Santos 0-4 Barcelona: Pep Guardiola's men crowned world champions after goals from Messi, Xavi and Cesc clinch comprehensive triumph

An imperious Barcelona were crowned Club World Cup champions in style in Yokohama, adding the world title to their Spanish and European honours as they cruised to a 4-0 victory over Santos.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring for the Catalans, before Xavi and Cesc Fabregas added their names to the score sheet in a completely one-sided first half. Santos showed more after the break, but never looked likely to make their way back into a game they surrendered in the first 45 minutes. Messi put the icing on the cake with a late strike, to put the result beyond any doubt.

The opening exchanges of the match passed in a predictable fashion. Santos started with a five man defence and the intention of not conceding an early goal, and their deep back line allowed Barcelona to dominate possession. The Brazilians looked strong, however, and Barca were allowed limited glimpses of goalkeeper Rafael in the first 15 minutes.

The shot-stopper showed his talents though with an impressive double save. Lionel Messi was the first to unlock the Santos defence with a typical mazy run, and his long-range shot was parried by Rafael who was quickly up to deny Thiago with the rebound. Ganso, meanwhile, had an early effort for the Peixe, but his left-foot effort from outside the box fizzed wide of Victor Valdes' left post.

It was to be the Catalans who took the lead, however, as Messi once more showed why he is considered the best player on the planet. The Argentine picked up a wonderful ball from Xavi and delicately flicked the ball over Rafael's head, and Bruno Rodrigo's despairing dive could not deny a beautifully worked opener for the Blaugrana.

After just 22 minutes, the score was 2-0. Santos failed to cut out a cross-field ball, and Xavi found it all too easy to storm through the middle and slide the ball past the keeper. Borges then called Valdes into action with a decent effort on the right, but it could so easily have been three within the first half-hour if Fabregas' close-range shot had not found the post.

Minutes before the half-time break, Barcelona gave another demonstration of their complete control. Dani Alves' cross was palmed by Rafael and the ball pinged across the box, before Fabregas stepped up to fire home and notch the side's third of a one-sided 45 minutes.

The second period was not even one minute old before Barca threatened a fourth. An awful mistake by Edu Dracena led to Messi charging into the area, and the Argentine laid off to Fabregas who was denied by a fingertip save from Rafael. Neymar then showed the first signs of attacking danger; a header floated over the crossbar, before a decent run ended in his shot being saved by the impeccable Valdes.

Santos showed more in the second half, taking advantage of an opponent who had slowed down from an impressive showing early on to enjoy a little more possession. An intricate exchange between Neymar and Ganso was a highlight for the Brazilians, but there was no sign that Barca's imposing three goal lead was in danger as they cruised towards the Club World Cup title.

There was to be a final flourish for Barcelona. Messi was played in by Dani Alves free on the edge of the box, and the Ballon D'Or winner skipped past Rafael to slide the ball home and extend the scoreline to 4-0 with less than 10 minutes remaining.

Josep Guardiola's side lift their second Club World Cup title, after the 2009 triumph over Argentine side Estudiantes. They also secured a quintuple for 2011, adding the trophy to Champions League, La Liga, European Super Cup and Supercopa triumphs over the course of the year.

Al Sadd 0-4 Barcelona: European champions set up Santos date in Club World Cup final but lose David Villa to broken leg

Barcelona have booked their place in the Club World Cup final courtesy of a straightforward 4-0 victory over Qatari side Al Sadd in Yokohama on Thursday.

In a fixture that proved to be nothing more than a procession for the reigning Uefa Champions League holders, two goals from Adriano in the first half sent Pep Guardiola's men on the road to victory. Seydou Keita and Maxwell sealed the win in the second half, but the win was soured by David Villa's injury, with the striker suffering a suspected broken tibia.

Despite a crowd pushing 70,000 inside the stadium, there was a subdued atmosphere cloaking the clash; Barca's incessant and unrelenting possession football muted those in attendance, and with Al Sadd employing a rigid, deep-lying defensive formation, it became a case of what methods the Spanish side could use to break through.

Operating with Lionel Messi, David Villa and Pedro in attack, they built patiently but without real penetration until they were gifted the opening goal on 25 minutes.

Nadir Belhadj foolishly chose to pass the ball back to goalkeeper Mohamed Saqr from close proximity, and the custodian, caught in two minds as to whether to handle the ball, simply contrived to blast his clearance off the body of Adriano and into the net. It was the type of goal any team would be red-faced to concede, and Barcelona do not require offerings of such charity.

