Barcelona - NouCamp Faithful

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Barcelona 2 - 1 Real Valladolid : Barca close in on century

Barcelona remain on course for a club record 100 points after seeing off Real Valladolid at a rain-swept Camp Nou.

Valladolid gave the recently-crowned champions a guard of honour before the match - and then helped ensure the night would be successful for Tito Vilanova's men by conceding two sloppy first-half goals.

First, a terrible pass out of defence by Jesus Rueda was intercepted by Xavi, who fed Pedro for the opening goal, and then Marc Valiente sliced a corner into his own net to put Barca 2-0 up just before half-time.

Barcelona were unable to build on that despite dominating the second half, and were made to sweat a little when Valladolid pulled a late goal back through Victor Perez's penalty.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Espanyol 0 - 2 Barcelona : Alexis on target

Barcelona remain on course to match Real Madrid's 100-point record in the Primera Division after comfortably beating local rivals Espanyol away from home.

Tito Vilanova's side took the lead through a brilliant goal by Alexis Sanchez, while Pedro Rodriguez made sure of the win by adding a second after Espanyol had been reduced to 10 men thanks to Wakaso Mubarak's dismissal.

The champions will reach a century of points if they beat Malaga at the Nou Camp on the final day of the season, while Javier Aguirre's men waved goodbye to their already faint chances of qualifying for the Europa League.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 4 - 1 Malaga : Barca bring up century in style

Barcelona capped their Primera Division title-winning season with a comfortable win over Malaga at Camp Nou as they equalled Real Madrid's record of 100 points for the season.

David Villa put Barca ahead in the third minute before Cesc Fabregas added the second 10 minutes later, with Martin Montoya firing home a stunning volley as Barcelona went 3-0 up inside 16 minutes.

Andres Iniesta added the fourth following a quick counter-attacking move early in the second half before Malaga substitute Pedro Morales pulled one back for the visitors.

The result means Barcelona finish the season as champions with 100 points, matching Real Madrid's title-winning record of last season, while Malaga end their campaign in a Europa League qualifying spot.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 7 - 0 Levante : Martino's dream start

Gerardo Martino's Barcelona reign got off to a dream start as his new side thumped Levante in their Primera Division opener at the Nou Camp.

Barca put six goals past the beleaguered visitors before half-time en route to their largest ever opening day success.

While they could only manage one more in the second period -- when summer signing Neymar was brought on for his league debut -- they had already served notice that there would be no early jitters under their new boss.

Martino was brought in to replace Tito Vilanova last month after the former coach confirmed he would stand down to continue his fight against cancer.

Any notion Barca might be sluggish following the emotion of their summer was, however, quickly dispelled as Manchester United target Cesc Fabregas put in a man-of-the-match display.

The midfielder was involved in five of the seven goals as he left it to Lionel Messi (two), Pedro (two), Alexis Sanchez, Dani Alves and Xavi to get on the scoresheet.

The champions took just three minutes to open the scoring with an incisive passing move that was a portent of things to come.

Xavi slid a first-time pass into the path of Fabregas and, with the away defence stepping up, his only decision was whether to score himself or play in Sanchez. The midfielder chose the latter, rolling a pass beyond goalkeeper Keylor Navas for Sanchez to tap in.

If Levante feared the early goal was a worrying sign, they were right.

Messi unsurprisingly got in on the act on 12 minutes, following a one-two with Fabregas, who then saw a shot blocked by Navas only for it to fall for Alves to stroke into an empty net.

It was 4-0 before the half-hour as Pedro's run was picked out by Messi and he located the far corner.

Navas tried to stem the bleeding with a couple of good saves to deny Messi and Xavi only to then see Adriano win a soft penalty on 41 minutes under the merest of contact from Pedro Lopez.

Messi tucked away the spot-kick but there was still time for a sixth before half-time, the influential Fabregas again involved as he weighted a return lob-pass perfectly for Xavi to scruffily poke in.

With the game over as a contest the second half was mostly about which Barca players could get their names on the scoresheet.

Central defender Gerard Pique twice ventured forward early on, only for the alert Navas to snuff out the danger. Adriano drew two more quick saves before the anticipated introduction of Brazil international Neymar was made on 64 minutes.

He watched on as Levante contributed to their own woes on 74 minutes when Hector Rodas woefully under-hit a free-kick back to the goalkeeper, allowing Fabregas to intercept and again unselfishly play in Pedro.

It was the last of the scoring as Victor Valdes was only called to make his first save in injury time.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Atletico Madrid 1 - 1 Barcelona : Neymar strike salvages draw

(1st Leg)

Neymar scored his first goal for Barcelona as the Catalans came from behind to salvage a draw in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup at the Vicente Calderon.

The Brazilian scored within seven minutes of coming on in the second half, cancelling out David Villa's spectacular opening goal against his former club, while Sergio Busquets was fortunate not to be sent off midway through the second half.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Malaga 0 - 1 Barcelona : Adriano the hero for Barcelona

Adriano's stunning first-half strike ensured Barcelona made it two wins from two Primera Division games under new boss Gerardo Martino.

Barca coasted to a 7-0 win in their opener aganist Levante last weekend, but they were made to sweat at La Rosaleda.

