La Liga 2011/12 - Why You Should Buy FC Barcelona Tickets This Season - Sports - Soccer

In this article we're going to take a look at why you should visit the beautiful Mediterranean city of Barcelona timed to coincide with the football season and reserve FC Barcelona tickets - that way you'll see possibly the best football team in the world.

At the end of May 2011 we were treated to the spectacle of two of Europe's best teams facing each other in the Champions League final at Wembley. However, FC Barcelona completely dominated the match and although they took the first 10 minutes of the match to get into their stride they beat Manchester United 3-1.

How long can FC Barcelona dominate their game?

However, it is uncertain how much longer Pep Guardiola will want to stay at Bara and whether a Bara squad under a new coach will be able to perform to the standard they currently display.

If you've never visited Barcelona, a beautiful city on the Mediterranean, and even if you have now is the time to plan a visit to coincide with the Spanish League season 2011-2012 and order FC Barcelona tickets - that way you'll see possibly the best football team in the world.

At the end of May 2011 we were treated to the spectacle of two of Europe's best teams facing each other in the Champions League final at Wembley. However, FC Barcelona completely dominated the match and although they took the first 10 minutes of the match to get into their stride they beat Manchester United 3-1.

How much longer for Bara?

However, it is uncertain how much longer Pep Guardiola will want to stay at Bara and whether a Bara squad under a new coach will be able to perform to the standard they currently display.

While on one hand Guardiola is FC Barcelona through and through - he played as part of Cruyff's "Dream Team" and prior to being first team coach he was coaching Barcelona B - but on the other he has said that he doesn't want to be in the job for 25 years like Sir Alex Ferguson, delivering results year in and year out - the pressure of doing that must be immense.

Pep Guardiola definitely has strong credentials as a world class football coach, and while his skills are well matched to Bara it is perfectly understandable if he wants to apply those skills at another club. Next season, which starts in August 2011, running through to May 2012, could well be, therefore, Pep Guardiola's last with FC Barcelona. It could also be the last opportunity to see them play as the best team of the world as a change in the coach could be the end of their current domination.

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The top 3 reasons to see FC Barcelona at the Nou Camp - Sports

That Futbol Club Barcelona is one of the top soccer teams in the world is beyond any doubt and so any serious sports fan should pay at least one visit in their life to see them play in their home stadium, the Nou Camp.

FC Barcelona is often known simply as Bara, used to emphasise the hissing Catalan pronunciation rather than the lisp of Castilian Spanish's "Barthelona". While many people visiting Barcelona refer to the town as Bara, you'll find that none of the locals do - it is only reserved for the sports club.

And if you do attend one of FC Barcelona's matches you'll find many of those visitors at the stadium too. The rise in popularity of Barcelona as a short stay destination has resulted from super-cheap flights from EasyJet and Ryanair amongst others, and the rise in fortunes of the club over the last few years since Joan Laporta became president and Ronaldinho came on board has ensured that the number of Barcelona FC tickets sold to tourists has rocketed.

However the team does not start and end with Ronaldinho; Samuel Eto'o is another star of Bara while Lionel Messi is currently tipped as the next Maradona, with his own "goal of the century" to prove it. And let us not forget the goalkeeper Victor Valdes who is widely regarded as one of the best goalies in Spain, team captain Carles Puyol, or the likes of Xavi, Deco or Ludovic Giuly.

1. Passion

If you attend one of the more popular matches at the Nou Camp you'll experience the passion of the local crowd and if it's Real Madrid that Bara are playing then that passion will be on the point of overboiling.

Almost one hundred thousand spectators can be seated at the Nou Camp and when the stadium is full the roar of the crowd can deafen. You'll find people of all ages and backgrounds and if the match coincides with a public holiday in particular then many children will be treated to a match, accompanies by parents or grandparents.

2. Skill

Whether Bara win, lose or draw is always important, but if Ronaldinho is playing on form the final result can sometimes become secondary. With displays of ball control that many footballers practise but rarely put to use in a match situation, Ronaldinho can stun with his football, enjoying himself completely and delighting the crowd.

3. Experience

The Nou Camp is one of the biggest soccer stadiums in the world and going there is an experience all in itself. While football fans should aim to see Bara in action, the stadium is also hugely popular as a tourist destination. In fact the Bara museum is the most visited museum in Catalonia, ahead of Barcelona's Picasso Museum and the Salvador Dali museum in Figueres.