Indeed, it was to be the Brazilian full-back's day, as it was he who made it two just before the interval. More slack play from the Mohamed - Belhadj combination saw the latter switch off and allow Thiago to steal the ball from his path. The young midfielder found the run of Adriano infield and he lashed a low shot into the corner, with the goalkeeper again failing to cover himself in any kind of glory.

Then, the one negative from the contest reared its head, as Villa raced onto a through ball and appeared to catch his studs on the turf. He immediately signalled his distress to the bench, and the injury has since been confirmed as a broken tibia, which is a blow not only for club and player, but for the Spain national team, with Euro 2012 just six months away.

The second half continued in precisely the same vein as the first; Barca sprayed the ball around the field, while Al Sadd chased in vain, and it wasn't long before their goal was breached once more.

On 64 minutes, Keita breezed through a gap to meet Messi's glorious through pass and slip his shot past the despairing leg of Mohamed to make it 3-0.

Then Maxwell, who arrived as a substitute, took advantage of non-existent defending from the generous Qataris to lash a shot from an angle that the hapless Mohamed did his level best to allow into the net.

The Catalan giants settled for the win at that point, and can now look forward to sterner opposition on Sunday in the form of Santos and their coveted star Neymar.

Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona: Sanchez, Cesc and a Marcelo own goal send champions top of La Liga after slick Bernabeu performance

Barcelona were the comeback kings at the Santiago Bernabeu as the champions recovered from conceding within the first minute to defeat bitter rivals Real Madrid 3-1 in the seventh and final Clasico of 2011.

Jose Mourinho's men took the lead after only 22 seconds when Karim Benzema grabbed the quickest goal in Clasico history. The home side were pegged back on the half hour mark when Alexis Sanchez grabbed an equaliser in his first league appearance against Madrid.

A Xavi volley took a fortuitous deflection off Marcelo to give the visitors the lead, before Cesc Fabregas' header finished off a wonderful team move in the 66th minute in what proved to be the fixture's final strike.

The victory sends Barcelona level on points with Jose Mourinho's men and to the top of the Liga table due to their superior head-to-head record against Madrid, who have a game in hand.

In one of the most astonishing starts in the history of the Clasico, Real Madrid were a goal to the good within 22 seconds. Victor Valdes' poor clearance fell to the feet of Angel Di Maria who drilled the ball into the penalty area only for Sergio Busquets to block its progress. Mesut Ozil's attempted volley deflected off Busquets into the path of Benzema to fire home six yards from goal.

Madrid were left to rue opportunities to double their lead when Barcelona drew level on the half hour mark with Messi on hand to turn provider. The 24-year-old bypassed several challenges before sliding a weighted through ball to Alexis Sanchez, who calmly slotted past Casillas from the edge of the area to bring his side back into the game and all square at the break.

After a edgy opening to the second period, Barcelona were handed the lead thanks to a large slice of fortune on 53 minutes. Xavi's speculative volley 25 yards from goal took a massive deflection off Marcelo, fooling a wrong-footed Casillas with the ball spinning off the post and into the back of the net.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who had in the first half skewed a shot wide of the target when Di Maria was perhaps better placed to his right, then squandered a golden opportunity to level the contest. Xabi Alonso's cross found the Portuguese completely unmarked inside the area, but his header drifted wide of the post.

Madrid were made to pay, as Barca extended their lead in the 66th minute after a breathtaking counterattacking move. Messi slid the ball out to the right for Dani Alves to whip a beautiful cross towards the back post where an unmarked Cesc Fabregas was on cue to coolly head the ball into the far corner in what was to be the final goal of a pulsating encounter.

Next up for Real Madrid is a trip to Ponferradina on Tuesday as they look to defend their Copa del Rey title. Barcelona now head to Japan where they will feature in the Club World Cup. Their first task will be a semi-final meeting against either Esperance or Al Sadd on Thursday.

Barcelona 4-0 BATE Borisov: La Masia starlets shine as European champions end Group H campaign unbeaten

Goals from from Sergi Roberto, Martin Montoya, and a Pedro double helped a youthful Barcelona comfortably dispatch BATE Borisov 4-0 on Tuesday evening to conclude Champions League Group H.

The Catalan side had already qualified as group winners, and so opted to field a team with an average age of just 23, but the class of the European champions shone through as they dominated possession and created several chances to enjoy an even more convincing win.

Pep Guardiola's outfit got into their passing rhythm quickly, and almost made the perfect start when Champions League debutant Rafinha drove into the BATE box from the right and smashed a shot at Alyaksandr Gutar's near post but, the keeper palmed the ball to safety.

