A hat-trick from Thierry Henry and another goal from Leo Messi gave Barça a comfortable win against bottom of the table Levante. Henry had failed to score in the league before today from a total of 17 attempts on goal. Today he had three chances and buried them all. 

Frank Rijkaard decided to leave Carles Puyol on the bench which meant a start for Lilian Thuram alongside Milito while Oleguer Presas played at right back in place of the injured Zambrotta. The first fifteen minutes were pretty uneventful with just one chance for Milito who headed Deco's free kick well wide.

In the 16th minute Abidal slotted a pass through to Iniesta who ran into the left side of the area but his cross was diverted for a corner. From the corner Levante keeper Storari punched clear but only as far as Xavi who ...

A magnificent first half display of attacking football, led by an unstoppable Leo Messi, gave Barça their third home win in a week against Zaragoza. The game began at an electric pace with three goals and a post inside the first eleven minutes. Barça began with the same eleven that started against Sevilla, but Zaragoza unlike Sevilla did not come just to defend. After only three minutes Messi gave the first warning of what was to come, making a good run before shooting wide. Two minutes later Messi accelerated past two defenders, played a one-two with Henry, and curled a superb shot that gave Cesar in the Zaragoza goal no chance.

To their credit Zaragoza responded quickly. First Diego Milito beat the offside trap then cut inside Marquez and shot against the base of Valdés' near...

Two second half goals from an inspired Leo Messi gave Barça a deserved victory against an unambitious Sevilla. The game marked the 50th anniversary of Camp Nou and before the game there were the typical celebrations which football tends to do so badly: ex-players introduced, giant footballs floating about, an orchestra to play the Barça hymn, drummers, fireworks and a light show.

When the real action began Barça were soon on top. After just 80 seconds Messi passed to Iniesta who beat a defender, got to the by-line and crossed to Henry who tried to flick it in but a defender managed to divert the ball for a corner. After five minutes Messi shot wide after cutting in from the right, and five minutes later the Sevilla defence made a hash of a Henry cross from the left and Iniesta got in a shot that w...

The return of Leo Messi proved providential tonight for Barça who saw off a disappointing Lyon. An own goal from Clerc, one from Messi and then a  first goal from Thierry Henry in injury time gave Barça an important victory after all the criticism for the performance against Osasuna on Sunday. Barça were in control from the beginning. The first chance came after six minutes when Ronaldinho combined well with Eric Abidal down the left, Abidal put in a hard low cross and Thierry Henry was inches away from getting a touch. Shots followed from Toure, Deco and Ronaldinho without luck. In the seventeenth minute good work from Messi and Henry set up Ronaldinho with a good chance but instead of shooting Ronnie tried to run into the area only to be tackled as he was about to shoo...

For the second time in two away league games, Football Club Barcelona could only manage a 0-0 draw against weaker opposition. With Leo Messi and Samuel Eto'o out injured, Frank Rijkaard opted for a forward line of Giovani dos Santos, Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry, but none of the three were capable of breaking through the well organized Osasuna defence.

The first chance of the game fell to Osasuna after five minutes but Flaño headed the right wing cross wide. The next half an hour saw Barça with more possession but they failed to create one chance. It wasn't until the 36th minute that Iniesta put Giovani through, but Elia smothered the Mexican's shot.

Iniesta was Barça best player in the first half, and five minutes later he set up Deco with another opportunity that was once more saved by Elia. Osa...

In a game played in the Nou Municipal stadium in Palamos, FC Barcelona last night lost the Copa Catalunya final 2-1 to Gimnastic. Victor Vazquez gave Barça the lead, but Nastic's Pinilla and Maldonado scored to take the trophy back to Tarragona.

Barça again started with several youngsters from Barça B. Only Jorquera, Oleguer, Sylvinho and Ezqurro played from the first team squad. Thierry Henry and Toure Yaya could have been available but neither have returned after international duty. I wonder if they had permission.

After a dull first half, Barça took the lead in the 50th minute. A fine long pass from inside his own half by Dimas Delgado put Victor Vazquez through for a one-on-one with the keeper and Vazquez coolly slotted the ball under the keeper's body.

Nastic equalized five minutes l...

Barça chalked up their first league win of the season with a fairly comfortable 3-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao. Two first half goals from Ronaldinho and a hotly disputed second half strike from Touré Yaya were enough to earn Barça the three points.

 There were three changes from last week's team against Racing. Deco, Henry and Marquez came into the team in place of Iniesta, Eto'o and Thuram, but there was no place for Gabi Milito who sat on the bench alongside the likes of Iniesta and Giovani dos Santos.

Barça got off to a great start and were 1-0 up after seven minutes. Ronaldinho ran at the defence through the inside left position and was fouled 25 yards out. Ronnie took the free kick himself smashing a tremendous shot into the far top corner of the goal.

Barça played some good football ...

The team responded to the criticism by turning in a fine display to beat a lucklustre Inter Milan 5-0 in tonight's Joan Gamper. Before the game the club remembered Antonio Puerta by having the team run out all wearing the number 16 Sevilla shirt that he wore. There was also a remembrance for Nicolau Casaus who died earlier this month.

Barça started well with two goals in the first twelve minutes. For the first Xavi robbed the ball in the Inter half and slid a pass to Giovani dos Santos who was playing his first game at Camp Nou, Giovani surged into the penalty area and was brought down. Ronaldinho scored from the resulting penalty high to Toldo's left.

Then it was Touré's turn to win the ball and feed Giovani. This time the young Mexican cut in from the right side of the area to lash a fierce left fo...

Football Club Barcelona's attempt to regain La Liga got off to a poor start this evening with a 0-0 draw against Racing Santander in the Nuevo Sardinero. Thierry Henry began on the bench but after coming on for Leo Messi he almost stole a victory for Barça when he hit the post in the 86th minute.

Barça started slowly and the first chances fell to Racing. Víctor Valdés had to save twice in the first ten minutes from Serrano and Duscher. Then in the 22nd minute Valdés was beaten but Colsa's shot came out off the far post.

Barça created very little until the end of the first half when they came close three times. First a Messi cross almost reached Oleguer sneaking in at the far post, then an excellent pass from Ronaldinho found Xavi who despite being held back man...