Holders Barcelona moved two points clear at the top of Champions League Group H after producing a classy display to defeat Italian champions Inter Milan 2-0 at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona are desperate to call on the services of Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Tuesday's vital Champions League group showdown with Inter Milan in the Camp Nou.
Real Madrid returned to the top of the table in Spain after edging past Racing Santander 1-0 on Saturday, while previous leaders Barcelona could only draw 1-1 at Athletic Bilbao.
Barcelona made sure they will stay top of the Spanish La Liga with a 4-2 home win over Real Mallorca in the Camp Nou on Saturday.
Champions League holders Barcelona are struggling to reach the last 16 of this year's competition after being held to a 0-0 draw at Rubin Kazan on Wednesday.
Real Madrid reduced Barcelona's league lead to one point after returning to winning ways with a 2-0 victory against Getafe on Saturday night despite having a man sent off.
Barcelona have confirmed captain Carles Puyol has signed a three-year extension to his current contract, keeping him at the Nou Camp until 2013.
Champions Barcelona bounced back from a dismal week to return to the top of the Spanish league with a 6-1 crushing of Real Zaragoza on Sunday night.
Turkish international Gokdeniz Karadeniz stuck a second-half winner as Rubin Kazan claimed a shock 2-1 Champions League Group F victory over holders Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
Real Madrid have closed the gap on Spanish league leaders Barcelona after the defending champions dropped their first points of the season on Saturday night.
Holders Barcelona moved two points clear at the top of Champions League Group H after producing a classy display to defeat Italian champions Inter Milan 2-0 at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona are desperate to call on the services of Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Tuesday's vital Champions League group showdown with Inter Milan in the Camp Nou.
Real Madrid returned to the top of the table in Spain after edging past Racing Santander 1-0 on Saturday, while previous leaders Barcelona could only draw 1-1 at Athletic Bilbao.
Barcelona made sure they will stay top of the Spanish La Liga with a 4-2 home win over Real Mallorca in the Camp Nou on Saturday.
Champions League holders Barcelona are struggling to reach the last 16 of this year's competition after being held to a 0-0 draw at Rubin Kazan on Wednesday.
Real Madrid reduced Barcelona's league lead to one point after returning to winning ways with a 2-0 victory against Getafe on Saturday night despite having a man sent off.
Barcelona have confirmed captain Carles Puyol has signed a three-year extension to his current contract, keeping him at the Nou Camp until 2013.
Champions Barcelona bounced back from a dismal week to return to the top of the Spanish league with a 6-1 crushing of Real Zaragoza on Sunday night.
Turkish international Gokdeniz Karadeniz stuck a second-half winner as Rubin Kazan claimed a shock 2-1 Champions League Group F victory over holders Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
Real Madrid have closed the gap on Spanish league leaders Barcelona after the defending champions dropped their first points of the season on Saturday night.
Pedro Rodriguez's superb first half goal gave Barcelona a 1-0 home win over Almeria to equal their best ever start to a Spanish league season.
Holders Barcelona recorded their first Champions League win of the season as goals from Lionel Messi and substitute Pedro secured a comfortable 2-0 Group F victory over Dinamo Kiev.
Real Madrid and Barcelona maintained their perfect starts to the Spanish season with comfortable fifth round victories on Saturday.
Samuel Eto'o has stunned European champions Barcelona by reportedly asking for an extra $4.4 million payoff following his summer switch to Inter Milan.
Argentina star Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona thrashed Atletico Madrid 5-2 in the Camp Nou to maintain their perfect start to the Spanish league season.
Lionel Messi committed his future to reigning Spanish champions Barcelona by signing a new six-year contract with the Catalan giants.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto'o were both kept under wraps by their former team-mates as Inter Milan held Champions League holders Barcelona to a dour Group F goalless draw at the San Siro.
Barcelona and Real Madrid made it two wins from two in Spain as star signings Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored for a second successive match for their new clubs.
Manchester City's Brazilian striker Robinho has admitted that he would struggle to resist any future possible transfer to European champions Barcelona.
Ukrainian international defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy completed his €25 million ($35.77 million) move from Shakhtar Donetsk to Barcelona on Monday.
European champions Barcelona began the defense of the Spanish Primera Liga title with a 3-0 demolition of Sporting Gijon in the Camp Nou on Monday night.
A late goal from Pedro Rodriguez, with just five minutes remaining of extra time, gave Barcelona a 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the European Super Cup final in Monaco on Friday.