With displays of trophies, documents and photos you can also participate in the stadium tour, which includes visits to the changing rooms, the tunnel and the directors area.

With all that in store how can you call yourself a sports fan and not pay homage to one of the greatest teams on Earth on their home turf?

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Spanish League - Barcelona Postpones Celebration After 3-3 Draw - Sports - Soccer

Barcelona was about to celebrate their title Championship of La Liga as they were winning the match 3-1, when Villarreal scored two surprising goals almost at the end of the game. With 18 minutes left and with more than 95.000 fans at the Camp Nou Stadium, Bara fans and team were already celebrating their victory and title since they were two goals ahead at that moment, but something they were not expecting happened.

Villarreals effort was very remarkable, even though Barcelona was at home, they did not surrender at them and they fought until the end; the result was positive for them as the game ended in a 3-3 draw, after having been losing most of the game.

Seydou Keita's was the man who opened the score for Bara at the beginning of the game but ten minutes later it was leveled by Joseba Llorente. With a winning spirit, the Catalans took the lead of the game again at minute 36 with a goal by Samuel Etoo and later to make the lead secure, Daniel Alves scored at minute 45 and the team went to the halftime break with a victory feeling.

During the second half, Bara didnt show their usual intensity and effectiveness; they just tried to defend themselves to maintain the lead of the game, but at minute 78 Mati Fernandez converted the second goal for his team a penalty shot after Eric Abidal was sent off leaving Bara with 10 men but this did not scare the local team much since they were still winning the game 3-2. The big surprise came two minutes into injury time when Joseba Llorente scored the last goal to equalize the game when there was not time left for Catalans to do something about it. An imminent silence reigned in the crowd, who suddenly had to stop the celebration.

"It is a real shame we couldn't celebrate the title with all the people who came to the stadium today," admitted Bara Coach Pep Guardiola."We did the same thing (scoring a late goal) at Stamford Bridge (in the Champions League semi-final) with Iniesta and today it was Llorente. We have to pick ourselves up quickly, put a smile on our faces and prepare for the Kings Cup final on Wednesday."

It seems that the recent matches that Barcelona had against Chelsea and Real Madrid had left the team a little tired and without the condition that we are used to see in the Bara. In addition, this Wednesday final of the Copa del Rey against Athletic de Bilbao would put more pressure on the team as they will have to make an extra effort since Andres Iniesta had an injury in his right thigh that will make him miss this game. The team has yet to analyze how serious this injury is, but their hoping to have Iniesta back for the final of the UEFA Champions League against Manchester United, which will be held on May 27 at Rome.

Bara is now just one point away from their 19th La Liga title, and they will probably make it on the weekend in the game against Mallorca.

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Spanish League - FC Barcelona Begins a New Season of La Liga after Beating Sporting - Sports - Soccer

In what was the beginning of a new season of Spanish League soccer, FC Barcelona began the work of defending its championship title with a 3-0 victory over Sporting. However, even though the team claimed victory, Bara didn't exhibit a level of play appropriate to a champion; with a slow pace and simple plays the players just managed to keep control of the ball and the game.

Sporting entered the game with five players missing due to injury, but in the first ten minutes of the game, the lack seemed not to matter. Diego Castro almost gave his team the lead, but his shot went over the bar.

The score first opened less than 20 minutes into the game, and the point did not belong to Sporting. Bara midfielder Seydou Keita launched a shot at minute 18 and Bojan Krkic was able to head the ball, sending it straight to the bottom of Juan Pablo Colinas' net.

The goal made the Asturians realize that they needed to raise their level of play, increasing their offense in order to tie the score. They tried, but the task was difficult to accomplish, as Bara was able to retain control of the ball.

As the minutes progressed, the excitement increased and the tension became palpable; Bara kept pushing Sporting, which could do nothing but defend itself in order to avoid being crushed.

With midfielder Xavi Hernandez leading the team in the middle, Bara continued the offensive strategy but without raising its game. Still, Sporting's defense wasn't strong enough to hold off its rivals, who scored a second goal at minute 42 when Dani Alves cleared the ball, later headed by Keita.

The goal was the last of the first half, and the teams went into halftime with a score of 2-0.

