Five-Star Messi

He’s the first player in the history of the Champions League to score five goals in one game 

The Argentine has scored 29 goals in the European competition 

Messi, despite his sublime display, was humble after the match: “The most important thing is that we won, that’s what we wanted”

Leo Messi wears the number 10 on the back of his jersey, but against Bayer 04 Leverkusen this evening he put in a Five Star performance. The Argentine scored five goals; two in the first half, three in the second. His brilliant display broke long-standing European records. But Messi, despite his unworldly performance, remains humble. “The most important thing is that we won, that’s what we wanted,” he said when he was told that this was the first time in a player managed to score five goals in one game. 

Here are some interesting facts and stats about Leo Messi in international competitions:

• Messi is the first player in the history of the UEFA Champions League to score five goals in one game

• He’s the first player in the history of the European Cup (in all formats) to score five goals at this stage of the competition

• The Argentine has scored 12 goals in this edition of the Champions League, the same amount that he scored last season (he was the tournaments highest goal scorer)

•It’s been a year (March 8th, against Arsenal) since Messi has scored at the Camp Nou in the Champions League

•Messi is the second Barça player in the history of the Club to score five goals in a single European match (Zaldúa did it on October 6th, 1965)

• With his five goals, Messi is only seven away from being the Club’s all-time highest scorer (235)

• He’s the first player to ever score five goals in the Champions League for a team that plays in the Spanish League 
• Messi is the 11th player to score five goals in a Champions League match (the last plaeyr to do it was Lerby, with Ajaz, in 1979 against Omonia)

• Messi’s 49 goals in the competition see him level with Alfredo Di Stefano as the sixth highest goal scorer in the history of the competition

• Of his 49 goals in the Champions League, 25 were scored at the Camp Nou, and 22 away from home; 2 of them were scored in finals 
• He’s scored 54 goals in international competitions: 49 in the Champions League, 4 in the Club World Cup and 1 in the European Super Cup

FC Barcelona 7- 1 Bayer 04 Leverkusen

FC Barcelona - Bayer 04 Leverkusen: The champions are a goalscoring machine (7-1)

Two goals from Messi put Barça 2-0 up in the first half In the first 18 minutes after the break, Barça scored another four goals Messi completed his full-house in the closing stages, and Bayer 04 scored their consolation goal in injury time 

Lionel Messi with match Ball

FC Barcelona are already in the quarter-finals of the Champions. The holders walked all over Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the second leg of the last 16 and gave them a 7-1 thrashing which, together with the 3-1 win in the away leg, gave them an overall score of 10-2. The resistance of the Germans, finalists in the competition ten years ago, lasted about 25 minutes, until Leo Messi opened his scoring account.

This Wednesday, the Argentinian broke all his scoring records: he scored five goals, an absolute record in the history of the Champions League. His full-house of goals, 2 before the break, was accompanied by two goals from Tello, who almost scored a hat-trick.

So, FC Barcelona are through to the quarters for the fifth consecutive season, and still hope to become the first holder of the Champions League to defend their crown. Meanwhile, the team are etching exhibitions like this one into the history books.

Bayer 04 come out bravely

The first half at the Camp Nou wasn't anything like the game at the BayArena. Here, as the manager, Robin Dutt, had said, Bayer 04 Leverkusen came out fighting from the opening whistle. The Germans, with nothing to lose, forgot the ultra-defensive approach of the first leg, and pressurised Barça really high up the pitch, closing down the spaces during the first ten minutes. During this time, FC Barcelona didn't even have one shot on goal, which is rare for them.

Messi scores twice

After this initial period, Guardiola's players finally managed to gain possession and push Bayer 04 Leverkusen further back, where their only opportunities would come from counter-attacks. In one of those they conceded the first goal by Messi. The Argentinian received a great pass from Xavi and took advantage of the advanced German defence to beat Leno with a fantastic chip.

After the1-0, which came just before the half hour mark, FC Barcelona had their best minutes. Fluid in the circulation of the ball, they scored the second after Mascherano won the ball and Iniesta made the final pass. ¿And the scorer? Messi again, who left Leno standing like a statue.

