Worldwide impact of peace match announcement

Meetings between Club President Rosell and Presidents Peres and Abbas have hit the headlines around the world 

The Club features in extensive report in one of the most popular Israeli news programmes 

The visit last week to Israel and Palestine by a delegation from FC Barcelona, led by President Sandro Rosell and Vice-President Javier Faus, has been widely reported both in local and international news media.

The announcement of the possibility of playing a friendly in Tel Aviv between FC Barcelona and a side made up of Israeli and Palestinian players, has made a big impression on public opinion, given the importance of the initiative in building bridges between two historically antagonistic communities.
News agencies such as Associated Press, France Presse, Reuters and EFE have reported on the meetings with Israeli President Shimon Peres and the President of the Palestine National Authority Mahmud Abbas, and the information has been subsequently taken up by leading international news outlets such as British daily newspaper 'The Guardian' and TV channels France 24 and ABC News.

The BBC correspondent in Jerusalem also covered the story in full, highlighting the comments of Sandro Rosell in which he stated: "FC Barcelona wants to make a modest contribution to build bridges of understanding and harmony between the Israeli and Palestinian people through sports and education."

Wide coverage in leading Israeli media

The visit was also widely reported in the Israeli press. The main daily newspapers put it on their front pages on Friday while the influential 'Haaretz', 'Jerusalem Post', 'Yedioth Ahronoth' and 'Israel Hayom' opened their sports sections with the visit of FC Barcelona.

'Yedioth Ahronoth', the most popular daily in the country, had special coverage of the visit the Barça delegation made on Friday to some of the most emblematic sites in Jerusalem.

On the same day, Barça also featured in Israeli TV Channel 2 programme 'Ulpan Shishi' which, with a 20% audience share, is one of the most widely watched news programmes in the country. The spectators were treated to an extensive report on the Club including interviews with Xavi, Messi and president Rosell.

Coverage in Arab and Palestinian media

The Palestinian media, as well as Arab media in general, also covered in great detail the meeting between Mr Rosell and President Mahmud Abbas at the headquarters of the PNA in Ramallah. The Barça delegation was warmly received in Palestine, a fact that was highlight by the local media. Jibril Rajoub, president of the Palestinian Football Federation and member of the Palestinian Olympic Committee, singled out FC Barcelona as the most popular football team in the country and one of the best in the world. In spite of the difficulties, the Palestinian media – including the influential Watan’ - echoed the words of hope expressed by Rajoub. "The idea presented to us by President Rosell is good and we will analyse it with good intentions”.

FC Barcelona, a world innovator in social media, mobile technology and applications according to CNN

As part of their coverage of the Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona, CNN has highlighted the leading role of FC Barcelona in new technologies 

Sandro Rosell and Dídac Lee explain the importance of social media and apps in the growth of the Club 

Club president Sandro Rosell told CNN: “It’s crucial the way we address the future of new technologies and social media because it’s the only way to grow”. The interview with Mr. Rosell is part of a CNN report on FC Barcelona in which they put the Club forward as a world innovator in mobile technology and applications.

The Mobile World Congress 2013 is taking place this week in Barcelona and has highlighted the leading role of companies and institutions like FC Barcelona in the world of mobile technology, offering services and content to fans around the world. According to CNN, the Club is a world innovator in apps with a wide range of services and leisure content.

The report by Kristie Lou Stout underlines that the Club is activity working to reach out to its fans with digital products and services adapted to mobiles. In particular, CNN points to the recently created FCB Apps Programme aimed at developers and technology companies for the creation of new official applications. As an example, Board member Dídac Lee pointed to one of the apps soon to be launched, FCB Fitness. As well as playing a leading part in consolidating Barcelona as Mobile World Capital from 2013 to 2018, Barça is showing the way forward in social media and has developed a mobile strategy to strengthen the Barça spirit around the world. The CNN report is yet another recognition of the active role of the Club in consolidating its technology strategy.

