Barcelona - NouCamp Faithful

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Real Madrid 0 - 3 Barcelona : Suarez, Messi score as Barcelona beat 10-man Real Madrid

Barcelona moved 14 points clear of Real Madrid in La Liga as three second-half goals wrapped up a convincing 3-0 victory at the Bernabeu.

Zinedine Zidane's men had the better of a tight first period but Barcelona took control in the second and Luis Suarez swept home the opener before a Lionel Messi penalty took the game beyond Real.

It was a strange spot kick award by referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez, who could simply have awarded a goal rather than a penalty after Dani Carvajal handled on the line but then knocked the ball in as he lost his footing. The decision also saw Carvajal sent off.

Substitute Aleix Vidal added a third in stoppage time, and the title now looks almost certain to return to the Nou Camp as La Liga prepares to enter its winter break.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Celta Vigo 1 - 1 Barcelona : Dembele returns but Barca settle for draw

(1st Leg)

Barcelona's record signing Ousmane Dembele made his long-awaited return from injury as the Catalan giants drew the first leg of their Copa del Rey round-of-16 tie with Celta Vigo 1-1.

Dembele had been sidelined since September after suffering a hamstring injury in just his third appearance for the club following his move from Borussia Dortmund.

He was given the all-clear to return to action earlier this week, though, and came on for the final 20 minutes against Celta at Balaidos.

The 20-year-old Frenchman was unable to find a winner on the night, but Barca -- looking to win the cup for a fourth successive year -- will nevertheless be optimistic of progressing to the quarterfinals in next Thursday's second leg at the Camp Nou.

Ernesto Valverde's men had enough chances to have finished the tie off this evening, but in the end only had Jose Arnaiz's 15th-minute strike to show for their efforts.

Barca B striker Arnaiz, leading the attack in the absence of star names Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, scored in his third successive cup appearance when he finished off a low cross from Andre Gomes.

That lead lasted just 16 minutes, however, before Celta drew level through Pione Sisto's thunderous finish.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 3 - 0 Levante : Messi and Suarez net in Barcelona win

Lionel Messi marked his 400th LaLiga appearance with an early goal as leaders Barcelona beat Levante 3-0 at the Nou Camp to restore their nine-point advantage.

Philippe Coutinho has headed to Catalonia to complete the formalities of his £142 million transfer from Liverpool, but it remained business as usual for Ernesto Valverde's men on Sunday afternoon as Messi opened the scoring after 12 minutes.

In-form Luis Suarez, who himself left Anfield for the Nou Camp during the summer of 2014, added a second before the break and Paulinho tapped in a late third as the Blaugrana consolidated first place ahead of Atletico Madrid, who had beaten Getafe on Saturday.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 5 - 0 Celta Vigo : Messi stars with brace as Barcelona cruise

(2nd Leg : Barcelona wins 6-1 on agg)

Lionel Messi scored twice as holders Barcelona cruised into the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey with a 5-0 victory over Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou on Thursday night.

The tie was delicately poised at 1-1 after a first leg in which Celta played extremely well against, admittedly, an under-strength Barca team but Ernesto Valverde recalled the likes of Jordi Alba, Andres Iniesta, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi for the return match and the Catalans blitzed their opponents with an utterly dominant first-half display.

Messi scored two quick goals and then set up Alba before Suarez netted the fourth goal with just 31 minutes on the clock.

Barcelona took their foot off the pedal in the second half and Ivan Rakitic completed the scoring three minutes from time.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Real Sociedad 2 - 4 Barcelona : Luis Suarez nets brace as Barca rally from behind

Barcelona fought back from two goals down at Real Sociedad to secure their first La Liga win at Anoeta in 11 years as the leaders kept their unbeaten record intact.

Barca had lost five of their previous seven La Liga games at Sociedad and were trailing 2-0 when Willian Jose's header and Juanmi's deflected strike put the hosts in charge.

Paulinho pulled one back before half-time and Luis Suarez turned the game on its head with a brace, the first a brilliant chipped finish, before Lionel Messi converted a long-range free kick to earn Barca a battling 4-2 victory.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Espanyol 1 - 0 Barcelona : Messi misses penalty, Barca suffer rare loss

(1st Leg)

Lionel Messi missed a penalty as Barcelona's 29-match unbeaten record came to a shuddering halt at rivals Espanyol.

Messi saw his spot-kick saved by Diego Lopez before Espanyol sub Oscar Melendo scored a memorable winner two minutes from time in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarterfinal.

Barcelona went into the game on the back of an impressive comeback victory over Real Sociedad in La Liga and eager to extend their undefeated run to 30 games.

But Melendo's late heroics secured a memorable 1-0 win for the hosts, their first over Barca since 2009.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Real Betis 0 - 5 Barcelona : Messi and Suarez both score twice as Barca thrash Real Betis

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez produced a finishing masterclass as Barcelona launched a second-half blitz at Real Betis to extend their lead at the top of the La Liga table to 11 points.