Cesc distributes gifts

At the start of the second half with a 5-1 overall score in the tie, one might have thought that FC Barcelona would take their foot off the throttle. Well, no. Barça came back for more and quickly got the goal they deserved. Messi's name was also on the goal, when he scored his hat-trick with another chip over the keeper, this time with his right foot after a Cesc through ball.

Cesc was also the creator of the 4-0, which came moments later, without Iniesta and Xavi on ​​the pitch, as they'd been substituted by Keita and Tello. Tello found himself on the left wing with a direct run on goal and, once in the box, beat Leno with a low shot.

More Messi, more Tello

The way Barça came out after the break promised a lot more. In 18 minutes Barça scored four goals and went an amazing 6-0 up. The fifth goal also carried Messi's seal, who took advantage of a defensive error, and Tello scored the sixth, with the help of Leno, who didn't have much success in the second half. The Camp Nou, now with Muniesa on the pitch, was one big wave of emotion, and for good reason.

Messi Full-House

It was for good reason, precisely, because Barça continued to attack again and again despite the six goals. In the closing stages, Messi became the first player in the history of the Champions League to score five goals in one game, thanks to a well placed shot from the edge of the area. Bayer 04 Leverkusen, emotionally shattered, managed to go down with honour thanks to a last ditch goal fromBellarabi. The champion had walked all over them, are now in quarters, and they want more. They're hungry.

FC Barcelona 3 - 1 Sporting Gijon

FCB-Sporting: Superior football (3-1)

Barça put in a gritty performance to see off an ultra defensive Sporting team despite playing most of the second half with ten men after Piqué was sent off 

Late goals from Keita and Xavi sealed the win after Iniesta had opened the scoring in the first half 

Barça chalked up their third league win on the trot after overcoming a Sporting team who'd clearly come to defend and park the bus in front of their goal right from the start. Guardiola's men were without Messi who was suspended but they had no difficulty in taking the initiative against such conservative opponents. There was plenty of controversy too, with three pretty clear penalty shouts denied the home team and a harsh looking red for Pique, but although Sporting managed a second half equaliser, Barça showed they are not just the most talented team on the planet, bit also full of steely determination, as Keita and Xavi gave them the points with two splendidly taken goals. 

Defensive set up

Clemente took an unusual tactical approach to the game, with a four man defence and man markers in midfield - a clear indication of his team's intention to defend from the off. As usual, Barça got hold of the ball and just attacked, looking sharp from the start as they tried to find a way through the wall of red and white shirts in front of them.

Deserved first half lead

It wasn't an easy job though. Pedro saw a goal disallowed on 10 minutes for off side and Adriano hit a shot wide soon after. The full backs were getting heavily involved in attack and Alves was unlucky not to be given a penalty when he was bundled over in the box. Space was a t a premium around the Sporting area, but Keita found some to shoot, only for a Sporting hand to block it. There was no penalty blown though –much to the Camp Nou crowd's disgust!

Soon after though, on 41 minutes, they were on their feet to applaud a brilliantly worked goal between Keita, Adiano and Iniesta which the Spanish midfielder slotted home for the opener.

Red card for Piqué

The goal came just at the right time – just before the break – but soon after the second half got underway the scene changed dramatically when Gerard Piqué was shown a red card on 46 minutes after he clashed with a Sporting attacker just outside the box. Clemente saw his chance and threw on top scorer David Barral, who rewarded his manager with a goal from only his second touch. Now the fans really got behind their team as the players rolled up their sleeves and fought for the points despite being a goal down.

Justice is done

Alexis came on and almost immediately fluffed a great chance, but Xavi and Iniesta were pulling the strings and more opportunities were bound to come. A third penalty was denied on 68 minutes and the volume inched higher from the crowd as they urged their team on amidst a flurry of yellow cards for the visitors.

The second goal and justice came via a beautifully flighted shot from outside the box by Keita and with the fans now revelling in the lead, Xavi rounded off the night with an exquisite chip over the keeper to make it three. The game saw Barça finish with nine men as Alexis limped off, but this was a heroic performance in which the team showed their commitment, their authority and their brilliance.