Players, Roura optimistic despite Cup elimination

While Wednesday's elimination from the Cup is a tough blow, the players and assistant manager are optimistic that all is not lost

Despite last night’s painful elimination from the Copa del Rey, Xavi, Iniesta and Jordi Roura remain optimistic about the team’s prospects in the league and the Champions League. Here’s a selection of the top ten comments made by the players and assistant manager after last night’s defeat that should give Culés cause for optimism:

Xavi:

1. “There are still 90 minutes left against Milan and we’re optimistic and we’re also on very good course in the league”

2. “We still have the two most important titles of the season to play for”

Iniesta:

3. “Our mentality won’t change because of what happened last night”

4. “It’s not that the team has let go or doesn’t want to win. In some situations the opposition simply have you beat. But there are still some big games left and we’re optimistic about them”

5. “It’s only normal for there to be doubts. That’s all part of what this is about. But the fans are always there for us when we need them”

6.“The Milan game is a difficult one, the result is very much against us, but right now I’d still put my hand on the fire and say we’ll win”

7. “It’s a question of pride, need and reality. We are capable of turning the game around”

Roura:

8. "I’m convinced that we will climb out of this dip in form. I think we need to have absolute confidence in this team”

9. “It’s sad when you’re eliminated. But these players are extremely competitive and they want to win it all"

10."We have an important match against Milan coming up and we’ll approach it with high expectations. I think these challenges are important and we’ll fight until the end for both titles”

Iniesta confident that the team can pull through

The midfielder has admitted that the squad are frustrated by last night’s cup exit, but is still optimistic about their chances of making amends in La Liga and the Champions League

After crashing out of the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid, one of the team captains, Andrés Iniesta, faced the press today to explain what the team has made of it all. He was sincere and self-critical, but most importantly, he remains optimistic. “It was a very tough defeat because we were playing at home” he lamented. “They beat us and we’re frustrated not to have won and to be missing out on the final. These things need to serve for there be a reaction and for us to learn that nothing is easy and that we can lose”.

Learning from mistakes

Iniesta was willing to accept that “Madrid are fair finalists” while Barça “lacked finesse and freshness … In two isolated games against top class teams, the team has not played well as a unit. When the team performs it’s because things are generally working. When certain things go wrong, we suffer … It’s not that the team has let go or doesn’t want to win. In some situations the opposition simply have you beat. But there are still some big games left and we’re optimistic about them”.

Having had some time to digest last night’s result, Iniesta is convinced that the FCB squad needs to have a long, hard look at what went wrong in the defeats to Madrid and Milan. “We have to think about what we didn’t do right and what we have to improve” he said. “We have to regain that sensation of being a compact and infallible team. And I’m convinced that we can get that mood back”.

No panic

Andrés Iniesta sees no reason to over-dramatise the situation. “The team has been having some very good years and deserves not to have to suffer for going out in the cup semi finals against a magnificent side like Madrid. And let’s not forget that we’re the league leaders and on Saturday we can expect another tough battle at the Bernabéu. We have to make sure we hold onto our lead”.

Utmost confidence

The midfielder is also as optimistic as ever about the team’s chances of winning the other big title still at stake, the Champions League. And that’s despite the tough challenge of making up a two-goal deficit against Milan: “The game on the 12th is in a very important competition” he said. “We have to go out from the first minute treating it like a final and playing like our lives depend on it … It’ll be a very difficult game. The scoreline is very much against us, but right now I’d still put my hand on the fire and say we’ll win … It’s a question of pride, need and reality. We are quite capable of turning the game around”.

Unwell Messi misses training

The player was visited at his home this morning by the club’s doctors, who gave him medication and told him to get some rest 

The team will have a day off on Thursday, and the hope is that Messi will be well enough to train on Friday and travel with the team to Madrid 

Meanwhile, Xavi underwent physiotherapy and Song worked out individually 

Leo Messi was missing from this morning’s training session at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. The Argentinian has gone down with a fever and is feeling generally unwell. The first team doctors went to his home to check up on his condition, and gave him the appropriate medication and told him he should get some rest. The squad has been given Thursday off, and the hope is that Messi will be well enough to join Friday afternoon’s session, the last before travelling to Madrid for the Liga clásico at the Bernabéu.

Recovery session

The players that started Tuesday’s cup match at the Camp Nou against Real Madrid went through the usual recovery routine. However, Xavi was absent as he received physiotherapy, and Song worked out in isolation.

The players were also joined today by Barça B goalkeepers Bañuz and Oier.

Inside FC Barcelona's dressing room hours before kick off against Real Madrid

The Camp Nou opens its doors just hours before kick off against Real Madrid to show us a quick peek at FC Barcelona's dressing room

Barça TV takes you into FC Barcelona's dressing room hours before the decisive showdown with Real Madrid in the semifinal of the Copa del Rey. The Blaugrana come into the match with a very slim advantage after the 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Clásico: last minute tickets available!