Ivan Rakitic started the ball rolling as the hour-mark approached while Messi and Suarez joined him on the scoresheet within the next 10 minutes.

The Argentina international saved his best for the last 10 minutes, adding a superb individual effort and then setting up Suarez for his second in similar fashion to help Barca claim a sixth successive league win courtesy of a 5-0 romp.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 2 - 0 Espanyol : Barcelona hold off Espanyol as Coutinho debuts in Copa win

(2nd Leg : Barcelona wins 2-1 on agg)

Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi scored the goals as Barcelona's established stars kept new signing Philippe Coutinho out of the limelight in qualifying for the semifinals of the Copa del Rey with a 2-0 win over city rivals Espanyol.

Barcelona were behind after the first leg but went through 2-1 on aggregate thanks to first-half goals from Suarez and Messi.

They join Valencia, Sevilla and Leganes in the last four, the latter after they had dumped Real Madrid out of the competition on Wednesday evening.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 2 - 1 Alavés : Barca use second-half rally to beat Alaves, stay unbeaten in La Liga

Lionel Messi scored a stunning late free kick as Barcelona came from behind to beat Alaves and maintain their unbeaten start to LaLiga.

The visitors were defending well after John Guidetti's fortuitous opener had put them ahead but they could not hang on as Luis Suarez levelled before Messi curled home a set piece to secure an unconvincing 2-1 win.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 1 - 0 Valencia : Suarez goal gives Barcelona first-leg victory

(1st Leg)

Barcelona are in pole position to reach a fifth consecutive Copa del Rey final after Luis Suarez's winner saw off Valencia 1-0 at the Nou Camp.

The former Liverpool striker finally made Barca's dominance count in the 67th minute of the semifinal first leg.

Valencia were hammered 7-0 in this fixture last season, a game which former England defender Gary Neville was in charge for, but produced a spirited performance this time around to ensure they head into the return leg within touching distance.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Espanyol 1 - 1 Barcelona : Gerard Pique scores as Barcelona draw with Espanyol, extend unbeaten run

Barcelona needed a late header from Gerard Pique to earn a 1-1 draw at city rivals Espanyol on Sunday -- and a new club record.

Gerard Moreno threatened a La Liga upset in the rain at RCDE Stadium when he opened the scoring midway through the second half with a header from substitute Sergio Garcia's cross.

However, central defender Pique headed home an 82nd-minute Lionel Messi free kick to stretch the runaway leaders' unbeaten start to the season to 22 games, the best run in the club's history.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Valencia 0 - 2 Barcelona : Coutinho goal helps Barcelona reach fifth straight Copa del Rey final

(2nd Leg : Barcelona wins 3-0 on agg))

Record signing Philippe Coutinho came off the bench to score his first goal for Barcelona as they reached the Copa del Rey final with a 2-0 win at Valencia, progressing 3-0 on aggregate.

Coutinho was brought off the bench at half-time for his fifth appearance since his £142 million switch from Liverpool last month and scored four minutes after the restart, sending the ball into the corner of the net having slid to meet Luis Suarez's cross.

Ivan Rakitic, also teed up by Suarez, then added the visitors' second in the 82nd minute to secure progress to a showdown against Sevilla in what will be defending champions Barcelona's fifth consecutive Copa del Rey final.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Barcelona 0 - 0 Getafe : Barcelona held at home

Barcelona maintained their unbeaten record in La Liga but drew for the second league game in succession as Getafe held the leaders to a goalless stalemate at the Nou Camp.

The hosts failed to register a shot on target during the first half, when Luis Suarez had a goal correctly ruled out for offside.

Getafe goalkeeper Vicente Guaita made a fine save in stoppage time to prevent Suarez heading in a late winner as Barca missed out on the chance to re-establish their nine-point lead at the top.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Eibar 0 - 2 Barcelona : Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba help Barcelona win away

La Liga leaders Barcelona warmed up for their Champions League clash against Chelsea with a 2-0 win at Eibar, who finished with 10 men and manager Jose Luis Mendilibar sent to the stands.

Luis Suarez put the visitors in front after 16 minutes, latching on to a sweeping pass from Lionel Messi, before Eibar winger Fabian Orellana hit the crossbar.

The Chilean was, though, sent off on 66 minutes for punching the ball away, before Mendilibar - taking charge of his 100th LaLiga game with Eibar - was dismissed for protesting to the fourth official and Jordi Alba added a late second.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

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Chelsea 1 - 1 Barcelona : Lionel Messi's goal gives Barcelona draw at Chelsea

(1st Leg)

Lionel Messi broke his goal duck against Chelsea to deny Antonio Conte's side a crucial lead over Barcelona in their Champions League showdown.

The Argentina international superstar had not scored in his previous eight meetings against the Blues, but he put that anomaly right with 15 minutes left to secure a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea had gone ahead through Willian, who had earlier been twice denied by a post.

But Blues boss Conte, who revealed he had experienced trouble sleeping ahead of the match, will be having nightmares about the equaliser with his side unable to hold on for a crucial advantage to take to the Nou Camp for the second leg in three weeks.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)