Messi scores 4 goals to celebrate his 200th game

Messi scored four of Barça’s five goals against Valencia on the day he played his 200th game for FC Barcelona 

It’s the second time the Argentine has scored four goals in a match. The first time was against Arsenal in the Champions League (April 6, 2010)

Messi has 27 goals in the Liga, one less than the current Pichichi, Cristiano Ronaldo

The last time a Barça player scored 4 goals in the Liga was on Nov. 8, 2008, when Samuel Eto'o netted 4 times against Valladolid

In Messi's 200 Liga game he's scored 146 goals for his team

Lionel Messi gifted the 74,240 Camp Nou spectators with 4 goals on the day played his 200th game for FC Barcelona. When it looked like Messi would close out the match after scoring his 15th hat-trick for Barça, he subtly chipped Diego Alves for his fourth after Sergio Busquets brilliantly assisted the Argentine. It was Barça’s, and his, fourth goal - which keeps him in the running for the Pichichi award. Messi has scored 27 goals in the Liga so far, Cristiano Ronaldo has 28.

Second time Messi has scored four 

This isn’t the first time that Messi has bagged four goals. The first time was also at the Camp Nou, but in the Champions League against Arsenal. The Argentine fired four past the Arsenal keeper in the 2009/10 quarterfinal. The last Barça player to score four goals in the Liga wasSamuel Eto’o, on Nov. 8 2008, in the game against Valladolid.

44 goals in 39 matches

Messi has played 3,421 minutes so far in all competitions this season, which is about 39 games (almost as many games that are played in the Liga). In this time, Messi has scored 44 goals - 27 in the Liga, 2 in the Cup, 7 in the Champions League, 3 in the Spanish Super Cup, 1 in the European Super Cup and 2 in the Club World Cup. In total, the Argentine scores 1.15 goals per game.

In his 200 Liga games, Messi has 146 goals. An incredible statistic for a player that is only 24. He’s the youngest Barça player to each the bicentennial mark, and the 12th youngest to do it in Spain’s top flight.

Messi, best goalscoring record ever in 200 games

The 146 goals Messi has scored even place him above the legendary César Rodríguez as he looks set to smash records galore

Lionel Messi Scored 4 Goal Against Valencia

Leo Messi just can't stop breaking records. His four goals on Sunday night against Valencia have taken his overall tally in the league to 146, something no other player managed to do in their first 200 games for FC Barcelona.

Better than César

Messi has beaten the record averages set by César Rodríguez, the highest Barça scorer in official matches (235) and also league matches, 193 goals in 287 outings. The legendary 'Pelucas' had scored 140 goals when he reached his 200th appearance, six less than Messi, whose scoring has included a wealth of league hat tricks, (one in the 2006/07 season, three in 2009/10, two in 2010/11 and four so far in 2011/12) plus his four-goal display last night against Valencia.

All records in sight

Messi is on course for beating not only club but also national records – for he already has some amazing stats while still being extraordinarily young. He has 146 goals in the league, and has plenty of time left to beat the Barça record held by César Rodríguez (193) and the Spanish record held by Athletic Bilbao's Telmo Zarra (251).

Just when those records will fall is hard to say, but the one for goals in official matches for Barça could be beaten very soon. César holds that one with 235 goals, but Leo already has 222. But he still has a long way to go before beating the overall record for goals scored in a Barça shirt, which was set in 1927 by the great Paulino Alcántara, with 369 goals. Messi 'only' has 241, but where the Argentinian is concerned, absolutely nothing is impossible.

BARCELONA 2-0 Porto UEFA Super Cup Result

BARCELONA 2-0 Porto UEFA Super Cup Result 
Online Live Update
BARCELONA vs Porto 2011 UEFA Super Cup Online  Live  Commentry and Score Publish here.

Stay Tuned.