Even the proudest of Spaniards had to accept defeat; even the most enthusiastic La Liga cheerleaders were forced to pack away their pompoms. The warm glow of the European Championship success still endured -- but the national team was one thing, the nation's teams quite another. The lineup for the 2008-09 Champions League semifinals brought Spain crashing back down to earth.
It's decided: Zlatan Ibrahimovic's new nickname is "Elite Status."
European champions Barcelona hope to tie Argentina star Lionel Messi to a lucrative new contract.
Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has completed his 46 million euros ($65m) transfer to Barcelona from Inter Milan on a five-year contract, with Samuel Eto'o and Alexander Hleb moving to the San Siro as part of the deal.
Samuel Eto'o arrived in Milan on Monday to complete his transfer to Inter in a swap deal which sends Zlatan Ibrahimovic to his former club Barcelona.
Inter Milan are offering their star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a swap deal with Barcelona which would see Samuel Eto'o move in the other direction.
The 50th edition of South America's Champions League, the Copa Libertadores, is set for a thrilling climax, with the return legs of both semifinals scheduled for this week. With Nacional of Uruguay taking on Argentina's Estudiantes de La Plata and an all-Brazilian affair of Grêmio up against Cruzeiro, fans will be treated to two matches embroidered with history and still wide open after the first-leg results. Between them, the four semifinalists have won the competition 10 times (Cruzeiro was the last, 12 years ago).
Samuel Eto'o looks set to snub Manchester City's "stratospheric" offer that could make him world football's top-paid player, the Cameroon striker's agent warned on Monday
Aside from transfer news and gossip, the close season is a time when many football fans are scrambling around to grab their beloved team's new playing kit before the new campaign begins.
Love him or loathe him, the proposed world record $130m transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United to Real Madrid has ignited fervent interest from newspapers the world over.
The summer transfer market is a few weeks away from opening and already the signs are that the global financial crisis is forcing clubs to rethink their annual spending.
ROME -- The Eternal City was the most appropriate of backdrops for what we witnessed on Wednesday. It was supposed to be a case of the true believers: Barcelona and its quasi-fundamentalist, possession-oriented credo thrown to the lions of Manchester United's top-to-bottom combination of strength, athleticism and quality. It was dogmatism versus pragmatism.
Barcelona completed an historic treble with a 2-0 win over holders Manchester United in the Champions League final in Rome on Wednesday night.
Barcelona vs. Manchester United: Chime with your thoughts on the Champions League final here
One is the kind of athlete you might design in a lab: tall, lean and muscular, with a seemingly inexhaustible arsenal of skills. The other is a throwback, a scrappy little player whose abilities are more difficult to pin down because they border on the metaphysical. At 6'1" and 172 pounds, Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo is soccer's Magic Johnson: a big man with skills usually associated with smaller players. At 5'7" and 148 pounds, Barcelona's Lionel Messi looks more like somebody's kid brother and plays like Pete Maravich, with an otherworldly touch that allows him to do the unthinkable with the ball.
SI.com's Gabriele Marcotti breaks down Wednesday's Champions League final matchup between Manchester United and FC Barcelona (ESPN, 2:30 p.m. ET).
It's safe to say Wednesday's Champions League final is the most anticipated title match since UEFA created the platinum edition of Europe's top tournament. From Rome to Rochester to Rangoon, everyone with even a modicum of soccer in his blood is planning on watching the game live, regardless if that requires skipping an important sales call at work or losing a few hours of sleep.
If you just look at the balance sheets of Europe's top football clubs, it's no surprise that Barcelona and Manchester United are in the Champions League final.
Barcelona duo Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta continued their respective bids to be fit for the Champions League final as they returned to training on Monday, although not at the same level as their team-mates.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola paid the price for fielding a team of reserves as his Primera Liga champions suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat to Osasuna on Saturday night.
Lionel Messi is universally recognized as being one of football's greatest current players and the Argentine, who does not turn 22 until June, will have a captive world-wide audience watching his every move when he dons the famous red and blue Barcelona shirt for Wednesday's Champions League final against Manchester United.
English football chiefs have refused to become involved in a slanging match with Johan Cruyff after the Dutch legend launched a stinging attack over Premier League transfer dealings ahead of next week's Champions League final.