The locals continued to probe forward, and came extremely close to gaining an advantage just after the half hour mark. Isaac Cuenca drifted in from the right wing, which freed up room on the flank for Martin Montoya to receive a pass from his team-mate and cross to the back post for Sergi Roberto. However, the Spain Under-21 international could only manage to slide the ball wide despite having a largely empty net in which to aim.

Barcelona broke the deadlock a minute later, however. Thiago drifted into a pocket of space in front of the BATE penalty area and found the feet of Pedro just inside the box, who slid a pass into the centre for Sergi Roberto, and the 19-year-old made up for his earlier miss by coolly slotting the ball in the bottom right corner.

The hosts continued their dominance of the possession in the second period, and managed to double their tally on the hour mark with another well-taken goal. Cuenca was involved again as he drove towards the BATE defence from a central position and threaded a pass through to Montoya who made up considerable ground to drive into the box and drive the ball into the top left corner.

The game was done and dusted just two minutes later when Barcelona extended their lead to three goals. Cuenca earned another assist by gaining half a yard on Yurevich on the right and sliding a pass into the edge of the six yard box, and Pedro was on hand to masterfully flick the ball past Gutor with his heel at the near post.

Further misery was heaped on BATE Borisov three minutes before the final whistle. Volodko brought down Cuenca in the box, and Pedro stepped up to expertly dispatch the penalty for his second goal, and Barca's fourth.

Barcelona comfortably remain top of group H on 16 points, having already secured qualification prior to this match. BATE Borisov are out of European competition and find themselves in fourth place with two points from six matches.

Barcelona 5-0 Levante: Fabregas, Cuenca, Messi & Sanchez all on target as Pep Guardiola's men keep pressure on Real Madrid ahead of Clasico

Barcelona were convincing victors as they thumped Levante 5-0 at Camp Nou in La Liga to keep the pressure on Real Madrid at the top of the table ahead of next weekend's Clasico.

Cesc Fabregas grabbed a brace before Isaac Cuenca gave the home team a 3-0 lead at the break. Lionel Messi and Alexis Sanchez completed the rout in the second half.

The result leaves Pep Guardiola's men three points behind Madrid, who have a game in hand over their fierce Catalan rivals, while Levante remain in fourth spot.

Barcelona started the game brightly and were a goal to the good after only four minutes. Messi found Andres Iniesta, who saw his quick-thinking back-heel trickle to the feet of Cesc Fabregas on the edge of the Levante penalty area. The former Arsenal man controlled the ball before carefully placing it into the bottom corner of the net.

In the 20th minute the Catalan club could have doubled their lead but Gustavo Munua was on cue to deny the home side as he parried Messi's free-kick from 20 metres. From the rebound, Carles Puyol could not make clean contact from close range, with Munua eventually claiming the ball cleanly.

The lead was doubled in the 33rd minute and it was Cesc again who got the better of Munua. Xavi whipped an inviting free-kick into the box and Fabregas leaped highest to power his header into the top corner, leaving the keeper helpless as Barcelona grabbed a rare goal from a set-piece.

Guardiola's men were three up in the 37th minute with a wonderful team goal that was coolly finished by youngster Isaac Cuenca, who registered his second Barcelona goal. Messi's clever run saw the Argentine slide the ball to Iniesta, who then quickly moved it to Cuenca just inside the box for the winger to strike into the bottom - an instinctive finish from the Masia youth product to give his team a comfortable lead at the interval.

Barcelona were 4-0 up in the 55th minute when Messi grabbed his 17th Liga goal of the season to draw level with Cristiano Ronaldo. Substitute Dani Alves slid a precise through ball to the 24-year-old, who made no mistake in slamming his shot into the bottom corner of the net.

In the 61st minute, the home side made it five with a devastating counter-attack. Messi found Alexis Sanchez just inside the box in a yard of space. The Chilean attacker controlled the ball before lifting it over Munua via a slight deflection off Asier Del Horno for his third goal in a week.

Iniesta had a sixth goal controversially chalked off for offside in the 88th minute as the Blaugrana comfortably kept another clean sheet this season.

Barcelona are next in action on Tuesday evening when they face BATE Borisov in the Champions League at Camp Nou before travelling to the Santiago Bernabeu on December 10 to face Madrid.

Preparation against Levante at the Camp Nou

After beating Rayo Vallecano last Tuesday, Guardiola with the players now preparing tocompete against Levante who will travel to Camp Nou.
Barca now had the opportunity to try out the performance of Levante which was surprisingbecause of Primera league capable of defeating Real Madrid dikandangnya and managed to occupy top spot in the Jornada Jornada early-season 2011-2012.
All the players on the team, except for Adriano who has started training back injury sinceWednesday morning plus three players from Barça B are called, namely Cuenca, MartinMontoya and Ruben Mino.
Thursday's holiday Guardiola gave to all the players and the exercise took place on Fridaymorning in court number one Ciutat Esportiva and final session is on Saturday afternoon.