FC Barcelona Starting 11: Valdes, Alves, Mascherano, Abidal, Adriano, Keita, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Villa and Messi

On the bench; Oier, Fontas, Sergio, Thiago, Cesc, Dos Santos and Alexis

Porto Starting 11: Helton, Sapunaru, Rolando, Otamendi, Fucile, Guarin, Souza, Moutinho, C. Rodriguez, Kleber, Hulk

On the Bench: Defour, Bracali, Maicon, Fernando, Djalma, Varela, Belluschi

The Match is Kick-off Shortly

The Match is underway

min 39; mistake from Guarin who doesn't see Messi and attempts a backpass - the Argentine takes it around Helton to make it 1-0

Half Time: Barcelona 1-0 Porto

Second Half: 88' Fabrigas Score From Messi's Assist Make 2-0

The footballers' strike has been called off

The footballers' strike has been called off

The Asociacion de Futbolistas Profesionals (AFE) has called off the strike scheduled for the second day of league action after reaching an agreement with the Liga de Futbol Profesional (LFP). So there will be football this weekend after all.
First league match moved to 22 January and 22 January 2nd leg first match moved to 2 may 2012.
The footballers' strike has been called off now that an agreement between the Association of Spanish Football Players and La Liga has been reached. Real Madrid's Week 1 match against Athletic Bilbao will now be held on 22 January. The game scheduled on that date, also against Athletic, will be played on 2 May.


Now that the AFE strike is over, the league season can begin with matches in the First and Second Divisions. Barcelona play Villarreal at the Camp Nou on Monday (19.00 GMT).The AFE and LFP have proposed to the RFEF that the cancelled first day of action can be played instead on January 22, when the second half of the season was due to start (which will be moved to May 2 and will be the second to last day of matches).

Barcelona vs. Porto : UEFA Super Cup Preview

Barcelona vs. Porto : UEFA Super Cup Preview

Both Josep Guardiola and Vítor Pereira believe fans in Monaco could be in for a treat when FC Barcelona and FC Porto vie for UEFA Super Cup glory at Stade Louis II on Friday.

Something will have to give when the two dominant forces in European football this year contest the UEFA Super Cup, with Josep Guardiola predicting a potential classic as his FC Barcelona team tackle FC Porto in Monaco on Friday.

While Barcelona tiki-taka'd their way to UEFA Champions League and Liga glory last season, Porto claimed their national title without losing a game and added the UEFA Europa League and Portuguese Cup for good measure. Both clubs' trophy cabinets have been further swollen this month by domestic Super Cup triumphs – Real Madrid CF (5-4 on aggregate) and Vitória SC (2-1) the beaten teams – meaning two sides high on confidence will dispute the annual curtain-raiser to the European season.

Looking back at the mesmerising 3-1 UEFA Champions League final victory at Wembley and forward to taking on Porto, Guardiola said: "Finals are meaningful when you play against clubs with a great history – it was an honour to play against Manchester United and it's an honour to play against one of the strongest teams in the world now in Porto. Mathematically their figures are impeccable and when you watch them play you can see they do things very well. I think it will be an excellent final, just like the Champions League was."

Pedro Rodriguez, Lionel Messi and David Villa were on target in London in May and are expected to line up in a Barcelona XI missing injured central defenders Carles Puyol (knee) and Gerard Pique (calf). Eric Abidal – the man who lifted the European Cup after recovering from surgery on a liver tumour – and Javier Mascherano are tipped to deputise, with marquee summer signings Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez perhaps offering considerable support from the bench.

In his first European outing since replacing his Chelsea FC-bound former boss Andre Villas-Boas, new Porto coach Vitor Pereira must find a way to stop Messi, crowned the inaugural winner of the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award on the eve of the game, scoring his first UEFA Super Cup goal at the third attempt. "You can't stop Messi with any special tactic," he said. "You stop him with a strong team performance, by concentrating defensively, covering each other and anticipating intentions. You will see our own game plan and identity; you don't adapt to your opponent."

Although Pereira hailed Barcelona as "the best team I've seen in my lifetime", he urged his side to take to the field as equals. "We're here on our own merit following a great season. We know Barcelona are a great team, but we're not here to see them play. We came here to win this game so we have the ingredients for a great spectacle." Porto fans should get a first glimpse of new recruit Steven Defour, the Belgian international's arrival softening the blow of the departure of Falcao – the striker whose 17 goals, including the winner in the Dublin final, propelled the Dragons to UEFA Europa League success.