Samuel Eto'o missed a penalty as Barcelona's title celebrations fell flat on Sunday when they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Real Mallorca 24 hours after becoming Spanish champions.
Barcelona were crowned Spanish champions for the first time since 2006 after Real Madrid were beaten 3-2 at Villarreal on Saturday night.
Barcelona claimed their first trophy in three years and stayed on course for a historic treble by thrashing Athletic Bilbao 4-1 in the Spanish Cup final.
Barcelona were stunned by an injury-time equalizer in the Camp Nou on Sunday which means they must wait another week to clinch the Spanish Primera Liga title.
Chelsea will learn in the "course of the next week" what action will be taken against the Premier League club and individual players after their fiery Champions League exit to Barcelona on Wednesday.
A stunning last-gasp strike from Andres Iniesta put 10-man Barcelona in the Champions League final on the away goals rule, giving the Catalan giants a 1-1 draw at Chelsea on a night of high drama at Stamford Bridge.
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique is backing the Catalan side's devastating attack to come out on top in their battle against Chelsea's mean defense in the Champions League semifinal second leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Barcelona produced a dazzling display of attacking football to rout arch-rivals Real Madrid 6-2 in the Bernabeu and all but secure the Primera Liga title.
Two giants in the world of club football clash on Saturday in a game so entwined in Spanish history and culture it even has its own nickname. Many ingredients combine to create the potent El Clasico brew, a game that pitches Real Madrid against Barcelona.
Chelsea's grit and determination held off Barcelona's attacking prowess, as the sides played out a 0-0 draw in their Champions League semifinal first leg clash at the Nou Camp on Tuesday.
This week's Champions League semi-finals are poised to offer a feast of the world's best strikers.
Chelsea will be without midfielder Deco and defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Ashley Cole for tonight's Champions League semifinal first leg against Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
Three goals from captain Raul Gonzalez helped Real Madrid come from behind to complete a 4-2 home win over Sevilla on Sunday, closing the gap with arch-rivals Barcelona to four points at the top of the Premira Liga.
Barcelona restored their six-point lead at the top of the Spanish Primera with a 4-0 rout of Sevilla at the Camp Nou.
Lionel Messi scored a 19th minute winner as Barcelona moved ever closer to regaining the Spanish title with a 1-0 victory at Getafe on Saturday night.
Seydou Keita wrecked any chance of a Bayern Munich comeback in their Champions League quarterfinal return with a second half equaliser as Barcelona drew 1-1 for an emphatic 5-1 aggregate win.
Barcelona edged closer to lifting the Primera Liga title after defeating Recreativo Huelva 2-0 at the Nou Camp to open-up a nine-point lead over Real Madrid, although the defending Spanish champions restord their six-point defecit on Sunday with their own 2-0 victory over Valladolid.
Champions League favorites Barcelona produced another devastating display to outclass Bayern Munich 4-0 at the Nou Camp and virtually guarantee a place in the semifinals of the competition.
Barcelona kept up their relentless pace at the top of the Spanish Primera Liga with a 1-0 victory at Valladolid on Saturday.
Barcelona continued their free-scoring form with a 6-0 thrashing of Malaga which maintains their six-point lead at the top over Real Madrid.
If a week is a long time in politics, it can be forever in soccer. Seven days was all it took to completely change attitudes on both sides of Spain's great divide and reopen a title race that appeared all over.
Teenage striker Bojan Krkic made full use of a rare starting opportunity to score two second half goals as Barcelona won 2-0 at Almeria on Sunday.
Thierry Henry scored twice as Barcelona booked their place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League with a 5-2 second leg victory against Lyon at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona have reached their first Spanish Cup final for 11 years after a 1-1 draw at Real Mallorca earned a 3-1 aggregate victory and a showdown against Atheltic Bilbao in Valencia on May 13.
Lionel Messi is ready to follow the example of fellow-superstar Kaka and resist any mega-money attempts to prise him away from Spanish giants Barcelona.
Barcelona missed the chance to re-open a seven-point lead at the top of the Spanish Primera when they crashed to a shock 4-3 defeat at Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Thierry Henry snatched Champions League favorites Barcelona a crucial away goal in a 1-1 Champions League draw against Lyon at Stade Gerland.
Ten-man Barcelona saw their lead at the top of the Primera Liga cut to seven points as they were shocked by city rivals Espanyol while Real Madrid ran riot against Real Betis on Saturday evening.
