.5 billion) to tu...

Manchester United are tracking Barcelona midfielder Carles Alena, according to reports. The Sunday People claims that United are keen on the 18-year-old, who has been hailed as Barca’s new Andres Iniesta. Alena’s current deal with the Spanish champions expires next summer and United are monitoring the midfielder’s situation. Alena, who is the captain of Spain Under-19s, is in talks with Barcelona over a new contract but the club are keen to insert a buyout clause of around £43 million. The midfielder was one of the standout stars in Barca’s Uefa Youth League campaign last season and is currently a regular for the club’s B team.

Barcelona were held to a 0-0 draw by the Andalusians.  Missing Messi Prior to kick-off, Lionel Messi was pulled out of the squad due to vomiting. The team lacked his killer instinct and creativity against such a well-drilled side as well as an inspired Carlos Kameni. Unfortunately, his absence being confirmed so close to kick-off meant that they couldn’t prepare for it. However, Barcelona need to have a plan for when Messi isn’t available which could include making Neymar the centerpiece. As he gets older, the Argentinian will miss more games due to the physical demands of the game getting the best of his body. Unfortunately, as much as I hate to admit it, there will be a future which includes Barcelona without Messi, and long-term planning needs to start now. Granted this was a bit of an anomaly because it was illness, which can’t be helped, but it does highlight a major issue. Without Messi, they struggle to break open an in-depth defence even though they have plenty o...

Barcelona were held to a 0-0 draw by the Andalusians.  Missing Messi Prior to kick-off, Lionel Messi was pulled out of the squad due to vomiting. The team lacked his killer instinct and creativity against such a well-drilled side as well as an inspired Carlos Kameni. Unfortunately, his absence being confirmed so close to kick-off meant that they couldn’t prepare for it. However, Barcelona need to have a plan for when Messi isn’t available which could include making Neymar the centerpiece. As he gets older, the Argentinian will miss more games due to the physical demands of the game getting the best of his body. Unfortunately, as much as I hate to admit it, there will be a future which includes Barcelona without Messi, and long-term planning needs to start now. Granted this was a bit of an anomaly because it was illness, which can’t be helped, but it does highlight a major issue. Without Messi, they struggle to break open an in-depth defence even though they have plenty o...

Celtic winger Scott Sinclair has no fears ahead of the visit of Barcelona as he looks for major improvement on their Nou Camp showing. Brendan Rodgers' team suffered their heaviest European defeat when they lost 7-0 to the Catalan side in September. But Sinclair was heartened by Celtic's progress between their double header against Borussia Monchengladbach, when they drew 1-1 in Germany following a 2-0 home loss. And he believes they can make significantly greater advances when they try to get off the bottom of their Champions League group at Parkhead on Wednesday. "We have learned a lot and everyone will just be looking forward to that game, including the fans,'' the former Swansea, Manchester City and Aston Villa player said. "It's a massive game for us to prove ourselves. "There's no apprehension. We've learned a lot from that game. Even when we went away to Monchengladbach we showed the difference when we conceded. We lost the g...

Argentina star missed the La Liga clash with Malaga at the weekend after withdrawing hours before kick-off but is expected to make Wednesday night's clash. Lionel Messilooks set to feature for Barcelona against Celtic on Wednesday night after returning to training following a bout of sickness. The Argentine superstar missed Barca's 0-0 weekend draw to Malaga- withdrawing just a few hours before kick-off. Messi was visited by a doctor at his home and has maintained regular dialogue over the weekend before taking part in training this morning.