These are certainly glory days at the Camp Nou, yet Guardiola shrugged off suggestions that his charges are creating a new footballing era – "I've said it time and time again that this will be decided by history" – and that they are unbeatable. However, he accepted that his players have benefited from two testing matches against their biggest rivals. "Facing other big teams helps you improve and the [Super Cup] games against Real Madrid were excellent preparation," he said. "We just hope the beautiful weather and the yachts won't distract us.

Barcelona and Porto's mixed Super Cup record

European champions FC Barcelona make a record eighth appearance in the UEFA Super Cup when they face UEFA Europa League holders FC Porto, a side with a special resonance for Lionel Messi.

FC Barcelona have set a UEFA Super Cup record just by reaching the Stade Louis II showpiece and both they and FC Porto are hoping to bring their number of wins level with their total losses in the event.

UEFA Super Cup pedigree

• UEFA Champions League holders Barcelona have made it to the annual showpiece for a record eighth time.

• Although they will move one ahead of the mark they previously shared with AC Milan of seven appearances, the Italian side have lifted the trophy five times to Barcelona's three – in 1992, 1997 (the last of the two-legged fixtures) and 2009.

• Barcelona's record four losses came in 1979, 1982, 1989 and 2006; the latter was their only defeat as European champions, compared with victories in 1992 and 2009.

• UEFA Europa League winners Porto are making their fourth appearance: they triumphed in 1987 before losing both previous Monaco trips, in 2003 and 2004. Their 2-1 defeat by Valencia CF in 2004 is the only preceding Spain v Portugal UEFA Super Cup.

• As in 1987 and 2004, Porto go into the game with a different coach from the one that won their qualifying competition. In 1987 Artur Jorge oversaw the Dragons' European Champion Clubs' Cup victory, yet by the time of the UEFA Super Cup Tomislav Ivic was at the helm for the 1-0 away and home successes against AFC Ajax (the second leg played in January 1988).

• In 2004 Jose Mourinho, as with Andre Villas-Boas this summer, departed for Chelsea FC. Victor Fernandez was in charge in Monaco for the loss to Valencia seven years ago; Vitor Pereira does the honours this time.

• Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola played in one UEFA Super Cup game, the second leg of the 1992 final which was played on 10 March 1993. His side concluded their 3-2 aggregate win against SV Werder Bremen with a 2-1 home victory, in which the visitors' Oliver Reck was dismissed after 30 minutes.

• Guardiola oversaw the 2009 triumph – 1-0 after extra time against FC Shakhtar Donetsk. Substitute Pedro Rodriguez got the goal in the 115th minute.

• The Blaugrana lineup for that match was:

Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Toure (Busquets 100), Xavi, Keita, Messi, Henry (Bojan 96), Ibrahimovic (Pedro 81).

• Victor Valdes, Carles Puyol, Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez also played in the 3-0 defeat by Sevilla FC in 2006. Current Barcelona players Adriano and Daniel Alves were on the winning side, with Alves named man of the match by the UEFA technical study group.

• Alves and Seydou Keita featured in Sevilla's 3-1 loss to Milan the following year.

• Sergio Busquets' goalkeeping father, Carlos, was an unused substitute in both legs of the 1992 and 1997 editions.

• Should Barcelona win, Guardiola would become the sixth coach – and the first Spaniard – to lift two UEFA Super Cups. The current five are:

Raymond Goethals (RSC Anderlecht 1976 and 1978)

Arrigo Sacchi (Milan 1989 and 1990)

Sir Alex Ferguson (Aberdeen FC 1983 and Manchester United FC 1991)

Louis van Gaal (Ajax 1995 and Barcelona 1997)

Carlo Ancelotti (AC Milan 2003 and 2007)

• However, coaches with past success in the competition have lost the last four editions: Juande Ramos (Sevilla, 2007); Sir Alex (Manchester United, 2008); Mircea Lucescu (Shakhtar, 2009); Rafael Benitez (FC Internazionale Milano, 2010).

• Should Barcelona prevail for the second time in three seasons, it will be the quickest reclaiming of the trophy since AC Milan followed up their 1989 victory with another triumph in 1990.