Members and fans can buy tickets up until before the match tonight between Barça and Madrid either online or from the club ticket offices, which are open from 11.00 am

Shortly before the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi final between Barça and Real Madrid (21.00), members and fans can still buy tickets for the game at the Camp Nou. These seats have been released by season ticket holders who can’t attend the game.

Depending on what other seats are released via the Seient Lliure system, there should still be tickets available right up until kickoff. These can be purchased using the club website at www.fcbarcelona.cat, Ticketmaster or in person at the club ticket offices, which have been open since 11.00 am.

As throughout the process, a maximum of 2 tickets can be bought per person and per purchase. Members get a 10% discount on the price of the first ticket. Remember that on Monday January 28, non season ticket holding members were given priority in the purchase of tickets for the ‘Cup Clásico’.

Full squad for dress rehearsal

All 23 Barça players trained from noon on Tuesday at the same venue as tonight’s cup clásico

Barça had a pre-lunch training session today at the Camp Nou ahead of this evening’s Copa del Rey semi final second leg against Real Madrid. All 23 players were able to work out normally on a very cold day in the Catalan capital.

After the session, the players had lunch together at the ground and were then free to get some rest before meeting again an hour and a half before the match kicks off at 21.00 this evening.

First Team

History on FC Barcelona's side in doubleheaders against Real Madrid

Barça and Madrid have played against each other consecutively on 13 occasions 

The record between the two teams stands at 12 victories for Barça, 7 draws and 7 victories for Madrid

FC Barcelona will take on Real Madrid on Tuesday and then again on Saturday. The games will be the fifth and sixth meetings between the two sides this year, the first will decide which team makes it to the Cup final and the second showdown will pit the two teams against each other in the league. Despite the long-standing rivalry, it’s very rare for the two teams to meet in consecutive matches. In fact, it’s only happened 13 times in the 100-year rivalry. 

Four games in a row 97 years ago 

Of the 13 double face offs, only on one occasion have the two teams played each other more than twice consecutively. It happened 97 years ago, in the 1915/16 season, when the two teams clashed in the semifinal of the Cup. The tie wasn’t resolved until the fourth game, when the FC Barcelona players abandoned the pitch in protest of the less than impartial refereeing in the first three games between the two sides. 

Cup: advantage Barça 

Most of the doubleheaders between Barça and Madrid have been in the Cup. Of the following eight Cup ties, FC Barcelona won six of them, including the League Cup in the 1980s. Also, the Spanish Super Cup, in the 1985/86 and 2011/12 seasons, pitted Barça and Madrid against each other, on both occasions the Blaugrana came away with the title. 

2011, the most recent double header

Now, however, Barça and Madrid will play against each other first in the Cup and then in the league. The first showdown is scheduled for this Tuesday (Cup) and only four days later they will meet again (league). This circumstance has only happened once before, during the 2011 season, when Barça played away at the Bernabéu (1-1) in the league and then in the Cup final in Valencia, which was won by Madrid (0-1). 

In total, the record stands at 12 victories for FC Barcelona, 7 draws, and 7 victories for Real Madrid.

Adriano back in full training

The squad trained this Monday morning at the Ciutat Esportiva, with 23 players involved in the session, including Adriano, who has missed the last few games through injury 

Barça’s last training session before the Cup semi-final will be on Tuesday at noon at the Camp Nou

Barça continued their preparations for Tuesday’s Spanish Cup semi-final second leg with a full training session behind closed doors at the Ciutat Esportiva this morning. Jordi Roura was able to call on 23 players, including Adriano, who missed the Milan and Seville games with a thigh injury he picked up against Granada and has been training apart from the rest of the players over the last few days.

Final session before Madrid game, tomorrow at noon

The players will meet up again ahead of the Madrid game on Tuesday at noon for a final training session, again to be held behind closed doors.

Jordi Roura: "We don’t know how to sit back– we’ll be out for a win"

Speaking to the media after training today, Jordi Roura insisted: “the team is really focussed and determined to get into another final”, whilst reminding everyone that Barça’s style is non-negotiable: “we will be going out to win from the off”

With the decisive second leg of the Cup semi-final against Real Madrid ever closer,Roura admitted that everything which is at stake: “makes it even more important”, whilst insisting that Barça’s style of play won’t change for the game, despite the 1-1 draw in the first leg of the tie: “we won’t sit back and defend the draw – we don’t know how to. Our style is always to attack , we’ll be after a win from the off. Real Madrid have to score and it’s possible that they will be pressurising us high up the pitch. Whatever happens, we’ll be ready for them”,

Respect, but no fear

Roura also insisted that Saturday’s win against Seville had settled the team and that they were completely focussed on the Madrid game and aware of how important it was: “games against Real Madrid are always tough. They are a big team with great players, but we are really excited about getting out onto the pitch to take them on and get into another final. All I ask is that everything stays out there on the pitch. We have plenty of respect for them, as we do for any other team. Respect - but not fear. We know it’ll be a difficult game, but we aren’t afraid”.

