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.

Potential to Meet Barcelona Santos In the Club World Cup Final

Champions League Barcelona has the potential to meet Santos in the final of the Club World Cup in December.Based on a drawing, in the semi-final Barcelona will meet the winners of the quarter-final between Asian champions Al Sadd and African champions Esperance.
In the other semi-final match, Santos waited for the match award from Monterrey, AucklandCity or the Premier League champions Japan [J-League].
Club World Cup will begin on 8 December, and ends ten days later. Semi-final duel will take place on December 15, 2011.
Al Sadd Asia emerged as the champion after defeating Jeonbuk Motors via the shootout.While Espercance beat Wydad Casablanca in African Champions League.

Training with Barça B

Competition because of the holiday calendar of FIFA in relation to a friendly match between the national team, Euro 2012 qualifying, preliminary World Cup 2014 in Latin America zonemakes almost all the players who joined Barca in the first team to leave the training center.
Only four players who are still located in New La Masia is Fontas, Maxwell, Keita and Pinto.Meanwhile, Pedro is still recovering injury. While some players in Barca B also received a call from u-21 Spanish national team, Bartra, Planas, Muniesa and Montoya.
Guardiola and B team coach, Eusebio Sacristan then perform compound exercises to anticipate the lack of exercise participants in each team. Since Monday's practice willcontinue until all the players returned from their duties.
Guardiola is now preparing to deal with Real Zaragoza exercises that will travel to CampNou at the end of this week.