• Barcelona have played one other match at the Stade Louis II, recording a 1-0 win at AS Monaco FC in the 1993/94 UEFA Champions League group stage. Guardiola was in the starting lineup, Hristo Stoichkov scoring after 13 minutes for Johan Cruyff's side.

• Porto have never played an away game at Monaco, the team they beat 3-0 in the 2004 UEFA Champions League final.

• Last year's contest was the first to involve the winners of the relaunched UEFA Europa League and Club Atletico de Madrid did the competition proud by beating Inter 2-0.

• In the 11 years since the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was abolished, the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League winners have overcome the UEFA Champions League holders six times.

• This will be the 14th UEFA Super Cup since the event was switched from a two-legged affair to a one-off game in Monaco. There will be a 15th match at Stade Louis II next August (or 16th if the 1986 tie between FC Steaua Bucureşti and FC Dynamo Kyiv is included), after which the 2013 edition will be staged at Prague's Eden Stadium following a UEFA Executive Committee decision on 16 June 2011.

Match background

• This will be the clubs' eighth encounter in UEFA competition and the first on neutral ground. Barcelona have won four and Porto three of the seven games; the Spanish side are on a run of three victories.

• They first met in the 1973/74 UEFA Cup first round, Porto prevailing 3-1 at home and 1-0 away. That remains Barcelona's only home loss to Portuguese opposition.

• The next encounter came in the 1985/86 European Champion Clubs' Cup second round, Barcelona winning 2-0 at the Camp Nou and progressing on away goals after a 3-1 defeat in Portugal.

• Barcelona also triumphed 3-0 in a one-off 1993/94 UEFA Champions League semi-final at the Camp Nou, with Guardiola in the lineup.

• Guardiola was also involved in the most recent meetings in the 1999/2000 UEFA Champions League second group stage, Barcelona winning 4-2 at home and 2-0 away. Guardiola and Puyol began both matches while Xavi was a half-time substitute for Phillip Cocu at Porto having been unused the week before.

• Barcelona also have a place in their opponents' history having faced the home club in the official opening game of the Estadio do Dragao on 16 November 2003. A 52,004 crowd – still the stadium record – saw Porto win 2-0 against a Barça team containing Xavi and, making his senior debut from the bench after 74 minutes, a 16-year-old Lionel Messi.

• The late Sir Bobby Robson managed both clubs, moving from Porto to Barcelona – along with Mourinho – in 1996.

• The first of Barcelona's 25 matches against Portuguese opponents in UEFA competition (W14 D5 L6) was the 1961 European Cup final against SL Benfica, who won 3-2 in Berne.

• The Azulgrana are on an 11-game unbeaten run against Portuguese sides dating back to a 1-0 loss at CF Os Belenenses in the UEFA Cup first round second leg on 30 September 1987; that result still took Barcelona through 2-1 on aggregate.

• During this sequence Barcelona have been held twice, 0-0 at Benfica in 1991 and 2006, and are on a three-match winning streak including their most recent Portuguese engagement – a 5-2 victory at Sporting Clube de Portugal on 26 November 2008 in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

• That last game and the Catalan side's 3-1 home success earlier in the same competition are Guardiola's only matches against Portuguese clubs as head coach. As a Barcelona player he was unbeaten in nine encounters with Portuguese teams, winning eight and drawing one.

• Porto have played 36 fixtures against Spanish clubs in UEFA competition; their record reads W12 D5 L19.

• In last season's UEFA Europa League they met Sevilla in the round of 32, winning 2-1 away and losing 1-0 at home; in the semi-finals they beat Villarreal CF 5-1 in Portugal before a 3-2 defeat in Spain.

• Their only game on neutral ground against Spanish opposition was the 2004 UEFA Super Cup loss to Valencia.

• Five players have represented both Barcelona and Porto: Aloisio, Vitor Baia, Fernando Couto, Ricardo Quaresma and Deco.

