Pedri

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin FC Barcelona star midfielder Pedri has been ruled out of El Clasico and will not face Real Madrid on Sunday, according to the Spanish media. It had been widely expected that the number '8' would make his comeback from a thigh knock at Camp Nou on the weekend, after pulling up injured in a 2-2 draw with Manchester United in the same stadium around a month ago. Pedri returned to training this week and was said to be making good progress. SPORT claimed that the 20-year-old would do "selective" work over the next couple of days, before undergoing a test on Saturday to determine whether he would be available for the football world's biggest derby or not. On Friday afternoon, however, Mundo Deportivo reported that Pedri had not been able to finish a training session and had left the field with a "visible face of concern", as AS relayed. Madrid-based daily sports newspaper AS was then able to affirm that … [Read more...] about Pedri Ruled Out Of El Clasico In Huge ‘KO’ Blow To FC Barcelona For Real Madrid Tie

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin FC Barcelona midfielder Pedri has been ruled out of El Clasico on April 5 and will not return to action for another three to four weeks, according to reports. The 20-year-old missed Sunday's edition of the world's biggest derby where, in his absence, replacements Sergi Roberto and Franck Kessie scored the equalizer and winner respectively to help the Catalans beat Real Madrid 2-1. The victory fired Barca 12 points clear at the top of La Liga, which means they now have one hand on their first Spanish top flight trophy since 2019. There is still work to be done elsewhere to secure a domestic treble following January's Spanish Super Cup final triumph against Los Blancos, however. On the already mentioned date, April 5, the Blaugrana host their bitter rivals once more in the Copa del Rey semi-finals and boast a 1-0 advantage from the first leg because of their defensive heroics in the Bernabeu earlier this month. … [Read more...] about FC Barcelona Injury News: Pedri Will Miss El Clasico And Further Three To Four Weeks

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin FC Barcelona are prepared to sell Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to Paris Saint Germain and have determined the price they would accept for their star goalkeeper, according to reports. After a rocky couple of years post-pandemic, the German has staged an impressive comeback to stand among the world's greatest shotstoppers once more. Conceding just eight goals in 25 matches and keeping 19 clean sheets, the 30-year-old has had much to do with Barca rising to the top of La Liga where they boast a nine point lead over Real Madrid and are closing in on their first domestic league title since 2019. If reports from El Nacional are accurate, however, the 2022/2023 season could be his last at Camp Nou. This is because Paris Saint Germain are interested in the former Borussia Monchengladbach man, while not completely satisfied with the displays of Gianluigi Donnarumma who they see as complicit in their last two exits from the … [Read more...] about FC Barcelona Ready To Sell Marc-Andre Ter Stegen To PSG And Put Price Tag On Star Goalkeeper – Reports

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin FC Barcelona have made a new signing for Sunday's installment of El Clasico against Real Madrid in La Liga. The Blaugrana currently lead the Spanish top flight by nine points and can theoretically wrap up their first title win in four years through beating their bitter rivals at Camp Nou on Sunday. By SPORT , though, it has been suggested that Barca have a "new signing" for the fixture in midfielder Pedri. The number '8' was injured against Manchester United in the Europa League in mid-February, hobbling off before half time during the playoff first leg which ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw. This week, however, Pedri has returned to training and is tipped to start in El Clasico. This will allow Xavi Hernandez to revert back to his four-man midfield system crucial to a 3-1 win over Los Blancos in the Spanish Super Cup final in Riyadh at the turn of 2023. Pedri is said to be making good progress, though Xavi … [Read more...] about FC Barcelona Make ‘New Signing’ For El Clasico Meeting With Real Madrid

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin FC Barcelona will finally return to their four-man midfield system for Sunday's La Liga meeting with Real Madrid in El Clasico. Head coach Xavi Hernandez's rejigging of the formation was expected last weekend for a trip to Athletic Club in Bilbao, where the Blaugrana won 1-0 thanks to a first half effort from Raphinha. Instead, however, Xavi went for a 4-3-3 which allowed Ferran Torres to play on the left wing. In the Catalans' last home fixture, Fati occupied this area of the pitch as Torres moved to the center to replace Robert Lewandowski as a striker. With playmaker Pedri expected to make his comeback from a thigh knock which has kept him out for a month, however, it was presumed that Barca would finally go with the four-man midfield that proved a great success in the 3-1 Spanish Super Cup win over Los Blancos at the turn of 2023. On Friday, though, Pedri reportedly left a training session with visible … [Read more...] about FC Barcelona Return To Four Man Midfield System For El Clasico Clash Versus Real Madrid