Adriano grabbed victory with a memorable 25-yard strike just before half-time although the hosts almost equalised after the break when Fabrice shot against the post from close range.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 0 - 0 Atletico Madrid : Barcelona claim Super Cup

(2nd Leg)
[Agg score : 1-1. Barcelona win Super Cup through away goal]

Barcelona reclaimed the Spanish Super Cup after holding Atletico Madrid to a goalless draw at the Nou Camp, despite Lionel Messi missing a late penalty.

The Argentinian struck the crossbar from the spot in the 89th minute of the game, but the Catalans won the tie on away goals, following a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Vicente Calderon.

The result allowed Gerardo Martino to get his hands on his first piece of silverware, just a month after taking charge of Barcelona, but the coach will hope he will be able to lead the club to more inspiring triumphs over the next two years.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Valencia 2 - 3 Barcelona : Messi magic earns Barca win

Lionel Messi claimed a hat-trick as Barcelona recorded a 3-2 victory from a hard-fought battle with Valencia to reclaim top spot in the Primera Division.

Messi and Helder Postiga each struck two goals in seven first-half minutes as Barcelona maintained their 100% start to the season.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 3 - 2 Sevilla : Alexis delivers at the death

Alexis Sanchez scored a winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time as Barcelona claimed a slightly fortunate victory over winless Sevilla to maintain their 100% record at the top of the Primera Division.

Dani Alves had put the hosts ahead in the 36th minute only for the referee to controversially disallow Ivan Rakitic's headed goal when there appeared to be nothing wrong with it. Gallingly for Sevilla, Lionel Messi doubled the lead.

However, Rakitic pulled one back and Sevilla appeared to have earned a draw with a last-minute volley from Coke, only for Alexis to break their hearts at the end of stoppage time.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 4 - 0 Ajax Amsterdam : Marvellous Messi sinks Ajax

Lionel Messi scored a superb Champions League hat-trick as Barcelona ran Ajax ragged in a 4-0 victory in their Group H opener at the Nou Camp.

The Argentinian striker was at his effortless best, despatching a fine first-half free-kick and then producing two clinical finishes either side of Gerard Pique's header.

Ajax were passengers in the second period and were denied even a consolation when Victor Valdes saved Kolbeinn Sigthorsson's penalty.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Rayo Vallecano 0 - 4 Barcelona : Pedro hat-trick in rout

Pedro struck a hat-trick while Victor Valdes saved another penalty as Barcelona continued their 100 per cent start to the Primera Division season with an ultimately convincing 4-0 victory over battling Rayo Vallecano.

Spain winger Pedro netted in the 33rd, 47th and 72nd minute to put Barca in control and Cesc Fabregas added a fourth as Gerardo Martino's men made it five wins from five in La Liga.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 4 - 1 Real Sociedad : Neymar scores first La Liga goal

Neymar scored his first Primera Division goal while Lionel Messi continued his red-hot form as Barcelona brushed aside Real Sociedad 4-1 to make it six league wins from six at the start of the season.

Sociedad hit the crossbar in the first minute but Barca then scored three times in quick succession to all but end the match before half-an-hour at the Nou Camp.

Summer signing Neymar, whose only previous goal for Barca was in the Spanish Supercopa against Atletico Madrid, opened the scoring in the fifth minute, Messi doubled the lead three minutes later and Sergio Busquets made it 3-0 in the 23rd minute.

Sociedad pulled a second-half goal back through Alberto De la Bella and briefly threatened to make further inroads, but they could not find another breakthrough and Barca wrapped up the scoring through substitute Marc Bartra with 13 minutes left.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Almeria 0 - 2 Barcelona : Perfect seven

Lionel Messi's eventful week continued as Barcelona beat Almeria to make it seven wins from seven to start the Primera Division season.

Messi, who appeared in court on Friday to answer questions relating to tax evasion, opened the scoring but lasted only 28 minutes before being withdrawn due to a thigh injury, with the club later confirming he will undergo scans on Sunday.

In his absence, Adriano added a second goal in an unusually low-key win for the Spanish champions.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Celtic 0 - 1 Barcelona : Fabregas hits winner

Skipper Scott Brown was sent off as Celtic slumped to a 1-0 defeat by Barcelona in their Champions League clash at Parkhead.

The home side were reduced to 10 men in the 58th minute when Brown was red carded by referee Stephane Lannoy after a kick at Neymar following his original foul on the the Brazilian.

The Hoops came close to opening the scoring moments later when substitute James Forrest, on for Mikael Lustig, had a powerful volley saved by Victor Valdes before Charlie Mulgrew came within inches with a header.

However, the Scottish champions were dealt another blow in the 76th minute when Cesc Fabregas headed Barcelona into the lead.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 4 - 1 Real Valladolid : Barca maintain perfect start

Barcelona recovered from the surprise of going behind early on against Real Valladolid to continue their record-breaking start to the Primera Division season with a 4-1 triumph.

Valladolid had not won away since February but they stunned the Camp Nou by taking a 10th-minute lead through Javi Guerra's glancing header from a corner.

That was the first time Barcelona had trailed in La Liga or Europe this season but they were behind for just four minutes before Alexis Sanchez drew them level with a thunderous shot.

Xavi, Alexis and Neymar then added second-half goals as dominant Barca made it eight wins from eight in the league and open up a three-point lead over Atletico Madrid, who host Celta Vigo on Sunday.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)