Joan Gamper Trophy: Barcelona 5-0 Napoli

Joan Gamper Trophy : Barcelona Vs. Napoli

Joan Gamper Trophy
FC Barcelona Vs. SSC Napoli
22-08-2011         18:30 GMT
Venue: Camp Nou
Result

FC Barcelona 5-0 SSC Napoli
1-0 Cesc (min 25)
2-0 Keita (min 31)
3-0 Pedro (min 61)
4-0 Messi (min 65)
5-o Messi (min 77)

Joan Gamper Trophy
The Joan Gamper Trophy is an annual friendly football competition held in August, before the start of Spanish club FC Barcelona's La Liga season. The competition is hosted by FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou stadium and is named in honour of Joan Gamper, a founding member, player, and later president of the club. The competition was inaugurated in 1966 by Enric Llaudet, one of Gamper's successors as club president.

Initially, four teams participated in the competition, which featured two semi-finals, a third-place play-off, and a final. For the first competition in 1966, Barcelona were joined by Belgium's RSC Anderlecht, France's FC Nantes, and Germany's FC Koln. Barcelona beat the German team 3–1 in the final. Koln subsequently won the competition in 1978 and 1981 and were runners-up in 1979, making them the only team, other than the hosts, to win the competition more than once. The next edition saw the first appearance of another Spanish team, Atletico Madrid, who along with the hosts, were joined by German side Bayern Munich, and Argentina's Boca Juniors. The latter two clubs are among the most regular guests. Bayern were runners-up in 1984, 1987 and 2006, while Boca became the first of several South American guests to be invited and have since returned in 1977, 1984, 2003 and 2008.Subsequent competitions have included teams from the Italian Serie A, while the German Bundesliga has also provided regular entrants. Other Spanish La Liga clubs have also occasionally been invited, including Tenerife and Valencia, who were winners in 1993 and 1994, respectively. Since 1997, the competition has only featured a one-off game, the tournament being shortened due to an increased fixture list and a shorter close season. If the match is tied after the 90 minutes, no extra-time is played and the winner is decided after a penalty shootout.

The 2011 edition, to be held on August 22nd, will see the first appearance of SSC Napoli.

FC Barcelona Squad:
No.                  Position           Player

1                      GK      Victor Valdes (3rd captain)

2                      DF       Daniel Alves

3                      DF       Gerard Pique

4                      MF      Cesc Fabregas

5                      DF       Carles Puyol (captain)

6                      MF      Xavi Hernandez (vice-captain)

7                      FW      David Villa

8                      MF      Andres Iniesta (4th captain)

9                      FW      Alexis Sanchez

10                    FW      Lionel Messi

11                    MF      Thiago Alcantara

13                    GK      Jose Manuel Pinto

14                    MF      Javier Mascherano

15                    MF      Seydou Keita

16                    MF      Sergio Busquets

17                    FW      Pedro Rodriguez

19                    DF       Maxwell

20                    MF      Ibrahim Afellay

21                    DF       Adriano

22                    DF       Eric Abidal

24                    DF       Andreu Fontas

—                     MF      Alexander Hleb

SSC Napoli Squad:

No. Position Player

1 GK Morgan De Sanctis

2 DF Gianluca Grava

4 DF Victor Ruiz

6 DF Salvatore Aronica

7 FW Edinson Cavani

8 DF Andrea Dossena

9 FW Giuseppe Mascara

11 MF Christian Maggio

14 DF Hugo Campagnaro

15 GK Roberto Colombo

17 MF Marek Hamsik (vice-captain)

18 DF Juan Camilo Zuniga

19 MF Mario Santana

20 MF Blerim Dzemaili

21 DF Federico Fernandez

22 FW Ezequiel Lavezzi

23 MF Walter Gargano

28 DF Paolo Cannavaro (captain)

34 MF Marco Donadel

83 GK Antonio Rosati

85 DF Miguel Britos

88 MF Gokhan Inler

99 FW Cristiano Lucarelli

DF Leandro Rinaudo

MF Mariano Bogliacino

MF Luca Cigarini

MF Jacopo Dezi

MF Daniele Mannini

Real Madrid Vs. Athletic Bilbao La Liga Match Postponed

Real Madrid Vs. Athletic Bilbao La Liga Match Postponed

Real Madrid Vs. Athletic Bilbao La Liga Match Postponed due to Players Strike. The start of the Spanish league season will be delayed by a strike after Spanish league officials and player representatives failed on a last-minute deal.The Association of Spanish Football Players said the strike will go ahead after talks failed Friday for improved salary guarantees in a new collective bargaining agreement.The Spanish league- home to top players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo- may start in September after the AFE pledged to boycott the first two rounds because of labor conflict.