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Lionel Messi would have a new position and role in Xavi Hernandez's four-man midfield system if he returns to the club this summer, it has been claimed. The Argentine is out of contract on June 30 at Paris Saint Germain, and president Joan Laporta and his board are said to have been working on seeing him don Blaugrana again for more than the past 10 days . Given the Catalans' financial problems, they are also thinking up imaginative ways of paying Messi such as a low €200,000 ($216,000) yearly salary and then the proceeds of a farewell match and cut of merchandising tied to his name that could bring in anything from €100-200 million ($108-216 million). Whatever they need to do to make the operation happen is not of any concern to Xavi, who will instead be charged with finding a way for his former teammate to fit into a first XI that has already struck the perfect balance and is on its way to a first La Liga title in … [Read more...] about Lionel Messi Will Have A New Position And Role At FC Barcelona Under Xavi

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin In pure soccer terms, this Clásico will be decisive, as the winner will gain the genuine belief that it can win La Liga. Table-topping Barcelona hosts Real Madrid for the fourth matchup in five competitive meetings this season, and the equation is simple. Barcelona can virtually secure the league title with a victory that would extend the Catalans’ lead to 12 points with as many games remaining. As for Real, it can—at least—not let it slip away with three points on the road. That would leave a six-point deficit, surmountable for a team used to enthralling comebacks. Yet, even without a league trophy in four years, the cold statistics point towards a Barcelona procession. While lacking in European competition, coach Xavi’s charges have been formidable defensively in La Liga—especially at home, where it has conceded just one goal. That came against local challenger Espanyol. Avoiding the same fate against another rival will … [Read more...] about El Clásico Preview: Real Madrid Eyes A Comeback To Unsettle Barcelona’s Numbers Control

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin FC Barcelona hosted bitter rivals Real Madrid in a La Liga edition of El Clasico on Sunday. Here's the result, some player ratings, and what we learned from the tie. FC Barcelona 2 - 1 Real Madrid Roberto 45' Araujo 9' (OG) Kessie 92' Marc-Andre ter Stegen Was tested early and responded well, but could do nothing about Araujo's own goal. Didn't have much to do for most of the rest of the match. 7 Alejandro Balde The youngster was caught out horribly by a diagonal ball that Karim Benzema and Dani Carvajal should have done more with halfway through the first half. Got in a good position to cross into the box near half time but Antonio Rudiger dealt with it. Like most Barca players, he was better in the second half but put Madrid on a dangerous move with awry passing. Redeemed himself, however, with the assist for Kessie's winner. 7 Andreas Christensen Could have headed home a Raphinha cross … [Read more...] about FC Barcelona Versus Real Madrid: El Clasico Result, Player Ratings, And What We Learned

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin FC Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has denied that his team are champions in waiting after they beat Real Madrid 2-1 in El Clasico on Sunday night but felt they were "far superior" to their bitter rivals. After falling behind early when Ronald Araujo scored a shock own goal, the Catalans rallied back to equalize through Sergi Roberto on the stroke of the half time whistle before Franck Kessie scored a stoppage time winner. This stretched Barca's points lead to 12 at the summit. But even so, Xavi refused to accept that the Blaugrana have effectively wrapped up their first title in four years. "We do not feel like champions, but it is a very important step," Xavi said in a post-match interview. "We have won points. In fact, we have only lost ten in the whole league [season] and that is not by chance. We have been very solid in defense and on top of that tonight we have been very good in attack." "It is a … [Read more...] about Xavi Denies FC Barcelona Are Champions-Elect After El Clasico Win, But Sees Team ‘Far Superior’ To Real Madrid

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Soccer juggernauts Barcelona and Real Madrid have typically influenced Spain’s national team selection strongly—with some of their best players featuring particularly heavily in the nation’s heyday, where it won a World Cup and two European championships over a decade ago. Times have changed, however. Because while Barcelona and Real are charging towards first and second-place finishes in La Liga this season, the pair is having little impact on the national side as it prepares to welcome Norway in Málaga on March 25—its first qualifying fixture in preparation for the European Championships in Germany next summer. Indeed, coach Luis de la Fuente’s diverse 26-man squad includes representation from Athletic Club, Atlético Madrid, Celta Vigo, Espanyol, Osasuna, Real Betis, Real Sociedad, Sevilla, Valencia, and Villarreal in Spain. Outside the country, he’s selected names from English sides Manchester City, Brentford, and … [Read more...] about While Barcelona And Real Madrid Boss La Liga, Spain Finds Other Inspiration