Barcelona 4-0 Rayo Vallecano: Sanchez, Villa & Messi all on target as champions close gap on leaders Real Madrid to three points

Barcelona were too hot to handle as they ran out 4-0 winners against Rayo Vallecano at Camp Nou, to close the deficit at the top of La Liga to three points.

An impressive double from Alexis Sanchez gave Pep Guardiola's side the lead before David Villa found the back of the net just before half-time. Lionel Messi added a fourth four minutes after the restart to secure the win as Real Madrid's lead was cut to three points, with Jose Mourinho's men having played a game less.

The victory also ensured it was the 11th Liga game in a row at Camp Nou where the Catalan club had kept a clean sheet, a new record in Spain.

The match, brought forward due to Barca's participation in the Club World Cup next month, had a frantic opening in which the home side came close to opening the scoring as early as the second minute. 

Andres Iniesta spotted Davis Cobeno off his line and the midfielder's audacious effort from 40 yards out had the goalkeeper backtracking, and he eventually had to dive at full stretch to turn the ball around the post for a corner. 

Despite not being at their flowing best, Pep Guardiola's men took the lead in the 29th minute through a moment of magic from Sanchez. The Chilean received the ball from a Xavi pass on the left-hand side of the box, before cutting in and curling a delightful effort into the far top corner for his second Liga goal of the season. 

On 41 minutes, the home side doubled their lead and it was Sanchez again who found the back of the net, via an inadvertent piece of skill from Xavi. Lionel Messi's clever through pass found the 31-year-old midfielder who flicked the ball with his heel into the path of Sanchez, to sweep home from 12 yards out.

Two minutes later the champions added a third to put the result beyond doubt before the half-time whistle had been blown. Gerard Pique's barnstorming run into the Rayo final third saw the former Manchester United defender slide the ball to Alves, who then squared it to David Villa, the Spaniard placing the ball into an empty net from close range.

The home team made it four on 49 minutes with Messi grabbing his 16th Liga goal of the season. The Argentine controlled Alves' pass on the right wing before pacing past Javi Fuego and sliding the ball past Cobeno from a narrow angle.

Villa nearly made it five in the 70th minute when he controlled a long ball before attempting to lift over the onrushing Cobeno from 20 yards out. However, his effort narrowly looped over the crossbar as the home team comfortably saw out the victory.

Barcelona are back in Liga action on Saturday where they will be hoping for another three points away against this season's surprise package, Levante. Rayo Vallecano visit local rivals Atletico Madrid the next day.

The first defeat of Barcelona

Barcelona club was disappointed with the resultstheir final game in La Liga. Getafebeat them by a score of 1-0 thanks to goals from JuanValera.Barcelona opened their first chance throughslick collaboration between Eric Abidal and Xavi. Feed sideof Abidal Xavi successfully headed toward the goal Getafe.Abidal's header was too high to float abovecrossbar.Lionel Messi threatened Getafe goal at minute 13. Hemanaged to outwit the Getafe defense to succeedGetafe go into the penalty box. Unfortunately the leg kicksuccessfully blocked his left Getafe goalkeeper.Getafe made their first chance through Miku on21 minutes. Collaboration with Pablo Sarabia hadBarcelona threaten the goal. Kick the ballstill flying high over the bar.Barcelona player, Alexis Sanchez managed to create opportunitiesto score a goal on 37 minutes. He managed to receivebait breakthrough from Dani Alves then firedhard kick toward the goal Getafe. Getafe goalkeeper managedcatch the ball with great difficulty.Barcelona threatened Getafe goalkeeper on 42 minutes.Cooperation between Diego Castro and Miku could outwitBarcelona's defense. Unfortunately the kick ofCastro is still a little wide to the right.Lionel Messi had an opportunity to Barcelonaat minute 56. He was able to outwit the defense lineGetafe then provide feedback to the breakthroughMaxwell. Unfortunately, Maxwell must be trapped inoff-side trap the opposing team.Disaster appeared to the team Barcelona in 67 minutes. PlayerGetafe's Juan Valera successfully utilizing feedback fromPablo Sarabia. He headed the ball into the left cornerBarcelona. Getafe created the first goal. Barcelona left1-0.Barcelona stronghold not remain silent. Dani Alves triedhard kick from outside the box on74 minutes. The ball can still be blocked by Getafe goalkeeper.Barcelona make every effort to preventdefeat. Barcelona's Sergio Busquets dodiving in the penalty box area of ​​Getafe. He got a cardyellow for this infraction.The game entered extra-time to 3minutes. Messi gave Barcelona a golden opportunity for thelast minute of extra time, he managed to outwitthe opponent's defense and then kick off hard.Unfortunately the ball hit the goalpost. Position notchange until the final whistle sounded. Barcelona lost toGetafe with 1-0

AC Milan 2-3 Barcelona: Xavi nets second-half winner as European champions edge thriller & secure top spot in Group H

The Catalan club took the lead in the 14th minute when Mark van Bommel put the ball past his own goalkeeper before Zlatan Ibrahimovic equalised seven minutes later.