Barcelona Vs. Malaga La Liga Match Postponed

Barcelona Vs. Malaga La Liga Match Postponed

Barcelona Vs. Malaga La Liga Match Postponed due to players strike.

The start of the Spanish league season will be delayed by a strike after Spanish league officials and player representatives failed on a last-minute deal.

The Association of Spanish Football Players said the strike will go ahead after talks failed Friday for improved salary guarantees in a new collective bargaining agreement.

Spanish players representing all 42 teams in the top two divisions backed the first work stoppage in 27 years. The season was scheduled to start this weekend with three-time defending champion Barcelona at Malaga and Real Madrid playing Athletic Bilbao.

"The games are clearly unrealizable," AFE said in a statement on its website.

The Spanish league- home to top players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo- may start in September after the AFE pledged to boycott the first two rounds because of labor conflict.

Barcelona's exhibition against Napoli on Monday also will go ahead.

Barcelona La Liga Fixtures

Barcelona La Liga Fixtures - 2011/12

Date	Time	Home	Vs.	Away	Venue
Aug 21	Postponed	Malaga	P - P	Barcelona	La Rosaleda
Aug 29	19:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Villarreal	Camp Nou
Sep 11	15:00 GMT	Real Sociedad	v	Barcelona	Anoeta
Sep 18	15:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Osasuna	Camp Nou
Sep 21	19:00 GMT	Valencia	v	Barcelona	Mestalla
Sep 25	15:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Atletico Madrid	Camp Nou
Oct 2	15:00 GMT	Sporting Gijon	v	Barcelona	El Molinon
Oct 16	15:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Racing Santander	Camp Nou
Oct 23	15:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Sevilla FC	Camp Nou
Oct 26	19:00 GMT	Granada	v	Barcelona	Estadio Los Carmenes
Oct 30	16:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Mallorca	Camp Nou
Nov 6	16:00 GMT	Athletic Bilbao	v	Barcelona	San Mames
Nov 20	16:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Real Zaragoza	Camp Nou
Nov 27	16:00 GMT	Getafe	v	Barcelona	Coliseum Alfonso Perez
Dec 4	16:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Levante	Camp Nou
Dec 11	16:00 GMT	Real Madrid	v	Barcelona	Santiago Bernabeu
Dec 18	16:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Rayo Vallecano	Camp Nou
Jan 8	16:00 GMT	Espanyol	v	Barcelona	Cornella - El Prat
Jan 15	16:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Real Betis	Camp Nou
Jan 22	16:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Malaga	Camp Nou
Jan 29	16:00 GMT	Villarreal	v	Barcelona	El Madrigal
Feb 5	16:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Real Sociedad	Camp Nou
Feb 12	16:00 GMT	Osasuna	v	Barcelona	Reyno de Navarra
Feb 19	16:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Valencia	Camp Nou
Feb 26	16:00 GMT	Atletico Madrid	v	Barcelona	Vicente Calderon
Mar 4	16:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Sporting Gijon	Camp Nou
Mar 11	16:00 GMT	Racing Santander	v	Barcelona	El Sardinero
Mar 18	16:00 GMT	Sevilla FC	v	Barcelona	Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan
Mar 21	20:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Granada	Camp Nou
Mar 25	15:00 GMT	Mallorca	v	Barcelona	Iberostar Estadi
Apr 1	15:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Athletic Bilbao	Camp Nou
Apr 8	15:00 GMT	Real Zaragoza	v	Barcelona	La Romareda
Apr 11	19:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Getafe	Camp Nou
Apr 15	15:00 GMT	Levante	v	Barcelona	Ciutat de Valencia
Apr 22	15:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Real Madrid	Camp Nou
Apr 29	15:00 GMT	Rayo Vallecano	v	Barcelona	Teresa Rivero
May 6	15:00 GMT	Barcelona	v	Espanyol	Camp Nou
May 13	15:00 GMT	Real Betis	v	Barcelona	Benito Villamarín