Argentina star Lionel Messi came off the bench to score twice as nine-man Barcelona recovered to beat Racing Santander 2-1 and move 12 points clear of arch-rivals Real Madrid at the top of the Spanish Primera.
Barcelona held off a late rally from city rivals Espanyol to reach the semifinals of the Spanish Cup for the third year in a row.
Valencia's Champions League ambitions suffered a huge setback when they crashed to a shock 3-1 defeat against strugglers Real Mallorca on Sunday.
Barcelona moved an astonishing 15 points clear at the top of the Primera Liga table after crushing Deportivo La Coruna 5-0 in a devastating display of attacking football at the Nou Camp.
After a couple of years with nothing to show, FC Barcelona has finally been transformed into the most feared club in Europe. The Catalan giants have been nothing short of extraordinary this season, and if their magnificent form continues, they could be on track for a rare triple.
FIFA will announce its Player of the Year for 2008 at a ceremony in Zurich today, and here is a look at the leading contenders for the award.
Lionel Messi grabbed a late winner as Barcelona scored a 3-2 victory at bottom club Osasuna to maintain their runaway charge towards the Spanish Primera title.
Lionel Messi hit a hat-trick as Barcelona triumphed 3-1 in their Spanish Copa Del Rey last-16 first leg tie at 10-man Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Barcelona continued their charge towards the Spanish Primera title by opening 2009 with a 3-1 home win over Real Mallorca on Saturday night.
With the European seasons just about at the halfway mark, there seems to be one overriding theme. Every one of the big boys (except Barcelona) is generally stinking it up. Some more so, some less so, admittedly.
Late goals from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi helped Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-0 in 'El Clasico' at a rain-soaked Nou Camp on Saturday to move 12 points clear of their rivals in the Primera Liga title race.
On Saturday, Barcelona and Real Madrid will renew their bitter rivalry in a match that, as usual, has captivated the world's attention. Poor form, league standings or injuries can't take any interest away from the game.
Barcelona suffered their first defeat in 20 games as they went down 3-2 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in their Champions League clash in the Camp Nou on Tuesday.
Barcelona returned to winning ways in the Spanish Primera to open up a six-point lead on arch-rivals Real Madrid who were beaten 3-1 at Getafe on Saturday.
Barcelona continued their impressive unbeaten run to win 5-2 at Sporting Lisbon to clinch top spot in Group C from the Portuguese side.
Getafe ended Barcelona's nine-game winning run but were denied an away win at the Camp Nou by Seydou Keita's second-half equalizer for the Spanish Primera leaders on Sunday.
Second half goals by Lionel Messi and substitute Seydou Keita saw Barcelona go three points clear in the Spanish Primera Liga after their ninth successive victory.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to spend some time with Pep Guardiola. At 33, he had chosen to end his career in Qatar largely because, as he saw it, the modern game had no room for a guy like him.
Substitute Eren Derdiyok scored with eight minutes to play as Basel rallied to snap Barcelona's 11-game winning streak Tuesday with a 1-1 draw in the Champions League.
Team of the week -- Barcelona Despite a faltering start to their La Liga campaign, this week Barcelona made it clear that they are a definite threat to opponents both in and out of Spain.
Teenage striker Bojan Krkic scored twice as Barcelona crushed Basel 5-0 in Switzerland to strengthen their position at the top of Champions League Group C with a maximum nine points from their three matches.
Lionel Messi scored two late goals as Barcelona snatched a dramatic 2-1 Champions League Group C victory at Shakhtar Donetsk.
Controversy reigned in the big European leagues this weekend, and some big local derbies were played out, testing the metal of the top names.
Eidur Gudjohnsen scored an 80th minute winner as Barcelona defeated Real Betis 3-2 to claim their first home win of the season and move up to fifth in the Primera Liga behind leaders Villarreal.
Ronaldinho swapped Camp Nou for San Siro, roared on by 30,000 delirious AC Milan fans as he performed tricks, flicks and that trademark thumb-and-little-finger waggle, dripping with bling.
Pep Guardiola finally tasted his first competitive win as Barcelona manager after his side beat Sporting Lisbon 3-1 in their opening Champions League Group C match at the Nou Camp.
Domestic football returned to action last weekend after the international break. Here, on CNN.com, we review all the action from Europe's top leagues.
European giants Barcelona and Juventus took their places in this week's Champions League group draw after safely negotiating third qualifying round return ties on Tuesday.
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