Lionel Messi's penalty gave the visitors the lead at the break yet a wonderful goal from Kevin-Prince Boateng on 54 minutes levelled the scoring once again. However, Xavi popped up to score what proved to be the winning goal in the 63rd minute.

Barcelona now sit at the top of the group on 13 points with Milan five points behind last season's Champions League winners, with both teams having one game each left to play.

After an uneventful opening period, Barcelona took the lead on 14 minutes with the first real attack of the game. Messi's clever ball found Seydou Keita in space inside the box, before the Malian played a low cross which was bundled into his own net by Van Bommel, following a touch from Xavi.

Milan should have equalised in the 19th minute, yet Robinho was guilty of a shocking miss. Ibrahimovic's cross into the box was drilled into the direction of the unmarked Brazilian forward by Boateng, who smashed the ball over the crossbar from close range.

However, the home team were level two minutes later after taking advantage of some slack Barcelona defending. Clarence Seedorf's clever ball bypassed the visitor's defence as Ibrahimovic was allowed to slot home from 10 yards out.

Pep Guardiola's men had a glorious chance to re-take the lead on 23 minutes yet it was Messi's turn to miss a glaring opportunity. Cesc Fabregas did well to work some space on the right side of the penalty area, before sliding the ball to the Argentine, who struck the top of the bar from three yards out.

Barcelona were awarded a penalty on the half hour mark when Alberto Aquilani was guilty of pulling down Messi in the box.

The forward stepped up to put the ball in the far corner beyond the outstretched hand of Christian Abbiati - the second time Messi had found the back of the net from the spot in a minute after the referee ordered a re-take.

The away team made the brighter start in the second period yet Milan found themselves level again on 54 minutes through a moment of brilliance from Boateng.

The Ghanaian international seized on a loose ball on the edge of the box before sending Eric Abidal the wrong way with a clever touch using his heel. Faced one-on-one with Victor Valdes, the midfielder slammed the ball low past the goalkeeper from 12 yards out.

For the third time in the game, Guardiola's side were back in front on 63 minutes with another beautifully taken goal. Fabregas and Messi linked up well before the Argentine slid a precise through pass to Xavi, who calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner in what proved to be the winning goal of the game.

Both sides end their respective group stage campaigns on December 6 when Barcelona entertain BATE Borisov while Milan travel to Viktoria Plzen.

FC Barcelona - Zaragoza: Stunning show (4-0)

Barcelona managed to finish off his visitor Real Zaragoza at the Nou Camp, with the score4-0. Barcelona goals scored by Gerard Pique, Lionel Messi, Carles Puyol and David Villa.As expected, in the first half Barcelona's able to dominate the game. Pep Guardiola'ssquad was able to open the scoring in the 18th minute through a header Pique. Winning one goal does not make Barcelona loosen their attacks. Barcelona even more incentive to threaten the goal of Zaragoza. In the middle of the first half, Barcelona andZaragoza defense force bombed Roberto Jimenez was forced to work hard to save his goal. And the result, Barcelona failed to add the advantage despite getting a lot ofopportunities. However, at minute 43, Messi, who escaped from the off-side trap menyiakan no chanceanymore to add goals. The Argentine is not hard to change it 2-0 after just dealing withJimenez. In the second half, Barcelona still did not lower their pressure. Nine minutes walk CarlesPuyol second half to make a controversial goal, captain of Barcelona is in the off-sideposition when receiving feedback but the referee still endorsed the goal that he printed.Position changed to 3-0. In the 72nd minute, Andres Iniesta almost back to widen the notch. However, unfortunately the kick was successfully disrupted by Zaragoza defender, so the ball is still thin side of the goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez. Three minutes later, the position eventually completely changed to 4-0, after David Villa's header free-standing in the penalty box broke through the nets Zaragoza. In the remaining minutes remaining, Barcelona failed to add their goal despite gettingsome golden opportunities. Position 4-0 last until the long whistle sounded.