Messi, as motivated as ever

Leo Messi was again at the heart of many of the questions Roura had to face, with the Barça coach explaining: “he is a competitive player, he’s always motivated. I don’t think he is any more so because it’s Real Madrid, or because of the things that were said after the last game between us and them. He’s very comfortable when he has to compete. He looks perfect to me and I wouldn’t say he is any more tired now than he was at the same point in other seasons”. Asked if Messi was maybe not at his sharpest, Roura joked: “well, the way he’s playing, it’s a good job he’s not at his sharpest isn’t it? Everyone has room for improvement, but I can’t understand that anyone could question the season that Messi has put in”.

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid: All about The Clásico's cup preview

Review news, photos, videos and more about The Clasico Cup preview at Camp Nou

ALL INFORMATION

- Special content abou The Clasico

NEWS

- Jordi Roura: "We don’t know how to sit back– we’ll be out for a win"

- Adriano back in full training

- Cesc Fàbregas: “We have to be as effective as possible”

 - Barça Toons, ready for The Clásico!

- History on FC Barcelona's side in doubleheaders against Real Madrid

- The plan for El Clásico week

- Messi: “My body feels better if it doesn’t rest”

- Training session focused on the Clásico

- Spanish Cup: FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid: On Tuesday February 26th at 9 PM

 FIRST LEG

- Another look at the Clásico at the Bernabéu

- The clásico post-match review

- FC Barcelona's standout players against Real Madrid

- Check out the heat map of the match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid

- Photo Gallery: The Best Images of the Clásico Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona

- Live! All Details about The Clásico Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid: The key to the Clásico according to the press

Interviews with Dani Alves and Pepe and detailed analysis on tomorrow’s Cup showdown from the Catalan and Spanish press

Dani Alves: “We’re going to attack”

The FC Barcelona full back declared that Barça will try to defeat Real Madrid in tomorrow’s Cup Clásico at the Camp Nou. The Brazilian, in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, expects Madrid “will come with everything because they are playing for their lives in the Cup and the Champions League. The difference in the Liga is important and in the Cup, we’re going to give it our all.”

Alves admitted that tomorrow’s match “will be difficult, just like all Clásicos are, but if we’re on our game we’ll make it to the final.” In addition, the defender rubbished the idea that Madrid “has Barça’s number at the Camp Nou. The two times they won points in the Liga against us [at the Camp Nou] was because we didn’t play well, not because they know how to beat us at home.”

He added: “The fans know how important this mach is. Getting to the final depends on all of us.”

“Not very classic” full backs 

Sport highlights that Barça need to “use non-conventional wide full backs to kill Madrid.” The Catalan daily added that “Barça have four wide full backs that give the team additional firepower down the wings who are not afraid to take risks.” Alves, Adriano, Alba and Montoya are “incisive, surprising and their presence will be a key factor in Barça’s attack against Madrid in the Cup.”

The key to winning, according to Pepe 

In Madrid, Pepe declares that he has the formula to defeat Barça. The Portuguese full back said, “the key is playing as a team, like we always try to do. If we play as a team, I’m sure we’ll have a lot of chances to get to the final.”

Di María or Kaká 

In the pre-match press conference, the José Mourinho  said that he doesn’t know who he’ll line-up against Barça in tomorrow's Cup match. With that said, after Madrid’s match at Riazor, the Brazilian Kaká is hopeful that he’ll feature against Barcelona, according to the daily As. According to Marca, Mourinho’s biggest choice ahead of tomorrow's showdown will be choosing between the Brazilian and Di María.

For El País, “Barça and Madrid are facing two challenges in a week that, depending on what happens in the Champions League, could mark the rest of the season for both teams, for good or for bad.” “If Villa gets his resurrection at Barça, the same thing goes for Kaká at Madrid,” says José Sámano.