In the second half, Sporting changed its strategy of play, opting to place players in Bara's field and applying direct pressure to the player who had the ball. The team even came close to scoring halfway through the second quarter with Mate Bilic and David Barral.

From that moment onward, the pressure of the game fell on Bojan and Swedish player Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the players at the front and the main targets of attack for Sporting. The two players - and in particular Ibrahimovic - intensified their attacks on the goal, exponentially increasing goalkeeper Colinas' work.

By contrast, Sporting made very few dangerous plays. In fact, there were only two threatening situations for Bara, but the incredible ability of goalkeeper Victor Valdes prevented any scoring.

Shortly before the end of the game, Ibrahimovic finally got his goal, scoring - just as with the first two goals - with a header. The third goal concluded the game, and Bara upset Sporting 3-0.

Despite being champions of the Spanish League, Barcelona did not begin the season in first place; a devastating 4-1 victory by Getafe over the Racing Santander gave the former provisional points, launching the team to the top of the standings. Bara comes in at second.

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Spanish League- Barcelona Struggles to Defeat Malaga - Sports - Soccer

FC Barcelona has managed to win another match, this time against Malaga in the twenty-fourth round of the Spanish League. The Spanish champions had to give an extraordinary effort during the match, as their rivals gave a strong fight.

Although Bara displayed an evident superiority, it wasn't easy for the team to get the win. From the opening minutes, Malaga players imposed themselves, blocking the locals' defense, including defenders Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique.

The two had some trouble controlling the ball. Midfielders Xavi Hernandez and Sergio Busquets moved to take charge of receiving the balls in their area, hoping to develop Bara's game.

The Boquerones launched a strong attack in Bara's advance, focusing all action on the center of the pitch. Barcelona responded, turning its game to the sidelines, where the Brazilian defenders Maxwell and Dani Alvez - the latter of whom was out for three weeks due to injury - did an outstanding job.

Malaga tried to match the locals, resisting during Bara's attacks. In the midst of the action, Pique committed a foul in the area against Nigerian striker Victo Obinna, giving the visitors an opportunity to open the scoring. However, Malaga was unable to capitalize.

During the penalty kick, an accurate left-footed shot from Portuguese midfielder Duda endangered the local's goal; however, a quick response from Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes prevented the shot from scoring. The penalty kick was the only risk Bara suffered during the first half.

After that, Barcelona took control of the game. With the ball in their possession, the Spanish leaders had several opportunities but failed to score, largely due to the outstanding work by Gustavo Munua, Malaga's goalkeeper, who offered an incredible defense of his net. One of the most breathtaking moments of the match saw Munua deflect a hard shot from Xavi above the goal.

Barcelona was consistent in its attempts, but its attackers seemed to lack precision. The first half ended at 0-0.

The second half began with the visiting team squared away in its area, in defensive mode, waiting to deflect the Azulgranas' shots out of the area. Bara exhibited skill but wasn't particularly dangerous.

Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the one who began to flirt with risk. The Swedish player made two direct headers to the goal, but again Munua showcased, arresting the ball.

It wasn't until minute 69 that the score finally opened. Bara striker Pedro Rodriguez brought the score to 1-0.

The point seemed to increase Bara's confidence; in fact, it seemed to increase it too much. Malaga took advantage, scoring at minute 81, thanks to a shot from midfielder Valdo.

The draw put Barcelona in a difficult situation: the outcome of the game would determine whether the team continued as the leader of the Spanish League. If the players didn't manage the three points from victory, Barcelona would drop to second place after Real Madrid's 5-1 victory against Tenerife.

With just ten minutes left, Bara concentrated on regaining control of the match. The final, determining point was scored by Lionel Messi. Xavi sent a difficult pass to Alvez, who gave it to the Argentine. Messi scored at minute 84, putting the score at 2-1, locking in Bara's victory in the game and preserving its position at the top of the league.

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FC Barcelona in Champions League 2009 - Entertainment

FC Barcelona is one of the biggest football clubs in the world. They are based in the famous Spanish League - La Liga. Without doubt we can say that FC Barcelona is the biggest football club in Spain. FC Barcelona is still the flag bearer of Catalan identity, a fact which is helped by being the biggest football club in that region. FC Barcelona boasts a stadium, Nou Camp which has the highest seating capacity among Europe's premier football clubs. But Barca's success ratio at the Europe's premier football club championship - Champions League is not that great. Barca have won it twice and looks good for a third this season, but by FC Barcelona's standard and quality they should have had more. Among the Europe's football club Real Madrid, AC Milan and Liverpool have had the most number of victories.

FC Barcelona started their 2009 Champions League in the qualification stage as they came third among La Liga football clubs. Barca was drawn to face Wisla Krakow in the Qualification - they won the first leg 4-0 but lost the second 1-0. FC Barcelona then was drawn in the Group C in the League phase along with Sporting Lisbon, FC Basel and Shaktar Donetsk. Barca won against Sporting Lisbon at home in their first match in the league with a score line of 3-1. In the second match they defeated Shaktar with two late goals from Lionel Messi. The third match featured FC Basel and Barca resulted in a 5-0 humiliation to the Swiss side. The return leg at Nou Camp resulted in a draw. In the next match Barca won against Sporing Lisbon 5-2. And in the last match of Group stage, FC Barcelona lost to Shaktar 2-3.

Lyon was selected to face FC Barcelona in the first knock-out stage. The first leg at Lyon ended with a 1-1 draw with Henry scoring for Barca. In the return leg Barca thrashed Lyon 5-2, with two goals from Henry and one each from Messi, Eto and Keita. FC Barcelona got a tricky quarter final draw with a visit to Bayern in the second leg. But Barca destroyed Bayern 4-0 at Camp Nou with all the goals coming in the first half. Messi scored twice and Eto and Henry scored once for Barca. In the return leg FC Barcelona drew with Bayern 1-1. Now next up in the semis is Chelsea. If you are looking to follow all the build up to that clash visit allaboutfcbarcelona.com. AllAboutFcBarcelona.com is the places where all Barca fans converge and let others know of their views.

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FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid Matches through a Cules Eyes - Entertainment

Fondly called the "El Classico", the matches between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona in Spain is one of the fiercest clashes between rivals. To understand the importance of these matches, one should understand the history behind both these clubs. It is not simply a clash between two of the biggest clubs in Spain; but to many it is still a clash between the oppressor and the suppressor. FC Barcelona is iconic for every Catalan. Barcelona might be in Spain but the Catalans prefer to be out of the fold. If you ever visit Barcelona you would be surprised to see a higher status to the Catalan language than Spanish.

The rivalry between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid grew to unimaginable proportion during the era of Dictator Franco. Franco banned the use of Catalan language and hence the matches at Barcelona became the perfect place for Catalans to take their protest to international level. FC Barcelona became true to their identity "More Than A Club" with its progressive ideas. Real Madrid was considered the hot bed of power and was associated with Franco. The rivalry was intensified during the 1950s when the clubs disputed the signing of Alfredo Di Stefano. Di Stefano had impressed both Barcelona and Real Madrid whilst playing for Club Deportivo Los Millonarios in Bogota, during a players' strike in his native Argentina. Both Madrid and Barcelona attempted to sign him and, due to confusion had emerged due to the di Stefano moving to Millonarios from River Plate due to the strike, as both clubs claimed to own his registration. Subsequently, both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid believed tha t they had signed him. After intervention from the Spanish FA Barcelona backed down and di Stefano moved to Madrid; rumour remains that Barca were forced to act by Franco, but Madrid maintained that they acted voluntarily. Di Stefano became integral in the subsequent success achieved by the Madrid, scoring twice in his first game against Barcelona. With him, Madrid won the initial five European Champions Cup competitions. The 1960s saw the rivalry reach the European stage when they met twice at the European Cup, Real Madrid winning in 1960 and FC Barcelona winning in 1961.

Head on head Real Madrid leads FC Barcelona by 68 to 59. There has been 30 draws in the El Classico till date. The El classico were made fiercer with players defecting from FC Barcelona to Real Madrid. The reception got for Figo when he visited Camp Nou is a prime example. El Classico is a prime business strategy for both these clubs - FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. At the current time, El Classico is nothing more than a marketing strategy for both the team. But still tempers rises with the approach of an El Classico. The Catalan and Madrid based media trumps up the adrenaline every time an El Classico approaches. May be a clash between Pakistan and India could match the match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. But no rivalry at Club level especially in Europe matches this mega event.

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