The plan for El Clásico week

Barça has a demanding week ahead with two matches against Real Madrid – on Tuesday in the Copa del Rey and Saturday in the league

FC Barcelona has an important week ahead with two matches against Real Madrid, the first on Tuesday in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey and then on Saturday in the league.

The players will train at the orders of Jordi Roura at 11 am on Monday in preparation for the Cup clash on Tuesday. They’ll have another session at 12 noon on the day of the match but this time in the Camp Nou. The deciding leg of the Cup semi-finals will kick off at 9 pm.

On Wednesday, there’ll be a training session at the Club’s training grounds and on Thursday the players will have a rest day. The final training session before Saturday’s league game in the Bernabeu (kick-off 4 pm) will be at 4.30 pm on Friday. On Sunday the players will have the day free.

Monday 25th February

11 am, training at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper

Tuesday 26th February

12 pm, training in the Camp Nou

9 pm, return leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, Barça v Real Madrid

Wednesday 27th February

11 am, training at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper

Thursday 28th February

Rest day

Friday 1st March

4.30 pm, training at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper

Saturday 2nd March

4 pm, league match, Real Madrid v Barça

Sunday 3rd March

Rest day

History on FC Barcelona's side in doubleheaders against Real Madrid

Barça and Madrid have played against each other consecutively on 13 occasions 

The record between the two teams stands at 12 victories for Barça, 7 draws and 7 victories for Madrid

FC Barcelona will take on Real Madrid on Tuesday and then again on Saturday. The games will be the fifth and sixth meetings between the two sides this year, the first will decide which team makes it to the Cup final and the second showdown will pit the two teams against each other in the league. Despite the long-standing rivalry, it’s very rare for the two teams to meet in consecutive matches. In fact, it’s only happened 13 times in the 100-year rivalry. 

Four games in a row 97 years ago 

Of the 13 double face offs, only on one occasion have the two teams played each other more than twice consecutively. It happened 97 years ago, in the 1915/16 season, when the two teams clashed in the semifinal of the Cup. The tie wasn’t resolved until the fourth game, when the FC Barcelona players abandoned the pitch in protest of the less than impartial refereeing in the first three games between the two sides. 

Cup: advantage Barça 

Most of the doubleheaders between Barça and Madrid have been in the Cup. Of the following eight Cup ties, FC Barcelona won six of them, including the League Cup in the 1980s. Also, the Spanish Super Cup, in the 1985/86 and 2011/12 seasons, pitted Barça and Madrid against each other, on both occasions the Blaugrana came away with the title. 

2011, the most recent double header

Now, however, Barça and Madrid will play against each other first in the Cup and then in the league. The first showdown is scheduled for this Tuesday (Cup) and only four days later they will meet again (league). This circumstance has only happened once before, during the 2011 season, when Barça played away at the Bernabéu (1-1) in the league and then in the Cup final in Valencia, which was won by Madrid (0-1). 

In total, the record stands at 12 victories for FC Barcelona, 7 draws, and 7 victories for Real Madrid.

Roura: “Our reaction was splendid”

Jordi Roura was very satisfied with his players' reaction after two tough blows this week: the defeat away to Milan and Sevilla’s go-ahead goal. “We can lose a match, but what’s truly important is how we react. We just played a very difficult match ... we had the game under control but they scored. Once again, this team dug deep and fought it out to win a very important league game. The reaction was splendid,” said the assistant manager. 

Cold blood

Roura let the journalists in on what he told his players during halftime: “I told them to be calm and I talked about varying our tactics. We still had 45 minutes left and the game was wide open. The worst thing we could have done is rush things.” When asked about his decision to sub out Alexis at the break for Tello, he explained: “Sevilla were closed off at the back, and it was difficult for us to find space. Tello played an important role, he had a great game and with him, we had more depth.”

On subbing in Busquets with 15 minutes to go, Roura said, “the idea was not to concede any more goals. It’s true that we are having problems in this regard and we have to improve, especially in our positional play ... it’s obvious this bothers us, we want to fix it.”

The first Clásico 

Barça's coaching staff are now focused on the team’s next match, the return leg of the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid: “Clásicos are always important, but there’s no doubt that the one this Tuesday is decisive in the Cup and the one on Saturday isn’t, because we have more league games that come after. Therefore, the one on Tuesday is more important.” He was enigmatic when asked about Barça’s possible line-up: “We just played a tough match. Tito, Aureli [Altimira] and I will discuss it and then we’ll decide [who will play].”